The Khorunian Times

Khorun is a land where shadows linger long after the sun sets and leave long after the sun rises. Here every path is uncertain, every choice fraught with consequences, every shadow hiding an opportunity or a dagger. To walk its lands is to become part of an unending story of perserverance, resilience, ambition and unyielding desire to shape one's own fate and become free of the shackles of higher powers.

From the frozen expanses in the north to the rolling sands of the Xhortan desert, Khorun is a continent of stark divides. Where the ruling classes of Lossorach revel in excess while whole socities toil in squalor. But this is a people with a warrior's strenght and patience. Even the rugged, windswept shores of Eprea and the fortified bastion of Ozudren tell stories of resilience, forged in the fires of adversity.

Geography

Not far from the north pole of Avaleen lies the massive continent of Khorun, and while only part of the north has a polar climate the rest of the continent is ravaged by strange weather due to unsealed elemental rifts. It is surrounded on all sides by Morimyr Ocean.

Drozag

Drozag is a bastion of dwarven ingenuity and determination, a land where craftsmanship is a way of life and stone sings under the touch of skilled hands. Wedged between the ambitious Lossorach and the verdant reaches of Kilmoru, the true majesty of Drozag lies beneath the surface, where sprawling subterranean cities and cavernous industrial centers hum with relentless activity.

Kal-Morath, the capital, sports the grand Halls of Legacy that house artifacts from dwarven history, including salvaged relics from the Age of Celestials. Mining is the backbone of Drozag’s economy and the most famous mining system, Morrak's Vein, is said to be so extensive that it connects to underground rivers and long-forgotten ruins from ancient civilizations.

After the Second Sundering, Drozag became a sanctuary for displaced dwarves and those with an aptitude for craftsmanship. The fusion of old techniques from Ghor Minthra and the innovative methods of native Drozag artisans has resulted in a renaissance of dwarven craft, with the nation producing unparalleled weaponry, tools, and intricate works of art that are highly sought after.

Notable features:

• The Iron Promenade is a massive underground trade hub where merchants from all over Khorun come to barter for Drozag’s goods.
• Deep beneath Kal-Morath lies the Forge-Heart, a legendary forge powered by geothermal energy.
• Over the centuries The Silent Keep evolved from a defensive fortress to a military academy, training not only drozag dwarves but also mercenaries and tacticians from other nations.

Dun Nor

This radiant coastal kingdom might be small, but it is not easily forgotten. Known for its arching sea glass domes, perfumed court and merchant dynasties, it is a country that has exploited its mist-veiled peninsulas and the peal-rich waters of the Black Basin for centuries.

Wealth flows like water through the hands of the guilds and nothing is more sacred than refinement, control, and legacy. The coast is filled with stone-carved harbors and sun-colored minarets that rise into the morning haze.

Its culture is an intricate game of aesthetic mastery and silent authority. Pearl-diving, incense-trade, silk-weaving, and art are elevated to high disciplines.

But one should not underestimate the citizens of Dun Nor. They share borders with the Xhortans and Lossorach, hiding a heart of steel and resolve beneath a mask of joviality. Dun Nor plays the long game, not by breaking the world, but by polishing it, seducing it and enduring the hardships like a rock in water.

Notable features:

• The Festival of First Light is held on the last full moon of Amartis. Lanterns float across harbors, dancers fill the streets and small tokens are cast into the sea to honor the ancestors and ask for another year of prosperity.
• Storm Ward Spires are towers positioned along the coast, etched with glyphs to calm tempests and keep sea lanes clear.
• Vaelor is the crescent shaped capital built into the cliffs above the Sapphire Bay. This is where the Pearl Concord, the ruling assembly of noble houses and guild magnats holds their court.

Eprea

Ringed by lively coral reefs and surrounded by a seemingly infinite expanse of sapphire waters, the island nation of Eprea thrives. Its islands are a patchwork of extinguished volcanic peaks, lush jungles and tranquil lagoons, connected by intricately crafted bridges and bustling harbors.

Known for their remarkable shipbuilders and navigators, the people here have charted the breadth of the world's oceans, unveiling their countless mysteries. Songs of the sea fill the air in bustling coastal towns, and every child learns the stars and currents as naturally as they learn to walk.

