The Angorian government is a hereditary monarchy, with the monarch being considered a religious as well as political leader. He is referred to as the Narayang - God Reincarnate. There have been twelve Naranyangs as of today and the current is a young man known as Shen Bahutar. Shen is the current reincarnate of 11 former Narayangs, which according to Angorian religious texts, means he is 11 times as powerful as the original Narayang and the next Narayang will be more powerful than him.

Shen holds court in Kehlo, the political capital of the Kingdom that sits along the coast. Although most smaller matters are handled by his Suktra (ministers/governors), he is the highest authority in the land and demands respect from all those below him. Angori is split into five castes - slaves, peasants, clergy, Suktra and the Narayang himself. Mixing between classes (apart from with the Narayang) is strictly forbidden and the punishments are harsh. The Clergy and Suktra are often odds with each other, with each grasping to hold influence over the Narayang. While the Suktra are more warlike, political and encourage the Narayang to strike hard against his enemies, the Clergy are more fond of spirtualism and encourage the Narayang to meet with his people more reguarily. A minority in both classes encourage the Narayang to explore into Angori's past, more namely the Visha. At the end of the day, however, the Narayang often makes up his own mind and is in fact more influenced by his family than anyone else.

Upon a Narayangs death, the highest members of the Clergy class cremate the body and begin looking for a successor. The successor is either the eldest son or, fail that, younger brother of the dead Narayang. Upon being chosen, the next-of-kin spends three days within the Monastery of Angor, where he is dabbed with the ashes of his father and 're-incarnates'. When the new Narayang is declared reincarnated, he is sent back to the capital and is crowned Narayang in front of an adoring crowd.

The Angorians are named for the former great city that was founded in the region by the Visha, Angor and the region they live in is called Angori. Despite the fact that the Visha are gone, they are not forgotten. Many look back at their former overlords with fondness for the stability and prosperity they brought with them to the Angorians. Angorian culture is heavily influenced by the pre-Visha cultures that existed in the region, the Visha culture and the religious worship of the Narayang. The langauge of the Angorians is a bastardised mix-match of the spoken languages prior to the Visha invasion with a sprinkling of High Vishiput on top.

Music and arts are usually religious in nature, mostly depicting Sriv Pak and the Narayangs. Instruments are usually simple in form - large drums, bells and flutes are among the most common. The main religion within the country is worship of the Narayang. There is no centralised authority telling people how to worship the Narayang. Each person is encouraged to pray to the Narayang in their own way, whether it be through meditation, sacrifice or a life of solitude. Churches do not exist at all but most homes hold a painting or statue to the current Narayang.

People obey the Narayang, as he is the God Reincarnate and it is believed he will lead them to the next life with his wisdom in the Great Balance of Peace. The teachings of Sriv Pak, known as the Great Balance of Peace, are popular among all levels of society. They argue in order to maintain balance in ones life, you must not be afraid to defend yourself or your people from harm. In order the balance of peace to be level, you must not be too aggressive nor too passive - you must be Quesh. When one is Quesh, they must remain Quesh in order to move onto the next life.

People within the Kingdom usually have three names - a class title, a given name and a family name. For example, Twelth Narayang Shen Bahutar. A women who had sexual relations with a Narayang is known as Nym-Narayang. Narayangs are forbidden to marry but often take court concubines to be with them, producing sons and daughters. Narayangs must always be male, so the daughters are married off to Suktra men. It is considered a great honour to sleep with a Narayang and Nym-Narayangs often hold great power within court.

“Verigarde”

Race: Human

Physiology:
Verigards are generally bigger than other humans, a feature that grants them a greater degree of physical strength at the expense of agility and adroitness. Their skin is fairly thick and is usually a dark shade of beige. Their hair varies, but is commonly rather dark and straight. They usually achieve a height no greater than two meters.

