Introduction to Jerde

Welcome to Jerde. Here's the basics of the world.

Jerde is a healthy, populated planet somewhere in the galaxy. It orbits a star roughly six times the size of Earth's sun and is a magic-rich world.
Jerde timelines are split into two eras: Before the End of Altaria (BEA) and After the End of Altaria (AEA). The current era is AEA, the age after the great civilization of Altaria was ended due to war.
What makes Jerde somewhat unique is that its magic wielders manifest abilities in a recordable, trackable way, yet can also be unpredictable. These magic wielders are known as Gifteds and their magic as Gifted Powers . Gifteds appear all over the world and their magic is essential to the world's continued wellbeing. Gifteds, however, are plagued by a mysterious, incurable disease that prevents them from becoming too powerful. This disease is known as the Gifted Downsides, and each Gifted responds to it differently.

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People of Jerde

Only humans populate Jerde and half of these are Gifteds and the rest are normal humans, known as Non-Gifteds. Non-Gifteds live under Gifteds in most countries, except in certain places. Although they are often looked down on, Non-Gifteds are unaffected by Downsides, and slightly more stable. They also are not included in the hierarchy of the Gifted houses.
Gifteds are humans with abilities that range from telepathy to fire-wielding, spellcasting to water manipulation, and pain-inflicting to healing. The Gifteds are somewhat organized into power types and classes, along with a complex hierarchy of powerhouses. These nobility lines are composed of certain Gifteds with the same powers. For instance, House Mesintar of Balicta is a Metalicity house, meaning most of the members controlled metal. Similarly, House Calleron of Whirlan was a Destructing house until it shifted to Aquacity.
Not all the children of Gifteds have powers, and these children generally end up leaving their houses. Also, not all Gifteds belong to houses, as Gifted genes can remain dormant for centuries before a descendant manifests. Powers that manifest in houseless Gifteds most often are Storming, Lie Detecting, Healing, and Agility.

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Continents of Jerde

Jerde has seven continents: Bazilia, Davenett, Eterlania, Imbowge, Mattatua, Narthica, and Rushlinna.

Bazilia

Bazilia is the southern continent in the western hemisphere. It has had the most countries and empires of all the continents and is the center of many legends. It is believed to have been the first continent discovered and was the home of the great empire of Altaria. Bazilia is mostly jungle, with a few mountain ranges and some areas of normal forest, along with many ruins. It trades in jewels and fabrics, and cultures vary greatly across its surface.

Davenett

Davenett is the southernmost continent of Jerde. Covered in ice, it is nevertheless home to surprising amounts of wildlife and has some of the most amazing scenery. Davenett has been a hub of worldwide trade since its discovery, and thanks to the efforts of Gifteds the ports and cities are warm and protected while the interior remains freezing and untouched.

Eterlania

Eterlania is the northwestern continent of the eastern hemisphere and has the most nobility-based governments in the world. With many mountain ranges and a colder-than-average climate, Eterlania has many different countries pressed up against each other. These countries get along with each other in general, but some countries like Dalirn, Danoor and Mechalaria, and Kentis are bitter rivals with others.

Imbowge

Imbowge is the southern continent of the eastern hemisphere and is one of the least populated countries in the world. Imbowge has the largest desert and savanna areas of Jerde, along with a dryer jungle climate between the two. Most of the cities and towns are situated along the coasts, but smaller villages can be found deep inland. Imbowge is generally thought of as uncivilized, but it has been home to grand empires in the past and is currently the world’s largest producer of clothing and communications.

Mattatua

Mattatua is known as the “island continent” and is located to the far west of Bazilia and the southeast of Rushlinna. It is closer to Rushlinna and trades with its southernmost countries. With deserts and sparse forests covering its many islands along with its main landmass, which is roughly two-thirds the size of Nuskia, Mattatua is not the greatest producer of plant-based food. However, its mines more than make up for it, churning out metals and jewels at rates to challenge even some Gifteds. Mattatua is especially known for its artwork and pottery.

Narthica

Considered the last continent populated, Narthica is the northern continent in the western hemisphere and has the fewest countries on its main landmass aside from Mattatua. Narthica’s average temperature varies as it is a very large continent. Its southern countries are jungles and deserts, while its northernmost territories are covered in coniferous forests and freezing glacial plains. The powerhouse countries of Narthica are most certainly Tierhal, Whirlan, and Crystland, the largest and oldest countries on the continent, all led by Gifted house monarchies.

Rushlinna

Rushlinna is the northern and western continent of the eastern hemisphere. It is the largest continent in Jerde and has a wide range of cultures and terrain. Its most well-known country is Nuskia, an enormous territory covered in snow and ice. Eastern and central Rushlinna has plains, mountains, and huge empires, while southern Rushlinna is dominated by islands, deserts, and jungles. To this date, many of Rushlinna's countries are cut off from all by the closest nations, and their many cultures are highly influenced by visitors from other worlds.

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Relation to Other Worlds

Due to the layers of magic and natural reparation laws, Jerde has no alternate realities. It is known to be the only inhabited planet in the sector. It is closer to worlds like Vishteljerer in magical capability but in climate, it is closer to Earth.
As a world, Jerde has fewer holes between worlds than other universes, and most are in specific areas, many of which are shrouded in legend. Known portals are located in Eternalia’s northern hills, Bazilia’s jungle ruins, and Imbowge’s Lake Kimoposet. These semipermanent portals lead to Earth, Eküiliber, Jaque, and Vishteljerer and will open and close at varying times, generally in the same place. Other windows and gateways have occasionally opened over the course of history, few surviving longer than a year.
Because of these passages, it is not unheard of for people to go missing in these areas, nor for mysterious people to appear with no idea of their surroundings. Cases of both Gifteds and Non-Gifteds disappearing have been documented in many places, most commonly in Bazilia and Imbowge. Also of note are the multiple people from other worlds who were unfortunate enough to fall or walk through a portal and find themselves in a strange new world with no way back. A well-known story among the villagers of Barraken, Ekrecht, is that of Lukkas Eddren, a young boy who appeared many years before with tales of another world.

One minute I was walking in the woods, and then next I was stumbling out of a cave. I felt sick, as though I had suddenly been spun around several times. When I went looking for help, I found a village of strange people who, although they spoke my language, had odd customs and talked about things I didn’t understand. They have no idea where my family is, although some of the elders spoke about a “gate” in the hills I had come from. I will be staying with a family here for now, and hope I will get back soon.

— Excerpt from Lukkas Eddren’s journal.

Other primary influences of other worlds on Jerde manifest through religions and cultures. Due to portals continually opening, the cultures around those areas shifted to mirror the cultures of the majority of people who appeared. Many countries, such as Narthica’s and many of Bazilia’s, are immune to this culture change, either due to a lack of portals or a stable existing culture and religion.