Type of government: Theocracy
Leader’s title: Dark Lord
Type of government: Theocracy
Leader’s title: Dark Lord
General structure of country: Civilization in Delsinar is usually built around Dark Nexuses, or focal points where it becomes easier to open portals to the Dark Realm and the underworld.
The dark and twisted land of Delsinar, once part of the mighty Elven Empire, is a land of magic and mystery. The dark elves that call it home draw their power from the Dark Realm, a feature exemplified throughout their entire culture. Ghosts walk among the living as if they never died, spirits haunt the woods, blood cults and dark priests call for living sacrifice on a daily basis. That said, it is far from a stoic land. Without the fear of death, children grow up hearing stories from their ancestors themselves, living lives of joy and wisdom not seen in many other countries.
Of course, this land of ghosts was born from war and turmoil. The Elven Empire occupied the space encompassing the modern-day lands of Elsinor and Delsinar, along with a good portion of Tornor and Dirnor. The Empire itself had been born from a war with the orcs, and as such, most of the culture focused around defending the elven borders. Dark elves found new and unique ways of killing anyone who came too close, while high elves focused their efforts on building and growing defenses to protect them from harm.
After some time, following the massive war with the giants that formed the country of Sintison (and gave birth to the dwarves), turmoil began to brew inside the rock-solid borders. Without any distinct enemies to fight, adventurous individuals began turning to lives of crime instead of war. Many of these elves were dark, giving in to their destructive side, which quickly gave the dark elves a bad name. In response, the high elves began walling off entire sections of their cities, casting spells that would prevent any dark elves from entering. The dark elves responded in kind, leading to rampant racism and a massive wave in crime that threatened to destabilize the nation.
Fearing the worst, the Emperor attempted to calm the chaos, but to no avail. Finally, as the problem continued to worsen and enemies began to cast their eyes upon the rich land, a solution was called. All dark elves would move to the land of Delsinar, while all the high elves would move to the land of Elsinor. It wasn’t a great solution, and perhaps made the divide between the high and dark elves even worse. It did, however, managed to strengthen the nation one final time, allowing it to defend a minor attack from Sintison that attempted to breech their walls.
With that, the countries split, and the mighty Elven Empire was no more. From the ashes, the Elven High Families worked tirelessly to fill the gaps in government left by the split, and managed to help Delsinar land on its feet. There are many that believe that this move placed them in far too much of a position of power, but the Families themselves hardly think so.
In any event, Delsinar soon settled into the position that it stands in today. Separated from the rest of the continent by an enormous mountain range, it has stayed free from the conflicts that plague the rest of Calsin. If the leaders of the dark and twisted country have their way, that fact isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
Dinto
The most ancient city in Delsinar, Dinto was first drawn from the ground shortly after the Elven Empire was formed. A group of dark elves had grown discontent with the construction of Nettingo, which at the time was proceeding rapidly. Upon wandering over the mountains, they discovered the first recorded Dark Nexus, a powerful vortex of energy that allowed access to both the Dark Realm and the underworld.
Without hesitation, these weary travelers ventured into the vortex, returning with tales of wonder and darkness. They used newfound powers from the Nexus to draw slabs of obsidian from the depths of the ground, forming a temple around the surging energy. To contrast the high elves, who had instituted the Persphonar as ordinates of Persphone, the group ordained themselves as the Persphonix. Together, they broke open the vortex, allowing ghosts to wander freely into the surrounding land.
When word reached the larger population of elves, the reactions were mixed. The vast majority of individuals, high and dark alike, decried the temple as a perversion of life itself. However, as Persphone herself is the gatekeeper to the afterlife and thereby allowed the Nexus to form, the Persphonar issued a decree permitting the temple to remain. Pilgrims flocked to the Nexus, and a city soon rose from the slowly darkening forest.
