DnD: The Land of Ly'Dall

 Over the years I have slowly been working on my own custom world and setting for a DnD homebrew game. I have a really great group together right now which is allowing me to explore the stories in such, and it's really helped me have the creative juices flowing! Here is the overview for the world setting I have shared with all my players.

Ly’Dall - A Brief History

    The land of Ly’Dall is one of 3 continents discovered by the ancient travelers, settled thousands of years ago by peoples who wished to start a new life and escape the lost lands of Myr; or so the legends say. As the legend goes, once there was a great landmass called Myr, where the Gods strode across the land along with the mortals. Several of the Gods began to take umbridge with the mortals, who were they to demand so much of the Divine? Why should the Gods bend to the mortals, they should be made to serve them instead. A great war in the heavens took place, where those who would become known as the Prime Deities trapped those who would be known as the Betrayer Gods on the other side of the Divine Gate and with the sacrifice of one of their own locked them away. The resulting battle ravaged and scarred the lands of Myr, causing mass evacuations across to the west to find a new home. And so Ly’Dall was founded, as the legends go.

 
    In modern day, Ly’Dall is a land filled with a diverse people and three large countries, although only two could be called nation-states in any regular sense. Ly’Dall Is a mostly temperate land, arid and barren at the end of the landmass and slowly sloping upwards to high mountainous peaks and harsh snow cover year ‘round. Thick forests dot the land like islands of green, several rivers bisect the land and on the western coast a series of islands dot the water acting as a natural barrier to the rough seas.
The land is divided into three recognized countries; the Confederacy of Lynn, the Kingdom of Gul’Thrum and the Empire of Storms. The Confederacy of Lynn is actually a collection of 6 small kingdoms, some as small as a single city while others being significantly larger, all banded together for strength and prosperity instead of internal warfare. Stretching from the arid south and up the fertile western coast, and including a few islands, Lynn is home to the most diverse set of people on Ly’Dall. Each kingdom is overseen by a Prince, and the council of Princes meet in the Crown Capital (a city that belongs to no kingdom in particular) to elect a King for a 4 year term to rule over the Confederacy. While very diverse due to the multiple cultures, Elves and other races from the Fey are seen in high distrust and with suspicion due to their supposed connection to the Kingdom of Gul’Thrum. Three of the largest factions in Lynn are the KingsGuard (the overarching military force of Lynn), The Mansion of Coin (merchant and tradesman guild which oversees trade within Lynn) and the Academy of Arcane (the mage's school and guild in Lynn).

 
    The Kingdom of Gul’Thrum takes up part of the arid south, going up along the heavily forested east coast of Ly’Dall. The Kingdom is overseen by the High Queen Valantha, ruling from her crystalline palace and overseeing the prosperity of her land. A court of lesser lords and nobility rule over segment vassal states, but all bow down to her will. The Kingdom Of Gul’Thrum is mostly filled with people connected to the Feywild, Elves and Gnomes being the most prominent, and magic and superstition rule the day. They are well known for pushing the boundary of magical study, often engaging in magical practices some would find distasteful or immoral. They are in regular conflict with both the Confederacy and Empire, believing themselves the true rulers of Ly’Dall as the first founded Kingdom, and often conducting raids or attacks to gather rare magical artifacts or secure magical locations in both lands.

    The Empire of Storm claims dominion over the northern stretches of Ly’Dall and a little bit of the forest land on the east, a hard land filled with hard people. The Empire is ruled over by the Primus, the current one being a Assimar man named Ghuile, a warrior who ritually proves themselves in combat once every two years over those who would challenge their rule. While they do participate in trade, due to their extensive mining operations in the mountain ranges, many of their people are isolationists and choose to worship their ancestors and the natural world. Many people who are seen as monstrous by others find peace and home here; a city is just as likely to have a Hobgoblin household as a Dwarven den or a Minotaur hutch. Religious, independent and proud in their strength, the Empire of Storms often engages in ritualistic warfare for the sake of honorable combat instead of acquiring lands and goods. During the war season, you’re just as likely to see one aiding the Confederacy as you are to see one aiding the Kingdom.