Welcome to the world of Aeltharis!
While characters form the heart of any good role-playing game, the world they inhabit is just as essential. A richly developed world offers history, culture, landmarks, and deities that players can explore and interact with, making every adventure memorable.
This article kicks off a series introducing Aeltharis as a campaign setting. We’ll start with a broad overview of its lands and provinces before diving deeper into each in future installments.
Keep in mind that nothing here is set in stone. This is how I envision Aeltharis, but your game might take a different shape—and that’s the beauty of role-playing games. Feel free to adapt, expand, or reimagine this setting as inspiration strikes. Consider this a foundation, ready for your creativity to build upon.
The Land of Aeltharis
Aeltharis is a diverse continent that can serve as a stand-alone campaign setting or a distant, exotic land within an existing world. Its defining feature is the Spires of Aeltharis, a towering mountain range that dramatically shapes both the climate and cultures of the region. This natural barrier divides three of the five major provinces: Iryndor to the south and west, Lyranthia to the east, and Solmarith to the north. The remaining provinces, Drenhaven in the northwest and Myrithis in the far north, lie beyond the reach of the central range.
These provincial boundaries reflect the current political landscape, shaped by both geography and historical ties. While no single government rules over all of Aeltharis, each province maintains its own system of governance or leadership. The continent is relatively stable in the current age, but war and conflict are far from forgotten. Territorial disputes, resource-driven skirmishes, and political intrigue remain common as noble houses, clans, and tribes vie for power, independence, or survival.
Drenhaven
In the far northwestern reaches of Aeltharis, life is harsh—but it forges an equally hardy people. The Drenhavari are as resilient as the sparse vegetation that clings to the rugged coastline they call home. Strength, endurance, and self-reliance define their way of life.
Most settlements in Drenhaven are coastal, where survival depends on the bounty of the sea. Masterful seafarers and fishermen, the Drenhavari know all too well how swiftly fortunes can shift on the open waters. This ever-present danger has fostered deep spiritual ties, with reverence for the gods woven into daily life.
To outsiders from more developed provinces, Drenhaven can seem outdated or even primitive—a relic of a harsher past. Yet the Drenhavari take such judgments in stride, weathering scorn as easily as they endure the relentless northern gales.
Lyranthia
East of the Spires of Aeltharis lies Lyranthia, a province where nature’s raw power reigns supreme. Warm southern winds bring heavy rains, nurturing the land and transforming it into one of the continent’s most fertile regions. Towering woodlands blanket much of the province, with none more renowned than the ancient Forest of the Iron Oak.
This mystical woodland pulses with primal energy, drawing druidic tribes and nature-attuned priests who guard its secrets fiercely. At the heart of the forest stands the legendary Iron Oak, a colossal tree whose enchanted wood is said to resist even the sharpest axe. Tribal villages scattered throughout the forest swear fealty to the Clan of the Iron Oak, dedicating their lives to preserving the natural world.
Lyranthia’s deep connection to primal forces makes centralized rule all but impossible. While more developed settlements on the province’s outskirts occasionally fall under Iryndor’s influence, the forest’s tribes remain proudly independent, governed by ancient customs and spiritual leaders.
Iryndor
Nestled in the temperate south, Iryndor stands as the pinnacle of Aeltharan civilization. Once driven by colonial expansion, the Iryndari have shifted their ambitions inward, fostering a culture of innovation, refined governance, and advanced infrastructure. With plentiful natural resources at their disposal, they have built thriving cities marked by architectural marvels and technological progress.
In modern Iryndor, wars are fought not with swords but with schemes. Noble houses engage in relentless political maneuvering, where espionage, diplomacy, and intrigue reign supreme. While open conflict is rare, the Iryndari have not forgotten their militaristic roots. Their disciplined armies and storied martial traditions ensure that, when diplomacy fails, they remain a formidable force on the battlefield.
Solmarith
Cast in the shadow of the Spires of Aeltharis, Solmarith is a sun-scorched land where survival is a daily struggle and the rule of law is tenuous at best. With most rainfall blocked by the towering peaks, the province is dominated by the Whispering Expanse—a vast, windswept desert stretching from the mountains to the distant coastline.
Life in Solmarith is as unforgiving as its arid landscape. Its people are shaped by the harsh environment, adopting a fierce and pragmatic outlook. Nomadic tribes roam the desert, following scarce resources and settling only when they find defensible ground. Competition for survival is relentless, with inter-tribal conflict as common as the searing desert winds.
Driven by necessity, some tribes raid neighboring provinces, further cementing their reputation for brutality and savagery. Yet, beneath this fierce exterior lies a culture forged in resilience, where survival is not just a way of life—it’s a hard-earned triumph.
Myrithis
Myrithis bears the scars of a turbulent past marked by conflict and conquest. Once a colonial outpost of Iryndor, its vast plains were seen as a treasure trove of natural resources meant to fuel an empire. Yet, holding this land proved a costly endeavor. Raids from the fierce Drenhavari and relentless Solmarathi tribes turned Myrithis into a perpetual battleground.
After centuries of struggle, Iryndor’s grip finally faltered. Their retreat created a power vacuum, sparking a fierce uprising among the native Myrithi. Hardened by generations of war, they seized their independence, forging a nation shaped by resilience and survival.
Myrithis stands today as the most culturally diverse province in Aeltharis, blending customs, traditions, and survival tactics from all three of its former rulers. Yet, for all this cultural richness, the Myrithi are bound by an intense loyalty to their own. Having endured endless invasions and betrayals, they view outsiders with guarded suspicion—unity is their greatest strength, and trust must be earned.
This is just the beginning of your journey into the world of Aeltharis. Each province holds its own mysteries, conflicts, and opportunities for adventure. As we delve deeper into the lands, cultures, and stories of this diverse continent, you are invited to explore, expand, and shape Aeltharis as your own. Whether you’re looking to build a campaign or simply learn more about the world, the next chapters await. Stay tuned for future articles as we take a closer look at the provinces, their histories, and the legendary tales that will shape the fate of Aeltharis.
Continue exploring Aeltharis by downloading the world map. Four different versions have been included to allow for varying levels of customization to perfectly fit this new world into your game sessions any way you need it.