Name of Nation:

Species:

Culture and Society:

History:

Territorial Claims:

Economy:

Army:

Navy:

Traits:

Foreign Relations:

Rolls: (Rolled by GM in the Discord Server. Just ping me, and I’ll roll as soon as I’m able.)

Other:

Magic, in this world, is significantly different from that of most fantasy settings. In most settings, a mage conjures a fireball in his hand from the ether and propels it at the enemy - that is not how it works here. Imagine the magic of the world as a shallow puddle with the breadth of an ocean, covering the entire world, but not ‘deep’ enough to allow much more than low level cantrips, or a telepath to communicate with others. But within this puddle there are spots that could be considered ‘low lying’ - where the magic of the world collects and concentrates, manifesting physically as a crystalline material that can be mined and processed, brimming with the magical energy of the world. These magical crystals can be used as power supplies for the magical contraptions of those nations advanced in the arcane, a machine to cast bolts of lightning or launch balls of fire for those of great sophistication, or a contraption to draw water from the earth or a stone circle to communicate at great distances for the middling. A nation’s magic roll is related to the prevalence and size of these ‘hotspots’ - determined by the magical reserves roll. Just as with material resources for a nation dependent on tech, the supplies of this crystal are crucial for the war effort of a nation dependent on magic.

Those learned in the ways of magic’s use are known as mages - almost anybody can become a mage, as the use of magic is for the most part a matter of learning and applied technique, rather than any inborn attributes. There are those who do not need a ritual circle to cast magic, whose bodies are focal points of magical crystal themselves, inexplicably linked to their bodies. These individuals, while capable of small feats at most under their own power, can harness the energy of crystals to become a force to be reckoned with. Sorcerors, as they are often known, are exceedingly rare - with birthrates as low as one in ten million in many populations, and never exceeding one in a million among even the most magical of peoples.

There are other means of supplying magic in the field, but these are costly. The sacrifice of living beings, for instance, - dozens or hundreds, or even thousands - can create enough energy with the turmoil of death to supply magical devices for a limited time.

Magic’s use, however, comes with a darker side - one that can and has spelled doom for myriad civilizations and empires before. Excessive extraction of magical crystal can lead to depletion of the magical field in the area - ‘dry’ spots can occur, and should action not be taken to dramatically lessen or outright halt crystal extraction, calamity can occur. There is always ample forewarning - magically sensitive individuals will experience splitting headaches and full body pain, for instance. A basic (and somewhat silly) visual guide can be seen here.

Should such a calamity occur, it will become immediately obvious. At the point wherein the depletion reaches a critical point, the very landscape will begin to change. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, vast lightning storms, and all manner of natural disaster are likely to occur, greater than any recorded on earth in living memory. The land itself will turn fallow, life becomes twisted, corrupted, a shadow of its former nature as universal forces unknown to the living crash into the mundane world. Such land is tainted, and for the first centuries at least the land will be unlike anything of the natural world. Warped abominations will prowl through toxic streams, plants and animals molded into new, perverted mockeries of life, unable to live outside of the hostile, abnormal conditions that gave rise to them. The only mercy is that those who created such conditions rarely live to see the worst of them. To survive, let alone remain sane and uncorrupted within such land is all but impossible, and it can take a millenium or more for the area to truly heal.

Magic is a flexible system - but it is far from omnipotent.

And now, a brief explanation of the rolls and other aspects of the sheets.

Your rolls are a guideline for your nation, and they serve as an upper limit. If your roll is large, but you wish to go smaller, you are welcome to. With your rolls, you have five free points to place wherever you want, in addition you can subtract a total of ten points from wherever you wish and redistribute them elsewhere. Fifteen points in total to play with. Finally, you can choose any two stats within a roll to swap - changing fertility with land area, for instance.

Your Land Area: This roll determines the amount of land you have under your sway. It covers how much of the map under your control.

Your Land Fertility: This roll dictates the habitability of your land, and its suitability for agriculture. A low roll may be host to a harsh climate (natural or artificial) difficult to inhabit, it may have soils that yield small crops. Conversely, a high roll will have rich, fertile soil and a climate that lends itself to a habitation.

Your Army Size: This roll dictates the size of your nation’s army, and the level of training and sophistication of your land forces. A nation with a large army roll is capable of raising powerful forces, numerous, well trained, and well equipped.

Your Economy: Your Economy is a representation of the wealth of your nation. It stands for the money your people hold, the amount you import and export, and to some extent how connected with others your nation is. A nation with a high economy is able to fund and finance more expensive works, and can maintain a war for considerably longer periods of time.

Your Development: Development represents the sophistication and development of your nation’s culture, civilization, and governmental structure. It is essentially the difference between a country with bustling cities and intricate systems of trade and taxation, and a collection of thatch roof villages loosely controlled by a reigning warlord. A higher development means bigger cities, bigger monuments, more artisans not working in the fields.

Your Navy Size: This roll dictates the size of your naval forces. In addition, it represents the sophistication, extent, and other facets of your marine infrastructure - dockyards, drydocks, ports, and so on. This roll does not solely determine the quality of your warships or ability to field advanced designs.

Your Magical Reserves: In Takanis, Magic is not powered by an unseen ethereal force - but by a physical, tangible object. An iridescent crystal that goes by many names is the physical manifestation of magical energy that permeates the universe. Its scarcity varies greatly throughout the world and the universe at large, and this roll dictates the reserves of crystal you have available.

Your Magical Sophistication: In this world, magic is a potent force - but a tricky one that requires intensive study to understand, and requires expert training and meticulous technique to harness. Capable of impressive feats when properly used, a magically potent nation can create massive contraptions to unleash bolts of lightning upon their foes, a ball of flame, or other more mundane uses - a trained individual can communicate remotely with a similarly trained individual in a manner akin to a radio (range dependent on the power of the system) or water can be drawn from deep underground aquifers.

Traits - The Traits of a nation are essentially flavor text, chosen by the player, that gives the nation they belong to extra details, strengths and weaknesses not able to be truly represented by rolls alone. The effects of these traits can be varied, both in their breadth of effect and the magnitude of their impact. National traits must be balanced, with the exception of one wholly positive trait. All other traits must carry some tradeoff or be countered by a negative trait. For instance, a nation is capable of fielding amazingly large armies, but a negative trait is the size of their military takes away funding for civil projects.

Your traits can carry some flexibility with your rolls, but nonetheless they are still constrained - for instance, a nation with a naval roll of 1 may not have a trait that describes their ancient seafaring culture enabling them to build the best warships in the world.

A positive only trait, for instance, may reference an age old warrior culture and boost the morale of their armies, ensuring that flight is only a possibility in truly dire circumstances.

NPC nations are nations controlled either by the GM or players that create them, intended to serve as flavor, flesh out the region, and provide a rich playground for our greater powers to frolick in. NPC nations have stats much the same as our own nations do, rolled by me, the GM.

Name of Nation

Government

Capital

Species

History

Territory

Economy

Technology

Culture

Army

Navy


Traits

Rolls

Current Monarch

Domestic Animals: Sheep, Goats, Cattle (e.g. Highland Cattle, Galloway and Belted Galloway, Luing Cattle, Shetland Cattle), Horses, Pigs, Dogs (Sidaird Wolfhound, Border Collie etc.), Chickens

Game: Pheasant, Partridge, Hares, Rabbits, Deer, Grouse, Ptarmigan, Duck, Geese, Pigeons, Boar

Flora Commodities: Flax, Hemp, Hay

Other Crops: Barley, Potato, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Legumes, Strawberries, Loganberries, Raspberries, Kale, Turnips, Cabbage, Oilseed Rape, Carrots, Turnips, peas, sprouts, rhubarb, beans, cabbage, leeks, broccoli, mushrooms, blueberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants

Goods: Textiles, Animal Hides, Linen, Wool, Knitwear, Tweed, Timber, Iron, Sidaric Uisge, Leather, Toothbrushes, Lovespoons, Sidarid smallpearls, Jute, Muslin, Tallow, Flour, Fertiliser

The Geradamas were born in a land far from the one they exist in today. To date their involvement in this world starts at the mouth of the Ydra River. It is here the Geradamas thrived for sometime as an agrarian culture, their knowledge and wisdom of how to work the land, tend to the animals, navigate the sea, and connect their community remained buckled in traditions of a discipline considered ancient to current times; Teachings of Sophia.

As time carried on, the mouth of the river became more dangerous. Men with their own ideas of "right" and "wrong" began deciding on what land was their's. These same men pulled children into conflicts, to fight their own battles, so as to retain their own ideas of what they believed to be the "Just" cause. The Geradamas would ignore the common babbling of a man who convinced himself to be God, until one day the Geradamas were forced to leave before being pulled into one of these deranged contests. Some Geradamas would remain, successfully disguising themselves among the masses and setting up Sanctuaries inside the region.

