Breme: The Magic Steppes
Horses whinny as they race across the grass-swathed steppes, followed by tireless wolfhounds chasing down prey.
The bustling capital city, Bewerian, is a magnet for both the settled populations and the nomadic people of the Windswept, a mysterious enclave reserved for those who refuse to assimilate. As the Great Gold River births itself from the lofty peaks of the Rimuk Mountains, it carries superstition about spiritual caves deep below the earth.
Every stone, every stem seems to whisper with High Poetry, Breme’s native magic system gifted by an unknowable goddess. Here, poems are mortar, forge, and medicine, offered up by the all-female High Poet Society to protect their countrymen. Stanzas cement houses, and similes are folded into sword steel. Many citizens owe their lives to these women, who use their powers to heal broken bones or suture serious wounds.
But life is not easy here, nor is it without strife. Every spring, the heavens batter Breme with furious rainstorms, while winter brings impassable snowdrifts that trap people for days. Summer and fall are for growing, trading–and fighting the enemy Sinans at the Rimuk Pass.
Besides the High Poet Society, the Bremish Army is most exalted among citizens, as they’re the only bulwark against the rampaging country across the mountains. Boys as young as eleven are subjected to rigorous training at the War Academy; children surrendered by their parents can join the Future Boys at age six, where they are forced to perform manual labor while they await entrance. Still others support their families as farmers, couriers, or apprentices for the trades.
A love of poetry does not mean the populace has equal access to literacy; many can barely spell their name. Yet all would fight and die for their country if necessary. And many have.
Sina: A Watery, Royal Land
The Melinun Sea feeds this country with commerce, seafood, and information.
Dolphins play in the spray from creaking vessels laden with exotic goods; Sina’s singing frogs serenade the wetlands. This nation has sometimes been called the land of music thanks to its amphibian symphonies, where one can tell their location by the frogs’ tunes.
Vibrant international trade from nations around the world has enriched Sina’s royal family and created a large population–but not necessarily a comfortable one. Education is fiercely guarded lest the common rabble revolt, and the most well-paying jobs are in the military. Young men are sent to die for their country at the Rimuk Pass, but few know the reason for this continual war.
The ambitious Aina dynasty, whose royal ancestry dates back to the nation’s founding, seeks power beyond its borders. Excellent trade relations and technological advancement are not enough; the country needs more agriculture and precious minerals. Though its navy is well-equipped to overtake other island countries, the queen has set her sights on somewhere much closer: Breme.
This hermit nation remains a steady thorn in the queendom’s side as their ragtag army continues to dominate the technologically superior Sina. The reason for this lies in High Poetry, a marvelous power the queen seeks for herself. Through research, subterfuge, and careful planning, she’s identified a potential solution to her problems, though one that will come at a serious cost. Someday, she’ll uncover the secret of this magic and learn if the fairytales are true.
Eirenen is home to many other lands, offering endless exploration.
While Breme and Sina are the stunning backdrops to the Eirenic Verses, this vast world has numerous other countries, all with their own culture, geography, and traditions. One can imagine their societies, dream of their connections, and, perhaps, make some stories of one’s own.