#meanwhile we see the princess of atlasdam traveling to rippleport in post-game side quests so she seems to have some freedom and power there

[shieldingfaith]

The Political Map of Orsterra (click full size for detail)

The continent of Orsterra is a place unified by their gods but divided by culture, greed, and history. From the game canon lore, we know quite a bit of history concerning countries and their formation in this continent. We also see several different political systems in the game present itself. We see two kings, the divided former Hornburg, cities taken over by the rich and powerful. Laws vary in different areas, and there is a church system which holds some relative influence in certain areas.

So here’s my take--

Kingdom of the Atlas Shores

Encompasses the flatlands and coastlands in a unified country which led by their king

the capital is Atlasdam

Follows an aristocratic social structure which gives regional power to nobles (Noblecourt, Goldshore, & Grandport). Noble families are the product of long lines that trace back to the founding of the Atlas Shores.

Influential merchant families also hold great power in the kingdom, as they tend to control trade and the ports that make the Atlas Shores run.

economy is HIGHLY dependent on trade and ship-faring, with merchants and international trade being huge sources of influence all across the continent

Kingdom of Triberia

the entirety of the sunlands, this kingdom was formed 100 years ago when the warring desert tribes were united under one king

capital is Marsalim

Sunshade is the second biggest and more influential city in the region

economy is based largely in luxury items (mining of marble, sandstone, limestone, and gems from the bordering mountains) and tourism (dancing, the arts, and sexual tourism)

aristocracy means very little in Triberia, but there are strong ties to the old tribal families. Tribes that originated in different regions of the desert tend to hold an unofficial loyalty to themselves over the king

monarchs are decided by elections that are held amongst the oligarchal tribal leaders every few generations. If a leader is found lacking, tribal leaders will then elect a new king or queen from amongst themselves.

Former Kingdom of Hornburg

Once a proud nation, now the mountainous territory broken up into various independently functioning territories

Stonegard used to be the capital of Hornburg, and is the most stable in the wake of Hornburg’s fall. It runs under a mayor and is a huge center for industry and technology, with the revolutionary printing presses helping the city to stay intact since the civil war.

Everhold is the second biggest city in the highlands now, though it didn’t use to be. Everhold rose to wealth and power thanks to Simeon’s influence and the Obsidians’ wealth. The theater was built and the city became Orsterra’s epicenter of art.

Cobblestone is very similar to the other settlements that survived the wars. Small, farming communities that tend to function on their own, but are very vulnerable to attack from brigands and rouges.

Many towns, villages, and smaller cities were utterly destroyed during the warring in Hornburg. This has left wide swaths of the highlands empty of civilization. Ghost towns scatter the mountains.

Territories of Orsterra

outside the 2 currently established countries, Orsterra is divided up by city-states and regional territories that are run by a combination of noble lords, influential merchant families, and the Church of Saint Aelfric.

the Quarrycrest (recently run by Morlock) and Ravus territories have a cooperative control over the clifflands, with Orewell holding equal allegience to both larger cities. The Ravus family is the more just influence in the region of heavy mining, but Quarrycrest holds more monetary influence.

Riverford holds a heavy-handed and strict power over the southern riverlands, especially in recent years after Werner bought his way to the top and set in place authoritarian practices. The northern riverlands are a more peaceful area with no unified leader. Saintsbridge holds more influence and is run by a mayor as well as the archbishop of the cathedral. Clearbrook is one of the thriving farming villages in the region, and it tends to follow the influence of Saintsbridge.

Northreach is the largest city in the frostlands and holds the most power over the frozen region. Northreach is often run by corrupt lords or rich families who are likely to use money and power to overthrow whoever was in control before them. Northreach control a wide swath of tundra and farmlands, as well as villages like Stillsnow and the Obsidian Parlor. Flamesgrace is the second largest city, in the south, and it is connected to a port which gives them trading access all across the Orsterran gulf. As the center of the Church of Aelfric, Flamesgrace is influenced by the church. It is run by a mayor and the archbishop of the cathedral and has many local laws that try to combat the more corrupt dealings of Northreach (i.e. the sex industry is highly regulated and monitored as a counter to the questionable practices in Stillsnow)

the woodlands region is made up of the smallest, and in many ways least influential city-states in Orsterra, but they are also the most independent. S’warkii is a centuries old settlement which proudly maintains its traditions and is a mysterious, legendary place to the rest of the continent. Victor’s Hollow is built entirely on its tourism and sport, but it is a prosperous city that occasionally acts as a defender of its neighbors. Duskbarrow is quiet and small and tends to go overlooked by most other cities and countries in Orsterra. Much like S’warkii, it is a place which holds fast to its traditions and is home to very ancient ruins.