The Geradamas who left would find themselves voyaging to the Island of the Caals. Their interaction started off with the Caals bearing their teeth, but after impressive diplomatic discussion, the Caal would remain open to negotation. The Caals were in the midst of a war with the Nahaki; a serptine species which put the Caal in an interesting position. They asked for the Geradamas to help in return for sovereignty.

The Geradamas were not a people who fought wars, but they could help in the field of magic. Their tradition and intuition regarding magical affairs lent them a hand in creating powerful devices that could sway the tides of battle. The Geradamas supported the Nucaal, and the Nucaal succeeded in defending the island.

Story of the Geradamas and The Individual Journey of the Complete Becoming

The Geradamas are a people of tradition who believe in world view not always agreed upon by others. Their belief system has both aided in tethering the knots of those who are believers tighter to one another, and severing their connection to those who oppose such ideas. Their story, their beliefs, are nestled in the Aeons or Teachings of Sophia.

The Teachings of Sophia tell of two Gods or Aeons who came together to begin it all. Lila, a Lux Aeon and an Aeon who held the Wisdom of All things, looked toward the source of All things. In it she saw the reflection of creation and in that moment she realized she had a creator. This realization marked the beginning of her own desire to create. Lila's first attempt at creation was with her own Wisdom and Power, but what she lacked was Understanding of both, unable to see herself, she made a flawed being and this being began wrapping her up in her own delusion for creation. Lila looked toward the other Aeons for help, but only one heeded her final cry. Umbra, the Tenebris Aeon, he reached his hand to pull Lila from the Bestia's web, but in return Lila had to agree to lay with Umbra and never return to the Bestia.

Lila unable to convince herself to leave her first creation behind, returned to the Bestia in hopes to save it from its own web was caught herself in her attempt. Lila now pregnant with a child was wrapped in the Bestia's illusion and gave birth in the world of "stuff". Her child was to be named "Sophia", but before Lila could raise Sophia, Lila was once again pulled from the Bestia by Umbra and this time locked away for only Umbra to see. The child, Sophia, was discovered by one of the 7 tribes; AETERNA, OLHO, COROA, ABRAXO, MYSAR, NAFTAL, BASAL. Delivered to them by her mother, Lila, before disappearing into the light as it is told today.

These tribes vowed to secrecy, for the Bestia and his Archons would have Sophia disappear into the illusion they've so ignorantly created. It was out of these tribes the Geradamas were born. The Geradamas are those who have sworn to protect the Teachings of Sophia, to find Umbra and unlock Lila from her prison. The unification of Sophia and Lila is the only way to end the illusion created by the Bestia.

Rings of the Geradamas

Initiate - The Ring of the Initiate is the beginning of a long path to the Complete Becoming. Inside this circle are no Geradamas, but candidates of those wishing to be accepted into the circle of what it means to be a Geradamas. The Initiate will undergo a study of the SHACKLES, once prepared, they will then participate in the FIRST REAPING.

Pathfinder - The Ring of the Pathfinder challenges the individual's heart and mind. Their responsibility lies in mastering the Shackles of Aeons, while pushing their bodies to extreme limits brought onto them by Umbra Masters. Upon completion of the UMBRA TRIALS and SHACKLES OF AEONS, they will be granted ceremonial access to participate in the SECOND REAPING.

Apprentice - The Ring of the Apprentice proves the path has been found and now all that is left is to find a guide. The Apprentice at this point will have no concept of who they were before finding the path. They will now select the path of a Celestial, Umbra, or Elementalis for further disciplinary study. Depending on their path, they will be granted a mentor who will assist in developing the depths of their knowledge in regards to the path they've chosen. When the mentor decides they are ready, a test of their ability is challenged in the DUALITY. If successful then they will participate in the THIRD REAPING.

Ferryman - The Ring of the Ferryman acknowledges the wearer as a skilled and tested member of the Order. They are on the boat to Complete Becoming, but are required first to contribute a significant discovery or act to the Order. It is at this stage most will test their true ability, because it will be the first time they act on a mission without supervision or aid. The chaotic world will bring them to many dark places and if they return, they return as Masters. The inauguration of a Master is a successful discovery, return, and the ceremony called; The GREAT HARROWING.

Master of Nous - The Ring of the Master symbolizes the sacrifice of their own life for the life of the Order. They embody the Teachings of Sophia, Freed their Souls from the Shackles of Aeons. Mastered their own Body and Mind, challenged their discipline in the world of the Bestia.

Celestial - Their discipline is in the art of healing and light.
Umbra - Their discipline is in the art of illusion and death.
Elementalis - Their discipline is in the art of nature and life.

Avatar or Trascendant - Their discipline is in the art of all three, a Complete Becoming of ALL things, an Avatar of the Free. The Transcendental Whole of a once Incomplete Being, a true Geradamas.

Origins of the Caal

The Caal, a tribal agrarian culture from which cities blossomed on an island rich with resources. The Caal had 12 tribes, each founding their own city in due time, each with their own agenda and focus. Peace sustained itself until the territories and needs of each city outgrew the very land each had claimed as their own. It did not take long for the Caal to engage in territorial skirmishes over food, land, and materials.

These battles played out for years until two of the dominant city powers married one another through the Son and Daughter of both Emperors. These two were named Aalyptus and Nazeri. Each fed off the other as they both strove for power, their focus was in uniting the Caals under one nation by force.

The result of this power play created a resistance from the Western cities where an alliance was formed to bring down the power couple. The three resistance leaders were Kyber, Jaeis, and Heiros. The Free Caal State is what they went by as Aalyptus and Nazeri subjected others forcefully under their banner. There were three decisive battles involving the three resistance leaders and Aalyptus himself. Aalpytus would kill Jaeis and Kyber, but in the final battle over the last city, Heiros slayed the Emperor. Heiros would manage to escape the city with barely his life, Nazeri would finish off any residual units of the Free Caal and the cities were liberated under the reign of Nazeri, Queen of the Caal.

Nazeri would reign for 5 years time before disturbances in the southern region of the island were reported. She had forced East and West under her rule, but the South remained under their own independence. The Queen had plans for campaigning South but had two more years before she would commit, unfortunately for her, Heiros emerged before she was ready. Heiros once again inspired numbers of Caal to fight for him, and with great experience behind him, he was able to push back a lot of the lands Nazeri had claimed. Quickly, Heiros’ victories spread like wild fire and other resistance forces ignited within the Nazeri’s borders to create further instability across the land. Nazeri had no other option but to seek out and destroy Heiros before momentum grabbed ahold of her own people in the Capitol.

Nazeri would campaign in the South for nearly a year before she fell into a trap set up by Heiros himself. She was captured alive, and Heiros requested an end to the fighting. He summoned all Caal city-states to Mount Halios. In six days time, all representatives arrived on Mount Halios where Nazeri was judged and executed. Heiros pleaded for a national unification of the Caal into one state for the sake security and longevity for future kin, the representatives after deliberation of ideas agreed and the Nucaal were thus born.

Igniting the Dragon

The Nahaki; a serpent and reptilian species, first came to the shores of Polisea. The Caal greeted the Nahaki upon their arrival, but during talks it is said the Nahaki flashed the blade of a knife from a pouch and plunged it into a Nucaal representative.

“You greet us as visitors on our own soil?” – words spoken by the Nahaki murderer.

The Nahaki drew blades, stormed the beaches, and Polisea was lost in a day. Polisea was a poorly fortified village, and held up no real resistance in the defense. The Nahaki not only were a surprise, but also beasts of intimidating appearance, myths of their lore swept the imagination of the Caal, but the words silenced when it reached Heiros’ ears. Heiros gathered a number of warriors to march on Polisea in a week’s time. The siege of Polisea lasted 3 days, with heavy casualties on both side. The Nahaki chose to retreat as their numbers dwindled waiting for reinforcements. They were surprised to see an organized resistance mount against them, and to see a leader among the “mongrels”. The Nahaki left Polisea and Nucaal took to rebuilding and fortifying the city.

The First King – Prime Halios – of Nucaal

The foreign invaders would bring about the transformation of the Nucaal government system. It originally was established as a Republic, but quickly shifted into an Monarchy as a Commander and Chief would be needed for organizing the Nucaal’s defenses. Heiros was the one to sentence the beasts off the island, and Heiros would be the one to be given command of the Nucaal military. It was in his era that a standing military or security force was created, funding for naval innovation and the construction of boats to secure the shores, along with building roads for swifter supply transportation. The infrastructure of the island grew tremendously; population, economy, education, and security.

