Cyllian Sea

Rules

• Character Creation
• Character Classes: Warrior, Sorcerer, Rogue
• Skill Resolution
• Encumbrance
• Fatigue
• Damage and Healing
• Combat

Setting

Humanity is slowly climbing back from the destruction wrought a thousand years ago when the Dieni, who ruled humanity, clashed with the expanding Cyllian Empire in the lands to the north. The Dieni Empire was utterly destroyed. The Dieni ceased to exist as a race in the aftermath. The Cyllian Empire was devastated and retreated to their island in the center of the Cyllian Sea and only recently have started to venture out into the world again. Rumors persist that a small group of Dieni escaped far to the east but nothing has been heard from them in the years since.

Humanity had been enslaved to the Dieni when the conflict started. The end of the conflict freed humanity, but the price was high as most humans were destroyed as a consequence of the war. The terrible magics unleashed by both sides left the Western Continent a barren wasteland with wrecked humanity clinging to survival. Only pockets of humanity survived. In fact, most of the Western Continent still remains barren and uninhabitable by humans. Along the western shore of the Cyllian Sea and along rivers and other small enclaves cities and even small kingdoms have survived. Three hundred years ago, a mass migration of people moved across the Cyllian Sea to the lush lands of the Eastern Continent. Those kingdoms now thrive, though they are hemmed in by mountains and hostile forest to the south.

Garttan is on the southern tip of the Western Continent. It was never part of the Dieni Empire and it was protected from the worst of the ravages of the war by the mountains on its northern border.

Garttan

Garttan is the name given to the cape of land lying south of the Strusk Mountains. The land is a mixture of broken badlands and short grass prairies. Two powerful city states control all trade moving between the Cyllian Sea to the north and east and the open Southern Ocean. The city of Rel lies on a natural deep water harbor on the eastern side of Garttan, controlling all of the surrounding lands and nearly all the trade coming and going form the Cyllian Sea. The city of Krayton lies on the southernmost promontory of Garttan. All trade coming and going from the Southern Ocean comes through Krayton's harbor.

An overland trade route exists between Rel and Krayton. The trade route serves to transport goods into and out of the interior of the land, and also transports many goods around the dangerous ....... which is treacherous for shipping. Sorthal is the only city of import along the route. It sets along the Krish River.

Sorthal

Sorthal is an free city that sets along the main trade-route where it crosses the Krish River. It is ruled by a council of guildmasters. It is also a member of the Arl Confederation, the only reason it has not be absorbed into the political control of the more powerful Rel or Krayton. It acts as the primary center of trade among the clans of the plains and merchants that travel from either larger city state. It is the only walled city on the plains.

Arl Confederation

This is a loose organization of the nomadic centaur clans that control the plains of Garttan. as well as number of smaller human settlements on the plains. Sanfer Ironbearer is the King of the Arl Confederation. This confederation has long held the growth of Krayton and Rel inland in check as neither has the power to challenge the confederation, with its scores of centaur warriors, in open combat. Over time, many human communities have chosen to align themselves with the Arl Confederation, as Sanfer is seen as a preferable master to the mercantile interests of Rel and Krayton.

Krayton

All trade between the Thousand Islands Archipelago in the Southern Ocean and the cities and states surrounding the Cyllian Sea passes through Krayton. It controls all the neighboring human settlements in its vicinity. Krayton predates the fall of the Dieni Empire as an independent political organization with a continuous government that dates from that time. While technically a democracy, wherein every citizen may participate, in actuality, leading families control the various departments and functions of government on a day-to-day basis and have for centuries. They ensured their power when their ancestors participated in blood-bonding ritual with the Dieni hero Krayton (the city took his name), immortalizing him as a patron deity of the city.

Rel

Rel lies along the eastern coast of Garttan. All trade to and from the Cyllian Sea passes through Rel as it is the most southern and western port on that sea. The preferred coastal trades of that sea do not go on the open seas to the south. The man Rel rebelled against the Dieni and fled south out of their empire, where he established this port. His direct descendant still sits on the throne of this ancient city. He demands worship of all who come to the city in exchange for his protection. He is much loved and feared by those he rules over. It is said that he possesses an ancient artifact that he stole from Groetash with which he can bless a ship to be unseen by that ancient deity.

Karn

Karn is a closed, xenophobic matriarchal society run by the priestesses of Soltrax, the patron deity of Karn. Karn does formalized trading through Krayton and has some relations to the Arl Confederation with a select group of female centaurs. It is well known that all males that step foot into Karn are taken as slaves or sacrifices.

Religion

The world lies at the juxtaposition of the elemental planes. At one time, it was the fault line between these planes. Then the gods took an interest in the existence of multiple forms of matter and used them as material to craft the worlds. They crafted the animals and people of the world, but then they fought over them. The fight ended with many compromises, most of which affect humanity to this day rather than the gods.

The old gods, or greater gods, have many interests and only occasionally have an active interest in the world now. They have many worlds to catch their interest, all inhabited by different beings. They have their own realms to rule over. They possess phenomenal powers that some humans can tap into, but generally they are appeased with hopes that their interest remains elsewhere. Their power exists completely outside of the ability of humans to affect it.

The new gods, or lesser gods, exist only on this plane and have a direct interest in the world and the lives of their followers. They depend on active worship of their followers to sustain themselves. Without, they lose their divinity and will become mortal. As such, they can be bargained with to gain power from them in exchange for worship. Many priests of these gods have access to many powers, with the trust that they will bring more worship to the god.

Greater Gods

The greater gods are known throughout the world, though their names and details known or accepted about them may well change. They existed before the worlds were created and exist completely outside of them. It is possible to gain access to portions of these gods powers, but as they have no impetus to deal with mortals it can be very difficult.

• Aryk
• Dyne
• Errikyn
• Groetash
• Harken
• Kron
• Lorian
• Rynn

Lesser Gods

• Krayton
• Rel
• Soltrax
• Erosel

Maps