Elma - An Experiment in World Building
Elma is a world, or at least a continent, I have been building since childhood. Touching upon not just the regional descriptions and that of flora and fauna, but geopolitical and historical world building as well.
Enjoy a small sampling of the World I have, and am constantly, building.
Area Description - Mist Region
The Mist dukedom is a small country in the south-east region of the continent bordered by Ember to the north Stream borders to the west and open ocean border on the east and south. The country is named for the near omnipresent mist that covers the vast majority of the land. The mist that covers the land has many varied causes mostly coming from the cold ocean and many rivers that flow throughout the land, as well as from the near constant rain from the northwestern mountains. Steam blankets the southern area of the country as well formed from the many hot springs dotting the area, and although not true mist, is still considered as much and is considered part of the countries namesake. Rivers of every size and shape are spread throughout the country, so much so that it is all but impossible to stand in the center of any river and not see another in either direction, or would be if not for the lands namesake. Despite, or perhaps in spite, of the fact that all the mist in the region causes ample sunlight to ill exist, Mist is full of vegetation. The flora changes dramatically depending on what type of mist feeds it. The capital city of the Mist Dukedom is constructed from the remnants of dismantled ship parts giving credence to the legend that the country was originally developed as a hideaway for mutineer pirates tired of the sea life. The western border of the country is part of a large mountain chain with three active volcanoes that continues north through the nations of Ember and Thundra. Only one volcano is actually situated in the region, but is thought to be one of the major factors contributing to the many hot springs of the land. The northern border, shared with Ember is, for the most part, a series of cliffs that form as a breaking off of the nearby mountain chain. The ground can not be seen from the tops of these sheer cliffs because of the mist covering the terrain below. Where the cliffs end the land becomes a dank forested hill that slopes down to the ocean that forms with the mist nation to become the northern marsh. The southeastern point of the land has three large stone islands and a reef that create another powerful natural barrier with only one area of safe passage between the region and the open ocean. The lands so strongly protected by the islands currents and the reefs was chosen because of these defensives to be the capital and original settlement of the region. Near the central area of the country lies a large, mostly unhospitable area known as the Stormland. The cold mist from the oceans and rivers to the west often meet with the steam caused by hot springs to the east causing harsh storms and small tornados to form in the area.Batwyrm - Creature Description
In the Brim mountains that border the lads of Gale and Stona lives the worlds smallest dragon. The Batwyrm is on average merely 3 feet in length from the tip of its snout to the tip of its tails, with sad tails being a full third of its total length. Standing at full height the batwyrm is only 2 feet high from foot to shoulder and unlike most other dragons, has no back fin to extend height and assist in balance during flight. The pair of legs on either side of the batwyrm are connect by a tight rough leather skin that acts as the creatures wings. Although more often seen gliding, the batwyrm can flap its wings enough to gain flight. Because the batwyrms claws are in use during flight, the batwyrms twin whiplike prestigial tails grab prey for it and often the batwyrm uses these tails to feed during flight by arching its head and tails in a position to allow it to eat with its head facing downward and tails upward. This is done in quick smooth snapping motions that minimize distraction during flight. The Batwyrm is a rocky gray color which camouflages the creatures against the often clouded sky of the Brim Mountains. The mountains appear to have hundereds of jagged edges from below, within these edges often lay small or medium sized lakes as well as small wooded or lush grassy areas. The edged lakeside areas are the batwyrms hunting grounds. Batwyrms are solitary creatures. Small lake areas are typically home to only one single wyrm while larger areas can be hunting grounds for as many as three. The batwyrm makes its nests in small pocket caves in the mountain side often with views of the lake for quick entry and exit. The wyrm uses its strong claws and bursts of fire. Although batwyrms are one of the rare fire breathing species of dragons, the wyrms only rarely use fire as a means of either hunting or self-defense, using instead their tails and claws.
Frost Region Mythology
From the journal of Karsh:Right hand of the King of Gale on his diplomatic travels. The people in the northern country, Frost, on the north coats between Stona and Thundra, they have some interesting stories. I visited Stona recently and managed to find some time to visit a Frost village, where I got to hear a curious tale. It seems they have a creature up there called foers, I’m not sure where the name comes from but the Frost' believe in them completely. Apparently these “foers’ created, well, a lot of things. Let me see if I can tell you the tale they told me.
