Merosian Territory
Principality of Madeo
The second-oldest principality in all of Meros. Madeo occupies the furthest north-eastern point in all of Meros. It is a region famous for its seafaring culture and its great art of shipcraft: Madean ships have no equal in the Realm, save perhaps for those made by the southern shipwreckers.
The people of Madeo (typically referred to as “Madeans”) have close ties with the tidekeepers, often hiring their Compasses to guide their ships on long voyages. Symbolized by a dolphin.
✪ Madeo
City name: Madeo
Major NPCs: Princess Aemiliana Neville Mawar Madeo
Founded: 6 B.A.
Region: Madeo Principality
They’re famous for the trained dolphins that live in the city, although they’re not as common as many outsiders believe, and often leave for weeks at a time to hunt in the seas.
City name: Cattiva Major NPCs: Valentina Hedvig Hyacinth Madeo, Alkiviadis Khraoxi Founded: 379 A.E.D. Region: Madeo Principality A run-down port town just north of Madeo, known for being a rat’s nest of vice and all sorts of - both legal and illegal - pleasures, as well as black market trade. Cattiva is an unsafe place to be, especially if one possesses unusual or magical mutations, and avoided by most who aren’t involved in the dirty underbelly of Meros.
Cattiva is entirely constructed in the New Style, with crooked and hastily constructed buildings that stick out at odd angles. The streets are described as maze-like and difficult to navigate, even for those used to the city. Before about fifty years ago Cattiva was a rural fishing village, considered a calm and comfortable place to call home. This changed when the ruling Prince at the time, Notus Ilarion Madeo, made an effort to clean up the sailor’s district in Madeo. While he succeeded in improving his capital, the sketchier elements of the city did not disappear: instead, they moved to Cattiva, and the small village was forever changed. |
Principality of Pruina
The sixth principality of Meros. Pruina was established as a trading outpost with Dutoria, and in the years since has made a fortune off of pelts, timber, and other goods that trickled down from the far north. The lands that Pruina occupies are cold and wild, with harsh winters and brief summers.
The people of Pruina (typically referred to as “Pruinans”) are infamous as ‘ice-bloods’; though their territory is harsh, they have mastered what it takes to live there, and are quite comfortable in icy climates. Symbolized by a row of icicles.
✪ Pruina
City name: Pruina
Major NPCs: Princess Caterina Silvanus Faustinus Pruina
Founded: 37 A.E.D.
Region: Pruina Principality
✦ Arce
Town name: Arce
Major NPCs: Celestina Gulzar Rutendo Pruina
Founded: 448 A.E.D.
Region: Pruina Principality
Today the people of Arce serve as the staff for the Palace - doing upkeep on the building and as servants - as well as having a strong knowledge of architecture. It’s not uncommon for them to be hired by people in Pruina, or other major cities in Meros, to oversee construction projects or design buildings. Thus, despite having a relatively small population and being a very young settlement, Arce is already quite wealthy and likely to expand much in the future.
Principality of Chrysos
The youngest of Meros’ nine principalities. Chrysos is a youthful city-state but also one of its wealthiest; it was founded around Theavia’s first and only skyship port, and is an important link in the trade network between Theavia and Cyr. Chrysos has a thriving community of trained alchemists and runesmiths... and, some day, several darker magical arts.
The people of Chrysos (usually referred to as “Chrysoans”) are known for their deep pockets and love of luxury. Chrysos is symbolized by a golden crown.
✪ Chrysos
City name: Chrysos, the City of Gold
Major NPCs: Princess Phoibe Tihomira Alpus Ateano Chrysos
Founded: 112 A.E.D.
Region: Chrysos Principality
There are a few major locations in Chrysos:
- Chrysoan Skyship Port - the only place for skyships to dock in all of Theavia. It sees frequent traffic from Ironbrook, and offers (rather expensive) flights to Thaumstead, Urbis Lumen, Opportunity, Graece, Zenith, and other major cities in the faraway nation.
- Chrysos College of Runesmithing (CCR) - a school in Chrysos that teaches runesmithing.
- Chrysos College of Alchemy (CCA) - a school in Chrysos that teaches alchemy.
- College of the Spire Overseas Campus (CoSOC) - a branch of the College of the Spire located in Chrysos. Structured in a similar manner with teachers from all Societies participating in education.
✦ Altetorre
Town name: Altetorre
Major NPCs: Kyrillos Chibuike Saxon Chrysos, the Oracle of the Tower
Founded: Constructed sometime B.A., reclaimed 233 A.E.D.
Region: Chrysos Principality
The massive tower has thirteen immense floors, sized for Elder Drakes, each with an imposing and cavernous nature, and smaller, human-sized rooms and tunnels like warrens between and inside each. Only the bottom and top floors are inhabited, as much of the tower contains runic illusions and unnerving remnants of its history. The top floor serves multiple purposes; as a lighthouse for shipping along Ingens Lake, residential quarters for the village's residents, and as a place for raising Chrysoan Wyverns.
