Over 2000 years ago the world of Crypso was struck with a devastating disaster of global proportions. A massive continent known as Pangea was home to numerous races and many benign and power hungry kingdoms. The peoples of the world forged peace through the quill and the sword. Wars were numerous, and it seemed that the races of the world were their own greatest enemies, until the Great Cataclysm came.

On the day of reckoning, the seas churned and boiled, sinking the coastlines in fuming waters. Great rents opened up in the cryp, swallowing entire cities and spewing out fiery magma. The sky rained down fire, rendering civilizations into dust. It was as if all the world was coming to an end.

In the aftermath, much of Pangea was now broken and sunken under the sea. The great land is now split into two continents with the last survivors of the world. To the east is Great Estros, and Wessos to the West. Upon the ashes of Pangea, great kingdoms rose once again, piecing together what remained of their broken people. For the past millenia, these kingdoms have been concerned with consolidating their own power within their corners of the world, living a largely isolated existance. Now, their power strong and civilizations rebuilt, the Kingdoms of Crypso venture out into the wider land, to claim their place as the greatest kingdom of all the world.

It is the spring of year 2799 of the Great Cataclysm and the once isolated kingdoms stand poised to forge a new place on the global stage. This is their story...

Thangia has existed since the great cataclysm that nearly destroyed the known world, but it was not always the land of the Burned God’s faithful. Thangia was once inhabited by a reptilian race of creatures, the original Thangians, who shared their land with humans who fled there for safety.



The reptilian Thangians once formed the majority of the populace of Thangia, inhabiting the coastlines and hugging the river known as God’s Tears. The humans who arrived shared the same lands as the reptilian Thangians, but also expanded into the Great Desert, adopting a nomadic existence there. None of the humans were united beyond their tribal societies, save for the Thangians of the desert, whilst the reptiles were nominally united under a single God-King. The reptilian Thangians, despite their single government, lived in a very decentralized society. The writ of the God-King carried little weight outside of the walls of his castle, and it was up to the regional lords and ladies of the numerous provinces to decide whether they wished to institute whatever their God-King decreed. This lack of cooperation and unity would prove to be the downfall of the reptilian Thangians.



In the Great Desert the nomadic human tribes had long been united through a shared culture, language and series of High Chiefs. This changed in the year 811 PC (Post-Cataclysm) when a wise man of the Desert tribes emerged from the most inhospitable depths of the Great Desert. The man, who became known to history as the first Archon, was Al’Muntazir and he brought a vision from God.

Al’Muntazir spoke of a god wreathed in flames, his skin burnt and smoking, who emerged from the sands of the depths of the Great Desert when Al’Muntazir had lost his way. This God had taken Al’Muntazir to a hitherto unknown fork of the God’s Tears which ended in an oasis unlike anything Al’Muntazir had previously seen. The beauty of the scene caused Al’Muntazir to fall to his knees and weep with joy, pleasing the Burned God. The words Al’Muntazir uttered next would shape the future of the Desert tribes.

The Burned God, pleased with the actions of Al’Muntazir, gave him a command. “GO FORTH AND SPREAD THESE WORDS. IT IS TIME FOR THE TRIBES OF MAN TO CONVERGE AT THIS PLACE, THIS LAND I BLESS AND GIVE TO YOU AND YOURS, AND TO RECEIVE THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE.”

Al’Muntazir, a man of extreme charisma as all histories agree, managed to convince all save one of the tribes to follow him to this land, which was dubbed Teccan, where they abandoned their nomadic ways and embraced the teachings of Al’Muntazir. Three decades passed and Teccan flourished unlike any other city in the entirety of Thangia. Trade had been established with the other cities of Thangia, and goods flowed back and forth bring plenty to the Holy City. Al’Muntazir had become old and grey, but his teachings were still adhered to devoutly by the people, even if the Chiefs, who had become decadent and greedy from the great wealth that flowed into Teccan, did not.

