EMPYREPEDIA

History

Trade

Common Monetary system

● Copper Bit: This coin is the smallest monetary unit. Alone, the Bit has almost no purchasing power and could perhaps purchase a clothing button, some thread, or a pretty river rock. Twenty-five Bits could buy a fresh loaf of bread. Fifty Bits could buy a large, whole fish.

● Bronze Kili: There are 10 Bits in 1 Kili. One Kili could buy half a (stale) loaf of bread, a lantern (oil not included), or a small fish (that could feed one child).

● Silver Talons: There are 10 Kili in 1 Talon. One Talon could buy 500 grams of iron ore, a bushel of apples, or a piglet.

● Gold Chronos: There are 10 Talons in 1 Chronos. One Chronos could buy an iron spear, two-dozen arrows, or a billy goat. The cost of boat travel is 2 Chronos.

● Empyrean Gigaments: There are 10 Chronos in 1 Empyrean Gigament. This coin is rarely used among the common folk. One Empyrean Gigament could buy a steel sword, a fruit-producing bonberry push, or a cow.

Other Currencies & Trade System

Miscellaneous currencies include: rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, Binicorn horns (extremely rare and high in trading value), Woolymath tusks (rare and worth 100 Gigaments). The people of the country trade a wide variety of goods and services. Depending on vendor value, people trade jewelry like pendants, watches, bracelets, and other valuables for food, travel, and other goods and services. Some small villages prefer to barter items/services of their trade rather than use money. For example, someone in a village might trade some fish for apples.

The elven, dwarven, centaur and fairy kingdoms subsist entirely on trade and social systems.

Elves and fairies are particularly fond of plants and growing their own food. Both groups are skilled in healing and medicine. Each of these kingdoms lives symbiotically with the land. Their societies thrive together on the ideal “it takes a village.” They share chores and tasks with one another to care for the community as a whole. Most elves and fairies care little for worldly possessions. They tend to clothe themselves with simple clothes and leaves; they keep minimalistic dwellings. Though fairy dust is an expensive, rare commodity to the rest of the world, a fairy wouldn’t dream of giving this precious dust away for any price.

Dwarves care particularly little for physical wealth because their mines are rich in jewels and minerals. They used to venture out to trade their precious mined goods for other goods and services. Since the fall of the Empyrean Kingdom, though, they have preferred to keep to themselves. A few grog brewers still venture out to sell this alcohol and hear tales from afar. Grog is a huge specialty of the dwarves, known throughout all the lands of Sadunia. The grog traders return to the mountain to share their (exaggerated) stories with their people. Dwarves tend to have a skewed view of the outside world because of these tales and stories of the Great War.

Centaurs are tent makers, boat makers, armorers, and carpenters by trade. They trade natural resources from the land and materials like cloth, leather, metals, bronze, silver, gold, etc. They also hunt and fish.

The merfolk trade sea resources like shells, pearls, and other shiny treasures they find in the water. They have a rudimentary monetary system that is almost entirely self contained. Occasionally, merfolk trades with a sailor for forks, spy glasses, and glass vials.

International trade

 
Few travelers trade between cities because roads are so dangerous, lurking with Lucient’s spies and minions. Small towns rarely or never see outside traders.

Goods and services traded

 
Fish, farmed goods, and livestock are traded internally. Whaldalf Landing is lucky because Mrs. Davenrich, Adena’s mom, offers medicine and healing services, which are rare.
Usually, in most villages, whoever cares for the sick/hurt livestock acts as a” doctor”; for the people. At least one midwife, or person relatively qualified to help with birth, resides within walking distance of even small villages. But sometimes someone must travel to a town to retrieve a qualified person.

Socio-economic Classes

Wage Class Gaps

 
There is a significant gap between the rich and the poor. There are very few rich because most of the royal family was killed in the Great War. The wealthiest people of Empyrea were once nobles of the kingdom. Since the war, their ranks have held only formal titles, variously respected by the people of their land, with no royal sway.

Civilization

 
The civilization of the country of Empyrea first began when Orealus chose the Rosenhelm line to rule as a royal judge over his chosen people. Since ancient times, a long line of benevolent and powerful leaders helped their people prosper under the teachings of Orealus. This royal family led the pillar leaders of the tribes of fairies, centaurs, etc., and non-tribal humans. These kingdoms and humans spread out over the country and flourished. However, when Lucient defeated Karatheas in the Great War, this event shattered the empire. Now, pillar leaders rule their separate kingdoms with seldom communication between them.

Description of Geographic Areas

 
Most people live in urban areas except for some small, rural villages and remote tribal kingdoms.

