Orbis (Continent)

"'Every inch of the ground beneath you lies swollen with history, do not let your arrogance omit yourself from understanding that we are but small pieces in a great machine which cogs have been turning for eons.'""— Ulvio the Scholar" Orbis, also known by a plethora of other denonyms by its inhabitants, is one of the largest continental landmasses in the world. For differentiation, the entirety of the World would colloquially be referred to as 'all Orbis' from an Orbisian's perspective, and refer to the continent itself simply as 'Orbis'.

The continent itself is flanked by both the Menning Sea to the west, and Raunna Sea to the east. The north of Orbis is connected to the freezing ice-plains of Hyronea, and to the south the continent of Terrus is separated by the Mountains of Tita.

The climate of Orbis is primarily affected by the warm currents from the Raunna Sea that temper Orbisian seasons. Even with this, Orbis is referred to as 'the coldest of the continents', with warm summers and freezing winters. Though with a particularly temperate climate, Orbis is most notably dotted with pines, crags, and foliage of boreal origin. These features only begin to fade when near drastic changes to biome.

The population of Orbis has been on a steady incline since the Fall of the Orbisian Empire, and the end of the Orbisian Golden Age, only decreasing at times of War, Plague, Famine, or other factors. While the exact population of Orbis is unknown, an educated estimate would be placed around 400,000,000 million inhabitants on both mainland Orbis, and neighboring isles. Sprawl within urban centers is common, with the largest city on Orbis, Verone, having 2 million inhabitants in it's immediate locale.

Orbis is also reputed with being the second oldest continent, second to Terrus. Much of the landscape had been relatively unscathed by the transition of the Untold Eras to the First Era, making the land rich with untouched artifacts from the preceding millennia. The Rennite Mountains in particular being rumored by more skeptic and unorthodox philosophers of holding ancient Aólochi relics, and remains a topic among the most prestigious colleges, and megalomaniacal rulers.

The political landscape of Orbis has always been in a state of change from the Untold Eras to current day. Orbis during the First Era was particularly infamous for their 'Midnight Kingdoms' - nations that would form and crumble seemingly overnight. It was only during the Second Era with Titus's Conquest of Orbis did prominent Orbisian cultures and permanent nations begin to form in defiance of foreign occupation. While Titus's Conquest of Orbis was ultimately successful, many scholars from both the Empire itself, and modern Orbis feel this triumph was in occupation only.

When Titus's Empire fell, the subjugated nations of Orbis succumbed to excessive wars with themselves. The Third Era for Orbis is reputed with being one of the bloodiest in history, with famine and plague commonplace. This infighting would only be resolved at the end of the Third Era, with the unification of Orbis and the Treaty of Renaut, which led to the establishment of the Orbisian Empire. Much like Titus's Empire, the Orbisian Empire ruled in name only, never able to centralize it's power due to the sheer strength of it's member states. Knowing that unifying Orbis was impossible, the Empire instead indulged in what problems it could solve - such as famine, plague, and the advancement of technology. While internal wars ravaged the Orbisian Empire, it's legacy left behind immeasurable scientific, cultural, and philosophical information that has gone on to shape much of all Orbis, and solved Orbis's greatest question - that unification of Orbis was a fruitless endeavor.

In an event that is now lost to time, the Orbisian Empire would fall, and what would once be the brightest days devolved into the darkest nights. What would follow this would be the catastrophic War of Centuries, a great series of conflicts stemming from the power vacuum left by the Orbisian Empire. While many of the nations looked down upon the poor administrative capabilities of the Empire, they each sought to reforge and replicate it's magnitude in their own way.

While the War of Centuries would wax and wane in it's destruction, the war was nigh concluded near the start of the Fifth Era. The great nations of Orbis would look back at this time of turmoil, and many would look at their cultural neighbors not with overwhelming prejudice, but with a wary - but welcoming - demeanor. While war was still fought during the Fifth Era, it's scale had shrunk. This general demilitarization of Orbis would not prove in Her favour, as on the year of 926 of the Fifth Era, Bretland sought an unprovoked war of conquest of the Orbisian continent. Ill prepared and overestimating their immediate success, the leaders of Orbis not only fought against Bretland but also sought to turn on their countrymen.