It was 832 PC when Teccan would suddenly change the landscape of Thangia forever. The reptilian Thangians, increasingly concerned and outraged by this faith of the Burned God, managed to convince the Chiefs of Teccan to murder the aged Archon and enforce the worship of the reptilian God-King in the city in return for great wealth. Al’Muntazir, however, received a vision from the Burned God of this treachery. When the time came for the Chiefs to murder the Holy Man a bull that shone like gold burst into the temple where Al’Muntazir resided and where the Chiefs had converged, and trampled and gored the traitors of the Burned God. Al’Muntazir, now confined to his bed, gave his most trusted and faithful Imams one last commandment. The Burned God had spoken to Al’Muntazir and had instructed him to ensure that his successor would begin the great Holy War for Thangia, a war that would see the reptilian devils exterminated and the worship of the Burned God spread to all corners of Thangia.

As we know, his successors did just that, although it took them two centuries of brutal warfare to accomplish this. In the end the reptilian Thangians were all-but eradicated, the few survivors fleeing from Thangia altogether, whilst the Theocracy of Thangia entrenched itself.



Archon Al’Mastiff IX is a bitter old man, angry at the lack of progress of his predecessors in spreading the faith of the Burned God outside of Thangia. One would be wise not to underestimate the Old Man of Teccan, as he is commonly known, for his wits remain sharp and his tongue sharper. Under the current Archon Thangia has prospered and the faith has begun to spread beyond its borders on a level not seen in centuries. Whether the Archon can maintain this current trend remains to be see.

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In ancient times before the Cataclysm, when the land was unified in one great continent, many races existed that perished on the Day of Reckoning. One such race that did not perish, to our misfortune, is the Orc. A relatively populous race, by historic accounts, the Orcs were diverse and inhabited ranging from snowy peaks, volcanic wastes, to humid jungles. They ranged in complexion from leathery black skin, green to covered in brown fur.

According to the suriving reports dated before the Cataclysm, orcs lived in a brutish and tribal society, where only the strongest ruled. Most prominent of these ancient Orc holdings was the High Chiefdom of Ash'tar, a kingdom that warred with our human ancestors on many occasions. The tale of human heroes in the old epic of Stargazer survived the cataclysm and can be found in the Libraries of Ritang. The ancient epic gives a detailed account on a war upon Ash'tar, and gives fascinating insights on Orcish culture, or lack thereof.

Only a mere century ago, an Imperial hunting party came upon an Orc in an isolated mountain pass near Ishingu Castle. The beast was promptly slain. The incident substantiated years of rumours that persisted that orcs did indeed survive the Cataclysm and were present on Wessos. Despite liberal figures proposed for their projected numbers, it is this author's opinion that Orcs likely only exist in broken clans or family units, and not a threat to the Celestial Empire.

The only good thing from the destruction of the Great Cataclysm was the formation of the empire. Before the cataclysm the Vosta was seen as a backwater region with warring city-states inhabited by the sanfures. The people of the mountain known for there blade like teeth and dull colored skin they are a proud bunch. During the Great Cataclysm as it seam that at there darkest time a great hero emerge among them. Know to them as the first Emperor little information that survive from that time indicates he was the king of the small city-state Iro. Once he manage to consolidate power in the Vosta he began to expand Irodien territories into the outlying regions.

This trend continue under different emperors for over the following centuries each expanding the empire into its current size. During the rule of the weak emperor Valcon III the father of the current emperor the imperial governor Barcus seeing an opportunity to size power from the old emperor gathered allies and revolted. But Barcus made a miscalculation and underestimated the emperors son Axium Uldra. After his father died on the battlefield Axium was soon coronation emperor. With a strong emperor on the throne he wage a 30 year long war to reclaimed the lost territories of the empire. The war went back and forth for ether sides intill the battle of mount Valsu were the Imperials won a major victory and slain Barcus. After that battle Axium manage to crushed the last fragments of the rebellion and reformed the empire with the goal to return the empire to its former glory.

An excerpt from Hadrian Valthor's Rivers of Time: The Folklore of Southern Wessos, Fifth Edition, Volume I

All within Carnelia’s borders are taught of their republic’s origins, a tale of feuding, petty nobles squabbling over miniscule spits of land. These squabbling fools arose from of the ashes of something grander. Before the Cataclysm, much of southern Wessos was held by the Cewri, a race of people twice the height of humans, with skin spanning the many shades of water. They were known to build their settlements around places of aquatic significance, such as mountain lakes, confluences of rivers, and the large delta on which Corialus was built.

