The World Of Khoras - Civilization - Nations

"A land where magic is as common as water and almost as valuable."
- Karadess Allin, Arch Bishop of Carrikos

Proper Name	The Commonwealth of Corvenia
Ruler	His Enlightened Authority, Speaker for the High Council Lord Querias Taun, the Renowned Teacher of the Light
Estimated Population	6,800,000
Demographics	Human 74%, Grum 10%, Elven 6%, Saurian 6%, Avarian 2%, Ogre 1%, Baenite 1%
Adjectival/Demonym	Corvenian/Corvenians
Languages	Corven 70%, Northern 25%, Sauric 5%
Capital City	Zesrun (Population: 93,400)
National Colors	Blue and white.
Year Founded	566
Currency	Mixed.
Natural Resources	Lumber, freshwater swamp fauna and flora, swamp eels, tar sands, bog iron, coal, peat, oysters, yams, ekril, feral hogs and wild ducks.
Manufactured Goods and Major Exports	Timber, herbs and spices, oil and tar, forged iron goods, smoked eel, salted eel, sulfur, leather goods, ekril feathers.
Wealth	Above Average
Government Type	Democracy
Government Stability	Stable
Allies	Arkalia, Khenshire
Enemies	None
Technology Level	Dark Ages
Primary Religion	Imarus
Other Religions	Barrinor, Vorkayne, Semorjon, Sarreth, Kael, Mireldokar, Daramis, Farzak, Drenmoragin, Kolo, Erylon, Assytia
Climate	Temperate
Approximate Land Area	1,120,000 square kilometers
Arable Land	22%
Terrain	Forest, grassland and swamp

Description

Corvenia is the nation of "natural" wizards. They have been called "psionic" mages, although their power is not psionic in the traditional sense of the word. The corvenians wield raw essence, just as normal wizards do. They only access the power in a different way. Rather than memorizing long spells and spending years studying, corvenains wield magic as an extension of their own minds. The ability to manipulate the magical energy field has developed genetically within corvenians. The corvenians treat magic as an art form, rather than a science of skill. For them, essence is an extension of life. It is for this reason that virtually all corvenians are capable of wielding magic. Those of mixed heritage tend to be less powerful than their true blood cousins.

Geography

Corvenia is a land of grassy lands bordered on the west by Cauldron Lake and the Trackless Mire and on the north by the Captured Sea. Southern Corvenia is hilly with numerous small brooks flowing in the Mire.

Notable Fauna and Flora

Because of its proximity to the Trackless Mire, much of western Corvenia is wetlands. Within the Mire, snakes, waterfowl, insects and ebrin are common. There are some reports of a gumric near the center although these are unconfirmed. Corvenians are able to obtain hundreds of useful and edible plants, herbs and flowers from the Trackless Mire. A number of deathgrip trees can also be found in the Mire.

Swamp Eels are a common freshwater eel fish that are abundant throughout the Trackless Mire. These meter long fish have smooth and slick skin that is silvery green in color and lacking any scales. Their long slender bodies have four pair of small fins and a pair of whiskers framing the mouth. Swamp eels are extremely common and can be found in almost every square meter of the swamp. They can be caught in traps, by hook and line or with fine mesh netting. So common are they in Corvenia, that they are sometimes referred to as Corvenian swamp eels. Swamp eels are a staple of the Corvenian diet and have influenced culture, cuisine, trade and law.

History

Corvenia formed from a radical splinter group of mages as a direct result of the Sundering and the Great War. This group broke from traditional magical theory with wild proclamations and ideas. They fled during the Great War and founded a tiny nation on the shores of Cauldron Lake. Despite the catastophic landquake and subsequent flooding that resulting in the appearance of the Captured Sea, this nation has managed to survive and prosper, mainly due to their inherent magical ability.

Government

Corvenian government is much like Carrikos. The government and culture are focused on magic. However, instead of a church, a guild of spellcasters is the government. A single council of twelve members has total control. New members are appointed by the council. Membership is three year terms. This council is led by the speaker, Lord Querias Taun.

Legal System

Magic is used extensively to determine facts, truth, past events, etc. While the corvenians have been called a weak and squeamish people, they tend to favor harsh punishment for heresy against their beliefs on magic. They are especially hard on priests and mages from other nations.

