• MISTERE LORE & REGIONS

♦ MISTERE ♦

MISTERE TIMELINE:
(BAW = Before Ancient War, AAW= After Ancient War)

1200 BAW:
Tribes of humans finally ascended to the medieval stages of life. Becoming the most advanced and numerous species in Mistere.

1145 BAW:
Elderbrook becomes the first established kingdom of Mistere. King Elentair I rules in humanity’s name from Colomdire, the oldest city in Mistere. Other species are discriminated against and subjugated.

1023 BAW:
Elderbrook is consumed by civil unrest. Heavy taxation and famine spread to all corners of Elderbrook.

998 BAW:
The Revolutionary War - Rebels resist the monarch, King Varrin. Elderbrook is severely weakened and the Rebels take many of the kingdom’s resources and head east. Led by the war hero and later named King: Galathir.

The rebels and refugees eventually settle in a fork between two rivers, later naming the small settlement Seldrin.

935 BAW:
After years of skirmishes between the Kingdom of Elderbrook and the people of Seldrin, the leaders of the city establish definitive borders. Creating their own region, naming it after their first King’s weapon, Galathir.

832 BAW:
The Great Exodus - As the population of non humans rise in Elderbrook, the Queen, Zaina, begins to exile them out of the kingdom’s borders to unknown lands in the east. This begins the great exodus. Large numbers of humans follow the non-human species eastward as well, eventually settling near the coast.

712 BAW:
Over 100 years later, the descendents of the Elderbrook exiles create their own region named E’olham, forming their capital near the border of Elderbrook, calling it Feistvole.

667 BAW:
The Dark Rise - A Human nationalist named Caynin Lendo starts to gain support in eastern E’olham. His movements are largely ignored by the region’s leaders who reside in Feistvole until he gets out of hand. Forming his own army of loyal followers, Caynin proclaims himself the Emperor of Humanity, and quickly takes control of the eastern wilds. From there his followers capture and enslave all non-human species, shipping them all to the dreaded fortress now known as Tyrant’s Keep, for eternal servitude.

664 BAW:
The River War - With eastern E’olham completely overrun with Caynin’s army, Feistvole braces for an attack as the last bastion for non-human rights. The war begins to pick up speed as Caynin tries relentlessly to cross the river Malathe, but the Feistvole army quickly destroys all bridges to prevent his armies from doing so. To make matters worse for Caynin, Malathe is known for its immense depth and rushing rapids, making crossing nearly impossible. Caynin proceeds to try and starve the city out by positioning his army just across the river, cutting Feistvole off completely from the rest of the region. Thus begins the River War, a conflict that saw many brave soldiers of Fiestvole sneak across the Malathe to steal food and supplies from Caynin’s shore camps.

663 BAW:
Battle of Feistvole - Helpless to stop them, Feistvole can only prepare for an attack as Caynin’s army finishes construction of the Black Bridge. A massive wooden and stone structure large enough for his army to cross the Malathe. At dusk, the fields surrounding Feistvole’s high walls are lit with the burning fires of Caynin’s war camps. The attack begins the next morning. The battle was long and costly for boths sides, spanding a total of 6 days before the gates of Feistvole fell. However, when defeat seemed inevitable for the soldiers of Feistvole, a new horn could be heard and the banners of another army approached from the south. They bore the royal seal of Elderbrook. Elderbrook forces quickly swept across the weakened army of Caynin’s. The dictator was forced to retreat back to Tyrant’s keep as his forces were killed or captured. The foreign army of Elderbrook came on behalf of Queen Sydra. Sydra had denounced the old ways of Elderbrook’s isolationism when she was crowned, and had a much more compassionate heart than her predecessors. As such, she felt it was her duty to help defend Feistvole… Hoping this action would help her forge an alliance with the free city.

However, first she needed to deal with Caynin… and Tyrant’s Keep was a long march.


To be continued.

♦ Government

The government of Mistere is a democracy. On issues and appointing new leaders, the members of the population over the age of eighteen votes at polls held by government officials. The popular vote is what wins elections and determines the passing of laws or use of government funds. Voting is a right, but not a requirement.

