Name: Malag-Haramon

Title(s): Prince of Violence, Lord of Murder, The Blood God

Seat of Power: The Murderthrone, in the Capital city of the Haramonian empire, High Haramon.

Divine Aspects: Blood, Violence, Combat

Appearance: Malag takes only one form, though he suspects he could take more. He has never seen fit to do so, however, and takes pride in his beautiful, if savage, humanoid appearance.

Artifacts:
-Gore: Gore is a two-handed mace, glowing with savage energies, and a natural channel for Malag's violent power. The weapon itself is a part of him, having been with him since the beginning. Considering it's divine nature, it has proven thus-far to be indestructible. When Malag strikes a target with Gore, the energies emanating from the mace are expelled. In the ensuing explosion of energies, most mortal beings are shredded, exploding into a bloody mess, much to the delight of the weapon's wielder.

-The Crown of Dissention: The Crown of Dissention was made on Malag's orders, by the finest craftsmen in his empire. It was then imbued with Malag's ability to instill strife in others. Though this ability is no longer his when he is separated from the crown, it is amplified when he wears it.

Unique abilities:
-Physically superior: Malag's strength, speed, reflexes, and endurance are greater than some gods, and far greater than that of any mortal. He is a terror on the battlefield, personally leading his armies into combat.

-Sanguimancy: Malag is able to manipulate the blood of mortal creatures, whether alive or dead. This can be utilized for a variety of purposes

Personal History: At first, Malag was unable to control his savagery and bloodlust. After his fall from the heavens, he became a murderous blight upon the mortal races, travelling from settlement to settlement in search of a worthy opponent. When none could be found, he slew the weak in a rage. This lasted for two hundred years, until incursions by the vicious blood-god were cause for widespread fear and mass panic with mortal races. His savagery and combat prowess had become legend. He became such an issue to the mortals of thenewly-formed nation of Nemia, that Nemia's God-King and protector, Thoron, confronted Malag. The ensuing battle lasted for three days and three nights. However, though Thoron began to tire, Malag merely enjoyed himself. And so, though difficult, Malag slew Thoron, and, by extension, inherited Thoron's young Nation. The civilians of the nation worshiped Malag now, out of both respect and fear.

Malag, seeing his opportunity to perpetuate his bloody rule, lead his new kingdom in a fervent expansion campaign. The Haramonian empire consumed it's neighboring nations one-by-one, until finally, Malag was confident in his control. When the lot of the empire was conquered, Malag began to systematically cull the weak, through a series of new laws. With those laws in place, he demanded a tithe of people from each province of his empire, to compete in gladiatorial blood-sport for his entertainment. His empire has existed this way for centuries, and he has been content with it, though some speculate that the Haramonian empire may begin to conquer again soon...

Personality: Malag is violent and sadistic. However, he is not absent-of-mind. He often reflects on his nature, and is indeed quite contemplative, though he does not regret or deny any deeds, and he is quite satisfied in the sociopath that he is. He can be quick to anger, and slow to trust, particularly with other Gods. He is very active in the lives of his citizenry, and frequently joins in on the blood orgies and gladiatorial fights held in his name. In short, he is a sophisticated hedonist.

Name: The Haramonian Empire

Location: The Haramonian Empire is made up of five provinces, surrounding the mountain range known as the Spine of Thoron, as well as the capitol city of High Haramon, which rests nestled safely between the mountains in a sort of natural bowl. The provinces range from snowy mountaintop villages, to the plains below. There are no walls around Haramonian settlements, except and raids from enemy nations are encouraged.

Government: The Empire is a dictatorship, ruled by Malag through his vassals in the Church of Blood, who double both as religious and political leaders.

Dominant race: The Main bulk of the Empire is Human, though they are a specific derivative, thanks to the brutal society, and proximity to the Blood God. These humans have adapted to be more barbaric and warlike. They are a foot taller than the average human, and disarmingly beautiful, though almost inhumanely muscular and fit. No human in the empire can say that they are unskilled in the art of combat. Humans aside, all who are depraved enough to actively seek bloodshed are welcome, should they prove worthy in combat. This has proven to be a boon, as the Empire has seamlessly absorbed some more warlike races into it's ranks.

Other races:
-The Dwelki are a diminutive worker race that initially served Thoron, but have been twisted, tortured, and mutilated by Malag and the Church of Blood since Thoron was slain. They are the servant caste of the Empire. They are weak and frail, and appear as small, malnourished humanoids with peaces of skin missing. They are sometimes referred to as the Flayed Ones because of this.

-Destrodons are the pack-animals and war-mounts of the Empire. They are large, boar-like creatures, which stand about a foot taller than a man. They are immensely strong, and in times of war, a charge of Destrodon cavalry is like an earthquake.

-Cows, Goats, and other generic domestic animals serve as their cattle, but many within the empire partake in cannibalism.

Wild Flora/fauna: WIP

Specialization: Combat and Bloodshed are the trademarks of the Empire. Due to the tenants known as Malag's laws, the weak are culled form the empire, leaving only the strong and skilled to reproduce. There are no civilians in the Empire, as every mortal is forced to learn to fight from a young age. Everything is settled through combat, from land disputes to legal accusations. Because of this, the line between civilian and soldier is blurred to obscurity. For this reason, the Haramonian settlements shun the construction of walls, encouraging attacks from enemies. Most enemies learned long ago, however, that Haramonian settlements are far from defenseless.