Neutrality in the face of Khorun’s constant strife is both a cultural value and a survival tactic; the people of Eprea see themselves as keepers of the seas, dedicated to exploration, trade, and diplomacy rather than conquest. Their neutrality has fostered a cosmopolitan ethos, making Eprean ports hubs of international exchange.

Many come just to admire the towering beacon of the Starspire Lighthouse, the mysterious humming coral reefs and the Everfleet Harbor, the largest shipyard in the known world located in Eprea's capital Coralanis.

Kilmoru

In the forested northeast, in Kilmoru, ancient ruins whisper of forgotten times amongst the temporary military bases of the joint alliance of the Illevan Insurrection and the Sangora Syndicate. It is separated by the Cinderfall Bay from the Wastelands where the Second Sundering took place not too long ago. It is a land of dense forests, ancient ruins, and a scattered people with a weak central government overlooking the villages ruled by elder councils and shamans.

When the Syndicate established themselves in the Kilmoru forests, no one put up much of a fight, rather letting it happen than have to gear up for another war.

Lossorach

The Onyx Province of Lossorach is the largest and most influential realm on Khorun, and indeed, in all of Avaleen. The vastness of its dominion is matches only by the rigidity of its rulers. The land has shaped the hearts, the life, and the culture of its people with its breathtaking diversity from frozen tundras to fertile river basins, from shadowed forests to bustling metropolises and harbors.

The Northern Reaches are dominated by deep forests that become heavy with snow in winter. It’s always a much colder here than it should be, and some gather there’s a rift into the elemental plane of ice somewhere. However that may be, the cold has made the reaches sparsely populated. Yet they’re rich in untapped resources such as rare minerals and arcanefavored crystals buried beneath the permafrost.

Stretching across the heart of Lossorach the Great Steppes are vast grasslands that several nomadic communities call home, along with wandering merchant caravans and fortified waystations. The horizon stretches on infinitely, punctuated only occasionally by a hill fort or a sprawling farming commune.

The border to Drozag rise into jagged mountains shrouded in mist, harboring isolated monasteries, mountain towns and ancient ruins that whisper of the continent's forgotten past. These Shadowed Peaks that overlook Qi’Betrí provide the only safe trade route into Sangora through the Bolvin Pass.

The Obsidian Coast is Lossorach's extensive coastline, where the capital Pelveron is located alongside sprawling port-towns Sablefen, Wexmere and Faircin that are home to both opulence and abject poverty, like most of the nation. This coast is a teeming mix of sheer cliffs and natural harbors and manmade wavebreakers.

The kingdom prizes discipline, order and unwavering loyalty to the Onyx Council. The people live in a rigidly hierarchial society where one's place is dictated by both birth and merit. Ceremonial observances dominate public life, both religious and civic to honor Ithe and the Council, as well as its victories, including the successful colonialization of Gio, the red moon of Avaleen which gives Lossorach much of its riches.

The expansive territory of the kingdom necessitated a formidable military. Service in the Onyx Guard is a respected and often mandatory path.

Notable features:

• The Obsidian Citadel is the seat of the Onyx Council and the Umbra King and the heart of Pelveron. Its black spires gleam ominously under both moonlight and sun, a testament to the wealth and power concentrated in Lossorach's ruling class.
• The Twilight District of Pelveron is a labyrinth of shadowed alleys, and is the location of the first and largest temple dedicated to Ithe. It is here the Dusk Order was founded in her name. Pilgrims journey here to seek divine inspiration or unlock the secrets of the cosmos, of life and death.
• The River of Echoes is a wide, meandering river that carves through the nation. It is both the lifeblood of the kingdom and a spine for its commerce. Its banks are lined with trading posts and river barges, while its waters are said to carry the whisper of lost souls.
• The Whispering Glades. An eerie forest nestled in the northern highlands, filled with gnarled trees and an omnipresent mist. Locals claim the trees hold the memories of the dead, and wandering too deep often results in encounters with restless spirits.

Ozudren

Founded over a millennium ago as a refuge for dwarven clans, Ozudren rose to prominence during the Battle of Ironspire, where it withstood a ten-year siege, cementing its reputation as an impregnable fortress. During the Shadow Wars, Ozudren became a bastion of resistance, supplying enchanted arms and sheltering refugees.

