Countries of The World.
They can be grouped into three general regions:
Norden/Katoptric Circle: The northern polar region, sometimes called after the constellation (the Mirror, Katoptris) that contains the pole star.
Isolated by a nearly-impassable mountain range to the south, a nearly-impassable icy ocean to the south, and a nearly-impassable arid superdesert to the south.
Kolpos/the Gulf States: Former sphere of influence of the historical Gulf Empire, plus all the islands to the southwest.
Many major languages in Ceannis and the surrounding countries can be traced back to proto-Gulf. Almost all regularly participate in the Kolpovision Song Contest.
Kasirga/the East Coast: The southeastern chunk of the continent. Sometimes includes the large landlocked interior, which is mainly impassable superdesert. Other times it's only used to mean “as far inland as anyone lives,” with The Desert treated as a separate region.
The Hurricane Coast takes the brunt of the continent's hurricanes. Many nations extend their borders into The Desert, although nobody wants it enough to fight over the specifics, or even visit long enough to do proper surveying.
Has a lot of superstition around Bealtic numerology, which has become popular across Kolpos.
A Ceannic expression for something confusing or jargon-heavy is “It's all Bealtic to me.”
Superpower in the Gulf region, Thorn's native country.
Main article: Ceannis.
Country immediately to the north of Getsun.
The two have closely-related languages and a lot of cultural crossover. As the smaller of the countries, Doyon has a bit of a national complex about not being known for anything that isn't also well-done in Getsun.
Cold and isolated island, significantly off the coast of the main polar ice cap.
Never annexed by Sønheim. It’s not clear if anyone else claims the place either. So where did it get the name…?
Country on the western coast, including a peninsula and the large adjacent island of Suiyun.
Long-runners are revered in Getsun. Children aren't named until they turn five years old, in case they remember a previous name in the meantime. Before that they are given a cutesy pet name as a placeholder, such as “Boopsie”, “Scooter” or “Five”. They also use a special babies-only pronoun. Descendants of a long-runner's previous incarnation and the parents of their current incarnation are considered family, similar to becoming family by marriage.
Suiyun was a sovereign state within the past 400 years, until too many royal intermarriages led to the two governments consolidating into one. It still has a distinct culture and legal system from mainland Getsun, and now that the country is a democracy, there are occasional referendums on Suiyunese independence. (So far, all defeated with solid majorities.)
Small country on the southwestern coast of Kasirga, not extending inland enough to reach The Desert. Famously pacifist, but with surprisingly aggressive music.
The symbol on their flag is the national crest, also found on the decorations in Thorn's therapist's office.
Island off the southeastern coast of Ceannis.
Marta for short.
Small coastal country to the north of Getsun, just northwest of Doyon.
Country
Superpower in the polar region, Leif's native country.
Main article: Sønheim.
Tiny archipelago of tiny islands full of tiny things. Populated by Tamaputians.
They have a treaty with the United Islands that the UI will come to Tamapoa's defense if any human-size armies attack. Since an invasion force would have to sail through UI territory to reach them, it's good protection.
Their magical defenses are also very good: the ocean likes them.
Any Tamaputian over 21 years old is likely to have an animal tattoo on the upper back, applied as a traditional part of the coming-of-age celebration.
Surnames here are highly modular, because when two people in Tamapoa get married, they pick a new last name that's a portmanteau of their original last names.
Federation including most of the islands along the southern edge of the Gulf, with the notable exception of Tamapoa. The four stars on the flag represent the four major islands.
The largest and easternmost island, Maimakteros, is prone to hurricanes on its east coast, but provides a sheltering effect for the western islands. The next three in size are Boedros, Elaphebos, and Gamelios. All are popular destinations for tropical vacations.
The primary language of Maimakteros is simply called Islander, and it's used on all official documents throughout the UI. Several other languages from the Islander and Gulf families are common. One coast of Gamelios faces Tamapoa, and features a language related to Tamaputian.
Worldbuilding | |
---|---|
Countries | Ceannis • Sønheim • Beal, Doyon, Ei Missään, Getsun, Homu, Isle of Marta, Kinyon, Tamapoa, United Islands |
Languages | Ceannic, Sønska, Iudish, Proto-Gulf, Sønheim Sign, Tamaputian |
Magic | Heartswords • Northern Magic • Southern Magic • Spelltech • Wings |
History | Myths and Legends • Timeline |
Entertainment | Fiction • Kolpovision |
Other Worldbuilding | Animals • Medicine • Planets • Reincarnation ••• Alternate Universes |