Difference between revisions of "D&D5:NoMansLand"

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(Other NPCs)
(The Khanate of Rau)
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Across the Low Mountain, in the Steppes of Rau, the Orcs live. Ferocity is their guiding principle, though they see it as the way they live with each other, not with other peoples, who they see as inherently weaker. They are nomadic, living and moving with their great herds of aurochs, who serve as food, mounts, beasts of burden, and weapons of war. There are eleven Clans, who are ordered from strongest to weakest. Between the Clans, there is the expectation that only the weaker may instigate hostilities with the stronger; preying on the weak is seen as disgraceful, while the weak seeking to become strong is seen as praiseworthy.
 
Across the Low Mountain, in the Steppes of Rau, the Orcs live. Ferocity is their guiding principle, though they see it as the way they live with each other, not with other peoples, who they see as inherently weaker. They are nomadic, living and moving with their great herds of aurochs, who serve as food, mounts, beasts of burden, and weapons of war. There are eleven Clans, who are ordered from strongest to weakest. Between the Clans, there is the expectation that only the weaker may instigate hostilities with the stronger; preying on the weak is seen as disgraceful, while the weak seeking to become strong is seen as praiseworthy.
  
Every three years, the eleven clans come together to have a Grand Battle, where each Clan does battle with their strongest warriors, though typically not to the death. The battle begins as the last sliver of light vanishes at dusk, until the first glimmer of light at dawn. The Clan whose warriors stand within the Circle of Judgement by the time the Grand Battle ends are judge the strongest, and their leader becomes Khan of the Clans until the next Grand Battle. The other clans are judge by their performance in the Grand Battle, and a new order of strongest to weakest is recognized.
+
Every three years, the eleven clans come together to have a Grand Battle, where each Clan does battle with their strongest warriors, though typically not to the death. The battle begins as the last sliver of light vanishes at dusk, until the first glimmer of light at dawn. The Clan whose warriors stand within the Circle of Judgement by the time the Grand Battle ends are judged the strongest, and their leader becomes Khan of the Clans until the next Grand Battle. The other clans are judge by their performance in the Grand Battle, and a new order of strongest to weakest is recognized.
  
 
The last three battles have seen victory by the Eyeless Moon clan, led by Ravekhram the Sky-Cleaver. The Khantate is usually held by the Eyeless Moon, or their traditional rivals, the Horns of Graz, led by Vrememami the Doom-Eye.
 
The last three battles have seen victory by the Eyeless Moon clan, led by Ravekhram the Sky-Cleaver. The Khantate is usually held by the Eyeless Moon, or their traditional rivals, the Horns of Graz, led by Vrememami the Doom-Eye.
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There is some mild trade between the Khanate and Sylverda, but neither has much that the other desires. Sylverda would very much like the Khanate as an ally, should war break out with the Empire again, but the Khanate's view is that only the weak seek allies. The sour note in the relations between the nations comes from encroachments on Khanate lands by settlers from Wyffleum. As Sylverda and Wyffleum are allied states, the Khan considers Sylverda to be in part responsible for restraining their fellow Allied State, while Wyffleum seeks to have Sylverda help protect their settlers from Orcish raids.
 
There is some mild trade between the Khanate and Sylverda, but neither has much that the other desires. Sylverda would very much like the Khanate as an ally, should war break out with the Empire again, but the Khanate's view is that only the weak seek allies. The sour note in the relations between the nations comes from encroachments on Khanate lands by settlers from Wyffleum. As Sylverda and Wyffleum are allied states, the Khan considers Sylverda to be in part responsible for restraining their fellow Allied State, while Wyffleum seeks to have Sylverda help protect their settlers from Orcish raids.
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====The Darkwood Demense====
 
====The Darkwood Demense====
 
Deep in the Mother Forest, is the land of the Goblins, the Darkwood Demense. It overlaps in part with the villages of the Shadow Elves, but for the most part, their relations are good, and of all the Wild Nations, they have the best relations with Sylverda.
 
Deep in the Mother Forest, is the land of the Goblins, the Darkwood Demense. It overlaps in part with the villages of the Shadow Elves, but for the most part, their relations are good, and of all the Wild Nations, they have the best relations with Sylverda.

Revision as of 08:09, 29 June 2020

The Basics

Characters

Allies

Wayfarers

The Wayfarers are a group of enlightened individuals who try to maintain peace and justice within Aukroa. It's a group that people can only join by invitation, usually by having a member observe candidates and recommend them.