The aftermath of the Bretish-Orbisian War rests as a wound that had never healed for many Orbisians. While the Empire of Bretland never was able to consolidate their dominion over Orbis, their occupation has not been shaken since the Treaty of Acrevine. After the end of the war, many of Orbis's neighbors took advantage of the now fractured and demoralized nations of Orbis. Sabora launched a similar War of Conquest against south-eastern Orbis, occupying the lands of Cherrus, Gotha, Lavonia, and Pracea. The remnants of Titus's Empire, long disorganized, would unite under a single banner since the Harken Days to reclaim Romikka and Orbis for their Second Empire of Terrus. Orbis now stands at a crossroads, not met since the Untold Eras, resting on the shoulders of bold heroes, cunning strategists, and daring scholars to reclaim or destroy a legacy unhindered.

History
"'Spilt in vain, blood flows from the tallest mountains, to the darkest caves. The future decided, there will be no reward won through our pain, for all is pre-ordained; every outcome decided. In a hundred years or a thousand, Aóloch and his followers will return, and naught but a whimper shalt be heard from a trillion souls.'" "― Transcript from the Eréyeuldé Stone in Rennas, Author Unknown"Spanning hundreds of thousands of years, the history of Orbis is one fraught with unending warfare, political cunning, technological advancements, and ultimately phases of regression that nigh reset all progress. With this reputation, Orbis has earned an infamous aura around it, often called the 'land of martyrs', or the 'lands of vain blood' (from Rennite accounts). To further complicate the history of Orbis, much of the written accounts have been destroyed intentionally or not by nations and people forgotten by time.

It should be understood that due to the abundance of discrepancies and contradicting accounts recorded from the Untold Eras to the Second Era regarding Orbisian History, that different cultures favour certain accounts as truth more heavily. The most widely accepted historical analog has been conducted by the Rexrenai Philosophers of the Old Kingdom of Rennas.

The Untold Eras
"'There are nights when I lay to rest, I close my eyes, and I see a sword, twice mine own height, and burning. I know not why I am afeared of such an occurance, but my neck-hairs stand up, and I'm as cold as steppin' in my mornin' tub.'""― Unknown, account written by Physician of Count Morar ad Gaithe, Curssor Isles"While the Untold Eras were undoubtedly longer compared to the Standard Eras, their history has been shrouded in mystery for millennia. Dedicated research into the Era began after the formation of Imperial Colleges during the reign of the Orbisian Empire, and archeological digs began soon after. Though it has been several millennia since the Orbisian Empire fell their Imperial Colleges endured, recovering fragments of information at a steady, but underwhelming pace.

Information recovered and analyzed is poorly understood at best, with many scholarly circles and universities discrediting archaeological artifacts from the period with animus. Because of this discrepancy, many colleges are unwilling to cooperate with each other regarding the era, and sects of thought differ from nation to nation.

To further complicate matters, any accounts about Orbis from the Untold Eras depict the disappearance of shorelines to the downright sinking of continents as common occurrence. Orbis as a continent is not written of or described during this period, leading philosophers and scholars to question knowledge on the era itself.

The First Era
"'Bloodied were the men who returned from the Greatest War, with all matter of wound both physical and mental. Their faces, held in sorrow and rank with the stench of sweat would only break when Renaut, Saviour of All would raise his burning sword over the chasm of Borum Hkadt, and let slip of it from his fingers. He spoke that no longer would we bear remnants of the Untold and all Men and Women cast all but loincloth to the Borum Hkadt.'"The beginning of Orbis's history is universally recognized between the end of the Untold Eras, and the start of the First Era. Exact accounts are unknown as to this transition in particular, leaving many scholars with theories regarding the intermission period.

The oldest artefacts recovered from the period was pottery from the Gauchvinioid Dynasty, found in the a cave within the Boldemad Vale. The Gauchvinioidi, being present as one of the founding tribes of Orbis are dated to have existed sometime between 0 FE to 286 FE, marking this discovery as one of the oldest precursor artefacts ever recovered. Any other artefacts dating further back have disappeared, sowing further theories and distrust among the minds of scholars across Orbis.