History:
Existing only as tribal city-states for a majority of their existence, the Verigards likely originated from handfuls of travelers that crossed the mountainous region into to endless green pastures that resided above. Isolated from the rest of civilization, the Verigards were free to wage war on each other without interference. Their quarrels were not about the fields they settled in, but instead about the metal-rich mountains to the east. Up until the past century, the tribal city-states lived in bitter hatred of each other. The Jotan tribe's chieftain, later named Oleg the Dauntless, launched a massive campaign against his opponents, and forced the five tribes to unify, either willingly or by the sword. This event was known as The Great Conquest. Ever since, the unified Jotani Republic has turned its attention towards other nations, often times with the intention of conquering them. They are aware of the other nations that dwell within the mountains, but they have yet to interact with any of them. After the death of Oleg the Dauntless roughly fifty years later, his eldest son took control of the Republic, renaming it after the Veriga mountains, which are considered to be a gift from their gods, who, according to Verigard lore, placed the mountains there specifically for the tribes as a gift.

Their territory was expanded during the reign of Oleg II to include a lake and river system that could potentially enable the Verigards to connect with the other nations.

The Verigarde capital is known as Hjen, and is located within the province of Jotan. Some 40,000 Verigards inhabit the city, making it one of the most populated cities in Verigarde, second only to the city Tavara with 42,500.

Culture:
Verigards retain their violent nature. The unlawful killing of another Verigard is strictly forbidden, but no laws were established in regards to outsiders. Organized raids on villages outside of their borders are not uncommon. Even though said raids generally appear to be work of thieves and criminals, they are actually conducted by soldiers of Verigarde, who reportedly are led by Verigarde generals. Some villages refer to this “army” as a well regulated mob of butchers and rapists, an analysis that is not far from accurate.

Their government is comparable to a Constitutional Republic. Their constitution, known as the “Grunnelov”, dictates the laws of the Verigards. First and foremost, it states that any man from any of the five tribes is equal to each other. There is no hierarchy, and there are no social classes. This law was implemented more for the other four tribes, who were initially skeptical about the Jotani intentions. The constitution then sets economic and social standards for the Verigards, which in summary force “work-shy” individuals into the mines.

The Verigards religion is composed of a series of stories and explanations that date as far back as the Verigards go. The polytheistic religion states that there are four primary gods:

• Hyllodyn, the god of the sky, sun, and stars.
• Myradeen, the goddess of the sea and the all life of any form.
• Bolakkyr, the god of the earth.
• Suramir, the god of fate.

The Verigards believe that none of the gods are wholly evil, and instead believe they have conflicts and faults, much like the tribes. In the Verigard lore, Hyllodyn and Bolakkyr are in a constant battle for Myradeen's hand in marriage. Unlike Myradeen, who is generally depicted as being fair and pleasant in nature, the male gods are depicted as being unforgiving and relentless. Events like earthquakes and thunderstorms are explained as being provocative measures taken by Bolakkyr and Hyllodyn, respectively. Similarly, stars and valuable minerals are described as being the gods' ways to win over Myradeen. It is predicted that once one of the gods wins her heart, the other will simply cease to exist, meaning at some point the sun or the earth will vanish entirely, according to the Verigard lore.

Their economy is fairly straightforward. Most of the society is fairly self-sufficient. The farmland that they control is mostly run by women and soldiers who are not otherwise preoccupied. Their metal mostly comes from the mines that they have been digging out for as long as the written word has existed for the Verigards. Mining is generally considered to be a noble way of work, as the miners spend long hours in close to total darkness. Another popular profession that started to pick up in recent years is felling. There are areas of the eastern territory where significant quantities of trees grow, and with a more sophisticated economy comes a greater demand for raw resources.

Military:
The Verigard military is composed predominantly animal-driven, specifically, horsemen and Mahouts. which are collectively known simply as the Imperial Mounted Army. Cavalry is divided into light (Light Cavalry) and heavy (Cataphracts) units, both of which serve individual purposes.

Forms of Light Cavalry have existed since horses were domesticated in the territory of Verigarde. Light Cavalry were used to harass infantry in the tribal wars. After the Great Conquest, Light Cavalry have become very active in the raids on opposing villages as they are capable of moving quickly and can hold large quantities of plundered items.

The first cataphracts were used almost thirty years ago. They are significantly slower than the Light Cavalry, and are generally not set outside of Verigarde. However, they make formidable opponents, wielding long spears intended for dismounting their opponents in a brutal manner. Their armor is mostly leather (or in some cases wool, which is obtained from the fur of the Sauka.) with small steel tiles lining the exterior. The only solid plates on the cataphracts are the helmets and the chestplates.

