Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Realms

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<h1>Realms</h1>

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</span></span>The adventure is taking place in <b>Athervon </b>right now.  It
is currently dominated by a monotheistic religion (The Holy Faith). It was conquered
by the Jhonian Empire and ruled as a subject territory for about 100 years. 
About 100 years ago Athervon rebelled, inspired by the leaders of The Holy Faith,
and successfully ousted the Jhonians.  Feelings have cooled since then, but
Jhonians and other cultures that arrived during their occupation are still
treated as second-class citizens.  </p>

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</span></span><b>Ûgozh</b> is a nasty place swarming with Orcs,
pirates, giant-kin, and other such folk; fortunately, it is separated from
Athervon’s western boarder by the high peaks of the Iron Mountains; the last
invasion was several generations ago, and the dark folk appear to be satisfied
to fight amongst themselves – at least for the time being.</p>

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</span></span><b>The Dire Fens </b>are a massive swamp that forms the southern
border of Athervon; an evil place that is avoided if at all possible – but few
venture in, and even fewer return.</p>

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</span></span><b>The Wild Coast </b>is a collection of independent city-states
which are in a constant state of political maneuvering with each other. Their
lack of unity and a strong military make the smaller realms here the subject of
frequent raids for slaves by the Sea Lords.  The most powerful of the Wild
Coast realms is Anida, an old Kingdom that once controlled the entire southern
coast of the peninsula as well as many of the islands now controlled by The Sea
Lords, but has since declined and lost these territories.</p>

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</span></span><b>The Islands of the Sea Lords </b>are inhabited by a variety of
Pirates, who have formed an ogliarchy of sorts, although it is only a very
loose form of government. They patrol the Imurian Sea, the Black Sea, and even as
far as the mouth of the Bay of Oerni and the southern Athervon coast, although
Athervon's strong navy makes raids that far north rare.  They are the primary
suppliers of slaves to the Jhonian Empire and Issyria.</p>

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</span></span><b>The Forbidden Isles </b>are a string of tropical, heavily
forested islands that are populated by a variety of creatures. Small human
tribes &amp; clans make their homes here, and due to their lack of large militaries
and navies, they raided regularly by slavers.</p>

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</span></span><b>Issyria </b>is an ancient land.  Originally a powerful realm called
Is’ri-a that was dominated by a religion that focuses on death and the dead.   When
the Jhonians begain their Holy War, their first conquest was Is’ri-a.  After
their victory, the country was renamed Issyria, and much of the population has
been converted to the True Faith.  </p>

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</span></span><b>The Jhonian Empire </b>Jhon was originally a small slip of
fertile land boxed in between high mountains, desolate steppes, and the unending
desert waste of the Sea of Sand.  After the appearance of The Prophet and the rise
of the True Faith of A’Salam, the Jhonians initiated an expansion to bring their
religion to the world, by force if necessary.  They conquered much of the Lands
and for over a hundred years held sway over the largest Empire ever known.  But
in the last century, parts of the Empire have broken away, and it is beginning
to contract.  Nonetheless, Jhon is still by far the most powerful realm in the
Lands.  Slavery is legal within Jhon, and it is the second major consumer of
slaves in the Lands (Issyria being the first). They are the most advanced human
culture with respect to learning, and the schools and colleges and libraries in
the Capitol of Ajuhar-al-Sahir are second only to those of the Grey Elves.</p>

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</span></span><b>Veniri </b>is a nation of merchants, is the largest and most
powerful of these states, and is the primary rival of Athervon with respect to
military power and trade – the two Kingdoms have had several small wars over
the years.  It is one of the few countries that was not conquered by Jhon,
being the limit of the reach of the Empire before it began its current retraction.</p>

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</span></span><b>The Barbarian Kingdoms </b>are a collection of small chiefdoms
and kingdoms of the Vulkul people, spread thinly across the large island to the
north, a quasi-Viking culture. They are raiders, continually threatening
countries on the northern and eastern coast of the mainland.</p>

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</span></span><b>Iruzhin </b>is a large, multicultural Kingdom that encompasses
the plains bounded by Dreadwood Forest to the North, The Hazurian steppes to
the West, the Lions Teeth Mountains to the South, and the Sea of Serpents to
the East.  It was conquered by Jhon over 150 years ago, but has always been a
difficult subject realm due to its size and geography.  Recently, there are
rumors that a civil war is brewing in the Kingdom led by some who wish to
overthrow the yoke of Jhon.</p>

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</span></span><b>Nihar </b>is an empire that dominates a huge island landmass
to the south and east, beyond Chandrahaar and Iruzhin. They have been relatively
unaffected by the history of the mainland due to several natural navigation
obstacles and a policy of isolation as well as a strong military.</p>

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