Corialus itself contains many structures that date back to the time of Cewri, and the city is one of the few places where whole structures from that ancient past remain standing. Surprisingly, the murals there do not depict the hills now associated with Carnelia, but a vast, fertile river valley, flush with now long-dead species of plant-life.

It is said that the hills of Carnelia are the corpses of the Cewri who died in the Cataclysm. Any reputable scholar will tell you that this is utterly ridiculous. While some murals have survived that depict the Cewri using strange and powerful magic—shifting rivers and calling down storms—the earth of the Serene Republic is just soil. This belief does have a reasonable source, however. The word for hill in the precursor to modern Carnelian is Cewrholl, or “Cewri Hall.” This most likely came either from a reference to the Feasting Halls of the Cewri, which were said to have been raised from the earth by the giants’ magic, or to those few Cewri tombs that have survived, which are all but indistinguishable from ordinary hills.

The Cewri of the Highlands were a slightly different breed, by necessity. They were the only branch of their kind to survive the Cataclysm. By the time Bendak Carnelius was unifying southern Wessos under his flag, however, they had entered into decline. A half-breed, part Cewri and part human, opened the gates to their massive citadel for Bendak’s army when the giants refused to surrender. He was awarded with governance over the entirety of the Highlands. His name was Yeeran Verkun, and was the founder of His Serene Magesty’s own House. Though the Cewri blood has long faded to but a trace, the old Citadel of Mae’r Mynydd Ia—while in no place where a city could grow—is still the traditional seat of House Verkun.

The pure-blooded Cewri have long since faded away, but interbreeding has given the humans native to the Highlands the right to claim ancestry amongst the mighty rulers of southern Wessos. Still, it is said that in the deepest parts of the Highlands, when a storm has risen, they can be heard beneath the tumultuous weather, their massive drums keeping time with the thunder, and their rough voices singing to the rain.

The previous winter of Great Estros was mild, and an early spring dawned. With it came rains that promised a bountiful harvest. As the days went by, rain became more frequent, until one day it didn't stop. The mountains were awash in rains that caused mudslides. Entire highland villages were swept away in a tide of mud and falling cryp. The river that springs near Iro, the capital of the Irodein Empire became a flood plain, drowning the city of Caldaria and displacing many.

In Thangia, the wet season culminated in the flooding of God's Tears, and Hangman's Bay sinking parts of Bahran and Teccan. While Teccan, the capital of Thangia, suffered minor flooding, Bahran lost an entire district in a flash flood.

Dubbed the Deep Rain by small folk and doomsayers, it shows no sign of letting up.

((Ignore this, somehow I managed to post two posts instead of one.))

Whilst Great Estros faced flooding from increased rainfall, Wessos seemed to be spared from such problems. The rainfall season came and went with little to mark it as being significantly different from past seasons, and the people of the land counted themselves lucky.

However it turned out their supposed good fortune would not last. Whilst Great Estros was drowning under the unending rain, the doom of Wessos came from the south and west. From deep in uncharted waters tsunamis of never before seen ferocity and speed swept up towards the continent and brought the land ruin on a scale not seen since the Cataclysm. Entire towns were swallowed by the sea, and the wise men of all of Wessos praised their gods that the capital cities themselves had not seen such a fate, even if they had lost entire districts to the merciless depths.

As the seas receded the governments of Wessos came forth to take note of the damages. The numbers they counted made even the most optimist amongst them grim.

The Most Serene Republic of Carnelia (herein “Carnelia”) and The Holy Land of Thangia (herein “Thangia”) shall hereby enter into a diplomatic agreement in which trade between the two nations shall be expanded. In exact terms, excess of goods, both raw and processed, shall be exported from one nation to another in accordance with the market demand therein.

