Main Players and Factions of Aethervale

The Powerhouses

Identity: Financial and Magical Military Powerhouse.
Location: Eastern Continent.
Leadership: The High Council of Mages, heavily influenced by the Grand Arcane Bank.
Secret: The Bank is run by Aurelius the Golden, an Ancient Gold Dragon manipulating global markets to prevent catastrophic wars and hoard wealth.
Military: Spellswords, Griffin Riders, and heavily warded battle-mages.

Identity: Industrial and Mechanized Military Powerhouse.
Location: Northern Continent.
Leadership: The Ironbeard Syndicate (A council of Dwarven Forge-Lords).
Dominance: They control the northern territories and have strong ties to Dal-Dur in the south.
Military: Aether-powered mechs, ironclad airships, and repeating rifle infantry.

Identity: Ancient, isolationist, magically potent.
Locations: Forests surrounding Kigum on the Eastern Continent.
Leadership: Matriarch Sylas Moonsong (Lemmion). She is seemingly immortal, having lived for over 800 years. She remembers the dragons openly ruling.
Agenda: Protect the ancient groves from Steamfort's industry and Kigum's unchecked magical experimentation. They are unwittingly influenced by the Green Dragon Xylira.

Identity: Brutal, elemental-worshipping raiders.
Location: The Lifeless Swells / Northern Wastes.
Leadership: Jarl Throm-Ka, a massive Fire Giant.
Agenda: Conquer the softer lands. They are driven to a frenzy by the whispers of the Ancient Red Dragon Ignis-Kaan.

The Whispering Lich, Kel'Thuz (Bad): A remnant from the Age of Ruin, bound beneath the Mana Wastes. He is not a dragon, but a human who achieved false immortality and constantly tries to corrupt new adventurers.
Commander Vane (Neutral): An immortal human warrior cursed during the War of Sunder. He runs a legendary mercenary company that operates out of the Broad Swells, selling his immortal tactical genius to the highest bidder.
Vlad (The Eternal Merchant): A thousand-year-old elf whose magic shop exists in every major city simultaneously. He is a neutral observer of history, possessing power that rivals the gods themselves.