News of the boom would travel to a few distant places, and it would even entice populations North of the Nucaal Island and South. During this period the Northern Empire which seemed to have no limits to its growth, quickly collapsed and those seeking for a new chapter in their life migrated to the island of Nucaal. Heiros would accept these refugees under conditions now titled as the "Sanctuary Action"; allowing for foreigners to settle if they agree to 2 years of auxiliary service. During this time the military acted as a standing army, and construction force. Many of the Northern refugees would be placed in the construction force to contribute their manpower to the overall infrastructure of Nucaal society. They were then granted full citizenship and equal rights. Those who served in the military would have battled significant questioning but if they held true, their acceptance would have been tremendously felt and acknowledged.

The refugees in the military would aid Heiros in mapping strategic points off the coast of Nucaal and on the coast of the Northern continent. Some of these points were abandoned forts left behind during the collapse of the Northern Empire. Heiros would move on the Northern continent because of the collapse and claim a territorial buffer which granted more access to resources and fertile land to fortify and feed the growing populace.

Many of the projects started by Heiros would be seen to the end with the exception of only a minor few, these would be continued into the reign of Prime Halios II Vacuna. Vacuna would focus on upgrading new ways to process and refine materials, his funding went into those who studied the arts of alchemy and smiting. Out of Vacuna’s reign the Vacuna Ferro or Victory Steel was forged, a strong, durable metal used for weapons. Vacuna would also innovate production to increase the efficiency of work and reducing time spent.

Vacuna would later be super seceded by Prime Halios III, Renne. He demonstrated his worth in the battle of Polisea when the Nahaki occupied it. Renne fought directly under Heiros’ command, and alongside him in battle. He would too navigate the relationships of the Geradamas and save the Nucaal from a successful Nahaki invasion.

Arrival of the Geradamas and the Nahaki

Renne met the Geradamas when they made land fall, negotiated a proposal that did not take the first time around. The Nahaki arrived months later in the West and a second proposal was offered to the Geradamas in exchange for aid. Renne and the Geradamas took to the battlefield and repelled the Nahaki who had a strong presence along the Eastern shore by the time Renne’s forces and the Geradamas mobilized.

The Geradamas were offered sovereignty, constructions of one Citadel outside some of the major cities, and rights of citizenship.

The Dragon-Coastal War

Battle of Polisea – A small port city with outstanding trade opportunity. It is located on the upper west peninsula of the island. It was lost twice, first under Heiros’ rise, and the second under Renne’s command. It was poorly fortified during Heiros’ time, but was heavily fortified and the last stronghold to stand during Renne’s campaign. The Geradamas contributed a lot to the victory of this battle, Geradamas operated covertly and provided access for Renne’s forces to liberate the city.

500 Nucaali Casaulties, 8 Geradamas Casualties, 350 Nahaki Casaulties

Battle of Izan – The city is cradled in the center of the west coast, the belly of the island just north of the southern peninsula. Izan was under siege by boat for four days before the Nahaki morale broke for Renne’s forces to march in with ease and take the city. It was the first time in Nucaal history that naval warfare was used in a way that mitigated casualties of land troops.

25 Nucaali Casaulties, 0 Geradamas Casualties, 300 Nahaki Casualties

Battle of Guren – The southern peninsula at the very tip houses a port town named Guren. This was the largest battle in the Dragon’s War, both land and naval forces clashed with the Nahaki for several days without end. The Nucaal would fight during the day, and the Geradamas would act covertly in the night practicing espionage. By the next day the Nahaki would have to restructure rank, reinforce and allocate resources to continue holding the city, as their numbers thinned, the Nucaal would breakthrough first on land and enter the city by mid-afternoon on the sixth day.

At sea the Nahaki would retreat along the coast line to Polisea, several ships would fall behind and sink as the Nucaal made chase. The Nucaal would move to Izan, where the ships would be deployed once more serving a far greater tactical advantage. They would not make it too Polisea for the final battle because of repairs.

780 Nucaali Casualties, 93 Geradamas Casualties, 1200 Nahaki Casualties

The

1. Prime Halios IV or Amelia, currently continues to support the war in the west after Renne’s resignation as Prime Halios III.
2. Geradamas are working in secret on Project Manifest.
3. Nucaali in the northeast region are currently experiencing a small group of Nucaali who detest the Geradamas. Reports suggest, highway thievery, murder, and town disturbances. General Taolos is dispatched to the region.
4. Fortifications of the northern border are completed across the countryside.
5. Southern fortifications are currently in the second stage of construction out of four.
6. Illegal Nucaali mage activity in the southern region; one Penumbra, one Elemantalis, and one Nucaali mage investigate by orders from Amelia. The party is escorted by five Nucaali fighters.

Name: Imperium Quavarazium/Kvazsír Birodalom/Quavarazi Empire (in short just referred as Quavaraz/Kvazsíria)
Capital: Levedium
Head of the State: Imperator/Zoltán (currently: Absalon Jenw Levedicum)
Dominant Species: Quavar/Kvazsár
Population: est. 16 million
Area: ~ 3.12 million square miles (8.08 million square kilometers)

Quavaraz is a large nation built on the heritage of the Aurelius Empire. The once prosperous empire imploded in a magic catastrophe that plague the inhabitants even after many centuries. Collecting the countless scattered survivor tribues Quavaraz was formed and presently they secure the Golden Road, the largest safe land route connecting the eastern and western portion of the continent. Quavarazi are considered harsh and hardy people who manage to survive under the constant threat of monsters.

The proper origins of Quavaraz are shrouded in many legends and mysteries but according to the most popular tale their history began with the Aurelius Empire, a legendary nation of magic. A prosperous realm in spite of their hostile and resource thin environment the Aureliei were revolutionary and thanks to their ambitions they were set on a path of steady growth. During their peak they nourished another golden age of magic, charming in practitioners from all across the world. Yet as quickly as they rose the Aurelius Empire fell even faster in the wake of another magic disaster. Nobody knows why it happened though almost everyone blames the arrogance of the Aurelei to think they could master magic. The magnitude of the blast wiped off the capital, scorched the empire and spread waves of mayhem even beyond their borders. While never a hospitable place the land turned into a toxic wasteland infested by monsters, seemingly hopeless for anyone to inhabit. Yet people are hardier than given credit for. Hundreds of years passed and those who remained within the country underwent a dramatic change. Humans, elves, orcs and other races all went through various magic mutations, countless tribes were formed and the land was a forbidden realm to most travelers. Quavari eventually came to prominence. They were descendants of the magically bred warrior servants once faithfully serving the Aurelei. Their tough builds became even wilder thanks to mutations although without proper leadership they were divided into countless tribes. They had to wait until the divine emergence of Almis of the Levedis tribe whose charisma and excellent leadership lead to the first ever united government in central Aurelia. Almis had uncanny foresight and unlike many other tribal leaders before him the government survived his passing and only began to prosper. Of course prospering is relative in a disaster-stricken land but the entity known as the Levedis Alliance rapidly expanded. Using the resting place of Almis as a foundation the capital of Levedium was created to provide admninistration to this new country. After finding scraps of the last Aurelian Imperator's holy raiment the ruler Gyulák Gyulája (meaning: First of the Gyula-s), Lehel Tehatom son of Tarhony, renamed his title Zoltán while declaring himself the new emperor. Since then the country is referred as the Quavarazi Empire.

Quavaraz, alternatively referred as Aurelia Magna, a huge land mostly dominated by savannas and magically hazardous deserts. Harsh terrain, haunting remains of dried up rivers and weird phenomenons that defy reason can be all expected for the brave who wish to travel through these lands. Monsters of great variety provide an ever present threat. Sandstorms could carry the poisonous particles from still corrupted lands to spell gruesome death on all exposed to them. This is the land of Quavaraz. Yet not all is about doom and at small patches life is blooming anew. Albeit slow but after several hundred years the land is gradually recovering. In addition Quavaraz took territories outside the afflicted zone of the magic catastrophe and now these provide a good bulk of the nation's foodstuffs to consume.

