Delmora: Difference between revisions

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==== Major Geographic Features ====

*The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth]] Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern [[White Mountains]], intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.

*The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern [[White Mountains]], intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.

*The Great Lake – A vast inland freshwater body, bordered by Odrak settlements. Its fog-covered surface conceals submerged cities and spiritual monuments. The lake serves as a cultural and spiritual counterbalance to the rivers, emphasizing stillness and depth over motion.

|Climate=Delmora experiences a temperate and river-driven climate, shaped less by temperature fluctuations and more by seasonal changes in water flow. Its weather patterns are closely tied to the rhythms of the rivers and the influence of the Great Lake, resulting in a cycle of flood, drought, and mist that defines life across the realm.

|Flora and Fauna=Delmora’s fertile plains, floodplains, and inland lake support a diverse and adaptive ecosystem. Life here is shaped by the movement of water—plants must endure submersion or drought, and animals follow migratory paths guided by seasonal flow.

|Native Spirits=The spirits of Delmora are closely tied to the flow of water and the cycles of flood, growth, erosion, and memory. Many are believed to dwell in rivers, springs, rainstorms, or the hidden depths of the Great Lake. They are invoked by both Ruvin and [[Ulshari]] communities for guidance, protection, and renewal.

~~=== Nascent Spirits ===~~

* '''Driftlings''' – Minor river spirits found in streams and tributaries. Often seen as playful or mischievous, they are said to guide children and lost travelers along safe paths.

* '''Mistwhirls''' – Faint spirits of morning fog, particularly near the lake. They are believed to echo lost thoughts or warnings, and are treated with quiet respect by Ulshari shamans.

~~=== Mature Spirits ===~~

* '''The Rivermind''' – A collective spirit formed from the convergence of many streams into one river. It is invoked during rites of irrigation, healing, or remembrance.

* '''Taarith the Leveler''' – A spirit of erosion and balance, revered by the Ruvin as both a bringer of floods and a corrector of excess. Offerings are made to Taarith before major construction or during river redirection.

~~=== Ancestral Spirits ===~~

* '''Naithis''' – The [[ancestral Spirit]] of Renewal, regarded by both Ruvin and Ulshari as the soul of Delmora. Naithis is not worshipped as a distant deity but engaged with through ceremony, craft, and observation of the water’s will.

* '''The Drowned Oracle''' – A legendary spirit said to dwell in the trenches beneath the Great Lake. Believed to have once been a prophet who chose to sink into silence, the Oracle is consulted by Ulshari Depthkeepers for visions during times of crisis.

|Factions=Delmoran society is organized not through centralized kingdoms but through interlinked guilds, councils, and spiritual orders. These factions manage trade, infrastructure, law, and the spiritual balance of the land.

~~=== The Ruvin Guildhouses ===~~

~~he Ruvin govern through a meritocratic system of guilds, each focused on a different discipline. While they often cooperate, competition for prestige and contracts is common.~~

* '''The Leveeguard Guild''' – Engineers responsible for flood defense, canal maintenance, and the expansion of river infrastructure. Their influence is strongest in Kelmarin and the River-Towns.

* '''The Stoneflow Compact''' – A trade consortium of artisans, timberwrights, and masons who manage the economic backbone of Delmoran cities.

* '''The Circle of Flood-Seers''' – A spiritual-technological guild that interprets river patterns and advises major construction projects. They are seen as mediators between Naithis’s will and mortal ambition.

~~=== The Ulshari Orders ===~~

~~The Ulshari operate under a more decentralized, tradition-bound structure, with authority rooted in age, memory, and spiritual proximity to the lake.~~

* '''The Depthkeepers''' – Custodians of the Sunken Archives and oral history. They guide political and spiritual decisions and are consulted during moments of social transition.

* '''The Stoneguard''' – Ulshari defenders trained in passive resistance and terrain manipulation. While few in number, they serve as the lake’s last defense.

* '''The Keepers of Stillness''' – A reclusive sect that maintains submerged temples and rituals of silence. They are known for long retreats and meditation within the lake’s depths.

~~While the Ruvin and Ulshari maintain distinct societal models, they frequently collaborate on trade, flood management, and spiritual ceremonies during seasonal transitions.~~

|Notable Settlements=<noautolinks>{{See also|Cities and Towns of Delmora}}</noautolinks>

Delmora’s major cities are strategically positioned along its river systems and the Great Lake, serving as centers of trade, governance, and spiritual practice. These cities are built to endure the cycles of flood and drought, shaped by a deep understanding of the land’s hydrology.

