Ardyria

Overview

Arising from the reconstruction of the Titanic Ring, Ardyria is the bastion continent of the Titanic Ring. Along with the three other major continents (Xorgaddon, Shah Vaedin, and Draulmyr), it represents the core of the Titanic Ring. Unified under the rule of the Twin Empresses, Ardyria is a land at the forefront of civilization on the Rings.

Counts of Ardyria

There are ten true Retainer Counts active in Ardyria plus one unofficial count who rules over the sanctuary city of Alluvium. Below are the current Retainer Counts as of 777 A.R.

County	Name
Ambresis	Count Dara urtel Ambresis
Cardyria	Countess Karina Khan
Drenth	Countess Lavatera of the Orion Court
Gravisburg	Count Weirden Xixson
Kestril	Count Benetar Crane
Mecklen	Countess Corania urtel Mecklen
Phalia	Countess Diana Skiritai
Raxony	Countess Yasmin Yasser
Saar	Countess Oceanne Allaire
Zauphen	Count Helmuth von Grayz
Alluvium	Viscount Castor Windsmith

Ambresis

Ruled by Dara urtel Ambresis, the county of Ambresis houses the largest natural desert on the Titanic Ring. In addition, Ambresis possesses vast mineral and spice reserves, which are distributed throughout Adryia, the Titanic Ring, and even the entirety of the Rings of Meropis. Ambresis also controls the Ionad Gate via its regional capital city of Zaigen and the great Albeck rail, which runs through the center of the county connects cities as far away as Tiras to the South Saoran sea where the goods are shipped from Zaigenhaus to the West.

Zaigen

The regional capital sits at the most important trading location on the Ionad sea (other than Amalathea). Zaigen controls the Ionad Gate, a strait that any merchant vessel seeking to enter or exit the Ionad must use. This has turned Zaigen into not only an important trading hub but a vital strategic stronghold. Many believe, though, that as long as the sure hand of Count Dara Ambresis remains on the Ambrenian throne, the county will continue to prosper.

The Kraken’s Ire

Few soldiers reside in Zaigen due to its near impenetrable defenses. One of these defenses is a gate known as The Kraken’s Ire. This gate, made out of proprietary S.J.C. industries enchanted steel alloy, is able to seal the Ionad Gate in under thirty seconds. Once the Kraken’s Ire is shut and locked, no fleet in existence could sail through Zaigen. After a thorough inspection, Material God Helmuth von Grayz called the gate “very good.”

Legendary Zaigen Emporium

On the Eastern side of the city, along the waters of the strait, lies the greatest market in all of Saora. Within the Zaigen Emporium is every type of vendor and item a person can imagine. Seekers of rare treasures journey from across the Cosmic Stack to peruse the stock found inside the market. There are thought to be tens of thousands of private rooms nestled within the Emporium harboring incredible treasures.

Noble Broker’s Guild of Ardyria

Zaigen is home to the Broker’s Guild of Ardyria. This Guild is responsible for controlling shipping and trade across the continent. Members of its seven-person board are some of the richest, most respected, merchants on the Titanic Ring. The Broker’s Guild controls billions of gold pieces worth of ships, inventory, and office buildings across the continent. However, the Guild’s power is not without limits. Twice sanctions from the Twin Empresses nearly bankrupted the Guild. This has caused the Brokers to walk a fine line between their economic interests and their Empresses’ equitable hands.

Loðbrok School of Sailing and Shipping

For those wishing to become sailors on the Titanic Ring, many will journey to the Loðbrok School in Zaigen. The school an institution that teaches sailing in all its many forms but with a specialty in merchant shipping. However, the school is also known for its cutting-edge naval combat techniques. Many graduates are headhunted after graduation and score lucrative positions in merchant convoys, government naval positions, or exploratory vessels.

Drautell

The small forest town of Drautell represents the main supplier of timber in Ambresis. Drautell’s forest are considered near sacred by its people as they represent their livelihood and future. For years there has been a great demand on Drautell as Zaigen and the whole of Ambresis has sought to expand. This has come to a head with Drautell’s refusal to install a Magna Rail line for fear that it would disturb the forest.

Vitis

Miners in Vitis journey into the mountains each morning to mine iron ore from the mountains. Using a flowing aqueduct, broken-up chunks of ore flow from the mountains into a great pit in the center of Vitis. Although demand is high, the workers of Vitis only work three days a week. This is partially due to the strenuous nature of the work, partially because the Twin Empresses decreed that all mine workers must gain one day of rest after working in the mines, and partially due to the creatures that dwell in the mountain. Miners speak of noises and shadows moving deep below the Ring. When the mines are two busy, the creatures advance further toward the surface. No creatures have been found after investigation, although this has not eased the anxiety of the miners. Many dread the day the creatures from below finally make their dreaded reveal.

Zaigenhaus

The sister city of Zaigenhaus sits on the coast of the Ambres Desert. It sits at the end of the Great Albeck Railroad and provides a port to ship goods from the rail around the Titanic Ring. As the importance of magna rails increases, Zaigenhaus only grows in importance in Ambresis. However, this has also attracted attention from not only the Dark Triad but also bandits. They come seeking to poach the excess goods like flies to carrion. For this reason, many defense contractors employ mercenaries to defend the magna rail transports from attack. Some come solely for money while others come to protect the life-giving river of supplies that keep hundreds of towns in the Ambres desert alive.

Eckhart

Once, in the early days after the Titanic Ring was reformed, the people in Eckhart cried out for relief. The Ambres desert took the weak while the skies refused to give rain. Eckhart petitioned the Twin Empresses for aid. In response, in 719 A.R., Ishin arrived in Eckhart on a ray of sunlight. Eyewitness reports say that the Empress blessed the people, and she relieved their sickness. Then, she blessed the livestock and made them hearty and healthy. Finally, she walked to the center of Eckhart before blessing the ground on which she stood. A great geyser shot forth from the cracked ground. Before long an oasis formed, which remains to this day, tied to the power of Ishin, giving life to the region. During times of drought the people of the Ambres desert flock to Eckart to receive succor from the gift of the Redeeming Empress given long ago. This gift has allowed Eckhart to thrive in the middle of the desert. One of the many stops on the Great Albeck Railroad, it is a distribution point for goods traveling across Saora. The Noble Broker’s Guild has one of its main offices (the Silver Keep) in Eckhart for this reason.

Ossberg

The Blue Sands of Ossberg hold a series of rare minerals. Workers venture from Ossberg each night from the city to mine the desert until late morning when it becomes too hot to mine the sands. Dysprosium, Praseodymium, Mithril, and various rare magical salts are taken from the Blue Sands. In 775 A.R. everything changed for Ossberg. Workers from Ossberg found a nugget of Zostrium weighing 0.8 ounces was found. Now, those seeking their fortune venture to Ossberg in hoping to find Zostrium. As of 777 A.R. 1.6 ounces of Zostrium was extracted from the sands, a total 7.8 billion gold pieces in worth. However, this has also attracted the attention of the Dark Triad and other malicious powers. Since the discovery of Zostrium, miners, usually outsiders seeking Zostrium, are under near-constant attack by everything from Mind Flayers to dragons. The Twin Empresses and the Count of Ambresis have both ordered additional defenses in Ossberg but this has not stemmed the tide.

Strausing

Home to the Great Forge of Morthwyl, Strausing was once the permanent home of the Titan. Today Strausing is a forging hub along the Great Albeck Railroad. Mastersmiths make their home in the middle of the desert, away from distractions, and hone their craft. Those looking for masterwork pieces often journey to Strausing.