Magnia (pronounced MAG-nee-ah), formally the Kingdom of Magnia, is one of the less urbanized regions in Hellea. This is in large part due to Magnia's high population of fey and other protectors of the wild, who have shaped the kingdom’s history and culture.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Magnia is a landlocked kingdom in Hellea, located between Metrya, Iaramnae, and Viridia. At its northernmost point Magnia stretches into the foothills of the Sentinel Peaks, while at the south it does not extend quite to the Peiros River. Mostly a fairly densely forested landscape, much of Magnia remains underdeveloped, especially in the north. The climate of the region is generally cooler than Hellea as a whole, with weather patterns off the Sentinel Peaks a strong influence on precipitation and temperature.
The Inachos River runs the length of the kingdom, fed by streams of melting snowpack in the Sentinel Peaks and eventually reaching the Sea of Ersas. Other smaller rivers are also present in the region, most of which eventually combine with the Inachos. Lake Kardia is the largest body of water in the kingdom, but there are many others as well.
Much of the Magnian woodlands are old growth oak forests, expansive stretches of primarily broadleaf oaks. Other types of trees can be found in these forests as well, such as apples, walnuts, and laurels, but to significantly lesser degrees. These forests have been cleared around the major cities and waterways, but remain as strong as ever across most of the kingdom. Smaller wetlands are interspersed among the forests as well.
A wide range of animals live in Magnia, including kri-kri, badgers, lions, lynx, wolves, otters, weasels, deer, and chamois. Birds such as falcons, eagles, and vultures are common as well. Wildlife is somewhat less common around the major cities along the Inachos River.
The odontotyrannos is an almost mythical creature said to live in remote parts of the forests of Magnia. A three-horned, horse-like creature the size of an elephant, there are few credible reports of its sighting. It is not even known if it is a singular animal or an entire species. Regardless, large tracts of destruction through the oak forests - felled trees, trampled underbrush, gored animals - are widely claimed to be the doing of the odontotyrannos.
When the mines in the Sentinel Peaks were still highly productive, miners were known to fear the myrmekes that frequently set up their homes in the mines. Giant ant-like creatures, the myrmekes seem to have a fascination with precious metals and seemingly stake claim when they find any. The myrmekes are still present in the foothills of the Sentinel Peaks, but with most of the mines abandoned they are far less of a threat to the citizens of modern-day Magnia.
Aurspeilies, six-legged cat-like beasts, are one of the most dangerous predators of the Magnian forests and foothills. Extremely nimble, quick, and stealthy, travellers near the Sentinel Peaks are warned to be on their guard for these creatures. In addition to their prey, aurspeilies also consume large amounts of stone and metallic material, which gives their fur a shiny property - looking for the glint of sunlight off their coats is often one of the only ways in which they can be spotted.
Arboreals can be found throughout the Magnian forests, guarding their local landscape. Magnian druids often form alliances with the arboreals to share knowledge and jointly protect the region’s flora and fauna.
Fauns, nymphs, naiads, dryads, and other fey can be commonly found in the old oak forests. Generally peaceful and amenable to visitors, these fey are nonetheless territorial and protective of what they view as their domains, and will not hesitate to act if their woodlands are threatened.
In addition to the dragons of the Sentinel Peaks, some linnorms are also known to reside in and near the mountains.
History
Viridian alliance
In Y9712* Magnia entered into an alliance with their larger neighbor to the east. Fearful of the growing strength and ambitions of Iaramnae, the monarch of Magnia at the time agreed to allow the Viridian legions to be stationed in his nation. In return for their protection, Viridia was granted the right to appoint advisors to the monarch and move their armies freely within Magnia.
The Viridian Legion of the West is stationed in cities throughout Magnia. While most remain nearby to the forts close to the Viridian border, primarily around Perga and Stagirus, legionary barracks can be found as far west as the city of Histria. After the alliance was initially negotiated, perception of the Viridians has been mixed. In general the rulers of Magnia have tolerated the presence of the Legion as a bulwark against stronger Hellean states, but there have been various attempts throughout the kingdom’s history to limit the presence of the Viridian military in their lands.
Trouble in the north
The northern city of Nysa was destroyed in an attack by a pack of white dragons in Y9955*. While white dragons are not uncommon in the Sentinel Peaks, for them to directly attack such a large city is unusual. Attempts have been made to rebuild the city, but it is still far from its former size and population. Across Magnia, discontent towards Viridia increased following the failure of the Legion of the West to protect the city.
Period attacks by white dragons continue. The dragons seem strangely well coordinated, leading many to wonder if some ulterior motive lies behind their actions.
Ambitions for the future
Recently Magnia has suffered from renewed Iaramnaen aggression, as the strategoi to the south realize there are limitations to their neighbor’s Viridian protection. Archelaos Amyntas, the current king of Magnia, has begun to seek closer ties to Halakros - rumors swirl that he wishes to form a union with the largest of the Hellean states. This has put all of Magnia’s neighbors on edge, as this would be a drastic change in the power balance of the peninsula.