It’s a popular destination for scholars of ancient history to visit, although expeditions further into the tower are difficult and sometimes dangerous, and thus much of Altetorre is unexplored. Considered haunted both by its residents and the rest of Meros.
Principality of Amara Antrum
The sixth principality of Meros. Amara Anturm was founded by the daring Princet Lycurgus Amara, who established the city as a trading post with the darklings. In the centuries since Amara Antrum has made a fortune trading for rare materials found only deep beneath the earth. The principality is also known for its thriving criminal underbelly: famously their last ruler, Princet Thalia, was assassinated in 502 after trying to clean the city up.
The people of Amara Antrum (usually referred to as Amarans) are considered a little odd, as the long trips in the dark underground can change a person, and live semi-nocturnal lives. Amara Antrum is symbolized by a black circle.
✪ Amara Antrum
City name: Amara Antrum
Major NPCs: Prince Astrophel Kesenija Taavet Amara, “Lucky” Lywnood
Founded: 84 A.E.D.
Region: Amara Antrum Principality
Most of the city’s underground is less pleasant, though, and a hotbed for crime and all sorts of pleasures. It is said if you know the way, you can stumble across the Hidden Market, one of the best places to obtain rare and illegal goods in the Realm.
Amarans often have close relationships with Darklings, as well as criminal elements from across the Realm. Typical occupations for them include working as diplomats, a traders, in hotels, tending to underground and aboveground farms, and involvement in organized crime.
✪ Molonero
City name: Molonero
Major NPCs: Concordia Prema Monika Amara
Founded: 103 A.E.D.
Region: Amara Antrum Principality
It shares the other city’s reputation for criminal activity, although the Hidden Market and its ill-gotten treasures only pass through the port before being sold; Molonero is more famous for its casinos and other establishments that sailors, having spent many long months at sea, would find appealing - although it does not have quite as nasty a reputation as Cattiva.
Principality of Carissima
The fourth principality, Carissima is the current seat of Meros’ Queen and the capital of the country. It is known as the breadbasket of Meros, producing nearly half of all their produce despite being one of the smallest city-states. Abroad Carissima is known as the “harvest magic capital of the Realm” and young mages travel great distances to hone their craft here.
The people of Carissima (usually referred to as “Carissians”) are known for their great beauty and skill in the arts… including that of romance. Carissima is symbolized by a doe.
🜲 Carissima
City name: Carissima
Major NPCs: Queen Evangeline Valentina Carissima
Founded: 25 A.E.D.
Region: Carissima Principality
✦ Nemus
Town name: Nemus
Major NPCs: Rafail Krsto Arif Carissima
Founded: 178 A.E.D.
Region: Carissima Principality
For obvious reasons, the buildings in Nemus are primarily wooden, and often elaborately carved and painted by their owners to show off their skill at carpentry and woodworking. Occasionally they might be hired to work in Carissima by the city’s wealthy, or given scholarships to the agricultural schools in the larger city.
Principality of Testudo
The third principality of Meros. With the young country’s growing wealth attracting attention, Testudo was founded as a way to provide security against roving bands of marauders. The problem was especially keen after the fall of the Elder Drakes, with unrest spreading across the Realm, but Testudo’s high walls and secure banks have yet to outlive their purpose.
The people of Testudo (usually referred to as “Testudans”) are very proud of their city-state’s history and are known for being clever and gifted with numbers. Testudo is symbolized by a turtle shell.
✪ Testudo
City name: Testudo
Major NPCs: Princess Albina Elpis Anita Szabolcs Testudo
Founded: October 13th, 17 A.E.D.
Region: Testudo Principality
Testudo is further inland than a significant portion of Merosian cities, which typically hug the coast, and located along the bank of a river. It has formidable stone walls that were carefully engineered and protected with runes, making any attacks by pirates and raiders doomed to fail.
Other defences include a large, highly-trained military force, some small cannons, offensive potions and trained alchemists to use them, as well as hippogriff-mounted soldiers to fight threats from the air. Testudo has never been conquered in its 490 years of existence, and for good reason.
Outside the walls are farmsteads and croplands spreading out along the rest of the open land. They provide food for the city and the nearby towns and villages that fall under Testudo’s rule.
The people who call the city of Testudo home are usually employed in something related to the city’s banks, either the official Bank of Meros or the smaller, private ones that also call the streets home.
These roles range from bankers to guards and soldiers, to accountants, to financial planners, to the thriving culinary community of the city. The latter exists due to Testudo being a popular place to meet to discuss business arrangements, as being so near to the banks, it allows easy - and safer - exchange of money.
The main landmarks of Testudo are the high walls and the central Bank of Meros. The bank is located in an ancient, domed Elder Drake structure brought to the city from far away by its founder; it has long been gutted of any signs of their occupation, and its a peculiar shape and patterning results in locals referring to it as “the tortoiseshell”.
✦ Giardino
City name: Giardino
Major NPCs: Anicetus Haman Angiolo Testudo
Founded: 83 A.E.D.