National History: Nemia was a prosperous and peaceful mountain kingdom. Thoron, a God of Thunder and lightning, ruled over the Dwelki natives of the mountains with might and forebearance. However, when the kingdom was still newly-formed, there were incursions by Malag-Haramon, the violent God of Murder. Eventually, so many settlements had fallen to Malag's bloodlust that Thoron himself decided to step in and stop Malag. The two fought for three days and three nights, and the Dwelki watched in horror as finally, Malag slew their patron god. In fear and awe, the Dwelki placed their faith in Malag instead, and offered the Blood God their services. Malag accepted, and the changes began. First, Malag instituted his tenets, a set of laws designed to cull the weak and favour the strong. A century passed, and the Empire became stronger every year. When Malag was ready, he ordered the violent expansion of the empire, known as the Red Tide.

The Red Tide swept over all nearby settlements and small kingdoms, with Malag himself leading the campaign. The conquering went on for the better part of ten years, until Malag was contented in the size of his empire. With the Red Tide spent, Malag retreated back to his seat of power, and ordered the construction of the great Colosseum in the exact center of High Haramon. There would be constant bloodsport for the arena, lest the bloodlust of his people begin to turn them against one-another.

Alliances: TBA
Enemies: TBA

Notable People:
-The Bloodied one: This is a title granted to the greatest warrior in the Empire. Christened by Malag himself, and baptized in the blood of the Blood God.

-Arch-Curate: The leader of the Church, and the highest political position one can have. This person has the prestigious honour of keeping the company of the Lord of Murder himself, and receiving his orders directly.

-Blood Priests: The Blood priests serve as the rank-and-file of the Church of Blood. They are responsible for teaching the masses the art of combat, and overseeing legal disputes in the form of duels. The task also falls to them to collect tithes of human sacrifice for Malag. They are simultaneously the Judges, Police, Holy men, teachers, and elite warriors of the Empire.

Other:

The Tenets of Malag

1. All legal disputes will be settled through single combat. "If you want your neighbor's land, simply defeat him in combat, and take it." -Malag

2. The knowledge of combat is a necessity, and schools for training are to be maintained. "I will teach you, and in turn, you will teach the masses." -Malag

3. Blood is sacred, and must be spilled in Malag's name daily, lest his wrath be incurred. "Nobody is safe from my thirst. Give tithes to me of your kin. Spill their blood in my name, and I shall continue to allow you to live." -Malag

4. No walls or defensive structures are to be built. "Let the enemy come to us. Defend your homes with blood and steel, not stone and arrows." -Malag

Name: The Guardian

Titles: The Emperor of Ullanor, The Absent Lord, The God-Marshall, The Golden Lady

Seat of Power:

The Guardian resides in an architectural wonder, a great castle the size of three cities atop a mountain whose steep slopes supplement its excessively high and thick walls in defense. A moat (more appropriately called a lake) of water, heated, brought to boiling point and replenished by the mountain’s natural geothermal activity further protects the god’s residence. Yet the castle itself is not a place a sane person would consider as livable: it is a great distance away from the nearest settlement and the lands around it have been scorched to agricultural uselessness. Not to mention: it was made solely for the defense of The Guardian’s person with mortal comforts being deemed unnecessary. There is no furniture, no decoration, not a single fireplace -- only mustering grounds, killzones, traps and armories for his soldiers who are as grim and merciless as they are divinely blessed with the liberation from pretty mortal needs.

The mountain is ominously called “The Rock” by the people; the castle itself is known as “Leviathan”.

Divine Aspects: Order, Stability and War

Appearance:

Warlord:

The Guardian takes upon the form of a large man at peak physical shape, boasting broad and thickly-corded muscles that would already have been powerful without divine powers, but, alas, were greatly enhanced by them. The skulls of mortals have been crushed with but a mere grab and squeeze of his hand and almost without effort from the god. No lesser being can hope to challenge The Guardian in this form and see victory, whether it is mortal combat in a stormy battlefield or a simple game of chess.

The Guardian’s approach to battle is unorthodox for gods like him: he would rather command than actually fight himself. Each year, he lobotomizes willing volunteers into the perfect killing machines who know no remorse, no pity, no mercy, don’t age, and lack a sense of self. He has cultivated a grand army of them over the centuries, and at his call, they are more than willing to kill -- they have absolutely no say in the matter and will follow it until they are completely destroyed.

Diplomat:

The Guardian takes upon the form of a mild-mannered woman with a voice packed with subtleties of all kinds, mortals are entranced by it. Her clothing, but a simple robe, is of the finest silk, laced with her own divine energies. Likewise and as expected of a god, her beauty is superb, and there is a recorded instance where a single smile from her pacified an entire rebellion in but a heartbeat. In this form, The Guardian is a master temptress, a skilled diplomat, and a wise advisor to those who would listen. For the first four centuries of her reign, this was the form she took on the most. As such, she is depicted like so in most art and literature, both foreign and local.

Child:

Only within the safety of Leviathan does The Guardian take on his original form, the one he was born with: that of a boy’s. The Guardian believes that the world would be a better place if everyone stayed young, and he toys with this unproven theory by taking on the form of a child. There have been exceedingly rare instances when The Guardian decides to mingle with the populace in this form, mostly with other children, whom he plays with. This is also his default form.

Artifacts:

The Gem of Ullanor: An uncut sapphire gemstone which The Guardian thoughtlessly picked up almost immediately after his birth. He carried it for no actual important reason well into the foundation of his Empire in the Center of the World. Having been in his presence for such a long time, the stone has become a reservoir of terrible divine power. The Guardian has found no use for it so far, but he keeps it just in case the balance of power in the world needs to be shifted.

Unique abilities:

By Divine Right: Mortals will, on command, bend their knee to The Guardian, follow his requests at their own peril, and hold him as all that is perfect upon the world. This is his aspect of Order, of judge, of statesman, of leader, given concrete effect. His dominion over all lesser things is his Divine Right.