Positions: The roles of the executive chairs of government are as follows: The prime minister and the inner circle. The prime minister is elected by eligible members of the population, based on majority vote. They will hold the position for a five year term before they must be re-elected. The prime minister may hold the highest executive chair for up to three terms.

The six inner circle seats, one for each Misterean region, balances out the power of the prime minister. On issues that require an executive vote, the prime minister’s vote counts as three, while each seat on the council is counted as one. The inner circle seat holders are elected by the members of their region exclusively. An inner circle member will hold their seat for a five year term. They must then be re-elected by the region they represent to keep the seat. Inner circle seat holders may hold their seat for up to five terms.

One inner circle member is then nominated by the prime minister to be the deputy. The deputy is not granted extra powers or privileges, but is expected to assume leadership for the remaining years of a term if a prime minister is impeached, deemed unable to lead for an amount of time, or dies.

Current Leaders: The current prime minister is Blake Chimron, formerly a resident of the Elderbrook region. He obtained the executive seat of prime minister via majority vote after having served as an inner circle member for two terms. Blake built his campaign by talking about negotiating better trade deals and promising to build new trade routes to Hisakawa. He holds a mild disdain for Arka due to the tension between the two nations and the doses of small skirmishes at the border. Blake speaks highly of the democracy of Mistere, making him a prime propaganda target of the monarchy loyalists.

The current inner circle seat holders are as followers: The deputy, Wyatt Pongold of Elderbrook. The remaining are Jean Silthon of E’olham Miranda Anoivee of Glasthearth Lee Tasarov of Wainsgrove, Mitchell Vangruth of Galathir’s Blade, and Scott Jaxsun of the Capital Region, all of which obtained their seats via popular vote in their respective regions.

Regions ♦

E'OLHAM: Bordered to the east by Dorahiln’s Spine, this icy Region is home to the large pine trees of Frostpine Forest as well as the cold waters of Icespike Bay. The southern shore of the Region is made up of high rocky cliffs which sparkle and shine with deposits of snow and ice.

On the edge of the cliffs, just west of the mountains, lies Crystal Fall Lake where the excess water pours over the cliffs in beautiful sparkling waterfalls. It is here where the main river that flows through Glasthearth starts and makes its way through the mountains. E’olhom’s main river, The River Malathe winds its way through the frozen tundra to the Region’s capital Fiestvole. The landscape slopes downward from the cliffs and mountains until it’s flows into gravelly, rock strewn beaches. Most of its weather is snow and blizzards except in the summer when it plagued by almost fish drowning amounts of freezing rain.

Cities:

• Fiestvole - Capital of E’olham, bridging The River Malathe and settled into The Siren’s Tongue.
• Tyrant’s Keep - City built into the cliffs of Icespike Bay. Heavily fortified and made up of winding bridges and stairs.

Natural Features:

• Frostpine Forest - A coniferous forest that clings to the side of the mountains and flows over the hills onto the tundra. Home to various wolf packs and small villages.
• Wet Tooth Cove - Nestled between the cliffs and Bracklethorn Island, this body of water is made up of sharp jagged rocks and churning seas caused by the deluge of water falling from the lake above.
• Icespike Bay (Bad Slave Bay) - A small bay cut into the cliffs. The edges are adorned with frozen spikes making it difficult for ships to enter the bay. Carved into the side of the sheer walls is Tyrant’s Hold which serves as a safe place and trading port for all manner of pirates.
• Dorahiln’s Spine - A frozen range of mountains that cuts off the entire Region of E’olham from the rest of the continent. The waters that flow there are beautiful and clear. However, travel through the mountains is rough and most people sail around or take airships if the absolutely need to cross.
• Lake Crystal Fall - A cliffside lake that pours onto Wet Tooth Cove. The waterfalls sparkle like diamonds as they fall into the cove.
• The Siren’s Tongue - A small rectangular inlet on the northwest corner of the peninsula. The expansive of water is covered in sheets of ice that are routinely broken up by large steel bowed ships to ensure the safe flow of trade. The waters are home to a pod of narwhals whose calls used to sound like sirens to the natives.
• Bracklethorn Island - The largest Island in the Nation, Bracklethorn Island is home to several villages that use the warmer waters off the southern coast to help bring better fishing to the Region. The island is also home to one of the largest naval bases and training facilities in the Nation and is the location of E’olham’s Military Entrance Exam.
• The River Malathe - The arterial river of E’olham that flows from Crystal Fall Lake to Fiestvole. It’s waters are some of the purest and clearest of any river in the country.

