The World of Terideal

A glimpse at the world of Wings of Ember, my YA Fantasy Novel

Welcome to Terideal, the setting of my YA fantasy novel, Wings of Ember. Home to three continents, six nations, and a host of mythical creatures and colorful characters, Terideal is a vibrant world with a tumultuous history of wonder and ruin.

Continents and Countries

Terideal is made up of three continents. The Ataeran continent is the largest and is comprised of the nation states of Novece, Tharen, Lyndral and Viarah. The northern continent of Naradin is reclusive and isolationist while the eastern continent of Arastal is wealthy and boasts some of the most relaxed laws in Terideal. The mysterious Silver Isles are mostly uninhabited and lie beyond unsettled seas.

The Ages of Terideal

The Pre-Ataeran Age is an era characterized by fractured tribes scattered across the Ataeran continent, the world’s largest landmass. During this era, Naradin and Arastal prospered in isolation.

The Imperial Age is when the Ataeran empire spanned the entire continent and became the world’s premier power. While the empire frequently tended to internal disputes amongst its four provinces, tensions were especially high with Naradin, the world’s other great power.

After a disastrous war between Ataera and Naradin culminated in a magical experiment gone wrong, the continent was left devastated. The calamity came to be known as “The Flood of Light” and marked the end of the empire.

In the Post-Ataeran Age, the provinces of Ataera developed into independent nations and several of the empire’s grand cities were left to ruins sprinkled across the countryside.

The Ataeran Continent

The largest landmass in Terideal, its four nations, Tharen, Viarah, Novece, and Lyndral share many similar laws and culture due to their shared history.

Tharen

One of the world’s great powers, Tharen’s landscaped is characterized by towering mountains, fertile valleys, and a dramatic coastline. Within its vast network of mountain are a plethora of mines filled with minerals, ores, precious gems. The nation’s greatest resource is its lumerinds, crystals which store magic. Due to this, Tharen is one of the wealthiest nations in Terideal.

Tharen is where the Umbral Guard, a powerful force dedicated to regulating laws regarding the use of magic, was founded. As a result, the nation has the strictest laws regarding the use of magic which is extremely controversial amongst its population.

Viarah

The largest and most populated of Terideal’s nations, Viarah has long been a hegemonic power. Viarah is known by the moniker “The Garden of Terideal” for its wooded mountains, vast array of unique flora, and for being the home of the massive Zeleter Rainforest, where a variety of dangerous creatures reside.

As Tharen’s great rival, Viarah is the one nation on the continent that has no Umbral Guard presence, and consequently, has more liberal laws regarding magic use. However, the use of the dangerous art of spirit-binding is completely forbidden.

Novece

Novece is characterized by sprawling woodlands, hazardous marshes, and the vast Pale Lakes, where many aquatic beasts lurk beneath murky waters. Novece is far more austere than its southern neighbor with fewer large cities spread across its untamed countryside.

Formerly under the yoke of Tharen rule, Novece is a divided country. Its branch of the Umbral Guard is extremely controversial. While laws regarding magic use are strict, they are constantly challenged by a defiant population and corrupt politicans.

Lyndral

Vast deserts and hostile badlands make up the bulk of Lyndral’s landscape. The nation’s eastern peninsula, the Iromi Cape, is where the vast majority of the population resides with lush verdant scenery, the ethereal Painted Lagoons, and beautiful towns and cities.

The most neutral of the Ataeran nations, Lyndral’s population is relatively isolated due to its harsh terrain. While the Umbral Guard has a presence in the nation, it is far more relaxed than its northern counterparts as are its laws regarding magic.

Naradin

Aside the Ataeran nations of Viarah and Tharen, Naradin is the third great power of Terideal. Covered with high peaks in the east and an expansive tundra, Naradin is an isolationist nation where spirits and humans are far more entwined. Wyverns, drakes, and wyrms all call this landmass home.

Being removed from the Flood of Light that decimated the Ataeran nations, Naradin doesn’t have the same baggage regarding magic use. Spirits are less shy around humans, and the use of magic is a celebrated fact of life. Magic is seldom regulated. The one exception is spirit-binding, which is considered a grave violation of the harmony between humans and spirits.

Arastal

Far removed from the Ataeran nations, Arastal often maintains neutrality during Terideal’s great conflicts. This eastern continent is surrounded by an archipelago known as The Guardian Islands characterized by stunning coastlines and sandy beaches while the mainland is mostly covered in grassy plateaus.

Ruled by a rigid class system, everyone in Arastal is born with a role to play. Merchants dominate the ruling classes and as a result, commerce is the rule of the land. Arastal has the most liberal laws around magic in all of Terideal with even spirit-binding being allowed in controlled circumstances.

The Silver Isles

The most enigmatic of all Terideal’s locales, the Silver Isles have seldom been explored. The surrounding waters are hazardous and as far as people know, the islands remain completely uninhabited. Despite their frigid location, some of the islands boast a surprisingly tropical climate with creatures unlike anywhere else in Terideal.