Luminii: A Land Which Celebrates Life
Government | Notable Characters | The Role of Vivomancy | Settlements | Trade
Among all the regions of Hyathis, Luminii has traditionally been viewed as the most inviting. Its lands are fertile, and the climate is a temperate one with long growing seasons and relatively mild winters. Because of this, agriculture thrives here and has played a central role in Luminian life and culture throughout history. The people of this region are known for being hardworking, relishing the outdoors, and placing great value and importance on the land and the men and women who tend to it.
Long ago, Luminii was once the largest region in the Empire, but upon request from Cornelius Dreven part of the lands were given to establish the region of Shadokhan, from which Dreven would rule the unified regions of the Silver Moon Empire. Today, Luminii is bordered on the west by the Sturrbith Mountains which separate her from Shadokhan, in the north by the Farlooking Mountains that make up the isolated land of Cloosidian, and the Kleftian Rift and Plain that marks the border into Thermador. In the east, Luminii is separated from the Badlands by the formidable Skall Mountains.
Lush rolling plains dominate the land of the Vivomancers, and coniferous forests sporadically dot the region. Though these forests are generally small, the Hetleven Forest, between Damansque and Yarmouth, is a massive old growth forest. Legend has it as having once been a haven for elves in the land, though there is little evidence to support the claim. The region's rivers play a key role in Luminii life, providing for transportation of goods and people alike, as well as supplying a means to power grain and sawmills. The Sevrenne is the largest of these rivers; its unusual path through the region is rumored to have been influenced long ago by a few very powerful hydromancers.
Luminii is also well-known for being the center of vivomantic life in Hyathis, a tradition that is as deep and rich as agriculture. Some say that it is no coincidence that the magic of life and healing has its home here; those who tend the land and its livestock seem to have much in common with those who tend to the health of the people.
The capitol city of Luminii is Damansque, and many claim the city is the oldest in the history of Hyathis, although the residents of Wadi Medani would quickly refute this claim. While not as large as the city of Malcoven in Balthazor, Damansque is home to the Merchants Guild and the Allied-League of Farmers. The Allied League of Farmers (ALF) is the strongest and most influential group not linked to an aristocratic or magical background in Luminii. Though there are several marketplaces in Luminii, the largest has its home in Damansque.
Government and Politics
Although nobility has always played a significant role in Luminii politics, the agricultural nature of the society makes it possible for farmers and merchants to hold power, influence, and land, and thus to stand on equal footing. The San Giamonico family is one example of this; they were once one of the largest landholders in the region, and continue to play a pivotal role in politics even today.
Traditionally, the Archmage (or Archmagess) of the region also served as the head of its government, supported by a council. However, with the fall of the Silver Moon Empire and the rise of the Klockwork Empire in 1269, dramatic change came to the political landscape of Luminii. The Klockwork Master's Tivili decree in 1272, which made the worship of the goddess Nostrella a capital crime, turned many of the vivomancers (including Annabella Morningstar, the Archmagess at the time) into criminals who were persecuted extensively.
In 1273, a rebellion began, led by Orazio San Giamonico. Surviving Silver Moon Knights in the region soon joined the effort. Keldon Baraeros, one of the wealthiest men in Luminii before the days of the Klockwork Empire, returned from his self-imposed exile in the Badlands bringing with him a small army, and came forward to support the rebellion as well. By 1274, most of the Klockwork forces had been defeated. The region, while largely free from the Klockwork Army, found itself in a new struggle as it tried to recover from the war and establish new leadership. By the spring of that year, rule of the region was still fragmented, and very much in question.
In the summer of 1274, however, there came from Damansque a call to all the region for representatives to come and decide the future of the land. By autumn, the Republic of Luminii was born. Keldon Baraeros was appointed to the position of Archon (ruler) in this new independent realm.
A Rule of the Land was also drafted at this time, and a supporting council was appointed, including:
- Antoni Demasio of the powerful and influential Demasio family in Damansque
- Eltanathen Derigo Selduth of the UMA
- Nadiya Galyn, of the Allied League of Farmers, and vineyard owner
- Marcos Danin, of the wealthy Danin family, owner and manager of Danin Merchant Company, a provider of wines and other agricultural items of note
- Ilsa Ballantine, prominent barrister and law instructor from Yarmuth
- Cole Terrick, former Silver Moon Knight, now of Vinoricco
- Victor Ventfero, from the Ventfero family, well-known for their vineyards
- Dona Locori, of Locori and Barden's Lumber in Ashwood
Note: It was the Archon's intent to have the Archmagess of Vivomancy serve on his council, and indeed Anara Midiere did so while she was alive and held the title. However, her successor, Julia Galyn, has thus far refused to accept a council seat.
