As many endure and even bask in great harvests, realms in the north and realms that have been in constant strife suffer from shortages, even famine. In the northern coasts of Yevia, harvests have been poor due to the tough lands. Realms like Kastrovia, Hansa-Aberonia, Aachenreich, Gilan, and Pěštin who have enjoyed years of success and peace are now forced to ration. While they are short of food, the situation is not so dire, as these realms are wealthy enough to weather such a storm.
Realms that are less fortunate and have suffered from war and what some call “Divine punishment” suffer far worse than shortages. Famine stretches from the Kelasari Bay, where Beria suffers shortages across the realm ever since its War of Succession 15 years ago. Aberia, once the farthest reaches of the old Berian Empire, now lies as three successor states, all facing famine from prolonged warfare, banditry, and poor harvests.
Beyond the North Coast, the realms of Deran and Kjellania, too, suffer from shortages. Whether this is due to the burden of tributes, raiders, or exhaustion of granaries, these two other Yevian realms, far removed from the frozen north, find themselves in a precarious position.
The contrast between these afflicted realms and their more fortunate neighbours grows ever starker. Across much of the continents, favourable weather, expanding farmland, and political stability yield abundant harvests. Surplus grains fill royal granaries and merchant warehouses alike, from Alpa to Astoria. As rivers and roads bustle with the traffic of trade by barge and wagon, they pass regions stricken by famine.
Observers the continents over question whether this crisis marks a passing hardship, or the beginning of a broader realignment. As winter marches on, the balance of abundance and hunger has rarely felt so fragile. The decisions of Kings, councils, and merchants may shape the fate of the continents for years to come.
By order of the Doge, surveyors arrived in the mainland shore holdings of Euskal Herria, dispatched to begin examining the quality and extent of lands that would be suitable for extended ranching - a practice not traditional upon the islands that make up the traditional Euskal Herrian homeland. To most in Weslif and Yevia, the reports would bear no surprise - fertile plains, lush meadows, fit for extensive estates and ranches.
The land is proven, but the techniques of ranching will be newer to the people of Euskal Herria. Long separated from the Herrian homeland in Southern Yevia, the once Astorian colony has emerged as a significant financial and trade hub in the Yevian Sea. Well suited for a number of crops, the islands rarely saw the use of larger animals such as oxen or horse, and typically saw smaller livestock inhabit it since its original settling.
Further surveys are expected to continue through the year, resulting in some nobles taking note in court, preparing themselves to make the request to charter some of the land, but the Doge is to determine what is to come.
The town of Amvered, normally so remote one would have never even heard of it, has become the ire of the Duchy of Penveran, as well as neighboring Alpa, Brethon, and Deithe.
Over the course of winter, more than 10% of the town’s 4,000 inhabitants succumbed to what is being called charring. Skin has begun to become lesioned in the murky black, people are vomiting and collapsing, and deer have been behaving strangely.
In response, the Duchy burned the town to the ground, fearing the spread of this ill. Now, over three thousand refugees have fled to the town of Aberfan.
The towns of Nomleven, Inverfodd, Briennac, and Caerwynne have also seen signs of this ill in recent weeks. May the Lords or Gods help them all.
The Illumination has spread with fervor over the past half-century. In Ivalen, the Astor-Nordic (Veynic) Kingdom that once served as the furthest outpost of the old Astorian Empire at its height, clash of new faith and old gods has begun to reach new heights. The Royal Family and much of the nobility has adopted the faith of the Illumination, albeit with some clear breaks from the Cennevethan Doctrine. In the large settlements of Ivalen, the Illumination’s hold has become increasingly noticeable.
It started when the first missionaries arrived and were received in the Royal Court. The conversions began at the highest levels first, eventually forming a new class of clergy within the realm. Illuminated Doctrine became codified, but with a new King coronated, more change has come. While the Illumination spread along the main roads naturally, and spreading to the common folk, the doctrine became increasingly violent. Shrines and carvings of the old gods of Odin, Tyr, and Thor burned by royal decree. Believers of the old gods forced further and further into the hinterlands.
