The World of Ossedei

Current Year is 9623 ADG (After death of Gods)

The Known World

According to legend, the first people were created in Karshvar. Specifically they were created in the southern land of Akhet. Karshvar is infamous in Mu and Lemuria for being constantly at war with itself. The recent period of peace in Karshvar is an incredible rarity. Karshvar is also known for beautiful art and music, and for wine. The continent of Mu is said to be the birthplace of all plant life. Hidden in the vast forests of Mu is supposedly the mother tree, the first and oldest tree in all creation. The continent of Lemuria is the first land to appear in Ossedei. Hidden in the mountains of Lemuria is the Heart Stone. This is the heart of the eldest of the Twice Dead Gods who laid it down to grow the land upon which the people would live. 

Karshvar

Karshvar is the youngest continent in Ossedei. Lemuria came first, growing from the heart stone. When the earth grew to raise Mu, plant life burst into bloom. But it was when the earth grew to create Karshvar that human life sprang into being. Karshvar is the home to three great powers. They are the Empire of Hyperborea, The Kingdom of Agartha, and the Imperium. 

The Boro Sea Region

The Boro Sea serves as the beating heart of the continent of Karshvar. Three quarters of all trade in Karshvar passes through the Boro Sea. Control of the Boro Sea provides control of Karshvar itself. King Brenin Arzhur maintained his empire by controlling the Boro Sea. The independence of the nations of the Boro Sea led to the peaceful current status quo. 

In the southern Boro Sea, sea travel is safe and peaceful. In the northern Boro Sea, the situation is different. The largest island of the Boro Sea is Hy-Brasil. Second largest is Ys, then Emain Ablach, and then Tech-Duinn. The Republic of Hy-Brasil is powerful enough to maintain independence. Ys maintains independence by trade and diplomacy. Emain Ablach and Tech-Duinn are independent in theory. But Hyperborea and Thule raid and pillage both islands for slaves and plunder. 

On the northern coast of the Boro Sea sit four distinct regions. The largest region, controlled by the Empire of Hyperborea, sits in west. On Hyperborea's eastern border is the much smaller Kingdom of Thule. To the west of Thule lie the tribal lands of Fositesland. And further to the west than that lie the wilderness of Laistrygon where the giants roam. 

On the southern coast of the Boro coast sit five kingdoms. The largest kingdom in the south, The Kingdom of Agartha controls the west. To the east of them lie the Kingdom of Lyonesse and the Kingdom of Cockayne. South of Hy-Brasil sits the Kingdom of  Suddene. And to the east of Hy-Brasil sits the Kingdom of Reynes 

The Island of Ys

Ys has never been conquered by an outside force. It is home to the legendary King Brenin Arzhur. The little island of Ys has a mythic status across the continent of Karshvar that belies it's size. Ys has been the seat of the Arzhurian Empire. It has been an independent kingdom. It has been the center of a trade alliance. But Ys can lay claim to having never been conquered and never been ruled by a foreign power. In modern times, Ys maintains it's independence by being a valuable trading hub. The major powers of the region are Hyperborea and Agartha. And both have a vested interest in keeping Ys free from the other's influence. 

Ruled by a council of lords and a symbolic king, Ys divides into nine duchies. The Duntagell Duchy sits at the center of the island. The council of lords meets in Duntagell in the capital city of Primasedes. The Delmar Duchy controls the royal navy. The Garlot Duchy controls the royal army. The warmer southern duchies of Voxcaelli and Garlot provide much of the food for Ys. Voxcaelli also provides the majority of the local wine. 

North of the Lionspine mountains the climate moves from subtropical to temperate. Madoc Duchy and Morgause Duchy lie to the east and west of Duntagell. The Lionspine Mountains dominate the landscape of both duchies. The mountains travel in a V across Madoc in the west, south into Delmar, and across Morgause in the east. 

