The history of the continent
The age of “The Monarch”
The establishment of it’s kingdom
Emissos was once upon a time governed by a major deity that had adopted the name of “The Monarch”. Unlike other major deity’s, who did not consciously interfere with its inhabitants, “The Monarch” broke all conventions and exerted direct influence upon the continent. It even went as far to dub itself the ruler and commanding its inhabitants to bend to its will. The unique influence made it almost impossible to resist it’s commands and as such many fell under it’s control. Besides those under it’s control there were also those who submit to the deity by their own free will, either for power or out of pure fanaticism.
As time went on the younger generations became less aware of the coercion used by the monarch and fanaticism became a more common phenomenon as doctrines were taught from a young age to be thankful to “The Monarch” and that they were protected and blessed by it’s existence.
The age of conquest
The complacency fostered by the systems in place and the absolute rule of the deity finally started to change during the age of conquest. This period started due to the monarch not being satisfied with the size of it’s current territory. It decided to break another convention and meddle in other continents by means of conquest. It waged war on neighboring continents and conscripted people from any area it conquered into it’s army. The followers came up with various ways to attempt to convince the people of the other continents to willingly join their cause. Be it rumors, brainwashing, promises of power and riches or just using their loved ones as a threat. And when this failed to work, the power of the monarch was used directly to put people under it’s control. This conquest continued as multiple other major deities were slain by the monarch after every war reshaping their territories into a form resembling it’s own and spreading the power of control over those lands. Until one day multiple different factions collided that were against this conquest and against this war.
The fall of “The Tyrant”
People native to the original continent of “The Monarch” who avoided the direct control of it’s power yet opposed it’s methods and views, people from conquered continents with talents discriminated against by the ruling power or who never gave up on their resistance and a nearby continent that witnessed the madness unfolding on the continent next to them banded together and formed “The Crownless”.
This alliance of resistance aimed to overthrow and slay the deity they called “The Tyrant” amongst themselves. The neighboring continent of Sylphstead supplied them with weapons and technology to support them while they went around freeing and protecting people and entities that were victims of the deity and it’s people. Eventually when their resistance had grown enough in power and supported by multiple minor deities they planned their final attack on “The Tyrant”. This battle led to many losses on both ends of the conflict but ended with the final assault on the deity succeeding and the slaying of the first major deity in history being achieved. The ones that led the final direct attack on “The Tyrant” were never seen again despite the monarch laying broken on the ground of the final conflict, rumored to have become greater beings as a result of achieving something thought impossible.
Emissos after the fall
The adventure guild
After “The Tyrant” was slain and those who bested it disappeared. Those of “The Crownless” that survived until the fall of the deity managed to subdue the opposing force without many casualties afterwards. Many in the army were there against their will and many others lost a lot of their strength, hope or direction without their deity.
The surviving heads of the resistance founded the adventure guild that span a large amount of the deities former territory and used the symbol of a shattered crown as their symbol. And they established the headquarters on the corpse of “The Tyrant”, using it as a symbol and structure. Building a bustling city around it. The guild was aided in this endeavor by their strongest ally, Sylphstead, who they continued to have strong ties with ever since and working together on many advancements and developments.
This institution was founded to govern the lands under it’s protection and help raise many more useful warriors and foster the gifts of many others in a way that supported their view of freedom. People were never forced to join and those who joined were not forced to do anything unless there was a greater benefit or threat to the guild. There were also not many restrictions placed upon it’s members so their ranks consisted of assassins, mercenaries, nobles, demi-gods, chefs, monsters and even people from wholly different continents. Being a member of the guild, and especially a high ranking member, did have many benefits. For example: access to the guilds information network, discounts and priorities for many related facilities for transport or supplies, a certain type of immunity and support from the guild, ability to commission custom items from the best artisans and a certain level of authority.
