Age of the Guardians (a Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition game)

Age of the Guardians
A Campaign Setting for Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition

In a place very much like ours, yet also very different, is an old world filled with magic and spirits and heroes. This World, similar to ours, was born from chaos and conflict; the Ancients of time immemorial drew their mark upon this world through the creation of colossal magical creatures. Theses beasts, forged of metal, earth, or coral, were called Eidolons. Each one was the size of a small country, and the civilizations of the World raised whole kingdoms and empires upon their backs. These constructs were immensely powerful, but could only be called upon to defend their own existence. And so it was the whim and will of the civilizations across the World that determined their fates.
As often expected, with time came change, and with change came conflict, and none were more significant than the discovery of technology. Clockwork machinations powered by magic, weapons of steel and fire striking from vast distances, ships of metal soaring through the sky; these innovations became the final wedge of contention between the civilizations of what would be called the New World and the Old World, and drove them to War.
The War spanned many decades, the two Worlds trading advantages many times over. When a battleship of the New World would deal a crippling blow to an Old World fortress, an Old World Eidolon would devestate a fleet of New World airships. Countless beings were lost in the conflict, whole civilizations decimated and entire races brought to extinction. The deciding factor came from the artificial construction of an Eidolon, a previously impossible concept, by the Theocracy of Nyroth, a civilization blessed by divinity. Their creation, Seraphim the Dragon delivered the final, crushing blows against the last great powers of the Old World, effectively ending the War.
The aftermath was tragically horrendous; so many Eidolons were destroyed by the War, their corpses dotting the World as colossal ruins. Decimated races, numbered in the mere hundreds, scattered to the winds, no longer a threat to the remaining powers. The remaining six Eidolons became the seats of power, each holding a single civilization upon their backs. Colloquially referred to as the Guardians, the last of the Eidolons are fiercely protected by the remaining allied powers; the Six are, as follows:
Adamant the Tortoise-Land Eidolon of the Daro Republic (Capital of Kynach)
Cygnus the Behemoth-Land Eidolon of the Kingdom of Valestia (Capital of Valestia)
Magnus the Steed-Land Eidolon of the Kingdom of Angea (Capital of Los Ouros)
Nautilus the Serpent-Sea Eidolon of the Fyral’ean Empire (Capital of Fyral’ean City)
Aurora the Phoenix-Sky Eidolon of the Hiza Union (Capital of Rune)
Seraphim the Dragon-Sky Eidolon of the Nyroth Theocracy (Capital of Seraphim)
They are protected by a joint military called the Guardian Corps.

The Six Civilizations are-
The Daro Republic: A government ruled by the many, the Daro Republic is home to a host of many races of the World, and is a paradise for merchants and artisans. The ruling body is a Council of elected officials representing the different wards of the city, from the dreary slums of Tula Ward to the ritzy estates of Aien Ward. With the golden rule of “do unto others as you would have done to you”, Kynach enjoys minimal crime and few intracity disputes, but merchant lords still find ways to cause havoc in the otherwise stable society. Kynach is home-base to two of the four major airship manufacturers: Aeronaut Industries and Highwind’s Windracers.
- Races: Every race of the New World can be found in the Republic, where discrimination is minimized by the equality encouraged by the Council. The Genasi of the Republic are all Stormsoul, and they are often found among the Republic Honor Guard as officers and mageknights.
-Notable Establishments: Daroan Merchant’s Guild, Artificer’s Guild, Aeronaut Industries, Highwind’s Windracers
-Eidolon: Adamant the Tortoise is the slowest of all the Guardians, completing its circuit across the world in double the amount of time as the next slowest, Cygnus the Behemoth. This has worked in the Republic’s favor, as merchant lords bring in more goods and profits from the other civilizations over a longer period of time. The back of Adamant is dotted with rocky hills and thick forests. The Capital of Kynach, a walled, radial city of five wards and a large shipyard, is located in the center of its back; surrounding Kynach are four sizable towns at each cardinal direction roughly twenty-five leagues from the city proper.
-Population: 10,000 (7,000 in Kynach; 3,000 between the four towns)
-Ruling body: Council of Daro (Councilor Yun Rain of Aien Ward (Human), Councilor Toryn Skyfang of Euryle Ward (Dragonborn), Councilor Micaiah of Tula Ward (Half-Elf), Councilor Rockbeard Hawthorne of Cairn Ward (Dwarf), Councilor Scar of Loreh Ward (Tiefling))
-Military: Republic Honor Guard, Daroan Division of the Guardian Corps, Flagship Illustrious Gambit