Quavaraz is a diverse nation uniting a myriad of tribes and while there are constant efforts at strengthening the administration this feature did not change. Quavari are the first rate countrymen of the Empire. Bulky and huge, these horned black demi-monstrosities make up roughly 12.5% of the country's population even if their large bodies mean they actually consume the most food out of any race. Quavari naturally form the first class of their society, a warrior and leader caste which is responsible for creating this great nation. Underneath them are various lesser races of mutated people, generally adopting a slim and much more human-sized profile. Their collective name (which technically includes the Quavari and some races outside the nation) is the Tülkösnép which literally means "horned people" or alternative called the Ceranicus in the neo-Aurei language. They are the commoners and worker caste of the nation. While aren't prohibited to bear arms this is limited to self-defense or tiny militia forces. In addition as second class countrymen they are unable to advance to higher ranks of the administration and are literally prohibited to fight as anything but auxiliary to the main army. The third group is a tiny minority called the Hospicites/Hospitánsok AKA "guests". These are inhabitants from different country legally allowed to settle down in Quavaraz. While their numbers are small they are far from negligible and their total count approaches hundreds of thousands. They tend to be merchants, artisans or possess other important skills that positively impact the Empire's growth.
When talking about the Quavarazi/Kvazsír society in general it can be said that most of them live in a semi-nomadic state of affairs. Most locations in Aurelia aren't safe for permanent settlements and even if they could the fortifications and military assistance necessary means this is mostly limited to towns and other important places. As such the typical Quavarazi settlement is erected hastily and can be packed up just as quickly to avoid a horde of monsters or other incoming disasters. Fighting monsters and the cursed environment is part of their daily routine. As such while technically under the iron rule of Quavari the commoners still view these people as their saviors and shields from harm. They both fear and respect them for all the obvious reasons. With resources scarce the average Quavarazi is frugal, not wasting anything. They also have a culturally ingrained hatred of magic, the source of their present plight. As such Quavarazi have inherent hostility to all magic users but their own. They especially hate those who use magic for their own gain or try to rely on it to dominate their lessers. It's well-known that any foreign magic user without an escort and/or official papers could end up being targeted by the angry Quavarazian mob. Religion-wise the faith in the Sacred Wheel of Light dominates everywhere, its cross symbol representing both divine protection and reverence to the Divine Trio. In spite of this the Quavarazians are rather tolerant of other religions, accepting those gods as either their own by other names or divine spirits aiding the work of their true deities. Indeed, while the pantheon of the Father (Er), the Mother (Eny) and their Son (Arany/Ereny, consequently also the name of "gold" in common Quavarazian) is the official faith there are a myriad of local gods rooting from previous faiths of the inhabitants.

Government

Military

Name of Nation:The Holy Kingdom of Andred

Species: Men

Culture and Society: Andred is an elective monarchy. A tough and redoubtable folk, with traditional values of an old warrior society that has had to get used to a technological and economical revolution the past few centuries. There have been three different families that have ruled from the Capital, though as fate would have it, the founding family of Connerad has returned, its youngest son having been elected nigh on fifteen years ago. King Kraygar Connerad the first, of Burtswik. Below him are the Dukes and Earls, who vote for the new King when it is time. The highest class of warriors and statesmen are the Thanes, though unlike the Dukes and Earls, Thanes are warriors first and statesmen second, and are the personal bodyguard of the King. Most Thanes are of the Kavaleri class, a group of heavily mounted warriors.

History:

Territorial Claims:
Far right territory!


Economy: The country of Andred has a myriad of different exports. For starters the coastline and the Isle of Mandori has fish aplenty, and the norther shores even have whales and the occasional walrus for Ivory. The majority of Andred is not made for crops, the forests being too thick and the mountains looming over much of the country, but near the river valley, there is rich soil where apples, wheat, rye, barley, oats, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, and cherries are grown and harvested. These cash crops would make the river valley the richest region, though the mountain zones have gold, tin, iron, and copper, and the coastlines have far more trade exports than any other location. All in all, The Andred economy is healthy and fairly balanced.

Army:

Navy:

Traits:

Foreign Relations:

Rolls: (Rolled by GM in the Discord Server. Just ping me, and I’ll roll as soon as I’m able.)

Other:

Species: Human, with small regional minorities of Surabhi and Sanghar.

Culture and Society: Culturally, Kuriso is relatively insulated from the human cultures of foreign nations. Their language and customs developed and evolved entirely separately from those of the Seihdh or the Andred, and are in many ways more superficially similar to the Surabhi or Sanghar than to the other human realms. Perhaps that most important cultural connection that the people of Kuriso have to other nations is their sense of closeness to the sea. A heavily coastal nation, the Kuriso are renowned fishermen and seafarers, their cuisine dominated by the bounty of the ocean and their merchant vessels common from Caelrumoste to the Kabal. In most other respects though, from their bountifully colourful and loose-fitting garments to their unforgiving sense of social grace and highly pluralistic religious beliefs, the Kuriso are exotic to their human kin.

Kuriso society is prominently characterized by strict social regimentation, far beyond that practiced by most other nations. All ethnic Kuriso, the large majority of the population of the empire, are subject to a merciless code of conduct and a lifestyle and career dictated to them from on high, a collection of customs collectively known as the 'Tejun system'. Punishments in the empire for the breaking of the social norms of Tejun, let alone for breaking actual laws, are notoriously severe. For this reason the society of Kuriso is unusually orderly and quiet, especially in towns and cities where the empire's small minority populations of non-Kuriso are mostly absent. This is because foreigners in the empire, at least those that are non-proscribed, actually enjoy a great deal more freedom than do the ethnic Kuriso. Only the Kuriso themselves are expected to obey the rules of Tejun (and it could even be found offensive for a non-human or a human of a foreign culture were to engage in some of the Tejun rituals), so much of what little there is of new and exciting things happening in Kuriso have foreigners heavily involved in them.

At the top of the Kuriso social pyramid is the Imperial Family, the 'Tenochii', supreme sovereigns of the empire. Believed to be the direct descendants of Tsukisei—the legendary philosopher-god-king who founded Kuriso in millenia past—the Imperial Family rests at the top of Kuriso's politics, religion, and culture. Worship of the Tenochii is the compulsory religion of all ethnic Kuriso, their whims constitute the empire's supreme law, and their outward behavior dictates the rules of etiquette and the cultural customs of all the Kuriso people. The Emperor and his relatives are a class unto their own, and no one, whether the most wealthy merchant or even sovereigns of foreign lands, may call themselves his equal. Incumbent upon the power of the Tenochii is an expectation that they will observe the Tejun system to the letter; if a Tenochii were to behave improperly, it would be questioned by the Kuriso whether they are truly of heavenly blood. The Tenochii all reside within the Tenchikashi, the Imperial palace complex in the holy city of Miyaka. Their visitation to other regions of the Empire is a matter of great consequence, and their residence in Tenchikashi is divinely mandated. If an empress or princess were to give birth to a child outside of the confines of Miyaka, the child would not be considered Tenochii.

Below the Tenochii are the Furodan, the class of aristocrats and administrators. There currently exist eighteen extended families of ethnic Kuriso who are among the Furodan, although foreign royalty is also considered to be equivalent to this caste. While they do have a privileged position in the empire due to their blood, being the only ones who may serve as administrators of the imperial provinces or marry members of the Imperial Family, they do not hold any land or authority which cannot be withdrawn by the whim of the Emperor. Indeed, the composition of the Furodan is dependent upon their good favour with the Tenochii, and there is no family among the Furodan so powerful that it could survive defiance against the Emperor. Similarly, those of the lower castes may beg of the Emperor to be risen to the rank of Furodan, an extraordinary gift earned by powerful families through generations of loyal subservience to the Emperor and strict obedience to the Tejun. The Furodan tend to live in large fortified estates in the country, and are expected to be good patrons of the arts and to possess talents of stewardship, that they might assist dutifully in the governance and diplomacy of the Empire.

The third caste of the Tejun hierarchy is the class of artisans, overseas merchants and lesser landowners: the Musuta. The accomplished men and women of the Kuriso, the Musuta are legally important for being the only caste permitted to engage in trade abroad, although anyone from a master craftsman to a poet to an owner of a large plot of farmland is also technically a Musuta. Membership in the Musuta is organized by province, with each provincial capital containing a list of names of every provincial family permitted to entitle themselves Musuta. It is the rank of Musuta wherein the Kuriso begin to use surnames, most of which relate to either the geographical area from which the family originates or otherwise the trade they ply. Most respected and iconic of all the Musuta are those engaging in naval commerce, either as owners of fishing fleets or merchants conducting trade with foreign kingdoms. Musuta must be treated with reverence by the lower castes, as they are ennobled by the provincial governors, the Furodan, who are themselves personally empowered by the Emperor. Musuta are perhaps the most diverse caste, and anyone from the lower castes (except the very lowest) may theoretically hope to join the ranks of the Musuta one day.

