Gethsemane

The Viridescent Kingdom of Gethsemane. The land of Elves, Dwarves, and the peaceful Genasi. Gethsemane is an old and unvarying kingdom. Outsiders have a difficult time navigating these lands, and The Iron Tracks are barely present here. This makes the whole kingdom feel almost mythical to outsiders. Each city rules itself with its own unique laws. The region as a whole operates under an allegiance between Elven and Dwarven kingdoms, with the peaceful Genasi as their neighbors.

Traditions of art, craftsmanship, and magic that date all the way back to The Awakening are visible all throughout its cities.

• Xerul
• Mod Dranor
• Laelanor
• Jerda’ll
• Ep Drukar

Gethsemane is a lush and beautiful land. It’s dominated largely by The Forest of Yan Nalora. A wood of massive trees, crystal streams, as well as strange and dangerous creatures. Tucked into the north are its two mountain cities. The peak city of Ep Drukar, and the subterranean city of Mod Dranor. These cities are located in The Peaks of Myth’ira, a grand and perilous range of mountains overlook the garden kingdom.

A second subterranean city is located near central Gethsemane. Jerda’ll is a kingdom of Drow built within the colossal caves that wind beneath the land called The Underdark. A mysterious natural world filled with underground lakes and rivers.

While glorious, the wilds are quite dangerous. There is only a single train in Gethsemane which runs from Laenwalde to Mod Dranor for trade purpose. All other travel is by forest road. Outside travelers are urged to move through the region with the help of a well trained guide, lest the find themselves attacked or lost in the wilderness.

After The Awakening, the people of Gethsemane found themselves in consolidated groups made up of members of their own races. These individuals initially met the same hardships as everyone else, however after a short while they learned that they could live symbiotically with the wilds through knowledge, Magic, and a mutual respect for the environments they lived in.

The Dwarves mined into the mountains to construct their kingdom of Mod Dranor, and the Elves built grand cities highlighting the natural beauty which was already present. The Elves and Dwarves discovered the presence of one another quite early on. These groups were cautious at first, but found that through mutual respect the cities could coexist.

To the south was a region known as The Badlands. A feudal realm that would eventually go on to become Laenwalde. There were many skirmishes at the borders with gangs of roving bandits and small armies of feudal kingdoms. Gethsemane played an instrumental hand in the forming of this kingdom through support of troops and resources during particular hardship. Gethsemane is especially to thank for the current state of Eucaren, the north-eastern, and neighboring third of Laenwalde. Gethsemane and Laenwalde are close allies to this day.

Across The Narrow Sea, lies the kingdom of Kapesh. They would go on to become a rivalling kingdom for more than a thousand years. Gethsemane battled Kapesh on and off in a conflict known as the Triumvirate Battles. A war incited by racial and religious differences.

It wasn’t until much later (the year 2811) that the Elves and Dwarves discovered that there was a whole city of Genasi located within the far west peaks of the mountains. This came as a surprise to all parties involved, but there was no major issues that arose as the Genasi’s lifestyle and demeanor was already very on par with the rest of the kingdom. The Genasi were determined to be Off-Human by the elves, a label problematic within the conflicts surrounding the Triumvirate Battles. However Gethsemane decided to let the city be as they had remained in the mountains for over two thousand years without ever causing even a quarter of a problem.

In the late First Age, Gethsemane and their ally Laenwalde faced a great deal of political infighting. When investigated, the source of this infighting seemed to stem from Changelings of The Glassius Reach masking as important members of their society. This sparked a conflict known as the Western War where Gethsemane and Laenwalde led a counter attack on The Reach. It amounted to one of The Reach’s cities, Yorn et Gaul, nearly being destroyed. The conflict stopped when a very powerful Wordbearer called Ehmalog, Word of Wrath entered the fray to the defense of The Glassius Reach.

Eventually in the early Second Age Kapesh and Gethsemane set aside their differences and formed the The Triumvirate Concord to end their fighting. Gethsemane was now focused on its new enemy to the North.

Largely populated with Elves, Dwarves, and a small population of Genasi.

Save for the Genasi city of Ep Drukar, Gethsemane is an extremely proud and xenophobic kingdom. Each city holds a very strong identity and its citizens do not respond well to anything that may harm it. The Elves and Dwarves of Gethsemane live long lives and spend most of them focused on upholding or improving their society.

There are members of other Races sprinkled throughout the kingdom, but these individuals are seen as outsiders. At best, they may be welcomed in if they have something special like a well honed skill or gift to offer elven society. However they are more often ignored, or disliked.

Elves and Dwarves have a mutual respect but tend to view each other as lesser. Elves think dwarves are bull headed, slow witted, and do not have appreciation for beauty and art. Dwarves think elves are weak bodied, frivolous, and unproductive beings. They do cohabitate in some cities, but usually in neighborhoods dominated by members of their own race.