Kingdom of Valestia: A bastion of military might and nobility, the fantastic kingdom of Valestia is one of the oldest of the civilizations, and it shows in the city of the kingdom’s namesake. Despite the modernization of technology, Valestia maintains an older look, with the castle of Rynvach Keep surrounded by a number of smaller domains. The ruler of Valestia, King Gregoriah, is a Dwarf King and a veteran of the War. He is gruff and immovable in most interactions, except those concerning his daughter, the adventurous and often trouble-bound Princess Willamina. As a dwarven kingdom, Valestia produces some of the finest metalwork in all the World, be it an unbreakable sword or an impenetrable armor.
- Races: Dwarves and Humans are the most numerous races; Genasi of the kingdom of Valestia are Earthsoul, and sometimes serve the kingdom as battle commanders or frontline soldiers. In the mountains, there are a small population of Goliaths allied to Gregoriah, who act as scouts and miners in the high-mountains. Rumors persist of hybrids between the Dwarves and Humans, but such a thing is steadfastly stamped out by the Viziers of Valestia’s court.
-Notable Establishments: Artificer’s Guild, Knights of the Anvil, Stonekeepers
-Eidolon: Cygnus the Behemoth is a stout quadruped shaped like a rhinoceros or stegosaurus; its back is lined with two vast mountain ranges, forming a valley in which the Rynvach Keep sits. The valley is a mix of green hills and blue lakes, with only a few trees to decorate the landscape. There are three regions within the valley aside from the Keep, and these are each a fiefdom under the rule of a Dwarf Lord.
-Population: 7,000 (2,500 in Rynvach Keep, 4,500 between the three fiefdoms)
-Ruling body: King Gregoriah Ironfist, the High Templar of the Knights of the Anvil, Princess Willimina Ironfist, the Maiden of the Stonekeepers, the Dwarf Lords of Valestia (Malacai Underhammer, Olson Evercrag, & Nier Warsong)
-Military: Royal Army of Valestia, Valestian Division of the Guardian Corps, Flagship Venerated Honor

Kingdom of Angea: The thrice-sacked Kingdom of Angea has endured more conflict than any others since the War, experiencing revolution after revolution. The most successful one was lead by a human named Nero Ouros the Carnifax. A brutal warlord devoted to the worship of Bane, god of conquest, Nero rallied a large following of zealous vagabonds and orphans, promising them great power in the wake of his victory; and so he did. Pronouncing himself King in the 281st year after the War (hereto referred to as ATW), King Ouros rewarded his followers with positions and allowances taken from the previous leaders. The Berserker King, as he is called, opened his borders to monstrous humanoids, and accepted, conscripted, and enslaved any into his fold who would acknowledge him and serve the will of the war god.
- Races: While Humans are numerous, it is the Half-Orcs, Minotaurs, Hobgoblins, Gnolls, Kobolds, and Kenku that make up the populous of Angea. The Genasi here are Windsoul, and are as chaotic as the environment they inhabit. Far beyond the overwatching walls of the Capital of Los Ouros, a small tribe of elusive Kalashitar hide away in the mountains, biding their time for when the Berserker King is no more.
-Notable Establishments: Thieves Guild, Brotherhood of Bane, Coliseum
-Eidolon: Magnus the Steed is the tallest of all the Guardians, its long legs keeping the body high in the clouds, and the neck keeping the head higher still. Magnus has a long “mane” of a mountain range trailing from its head to its flank, bisecting the rest of the region. Because the Eidolon travels through the colder regions of the World, the mountain tops are always coated in snow, and the landscape rarely grows more than shrubs. The Capital of Los Ouros sits atop the Eidolon’s head and a half-dozen villages dot the region on either side of the mountain range.
-Population: 7,000 (5,000 in Los Ouros, 2,000 between the six villages)
-Ruling body: King Nero Ouros the Carnifax, the Exarch of Bane
-Military: Angean Division of the Guardian Corps, Los Ouros Militia, Flagship Brutal Execution

