Geographic Summary

Conliah is the main continent on the world of Arbigard. It is bordered by two oceans: the Talantic Ocean to the east, and the Acivic Ocean to the west. The entire continent is approximately 10.8 million square miles in area, including all land and bodies of water.

The Yargyez Empire has divided the continent into eight provinces, each one the homeland of a distinct race:

• Eastgardia is a temperate coastal region to the east, and the heart of the Yargyez Empire. It is the homeland of all Humans.
• Helscar is a land of icy highlands to the northeast. It is the homeland of the Dwarves.
• Middlestone has endless fertile plains at the very center of Conliah. It is the homeland of the Halflings.
• Valorgale is made of volcanically active barrens and boreal forests to the northwest. It is the homeland of the Dark Elves.
• Westerwood is made of dense, old growth forest to the west. It is the homeland of the Wood Elves.
• Fair Island is a massive island of arid mountains to the southwest. It is the homeland of the High Elves.
• Wuthelark is a land of deserts and jungles to the south. It is the homeland of the Catfolk.
• Nightglade is a marsh to the southeast. It is the homeland of the Lizardfolk.

Until very recently, denizens of Conliah believed they were the only continent in the world and no other lands were beyond the oceans. Recently this was proven incorrect by explorers from across the Talantic Ocean, who claim to be from a continent called Lodumpis.

Cosmological Summary

According to the doctrine of the Imperial Cult, there are three realms:

• Ksylia has moderation in the quality of soul material and quantity of elemental substance. Arbigard is a flat disc at the center of Ksylia, dividing it into upper and lower hemispheres. This flat disc of unknown size is the surface where mortals dwell. Above Arbigard is a hemisphere called The Skies (the air and the clouds), enclosed by a dome of water called The Firmament. Below Arbigard is a hemisphere called The Neaths (the earth below), enclosed by a dome of magma called The Hade. Ksylia is suspended in a larger cosmos between Asteria and Cthonia.
• Asteria is a realm composed of fine soul material, and very little elemental substance. It is the residence of the Agathoi (good gods) and where souls rest between transmigratory cycles. It is physically above Ksylia, separated from it by The Firmament.
• Cthonia is a realm composed of very degraded soul material, and huge amounts of elemental substance. It is the residence of the Archons (evil gods) and lesser Cthonians, their minions. It is physically below Ksylia, separated from it by The Hade.

It is impossible for mortals to freely navigate the wide open realms of Asteria and Cthonia. They can only navigate to spherical subrealms, through an action called phasing. Phasing into a sphere transfers one's whole being into the spherical subrealm. The two circumstances where mortals phase into sphere are either naturally, as part of the transmigration cycle, or through powerful spells.

According to the Imperial Cult, the Agathoi forbid mortals from accessing the Asteric spheres except during transmigration (between their reincarnations in Ksylia). The Agathoi are not all-powerful, however, so there may be exceptions.

In between transmigratory cycles, mortals occupy various Asteric spheres which correspond to their moral conduct in life:

• Neutral lives: their sphere is like a blank, still space for introspection.
• Virtuous lives: the soul is rewarded temporarily by beauty, harmony, and joy.
• Wicked lives: the soul is punished temporarily to atone for their actions.

Some legendary individuals are said to have witnessed the Asteric spheres during life, but these are exceptional circumstances.

Phasing into Cthonic spheres is much more common. The Agathoi have a weaker hold here, so mortals can phase there through magical rituals much more easily. The exact nature of these spheres vary dramatically:

• Some are formless spheres of raw elements.
• Some are domains shaped by Archons reflecting their natures.

Archons are not content to reside in their spheres. The desire of all Archons is to breach the boundary with Ksylia and pull mortals into their domains with the ultimate goal of consuming the entire realm of Ksylia. Their capacity to do so is constrained, because Cthonic beings cannot permanently reside in Ksylia. Cthonians who overstay in Ksylia will eventually phase back into their home sphere of Cthonia. However, temporary breaches activated by mortals can create indefinitely durable zones of Cthonic influence. By remaining within these zones, lesser Cthonic beings may reside in Ksylia for prolonged stays. They can even venture for a short time outside of these zones, and safely return to them. Thankfully, these breaches mainly occur in pre-Magellian ruins, from a time when Archon worship was common. However, those who intentionally delve into ancient ruins to banish these threats must exercise great caution against the hordes of Cthonians residing there.