Lingering Blessing: The land is made more fertile and more bountiful as The Guardian stays in it. The river-waters are much purer, the grass much greener and healthier, the soil more rich, and puppies much more active. The people are also suddenly less violent, more prone to smiling and laughing, and become quite content with the divine, subconscious suppression of excess want. This is his aspect of Stability given concrete effect. This is also why the Empire of Ullanor boasts a great population of both mortals and animals, and why its people are quite happy for reasons that do not have much weight.

Utter Hatred: The skies themselves shake at his wrath, the very earth trembles at the boom of his voice, and the rocks that form the world split apart as The Guardian raises his sword and gives the order attack. Whatever clouds above rain oil instead of water, and lightning strikes ignite great flames that will devour entire forests. The Holy Orders that have been formed in The Guardian’s name sally out forth from their castles and fortresses, noble knights clutching their weapons tightly, as they march to war. There is no room for mercy as justice must be swift and absolute: those who have wronged The Guardian and the people of Ullanor will pay their debts in blood.

In the event of total war, The Guardian’s war aspect manifests concretely, and lands which have the privilege of his Lingering Blessing will actively work against his enemies. He is not called, and he does not call himself, “The Guardian”, for no reason: on the defensive, he is almost unstoppable as the very earth will try to protect the order he has wrought.

Personal and National History:

“I was born to lead, and it is my divine right that you, good man, follow me. I shall expand your demesne from mere duchy to kingdom. Your villages will become cities and your peasant militia shall become noble knights. No harm will befall you, and my rule shall be distant and unobtrusive. All I ask is that you bend your knee to me.”

The Guardian was born in the subcontinent called Ullanor by its natives. Created from the dust and mud of the soil and given the breath of divine life by generous Melkaia, the newborn soul took on the form of a little boy whose eyes glowed a bright silver, before settling down into a calm blue. The very first things the Guardian experienced were the heat and glare of the sun’s rays beaming down through the canopy, the constant gurgle of a nearby creek, and the stiffness of the rock which his naked butt sat upon quite contentedly. The Guardian wandered for many years as a boy, collecting himself and organizing his inborn knowledge, practicing his powers at times, and experiencing for himself the various races that populated this world.

The Guardian met the humans first, then the elves, and then the dwarves. These were civilized races, orderly peoples, and The Guardian came to love them dearly. Then he met the Centaurs, the Drows and the Satyrs, and he found them wanting, for they were overindulgent and had a complete lack of self-respect. He found a curious race of women with the upper bodies of either humans or elves but had the construction of snakes from the waist-down called the Lamia. Their culture was a mix of order and self-indulgence, but he was charmed when the elder of one of the local Lamia villages conducted a tea ceremony when he was first introduced to their race, and so he came to accept them.

But land was not infinite, and The Guardian finally exhausted the sights of what his subcontinent had to offer. West, East, North and South -- the beaches that had acted as borders had barred him from exploring any further save for hitching a boat to somewhere else, or taking the bridge that connected the Ullanor peninsula to its parent continent. However, he wasn’t keen on exploring again, as he sought to unite the peoples of his land into a single nation, his inborn traits finally showing prominently. He took on the form of a woman, and convinced easily the Lamia, the Dwaves, the Elves and the Humans to acknowledge her as their Lord with her silver tongue. The Satyrs, Drows and Centaurs, however, were not approached, owing to The Guardian’s dislike of them.

Consolidation and reorganization of the land and aristocracy of four major races took about half a century. The Guardian put into good use his inborn powers to build his new nation of Ullanor, starting as an absolute monarchy with him as Emperor. With political barriers brought down, existing cities and towns experienced a growth in multiculturalism and diversity. The currency was, by divine edict, minted in silver, and The Guardian’s natural divine flow facilitated quick prosperity. A small rebellion broke about, mainly by nobles who questioned His divinity, but it was pacified with a smile.

The Centaurs, Drows and Satyrs once saw the fledgling Empire as a threat to their own domains, but when the leaders of the first two races met with The Guardian to demand the concession of land, they made the mistake of talking to him at length: they were entranced within the hour, and were invited to join the Emperor. The Satyrs, who considered diplomacy as something alien, simply raided the outskirts of the new nation. Within twenty years, Satyrs who were natives to Ullanor became extinct. Meanwhile, the Centaurs and Drows were incorporated peacefully, and those races acclimated to the Ullanori culture of relative self-restraint rather well.

Tension between the races gradually lessened over the years as The Guardian’s Lingering Blessing continued to strengthen its hold. Its effect on the minds of the people of Ullanor were remarkable: half-elves, half-dwarves and lamia abounded as social stigma centered on race-mixing died out. To some, it was horrifying: how could a human produce offspring with an elf? And what kind of woman would let herself be mounted by a centaur?! These questions, The Guardian merely brushed off. What was important was stability, order and peace. If one can hold these virtues true, then what happens in the bedchamber is none of The Guardian-Emperor’s business.

Bountiful harvests brought about by divinely-blessed land brought about constant food surpluses, which translated to higher birth rates. Couples averaged about five children each, and medieval society demanded that children work with their parents, and thus there wasn’t a shortage of labor. By the next century, a happy populace built churches and shrines dedicated to The Guardian. The Imperial Cult became, unofficially, the state religion, and soon enough, Holy Orders dedicated to providing The Guardian with a standing army of mortals as well as doing charity work for the unfortunate were founded as well. At this point, overseas trade with other nations that possessed the capability was established. The Empire spanned the whole small continent of Ullanor by the second century of The Guardian’s reign.

