The Commonwealth of Landonia

The Commonwealth of Landonia, located in the northern region of Eldross, is a nation of highly educated and innovative people. The Landonians are masters of Arcamancy, a metaphysical technology that utilizes the Weave, a powerful magical network. Their society is known for its sophisticated upper class, constant innovation, and a powerful sense of community and determination forged from a devastating past.

Landonia's history is defined by a catastrophic event known as the Nexus Incident. The opening of the Nexus unleashed a powerful energy surge across Eldross, triggering massive earthquakes and elemental fire eruptions that destroyed the old capital city of Acharia. A survivor, Davion Zedic Harcon, led his people to rebuild, and the city was renamed New Acharia. They not only tamed the elemental fires but channeled them into Arcane Fire, a key component of their technology. This period of rebuilding and invention gave rise to the nation of Landonia. The people, who see themselves as "reforged from the ashes," have a deep-seated belief in industry, innovation, and perseverance.

As they rebuilt, they discovered that certain metals grew from the earth in specific locations, giving rise to beautiful fusion roses with metallic-tipped petals. New cities were built around these discoveries, with the capital of New Acharia growing where gold-tipped roses flourished.

In the years that followed, the Landonians created the first airships and expanded their influence, eventually making contact with the people of Naras, who would later be known as the Vendaerosians. While they initially traded technology, tensions grew as the Vendaerosians became more interested in domination than diplomacy. After the Vendaerosians shifted their focus to a conflict with Velkaria, the Landonians used their improved airship technology to explore the wider world, eventually establishing a critical trade partnership with Tahlea, who agreed to safeguard a new universal currency called the Tahle. Today, Landonia is a sovereign nation with a constitutional matriarchy and a powerful presence on the global stage, now turning its attention toward exploring the Nexus.

Social Culture & Beliefs

Landonians believe strongly in the ideals of discovery, industry, and innovation. They consider intelligence and education to be of the utmost importance, valuing intellectual pursuits over physical prowess. This is reflected in their combat philosophy, which favors long-range weapons and advanced war machines over hand-to-hand combat. They are a people of pragmatic optimism and dry, dark humor, born from their ability to detach from difficult situations and push toward a goal.
Communication is highly formal. Landonians speak Chrossian, the common language, and use titles like "Good Sir," "Madam," or "Ole Chap." They often use all three of their given names when introducing themselves, a distinctively Landonian practice. They also use polite gestures like a tip of the hat or a slight curtsy. While they value good conversation, they also respect the privacy of thought. Handwritten correspondence is considered the most polite form of communication.
Common phrases include:
- "Compliments to you!" (A common greeting)
- "Eshsyh" (Used to express that something is ugly or unpleasant)
- "As I live and breathe!" (Used in shock or surprise)
- "The Horror!" and "You pigeon peasant!" (Common curses)
A particularly vulgar gesture involves waving a hand across one’s arm or leg, which implies that a person’s limbs should be cut off and replaced with better arcomechanical versions.

Landonia is governed by a Constitutional Matriarchy. The ruling family is House Harcon, with the Matriarch serving as the head of state. Most governmental affairs are managed by a Parliament, which is made up of two Houses and headed by a Prime Minister. Women typically lead in politics, while men focus on inventing and tinkering.
Landonian law mirrors that of other civilized nations, but with a few key additions. Stealing others' inventions and certain Necromantic and Malifimantic practices are strictly illegal. This includes communicating with the dead, reanimating corpses, and unauthorized limb removal or modification.

Landonians are known for their polite manners and respect for the social order. They believe manners are the "social grease that eases the pain of human interaction." While love is the most common reason for marriage, many unions are based on practical considerations. It is not considered shameful to separate or divorce once a marriage no longer makes logical sense, and some even keep their divorce decrees as a token of the experience.
Intellect is a primary social currency, and they find overt displays of sexuality to be gauche. As the quote from Miss Cecilia Davenport goes: "We are modest in sexuality, lavish in style, but braggadocious in ingenuity."

The most respected professions are those that demand intellect and creativity, such as inventors, engineers, Arcamancers, artists, professors, and teachers. Education is highly valued, and children begin school at five, with a path that leads to one of the three major universities.
The Landonian diet consists of a light breakfast and lunch, a tea break, and a hearty dinner. Landonian Pork is a staple, used in bacon, ham, and stews. Scones and tea are enjoyed multiple times a day. Fusion roses are a fancy delicacy used in parties and gatherings, often sugar-dipped and served with sweets.