Long ago there was almost nothing, a single tiny island in a great big ocean. There the Foers lived. The Foers are a playful creature, and found the island was too small to play on. Many Foers dived deep into the ocean and brought up rock, which other Foers stamped into the island, causing it to grow bigger and bigger.
Once the island was large enough the Foers decided that the flatness and smoothness of the island was boring, so the dove deep into the ocean again and the ones that stayed built mountains and cliffs.
The Foers played for a long time on their newly created home, but found it still lacking, still barren. The Foers then went back into the water, this time grabbing the plants that lived beneath the waves. Bringing the plants up, the Foers harvested the seeds and began planting them all over the land. The Foers picked favorites and paid special attention to them. Ensuring that they got plenty of water from the ocean by taking large handfuls and throwing into the air, these plants grew taller and taller until their shadows reached far.
The Foers enjoyed playing in the shadows of these tall hard trees, that which we know as trees, but found that they enjoyed them so much that they had decided they were tired of the harsh sunlight.
The Foers screamed at the sun “GO AWAY” but the sun would not leave. In their anger the Foers grew and grew until they were as tall as the trees. They picked up a mountain and threw it at the sun angrily. The mountain hit the sun, causing it to leave, while the mountain stayed in the sky.
Without the sun the land grew cold and ice started to cover up the land. The sun returned one day and the Foers rejoiced, warmth returned to the land. The sun though was scared of the Foers, so it only returned for a short time, hiding from the Foers.
The Foers begged the sun to stay promising not to get angry again. The sun, after much begging promised not to leave again and again the sun shined in the sky for many days. The Foers began to get tired of the heat and light of the sun once more and began to grow angry. The sun, not wanting to be hit again started to hide, eventually disappearing for weeks at a time.
The Foers eventually apologized to the sun, and the sun promised that it will always return once it disappears, but even so the sun forgot the rage of the Foers and is still always afraid of them, so when he does come he guards himself never letting too much heat escape.
Interesting story isn’t it? Apparently, as I was told anyway, these foers are supposed to be tiny, not much bigger than a couple feet, and these tiny guys created the entire continent. I asked about the other parts of Elma, and they even had stories about the foers all over down here as well.
A Brief History of the Land of Many Streams
Founded over three hundred years ago, the nation of Stream was settled by citizens fleeing Gale during the succession wars in which the twin sons of the king waged war for the crown. Sailors that had learned the few safe passages through the reefs managed to ferry people to the relative safety of the unknown wilderness of the southern lands. The land was lush with forest, so the people quickly took to setting up a colony while the sailors spread the word of safety. However after two of the ships were destroyed and the captains and crew of the ships were either imprisoned or killed by one of the warring princes the rest of the boats moored at the colony unwilling to return to Gale.
The colony of Stream had grown a lot in the decade of war between the two princes, and when the fighting had finished and the new king was crowned word reached the castle of the new colony. The king had one of the captured captains and all his crew take him and his guard to the new land to see where the fleeing people went. Upon arrival the king of Gale was taken all about the colony and the few places of the new land that had been settled. Speaking before the people, the king apologized for the war that drove them to settle there and instead of demanding their loyalty and raising a flag marking the colony as property of Gale, the king asked for the peoples friendship between the two nations.
Immediately upon the king of Gale’s leave, a party of settlers left north to the untamed river that bordered their new nation and their old to raise another colony as well as a bridge that would be worked on by both nations to cross the river as a mark of their friendships. Since that time the two nations have been close allies and traded with one another above all else.
Because of the war that drove Stream to be settled, the nation at first tried to democratically elect their leaders, fearing what had befallen Gale. The democratic system worked for almost a hundred years until tensions between the three groups of people, those from Gale that settled during the war of secession, those from Gale that settled after the war, and those from Ember that settled during it’s nations great war, rose to such a heat that war threatened to break out.
A man from Ember, Jorin Krai, rose up to end the war before it began by arming all the closes Embrosians around him and declaring himself dictator. His rule was oppressive however and quickly noted by the allied nation of Gale. The king of Gale set out a small force to investigate why all trade had been cut off and found that the situation in Stream had grown dire. Rallying the settlers from Gale, as well as many from Ember, the knights sent from Gale fought to take control back from the dictator and return it to the people.
The dictator was found to be not of Ember at all, but was a loyalist to Thundra and was attempting to claim the land for his home nation. The people of Stream were able to fight back with the help of the knights lent to them from their northern ally and were victorious, driving the Thundran soldiers to flee the nation.
