Tritonia

Home of the Tritonian “Elves,” Tritonia is the coldest of the Four Planets, regarded as the birthplace of civilization.  Its large continents (Impera, Levisa, and Nova) are mountainous, mostly deforested, and covered with the marble ruins of the ancient Tritonian Empire, now a ghost of its former self.

Like Uranian Elves, the Tritonians have pointed ears, long lifspans, and are often nicknamed “Grey Elves” on account of their pale, slightly dusky complexion.  It is clear from all accounts that their race has long been in decline; most of their cities are now populated by Uranian Humans originally imported as servants to the Tritonian aristocracy, and now outnumber their masters by as many as a hundred to one.

However, despite its current state, Tritonia is called “the First Planet” because its Empire was the first to develop magic in the form of alchemy.  It was through alchemy that the Tritonians built arci, making travel between their major cities instantaneous.  This innovation increased the mobility of the Empire’s armies, allowing it to conquer most of Impera and Nova.  Eventually, one of these arci led not to another place on Tritonia, but to another Planet altogether—-Urania.

This discovery happened during the height of Tritonia’s Empire, 2,000 years ago, when its disparate tribes were mostly united under one crown.  In short order, the technologically superior Tritonians asserted their power over the Uranian Human nations, claiming each as a province.  Indeed, for 200 years the influx of lumber—-a valuable commodity in Tritonia’s steppes and treeless mountains—-and Human slaves helped the Tritonians almost realize their dream of a government uniting both their world and Urania.  But that aspiration proved short-lived.

Led by Branduin, aided by the Gnomish discovery of modern magic, the Human nations revolted; only Endora, first to be subjugated by the Tritonians, fought on the Grey Elves’ behalf.  But when Branduin invaded Endora’s capital of Endrasa, the Uranian Human armies funneled through the first arcus the Tritonians had built–an arcus which, tragically, led right into the heart of Morisus, the Tritonian capital.

Fearing the loss of the remainder of their race, the Tritonians surrendered, granting autonomy back to the Uranian Humans.  The Tritonians have been unable to recover from this war ever since.  Depopulated, depleted of resources, debilitated by plagues, the old Tritonian Empire has slowly crumbled over the course of 18 centuries, its power preserved only by the continued allegiance of Endora.

But Tritonia’s legacy lives on: the influence of its language and architecture can be seen all over Urania, and its arci still stand, connecting Urania’s cities to other worlds and to each other.  Partnering with its old ally Endora, Tritonia commissioned research for arci to new planets, leading to the discovery of Draconia and Eliptia.  It also still houses the Academy of Morisus, which still remains the oldest university devoted solely to the study of magic.