Vespia (Country)

The Free Cities of Vespia, or simply Vespia, are a loose confederation of autonomous towns and city-states, whose combined areas take up all of the land west of the Eagle Pass River and north of River Algol’s mouth. Its coast makes up the southern half of the Rigel Strait, as well as the larger portion of the Aldebaran Gulf; to its east is the western edge of the Glasslands. Vespia is the most diverse in geography and climate in all of Eingrad, with scenic mediterranean coasts lining the west, dense riparian and coniferous regions inland, and mesa and valley-ridden deserts to its east.

Background
Unpopulated until 100 years ago, Vespia is still very much a new frontier and has grown into a land of immigrants. Frontiersmanship has molded Vespians into fiercely independent people known for both their tenacity and hospitality. Vespia’s largest city and functioning capital is Jacinto, a large urban city built at the Strait’s mouth. Jacinto is home to the Adventurer’s Guild, the most prominent organization of adventurers and dungeoneers in all of Eingrad. Guild members are of every race, nationality, experience level, and jobs; all trading their manpower and services for profit. Guild teams are frequently sent on exploration and scouting missions to the east.

Other notable cities and towns include: Sugarland, a flourishing farming town west of Piney Woods Forest. Lockhart, a popular tourist resort and village nestled in the Verdant Border mountain range. Sabine, a small lumbering community southwest of Crossing Timber Forest. Midland, an affluent merchant town known for their dealings with Arandan orcs across the gulf. Port Arasnan, a port village on  Dagger Isle's  inner coast. Fort Baird, the most eastern Vespian settlement, at the entrance of  Zavala Valley  and the rest of the  Vespian Frontier. Connecting all of these is the Jacinto Highway, Vespia's central arterial route. Directly parallel to the highway is the Velasco Railway, Eingrad's only rail system. Developed and implemented in 2025 AL, the Velasco Railway is powered by an enigmatic technology known as the Maxwell Engine, which somehow harnesses both physical energy and anima and converts it into motion.

Game Master's Notes
Vespia is primarily inspired by the 1800s American West and Antebellum South, as well as exploration-era Australia. The Vespian Frontier is also specifically based on Utah's Zion National Park, the red deserts of New Mexico, and the Australian Outback. Vespians, especially those in Jacinto, generally either have neutral ("American") accents or Southern accents. Those in the southeastern Vespian frontier, especially in the Zavala Canyon area, have closer to Australian accents.