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*Braskir’s Hold – A fortified dam-city overseeing the outflow into the Great Lake. It functions as both a hydraulic control point and a military stronghold, balancing flood regulation with regional defense.

*Zelmari Wharf – A bustling river city famous for its shipyards and floating markets. It serves as a cultural crossroads between Ruvin engineers and traders from surrounding realms.

*Varul’Kai – The capital of the Ulshari, a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.

*Varul’Kai – The capital of the [[Ulshari]], a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.

*Kel’Ruun – A nomadic raft-city of the Ulshari that drifts across the lake with the seasons. It embodies the values of mobility, reflection, and adaptation, hosting trade delegations and spiritual ceremonies.

*Mara’s Reach - Mara’s Reach is Delmora’s southernmost city and its primary seaport, where the inland riverways meet the ocean. Mara’s Reach is a fortified delta-city, resting on an artificial foundation of sunken stone platforms and canal locks. It operates as Delmora’s maritime gateway, funneling riverborne goods into international trade routes.

~~|Cultural Significance=Water is central to Delmoran identity, economy, and belief. It is treated not only as a resource, but as a force with memory, intent, and spiritual agency.~~

* '''“The River Remembers”''' – A saying that reflects the belief that all who pass through the waters are remembered.

* '''Flood Priests and Water Seers''' – Spiritual leaders who interpret changes in water level and current as signs from Naithis.

* '''Maritime Distinction''' – The lakeborn identify as a distinct cultural group, with different customs, ships, and interpretations of Naithis’s will.

* '''Trade and Navigation''' – Boats and barges are more common than horses, with river routes shaping economic patterns.

~~|Mythology and Legends=Delmora’s myths revolve around the agency of water, its memory, and its capacity for transformation.~~

* '''The Eternal Currents''' – A belief that the rivers of Delmora do not end, but loop endlessly, carrying voices of the dead.

* '''The Drowned Oracle''' – A prophetic figure said to have vanished beneath the river, yet continues to whisper to those who listen.

* '''The Sunken Cities''' – Legends tell of an ancient civilization submerged beneath the Great Lake, a warning to those who would defy the river’s will.

