Duray

The Galay province of the Great Kivosian Empire is on the northeastern corner of the continent, and though much of its terrain is arid, its fertile river banks provide for mighty cities like Sikupha and Yira. The Kingdoms of Duriac in eastern Duray are successors to an ancient kingdom that was divided centuries ago. They are known for their art, especially pottery and painting, and their majestic temples and monasteries. Occidental Duriac on the western side of the Galay River is famous for its archers, and its queen is a powerful cleric. It is an ally to the Tarimic and Qista Empires, and once an enemy to Great Kivosia, but currently there is peace. Oriental Duriac is the more prosperous of the two thanks to its fertility and larger trade networks, though it must now deal with coastal raids from Triton-lords and skirmishes with Zembah. However, its army is strong, with skilled cavalry and griffon riders. During the Kivosian Civil War, thirty-three years ago, the leaders of the Qista dynasty took advantage of the distraction to overthrow Great Kivosia's westernmost provinces in Duray. They formed the Qista Empire, which has been a great rival to the Kivosian and Tarimic empires ever since. The latest war ended just 5 years ago, but since then the Qistans taken a more subtle approach, sending spies and agents into the lands of its enemies to undermine them and gain allies. Qista has also had to expand its navy to deal with pirates of the Bilorran Sea, and halfling raider groups from the south have become bolder recently. But this empire is not defined solely by its conflicts: it has scholarly traditions of its own, with a focus on medicinal alchemy. The capital is a holy city of Idali, and the high cleric there is the sky god's child. However, all faiths and races are welcome in Qista, one of the few regions where many changelings do not hide their abilities. Lan (halflings), hobgoblins, and gnolls have significant numbers, though humans remain the majority. The Caberian Empire was formed a few decades ago, when several emirs in northwest Duray and southwest Bilorr united to defend against Qista and Modazya. Since then, peace was made with the former, but not the latter. Caberia is known for its libraries and universities, which specialize in philosophy, alchemy, and supernatural zoology. The capital, large and prosperous, has countless temples dedicated to all the gods, the most major of which are guarded by sphinxes. In addition, Caberia has begun interregional commerce, exchanging goods as far north as the Thusen islands and as far south as the Shobre Empire. The remainder of Duray is separated from the Durayan regions already described by the Dessicated Lands, a large desert that--according to unconfirmed legends--once held lush plains that were scorched by the fury of an angered god. Today, it is sparsely populated by humans and Lan, having been further harmed by demonic invasion a few centuries ago. In the south, settlements of the old Ahn-Seli empire are still inhabited, but rumor has it that a holy city thrives in the hottest region, maintained by a gnoll archdruid. A more direct successor to Ahn-Seli is the Maidom of Vayha, surrounding the north coast of the Wound Sea. Vayha is known for its cavalry warriors, as well as its interest in astronomy and arcane magic. Its primary rival is the Shobre Empire in the west, powered by the trade of gold, mithral, and salt, which funds a sizable military and thriving cities. Shobre’s neighbor Lansir, on the eastern shore of the Wound Sea, is a mercantile realm dominated by the lan (or halflings), and is ruled by a council of twenty temporary leaders. South of the Wound lies the Great Savanna, an expanse of grass and giant beasts where gnolls are believed to have come into being. Last but not least, the southwestern Wooded Coast is the land of origin of the Shifters, and in some areas surviving dinosaurs can be found. Small human kingdoms are present as well, which trade with Shobre and the nearby sahuagin.

Type

Continent

Included Locations