Illevar Nations - Part 3: Charleau

Charleau - Wetlands/Marsh:

This next area came about by combining Voodoo, Creole, and Asian cultures together to form a nation that revolves around necromancy. I wanted an area of dread, but the people who call it home filled it with love and life. Death wasn't scary here; just a thing that happened. Also, I wanted each Mansion city to have its own musical feel. Just kinda felt, in my imagination, like each city should have it's own vibe and soundtrack. Read on for more.

Charleau: an area of negative energy. The undead are used by the elites as cheap labor. Essentials and supplies are limited in the harsh, necrotic swamps. Amongst all the negativity and despair, the people of Charleau are also full of life. Music, art, poetry and dance fill the homes of all those who call the Mansion Cities home.

Charleau was devastated after the War when the ocean water was released and flooded into the area. Most of the land was submerged in the waters and the negative energy weapons of Charleau were released causing a toxic environment. Over the past 400 years, the swamp has slowly become less toxic and more safe, though the creatures that survived have mutated and changed in strange and powerful ways. 

The people of Charleau live in massive Mansion Cities; the ancient castles of nobles that survived the great toxic floods. Jobs, property, and supplies are limited. People who are unable to afford such things are able to pay with time. This time-debt is carried with them their entire lives and is paid once they have passed. Their remains house their soul as a battery and are used as cheap slave labor. Think of them as similar to the Chinese Jiang Shi. Maintaining the infrastructure that surrounds the Mansion Cities in the toxic waters and in areas too dangerous for the living. The soul is only released once the time-debt is repaid.

Muscular sample from Shaman King.

There is a beautiful juxtaposition between the livelihood of the people living in the Mansion Cities and the undead/necromantic ways of the country. The classical and opera of the Twin Cities, Anse and Whitehill, the rhythmic churning of the factories and industrial metal in Forn, the traditional-metal fustion style music of Splitvine, and the american-esque folk music of Causter, all drown out the dread of the country. 

Although many are content with their lives, there is a growing rebellion group, the Crypt Breakers, who are hellbent on liberating the undead from the nobles by any means. They are discontent with the nobles' treatment of their families and how the wealth is divided. The Crypt Breakers domestic terrorism attacks have led to an increase of Empire soldiers in the area, taxing the already strained resources of the country. 

Further into the swampy terrain, there are murmurs of demonic and unholy activities. Something strange is moving in the Backwaters screeching into the night. People are disappearing at alarming rates. Something dark is lurking in the Backwaters…

Notable People:

• Chauncie Coldwell, ruler of Anse

• Jack Deleon, ruler of Whitehill

• Gerard Coffey, ruler of Forn

• Zoe Blacktree, ruler of Splitvine

• Yun Fuer, ruler of Causter

The Noble Families of Charleau are able to use a type of necromancy that allows them to control several undead at the same time. This is due to their ancient jewelry; passed down for generations. Although no one is sure where or when or even why the jewelry was created, it is presumed to be from the Age of Gods. 

Notable Locations:

Mansion Cities: The people of Charleau live within the massive cities of the Nobles. 

1. Anse- Closest to Brisfall. Run by Empire-backed Lord, Chauncie Coldwell. Operates the military forces in Charleau. Anse is the main trade city of Charleau.

2. Whitehill- The city of Academics. Home to the Wizard schools and Necromancer Union. Prioritizes education above all else.

3. Forn- The Machine City. The desolate churning of its factories supply Charleau with vital fertilizer and medicinal ingredients. The city processes all of the dead in Charleau into useful materials and undead servants. 

4. Splitvine - The Agricultural City. The city is known for its massive mushroom farms and orchards. Closest to Daal. 

5. Causter - The Fishing City. The City of Causter is closest to the Backwaters and runs the fishing operations for Charleau.

6. The Halls of the Renown - Each Mansion City has its own massive concert hall which is also a mausoleum. Housed inside are the tombs of those who have been judged to be truly gifted at their craft. Once a year, there are concerts for the Renown. During these concerts, the dead souls pass judgement onto the performers; deciding by popular vote, who will join them in the ranks. Some years, none pass. In others, many.

The Backwaters:

The Backwaters refers to the wild areas of Charleau. There are many sunken cities, towns, and other ruins. Brave adventurers, often called Divers, venture out to find lost riches, hidden knowledge, or death. In recent years The Backwaters have become home to the Crypt Breakers, a domestic terrorist/rebellion group fighting the ruling Nobles of Charleau. People have been disappearing around the area in recent times. There have been sounds of chanting and of drums. More than one has heard a terrifying screech and the sounds of powerful wings...

Thank you for reading. I appreciate everyone taking time to read. One more area to go for Illevar. 

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