Now, even members of court must fear the flame of Julianus. The newest royal decree of King Edrin has seen Noblemen stripped of land and title, losing their holdings to the Clergy and newer nobility - particularly Veynic converts to the Illumination. As of this report, several noblemen, including the Lord of Vulpastr, have been burned at the stake. No tradition of the old gods to see them off in death, but instead a “pre-cleansing” baptism by Priests of the Illuminate Flame and last rites given according to the God-Emperor of the Illumination.
It began with a rider in the night, a drenched and exhausted horse with it’s equally bedraggled companion. The sentries of Helvetia’s border town of Tjarvik immediately took the dispatch to the lord of the manor. It’s contents currently unknown.
In the north of Teutonar a series of dark nights, which burned bright but were slick with the blood of the innocent and guilty alike. Much violence had sparked across the towns of Brudir, Krisnahar, and Krisna in particular, though much of the coastal region has seen violence. As the laws have prohibited and curbed nearly all trace of Julianism in public life, there was at first limited resistance by some zealots and clergy. Now the violence has flowed in reverse as vigilantism is spreading through the land. Old grudges and intolerance of the Julianists have spilled over into arson, murders, and maiming en masse.
Among those captured by the town guards of various Teuton towns, “J” brands have been burned into the cheeks of several Julianists who committed petty offenses not worthy of expedient deaths. These events have disturbed some smaller faiths and other missionary religions, as the once prideful tone of pluralism across Teutonar has been shattered in a matter of weeks.
Even now dozens of ships have begun to pour from Teutonar with religious refugees.
Erasmus IV The Savior has ruled over the resurgent Astorian Empire for over 33 years. three decades of progress, blossomed by the blood spilled in a nearly suffocating Kadarian invasion. The old alliances which were baptized and sealed in blood with the final battle of Carran has however become brittle, and stale. Troispilier, once remarked as the paragon of the Voltigeurs, who led an alliance of states to honour commitments it promised to Emperor Tiber VII in his greatest hour of need, is now seen as a concerning rising rival in quiet circles. An open secret that could split open old wounds.
The campaign of 480-81 was a success for Astoria, though it came at an unexpected cost. The failure of the Kadarian colony, and its bold attempt to cut off the head of Astoria doomed Nabad’s efforts in Yevia. Following this catastrophe for their King, sitting atop his mighty Ziggurats was doomed to fight two losing wars at once. First their decades’ long border struggles with the Al Rafahian Caliphate had drained their purse and emptied their villages of men.
Some say the expedition would have been doomed to failure had it not been for the cunning and hospitable Council of Tortedes in Berlengas, who sought to curry favour with the two Princes. They opened up Cicorox and its mighty port to the entire fleet, a risk that some would have avoided. Inviting a massive invasion force into a large city is a sight seldom seen in the archipelago, but it was a boon to their future relations, as capable pilots were chosen to lead the fleet into the unknown of the Amber Passage and to reach Alhoia, the land of arid mountains and unfathomably endless steppes. It was also the home of the infernal and cursed Nabadi invaders of their childhood memories. Too young to have experienced the war first-hand, they would honour the memory of their grandfather on the shores of those who occupied their own.
Once the two princes had landed, with tens of thousands of legionaries, - the best the Empire had to offer in both martial skill and fighting age - they set out to prove their strength immediately, winning a string of easy victories against shocked and unprepared garrisons in central Nabad, capturing quickly the towns of Rafrouda, Zifogra, Asamercif, Alayt, and finally Mane. Their own armour now equal to, their crossbows improved to outmatch the Nabadi militias.
It was at Mane that the course of Nabadian history changed for a second time, as a mighty host of Ziarjanian cavalry had been dispatched, regal men dressed in feathers and fabrics of great beauty and softness never beheld by Astorians. They did not seek to fight, but to commune in a lavish meal with the two princes and their bodyguards. They would even come into the camp of the great co-generals. It was that night, in late Juno 482 that the Ziarjanian Empire had partitioned the once great Kingdom of Nabad into three.
