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Aaruna

DM’s Lore #

  • Formal Name: Aaruna

  • Type & Rank: Theocratic Meritocracy/Elder Council, Intellectual Power

  • Population: 313,257

  • Language/Name influences: Ancient Egyptian, African, Loxodon

  • Synopsis: A serene, ancient nation of scholars and mystics who harmonize prehistoric spiritual intuition with advanced celestial science. It serves as the world’s preeminent center for astronomical wisdom and glass-craft.

  • True History & Key Dates:

    • 9,807 BR: The Loxodon herds, having spiritually attuned to the land and heavens, raise the nation of Aaruna, guided by the Matriarchal Council and the unseen Herd-Mother.

    • 9,807 BR – 1,490 AR: The Age of Ashta. Characterized by slow, deliberate growth, mastery of stone carving, glass-making, and water systems. Focus is on spiritual law and communal stability.

    • The Stellar Rupture: A violent explosion of raw magic that confirms the Loxodon’s spiritual beliefs, proving the cosmos is a single web. This sparks the Great Attunement.

    • 1,490 AR: Ashta matures into Aaruna. The government structure broadens to include astronomers, scribes, and artisans, combining ancient spiritual decree with empirical celestial science.

    • Present Day: Highly stable nation focused on celestial magic application and knowledge guardianship.

  • Internal Conflicts & Secrets:

    • The Heresy of Calculation: The Elders are quietly concerned that the increasing reliance on purely scientific calculation (astronomy, star charts) by the younger generations is eroding the ancient spiritual intuition (the Herd-Mother’s voice). There is an internal struggle between science and faith.

    • The Predictable Truth: The Grand Matriarchs have achieved a level of celestial prediction that allows them to foresee major global disasters or political collapses years, sometimes decades, in advance. They are currently withholding this knowledge from the world to maintain their stability and capitalize on future chaos.

    • The Falsified Founder’s Charts: The original, ten-thousand-year-old star charts carved into the bedrock beneath Aaru—believed to be the sacred foundation of all Loxodon knowledge contains a massive, deliberate astronomical error concerning a powerful, malignant star. The Matriarchs know the error but refuse to correct it, fearing the correction would invalidate their entire spiritual lineage.

  • Key NPCs & Power Structure:

    • Coming soon

  • Economy & Military Might:

    • Economy: Wealth is derived from the export of rare, perfectly crafted celestial glass lenses and exclusive star charts sold to select allies. They also possess valuable deposits of rare earth minerals used in their complex magical technology.

    • Military: Minimal standing army. Defense relies political foresight, they avoid wars they know they will lose, or enter conflicts only when the stars decree their victory.

  • Adventure Hooks:

    1. Political: A non-Loxodon diplomat stole a copy of the Grand Matriarch’s Celestial Prophecy of the Year 2000 AR, a highly sensitive document predicting a massive world-shifting event. The party must retrieve it before it destabilizes neighboring nations.

    2. Exploration: The party is hired by the Chief Astronomer to travel to a newly discovered meteor crash site in a remote region to retrieve a piece of cosmic ore needed for a new, immensely powerful lens.

    3. Intrigue: The Grand Matriarch secretly hires the party to recover a lost, highly sacred glass lens that proves the existence and validity of the Herd-Mother’s direct spiritual guidance. The Chief Astronomer, who believes all truth must be purely empirical, has dismissed the lens as folklore, but its recovery would swing the balance of power on the Elder Council back towards spiritual authority.

Player’s Knowledge #

  • Description & Ambiance: Aaruna is a land of massive, smooth stone architecture and high-domed observatories. The central city of Aaru is an architectural marvel. Travelers see Loxodon moving with slow, deliberate patience, often engaged in study or discussion. The dominant sounds are the gentle grinding of celestial clockwork and the quiet sound of moving water.

  • Government & Public Law: Ruled by a Matriarchal Elder Council comprised of the wisest, most learned Loxodon, both spiritual and scientific. Respect is earned solely through age and scholarly achievement. Laws are centered on communal harmony, the protection of knowledge, and reverence for the stars.

  • Exports & Reputation: Famous globally for its unbreakable stability, ancient wisdom, and unparalleled master-crafted glass lenses. They are considered the most patient, insightful, and spiritually advanced nation, the true guardians of ancient celestial knowledge.

  • Rumors & Folklore (Unverified):

    • “The Grand Matriarchs can truly speak to the stars and know your destiny before you do.”

    • “The Loxodon never rush because they already know how long everything will take.”

    • “It is said the huge domed observatories aren’t just for watching stars, but are enormous engines that pull magic from the sky.”

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