South Dia consists of mostly temperate forest land, with the southern parts being arid deserts. Summers in South Dia tend to be hotter, while winters are typically dry and not very cold.
Kingdom of Maakos
Named after Maakos, this kingdom highly worships in and is one of the few places where changelings are free and safe to be in their true forms. KoM is currently run by a human family. The king and queen are Alderic and Seraphina Veridianhart. They have four children, Lysandra, Caspian, Julian, and Morgana with Lysandra being the Crown Princess. Many changelings in these areas are out of touch for ones in other places, not having to use their powers for safety, but rather vanity and self discovery. Kingdom of Maakos, being an accepting Kingdom, is a melting pot for races, especially ones shunned and run out by the Divine Land.
The fashion is sleek, structured and elegant wear. Flashy, but not in a colorful way. The peasants wear more practical and less flashy clothes than the richer folks, but it tends to still be sleek and structured. The kingdom is rather clean and is usually decorated for several different events. Magic in the Kingdom of Maakos is not as heavily regulated and is moreso charged on the basis of other acts. So magic is fine as long as it is not used to commit crimes.
Maakos Castle - Castle/Capital
The Capital of Arkshire Kingdom, with the castle being in a highpoint in the back, visible from almost the entire city. Not as big as some other cities like Atri, Somnia, and KoM, but still a decent size.
A walled city that is mainly taken up by the castle and The Church of Dreams, which has small spots of worship for every Divine and Champion, aside from Ixdeus and Ia. They are bigger places of worship, however, for Neiphee, Avton, and Maakos. Rich lords, merchants, and nobles live in this city.
The Stasius - Temple
A temple near Maakos Castle that is dedicated to the changing of the seasons, having worship areas for Astasius, Naikomis, Vosleia, Marhi, and Neiphee. They hold festivals often, and plan exceptionally big ones for Days of Darkness, months of rest, and Days of Light.
Windswept Shore - Hamlet
A small farming town that contributes a lot to the Kingdom’s food supply. The lands are owned by the families that work there and in return for the land and a liveable wage they must give up a certain amount of their crop for the Kingdom. Has a nice pathway leading to the shoreline of the Sea of Dreams.
Rovenblade - City
A decent sized city that is located near Wispy Lake. Located in a rather lush forest, hardwood is a plentiful resource. Rovenblade grows a lot of cotton and has a number of seamstresses that provide clothing for much of the kingdom. The city is rather wealthy, but there is still a noticeable difference between the high class nobles and those beneath them, as they have a sprawling garden community they live in, separate from the lower end houses.
The policing presence in Rovenblade is more of a militia; some of the members of The Gauntlet of Rovenblade are part time, and there is little need for the use of force outside of intruders. Law in Rovenblade is reform-based, and those that breach the laws can expect fines, penalties, or work-release programs to provide them with the best possible chance to not become a recidivist.
Makan - Town
A large town near the coast of the Sea of Dreams. Has the ports for the Kingdom and therefore is a town built more on tourism and trading rather than producing many things themselves. Most of their produced items are created from ingredients imported or from other places in the kingdom. However, their biggest appeal is the nightlife in Makan. With festivals, hotels, and casinos making up a large portion of the town, most of the town’s economy is reliant on its tourism.
Emelle’s Rest- Town
A small town located across a river from Somnia, named after the wife of the individual who settled the town. The tensions between the two nations means this town is often on edge. Though Somnia is not the type to declare war, there have been disputes on what is owned by who. They settled on the river being a neutral zone. So as soon as something crosses over the river it is property of that side. They forage a lot for potion ingredients and also farm and fish using the nearby lake.
Nantal - Hamlet
Nantal is a village located near the bottom of the Wispy Lake. The village is mostly known for fishing and is a rather small, humble village. Due to a large number of guards and retired knights living in the village it has a good amount of resources and protection a small village like them wouldn’t typically have. Though the village is considered to be run by its citizens, a majority of the workable land is owned by nobles who owned manors in the village.
There's a decent policing presence, and citizens know better than to step out of line, as The Nantal Glove are armed. Despite this, brutality is rare, and citizens with nothing to hide have nothing to fear. Law in Nantal is punitive based, and those that breach the laws can expect hard labor, incarceration, fines, and sometimes exile.
Bayuuk Tribes
Typical Races Found Here: Humans, Dragonborns, Lizardfolk, Tieflings, Fire Genasi, Earth Genasi, Goblins
Formed by groups of kith from Iyoni's territories who did not agree with Probitist Divinism and preferred to worship Saevum Divinism. Went to the other side of Adatorm's gulf where the land was owned by the Kingdom of Maakos, but was yet to be developed. After an agreement of trade and cooperation, they were allowed to call the land their own.
Oirvani
On the other side of the river from the other two settlements, Oirvani is where most of the goods travel in and out of. They have a growing port and more recently started trading with Nautlis and have a standing trade with the Kingdom of Maakos. Most of the resources they can’t grow in the settlements come from trading.
Adhunith
A settlement mostly filled with skilled potioneers and healers. Adhunith uses the unique plants found in Phoenix Watch as well as imported ingredients to make high quality potions. Due to the skill and use of unique ingredients, potions and salves from Adhunith are thought by those aware of the settlements (and in good standing with them) to be the best money can buy.
Phoenix Watch
Located near the coast of Phoenix Bay, Phoenix Watch has unique sea life as well as plants that seem to live and thrive along the bay specifically. A lot of the dishes in Phoenix Watch would be considered “exotic” to other places and as these plants and seafood offer a very different flavor. These are often exported, and while they are a staple in Phoenix Watch and the surrounding settlements, they are considered luxuries in other places.