It's not exactly a secret society, as the leaders of the Allied States and the Wild Nations and the Empire known of them, but exactly who they are and what they do is more obscure for the common folk, who view them (not inaccurately) as something akin to a social club for do-gooders.

The Wayfarers have been active in Aukroa for several centuries, and like any such society has had its dark times. For now, at least, they remain true to their purpose, and seek to thwart both the tyranny of the Empire, and the less noble impulses of the Allied States. Their activities within the Wild Nations are more restricted, as they're viewed as being tools or fools of the Allied States.

Wayfarers of Note

  • Mytahl Exeter, (Land-kin, Diviner). Mythal is middle-aged copper skinned, dark haired human woman, originally from Zukrut, the City of Brass and Gold. While the Wayfarers don't have leaders per se, Mytahl maintains a network of informants and coordinates information sharing among the Wayfarers. She has relatively good relations with the leaders of the Allied States, and was one of the petitioners that awakened Auraryuma. She's quiet about her own past, and the general impression is less one of secretiveness but rather a desire to forget. She's typically found at the Wandering Stars, a inn in Sarnkel, a fortified town in No Mans Land, near the Sylverdan border. The Wandering Stars serves as an unofficial headquarters for the Wayfarers.
  • Yayala Sutoto, (Lightfoot, Merchant). Yayala is a blond-haired halfling woman of indeterminate age. She manages financial matters for her more adventurous Wayfarer brethren and often aids in missions financially where she can. Her network of suppliers and traders serves as a supplementary information network. She's usually cheerful, but frets that she can't help more directly.
  • Zhid, (Starborn, Arcanoteknician). Zhid is an older starborn man, with slate-grey skin, white hair, and golden eyes and crystal. He defected from the Imperial Manufactuary College during the war and has found a home among the Wayfarers. His passion is creating arcanotek that can improve the daily lives of people. When a Wayfarer needs help with arcanotek, or if a wayward arcanotek trooper is looking for maintenance or modifications, he's always ready to lend a hand. He's assisted by Spike, a halfling man, and Largo, a goliath man.
  • Ashzuln, (Wolf-kin, Assassin). Ashvuln is a grey haired human man, originally from Zukrut. Where Mytahl manages the flow of information, he's usually out in the field gathering it from sources within and without the Allied States. He keeps to himself, and prefers to work alone.

Enemies

  • None so far!

Other NPCs

Auraryuma, the Golden Calamity

Auraryuma, first born of Bahamut and Tiamat, had dwelt in Aukroa since time immemorial. Rarely did he stir from the great caldera of Dragonpeak, to the relief of those that live on the continent. To entreat his aid was to entreat his judgement, and few mortals could measure up to his exacting standards. His all consuming breath could immolate armies or, if he was feeling merciful, merely bring them to their knees. His mastery of the arcane allowed him to herald his arrival with a swarm of stars plucked from the heavens.

It was not from malice that he brought destruction wherever he passed, for it was simply a consequence of his passing. Such was it in times past, that people would seek his wisdom, and reach out to him in prayer, or by pilgrimage to the foot of Dragonpeak. From such a remove, he would answer, if the petitioner was sincere, and had exhausted other avenues before reaching out to him.

When the Jhorzan Empire invaded, the leaders of the allied state asked for his advice, and he gave it. And yet the Empire was not halted. They asked again, for his aid, and he sent forth his three eldest children. And the Empire killed them. They asked him again, to intervene personally. And so he stirred.

He spread his great wings and shrugged off 100 years of snow that had fallen on him. He flew across the continent, to the north, each beat of his wings spawning storms in his wake.

And, in a day, his life, that had lasted countless eons, ended. The Empire had committed one of their irreplaceable arcanotek titans, Perditam Terminam, relic of their past before the Starborn fell to earth, to the battle. Such was the devastation wrought that there are few alive who can honestly claim to have witnessed it.

Those who prayed to Auraryuma claim to still receive answers, and that the eternal flame of his spirit still lingers within his ruined body, perhaps to be reborn someday.

Locations

Sarnkel

Sarnkel is a rough and tumble fortified frontier town. Originally a trading post on the trade route between Sylverda and the former city-state of Ashgurt, now the Imperial Province of Ashgurt, it became a destination for veterans of the war who didn't feel they could return home, Ashgurt refugees, and adventurous souls seeking their fortune picking through the debris field of No Mans Land.