Genasi are people of tradition. They reside high in The Peaks of Myth’ira. Rarely leaving their territory, they went undiscovered for many many years. When they were found, the cities of Gethsemane determined that they were a peaceful group and would be welcomed into their borders. In reality, very little changed. The Genasi remained in their home and the Elves and Dwarves didn’t bother them for the most part. A few curious members from each population did mingle and explore each other’s cities. This behavior sparked a small movement of Genasi who venture out on pilgrimages into the far kingdoms.

The Kingdom of Gethsemane are not governed by a single figure. Each city governs itself and its surrounding territory. The kingdoms do not operate as a council like The Free Cities of Alderun, but rather a very strong, millennia old alliance.

Each city cares for its citizens in its own way. Those who have legitimate citizenship do not go without. Even if they are not financially stable. In Elven society it is very rare someone does not strive to contribute in some way to their city. Those who are unable to contribute still easily find food, shelter, and medicine (but its likely they would be looked down upon if they are able bodied). In dwarven society, work is assigned if it is not sought out. Disobeying these assignments is seen as greatly offensive and even criminal at times. The Genasi have a socialist approach to their city and their slow way of life rarely raises issues. In all cases the sick and elderly are taken care of without question.

Each city is responsible for creating and upholding their own laws.

Art and culture is very deep seated within the cities of Gethsemane.

The Elves are known for creating nature-inspired majesty. They practice nearly every craft one could imagine. Individuals spend their entire lives honing their abilities to great heights. This is visible all throughout their societies. Grand architecture, beautiful clothing, fantastic sculptures and paintings, even their armor and weaponry is awe inspiring.

Dwarves treasure strength, quality, and practicality. This is visible in their cities, homes, tools, and general ways of life. Known for carving their homes and building directly from Kalamdola, their home mountain. Powerful square architecture, engineered with comprehensive mathematics and geometry.

Echoes of their grand city are seen in their smaller works of craftsmanship as well. The precise support pattern upholding the grand bridges that span over the city are sewn into the hemming of garments. The layouts of crucial buildings are embossed onto their army’s shields.

Most important to the Dwarves is the craft of smiting. The tools, weapons, and armor crafted within the city of Mod Dranor are the finest in all The Three Corners.

Genasi are people of the four elemental planes:

• Invigorant, water
• Immolation, fire
• Temperament, stone
• Tempest, air Their art and beliefs surround the poetic ideals that surround these natural phenomena.

Almost all the people within the kingdom all follow some version of Trinity-Centric or Zolaen-Centric belief.

Academics and Magic within Gethsemane are taught exclusively through mentorship. Nearly all individuals the kingdom spend the first centaury of their life under the mentorship of a set of teachers who specialize in different crafts. Individuals will go on to specialize in craftsmanship, art, magic, academics, or some other career. They will typically go on to spend the majority of their lives in this profession.

Notably, Gethsemane does not implement Iron Light as abundantly as the rest of The Three Corners does. This is due to a deep seated pretention around the concept of Great Magic, a highly debated racial issue regarding Elves and Dwarves being more magically gifted than Off-Human races. This held belief has made it so Artificers of Gethsemane utilize Imbuement Perpetuum for the production of their magical implements. Iron Light does exist within the kingdom, it is just uncommon and looked down upon.

Gethsemane appears to have a very static inner political structure. The people of the cities have great love for their rulership, and the rulers themselves maintain good relationships with each other. There is no one ruler or capital, but outsiders tend to view Xerul as its defacto capital due to its resources, size, grandeur, and mythos around the Elves.

The resources and cooperation shared between cities makes Gethsemane a powerhouse of a kingdom. All who have trifled with them have paid the price. Historically, Gethsemane has gone to war with all of its surrounding regions and has never lost. In modern day it is on good terms with all its neighbors, save for great tensions with The Glassius Reach since the Western War.

The people of the kingdom are largely xenophobic, or racist towards outsiders. This is due to old beliefs held regarding The Undoing and Great Magic. A sizeable portion of the population does not support these beliefs, but millennia of discrimination is hard to overcome.

Tacticians frequently argue who has the more fearsome military: modern Gethsemane or Laenwalde. Gethsemane has the smaller military, but what they lack in size they make up for in almost every other aspect. Elves and Dwarves are generally more physically capable on average than any other race. Their long lifespans also make it so that they can become very well trained. On top of that, their legendary craftsmanship gives them a literal edge above their foes. All ships in their navy’s double as Airships, meaning they need no sea port. There is good reason Gethsemane has never lost a war.

Gethsemane borders the kingdoms of:

• Laenwalde
• The Glassius Reach
• Kapesh

It also has borders on the wilds of:

• Holyfield

It contains a portion of the mountain range known as:

• The Peaks of Myth’ira
• The Blades
• As well it decidedly does not consider The East Mounts within its borders as Elves believe the region to be cursed. This mountain range is as far south as some superstitious elves will travel.

It also has coasts on:

• The Vast Sea
• The Narrow Sea