The Continent of Sestyra

Sestyra has been the center of the planet since time immemorial. The world was formed by The Divines: enigmatic beings deified by its inhabitants.

In the First Era, the world was born— primitive and pure, the continent teeming with untapped magic. An unknown number of years span the First Era, as it precedes all written record… it may have lasted thousands, if not millions of years, but there is no one alive to say for certain.

The Second Era marks the rise of two fallen civilizations— known only as the Blues and the Reds, as seemingly no record remains of them. They are named after the murals and preserved banners bearing their colors, found in the numerous ancient ruins which dot the landscape. Evidence suggests they waged war with each other and brought about the rise of magic, tapping into the land’s aether and harnessing it in a war of mutual annihilation. Theories claim that at least one of the two civilizations must have survived to repopulate the continent after the conflict left both nations in ruins.

The Third Era began three thousand years ago, and marks the start of our calendar. Written record becomes more clear from the start of the Third Era to the present day— this is a revival of life on the continent, where our current nations and cities are formed. Sestyra’s history begins here. Over the course of the Third Era, the nations flourish and races intermingle. Society has become increasingly progressive as national and racial barriers fall, allowing for diverse communities to develop in every corner of the land.

The Fourth Era began thirty years ago, with a continent-wide industrial revolution that marked the rise of technology as we now see it. Airships took the skies, electricity wired nearly every home, and automobiles became available to the wealthy. We are still in a period of exploration— magic and technology is weaved into the fabric of every day life. Centuries-old cities like Fainnard and Veritas struggle to accommodate technological change and innovation among their castle walls and cobblestone streets, but Anhari and Domnesti took the change like fish to water, turning the eastern and western cities into innovative juggernauts. At the center of it all lies Pont-Ciel— a city centered on the continent’s wellspring of magic, where technology develops at a startlingly rapid pace.






The continent of Sestyra has been the home for countless races and peoples for time immemorial, with a diverse landscape and flourishing nations within. Magic flows through this land, and all people and creatures are capable of manipulating the elements. It maintains diverse ecosystems of various flora and fauna— some hostile, some harmless. Though farmlands and villages dot the landscape, many Sestyrans reside in the five major cities, leaving much of the landscape wild and untamed. The primary mode of long-distance travel is by airship, though the recent innovation of Fast Travel Theory allows people to quickly teleport to the different major cities in Sestyra so long as they've been there once before.

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The Kingdom of Luvia
Capital: Fainnard
The continent’s oldest nation, teeming with fields of wildflowers and deep forests. Magic is a part of every day life— the homeland of the Fey is a place of limitless magical potential. Here, Fainnard’s own Mage Academy takes center-stage… this is where many prospective mages and wizards come to hone their craft. The nation is ruled by Queen Siva, a dragon who has watched over the city for centuries. It is the slowest among the nations to progress technologically, being deeply reliant on magic and with little motive to innovate.

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Pressos
Capital: Domnesti
The continent’s cultural center, where the arts are at the forefront, funded by powerful oligarchs from ruling families. Pressos is a thriving sea-side nation, boasting influential merchant relations with other territories and ruled by the wealthiest members of society. It is a historically neutral state, more concerned with preserving positive trade relations and luring prospective artisans and celebrities.

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The Diroun Commonwealth
Capital: Anhari
A desert nation committed to scientific advancement and technological innovation. It is here that alchemy was developed in the early Third Era, as magi became interested in magic supported by science. The nation’s progressive ideology makes it a prime location for anyone interested in engineering and magitech, as industrial development has taken the capital of Anhari by storm.

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The Free Territories
Unclaimed land comprised of independent tribes, chiefdoms, and settlements within a vast, harsh territory. Sophisticated hunter-gatherer peoples with a deep connection to the earth and a robust sense of community make their home here. The land’s most powerful warriors come from the Territories, but a notable lack of advancement in magic, science, and technology is present, as it is furthest away from any notable cities and much of the land is depleted of aether. Many bandits and beasts call the Territories their home, as it is beyond the jurisdiction of any governing body. Ruins dot the landscape, leaving much to be uncovered.

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The Holy See of Avarell
Capital: Veritas
A nation nearly as old as Luvia, where rocky mountains tower and valleys lay deep. The land is cold and dark, and its people have an unwavering belief in the Divines. Avarell is governed by the current Archbishop Benabas, who succeeded the previous Archbishop following the Dusk War 15 years ago. During this conflict, the former Archbishop had announced a religious crusade on neighboring Pressos and Luvia, organizing Avarell’s formidable military against the “heretics”. During this conflict, the many Shades who call Avarell home acted on behalf of their nation, but many were put down as the crusade was put to an end within the year of its inception by forces from Luvia and Diroun.

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And beyond our waters...


Asakoshi
Capital: Kiyogata
Not much is known about Asakoshi— it lies beyond the Eastern Sea, isolated from the continent and protected by a shroud that permits few from entering. Some travelers hail from Asakoshi, giving us some insight into the elusive nation. It is a technological marvel, mastering magitech and entering a cyber age, intently aimed at protecting its technology from the outside world. Whispers say of conflict brewing within its borders.