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Description

Centuries have passed since King Aluren the Great pulled the lands now known as Hibernus from the grasp of the great darkness. In that time the Kingdom of Aksarben has seen many other kingdoms and nations rise around it, growing in tandem with its own territorial expansion as the world once again becomes connected and prosperous. No longer is the known world little more than a small number of isolated cities along the coast, as the seemingly endless realm of the Wildlands has gradually receded west into vast uplands where winter grows long and cold and from which the headwaters of the Aldern and Canalbrana rivers flow. It has been replaced by never-ending expanses of fertile plains crisscrossed by innumerable cities and farms. The Plains of Aksarben carry thousands of ships, caravans, and travelers over its waterways and centuries-worn footpaths, watched over by a blazing sun and tumultuous sky.
But for the Kingdom of Aksarben, the days of great victories and prosperous exploration are over. Its legendary warrior kings have been replaced by greedy, incompetent, and decadent nobles ruling over a realm too big to manage. Their titles have filled with little more than faded glory and provide little help to the threats within and without.
To the south, the Ameran dragon looks upon Aksarben’s fertile plains and rivers with envious eyes.
Over the impassable northern mountains, the Avesming Empire’s midnight armadas muster their strength.
And even within Aksarben’s own lands, rumors of a “Lakeside Rebellion” permeate the western territories.
Seen for so long as the region’s continental monolith, the cracks in the Kingdom of Aksarben’s foundation are finally beginning to show.

Noteworthy Places
Kingdom of Aksarben
Decentralized imperial monarchy
Primary military and economic hegemon of Hibernus in the centuries following the end of the Great Darkness and is given credit for the now legendary lineage of monarchs said to have liberated the region from its decaying grasp. Its strength and influence have gradually waned over time in conjunction with the rise of new rivals. Although technically operating as a unified state, its vast area has resulted in most of its provinces operating with some degree of autonomy, to the point where a number of areas in the west and north maintain military forces separate from the central Crown in Calanabra. The seeds of dissent and rebellion have recently sprouted in the kingdom’s central and western territories, but whether or not the central Crown is capable of responding to that threat remains to be seen.

Imperial Federation of Amer and Casnam (Casnamer)
Dual Imperial Hegemony
Formed from alliance and subjugation in the forested lowlands to the south of the Osmar mountains, Casnamer exists as the first true challenge to Aksarben dominance in the region. The constituent principalities carved out of its previous conquests are considered to be fundamentally Casnameran as they are deemed separate, and have been arbitrarily demarcated and renamed in such a way as to eliminate any sense of collective identity in the people over which they rule. Although the territorial ambitions of Casnam have been satisfied somewhat in recent years, Amer still lays claim to a number of regions, with the remaining autonomous parts of Obsten and the Ameran river valley located in the southern Aksarben corridor being areas of particular interest.

Avesming Empire
Centralized Imperial Authority
Largely spared from the cataclysm of the Great Darkness, the landmass of Avesmingo nonetheless did not have many major events for most of its history. The Avesming Empire’s rise as the region’s de-facto naval power is a relatively recent development. Stuck with a poor climate and low population, Avesmingo is also boxed into the frigid north by the Great Dividing Range, to the point where the main port of Obasuru routinely freezes through part of winter. Despite this, the empire’s naval power is gradually increasing, and in recent years Avesming ships have become an increasingly common sight in the waters east of the Iron Coast and Aksarben Catmanega.

Republic of Tekhmanos
Federal Parliamentary Republic
It is known that there is an ancient curse that plagues northern Aksarben. It is known that Tieflings are born into the region’s noble families at a rate not present in the lower classes. And it is also known that those Tieflings who survive to adulthood often flee upriver to escape the prejudices of northern Aksarben. Where the end up is usually the Republic of Tekhmanos.
The Republic is an anomaly for a multitude of different reasons. It is a federal republic governed by an electorate that votes for representatives to determine public policy in the country’s National Legislature. Most of its provinces have a majority Tiefling population- the only place on the map where such is the case- and therefore Infernal is the primary spoken language in many rural areas. (Although most cities still mainly use Common.) In addition, the country contains a sizable minority of Elves, Dwarves, and Dragonborn, resulting in a slim majority of each in a couple of provinces. In fact, the Blackglen Clan is the largest Dragonborn group to have political status outside of those of the Yajerit far to the south.

