Brief History

Once an united empire called Heraklion ruled this continent over 3000 years. When armies of rebels clashed with imperial armies, lead by three legendary heroes against champion of Heraklion Esemir, everything changed. These four heroes were later founders of new kingdoms that were created from the once great empire.

Story of Three Great Heroes

Three legendary heroes named Aldur, Numeria and Embernam. Aldur was an orc paladin whose devotion belonged to Lathander. After encounter with Esemir, he travelled south to found new kingdom where every race has freedom. Alongside him most of orcs travelled north.

Numeria was human mage with mastery over evocation. She stayed on the north of continent to help found wizard towers to give birth new generation of wizards that could study magic alongside her loyal followers who later became first archmages of these towers. 

Embernam was gnome warrior with great skill in craftmanship. He travelled to the hearth of continent, where Heraklion's capital was located. He started new kingdom with focus on trade, craft and technologies.

All these heroes were great friends and started their kingdom in believe that new kingdoms shall support and help each other. Every kingdom had its weakside and stronside and they inteded to fill each other weakside, creating powerful alliance that no tyrant had power to disrupt.  

Three Kingdoms

Kingdom of Aldur

King Aldur created large kingdom on south, bordering from north with great impassable mountain terrain, providing great location for building castles and fortresses. Orcs started villages and cities across this large wasteland which was previously used mostly for mining and military training. After initial buildings were created, orcs were followed by entire Dwarwish clans who claimed part of the land for their new kingdom. King Aldur knew that Orcs had their weakness in crafting skills, so he gladly accepted their immigration and granted them land in the middle of his kingdom in highest mountain Teradom.

Kingdom of Numeria

Queen Numeria divided her kingdom into standalone parts called districts. Each of these districts were provided with capital city with its own Duke. Queen Numeria herself was focused on creating new magical schools and storing her knowledge of magic for future generations. Most of inhabitants of Numeria were humans and elves, alongside with all other non-dominant races on continent. It's considered one of the most friendly kingdoms to travellers and merchants.

Kingdom of Embernam

King Embernam followed Queen Numeria in dividing kingdom into smaller parts. However, he did not want to be a King, so he decided to divide his power into smaller pieces and pass some of his power to rules of these districts. Creating first glance of democracy. He called this districts Elects and each leader an Elect. Later this kingdom was renamed to Republic of Emebernam.

Al'Takar

All those, who shared ideals of original empire moved to aside and travelled to great desert called Al'takar. They continued in Empire following their god Sseth. They still support and accept concepts of slavery and dominant race of Yuan-Ti.

The Great War

After long time of peace and prosperity, The Great War started. Republic of Embernam declared war on Numeria, Al-Takar and Aldur. Firstly they declared war on Numeria in believe of weak position of Aldur so they won't help their ally - this presumption was however incorrect and such - all nations were at war against the Republic. This war later ended with loss of Numeria and its complete destruction from the side of Embernam. 

Alu'ivar

During the Great War large yellow light appeared in the middle of continent. This light was some kind of magical power that disrupted magic across the entire continent - making magic hard to use, which was crippling blow for Numeria which highly depended on magic in their war.

Calendar & Time

Heraklion uses its own callendar called Heraklionian Calendar. Sometimes people still uses it and mostly ancient texts refer to these dates. However, most of new texts already use Numerian Calendar which is identical to real life calendar, however holidays were mostly preserved.

Heraklionian Calendar

Heraklionian Calendar works with powers of god in specific month. Each God "owns" a month in which his powers are strongest.

Heraklionian holidays

New Dawn

Celebration of new year and incoming Summer. People decorate their homes with colorful items as remainder that summer is coming and nature will be full of flowers.

Summer Day

After 30 day of summer people celebrate that summer is going and for everyone its pleasant part of the year. In most larger cities and towns are squares full of bards and dancers.

Summer-fall

Most of the summer is already past so in Summer-fall most people remove their decoration of summer and make smaller sacrifices to goddess Chauntea for successful summer.

Wild Night

Wild Night is mostly unknown holiday, only shapechangers know this as this is the night of the year when they can visit Silvanuses holy places to get rid of curses like lycantrophy in specific conditions. If anyone suffers lycantropy and passes through this night without getting rid of it, it is permanent.

Nature's day

This day is any hunting of wildlife strictly forbidden as it brings wrath of Silvanus of any hunter that might try to hunt.

Day of Magic

Celebration of Magic as itself. Most casters are the main actors as large shows of magical powers is expected from them to whomever asks for it.

Day of Lies

On this day if you pray to Cyric he shall grant you blessing of perfect lie. Whenever you lie to someone this day, it is impossible to tell you are lying, however the cost might be high. It is common for people to not talk or trust with anyone this day.

Black Day

This is darkest day of the entire year as it is in some areas hard to tell when is day and when is night.

Day of Night

In this day is the longest night of the year and all night creatures goes mad, hunting everything they can.

Day of the Dead

This day all people are trying to honor their dead and in some temples it is even able to speak with recently dead family members.

Women's day

This holiday is for all women for their ability to give birth to new generations. Drow elves hold this day as their most important day of the year.

Day of Sun

Sun is closest to the Material Plane for the entire year and it is said that no shadow can exists in the plain sight of Sun.

Day of Justice

The most important trials are scheduled for this day as it is believed that Tyr itself guides hand of justice. It is also holiday of all judges.

Day of Sight

All blind people are returned their sight for one day a year to see colors of the plane. However those who remove their own sight are not granted this blessing.

Moonday

During Moonday is moon visible for the entire day and all creatures that interact with moon are in kind of a trance and they are having best opportunity to commune with this great power.

Languages

Common Languages

Most used languages on Heraklion are Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, Orcish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling. Some inhabitants of Heraklion also use Draconic, Sylvan and Undercommon.

Dead languages

Heraklion also used two more languages which are considered dead.

Asarit

This language was used by nobles of Heraklion. It is considered language of high nobility because of its dancing-like sounds. It can be mostly encountered on ancient valuables.

Petoet

Language of Elves from distant lands called Pelos. This language itself is quite dangerous as it can be used for incantations of elven magic and even non-caster can use it for trivial magic. However if pronounced wrongly, it can have devastating effects on speaker.

Currency

The nations on Heraklion are using standard tender of gold, silver and copper.

1 gold = 10 silver

1 silver = 10 copper

Old tender

In past they have used something called Herolis. One Herolis represented something about 0.5 silver and it was green circle with a snake head, mostly from copper pieces as it were easiest to turn green.

Timeline

All ages have their specific suffixes. Dragonkind era is marked as DR. First People era is marked as FP. Era during which was Heraklion present is marked as HE. Everything after has no suffix or can be marked as "SE" because of this era is called Sentia. It's beginning is also year 0. Everything else is considered "before Sentia".