The Divine Land
The Divine Land takes up most of the area that is on the other side of what they call Divinity Lake. While all of Kaivem is highly religious, The Divine Land is the only region known in Kaivem to still be run by the church. The church in Somnia, the True Church, which is the second largest in Kaivem, makes up the government. Those in The Divine Land are expected to follow life by the way of the Divine. They shun advances in magitech and other technology and believe to be modest, kind, and temperament is important. Magic in the Divine Lands is believed to be left to only those with a “holy connection” and so it is unlawful for those not part of the church to use magic, outside of innate racial abilities.
Most of the Divine Land runs by a matriarchy, where women elders are typically considered in charge of most government and sensitive matters while men are expected to do the dirty work like labor.
Some forms of worship are banned in Somnia and punishment is typically church reformation or exile if discovered. Those that are banned in Somnia are as follows: Ia, Avton, Maakos, Ixdeus, Sases, Fireheart, and Saeval. It is said these bans are in place to keep those true to the virtuous expectation the “True Divines” have set for them, and to eliminate anything that could taint that way of thinking.
It is due to these bans that many races in The Divine are looked down on or straight up run out of the Divine Lands It is not uncommon for kith to keep their distance from changelings, tieflings, dwarves, gnomes, dragonborns, and lizardfolk. While dwarves, gnomes, dragonborn, and lizardfolk are often just ignored or disregarded, changelings and tieflings will have a worse experience in the Divine Land.
This happens more in the Capital of Somnia and the areas surrounding them. In Iyoni, Somnia’s sister city, and the towns located close by, there tends to be more acceptance of these races. The worship of the same deities is still banned, but dwarves, gnomes, dragonborn, tieflings, and lizardfolk will have a more tolerant experience in the desert mesa areas of the Divine Land. Changelings, however, will still face harsh scrutiny.
Those in the Divine Land, due to their values, are expected to dress modestly. While it is not a crime to disobey this, it would come with a large amount of criticism and the person would be shunned. Most consider modest just as covering the majority of the skin, with hands, feet, neck and head as the exceptions. However, there are some who cover their neck and heads as well. Those that are part of the church are expected to cover their neck and heads, however.
Somnia - Capital City
Where the True Church is, Somnia is considered to be the best place to live for those who want to stay true to the Divine’s virtues. The True Church is responsible for the education as well as the care and health of the citizens, which is taken very seriously. Health and sickness isn’t something that citizens in Somnia have to worry about often. Their virtues means that they are expected to care and nurture their neighbors like their family. Those who are sick, pregnant, or recently gave birth are not expected to work and are given free housing and food by the church. This is supplied by the True Church taking a portion of all produced in Somnia, though there is little complaint for this since it has helped many who have fallen ill.
The city is run by the Divinial, currently Aerdeth Liadon, who is the head of the church. Though the Divinal is at the top, they are expected to follow the Word of the Divine, and may be cast out of their leadership and even The Divine Lands if the church decides they are not fulfilling their role well. Decisions are often made by the whole church with the Divinal as the final say, except in the case of exiling the Divinal.
Eran - City
A city located near Divinity Lake, named after one of the virtues that is admired in the Divine Lands. Eran has its own small church that is used for service and healthcare. However it also has a library for education. The library is run by church officials, however, who teach there when they aren’t doing services at the church. The city has a good mix of fishing and hunting, as well as foraging in the Divine Forest. Due to their traditional values, old remedies and “divine” magic are used for healing.
Castasius - Town
A town named after one of the past Divinals of the True Church that is responsible for a lot of the way Somnia is run and is credited with forming the beginning of Probitist Divinism. The citizens of Castasius take care of the farms near the town, but the church owns the lands and takes what is produced for distribution, giving the families a liveable wage in exchange.
Ochirus - Village
A small village in the Divine Land that is located near Adatorm’s tower and has been battered by natural disasters that kith are insistent are the Divine’s rage, blaming it on the Lifelong Conflict. Though some have moved from Ochirus to the nearby town of Castasius, many stayed, with the claims they would be rewarded for withstanding what they think is a test from the Divine. The village is not very wealthy and most of it is barely supported by local foragables and support from the city of Somnia.
Adatorm’s Tower - Tower
A tower that was abandoned and renamed after a whirlpool formed in what is now known as Adatorm’s Gulf during the Lifelong Conflict.
Iyoni - City (Somnia’s Sister City)
Named after Volseia’s legendary phoenix, Iyoni is the sister city of Somnia and owns the towns in the Holy Desert. While more accepting than their sister city, Somnia, they still follow a lot of the same beliefs and values, since they are also part of the Divine Land. Their church, the Raised Church, is located atop a mesa in the heart of the city. The same deities are banned in this area and the Church is run by the Divinal, a Loxodon named Vesmova Twin-Tusk.
Lunaris - City
Located by the South Dia Sea, Lunaris holds the port for the Divine Lands. Most of their value comes with their location and the trades they do, however they also have a good fishing scene as well.
Leddu - Town
Located above Ionyi and close to the shore of the Blistering Ocean, Leddu is a very hot town. Most of the races in Leddu are those who are used to the heat. Despite the Divine Land’s unwelcoming nature towards them, Leddu does have a decent tiefling population. Since Leddu is too hot for some other races, tieflings are generally left alone in Leddu, though the town itself is rather poor for this reason. Most of what they need comes from Iyoni’s citizens who believe the Divine’s words spread to everyone, even those who are born of sin, and send excess resources over to help.
Irrahim - Town
Located near Iyoni Bay, Irrahim is a small fishing town that also serves as a place to rest for those going between Iyoni and Lunaris. With most of its money coming from its fishing, having a bigger workforce of fisher’s than Lunaris, as well as its taverns, inns, and shops being frequented by travelers.