The Lore: Geography
The Cursewood does not exist in a vacuum. Let’s talk about the geography of our setting!
Valdia
Our central setting. The territory of Valdia is mostly forested; it is almost interchangeably known as the Greatwood. It is Germanic in culture. Originally mostly inhabited by humans, it was conquered by the Elvish nation of Keva roughly 150 years ago. After an uprising by the locals, the region became too troublesome and expensive for the distant Kevan regime to control, and it became a Dukedom under the family of the woman who had led the rebellion.
The Duke’s castle lies at what is now the epicenter of the Curse. After the Duke and his family disappeared during the Ascension War, sovereignty over the now-cursed lands was given to an Orcish leader named Shieldeater - a solution to the problem of vast numbers of Orcish refugees, as well as the problem of a highly cursed forest no one wanted to deal with.
Due to the several generations with a heavy Kevan presence, elven and half-elven citizens are common. To the far north lies Sturmhearst University, where bird-masked scholars study ways to reverse the terrible corruption.
The Aquilian Empire
A long time ago, vast islands floated aloft above the continent, home to a powerful empire of Aarakocra. While most of the floating islands have fallen and their birdfolk residents are scattered or gone, Aquilian culture (similar to Roman culture in our world) remains a basis for culture and language throughout the continent.
The Aquilian Empire’s fall is closely associated with, and perhaps caused by, the death of their patron god Oberok.
The Draco-Aquilian Empire
An island nation full of Dragonborns; it sees itself as a successor to the classical Aquilian empire. The islands were, in fact, once the floating islands of the Aquilian Empire that have come back down to Earth. The culture is Greek by way of Byzantium. Its capital is Aurentium, the Golden City.
Keva
To the east lies the vast empire of Keva, mainly populated by elves. It is culturally based on Russia. Drow are a minority population. The ruling family is enormous, highly intermarried, and highly competitive over the throne.
Demionde
To the west lies Demionde, a proud and passionate (some might even say pompous) nation of predominantly halflings. It is culturally French, which is indeed a not-so-subtle Napoleon joke. Demionde is known for its brave, chivalrous knights who never back down from a challenge, never take an insult lying down, and ride giant war dogs into battle.
Galway
Further west is the island of Galway, this setting’s England. Gallish is not widely spoken on the continent - most Gallish traders who sail to the mainland learn the mainland’s languages. It is ruled by three queens.
Ventallus
Ventallus, to the south, is not a unified nation but a loosely allied group of territories belonging to various merchant princes. Generally Italian in culture, its exact borders are constantly in flux due to trading, conquering, strategic alliances, and general Borgia/Medici scheming among the merchant families. There’s gotta be at least, like, six popes.
The Crownlands
Small warring feudal human kingdoms to the south of the Greatwood. These city-states are too far from the wood to be affected by the Curse.
Jotunheim
Far to the north, in the Scandinavian-type lands, lies the realm of the Frost Giants. Residents of this land also include the hulking, grey-skinned folk covered in runic tattoos; called “Dwarves” in the language of the enormous Jotunn, they are known to the main continent as the powerful Goliaths.