The Universe

Zizerax takes place in a high fantasy world of swords and sorcery. Elves, Dwarves, Ogres, Gnomes, and Lizard Men are no strangers in this land.

Zizerax

The country where the strife is unfolding. Zizerax is a verdant land which for generations has been a model for how to run a country. Zizerax’s power has brought stability to the realm through its ability to enforce order in other kingdoms.

Zizerax is organized into the capital, 9 counties, and 2 duchies. The capital is under the direct supervision of the monarch while the other regions are controlled by counts and dukes appointed by the king.

Zizerax has always sported an impressive army, but the crisis of succession has left it disorganized and in shambles. Forces that were in foreign territories have suffered broken supply lines, and local forces have been thinned from invasion, revolt, and desertion. Zizerax now employs mercenaries to support its dwindling local armies.

Other Countries

Valley of Turbane

Turbane is situated in a valley far to the northwest of Zizerax. The countries are separated by enough other nations and geographical boundaries that they have little in the way of relations.

Turbane is a magarchy and has been ruled by Mage Queen Sera for more than one hundred years. Turbane is not divided into territories, and all towns are directly overseen by the queen.

Turbane is home to the Serean Forests, sources of potent natural magic. Sera has long since protected these forests, and forbids foreign mages from entering the country. Mages that reside within Turbane are required to live in a ward in the capital city.

Ogrim

Ogrim was the Ogre homeland. A semi-anarchic swampland, its trees have gradually been uprooted for use as clubs over the years, and its hills and mountains leveled in violent combat. In the past several years, under the leadership of J’Anpa The Largest, the remaining trees have been burnt down, the swamps have been poisoned, and every possible natural resource has been ruined or wasted.

Nothing remains of Ogrim.

Tablal’nok

Tablal’Nok is an inhospitable jungle which few races can survive in. It is to the distant south of Zizerax. Tablal is home to a variety of poisonous predators, diseases, and impassible terrain. Trolls are the predominant race here, though a few orc clans have fortresses.

Tablal’Nok is ruled by a non-dynastic monarchy. When a monarch dies, a group of religious leaders chooses the next ruler. The troll nation has for decades maintained neutrality, and has avoided war with other countries.

At some point in the distant past, an enclave of human wizards created a school of mysticism deep in the jungles of what is not Tablal. Though the humans are long gone, the school remains, and Trolls have, for generations, learned magic there and practiced ancient rites.

Pal’nok

Like Tabal’Nok, Pal’Nok is an inhospitable jungle. Pal’Nok was once a part of Tabal, but was fractured in a civil war of antiquity. After the war, Pal’Nok isolated itself, and fell into decline. The country is now sparsely populated and mostly impassible and unlivable. Factions of Trolls live in small settlements, and, though there is a king, he holds little power over the inhabitants of Pal.

Aoul

Aoul, meaning riverlands, borders Zizerax, Tablal’Nok, Ogrim, Dana, Baghan, and the desert. Historically it has been part of Zizerax, part of Baghan, part of Dana, and the subject of Ogre raids. Territorial conflicts have changed the size and shape of the country countless times and for that reason the racial and cultural makeup of the country is diverse. Over the last generation, Aoul has been protected but under the strict influence of Zizerax. It has seen a period of unprecedented stability, but many political decisions and all diplomatic decisions have been subject to oversight by a special advisor from Zizerax.

With the king of Zizerax dead, Aoul has expelled Zizeraxian officials and has strengthened their military posture to defend themselves in the event of repercussions.

Dana

Dana is a relatively new country comprised of lands that once belonged to Aoul, Zizerax, and Amira. The Aoulian portion of Dana broke off when Zizerax imposed their order on Aoul and a civil war broke out. Seeking democratic rule, Zizeraxian serfs broke away and fought with the Danan rebels to secure their own territory. Once Dana had solidified control of the Aoulian region, they pushed north and east to take what land they could from their neighbors. Owing to overcommitted and exhausted reserves, Dana was able to hold its ground long enough to become an independent state. Dana is now ruled by a group of elected governors.

Dana mandates military service for all of its citizens, and relative to its population, has the largest army in the realm. They have used it to repel Ogre attacks, and keep their territory from falling back into the hands of Aoul, Amira, and Zizerax.

Amira

Amira a prosperous country to the north of Zizerax, populated primarily by Elves. Aoul is a forested country dotted with impressive Elven cities, the largest being the capital, the Golden City of Amara.

Amira has long had close ties to Zizerax, ties which were strengthened through a lifelong friendship of the current queen of Amira and the late king of Zizerax.

Amira is a monarchy that has been ruled by the same family for seven generations. The custom of the royal family is to name crown princes Amiro and crown princesses Amira, after the founder of the modern nation, Amiro. When a new monarch takes the throne, the country’s name changes to either Amira or Amiro.

Baghan

Baghan is a desert nation, separated from Zizerax by the Aman mountains. Baghan has historically lived in the shadow of Zizerax, sometimes in its dominion and sometimes as a puppet state. Two monarch’s ago however, a series of reforms made Baghan a totally independent state. Zizerax, at the time embroiled in a war with Teras and Mastas, allowed Baghan to leave its sphere of influence, and shape its destiny as an empire.

Baghan conquered the entirety of the peninsula, with the exception of Tilan, which it made a puppet state.

Baghan recently avoided its own crisis of succession, when two potential heirs decided to rule in tandem as a diarchy. Now that Zizerax is in shambles, Baghan is using the opportunity to expand their influence in the realm.

Teras

Teras is the only nation in the realm that extends into another. It is a high plateau and is very difficult to reach directly.

Teras is one of the only actual nations of Dwarves.

Continue Reading: Leaders and Factions