The Empire of Aversten

Oh my god, it's finally done. I originally only wanted to make a rough map for my story, Desiderium, but I kinda got... carried away. I planned to add two more locations in this map (an underwater city and a floating island), but I got lazy. I'll make separate maps for those... This is my first map ever so bear with me if there are any geographical mistakes or anything. Aside from that, I'm really happy with how it turned out. 

Aversten, also referred to as The Giant Kingdom, is believed to once be a large country that dominated much of the world, Nhyleris. As legend dictates it, after the Fall of Eden, the Creator in all His rage at humanity's mistakes, brought His fist down on the world. The very power of His anger split the lands of Nhyleris. Aversten received much of the impact. 

It should be noted that this map does not represent the entire empire. The hidden kingdom of Aquis Larivar lurks in the dark depths of the Forbidden Sea and no one but the Aquis are aware of its whereabouts. The Aquis are waterbreathers who fear the rest of the world, thus they tend to stay in their seclusive kingdom. Little is known about their race, but there are dark stories of outsiders who disappear should they venture too close to the sea's edge.

However, there are a few Aquis who are brave enough to venture into the upper lands. They sculpted ice into a whole country and rose it above the sea for them to reside in. This country is now referred to as Aquis Vol. They are generally friendlier than their brothers and sisters who choose to stay underwater, but most still distance themselves from outsiders.

Ventuvia, the Floating Kingdom of Mages, hovers just above Noxval. Unlike Aquis Larivar, its whereabouts are made known to the rest of the world - perhaps because everyone lives in fear of its existence. Legend says that Ventuvia had once been part of Terrae. After many of its mages began to use necromancy, conflict tore between the kingdom and Ventuvians decided to separate themselves from those who refuse to accept their darker magic. They broke their land from Terrae and rose it above Noxval, surrounding it in a large atmospheric bubble that protects it from intruders. Due to the magic that it requires to stay afloat, the kingdom is constantly met with extreme storms and natural disasters.

The Kingdom of Noxval lives in constant darkness because of Ventuvia's existence, hence its title as the Kingdom of Shadows. As a result, the Nox have evolved to see better in the dark and have no awareness of night or day. Many of the Nox do not venture outside of their kingdom, finding it difficult to adjust to daylight and warmer temperatures. Because of its proximity to the fallen city of Eden, many believe that Eden's curse, along with Noxval's constant night, is a foreboding sign that the kingdom has been abandoned by the Creator. Regardless of the infamous rumours that outsiders believe about it, the Kingdom of Noxval is relatively peaceful and content.

The largest kingdom in Aversten, Terrae, is not fully represented in the map. Half of it lies underground in the Undercity, where much of the poor and the diseased make their home there. Strong tension lies in this kingdom, as mages and non-mages are at constant conflict with one another. The island of Ambrosia is found here; a tower where mages hone their skills to better themselves at the magical arts. Once, it had been a revered haven for all mages, but now it is an abandoned island that no one even dares to acknowledge. Many believe that one of the mages has cursed the island and the nearby woods, encasing it in a land of ice that refuses to melt. The reasons, however, are unknown.

Beside Terrae is the kingdom of Draconel. In the olden days, it is remembered as a strong land where dragons once roamed. As years passed, the dragons were hunted by humans until they eventually all died out. Many say that Mount Fides, the Eternal Volcano, was revenge brought down by the dead dragons. Just a few years after their disappearance, Mount Fides erupted for the first time and destroyed Karasdel, the former capital of Draconel. Now, Draconel is ravaged by a bloodthirsty king believed to be possessed by a demon. Many live in fear of his rule and seek out the safety of the Red Wolves, a rebellion that wishes to overthrow their deranged ruler.

Surrounded by mountains and a magical field, the country of Celesval is inaccessible to outsiders. The Celes are superstitious folk who believe that their kingdom is blessed by the Creator and that one day, they will be chosen to live in His New Eden. Because many Celes refuse to leave their holy land, it is rare to see any outside of Celesval. The Emperor of Aversten resides in the Palace of Salvation; although, as the Road to Salvation is treacherous, few actually ever manage to meet with him. 

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