Therreth and Ether: An Introduction
I want to start generating reader interest in my novels by discussing my world, but I realize that without the full novels, it could be a while before you understand all my references. This blog post is your guide to my world to follow along as I post about it.
Earth is “Therreth,” heaven is “Ether,” and hell does not exist as a concept except for a sect called Primo Pietas.
The events of the three novels take place on and around “the continent,” which is dominated by the Zhuri empire or Zhuresh, with the smaller kingdom of Minxia across the southern coastline. Zhuresh is expansive enough to cover a lot of different terrains; where it borders Kazarah, it is mostly dry grasslands. Across from Minxia are the islands that make up the Shiki empire or Shikiteikoku. Shikiteikoku is famous for the contrast and beauty of its four seasons.
Kazarah and Aeona are the two kingdoms on “the peninsula” to the continent’s northwest. Kazarah is about seven times larger than Aeona and consists mostly of hills, grasslands, and woodlands. Aeona is a mountain kingdom nestled in the Aenever Mountains and fully surrounded by Kazarah.
To the east of the peninsula you have the Augur Sea, and to the west, the Mezral Sea.
Kazaris, Aeonis, and Zhuris (the peoples of Kazarah, Aeona, and Zhuresh, respectively) all worship the Seven-in-One but through different sects. They believe that when people die, they go to the peace of the ether.
In Zhuresh, the Imperial sect dominates. It is a rather staid, theologically bland, and politically pro-empire sect.
In Aeona, the Salvation sect dominates. Its central teachings focus on submission to God’s will.
In Kazarah, there are different sects associated with the different duchies. The Rites sect (associated with Velharan and Achemam duchies) focuses on glorifying God through beauty; the Xotidie sect (associated with with Bethelhalan duchy) emphasizes practical good living; and the Fortitudo sect (associated with Altaram duchy) theologically justifies their more militaristic way of life.
The Primo Pietas sect (associated with the Khentalram royal demesne and Haddalram and Akrush duchies) is a newcomer in the historical sense, developed about two centuries before the events of my novels in a world history of about a millennium. It is anti-Aeoni, anti-women, and developing a novel concept of hell, where people who do not affiliate with Primo Pietas go to after they die.
Primo Pietas sect is unique in demanding religious and political loyalty. For the other dominant sects in Kazarah, one can be from a given duchy but affiliate with another sect (e.g., Violet is from Bethelhalan but affiliates with Rites) as religious affiliation is considered a personal, not a political, choice.
There are many more minor sects, including Pax Matrimonia and Questing, each with their unique character. Some are more central to the plot than others, but they all add to the religious depths and dynamism of my fantasy world!
When you are reading a fantasy novel, what part of the world building is the most important to you? What excites you the most? Please let me know in the comments!