Due to many people wanting to join for these freedoms and privileges the guild holds an assessment period once every 3 years to filter out those that are not qualified or capable enough to become licensed adventurers. This assessment period starts at the opening ceremony where different tests are executed depending on which veteran adventurers are present at the time. And those that pass this assessment are then issued a temporary license and placed under supervision of one of the veterans who will appraise their capabilities during this trial period. If they survive this period and manage to prove their capabilities they are issued a full license and can start climbing up in the ranks for more responsibilities and more privileges.
The kingdom of Preavaris
After the fall of the deity and the founding of the guild some remnants that managed to escape and survive that were still loyal to “The Monarch” Claimed some territory as their own and founded a kingdom there. Slowly they managed to build a proper monarchy with a hierarchical system that starts at the monarchy and ends with the peasants. Some founding members claimed to have witnessed a prophecy that one day a child will be born with the essence of their deity within its vessel that will beckon the return of “The Monarch” given flesh. On this prophecy and the powers they still managed to exert by worshipping the deity they founded a church in the kingdom “The church of Order”
As time went on the family that ruled the kingdom gained a certain protection as the chosen ones by the deity until the power of “The Monarch” returns in a new vessel. The held true power in this country and distributed the control over nobles and lords under their flags. Each of them held their own territory loyal to the crown but with their own obstacles and goals. The kingdom has been on bad terms with the guild ever since they both stabilized. At the border where both countries meet there are constant tensions that lead to battles and skirmishes whenever those burst.
One of the reasons for this tensions is the fact that the kingdom holds strong to the beliefs that were uphold during the time of “The Monarch”. Those with supernatural talents that were not gifted by the deity or obtained by extensive study are a danger to society and need to be imprisoned, enlisted or executed. Sometimes people flee towards the adventure guild and if the kingdom finds out they attempt to reclaim their assets or the guild launches an attack in order to claim the refugees.
Despite not condoning many supernatural entities, the kingdom does have many magical specialists. This is because they heavily invest into churches and universities where wizards are taught. It is unsure if this is because they value these talents a lot or just to compensate for the lack of other magical talents and to use both institutions to educate their talented people in ways they condone.
The country of Valtorr
After the conflict against “The Tyrant” ended there were also people who did not join the guild or the remnants of it’s army. These people despised the way the deity used people as pawns but admired it’s strength and that of those that managed to slay it. They supported the achievements of the guild but did not want to be part of another system that felt unfair to them. Instead they founded their own country that they split into many different territories. Each territory is free to govern as it pleases, ruled by the “Lord” which is the strongest entity in that territory.
A “Lord” does not only have the privilege to do as they want in their territory and decide how their land is governed and ruled with people to assist in things they do not excel at under their direct rule. They also have responsibilities. Wars in this country are not fought by armies but by “Lords”, who fight in the arena of the challenged territory. The loser of this conflict either dies or ends up serving under the victor as it’s territory becomes subjugated under that of the victor. In order to become a “Lord” people participate in tournaments that are held in every territory every couple months in which the victor gets the chance to challenge the current ruler of the territory in an attempt to become the new one. Also can “Lords” of a fallen territory participate in the tournaments of the ruling territory in order to gain the privilege to challenge the ruling “Lord” again. On a draw they regain autonomy and on a win they swap roles.
A “Lord” does not have to be a singular entity as there have been groups of five that have ruled a territory in the past. Also are minor deities not exempt from participating, leading to a varied balance of population and rulers. Due to the way the country functions the welfare of the territories fluctuates frequently and is it not uncommon that a new citizen participates in a tournament and ends up being the “Lord” of a territory as many strong people and entities are drawn to this country.
The people in this country that stay idolize strength and train from a young age to one day participate in the tournaments. Many conflicts are resolved with duels instead of using other means ad might makes right. And every duel is wildly spectated, making the tournaments and “Wars” huge events whenever those happen. During the big events there are massive arenas used filled to the brim with spectators, and those unable to get a seat will go to one of many magical broadcast locations where they can see it through the use of divination magic at a distance.