Aurial (Auriel, Aurios, Auru, Aurura, Ауриэль, ᚨᚢᚱᛁᛖᛚ) is the second largest continent of Abmarah. It was once home to the great Omniborn Temporal Empire, until a comet struck its southern half and shattered it into countless islands. The remaining continent is bisected into two halves by the Kosmosi Mountains which stretch from north to south. Often called the center of the world, it is considered to be the greatest and most important continent by many, but others would call that an aurio-centric mindset. Regardless, aurian culture dominates much of the globe, and most trade passes through the continent’s ports. The origin of the name Aurial seems to be based on the Omnikarn pronunciation of the legendary elven hero named Auriel ("Golden-Soul") or Aurion, who defeated the giants that originally ruled the continent during the Realmshatter. Aurion is often confused with both the goddesses Aethys and Eurion, the god Vertum Auriel, as well as the Golden Soul Valkan, another famous hero. However, the worship of both those goddesses as well as the time period in which Valkan lived came much later in the First Era, so modern historians discredit any of those three being the mythical Aurion. Many elves to this day are named after him, making any sense of the true historicity of the figure even more muddled.
Originally an expanse of untamed wildlands ruled by kingdoms of giants or dragons, in the first era of the world the continent came under the control of three major forces: Most of the south and much of the northern surface was controlled by the Omniborn Temporal Empire, alongside the northern Dwarven empire and underground Drow kingdoms. Humans arrived from Eqos in the west and from Skion in the north, with both of the continents claiming to be the birthplace of humanity. Humankind would not find much importance in the first era under the control of the other firstborn races. In the modern day, the continent is geographically divided into major regions such as the Dragekysten, the Dwarven Highlands, the Terrosi Grasslands, the Etaschi Fields, the Olymbian Woodlands, the Everswamp, and the Cinder Steppe.
In the northern half of the continent is the Great Kingdom of Terros, a germanic nation of nations ruled by a powerful kaiser. Home to most of the Dwarves and Halflings of the world in addition to humans, the kingdom is famous for its castles, fortifications, and wineries. Many central-european cultures from real life are also represented within its borders, such as danish and polish. To the southeast of Terros exists the anglic Holy Empire of Sombus, a theocratic constitutional monarchy led by Emperor Sombra. Also known as the Crimson Empire, it is known for its naval prowess and its army of faithkeepers. Sombus itself is often called the greatest city in the world, and possibly the largest, only comparable to Jamre in Eqos. The southwestern part of the continent hosts the slavic Lunar Collective, an oligarchy ruled by a council of powerful families. They have a tense relation with the Crimson Empire and are described in more detail later on as they have a large colonizing presence on Eqos. The three factions had a continent-spanning war two centuries ago called the Great Aurian War, a devastating conflict that led to adverse effects across the world including Eqos.
Climate and Seasons
TBD
Holidays
TBD
Languages
TBD
Currency
While all the different nations mint their own coins with figures and designs, all regions use platinum, gold, silver, and copper coins. While platinum is not used in everyday life, many merchants would readily accept it. While spending ancient coins gained from ruins might be a waste of their value in a collector's eye, gold is gold.
Technology
TBD