It was a peaceful nation. Unfortunately, a young warlike god named Daikami mistook peacefulness for weakness. The southern city of Aragorn was invaded by Daikami and his men, and a massacre ensued. The Guardian was, understandably, angered, and personally lead the charge against Daikami. The latter god was defeated and set sail with a tattered army and fleet. Unfortunately for him, The Guardian followed. The small archipelago nation of Ryukyu was swiftly conquered by the Ullanori, and its God-Emperor, Daikami, was beheaded in front of his own people. Ullanor’s massive population and economy made reconstruction of both Aragorn and Ryukyu quite easy.

Ryukyu housed a strange species: the Kitsune. These were people who had functioning fox ears and tails. They can interbreed with elves and humans. The Guardian was once again charmed with a tea ceremony, and they were swiftly incorporated into the Empire.

By the fourth century of his reign, The Guardian has seen it fit to decentralize his rule. He declared five provinces: North, South, East, West and Ryukyu. These were to be ruled by kings elected by the noble houses. Instituting a policy of nation-building and peaceful expansion, The Guardian then retired to Leviathan to watch his Empire grow, while fiddling with the very fibers of reality to uncover the truth of his conception: a subject which he has no foreknowledge of, interestingly so.

The Age of Five Kings has lasted for well over two centuries now and The Guardian only rarely makes public appearances, too busy studying metaphysical pre-history within Leviathan. The only development worthy of note in this Age is the Sultanate of Hukbalahap’s (a small island nation southwest of Ullanor) acceptance of Ullanor’s offer of vassalation.

Personality:

“The people live their lives in peace, order and harmony, and I am here to safeguard them. I like to think myself magnanimous and a good ruler. The Empire of Ullanor has certainly been prosperous, if not rather uneventful, for the course of its life so far.”

The Guardian has a mild personality in all aspects unless angered: something which happens only in special circumstance. Being a god of order, he values self-restraint and loathes the excess, and has pressed his beliefs successfully into the culture of the Empire. Hedonism is looked down upon in his eyes and thus it is looked down in his nation.

He is a careful god: before he makes any decision, he stops and thinks deeply, utilizing fully his godly intellect even into what some would consider as trivial matters.

Rule of Ullanor has left him rather tired. The Five Kings do well enough, and so he is quite content to study the metaphysical world instead of taking the throne.

Name: The Empire of Ullanor (Colloquial), Imperium Ullanorum (Formal)

Nicknames: The Empire at the Center of the World

Location:

Located into what is traditionally held as the center of the world, Ullanor is an nation consisting fully of its namesake subcontinent plus the neighboring archipelago of Ryukyu. Great plains utilized as perfect farmland can be found at its south while a mountain range, akin to a backbone, juts out from the center and runs all the way to the end of the north, whose topography is covered in forests of pine, where dwarves clad in hard, thick leather labor under snowfall. It rains often on Ullanor, and a marked trait of the land is its constant cloud cover. Shadowed and thus cooled down, the people of the Empire are rather pale in skin color.

Its position on the world makes its climate temperate. Light snowfall is a part of everyday life in the North, and winter over there is brutal, turning pine needles into icicles.

Ullanor is not blessed with a variety of biomes: there are no deserts to contrast its plains and farmlands, and the only active volcano was tamed by The Guardian, who built Leviathan on its peak.

Government: Absolute Monarchy with Five Kings acting as regents in The Guardian’s absence from his throne.

Dominant race:

Ullanor is a multicultural empire that boasts cities housing a variety of peoples while also keeping many settlements that have remained pure-blooded. The Guardian cares not for your race so long as you can be civil. Humans, Dwarves and Lamia are the most populous, in descending order, followed by Kitsune, Centaurs and Drows, also in that order. Elves have the smallest population.

Races of Interest:

• Lamia: A peculiar monogendered race of women of either elvish or human features whose bodies are snake-like beginning from the waist and continuing downwards. Before integration into the Empire, they would have to kidnap males from other races in order to reproduce. Lamia lay eggs and their children will always be female, but bearing some characteristics of the father. The stigma associated with mating with them has disappeared through the centuries under The Guardian’s rule.
  
  Their muscular bodies make them excellent shock troops, and their lack of menstruation and infinitely less obvious pregnancies eliminates the disadvantages that would hold a woman back when soldiering. The length of their figures is such that it requires two hearts to pump blood all the way: one in their humanoid chests, and another in their snake bellies.



• Kitsune: A peculiar race looking most similarly to humans. They have functioning fox ears and tails, and can reach very old ages, up to five hundred years. The number of tails an individual kitsune has increases as they age, with the maximum amount of tails being nine. With such a long lifespan, it is not a surprise that they produce amazing artisans who are masters at their craft.



• Drows: An Elvish people with skin tones that range from blue to purple. They are known for their inborn promiscuity and are given to overindulgence, which has been lessened due to the subconscious effects of the Lingering Blessing. In tune with the night, they are excellent skirmishers, assassins and spies. Almost all spymasters in the Empire are Drows.

Other races: Ostriches, cows, sheep, pigs make excellent livestock, and the good-quality cotton provides a sizable and wealthy industry. Horses are bred for both war and agricultural purposes.

Wild Flora/Fauna:

Ullanor’s flora and fauna are not very remarkable.

Specialization: Peace and Stability.

Though part of The Guardian’s inborn nature is that of war, fate has steered him away from that path. In all objective aspects, the Empire of Ullanor is a thriving nation and a model for lesser ones to follow.

Alliances:
-The Sultanate of Hukbalahap

Enemies:
-The Satyr Tribes (Destroyed)
-The Despotate of Ryukyu (Conquered)

Notable People:

The Five Kings: The elected monarchs who rule the land in The Guardian’s stead. These nobles are greatly respected throughout the land.

• The King in the North: The person who governs the Northern Province of Ullanor. Traditionally, because of demographics, the monarch is a male dwarf.