The most common of the classes of the Tejun system is the rank of Chikyuno, where most rural farmers find themselves positioned. Chikyuno could be considered to be the poor of good standing. They are the ethnic Kuriso peasants who till the soil for the Musuta and Furodan and Tenochii, and they comprise the great mass of the empire's overall population. The Chikyuno are expected to be devout worshipers of the Emperor and loyal followers of the Tejun system, and it is considered taboo for a son of a Chikyuno to engage in a trade different than his father's. Although the base caste, the Chikyuno are not technically relegated exclusively to agriculture, with Chikyuno also making up those of the urban poor of the empire's great cities. A family of Chikyuno most obtain wealth and prestige and maintain their honour for several unbroken generations to ever hope of achieving the rank of Musuta, but it is relatively easy for an entire Chikyuno family to be doomed to a lower caste should even one family member behave with impropriety. For this reason, the Chikyuno tend to be quiet, well-behaved, and strongly family centered. They are ordinarily not permitted to leave the Empire, and must even request permission from their local government—the council of the local Musuta—to be granted leave to move to a new province. The exception to this are those Chikyuno who assist Musuta in overseas trade. As long as they do not leave their assigned ship to touch foot to foreign earth, they remain in compliance with the Tejun and still rank among the Chikyuno. The Chikyuno wear simple wooden bands called 'yuna' around their ring fingers on their left hands, signifying their obedience to the Tejun. Any unwashed peasant who did not wear the yuna would be assumed to be in poor standing with the Tejun, and therefore be assumed not to rank among the Chikyuno.

Below the Chikyuno are the caste of vagabonds of Kuriso, the Zuki. Zuki are those peasant families who have broken with Tejun, either by being born outside of wedlock, engaging in proscribed activities, emigrating abroad or marrying with foreigners. Those who shun their family trade are also relegated to status as Zuki, as are those who engage in dishonorable but not proscribed activities, such as prostitution or the handling of the dead. Most Zuki are former members of the Chikyuno who have had their status revoked by their community because of disobedience to the Tejun. They are more common in urban centres than in the countryside, and they also count among their numbers the entirety of the Kuriso diaspora. Zuki are forbidden from entering the formal boundaries of the imperial capital, Miyaka, and must vacate themselves from any other place where a Tenochii is expected to be visiting; it is forbidden for Zuki to lay eyes on Tenochii, for penalty of even further shaming (or death). Zuki are expected to behave subserviently to the Chikyuno, and Zuki men are forbidden from speaking to women of Chikyuno class or higher under any circumstance, even life or death. The Zuki, especially those who are not actively trying to behave piously to regain their status, tend to live among their own kind in the poorer neighbourhooods of major towns and cities. In many densely populated places, though not Miyaka, Zuki even constitute a higher percentage of the population than the more numerous Chikyuno. Zuki are also more common to find in non-Kuriso communities within the Empire, and outnumber Chikyuno in some outlying provinces.

At the bottom of Kuriso society are the unpersons, the scum of Kuriso: the Zuru. Whereas Zuki are capable of regaining their honour through strict obedience to the Tejun, the Zuru are those considered so far gone as to be beyond redemption. Most Zuki, and many Zuru themselves, would prefer to be dead rather than to be called Zuru. The Zuru are forbidden from owning any land or property, even the clothes on their backs, and lack legal personhood or bodily autonomy. They can be assaulted, raped or murdered with impunity, and tend to live short, torturous lives. Becoming Zuru is a penalty considered literally worse than death in Kuriso culture. Those who are made Zuru have their left hand's ring finger removed, so that they can never wear the yuna, and often bear other wounds and disfigurements from the abuse they receive at the hands of the upper castes. When cities are put under siege in Kuriso, any Zuru present are killed and butchered, their flesh permitted to be eaten in spite of Tejun rules against cannibalism due to the fact that Zuru are not people. Similarly, many Zuru essentially act as slaves, this being permitted in spite of the Tejun because Zuru are no longer human beings at the spiritual level. The most heinous of all crimes in Kuriso, such as treason or libel against the Emperor, are all punished by demotion to the rank of Zuru. Most Zuru though are simply the mentally ill and the addicted, those dregs of society who live off waste and excess. Their purpose in the social pyramid is to be shamed and tortured; whereas the Tenochii represent the Kuriso ideal, the Zuru represent this ideal's antithesis.

Foreigners (including native minorities) in Kuriso are generally well-heeded, given some kind of special position within the empire in fair exchange for their loyalty to the Emperor. Generally, the different minorities found within the empire have an entrenched position in some kind of economic, political or military niche, fulfilling a role in which the ethnic Kuriso are deficient. Notable among these are the Logaz people of Ondorlogaz, in the central highlands of the empire. The Logaz are known across the empire as people of the stone and forge. They mine precious materials and forge them into sturdy armour in service of the Emperor, which he accepts in lieu of any other form of taxation or military service from the Logaz. Indeed, it is forbidden for the Logaz smiths and miners to forge, or even hold in their hands, swords or other weaponry: the Logaz shall always be Kuriso's greatest armorers so long as they never forge anything else. An even more special case occurs with the Doisu, the pale, lithe people of Doisugo, in the empire's northeast. Known in ancient times as a hated rival of Kuriso, Doisugo is known for possessing many great magic bloodlines, many of their people naturally attuned to making use of sorcery. In exchange for the continued wealth and power of these noble families after their conquest by Kuriso, as well as for the maintenance of the Doisu's democratic systems of local government, the Doisu as a people are required to surrender all of their kin who possess an innate talent for magic to the Emperor for his service. Many of the greatest battle-mages and crystal-masters of Kuriso are of Doisu blood, surrendered to the Emperor at a young age in exchange for their people's continued well-being and the continued maintenance of their democratic traditions.

History: The mythologized history of Kuriso begins with the Goddess Mumaza and her husband, Tejun. Representing the moon and the sun respectively, the couple gave birth to two children: a daughter, Chiki, representing the earth, and a son, Sai, representing the sea. Chiki and Sai in turn started their own family and produced a great multitude of dozens of children, who spread over the land and banded together to begin the world's nations. The second born son was Tsukisei, who founded Kuriso. Whereas Mumaza and Tejun's two children loved each other dearly, the children of Chiki and Sai were spiteful of one another, always feuding and showing one another no love, for they were many and all had to compete for their parents' attention. The children formed great wonders to earn the favour of their parents, forming great mountain ranges to impress Chiki and channeling new rivers and seas to earn the favour of Sai. These works only served to further divide the children, separating their nations from one another physically and even driving their parents apart between them.

In time, the children went to war, each one fighting for either Chiki or Sai in the great "War of Nations". Much killing was had as the brothers and sisters of Tsukisei fought over the supremacy of either earth or sea, all the while Tsukisei, the second born son, remained neutral, shocked at the slaying of blood from his brothers and sisters. In time, Chiki seemed destined to prevail, her champion the first born son defeating many of Sai's followers, who begged, unanswered, for Tsukisei's intervention on their side. When Chiki eventually prevailed, the Goddess Mumaza, grief-struck at the fall of so may of her kin, attempted to commit suicide, nearly putting out the light of the moon. For thirty days Chiki and her supporters rallied against the last of the followers of the sea god, until Sai, in his magnanimity, surrendered, leaving the seas untended as he left the world to care for his mother Mumaza. Chiki, shamed at her brother-husband's superior morality, left behind her own victorious army to join him in caring for Mumaza. Ashamed of those who joined her in her great mistake, she eschewed her own supporters and instead named Tsukisei her regent in the world as she cared for Mumaza.

The first born son chafed under the leadership of Tsukisei, who empowered territory and riches to all of the sons and daughters of Chiki and Sai equally, both including those who had fought under Sai in the War of Nations and ignoring those born to Chiki first. The first born son sought to commit a treachery against Tsukisei, gathering together his brothers and sisters most loyal to him to defeat Tsukisei at his seat at Miyaka. However, at the last moment, Tejun himself intervened, appalled at the first born son's betrayal of Chiki's heed to serve Tsukisei as regent of the world. Tejun came down from heaven, stepped foot on Miyaka, and unleashed his absolute authority over existence to deprive all of the children of Chiki and Sai—spare Tsukisei—of their divinity, shattering their physical forms into the thousands of humans and other species that came to be the progenitors of the world's nations, and shattering their essences into the crystals of magic that are responsible for the presence of divine power in the world today. The first born son of Chiki and Sai was particularly damned, his name forbidden to ever be spoken again, to eternally shame him for his treachery. Tejun also created a new people, based off his own form, whom he called the 'Kuriso'. These perfect creations of the God of the Sun would assist Tsukisei in his regency of the world as the Goddess of Earth and God of the Sea cared for the Goddess of the Moon.

Imperial Provinces



Economy: The economic mainstay of Kuriso, like most all large kingdoms and empires, is agriculture. The empire is blessed in land and fertile soil abundant, but the bounty of food contained in the great ocean coasts of the empire also feeds and provides work for many of the Kuriso people. Farming and fishing are easily the two most common livelihoods, perhaps followed by the artisans, responsible for crafting the fine works of art—worker's tools and paintings and blades alike—for which Kuriso prides itself.

