Gameworld Lore

Introduction
This section is for lore shared in the published game(s) as well as any clarifications and amplifications offered by the author in forum discussions that do not involve spoilers for future games. For spoilerific lore, please go here.

Summary
The discovery four centuries ago of Theurgy—magic fuelled by other people's blood—allowed the small nation of Karagon to conquer its neighboring realms and unite them under a Karagond Hegemony. The Thaumatarch, mightiest of the Theurges, now holds unchecked authority over a vast domain.

His Theurges systematically harvest the blood of helots, the Hegemony's lowest caste, using extraction machines called Harrowers. Through a secret process, they then refine it into "aetherial" blood, which can be used for Theurgy. Much of it goes to fuel the nine Great Border Wards that seal off the Karagond Hegemony from its external enemies.

Like all four provinces of the Hegemony, your home of Shayard is governed by an Archon chosen by the Thaumatarch. Archon Phrygia Leilatou comes from a particularly favored Shayardene noble family, which has stayed on top for more than two decades.

The provincial nobility is kept in check by institutions of the Hegemony, such as the Ecclesiasts (priests who judge wrongdoers and preach submission to authority), the Alastors (armed and brutal law enforcement squads), and the Kryptasts (an order of Hegemonic assassin-spies who infiltrate suspected hives of sedition).

The Hegemony's religion centers on the Karagond Canon, which spells out in great detail how people should behave. It was revealed by the Merciful Angels, who emanate from Xthonos, source of all order and purpose. Xaos, the Enemy of Xthonos, tries endlessly to consume Xthonos's orderly realm but cannot ultimately prevail. Anyone who speaks against the Hegemony or the Theurges is accused of serving Xaos—as you inevitably will be.

History
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Geography
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Politics
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Society
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Religion
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Magic
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Techne
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Economy
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Communications
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Characters
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