GLASTHEARTH: One of the most diverse Regions in the Misteren Nation. It is made up of lush floodplains, small deciduous forests, sandy beaches, tall pine forests, rolling hills, and frozen tundra. The Region borders E’olham on the northern border the and Capital Region on the eastern edge.

The main river that flows through the Region is called Silver Flow. It has many tributaries that flow throughout the Region and cause fertile flood plains nourished by the nutrients from the mountains. The capital, Galaborn is settled in the bend of the channel. 

Cities:

• La’driona - One of the most prosperous cities in the nation, La’driona takes up an entire island in the bay at the end the Silver Flow. The home of the Misteren Black Market, it’s a thriving city filled with bazaars and markets.
• Galaborn - The capital city of Glasthearth is nestled into a bend in Silver Flow. It’s bustling streets serve as a hub for trade from all parts of the nation.

Natural Features:

• Allumanth Forest - An expansive pine forest that separates the rolling hills of the northern riverlands from the vast snowy wasteland of the Rumaia Tundra. Its dark and freezing interior is home only to animals and small lumber farming settlements.
• Silver Flow - Pouring out of the mountains from a massive waterfall, Kailassa Falls, the river flows through the heart of the Region. It’s called Silver Flow because of the large deposits of silver that it pulls from the mountains and leaves near the base of the falls.
• The Glasthearth Floodplains - A broad and exceptionally fertile stretch of land caused from the swelling riverbeds of Silver Flow.
• Rumaia Tundra - Cold and desolate, the Rumaia Tundra, unlike E’olham, is sparsely populated with frozen earth and gravelly beaches. Its only economic benefits are the massive amount of stone in the ground and the vast frozen lakes for ice harvesting. It also lays claim to the Glasthearth’s Military Entrance Exam Base.
• Kailassa Falls - Beautiful and shimmering they stream from the mountain side in beautiful floes of ice and silver.

ELDERBROOK: One of the most prosperous Regions it’s river is the most direct route to the capital allowing it to control a vast majority of trade. The river sprouts off into several tributaries that provide substantial water to the settlements and towns in the Region. Unlike Glasthearth its rivers are cut through hills making them more suited to help with livestock.

It borders E'ohlam along Dorahiln's Spine to the west, Capital Region to the south, and Galathir’s Blade to the east. The only Regions it doesn’t have close border access to is Glasthearth and Wainsgrove, but its connection to the others and its central location make it an important source of commerce. The main river of the Region flows straight from Nypherra lake and has been converted into a wide canal called The Jelani Canal.

Cities:

• The Three Daughters: Irrelia, Annerith, and Pathlea - Named After the three daughters of King Zyroh, Irrelia and Annerith are the only of the three daughter cities located in Elderbrook. Pathlea resides in Wainsgrove.
• Colomdire - Settled midway between two tributaries, the capital of Elderbrook lays on The Jelani Canal and is the primary shipping hub for the Region. All barges going to Mystopolis or headed to Zyroh’s Bay must stop at the docks there to have their supplies checked for contraband and taxed appropriately.
• Novgorod - A large sprawling monastery tucked away in Shadowglenn in a beautiful streamside meadow. All officers of the Armed Forces are sent to Novgorod for officer training. 