The most abundant of all the crops grown in Kuriso is rice. Native to the lowlands of southern Shangaim province, rice is extremely congenial to the climate, topography and soil conditions of southern and eastern Kuriso. Along with fish, it is a staple of Kuriso cuisine, providing the tens of millions of inhabitants of the empire their daily nutrition. Similarly, cultivating rice is far and away the single most common economic activity for the people of Kuriso; perhaps more than half of all Kuriso alive in the empire spend their days tending to this single variety of crop. For all the intensity of scale of agriculture in the Empire of Kuriso, however, it is a market starkly isolated from trade and commerce. All rice grown in Kuriso fields and all fish caught in Kuriso waters are consumed locally to feed the masses, and trade of agricultural goods—whether imports or exports—are essentially non-existent.

Instead, the main trading commodity of the empire is works of craft. The master woodworkers of the Musuta create tools and furnishings prized half the world away, which is to say nothing of the beautiful works of jewelry and elaborate tapestries that also occupy the holds of trade ships departing from Kuriso ports.

Army: TBA

Navy: TBA

Traits

TBA

Foreign Relations: TBA

Stats
Land Area: 18 (12+6)
Land Fertility: 12 (6+6)
Development: 12 (19-7)
Land Power: 14
Naval Power: 17
Economy: 12 (11+1)
Magical Reserves: 9 (10-1)
Magical Sophistication: 9

Name of Nation: Exiles of the Barren Isles
Species: Human
Culture and Society:
Religion – As many exiles came from Caelrumoste, Athia and old Alwatea, the Barren Isle counts several religions. As the Athian exiles arrived first at the island, they created their own church of the Archangel. However, they saw that the conflict that led to their banishment was not entirely a conflict of magic but rather one of religion. So the earliest version of the Council demanded that religion would never mingle in government or the Nexus. When the Alwatean refugees arrived, they brought with them their own gods. As the First Council generally did not meddle with religion, they allowed the Alwatean refugees to worship their own gods under the same laws. The same deal was taken by several Caelrumoste refugees who fled from the strange civil war that seemed to be happening in their homeland. In the end the vast majority worships three main religions. None of them originating from the Barren Isles.

While normally the lines between state and religion are respected, the Athian church has recently brought forth a request. They would like to organize pilgrimages towards their old continental land towards the great churches of the Archangel. So far the Council has not brought this issue before Athia. The other two religious factions seem quite content with staying where they are.

History:

Territorial Claims:


Economy:


Army: The Exiles used to lack any form of formal army. Instead each Family had a Household Guard. Tasked to protect the Family’s land. As only people part of the Exile class can become Household Guard and due to its rather low prestige, few chose the job. However, since the recent mounting fear coming from the cyclops in the west, more Exiles have clamored for an official army that can defend them in the events of an attack. The Order of Stone was made and contains Household Guards that have at least five years of experience. This has limited the recruitment pool rather significantly. Furthermore, while magic education is a common right for all Household Guards, magic in close combat is an unexplored idea so far. The only upside they have is that the equipment is paid by the Council. This means that at the very least their equipment is of some degree. Yet far from what many warriors would want.

Navy: Wood is a scarce resource on the islands. Thus a large navy compromised of wooden ships would be impossible. Still, the Exiles knew that their island homes and more importantly the Nexus had to be protected. The first clues on how to do so came from the Deep One “Leviathan”. A massive creature that, according to legend, protects the Isle of Mist. In the first Communion, which took place right after the second Awakening of the Nexus, Leviathan said that the creatures of the sea obey the deep and the moon. After consulting the Nexus methods using the Lore of the Deep and the Lore of the Moon were used to control the creatures of the sea. With significant results. Dull creatures like the Giant Turtle were easily lulled into a prolonged trance. While South Sea Serpents were less easy to control though much easier to simply direct. Later on smaller ships were bought from trading partners or taken from south sea pirates. These ships are now generally used to patrol the coasts of the Isle of Stone or send as merchant ships along the Giant Turtle Ships. The Exiles trust Leviathan to protect the Isles of Mist and he has not disappointed them so far.



Traits:

Foreign Relations:

Rolls: (Rolled by GM in the Discord Server. Just ping me, and I’ll roll as soon as I’m able.)

Other:

Name of Nation: Orichal of Ruinous Petra

Species & Population: Orichal (majority - approx. 550,000); Bloodmarked (north island minority - approx. 50,000); Human (subjects/allies - approx. 130,000); Refik (allies - population uncertain, but majority do not have any contact with the orichal, though they do have a non-aggression deal)



Culture and Society:
At heart, the Orichal lead simple lives. Their culture is organized into small settlements, usually of no more than two hundred individuals, who work together to support themselves. Each settlement will have a small orchard of mangroves, giant yams, mushrooms, or starch-rich root farms that it routinely harvests and reseeds, exchanging these seeds with their neighbours to ensure an even and circular spreading of crops, minimizing the risk of disease.

That said, the size and might of the Orichal has made them excellent hunters, and thus they supplement their diet with the flesh of beasts and fish. Upon fishing rafts, strung together from bone and the few trees remaining of the island, or from the dried out husks of their crops, they cast nets of rope and hunt with elegant stone spears, bringing back the carcasses of whales and squid and stranger, more monstrous prey.

For as long as they can remember, the Orichal have paid solemn respect to their three gods - of Storm, of Stone, and Sea. These three gods are not moral agents - they are beings of Chaos, of Order, and of Life, respectively - and are all both respected, beloved, and feared in equal measure. Dotting the islands are a number of shrines - spiraling, pointed structures. Those pointed west, built atop the highest points on their islands, are dedicated to the Storm. Those pointed east, in caverns and halls, are dedicated to the Stone. And those pointed south, dotting the coastline of every island, are those dedicated to the Sea.





Territorial Claims:


Economy:
-- Primarily hunters and subsistence farmers. Have basically nothing of value to other nations other than their sacred ore, that they refuse to trade. What few things they do own and produce are shared communally and rarely is in excess of their needs, so trade is difficult to set up or benefit from.
-- Food production is sufficient for their needs but has begun to show signs of strain in the wake of a steadily increasing population, which coupled with their fears of a coming cataclysm upon their islands have served as a great motivation for the frequent hunting voyages.
---- "Homegrown food" is mainly in the form of large yams; a grainy but nutritious tuber called the rokoot as well as the excess roots of that plant; as well as a variety of fish and shellfish, domesticated goats, and caught game such as deer, boar, and harpies (a kind of violent wild fowl).

Army:
Mighty warriors and hunters, a single Orichal is exceptionally dangerous and ferocious, and they have patiently studied and mastered the art of fighting as a group. However, their eye presents a notable physical weakness and their small numbers greatly limit their force projection on land.
Usually armed with crudely melted down and "reforged" metal weapons stolen in raids on human settlements, or more often long, thick-shafted iron spears or clubs and maces. Most deadly of all are the slings they carry, allowing them to launch heavy rocks almost the size of a human skull, with tremendous speed, range and accuracy.

-- Hunters & Harpies ("Militia-Support")
Although much rarer in recent centuries, their home islands of Ruinous Petra were once home to great and monstrous beasts. These creatures were often hunted purely for food and protection, though during the Crisis of Rejection many of these creatures were hunted to the point of extinction purely to sustain the surge in population, leading to an ecological collapse that devastated the islands and the maximum population of the Orichal and other life there for several millennia.
The art of hunting in the past century and a half is now largely left to the warriors upon the great Hunting Fortresses, but ordinary Orichal at home do still build and set up traps for more mundane species such as deer and boar, and the support crews on the Hunting Fortresses are likewise skilled with javelin or sling. Though not considered "professional warriors", they are respected in spite of their relative lack of experience or dedicated training.
A side note is that many of these Hunters also make use of small flocks of harpies, meter long birds of prey that inhabit Ruinous Petra and its isles (especially in the south) and many of which have been tamed. Nesting in the upper tiers of the Fortresses, their vicious personalities and sharp claws coupled with a strong pack mentality make them loyal companions - whether catching vermin, hunting sheep, or striking at enemy combatants with their claws.

