==== Union ====The plane of Union is just like any other plane, as viewed from within oneplanar cosmology, except it also happens to be exactly the same plane inexactly the same location in every other universe. When a traveller castsPlane Shift to go to Union, they are taken from their Material Plane to thePlane of Union, since the Plane of Union exists like any other plane in theiruniverse. When a traveller in Union casts Plane Shift to go to the MaterialPlane, they are taken to the one which belongs to the universe they came from.There is no spell that can move a character between campaign universes - onlyan eccentricity in the operation of the planar portals in Union can do that.Similarly, other spells that reach between planes have no effect betweenuniverses - one cannot Sending a character from a different campaign, unlessthey are both in Union at the same time.When a traveler in Union encounters a traveler from another universe, bits ofculture are often exchanged. The most frequently exchanged information is thatof which gods are worshipped - as wonder of a higher power is a sharedphenomenon across all intelligent beings, the nature of what is in charge ofeach world is most commonly shared. Nobody knows all of the pantheons, ofcourse, but knowledge of many different pantheons is common.==== This Universe ====The Material Plane in this universe houses one planet around one sun. It is,inherently, the simplest possible arrangement. All other planes - inner andouter - are as standard, and the pantheon is the standard one.The world in the material plane is called Syra by its inhabitants. The maincontinent, which is about 800 miles across, is also called Syra. The year is367 days long, divided into 12 months of 30 days each, with a 7-day period offestivities across the lands between December and January. The campaign takesplace 56 years after the first human stepped through the portal from Union.(Years are denoted "AS" for "After Settlement". Very rarely are years BSspoken of.)Even though the standard gods exist, the world Syra's inhabitants used to livein had no pantheon, and people such as divine spellcasters worshipped insteadsimply the ideals and powers that give power to the various aspects of life.As life settled itself into this world, most people remained faithful toidealistic worship, but many chose to follow more deistic lifestyles. Deisticclerics are granted spells as expected, while idealistic divine spellcastersdraw their power from the inherent energy of the world that gives life theelements it has (such as growth, decay, balance, etc). (Instead of praying totheir god, a cleric must instead spend time meditating on the nature of thepower they devote themselves to.) Arcane spellcasters, of course, draw theirpower from the very essence of existence itself.=== Portal ===The portal to Union sits near the confluence of two heads of the River Lexia,which runs north from the mountain range in the center of the continent northto the ocean. The portal itself is about fifteen feet across, and lies in asmall cave on a low hillside.Four days after the humans and other good races first came through and startedcolonizing, a large group of goblins, hobgoblins, and lizardfolk, led byseveral dragons, burst through the portal, angered at the humans for leavingfellow life behind. They flattened about half of the human encampment aroundthe immediate area, and set up small establishments of their own to guard theplace.Since then, the army of Kria and the goblinoids and reptilians have been doingbattle sporadically around the place, vying for control over the ever-populartrade route. On some weeks, travelers returning from Union will be greeted bywarm smiles from humans; on others, they may be met by a blue or red dragon:never hostile, but always demanding payment in exchange for passage.As a result of fifty years of battle, the excessive wielding of arcane powerand periodic use of biological weapons have contaminated the waters of thenearby river. The northern plains that Lexia feeds have transformed into abarren and inhospitable landscape, extending all the way to the ocean andcovering several hundred miles of coastline.=== Kria ===While upon arriving through the portal several people decided to set up a townin the immediate area, most people sought a city in a more prime location. Thecapital city of Syra is called Kria, and is where the Four began their work.It is located in roughly the center of the continent, on foothills just northof the Cranterre Mountains: on top of a large mineral deposit, and roughly 43miles upstream (by Lexia) of the Portal.Kria is home to about two million people. Most of its economy lies in tradebetween the various parts of the continent, and also in the dealings ofmerchants from Kria themselves. The market and trade district spans tens ofmiles, and is legendary for its selection.The city was ruled admirably by Vermi of the Four until 16 AS, at which timeshe grew weak of age and, while retaining her title, began delegating much ofthe work to advisors. In 23 AS, she passed away, and though she had named SamiTrangor, who had set up and run several educational institutions in the pasttwo decades, to be her successor, much infighting and heated debating arose,and one Mr. Edward Henschel, former political and economic advisor, eventuallyrose to the throne. Henschel's rule is forceful and effective, but strict andbrittle, and public opinion ranges from disapproval to indifference.The School of Magic is very underdeveloped. With Vogar gone, no otherpossesses the intellect required to perfectly administer all the teachings ofarcane matters. In his absence, a council of the five most powerful wizardshas been established, but their chief manufacturing is nothing but bickeringand arguing.