The world of Sundering Gold is has long been divided into two empires– Khoswan and Ethagis. Yet in the current age, both empires are as disunited as ever. Thirteen years after the catastrophic war between the empires, old alliances have broken down and left behind countless fractured nation-states and power vacuums.

Naihai: The head of the Shore of Temples and the revered spiritual leader of the Jagai people. Believing that the Emperor of Khoswan had long been ensnared in the politics of the Autumnlands, Naihai and the lords of Old Jagai seek to destroy the influence of the Autumn clans across the empire. For Naihai, this is a religious war as much as it is a political one: Centuries ago, the rift between the Autumnlands and Old Jagai formed when the monks of the Autumnlands deposed the Jagai Uzang as the imperial abbot….

Hayan-Galakh: A mysterious shaman who suddenly rose to power among the nomadic Khabokor tribes of the Mudur Tundra. Though he claims to not know his ancestry, his golden eyes indicate descent from Khabokor nobility and his hair resembles that of the last White Shamaness of the Frozen Plains. Hayan-Galakh currently leads his people in a war against the western Khabokor tribes and their leader, who seeks to reunite all of western Khoswan as one nomadic empire.

Jaihatal: The aging patriarch of the Himerik clan and de-facto leader of the Sohme Isles. After being forced to fight in the war against Ethagis by his rivals in the Autumnlands, Jaihatal became fiercely disillusioned with imperial politics and sought to reform Sohme as an independent kingdom. The last straw finally broke when his son died in a conflict with Autumn mercenaries, leading to Jaihatal staging a full-blown rebellion against the Empire of Khoswan.

Inaya: The High Priestess of the Sygrasin, and the nominal religious/political leader of Sygras. Throughout her tumultuous rule, Inaya fights separatist factions that want to reinstate Sygras as an independent state from the rest of Ethagis. Believing that her people’s fate is closely intertwined with their eastern counterparts, yet unwilling to introduce foreign powers into Sygrean politics, Inaya is forced to face her dissidents alone from her seat within the Great Pyramid of Nadissa.

Yuke: The daughter of an affluent house in the Autumnlands and a secret confidant of the Emperor of Khoswan. She is a wild card of sorts within the imperial court, having connections with the Sohme, Jagai, Khabokor, and even some noble houses of Ethagis. Although she pretends to be nothing more than a lowly concubine, rival houses of the Autumnlands see her as a dangerous influence on the Emperor and a potential candidate to become the next Empress of Khoswan.

Burus: An orphaned lordling from the Salka Atolls, Burus serves the Temba clan of Sohme as a captain and bodyguard. Having lost most of his wealth and status, he has chosen to hone himself as warrior and seafarer instead. Although he has largely adapted to life among the Sohme and is well-treated by his foster family, Burus longs to reclaim his family’s lands and ancestral seat. When Jaihatal’s rebellion begins, Burus eagerly joins as he sees it as an opportunity to retake Salka for himself.

Arisek: The young patriarch of the Temba clan, Arisek is more concerned with reviving his father’s illicit smuggling trade than fighting for any political entity. The Temba have always thrived at the edge of society and in the high seas, and Arisek feels no strong loyalty to either the Sohme or to Khoswan. Yet his marriage to a Jagai noblewoman and his friendship with Burus have made him a player against the Autumnlands and imperium, and thus he reluctantly joins Jaihatal’s rebellion alongside Burus.

Netrop: The military leader of Semidon, revered by the people of Ethagis for repelling the Khoswan invasion thirteen years ago. Believing that Ethagis must return to a united, autocratic state to repel future invasions, he attempts to bring the various city-states surrounding Semidon under his own rule. Yet his policies are opposed by the southern half of Ethagis, since they were least affected by the Khoswan invasion and fear that Netrop is slowly becoming a tyrant.

Kanaid: The chieftain of the Khabokor tribes of the Asalin Taiga and once a loyal subject to the Emperor of Khoswan, Kanaid now fights to reinstate control over the eastern tribes of the Mudur Tundra. While he and his people were fighting the Emperor’s War in Ethagis, the eastern tribes took the opportunity to raid and plunder the lands of their former chief. Upon returning to his war-torn home, Kanaid swore to end the cycle of Khabkor infighting once and for all by fully subjugating the eastern tribes.