Alia:Peoples

Monstrous Civilizations

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.

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.

Humans

For racial traits of humans see 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 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

For racial traits of half orcs see Half Orcs.

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.

Elves

For racial traits of elves see 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.

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 (see Elves of the Republic. Almost all half elves come from high elf ancestry, and there is some rumor that high elves, in fact have some distant human ancestry.

Dwarves

For racial traits of dwarves see Dwarves.

Mountain 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 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.

Gnomes

For racial traits of gnomes see 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.

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.

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)

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. Three halfling towns still exist in Rhode within Dragon fiefdoms.

For racial traits of halflings see Halflings.

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