Princely Federation of Urste
Royal Alliance
The alliance that makes up the Princely Federation has existed in some form or another for nearly a century. Governed by a council staffed by its member states, its primary purpose is to provide mutual protection and counterbalance Casnameran influence in the Tenkamp and Alettan seas. It is not universally seen this way, however. Urste is viewed as being just another empire by its neighbors, as evidenced by its control of sea trade, demands for tribute, and various outposts and colonial possessions dotting the nearby coasts. Its existence has ironically resulted in multiple nearby states openly aligning themselves with Casnamer, and it remains to be seen what ramifications this development will have in what is easily the most volatile part of Hibernus.

Yajerit Territories
Semi Nomadic Clan Authority
Nestled inland from the ocean breezes of the Alettan sea lie the lands collectively known under the name of Yajerit. The Dragonborn Clans that make up the Yajerit live semi-nomadic lives in a sparsely populated and heavily forested area, with the only two large, permanent settlements in their lands being the city of Yajerit and Jerun. Despite this, they manage to be some of the wealthiest groups in southern Hibernus. Part of this revenue comes from maintaining outposts and travelers’ hubs across the various states to the south and east. However, most of Yajerit’s riches are a result of its Clans having a particularly strong streak of Draconic sorcerous blood running through them, meaning that each generation produces a relatively consistent number of Dragonblood sorcerers, which Yajerit trains as soldiers and sells to the highest bidder as mercenary forces. Over time this practice has become so entrenched in the regional culture that nearly every neighboring state is to some degree reliant on Yajerit mercenaries. As a result, even though it possesses a relatively small population, few geographic boundaries, and incredible riches, Yajerit remains protected from its neighbors by the threat of military embargo.

Both this map and its description are a continual work in progress. I will likely make new versions of both as I flesh out the world more. Doing either is a slow process, given the level of detail and other things going on in my life right now. There are also a number of areas I have been working that are not included here due to being difficult to fit nicely on this map with everything else.
I started working on this project in early 2018 after getting into D&D and subsequently realizing that I live in a terrible area for actually finding people to play with. So I decided to direct my creative energy into worldbuilding instead. (The original version of this map is nearly unrecognizable compared to this one.)

Description

Centuries have passed since King Aluren the Great pulled the lands now known as Hibernus from the grasp of the great darkness. In that time the Kingdom of Aksarben has seen many other kingdoms and nations rise around it, growing in tandem with its own territorial expansion as the world once again becomes connected and prosperous. No longer is the known world little more than a small number of isolated cities along the coast, as the seemingly endless realm of the Wildlands has gradually receded west into vast uplands where winter grows long and cold and from which the headwaters of the Aldern and Canalbrana rivers flow. It has been replaced by never-ending expanses of fertile plains crisscrossed by innumerable cities and farms. The Plains of Aksarben carry thousands of ships, caravans, and travelers over its waterways and centuries-worn footpaths, watched over by a blazing sun and tumultuous sky.
But for the Kingdom of Aksarben, the days of great victories and prosperous exploration are over. Its legendary warrior kings have been replaced by greedy, incompetent, and decadent nobles ruling over a realm too big to manage. Their titles have filled with little more than faded glory and provide little help to the threats within and without.
To the south, the Ameran dragon looks upon Aksarben’s fertile plains and rivers with envious eyes.
Over the impassable northern mountains, the Avesming Empire’s midnight armadas muster their strength.
And even within Aksarben’s own lands, rumors of a “Lakeside Rebellion” permeate the western territories.
Seen for so long as the region’s continental monolith, the cracks in the Kingdom of Aksarben’s foundation are finally beginning to show.

Noteworthy Places
Kingdom of Aksarben
Decentralized imperial monarchy
Primary military and economic hegemon of Hibernus in the centuries following the end of the Great Darkness and is given credit for the now legendary lineage of monarchs said to have liberated the region from its decaying grasp. Its strength and influence have gradually waned over time in conjunction with the rise of new rivals. Although technically operating as a unified state, its vast area has resulted in most of its provinces operating with some degree of autonomy, to the point where a number of areas in the west and north maintain military forces separate from the central Crown in Calanabra. The seeds of dissent and rebellion have recently sprouted in the kingdom’s central and western territories, but whether or not the central Crown is capable of responding to that threat remains to be seen.

