Welcome to Avelium, nerds! (Patreon)

Welcome to our world!

As you may have noticed, we’ve begun telling a new story, introducing two brand-new characters in our high fantasy adventure: Desrind Monroe and Sylvie Bloomwyn.

Des and Sylvie share a simple dream: a quaint inn where everyone is welcome. But while these two stand at the center of our epic romantasy tale, their little dream is only one piece of something much larger.

So, we invite you to join us as we reveal our new world…

AVELIUM. (insert map to come here)

In the ancient tongue, Avelium means “one who greets all with open arms.” It is a place of magic, adventure, and shared hopes and ideals. A place of mystery—and, yes, even great peril.

When the Great Divide split the heavens and the worlds shattered beyond the stars, a new land became home to a myriad of creatures searching for something… new. Whether they sought safety, adventure, or simply a place to call home, this land offered everything they had dreamed of: a new beginning, a chance to escape the pains of the past and forge ahead together.

As the years passed into centuries, those who had crossed the Great Divide slowly forgot the worlds they came from—their histories, their heritage, and the lives they had lived before. All became new. The slate of the past was wiped clean, and from the confusion and scramble for survival, a new age began.

Across Avelium, humans walked roads beside elves and dwarves. Fae wandered beyond the shelter of their forests, merchants crossed borders without fear of the blood flowing through another’s veins, and knowledge passed freely between peoples who had once belonged to entirely different worlds. Magic was not something hidden behind locked doors or whispered of in frightened stories. It was simply another part of life.

It was an age of unity, shared wisdom, and magic. And most importantly, an age of peace.

Avelium has had its wars, however. It has had its turbulent times, and may even have had one rather recently… but we’ll get to that later. We shouldn’t bring down the mood. Wink.

We’re not here to talk about that dreadful business. Not yet, anyway. For now, we turn toward an era of renewed peace, shared ideas, and friendship.

While somewhere a hulking barbarian and a small mushroom princess dream of their little home, the rest of the world is coming to life… and coming together in a larger way than ever before.

This is where YOU come in.

Yeah, YOU! You over there at your desk or on your phone… I’m talking to you!

Where the hell do you fit in?! Why don’t we find out?

Welcome to a new series of posts called…

Building Avelium.

Together, we’ll explore the world, its lands, its races, and its classes, giving you the tools to understand Avelium, play in it, and build characters of your own.

Shall we begin?

Building Avelium: The Races

After twenty years of hardship and separation, the world is healing. The magical races have come back together, stronger than ever before.

Averneth, the mightiest of the human kingdoms, once pushed the other peoples back into their realms and forced them to hide away. Now—NOW—the world has come back together. Averneth’s age of tyranny has ended, the kingdom has returned to its senses, and peace endures.

So, let’s start with what you might look like… Hmm. I wonder.

There’s only one way to find out. Allow us to introduce the races of Avelium—the peoples who crossed the Great Divide millennia ago and now call this world their own.

Humans

Humans populate Avelium in greater numbers than any other race, their lineages reaching nearly every corner of the map. As numerous as they are, their cultures and ways of life are just as varied. From the nomads of the Cranum Peaks to the dune riders of the Hesharr Desert, all the way to the great nobles of Averneth, there are so many varieties of humans that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them.

World reputation: Regal, though the wars of the past have left many wary of them.

Elflings

Few hold wisdom as tightly as these ethereal beings. With their long lives and deep kinship with magic, Elflings watch centuries pass as others might watch minutes. They are keepers of the true history and accomplished scholars of the arcane ways.

Elflings vary as well, though far less than humans. There are the Elves of the Moon, with their pale skin, silver hair, and eyes that flash like starlight; the Elves of the Deep Dark, with their murky tones and ashen manes; and the Elves of the Glade, with their tan complexions and green eyes.

World reputation: Elflings are among the most respected races in Avelium, and it’s little surprise.

The Fae

Fae are born from magic itself and exist between two realms: the fae and the material. They come in so many shapes and sizes that you might never believe one was related to another. From the smallest pixies to towering ents and even some… modestly sized mushroom fairies, these are among the most enchanting beings in all of Avelium.

Rare to behold, but powerful beyond understanding.

Their planes can be found within the many forests across Avelium. You may enter if you’re invited… or if you happen to possess a certain lineage, one might say.

World reputation: Tricksy, and always an omen of chaotic fun—or possibly doom.

Animal-Kin

Animal-kin are humanoid creatures that resemble… you guessed it… animals.

From Foxkin to Wolfkin, Bearkin to Snakekin, their many varieties arise from different origins and magical means. One kind may be very different from another, but each is as intriguing and charming as the last.

World reputation: That depends entirely on the kind of animal-kin you’re asking about.

Orcs

The Orcs of the Southern Isles are loud, proud, and stronger than any ox that dares pass them by. They are often seen roaring in one another’s faces or honing their skills in combat.

Though not all Orcs are alike, many find themselves treated as outsiders in Avelium. Their fierce ways and intimidating presence mean acceptance does not always come easily.

World reputation: When someone sees an Orc, they suspect trouble is around the corner… or a good brawl.

Gelkin

Among the smallest peoples of Avelium, Gelkin resemble garden gnomes—though I wouldn’t attempt to steal one and put them in your front yard.

Gelkin are a proud race with a fondness for the natural world. Their small stature presents certain challenges, but they are very good at finding solutions. Masters of tinkering, they create ingenious devices and prosthetics to help them reach new heights.

Blessed with mighty brains and… small feet… they reside far to the east, beyond the Corgon Mountains, in their home beneath the hills: the tunnels of Nerium.

World reputation: Clever, inventive, and far too proud to appreciate being mistaken for a lawn ornament.

Goblins

Goblins are jackasses—ahem. Goblins are mischievous little creatures who reside in the Southern Isles. Cousins of the Orcs, they were not blessed with the same brute strength or imposing size.

What they lack in height and weight, however, they make up for in guile, agility, and stealth. Able to slip in and out unseen, the average Goblin can shroud themselves from sight—perhaps just long enough to slip a dagger beneath an enemy’s ribs.

World reputation: Oof. Avelium does not like Goblins.

Dwarfs

To the east stand—at a very sturdy stature—the Dwarfs of the Corgon Mountains.

These hearty, brash beings are known to offer a brawl as readily as a good drink. Usually even-tempered and easy to work with, they are among the kindest and most welcoming peoples of Avelium.

Though I wouldn’t pick a fight with one. For all their stout proportions, they are quite capable of knocking down the strongest contenders.

World reputation: Their women have beards, too? Odd, but they’re quite endearing despite that… or because of it, depending on whom you ask.

And these are just the beginnings of the races of Avelium. We’ll be adding more as we play around and continue building, but we hope this first glimpse gives you a sense of the possibilities—and how excited we are to share them with you.

Starting to picture yourself here yet?

“Welcome to Avelium. Our home is your home.”

Next post will feature the base classes that exist in Avelium!

Be sure to check out The Axe and Toadstool Inn on social media AND... prepare to enter a world we've all been needing at a time we need it most... in...

The Axe and the Toadstool novel! Officially in production <3

Des and Sylvie have quite a story to tell. One of adventure, of romance, and of absolutely whimsical insanity!

See you all in Avelium!