• The Lord of the East: The person who governs the Eastern Province of Ullanor. Traditionally, because of demographics, the monarch is a lamia.


• The Despot of the West: The person who governs the Western Province of Ullanor. Traditionally, because of demographics, the monarch is a male human.


• The Khan of the South: The person who governs the Southern Province of Ullanor. Traditionally, because of demographics, the monarch is a centauress.


• The Daimyo of Ryukyu: The person who governs the Archipelago of Ryukyu. Traditionally, because of demographics, the monarch is a kitsune who has proven his- or herself by defeating their fellow claimants in single combat.

Imperator Ullanorum: The Emperor of Ullanor. The Guardian has always had this position ever since he started to exercise his divine right of dominion over the people of his land. He will not cede it unless there is great reason to.

Name:
Xisuthra

Title(s):
Sar Nunna, Sar Eshnuk, Honourbound Lord, Master of Laws, Just One

Seat of Power:
Xisuthra rules from the Indigo Palace, a grand and massive ziggurat located between the great cities of Nunna and Eshnuk.

Divine Aspects:
Honour, Law, Justice

Appearance:
Xisuthra has two known forms, though he spends most of his time in the human form seen above, which towers over his human subjects at 12 feet tall. His other form is that of an absolutely massive lion, nearly 7 feet tall at the shoulder and with brilliant golden fur.

Artifacts:
Lawbringer - Under most circumstances the Lawbringer takes the form of a worn stone tablet, but it is far more than it appears. Not only can the writing on its surface shift and warp to display any of Xisuthra's laws, Xisuthra can make it take the form of any weapon he desires simply by willing it to be so. Thanks to its divine nature Lawbringer has so far proven indestructible and is far stronger than any mortal weapon, easily able to pierce and cut through anything made by mortal hands.

Unique abilities:
Divine Physicality - Even when compared to other Gods Xisuthra's physical attributes are considered superior. His strength, reflexes, endurance, and agility make him an absolutely horrific foe to face on the battlefield. And he does fight himself, as to him leading his men into battle and fighting alongside them is the honourable course of action.

Aura of Truth - Xisuthra is able to will those around him to speak the truth, even if they themselves would rather lie. It does not force them to speak, but rather it makes it so that when they do speak the words coming out of their mouth are the truth. At least, what the individual knows to be truth. While the effect is absolute and total on mortals, Gods can resist its effects.

Personal History:
Xisuthra came to be in the middle of a dry and rocky desert, constantly scorched by the burning sun high above. He was formed with the Lawbringer already in his hands, but he was unclothed and unkempt. He looked more like a wild man, a far cry from the regal appearance he displays today. He wandered the deserts for many months, before coming to a land that was fertile and green, nurtured by the great river Ibish. It was there that he discovered the twin cities of Nunna and Eshnuk, both inhabited by Ibishian humans. However, despite their similarities the Kingdoms of Nunna and Eshnuk were locked in perpetual war, fighting for dominance of the Ibish.

The first contact Xisuthra had with the Ibishians was when he wandered into a small village near the border of the two Kingdoms. The people were in awe of the giant God, and many were fearful of his appearance. But as luck would have it, on the evening of the day after Xisuthra's appearance a war party from Eshnuk arrived in the village, looking for food and supplies. Xisuthra watched the exchange between the village's elderly leader and the soldier's Captain from afar. However, the leader informed the Captain that they didn't have enough supplies for themselves, let alone all the soldiers. This angered the Captain, who immediately drew his blade and slit the elderly man's throat before ordering his men to destroy the village. Unfortunately for the Captain, this angered Xisuthra greatly. The last thing the man saw was Lawbringer in the form of the stone tablet, before it slammed into his face. The soldiers had already drawn their weapons to kill the villagers when their Captain was killed, and as a result Xisuthra showed them no mercy. All of them died by Xisuthra's hands, some of them literally. It was then that the God swore that he would unite the two Kingdoms, conquering them and bring peace to the bloody shores of the Ibish.

Soon rumours spread of a giant warrior, undefeated in battle, who was singlehandedly cutting a bloody swathe through the land. In truth he was not alone, as there were warriors who swore loyalty to him. Some did so out of a belief that Xisuthra would truly bring law and peace to the land, while some only did so out of fear. First the God made his way to the city of Eshnuk, where his army was badly outnumbered and was faced with the city's massive walls. It was then that his voice boomed, informing those that could hear that he would spare those who did not fight him, but any who stood against him would surely fall. Eventually the God's words spread throughout the city, but many felt safe in the city. After all, larger armies than his had broken themselves against the gates in the past, and while he was a God he was only a single person. Unfortunately for them, Xisuthra strode up to the thick gates, smashed a hole in it with his fists, and proceeded to lift the several tons of wood, bronze, and stone that made up the gate. His small army flooded through the gates, taking the defenders by surprise. In addition many simply laid down their arms, after all they had just seen the gates breached by a single man and he had offered to spare those who refused to stand against him. And Xisuthra kept that promise, any who laid down their arms were spared his wrath and any of his men that he witnessed murdering, looting, raping, or engaging in any such activities were broken by his hand. Thanks to this only those most loyal to Eshnuk stood and fought, and the city was taken with almost no damage.

It was then that Xisuthra declared himself King of Eshnuk, Sar Eshnuk in the Ibishian tongue. He refused the coronation ceremony, however, stating that he would undergo the coronation ceremony of Eshnuk and Nunna at the same time. While he consolidated his rule, the armies of Nunna were amassing and preparing for an assault on Eshnuk. While they had heard of Eshnuk's fall, they disregarded tales that the gates had been opened by the giant warrior and that most of the warriors had set their arms down. This resulted in them believing Eshnuk to be weakened, when nothing could be farther from the truth. So when they arrived at Eshnuk, they received an unpleasant surprise. They met Eshnuk's fully amassed army, lead by Xisuthra in front of a virtually undamaged wall and gate. The battle that followed was a complete bloodbath; both sides lost many troops but Nunna's army was wiped out almost to a man. Because of this, when Xisuthra arrived at Nunna, he found the city gates wide open, the King killed by his own people for refusing the surrender, and the people of Nunna more than willingly to accept his rule.

