Post by Nephallim on Jun 7, 2006 0:42:21 GMT -5
There are two major nations in the setting: The Kingdom of Alu and the Blackspire Confederacy, more simply called the Kingdom and the Confederacy.
The Kingdom is a fairly mundane place. There are some scholars who have the insight to delve into the arcane, some priests who can work mericles, and some few who can work magic instincively or through music. None of these, however is common. Creatures considered 'monsters' are rare, though they exist in deep wilderness. When these monsters wander into civilized lands and identified, knights of the kingdom are swiftly dispatched to slay them.
The Kingdom is a monarchy. The King of Alu always comes from one bloodline, the Richeart line, though succession does not always fall to the eldest true-born son of the King. Indeed, any male member of the bloodline is elligible to succeed the throne in the event of the death or resignation of a King. The King is chosen by the Cardinals of Alu, the highest officials of the Kingdom's church.
The Kingdom's religion is dualistic. Priests claim that the Lord God Alu rules over heaven, and that his brother, the wicked Demon Prince Asbel opposes him. Disease and misfortune in the Kingdom is almost always attributed in some way to Asbel and his host of demons.
To the north of the Kingdom lies the Confederacy, a nation of goblinoids, orcs, and other vile creatures believed to be creatures of Asbel. The Confederacy is ruled by three immortal Witch Kings, believed by the Kingdom to be demons of Asbel.
The Kingdom and the Confederacy is almost always at a state of 'war' though decades can pass between actual major engagements. Still, the Kingdom keeps a large portion of its knights, and a larger portion of its peasant army near its northern border.
Three non-human races dwell within the Kingdom: the forest folk, the mountain folk, and the plains folk.
The forest folk, called elves among themselves and among scholars, dwell in the deep forests of the Kingdom, building great cities among the treetops.
The mountain folk, called dwarves derisively, dwell in the mountains toward the north of the Kingdom, along the border of the Confederacy.
The plains folk, called halflings derisively, dwell among humans, in the farmlands of the Kingdom. They are also affectionately called 'Littlefolk' or 'Smallfolk.'
The forest folk and the mountain folk claim sovereignty over their own city-states within the Kingdom, and the Kingdom does not generally interfere with their politics or claim authority over their lands. Likewise, the officials of the Kingdom do not generally interfere with the plains folk unless a human citizen becomes involved.
These non-human residents of the Kingdom are collectively knows as 'the Fatherless.'
The Kingdom is a fairly mundane place. There are some scholars who have the insight to delve into the arcane, some priests who can work mericles, and some few who can work magic instincively or through music. None of these, however is common. Creatures considered 'monsters' are rare, though they exist in deep wilderness. When these monsters wander into civilized lands and identified, knights of the kingdom are swiftly dispatched to slay them.
The Kingdom is a monarchy. The King of Alu always comes from one bloodline, the Richeart line, though succession does not always fall to the eldest true-born son of the King. Indeed, any male member of the bloodline is elligible to succeed the throne in the event of the death or resignation of a King. The King is chosen by the Cardinals of Alu, the highest officials of the Kingdom's church.
The Kingdom's religion is dualistic. Priests claim that the Lord God Alu rules over heaven, and that his brother, the wicked Demon Prince Asbel opposes him. Disease and misfortune in the Kingdom is almost always attributed in some way to Asbel and his host of demons.
To the north of the Kingdom lies the Confederacy, a nation of goblinoids, orcs, and other vile creatures believed to be creatures of Asbel. The Confederacy is ruled by three immortal Witch Kings, believed by the Kingdom to be demons of Asbel.
The Kingdom and the Confederacy is almost always at a state of 'war' though decades can pass between actual major engagements. Still, the Kingdom keeps a large portion of its knights, and a larger portion of its peasant army near its northern border.
Three non-human races dwell within the Kingdom: the forest folk, the mountain folk, and the plains folk.
The forest folk, called elves among themselves and among scholars, dwell in the deep forests of the Kingdom, building great cities among the treetops.
The mountain folk, called dwarves derisively, dwell in the mountains toward the north of the Kingdom, along the border of the Confederacy.
The plains folk, called halflings derisively, dwell among humans, in the farmlands of the Kingdom. They are also affectionately called 'Littlefolk' or 'Smallfolk.'
The forest folk and the mountain folk claim sovereignty over their own city-states within the Kingdom, and the Kingdom does not generally interfere with their politics or claim authority over their lands. Likewise, the officials of the Kingdom do not generally interfere with the plains folk unless a human citizen becomes involved.
These non-human residents of the Kingdom are collectively knows as 'the Fatherless.'