TL;DR THEOSMATI ─────────────
— ○ ○ ○ A desert wasteland, with small bursts of greenery found throughout the continent
— ○ ○ ○ The sea is in an impenetrable fog that all those of Theosmati avoid
— ○ ○ ○ 5 city-states in total, each managed by an Anax, with many small settlements both above-and-below in between
— ○ ○ ○ Cave systems are found throughout the continent, which is where most smaller towns go to settle in
— ○ ○ ○ All are part of the Church of the Weeping Eye and worship the God Who Sleeps
— ○ ○ ○ Technology is mostly medieval; Amaryllis, Chrysos, and Malum have Victorian levels of technology (i.e. steamboats, airships, though they're all fairly basic and new.) Technology is only recently being developed with magic.
───────────── ENVIRONMENT
Golden winds plume through the desert wastes, each breeze bringing tidings of heat that leave you longing for an oasis. Aureate plains, as far as the eye can see, dominate the horizon uncontested, save for the ominous ring of fog that enshrines Theosmati. Speckled across the desert sands are speckles of stone, ruins, their discolored figures hewn from the hands of wind and time.
Thanks to the arid heat, most settlements take shelter within cave systems scattered all over. The only exceptions to this are the city-states, who either have agreeable weathers (ie. Amaryllis, Malum, and Vissarion), or are protected within their fort (ie. Aniketos).
FASHION ─────────────
The population generally defaults to kaftans and linen coats over their usual clothing to protect themselves from the sun's harsh glares. What's worn underneath is generally dependent on the city-state they originated from. Those from Malum and Amaryllis, for example, favor scantier clothing of brightly dyed colors, whereas those from Chrysos tend to wear thicker full-coverage cloths fashioned from animal hide to shield from the cold underground and decorate, instead, with jewelry.
───────────── GOVERNMENT
The city-states, each ruled by an Anax, manage their domains independent to one another and don't take encroachment lightly. Even Malum, the Holy City, can't freely interject in matters outside its own, as it usually provokes the other four into an uproar.
All of the city-states live in fair harmony at this moment, knowing that the extinction of one city-state could mean the end of them all.
RELIGION ─────────────
Established just fifty years ago was the Church of the Weeping Eye, its faith centered around their slumbering God in the mountains. They firmly believe in their God's return to consciousness and seek to perform acts to bring this about. Sometimes through vibrant festivals to pique their God's curiosity, other times, a sacrifice; regardless, it's always held on a regular basis. Because of this, the southern half of Malum is usually engaged in some form of festivity, courtesy of the Church.
Northern Malum, by contrast, is quieter in its reverence. The clergy volunteering there stand at the sole entrance to Theos' Rest, insistent on keeping God's tombs untouched by mortals. Those that seek entry into Northern Malum are required to undergo a pilgrimage, one that will end at the very headwaters of the Dakrya River.
───────────── TECHNOLOGY
Technology is medieval for most places. For fifty years, the continent's most pertinent problem has always been to secure shelter and food, enough that every city-state (and anything in-between) can be satisfied. As can be seen with Aniketos, that hasn't been achieved just yet. With most advancements thus far being focused on agriculture, the military is left underdeveloped, with most of Theosmati still stuck to spears as weapons.
Recent events, however, have tipped the balance; with magic now in the equation, further methods of transportation and other branches are being developed, with the Paideia at the forefront of this research. The first airship, completed just a month ago, is one such example.
CRAFTING ─────────────
Wood is considered sacred here and rarely, if ever used. Even those of the upper echelons have but a small figurine in their collections. Most tools and furniture are fashioned from stone or animal bone.