It was decided by all the people that a strong leader undivided was necessary, and so the people held one last vote electing Jaren Rivers, the highest ranking knight from Gale to survive and the short war, as the King of the Stream nation. Rivers humbly accepted and himself opened the bridge between his former kingdom and his new kingdom, greeted on the other side by his former monarch, whom greeted him as an equal.
The kingdom of Stream has been at peace ever since with the rule of the Rivers monarchy being beloved by their people. Jaren III currently wears the crown, as kindly spirited and powerful of blade as his grandfather, and equally as just.
A Missive from Reagent Ashven of the Ember Dukedom to His Majesty Gustav King of Gale
It has been a little over one hundred years since the Thundran Empire forced my grandfather to give control of our land to him. And over twenty years since his death and his son has taken the crown.
There is a restlessness among the citizens of the Dukedom, and my father is trying his best to quell it, seeming contrite in his subordination to the Empire. I on the other hand believe it is time for Ember to regain its freedom.
The current Emperor, loathsome as he is, seems to not think much of Ember. He pays us little mind as of late. I have sources within the Emperors palace that tell me he is much occupied with reigniting war with the Stona Republic, apparently the Emperor wishes to correct the failings of his grandfather.
My sources have also gleamed that there is another matter that holds the Emperors attention. We are not sure what, though rumors have begun to surface as to what it may be. Some say that the Thundran Navy has found new lands across the great ocean to the east that he wishes to control, that the preparations for a new war with the Republic are a front for this new conquest.
Another rumor is of a mass mutiny of the Navy. Word is that several ships upon the death of the previous Emperor ran for freedom. I hope this is true, not only because it would
further weaken the Empires forces, but because I like to think of these wayward sailors as kindred spirits.
Perhaps neither of these are true, or perhaps both. In any case the Emperor is occupied. If Ember is to regain our freedom the time to strike will soon arise. However we of the Dukedom can not do it alone.
Long had there been peace between our lands. Even if it was a losing battle, the Kingdom fought alongside my grandfather’s forces to halt the progress of the Empires spread. I ask you now, are you willing to aid us once more?
I understand the risks involved in aiding us. Your Kingdom has had a fragile peace for many years with that of the Empire, and the Emperors line has always been wrathful. However, I can not believe that, should the worst happen and Stona fall, the Kingdom would not come under the Emperors eyes. If that were to happen, you would face war from the north as well as to the east.
Even if you are unable to ais us with military might, perhaps there is something you can do for us. Ember has pride in its farms, but the soil is not as rich and harvest not as plentiful as yours. If nothing else, food and other supplies could perhaps be sent to aid us. Any additional resources would be most welcome.
Even mere guidance would be beneficial. After the occupation our military was purged. The people of Ember have spirit but no longer have any experience. Even with a weakened presence, the remaining Thundran forces retain their knowledge of tactics and their unit cohesion. These alone may be enough to doom an uprising of the Ember people. If you find yourself unable to lend us part of your army, I beg that you lend us some of your tacticians at the least.
The carrier of this missive is one of my most trusted allies, she has been by my side for as long as I can recall and has ever been a confidant. Any questions you have you may ask her. She speaks with my voice.
I will be honest with you here. Aside from a mutual adversary, I am not sure what I could offer you to try and convince you to aid us in rebellion. I plan on, assuming we are successful, discussing agreements with you in person on how to thank you and your people, as well as how to continue our alliance after the fact.
I pray that the response sent back is one of aid. I truly believe that I cannot halt a rebellion for much longer. And without the help of the Kingdom of Gale, the Ember Dukedom will surely forever fall.
Yours in respect and mercy
Reagent Ashven, son of the Grand Duke of Ember.
P.S. I find it appropriate to inform you that I have sent a similar missive to the Republic of Stona. My hope is that our three nations may come together to fight the Thundran Empire and push them back to their original boundaries. Although, to be perfectly honest, I disbelieve that Stona would aid us. Any alliance the Dukedom has had with the Republic has historically been more of convenience than else. Even were my messenger arrive to their leaders in time, the possibility that they would lend us aid is remote.
I have less faith in the messenger I have sent to the Republic as well. I do not believe he would turn against his Embrosian brethren, he is however much less traveled and much quicker to fight, and less likely not too, than she that I sent to you. Perhaps if my letter and the words of my trusted messenger so moves you, it would be possible for the Kingdom itself to open discussion with the Republic. Perhaps you may have the ability for the Republic to truly ally with your Kingdom and my Dukedom. 
