The first light of dawn stretched across Erdavar, casting long shadows over mountains, rivers, deserts, and plains alike. From the soaring peaks of the Iron Compact to the sun-baked sands of the Red Basin, the continent stirred with life, its ten nations poised like pieces on an enormous board, each aware of the others yet separated by geography, culture, and ambition.
Valecrown
In the heart of the continent, the fertile plains of Valecrown shimmered with the morning harvest. The King, Aric Valen, rode among the fields, observing his soldiers practicing maneuvers along the riverbanks. His son, Prince Corin, led a unit of Crownfield Legion cavalry, urging them to perfect their formations. Even in peace, the Valecrown army's strength was undeniable—half a million soldiers drilled with precision, a testament to the kingdom's agricultural wealth and disciplined leadership.
Iron Compact
Far to the west, the Iron Compact's mountain forges belched smoke into the sky. The Ruling Council President, Varrok Ironhand, strode along the steel-lined streets of Ironhold, inspecting artillery units alongside his heir, Lady Ilvara. Trenches and training grounds hummed with activity; tens of thousands of Iron Guard Cavalry thundered across the passes, while infantry and archers moved with clockwork precision. Every hammer strike from the forges seemed to echo the rhythm of an army ready for war.
Salt Confederation
Along the eastern coast, the Salt Confederation's ports teemed with merchant ships and naval drills. Grand Merchant Sileon Voss oversaw archers firing from the cliffs above Saltreach, while his heir, Othric Vale, coordinated cavalry exercises near the salt flats. Commerce and combat intertwined: fleets could strike as swiftly as armies could march, and the Royal Salt Archers' precision was whispered about even in distant capitals.
Thorn Marches
In the rugged expanse of the Thorn Marches, Chief Jex Calder walked among his militia at dawn. His heir, Holt Calder, rode with the Thorn Guard Cavalry, scouting the jagged ridges that formed natural borders with neighboring states. Discipline was looser here, but the soldiers' familiarity with every rock and crevice gave them an edge no formal army could match. Guerrilla tactics, rapid raids, and ambushes were their natural tools—over 300,000 fighters spread across the marches, ready to descend on any who threatened their lands.
Pale Synod
In the spires of Pale Archive, the Matriarch Selise observed rows of scholars and soldiers alike. Archival Apprentice Elowen, her heir, practiced commands with the Synod Legion, blending precision drills with strategic study. Here, knowledge was power: army formations, supply lines, and even political dissent were calculated with meticulous care. Every archer, every infantryman, every cavalry unit was an extension of the Synod's will—a disciplined army of 300,000 loyal followers.
Red Basin
The deserts of Red Basin shimmered under the morning sun. Lord Ashkel Varrox rode among his soldiers, Prince Darric Varrox leading the Red Guard Cavalry in a flanking exercise. Fortifications of red stone rose from the sands, guarding key oases. Here, survival meant discipline, and discipline meant soldiers as sharp as any blade—over 300,000 strong, with elite units capable of decisive strikes.
Highridge Accord
Across mountain passes, Lord Stonewake of the Highridge Accord inspected his Highridge Legion, training for both defense and territorial expansion. Snow-capped peaks and narrow ridges made mobility difficult, but his 300,000-strong army adapted, turning natural barriers into deadly advantages. His heir, Selira Stonewake, rode among the soldiers, testing their endurance and courage.
Low Silt Republic
In the fertile deltas of the Low Silt Republic, Magistrate Marrow walked along the levees, overseeing infantry and archers in formation near Marrowbend. Waterways dictated strategy here; rivers were both roads and obstacles. Vice President Leora Bend, his heir, directed cavalry across the flooded plains. Over 300,000 troops trained relentlessly, blending mobility with tactical precision, ready to strike swiftly anywhere the republic needed.
Ashen Reach
High in the volcanic highlands, Warlord Kael Draven and his heir rode through Ashen Reach, watching the Ashen Legion practice maneuvers across blackened soil. Mercenary discipline defined these fighters—300,000 strong, skilled in siegecraft, ambushes, and endurance. The air smelled of sulfur and smoke, the perfect backdrop for an army forged in fire.
Northern Quiet
Finally, in the remote north, King Thalen Stillmere and Prince Corvin observed the Quiet Legion navigating treacherous mountain passes. Smaller than most armies (~100,000 soldiers), they relied on skill, terrain, and cohesion rather than sheer numbers. Snow and frost hardened their bodies as well as their resolve.
Though no crops failed and no resources dwindled, tension simmered across the continent. Armies massed not from necessity but ambition, pride, and distrust. Spies moved unseen, alliances whispered in shadowed halls, and monarchs trained their heirs in the art of war. A storm was coming, and all of Erdavar would soon feel its fury.
This chapter establishes the continent, the states, their leaders, and military hierarchies, while planting seeds of conflict, intrigue, and rivalry.