Didel
One of the few cities in Delsinar not of dark elven origin, Didel was born from the ashes of the Dwarven Civil War. After taking over the land that became Dirnor, the dwarves realized that they were struggling significantly with trade (and rightly so, as they had just invaded or previously enslaved every country around them). Trade was something more or less foreign to Delsinar, and after dwarven envoys were sent across the mountains, Dark Lord Ensiron agreed to build a city in the mountains allowing for the trade of goods between the nations. Dwarves flocked to the area, settling in the mountains and building great spires. The dark elves were a bit more hesitant, as the city’s location was well away from the Dark Nexuses. After talking with the Persphonix, however, a new Dark Nexus was formed in the area, and travelers flocked to the new mountain fortress.
Infinnot
A larger fishing village built around a Dark Nexus, Infinnot was formed quite by accident. Two young siblings from an unnamed settlement deep in the forests were on the ocean shore, fishing under the watchful eye of several of their ancestors. Both were quite young, and as such were completely unprepared when a theocar lurched from the ocean and struck down both of them.
Their ancestors, fifty in all, lurched forward in anger. The children were the last living descendants they had, and were furious at their deaths. They were able to kill the theocar, and attempted to use a combined blood magic spell to draw its life force into the two children. The effort failed, and destroyed the ghosts forever. It did, however, elevate the spirits of the two children to a level far above that of ordinary ghosts. The two almost-gods rose from the ground, imbued with blood magic and the power of their ancestors, and used their newfound powers to construct a shrine as well as a small nexus. When the shrine was found several days later, the sibling spirits commanded their own worship, resulting in a small town springing up. The siblings to this day can be seen protecting the town, fighting away wild beasts and standing up for children. It is widely considered one of the safest locations in all of Delsinar.
Irvamtir
Irvamtir was settled shortly after the construction of Dinto. As dark elves began to flood into the land, explorers began heading across the countryside, looking for more Dark Nexuses. A small group of these intrepid adventurers soon came across a large house in the middle of the woods, seemingly abandoned but well-preserved. They ventured inside, and were soon killed off one by one by the spirits hiding within.
When the next group of adventurers arrived several years later, the ghosts of the first expedition appeared to them, and were able to help guide the next set of elves through the maze and to the basement, where a Dark Nexus raged with fatal energy. With the help of the previous dead, the newer adventurers were able to drive the evil spirits from the location, and transformed the mansion into a proper temple. It is still unknown who built the house in the first place, but it still stands to this day as the centerpiece for the city.
Istfiint
The capitol of Delsinar, Istfiint is by far the largest city in the country. This naturally corresponds to the largest and most powerful Dark Nexus in Calsin. As explorers continued to venture south, they soon discovered a massive mountain that rose on the edge of the Scorched Lands, covered in sharp peaks and deadly cliffs. Near the peak, a single cave glowed with an otherworldly energy. The forest had already grown dark for miles around, as the energy from the contained Nexus seeped into the surrounding land.
It took over one hundred years before anyone managed to survive the trip to the top. In the end, it was a woman named Fifithal who finally triumphed and set foot in the entrance of the cave. Instantly, the full power of the Nexus rushed into her body, transforming her into the first Dark Lord. She used her newfound power to reshape the mountain into an extraordinary citadel, a castle as glorious as Nettingo. And, with that, Istfiint became the center for dark elves, while the Dark Lord became the patron or patroness for their kind. When the Elven Empire split into two, the dark elves happily flooded into Delsinar, bowing before the Dark Lord as their new king.
To this day, Istfiint is a place of deadly importance. Thousands of dark elves live within its boundaries, relishing in the darkened glow of the Nexus. Even at midday, the city rarely grows brighter than twilight, and other species often find themselves unable to sleep or rest during their stay there. It is estimated that hundreds of individuals die every day, either through sacrifice or crime, though attacking anyone not a dark elf is completely forbidden.
Notisdi
Built around a massive Dark Nexus, Notisdi was drawn from the ground shortly after Istfiint was claimed. As pilgrims flocked to the mountain, Dark Lord Fifithal knew that she would be unable to lead so many people clustered into one location. She called a meeting of the Persphonix, and channeled the power of the Nexus to create a new Nexus several hundred miles to the north. The initial eruption consumed several groups of pilgrims, who remain in the city as spirits to this day.