The Role of Vivomancy in Luminii
The vivomancers of Luminii have long served as healers of the people of Hyathis. Those schooled in the art of vivomancy have an ideology which borders on religious; they are the only mages with the ability to heal and, in the case of only the most powerful, resurrect the dead. Time and again throughout history, they have been called upon for aid in times of crisis and war. Their vital role in the battle against Icaruss is well-known and remembered to this day. But in the last days of the Silver Moon Empire there were plagues and trials that the vivomancers could not heal, and soon they found themselves falling out of favor with the people of Luminii, and the Empire itself. Still darker days came with the Tivili decree, and vivomancers had the choice of turning their back on worship of Nostrella, or face death and imprisonment. Soon after, the Klockwork Army marched on the temple of Nostrum and destroyed it. Over a hundred vivomancers were killed in the days that followed, along with many of their allies, perhaps thousands. Many more were imprisoned or simply vanished.
Afterwards, vivomancy began to slowly re-emerge in Luminii, this time without focus on a goddess. A group of vivomancers who claimed roots in the pre-Nostrellan days of vivomancy came to the forefront and were led by a man named Azbar. From their ranks came the first non-Nostrellan Archmagess, Anara Midiere. Anara served in that capacity from Moonshare 1272 until her disappearance and presumed death sometime in 1275. (Anara Midiere died, in fact, while assisting the Archmage of Geomancy during the Joining ritual. Only those present at the ritual know what truly happened to her. To all others, her fate has remained a mystery.)
In late summer of 1275, the powers of the Archmagess came to a woman named Julia Galyn when she resurrected a young woman in Damansque. A gifted vivomancer in her youth, Julia had been captured by the Klockwork Empire during their rule and was assumed to have been killed by them. Instead, she eventually escaped and spent a few years in Fort Wantlokin before traveling to Damansque to seek her destiny.
For further information on Vivomancy, please refer to: Magic: Vivomancy.
Settlements
As of the spring of 1274, the region of Luminii still faced much turmoil and strife, leaving the fate of many settlements in question, particularly those in coastal areas. Therefore, some of these towns and cities are not currently included here. If you have questions, please contact the Luminii region leader.
Ashwood
Population: 2500
Primary Trade:
Ashwood is located in south-central Luminii, roughly seventy miles from the coast, and is named for the abundance of ash trees just outside the town. Many older buildings still retain their Ashwood framework, and in the last several generations the town has outlawed lumbering of their namesake except to restore these old structures. The town has become a popular waypoint for two intersecting trade routes: one from Damansque to the coastal towns, the other between the western farmlands and eastern borderlands. After tidal waves battered the southern coast of the region, lumber was in short supply; illegal lumbering began shortly afterward. Two years later, the town militia finally ended it with much bloodshed, and when Tumian fell, the town annexed the Ashwood Forest as part of its holdings. Today, the townspeople have begun planting various other hardwoods and evergreens in an effort to restart their lumber industry.
Curtienne
Population:
Primary Trade: horse-racing
Damansque - the Capitol City
Population: 200,000
Home of the Marketplace and the Academy of Vivomancy
Set in almost the very heart of Luminii, Damansque is truly unique. Both river and overland transportation routes converge in this remarkable city, making it an ideal location for trade. Indeed, at the center of the city, there is a large open-air market. With the first arrival of crops in summer through the end of harvest time, this market is bustling with activity; the population of the city has been known to nearly double during certain times of year because of the popularity of the marketplace. Besides being a center for trade, the marketplace is also the site of a variety of festivals and celebrations that are held throughout the year.
The rivers that run through Damansque play a significant role in the city, not only as a mode of transportation, but for aesthetic purposes as well. Walkways follow along the riverbanks, the most famous of these being Dreven's Landing, where Cornelius Dreven was once rumored to have landed on his way to visit the archmage. Many nobles have homes on the riverfront, as it is a symbol of prestige.
The diversity of the population of Damansque is reflected in its blend of architectural styles. Some structures will speak to an artistic or extravagant sensibility, while others are clearly influenced by practicality. A walk through the city will reveal residences of all sizes, from the larger dwelling places of the nobility and very successful merchants, to the much more modest homes of the common citizen. Many shopkeepers reside in apartments above their shops.
Just outside the city, where the Temple of Nostrum once stood, a new school of Vivomancy has been constructed. Its name is Desleben.
Deltameadow
Population:
Primary Trade:
Desleben
Population:
Primary Trade: healing and medicinal herbs
Outside the bustle of Damansque, Desleben rises majestically above the farmlands that surround it. Although not a city or town by designation, the complex of buildings that serves as the center for Vivomancy in Luminii is sometimes referred to by its inhabitants as 'the village of Desleben.' Vivomancers and students live at this academy, but there are many others who work here and consider it to be home. There are walls surrounding Desleben, though the complex couldn't really be considered fortified by any means.
