Table of Contents
Fourth Age Nations
The Fourth Age features a diverse lineup of nations intended to answer the "What if?" question of what a post-LA age would look like if Illwinter decided to add one to the base game.
To ensure some level of balance each nation undergoes a revision where the lead mod designer, TiredTaleTeller, tests the performance of the nation against other 4A nations as well as vanilla LA nations. The nations are therefore divided into four categories depending on how far they have come in their development:
- Accepted nations have undergone review and are considered done.
- Finished nations are considered done but pending a review.
- Playable nations are still in development but are in a playable state.
- Nations in development are still on the drawing board and needs more work before they can be played.
A number of unofficial nations can also be found on the Fourth Age Discord. These nations can be played with the Fourth Age mod but they are not going to go through the revision process of the official mod nations.
Accepted nations
Portaverni
Sailing far and wide explorers of Portaverni are well known. They've reached many places, even the far eastern lands. They've sailed through the Sea of Storms. A perilous place where rock and storm destroy most ships. Through there they've found much wealth. Now the kingdom is strong, stretching along the coasts of many lands.
- Race: Humans.
- Military: The coastal forts have access to imported firearms. They also spawn random outposts with foreign mercenaries.
- Magic: Fire, Water, Air, some Astral and Earth.
- Priests: Average to good, most are inquisitors tasked with hunting demons.
Asgard
The Gjallarhorn has sounded, the Bifrost is shattered. The gates of Valgrind have been flung wide open and the legions of Asgard will march against the forces assaulting the world. Powerful Aesir titans command Stormborn valkyries to lead legions of animated Einherjar, while the humans who were willing to fight the last war join them, Asmeg descendants of the Aesir form the majority of the heavy forces for the nation.
- Race: Aesir Titans, Asmeg, Valkyries, Storm constructs and men.
- Military: Sacred Constructs, Aesir titans, Asmeg artillery and human chaff.
- Magic: Strong Air, Some Death and Astral. Aesir and Asmeg have access to most paths, Skalds highly random.
- Priests: Powerful Aesir, Strong Valkyries, Human Godes and Asmeg Jarls.
- Mechanics: Valkryies summon Sacred Einherjir constructs, Sacreds and Asmeg have storm power.
Bemenda
In the distant past the little people who call themselves Bemenda were forced out of their ancestral home by great evil. Traveling through jungles they stumbled upon a great plateau which would prove to be an ideal new home. In the centre of the plateau they found what appeared to be ruins of a giant city filled with marvelous statues of humanoid elephants and deep under the city a huge system of catacombs was uncovered soon after. Bemenda, who worshipped elephants as the biggest and most powerful being in the jungle, believed to have discovered the city of the gods. After many generations have passed since the Bemenda settled and multiplied on the great plateau a great evil found them again. The elephant divinities came back to rescue their ancient home and brought with them their God.
- Race: Tusked ones, Pygmies
- Military: Powerful Tusked ones, pygmies are small and weak but plentiful
- Magic: All except blood, mostly nature and elemental magic
- Priest: Powerful
Pangaea
The Old Faith has been nearly forgotten. The Centaurs and those halfmen who followed them abandoning it in favor of worshiping iron and gold. Now the groves that were once considered sacred lie empty. The last of the Panii; a race once mighty, but now fallen low still hold true to the Old Faith. While they have watched and waited for centuries, they will not wait any longer for the axes of men to come and claim what little remains. With those few creatures who still remain true to the old ways, Pangaea marches. Though the Panii know they are doomed, they will fight for the forest. One last time.
- Race: Forest beings, many stealthy units, some troops will heal battle afflictions, greatly decreased gold income.
- Military: Blessed Guardians of the Forest, returned halfmen and vinemen and manikin freespawn.
- Magic: Magic tunes, Nature, Earth, some Death, Water and Astral
- Priests: Average, temples are expensive but generate nature gems.
Muspelheim
After the fall of Utgard, the Seiths forsaw the end times, and concocted a ritual to open the way for the Muspel to come, and bring about Ragnarok to the mortal world. The Muspel are giants of great strength and rage. The Jotun make up the majority of the populace of Muspelheim. Humans still aid their Jotun allies, undeterred by the eventual end their brothers in arms intend to bring. The Maw, the gate which the Muspel can be called from, can be opened by a communion of Seithver at the Ruins of Neifelheim over the course of a year.
- Race: Muspel Giants, Jotun and Humans.
- Military: Heavy Jotun infantry and Firepower, Human Infantry and Siethkarl, Sacred Muspel Giants.