Natural Features:

• Shadowglenn - A large expanse of forest on the eastern side of Elderbrook. It’s trees grow close together and little light makes it through the canopy.
• Z’yroh’s Bay - A large bay in northern Mistere named after the Third King, Zyroh.
• The Jelani Canal - Originally the River Jelani that was expanded and deepened into a cement lined canal. It has heavy steam barge traffic as well as several locks and dams that allow access to the other tributaries.
• The Rabbit’s Foot - A larger area of land at the southwestern end of the Region. It’s home to several forests and the main military base for the Region as well as the location of the Elderbrook Military Entrance Exam.

WAINSGROVE: The southern tip of Wainsgrove is covered by the tangled mess of mangrove swamps known as Nilanthi’s Tangle. The marshlands spread out from there and even border the mountains that surround Hisakawa. A ridge of hills separates the swamps from the northern part of the Region. Most of the northern lands consist of rolling hills used for terrace farming. The swamplands are great for rice farming and rice is their chief export.

Most of the cities and settlements in the southern peninsula are built on stilts to lift them out of the water. Rail transport, as well as most animal transports, are useless in the muddy bogs. The specific conditions inside the swamplands and tangle make it a breeding bed for rare plants used in medicines and food.

Cities:

• The Three Daughters: Irrelia, Annerith, and Pathlea - Irrelia, Annerith, and Pathlea - Named After the three daughters of King Zyroh, Irrelia and Annerith are the only of the three daughter cities located in Elderbrook. Pathlea resides in Wainsgrove. Pathlea connects many of the Mistere and Wainsgrove railways, some of which cross the border into Hisakawa.
• Silkenbogue - Situated on the edge of Nilanthi’s Tangle, the Capital of Wainsgrove is built upon stilts and is surrounded by rice paddies and deepwater rice farms. The city has no roads to say and is mostly made of channels and bridges to get between structures.

Natural Features:

• Lake Sevcrest - Situated in a basin between the hills, Lake Sevcrest is the largest body of uninterrupted fresh water in the Region.
• Nilanthi’s Tangle - A thick expanse of land consisting of only mangroves and marshes. The roots of the mangrove trees inspired the people of Wainsgrove to name this place Nilanthi’s Tangle.
• Dog’s Head Rock - On the southern edge of Zyroh’s Bay, Dog’s Head Rock rises out of the swamps and serves as a defense near the Hisakawan border. Wainsgroves military base is here as well as where their Military Entrance Exam takes place.

GALATHIR'S BLADE: A long, narrow Region, Galathir’s Blade runs along the eastern side of the continent. It’s western border contains the entirety of Fate’s Loom. It’s bordered by Wainsgrove, Elderbrook, and Capital Region to its west. 

Rivers flow from the mountains, dividing up the hill covered landscape into areas perfect for terrace farming. Unlike Dorahiln’s Spine, only the very tops of the mountains in Fate’s Loom are covered in snow while their lower slopes are strewn with lush forests and babbling brooks. Some of the canyons and valleys in The Loom have settlements in them where livestock and mining are the primary means of economy.

Cities:

• Seldrin - Placed in the fork of two rivers, the capital city of Galathir’s Blade it’s known for it’s large wheat field and consequently, The Miller’s District. An entire section of the city is dedicated to the milling of wheat into flour by means of water mills.

Natural Features:

• Horseshoe Island - The most northern island in the Nation it is home to a small fishing village but mostly used as Galathir’s Blade’s military base and Military Entrance Exam location.
• Fate’s Loom - A long expanse of mountains extending from the northern shores of the continent to the middle area of Galathir’s Blade. Unlike it’s brother to the east it’s slopes are more habitable and are made up of a mix of pine and deciduous forests. Cities cling to the steep slopes and canyons and in some parts mountain tops have been flattened to make cities.
• Pinnacle Rock - The largest mountain in the country. It rises up out of Fate’s Loom and is home to the Monastery of the Sovereign Ruler at the highest attainable point. The Sovereign Ruler makes the trek there every so often with her Divine Ambassadors and they are sequestered away to connect with the spirits of Sheabeth and her children. The monastery is maintained by the Archbishop Of Sheabeth.

