Brief Background - The Southern Kingdoms

The Southern Kingdoms is a region isolated from the rest of the world, in which my D&D campaigns all take place. I have written quite a lot of backstory and stuff but here is a brief summary that should be quick and easy but also have enough detail to make things understandable. Also this is stuff you need to know to make a character backstory, if that's what you wanna do (big backstories are very fun). Remember this is YOUR GAME. It is a sandbox. You make your own decisions, and I would say you should all have your own goals in life that you can aim for.

AREAS:

Palasia, the central human empire which is slowly starting to be ruled by many high elves, leading to many racial and politcal tensions. Palasia is ruled by High King Georg, Georg is fat and lazy and largely incompetent, and as such his advisors are very good at manipulating him. Georg never does anything and his advisors rule on his behalf. Georg has a son and a daughter, his son Georg Jr is very similar to his father however his bastard daughter Haafein wishes for change and to bring back order to palasia and remove the corruption. Palasia is famous for it's wealth.

Redmoor is to the west of Palasia, it is a large and mostly empty area of land. It was once inhabited by hill dwarves pretty much exclusively, but now it is famous for being home to many many species, dark elves, gnomes, halflings, etcetera. It was once a great and productive mining nation however they dug too deep, releasing a long sleeping demon lord from beneath the ground who burnt their kingdom. Eventually, the demon lord was sealed away but its damage was irrepairable. Redmoor fell into poverty, so to survive, the King changed Redmoor's government into a thieving land, well known for being very rough and dangerous, where he legalises thievery but all thieves must be registered and give a tax cut of what they steal to the Thief King, who lives in the Trick Palace, a huge and confusing castle nestled within a hidden valley. Think the movie labyrinth.

Kharaz is north of Palasia, it is a mountainous region inhabited by mountain dwarves, the ancestors of the dwarves than founded the mines in redmoor. Kharaz has learned from the death of Redmoor, and though they were once very open traders, are now very secluded and shut up in their mountain holds. They are suspicious of others and do not tend to want to help people unless there's something in it for them.

Winterbourne is north east of Palasia, it's pretty much just Skyrim. Inhabited by wood elves, snow elves and humans. Has a very loose government, ruled by rival warlords.

The Farlands is very far east of everything. It contains many ancient ruins in a jungle and desert climate, and is inhabited by many dragons, dragonborn and some humans. They are well known for being mystical, and they have many sorcerors and enchanters.

RELIGION:

Most of the world follow the pantheon of the Ten Divines- this is a religion that follows 10 Gods, and there are often religious conflicts between the worshippers of each God.

Alurin, The Witchgod

Dahkun, the Damned King

Hylgr, Lady of the Lakes

Klaxir, Brother of Bloodshed

Muon, the Moonmother

Quy, the Sunfather

Syld, Brother of Honour

Thorge, God of Craftsmen

Wyjil, the Huntress

Zhar, Herald of the Future

If you wanna know more about each of these gods, in game religion checks will be necessary to see if your character works it out.

FACTIONS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES

Humans of Palasia are suspicious and sometimes racist against other races, elves particularly as many believe that there is a high elf conspiracy to beureaucratically take over Palasia. Elves are bitter about this and insist it isn't true.

Palasia has a mage's college that are quite secretive, many people in palasia don't even believe in magic because the college never let any information out. People are suspicious of them.

Kharazian dwarves have no real enemies except from the thieves of Redmoor, but they have no allies either.

Winterbourne don't really care about alliances or enemies.

MAJOR HISTORICAL EVENTS

Miners of Redmoor let out a big evil demon lord who was eventually sealed away by mysterious adventurers, destroying the lands of Redmoor, and now Kharaz are angry at them and many people of Redmoor wish to return to their former glory, but most of them only care about stealing and working for themselves.

An evil dragon from the far lands came and kicked a bunch of dwarves out of a big fortress full of gold in Kharaz. Some dwarves want to return to that fortress, and it is rumoured that the heir of the fortress still exists out there.

There is political struggle in Palasia about elves and stuff.

CONCLUSION