Ksylia does not naturally have spherical subrealms. However, the ancient Magellians knew how to warp space to create miniature spheres that mortals could phase into by the same magical means as Cthonic spheres. Within these spheres, the natural laws of Ksylia generally work as expected. The contents of Ksylic spheres varies depending on the intentions of its Magellian constructor. Portals to these Ksylic spheres were typically placed in lockets, mirrors, doors, and paintings. One specialized use of Ksylic spheres was to hold armies of Stoicheioi: unstable artificial beings of pure elements. The ancient Magellians had the ability to temporarily phase a Stoicheios out of its sphere for use as a temporary ally on the battlefield, and return the Stoicheios back to its sphere before its instability caused rampaging.

In addition to phasing one's whole being, it is possible to magically communicate between Ksylia proper and spherical subrealms. This is common for Devouts who apparently commune with the Agathoi, and Invokers who commune with the Archons. As another example, there are also immortal Steelskulls who solitarily inhabit remote Ksylic spheres silently contemplating the nature of reality. If a mortal in Ksylia attempted to magically communicate with such a Steelskull, it is plausible that the Steelskull would reply.

The technology level of Conliah is approximately 1100s medieval Europe. Military technology is still based on melee combat, longbows and crossbows, and basic siege weapons. There is very little innovation in enchanting, liming itself to simple enhancements to simple weapons and armor. War Puppets are the most advanced constructs which Conliah can produce.

The Uzvu Confederation from Lodumpis has advanced technology of approximately 1500s Europe. They possess magical firearms which work similarly to early muskets, pistols, and cannons. These firearms rely on yellow soul binding enchantments to operate. Instead of gunpowder, their enchantments generate an explosion which propels a bullet. The enchanters of Conliah have not been able to reverse engineer how firearms are constructed. They also possess extensive clockwork machinery appropriate to that era, which operates according to non-magical principles. Examples include clock towers, orreries, and wind-up toys. The Uzvu Confederation are perfectly capable of producing the same simple enchantments for weapons and armor as Conliah. In terms of constructs, the Uzvu Confederation is limited to War Puppets like Conliah.

The Magellian Empire was technologically advanced, being capable of magical modification of flesh and the construction of sentient clockwork constructs. This technology is native to Conliah, but is now lost in ancient ruins.

The Magellian Empire built advanced magical firearms called ray guns, which were powered by yellow soul binding enchantments. As with most Magellian technology, knowledge of their construction is lost to time. These weapons projected beams of elemental sunlight and elemental moonlight, concentrated into a single destructive stream. These weapons were built at various scales such that they were wielded by both clockwork foot soldiers called Mechanids and gigantic clockwork guardians called Agalmaliths. These weapons were powerful but self-recharged very slowly, which made their practical use in warfare challenging. To compensate, a large number of ray guns were manufactured then placed into storage for decades between uses. Some constructs in ancient ruins still possess these weapons, but these ray guns quickly become useless once fully discharged. In the case of the rifles used by Mechanids, the magazine capacity is between seven and twelve rounds. Once finished, those constructs must switch to simple weapons.

Currency

• The base unit of currency is the Drachma (ud), which is a silver coin. Three Drachmas can buy one night's stay at an average inn.
• A Hemiobol (ho) is a copper coin, worth one-tenth of one Drachma. Two Hemiobols can buy one loaf of bread.
• A Dekadrachma (dd) is a gold coin, worth ten Drachmas. One Dekadrachma can buy one day of rations.
• A Hekatodrachma (hd) is a platinum coin, worth one-hundred Drachmas. One Hekatodrachma can buy an extravagant banquet for one person.