Blut Und Eisen: Preview

Humanity, not the Gods, forged the world of Eonar. It might have been created by the gods, but they left it abandoned, broken and desolate. Now all that watches over the world is the sun, the three moons, and the ring. The vast continents and the great oceans of Eonar have become the domains of dukes, kings and emperors. These power-players have become the shapers of the world, the ones who forged it through wars and diplomacy.

Eonar has three continents. The great continent of Diana is covered by most civilized, the beacon of civilization, science and magic. Liorna is a continent of mystery, dominated by the great Dragon Empire which allows smaller countries like Savgos to stay independent as long as they support the empire. Arnesia, with its impressive natural landmarks, vast deserts and amazing mountain ranges has always inspired explorers, but recent findings of vast ruins have sparked the interest of the scientific and occult communities and in turn increased the attention of the Dianan powers. The colonies are thriving and the world is almost fully explored. These three continents are all that is left of the old world, the remains of an unimaginable disaster which scarred the face of the planet. In the wake of the reign of the Witch Queens, warlords have carved new nations out of the land, just to be cannibalized by their rivals. Finally, over three hundred years after the fall of the Witches, these countries have grown into great nations. Now the great powers and smaller kingdoms of Diana are all plotting and scheming against each other, waiting for the spark that will set the continent aflame.

All eyes are upon the noble nation of Vincenze. Surrounded by enemies and potential traitors, it managed to hold its position in the world through clever politics. Vincenze is the birthplace of modern civilized magic and the noble families. Most of the country consists of farmland, but the peaceful landscape is interrupted by beautiful deep lakes, vast mountains and glorious cities.

Vincenze as a buffer between proud Kordov in the north and pragmatic Cyren in the south. Unfortunately, King Leto II has passed away, leaving it weak and vulnerable. The Kordovians, under the leadership of their Emperor Alexavius have finally granted autonomy to the Yukovi tribes. And this allows the the great empire to turn its gaze towards its southern neighbors.

Kordov is not the only threat to Vincenze, but also ancient Strom. Once it was a country of wisdom and magic, protected by its vast mountains and unique levitating castles from outside threats, but now it is a kingdom of strife. The lower class rebelled against the nobility and plunged the country in a civil war which still lasts up to this day. Vincenze has claimed part of Strom as its own, against the wishes of Cyren. It has been forced to return most of its gains most of its gains in a treaty discussed with Kordov and Cyren. Although technically Cyren is an ally of Vincenze, it did not agree with the country expanding its borders, afraid to disturb the careful balance of power in the region.

The only ally that Vincenze has is pragmatic Cyren. It supports the alliance with Vincenze because it is in the country’s best interests to keep the mighty Kordovan empire at bay. Cyrenians are known for their great inventions, art and love of freedom, which they are all too happy to share with other cultures. Others might consider Cyren unreliable and bossy towards its allies, but they keep their mouths shut as long as Cyren has one of the most advanced armies in the world. Recently however, Cyren has been destabilized by recent requests from the Heavenly Sovereignty for additional ground within the country.

The pope has claimed lands in Cyren for a second time to expand the warmachine of the Heavenly Sovereignty. Originally the Heavenly Sovereignty was just the papal city of Icarius, but it expanded greatly during the last crusades, mostly on the continent of Arnesia. The Holy Church of Man has spread far and wide since then, declaring war upon the faith of Blood . Although it officially tolerates Lorroans, claiming it to be an equal faith, there are very few Cyrenians who still openly practice the Old Faith. Cyren granted the papacy several of its provinces eighty years ago to prevent a civil war, effectively creating a new country, but this time the Cyrenian goverment might refuse. The Sovereignty claims that they are the only ones keeping the Bloodclans at bay, the main army of the last of the Witch Queens, Morva.

What remains of the empire of the witches is now reduced to raging Blood Hordes in Arnesia, the industrial viscounty of Drogon and the pirate havens of the Free Principalities. Meanwhile, the remains of the lost kingdom of Ilverna still linger, a grim and desolate wasteland surrounded by dark fogs and only populated by ghosts and monsters. No one knows what caused the disaster that wiped out the once great kingdom by the Moonsea in a single night. Of its former glory, only the City of Whispers remains with its mysterious masked nobility.

These nations are home to a hardy and scheming people who are divided in a rigid class system. The lower class still lives like it did hundreds of years ago, living off the land and serving other people, barely worth the notion from those above them. Nobles have ruled over these people, guiding them with a combination of magic and military might. This reign has been unquestioned for ages, but recently the new middle class has risen, resourceful and rich. The world is changing, although not everyone sees this as a good thing.

The three great noble families, Ashford, di Lyss and Vostrakovna and their liege houses are unsure what to make of these new power players. They have lost in power and influence thanks to these new power players, but they cannot afford to wipe them off the face of the planet as they might once have done. The middle class brings a lot of wealth, commerce and innovation to the world, something which every nation can use. The nations of Diana need to use every resource available to them to win the oncoming conflict. Meanwhile the old families cling to their traditions of magical knights, mighty wizards and cunning lords. Each family has its own unique magic schools, kept strong by the pure Blood of the houses.

However, the families have relinquished their rights to turn any unblooded magician into a slave of the state, hoping to prevent a revolt like the one in the kingdom of Strom, even though this might result into unpure Blood. Everyone knows the dangers of an untrained and unschooled wizard. These past twenty years wild magicians have become a more and more common sight in Diana. The families will have to decide if these wizards are a new resource or a potential threat.

While old traditions are broken, new influences appear. Technology and science have improved with leaps and bounds the past three hundred years. The industrial revolution is changing the once feudal realms into modern states, with more wealth and comforts available to them than ever before. Cities are growing and the world is changing. The standard of living has never been this good and the world is growing smaller and smaller by new inventions like the railroad and the zeppelin. However, this smaller world also means that nations are eyeing each other for new resources. For now, colonization can keep this need satisfied, but soon one of the countries will claim too much. And then war will erupt, with terrible new weapons.

The world of Eonar is changing. Thanks to the advancement in technology and the change in the social structure of the world, war will come. Everyone knows this. Everyone can feel the tension. And that is why nations are preparing. Kordov is hungry for new lands, and Cygen is no longer pleased with Vincenze and might want to claim parts of the weaker country to make up for its losses caused by the Heavenly Sovereignty.

Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided but by iron and blood.