Perhaps it was because of the influence of the spirits, perhaps it was through simple coincidence, but Notisdi soon became a hub for new gods and goddesses. Thousands of temples fill the city, while the gods themselves walk among the living and the ghosts begging for devotion and sacrifice.
Rotdifi
The second of Delsinar’s border cities, Rotdifi was constructed shortly after the confirmed success of Didel. As trade began to flourish between the two nations, Dark Lord Ensiron realized that the flood of goods was helping the country grow and develop at a much faster rate. Fueled by the possibilities, he called upon his Persphonix to form another Dark Nexus in the mountains to the north of Didel.
They did so with haste, then immediately set to constructing a temple and a city. By the time that dwarven scouts arrived to ask about building a second city, construction was well underway. This went far to strengthening the relationship between Dirnor and Delsinar, culminating in a historic feast attended by both Dark Lord Ensiron and Emperor Dirnor.
Rotsou
The northernmost city in Delsinar, Rotsou was founded by explorers shortly after the construction of Dinto. In this case, a team of three dark elves and one high elf were fleeing wild beasts, and took shelter in a large cave near the ocean shore. They were not pursued, but began exploring the cave just for the sake of it.
Deep within the depths of the ground, they found another Dark Nexus, though not an ordinary one. This particular Nexus took the form of a tree that dripped with a particularly fowl-smelling sap. Upon collecting the sap, the explorers found that it had properties identical to the much larger rift at Dinto, and that consuming the sap would grant temporary and quite extraordinary powers. A temple was built immediately, while pilgrims flocked to the land.
As the Nexus itself was hidden, the founders of Rotsou decided to stand by that principle. As such, there is no major road that leads to Rotsou, forcing pilgrims to travel by boat or through a hundred miles of wilderness on foot. Even so, it is an extremely popular destination, as the sap from the tree is highly prized. It is also notable as the only location where high elves can visit and undergo a ritual to transform themselves into dark elves.
Tindonsel
A massive, though primitive, fishing village, Tindonsel is home to the largest underwater Nexus in Delsinar. Early explorers traveling the coastline looking for Nexuses were easily able to spot the enormous, raging rift of energy located just off the shore in a deep chasm. When they discovered that, for reasons unknown, the Dark Nexus seemed to attract fish, it was an easy decision to settle down.
To this day, the waters of Tindonsel team with aquatic life. Anyone who casts a line, regardless of skill, can easily land fish and other creatures. While this could have easily cause the city to erupt in prosperity, the Persphonix quickly moved in and declared that fish drawn from sacred waters could not be sold for profit. This declaration, while not allowing for the city to grow truly rich, has created a culture in which no one in hungry. Fishermen priests journey out upon the waters, returning with massive hauls of fish that they then distribute to the poor. Every night, fire blaze high as thousands of fish are cooked. Those desiring the higher life find the city distasteful, but those who simply desire a warm home and a full belly are glad to spend their time there.
Tirdisdom
A citadel so grand that any who approach find themselves short of breath, Tirdisdom is the life’s work of a mixed-elven scholar named Girsor. Born of a cursed marriage of a Persphonar and a Persphonix, he was cast aside from birth, and was raised by a dwarven Highsand dedicated to the Blinding Light. Growing up in the temple of the Blinding Light, he was surrounded by beauty and wonder, and as he became an adult, he chose to pursue a career of art.
After going on a pilgrimage that led him from the castles of Notirot to the sweeping forests of Elsinor to the jungle tombs of Sournous, he found himself studying the Dark Nexuses of Delsinar. In a moment of inspiration, he journeyed out on the road between Rotdifi and Dinto until he found the perfect location. There, at the age of forty-two, he began using his mixed magic to draw stone from the ground and build up a monument to art across the world. His quest became the subject of some interest as it grew, and fellow students of art soon began setting up their homes around him, to watch as he worked.
Finally, at the age of six hundred seventy-three, he placed the final piece of glass in the windows and dropped dead. His ghost rose from his body, sat down in one of the obsidian chairs, and has been sitting there to this day. The city that he unknowingly founded has continued to flourish in his death, while the citadel is maintained by priests who offer him sacrifices to keep his ghost around. This makes it the largest city in Delsinar not to have a Dark Nexus.
