Clocku: my idea was that people noticed how some soldiers who died in battle some how got right back up and began travelling north

Clocku: one day, a small group decided to follow one of those newly minted Hallows and sailed north

Clocku: only to find a great wall of Fog that kept spitting them out

Clocku: eventually, a sole canoe rowed out from the fog and the man driving it only let the Hallow on and threatened to kill
anyone else who tried to get on

Clocku: after that, the group sailed back home and told people of a land in the north covered in thick fog that only a Hallo could tresspass

Clocku: thus turning Mrystrost into something of a sailor's legend/tavern tale

Clocku: until word has it that there has been a rediscorvery of a kingdom in the north

POOHEAD189: Oh ok, so my people would have a few Hallow soldiers that would just travel north, and recently we heard tales of a kingdom up there?

Clocku: something like that, it'd mostly be tavern stories of how sometimes you can see a soldier after a battle simply get up and walk towards a supposed land in the north, guarded by a magical fog that lets no living in

Location/Geography

Ardonia is a small but fertile land of gently rolling hills and bubbling brooks. Though not heavily forested, it has an abundance of small glades and woods, and the rivers which help form the nation's borders are bursting with life. The nation has a large coastline for its size, and along the whole of it are small fishing villages and port towns.

The Dagger Mountains are tall and sharp, but also very beautiful. To travel across them is arduous and costly at best and impossible in the winter season, though the dragon-blessed monks of the Order of Dragonkin are uniquely gifted to traverse those peaks. The Heartwood is a favorite hunting ground for nobles and wealthy halflings alike, and the two seas which flank the nation - the Ardonian Sea and the Shining Shores - are known to be stormy in the summer and winter.

General Introduction

Knights of Ardonia

Sober warriors of steel breast plates, glistening lances and heavy destriers, the Knights of Ardonia are the end result of a history wrapped in the blood of the innocent, and the hubris of Man.

Honour guides their actions; compassion, their hearts. They are a fearless brotherhood and sisterhood of warriors, sworn to the protection of the weak, the innocent and the down trodden. Their ancient castles of white stone dot the landscape, and it is in these mighty dwellings that the humans of Ardonia are conceived, born, raised and trained to serve the Ordo Draconis.

Formed in the immediate fall of the Ardonian Empire, the Ordo Draconis is the given name to Ardonia's knights. The King sits at the Order's head, and it is he alone who holds complete power over the running of the state. Every native born human citizen of Ardonia is automatically enlisted into the Order from the moment they first draw breath, although the option is open to non-human parents to enlist their children in the Order also. From that point on, they are expected to serve both God Almighty, his majestic dragon servants and the Lord of the Realm - in that sequence.

Thus, the Knights of Ardonia can be considered indoctrinated zealots at worst, and titans of moral righteousness at their best; indeed, few tragedies, treacheries or scandals blight their histories, and their good deeds greatly overshadow all past transgressions.

Halflings of Heartvale

A friendly and jovial people, the small but stout halflings are steadfast subjects of the Knights of Ardonia. Though far from being mighty warriors, the kindness, generosity, and peace-loving nature of the little people belies a lion-like courage and optimism. Many a song has been sung of the heroism and loyalty of the halflings, yet these goodly folk remain one of the most humble peoples in the world.

The halfling people have called Heartvale home for as long as they can remember. Indeed, the name for Heartvale in the ancient halfling tongue is Breost. It means "Land of Heart," which carries connotations of eternity and home. Their people's name in the same language, Breostlings, means "People of the Land of Heart." The Heartvale is theirs and theirs alone, and proudly do they fly the symbols of their land: the dove of peace, the olive branch of wisdom, the sickle of labor, and the circle of community.

Farmers and woodsmen, the gentle halflings have ever favored the plow over the sword. They are the backbone of Ardonia, working as tillers and tailors, trappers and traders. A few claim noble titles, and some live outside of the Heartvale, but the vast majority are content to be called "Mister" or "Miss" by their neighbors in their traditional homeland.

Monks of the Order of Dragonkin

The Order of Dragonkin draws its members from several races, each member an ardent worshiper of the <INCOMPLETE>. They alone are allowed to walk upon the Sapphire Isles. They alone may speak the Draconic tongue. They alone represent the magnificent blue dragons and serve as their emissaries to the people of Ardonia and the world beyond.

It is a difficult task, joining the Order of Dragonkin. Most who take the initiation rites fail. The test takes place on the Sapphire Isles, and would-be monks are given an enchantment that marks them as one who is taking the test. The details are unknown to the world at large. What is known is that most who attempt the test fail and are sent back to the mainland. Some succeed. A rare few simply never return.