Background Information

Aukroa

Aukroa is one of the three great continents in the world, along with Zulemna (home of the Jhorzan Empire) and far off Ru-Za-Ma-He. The three continents form a rough horizontal crescent, with Aukroa on the left, Zulemna in the middle at the top, and Ru-Za-Ma-He on the right, in the great world sea.

The north, where Sylverda lays claim, is heavily forested on the inner crescent side, with a low chain of mountains separating It from the steppes on the far side.

To the south, the forest gives way to grasslands and rolling hills, surrounding the vast Lake of the Dragon's Descent. On the lake, and spreading for several miles nearly to the shores of the inner crescent is the nation of Wyffleum.

Still further south, the land turns rough and rocky, and rises again in great volcanic mountains. Mountain streams feed fertile regions thick with volcanic ash, and there the great city-state of brass and gold, Zukrut is found.

Guestright

Hospitality is a virtue of great importance in Aukroa, so great that the spirits of the land themselves punish those who breech it.

A person admitted as a guest, must not be harmed, nor may a guest harm their host or those under their host's protection.

A guest must provide a gift to their host, of any value, and their host must accept it for guestright to sworn. When the gift is present and accepted, the period of guestright is decided, no shorter than then next dawn, no longer than the dawn of a year and a day.

A guest must abide by their hosts customs while a guest, unless they would cause harm, and a host must provide for a guest's basic needs.

A host must accept guestright, if the guest is in peril from the weather or wild animals or monsters, with the duration being no shorter than the next dawn, and at least until the immediate danger has passed, unless doing so would put them in peril. And it is the spirits who judge, so the host should be very certain they would be in peril. A guest falsely claiming to be in peril would be judged to have violated guestright themselves.

A host may revoke guestright by asking thrice for their guest to leave, and returning the gift. They may not harm their former guest until the guest has travelled far enough that they can not see the host's domain.

A guest may revoke guestright by stepping beyond the threshold of their host's domain, declaring thrice that they are departing, and traveling so that they can not see the host's domain. They may not harm their former host until they have done so.

Violating guestright results in the violator being cursed by the spirits of the land, with the severity of curse being threefold the severity of violation. Such curses are difficult to remove, and the self-same spirits are loathe to allow their priests to do so without ample evidence of atonement by the violator.

Refusing to offer or claim guestright is viewed with deep suspicion. Needless to say, the forces of the Jhorzan Empire have no use for guestright.

The Nations

The City State of Sylverda

Nestled in the dense forests of northern Aukroa, the city of Sylverda has always prided itself on living in harmony with its surroundings. The city sprawls through clearings in the Mother Forest and many small streams flow through it. Wood is the preferred material for construction, and living trees as sometimes shaped to serve as structural elements. Stone and metal are used where they must be.

Rather than fields of crops, and herds of animals, Slyverdans blend their food crops and game with the forest. Fruit bearing trees, berry-bearing bushes, mushrooms, and various vegetables and beans grow all around the city, free for all to harvest under the guidance of the Foresters. Herds of deer, sheep, and boars call the forest home. Hunting is likewise managed by the Foresters, with all citizens permitted to hunt as needed, or to sell their spoils to those that can't hunt.

The Wardens of the Foresters serve as what standing military Sylverda has, though most citizens are adept enough to bows or spears to make effective skirmishers, particularly on their home ground.

The city-state is governed by the the Lady Ve'meehta, cat-beastkin high druid of Ymalia, goddess of the natural cycle, Lord Tsyramak, brass dragonborn commander of the Foresters, and Lord Hvelien, wood elf master of the Unbroken Circle, the assembly of mages. The Three are advised on all matters by the Elders of the nine wards of the city and the various outlying villages. Ve'meetha is Currently the First of the Three, having been in her position longer than the other two.

The residents of the city are mostly humans, landkin, beastkin, and elfkin predominantly; elves, wood elves and eldarin, but also some shadow elves who hail from the deepest, darkest part of the forest; and dragonborn, brass, copper, green, and black being the most common. All of the other peoples of the world can be found within Sylverda, but not in great numbers.

The most common mounts and beasts of burden are domesticated axe-beaks, who are better suited to the root tangled terrain of the Mother Forest than horses.

The "Wild" Nations

While it is more diplomatic to refer to the Orc, Goblin, and Lizardfolk nations by their proper names, in common usage they are referred to as the Wild Nations. They are the original inhabitants of Aukroa, along with many other across the continent, who lived there for millennia, before the refugees from the fourth continent settled in Aukroa following its destruction in the Rain of Unending Sorrow.