- Magic: Strong Fire, Death, Earth, Some Water, Air, and Astral.
- Priests: Weak Jotun Priest-Leaders, Stronger Muspel Priest-Lords.
- Mechanics: No recruitable sacred troops, Muspel Spawn from the Maw.
Suazia
Suazia was once a small outpost built by Pythian emperor to secure an important strait from east to west. Were it not for the civil war in Caelum, growth of Raghan Empire and war between Abysia and Gath Suazia would most likely remain as it was for centuries, a military outpost. With shrewd administration the suazian governors quickly turned the military complex into a sprawling trading hub and giant metropolis rivaling the Pythium itself which was at that time plagued with dozens of heretical cults, corruption and internal threats. Seeing as Pythium was quickly declining the rulers of Suazia rebelled and gained indepence from the collapsing empire.
- Race: Humans, Mermen Prefers Heat +1. Increased income in coastal provinces.
- Military: powerful capital only troops mixed in with locals, mermen in coastal and underwater forts
- Magic: Astral, Water, Air, Fire, Earth, Nature
- Priest: Mediocre.
Finished Nations
Pelewathiipi
The Tutugi are descendants of Atlantians who fled the madness under the waves. They resemble toads and have become known as toad men, although they have some fish-like traits as well. The Tutugi have become more toadlike since they settled along the great river and some have evolved other traits previously not found in Atlantis. Perhaps it's an adaption to the new land or the influence of their new masters, the Ginebig. The Tutugi use primitive armor. They've learned the secrets of metalworking on land under tutilage of the Ginebig but the nature of iron to rust is of little use to them. Their wealthier warriors found bronze to be much more effective.
- Race: Atlantians and horned serpents.
- Military: Primitively armored Atlantians descendants of varying sizes, spears and javelins dominate.
- Magic: Nature, Water, Earth, some Fire and limited Astral.
- Priests: Average, all practice magic.
Ulm
The Malediction killed Ulm, though the Iron Kingdom's death was slow and lingering. Magic was condemned, and those accused of those forbidden arts were hunted down and murdered like rabid dogs in the streets. The end came suddenly. As blood flowed freely in the homes of noble and commoner alike, the Grand Elector Frederick Wilhelm forged a new national identity. Only by embracing the Hunger that the perverse Iron Cult had fought against for so long, could Ulm be at last restored to its former greatness.
- Race: Vampires and their human subjects. Troops are undead and need not eat. Death and Growth scales have half the standard effect on income and population growth.
- Military: Disciplined infantry armed with cutting edge weaponry. Sacred Totenkopf units.
- Magic: Blood, limited Death and the mastery of Black Powder.
- Priests: Powerful. Priests kill or maim heretical users of magic.
Taakiin-Taoul
The Taakiin are a confederation of several tribes of draconic beings. They inhabit cities of gold built into the walls of ancient and active volcanoes. The greatest of these cities is Taakiin-Taoul, their Capitol. At its center lies a great lake of gold, the Crisol Taakiin, which has been fed with offerings from their people from time immemorial. Only the fabled goldsmiths of their people are permit to draw from this divine well, to produce and affix the ceremonial arms and armour of their people.
- Race: The Taakin-Taoul are divided into 4 tribes, The Belikr, The Vs'shtak, The Ja'Mayuul and The Nojoch Kaan.
- Military: Weak Belikr Infantry, Strong Vs'shtak Heavy Infantry, Ja'Mayuul flying raiders and Living Siege engines in the Kaan.
- Magic: Strong Fire, Earth and Air mages.
- Priests: Weak Belikr priests.
- Mechanics: No recruitable Sacreds, Sacred Commanders are event based heroes.
Playable Nations
Carcosa
Once known as Ys, Carcosa is now a warped reflection of its ancient self. When R'lyeh opened the void gate and unleashed its horrors upon the world no one was ready for it. Merrow and their morgen rulers did all in their power to stem the tide but horrors from beyond imagination and seemingly endless hordes of lobotomized madmen were too much for them. In their darkest hour as the city was about to fall they prayed for the last time and prepared for their final stand. Somehow, something did listen to their prayers and offered them salvation. And now morgen and their servants are awaiting the coming of their new master who will soon claim this world as theirs.
- Race: Morgen, Merrow, human cultists in land forts.
