Editing Alia:Peoples

==Giants of Estvald==

The western mountains are ruled over by the giants, a country they
call Estvald, which they seized control from the Dwarves nearly 500
years ago.  It is filled with great mountain cities.  It is actually
an eastern extension of a larger giantish kingdom to the west where
the Cloud Giants rule from their floating palaces.

The giants of Estvald rule over, the lesser giantish races of trolls,
ettins, and ogres, and who are served by towns of orcs, half orcs, and
humans.  Estvald is run as a loose alliance of city-states, each city
of giants being claimed by Hill, Stone, Frost, and Fire Giants, ruling
a section of Estvald.

The Hill Giants, control the easternmost mountains along the coast.
The coastal villages of Prolia pays tribute to the Hill Giants, who
live in ten tribes numbering about 30 giants each.

The Frost Giants, of the northern reaches live in and around the
fortress of Zara'dun.  They number 60 and are led by a ruthless 8th
level Blackguard Jarl, called Frondik.  They command a tribe of 100
Ogres led by an Ogre Mage and supported by several dozen winter
wolves.  The bugbears, hobgoblins and goblins of the northern forests
pay tribute to the frost giants.

The Fire Giants of the southern reaches, occupy a newly built
volcano-side stronghold above the ruined dwarven city of Stron'dul.
They number 45 and are joined by a tribe of 30 Trolls and a tribe of
20 Ettins, and command a pack of 30 Hell Hounds.  They are led by a
6th level Cleric of Wikri (Fire).  The rock gnomes pay tribute to the
Fire Giants.

The Stone Giants, live in the inland reaches of Estvald, in the great
fallen Dwarven city, of Quar'firk.  The stone giants number around
200, and rule over no one but themselves.  Thier elder leader is a
10th level Sorcerer. 

All the mountain regions ruled by the giants are inhabited by several
wandering tribes of Ogres, Trolls and Ettins.  These tribes do not
rule, but wander the mountains making their lives by hunting, and by
taking tribute from the weaker humanoid races that inhabit the region.

Orcs, Half Orcs, and Humans are plentiful in the giantish lands,
living in several scattered towns in the valleys of the mountain
kingdom.  They harvest timber, farm the land, and operate the mines.
There is no racial hierarchy among the humanoids.  Each such operation
is run by a humanoids put into power by the ruling giant class.

Dwarves and other outsiders are unwelcome in giantish lands, although
the occasional gnome may be found within the mountain kingdom.
Humans of the giantish kingdom are fully integrated into giantish
culture and have little in common and no sympathy for the human
empires of the east.

The common languages spoken in the mountain kingdom are giantish and
orcish.

==Humans==
===Humans of The Republic===
Humans comprise two great empires.  The island empire of the north,
called the Republic of the Isles, or more commonly, "The Republic",
and the continental empire of the south, the Empire of Rhode, or
"Rhode".  The two empires are currently in a war that has lasted
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
northern humans 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 of Prolia===

The northern coasts, "Prolia", are inhabited by humans and half orcs,
although they are more a loose collection of towns and villages more
than a kingdom.  These towns pay tribute to the giants of the
mountains, but pre-date the giantish invasion.  The orcish blood is
new to Prolia however and has come about by the close ties with the
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.

==Humanoids of The Northern Forest==

The Northern Forest is far reaching and covers all the area north of
the mountains of the west, west of the northern coastline, and south
of the northern wastes.  The near part of the forest is ruled over by
a kingdom of hobgoblins.  Goblins and kobolds also live in the area
but are subservient to the hobgoblins.  The hobgoblins pay tribute to
the giants of the mountains in exchange for the right to trade with
the giant kingdom.  Most trade is timber going into the mountains and
metal coming north.

There are rumors of a tribe of northern wood elves and of a tribe of
northern humans beyond the hobgoblins, but no one has confirmed this.

==Dragons==

Dragons are not-color coded based on alignment.  Although there is
correspondence between dragon color and ability.  Red dragons are not
more evil or chaotic than gold, in fact dragon scale color is not a
species indicator, but rather a complex genetic trait.  