}}

[[Category:Delmora]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ==== Major Geographic Features ====
-*The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth]] Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern [[White Mountains]], intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.
+*The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern [[White Mountains]], intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.
 *The Great Lake – A vast inland freshwater body, bordered by Odrak settlements. Its fog-covered surface conceals submerged cities and spiritual monuments. The lake serves as a cultural and spiritual counterbalance to the rivers, emphasizing stillness and depth over motion.
 |Climate=Delmora experiences a temperate and river-driven climate, shaped less by temperature fluctuations and more by seasonal changes in water flow. Its weather patterns are closely tied to the rhythms of the rivers and the influence of the Great Lake, resulting in a cycle of flood, drought, and mist that defines life across the realm.
 |Flora and Fauna=Delmora’s fertile plains, floodplains, and inland lake support a diverse and adaptive ecosystem. Life here is shaped by the movement of water—plants must endure submersion or drought, and animals follow migratory paths guided by seasonal flow.
-|Native Spirits=The spirits of Delmora are closely tied to the flow of water and the cycles of flood, growth, erosion, and memory. Many are believed to dwell in rivers, springs, rainstorms, or the hidden depths of the Great Lake. They are invoked by both Ruvin and [[Ulshari]] communities for guidance, protection, and renewal.
-=== Nascent Spirits ===
-* '''Driftlings''' – Minor river spirits found in streams and tributaries. Often seen as playful or mischievous, they are said to guide children and lost travelers along safe paths.
-* '''Mistwhirls''' – Faint spirits of morning fog, particularly near the lake. They are believed to echo lost thoughts or warnings, and are treated with quiet respect by Ulshari shamans.
-=== Mature Spirits ===
-* '''The Rivermind''' – A collective spirit formed from the convergence of many streams into one river. It is invoked during rites of irrigation, healing, or remembrance.
-* '''Taarith the Leveler''' – A spirit of erosion and balance, revered by the Ruvin as both a bringer of floods and a corrector of excess. Offerings are made to Taarith before major construction or during river redirection.
-=== Ancestral Spirits ===
-* '''Naithis''' – The [[ancestral Spirit]] of Renewal, regarded by both Ruvin and Ulshari as the soul of Delmora. Naithis is not worshipped as a distant deity but engaged with through ceremony, craft, and observation of the water’s will.
-* '''The Drowned Oracle''' – A legendary spirit said to dwell in the trenches beneath the Great Lake. Believed to have once been a prophet who chose to sink into silence, the Oracle is consulted by Ulshari Depthkeepers for visions during times of crisis.
-|Factions=Delmoran society is organized not through centralized kingdoms but through interlinked guilds, councils, and spiritual orders. These factions manage trade, infrastructure, law, and the spiritual balance of the land.
-=== The Ruvin Guildhouses ===
-he Ruvin govern through a meritocratic system of guilds, each focused on a different discipline. While they often cooperate, competition for prestige and contracts is common.
-* '''The Leveeguard Guild''' – Engineers responsible for flood defense, canal maintenance, and the expansion of river infrastructure. Their influence is strongest in Kelmarin and the River-Towns.
-* '''The Stoneflow Compact''' – A trade consortium of artisans, timberwrights, and masons who manage the economic backbone of Delmoran cities.
-* '''The Circle of Flood-Seers''' – A spiritual-technological guild that interprets river patterns and advises major construction projects. They are seen as mediators between Naithis’s will and mortal ambition.
-=== The Ulshari Orders ===
-The Ulshari operate under a more decentralized, tradition-bound structure, with authority rooted in age, memory, and spiritual proximity to the lake.
-* '''The Depthkeepers''' – Custodians of the Sunken Archives and oral history. They guide political and spiritual decisions and are consulted during moments of social transition.
-* '''The Stoneguard''' – Ulshari defenders trained in passive resistance and terrain manipulation. While few in number, they serve as the lake’s last defense.
-* '''The Keepers of Stillness''' – A reclusive sect that maintains submerged temples and rituals of silence. They are known for long retreats and meditation within the lake’s depths.
-While the Ruvin and Ulshari maintain distinct societal models, they frequently collaborate on trade, flood management, and spiritual ceremonies during seasonal transitions.
 |Notable Settlements=<noautolinks>{{See also|Cities and Towns of Delmora}}</noautolinks>
 Delmora’s major cities are strategically positioned along its river systems and the Great Lake, serving as centers of trade, governance, and spiritual practice. These cities are built to endure the cycles of flood and drought, shaped by a deep understanding of the land’s hydrology.
@@ Line 60: / Line 27: @@
 *Braskir’s Hold – A fortified dam-city overseeing the outflow into the Great Lake. It functions as both a hydraulic control point and a military stronghold, balancing flood regulation with regional defense.
 *Zelmari Wharf – A bustling river city famous for its shipyards and floating markets. It serves as a cultural crossroads between Ruvin engineers and traders from surrounding realms.
-*Varul’Kai – The capital of the Ulshari, a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.
+*Varul’Kai – The capital of the [[Ulshari]], a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.
 *Kel’Ruun – A nomadic raft-city of the Ulshari that drifts across the lake with the seasons. It embodies the values of mobility, reflection, and adaptation, hosting trade delegations and spiritual ceremonies.
 *Mara’s Reach - Mara’s Reach is Delmora’s southernmost city and its primary seaport, where the inland riverways meet the ocean. Mara’s Reach is a fortified delta-city, resting on an artificial foundation of sunken stone platforms and canal locks. It operates as Delmora’s maritime gateway, funneling riverborne goods into international trade routes.
-|Cultural Significance=Water is central to Delmoran identity, economy, and belief. It is treated not only as a resource, but as a force with memory, intent, and spiritual agency.
-* '''“The River Remembers”''' – A saying that reflects the belief that all who pass through the waters are remembered.
-* '''Flood Priests and Water Seers''' – Spiritual leaders who interpret changes in water level and current as signs from Naithis.
-* '''Maritime Distinction''' – The lakeborn identify as a distinct cultural group, with different customs, ships, and interpretations of Naithis’s will.
-* '''Trade and Navigation''' – Boats and barges are more common than horses, with river routes shaping economic patterns.
-|Mythology and Legends=Delmora’s myths revolve around the agency of water, its memory, and its capacity for transformation.
-* '''The Eternal Currents''' – A belief that the rivers of Delmora do not end, but loop endlessly, carrying voices of the dead.
-* '''The Drowned Oracle''' – A prophetic figure said to have vanished beneath the river, yet continues to whisper to those who listen.
-* '''The Sunken Cities''' – Legends tell of an ancient civilization submerged beneath the Great Lake, a warning to those who would defy the river’s will.
 }}
 [[Category:Delmora]]