Landonian cities feature tall, ornate buildings of metal and wood. Street corners are marked with large clocks to keep everyone on a schedule. The streets are lit by Arcomechanical lanterns with a characteristic blue glow. Due to the high risk of fires, fire escapes are a common feature on apartments. The cities are a constant hub of activity with mechanical noises, coffee shops, and tea houses.
Art is not limited to stage plays and galleries; new inventions and innovative devices are also considered forms of artistic expression. Soot, a byproduct of Arcamancy, has even become a fashion statement. Eyeliner is popular among both men and women, symbolizing the long hours spent in the lab perfecting their craft.

The Landonia People

Incarna

The Achar are the immortal people of Landonia. Their close association with the Weave has given them the unique ability to Weavebind, which allows them to physically integrate Arcomechanical devices onto their bodies, using them as Vestments.

Appearance: The Incarna have a distinctive appearance due to their close connection with the Weave. Their skin often has a texture resembling hammered platinum, and their eyes glow with a bluish light. Some may also have blue Arcamancy patterns etched onto their skin and a coppery metallic hue in their hair.
Lifestyle: The Incarna are highly educated and hold positions of authority and influence within Landonian society. They are at the pinnacle of cultural life and are the leaders of many political and academic institutions. Their fashion, shared with Mortals, emphasizes intellect and professional craft over physical form.

Mortals

Mortals are a vital part of Landonian society, with their contributions to invention, industry, and culture being celebrated. Education is a core value, with children starting school at five and many aspiring to attend one of the three major universities. They are a determined people, who push through difficult emotions with an almost fatalistic optimism. Their diet consists of a light breakfast and lunch, and a hearty dinner, with multiple daily tea breaks.

Appearance: Landonian Mortals are inventive and intelligent, and they express themselves through their ideas rather than their physical appearance. They adhere to a distinct and lavish fashion that highlights their social class and profession. Hats and high boots are common for both men and women. They often incorporate a symbol or metal of their family crest into their attire. Soot around the eyes, or eyeliner, is a popular fashion statement for both genders, symbolizing time spent in the lab.
Color Palette: Clothing for both Mortals and Incarna typically sticks to a brown and blue palette, reflecting the influence of the Weave. For formal occasions, black is a common base color, but incorporating shades of blue and the metallic color of one's family crest is highly fashionable.

Risen

The Crafted are Mortals transformed through Arcamancy into enduring vessels of purpose, their new forms reflecting both the process that shaped them and the path they once walked.

Appearance: Crafted all appear to be vaguely humanoid constructs of some variety. The entirety of their body has been replaced by artifice and machine, often with glowing blue lights, metal bones, and wooden joints.The appearance of the Risen with improved Vestments depends on their specific form:
- Forged: Vaguely humanoid constructs whose entire bodies have been replaced with artifice and machinery—metal bones, wooden joints, and glowing blue lights—built to house a Mortal’s mind for centuries. They are resilient, imposing, and entirely mechanical.
- Doll: Softer, pale figures with much less metal than the Forged, often marked by a permanent, sewn-on smile or porcelain face that gives them a blank, unsettling expression.
- Juggernaut: Heavily armored mechanical humanoid vessels constructed for war, resulting in what many Landonians see as the perfect soldier.
Lifestyle: The Crafted lead lives shaped by their form and purpose. Forged Risen may dedicate centuries of service to a noble House, achieving a form of immortality. Dolls serve as companions or toys, bringing comfort to children and the elderly. Juggernauts, born of dangerous or failed bindings, navigate a more difficult existence. Together, all Crafted stand as living testaments to the power—and the peril—of Arcamancy.

Key Locations

New Acharia: The capital and heart of all Arcamancy. Known as the “Sapphire City” for the constant blue glow of Weave energy. It’s home to major schools, laboratories, and cultural centers.
Aurumchester: A city built atop massive gold deposits. Streets and buildings are lined and trimmed with gold, and it is also home to the Bleak Hill Crypt, a graveyard rumored to be haunted.
Argentbury: Known for its large silver deposits and richly detailed architecture. The Willowood Cemetery here sparkles at night from the silver-infused willow trees.
Amberhill: A smaller city with significant copper veins. It's the birthplace of the Metallurgical Modification Engine, a device used for morphing metals and purifying water.
Port Rose: A crucial port city at the mouth of the Sparkling River, serving as the launch point for all major sea expeditions.
Rustville: Landonia's "dump." This southern town is a haven for discarded, malfunctioning Forged and a place where less fortunate people can make a living by salvaging and repairing used parts.
Ashmount Prison: A maximum-security prison for the most dangerous criminals, located on one of the highest peaks in Landonia.
The Apex Assembly Hall: The main theater in New Acharia, famous for its device that projects aethyric images onto a backdrop.