Sylverda, keeping with its governing philosophy of harmony with its surroundings has, in general, had better relationships with the Wild Nations than its sister cities have, but there have been conflicts.

The Khanate of Rau

Across the Low Mountain, in the Steppes of Rau, the Orcs live. Ferocity is their guiding principle, though they see it as the way they live with each other, not with other peoples, who they see as inherently weaker. They are nomadic, living and moving with their great herds of aurochs, who serve as food, mounts, beasts of burden, and weapons of war. There are eleven Clans, who are ordered from strongest to weakest. Between the Clans, there is the expectation that only the weaker may instigate hostilities with the stronger; preying on the weak is seen as disgraceful, while the weak seeking to become strong is seen as praiseworthy.

Every three years, the eleven clans come together to have a Grand Battle, where each Clan does battle with their strongest warriors, though typically not to the death. The battle begins as the last sliver of light vanishes at dusk, until the first glimmer of light at dawn. The Clan whose warriors stand within the Circle of Judgement by the time the Grand Battle ends are judged the strongest, and their leader becomes Khan of the Clans until the next Grand Battle. The other clans are judge by their performance in the Grand Battle, and a new order of strongest to weakest is recognized.

The last three battles have seen victory by the Eyeless Moon clan, led by Ravekhram the Sky-Cleaver. The Khantate is usually held by the Eyeless Moon, or their traditional rivals, the Horns of Graz, led by Vrememami the Doom-Eye.

There is a twelfth clan, the Silent Stones, who do not take part in the Grand Battle, and serve as adjudicators between the clans.

There is some mild trade between the Khanate and Sylverda, but neither has much that the other desires. Sylverda would very much like the Khanate as an ally, should war break out with the Empire again, but the Khanate's view is that only the weak seek allies. The sour note in the relations between the nations comes from encroachments on Khanate lands by settlers from Wyffleum. As Sylverda and Wyffleum are allied states, the Khan considers Sylverda to be in part responsible for restraining their fellow Allied State, while Wyffleum seeks to have Sylverda help protect their settlers from Orcish raids.

The Darkwood Demense

Deep in the Mother Forest, is the land of the Goblins, the Darkwood Demense. It overlaps in part with the villages of the Shadow Elves, but for the most part, their relations are good, and of all the Wild Nations, they have the best relations with Sylverda.

Goblins delight in cunning and trickery. They are very territorial, and anyone wishing to enter the Darkwood should try to make contact at the edge, lest they be viewed as a trespasser. People who wander into their woods without permission are likely to find themselves subjected to a series of embarrassing tricks and traps that end with them safely, if somewhat tattered, back outside the Darkwood. People who enter with hostile intent are dealt with much less gently.

To the outside observer, there seems to be very little organization or hierarchy in Goblin culture. Paradoxically, they admire both the very clever, and the very foolish, and disdain those that fall between those measures. Every trickster needs someone to trick, else the trick goes wasted. A complete fool can make a fool of the most clever goblin, and a clever person makes the best target for the most clever of tricks.

Their sense of property is communal, rather than personal, excepting what a goblin might carry on their person. Anything can be used by anybody, as long as a majority doesn't object at the time. They're aware that other cultures have a rather different view property, and generally confine their borrowing to their fellow goblins.

Their lack of hierarchy can make them difficult for outsiders to deal with, but, generally, if an outsider can get a goblin to vouch for them, and doesn't cause too much trouble, the other goblins will abide by what the the first goblins decided. A person who plays their role in a trick with good humor or wit is appreciated.

The main source of conflict are poachers in the Darkwood, for there are many creatures in the Darkwood, such as displacer beasts, that are valued for their hides or other parts. If the goblins feel the Wardens aren't doing enough to stop poachers, they may retaliate by raiding Sylverdan lands for game or forage, or by stealing from nearby settlements.

The Queztlan Resistance

On the southern edge of the Mother Forest, between the forest and the Lake of the Dragon's Descent, is the Marsh of the Drowned. There, the Lizardfolk make their home. The relations between the Resistance and Sylverda can be described as tense, at best.

The Lizardfolk have never forgiven the ancestors of the inhabitants of Sylverda for driving their ancestors from there homes. What had once been a grand nation of philosopher-priests has become a nations of soldiers under eternal military rule. When The Jhorzan Empire went to war with the Allied States, the Queztlan Resistance joined as co-belligerents, forcing Sylverda to keep troops on its southern border and disrupting the movement of troops from Wyffleum marching to aid Slyverda.

