Countries of Thelemar

The civilized world of Thelemar is divided among four great nations, a shared neutral port, and a handful of frontier and wilderness regions - all of them living in the long shadow of the fallen Empire whose collapse reshaped the world.

The Lexalian Republic

Formed as a union of the many tribes of the north under one ruler and the teachings of the Nordic Pantheon, the Lexalian Republic is a country of proud warriors, harsh environment, and constant struggle against the droves of monsters that plague the northern regions to this day. They fight not only for their own survival but for the future - to help the world endure Ragnarok, the Final Battle. It is a land of harsh laws, close-knit communities, and hope against all odds, ruled by those with the strength and will to prove it. The Tengu are reluctant members, holding near-total autonomy in their mountain heights.

The Holy Theocracy of Olympus

The eastern nation, formed after years of instability by priests who sought to better serve and worship the Greek Pantheon. It is a country of devotion and holiness, where the gods are the ultimate good and worship is as natural as breathing. In recent years its leaders have begun an anti-magic campaign, seeking to regulate and diminish all use of magic whose source is not the gods above.

The Kingdom of Clairnia

An old kingdom of intrigue and politics in the southeastern jungles and savannas. Ruled by many lords and divided into many fiefdoms, the royal court draws its legitimacy both from the support of those lords and from the One God, widely worshipped in these parts. Its vast, uncharted jungles hold many secrets and treasures, remnants of ages old and older still.

The Jaknian Conglomerate

The southern land of commerce, where business acumen and shrewdness carry one further than any magic or sword. A nation of merchants and entrepreneurs who worship the Egyptian Pantheon, it is home to the famed Great University of Nature and Magic (GUNAM).

The Hub

Bordering every nation and holding the only shore suitable for larger ships, the Hub is ruled by no single nation but controlled by all four together, with no independence of its own. A land of travelers and outsiders where cultures clash and merge, it has the identity of a separate country despite having no leadership of its own.

Wilderness and Frontier Regions

Pondeceit Forest

An enormous forest lying between the Hub, the Republic, and the Theocracy - the size of a kingdom in its own right. Its outskirts are settled by those seeking distance from society, but few ever venture deeper. The heart of the forest is a mystery, known only through tall tales and rumor.

The Arionian Islands

A vast chain of islands east of the Theocracy and Clairnia. Some are occupied by the kingdoms; others lie so far out that no one is sure what happens on their shores. The seas between them are a breeding ground for freedom-seeking, anarchy-sparking pirates and adventurers fleeing the monotony of the mainland for a chance at glory.

The New World

Little is known of the New World. On its shore, explorers built the city of Arcadia in 1531 - “New Beginning” in the old tongue. Its inhabitants include adventurers and explorers, but also renegade mages and criminals on the run. The few contacts with the locals reveal them to be Twisted Races not seen on the mainland.

Heart of the Empire - The Collapse

The heart of the Empire - the origin of The Collapse - remains uninhabited, beyond the Black Desert to the west of the Jaknian Conglomerate. It is a source of unparalleled magical energies that mutate and kill any who come too near, and so the riches and secrets of the Empire remain beyond reach. For now.

Appendix

See Also

• Bloodlines of Thelemar - the Half Bloods and the Twisted Races born of the Empire and its Collapse

Sources & Attribution

• Primary lore: editions/5e-2014/world/countries-of-thelemar.md (Traveler’s Guide, heading chain Origins of Thelemar → Countries of Thelemar), author TrueMichato.