Fyral’ean Empire: An elven nation ruled by Empress Arei’ilithin, the Fyral’ean Empire is a nation that is isolated by the movements of its ocean-bound Eidolon. Fyral’ean City is interwoven with trees and fresh rivers (a product of the Eidolon’s unknown abilities), and it is common for nature spirits to drift in and out of the peoples’ lives. As such, gifted practitioners of the primal way are common in the city; the Prince Apparent of Fyral’ean is said to be able to evoke primal spirits, but thus far the rumors have proven unreliable.
-Races: Elves are the ruling race. Humans, Half-Elves, and Halflings are common. Gnomes are rare, and Pixies are rarer still. The Genasi of the Empire are Watersoul, and act as long-range scouts for the water-bound civilization.
-Notable Establishments: Artificer’s Guild, Verdant Tower
-Eidolon: Nautilus the Serpent is the last Eidolon of the Sea. Its long, sinewy body, made of cerulean coral, casts great waves as it slithers through the currents. The crystalline Capital of Fyral’ean City sits a third of the way along the spine from Nautilus’s neck, following the azure blue river created by the Eidolon’s magic. All along the massive body are clutches of forest villages that contain the remaining population.
-Population: 5,000 (4,000 in Fyral’ean City, 1,000 across remaining villages)
-Ruling body: Empress Arei’ilithin, the Tiger Lily, Prince Apparent Cal’ilithin, the Twilight Guardian
-Military: Imperial Legion & Armada, Fyral’ean Division of the Guardian Corps, Flagship Stalwart Sentinel

Hiza Union: A unified nation-state of Dragonborn, Tieflings, and Eladrin, the Hiza Union is a hub of wealth and knowledge; it is the undisputed home of Arcane education, with the largest library in the World, Weisall. The city of Rune is also home to another airship company, the battle-focused Mithril Wings Inc., the World manufacturer of all the Guardians military vessels. Frigates, cruisers, even massive dreadnoughts, the Mithril Wings are all the meanest, toughest, and most exclusive airships in the World. The rulers of the Union, a Trine composed of each of the three races, are bound to the position for life.
-Races: Largely composed of Dragonborn, Tieflings, and Eladrin. Humans, Half-Elves, and Elves are common. Halflings are uncommon, and only a handful of Gnomes and Pixies. The Hiza Union Genasi are Firesoul, much like the nature of their Guardian. Many Genasi of the Union are mageknights in service to the military.
-Notable Establishments: Mithril Wings Inc., Artificer’s Guild, Hizan Merchant’s Guild, Weisall, Arcana Academia
-Eidolon: Aurora the Pheonix is a beautiful, sky-bound Eidolon of crimson and sunlit stone. Its great wings flap slowly, but the power of its magic keeps it aloft in the heavens. The avian body holds the mystical city of Rune, while the spindly neck and flowing tail hold a single town each. The stone body holds little of interest, but a number floating islands trailing along with Pheonix hold crystal lakes and tropical gardens.
-Population: 9,000 (6,000 in Rune, 3,000 between the two towns)
-Ruling body: Trine of the Union (Ulgard Flametalon (Dragonborn), Wishful (Tiefling), Tamyr Fallorn (Eladrin))
-Military: Hizan Division of the Guardian Corps, Union Coalition, Flagship Blazing Vanguard

