Théah
7th Sea is a world where an order of musketeers guards the lives of the nobility, but also the virtues of honor, integrity and fraternity. It is a world of sharp blades and sharp wits, where a cutting retort can be just as deadly as a sword’s point.
It is also a world where the nobility control the most powerful force of all—sorcery. Powerful magic pulses in the hearts of the noble class, power that was given to them long ago. Some assume the forms of animals. Others rip through the fabric of reality or play with the forces of Fate itself. The hard edge of steel coupled with the shadowy substance of sorcery: that is the world of 7th Sea.
The pirates of 7th Sea are united by a common cause: freedom. Freedom from the tyranny of sorcerers and kings. Freedom from the shackles of the Church of the Prophets. Freedom from greedy landowners and moneylenders. Pirates sail where they want, take what they please and live a life of freedom unknown by any other in the world of 7th Sea.
Poets say those who fall in love become lovesick. You can’t eat, you can’t think, you can’t do anything. And the only cure for your illness is the cause of your illness: the one you love. Revenge causes the same kind of illness. You can’t eat, you can’t think, you can’t do anything. The only cure for your illness is the cause of your illness: the one who must pay for your pain. Romance can be the source of all kinds of stories, especially in a world where arranged marriages are commonplace. While Théans are a bit more enlightened than their 17th Century Earthly counterparts, they are still human and prejudices, jealousy and other ugly emotions still exist. Meanwhile, revenge is a dangerous path, leading some Heroes straight into the warm embrace of villainy. The greatest test a Hero can face is having a Villain at his mercy.
Geography
Beyond the kingdoms of Théah lie the ruins of an ancient civilization, lost centuries ago: the vast cities of Lost Syrneth. Who knows what ancient secrets and treasures remain, unseen by human eyes, untouched by human hands? Men and women who call themselves “archæologists” unearth these treasures and bring them back to noble hands. Daring the perilous ancient ruins, these scholars are all the rage in the noble courts and the subjects of romantic novels all across the land. They hope to discover the secrets of the Syrne in hopes that they may uncover the key to humanity’s own origins, and possibly the secrets of the universe itself.
History
With the decline of the Church, things have become even better for pirates. Théah’s nobility hire daredevils to explore the unknown and bring back the booty they discover. Of course, if those adventurers lower their guard for even a moment, they’ll find themselves facing the threat of pirates, looking for easy prey.
In the world of 7th Sea, kingdoms are on the verge of becoming countries. In the courts of kings and queens, diplomats dressed in powdered wigs, lace and silk try to resolve the disputes of Nations. A swelling tide of nationalism grows in the hearts of men and women, and a new kind of conflict—covert warfare is finding its way into the world. A new kind of espionage is making its way into the world, as well. Agents trained in the arts of deception live perilous lives of illusion as they pillage enemy secrets with only their beauty, cunning and wits...and a willingness to do anything for crown and country.
Maps
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Theáh
Each of these Nations is developing a national identity: a sense of country beyond the preferences of the nobility or monarchs. Ordinary people now think of themselves as Eisen or Montaigne and will fight to maintain what they see as their cultural heritage and national security. -
Castille
Founded by one of the oldest of the Old Empire’s families, Castille has been shaped by many forces. It shared an alliance with the Crescent Empire, warred with Avalon and Montaigne, and currently houses the heart of the Vaticine Church. However, despite hundreds of years of invasions—military and otherwise— the heart of Castille has never changed. It was, is and always will be a nation devoted to its people.
The current Nations of Théah represent the whole of the civilized world—as far as the Théans are concerned.
• Avalon: Green and enchanted, this union of three kingdoms has recently risen to the forefront of Théan politics.
• Castille: Headquarters of the Vaticine church, this fertile Nation recently fought off an invasion—their western neighbor, Montaigne, wished to seize their rich farmlands and plentiful mines.
• Eisen: A proud land recovering from a thirty-year war. A Nation of veterans, Eisen is also a land of horrors let loose by three
decades of mass murder.
• Highland Marches: To the north of Avalon are men and women made strong by a harsh land. The Highlanders’ greatest desire is freedom at any cost.
• Inismore: The Emerald Isle is the rebellious, misbehaving little brother of Avalon, led by a king who may be immortal and is more than certainly mad.
• Montaigne: One of Théah’s most powerful Nations, leading the world in art and culture even as its Emperor crushes the populace beneath his thumb.
• Sarmatian Commonwealth: Two Nations bound by a single crown, the Commonwealth is a democratic monarchy where all people are equal, even kings.
• Ussura: A Nation torn between two ambitious rulers who will do anything to drag their Nation into the future, no matter the cost.
• Vestenmennavenjar: A Nation of raiders and warlords who conquered the world’s economy by hammering their swords and spears into coins.
• Vodacce: The former cradle of civilization, now split between seven Merchant Princes whose complex schemes reach every corner of the world.
The biggest difference between the people of Théah and the people of Europe is diversity. The Vaticine Church teaches that all men and women are equal in the eyes of the Creator, regardless of where they were born and what they look like. Because of this difference, cultural migration has occurred with far greater regularity in Théah than Europe. That means a wider degree of people born in one country living in another. Nations still have a general identity—people from Inismore tend to have pale skin, blue eyes and red hair—but exceptions are everywhere. Most importantly, the Théans do not see them as exceptions. Were you born and raised in Inismore? Then, you’re Inish. Were you born and raised in Ussura? Then, you’re Ussuran. While Théah is far from a cultural melting pot, there are those who have lived in the Nations for generations who are descendant of people from faraway lands. You can find every skin tone in every Nation.
Type
Continent
Included Organizations
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