Additionally, missionaries under Archon Al’Mastiff IX of Thangia shall be permitted to preach in the name of the Burned God within the borders of Carnelia, and be exempt from any relevant legal restrictions for the duration of their time in Carnelia. Said Missionaries shall be afforded the protections of Carnelian citizens under civil law.

Signed:

• [x]The Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX of the Most Serene Republic of Carnelia, Hammer of the West, Lord Protector of the Highlands, Head of House Verkun.
• [x] Archon Al’Mastiff IX of the Holy Land of Thangia, Scion of Al’Muntazir, God's Chosen, Shepherd of the Faithful.

From the Desk of the Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX…

The Most Serene Republic of Carnelia (herein “Carnelia”) and The Holy Land of Thangia (herein “Thangia”) shall hereby enter into a diplomatic agreement in which trade between the two nations shall be expanded. In exact terms, excess of goods, both raw and processed, shall be exported from one nation to another in accordance with the market demand therein.

Additionally, missionaries under Archon Al’Mastiff IX of Thangia shall be permitted to preach in the name of the Burned God within the borders of Carnelia, and be exempt from any relevant legal restrictions for the duration of their time in Carnelia. Said Missionaries shall be afforded the protections of Carnelian citizens under civil law.

Signed:

• [x]The Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX of the Most Serene Republic of Carnelia, Hammer of the West, Lord Protector of the Highlands, Head of House Verkun.
• [x] Archon Al’Mastiff IX of the Holy Land of Thangia, Scion of Al’Muntazir, God's Chosen, Shepherd of the Faithful.

To the Prince Caius Doren Rorfallius III of the Yorkallian Lowlands,
We are much delighted to hear that, despite the tragic floods that Llyr has visited upon our fair lands, in spite of all that were lost, every single priest in your lands has managed to survive. Of particular interest to the Republic are those sworn to Pwyll, Llyr, and Gwyn…

The Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX of the Most Serene Republic of Carnelia, Hammer of the West, Lord Protector of the Highlands, and Head of House Verkun does hereby establish the Office of Resettlement and Repair. The duties of the Office are to, in response both to our most recent of tragedy and any others that may fall upon us in the future…

To High Priest Adrien VI of the Frozen Summits,
My old friend, news of our most recent tragedy has no doubt reached your craggy roost. Llyr’s wrath has done us all a great deal of harm, and the dead are largely washed away. I recall, in my studies as a boy, there was mention in one of the old texts of a variety of ceremonies to honor large numbers of the dead at once. My foggy memory at least recalls that it was normally for those who fell in a particularly violent battle, but the sacrifice of these most recent souls was ordained by Llyr himself, so I was wondering if Pwyll might allow an adaptation of sorts…

To the office of the Council of the Carnelian Exchequer…
…While your sovereign appreciates these concerns, they are misplaced. The goods to be taxed are already overpriced, because the Princes are the only ones who could afford them anyways, and as such this tax will not alter the economy of the Serene Republic as you do so fear. Your Sovereign, as stated, appreciates your concerns, but believes that the Council would do best to concern itself with fulfilling its duties. Else, it shall find itself replaced by a more competent group, and the employment of the current Council of the Exchequer will be terminated.

Signed,
The Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX of the Most Serene Republic of Carnelia, Hammer of the West, Lord Protector of the Highlands, Head of House Verkun.

Bio: Descended from the exiled reptilian Thangians, the God-King's Exiles maintain that they are the rightful rulers of Thangia. Hostile to any worshipper of the Burned God, they also harbour a deep distrust of mankind.

During their millennia long exile the reptilian Thangians have become adept warriors and survivors, travelling from one realm to the next, endlessly plotting a way to return to their home. Their current leader, God-King Slaashathar, has put forth a drastic change in plans for the reptilian Thangians. Instead of trying to reclaim their home, he argues, they should forge a new one. Having successfully defended his views, and his throne, from all opponents it seems increasingly likely that the reptilian Thangians shall wage war on a nation of man and create themselves a new place to live. Whether this a ruse, or part of a long-term plan to reclaim their homeland, none can be sure.

The flood was a surprise for the Irodeins who were not expecting any flooding that year. Emperor Axaium quickly issued several orders in response to the situation.