The monks of the Order of Dragonkin are utter pacifists. They are blessed with supernatural fortitude, longevity, and even the ability to breathe underwater, but they will not use these abilities in self-defense. Those who do are banished from the Order.

History

In ancient times, when barbarian Men first settled in what would later become Ardonia, the halfling people suffered at the hands of their new neighbors. But diplomacy bought them peace and protection against other outside forces, and the halflings lived a relatively undisturbed life. They paid tribute to their martial masters, but were left unmolested and allowed to continue life as they ever did: enjoying the simple comforts of the world. Sure, they had to deal with the occasional orcish warband and were occasionally beset by wandering trolls or raiding human tribes, but with the help of their neighbors their lives were relatively secure.

But their world changed yet again as strangers came to settle the continent. From far to the west came the Arcturian Empire, led by those fierce lion-men, and the elves of Aeloria made themselves known to the world as well. A great horde of orcs coalesced to the southwest as well, and the world was poised for calamity. Yet there was some good in this: the peoples near the Shining Shores, including the humble halflings, were greatly affected by the technology and societies of the empires in the southwest. They came to embrace many of their ways, and created a unique culture. They unified behind this common thread between them, creating the Kingdom of Ardonia.

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The halflings remain loyal to Ardonia, even though the realm is now so diminished and the halflings must lend their own special strength to the armies of the Kingdom. Along the walls of Sweetwater, in the fields of the Heartvale, and on the docks of Seawatch, these unlikely heroes stand vigilant, ready to face the challenges of the Kingdom as equals to their human counterparts. They have cast their die on the side of the Knights, and their fates are irrevocably intertwined.



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Knights of Ardonia

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Halflings of Heartvale

While the halflings have sworn fealty to the King of Ardonia, they are relatively autonomous and have a representative style of government. They follow the High Sheriff, an office of both domestic and military weight, who is elected by the common people. The High Sheriff is served by a collection of Sheriffs, some elected and others appointed, who serve as peacekeepers and representatives of the people. Then there is the Grand Moot. The Grand Moot is essentially a senate in which the whole of the Heartvale is represented, and laws are passed and changed. It has a more local equivalent, the Moot, which creates laws for specific townships just as the Sheriff operates on a more local level than the High Sheriff.

The Grand Moot answers to the High Sheriff (though it has some power over him), and the High Sheriff answers to the King of Ardonia, also serving on the King's council of advisors and representing the interests of the halfling people.

The Sheriffs are the heart of the halfling government. They both act as the keepers of law and oversee court proceedings as the judge. Though the final decision rests with the jurors, and thus the community, the local Sheriff is nevertheless an integral part of the process of law in the Heartvale.

Halflings are a cheerful lot, as has been made clear, and they love their creature comforts. A happy halfling is one who has finished the day's labor and can relax on his porch with a pipe in his hand and good conversation with a friend. Some might prefer to read books, or write them, or to go for a walk out in the fields or the woods, but they all agree on one thing: being able to relax and approach life at a leisurely place is the mark of happiness.

Though industrious enough, halflings do not throw themselves into their work as other races might. Indeed, halflings are expected to spend a few days or weeks every now and then to put down their tools and relax their muscles. Others might call this foolish or lazy, but halflings understand very well the importance of a little time off in producing a healthy psyche. Besides, nature is too beautiful to spend all your hours distracted from it, so says accepted halfling wisdom.

While many halflings worship dragons like the rest of Ardonia, many are still adherents to the old halfling faith, an animist religion with roots in the forest and the fields. They worship such figures as Old Father Oak, the Plowsong, and the Sweet Maple, and sincerely believe the fox is a creature of intelligence in its own right. Indeed, many halfling foresters keep pet foxes around, and they swear the beasts possess half the brains between them. Some halflings - perhaps twenty percent of the population - worship both the dragons and these old spirits of the earth. The rest favor one faith or the other.





Kingsland

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Goldmarch

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Heartvale

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Military Overview

Location/Geography

The territory I marked is an island in the north east. It has a cold climate and is surrounded by uninviting rocky coasts. Furthermore the barren black rock covering the place further inland have given supersitious people the belief the island is cursed and uninhabitable.

Further inland however, lies a hardy, but nevertheless resource-rich land. The south and north of the island have vast steppes, the mountains in the center are teeming with the treasures of the earth. Even the dank swamps in the east have merit in how rich they are in fish. The land is an utopia disguised as a curse. And that façade brings it safety.

