In the “Kingdom of The Dominion of Keldrun and Orsan Fane” - known as “DOM”, the Traisgan calendar has been used for a little over one millennium.   This is because the latter Republic was the first to put in the early astronomical work necessary to make a really good calendar.   They also flooded the seas with eager ships earlier in search of colonies to exploit.  They needed to keep track of just what time it might be way back home.  They would not want to miss an important fete or estate masquerade.  This is not to day that DOM did not have a calendar – they did.  Actually they had upwards of 50.  Most began when DOM was a land of little tribes of numerous classes.   When these factions were ultimately pressed together by circumstance and war, it just seemed easier to grab for something none of them could claim, than to argue about whose ancestor’s birthday properly started the beginning of the year.  Getting a Grimdon and a Raylan to agree on anything would be a feat.
The Traisgan calendar at the writing of this story reads 1939.  (This date may seem familiar to you but our existence in the 1930’s bears little resemblance to the DOM experience, save perhaps technology level.)  This would lead one, perhaps, to ask what happened at zero?   Not that it will mean anything in our story for quite awhile, but it corresponds to the day that Traisge’s patron mother-demi-goddess “La Dame Divin” appeared to the faithful.
In any case, our story does not begin at 1939 or at zero.  It begins, approximately, in the year minus 20,000.  By the Traisgan calendar.

DOM lies in the northern latitudes of the world in which we begin our tale.   I will occasionaly use term  "Earth", but only in terms of the element of Earth.  Terra firma.  Matter.  The Power of Earth elemental entities, etc.  The world is habited by many and various species of sentient beings (which we shall call classes henceforth).

DOM is in the northernmost latitude of a huge land mass stretching south to it's equal in latitude in the southern hemisphere and in longitude surrounding well over half of the planet.

The land of DOM is varied in climate and topography.  In the very north in a area containing the province of Castan, it remains locked in winter weather for a full 8 months.  It is a land of "midnight sun".  In the area to the far south known as Portha, the weather is much milder with a more "mediterranean" climate.   DOM city lies in the center of these two extremes.  This position is a fine allegory for the entire country throughout most of it's history.

Here is how to enjoy this grand epic:

Want every bit of backstory?  You love backstory?  Then go on to the next section: "1.0 DOM Inhabitants" and proceed (by number) from there.

You want SOME backstory?  You want a little context, but not too much?  Go to section:  "7.0 La Dame Divin and the Ascent of Man" and proceed (by number) from there.

You just want to start the story already and do not care a hoot about backstory?  Go to section: "8.0 THE DOM TRIPLO CAMPAIGN" and proceed (by number) from there.