Erias: The largest and most populous country in Tarsha, Erias has had a tumultuous history of invasions, in-fighting, political strife, and ever-shifting borders. For over a hundred years, Erias maintained a state of almost constant war with their rival, Inveira, which only ended with the rise of Abaddon.
Erias is perhaps most famous for its ability to wage and maintain extended military campaigns. The country was crucial in holding back Abaddon’s forces in the early days of the war, buying the rest of Tarsha time to gather their defenses and avoid swift destruction. Erias bore the brunt of the Andred forces for the remainder of the war, suffering significant losses and hardships, but the country’s resilience enabled Tarsha to hold firm.
Erias is home to many technological innovations and powerful machines of war, as well as renowned generals like Hallus Braygon and Dayne Vernell. Famous landmarks include the world’s largest city, Morven, the mighty Alar River, the Barrows of Alon Heath, and the ancient tower city of Calbraith.
Banner: A white mountain pierced by a white sword against a field of blue. The banner is reminiscent of Morven’s palace, where a massive statue of a sword’s hilt rises from its court. This is believed to be symbolic of the Eriasan’s domination over the mountains, therefore controlling all that is beneath them.
Meres: As a mostly arid desert, Meres is the smallest and least populated country in Tarsha. Furthermore, it faced near-constant invasions from Abaddon due to its proximity to Andred. However, the andreds and arzecs were largely combat ineffective due to the extreme temperatures, intense light, and shifting sands. The naturally harsh environment, though difficult to live in, allowed its people to thrive.
Important landmarks include the fortress city of Menaheim that was the country’s primary defense against Andred, the Gold Coast by the Menaheim Sea that is home to the country’s famous craftsmen and merchants, the newly discovered Tombs of Ivandar, and Sudachan, Tarsha’s largest island that had been used for hundreds of years by people looking to escape the war. Among the many large cities is the capital of Izadon, located in an oasis of lakes and palm trees in the natural shelter of cliffs and canyons.
Banner: A red eagle against a quartered field of red and white. The symbol is said to represent the many tribes of Meres’ early days, when many of the ancient people were said to worship the giant eagles of the desert.
Inveira: Inveira has been a political opponent of Erias since the Age of Broken Swords. Whether over trade routes and tariffs or border disputes, the two countries have had a bloody history of conflict that resulted in Inveira’s increased isolation until the end of the war. Inveira was the primary headquarters of Iscarius’ Aceden rebellion.
Notable landmarks include the white city of Val Idris, the daunting Malrim Mountains, the scenic meeting point of rivers and waterfalls known as the Viper’s Heads, the Iron Fjords where much of the country’s metal is mined, and its many ancient statues that were once built to worship the Forgotten.
Banner: Inveira’s standard changes with each king and is fashioned after their personal sigil. Under King Branim, the country’s banner depicted a white stone crushing a black sword. The image is apparently symbolic of when a youthful Branim led a group of elite soldiers to crush an uprising of Acedens who attempted to betray Iscarius.
Andred: For as long as humans inhabited Tarsha, Andred was a barren, unforgiving wasteland. Save for a few small tribes and collections of outcasts, few people bothered venturing into the icy wastes.
After his attack on Morven, Abaddon raised an army from the graves of his enemies to build his mighty fortress and begin his genocide that would later become known as the Four Hundred Year War. After his downfall, the land remained uninhabited and his mighty stronghold of Apollynos left as a reminder of the millions of people killed by his hand.
Banner: A red serpent on a black field spitting a sword from its maw. No one is certain as to its symbolism.
Angeled: Once the heart of a rich and flourishing empire, Angeled had long been an inhospitable and harsh land. Little is known about the empire that once ruled over Angeled, but its evidence is everywhere, from the ancient roads that web across the country to the ruins of great cities and fortresses.
Heiven Sul: An inhospitable land of volcanoes and ashen earth. Many of its volcanoes are still active, creating an ever-shifting land of magma and stone. It is believed by the more superstitious that terrible creatures roam the dark land. The few who dared venture into Heiven Sul have not reported any sightings of these creatures, though many of them claim to have seen great claw marks riven in the earth.
Amon Karash: The treacherous, barren wasteland that is home to the arzecs. The land seems to be formed from Heiven Sul’s ancient volcanic channels, evidenced by the deep gullies, knife-like ridges, and black earth. During the war, the arzecs wandered Amon Karash where they awaited orders from their master or launched occasional hunting raids into the surrounding countryside. Few people have dared enter the home of the arzecs.
Nimithy Valley: A fertile valley located between the mountains of Erias and Meres, it is home to many flourishing farms and is the primary passage between the North and South.
The Faeran: The largest forest in Tarsha, the Faeran stretches nearly the entire length of Charun to form a natural barricade between the North and the South. The forest is made up of twisted, gray trees with ink black leaves that give the place an eerie, almost otherworldly appearance.
Little is known about the peculiar fauna that thrives in the infertile soil, but many travelers report seeing and feeling strange images and sensations. Due to the dense, nearly impassible trees and the nightmarish effects they have on people, few travelers dare venture into the Faeran and instead opt for the safer passages over the ocean or through the Nimithy Valley.
Alon Heath: The hallowed barrows of Erias’ ancient kings. Sometime during the fall of religion, the barrow’s curators and the Forgotten’s last followers, the Tongueless of Helika, sealed the land off from the outside world to prevent the mobs of rioters and looters from destroying the sacred place. It is said that any who pass through its barrier are incinerated by a blinding light from the heavens. The legends claim that this is the light that granted Abaddon his powers and forged for him the sword known as Ceerocai.
About the Author
Bryan Gifford’s love for literature and all things fantasy inspired him to create the world of “The Atonement Trilogy” at the age of ten. He completed the first of the trilogy, The Spirit of Revenge, at seventeen. When he’s not reading or writing, you can find him camping, traveling, playing with his dogs, or procrastinating something. He lives in Waco, Texas and has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. You can learn more about Bryan, “The Atonement Trilogy”, and his other works at bryangifford.com.
The Shadow of War Page 48