General Introduction

The blackland alliance has a very varied array of cultures and people living in it. The one thing that binds them all together however, is the dream of a better life. Be it the eternal underdogs of the kobolds and goblins. Or the brutish but noble ogres and lizardmen. All came together under the guiding hand of the orcs to build a sanctuary where they can exist without trouble from self-proclamied 'civilized' people.

History

The history of the black island alliance begins with a minor orcish warlord by the name of tulida the black claw. One day, he was gripped by a dream of ambition one day. He rode out that day with his personal retinue. Promising to return with wealth and prestige or not at all. His adventures were many, and oftentimes violent. On his way, he often found himself replenishing his forces not just with orcs but with whatever monstrous race was available in the area. Taking some goblins to undermine a tunnel here. Having some lizardmen build him boats there.

Eventually, his exploits saw him arriving at the black island. In his wake not just his fellow orks, but all sorts of other races. Following him through some agreement or simply out of an inspired fervor. This mass-migration saw before them a pearl concealed in a barbed oyster. Even if the climate was hardy and the wildlife dangerous, it still looked like a better place to live than the slums and hidden encampments many of them hailed from.

And so they settled here. The island being divided as needed amongst the followers of Tulida. It wa in this period of settlement that Tulida wrote the famous black book. A work detailing ideals and philoophies that would come to shape the island's society in the future. His great works in politics, like his works in adventuring, were many and glorious. Under his wise rule, a council was established to give all inhabitants of the island equal representation. To the outside however, his rule never extended. For all the neighbouring coasts knew, the island's curse had taken the group of misfits. It was a conception the black claw never saw fit to challange. After all, it granted his lands safety from invaders it might otherwise never have known.

Now however, the warlord has grown old and weary. He knows his end is approaching soon. And his last wish would be to be buried in the steppes where he was born. He was satisfied. He had accomplished something few others did. A realm of his own, stable and ready for the future. He only hoped his son garada would be a worthy succesor. But alas, such would be out of his control. He could only live out what days remained for him now.

The blackland alliance is

The blackland alliance is a confederacy of smaller tribal nations that represens the black island as a single entity towards outside powers. There are many different races and tribes on the island, but tribes of the same race generally combine their political power in the council due to cultural similiarities. Of the many different races, the current six strongest power blocs in the council, in order of relative political power, are those of the orcs, the lizardmen, the goblins, the kobolds, the ogres and the gnolls. The power of these six tribes in the council is mostly equal. With four of the tribes generally forming enough of a majority together to push a decision trough. In times of peace, the council convenes once a year on the first day of spring to make decisions concerning things like agriculture and expansions of settlements for the coming year. The council may also convene in times of war or similiar situations that require the tribes to act as an united entity.

The black island is loosely divided into tribal territories based on the needs of cultures as they come. It is always attempted to give new people lands where they can make the most of their skills and culture. Territorial conflicts are a somewhat regular occurence, but a strong presence of peacekeeping troops throughout the island usually sees such conflicts resolved before they escelate into outright fighting.

There are many more races than the six major tribes. The alliance prides itself on the acceptance and integration of nomadic or exiled people looking for a place in the world to settle down. For ease of reference, it is safe to assume most of the world's more nomadic races have at least some of their kin living in the alliance. For ease of reference, the big six will be described here.












The black island is heavily focused on economic autonomy from its neighbours. Trade is usually limited to resources that cannot be produced domestically, and even then only on an as needed basis. This policy has worked thus far mostly due to the islands abundance of natural resources being able to sustain the population pretty well.

Exports are tightly controlled, much like imports. Only small amounts of resources come through, sold at prices that suggest desperation. The intent being to make the outside world think the island's inhabitants are barely scraping by with what they have.

Of the exported goods, only one thing really stands out. The iron of the island makes for high-quality metalwork characterized by a black color and a rugged, almost unbreakable blade.

Military Overview

Military organization within the alliance is somewhat decentralized in times of peace. Most member tribes see little reason to have a permanent standing military force. The only permanent force within the country are the peacekeepers. An orcish organizaiton devoted to finding and resolving internal conflicts through nonviolent means when possible.

In times of war, the alliance will call all its members to arms. A percentage of able-bodied and healthy people from all tribes are expected to answer this call, though there is no formal punishment for failing to answer the call beyond the disgrace a tribe would face before their peers.

The combined armies of the alliance are headed by a supreme commander appointed by the council. Said commander will be appointed an advisor of each race as to keep a certain balance in military doctrine and not squander the potential of a part of the army to rigid or poorly-executed tactics.

Military units generally consist of a group of racially homogenous soldiers with similiar traning and equipment.