Its halls host the Gathering of Kindreds, rare assemblies of dwarven leaders that shape the course of their history. Not much is known of it outside their ranks but one thing is certain: Ozudren’s unyielding walls, blazing forges, and proud traditions make it a beacon of unity and strength.

The lonely peak called Ironspire is renowned across all dwarven kin for its fearless, indomitable warriors, unmatched smiths and its legendary armory, brimming with exquisite weapons of intricate design. The city's gates and halls echo with tales of unity and strength.

The Warding Gates, a reinforced barrier carved with protective runes, guard the city's entrance and have never been breached. Beneath the mountain, almost two days walk, lies the Ember Forge, ancient and fueled by an eternal magma flowing through a rift to the fire plane where master smiths craft legendary weapons imbued with magical properties alongside realm watchers who fight the creatures trying to break through. At the heart of the city stands the Pillars of Unity, a monumental twinned obelisk etched with the names of the clans that shaped Ozudren's destiny, serving as a sacred site.

Sangora

Sangora is a rugged, lawless expanse where survival is a daily battle. Tucked into the wilderness of Khorun, it is a volatile land dominated by volcanic peaks and steaming fissures. The air is thick with the acrid tang of sulfur, and the sky often shrouded by ash clouds. Rainfall is acidic, carving the rocky terrain into jagged crags and ravines. Despite these hostile conditions, Sangora is not empty; it is a haven for outcasts, rogues, and those seeking to disappear.

Here, in this desolation of jagged obsidian cliffs and steaming fissures, life clings to the cracks. Scattered warbands and exiles carve out rough camps in hollowed rocks. There is no king in Sangora, only those strong or mad enough to hold their ground. Thornrock, a fortress hewn directly into a volcanic escarpment, serves as the closest thing to a capital.

It’s said the Veil is weakest here. Spellcasters often find their magic behaves oddly here, surging out of control or summoning things never intended or simply not working at all.

The land itself is an enemy. Ash storms can blot out the sun for days. Acid rains melt steel and stone. Tremors shake loose cliffs, and steam vents erupt without warning. Those who travel unprepared often vanish, swallowed by molten earth or charred to bone by toxic gales.

Still, the desperate and the daring press on. Sangora promises riches of pre-Sundering temples, hidden caches of magical ore, artifacts lost when the realms cracked. And sometimes, just sometimes, the earth reveals its secrets to those foolish or brave enough to bleed for them.

Sorvagur

The frozen lands near the northern pole are a stark and unforgiving expanse dominated by icy tundras, jagged coastlines, and towering glaciers. Winds howl across the land, carving the terrain into frozen rivers and snow-dusted plains.

The few settlements cling to natural harbors or geothermal springs that offer rare warmth. Dense evergreen forests dot the southern edges towards Kilmoru, providing timber and game. Further north, icy fjords stretch into the frigid seas, teeming with seals and whales. The landscape demands resilience, shaping a culture of survival and fierce independence.

Those who do end up settling here have created a unique culture. A mix of bloody raids, hunting what scarce fauna is availabale, and cozying up near log fires to wait out the winter. Despite the cold, their spirits are warm and they are known for their hospitality.

Thalhelm

Thalhelm is often called the Stoneheart of Khorun because its mineral-rich country with deep ancient forests, rigid honor codes and a deeply traditional society. One of the founding members of the Onyx Council. Thalhelm remains a surprisingly powerful player and ally to Lossorach, despite its insular nature. The capitol of Wilden sits perched above the cloudline in the Crownspire Range.

Though they remain fiercely loyal to the Onyx Council in public, Thalhelm watches Gio’s colonization with wary eyes. Their leaders know too well the price of overreach.

Notable features:

• The Crownspire Range is not just a geographical barrier, it is sacred to the Thalmen who believe the mountains are semi-sentient, guarding secrets of a forgotten age. Pilgrimages are common to remote peaks.
• Hallowsmarch is a city recently unearthed after a landslide hundred of years ago. It has revealed strange, rune-lit machinery and architecture that predates recorded Thalmen history.
• The twin statues of Myrn and Durek stand facing each other across a narrow point in the Fouwen River. They represent the dual pillars of Thalmen culture; Tradition and Adaption respectively.