Leader’s title: Dark Lord
Type of government: Theocracy
Leader’s title: Dark Lord
General structure of country: Civilization in Delsinar is usually built around Dark Nexuses, or focal points where it becomes easier to open portals to the Dark Realm and the underworld.
The dark and twisted land of Delsinar, once part of the mighty Elven Empire, is a land of magic and mystery. The dark elves that call it home draw their power from the Dark Realm, a feature exemplified throughout their entire culture. Ghosts walk among the living as if they never died, spirits haunt the woods, blood cults and dark priests call for living sacrifice on a daily basis. That said, it is far from a stoic land. Without the fear of death, children grow up hearing stories from their ancestors themselves, living lives of joy and wisdom not seen in many other countries.
Of course, this land of ghosts was born from war and turmoil. The Elven Empire occupied the space encompassing the modern-day lands of Elsinor and Delsinar, along with a good portion of Tornor and Dirnor. The Empire itself had been born from a war with the orcs, and as such, most of the culture focused around defending the elven borders. Dark elves found new and unique ways of killing anyone who came too close, while high elves focused their efforts on building and growing defenses to protect them from harm.
After some time, following the massive war with the giants that formed the country of Sintison (and gave birth to the dwarves), turmoil began to brew inside the rock-solid borders. Without any distinct enemies to fight, adventurous individuals began turning to lives of crime instead of war. Many of these elves were dark, giving in to their destructive side, which quickly gave the dark elves a bad name. In response, the high elves began walling off entire sections of their cities, casting spells that would prevent any dark elves from entering. The dark elves responded in kind, leading to rampant racism and a massive wave in crime that threatened to destabilize the nation.
Fearing the worst, the Emperor attempted to calm the chaos, but to no avail. Finally, as the problem continued to worsen and enemies began to cast their eyes upon the rich land, a solution was called. All dark elves would move to the land of Delsinar, while all the high elves would move to the land of Elsinor. It wasn’t a great solution, and perhaps made the divide between the high and dark elves even worse. It did, however, managed to strengthen the nation one final time, allowing it to defend a minor attack from Sintison that attempted to breech their walls.
With that, the countries split, and the mighty Elven Empire was no more. From the ashes, the Elven High Families worked tirelessly to fill the gaps in government left by the split, and managed to help Delsinar land on its feet. There are many that believe that this move placed them in far too much of a position of power, but the Families themselves hardly think so.
In any event, Delsinar soon settled into the position that it stands in today. Separated from the rest of the continent by an enormous mountain range, it has stayed free from the conflicts that plague the rest of Calsin. If the leaders of the dark and twisted country have their way, that fact isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
Dinto
The most ancient city in Delsinar, Dinto was first drawn from the ground shortly after the Elven Empire was formed. A group of dark elves had grown discontent with the construction of Nettingo, which at the time was proceeding rapidly. Upon wandering over the mountains, they discovered the first recorded Dark Nexus, a powerful vortex of energy that allowed access to both the Dark Realm and the underworld.
Without hesitation, these weary travelers ventured into the vortex, returning with tales of wonder and darkness. They used newfound powers from the Nexus to draw slabs of obsidian from the depths of the ground, forming a temple around the surging energy. To contrast the high elves, who had instituted the Persphonar as ordinates of Persphone, the group ordained themselves as the Persphonix. Together, they broke open the vortex, allowing ghosts to wander freely into the surrounding land.
When word reached the larger population of elves, the reactions were mixed. The vast majority of individuals, high and dark alike, decried the temple as a perversion of life itself. However, as Persphone herself is the gatekeeper to the afterlife and thereby allowed the Nexus to form, the Persphonar issued a decree permitting the temple to remain. Pilgrims flocked to the Nexus, and a city soon rose from the slowly darkening forest.