March to Brêgan Morr and Arrival at New Orbis
After the final battle of the Wars of Yore, Renaut gathered what little remained of the lesser races, totaling between 10,000 - 100,000 and began his march to the sea. The route of which was the peninsula of Brêgan Morr, likely on the western coast of the Forgotten Land. By this time the true effects of the Wars of Yore was in full display, and many oral records surviving into the First Era depict the gruesome aftermath of the land. Corpses of friend and foe, both old and new would lie strewn across the ground, oft with oceans of bent spears and broken souls.

A passage from the last Glendir Tablet describing the exodus

"... air was held high with the stench of bloodshed, yet none seemed to pay heed. Gronnd motioned his arm to Craggor whom was marching next to him, yet there was no response. A millennia of war, a lifetime of strife, and perhaps for his first moment, Craggor's mind held something other than bloodshed. What was held I shall never know. This, the case of all us, the last 10,000 of Aurobis, last of Renaut. What peace in our minds would we know in the future? I shall never know."

The March to Brêgan Morr was a silent migration, no battles were recorded and excerpts from the Glendir Tablets depict this moment as one of silent solace. Approximately a month into the migration the sound of a great applause of thunder was heard, and for the next decade ash rained from the sky, and the fields were flooded in a slurry of corpses, rainwater, and ash. This event at the time was unanimously seen as a final attempt by the Aólochi to demoralize the lesser races, but more rational scholars see this event as the eruption of Shadushar Hathi.

Once Brêgan Morr was reached, Renaut ordered the construction of a fleet of 24 serpent-ships, each attained to the prominent tribes of Old Orbis. As the construction endured, Renaut would order his personal retainers to remain to light the path to the freelands for any that remained. Unbeknownst to Renaut or the Lesser Races, this would be the last pact shared between them. The seas would shatter Mankinds unity, and the great tribes would fall apart on the shores of New Orbis. The Drouggi, unable to replenish themselves in number and faltering to establish themselves would fade into history. The Aelvi, while retaining semblance of their past would fall into petty wars. Renaut would never arrive, his disappearance the greatest question held in history.

The Lost Era / Great Interregnum
From the foundation of Titus's Empire to the Present Day scholars debate over the validity of much of the Untold Eras. Passed down through stone engravings and oral tradition much of the pre-history of all Orbis has been repeatedly discredited and recredited which has led to schisms between scholarly universities, with each person on Orbis with their own interpretations.

A theory credited much by more progressive minds, the Lost Era tells the tale that Mankind had always existed on all Orbis, and had slowly developed as a society and culture, with technological discoveries coming to light over the passage of time. The oral tradition and history of Renaut manifesting as nothing more than early tales of virtue and honour. Ulrid of Parthe in particular proclaims that the Aelvi and Aólochi were the same beings, stating that the Aelvi held a considerable technological advantage over early Mankind and likely enslaved them.

However, the conventional and much more widely accepted theory was that, after a sundered arrival on the shores of New Orbis, lacking the direction and single-leader that the Lesser Races had for millennia, would eventually regress in varying forms of cultural, technological, and sociological degeneration.

Regardless of theory, this period in Orbisian history was marked with immediate and excessive conflict. Mankind would scour across every parcel of land on the new continent for land, wealth, and food. The Drouggi would settle in the Sesser Mountains, but would revert to a tribal state until eventually fading from history. Only the Aelvi would establish themselves, but after the death of Boviliare, King of Sarnon Haith, would split into a plethora of petty kingdoms and city-states.

Despite their regression of societal state, aswell as the loss of knowledge gained over the millennia, Mankind endured. Twenty Tribes would establish dominance over new Orbis and of this a great confederation would form. While the boons of this confederation are lost to time, the consequent fracturing of it led to a series of wars that led to the mass exodus from New Orbis to their outlier continents. The shattering of this alliance led to the domination of five great tribes on the continent of Orbis. While their span was modest, the tribal state Mankind had reverted to stunted development of cities, and a period of infighting followed. Over time, these great tribes splintered into thousands, each vying and faltering for primal dominance of the new land.

While Mankind incandescently fought between themselves, the Drouggi residing in Human settlements faced endless prosecution at the hands of ambitious chieftains. A kinship once united in a hopeless situation shattered as the few remaining Drouggi were driven from the presence of Mankind.