- Military: Amphibious Merrow and Morgen, merrow in coastal forts use iron gear, some human mages and cultists
- Magic: Astral, Air, Water, Death, Blood, Earth
- Priest: Mediocre
Nadené Aaní
As R'lyeh dominated the ocean it's mages began to experiment. On merman and Atlantian alike, even on Ichtyids. As time went on more and more of their kin were taken away for horrible experiments. They were rescued by a great being they learned to call Raven. He guided them to a large island. As they explored their new dry home on the horizon canoes appeared. These magical canoes carried Atlantian refugees from the cold north. The Atlantians blessed them with magical secrets. One among them taught them how to bend metal to their will.
- Race: Ichtyids with summonable Atlantian mages.
- Military: Amphibian troops in heavy armor, slave warriors, limited firearms.
- Magic: Astral, Water, Fire, Death, Nature, some Earth.
- Priests: Average.
Diomedes
More then two centuries ago, the Raghanite Imperium crushed the once proud military of the old Kingdom with ease. Sweeping aside the valiant Heart Companions and purging the cult of the Sibyls. Only the reclusive mystics; carrying precious fragments of ancient lore escaped the devastation of Arcoscephale. While lesser men might have turned their fury on the Imperium, the Mystics knew of the true seed of evil in the world; The pretending gods who vied for power in the absence of the true Pantokrator. With the destruction of their ancient kingdom the mystics had nothing left to lose. In secret, the survivors founded an organization dedicated to opposing the forces of pretending gods.
- Race: Mostly humans, supported by scattered groups of tribal peoples and the outcasts of fallen empires.
- Military: Mercenaries, mismatched independent kingdom troops, secret soldiers of freedom. No sacred troops
- Magic: Astral, Nature, weak or limited access to all other paths.
- Priests: Powerful anti-priests that drive out the dominion of false gods and are able to sway others to the cause of freedom.
- Dominion: Conflict bonus +2, Dominion doesn't spread without preaching.
Córdova
Once Córdova was known as New Marignon, the vast colonial holdings of the Decayed Empire that stretched for thousands of miles along the shores of the new world. A kingdom seeking redemption for the sins of their homeland, they have declared total independence from the Empire of Marignon and hold the demonic forces of the new world at bay via the same fanatical strength that the Fiery Kingdom once used to defeat the terrible threat of old Ermor. The missionaries of Córdova will never again taint their hands with virgin blood. No matter what that resistance costs them.
- Race: Humans, half-devils and tribal natives.
- Military: Human infantry supported by various forms of divine power
- Magic: Fire, Astral, Nature, limited air, water and earth.
- Priests: Powerful.
Agartha
While the Pale Ones faded from the world, the Olms receded. Miles beneath the earth, the Olms delved, and there they found a new race. The Olms chose to aid this fledgling race, who called themselves Davlin, or Dwarfs, in the tongues of men, as they had once aided the Pale Ones. In the upper reaches of the earth, the human kingdoms of Agartha were destroyed; burned and bled under the terrible onslaught of endless black wings. The survivors fled for their lives, and while some escaped to the surface, others followed the tunnels deeper into the earth. Escaping, for a time, from the nightmare that followed them. Now the three races that are all that remain of Agartha must fight together, less the Deep Kingdoms suffer the same fate as those who came before them.
- Race: Olms, Dvalin, and Humans with limited darkvision.
- Military: Dvalin soldiers, Human refugees and Olms.
- Magic: Earth, Fire, Water, Death, limited Astral and Nature. High magic gem income.
- Priests: Average.
Stygia
Underneath the Island of Once-Phaeacia, the River Styx ran, carry the souls of the dead to their resting places beneath the waves. In the wake of the Skyfall, the ancient channel of souls burst its banks, and spilled forth out of the bowels of the island. In its wake came the Lords of the Styx, Arbiters of justice. Powerful beings who had seen the eras of sin that the Colossi had been responsible for, they cursed to colossi for the sins of their past. Cursed waters now leak from the maw of the Styx, poisoning the very land. The curse of the Lords has turned the men into malformed husks, and the queens into something more, twisted reflections of the Melqarts they once worshiped. Now the pirate queens of the shattered isle raid coast and ship alike, bringing souls and gold back to offer the Lords for the redemption of their souls.
- Race: Cursed Collosi and Gigantes
- Military: Amphibious Husks, Colossi heavy infantry, Gigantes Sacreds
- Magic: Strong Death, Water, Good Nature, Earth, Some Fire and Air
- Priests: Weak Colossi Seeress', Good Gigantes, Powerful Lords of The Styx
- Mechanics: Dominion Spreads Disease, Unrest. Coastal Income bonus
Erytheia
Erytheia is now a monarchy only in name. The conspiracies for the crown spiralled out of control, spilling over into civil war at several times in recent history. The turmoil and bloodshed weakened the realm and turned many inhabitants into refugees – not to speak of those that perished in the clashes for power. Today the nation have rebuilt much of what was lost during the eras of upheaval. A proud amphitheatre stands in the mouth of the Red River accessible to all, air breathing or not.