Didel
One of the few cities in Delsinar not of dark elven origin, Didel was born from the ashes of the Dwarven Civil War. After taking over the land that became Dirnor, the dwarves realized that they were struggling significantly with trade (and rightly so, as they had just invaded or previously enslaved every country around them). Trade was something more or less foreign to Delsinar, and after dwarven envoys were sent across the mountains, Dark Lord Ensiron agreed to build a city in the mountains allowing for the trade of goods between the nations. Dwarves flocked to the area, settling in the mountains and building great spires. The dark elves were a bit more hesitant, as the city’s location was well away from the Dark Nexuses. After talking with the Persphonix, however, a new Dark Nexus was formed in the area, and travelers flocked to the new mountain fortress.
Infinnot
A larger fishing village built around a Dark Nexus, Infinnot was formed quite by accident. Two young siblings from an unnamed settlement deep in the forests were on the ocean shore, fishing under the watchful eye of several of their ancestors. Both were quite young, and as such were completely unprepared when a theocar lurched from the ocean and struck down both of them.
Their ancestors, fifty in all, lurched forward in anger. The children were the last living descendants they had, and were furious at their deaths. They were able to kill the theocar, and attempted to use a combined blood magic spell to draw its life force into the two children. The effort failed, and destroyed the ghosts forever. It did, however, elevate the spirits of the two children to a level far above that of ordinary ghosts. The two almost-gods rose from the ground, imbued with blood magic and the power of their ancestors, and used their newfound powers to construct a shrine as well as a small nexus. When the shrine was found several days later, the sibling spirits commanded their own worship, resulting in a small town springing up. The siblings to this day can be seen protecting the town, fighting away wild beasts and standing up for children. It is widely considered one of the safest locations in all of Delsinar.
Irvamtir
Irvamtir was settled shortly after the construction of Dinto. As dark elves began to flood into the land, explorers began heading across the countryside, looking for more Dark Nexuses. A small group of these intrepid adventurers soon came across a large house in the middle of the woods, seemingly abandoned but well-preserved. They ventured inside, and were soon killed off one by one by the spirits hiding within.
When the next group of adventurers arrived several years later, the ghosts of the first expedition appeared to them, and were able to help guide the next set of elves through the maze and to the basement, where a Dark Nexus raged with fatal energy. With the help of the previous dead, the newer adventurers were able to drive the evil spirits from the location, and transformed the mansion into a proper temple. It is still unknown who built the house in the first place, but it still stands to this day as the centerpiece for the city.
Istfiint
The capitol of Delsinar, Istfiint is by far the largest city in the country. This naturally corresponds to the largest and most powerful Dark Nexus in Calsin. As explorers continued to venture south, they soon discovered a massive mountain that rose on the edge of the Scorched Lands, covered in sharp peaks and deadly cliffs. Near the peak, a single cave glowed with an otherworldly energy. The forest had already grown dark for miles around, as the energy from the contained Nexus seeped into the surrounding land.
It took over one hundred years before anyone managed to survive the trip to the top. In the end, it was a woman named Fifithal who finally triumphed and set foot in the entrance of the cave. Instantly, the full power of the Nexus rushed into her body, transforming her into the first Dark Lord. She used her newfound power to reshape the mountain into an extraordinary citadel, a castle as glorious as Nettingo. And, with that, Istfiint became the center for dark elves, while the Dark Lord became the patron or patroness for their kind. When the Elven Empire split into two, the dark elves happily flooded into Delsinar, bowing before the Dark Lord as their new king.
To this day, Istfiint is a place of deadly importance. Thousands of dark elves live within its boundaries, relishing in the darkened glow of the Nexus. Even at midday, the city rarely grows brighter than twilight, and other species often find themselves unable to sleep or rest during their stay there. It is estimated that hundreds of individuals die every day, either through sacrifice or crime, though attacking anyone not a dark elf is completely forbidden.
Notisdi
Built around a massive Dark Nexus, Notisdi was drawn from the ground shortly after Istfiint was claimed. As pilgrims flocked to the mountain, Dark Lord Fifithal knew that she would be unable to lead so many people clustered into one location. She called a meeting of the Persphonix, and channeled the power of the Nexus to create a new Nexus several hundred miles to the north. The initial eruption consumed several groups of pilgrims, who remain in the city as spirits to this day.
Perhaps it was because of the influence of the spirits, perhaps it was through simple coincidence, but Notisdi soon became a hub for new gods and goddesses. Thousands of temples fill the city, while the gods themselves walk among the living and the ghosts begging for devotion and sacrifice.