Class system

 
The class system of humans was based on feudalism with royals and nobles, but the system fell apart when the kingdom fell. Villages, towns, and cities defaulted to managing themselves with internal leadership. Now, the levels of citizenship are entirely based on wealth, with the formal titles holding little sway outside of their monetary influence. When Lucient shattered the kingdom, he set up his neglectful leadership from his castle in Talaifotia. His minions sow chaos throughout Empyrea, especially on unguarded roads and lands between major cities.

Slavery

 
Lucient and his minions have enslaved the giants as a threat of manpower to harness over the country. He enslaved them for the Great War and has kept them in shackles ever since as one of many means to keep his power.

Social Mobility

 
Social mobility is next to impossible. At the most, someone may be exceptionally talented or skilled at a trade and move into the middle class. Generational wealth is where the majority of the country’s wealth lies.

Education

Formal Education

 
The only formal education is for wizards and the rich. Most families utilize folktales and songs as means to teach lessons. Few households use homeschooling only if they find education worthwhile, which most people don’t. The ordinary people focus on teaching their trades, like farming and hunting. The centaurs use coming-of-age and community rituals; the fairies and elves teach about the wonders of nature and the land. Children pick up their families’ trades as soon as possible to support family income and/or their sustenance from hunting/gathering.

Formal education is only available to wizards and the rich. The lower class usually learns folktales, songs, and trade secrets/skills they are expected to memorize and pass down. The middle class learns the same as the lower class but reads at an elementary level, usually just for work and passing messages. The upper class learns to read and write but mainly for the sake of tradition; they are not graded other than pass/fail at private schools or while tutored. Even homeschooling is a rarity.

Written language

 
The most widely spoken, written, and read language is Common. Fairies speak faelish. Centaurs speak Wap’Too. Wood elves speak, read, and write L’eldrian. Ogres speak Jonbar. Goblins speak Guktash. Dark elves speak, read, and write Drubata. Trolls speak Yumkoian. Dwarves speak, read, and write Khek̈ùl. The merfolk speak Ititken or itik. The satyrs speak S’Durnen or sdurne. Lucient and his fallen serpent army speak an unknown ancient language. All of the creatures speak common, along with their native language.

Literacy

 
The vast majority of people are illiterate. Not all cultures keep written records.

Schools

 
The wizard institute feels like a mystical, imaginary fantasy. It used to rely on funding old money from the crown, which is no longer flowing. The wizards now rely on not being taxed by the city and research funds from donors who believe in the importance of wizards and the continuation of Orealus’s teachings. Though their building is splendid, they lead modest lives with only their basic needs covered. Just a few private boarding schools are in only the largest cities. These are large, crown-created entities with ancient architecture. Their funds come from the families who pay for their children’s education.

The non-wizard schools aim to teach the wealthy to read, write, and do math. This education is a status marker and used for large-business owners’ children to learn accounting and business. There are no trade schools; apprenticeships teach trades.

Employment

A soldier’s income was once twice as much as the middle class’s average job. During wartime, they received an additional bonus per paycheck, which varied based on position. Soldiers previously performed hazardous and prestigious work, but now city governments mainly pay them as guards. Usually, their salary is a quarter percent higher than the middle class’s average job. The peril and prestige of a soldier’s job in this post-war age depend entirely on their city.

Other than beggars and illegal endeavors, lowly jobs include farm/stable hands (employed freelance by farmers), errand-runners (employed freelance by various people), shoe polishers, and janitors/custodians.

Common Jobs

Some typical jobs include farming, fishing, hunting, and other trade jobs like blacksmith, cooper, tailor, basket-weavers, bakers, butchers, and tanners. The average lower-class citizen’s (farmer or worker) monthly earnings in the world of Sadunia, except for tribal lands (humans only), is about (200) Silver Kili. This number is doubled for middle-class citizens.

Average lower-class citizen monthly expenses in the world of Sadunia, except for tribal lands (humans only), are as follows:

● Food and provisions: (45) Bronze Kili
● Rent and/or taxes: (135) Silver Kili
● Misc: (15) Bronze Kili
● Total: (195) Bronze Kili

These numbers are up to double, depending on the property size and affluence of the area.

Professional Guilds/Institutes/etc.

There are a few professional guilds in medium- to large-sized cities. Additionally, Lumhagen has a learning institute for its wizards, the only one in this world. Schools are a rarity and only private entities in the wealthiest cities. The few affluent families of this country will hire private tutors to teach their children until they are ready to go to private school. Apprenticeships are common among trade careers. Soldiers receive training from their superiors in their cities. Most believe the Empyrean Knights, made up of the kings’ guard of the fallen kingdom, to have disbanded. However, a small group lives in a camp in the Forgotten Forest. A thieves’ guild and mercenaries guild lies in the lawless criminal underworld city of Westramore.

Acceptance into professional guilds depends on the trade and leader of the guild. Sometimes, a committee determines a worker’s approval based on the merit they’ve heard by word of mouth. Other times, a leader will test the skills of a professional and be the sole determiner of the worker’s entrance. There are also gangs and mercenary guilds, which have initiation requirements, like stealing and murdering.