Theocracy of Nyroth: Upon the gold and white Eidolon crated by mortal hands, the city of Seraphim is ruled by the power of faith. Every good and neutral god are worshiped by the people of Nyroth, lead by the wise and honorable Father Xander, a Dragonborn claiming to be a direct descendent of Bahamut, the justice god. Rumor has it that Father Xander is in fact a Gold Dragon in disguise, and his purpose in Seraphim is to lead the people into a glorious golden age of enlightenment. The last airship manufacturer is in fact a church-lead organization called Forward Unto the Heavens, and is the force behind Seraphim’s creation. The monetary needs to maintain and repair the massive Eidolon have kept the company from beginning any projects, but current projections state that construction for another Eidolon could begin as early as 291 ATW.
-Races: Humans and Dwarves make up the majority of the clergy. Dragonborn, Minotaurs, Half-Orcs, Half-Elves, and Tieflings who seek divine purpose gather, but keep to themselves. Devas are native, though they are small in population. There are no Genasi or Eladrin, since both are seen as blasphemous by the majority of Nyroth.
-Notable Establishments: Artificer’s Guild, Forward Unto the Heavens, Nyrothan Merchant’s Guild, Temple of the Pantheon
-Eidolon: Seraphim the Dragon, as an artificial Eidolon, is crated of white marble and gold. The entire back is one large city, housing many if not all of the divinely guided of the New World. Seraphim, unlike Aurora, does not flap its wings, instead gliding upon the warm thermals provided from the World.
-Population: 10,000
-Ruling body: Father Xander Goldfang, Ministers of the Pantheon (one for each of the nine good, lawful good, and unaligned gods)
-Military: Seraphim Host, Nyrothan Division of the Guardian Corps, Flagship Radiant Justicar

The Four Major Airship Manufacturers
Aeronaut Industries: The leading manufacturer in commercial and public airship transportation, Aeronaut Industries makes some of the largest and sturdiest airships in all of the New World; from frigates such as the infamous Zephyr Tide to the World-renowned luxury cruise-ship Winged Ambition. The company prides itself on good quality for fair prices, and will often work out long-term contracts for their customers. The CEO of the company is a well-spoken and well-mannered Tiefling named Ulla Bann, adoptive daughter of the previous CEO, Leonard Bann. The Aeronaut Industries slogan is “Discover the skies.”

Highwind’s Windracers: In the wake of recovery from the War, a new sport took flight, quite literally, as airships became more available. That sport was windracing, a competitive event where lightweight and aerodynamic airships were pitted against each other in the harshest and most dangerous sky conditions known to civilization. Ralph Highwind, a Half-Elf descendent of legendary Daro Republic Hero Augustus Highwind, is the proprietor of the establishment and a veteran windracer. The airships designed by the Highwind family are amazingly sleek vessels that are surprisingly durable for their intended task, so much so that nearly all other competitors are out of business. Highwind’s Windracers are advertised regularly across all Guardians, and the slogan is often spoken by impressionable younglings, “Race hard, race high! Highwind’s Windracers!”

Mithril Wings Inc.: The largest military contractor airship company, Mithril Wings was founded during the War by a shrewd Eladrin named Tovar Dane. Capitalizing on inovations of metal armor and gunpowder cannons, it was the Mithril Wings warships that won the war for the New World. The most famous of these ships is the half-mile-long Valestian dreadnought Venerated Honor, which held off a siege from three enemy nations single-handedly at the climax of the War. “For every nation, an airship; for every airship, a Mithril Wing” is their slogan.

Forward Unto the Heavens: Founded in the waning days of the War, but active throughout its years as priests and clerics gathered materials and blessings to form the Sky Eidolon Seraphim to use against the enemies of the Old World. It was inherited by Father Xander from a board of anointed company directors.