Rotdifi
The second of Delsinar’s border cities, Rotdifi was constructed shortly after the confirmed success of Didel. As trade began to flourish between the two nations, Dark Lord Ensiron realized that the flood of goods was helping the country grow and develop at a much faster rate. Fueled by the possibilities, he called upon his Persphonix to form another Dark Nexus in the mountains to the north of Didel.
They did so with haste, then immediately set to constructing a temple and a city. By the time that dwarven scouts arrived to ask about building a second city, construction was well underway. This went far to strengthening the relationship between Dirnor and Delsinar, culminating in a historic feast attended by both Dark Lord Ensiron and Emperor Dirnor.
Rotsou
The northernmost city in Delsinar, Rotsou was founded by explorers shortly after the construction of Dinto. In this case, a team of three dark elves and one high elf were fleeing wild beasts, and took shelter in a large cave near the ocean shore. They were not pursued, but began exploring the cave just for the sake of it.
Deep within the depths of the ground, they found another Dark Nexus, though not an ordinary one. This particular Nexus took the form of a tree that dripped with a particularly fowl-smelling sap. Upon collecting the sap, the explorers found that it had properties identical to the much larger rift at Dinto, and that consuming the sap would grant temporary and quite extraordinary powers. A temple was built immediately, while pilgrims flocked to the land.
As the Nexus itself was hidden, the founders of Rotsou decided to stand by that principle. As such, there is no major road that leads to Rotsou, forcing pilgrims to travel by boat or through a hundred miles of wilderness on foot. Even so, it is an extremely popular destination, as the sap from the tree is highly prized. It is also notable as the only location where high elves can visit and undergo a ritual to transform themselves into dark elves.
Tindonsel
A massive, though primitive, fishing village, Tindonsel is home to the largest underwater Nexus in Delsinar. Early explorers traveling the coastline looking for Nexuses were easily able to spot the enormous, raging rift of energy located just off the shore in a deep chasm. When they discovered that, for reasons unknown, the Dark Nexus seemed to attract fish, it was an easy decision to settle down.
To this day, the waters of Tindonsel team with aquatic life. Anyone who casts a line, regardless of skill, can easily land fish and other creatures. While this could have easily cause the city to erupt in prosperity, the Persphonix quickly moved in and declared that fish drawn from sacred waters could not be sold for profit. This declaration, while not allowing for the city to grow truly rich, has created a culture in which no one in hungry. Fishermen priests journey out upon the waters, returning with massive hauls of fish that they then distribute to the poor. Every night, fire blaze high as thousands of fish are cooked. Those desiring the higher life find the city distasteful, but those who simply desire a warm home and a full belly are glad to spend their time there.
Tirdisdom
A citadel so grand that any who approach find themselves short of breath, Tirdisdom is the life’s work of a mixed-elven scholar named Girsor. Born of a cursed marriage of a Persphonar and a Persphonix, he was cast aside from birth, and was raised by a dwarven Highsand dedicated to the Blinding Light. Growing up in the temple of the Blinding Light, he was surrounded by beauty and wonder, and as he became an adult, he chose to pursue a career of art.
After going on a pilgrimage that led him from the castles of Notirot to the sweeping forests of Elsinor to the jungle tombs of Sournous, he found himself studying the Dark Nexuses of Delsinar. In a moment of inspiration, he journeyed out on the road between Rotdifi and Dinto until he found the perfect location. There, at the age of forty-two, he began using his mixed magic to draw stone from the ground and build up a monument to art across the world. His quest became the subject of some interest as it grew, and fellow students of art soon began setting up their homes around him, to watch as he worked.
Finally, at the age of six hundred seventy-three, he placed the final piece of glass in the windows and dropped dead. His ghost rose from his body, sat down in one of the obsidian chairs, and has been sitting there to this day. The city that he unknowingly founded has continued to flourish in his death, while the citadel is maintained by priests who offer him sacrifices to keep his ghost around. This makes it the largest city in Delsinar not to have a Dark Nexus.