Near the center of Desleben stands the new school of Vivomancy proper. This building is frequently referred to simply as Desleben (leading to occasional confusion for outsiders), and is occasionally referred to as The Temple. In this building are the classrooms where Vivomancy is taught, a significant library, a Great Hall for meetings and gatherings, and offices. There is also a kitchen here, a main dining hall, and a few private dining rooms for guests and officials.
Among the other buildings here are a large residence hall where officials, instructors and students live, an infirmary where the sick are treated (a 'teaching hospital'), as well as a stable, a blacksmith, some smaller structures for livestock and storage; many of the kinds of places one might expect to find in a village. In addition there is a small, newly constructed Nostrellan Temple, where those of the Nostrellan faith can feel free to worship. Scattered about Desleben's grounds, one can also find a number of well-kept gardens and greenhouses, where herbs and other medicinal plants are raised.
In the center of the academy stands a lone column from the old temple, specially warded by Anara Midiere. Carved into the stone surface of the column are the names of each Vivomancer confirmed killed since the Tivili Decree. On the anniversary of Tivili, the population is invited to the academy grounds to participate in a special memorial service to honor those who lost their lives. Since Archmagess Anara's disappearance and death in Gentrain 1275, various ceremonies to commemorate her life have been held in Damansque, Desleben, and elsewhere. A statue and meditation garden at Desleben have been dedicated to her.
Elemaine
Population:
Primary Trade:
A small port town on the coast with a minor portal close to the ocean, close enough so that the waves lapped over feet when users step through.
Fort Wantlokin
Home of the Silver Moon Knights
Though the days of the Silver Moon Empire ended, the Knights in Luminii still managed to successfully defend and maintain Fort Wantlokin, and later use it as a base for their role in the rebellion against the Klockwork Army. It is still occupied and in operation today as the headquarters of the Silver Moon Knights, and is commanded by Lord General Rane Thadael.
Mistmeadow
Population: 7,000
Primary Trade:
With its location near the Sevrenne River and its proximity to the capitol, Mistmeadow has long been a center for trade and transportation, particularly for goods traveling to and from Ashwood to the south, and the coastline. The city also known for storage facilities, and is a holding place for wine, salt, grains and other goods.
Because of its location, the town of Mistmeadow is also a haven for trade of a less legal variety, though this is not commonly known.
In spite of the many traders and travelers who make their way through this city, the population is known for being insular and suspicious of anyone not from the region.
The Monestary of Anolinde
Population: 1,200
Official: Master Dewlyn
In far northwestern Luminii (near the Kleftian Rift), built by the last Ghostwalker, from a mysterious and now defunct order of monks, the Monestary of Anolinde started as school for monks to be trained in the art of combat, but gradually evolved into a place of learning. Today various artistries and vocational skills are taught. However, all students entering the academy must still follow the old traditions and take up a monastic lifestyle during their time there. Most who graduate do so with a keen sense of discipline and meet with success in their lives.
The monastery, which today resembles a small town more than an academy, is known for its careful landscaping and tranquil gardens. Few who visit might look past the lush scenery and realize that the hedges and walls were also designed with the defense of the academy in mind.
Schukyll
Population: 1,400
Primary Trade: fishing
A small town that gained infamy when Pirates captured and burned a contingent of Klockwork soldiers in 1274.
Vinoricco
Population: 800
Primary Trade: mining, horse-racing, holiday destination
The town at the foothills of the great Sturrbith Mountains was all but destroyed in an attack by the Hive, many years ago. The rebellion against the Klockwork Army further slowed rebuilding, and for a time it appeared that the city might fade away forever. However, some timely support and coin by a few mysterious benefactors is leading to the gradual recovery of the city. Among the city's new interests are mining for precious metals in the nearby Sturrbith Mountains, and some farming in the surrounding countryside including the raising of goats and sheep. Interestingly enough, the city is also promoting itself as a holiday destination, where guests can enjoy gaming, horse races, and many of the finer things in life. However, the memory of the Hive infestation in Vinoricco is still strong in the minds of the people, and only time will tell if the city will be successful in this endeavor.
Yarmuth
Population: 7,000
Home of the Holdensward School of Law
The city of Yarmuth is located in central Luminii, and would be unremarkable were it not for the Holdensward School of Law located there. Considered to be one of the three best of its kind, Holdensward attracts people from across the continent, and this in turn has helped to boost Yarmuth's economy. As might be expected, the presence of a well-known law school also means that the judiciary system of Yarmuth is quite detailed, with many local laws governing things such as curfew, weaponry, and drunkenness. Renowned barrister and Silver Moon Knight Sir Aubrey Hollingsford makes his home here, though he is mostly retired and only takes on special cases.
Trade
Grain and other agricultural products including orchard crops, wine, lumber, salt. (Note that trade as of this time is in a period of recovery, in the wake of the rebellion and Pirate attacks along the coastline.)
Notable Characters in Luminii
(Click on a name to go to the character's Who's Who entry.)
For more information on Luminii, contact:
Map of Luminii | Notable Characters | Settlements | Trade