Technically, these books are part of a fantasy series, but since the paranormal/magical/mystical elements are in the background as opposed to being the main focus, it reads much more like a historical series (18th century-like, semi-feudal world).
Types of Shifters in Arizia:
Lions
Tigers
Leopards
Bears
Wolves
Foxes
Dragons (rare, but not extinct)
Social Hierarchy (Monarchy ruling over about two dozen clans):
King/Queen
Vanes (clan leaders)
Priests & Scholars
Clan Warriors/Soldiers (loyal to vanes first) & the King's army (loyal to the king first)
Clansmen (ordinary citizens—magistrates, advocates, physicians, farmers, artisans, merchants, skilled workers and laborers, servants, etc.)
Gypsies (people who wander because they will not swear loyalty to a clan leader or the king)
Slaves (slavery has been abolished for centuries, but some pirates still kidnap and enslave people)
Pirates and highwaymen are the biggest criminal threat. Catching these criminals is very lucrative, giving the land a consistent network of bounty hunters. The vanes keep the peace locally, and the king is rarely involved. Many think the monarchy is useless and should be abolished, but at the moment there is peace on that front. The current king, Edward, has three legitimate male heirs as well as an illegitimate son whose identity and whereabouts are only known to a handful of people.
Geography:
Arizia is made up of three continents and one archipelago. The Edo Islands lie to the north. Elan is in the west, and Utha is in the east. The central, main continent of Bellan is made of four regions—Arun, Mera, Wrekin, and Gwyn. The capital city is Silvar, and it is located in the middle of the continent, with part of the city in each of these four regions.
The Edo Islands have the most temperate climate, and many wealthy people build estates there. The smaller islands are often used as hideouts for pirates. Artisans and gypsies make up the bulk of the native population.
Utha is where the bulk of the mines are located. Trade is essential because very little will grow in Utha, and most of the resources mined there cannot be found anywhere else in Arizia.
Elan is a rich, lush continent where almost all of the land is farmed in rotation. The farms here provide 60% of the food in Arizia.
Bellan is densely populated and has more forested land. The villages and cities here are larger and far more modern. Arun is the largest region, and the other three smaller regions are roughly the same size. In the northern half of the continent, the regions of Arun and Mera are separated by the Mountains of Jalal. Wrekin is south of Arun and known for its criminal element (highwaymen, pirates, common thieves, and "adventurers" who live by their own rules). Gwyn is south of Mera and is the least densely populated region. It has many waterfalls and lakes plus lots of rare flora and fauna, and most of the economy revolves around inns, taverns, hot springs, and private retreats for visitors.
Religion:
Arizians have three principle gods—Wyld, Kyros, and Vena. Wyld is the god of wisdom, Kyros is the god of war, and Vena is the goddess of love and mercy. In general, shifters revere the gods more because, according to legend, their ability to shift from human form to animal form was a gift directly from Vena. Kyros once had a twin named Jalal, who supposedly tried to enslave the entire world. Jalal fell in love with Vena, and Kyros took advantage of his distraction and trapped him. Wyld imprisoned him below the mountain range between Arun and Mera. According to the ancient scrolls, Kyros marches around the mountain range to prevent Jalal from rising, Wyld sits in his mountain hall perpetually feasting, and Vena wanders the world trying to spread love and keep the peace. Priests and scholars heatedly debate whether or not Vena returned Jalal's love. It is also widely debated how much, and how often, the gods work together. While the three primary gods have many temples everywhere, shifters are more likely to worship in temples devoted to Vena. The Red Temple, the only one devoted to Jalal, is located in the center of the region of Mera and built into the side of a mountain.
Humans are married by magistrates most of the time, rarely taking their vows before priests unless they are particularly devout. But when a shifter is truly devoted to its lover (whether human or shifter) they often choose to take the mate vow, which is their most sacred oath. The ceremony is very complex, and these vows cannot be broken through divorce the way an ordinary marriage can. The word “mate” is used loosely by some shifters to refer to a lover or spouse, but many believe in what is referred to as a spirit mate (a fated mate), which is chosen for them by the gods. Wolves can identify their spirit mates by scent, while other shifters rely on a more emotional response to identify a fated mate.
Demons and other types of evil spirits can cause problems, but they can typically be expelled by a priest or a magic wielder. A small faction, known as demon seekers, actually tries to initiate contact with demons, often to the peril of themselves and those they lure to their ceremonies. Using magic is a talent you must be born with—it cannot be taught, though others can develop a sensitivity to it. In Arizia, magic is power that is channeled directly from the gods, and there are almost no limits to its use if the wielder works hard to develop his or her skills.