Dragons are a powerful force in the world and are fairly numerous all
over Alia.  They ignore the politics of the humanoid races, rule
over small fiefdoms (usually everything within a half days flight from
their lair) and socialize, scheme and war mostly among their own kind.
A dragon fiefdom may be found anywhere, is normally ruled by lord and
lady dragon of at least "Old" age, and is inhabited by 5-20 relatives
and liege-dragons.

Dragons commonly allow humanoid towns or villages, and nomadic people
access to their lands for tribute.  Usually tribute is usually in gold,
sometimes in trade goods or craftwork, occasionally in livestock.

Some dragons are more involved in the affairs of lesser species, but
usually limit their involvement to individuals, such as artists,
crafters, researchers, or adventurers.

==Elves==
===Elves of Shadow Wood===

The Wood Elves of the South still rule the deep forest.  Elves
(wood or high) are not especially known for their magical aptitude,
but rather for their affinity with nature.  They are most commonly
barbarians, rangers or druids.  They are nomadic hunters and
gatherers, living off the land and taking shelter among the trees.
They have lost several tribes to the slave trade of the Rhode.  They
have no cities, but do have sacred glades where wandering tribes meet
to trade, tell stories, meet potential mates and to celebrate events
of religious or spiritual significance.  They have little to no metal
resources but trade with foreigners for bladed weapons which are
prized.  They are master crafters of wood, leather and stone.  Most
wood-elves are barbarians.  Leaders often have Druid levels.  

Wood Elves of Alia have the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#elves standard D20 traits for elves], with the following modifications: 
* +2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence.
* Weapon Proficiency: Elves receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the long spear, longbow (including composite longbow), and shortbow (including composite shortbow) as bonus feats (not rapiers or longswords).
* Favored Class: Barbarian (instead of Wizard). A multiclass elf’s barbarian class does not count when determining whether she takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing.

===Other Elves===

High elves are elves who have long ago integrated into human society,
they have retained some of their affinity for nature, but have lost
some of the fortitude that a life in the forest brings.  High elves
are accepted by the Order of Man and by the Church of Man as near
equals, and are fully integrated into human society.  They are not
subject to slavery in Rhode (if they have citizenship papers).  In the
Republic a few half high elves hold noble titles.  Almost all half
elves come from high elf ancestry, and there is some rumor that high
elves, in fact have some distant human ancestry.  High elves have the
[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#elves standard D20 traits for elves].

==Dwarves (Scattered and of Cragmore)==

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
them.  The dwarves greatest desire as a people is to re-capture their
lost days of glory.  Most wish to fight back and recapture their
ancient home.  Many realise that the dwarves may need centuries to
regain the might required to accomplish such a task.  Dwarf women are
very uncommon outside their communities.  It is seen as their solemn
duty to bear as many children as they can, while the men fight to
carve a kingdom for themselves.

Dwarven men do not marry until they have proven themselves worthy.
After recovering a great lost dwarven treasure or fighting and killing
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
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
council of Thanes.  Typically a Thane is a 10th to 15th level
character, usually at least partly a fighter.  Dwarves who retire and
do not become Thanes are called Keepers are usually 5th to 9th level
fighters and are greatly respected.  Keepers guard Dwarven communities
and see it as their duty to serve the Dwarven race by protecting the
lives of their Thane and his children.

Dwarf women usually live cloistered lives.  Leaving the dwarven
community once to travel from their home, to the home of the Thane
they are to marry and otherwise remain in the safety of their Thane's
halls.  All Dwarven women train in battle, gain 250xp per year of
their adult life.  Often they train as clerics of Umos.
 
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
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
fight giants in the west, is the venerable "Thane" Griselda, who is
responsible for the deaths of more than twenty giants, and who lives
in a manor in Nolton with three aging Dwarven Keeper husbands.  She
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.
Although it is a break from their new tradition, most Dwarves
grudgingly respect Griselda for her abilities and her accomplishments.