The Caliphate threatened to finally break the overwhelmed Nabadi armies and to sweep across the entire coast, the Astorians, clueless to the massive throng of fighters streaming towards them from the east, dominated the central river valleys, the crux of Nabadi’s heartland and civilizational homeland. Ziarjania, mighty and vast across northern Alhoia decreed that this could not be. As such the nation was salvaged, with a rump vassal ruling as regent, while the ancient and venerable rulers of Nabad fled into exile, their fates unknown.
Astoria, as a serendipitous conqueror would be rewarded with what it had occupied, and by 482, the princes felt confident enough to return home, on separate vessels to their father and regale the court of the wonders they had seen. Massive pyramid structures dotting the townships and estates of Nabad. Fanatical flagellants of an eastern slave army which seeks to conquer the entire world. Tales of horse lords with herds to shake the very earth into dust when their camps ride across a grass sea that none could imagine.
And most importantly of all, the newest territory of their mighty Empire, ascendant. It was on this day, with an aged Erasmus, visibly smiling and warm after years of aging rapidly at the thought of his sons perishing, and what would befall his people; he rose and proclaimed them. "You will now bear the names of those before us, who built and created the mightiest Empire of all time, you who have conquered peoples who wronged us, will forever be now known as Valerian and Cassian!
In the intervening years, it has been quiet in Alhoia’s northern coasts. The peace that Ziarjania’s Emperor bargained has lasted. The Caliphate drew its eye elsewhere in the vast land. Nabad’s steward grew fat and satiated with palace life. Astoria controls a powerful of certain goods, precious fruits, jewels of marvelous hues, and strange animals. These curiosities have drawn the thirst and appetite of the powerful and landed across Weslif and Yevia and continue to flush a shade of green from the largest realms. Madras Port is the largest cornucopia of riches in the southern seas.
As the weeks have drawn to a close, a rare event of celebration and jubilations has wrapped up. Following the announcement of Prince Cassian, of Astoria’s nuptials, a great tournament to celebrate the upcoming marriage was announced to all realms of note across the continents.
It was well attended, particularly by the core states of the old Astorian Empire, many Herrian, Voltigeur, and even Slovan delegations arrived to compete. Not to venerate or submit to Astoria, but for the draw of massive prizes, and the rights to stand tall amongst their peers in skill-at-arms competitions across the vast lands. Even the Weslifian realms sent strong showings; and what showings they were. 28 realms qualified past the initial vespers of the tourney magisters. In a stunning upset, Frangalla fared so poorly it would not earn a spot as a qualifying team.
The Tourneys included 4 Grand Events: archery marksmanship, the melee (teams of four), individual duels in full armour, and the finale, jousting on horseback.
As it always has been, the archers began the festivities, owing to the ancient origins of the Astorian forefathers, who came from the forests as hunters and forged the greatest empire known to Yevia.
In an upset, the heavy favourites from Weslif, the Alpan competitor was knocked out by Fereshe’s own Master Bowyer early on. It was a fine display of accuracy, and deadly intent at the hands of some of the finest bowmen between the Yevian Sea and beyond it.
Notably there was a strong showing by Adon, Tabor, and Fereshe, but in the end Astoria unsurprisingly had the victor, as a Captain of the Royal City Guard bested the farm-boy from Adon dressed in rough wools.
Next was a crowd favourite, the grand melee. Four heavily armed foot soldiers, armoured as best as their nation’s smiths could forge, from some of the finest houses turned their arena into a field of mud and blood, as though their weapons were blunted, the flesh remains weak and tender.
This combat was dominated both by the most flamboyant and brightly ornamented knights of the southern realms, as well as by the tough and stout men of the rural far off regions of Yevia. In an unexpected upset, as would continue throughout the tournament, the Herrian minor states of the mainland would continue to perform far above the weight and might of their homelands. Men who often work as mercenaries in minor wars accustomed to keeping their skills sharper than their blades.
However the first greeat upset would come as Pestin would defeat Astoria’s magnificently armoured team, and then go on to the final bout with the Kastrovians. Kastrovia dominated throughout the melee, showing that the rough winters of northern Weslif and lifetimes of fending off coastal raiders made for strong and disciplined units.