- Race: Amphibious Merfolk, aquatic Tritons. Some airbreathers.
- Military: Medium and heavy infantry. Polearms and various blackpowder weaponry.
- Magic: Astral, Fire and Water. Access to Nature, Earth and Death.
- Priests: Weak.
Machaka
Machaka has been resurgent after the rise of the great king and the regimentation of their military… using heavy encirclement tactics and their new military doctrine, known as Impi, the tribes have been united and under the strength of the lion have rose to power unseen since the early eras. After spending so many years isolated, they have adopted a form of shamanism, and their spiritual leaders can communicate with the great animal spirits. The Rhino, Lion, Bird and Hyena tribes are united and they will trample the other nations to the sound of thunder.
- Race: Humans, long in the past mixed with colossi blood.
- Military: Regimented Impi Warriors, Auxilleries from various clans
- Magic: Good Air, Fire, Earth, Some Water, Nature and Death
- Priests: Mediocre Shamans, Strong Thundercallers
Daura
Daura is a nation of Machakan descendants who fled persecution at the hands of Spider Clan. While many Lion Queens fled for Berytos, one among their number refused to debase herself with Melqart worship and instead looked for new lands to settle. She came upon the mouth of a mighty river, and following it's treacherous banks, led her people inland. There she encountered the Ishoki spirits. With the coming of the age of sail, the disparate people who separated during the days of Sarki have once again united in the face of these new threats.
- Race: Machakan humans
- Military: Sacred cavalry, elite cavalry, light and medium armoured infantry and skirmishers. Stealthy forest recruits.
- Magic: Astral and air, some water, nature, earth, fire
- Priests: Strong.
Atlantis
After the drowning of Lemuria, the haggard remnants of the Atlanteans forsook the depths of the sea. They claimed the lands that stretch along the forsaken coast, from the shattered land of Tien'chi to the realms of the Ragha Imperium. There they found the nomadic people of the Vulture Tribe, tradesmen and caravaneers who worship the Great Vultures who can be found along the Bone Road. They joined their peoples together to form a solidified Nation. They are a proud, industrious nation, whose sworn duty is to safeguard the land and travelers from the terrors of the depths as they travel along The Bone Road.
- Race: Atlanteans and Shamblers, Former Eagle Clan Caelians.
- Military: Legions of Regimented Atlanteans, Sacred Vulture riders. Air Rifles, Harpoon Guns, Glaives and Pikes.
- Magic: Good Air, Death, Fire, Earth. Some Water.
- Priests: Powerful Vulture Kings, Strong Bonefleet Admirals, mediocre Captains and Caravaneers.
- Mechanics: Coastal fort recruit elite troops and casters, Waste and Cap only Sacred Vultures.
Abysia
Purebloods are gone and so is smouldercone, humanbreds are all that remains, there is a conflict between the ancient caste of anathemants and a new cult of the sun.
- Race: Fire resistant Abysian Humanbreds.
- Military: Heavily armoured humanbreds, warbreds, hellspawn
- Magic: Fire, Blood, Death, Nature, Astral, Air
- Priests: Powerful.
Naticav
With the destruction of Eldregate by the infernal legions of Marignon death slowly drained from the wasteland of Eldregate. New settlers have arrived, particularly from Pythium. Those who claimed Ermorian ancestry in Pythium felt a pull to reclaim the home of their ancestors. In the ruins they found a new god and rebuild the great cathedral from the ruins. A small population however can't easily defend their wealth against outside forces. Thus mercenaries were hired to bolster their army. Over time mercenaries became to dominate the army. Organized they began to assert their influence. To counter this the merchant princes called upon the priests of Eldregate to reanimate more and more of their ancestral kin. Now the villas of the merchant princes are guarded by reanimated warriors while mercenary warriors gather outside the walls of the cities.
- Race: Humans.
- Military: Weak recruitable units, use merc captains to gather mercenaries instead. Workshops allow for fantastical weapons of the future.
- Magic: Astral, Nature and Death, some Fire, Earth, Water and Blood.
- Priests: Average to good, masters of life and death. Priests reanimate sacred undead.
