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[i] Gaia, the largest continent in the explored World and home to a population of almost three million people in the South (from the last Census). The North and South of Gaia are separated from each other by a great river, North of the river is where civilized land ends and the reign of Barbarian tribals begins. The Barbarians generally have stayed in their separate tribes for the last three-hundred years, never posing much of a threat to the South, killing each other as quickly as they'd kill a Southern straggler who wandered too far North. The peace that the South has known has allowed it to become a singular prosperous kingdom after the original five came together and unified.

However, in the North a storm is brewing. A great and powerful Tribe leader, Urtag Stromreign has raised a banner calling all men and women of the North to unify under it. For too long, he preaches, have the people of the North been forced to stay in the Highlands while the Highborn and Nobles of the South drink good wine, eat good food and get fat and greedy. Stromreign's cause has caught the hearts and adoration of many a brute warrior who fancies them self in need of vengeance against the South. His army stands already in the first few months at almost sixty-thousand armed men and women and they march from the farthest North point of the Continent towards the border bringing more and more under their wing. They plan to attack the South in one campaign to make it to Sanctuary, the capital and take it for their own.

Raven's have been flown from the border towns who have caught wind of Stromreign's declaration of war, to all the major cities in the South. They warn the Lords and Ladies of each county that the tide of war is sweeping through the North with great speed, it's beastly eyes set on the Gates of the Capital. As the South prepares for inevitable war our story begins in the small trading town of Aurora's End under the protection of a Vassal Knight by the name of Lord Merek. [/i]

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[b][u] Southern Cities, towns and villages. [/b][/u]

[b]Mournhold[/b] [i](Walled Town)[/i]
Mournhold is almost a fortnight's ride from Sanctuary and is built close to the coast. Before the Acts of Kings unified the five Southern kingdoms leaving only one king, Mournhold was the staple town of the East of Southern Gaia, and home to its King. The town, as well as being close to the coast and being very influential on what was imported from the Eastern continents, happened to sit on a rich deposit of iron, gold and other minerals and so the centerpiece and main attraction of Mournhold is the quarry in the middle of the town, still in operation today.

The town's keep is built in as a part of the outer walls closest to the coast and today is home to the Count of Mournhold.

The rest of the town is comprised of small churches and housing for the citizens of the town. The boundaries of the town are dotted with trading posts and Mournhold boasts the largest trader population in all of Gaia as well as the most caravans.

[b]Aurora's End[/b] [i](Small Trading Town) -Starting point.[/i]

Aurora's End sits almost exactly between Mournhold and Gaia's capital, Sanctuary and so has over the years turned from a small hamlet into a small trading town. Most of Aurora's End's population consists of settled traders who make their living by acting as middle men between Mournhold and Sanctuary's trading.

The town is not guarded by walls and boasts no keep, rather a Manor House which is where the Vassal Knight who resides over Aurora's End lives. Just outside of town is a garrison of soldiers of the king's army although no knights. Unlike most towns and cities who have a specific appointed number of town guard, the garrison being so close to the town leaves the soldiers who reside there at anytime in charge of protecting and patrolling the town.

[b]Sanctuary[/b] [i](Capital)[/i]
Sanctuary, the capital city in the South of Gaia and also the largest. It boasts the thickest and strongest walls in all the continent with the highest towers as well as the largest population. The city is not structured like others in the region; its citadel rather than forming a part of the outer wall of the city is well inside the walls and bastions acting as the capital's centerpiece. However, it also acts as the city's last line of defense before the keep with larger walls than the rest of Sanctuary. The tallest tower in Sanctuary stands in the center of the citadel although in this age of peace it acts as a major landmark rather than a defensive structure. Many who have not visited Sanctuary in their lifetime here of the tower as breaching the clouds and reaching into the heavens (although this is a great exaggeration).

The second tallest structure in Sanctuary is the Cathedral, a large building. Its patronage is towards “The Great Mother”, the most widely worshiped religion in Gaia.

The rest of the city is composed of districts each surrounding the Cathedral and Citadel, these include the Market District where most of the capital's shops and stalls take residence and numerous housing districts of varying wealth, the wealthiest are closer to the city center while the poorer residents live closer to the wall. 

Dotted around outside the capitals outer walls are farms and farmland as well as inns and stables for weary travelers before they make entrance to the city itself.

Sanctuary is home to the king of Gaia who sits on the Golden Throne in the Great Keep. He is rarely seen outside of the citadel and if so is surrounded by a large party of king's guards. These events are often treated like parades and citizens of Sanctuary will flock to see if they can catch a glimpse of the king of Gaia.

[b]Middlemarch[/b] [i](Walled Town)[/i]
Middlemarch is engineered on the peak of a open plain. The town is of a medium size and is lead by the town's Baron. The keep like many others around Gaia, is a part of the town's walls, a barracks for a small contingency of soldiers is built near the town gates, residing inside the walls and Middlemarch is also home to a few notable knights.

About a half a week's ride from the capital, Middlemarch is a town further North than Sanctuary in the North-West region of the South of Gaia. Around the town is mostly farmland built onto the plains. These farmlands stretch for miles on all sides of the town and are responsible for it's main income and ultimately it's survival.