-- Pack Warrior ("Infantry")
The term used for the primary crews and raiding or hunting parties of the Hunting Fortresses, and thus the Orichal tasked with hunting the great beasts of the ocean for food, or in the raiding of ships and settlements. The Pack Warriors train often in the use of the spear, sling, and mace or club, and are ferocious warriors clad in simplistic but thick padded leather armour, often wearing a simple "mask" or "veil" of metal chains to protect their eye when going into battle against human opponents.
Each warrior is assigned to a pack, usually consisting of a dozen warriors, led by a pack master and supported by a small group of four or so pathfinders, as well as usually having a few bloodmarked and stormhearts.
-- Pack Master ("Leadership")
The term used for the individual placed in charge of a pack, usually made up of the oldest or most experienced of its warriors. Though rarely better equipped, the pack master is often appointed to the position by an orespeaker for reasons greater than raw strength or skill in combat - many of them are surprisingly eloquent speakers, as well as having an emotional composure, confidence, and mind for strategy that makes them capable leaders adept at maintaining the morale of the pack.
Those masters too old or injured to take part in hunts or raids themselves often remain on Ruinous Petra and become respected leaders in the home settlements, or else remain onboard the Hunting Fortresses as navigators and captains.
-- Stormhearts ("Warrior Orespeakers")
Most packs will be supported by an orespeaker, albeit one equipped for battle. Usually clad in some form of scaled or multiple component armour and carrying weapons and shields of heavy rock and coral that they themselves have sculpted and thus remains light-weight in their hands, a stormheart is a great boon to a pack, since his or her presence is a powerful form of motivation and spiritual comfort. In addition, the knowledge of a stormheart in the arts of seasalving and surgery makes them effective healers, and they often carry satchels of pain-numbing or curative herbs and roots.
-- Pathfinders ("Scouts/Skirmishers")
The youngest and most agile amongst the Orichal Hunters are often given the name of pathfinder, and are armed with javelins and darts as well as slings or powerful capturing weapons like the bolas, and a knowledge of building traps. These pathfinders operate in small groups or pairs, usually no more than four, and are tasked with observing and mapping out terrain. In battle, they often serve as harassers or flankers, laying in ambush while the majority of the pack lures the enemy into a preferred fighting area.
-- Bloodmarked ("Heavy Infantry")
During the Crisis of Rejection, many Orichal from the northern settlements on the mainland - whose long isolation had left them distinctive physical features, most notably a red discoloration of normally golden "specks" on their scales and a certain consistent "redness" to the veins in their eye - were viewed with suspicion, and as resources became harder to distribute and disease began to spread, they were blamed for it. The ensuing civil war, coupled with the other aforementioned issues, led to an ecological collapse on Ruinous Petra that devastated the islands for millennia. The surviving Bloodmarked, having clung to survival but not independence through their settlements on the islands just north of Ruinous Petra, have long been considered a subservient people... they are, however, famed for their ferocity and martial strength.
They contribute a small "tribute" of their greatest warriors as representatives onboard the Hunting Fortresses, where they serve a unique role as heavy shock troops, clad in multiple layers of crude but effective iron armour and carrying massive tower-shields. They do not fight from a distance, but are instead vowed to take up defensive battle-line at the vanguard of the Pack Warriors that they are assigned to.

Navy: (description in progress)
Sculpting great stone ships from the massive boulders of their home-island, blessed by Orespeakers in the midst of a storm, the stone becomes lighter than water and crackles with lightning. While relatively few, each stone ship is a surprisingly quick and near-impenetrable fortress, coated in spikes and slates of unyielding stone armour.
Within the gut of the ship is enclosed a sacred, ornate chamber in which the Orespeaker meditates, their mind stretched out through the body of the ship, their eye forever linked to the magical field that permeates the layers of the ship.

-- Fishing Rafts ("Civilian"-"Militia"-"Boarding/Raiding")
Before the mastery of stonesculpting by the orespeakers, the Orichal made extensive use of the once abundant forests on Ruinous Petra to craft wide rafts with large, crude fur sails and to set cross across their neighbouring isles and beyond. After the Crisis of Rejection, however, these rudimentary craft primarily served as simple fishing vessels, and many of them have been well-maintained by the descendants of those who first built them. There have been some refinements in the design, of course, but these simplistic craft serve no combat function save in the most dire of situations - even an untrained Orichal fisher, armed with net and dart-thrower, is a deadly foe if pushed into danger.
Notably, most Hunting Fortresses will contain a number of specially reinforced "Hunting Rafts", reinforced with metal and coral and lined with metal or wooden shields. These smaller vessels are used for scouting and raiding on land, or to attack ships in less heavily destructive ways than their slings or javelins might.

-- Refik Mercenaries ("Raiding"-"Amphibious")
The orichal work closely with the refik inhabiting the coral reefs and shallow waters surrounding the Petrese islands. While in ancient times there was anger between the two peoples, in recent centuries the expansion of human activity throughout the south sea has left the once powerful refik in an increasingly desperate situation, forcing them further and further into deep waters where they are often preyed upon by great sea monsters.
In addition to helping in the maintenance and construction of the great hunting fortresses, the bands of refik will often congregate and attach themselves to the fortresses, using the psychological effects of the massive vessels as a protection that allows them to travel along much deeper water currents than would be otherwise considered safe, and giving them a sort of political clout among the other tribes and kingdoms of their secretive and mercenary people.
In exchange, they offer their assistance in battle and fishing while the hunting fortresses are on their voyages - by helping to distract or flank sea monsters, by sabotaging human ships from underneath, and by helping to lure or pressure fish into the waiting nets of hungry orichal sailors.

-- Hunting Fortress ("Raiding"-"Siege"-"Landing")
The keystone in the orichal plan for a new home and ultimate control of the south seas, the hunting fortresses are immense and multi-tiered ships, each over sixty meters long and
-- Reclaimer of Ages ("Ship of the Line")

Traits: (description in progress; names and balancing pending)
Giants of the South Sea
{+} Their fearsome reputation, massive Hunting Fortresses, and raw primal size and strength are naturally intimidating to all but the most battle hardened. In situations calling for shows of force or intimidation, they have a natural advantage and enemy forces in battle often suffer from poor morale at the prospect of fighting them, especially at sea.
{-} The stereotype of the "dumb brute" is often applied to them, and their practices of piracy, raiding, and of eating those that resist them are all viewed with contempt and anger. Diplomatic relationships with all of their human neighbours is quite poor.

Ancestral Wisdom
{+} Their society and culture highly value age, experience and wisdom. They entrust all of their most important decisions to those felt to be the wisest in society, though with an emphasis on communication and the exchange of ideas between individuals, families, and settlements. Despite a lack of complex or centralized structure, the Orichal are adept at organizing themselves, even for quite large and time-consuming projects.
{-} Their overly past and tradition centric worldview often stifles their individualism and willingness to adapt to new situations, and their tendency to view other races and peoples with contempt limits their ability to learn new strategies and techniques from others.

The Ore is Sacred
{+}
{-} Because of their strongly held religious traditions regarding the nature of the "sacred ore", the Orichal are not willing to sell or trade it. In fact, they find the largely materialistic way other societies treat the ore to be deeply disrespectful, and see the act of stealing it (usually by force) from "unworthy hands" to be a holy act.

Servants of the Storm
{+} The Orichal are used to the frequent heavy rainstorms that batter their islands, especially during the approach of the "storm season", or monsoon. They are used to living and working in the rain and the wind, and build their homes and settlements in ways to minimize the damage potentially caused. Combined with their sturdy bodies, good low-light vision and other senses, and strong religious ideas surrounding storms, they suffer far fewer penalties or problems in harsh weather than other societies might.
{-}

Foreign Relations: Primarily connected to the Exiles of the Barren Isles and Caelrumoste. Generally negative, but open to some form of discussion.

Rolls: (Rolled by GM in the Discord Server. Just ping me, and I’ll roll as soon as I’m able.)
Land Area: 5 - 2 = 3
Land Fertility: 3 + 5 = 8
Development: 3 (swap) >12 = 12
Land Power: 17 - 2 = 15
Naval Power: 16 + 2 = 18
Economy: 12 (swap) >3 = 3
Magical Reserves: 19 - 1 = 18
Magical Sophistication: 10 + 3 = 13

Other:

Name of Nation: The Usharid Sultanate

Species: Humans

Culture and Society:

Fierce lands breed a fierce people, or so the saying goes. It was true for a thousand different peoples through history and it was true for the Usharids. The Desert Fathers and other learned folk speak of the first Usharids being created out of the desert sand by Abtum, the Spirit of the Desert and the one and only god of the Usharid tribes.

Abtum gave the people a strict set of rules to his children. Rules to ensure that the tribes would give Him and His physical body (the desert) the deserved respect. And to ensure that the tribes lived in righteousness and piety. As any proper man should.

And so the tribes lived for eons. Respecting the holy places, honoring elders and the Desert Fathers, giving God His deserved offerings and prayers whilst striking down heretics and apostates with extreme prejudice. Living according to the means the land afforded them and ensuring that no foreign taint would take root upon the billowing dunes.