Culture
"'Your era hath come, thine charter is clear, the destiny of Mankind in their own hands. Through nothing, you may now become something, at long last. Hark unto these days when the night is darkest, when the sun does not shine, when defeat appears certain - that your fate may be forged anew.'""― Unknown, though likely the last words spoken by Renaut before his departure"

Inhabitants
"'He's gone cold, corpse paler than a Hyronean.'""― Unknown"Orbis is host to a range of diverse inhabitants - though these inhabitants are bound by general, common culture and background. While Orbisians find themselves at war with themselves, they hold a mutual animosity toward continental outsiders, and many invasions from abroad have been halted by combined national efforts. These alliances are short-lived, but are often fabled and well-recorded - thus leading to a common belief amongst Orbisians - that an alliance will not form of their own free will, but only under the direst of circumstance.

From the Northlands of Skaania, Vesdeland, and Hyronea to the Mountains of Terrus and Romikka, Orbisians across the breadth of the continent usually champion tribalistic tendencies, and unless their occupation demands it rarely stray from their family, community, or nation. The mere action of speaking a foreign tongue amongst a group of Orbisians is enough to warrant disgust from commoners, while higher nobility are more accepting of other Orbisian nationals.

In mythological terms, the Orbisians are descendants of the twenty tribes of Mankind that fled the lost continent of Argess with the Aelvi, Drouggi, and their savior, Renaut. At this time, early Mankind was hard to distinguish physically from modern Mankind, so much so that historians and paleontologists refer to Man at this time as their own subrace, called Mennings, Menlings, or Manlings. After recovering from their eternity of enslavement, Mankind would begin to slowly change physically into more impressive beings, with less physical and mental deformities at birth, and now with steady supply of met needs, such as food, water, and shelter. From this, young Mankind would begin to flourish on their new land, which they named Orbis - an ode to their Gods' previous name, Aurobis.

Appearance
Orbisians vary considerably in appearance, with their most uniform trait being their skin, which varies from very pale to light olive. Historians conclude that, sometime during the First Era, following a series of catastrophic events, wars, and migrations, that the interbreeding between Men and Aelv combined their phenotypes - of which - the pale skin of the Aelvs carried over to become commonplace across the whole of Orbis. This is not to say that young Mankind and Mennings did not have fair skin, as historians believe that their complexion was olive in colour at the onset of the Untold Eras. Other traits from the Aelvi that carried over are largely inconclusive, though it is regarded that Mennings were shorter in appearance, stockier, and more muscular, standing at about 5 foot, with exclusively light brown, brown, or black hair.

Modern Orbisians are often classified into four groups for their phenotypes, Northern Orbisians, Middle Orbisians, Lower Orbisians, and Rennites. Northern Orbisians inhabit the lands north of Vaedisia, Gerlonde, and Pevia, such as Skaania, Hyronea, and the fractured Kingdoms of Vosst. Middle Orbisians inhabit of the nations of Franika, Bretland, Vaedisia, Gerlonde, and most outlying islands. Lower Orbisians inhabit the nations of Menneia, Romikka, Terrus, and the former lands of Varsutte, now occupied by the Saborans. Rennites, despite being situated in the heart of Orbis, display their own special phenotype, rationalist philosophers and historians across Orbis cannot determine why, but most historians believe that this phenotype is descended from Renaut himself, hence their name.

Northern Orbisians
Northern Orbisians consist mostly of the territories of Skaania, Hyronea, Vosse, and other lesser nations, though some Northern Orbisians do not particularly resonate with any of these nations aswell, simply known as 'Northmen'. In general, Northern Orbisians have pale to fair skintype, usually with blonde, red, ginger, or light brown hair, and with blue, green, hazel, or amber eyes. Brown eyes are particularly uncommon in Northern Orbis, leading to village superstition in Skaania, regarding those with them as 'having blackened souls'.

Skaanians are the most stereotypical of the 'Northern Orbisian' phenotype, and ontop of having these traits are particularly robust and strong of muscle and bone. Skaanian men are insulted for their large, angular noses by disgruntled southerners as '77 angled' - in reference to the degrees on a halbacir. In addition, Skaanian men are exceptionally hairy, boasting large - often braided - beards, helping warm their face from the constant cold winds of the deep north. Skaanian women are oft insulted by other women of southern nations for acting too manly and uncouth, though those Skaanian women that do participate in warfare are exceedingly low. Otherwise it may be the famous writings of Iocaster, Lord-Scribe of Titus's Court, who describes the northerners in a series of accounts. "... of which, the Northwoman of the bronze tribes display themselves of great determination, and of hearty stock, the most willing and capable of all women of Orbis to defend her home and her hearth."