[b]Castle Rock[/b] [i](Fortified Keep)[/i]
Castle Rock stands as one of the oldest fortifications in South Gaia. It sits on the South side of the border but it very close to the North Lands. The architecture is not like anything else in Gaia. Domed roof's and elegant round walls, once decorated with gold leaf suggest that of a people before the first settler's to Gaia, possibly a native race.

The keep was contested by many during the numerous periods of war but during these times of peace is nothing more than an unoccupied crumbling ruin. However, it is known to be used from time to time by rangers of the King's Army who patrol the border as a resting stop.

[b]Barreltown[/b] [i](Fishing Village)[/i]
Barreltown is another coastal settlement, less than a days ride from Mournhold. It is a small settlement of less than ten households, the village's primary income is from fishing. The fish are usually brought to Mournhold and sold there. Many are surprised that Barreltown is still occupied considering its close proximity to the trade giant that is Mournhold. However, the people who reside here are a resilient type of folk.

[b][u]Northern Settlements.[/b][/u]

(Information on Northern Settlements will be given at a later stage as for now the North is off-limits).

[b]Hagar-Ur[/b] [i](Barbarian Settlement)[/i]

[b]Shagroth-Ska[/b] [i](Barbarian Settlement)[/i]

[b]Nortum-Dag[/b] [i](Barbarian Stronghold)[/i]

[b]Kannes-Tog[/b] [i](Border Settlement)[/i]

[b]Talle-Ko[/b] [i](Border Settlement)[/i]

[b]Khazat-Duum[/b] [i](Self-Proclaimed Capital)[/i]
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[b][u]The King's Army[/b][/u]

For the last decade the South has been unified by the King's Acts after the Great Southern War that had raged between the five families for twenty years previous. A consequence of these acts was that the armies of each kingdom be brought together under one unifying banner. With one true King crowned the new army was suitably dubbed The King's Army.

The core of the army is built up of drafted peasants and civilians who wear the colors of the King, lightly armed with a mix of leather and chain-mail, kettle helmets, wooden square shields and iron bladed halberds. The back line of the army is consistent of archers and yeomen who are armed similarly but substitute their shields and halberds for longbows and short swords. There are roughly ten thousand of these men combined however at a time of war this could realistically be bumped to fifty thousand with the arms and armor kept in reserve for draftee peasants.

A more elite corps are crossbowmen hailing from the Fang Islands off the South coast. They are also often known to be mercenaries for foreign powers as well as acting in the defense of the South of Gaia.

The King's Army consists of one thousand to one thousand five hundred combatant Knights at any one time. This excludes the 1% to 5% of the adult population being Knights of different sorts (household knights, Money fiefs, mercenaries, disinherited).

The core of the army as far as men on the field goes adds up to 11,000 to 12,000 not including war machines and their operators, etc.

The king's colors are quartered white and green, his sigil is a Golden Stag. All men-at-arms wear the colors of the king only at wartime (unless they are residential to Sanctuary), otherwise they wear the colors of their Lord when not at war.

[b][u]Great Heathen Army[/b][/u]

What has come to be known as the “Great Heathen Army” by those closest to the North-South border is the accumulation of a vast number of barbarian and wild-man tribes. There is no real organisation or discipline to the army, rather they will run in hacking away, it is their sheer numbers that will lead them to be victorious should it go that way. Currently, 60,000 men and women have flocked to the Heathen Army, many through believing in the cause and others for fear of being killed or worse should they choose to stay behind or resist. Their numbers are expected to have doubled by the time they reach the border which would make the Great Heathen Army roughly ten times larger than that of the King's Army, a force surely no matter how ill disciplined, to be reckoned with.

Most do not own or wield armor, rather there bearskins and whatever other clothes that they would have to deal with the temperamental Northern weather. Any armor that is worn or used is leather or chain in fashion. A varying number of weapons are used from the ax to the flail to the bow and there is no real distinction between troop types like in the King's Army. It is a true barbarian force.

The leaders of each tribe who have joined act as self-appointed officers, sometimes adorn themselves with brass or iron helmets to distinguish them from there subordinates.
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[B][U]Character Sheet.[/b][/u]

Name:

Age:

Race: (Caucasian, Dark-skinned, Eastern etc.)

Class: (Knight to Nobleman to Trader to Serf, be creative.)

Occupation: (If applicable.)

Appearance: (Picture please. Written description optional, no Anime.)

Weapon(s): (If any.)

Armour: (As above.)

Inventory: 

Place of Birth: (If from somewhere not on the list, please add description of settlement. If from a foreign land/province consult me on options as this is a persistent world.)

Sexuality:

Marital Status:

Brief History:

Other:[/hider]

[i]Note:[/i] This OOC will be added to over the coming days with much more. Examples of this include, Crime and Punishment, Cultural identities and all other important factors to the province of Gaia. This is hopefully enough to get you all satisfied and keep you all interested and happy. Feel free to message me with any questions and/or concerns.