The realm is dawning on it's second age. It has been a time of peace, and cooperation. The year is 396, and it is then end of the winter season. The ground is softening, and the snow has gone. The wild life is alive in the forests and a good farmer could tell you it will be a fruitful spring.
Fordane sits in the material plane, and is comprised of several different continents; Thelona, Velona, Palerm, and Kalamna. Thelona and Velona are settled and split into countries and nations. The continent of Palerm is a new frontier, and is only established along the costal regions near Velona. It is barely explored by any known group of adventurers. The continent of Kalamna is a string of islands that is largely uninhabitted, but not thouroughly explored.
Although the nations are growing in strength, the existing navies do not travel far from the known waters without reason. The increase in trade on the water might, however, urge the kingdoms to increase their navies for protection of the merchant fleets.
The established pantheon in Thelona and Velona is almost traditional, there are three exclusions. The God known as Wee Jas in the PHB is unknown to this realm. Heironeous and Hextor are still under the mortal coil, and are not yet gods. The two half-brothers do, however, have their own followings and religious orders devoted to their causes.
The people of the land are vast and numerous. In this realm, the tradition Dungeons and Dragons races are used. Elves, Humans, Haflings, Dwarves, and Gnomes make up the major races of the realm. There are also goblins and other goblinoids, there are also orcs and ogres. But you must be weary of this second group, for they are not entirely trustworthy, and sometimes dangerous. There haven't been many major conflicts between the races, only the occasional troublesome goblins or orc raiding party.
The greatest known magic, is that of the elves. Only a few humans have managed to successfully harness its power. There is always the cleric orders, who use the magic of the divine to fulfill their missions and to further the will of their gods. The greatest magic of the realm still remains with the gods and the elves. However, the greatest secrets are widely unknown.
On the continents of Thelona and Velona, the kingdoms are a variety of sizes, and a variance in governmental structures. The human kingdoms are all in good favor with eachother, and tend to keep up good relations with the leaders of nations of other races. For geographical information on the kingdoms, the maps are fully detailed. The major alliance in the realm is that of the Padonian-Solerman Alliance. Toghether, they dominate the majority of the Thelonian continent. The nation of Padonis also has a trade agreement with Cydonia, which looks to be leading to an alliance, one which would solidify Padonis's position in the world. In turn, the Cydonians have a loose alliance with Gondor. The other nations remain independent of major alliances.