The Grand Duchy of Storm Haven is a sovereign mountain nation carved into the jagged spine of the world. Shrouded in mist and myth, it clings to the sheer cliffs and shadow-veiled gorges of the Blackspire Range—a realm where the sun rarely breaks through the clouds, and even silence has a weight. Though modest in size, Storm Haven commands immense respect through precision, strategy, and mastery of the unseen. Its creed is etched into every blade and whispered with every oath:

We strike in shadows.
 

Founded on 21st March 2109 Orbis time by Grand Duke Don Veryano, Storm Haven emerged from fire and betrayal. In the wake of rebellion, Don Veryano shattered a rogue faction within his borders. Their generals were assassinated in coordinated strikes, their command structure unraveled overnight. In a climactic duel beneath the Veilspire Arch, he personally defeated the rebel leader—securing both his rule and the loyalty of the realm.

Though the rebellion was crushed, remnants of the old resistance still flicker in remote corners of the duchy. These dissident groups are tightly monitored in silence and eliminated without ceremony when necessary. The Gloomwatch and Whisper Blades ensure that no whisper of insurrection escapes the stone.

The capital, Eclipse, stands cloaked in the twilight of the peaks—a city of obsidian towers, hidden halls, and ancient fire. Ruled with cold precision by the enigmatic Grand Duke Veryano, the duchy’s leadership—known as the Storm Court—wields authority with surgical efficiency. The elite Shadow Companies are legends across the land: trained in silence, cloaked in mystery, and capable of dismantling entire armies before a war even begins.
 

At the soul of Storm Haven lies the Path of the Veiled Flame, the state religion followed by nearly all of its citizens. It teaches that truth is hidden beneath layers—Nine Veils that must be passed through in life. Silence, discipline, and the mastery of one’s inner fire form the core of its beliefs. Worship is quiet, inward, and ever-present; temples are stone sanctuaries of flickering candlelight, and sacred oaths are sealed in silence, not song. The Sanctum of Eclipse, home to the eternal flame, is both a spiritual and strategic stronghold.

The national tongue of Storm Haven is Veyathi, a melodic, low-toned language known for its reverent silence and layered meanings. Used in state rituals, military orders, and sacred texts, Veyathi is more than speech—it is a weapon of cultural cohesion. Written in the ancient Nyvaran script, it is as much art as communication, inscribed in stone and woven into banners. To speak Veyathi fluently is a mark of deep education and absolute loyalty.

Undergirding Storm Haven’s culture of secrecy and order is a deeply-rooted tradition of Freemasonry—cloaked brotherhoods that trace their lineages to the exiled architects and tacticians who founded the Duchy. These Masonic circles preserve hidden knowledge, teach discipline through layered initiation, and serve as keepers of tradition beneath the Storm Court’s silent rule. While invisible to the common eye, their sigils mark the keystones of cities and the blades of commanders.

Storm Haven is not a land of noise or display. It is a realm forged in silence, tempered in hardship, and sharpened in darkness—where loyalty is proven not in declarations, but in what one is willing to do… unseen.
 

In the greater game of Orbis, Grand Duke Don Veryano, alongside his closest allies—Grand Duke Haiviticus and Venerate Magladicus—have forged an unbreakable bond. Together, they formed the alliance known as The Triumvirate, ruling as its three Triumvirs. From the high halls of Storm Haven to the shifting tides of foreign courts, their influence moves in shadow… but strikes with absolute precision.

Grand Duke Coat of Arms

 Imperial Grand Duke Don Veryano surrounded by his Shadow Court