Searching Archive . . .

[RATHA]: How does one describe one of the busiest cities in the world. At just over 4 million people, Kingdroph is two capitals at once- both that of its home Vinciate of Panifel, and the larger Parliament of Faerengarde- the most centralized power this continent has. As a city on the brink of industrialization, Kingdroph weaves modernity into millenia of tradition.

[RATHA]: Akvesh has been called, by some, a relic of the past. If it is, it is a beautifully preserved one. The dusty capital of the once-great Ikan Empire, Akvesh's power is now a shadow of itself. Despite this, the city holds its head high, with the Niirvu temple atop its acropolis still a shining jewel.

[RATHA]: This fortress is truly a piece of the past. In the 4,000 years it has stood, this site has had many names from many people. Originally, it was the war capital of Khophanko, where it saw continuous use for over a millenium. Like all weapons of war, Khophanko fell. And fell. And fell again. In truth, the current fortress is at least the fourth that has sat on the hill, each of the previous lost to war, time, and tale. At'huif called it Kundrann, Oaquia calls it Jorqundar. All that truly matters in its bloodied history is that this fortress, like those living inside, is a survivor.

[RATHA]: There is more than one way to wage a war. The lakeside nation of Norellia has been peaceful for most of its history, but the Rose family operates an economic empire more ruthless than many nations' armies. Through the Davinya Racel trading company, the Roses rule the passage of goods across land and sea with an iron grip from their impeccably manicured estate. Nothing passes north from the continent's fertile south without the Roses getting their cut.

[RATHA]: If the gods are kind, nothing like Lea Vestal will ever happen again. The land this fledgling city sits on was empty only five years ago- nearly all its population are refugees from one of the most haunting calamities to ever plague this continent's history. 30,000 survivors live in Lea Vestal, carrying the memory of 3 million deaths in the destruction of Rurikar. Under leadership carrying legacy, the city now vaults itself ino the industrial revolution to transform its future into something brighter.

[RATHA]: Tamanoke is the kind of place people spend a day or a lifetime. It's a little spot of nothing on a busy road, but these kinds of nothings can hide surprisingly rich stories. If you take a moment to breathe, Tamanoke contains the type of quiet stillness that can pierce a soul. Simple businesses like Az's tavern or Yaro's chiefhouse become institutions, their walls paves with story after story carried on whispers.

[RATHA]: The Loruna Mountains in which Garhur rests contains some of the continents most breathtaking natural beauty, and none appreciate this more than its residents. To the Loruna people, culture is the landscape itself. The highest city on the continent, Garhur also serves as one of the most popular hubs for travellers on the lifelong journey of the Yaxhemten, almost always undertaken in groups forged by years on the road. Hundreds of wanderers enter the iconic Arturad each week to seek recognition of their journey. Hundreds more visit the religious sites built right into the mountainside.

[RATHA]: Sah'tek is a most peculiar capital. As the center of power of a largely nomadic people, the city's population triples along seasonal migrations. The Jal Tru'ul that live here were, for many millenia, considered holdouts from modern society. In the last half-century, however, they have rapidly advanced to become one of the dominant powers of the early industrial age. The unique marriage of modern technology and traditional architecture makes Sah'tek a wonder worth visiting. Under the eternal journey of the Wandering Heavens, the act of travelling is, itself, sacred to Jal Tru'ul peoples. Travelling stations- most recently, rail terminals- are themselves temples where beginnings and ends of journeys may be blessed.

[RATHA]: The windless crest of Thelmaer lies at the edge of the habitable world; nonetheless, here, the ever-hardy nations of Tsorbjar stake their claim in some of the most brutal natural conditions on the planet. defined by volcanic desert and cratered lands, Thelmaer contains only a few pockets capable of supproting growth. Among these, Rehemirkjarhoda has perhaps the most storied history. Despite the small size of this colony, it was the staging ground from which the northernmost lands of the planet were populated. The legendary Rahdjar Barss is a ship that has fallen into myth for only the darkest reasons- a story of arrogance, folly, and the grim cost of legacy.

[RATHA]: The chaotic economic powerhouse of the Kafiri Union draws their strength from a vast number of small nations reaping the benefits of cooperativity. It's unique savannas hold natural resources and animal products coveted throughout the modern world, and the gateways through which those goods travel are extremely valuable targets. Rahamenoc is among the most iconic of these fortress ports, with the city core divided into distinct and well-guarded districts through which more gold and fur flows each day than anywhere else north of the Utinian Strait. The towering figure of the Catelhoyuk remindes merchants of the power resting only slightly over their heads, and serves as one of the rotating governing points for the entire Union.