In the end it would put them over Pestin’s magnificently dressed nobles. The Republic of Pestin continued to acquit itself very well in these events, not quite winning any single tourney, but always reaching near the ultimate prize. Deithan revellers would also find themselves ejected, some from the competing teams themselves and their squires, after throwing rotten apples early on in the next event, the duel.
Following the brutal melees would mark the noble and ancient sport of individual duels, as old Astorian and ancient armies would sometimes settle entire battles by thrusting their champions against one another. A moment of note came, as the Alpan champion had seemed to have words to say with the Gilanese captain he had pinned down in the dirt, and history may never know what was exchanged between the men, but it would surely be memorable to both as long as they lived.
The shock of the event came as the favourite to win, the Astorian Grand Arena Champion, Ventos, was bested in a beautiful exchange with Alpas own fighter, winning the far-flung and rising Kingdom in Weslif it’s sole total victory. As this semi-final victory shocked the crowd, it became a respectful but intense final contest between Alpa and Siliton, close allies turned honourable competitors. There were many times during the duels where the peels and remains of the pelting of apples by Deithe hooligans had cause an occassional slip or mistep, sometimes costing entire matches for some men.
As the fighting was both excellent in form and sometimes messy in execution, a dark horse began to emerge. Adon, a far-off humble kingdom of farmers and herders had sent some of the fiercest and most prolific warriors of this tourney. Truly the fringes of the realms had begun to show their ascendancy in a new era of power in Yevia and Weslif.
The jousting was no surprise to some, but also saw much hilarity as at times competitors nearly fell from spooked horses, or catching themselves upon the tilt dividing the competitors. Several upsets came as established knightly kingdoms saw some losses to the rough and borderline barbarians of the far reaches. Troispilier maintained it’s status and position as the clear favourite, having a constant culture of tourneys, particularly on horseback themselves. The Kokivanians, having been hard-done over many different bouts, had found some success, reaching the quarter finals of the mighty jousts. However in the end, an unlikely spoiler had nearly prevailed, as Deithe faced off against a Duke of Troispilier on the list. Prior to that the atmosphere was tense, as Toussaint had sent a prince who was facing off against Troispilier, and it was said that war’s could have started over less, but both faced off with honour and dignity, exchanging pleasantries in Voltigeur before and after.
Deithe had come up, from back-lands and fine farms, to show the good royals from across Yevia that simple farmers and resilient men of many miles could challenge even the most practiced and outfitted of southern nobles. Even though the victory was not at hand, the fallen young noble of Deithe had earned the respect of Troispilier’s upper crust. In the end, the elder Duke of Troispilier would raise his hands, removing his helmet and showing the world that the very King of Troispilier, in his elder age past 5 decades, a young victor of the Battle of Carran would show his fighting spirit never diminished.
The Tourney had been a grand success, though the politics of the realms were never far away from honest sport. The mood was tense amongst some competitors seeing the Cennevethian knights who presented themselves, as some Yevians had grown wary of the zealots. Hansa-Aberonia was also notably absent, which was noticeably felt by their Berian allies when drunken Achenreichen nobles would boorishly ask them where their King could be found.
With the tournament ending, the final point totals had become added up, for even though there were individual prizes, entire fortunes were to be won by the teams themselves in their standings. While Astoria racked up the majority of points and standings, the true honour of the host was to award their guests as winners the prizes owed if they would meet or tie for the points following them. Emperor Erasmus decreed as an early wedding gift to his son Cassian, prior to the finalization of the chosen bride that he would give such wealth and generosity to those allies and friendly realms who came to enjoy the majesty of Astoria.
For many notables, and learned men, there was also discussion to be had, of the realization that perhaps the era of pain and decline has been setting on Yevia, and a new dawn is upon the peoples of the continents.
Winner of the Marksmanship Prize:
-10,000 Pfennigs, golden wreath
Astoria
Winner of the Grand Melee (4v4)
-25,000 pfennigs, Astorian silver-plated sword
Kastrovia
Royal Duelist (1v1)
-50,000 pfennigs, Shield of Astoria in Gold Leaf
Alpa
Emperor’s Joust
-100,000 pfennigs, Astorian warhorse (dappled grey)
Troispilier
<><><>
Winner of the Archery Tournament:
Astoria
Runner ups: Adon, Tabor, Fereshe
Winner of the 4v4 Melee Tournament:
Kastrovia
Runner ups: Pestin, Aretia, Herreria
Winner of the 1v1 Melee Tournament:
Alpa
Runner ups: Siliton, Adon, Astoria
Winner of the Jousting Tournament:
Troispilier
Runner ups: Deithe, Astoria, Toussaint
<><><>
Team Point Victors (each)
Adon: 500,000
Alpa, Siliton: 250,000
Aretia, Deithe, Tabor, Troispilier: 125,000
Overall Tourney Standings -
Astoria: 13
Adon: 8
Alpa: 7
Siliton: 7
Aretia: 6
Deithe: 6
Tabor: 6
Troispilier: 6
Beria: 5
Fereshe: 5
Kastrovia: 5
Pestin: 5
Toussaint: 5
Gilan: 4
Herreria: 4
Kosevia: 4
Achenreich: 3
Avignon: 3
Balurmark: 3
Cetora: 3
Cenneveth: 3
Theisselon: 3
Kokivania: 2
Parnoa: 2
Portucalense: 2
Vilant: 2
Teutonar: 0
Astaizia: 0
The aptly named Penveran Plague was rapidly responded to by the Kingdom of Alpa and Kingdom of Deithe.
Swift responses from the Kingdoms’ militaries, quarantines zones, and restrictions on travel prevented hundreds from catching this dark illness that destroys skin, corrupts the minds of deer, and caused men to collapse like babes.
Unfortunately however, not all Realms were as swift or as consistent in their enforcement of containing the Plague.
The Kingdom of Bréthon closed the Great Breytonnic Route from Karsten to Penveran and Alpa, but was lax in her security. Hundreds of Plague ridden refugees trickled across the border to her rural, Southwestern towns of Nomleven, Dalwen, and Beiganwy.
Hundreds have succumbed to the Plague as a result of Bréthon’s inaction, and the Realm must now contend with this great human loss. The town of Nomleven was especially hit hard, losing over 600 souls to this Dark Sickness.
Beiganwy and Dalwen were similarly damaged, losing over 400 and 150 souls respectively. In response, the local deer populations have been almost eradicated, attempting to stem the spread of this odd Plague.
Thankfully however, rather than spreading beyond the Southwest of the Kingdom, this Plague has burned itself away, either unable to subsist on the innocent any longer, or the Dark Gods that created it satisfied with the blood they have spilled.
Weslif on the whole however, can thank Alpa and Deithe for shielding them from the storm, or be thankful the Plague didn’t originate in their lands.
Merchants are now more suspicious of the likelihood of encountering dark fates if they venture to Penveran.
The Realm of Penveran has pledged to rebuild Amvered swiftly, and has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing or sin, despite Commoners wishing for the Nobility to take responsibility for the origins of this sickness.
Instead, the Duke is attempting to focus on the future. In addition, the Duke thanked the Kingdom of Alpa, which wrote a letter offering aid, which they will graciously accept.
Across the eastern shores of the Yevian continent, the Nordic realms have moved decisively to expel the faith of the so-called Illuminated, followers of the Illumination of Julianus. In Adon and Helvetia, organized Julianist presence has been formally outlawed, and adherents are being removed from towns, villages, and homesteads where they once lived openly. While the expulsions have largely proceeded in an orderly fashion, isolated incidents of resistance have occurred, with a small number of adherents choosing confrontation and martyrdom rather than departure, clashing with the King’s men of Helvetia and Adon.
In Neskir, however, the response has taken a markedly different course. The Queen of Neskir has publicly declared that religious violence will not be tolerated within her realm, yet she has refrained from acting against the Illumination itself. There have been no mass expulsions, no public suppressions, and thus far… no bloodshed in this small corner of Yevia. Neskir remains an uneasy island of restraint amid growing regional intolerance.
