Ethernal OathThe world of Thalvessa
One great continent and the archipelago of Ilaroa. A kept oath rises as a star, a broken one falls as ash.
In Thalvessa, every power is borrowed. When someone makes a sincere promise, a light answers from Ethernis, the realm on the other side of the world. Swear to carry an old promise, and that place, an anchor, lends you the Echoes of everyone who carried it before you.
Keep your oath to the end and it rises as a star. Break it, and it falls as ash, and the ash freezes everything it touches. The people it touches stand grey and still. They are called the Stilled.
Three hundred years ago, a whole century vanished from history. At its end, seven founders swore to keep the world, and each received absolute power over one thing: faith, coin, song, the tides, war, death, memory. Their heirs, the Aurath, still rule. They keep the letter of their oaths and have forgotten the spirit.
Your story starts in Saelen, a valley that no Aurath rules directly, on the morning of Oath Day.
The seven realms and the march
- SaelenA march, ruled by no Aurath. River valley, orchards and an old forest
- TheyraFaith. White limestone highlands and cathedral townsRuled by Caedra
- SavenoCoin. Canal cities, salt marshes and foundriesRuled by Ottavine
- MiralethSong. Warm cliffs, amphitheatres and vineyardsRuled by Thaliope
- Ilaroathe Tides. Archipelago, reefs and stilt townsRuled by Tavane
- VarskelWar. Grass steppe and wall-fortsRuled by Khaldur
- TamarethDeath. Red deserts under an endless duskRuled by Nephra
- DravnaMemory. Misty birch forests and archive towersRuled by Ilvesk