Elcart

The world of Elcart is relatively new to the cosmos. Born under the watchful eye of the twin suns Suul and Freim, as they are known to the Southern hemisphere's empirical society, the world has been blessed with abundant life both on the surface and in the deep subterranean labyrinths. It has been two hundred years since the founding of the southern polar empire, Senlodum, which oversees the majority of the southern hemisphere. The South features four main continents, Ablanath, Luhaai, Monheim, and Sol de Dythwm.     Ablanath is the name of the southern pole and is the center of the empire being home to it's capital city. It also holds the focal point of the imperial livelihood, the South Lodestone. Originally native to the Polar Elves- or Weinfen , this frozen landscape was often considered uninhabitable until the discovery of the Mother lodestone and the founding of the Senlodum empire and its capital around the monolith. From Ablanath stretch three roads of magic construction to each of the other continents.   Luhaai is a fertile land of forests, hills, plains, and jungle in the north. It is home to the wood elves- Yurnfen , the Marstend- a race of animal-like humanoids and animals with human-like sentience that are capable of speech, Halflings of wood and field, Hill gnomes and Earthern Dwarfs, and the Luhaaimnem- a race of humans native to the region.   Monheim is home to the Monheimite mountains which make up the entirety of the southern parts of the continent before leveling out in the north to tundra. Littered with fjords, canyons, ravines, and snowy peaks this rugged land is home to a surprising number of races. The Avarn-bird like humanoids who make their homes in the topmost peaks of the mountains, the Monheimnen- men of the surface mountains who tend to settle near waterways, the Stoneheimnen- men who live in the mountains, deep dwarfs, deep gnomes, and other less friendly races who live in the darker tunnels that sprawl endlessly beneath the surface of the world.   Sol de Dythwm is bordered on the south by a tall labyrinth of brown rock and sandstone. North of this natural wall are endless seas of golden sand speckled with oasis where the races of this continent make their homes. The Sand Elves- Sulfen , Dythwmnen- humans, and the Rurt- an ancient race of creatures long affected by the harsh climate and suns so that their skin has weathered away hideously. The result being that none now know what the Rurts' true appearance is, as they are always covered in their chitinous armor and clothing from head to toe.   Aside from the civility of both imperial races and those friendly to the empire listed above, there are numerous other races that make up the southern hemisphere that are often considered barbaric or uncivilized. Though sentient and capable when they choose to be, goblins, orcs, faeries, Merdwyn- fish-like creatures who have been found living in all types of bodies of water and waterways across the hemisphere, and the Ghaar-ket- an insectoid race of nomads who are often shunned in bigger cities due to their appearance but tolerated in smaller towns further form the capital for the trade and post services they provide.     Though the Senlodum empire is a powerful one, stretching across the southern hemisphere, the denizens of the realm are greatly restricted in their lives by a terrible miasma from a time and war long forgotten. They are protected only by the lodestones-magnetic monoliths that emit an energy that is harnessed by the imperial races to use magic and technology. Not all races are afflicted by the miasma however, such as the "barbaric" races, the Rurts, and the more animalistic of the Marstend. Though unaffected by the miasma, they are also incapable of wielding the magic of the lodestones.   Due to the nature of their world, the Senlodum was founded as a Theocracy, worshiping the Mother Lodestone of the capital city. From the capital, the empire sends out priests accompanied by Caravans made up of 6-8 people, men and women of any race, to make pilgrimages to the towns and cities protected by lodestones in order to renew their energy as well as collect taxes and tribute. Those who make up the caravans consist of both imperial citizens and outsiders who are employed by the empire for their abilities and knowledge. Included also are conscripts, sent as tribute by a town when unable to afford the taxes dictated unto them.   These are the tales of those Caravans.