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==Monstrous Civilizations== | ==Monstrous Civilizations== | ||
===Giants of Estvald=== | ===Giants of Estvald=== | ||
− | The western mountains are ruled over by the | + | The western mountains are ruled over by the giants, a country they |
− | call Estvald | + | call Estvald, which they seized control from the Dwarves nearly 500 |
years ago. It is filled with great mountain cities. It is actually | years ago. It is filled with great mountain cities. It is actually | ||
an eastern extension of a larger giantish kingdom to the west where | an eastern extension of a larger giantish kingdom to the west where | ||
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Dragons commonly allow humanoid towns or villages, and nomadic people | Dragons commonly allow humanoid towns or villages, and nomadic people | ||
− | access to their lands for tribute. Usually tribute is in gold, | + | access to their lands for tribute. Usually tribute is usually in gold, |
sometimes in trade goods or craftwork, occasionally in livestock. | sometimes in trade goods or craftwork, occasionally in livestock. | ||
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usually limit their involvement to individuals, such as artists, | usually limit their involvement to individuals, such as artists, | ||
crafters, researchers, or adventurers. | crafters, researchers, or adventurers. | ||
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==Humans== | ==Humans== | ||
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For racial traits of humans see [[Alia:Player Races#Humans|Humans]]. | For racial traits of humans see [[Alia:Player Races#Humans|Humans]]. | ||
− | ===Humans of The Republic | + | ===Humans of The Republic=== |
− | |||
Humans comprise two great empires. The island empire of the north, | Humans comprise two great empires. The island empire of the north, | ||
called the Republic of the Isles, or more commonly, "The Republic", | called the Republic of the Isles, or more commonly, "The Republic", | ||
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for more than 20 years. | for more than 20 years. | ||
− | + | The humans of the Republic are seafaring masters and are skilled at | |
+ | naval combat as well as coastal raiding. This from long years of | ||
+ | fighting off pirates from the northern coastal regions. (Some say | ||
+ | from an infusion of northern viking blood from all the raiding as | ||
+ | well.) The northern empire's official religion is the Order of Man. | ||
+ | The emporer is a hereditary figure-head. The actual rulership comes | ||
+ | from the house of lords where each founding nation's noble families | ||
+ | meet in Nolton for 2 months in the summer to pass laws and discuss | ||
+ | national policy and by a group of ministers elected from within those | ||
+ | lords to administer the country. There are currently 15 ministerial | ||
+ | posts, including a prime-minister, a minister of defense, a minister | ||
+ | of justice, and several others. These ministers are the true | ||
+ | rulership of the empire. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Humans of The Empire of Rhode=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The empire of Rhode is, in fact warring on two fronts, with the | ||
+ | Republic of the Isles in the north and the also at war with the elves | ||
+ | of the Shadowwood forest on the south. The economic and military might | ||
+ | of Rhode is great, due to the large amount of fertile land, the temperate | ||
+ | weather and good supply of natural resources, bolstered by Rhode's use | ||
+ | of slave labour. They appear to be doing well in both wars. The | ||
+ | rulership of the south is an imperial monarchy. Lands are divided | ||
+ | into principalities, duchies, counties and baronnys and ruled and | ||
+ | administered by their hereditary nobility. All pay tribute to the | ||
+ | Emporer, both in levies and troops. | ||
+ | |||
+ | All land is owned by the nobility, by law. Most land and businnesses | ||
+ | are also administered by hirelings of the noble families but there are | ||
+ | a small number of commoners who rent from the nobility and run their | ||
+ | own operations. Being low-born is a great impediment in the southern | ||
+ | kingdoms, little better than being a slave, but there is a rising | ||
+ | middle class and growing unrest. | ||
− | + | Slavery of non-human races is legal in the south. Humanoids like Orcs | |
+ | and Goblins are considered too foul to enslave and are always | ||
+ | killed. The most common slaves are half-orcs and halflings. Half-orcs | ||
+ | have been subjugated by the Church and have been taught that there | ||
+ | rightful place in the hierarchy of life is as slaves to humans. | ||
+ | Halflings are mostly Golanites and are pacifists, and as such they are | ||
+ | easy to capture and are model slaves, although their small size makes | ||
+ | them unsuitable for heavy work. Gnomes are also quite common although | ||
+ | they are seen as more troublesome than halflings and just as | ||