Back during the Great Conquest, Oleg the Dauntless suggested using armored elephants with crossbowmen as riders. The purpose was mostly for terrifying their opponents, which they successfully did at the siege of Tavara. Ever since, war elephants have been used in the Mounted Army. With thick steel plates applied to the head and the shoulders of the elephant, and a body armor similar to that of the Cataphracts, the Mahouts continue to be an excellent symbol of the Verigarde's military power.

The infantry is a much smaller force, with no more than 1,500. Most infantry serves a defensive role, and has not been used since the end of the Great Conquest.

Technology:
To suit their broad physiology, Verigards technology is generally heavier and bulkier.

Verigards learned that heating iron with a charcoal-driven furnace hardened the metal, turning it into steel. Ever since, they have used steel not only in their mining equipment, but also in their weapons. Two main swords are used by the Verigard: The first is more commonly found amongst their infantry. This blade is straight and is almost a meter long. The second is a curved blade, used by their cavalry for striking down lightly-armored opponents. It is also close to a meter long.

After using simplistic slingshots, the tribes began experimenting with crossbows designed to launch rocks at their opponents. From there, the tribes started to use arrows instead, as the design was more aerodynamic and proved to be much more accurate. Crossbows have always been cumbersome and difficult to reload, and they are used only by designated crossbowmen.

For transportation, the first option would be the ever indefatigable Mogeal, a hard-working farm animal that is best described visually as a four-legged land manatee. The animal is used for its simplicity: it moves forward when ordered, and it does not halt until it is ordered to. The second option would be horses, which have always existed in the northern region, and many were used in the tribal wars. Now, most horses that are raised in Verigarde are used by the horsemen in the Verigard Army.

“Mogeal”

A typical farm animal, the Mogeal is a powerhouse animal with four large legs and a comically small head. Its skin is much like that of a Rhinoceros or an Elephant, and is generally around the size of an American cattle. Verigarde, and presumably other nations in the region, make use of this animal on farms.

“Sauka”

A wool-covered animal that is usually found peacefully grazing throughout Gaṇājya. They are good sources for wool and meat, and are frequently used for both. Imagine a cotton ball with legs.

Realm: The People of Oumaoro
Race: The Oracles, Humans
Location:


Backstory-History



The pale, beautiful, serpentine creatures known as the Oracles have dwelt far beneath the earth since times immemorial. Legend says that when the dwarves, the Vishput, first found them, they believed them to be nothing more than strange cave animals. So, the dwarves captured these gentle beings and butchered them, savoring their soft, sweet flesh. When the first Oracle spoke to them in the words of their own language, the gluttonous people were themselves speechless. That Oracle had learned to speak the language of the Empire of Visha in the span of a fortnight.

There were many more Oracles in that bygone era. The Vishput, however, did not appreciate the cleverness of their species. They saw the Oracles as a threat, as an infestation that had to be burned away before it could bring total destruction to their world. And so that is what they did: the Vishput found where the peaceful Oracles made their homes and set about murdering a great many of them. Yet the Oracles did not fight back: they let the dwarves have their way, and when the petty destroyers finally saw the passivity of the creatures, they had already slain so many that the caverns were flowing with blood that went up to their knees, so the legend goes.

The Oracles did not hate the Vishput for this.

The blind creatures were enslaved by the Vishput, but not as mere laborers or soldiers. Some were kept as pets in zoos or in the courts of Visha princes. The species was recognized for its keen intellect, however, a shrewd nature that equaled or perhaps even surpassed that of the ancient dwarven peoples. So, in an odd twist of fate, the same creatures that were often seen as pets to those very princes would be offering their sagely advice to their owners, and a great many still were kept in the Stone Library of Samra Raj as lorekeepers and scribes. Those Oracles were tasked with recording history, teaching it (under Vishput supervision) to others, and maintaining the purity of the records. They were punished terribly for any damage done to the archives, for allowing any falsehoods - falsehoods in the eyes of the Empire's rulers - to enter the Stone Books, and for any measure of disobedience. Execution or dismemberment was often the means by which justice was dispensed, and the remains of the guilty would find themselves in the guts of wealthy families of the Empire.

And still the Oracles did not hate the Vishput.