Wastelands

Khorun’s heart beats most loudly in its scars: the Wastelands is a broken expanse born of the Sundering, serving as a grim reminder of the continent’s darkest chapter. It is here that Illeva’s crown jewel, the City of Stars Japhaia was pulled into the streets of Ghor Minthra, obliterating the Dawn Cradle just as the flying city of Agartha came crashing down just outside the walls, creating the basing that separates the Wastelands and the Xhortan Sands.

To the west and south is a broken line where the ocean gnaws at the shore, hungry for more than the continent it devoured here. In the wake of the impact of the flying cities, the land itself shattered. Rivers turned to glass, forests reduced to ghostly ash, and the very air pulsed with unstable arcana that refuses to fade. Toura, the sister continent of Khorun was no more.

Arcane storms still roll across the Wastelands, wild and unpredictable. Survivors of the Kingdom of Illeva speak of nightmares made real. Beasts formed from magic itself, and broken constructs still repeating their final orders long after their makers turned to dust.

Countless refugees fled from the chaos, driven into neighboring nations. Few venture willingly into the Wastelands now. But the brave, and the desperate, still go, chasing lost secrets, buried power, and the hope that somewhere beneath the ash and ruin, something of old Illeva might yet remain.

Xhortan Sands

This area is a diverse and rich limestone desert in eastern Khorun made up of several micro-managing clans who have bonded together in a loose but unified confederation. Various cities are dug from the soft limestone and clay – leaving strips of vibrant colored minerals all around creating a unique landscape.

These clans consider themselves independent and don't recognize the borders or lands of Don Nur, Sangora or Lossorach which has led to more than a few skirmishes and one full out war that lasted three years.

They do, however, respect each other's resourcefulness and each community specialize in unique crafts or goods.

During the Shadow War the Xhortan clans were vital spies, scouts and smugglers, earning them enough coin to expand their cities.

Notable Landmarks

These are a few of the landmarks one can happen upon in Khorun, places that have given birth to legends.

Qi-Betrí

Arguably Qi-Betrí (aka the Endless) is the largest, most dangerous lake in the world. Despite its deceptive calmness, the currents underneath are fierce and unpredictable. Under the surface lurks a depth no one knows, and secrets few have ever tried to find out. The waters are murky with disrupted sediment and elements washed into it from far away rivers.

Because of all of this, the legends about the lake are plentiful, to say the least. Is there a monster lurking below the surface? Several? Are there cities sprawled on its floor?

Over thousands of years urban myths and legends had taken on a life of their own. Cautionary tales told to too-adventurous children and horror stories entertaining around a flickering fire.

Syndicate Base 19

High up on a bleak and barren mesa in the north of Sangora is a sprawled and entirely unplanned military camp. What began as a makeshift camp made by a group of refugees from Japhaia became a bustling sort of town as more and more recruits arrived to join the war effort against the Akati Empire.

A frost-cracked stone wall runs along the southern border to keep cattle and people from falling off the sheer cliff that dives into the endless waters of Qi-Betrí below and keep the occasional mudslide from the fire mountains at bay to the north. It is divided into eleven Quarters, the layout of which doesn't make much sense to anyone. Some people liken it to a leaking bucket with too many broken patches. The quarters usually gather a specific type of person, so humans and mixed races usually reside together, archers reside together, and so forth. However, knowing where one quarter begins and the other ends is near impossible if you are not a Maze Hunter or a Maze Runner; guides who have made their living on finding their way by seeing order in chaos.

Hearing about the Illevan Insurrection brewing along the borders to the Wastelands, the Sangoran Syndicate joined forces with the refugees and adopted this temporary camp into their fold - renaming it Syndicate Base 19 of Sangora.

History

Khorun’s history is one of ceaseless reinvention for all peoples. It is an unforgiving continent carved by war, ruled by ambition and reshaped by survival and arcane chaos. From the devastation of the Sundering that created the evergrowing Wastelands and turned Xhorta into the Xhortan Sands to the most recent Shadow Wars when ancient rivals tore through the continent – Khorun has never known stillness.