Region: Testudo Principality
It is a quiet and peaceful place that doesn’t see much excitement. Occasionally its residents will move to Testudo to study banking, or travel north to Chrysos or even as far as Acies Ferro to branch out into other occupations that don’t centre around agriculture. Despite this exodus, most individuals born in Giardino will return in their older years to settle down more permanently.
Principality of Concido
The first Merosian principality. Concido was settled by refugees escaping the Elder Drakes, founded on the banks of a fertile but unstable river delta in their haste to find a new home. Modern Concido has paid the price for this in blood, as much of the old city has started to sink beneath the earth.
The people of Concido (typically referred to as “Concidans”) are the least wealthy in all of Meros, though new building practices imported from Padwell have seen some improvements in recent years. Concido is symbolized by a tower.
✪ Concido
City name: Concido
Major NPCs: Princess Caelia Diána Rosaline Concido
Founded: 22 B.A.
Region: Concido Principality
✦ Nuovo Inizio
Town name: Nuovo Inizio
Major NPCs: Kyveli Vasia Laelia Concido
Founded: 152 A.E.D.
Region: Concido Principality
The lake is so vast that, from its centre, one cannot see the shore in any direction. There are a few scattered islands throughout; some merely rocky outcrops, others larger and treed.
Principality of Acies Ferro
The fifth principality of Meros. Acies Ferro was initially founded as a military outpost of Madeo, but Acies Ferro quickly grew in power and became independent by 29 A.E.D. Modern Acies Ferro is a powerful state with a strong army, with many of the Realm’s premier mercenary companies originating here. It’s not uncommon for other countries to send young leaders here to be trained in the art of military command.
The people of Acies Ferro (usually referred to as “Ferrans”) are a stern, stoic people, with fierce loves and fierce tempers. Acies Ferro is symbolized by crossed blades.
✪ Acies Ferro
City name: Acies Ferro
Major NPCs: Princess Calpurnia Érico Ai Ferro, Markus, Trixie
Founded: 29 A.E.D.
Region: Acies Ferro Principality
Acies Ferro is located on the northern shoreline of Meros, looking out over the Moonglow Sea. The location, as well as the large population of highly skilled soldiers, means that the city is rarely the target of shipwrecker attacks, and those who are brave enough to try rarely survive the encounter.
The largest building in the city is the Grand Meros Academy, one of the most prestigious places to study military arts and combat skills in the Realm. While it is largely used to train Merosians to join the official army, the Academy does take students from outside the country, if they can pay, of course. It is a formidable structure, walled off, and built in the Old Style.
The surrounding countryside is largely uninhabited aside from a handful of small villages and single-family farmsteads. There are a large number of deadly animals that call the wilds of Acies Ferro home, and few people want to live outside of the city’s protection.
Most of the citizens are soldiers, staff, those in training, and a large number of mercenary companies that hire out their services across the Realm.
✦ Aerugino
Town name: Aerugino
Major NPCs: Numitor Besarion Kosta Ferro
Founded: 32 A.E.D.
Region: Acies Ferro Principality
Aerugino is a well-off town and although most of its inhabitants are miners or blacksmiths, they live in comfortable conditions and have lax work schedules. Their skill at creating weaponry is some of the most renowned in the world, ranging from traditional arms such as swords and axes to more cutting-edge gear, like muskets and bullets.
The citizens of Aerugino are a private lot and generally prefer not to get too much traffic. They bring their work to market in the larger city of Acies Ferro and don’t take well to people snooping around their workplaces or trying to purchase things before they’ve reached the principality’s capital. If you don’t live there, have family there, or aren’t seeking out a job or apprenticeship, you really shouldn’t be there.
Principality of Pars Solis
The eighth principality of Meros. Pars Solis was founded as a trading outpost with the sundrake Meliora Kingdom, and is the most southerly of all its city-states. While not tropical, its territory experiences warm summers and mild winters compared to the rest of the country. The southern areas of Pars Solis are hilly, especially near the border with the Tyr Kingdom, where the foothills of the Sunflecked Reaches reach into Meros. Though historically they have had strong ties with the sundrakes, the actions of King Tigerlilly Tyr have strained that relationship in recent years.
The people of Pars Solis (usually referred to as “Solians”) are known for their beautiful golden hair and their love of the sun. Pars Solis is symbolized by a sun.
✪ Pars Solis
City name: Pars Solis
Major NPCs: Prince Trajan Dariusz Pene Solis
Founded: 97 A.E.D.
Region: Pars Solis Principality
✦ Brillare
Town name: Brillare
Major NPCs: Kostas Laurentius Cassianus Solis
Founded: 239 A.E.D.
Region: Pars Solis Principality
There are a number of older, abandoned quarries which serve as water reservoirs for the town and for local farmers. The water is clean - mostly collected rain and groundwater - but the pits can still be dangerous for those who aren’t careful. Some of the smaller, but still deep, ones are used for raising Grand Dorata nymphs (see the Bestiary).
Further north, on a hill, sits the Old Manor, home to a family known for their familiars. They rarely come down to the village, usually just the family’s matriarch there to buy food or other goods, but the occupants of Brillare view them with mixed wariness and respect. No one tries to visit the Manor uninvited.