As there is expulsion elsewhere, many of the Illuminated have fled in search of refuge some toward Ivalen, others to distant kingdoms willing or able to receive them. Beyond Teutonar and Ivalen, reports of persecution remain limited, though uncertainty hangs heavy over the coming months. As Devana grants the land its spring, the question remains: what further reckonings will the thaw yet reveal?
Devana 490
As the cold winds slip in the northern shores, a handful of vessels from Kondodug set out on the much rejoiced voyage. After previous negotiations a decade previous with Teutonar, small virgin islands were to be transferred to the Republic. Their destination remains unknown, but the modest exploration flotilla could be seen loading soldiers, and not families to secure their new holdings in what people hear stories of a fabled paradise.
Once more the northern shores begin to open up, and the seas become timid for heavy coastal traffic as the scenery changes to hues of greens.
I cannot say where half these stories truly begin. Some come by the road, some by the docks, and some by men who lower their voices even when there is no one to overhear them. But all of them, lately, seem to end the same way: with talk of Cenneveth, and of the Light, and of these new men they are said to be loosing upon the world. They call them the Hounds of Illumination.
The name alone gives me pause. We have dogs enough already, barking in the streets, snapping at strangers. When men begin calling themselves hounds, it is usually because they mean to hunt something. Or someone.
From what I gather, the King of Cenneveth has raised this Order in answer to what he calls persecution of his faith. That is his right, I suppose. Every crown believes its own troubles are the worst, and every priest will tell you that the world grows darker just beyond his parish. Still, it is curious how quickly talk of protection becomes talk of pursuit. They say these Hounds are not conquerors. No banners raised, no lands claimed. They are meant to guard the faithful, escort pilgrims, and “seek truth” where lies are said to reign. I have heard that phrase before. It is often spoken by men who have already decided what the truth ought to be.
What unsettles me most is the way the stories travel. We are told these Hounds may come from anywhere, that a man need not live in Cenneveth to swear himself to them, and that some may remain hidden in their own lands until called upon. I do not know how one is meant to greet such a neighbor. With bread? With caution? With silence? The priests insist they are disciplined. That they strike only in defense. That their wrath is “measured.” Forgive me if I find this comforting only in theory. I have seen what measured wrath looks like once the measuring is done by those holding swords.
There is also talk, always talk of boys taken in young, taught to read, taught to obey, taught not to speak of what they see. Orphans of violence, they are called. Perhaps that is mercy. Or perhaps it is simply a way of making sure the hounds know no home but the leash. No one here has seen one of these men. No silver hound-heads, no flaming eyes. Only rumors, and the sense that something watchful has been set loose, even if it has not yet found its trail.
Maybe it will amount to nothing. Orders are proclaimed every year, and most fade into dust and parchment. But I have lived long enough to know that when faith arms itself and swears to follow a scent, it rarely admits when the trail has gone cold If these Hounds truly guard the innocent, then let them be welcome. But if they come sniffing through our affairs, asking questions none of us invited, I wonder whether they will know when to stop.
Dogs, after all, do not decide when the hunt is over.
As several decisions of King Dracomir IV of Kastrovia leaves his court, coordinated efforts focused on the pursuits of faith, education, and defense with the aim of strengthening unity and long-term security within the realm.
In the voivoideships of Torre and Bemen, charters were issued for the construction and expansion of existing castles. Strengthened walls, new towers, storage and accommodations are being expanded to support larger garrisons and act as more permanent lodgings for members of the Royal Family in these regions.
Further to the construction of new castles, Torre is also seeing an increase in the dispatch of the faith. The Church of Mocoš, the monotheistic faith of the realm that was born from the Slovanic Pantheon, seeks to expand its reach into the farthest reaches of the Kingdom. With the help of the local Voivoide, the Church is enjoying new levels of freedom, with expanded festivals to the Goddess and a spread of the faith. Word has specifically spread of the Wstalyas Bogdana of the Eastern Marches. A priestess and local, she has been active in many of the Eastern villages of the Torre Voivodeship, spreading the words of the faith and even teaching writing to local clergy.