+ | unsuitable for heavy labour in addition their mastry of illusion has | ||
+ | led to several slave breakouts. Dwarves are prized for their | ||
+ | craftmanship, but are known to be troublesome slaves. They are | ||
+ | regarded as worth it and are always well guarded. Some wood elves | ||
+ | have been taken as slaves. So far, little gain has come of it, many | ||
+ | wood-elves dying in their attempts to escape, sometimes taking some of | ||
+ | their slave masters with them. | ||
===Humans and Half Orcs of Prolia=== | ===Humans and Half Orcs of Prolia=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | For racial traits of half orcs see [[Alia:Player Races#Half Orcs|Half Orcs]]. | ||
The northern coasts, "Prolia", are inhabited by humans and half orcs, | The northern coasts, "Prolia", are inhabited by humans and half orcs, | ||
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giantish kingdom. | giantish kingdom. | ||
− | + | Prolia was once a unified knigdom. There are ruins of guard towers | |
+ | along the border to the northern forest, where once Prolian soldiers | ||
+ | kept the goblinoid raids from the north out of the country. Now after | ||
+ | years of paying heavy tribute to the hill giants, Prolia is on the | ||
+ | verge of collapse. Each town and village struggles to survive to feed | ||
+ | itself and to satisfy the Hill Giants. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Prolia exists mostly because the giants are uninterested in the | ||
+ | flatlands near the coast and like the tribute without having to | ||
+ | administer the area. Prolia is however in danger of being overrun by | ||
+ | the goblinoids of the northern forest, who would like better access to | ||
+ | the southlands, but lack the organization to mass in numbers | ||
+ | sufficient to take all of Prolia and who also do not wish to upset the | ||
+ | giants. Rumors of a great hobgoblin leader who has been dealing with | ||
+ | the giants for the right to take prolia persist, but so far only the | ||
+ | northernmost town of Prolia has fallen, and the goblins did not stay | ||
+ | to occupy the area, but retreated to the forest. | ||
==Elves== | ==Elves== | ||
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[[Alia:Elves of the Republic|Elves of the Republic]]. Almost all half | [[Alia:Elves of the Republic|Elves of the Republic]]. Almost all half | ||
elves come from high elf ancestry, and there is some rumor that high | elves come from high elf ancestry, and there is some rumor that high | ||
− | elves, in fact have some distant human ancestry. | + | elves, in fact have some distant human ancestry. |
==Dwarves== | ==Dwarves== | ||
For racial traits of dwarves see [[Alia:Player Races#Dwarves|Dwarves]]. | For racial traits of dwarves see [[Alia:Player Races#Dwarves|Dwarves]]. | ||
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===Mountain Dwarves (Scattered and of Cragmore)=== | ===Mountain Dwarves (Scattered and of Cragmore)=== | ||
− | Dwarves are known for their lost empire | + | Dwarves are known for their lost empire in the mountains to the west. |
Their downfall to the might of the giants casts a shadow over all of | Their downfall to the might of the giants casts a shadow over all of | ||
them. The dwarves greatest desire as a people is to re-capture their | them. The dwarves greatest desire as a people is to re-capture their | ||
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many giants, a dwarf will retire as a respected hero, take the title | many giants, a dwarf will retire as a respected hero, take the title | ||
of thane, marry several young dwarf women, sire as many children as he | of thane, marry several young dwarf women, sire as many children as he | ||
− | can and start his own clan-like family. About 1 in | + | can and start his own clan-like family. About 1 in 5 Dwarf men reach |
retirement, and about half of those are awarded the title Thane by the | retirement, and about half of those are awarded the title Thane by the | ||
council of Thanes. Typically a Thane is a 10th to 15th level | council of Thanes. Typically a Thane is a 10th to 15th level | ||
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their adult life. Often they train as clerics of Umos. | their adult life. Often they train as clerics of Umos. | ||
− | Dwarf women are supportive of these social changes | + | Dwarf women are supportive of these social changes eve though this was |
not the way of the old Dwarves. There are a few who refuse to live a | not the way of the old Dwarves. There are a few who refuse to live a | ||
− | cloistered life. | + | cloistered life. Also, some who have proven to be infertile and have |
joined with the men in their quest. One famous rebel, who left to | joined with the men in their quest. One famous rebel, who left to | ||
fight giants in the west, is the venerable "Thane" Griselda, who is | fight giants in the west, is the venerable "Thane" Griselda, who is | ||
responsible for the deaths of more than twenty giants, and who lives | responsible for the deaths of more than twenty giants, and who lives | ||