Mictlan
Mictlan is an ancient tribal empire that has always worshipped the two faces and two dominions of their God; Sun and Moon, Rain and Forest. For a time, powerful Atlantean mages known as the Kings of Rain ruled in Mictlan, but when invaders from beyond the sea were defeated under the cover of darkness, the Kings forgot to offer suitable sacrifice to the Moon for their victory. For their hubris, they were punished and a foul plague decimated the lands of Mictlan until the Vengeful God finally granted them mercy. Now the Moon Priests rule in Mictlan, overseeing the mage-priests celebration of the two faces of the Vengeful God as Mictlan begins to turn its attention to the world around it once more.
- Race: Humans and Atlantians, prefers Heat scale +1
- Military: Light Infantry with slings and javelins, sacred warriors and Atlantians.
- Magic: Strong Astral and Blood. Access to Water, Death, Fire and Nature.
- Priests: Powerful, can perform blood sacrifices, Dominion does not spread unless blood is sacrificed.
Nations in development
Svartalfheim
Following the end of the Late Age, both the gygjas of Vaettiheim and the völvas of Midgard saw a terrible vision of things that must come to pass. That the world must be burnt to ash. Now the Vanir and Vaettir are united in a desperate bid to prevent the ascendance of Muspelheim. Only the Eternal Winter may contain the flames of Muspelheim and grind the Cycle to a halt. Only the Fimbulvetr may end Time itself.
- Race: Hordes of Vaetti, and the last of the Svartalfs and Vanir
- Military: Vaetti form the majority of the military, Vanir thugs and Svartalf mages.
- Magic: Strong Water, Air, Earth, Death, Some Nature, and Astral
- Priests: Weak Vaetti Gygja, Svartalfs and Vanir
- Mechanics: Strong Svartalf Smiths, Svartalf forged constructs.
Phlegra
When the great lie was uncovered and the mountains where the monstrous Laestrygonians were trapped exploded all the tranquility and order was lost. In the following centuries people have reconquered their freedom and established the true meritocracy, where birthright means nothing, no man can be a slave to another and skill is valued above all. Judges hunt down the filthy preachers and mind mages while the nation roars in triumphant ecstasy, each ready to lay his life for the country and the awakening pretender god.
- Race: Humans with some young cyclops and the hidden elite of starchildren.
- Military: Highly disciplined yet lowered Magic resistance troops armed with pretty mundane weapons. Zealots appear among men and are suicidally brave. Cyclops can be recruited in limited numbers.
- Magic: Astral, fire and earth. Occasional death, air or water can be found.
- Priests: Weak but can root out enemy dominion very effectively. Templed provinces can establish Courts that function like extra temples.
Marignon
Across vast oceans, endless deserts and impenetrable forests the conquistadors of Marignon have travelled. With faith and steel these explorers cleared a path for the word of the True Faith to spread far beyond the original borders of Marignon and in doing so, they forged an empire upon which the sun never sets. But the darkness that infests the culture of Marignon could not be suppressed by sunlight alone. For what was once a house of justice now rots from within under the weight of its own indulgent corruption. Now Marignon struggles to survive, beset on all sides by enemies who smell the weakness of a predator grown injured and old. Only time will tell if the Empire can survive this time of troubles, but for all the decay at its core Marignon remains a force to be reckoned with, and under the guidance of the New God it may reclaim its place as an Empire upon which the sun never sets.
- Race: Humans and Cambions, Ocean sailing, gains increased national income.
- Military: Human and Cambion infantry, crossbows and firearms
- Magic: Weak access to all magic paths except death, selecting a cult changes path access
- Priests: Weak, one available priest of average level. Some cults have more powerful priests.
- Dominion: Increases unrest.
Shambhala
In the ancient kingdom of Bandar Log, a wise Bandaraja chose to expel a sect of sun worshiping monks from his lands. He soon realised these were the best of his people and bid them return, but few did. The rest journeyed far to the east, to find a land shrouded in dense jungle, and within it a great temple complex tended by a curious race of feline halfmen called the Chhma. Installing themselves in these temples they erected great walls around the site, and began a many centuries long isolation from the world. Now, however, the world has declined into war and greed as was prophesied. Soon the gates will swing open and from them will come an army to vanquish the dark forces and usher in a golden age of peace and enlightenment.
- Race: Chhma, agile halfmen native to dense jungles, sacred Vanara monks in capital.
- Military: Light stealthy infantry, medium armoured infantry, elephants. Sacred monks, some of which are extremely mobile.
- Magic: High Astral. Good access to Fire, Water, Earth and Nature. Limited Death.
- Priests: Medium, Synecretic.
- Special: National luck scales are increased or decreased by 3 depending on Gate status, the Gate being open allows for powerful offensive rituals.
More nations in development can be found on the Fourth Age Discord Server!