The Western Reaches

For four centuries, an unprecedented era of peace, prosperity and harmony has reigned in the lands under the Confederation. Now, it is experiencing an industrial revolution, driven by synergies of technology and thaumaturgy, allowing for the rapid development of previously unseen advancements. This is an era of wonder and exploration. Opportunities abound, and countless individuals strive to seize them. Yet, these new forges, foundries and manufacturies drive an ever-growing and insatiable demand for raw materials, fuel, and other natural resources.

Discovery

In 112 ASC, the discovery of a massive continent (estimated to be six times the size of the continent of Istia) on the western borders of the Known Expanse, the so-called Western Reaches, promised all that, and more. Though colonies, forts and outposts were subsequently established on the shores of the Western Reaches, it remained for a time a largely unexplored wilderness.

All that changed in 209 ASC, when a fateful prospecting expedition discovered untold mineral wealth deep in the interior, and what was once a forgotten frontier became a new source of riches. The Western Reaches offered the Confederation a golden opportunity to expand its influence, fuel its booming industries, and secure the raw materials demanded by its relentless progress. There was yet another resource that sparked interest. Archaeological expeditions and exploratory missions from across the Known Expanse uncovered valuable caches of thaumaturgical artifacts and relics from the ancient empires which once ruled the Reaches. These discoveries promised invaluable insights and powerful resources to be studied, harnessed, and exploited.

Current Situation

Since then, subsequent gold and silver rushes have drawn untold millions to the untamed frontier. Waves of pioneers, settlers, and enterprising adventurers followed, carving cities, towns, and humble outposts from the wilderness. 

The Western Reaches has since seen an explosive growth in its population, with many leaving the overpopulated, over-governed and over-stratified nations of the old world for the opportunity to make a fortune, the chance to start a new life or simply to seek adventure and excitement in the untamed wilds. Yet, despite the Confederation's claims of sovereignty, their grip on this lawless land is precarious. Law and order is a rare commodity in the Western Reaches; brigands, thieves and outlaws have also emerged to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the region. Hostile native tribes roam the frontier, their ululations echoing through the valleys. Lurking in the shadows are fearsome beasts, ancient and unnatural forces, and thaumaturgic phenomena that defy comprehension.

As if the perils of the frontier were not enough, a shadow looms larger: the United Domains of Gaea, an enigmatic and fiercely expansionist power, pushes ever deeper into the region. 

For decades now, both nations have been in a tense state of cold war, with skirmishes breaking out between their forces from time to time. These simmering hostilities reached their bloody zenith in 448 ASC at the infamous Battle of the Glass Sea, a cataclysmic conflict unmatched since the Invasion of the Three Tribes. The devastation threatened to engulf the Known Expanse in all-out war, a fate narrowly averted with the signing of the Treaty of Hes-Erg in 450 ASC. As part of the treaty, the two nations agreed to delineate their respective spheres of influence and establish a Neutral Territory (or Demilitarized Zone to the Gaeans) between their territories, where neither side could station its armies. Both sides would jointly administer and monitor this zone to ensure peace, freedom of movement, and trade between the two nations. The Free City of Hes-Erg was chosen to be the capital city of the Neutral Territory, owing to its strategic position near the center of the border. It was granted a special status, allowing it to govern itself democratically as an independent entity under the oversight of the Confederation and the United Domains.

Yet, peace hangs by a thread. Fortresses bristle on either side of the Neutral Territory, while Hes-Erg itself is a cauldron of intrigue, a stage for spies, saboteurs, and shadowy operatives working tirelessly to tilt the balance of power as the Confederation and the United Domains play their deadly game for dominance. The city may be neutral in name, but its soul is a battlefield.