Demographics
The population of Magnia includes individuals of a number of races, including humans, half-elves, naiads, dwarves, aasimar, tieflings, and sylphs. Magnia also has an extremely high goblin population. A sizable percentage of the region’s fey population is integrated into Magnian society.
The centaurs of the Thunderlands occasionally enter Magnia but generally keep to themselves in their ancient forests.
Small villages of kabandha cyclops live in particularly remote parts of Magnia, where they guard the intersections of ley lines and other magically important places. Unlike other cyclops, kabandhas have no head, with their face instead located in their upper torso. Kabandhas are highly reclusive and, if not provoked, are content to leave others alone.
Culture
See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.
Religions
The hero-gods are important figures in Magnian religion, but less so than in much of the rest of Hellea. At present, no hero-gods are known to reside in the kingdom.
While the people of Magnia worship many gods of the Hellean pantheon, Ananke is especially emphasized above the rest. Temples to the deity in Magnia often resemble overgrown gardens more than traditional places of worship, as their open-air designs are believed to bring one closer to the goddess. Some Magnians have also taken to worshiping certain powerful fey creatures of the First World, though those that adhere to this practice see the fey less as unerring divines and more as capricious figures, just as liable to help as to hinder.
Languages
Hellean is by far the most frequently spoken language in Magnia, followed by Common. Racial languages, especially Elven and Dwarven, are also widespread. It is not uncommon for Magnians to understand Thadrian as well, especially in the south, due to their close proximity to Viridia and Magnia's history as a province of the Dominion. Sylvan is the primary language of Magnian fey, and many others in the region have found it useful to learn this language too.
Arts
Magnian music is similar to elsewhere in Hellea, but with a fairly distinct set of instruments that are especially emphasized. In particular, woodwinds, pan flutes, and drums are the most characteristic of Magnian music, reflecting the traditions of the dryads, naiads, and other fey.
Food and cuisine
Magnian agriculture reflects the climate of the region; Magnia is somewhat colder than Hellea as a whole, so the crops grown in Magnia are generally those better suited to more seasonality. Otherwise, Magnian food tends to be similar to traditional Hellean cuisine. Many farmers work with (or are) local dryads and other fey to tend groves of fruit-bearing trees, with minimal damage to the surrounding forests.
Occupations
Most inhabitants of Magnia find a living as farmers or craftspeople in cottage industries - the economic changes that have begun to transform neighboring Metrya have not yet found root in the region. Magnia is particularly renowned for the woodworking of the region’s dryads, who are well-regarded for their ability to create masterful works of many kinds from the material.
Architecture and urbanization
Much of Magnia is sparsely populated, especially in the north. Most of the cities and population are in the south and along the Inachos River, as well as on the shores of Lake Kardia. The inhabitants of Magnia mostly live in smaller towns, with relatively low urbanization by Hellean standards.
Quite similar to elsewhere in Hellea, Magnian architecture takes a variety of forms, depending on the purpose of the building. Most immediately striking are the palaces and temples, with their tall marble columns, grand arches, gabled roofs, and detailed reliefs carved in the walls. More mundane buildings are usually built of stone, brick, and stucco. Whether buildings are ceremonial or domestic, Hellean architecture emphasizes open space - tall hallways, paths, and courtyards are all common. Floors, at least for those who can afford them, are usually made of polished stone or mosaics. These mosaics generally depict something related to the purpose of the building. An apothecary’s shop, for example, might have a mosaic showing plants sold there or the owner of the shop tending to them.
Travel
Travel in Magnia is done using the rivers first and foremost, though a network of roads cross the region. These tend to not be very well maintained, and travellers are advised to keep an eye out for dangerous creatures along their route.
Magic
Magical practitioners in Magnia include those of many types and schools, but the region has a disproportionate number of druids compared to elsewhere in Hellea. Magnia is also the birthplace of an inordinate number of oracles, relatively speaking. Most arcane practitioners in Magnia are self-taught.
Education
Higher educational institutions in Magnia are primarily either religious in nature, prioritizing the learning prospective clerics require, or else vocational. However, most temples also offer schooling for the children of their congregation, instructing in all the basic subjects. The quality of these schools is widely variable depending on location.
Government
Magnia is a kingdom, ruled for the last roughly three hundred years by the Amyntas dynasty. Rulers of Magnia are appointed by the prior monarch - while it is expected that the new king or queen will be of the same dynasty, and indeed mostly have been for the kingdom’s history, there is nothing that strictly says this must be the case. Beneath the monarch is a system of administrators and bureaucrats who manage various aspects of day to day life in the kingdom, similar to most other monarchies and autocracies around the Chaska Sea.
Economy
Magnia does not have many exports - while the kingdom is able to produce all of the resources required to keep itself running, it is not particularly wealthy. Mines in the Sentinel Peaks were once the source of a great quantity of precious ores, particularly sunsilver and gold, but all material that could be reasonably extracted has been gone for upwards of a century by now.