Guild Benefits

The benefits of guilds vary. Trade guilds act as primeval unions and networks for their workers. The wizard’s institute, which is only open to royalty and proven wizards, provides room and board and an exclusive education on the gifts and teachings of Orealus.

Shadowblades Guild

Someone has rumored a secret guild known as the Shadowblades exists, but many believe it is just an old folktale. After being left for dead after escaping the torturous dungeons of Lucient’s castle, a woman named Suri found Ezrah on the brink of death. She and another gentleman brought him back to the leader of their encampment, Aziel. In order to stay part of the group, Ezrah needed to prove himself in a series of dangerous tests. At the time, the young man thought it would be a piece of cake, for he had hand-to-hand combat experience and survived worse. Yet, this series of tests was unlike anything he had experienced. He earned the nickname Shadow’s Rift and the blades, named Moon’s Eclipse, that accompanied his role.

The Thieves Guild

The Thieves Guild is a shady group of pickpockets, burglars, and home breakers that roam throughout the streets of Westramore. Chum was once a part of this guild. Guild members are still searching for him for the money he owes. One can not simply leave the guild without paying a lifetime’s due. 

Mercenaries Guild

The Mercenaries  Guild is a crew of money-driven cutthroats that do many tasks for pay. Oftentimes, the tasks include capture or dead bounty contracts. The guild leader is the Sword Brother crime boss, Mad Eyed Malech, even though he is more feared than respected. Everything runs through him in the corrupt town of Westramore. He is often at odds with the respected Weylyn and has put a bounty on his head since leaving.

Keepers of the Light Guild

A holy order of those that protect the sacred scrolls of Orealus. The wizards of Lumhagen have been charged with the task ever since the kingdom’s fall. Their utter obedience to Orealus, mastery of yah’shavel abilities, and tech crafting knowledge make them up for the tasks. Bhalla the Bright leads the guild.

Other Characters & Misc.

Millicent

Millicent has a fiery personality and is usually serious. She is sometimes overprotective of the Queen as her personal guard. At times she can loosen up, but usually, that is brought upon by her friend Redfern.

Redfern

Redfern has a strong, proud personality. Usually, she has a cooler head than her friend Millicent and can cool her down. She often quarrels with Millicent because they are both very hot-headed.

Frockling Mushrooms

Kaden and his crew encounter a frockling mushroom named Bug. These gentle, curious creatures look like a cross of a capped mushroom and a rabbit. When they hop around, they release phosphorescent spores into the air.

Muk Muk

Muk Muk has a strong, proud, arrogant personality. He is fierce and feeds off the fear that others have of him. Rage and fearlessness feed him. Muk Muk is loyal after a defeat in an honorable battle.

Growlers

Growlers are a type of wolf breed stricken with a disease from the curse of sin that Lucient unleashed from his dark aura. These creatures are known to have been tamed by goblins to mount and ride into battle or hunt prey. Their strong sense of smell and heightened vision make them perfect hunting companions for goblins when trying to track a target.

Narf

Narf is a lieutenant in Garth’s army. Standing at four-feet-nine-inches, Narf is on the tall side of a goblin. He carries a rusty, curved sword as long as half his height. His head is especially large, looking ill-proportioned to his body. He died while attempting to harm Kaden from Daneyel.

Dark Elves

Dark elves are rumored to be a mutated, cursed breed of wood elves. Dark elves have an intense hatred for distant relatives in the wood elves. They possess some of the same physical attributes as wood elves but are more dangerous. The arrowheads on their arrows are coated in poison. Dark elves have the same ageless look as wood elves but are hot-headed. They have deceitful, evil intentions.

Gangor

Gangor is a forest golem that is 9 feet tall and over 2,000 pounds but could expand its height and size to be even larger. It is unknown how Gangor came to be, but old rumors say that the dark-infused seed from a flower in the land from which Lucient was sent traveled through the air and landed near Wildepointe.

Pixies

Pixies are mysterious little creatures so small and full of light that their appearance is unknown. Although it is suspected that pixies are distant relatives from the same family as the fairies.

K’Lani Davenrich

K’Lani is Ada’s mother and a healer. She is a compassionate mother, quick of wit, and with a caring bedside manner.

Captain Marcus Harrington

Captain Harrington is more comfortable on a ship deck than on land, having earned his sea legs at a young age. He is a captain for hire of the ship Dawn’s Light and ex-royal Empyrean naval officer. While he has a dark past, he views the world with undeniable optimism.

Captain Asiz Seaspray

As Captain Harrington’s most trusted supporter, his loyalty is legendary. He cares about making Harrington proud and living on the sea. He prefers to keep to himself when not with Harrington. He can only speak about returning to the boat whenever he ventures on land. However, the man never seems happy, only content with sea travel’s solace.

