Glossary

Ter'Ciel

Country

Population: 1,200,000 (Est. 2955 YA)

In the days before the War of Mages, the people of Fren would often journey to the mountain ranges that populated the frozen north. They named them "Sas’Terr’ta’Ciel", or "Hills of Earth that meet the Sky". These legends persisted after the war, and so when the peoples of Barbaria needed somewhere new to live, they traveled to these fabled lands. Across the plains, the twelve cities were established, with Kestra, their new capital, sited atop the mighty Ter’Ciel or "Earth meets Sky". Since 932 YA, the twelve cities have flourished as Ter’Ciel, so that although each one is ndependent, they can trust in each other for trade and support.

History

In the 800s, the borders of Barbaria were beginning to define themselves. Theon took up nearly half the continent, stretching from Alethion in the south up to the new county of Stoci in the North. Nori and Goren were sited in the middle, with Escher and Mazda in the north-east, whilst Tekas and Palmeria were sited in the north-west. Scattered around these were the smaller nations, comprised of little more than cities and surrounding farms. As the larger nations expanded, several cities were swamped by the borders, like Camben and Dhinos. In 856 YA, the remaining twelve city-states in the north formed a Grand Alliance, and decided to make new homes in the mountain ranges of Ter’Ciel in order to avoid destruction. Several Cielian cities, such as Comolor, borrow their name from the city-states that the people fled, although the actual cities are now well mined husks.

At first, the people sheltered above the plains, then sought solace during the winter in nearby caves. Eventually, the caves were slowly expanded and mined into the cavern cities of today, although cities like Kanchan and Richan are southern enough to survive above ground. Kestra and Dahn were instead sited above grand underground caves gave off enormous amounts of heat, which was used to warm the cities from below. In 932 YA, the Ter’Ciel Alliance was agreed upon by the 11 Lords of the cities at Dahn ("Light" in the High Tongue), an expansion of the previous alliance that birthed the new country from then on. The building of the city of Kestra ("Heat, warmth, or lift" in the High Tongue) was started in this year and designated a capital upon completion in 1072 YA.

The Arcs

Every year, the lords of the twelve cities will meet across Ter’Ciel to decide upon important affairs and create new opportunities for trade and mining. The cities are split into three main arcs. The Barbarian Arc covers Lahor, Saser and Pador, as they border Barbaria. The Nomadic Arc covers Lagiri, Nyalam and Richan, whilst the Cielian Arc covers those based upon the "Fin’Sas’ta’Man", or the "five peaks of home" which make up the grand mountain range. Lotchan, Masala, Comolor, Ceylon, Kanchan and Kestra-Dahn are covered by this arc.

Geography

The Ter’Ciel is defined by the five major mountains, although there are thirty-odd smaller mountains that go shadowed by the five. The titular Mt. Ter’Ciel is actually thought to be a long dormant volcano, similar to Mt. Anua in Mazda, that settled itself around 5000 years ago. The highest of the five, Kestra-Dahn rests at the summit. Unlike the other four mountains, Ter’Ciel does not protrude out of the ground, but builds slowly to its mighty height.

Mt. Searan, located north of Mazda and Escher, is the second tallest, with Pador on the plains below it, whilst Ceylon and Kanchan lie in a valley on the other side. Mt. Anglen, the smallest peak, forms the other side of this valley, and has Masala on the plains further north. A second peak, Mt. Chiril, is formed right next to it, with a narrow valley between them, which leads to the birth point of Teshire in Tanor. Lotchan is located on the plains in the south, near to the Durian border. Finally, Mt. Populan lies north of Tekas, with Saser founded on its plains.