Northern Ys faces the Empire of Hyperborea. And although Hyperborea is not at war with Ys, war with Hyperborea is always a possibility. Lefay Duchy sits furthest to the north. And as a result, the settlements of the Lefay Duchy are all fortified. The same is true of Ygraine Duchy and Levert Duchy. Although the residents there are less paranoid. 

The Delmar Duchy

The current king of Ys, King Godwin Delmar III, hails from the Delmar Duchy. A younger house, House Delmar seized control of the region they now control only a few hundred years ago. They are an upstart house, but a feared and respected one. Delmar has provided the king of Ys for the three generations. They have controlled the royal navy for five generations. And within their borders lie much resource wealth. Delmar has the wealthiest and largest port cities. It has the richest timber producing forests. And it contains lucrative iron and tin mines. 

Delmar took their place by gaining the aid of four of the old Houses. These were: Treyes, Septimus, Octavian, and Decalion. All for were given a share of the ancestral land back and raised to the status of baronies. And with these promises, House Delmar and her allies carved out the Duchy as it exists today. House Decalion administers the tin mines in the south of the Lionspine Mountains. House Gawain controls the iron mines further north into the Lionspine Mountains. House Treyes, Septimus, and Octavian all manage fishing along the south coast. In the west, the mysterious houses of Sunder and Wander guard Delmar's western border. And in the east, House Bernlak and House Beaumains serve as the breadbaskets of the Duchy. They provide the bulk of the food that the duchy produces. 

The Delmar Duchy is self-sufficient. It is rich and benefits from the trade. But Delmar could survive and an independent kingdom if need be. And this makes the other ducal families nervous. 

Octavian Barony

The House of Octavian predates the kingdom of Ys. The Octavian family has ruled what is now called the Octavian Barony the entire time. Originally the barony was a nation in it's own right, one of the original ten tribal nations of Ys. When Brenin Arzhur began his conquest of Ys, House Octavian was an early ally. Once a Duchy, the power of House Octavian has waned in recent centuries. And they have lost their seat on the Council of Lords. But even reduced, the Octavian Barony is one of the wealthiest in Ys. 

Legend tells that Brenin Arzhur's court wizard hailed from the Octavian Barony. And the counties with the barony are named for that legend. Along the coast of the barony lie the counties of Myrddhin, Martin, Merlinus, and Nimue. In the north lie the counties of Cambion, Moridunon, and Ganieda. And in the center of the barony lie the counties of Marz, Merula, and Gwendolen. 

The geography of the barony is dominated by mountains. This includes the Lohot Mountains in the south and the Lionspine Mountains in the north. There are three massive port cities in Myrddhin County. There is  extensive mining and forestry conducted in Cambion County. And thus the Octavian Barony has the most extensive railways system of any barony. A majority of all trade good coming into Ys, do so through the Octavian Barony. From there they are transported into the Duntagell Duchy for distribution to the rest of Ys. It is not an exaggeration to say that Octavian Barony is the artery that keeps the heart of Ys beating. 

Myrddhin County

Myrddhin County is dominated by The Bay of Saints, the calmest bay in all of Ys. As such, three capital cities lay on the shore of the bay: Myrddhin City, Octavo City, and the City by the Sea. Myrddhin City is the capital of Myrddhin County and is the largest and busiest port city in Ys. Octavo City is the capital of The Octavian Barony. Although Octavo City is a larger city that Myrddhin City, it has a smaller port. The City by the Sea is the capital of the Delmar Duchy, and its port is used by the royal navy. 

Other major landmarks include the Brython River and the Lohot Mountains. The Brython river runs east to west and empties into the Bay of Saints. The river cuts Myrddhin County in two. In the south sit the cities of South Brython, Cervidae, Esplumoir, Lisanor, and Aubigné. This in addition to Octavo City and Myrddhin City. In the north sit the cities of North Brython, Viviane, Blaise, Vortigern, and Lohot. This in addition to the City by the Sea. The Lohot Mountains sit on Myrddhin County's northern border. They mark the line between Myrddhin County in the south and Martin County to the north.