Hyroneans are heavily debated amongst the scholars and philosophers of the many institutions across Orbis in needing their own category of phenotype due to their glaring differences compared to other Northern Orbisians. Hyroneans are characterized by their extremely pale, almost ghostly, snow-like skin and near universal eye-colour of bright amber. Their hair is often very light, almost always ginger, red, or blonde. Their faces are sharp and angular, with high-set defined cheekbones, and their brows are thick and hairy though never merging. Hyronean legend states that they were the first of the tribes to abandon the nascent southern nations under the jurisdiction of Renaut when they arrived on Orbis, at the onset of the First Era. Kazare har Oricaar led his people into the deep north, and over time became close friends with the Aelvi and remaining Drouggi. Hyroneans, despite becoming more 'tame' over the long millennia are thought to retain ancient traditions hailing from the Untold Eras, because of this they are subject to persecution the further south they go.

Vossites are considered the bastard child of Northern and Middle Orbisians, as they occupy the forested taiga and tundra below Skaania and Hyronea. According to archaeological evidence and historical texts, the early tribes of Vossites that would come to occupy the taiga were closely related with the Aelvi of the region, and after Aelvish cataclysms, are thought to have directly intermingled with their Human populace. Scholars regard Vossites as having the most 'Aelvish Blood' running in their veins of all groups across Orbis. While they do not possess the stereotypical sharp ears or keen eyes of the Aelvi, they have inherited their colour of hair, eye, and diamond-like facial features. Vossites, like the rest of Northern Orbisians, stand particularly tall with their men at around 6 foot average (183cm), and women around 5 foot 9 inches (175cm), though this number does deviate often.

Other nations, clans, and tribes do exist across the north of Orbis, though the Skaanians, Hyroneans, and Vossites are among the largest groups in the region, and amongst their kingdoms. Other Northern Orbisian groups include the Venndigs, Posnans, Orilites, Fyndigs, Ieropes, and Rybans, to name a few. The majority of these cultures display near uniformity in height, eye colour, hair colour, and facial structure. Northern Orbisians are also regarded as the group that interbred most with the Aelvi, following a series of Aelvish cataclysms during the First Era, and thusly inherited the bulk of their traits.

Middle Orbisians
Middle Orbisians are the most numerous 'type' of Orbisian, primarily occupying the nations of Franika, Vaedisia, Pevia, Gerlonde, and other smaller kingdoms and duchies. Middle Orbisians have white, fair skin, with all variety of brown, blonde, red, and ginger hair. Most men stand between 5'10 - 6'0 (177cm - 183cm), with women standing about 5'5 to 5'8 (165cm - 172cm) though these numbers vary often. Their eye colour ranges drastically, though are usually shades of blue, green, amber, hazel, and light brown, very few may have a light red eye colour. Middle Orbisians, like their northern brethren, have inherited a myriad of Aelvish traits during the First Era, gradually shedding their more prominent Mennling traits over the long millennia.

Franikans hold the most diverse variables of traits due to their proximity with Menneia and relatively good relations. While Franikan nobility are often unblemished and famed for dashing noblemen and beautiful damsels, small villages and hamlets are often neglected and their unfortunate populace having physical deformities. These deformities can vary from hand-sized blightmarks, goosepock, and unsightly warts to leprosy and Rynweald's disease. Thankfully, these hamlets are rare, and Franikan lords are quick to 'remedy' a solution for these people, as having a blighted fief in your realm is seen as an ill omen. The only 'unique' trait that Franikans exhibit is a bump in the center of the nose, just below the sellion. Though this nose blemish can be seen in every culture across Orbis, the bump has been called a 'Ranic' - a bastardization of the word 'Franik'.

Vaedisians display many of the common traits found among Middle Orbisians, though these phenotypical traits hold cultural and societal factors amongst the general populace. Eye colour plays a strong role in Vaedisian social politics, with the colours foretelling the destiny of the person.