It is here that the memories of the past become murky waters. As the Empire of Visha fell, some say the Oracles stood by their masters to the last hour, still bound by their gentle nature and unwillingness to harm. A greater number say the Oracles rose up violently like others did, devouring the foul Visha for their wicked ways in an ironic sort of revenge. A few say the Oracles did nothing of import in this time. Most Oracles, however, say the story is quite different: they saw the dark times that would befall the Vishput and sought to bring that end about more hastily. They say that seeds of discord were planted by their kind, that whispers in the ears of princes were used to light the fires of jealousy and paranoia, which helped bring the final days of the Empire to fruition.

That is, at least, what the stories say. The stories say more: the Vishput blamed the Oracles for some great tragedy, and so the gentle creatures were slain by the hundreds wherever they could be found by those vile builders of empires. Those in the Stone Library managed to survive, but only a sparse few outside of Samra Raj were able to escape death. Those Oracles have long since withered in their old age and passed away in distant lands.

The fall of the Empire was absolute. The gentle Oracles kept the doors to their great libraries sealed until the violence stopped. When they opened the door, they saw a city in ruin, a place full of ghosts and terrible memories. So, they gathered as many of the countless Stone Books as they could and left the city, traveling south into the wet marshlands of what is now called Oumaoro ("The Watery Place" in the Oracles' ancient language).

The city the Oracles found was in terrible disrepair. It was not as large as most other cities, was of very little significance, and was one of the first places to be abandoned in the wake of the troubles. Much of its surface half had been devoured by the swamp - including its great dam - and many parts of the underground were flooded or collapsed. This, however, was exactly what made it so attractive to the Oracles. The amphibious beings turned the watery ruins into their new home and filled its underground pools with their eggs.

For a time, there was peace there. The earth soon spawned a new threat to their existence, however: the Shishkarat. The little creatures would come and try to kill them from time to time, but centuries of being punished by the Vishput had taken away the utter passivity in the Oracles. The young ones fought back, using their massive jaws and their whip-like tails to drive back the vicious Shishkarat. It was a terrible thing to them still: they had no desire to fight, and even despite their efforts their numbers slowly dwindled. They needed help.

Humans came, having heard hearing stories from adventurers of great, pale dragons that lived beneath the swamps. They met the Oracles in their subterranean home, marveling at their size, their beauty, and their kindness. The Oracles let them take whatever they wished from the city and the surrounding land and allowed them to settle wherever they wished. It quickly became clear to both parties that they could help one another: the humans had trouble fending off creatures in the wetlands while the Oracles could maneuver through the waters with ease. Conversely, the Oracles were hard pressed to fend of the seemingly endless Shishkarat attacks whereas the humans, while not well adapted to tunnels, could wield weapons and wear armor that allowed them to defend the Oracles from the endless waves of monsters. A symbiotic relationship was quickly formed.

Years went on. The humans of the territory and the Oracles shared much with each other. The humans came to respect the Oracles and revere them as great seers and teachers. The humans managed to make the decaying city, now called Oumal, inhabitable. They lived above the ground while the Oracles lived below, and soon they did not need the Oracles to help them protect themselves from the threats in the marsh.

From this city and the settlements that sprouted around it was the nation of Oumaoro born. They did not call it a kingdom, nor a republic, nor any of those other terms; it remains simply the Watery Place, as the place where they have built their city, as their home. At the heart of this storm-ridden land is the Flooded Temple in Oumal, the place where the Oracles still record history in the Stone Books. It is the Oracles that are appealed to for counsel by those that lead the people of the marsh, and it is the humans that march the shadowed halls beneath the earth, seeking out those threats to their benefactors.

That is, at least, what the stories say.

Government

There is no unifying central government for the people of Oumaoro. There is, however, a pact of non-aggression and general cooperation that is shared between the people of this wet region. They govern themselves as they will. Most have a plutocratic form of governance, though a couple are in truth independent fiefdoms ruled by men claiming noble birthright.

All the townships look to the Oracles for guidance. The Oracles, while not rulers of this land, hold great sway over the people and provide sagely advice to help them expand and protect themselves. If the Oracles were to say the time for war had come, then war would likely be waged; if they were to say they had a vision of a great hero coming from the east, then chances are someone would be sent to find this great hero.

In times of great danger, however, Oumaoro's people will choose someone to lead them, often approaching the Oracles for guidance. The Oracles have chosen different sorts of people in the past: nobles, adventurers, peasants, beggars, and thieves have all led a confederacy of Oumaoro people before thanks to such insight. Those the Oracles choose are often either well prepared to do their job or quickly grow into the position.