CAPITAL REGION: Home of Lake Nypherra and its watershed, the Capital Region is named so because it houses the nation’s capital Mystopolis. The shores of the lake are home to many suburbs as well as large farms. Most of the land in the area is devoted to farming especially along the Jelani Canal where the water is frequently diverted into fields for irrigation.

The northernmost part of the region is covered by hardwood and pine forests rising from the ridge of cliff that runs along the northern border of Lake Nypherra. This cliff face has many caves inside it that are used as mines. The eastern hills are divided so that the northern ones are used for animal husbandry and the southern ones are used for terrace farming. Everything that is grown and harvested in the Capital region is used to feed its citizens and not used for trade or export.

Cities:

• Mystopolis - An expansive city that spans two large islands in the middle of Lake Nypherra. Houses Eldritch Academy, the nation's most famous school.

Natural Features:

• Lake Nypherra -

♦ Traditions

TRANSPORTATION:

Airships:

• Commercial - Used for Transporting goods across Mistere or to neighboring nations. Powered via technology and occasionally Eldritch energies.
• Weaponized - Used by the Misterean Military. Powered via technology and often Eldritch energy.

Trains:

• The most affordable means of travel across the expansive landscape of Mistere. Used for public transportation, military, and trade. Powered by coal and steam usually, sometimes with Eldritch energies.

Water Transportation:

• Ferry - Due to Mistere’s vast rivers and tributaries ferry boats are a common means of travel and transport as many cities are coastal or on rivers.

HOLIDAYS:

Leap Thaw
March 19th - March 26th
The celebration of Leap Thaw is a spring themed celebration taking place near the beginning of the season to celebrate the change of seasons. Activities during this time of year are typical consisting of spring cleaning, sprucing up flower beds, and the butterfly festival which takes place across the entire week but is most popular on the last day. Festivities begin a day after the first butterfly cocoons are spotted in the nation, allowing the seven days of painting things bright and flying kites to climax in an explosion of color when the nations many butterfly species finally emerge 6-9 days later. In modern times the diverse flight of the nearly uncountable butterflies is considered symbolic for the diverse state of the Nation.

Remembrance Day
June 10th
Once upon a time Mistere was actually an incredibly divided country with some humans carrying extreme prejudice against other species. If not for the actions of Queen Sydra in 663BAW that trend may have carried on through the rest time. Even though struggles still abounded before Mistere reached it current state? The olive branch of a queen descended from a prejudice family who exiled other species in sending an army to defend the last standing mixed town from the dictator Caynin lasted through history as a beacon of hope Mistere could become what it is today. Throughout this holiday plays of the wars of old are put on across the country, museums are free, you can also frequently find ye old markets and historical fairs being hosted.

Bounty
June 21st
One of the calmest festivals yet chaotic and bright in its own right Bounty is a celebration actually rather tied in with the economy of Misetre showcasing their main exports and showing off to an extent. Livestock, Produce, and Fishing festivals abound this time of the year in their respective areas. Within the cities which have grown beyond having easy access to these things the celebration had morphed slightly often involving cooking competitions to show what they can do with what the rest of the nation bore.

Sundry
August 14th - August 21st
Other holiday - devoted to diversity
In spite of being relatively new Sundry is the largest celebration of Mistere established to show the nation's pride in its vast diversity. As opposed to just some simple festival? Sundry is a collage of smaller festivals held by the different sections of species inhabiting the nation, taking place across the course of several weeks. For roughly the entire month the entire country looks almost foreign as its people explore each others traditions, religions, customs and lives.

Harvest Holiday -
September 24th
Celebrated at the beginning of harvest season for Mistere this holiday is a celebration of what’s been obtained through the year. Characterized by the ‘first harvests’ feast at the end of the day and a late night dance by bonfire.

Christmas -
December 25th
This holiday started as a simple act in the cold dark winter of mistre long ago, a single lit candle becoming two, than three, and so forth until the entire country was bright shining lights. To this day? That remains the core of the celebration but it had gotten more advanced to include gift giving, performances and volunteering.

mistere overview (c) Skaial, government (c) Izalie, regions (c) spongepunch
table by Nightwing™