Welcome to Morea

A World Reborn from Cataclysm

 

Morea is an ancient realm forever changed by the catastrophic clash of immense magical forces called the Great Scarring. Continents were sundered and scattered across the vast oceans, and the Gods themselves vanished in a cataclysmic battle, their fate unknown.

 

The Great Scarring left Morea in ruins. Survivors emerged from the ashes, rebuilding civilizations amidst blasted wastelands, shattered islands, and ancient ruins. For a time, magic was absent, but it returned abruptly, flooding the lands like an arcane deluge. This resurgence mutated beasts into monstrous forms and altered people, granting them fey features, bestial traits, or fiendish aspects.

 

Now the people are without the guidance of the Gods but through the teachings of a wise scholar and prophet they've found the well of power that fuels Divine magics. Others turn to make pacts with ancient spirits, Fey, Fiends or nature itself.

 

Read more about the events that shaped this world in: History of Morea

Read the metadata for the general theme and inspirations: World of Morea - Meta

   

Science and Technological Ascendancy

 

In recent years, scholars and engineers have relentlessly pursued scientific advancement, harnessing technology and skill to achieve feats once possible only through magic. This innovative technology, however, dampens magical power, weakening spells and disrupting access to arcane forces. As a result, tensions have risen between those who advocate for embracing these new technological powers and those who yearn for a return to the grandeur of old magic and divine intervention.

 

An Empire of steamworks and gunpowder rose and rapidly expanded, conquering kingdoms and principalities, and establishing factories, railways, and industries to support its legions. The land is now crisscrossed with railroads, and technology has improved lives, albeit at the cost of diminished magic and its cities are home to squalor and inequality, belching smoke and pollution into the once clean air.

 

The Empire of Mori

To the south, on the continent of Elastar, a man named Mori was born with the ability to commune with the Primal Powers left over from the war of the Gods. He founded Morianderism, enabling people to harness divine power once more. His birthplace grew into a great city, the heart of The Empire of Mori Now this Empire has harnessed science and new technologies to build cities of steel and iron billowing smoke while churning out its legions of war machines.

The Scattered Islands

Northwest of Elastar lie The Scattered Islands of Therassia, once a lush continent it was torn asunder by the Great Scarring into an archipelago. At its center stands the mighty volcano Dresnor. These islands are home to the Kingdom of Therassia and the surviving Elven Houses, including the Royal House of Findael. The Elves revere the memory of the Gods and seek to unravel the mystery of their disappearance, aiming to restore a world where magic and divine oversight prevail.

The magic hating Clans of Pol

In the frozen continent of Pol, the Confederacy of Vec shun magic, deeming it Evil and will kill those who practice it on sight. Their land is rife with corrupted energies, and the veil between planes is perilously thin. Many inhabitants bear the marks of magical corruption, exhibiting fey, bestial, or fiendish characteristics. Most people live along the coast or huddle together in outposts in the frozen wastes.

 

Vulgnor's Range: A Bastion of Ingenuity deep under the mountain

 

Central Elastar's Vulgnor's Range is home to the Dwarven Kingdom of Kazad'Zar and The Deep Republic of the Gnomes. They have carved out a vast underground network of railways, roads, and cities within the mountain, using great machines. Dwarven engineering and Gnomish ingenuity have produced wonders of science and technology, while some cling to the old ways, crafting objects of great magical power. Living under the Empire's rule, they navigate a delicate diplomatic path to preserve their autonomy.

The Plight of the Monster Species

 

Life is harsh and unjust for the so-called 'Monster races' of Morea—Orcs, Goblins, Bugbears, Drow, Shadar-Kai, Kobolds, Gnolls, and others. In Therassia, they are enslaved, purportedly for their own protection, due to their perceived violent nature. In the Empire of Mori, they are exploited as cheap labor, treated as second or third-class citizens. However, some have escaped to the southern island of Lorrukh, establishing a great tent city in the wasteland, ruled by clan chieftains. Their ambition is to liberate all their kin from oppression.

 

The Wild Lands of Olmerrec

 

East of Elastar lie the wild, unexplored lands of Olmerrec, a frontier ripe for resettlement. Settlers have established the first foothold in the town of Brightwater and spread out through the dense jungles to the east. Encountering strange ruins and scaled mutated beasts the settlers have held fast to their lands and are always on the lookout for raiders. Who knows what dangers lurk in the deep wilds or the wastelands to the south?

 

Important locations

Mori - Capital city of the Empire, a vast city of sprawling slums, factory districts bellowing smoke and fire, rich houses in the noble and merchant districts and the grand sights of palaces of the Imperial and Temple districts. The city serves as the administrative center of the Empire's military and the government.
Theras City - Capital city of the Kingdom, a majestic mystical sight of crystal palaces and elegant houses built in the Elven fashion appearing as if part of nature. The great volcano Dresnor dominates the skyline and the mountain has been tapped to provide magma to the forges of the city.
Brightwater - A frontier town established on the long lost continent of Olmerrec. The town is home to intrepid adventurers and explorers looking for a new life away from the oppressive regimes of the world.
Lorrukh - The oppressed Monster species of the world have created their own city in the south of Olmerrec on an island they share with a mysterious insectoid species. A city of tents made to be semi-permanent is mainly inhabited by Orcs but has a population of Goblins, Gnolls, Kobold and some rare sightings of Shadar-Kai or Ogres.