The Kingdom of Gwyndell

During a skirmish involving some western Rashiutain lands, a strange disease wormed its way into a Gwyndel’ soldier. The Gwyndel’man’s body quickly perished and withered away after contracting the strange sickness. From his rotting corpse the disease burrowed into the ground and plunged most of Gwyndell’s land into a state of rot and decay. The air became toxic and unbreathable, and the soil became spoiled and gray. Most of the people sought refuge from the turned lands and fled into the caves beneath them.

        As the mass exodus started, most of the former Gwyndell Order fell during the discord, and the factions that sprung up in the chaos fought for decades for dominance for their underground. After several years of infighting, it was the Alliance of Reformity that raised their flag victorious, who then seeked to rebuild the former Kingdom of Gwyndell underground.

        For a few centuries, Gwyndell remained hidden from the outside world, instead living day to day in the half-dark of murky caverns. Hard rock floors lit by silver colored torches, sustaining oneself with broth and mushrooms. There were patches of sunlight and untainted grass in the caves, and with this, a few families of farmers brought along some animals and plants. But it was barely enough to feed an entire kingdom’s worth of people.

        Life went on up until 1678, when Danieal Highman, an eccentric and high-ranking Gwyndel’man in the kingdom’s society, heard the digging from a near-by Rashiutan mining company. Soon after he alerted the miners of his (and the rest of Gwyndell’s) presence, the culture within Gwyndell was split; Half of the population wanted to escape the caves; escape from the underground and live in sunlight and warm cooked meals again. The other half wanted to stay down in the caverns, keeping themselves in the dark in the sake of rugged tradition and pride.

The Shores of Sierra

" [...] On the 20th of Whales, 1772; I, along with the rest of the ward I belonged to, was ordered to supply Naval Support along the shores of Western Sierra. With the looming spur the Northern Conflict had created coupled with the drastic political affairs occurring in Rashiuta, the air along the Aerialands began to tense -- smaller and more populist cultures now treaded carefully in the face of war and fallout.
        Despite the stress of the surrounding world, the shores of Sierra were, admittedly, comfortable. The coast we were stationed on was beautiful; the shoreline adorned in tan and blue colors, the sun providing warm and cozy air, and -- even with the hard, brooding shape of the S.S. Ventriloquist floating close by, it maintained the shape and frame of a brilliant photo. Somehow, there was a sensation of stillness here, which allowed you to process your thoughts and regulate your mind. [...] "

       -- From Ruddy Airdolph's The Enigmatic Story of Warren Strife.

The Myiv-Urron Character Dictomonies

"The Myiv-Urron Theory is a quasi-religious philosophy regarding the characteristics of a person. It states that each and every individual has, spiritually, a cognitive link --or soulfully, an alignment, to two godlike avatars of the human personality, named Myiv and Urron.

Myiv (sometimes referred to as Myis or Myic) is representative of the more social aspects of one’s personality. She is the one who gave humans the capability to go out to a party or a wedding, their capability to relate with and love another being, and their ability to care for and give birth to a child.

Urron (sometimes referred to as Urrune or Uru) is representative of one's internal composure. He is the one who gave humans the ability to rationalize and interpret the world around them, to settle down and rest when needed, to heal themselves and grow both physically and mentally, and to discipline themselves in the eye of work and ethics.

Every human being shares most of the aspects of Myiv’s and Urron’s gifts, as their gifts are vital to a human being to live a life of personal conviction and happiness. Some people slant more towards one god or the other; A woman could align more with Myiv, living a fast and interesting life partying and drinking every other night. A man could align more with Urron, dedicating his entire life to honing into a craft or line of work day in and day out. Most people, however, have aspects of both of the gods embedded within them."

An Excerpt on Elsignia's Caste System

"[...] Elsigna’s caste-based society, as controversial as it may be, was founded upon the inherently Szytharian ideals of Romantic Knighthood; each caste being symbolic of the individual aspects of valour.

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The Kitla: The lowest caste, are the servants or labourers of society, they serve their role in the life-long prospect of upkeep and supplying the below-basic necessities of Elsigna.

Above are the Drumna: They are the farmers, crafts-men, and merchants of the nation which provide and feed the bellies of Elsigna through their effort and trade.

The Inndurahs are the primary backbone of Elsigna; Soldiers who are indebted to serve their duty through military service. They are the highest citizen caste in society.

Beyond the citizen castes, are the Golvamins: made up of bankers, scholars, and police officers. They serve to maintain law, order, and structure within the nation.

Finally, at the top, are the Urumin: Politicians, Priests, and Army Generals, they are the figure heads of society; guiding the populace through their embodiment of Knighthood." 

An Excerpt on Saint Levine.

It was the fifth mission Levine was tasked with, The Fjord’s Whale, where she acquired her famous blade. In the midst of her pilgrimage to the Aerialands, she stopped to rest for the night in a rural town she encountered. With her previous blade having become dulled and brittle, she commissioned the town's young and inexperienced blacksmith to forge her a new sword. Nervous; he accepted her offer, but kept doubting himself on the sword’s quality during the process of making it. The following week, the young blacksmith handed Levine her sword; upon doing this however, the blacksmith realized how suddenly impressive the blade’s quality was: The metal; stronger than any steel. The weight; in perfect balance. It’s durability; able to breathe life into itself for centuries of war. The blacksmith, perplexed, asked how such a poor blade could suddenly turn perfect. Levine simply answered: “T's but a matter of dignity.”