The Queztlans managed to rouse the black dragon Uxetlavanku from her centuries longs slumber, and called upon the ancient pact between their ancestors and her. For a while, the Queztlans made inroads into Sylverda, but a heroic band of individuals battled Uxetlavanku to standstill, forcing her to retreat to nurse her wounds. Before she could rejoin the fight, Auraryuma entered the battle against the Empire on the Allied States side, and rather than risk conflict with her uncle, Uxetlavanku resolved to stay in her lair.

When the war with the Empire reached its current stalemate, Sylverda and it allies were able to drive the Queztlan Resistance back to their previous borders. The High Marshall of Wyffleum, LLyenne Sweynne, wanted to push on and conquer the Marsh of the Drowned, but Lady Ve'meehta of Sylverda insisted that they go no further, stating that she recognized the legitimate grievances of the Queztlan, and while she could not do much to address them, at very least she would do all in her power to not add to them.

Functionally, the Queztlan Resistance is a military dictatorship, and has been for centuries. Its children are raised on stories of their glorious past, and the crimes of the Allied States. What it lacks, are the numbers and the power to carry out their wishes. The current leader is Regent Skerk'sa (regent, because the Queztlans will acknowledge no king until they once again hold dominion over their ancient homeland).

For now, conflict with Sylverda is limited to raids and border harassment. For now, the Sylverdan leaders refuse to retaliate, but there are rumblings of discontent among the Wardens and the villages near the Marsh of the Drowned.

The Jhorzan Empire

The Jhorzan empire was founded nearly 1500 years ago by the Starborn, who arrived on the continent of Zulemna around the same time that the Rain of Endless Sorrow destroyed the fourth continent. The Starborn arrived in Zulemna as refugees, at the mercy of the nations present at the time. Unique among all peoples of the world, the Starborn seem to be completely incapable of using magic directly, and found themselves driven from region to region until they eventually settled in the harsh lands of north central Zulemna.

It was there they discovered thaumium, the crystalline substance that fuels all arcaontek. And with it, they built engines of war. Remembering every slight, every indignity they had suffered, they waged war across the continent. The size of the Empire has varied over its long life, sometimes covering the entire continent and beyond, as it does now, other times just the central provinces as rebellions temporarily succeed, or wars of succession fracture the Empire.

Life under Imperial rule is harsh beyond measure within the conquered provinces, with their inhabitants being seen as little better than animals. The Empire uses a mixture of collaborators hoping to gain citizenship or some measure of rights, and imperial forces to maintain control. Provinces that have been under imperial rule for centuries without rebellion are usually treated as proper imperials, and they tend towards being even more fervent in their loyalty than the Home Provinces. It is these provinces of nion-Starborn that provide the battlefield spellcasters that the Empire would otherwise lack.

The latest wave of expansion, which saw the Empire reclaim dominance over Zulemna, and establish control over portions of Aukroa and Ru-Za-Ma-He began 30 years ago, and paused 10 years ago. The wars of conquest were halted in part by the loss of their offensive forces in Aukroa in the battle between Auraryuma and Perditam Terminam, but the main factor was the death of Emperor Kharza from natural causes, which sparked a war of succession between his brother Kzarna, and his son Lhorma.

For now, in Aukroa, the Empire maintains forces in the north of Aukroa, on the far side of No Mans Land, anchored by the presence of the arcaontek Fortress Umbram. Those forces have been predominantly content to maintain control of the land they've captured, with occasional forays into No Mans Land, searching for something.

But now there is news that the forces of Lhorma have gained the upperhand in the war of succession, and it may not be long before a new emperor sits upon the Stellar Throne. And it was Lhorma who dispatched his trusted deputy, Consul Millitum Vhalka ze Orzh, to take command of Fortress Umbram. Vhalka ze Orzh, the Bloody Viper, who had recently brutally quelled rebellion in the eastern lands held by Lhorma.

The Starborn

The true origin of the Starborn is hinted at by the name they chose for themselves, but the veracity of the claim is more difficult to prove. Regardless, they are a tall, human-like people. Their skin tones range from midnight blue to slate grey to alabaster white. Their hair is rose, purple, cyan, or white. Their eyes are gold, silver, or ruby. In their foreheads, they have a small crystal that usually matches their eye color.

If they have a core tendency, it is arrogance paired with a selective sense of honor. This combination makes them unlikely to consider subterfuge as their first option in their dealings. The strong have no need of trickery. Those that match them strength for strength may receive a certain amount of grudging respect. They value intelligence, competence, and loyalty, but only in those they accept as equals.