A map of Alta, along with a few details about its various places. Remember that the sequel is currently being written and updated here, at https://royalroadl.com/fiction/8226 Hope you guys enjoy the info.

Bastion - Empire founded on the principles of justice and holyiness. Over time, the empire turned into a hub for chaining and soulforging due to the rich resources in the shimrock ilses and near Nelastra. Many border conflicts occur with Torserel due to the wealth within the norther strip of Bastion. To Bastion's east is WildWood, the Shivering Isle, and uknown lands. Bastion has attempted expanding into Wildwood, but dark, twisted things flourish in the endless forest. The uknown lands are blocked by several hundred miles of the Trail of Thorns as well, making conflicts with Torserel inevitable.

Bastion's gemchainers are unmatched anywhere in the world as well. Due to there unyeilding desire to serve Gaia, they make sure to follow the churches teachings, often times sacrificing much to do so. The churches in each city act as the central hub for communities, as well as offering education to children. If a child show's talent in either soul forging or in chaining, they are recruited into the churches ranks. Family's look at this as a blessing. They lose their child but gain great wealth and prestige.

This military might and general knowledge of soul forging has turned Bastion into a powerful nation with a long history.

Torserel - This is a land ruled by monsters, mainly dragons and wyverns. They worship the fierce creatures in return for protection, often offering treasure, food, and maidens. Over time, this reliance had led to interesting partnerships with the creatures.

A sort of cast system developed over time where the lowest dragons serve high standing noble's in Torserel culture. The highest grades of these dragon's can fly, giving the richest nobles an absolute command over their dominions. Despite this, the higher grade dragon's rule the society with an tooth and nail at the ready for any dissenting nobles. Over time, the Torselians worshipped the beasts as gods.

This creates tension with Bastion, who worship's Gaia as the one true ruler of their world. Without the dragon's constant aid, Torserel would have perished long ago, futher exacerbating their reliance on the dragons.

Khadid - A nation centered over a baren dessert, the Khadid are a simple and brutal people. They can't afford luxuries or kindness due ot the harshness of where they live. This makes them valued mercenaries all throughout Alta, and makes assaulting their land pointless. Why take over a sea of sand?

Still, the nomadic people maintain a culture that involves living in burrows underground. These defensible and cool homes make their villages difficult to pinpoint, let alone assault. They've developed tools for digging through rock and keeping tunnels stable that other societies don't have. This combined with living primarily in mountain ranges along the Altan mountain range makes an isolated, yet curious society.

Geshia - Home of the Geshians, this isolated land holds a vast reliance on metal and trade for their food. Their land is rocky and hard, making farming in most places impossible. They do sport rich reserves of ores, allowing them a much needed resource for trading with Ocyas, Torserel, and Bastion.

Their culture formed after the Astral Cataclysm. Back when they where a nomadic people, one of the twelve shards collided nearby the village of Geshia. This village's men and women transformed, slowly over time into a species of only women. They eventually began euthanizing there male offspring, beleviing their race was the will of Gaia.

There culture developed a process of pilgrimage. Whenever a Geshian reaches a certian age, they leave their home for distant lands. There they learn a trade and find a lover. After becoming pregnant, they will leave back to Geshia and raise their child with their whole tribe. This unique style of raising children has resulted in a rugged, boisterous nation of loyal and powerful warriors/blacksmith.

Ocyas - Home of the Aquelrian people, this nation sports many islands, rivers, and coasts. They once dominated much of the continent, but the Donovian Alliance has slowly but surely weakned their hold over their lands further inland. Make no mistake, however. The Aquelrians rule their coasts, rivers, and islands with absolute control.

They live under the oceans, breathing both water and air, whichever they need too. The tropical paradise of their cities lay fifty feet under crystal clear water with no waves along their coasts. They've assimilated many undersea creatures for their use, from giant mantis shrimp used in jousting competitions and war too having tiny sea horses as pets.

They trade heavily with Geshia and the Donovian alliance, giving them the resources they can't find underwater or near their shores. They are a free spirited yet proud people.

Donovian Alliance - A country built on a single family's ambition, the Donovian alliance is a collection dukedom's and city states that all operate under one ruler. The city states maintain most of their autonomy, making them small and flexible states that operate with their own interests in mind.

The Donovan family has been around for centuries, and they've slowly but surely eaten away at Torserel and Ocyas, making their own empire in the west with three core principles. Move forward, become the best, and achieve greatness.

These policies make for an intense, ongoing competition between the city states. This spurs inovation and growth that other empires don't have. The technology available at the Donovian alliance allows them to compete with the chaining of Bastion and the dragons of Torserel.

They are, however, first and foremost a trading empire. They fight far less than either of the other two human owned empires. Instead, they opt for money and orther resources as trade for lands and good favor with their nearby neighbors.

They are excellent allies with Ocyas, using their technology for advancing aquelrian lives while gaining valuable land resources in return.

These factors culminate into the Donovian alliance being a respected and feared force on Alta.