And so Xisuthra became Sar Eshnuk and Sar Nunna, King of the two great Ibishian cities. The coronation itself took place in the village that Xisuthra had first arrived in, which was chosen, with the blessing of the village's new leader, to become the site of Xisuthra's new palace. Xisuthra's original plans were for a much smaller palace, but the people convinced him otherwise, which resulted in the construction of the massive and many-tiered ziggurat he lives in today. But until it was completed Xisuthra switched between living in Nunna and Eshnuk every few months, as in his mind neither city was superior to the other. And as King, Xisuthra began the process of laying down his own laws for the Kingdom. While he used the previous laws as the basic framework for his Law Code, he changed or disregarded those laws he found to be unjust and unfair. Unfortunately, this resulted in resentment on the part of those who felt the new laws were unfair against them and ensured that the early years of his rule were not dull or peaceful.

One of the most significant changes to the rules and laws was the complete and total outlaw of slavery in any form. Both Kingdoms had practiced slavery quite extensively, and as a result many slave owners were angry when Xisuthra declared slavery illegal and all former slaves free to live as they desired. This was because Xisuthra had no prior experience with slavery, and all he saw were men and woman being treated as objects and property, and he found it vile and distasteful. While there were a few incidents that flared up in violence, they were quickly beaten down and the perpetrators executed. But they were uncommon, as many former slave owners found ways around the laws. It wasn't uncommon for former slaves to end up 'employed' by their former owners and to still be slaves in all but name. Xisuthra did his best to stamp out the practice, as he viewed the spirit of the laws as more important than the exact wording.

This issue would eventually flare up once more several years later, when a nobleman lost his temper in the presence of Xisuthra and beat a serving while referring to her as a slave. Needless to say he ended up dead. To be more precise Xisuthra broke his neck, before embarking on a strict crackdown on the nobility 'employing' former slaves. This occurred in Nunnan, and when word spread to Eshnuk a group of nobility rose up against Xisuthra's rule, which they viewed as unjust and encroaching upon their rights as the nobility. And while the issue started over slavery, any who thought of Xithustra as being unfairly harsh and cruel in his pursuit of justice soon joined the rebellion. The actual war itself did not take long, as the rebels and Xisuthra's side were evenly matched in terms of mortal armies. But Xisuthra was a God, and tipped the scales heavily in his favour. There was a single climatic battle, once more before the gates of Eshnuk, and the rebel forces were routed and destroyed. Then, according to legends, Xisuthra tore down the gates into the city where his army flooded in and killed all who opposed him. In truth his siege engines dealt with the gate, as it had been reinforced since he had first lifted it open. What followed was a cleanup of the few remaining rebel strongholds, while Xisuthra remained in the city and dealt with any remaining rebellious elements.

But fortunately that was the only major rebellion in history, since as time went on the people began accepting Xisuthra and his laws. Those who were adults when Xisuthra arrived remembered the old ways, but those who were children or had yet to be born knew no other laws but those of the Honourbound Lord. That is not to say the land was peaceful, as they still had to deal with the likes of bandits or raiders from the desert. But they were only small raids for the most part, though it was not unknown for Xisuthra to go out and lead retaliatory attacks against the perpetrators. The land itself became known as a safe haven for any and all, watched over and kept safe by the great God Xisuthra.

Personality:
Xisuthra can be both kind and fair, as well as cold and harsh. He values law, justice, and honour above all else; to those he views as having those qualities he is a steadfast friend, but he is disdainful to those who are unjust or dishonourable. And the God is steadfast and unerring in his views of what is right and what is wrong. He can be rather introspective at times, as he wants to be absolutely certain that he is in the right, but he also has a tendency to be hasty or rash when it comes to taking action. If he makes a mistake he will admit it, but he won't let it bother him and will try his hardest to set it right or make the best of the situation. He is also honest, brutally so sometimes, as he views lies and deceit as being both dishonourable and unfair to those who you are lying to.

Name:
Kingdom of Ibish

Location:

The Kingdom of Ibish consists of the land along the Ibish river, which has its origins in the great mountain range to the South and runs all the way to the sea. The land adjacent to the river itself is a rich and fertile flood plain thanks to the Ibish and its annual flooding, which feeds and nourishes the land. And the land along the delta adjacent to the sea consists of wet and flooded marshes. However, beyond that the land is a bone dry and rocky desert. Agriculture is not possible, and the only inhabitants are the nomads who occasionally raid and harass the Ibishians.

Government:
The overall ruler of Ibish is Xisuthra, and his word is absolute law. But he knows that even he is not up to the task of managing every single detail of the day to day governance of the entire realm. As a result he chooses two individuals who he believes would be the best rulers and do the best to uphold his laws as Regent of Nunna and Regent of Eshnuk. They, in turn, are in charge of selecting individuals to deal with more specific areas of governance. Meanwhile the smaller settlements usually choose a leader from people in the village, though they can be replaced if Xisuthra deems it necessary.

Dominant race:
The vast majority of people in Ibish are humans of Ibishian stock. They have rather light skin as well as dark hair and eyes, and are well-known for their intricately braided hair and beards. However, there is also a sizable population of nomads who have either abandoned their nomadic life or are the descendants of those who did in the past. They have darker skin and lighter hair than the Ibishians, and only those who have lived settled lives for long periods of time braid their beards in the Ibishian style. Other than that one can find many other races, as all are welcome to live their lives in Ibish so long as they follow Xisuthra's laws.

