Diantha is populated by massive, powerful creatures known as Aethra. They are highly attuned to a force called the Aether—a well of magical energy that they can call upon to create massive, magical weather events. Normally, the Aethra are peaceful, and keep their distance from humans. However, something has shifted. The Aethra are infected—something is making them aggressive and vicious. Rampaging Aethra are causing natural disasters all across the continent. Humans cannot access the powers of the Aether, and are powerless to stop the crazed Aethra, with one exception: the Sage.
Characters
Countries
The continent of Diantha is made up of four countries.
In the west, Ithda is a vast land of rolling hills and bountiful farmland. Ithdans have coppery skin and dark hair, and tend to be extremely pragmatic and down-to-earth. They scoff at ritual and superstition. Their culture values honesty, practicality, and physical capability. They take pride in their work and are very detail-oriented; therefore Ithda is the home of some of the most skilled craftsmen on the continent. It is the largest of the four countries by size, although roughly equivalent to Aneasia in population.
To the south, Suthawe is a stunning desert of red rocks and breathtaking sculptures of stone. Sutheans have a complexion like rust; their hair ranges from dark browns to bright reds, and their skin is deeply tanned with a reddish undertone. Most Sutheans are nomadic, and they pride themselves on their self-sufficiency. It is common to see Sutheans all over the continent, as they often travel from the desert in merchant caravans. Due to their nomadic nature they have no problem settling down in other countries, although they rarely see it as a permanent situation. They value hospitality and friendliness, and always keep a tally in the back of their minds on who owes who a favor.
Aneasia is in the east, home to soaring mountains and sparkling waterfalls. Aneasians have very dark skin and curly hair that can be any color from blonde to black. Due to their more affluent lifestyle, Aneasians also tend to be more plump than those of other nationalities. Aneasia is the most technologically advanced country, always on the cutting edge of everything. Because of their universities, Aneasia is very diverse and very lively. Aneasians value individuality, forward-thinking, and big ideas. They tend to be fashionable and more wealthy than their neighbors in Ithda, tending as a culture more towards highly educated careers rather than working with their hands.
In the north, a jagged crack in the snowy landscape seperates Tsei from the rest of the continent. A series of glacial islands, Tsei is the smallest country by far. Its people, the Tseia, are reclusive and greatly prefer to keep to themselves. It is extremely rare to meet a Tseia on the mainland, even in the universities of Aneasia. They are tall and extremely pale-skinned, with black hair that they do not cut unless they are in mourning. Tseian culture is deeply steeped in centuries of tradition and religion. They value courtesy, emphasizing complex cultural etiquette born from the strict heirarchical structure of their society.