Imperial Federation of Amer and Casnam (Casnamer)
Dual Imperial Hegemony
Formed from alliance and subjugation in the forested lowlands to the south of the Osmar mountains, Casnamer exists as the first true challenge to Aksarben dominance in the region. The constituent principalities carved out of its previous conquests are considered to be fundamentally Casnameran as they are deemed separate, and have been arbitrarily demarcated and renamed in such a way as to eliminate any sense of collective identity in the people over which they rule. Although the territorial ambitions of Casnam have been satisfied somewhat in recent years, Amer still lays claim to a number of regions, with the remaining autonomous parts of Obsten and the Ameran river valley located in the southern Aksarben corridor being areas of particular interest.

Avesming Empire
Centralized Imperial Authority
Largely spared from the cataclysm of the Great Darkness, the landmass of Avesmingo nonetheless did not have many major events for most of its history. The Avesming Empire’s rise as the region’s de-facto naval power is a relatively recent development. Stuck with a poor climate and low population, Avesmingo is also boxed into the frigid north by the Great Dividing Range, to the point where the main port of Obasuru routinely freezes through part of winter. Despite this, the empire’s naval power is gradually increasing, and in recent years Avesming ships have become an increasingly common sight in the waters east of the Iron Coast and Aksarben Catmanega.

Republic of Tekhmanos
Federal Parliamentary Republic
It is known that there is an ancient curse that plagues northern Aksarben. It is known that Tieflings are born into the region’s noble families at a rate not present in the lower classes. And it is also known that those Tieflings who survive to adulthood often flee upriver to escape the prejudices of northern Aksarben. Where the end up is usually the Republic of Tekhmanos.
The Republic is an anomaly for a multitude of different reasons. It is a federal republic governed by an electorate that votes for representatives to determine public policy in the country’s National Legislature. Most of its provinces have a majority Tiefling population- the only place on the map where such is the case- and therefore Infernal is the primary spoken language in many rural areas. (Although most cities still mainly use Common.) In addition, the country contains a sizable minority of Elves, Dwarves, and Dragonborn, resulting in a slim majority of each in a couple of provinces. In fact, the Blackglen Clan is the largest Dragonborn group to have political status outside of those of the Yajerit far to the south.

Princely Federation of Urste
Royal Alliance
The alliance that makes up the Princely Federation has existed in some form or another for nearly a century. Governed by a council staffed by its member states, its primary purpose is to provide mutual protection and counterbalance Casnameran influence in the Tenkamp and Alettan seas. It is not universally seen this way, however. Urste is viewed as being just another empire by its neighbors, as evidenced by its control of sea trade, demands for tribute, and various outposts and colonial possessions dotting the nearby coasts. Its existence has ironically resulted in multiple nearby states openly aligning themselves with Casnamer, and it remains to be seen what ramifications this development will have in what is easily the most volatile part of Hibernus.

Yajerit Territories
Semi Nomadic Clan Authority
Nestled inland from the ocean breezes of the Alettan sea lie the lands collectively known under the name of Yajerit. The Dragonborn Clans that make up the Yajerit live semi-nomadic lives in a sparsely populated and heavily forested area, with the only two large, permanent settlements in their lands being the city of Yajerit and Jerun. Despite this, they manage to be some of the wealthiest groups in southern Hibernus. Part of this revenue comes from maintaining outposts and travelers’ hubs across the various states to the south and east. However, most of Yajerit’s riches are a result of its Clans having a particularly strong streak of Draconic sorcerous blood running through them, meaning that each generation produces a relatively consistent number of Dragonblood sorcerers, which Yajerit trains as soldiers and sells to the highest bidder as mercenary forces. Over time this practice has become so entrenched in the regional culture that nearly every neighboring state is to some degree reliant on Yajerit mercenaries. As a result, even though it possesses a relatively small population, few geographic boundaries, and incredible riches, Yajerit remains protected from its neighbors by the threat of military embargo.

Both this map and its description are a continual work in progress. I will likely make new versions of both as I flesh out the world more. Doing either is a slow process, given the level of detail and other things going on in my life right now. There are also a number of areas I have been working that are not included here due to being difficult to fit nicely on this map with everything else.
I started working on this project in early 2018 after getting into D&D and subsequently realizing that I live in a terrible area for actually finding people to play with. So I decided to direct my creative energy into worldbuilding instead. (The original version of this map is nearly unrecognizable compared to this one.)