Other races:
Domesticated animals in Ibish are typical species, with sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, donkeys, and horses all being raised and used within the Kingdom.

Wild Flora/fauna:
Wild animals within Ibish are generally not particularly strange either. There are creatures such as crocodiles, lions, wild cattle, boar, vultures, snakes, and eagles living on the fertile banks of the river. However the largest creatures in Ibish are the bilam, a species of massive elephant. The creatures can grow to be nearly 20 feet tall at the shoulder, though most do not exceed 15 feet at the shoulder. Both genders have tusks, though the tusks on the male are more massive. They are used in war, though they cannot be considered truly domesticated as they must be captured in the wild and cannot be bred in captivity.

Specialization:
Order and Stability

National History:
The founding of the twin cities of Eshnuk and Nunna are shrouded in mystery and legend, having existed long before the arrival of Xisuthra. What is know is that their rulers came to establish two Kingdoms along the Ibish, and that prior to Xisuthra's arrival they were sworn foes. For as long as anyone could remember the two Kingdoms had warred with each other, though there were lulls in the fighting. But this ended when Xisuthra arrived and conquered the two cities, bringing the Kingdoms under his control and bringing peace to the land. Though early in his rule the land was not entirely peaceful, as the people of Nunna and Eshnuk still held their grudges towards each other, which were not easily forgotten. And Xisuthra's new laws resulted in unrest among those who felt they were unjust. Eventually it lead to a revolt, which began as a revolt against Xisuthra's harsh stance against slavery but quickly escalated into a revolt involving all who wished to be free of the God's rule. However, this revolt failed thanks to the presence of Xisuthra, though the mop up of isolated rebel holdouts that remained would take some time.

But after that, Ibish knew peace for the first time in forever. And it was a true peace, not simply a lull in the fighting where all were simply waiting for the fighting to resume again. It was an era of peace and prosperity among the Ibishians, though they still had to deal with raids from the nomads and their ilk. It was during this time that Xisuthra completed his sets of laws, finalizing and having them set in stone in all of the cities of Ibish, for all of his people to see. He set about on great public works, improving the already legendary walls of Nunna and Eshnuk, continuing construction on the exquisite Indigo Palace, and building monuments. Ties were built up with the neighbouring nations, and for once it was not because the Kingdoms simply desired allies in their wars against one another. Xisuthra had no dreams of expansion or conquest, as aside from the great expanse of desert Ibish bordered only nations which Xisuthra saw no reason to fight. And a war for no reason other to conquer land was a pointless war, akin to mass murder in the eyes of the Just One.

Alliances:
WIP

Enemies:
WIP

Notable People:
Lili, Regent of Eshnuk
Midashma, Regent of Nunna
Ammazuum, Grand General of Ibish
Mammamm, High Priestess of the Faith

Name: Targ Gratios

Title(s): Targ "The Bloodied", Lord of the Shifting Sands, God of war

Seat of Power: A small cobbled together stronghold of Various things of wood and stone, think Helms Deep but smaller.

Divine Aspects: War,Strategy,and Patron god of the desert traveller, and Oasis'.

Appearance: He normally appears as a Dark Skinned human with Midnight black hair and covered in golden jewelry, But also known to appear as a Cobra and a Giant Lion

Artifacts: A sword that has a crystal embedded in the hilt, theres nothing special about the blade it's self but the Crystal has the abilty to control the sands to a small degree.
An amulet that is shaped like an eye with a Ruby in the middle has the ability to let it's wielder see a top down view of land up to 50 miles away.

Unique abilities: Targ has a small degree of control over the desert so he can make small oasis', small sandstorms, and mirages.
Targ Also has the ability of learning a variety of fighting styles quicker than other gods and mortals.

Personal History: When Targ was brought into the mortal world it brought him into a desert not far off from a tribe of orc nomads, when they went to investigate they found him standing there fully grown and a sword on his hip, taken aback by this mysterious man who appeared out of nowhere, they took him prisoner and he was their prisoner for two years until, a shaman (who is now one of his advisers) appeared from his spiritual journey of two years and recognized him as a god with this information the nomads made him their chieftain.

With Targ as their chieftain they won many battles against other tribes of both orcs and humans, and the losers were either wiped out to the last man, enslaved or if they proved themselves capable warriors allowed to join with Targ and his war band eventually they found a nation built by goblins, Targ and his war band sieged the city and eventually brought the nation into his fold, Targ's war band was growing and would continue to grow eventually adding in Ogres, and Sand trolls to his army making his Tribe the strongest and the last in the desert.

Targ ruled over his people Kindly,and Justly, but could be cruel to people who rebelled or went against him but streched thin seeing as he can't be everywhere at once he made a artifact an amulet shaped like an eye with an ruby inlaid in the middle that allows him to watch over his lands from afar and still be it's chieftain.

Personality: Targ is a thinker, as well as a natrual born leader able to rally his men even in the worse crisis, but he has a violent streak to him as well as seen by anyone who opposes him.

Other: N/a.

Name:The Bloodfang Tribe

Location: A giant desert full of sandy dunes, and rocky canyons, with a few oasis' that tribes have fought over for generations until Targ came along

Government: Targ is the chieftain but he consults his 5 advisers and representatives for guidance before going to war

Dominant race: Orcs: Green Skinned and natrual fighters all of them Targ was taken captive by the Bloodfang tribe and when said to be a god became leader of their tribe, but there are other orc tribes like the Sand Wolves, who are renowned for riding giant sand wolves and Rock chompers, who love to dig tunnels and be underground. That are now apart of the Bloodfang Tribe and other tribes that didn't prove themselves are used as slaves

Other races: Humans: only a couple of feet shorter than the green skins they are generally tan in appearance with black hair like the orcs some are used as slaves and some are used as fighters normally they are mounted on the backs of the Unoura Lizard a common beast of burden and mount among the tribes.