It is widely known that the blood of swamp eels is poisonous. Eating raw or undercooked swamp eel will cause the heart to spasm and then stop. Because of this, swamp eel is never served raw. In fact, it is never served cold either stemming from a local superstition that cold eel is potentially dangerous and even “bad luck”. Swamp eel blood is sold in its pure form as a type of poison although this is illegal. In fact, storing and transporting eel blood will invite suspicion from the town’s bailiff and other authorities.

Military

Military consists entirely of battle trained mages. They patrol the city in groups of three called "triads". Triads wear distinctive uniforms and fight with both spells and blades. They also serve as surrogate priests in that they offer counseling and words of wisdom. They frequently use their magic to aid the community in small ways. Every village has at least one triad serving it.

Economy

A strong economy exists in magical materials, herbs, fish, etc. Corvenia has limited resources of quarried stone, metals, weapons, armor and imports these items.

The sheer quantity and availability of swamp eels has worked its way into the economy. Whole swamp eels, either salted or smoked, are traded so often that they have become a kind of supplemental form of currency. Indeed, some establishments will list prices in both silver northern coins and in “eels”.

Culture

Corvenian prostitutes use magic to subtly alter and enhance their appearance. Because of this, their skin is always firm and supple, their makeup is always perfect, their scent is always alluring. They have a reputation for being vastly superior to others and they are highly sought after.

Corvenian Cuisine

Corvenian dishes take advantage of many of the unique plants and animals of the wetlands of the Trackless Mire. This includes the corvenian sweet grass, tirrania, globjules and turflas. The quintessential corvenian dish is kijara, a rich stew made from beef, sliced yams and sliced turflas (a large, nutty tasting fungi) both of which grow in abundance at the edges of the great swamp.

Swamp eels are an incredibly popular food in Corvenia and a staple of the Corvenian diet from the most humble hovel to the grand Council Hall of Zesrun. Several factors contribute to this. The eels are edible and easy to catch. They are a flavorful fish with with fatty flesh that is often described as “sweet” or “succulent”. In the kitchen, the swamp eel is easy to skin and easy to debone. The sheer quantity of eels in the wetlands and waterways of Corvenia make them easy to find and acquire. Finally, swamp eel meat can easily be salted or smoked, allowing it to be kept in a readily edible form for many months. All of these factors make it one of the most common foods in Corvenia.

Magic

The Corvenians have a totally different view of magic. To them, magic is an extension of life, as natural as breathing. They all have the gift, young and old, clever and dim. Magic is everywhere in Corvenia, in every facet of society. This very fact is Corvenia’s weakness. Corvenian magic is too common. It has become weak, shallow and diluted. They rely on their pretty tricks and spells. Perhaps too much so, because Corvenians don’t last long in a fight. Corvenians are mostly human although a handful of other races have infiltrated and successfully interbred. They too have the gift of corvenian magic. Corvenian magic is simple to learn for those who have Corvenian blood, but not very powerful for most who learn it. This weak corvenian magic is used commonly in everyday situations - cooking, cleaning, repairs, security, construction and even  art. Most corvenians never achieve the kind of sheer power that Carrikos is famous for. This may be due to culture, hereditary or may simple be a limitation of their kind of magic. In any case, most corvenians are not greedy and do not pursue wealth and power. There have been exceptions though.

Common Names

Male Names

Arkris, Ashtun, Brant, Deakan, Emril, Fengar, Greydon, Jamis, Linley, Kaden, Mavik, Otler, Querias, Remy, Turley, Weslon, Zayen

Female Names

Aislyn, Aria, Brynn, Ellery, Jemma, Lakesa, Malley, Olvy, Raelyn, Skyla, Talia, Veley

Notable Noble Family Names

Arden, Aster, Calyx, Corwyn, Dardrick, Grubel, Hollis, Kozak, Marshka, Pax, Reiger, Sturm, Taun, Traxler, Wild

Towns

Villages (Population less than 1,000)

Burcham, Drenched, Elbrun, Eel Hole, Feller, Galusa, Harbin, Hyne, Jessel, Kirjath, Marsh Pond, Muck, Riverwood, Sadkin, Shadizar, Shynar, Sinking Hill, Slagmire

Travel and Distance

Corvenian towns are connected mostly by dirt roads. For more information, see the Travel and Distance page.

This website was last updated August 9, 2023. Copyright 1990-2023 David M. Roomes.

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