Valdessia
Valdessia is a diverse and war-scarred world where magic and technology coexist in uneasy harmony. The land’s history stretches back to the Age of Creation, when the first glyphs were discovered, and forward into an age of steam, steel, and shadowed ambition. Kingdoms rise upon the bones of the old world, each vying for power, survival, or transcendence.
Geography and Continents
Valdessia spans five major continents, each shaped by unique climates, cultures, and histories:
Virelia – The heart of civilization. Home to the Rainecourt Kingdom, the Kelian Guard, the Lyrian nation of Lymeria, and the mountain-dwelling Kray. A continent of political intrigue, old magic, and technological revolution.
Ryokuzan – The northern continent, known for its tundras and disciplined warrior cultures. The Frostmarch Expanse and the Onishi Empire dominate this land of ice, honor, and conquest.
Thal’marok – A southern continent of dense jungles and forgotten ruins, where ancient spirits and modern explorers clash for control of relics and resources.
Tanzahar (The Dark Lands) – A cursed continent cloaked in eternal twilight. Ruled in part by the necrid clans (vampires) and liches of the Forsaken Realm, it is a place where life and death intermingle.
Thalorak – A cold, harsh southern land of forests, tundra, and mountains, home to human tribes, Kray citadels, Oni clans, and even giants. Trade routes connect its northern ports to Rainecourt and Nexus.
Magic and Technology
Magic in Valdessia flows from the Five Elemental Planes—Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, Time and Death—woven into reality through glyph work, the sacred runes that bind energy to form and function.
Parallel to this evolution is steam-tek, a fusion of invention and sorcery. Gears, pistons, and glowing Glyph enhanced cores power engines, airships, and automations. The greatest cities—like Nexus, the island capital of innovation—thrive on this merging of science and spellcraft.
Notable Nations and Powers
Rainecourt Kingdom – A powerful human monarchy of politics, pageantry, and secrets. Its alliances and rivalries shape much of Virelia’s balance of power.
Kelian Guard – A militaristic stratocracy where rank is earned by merit and battle, feared for its disciplined legions and massive forges.
Ironclaw Dynasty – A proud Oni nation blending shamanic magic with steam-driven war machines. Their alliance with the Komu Empire counters the ambitions of their rival, the Onishi Empire.
Komu Empire – A culture of elegance and precision, inspired by eastern philosophy and guided by both samurai tradition and mechanical innovation.
Onishi Empire – Tyrannical and ever-expanding, it seeks to unify the continents through force and glyph-bound supremacy.
Nexus – The great free city of trade, invention, and intrigue, governed by the Council of Twelve Guilds, each vying for control of commerce and creation.
Key Races of Valdessia
Humans – Adaptable and ambitious, found in nearly every nation.
Lyrians – Humanoids with animal aspects, divided into mammalian, reptilian, avian, and aquatic branches, each with distinct cultures and affinities for magic.
Kray – Dwarven-like mountain folk and master craftsmen of stone and steam. Some live as wandering rogues in urban “Prides.”
Oni – Strong, horned beings tied to shamanic power and ancient dragon traditions.
Necrid (Vampires) – Immortal predators born from blood pacts and forbidden magic.
Goblins – Human-like tinkerers with chaotic brilliance, building unstable marvels of steam-tek and mischief.
Current Era
Valdessia stands at the brink of a new age—one of invention, war, and awakening.
Whispers speak of relics from the Great Phylactery, of cults seeking dominion over the planes, and of ancient beings stirring from beneath.
Empires rise and fall, guilds scheme, and heroes are forged in the tension between progress and corruption.
Theme and Tone
Valdessia is a world of dualities: creation and decay, faith and doubt, humanity and monstrosity. Its stories explore how people wield power—be it magic, technology, or emotion—and what they’re willing to sacrifice to master it.
