Aurilemian culture began c. 250 BDCplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigBDC

An abbreviation for Before Diminished Calissae. One of the two time periods tracked by the common Aedelorian calendar. This dating method counts the number of years prior to the Withering., originating from the region of Aurileme in Valdar. Approximately 3.5 million people in Aedelor consider themselves Aurilemian, nearly all of which live in the Valdarian Empire. Aurilemians are overwhelmingly human (~80%) with a notable elfkin minority (~10%). The remainder are a variety of other ancestries primarily living in the city of Mil Pont.

Aurilemians proudly claim to be the first peoples of Aedelor to master the art of casting arcane magic, taught to them a benevolent dragon named Gydhiela, The Brightscale. They have always lived in the far north of the Valian subcontinent of Valdar, just south of The Wilds, but can be found in most regions of Valdar in the present day. Their culture is strongly influenced by their reverence of Gydhiela and her kin, and has been shaped by their firmly rooted beliefs that magic can improve quality of life. Aurilemian culture has had significant impacts on the other cultures present in Valdar and is largely synonymous with the Valdarian Empire, even being recognizable to those across the Binding Sea.

Aurilemians believe strongly that magic is a gift given to them by Gydhiela and it is their duty to use magic to improve the lives of others. As such, those who learn magic in an academy of magic and then pursue their own goals instead of contributing to Aurilemian society in some way is considered extremely taboo. People like this are often called mage-errants, and are shunned by Aurilemians.

Magics that manipulate a creature's mind are not only illegal in the Valdarian Empire, but are considered immoral by Aurilemians. They feel so strongly about this that the word “enchanted” isn't even used to describe magically imbued items, instead calling them enspelled, due to “enchantment” having a strong tie to these particular kinds of magic.

Banner: Two bronze dragons in flight, facing each other with a sword upright between them. Their founding qualities “VIRTUE, STRENGTH, LOYALTY” are written in draconic text along the bottom.

Colours: Bronze, teal

Motto: “Magic is our blood”

Values: Virtue, strength, loyalty

History: The original banner of Aurileme was one bronze dragon curled around one sword, symbolizing Gydhiela and the strength that she had given to the Aurilemians. When the Empire was founded based on the combining of Ras Yara and Aurileme, the banner was changed to include two bronze dragons, both in flight, flanking the sword. This was to signify the union of two previously warring countries, though the fact that both dragons were made to be bronze was a bit of a slap in the face to Ras Yara which had historically honoured the green dragons.