From the chaos and the darkness Lossorach rose as the most prominent nation of Khorun, and the most powerful. Indeed, perhaps the only ones interested in that kind of political power and influence. Most nations have representatives on the Onyx Council, founded as a hammer of peace and unity against the destructive forces of the illevan and the akati, it has survived on its own merits. While the peace on the continent is fragile and frequently broken, requiring sacrifices, penances and shows of faith, it has also caused a thriving climate for many. Amidst the persistent chaos, there is an undeniable beauty.

When the Accords were signed to end the Shadow War, a hope began to grow, that Khorun could perhaps join a brighter age with less struggle.

About 300 years ago the Onyx Council took the next remarkable step for all mortal races of Avaleen when they finally managed to reach the red moon Gio and colonize it. It has become home for those who wants to flee the hardships of the surface, and is rich in minerals and materials not commonly found on the planet below.

Culture

While it is a diverse continent with many warring factions and nations, the cultures across the continent share deep traits rooted in the aftermath of devastation, survival and ambition. Most nations may bend to Lossorach’s Onyx Council, but they do not bow easily. Memory becomes resolve and the scars are worn with pride. Reinvention becomes a sort of defiance.

In Don Nur, pearl markets glisten beneath glass domes that shimmer like starlight, a testament to trade’s endurance even under watchful eyes. In Sorvagur, the wind carries low, ancient melodies of the shamans, whose voices echo through stone canyons and call back to a time before the Council’s dominion. The forges of Drozag never sleep, casting blade, engine, and edict alike in molten iron, where ambition finds form in the fire.

Khorun is a continent that teaches its people early that safety is an illusion, and horror is your inheritance. Culture here does not reject fear, it formalizes it. Every institution—religion, law, art, family—is built around the understanding that survival is a cycle of loss, memory, and adaptation.

In Khorun, to endure is to transform, and to transform is the only truth that still matters.

Notable Factions and Socities in Khorun

These are some of the factions and societies that either originated in Khorun or play a major role in its culture and history.

The Dusk Order

The Dusk Order is a religious order guided by the favor of Ithe, the Duskmaiden which was founded in the wake of the Second Sundering. Publicly they are dedicated caretakers, running famous archives worldwide - the first and largest being in Lossorach. They are support workers and grief counselors known for their wisdom and gentleness, guiding those in need through the transition between life and death. Members of the Dusk Order often see the worst moments of a person's life and are there to witness the last. Despite this heavy burden, they see themselves as vessels and for them, the burden is light to carry.

With this said, many members of the Dusk Order do not consider themselves zealous worshippers of Ithe, but do pay homage to her in many ways. Less publicly they are a covert order of highly trained mages and monks who have made a sacred vow to eradicate the perverted practices of necromancy and undeath. They are ruthless in their hunt, fatally effective, and never tire. There is no grey area for them when it comes to undead. If someone shows even the faintest hint of undead taint, they have to be disposed of in a way that will forever prevent reincarnation, rebirth, or revival.

Illevan Insurrection

The Insurrection emerged as a powerful rebellion fueled by the chaos left in the wake of the Shadow Wars and the devastation wrought by the akatian raids on Japhaia. The Shadow Wars, a brutal conflict between rivals akati and illevan, ancient elven races and their mortal agents, fractured Avaleen, leaving vast regions destabilized and vulnerable. Their raids reduced the city to ash, its people scattered, enslaved, or killed, and its legacy erased. Japhaia’s destruction served as a breaking point for the Illevans.

With their homeland ravaged and faith in the divine and ruling powers shattered, survivors rallied under a common cause: vengeance and rebellion. The movement, initially fueled by anger at the akati, quickly expanded to target Khorun’s ruling systems, which they viewed as complicit in the chaos. As the insurrection spread,

Alexandre Kollisi and his ódir (brother-of-heart) James O'Hagan seized control, offering leadership and the muscle of the Red Division. Under Kollisi’s firm hand, the rebellion evolved from a disorganized uprising into a disciplined and relentless force.

Illevan Court

The Illevan Court stands as a fragmented but deeply influential remnant of the once-mighty Illevan civilization, now a shadow of its former glory. Rooted in the legacy of the City of Stars, Japhaia, the Court carries the weight of its people’s history, ambition, and tragic downfall. Though scattered across Avaleen and beyond, the Court persists as a loose confederation of Illevan leaders, nobles, and scholars, each vying for power and influence in a bid to restore their race to prominence. At the Court’s heart lies a burning ambition to reclaim lost glory.