in a manor in Nolton with three aging Dwarven Keeper husbands. She | in a manor in Nolton with three aging Dwarven Keeper husbands. She | ||
− | bore | + | bore 7 children in her childbearing years (more than average), two of |
whom have are well on their way of becoming Thanes in their own right. | whom have are well on their way of becoming Thanes in their own right. | ||
Although it is a break from their new tradition, most Dwarves | Although it is a break from their new tradition, most Dwarves | ||
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Cragmore is the largest dwarven community, and is located some 200 | Cragmore is the largest dwarven community, and is located some 200 | ||
− | miles north of Nolton, and is home to 500 Thanes, | + | miles north of Nolton, and is home to 500 Thanes, 500 Keepers and a |
− | population of about | + | population of about 15000 (and about 5000 Dwarf adventurers who call |
it home). Many smaller Dwarven communites are scattered throughout | it home). Many smaller Dwarven communites are scattered throughout | ||
the northern empire, most are Clan-homes (Thanes and Keepers from the | the northern empire, most are Clan-homes (Thanes and Keepers from the | ||
− | same family) with typically | + | same family) with typically about 100 dwarves in residence: 3 Thanes |
− | 3 Thanes (10 | + | (10,12,14), 3 Keepers (5,7,9), 30 Wives (5 level 1, 10 level 2, 10 |
level 3, 5 level 4), 60 children/young adults, non-combatant). A | level 3, 5 level 4), 60 children/young adults, non-combatant). A | ||
− | typical Thane has | + | typical Thane has 10 wives, each having 4 children (2 of which are |
− | + | still at home). A community such as this would support 30 adventuring | |
− | A community such as this would support | + | dwarves with same level distribution as the wives, (and 30 dead in the |
− | dwarves with same level distribution as the wives. | + | clan). Typical activities in a clanhome include crafting of armor and |
− | Typical activities in a clanhome include crafting of armor | + | weapons, and magic items for adventuring children. (Many Thanes and |
Keepers take up the mantle of Master Crafter after retirement.) | Keepers take up the mantle of Master Crafter after retirement.) | ||
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===Dwarves of the Depths=== | ===Dwarves of the Depths=== | ||
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==Gnomes== | ==Gnomes== | ||
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For racial traits of gnomes see [[Alia:Player Races#Gnomes|Gnomes]]. | For racial traits of gnomes see [[Alia:Player Races#Gnomes|Gnomes]]. | ||
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===Rock Gnomes of Greenhill=== | ===Rock Gnomes of Greenhill=== | ||
− | When the dwarven empire fell to the giants, the | + | Gnomes in the south have suffered a similar plight as Dwarves in |
− | fought along side the dwarves | + | regards to slavery. Gnomes have two separate ancestries, wood gnomes |
− | dwarven halls fell, the | + | who lived at edges of the great southern forest, and rock gnomes who |
+ | lived in the foothills near the fallen dwarven empire. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When the dwarven empire fell to the giants, the gnomes of the hills | ||
+ | fought along side the dwarves, but after their defeat, after the | ||
+ | dwarven halls fell, the rock gnomes decided to make peace with the | ||
giants and to pay tribute to them. The remaining dwarves, who had | giants and to pay tribute to them. The remaining dwarves, who had | ||
nowhere to rally were forced to flee into human lands where they | nowhere to rally were forced to flee into human lands where they | ||
− | settled | + | settled. Although the Dwarves were incensed with the Gnomes after |
+ | their betrayal, the years have softened their hearts and Dwarves have | ||
+ | forgiven their surrender and remembered their support before the | ||
+ | defeat, realizing that the Gnomes did not need to sacrifice themselves | ||
+ | in vengeance against the dwarves. | ||
− | The Rock Gnomes have paid tribute to the giants since then and | + | The Rock Gnomes have paid tribute to the giants since then and with |
+ | the heavy tribute to the giants and without the trade with the great | ||
+ | dwarven empire their kingdom has stagnated, no longer the great center | ||
+ | of learning and magical research that it was. They now covertly | ||
+ | support the Dwarves in their dream of eventual return. | ||
===Wood Gnomes of Shadow Wood=== | ===Wood Gnomes of Shadow Wood=== | ||
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===Gnomes of the Depths=== | ===Gnomes of the Depths=== | ||
− | + | Some gnomes have joined the Deep Dwarves in their colonization of the | |
+ | depths. The Deep Gnomes, like the Grey Dwarves do not differ significantly | ||
+ | from their surface brethren, with one exception. They are adapting to | ||
+ | the dark and have gained limited Darkvision. | ||
==Halflings (Scattered)== | ==Halflings (Scattered)== |