Lieutenant Reginald Sharpey

Lieutenant Sharpey is the first mate of the ship Dawn’s Light. He is interested in traveling the world by sea. He wants to leave no stone unturned. His friendly demeanor and approachable manner lead to his friendship with most. He has an incredible singing voice and loves a good sea shanty. His laugh, always close to his lips, booms. He is an excellent storyteller.

Daneyel

His tragic loss marks the beginning of Kaden’s adventure. At the request of Bhalla, he and his wife raised Kaden, keeping the heir of Karatheas safe, tucked away in their village. He taught Kaden to hunt and work hard.

Daven Jones

Daven Jones is the mayor of Whaldarf’s Landing. Mayor Jones is a short, heavy-set gentleman with a slight hunch to his stance. He has a short, quick gait. He has seen many winters, looking older with severe wrinkles, salt-and-pepper hair, and paper-thin skin.

Suri

Suri has a strong sense of honor and loyalty, but she can stray from who she is loyal if it goes against her morals. She found Ezrah on the verge of death and brought him into the guild. Suri is part of the Sunmada tribe.

Lydia

Lydia and her husband, Daneyel, raised Kaden. She taught Kaden the importance of protecting those he cares about. Lydia is an excellent baker and an even better shot than her husband, a quality she’s too humble to admit. Bundled inside her petite frame, she has great wisdom and intuition. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her small family.

Asitra

Asitra is a keeper of the sacred scrolls. Though her parents wanted her to work at the farm and carry on the family legacy, she knew she was destined for more. However, she did not think of her calling until Orealus appeared in a dream and told her to depart home. Taking nothing except what she was wearing, Asitra met the wizard in Lumhagen.

Queen Luna

Everyone knows of the adoration Luna had for her children. She was a compassionate and benevolent leader who encouraged her husband to bestow mercy alongside justice. She was a charitable role model to all women who exceedingly mourned her loss. Rumors said that she descended from elves, but her parents were actually a duke and a duchess. When Karatheas saw her at a ball in the castle, he courted only her, and the two fell in love.

King Karatheas

King Karatheas was a fierce, compassionate leader. The people loved his leadership and mourned his loss nationwide. He sacrificed himself for his country, dying in battle alongside his soldiers. The people knew him as a just and fair ruler. Though he perished in the Great War, his legacy lives on in his son’s destiny. The royal contingency plan allows for Kaden’s safety with Karatheas’ beloved best friend. His other children and wife do not survive the war, which makes Kaden the only surviving heir.

Thalgrem

As the general in Bardicus’s army, he is Kaden’s most powerful ally. Standing at four feet and four inches, he has an average height for a dwarf. With rippling muscles from neck to toe, he inspires intimidation in most. His fierce, black eyes burn like coals in his large, ever-frowning face. The word grumpy sums up his character. He is not one for giving his opinion. He prefers to remain quiet. His stoic face reveals nothing. The few times he does speak, only when required, he offers a pessimistic outlook.

Halthro the Hammertoe

Halthro equips the team for travels and battles. Halthro is the father of Malacheen. Faced with grief over losing Malacheen’s mother to childbirth, he channeled his frustrations into his blacksmith trade.

Malacheen

Malacheen’s parents always wanted a boy, but her mother died giving birth to her. Since then, she hasn’t heard the end of her father pushing her to be stronger and do better than the boys. Malcheen exudes confidence along with her wit. She not only stands up for herself and cares for others, she genuinely stands up for her friends when faced with opposition, and she will not back down. She fights for what she believes in, be it physical or mental. Although often thought of as a spitfire as she is not afraid to take charge to diffuse an intense situation.

Mad Eyed Malech

Mad Eyed Malech is the leader of the Sword Brothers crime syndicate and unofficially elected mayor of Westramore. He looks the part of a pirate ever with a black leather eyepatch; a brown leather tunic over long, white sleeves; brown cotton pants; and knee-high, black boots. Though he is short, he makes up for his height with volume. He is strong and boasts that he can knock someone out with one punch.

Mechanimals

These odd robotic creatures tinker throughout the city of Lumhagen. Animals like owls, horses, cats, dogs, and even tiny mice make up those engineered to assist in the daily tasks of the city’s people.

Dawn Light

Though the wooden ship appears rickety, damaged, and old, she is a sturdy, clean, well-loved boat. With one top deck, one lower deck, two sets of sails, and one crow’s nest, this ship spans 60 feet and can carry about 100 tons of cargo. Her sails are the color of the sunbaked canvas, and she sports the flag of Adena’s family.

Bonberries

Bonberries grow on shrubs. They are indigo berries that form in clusters of at least a dozen. They grow around sharp, green, shiny leaves resembling holly bushes.