Goblins:Short green skinned mechanics,builders,and scientists they are the think tank of the Bloodfang Tribe usually developing new weapons of war and other useful things like irrigation methods, but do not doubt their fighting prowess as they are tough fighters when cornered.

Ogres:Giant dumb beasts of war, while incredibly stupid they are capable fighters and used as shock troops by the Bloodfang Tribe normally just the sight of 20 of these things sends most armies running or sending up a white flag.

Sand Trolls:About the same size as orcs were unified under one big tribe led war chief and gave Targ the biggest run for his money eventually at the Battle of Bloody Dunes Targ won a victory and got the old war chief to surrender and join the Bloodfang Tribe

Unoura Lizard: Think of a Komodo dragon but without the bacteria infested mouth and big enough for five humans to ride on normally there are three archers a driver and a back up driver per a lizard, but they are also used like beasts of burden as well so it is not uncommon to see one of these lizards hooked up to a plow.

Sand wolves: There are many packs of sand wolves out in the desert but only the biggest dire wolves of the pack get to become mounts for the army.
Wild Flora/fauna: Unoura Lizards: not all of these beasts are tame and often use their size to try to scare people away but if that doesn't work it will use teeth,claws and tail.

Sand Wolves: Just like the lizards not all of them are tame giant packs of these things roam the desert normally at night in search of prey they attack as a pack and if threatened will attack all together.

Orala: The Orala are a lot like Impala's horned grazers who tend to graze on desert grass they are hunted for food by the tribes as well as by the predators but they will charge with their horns if threatened.

Wyrms: Giant worms that burrow under sand and create tunnels through rock they can also spit a corrosive acid at people that melt's metal,skin and bone it takes an army to even take one of these things out so the tribe tends to avoid it, unless it's asleep then they attack it and skin it since it's skin is useful in creating armor.

Giant Cobras "Wajet": Called the Wajet these giant cobras can spit venom in someones eye with uncanny accuraccy they also tend to travel in what the tribes call coils which is a group of ten of these snakes all together and when threatened they will all attack what ever the threat is at night they sleep in a giant pile thus why a group of them is called a coil.

Specialization: The Bloodfang Tribe specializes in war, but has also been known to trade with outsiders seeing as outsiders are always welcome in their towns, Cities, and tent cities the normally have a lot to offer in the way of jewelry, and other ornate objects like perfumes though they don't use it themselves, and with the help of the Goblins they are also know for their craftsmanship on other things to.

National History: When Targ was brought into the mortal world he was taken prisoner by the Bloodfang Tribe for two years when a shaman named Gor'lak Oldtooth came back from his spiritual journey that is required among all shamans and told the tribe that Targ was a god brought into the world to save them and bring them to glory, and after that they let Targ go and made him their chieftain Targ's first step as chieftain was to make Gor'lak his chief Adviser and representative of the Orcs.

After that day Targ led the Bloodfangs on a warpath bringing many tribes into the fold those who were worthy warriors were brought in as warriors those tribes that weren't were either wiped out to the last man,woman, and child or enslaved eventually Targ set his sights on a city built by Goblins and besieged it and brought the defenders to their knees he forced them to join his tribe, the next to join were the Ogres, legend tells that Targ himself wrestled the ogre leader to the ground and forced him to join, and the last to join were the Sand Trolls at that point they were unified under one war chief and Targ's forces and the Sand Trolls fought a war that cost many men on both sides but at the Battle of the Bloody Dunes Targ stood victorious with the Warchief of the Sand Trolls begging to be spared at his feet.

After all of the war and battles fought by Targ he was content with what he had and focused on building rather than destroying building small towns and cities in the desert and eventually building his own stronghold in the largest city Nekahime also known as the Crown jewel of the desert.

Alliances:N/a

Enemies:N/a

Notable People: The Advisers: Gor'lak Oldtooth: Is an old and grey haired orc who was a warrior of the Bloodfangs until he showed magical properties taken from the warriors and forced into being a shaman it was Gor'lak who told the tribe that Targ was a god, and it was Gor'lak who helped Targ when he felt weak or when he was war weary he is considered by Targ to be his only true friend, Gor'lak's magical ability is seeing into the future though he cannot control it.

Ambassador Tink Cogwell: She is the ambassador and representative for the Goblins she speaks out for the Goblins and tells Targ what her people need in order to develop things for the army and for trade, Cogwell is also known for being a tinkerer and inventor herself often making things when she isn't speaking at one of the meetings.

Chieftain Yuriah Luris: Yuriah is the leader of the human arm of the Bloodfangs a former slave she was elevated to chieftain by Targ when he saw potential in her, something she is eternally grateful for she is one of the most devout worshipers of Targ and is fanatical to him, she is also madly in love with Targ, even though Targ hardly notices her.

Cheiftain and Seer Grotz Skullcrushah: Grotz is the leader of the ogres he is highly intelligent for his species able to master small fire spells he represents the Ogres and is fiercely fanatical to Targ as well due to Targ saving his life in the Battle of the Bloody Dunes he is also the leader of the Temple devoted to Targ and is considered the religious arm of the Bloodfangs

War Chief Yukkah "The Wajet" Hex: Hex is the Leader of the Sand Trolls he is second in command of the military he leads the forces of the Bloodfang Tribe when Targ is away, he is quick to adapt to change.

Other:N/a