The most recent update posted to the Shroud of the Avatar website included, among its many sections, yet another excerpt of the backstory of the series. This might, however, be the most significant part of the recent update, as it reveals not only the name of the continent on which the first game, Forsaken Virtues, is set, but also gives us details about some of the peoples and races that populate it.

Recall, if you will, that Richard Garriott stated that the entirety of the world of the Shroud of the Avatar series would be called “New Britannia”, but that he hadn’t yet given a name to the continent that would be the location for the first game in the series. Well…it would appear to have a name now:

The survivors of the Cataclysm four centuries past have settled in the land we call “Novia”, a large island which, while bearing the scars of that time, still harbors enough life to support our people.

Equally, at least one region of the land of Novia is populated by elves. Yes, elves:

The Vertas people that live in the Forsaken Vale, for example, a new race borne of the Cataclysm which we have grown to call “elves”; Lord British has told me this may be reference to a long-distant legend that the people of Novia have since forgotten. The Vertas elves for their part are like men, but different… different enough. They struggle to live alongside the rest of us, but where a man might burn with emotional fire, an elf will be cold, distant. They worship history, knowledge and truth, and those who wish to learn the wisdom they hold would do well to discover the ways of these people. It is certain you will encounter them on your way.

Veiled Ultima reference noted and greeted with approval.

Humans populate another region of the continent:

The lands of the southwest are rich and full of life, and that is rare in Novia. Men and mythical creatures mix throughout, and that brings conflict, as it always does. As our numbers recover from the Cataclysm, the settlements of various races meet, and begin to argue about land and water and right and wrong and truth and lies. Peace lies on a fine edge; it is an edge you may have to walk along.

And yet another race calls another part of the map home:

And always the Fomorians, remnants from the Dark Armies of wars past threaten; from their strongholds in Blackblade Pass they often strike looking for prey.

A few additional locations get mentioned, as well:

You will see many wonders on your path, traveler; the fauns of Midmaer and the barrens of Quel, the sailors who brave the Bay of Storms (whose name is well earned) seeking to take travellers to the legendary lands of Elysium, where lies the halls of Artifice. There, your destiny will take you, traveller, though it will challenge you in ways you do not yet expect.

At any rate, the entirety of the new story snippet has been posted to the story reference page at the Ultima Codex’s Shroud of the Avatar subdomain. Hopefully, I’ll find time tomorrow to update the map page with information about the new locations, and the world page with details about the different races/peoples.