Some further thoughts on Stormhaven and the world of N’Ume. The map that I’m using was created using the Azgaar Fantasy Map Generator. Here is the overview I have currently have regarding the geography and history of N’Ume.
1. All the stories take place on the continent of Damunger. It is about the size of Europe. The Arten Commonwealth is roughly the size of Germany I think, with a climate that varies between something similar to Southern Portugal in the South to the Highlands of Scotland in Narshadow. There are four other continents on N’Ume but they are unknown and not currently part of the Chronicles.
2. If a town or city is noted on the map it indicates a population of 10,000 to 500,000 inhabitants. Stormhaven has a population approaching 400,000 while Azdar City approaches 500,000. Such cities are few and are state or regional capitals
3. Most of the population of the Adzar Empire and the Arten Commonwealth and Narshadow do not live in large towns but in smaller agricultural towns, villages and hamlets with populations under 10,000. These town and villages can be found along the roads connecting larger towns but are not marked on the continental map unless they have particular significance.
4. There is a good network of major roads marked on the map. The network of roads in Adzar and Arten (once part of the Empire) began creation under the reign of the first Adzar Emperor, Marius Cuso and became known as Cuso’s Gift. Similarly a system of aqueducts in the Arten Commonwealth became known as Ulf’s gift after the Paladin Ulf Pendragon a century ago. It is said that Euen Mistborn spends much time on the building of Stormhaven sewerage system because he want to be remembered for it as Mistborn’s Gift. Euen of course denies this ambition saying that all he wants to do is to serve Stormhaven and the Commonwealth.
5. The level of technological development evident in Azdar City and Stormhaven is similar to that of Europe’s Renaissance period with Azdar City and Stormhaven matching Mediterranian trading cities such as Venice. Complementing technologies depending on known laws of physics there are also magical technologies that will be addressed elsewhere. In addition to human invention there is considerable influence on development through the Dwarakai (Dwarf and Gnome) community in Stormhaven. The Adzar Empire is known to be using guns and gunpower but they have not yet arrived at the stage reached in Europe during the English Civil War.
6. Although the human (Manakai) population of Azdar and Arten resembles Earth’s European populations and are referred to as ‘Renlai’ (meaning white-skinned) there are significant non-Renlai humans in both nations. Stormhaven is particularly multicultural having been captured and held by the darker skinned Gharissans and Durdessans (similar to Earths Middle Eastern to African populations) in the times before Ulf established the Commonwealth. During the time of Ulf Pendragon an alliance was established with Durdessa and Durdessan or Durdessan descended feature prominently among Stormhaven’s Warrior and Mage classes.
7. The non-Manakai population of Stormhaven features small but significant Dwarakai and Orakai communities. The terms Manakai, Dwarakai, Elvakai and Orakai were invented as part of Ulf pendragon’s idealism – outside of the Commonwealth and in its provinces more distant from Stormhaven and the T’Ever Corridor the terms Dwarf, Gnome, Orc, Goblin and Elf are still common. The word ‘Kai’ refers to the the quality of mind shared sentient/sapient. It is a term of respect. An alternative to Kai covering Manakai, Elvakai, Orakai and Dwarakai, is N’Uman (meaning man or person of N’Ume).