Finally, in the royal capital of Tamišopol, not only has the construction of a new cathedral been consecrated, but the charters for three universities has also been decreed. Under royal protection and spiritual supervision, these institutions will be charged with the advancement of theology, administration, and engineering for the needs of the Kingdom. In Tamišopol, Rombor, and Lužin, the construction has begun of these new institutions - the first of their kind in Kastrovia.
To speak of Charesia is to speak of beauty tempered by distance. The archipelago, stretching across warm south-eastern waters, has become a canvas upon which several realms have begun to test their reach beyond the familiar shores of Yevia. Alpa, Tabor, Elysium, Troispillier, and most recently Pestin all maintain footholds among its islands, though in truth only a fraction of Charesia’s land has been claimed, let alone settled. Vast chains of green islands remain unmarked by banners, known only to sailors, birds, and the storms of the gods.
The region is often described as a tropical paradise to rival the most verdant coasts of Weslif’s Jagged Crown coastlines, and not without reason. The soil is rich, the rains frequent, and food grows with a generosity unknown in the temperate heartlands. Fruits, roots, and fish are abundant, and hunger is rarely immediate. Yet Charesia is not kind to permanence. Seasonal storms of great magnitude and fury sweep through the archipelago with little warning, undoing years of labor in a night, flattening wooden towns, shattering harbors, and scattering ships like bath toys in royal tubs. What is built must often be rebuilt, and memory here is short because the land insists on it. Many colonists claim this beauty is truly a cursed realm, why else would the gods not allow man to exist here previously?
Disease, too, is an ever-present companion. Tropical fevers move faster than rumor, and entire settlements have repeatedly been reduced in weeks by illnesses unfamiliar to physicians trained in cooler climates. The decades have been unkind to the litany of families who have settled the chain. Recovery is slow, especially when relief ships may take months to arrive. The dead are buried quickly, the living pressed back into labor, and the cycle resumes; as the sweet breeze rolls back.
Isolation defines life in Charesia as much as climate. The distances between islands are small but seem great, and the distances to the homelands greater still. Ships arrive irregularly, delayed by storms, pirates, or simple misfortune. Trade between colonies remains limited, and the archipelago lacks the dense networks of exchange that once allowed Yevia’s great cities to flourish. Tools wear out faster than they can be replaced, skills stagnate, and ambition is often narrowed to survival.
Population figures reflect this reality. Most colonial holdings remain small, rarely exceeding fifteen thousand souls. Tabor alone approaches a larger presence, its settlements the mightiest, sustained by more regular shipping and a heavier investment in maritime infrastructure. Even so, no Charesian colony yet rivals the splendor, complexity, or security of the great cities of the old world.
And yet, Charesia endures. Each rebuilding teaches lessons. Each voyage maps currents, winds, and shoals more clearly. Each generation born beneath palm and storm grows more accustomed to the rhythm of loss and renewal. The archipelago has not rejected settlement, but it may require patience, humility, and resilience in return.
For now, Charesia remains a place of promise unrealized: rich in land and peril alike, dotted with fragile towns clinging to the edges of vast blue uncertainty. Whether it will one day rival the heartlands, or remain a scattered frontier shaped more by nature than by crowns, is a question the sea has not yet answered.
By command of His Majesty King Dracomir IV, let it be known throughout town and country: a Grand Royal Tournament shall be held at summer’s end in the Year 491, in the fields near Tamišopol, in the proud style of Carvitorne where the King himself once took the field. Many are called to Kastrovia from throughout Weslif and the Central Sea!
Knights of all voivodeships are called to contest melee, joust, armed duel, archery, mounted courses, and wrestling, with prizes in coin and honor to be won. Alongside the contests shall be feasts, dances, processions, and a great carnival, open to all the people.
His Majesty shall attend in person, as patron and witness. Let arms be readied, mounts trained, and banners raised for strength, skill, and glory shall be proven before Crown and realm alike!