Its leaders still see themselves as heirs to greatness, though their methods diverge sharply. Some seek alliances with Avaleen’s powers, wielding knowledge and invention as tools of diplomacy. Others follow a more violent path, epitomized by the young dissidents of the Sangoran mountains, led by their charismatic general. This general’s rallying cry echoes across the Court, stirring unrest and challenging the fragile peace of the Accords that once promised stability for the Illevan remnants.

With the royal heir of Illeva missing, it is only a matter of time before the Court must take a stance.

Onyx Council

The Kingdom of Lossorach is the largest realm on Khorun is ruled by the Onyx Council, a collective of twelve powerful figures who wield absolute authority helmed by the Umbra King. They rule with an iron hand from the Obsidian Citadel in Pelveron, weaving dark sorcery, brutal pragmatism, and unrelenting ambition to dominate both earth and sky. A goal that came true when they managed to colonize Gio during the Age of Arcanists. Once believed to be uninhabitable, the moon's craters now host mining colonies. The Council ensures Gio's compliance, extracting the moon's treasures at any cost.

Beneath the Obsidian Citadel lies the Vaults where ancient artifacts and moon-forged relics are hoarded, their magic binding the kingdom's might.

The Red Division

This is the name of the special forces unity of the military organization called the Sangoran Syndicate, but they are so much more than that. They have become a symbol of the harsh, unyielding nature of Sangora itself. Their reputation is built on fear, brutality, and a fanatical commitment to enforcing the will of their Syndicate. Once tasked with espionage and covert operations, they now operate mainly as enforcers, assassins, and shock troops. Their presence alone is usually enough to bring most dissenters into line. They are recognized by their cruel efficiency and crimson uniforms.

The Red Division embodies everything outsiders dread about Sangora: ruthlessness, unrelenting violence, and a willingness to sacrifice anything for dominance. With their purpose reshaped these days - members are often recruited from the most dangerous and volatile individuals Sangora has to offer, misfits, criminals, and combat veterans who have little left to lose. They undergo grueling training and conditioning that strips away any trace of humanity, leaving behind only obedience and an instinct for survival at all costs.

Outside of Sangora, they are the Syndicate's front line in projecting power beyond their borders, whether by conquering new territories or quelling uprisings in disputed lands. While their methods are feared and hated, their effectiveness is undeniable. In Sangora, survival is paramount, and the Red Division ensures that the Syndicate remains at the top of the food chain. In the shadow of the spitting fire mountains, they are the guardians of Sangora's lawless law, and their name alone is enough to chill the blood of those who hear it whispered in the smoky, sulfur-scented air.

Sangoran Syndicate

The Sangoran Syndicate is a guerilla militia turned de facto ruler of Sangora, led with ruthless efficiency by its enigmatic leader, Alexandre Kollisi . Emerging from the ashes of rebellion and conflict, the Syndicate has supplanted traditional governance, carving out its dominance in Sangora’s hostile and chaotic landscape. Its influence stretches across multiple hubs, from the sprawling urban base of Syndicate Base 19 to clandestine outposts hidden deep within the wilderness.

Far from a legitimate government, the Syndicate rose to power as a defiant force against established order, its roots entwined with the infamous Illevan Insurrection. This rebellion began in the wake of the catastrophic razing of Japhaia, an event that left the entire city devastated and sparked widespread dissent. The Syndicate capitalized on this turmoil, uniting warlords, outlaws, and those disillusioned with the Akati Empire’s powers into a single, dominant force. Under Kollisi’s command, the Syndicate thrives on exploitation, from Sangora’s rare mineral deposits to its burgeoning black markets. Forced labor fuels its treacherous mines, while smuggling, mercenary contracts, and underworld dealings provide the lifeblood of its economy.

With its network of bases and hidden routes, the Syndicate has become a nexus for illicit activity across northern Khorun, drawing both fear and grudging respect. Despite its dominance, the Syndicate faces enemies on all sides. Dissident factions and rival powers seek to overthrow its reign, but in Sangora’s unforgiving environment, Kollisi’s rule endures, driven by survival at any cost.