In the end, however, the various townships are independent of each other and of the Oracles, choosing to work together rather than being forced to by ancient laws.

The Oracles themselves have a strange connection to one another. They hold councils over different matters, both the young and the old being allowed to participate, and make most decisions as a group. Humans are allowed to participate in these councils, and they have sometimes swayed the Oracles to take courses of action they would not have considered. Oracles who disagree with the group often acquiesce to the group's will, but sometimes choose to follow a different course of action on their own... which is one of the reasons some Oracles become travelers. The Oracles, like their human allies, will often choose one among them to lead them in times of trouble, and they also choose someone to be the chief adviser to the humans of Oumaoro.

There is no political treachery between the Oracles themselves. They do not plot the downfall of their kin, nor do they try to gain power over the others. While there are a rare few wicked Oracles that have existed, these beings often become travelers and try to exert power over lesser beings around the world.

The Oracles

There are few Oracles now, and though their numbers no longer shrink, they do not seem to be growing. There cannot be more than a hundred of them left in existence, and the people of Oumaoro bemoan the day when the species disappears from the world entirely.

Summarizing the Oracles is not an easy task. They are often known to be great, magnificent white creatures, like pale, eyeless dragons that dwell in the water and move with serpentine grace. They are eyeless, and yet somehow are able to move throughout the world around them. The Oracles say this is because they make sounds with their throats that let them listen to the vibrations of their surroundings, but legends claim that it must be magic. But perhaps what makes Oracles unique are these two qualities: they do not eat past their egg-laying age and they shrink as they grow older.

Oracles begin as eggs in the bottom of the sacred birthing pools in the subterranean half of Oumal. These eggs absorb whatever drifts down to them, and the more they absorb the larger they'll grow, but they can survive without such sustenance.

An Oracle is largest on the day it hatches, usually between thirty-five and forty feet long - gargantuan compared to most creatures in the world to say the least. These young Oracles are like great, swimming lizards in this form with tiny limbs that are dwarfed by the rest of their body. It is also during this time of youth that Oracles lay their eggs in the sacred pools; after that, they will never eat again.

Oracles shrink. Over their long lives - three hundred years long, to be exact - they slowly become smaller and smaller until they are the size of a man. When they are man-sized, they begin standing upright on their legs and can carry things in their hands, but they are at this point so old and frail that warfare is an impossibility for them. Finally, as they near death, Oracles will submerge themselves into their sacred birthing pools where they will feed their unborn children with their own bodies.

Interestingly, there are no males or females among the Oracles. They are genderless: every member of the species is capable of laying eggs and may fertilize the eggs of any other member of its species. This is confusing to other races.

Oracles are highly intelligent creatures. They are highly curious and inquisitive and are always happy to tell or listen to a story. Oracles of different ages set out into the world to discover new things, and this is a cause for their inability to grow as a species. Being so peaceful, many of these would-be adventurers are slain in the open world either by the harshness of the wild or the cruelty of man.

Some Oracles are taken into the courts of distant rulers where they become sages and teachers. This sort of position is amiable to them, but they often return home before they die so they may join their children in the sacred pools.

The species is dedicated to the preservation of the Stone Books, an ever-expanding volume of stone tablets on which the history of the world is etched. They are also willing to write almost anything into stone so long as someone is willing to tell a story. To them, a simple wives' tale has as much historical merit as the recording of a great war. This, too, has been a source of much confusion and anger; many a noble has come to the Oracles to have his legend carved into stone only to be forced to wait for a simple fishmonger to finish telling the Oracles his own story.

The humans of the land do not worship the Oracles as gods, but they do revere them as higher-than-human beings. They often come to the sacred pools to pray alongside the Oracles for guidance and wisdom, to meditate, and to watch the birth of their young. The Oracles often tell their visitors stories of the past, some of them tales of ancient kings, others of the common adventures of children in the woods. These qualities, along with their inherent kindness, their abhorrence for bloodshed, and their largely non-judgmental perspective makes them well-loved by the people of Oumaoro.

Characters

The Oracles
To be introduced.

People of Oumaoro
To be introduced.

Adventurers
To be introduced.