Cragmore is the largest dwarven community, and is located some 200
miles north of Nolton, and is home to 500 Thanes, 500 Keepers and a
population of about 15000 (and about 5000 Dwarf adventurers who call
it home).  Many smaller Dwarven communites are scattered throughout
the northern empire, most are Clan-homes (Thanes and Keepers from the
same family) with typically about 100 dwarves in residence: 3 Thanes
(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
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
dwarves with same level distribution as the wives, (and 30 dead in the
clan).  Typical activities in a clanhome include crafting of armor and
weapons, and magic items for adventuring children.  (Many Thanes and
Keepers take up the mantle of Master Crafter after retirement.)

Dwarves of Alia have the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#dwarves standard D20 traits for Dwarves].

===Dwarves of the Depths===

Many thousands of Dwarves have been enslaved by the southern empire,
where they live at their slave-masters bidding.  When the southern
human empire captured their mountain home, Silverpeak 60 years ago,
Dwarves swore vengeance on them.  Many fled to the north, joining with
their brethren in Cragmore, who welcomed them.  Even in the north,
Dwarves have little trust for humans.  Others have decided to make
their way down into the depths and have become Deep Dwarves.

Deep Dwarves are insolar and have abandoned their racial quest to
recapture their lost halls in favour of starting anew in the depths of
the earth.  They tend to hate humans, and distrust surface dwellers of
all kinds.  They have no quarrel with Dwarves who have remained on the
surface but have no desire to return.  Deep Dwarves do not have many
wives like the dwarves of the surface, but have returned to their more
traditional ways.  They do not send out their sons to prove
themselves, but rather, all fight side by side protecting the family.

Deep Dwarves of Alia have the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dwarf.htm#deepDwarf standard D20 traits for Deep Dwarves]

==Gnomes==
===Rock Gnomes of Greenhill===

Gnomes in the south have suffered a similar plight as Dwarves in
regards to slavery.  Gnomes have two separate ancestries, wood gnomes
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
nowhere to rally were forced to flee into human lands where they
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 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.

Rock Gnomes have [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#gnomes the standard D20 traits for Gnomes].

===Wood Gnomes of Shadow Wood===

Some Gnomes have settled the western edge of the Shadow Wood south of Greenhill and east of the mountains of Estvald, fleeing the rule of the Giants.  The have brought their civilization into the Shadow Wood and have lived there for more than 200 years in harmony with nature and the Wood Elves who live there.
 
Recently the wood gnomes have lost thier communities near the edge of the Shadow Wood to the expansion of the southern empire.  Some were enslaved, some fled to the north, others fled deeper into the forests and joined with the wood elves, a few traveled to the kingdom of the Rock Gnomes.  More than half the Wood Gnome villages have been conquered.

Wood Gnomes have [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/gnome.htm#forestGnome the standard D20 traits for Forest Gnomes], with the following difference:

* Favored Class: Ranger. A multiclass gnome’s ranger class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty.

===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.

Deep Gnomes have [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#gnomes the standard D20 traits for Gnomes] with the following additional racial trait:

* Darkvision out to 90 feet.
* Light Sensitivity: Deep gnomes are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.

==Halflings (Scattered)==

Few know it, but the gentle, rural halfling folk of the land were once
a fierce and strong empire covering the western part of the empire of
rhode.  They were nomadic barbarians that ruled the plains, riding on
fierce riding dogs trained for war.  Much of the old ways are lost to
the halflings who now mostly exist in scattered enclaves throughout
the Republic, and as slaves in Rhode.  Many halflings are Golonites,
and the three halfling towns that exist in Rhode are within Dragon
fiefdoms.

Halflings of alia have the 
[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/races.htm#halflings standard D20 traits for Halflings], 
with the following modifications:

* Favored Class: Druid (instead of Rogue). A multiclass halfling’s druid class does not count when determining whether she takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing.