the Domain

in which we meet the powers that lay claim to Lúsis

Amtal (aim-tall) is one of the largest nations in Lúsis. It supports its well defended desert cities to the north with produce from its verdant lowlands to the south. Ruled by an elected Council of Elders, it is well known for its large universities. Each citizen is educated until adulthood, and food, housing, etc are provided to all. Its capital is unknown to outsiders, a hidden city deep in the desert. Its most notable city is Chadire, home to the largest open university in Lúsis.

Naaraaj is Amtal's smaller, angry cousin. It hasn't the resource to maintain a large population. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in resentment. It boasts a highly trained military, with which it one day hopes to storm Amtal. Its capital is Virba.

The Small Kingdoms are a land of shifting influence, intrigue, and violence. Once a unified Empire, a religious conflict 300 years prior has cast the fertile lands into a chaos it is only beginning to recover. As conflict dances between ruling houses and land barons, the peoples of these places dream of peace and stability. Aristocrats rule supreme here, balancing on a tightrope of greed that grows thinner by the day.

Toulum (toe-loom) struggles to find its place in the world. It borders Ardenfoil and Shules, both large nations powerful enough to annex Toulum. Its capital is Bensilifi, a costal town that sits in the chapaarall between southern plains and the desert along the northeast shoreline.

Shules is a burgeoning nation, slowly encroaching on Toulum. Recent discoveries of mithral deposits have turned this nation into a powerhouse. Its capital is Ellisa.

Ofreocor (oh-fray-oh-core) watches the churning of its neighbors with disdain from its rich jungles and verdant fields. The oldest of the Small Kingdoms, Ofreocor was founded in the ruins of a grand capital city. It profits off the city's former riches and the security of its sturdy walls. Its capital is New Lyesgarth.

Rivermeet is the youngest kingdom, a recently unified cluster of city states that reside between two lush rivers. It is protected by hired Emdali mercenaries. Its capital is Ozryn.

Phartaris (fah-ta-riss) is known for its massive cave systems; the aristocracy of this Kingdom have grown fat off the gems and ores found beneath. A recent coup nearly destabilized the country, but was thwarted by the court magician Svartur, who now claims the crown. Its capital is Vastash.

Emdal (emh-doll) is an oligarchy controlled by the Emdali Federation and its constituents. Its capital is Oros, one of the largest cities on Lúsis. Oros' "old city" is surrounded by a massive garden, which is in turn surrounded by a 50 ft wall that keeps the overcrowded "new city" at bay.

the Wildenvale is a land of no kings, of gens and village law, where the evils of imperial rule have not yet come to pass. Much of the land is rugged and the ceaseless wars between the Small Kingdoms have left no one power with the strength or the will to annex the territory in anything but name. Be wary of the map whose borders stake claim to these parts.

the Freehold is the last bastion of Good, in a world where righteousness takes a back seat to power. It has a proud history of independence from the Empires of Lúsis, dating back millenia. This historic freedom has been sustained by the difficult geography surrounding the Holdfasts, the verdant valleys within its borders, the egalitarian political alliances that comprise the Union, and the Freehold's connections to good-aligned gods and other powerful beings. Those who fight for the Last Phalanx of the Freehold are revered across the continent by those who still hold hope dear to their hearts.

The Eternal Empire of Tleth (til-eth) is a large nation on the western shore of Lúsis. The Empire has two matriarchs: the Princess of the Veins and the Empress of the Seas, who are usually married in times of peace. The Empress of the Seas is most commonly a Triton of royal descent, and the Princess a water genasi or naiad. This duality pervades Tlethian culture. Its capital is Kirosa.

Ardenfoíl (arh-den-fuh-eel) is the largest country in Lúsis. Founded by Imeocrod the Great, its monarchy has ruled for ages. Ardenfoíl is plagued by conflict with its neighbor to the south, Cerothe. Both countries lay claim to a stretch of land between them, and have been warring for over two hundred years. Its capital is Monarch's Bay.

Cerothe (kse-roh-the) is a bitter, cold, and unrelenting land. Home to the snow elves, the nation is infamous for its brutal raids and vicious warriors. Its only known city is the port Kollsvik.

Iskaldur (is-cal-durr) is a nation that gained independence from Cerothe circa 1175 CC. A successful revolution after the beginning of the Ardenfoil-Cerothe War granted them a swath of land almost as large as Cerothe itself, effectively splitting the nation in half. They trade openly with many countries, selling whale oil, furs, and other local valuables. Most Iskaldurian settlements began as Yllven frontier towns raided by Cerothians and then annexed by the Iskaldurian revolution. Its capital is Frostmarch.

Yllven (y-ill-ven) is a peaceful country founded by a dwarven theocracy. The Stone Guard, a priesthood who revere a set of stone tablets that outline the laws of Yllven, keep the country safe and maintain an uneasy peace with Cerothe. Many children learn to craft lunulae, torc, amulets, and other jewelry from native gold that can be panned from Yllven's rivers. Its capital is Cathair.

Surnach (sir-noch) is a largely uninhabited island is home to a tear in reality that connects the Feywild with the Prime Material. Many fey creatures have ventured through this passage and have begun to settle there. The snow elves of Cerothe, who have small colonies on the small islands surrounding Surnach, have been drawn into conflict with their distant ancestors. With command over the sea, the Cerothians have maintained the upper hand in this conflict… for now.