Avantgardia

Avantgardia is probably the most advanced of the non-empires. The country’s democratic history is centred around it’s call for research and greater learning. Although a great deal of wizards flock here, the country is actually better known for its mundane technology.

Industries

Most of Avantgardia’s economy is based on magical processes, and magic and technology is thoroughly intertwined. For instance, the process of refining Mithral involves a combination of Dwarven forging techniques powerful magic that once was monopolized by the Elves.

Life and Society

At one time an enlightened and peaceful country, the citizens of Avantgardia have suffered in recent history as the Orc and Goblinoid clans of the north finally learned how to build and sail seaworthy ships across the gulf. The last decade has seen a steady rise in savage raids and pillaging by the monstrous hordes, and Avantgardia has become increasingly isolated.

Nevertheless, the people continue to live their lives, many driven by the desire for greater knowledge and understanding. Avantgardia still attracts some of the finest scholars, engineers, and mages of Calbion.

Government and Politics

The Protectorate of Avantgardia was once a republic similar to Vespice, although arguably less corrupt. In recent years however, the slow democratic process has had great difficulty keeping up with the increasing threats of piracy, orc warlords, and monster raids. After the mysterious death of Regent Adrian Dorvalian (NG male elf, aristocrat 7/wizard 7), the National Assembly voted in favour of a motion to form an alliance with Granditore, the terms of which including placing garrisons of Granditore troops on Avantgardian soil, and disarming the bulk of Avantgardia’s small, but effective military. At the time, this was rather unprecedented, as the natural ally of Avantgardia had for decades been Athaeria.

Former senator and now current Viceroy Isaac Orphanos (LE male human, aristocrat 8/wizard 6) presented the motion and led the Technologists movement towards further integration with the more advanced Granditore Empire, and away from the backwards societies that Avantgardia had previously had close ties to.

Of course, not everyone accepted this turn of events sitting down. Sky Marshal Leon Drescott (N male human, aristocrat 1/marshal 10) of the 2nd Sky Fleet, attempted to rally the forces of Avantgardia against the occupation. In a dramatic show of force, Granditore’s 18th Sky Fleet under Admiral Davius Vancelorus (LN male human, fighter 3/marshal 11), engaged and completely routed Drescott’s 2nd Fleet. Drescott’s subsequent whereabouts are unknown. Some say he went down with his flagship, the AAS Fortissimo, while others believe he escaped, and went into hiding, planning to someday return with a new fleet and liberate his country.

Power Groups

Although its sea navy and army are generally considered weak compared to other countries, they do tend to be better armed, and they boast a surprisingly impressive sky navy of speedy Mithral airships, which are now effectively under Granditore control.

Religion

Charmant (N) is one of the few deities with any hold in Avantgardia, whose highly intellectual society promotes freedom of religion in theory, but scoffs at most of them as superstition in practice. A common belief among mages here is that divine magic is really the theoretical Light and Dark elemental magic.

Major Settlements / Important Sites

Avantis City: The capital is one of the few remaining floating cities in the world. The entire city rests atop an inland lake that functions like a moat to protect the city from attack.

Lesthornica: Possibly the best known institution of the country is the Academy of Lesthornica, a centre for martial learning and arcane research in the Divided Kingdoms region. Nobility and royalty all over the world send their children to be taught at the Academy.

Administrator Jonhession (LN male elf, wizard 14) operates the Academy and is arguably the most competent wizard outside of the Majestic Eleven of the Mages Guild.

The Prodigy of the Academy, Salora Avalise (CG female human, wizard 4) was, up until her mysterious disappearance, the most exceptional of the academy’s arcane students.

The current top elite arcane student is Lucia Dorvalian (CN female half-elf aristocrat 1/ artificer 3), a technologist extraordinaire who, despite showing little aptitude for magic, has quite the knack for mundane inventions enhanced by magic.

Two of the academy’s top elite martial students have gone on to become the rulers of Alanista and Sevetrock. Lesthornica competes regularly with other academic institutions, such as Thaoligard Seminary in Athaeria, or Dulcianis University in Granditore.

Adventuring In Avantgardia

Avantgardia has seen better days. With Granditore declaring it a protectorate, things aren’t looking so good. The rise in monstrous activity can be directly associated with the appearance of seafaring Orc and Goblinoid clans from Keldoria. Many question how these primitives were able to so quickly develop their seaworthiness, and some suspect that someone may have taught them.

The quest for knowledge and power is all encompassing in Avantgardia. Many of the finest schools of magic lie here, and a rivalry exists between the experimental mages of Avantgardia, and the more tradition bound mages of Tesdoria.