Arcadia

Where Magic Failed, Ingenuity Flourished

When the Shattering tore Aethoria apart, Arcadia found itself cut off from the abundant magical energies that once flowed freely through the land. Where other realms might have fallen into despair, Arcadia adapted. They turned to innovation, technology, and the unbreakable human spirit of determination.

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Two thousand years later, Arcadia stands as a testament to what can be achieved when necessity drives creativity. Steam powers their cities, magitech augments their capabilities, and collaboration between specialized Great Houses ensures that no challenge goes unmet. They may have lost their magic, but they gained something perhaps more valuable: the knowledge that they can overcome anything through ingenuity and teamwork.

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This is a realm where airships soar between mountain peaks, where dragon bonds operate through emotion and intuition rather than words, and where six Great Houses work together to govern through specialized expertise rather than concentrated power.

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Meridian - The Heart of Innovation

At the center of the Arcadian continent lies Meridian, the capital city where all governance, collaboration, and major decision-making occurs. Unlike traditional kingdoms where power radiates outward from a single throne, Meridian represents the intentional choice to centralize coordination while distributing specialization.

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All six Great Houses maintain their primary residences and headquarters in Meridian, enabling rapid consultation, joint planning, and immediate responses to continental concerns. When a crisis strikes, the House leaders don't need to travel for days to convene—they can gather within hours.

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The city itself reflects Arcadian values: functional architecture enhanced by innovative engineering, steam-powered transportation systems, and magitech integration that makes the most of their limited magical resources. Meridian is not just a seat of power; it's a living example of what Arcadian innovation can accomplish.

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The Six Great Houses

Rather than concentrating power in a single ruling family, Arcadia distributes governance among six Great Houses, each specializing in essential aspects of continental management. This system emerged from necessity after the Shattering—with magic scarce, survival required organized specialization and constant collaboration.

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House of Landry - Foreign Affairs & Diplomacy Led by Lord Landry, this House manages all relations with other realms, negotiates treaties, and handles diplomatic crises. They are the voice of Arcadia to the outside world, skilled in languages, customs, and the delicate art of international relations. Lady Elowen of House Landry represents the next generation of diplomatic leadership.

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House of Gottschall - Security & Defense Under Lord Gottschall's leadership, this House oversees all military operations, continental defense, and the network of strategic garrisons positioned throughout Arcadia. They coordinate with dragon riders, manage troop movements, and ensure that Arcadia's borders remain secure despite limited magical defenses.

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House of Dannen - Justice & Economy Lord Dannen's House handles the legal system, economic policy, and trade regulations that keep Arcadian society functioning fairly and prosperously. They oversee courts, manage currency, and ensure that the complex trade relationships between Houses and territories operate smoothly.

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House of Texton - Trade & Agriculture Led by Lord Texton, this House manages food production, resource distribution, and the trade networks that connect Meridian to the far reaches of the continent. They ensure that both the capital and the outlying territories have access to necessary supplies and that agricultural innovation keeps pace with population needs.

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House of Ori - Social & Public Systems Lord Ori's House oversees education, public welfare, and the social infrastructure that supports Arcadian society. They manage everything from the Command Academy to local schools, public health systems, and the communication networks that keep the continent connected.

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House of Sloane - Infrastructure & Magitech Under Lord Sloane's guidance, this House handles all engineering projects, magitech development, and the physical infrastructure that makes Arcadian innovation possible. They build the airship docks, maintain the steam systems, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve with minimal magical support.

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The Command Academy

Located in the snow-capped mountains of Ori territory near the northern coast, the prestigious Command Academy represents the pinnacle of Arcadian education and training. As the continental center for officer development, the Academy houses six specialized divisions that prepare leaders for service across all aspects of Arcadian society.

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The six divisions—Flight, Legal, MagiTech, Engineering, Merchant, and Medical—train officers in the skills needed to support every Great House's mission. A graduate might serve as a dragon rider in Gottschall's military, a trade negotiator for Texton's commerce network, or a magitech engineer working on Sloane's infrastructure projects.

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Not every career path requires Academy training. Arcadia's robust apprenticeship system allows individuals to learn trades, crafts, and specialized skills directly from masters in their chosen fields. This dual approach ensures that both formal education and hands-on experience contribute to the realm's continued innovation and growth.

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Innovation Born from Necessity

What makes Arcadia unique is not just its technology, but its mindset. When magic became scarce, they didn't mourn what was lost—they built something new. Their dragon bonds, operating through emotion and shared imagery rather than mental speech, are no less profound than those in magic-rich realms. Their steam-powered cities are no less magnificent than those built with abundant magical energy.

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Arcadia proves that limitation can spark creativity, that collaboration can overcome individual weakness, and that the human spirit of innovation can triumph over any obstacle. They are a realm that chose abundance over scarcity, built better technology from broken magic, and chose unity over separation.

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In Arcadia, tomorrow is always an opportunity to build something that has never existed before.

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