That system worked smoothly for who knows how many thousand years. All around the desert empires rose and fell, races grew powerful and withered all the while the Usharid tribes lived as their ancestors, taking whatever changes the outside world threw at them in stride. Adopting whatever they thought was useful and shunning the supposedly superfluous. Fighting whoever sought to impose their will upon their lands and occasionally venturing beyond the sand dunes for plunder and loot, either as raiders or mercenaries.

The conquest of Hijark broke this placid equilibrium. Suddenly, the Usharids were not only an unified people, but they had also expanded beyond their original homeland, finding themselves ruling over a large amount of settled people, the Hijarkis. The Usharids changed, or were changed by their new circumstances.

The modern Usharid Sultanate is still a land in flux. As the new generations grow knowing nothing of the old days of Hijark or the tribal confederations save what they learn from their elders.

The Usharids still make up most of the ruling elite. But instead of silken tents, they now inhabit perfumed palaces and countryside estates. Many of them even having Hijarki blood themselves, on account of Jibal’s policy of intermarriage. These children grew into an increasingly mixed culture. That although still calls itself Usharid and pays homage to Abtum and his scriptures, also has undeniably been impacted by their new wealthier and settled lifestyle.

The Hijarkis experienced their own share of changes imposed by their new overlords. Though the framework many of the old Kingdom’s institutions and organizations survived the Usharid conquest, many others didn’t or were irreparably damaged. Old mage guilds were suppressed and hunted down for resisting the Usharid invasion. Many temples, shrines and libraries were looted and razed during the invasion itself and in the suppression of the many rebellions that followed while the old warrior aristocracy that ruled Hijark was gutted. Meanwhile, cities and the coastal plains were filled with bands of Usharid tribesmen, eager to leave behind the harsh dunes for an easier life on the coast. But even then, this influx of tribesmen wasn’t enough to replace the native Hijarkis, who to this day still make up the majority of the Sultanate’s population.

The remnants of the Hijarki warrior aristocracy still cling to whatever power they managed to preserve. Mostly by ingratiating themselves with their new overlords and working within the new system. A far cry from the heights of their power in the previous centuries. Not only have they been subjugated by a new, stronger force but now they also need to compete with a new, growing class of bureaucrats and government officials raised from Hijarki and mixed race burghers and merchants. Who have become vital to the running of the Sultanate.

And last, but not least, there are those Usharids who still inhabit their ancestral homeland. Being either too poor and lacking the political and blood connections to earn themselves estates in Hijarki lands or simply choosing to remain in the desert for one reason or the other. Some of these chieftains look to the developments in the Sultanate with some concern, for they too can see how their ancestral desert has fallen behind, relegated to a backwater within the very nation that carries its name. Ruled by their supposed kin, who grows increasingly foreign with each passing generation. Distancing itself from the land and ways that originally gave them the strength to seize the lofty palaces and green fields they now lord over. Still, these men are few, and yet lacking the power to do much besides grumbling and whispering to those of their coastal kin who still stubbornly cling to their ancestral ways.

History:

The Usharid Sultanate is a young nation, specially by the standards of the region. Surrounded by nations and empires who can claim long centuries or even millennia of history, the Sultanate’s less than two centuries certainly pale in comparison.

The Sultanate’s tale with a blood feud, as many tales in the desert are won’t to do. When Ali ibn Tariq of the Lazash tribe gutted Zaffura bint Hassam of the Rubyat tribe in the middle of Aqquba Oasis’ bazaar because the trader supposedly sold him spoiled meat. The Rubyats, understandably, were incensed by the murder, and claimed that Ali had killed Zaffura to avoid paying his large debt to her.

The two tribes soon took the issue to the dunes, as usual. This little spat would’ve been just one among many in the Usharid’s long story of inter tribal warfare if not for the fact that the Lazash tribe, smaller and poorer than their foes by a considerable margin, called upon the help of their kinsmen of the Turraq tribe. At the time led by young Salman Ibn Ayyub.

Salman, eager to make a name for himself among the tribes of the desert, eschewed the traditional tactics of endless skirmishing among the sands and ritual combat between champions to instead strike directly at the Rubyat’s camps and the oasis where they sought shelter, usually held as neutral ground in Usharid culture. Winning the war with great displays of tactical acumen and personal bravery, but also committing a terrible taboo in the eyes of the other Usharid tribes. Salman had been too aggressive, too bloodthirsty in his campaign, a small blood feud was not enough justification to eschew the traditional ways of fighting. To burn homes and disrupt the sacredness of the oasis settlements and neutral grounds.

Still, Salman’s victory earned him some prestige and respect from other tribes. Enough to garner him some allies for more campaigns against other tribes. Age old enemies of the Turraqs or merely convenient targets. In the span of a few years, Salman had managed to establish a sizable tribal confederation with him and his tribes at its head. Such organizations weren’t unheard of in Usharid history. After all, it only took an ambitious warlord of foreign threat to unite at least some of the tribes. The difference between Salman and those previous warlords, however, was that Salman flaunted the ancient customs and traditions of the tribes. Not only when it came to warfare but religion too. Abandoning the proper worship of Abtum for the faith of Ishareth and going as far as declaring that he would spread his “True Faith” to all the corners of the Usharid realm.

That was the final straw for many who until then had stayed out of Salman’s way out of fear or apathy. Conquering warlords came and went in the desert, but apostasy could not be tolerated. This new coalition rallied under Umar Ibn Ali, chief of the Raidus tribe.

Umar was neither the wealthiest nor the strongest of the chieftains who rose up to challenge Salman. But he was a pious man leading a notoriously pious tribe. His strict observance of Abtum’s commandments made him the natural choice for their leader. And thus, he was named Caliph, commander of the faithful, by the Desert Fathers.

The religious nature of the conflict sapped Salman’s strength. Many of his allies and subjects refused to fight by his side or even defected to Umar’s army. The Desert Fathers, the only organized order of mages in the Usharid lands, also pledged their full support towards Umar’s cause. Still, Salman was a commander of unmatched skill at the time, and his own warriors were mighty veterans, experienced and ruthless fighters.

The Salmanid Apostasy lasted around 6 years. As able commander the Apostate was, he proved himself unable to defeat the powerful coalition in detail before it could fully mobilize its forces against him. Salman himself died at the end of the fourth year of the war, alongside with most of his army. With the rest of the conflict being spent chasing down the last dregs of his partisans and kin, purging them with grievous prejudice and destroying every last trace of the foreign religion upon the Usharid lands.

Umar himself would not live long to enjoy the prestige and adoration of having had purged the Apostates root and stem, but his firstborn, Jibal would do so spectacularly. Wielding the disparate alliance first into a loose confederation and gradually bringing all the tribes under his wing. The culmination of Jibal’s work came with the conquest of Hijark.

Realizing that in due time, every tribal confederation was prone to splintering, Jibal knew that if his work were to outlive him, the Usharid tribes would need to evolve beyond their current means. They would need institutions and structure. And most importantly, outside threats to keep the tribesmen united. And so, with that in mind, Jibal turned his eyes to the Kingdom of Hijark. A prosperous settled realm that controlled the fertile lands hugging the coastline southern of the Usharid desert.

Provoking the settled realm into war by incessant raiding and harassment of caravans, Jibal gained the outside threat necessary to rally the desert warriors. And so the great Usharid horde stormed south, giving battle to the mercenaries and levies of Hijark and breaking them in seven great battles over the course of three years. And thus, at the dawn of the fourth year of the conflict, Jibal Ibn Umar al-Raidus was declared Sultan, by the jubilant Desert Fathers over the burn ruins of Hijark chief city. And thus the Usharid Sultanate was born.

Jibal spent the next two decades of his life tirelessly working to turn the loose tribal confederation he ruled into a proper, “modern” realm. Work that more often than not involved coopting already existing Hijarki structures and institutions.

Territorial Claims:



Economy:

Army:

Navy:

Traits:

Foreign Relations:

Rolls:

Land Area: 11
Land Fertility: 3 (+4) = 7
Development: 12 (swapped with Magical Reserves): 16
Land Power: 19 (+1) = 20
Naval Power: 13
Economy: 16
Magical Reserves: 16 (swapped with development) : 12
Magical Sophistication: 8
Other:

]

Name of Nation: Shahdom of Kera-Bijan

Species: While the overwhelming majority of the Kera-Bijani are regular humans, there do exist a large majority of oddities within the outlying regions of the shahdom. There are places where magic is strong, and the climate harsh, so much so that the settlers there have begun to change form to adapt. Those living in the plateaus have become short and thin, so much so that an adult of the mountain people is about the size of a child in the cities. On the other end of the spectrum, those that settled in the steppes have grown into giants, easily reaching three and a half meters, and have gained the ability to subsist on the grass itself. All three races identify strongly as human.