Post by black heart on May 5, 2011 2:06:50 GMT -5
NOTE: I'm only going to be posting the things the players have seen or know of. some things will be kept vague, as the PCs have only heard rumors or read about these places/people in books. I'll add more as they come up. if a character dies, or a new player is added, that player may see me about information not seen here. as an example, if they wanted to play a halfling, they should know some stuff that isn't here.
Humans: Humans are the dominant race in this world, there are more humans than any other single race, and the old gods gave them the most territory when they split up the world, as such, they have the most varied culture.
in the south you have the city-state of Alabaster, named for the white stones all the buildings are made of. the city itself starts at the coast, and then stretches for mile and miles in all directions. it houses 2 orders of importance, the Arcadium and Azure Knights. The Arcadium houses and trains students in the arcane arts, and its principle makes up half of the ruling council of the city. The Azure knights are a pious order of warriors and clerics who are in charge of protecting and policing the city, and its commander makes up the other half of the cities rulership, both holding the title "High Lord" so show that they are above all other lords in the city. The two orders have always worked together in peace and because of this the city has prospered....until it was recently destroyed. (this city is based on the late medieval ages, specifically Britain, but its people have fully embraced magic into they re lives.)
in the north lies the city state of Omasai, its people are red of skin with almond shaped eyes (Japanese) they re culture is similar in many ways to Alabasters, but also very different. theyre more distrustful of magic and its people to be very straight forward, and theyre more fond of wood and clay for construction, than of stone. and many weapon smiths and traders talk of theyre strange weapons. (this place is based off of the early edo period of japan.)
in the east we have Vendria, once close allies of Alabaster, but in recent years trade has slowed. if Alabastians were wool, then Vendrians are silk, and that's something they wear alot of, theyre a more hedonistic people, and they worship coin more than any god. when it comes to combat they eschew heavy armor and giant blades in favor of leathers and sabers and dirks, though it is said they've recently invented a new type of weapon, but theyre keeping whatever it is close to theyre chest. (this place is based on renaissance Italy)
shabdkosh is in the west, not much is known of this city, as they've always kept to themselves and asked anyone who came to theyre lands to leave soon, though as far as anyone knows, theyre never been Violante about it. what is known is that its people are dark of skin and the men tend to grow theyre beards out, and that theyre lands are very warm. (this place is based loosely off of ancient India.)
Demi-Orcs: As far as can be told, the Demi-orcs have no large cities, rather they have smallish (100-200 people) village/forts made of earth and wood, theyre are built to a specific, highly defensible design, the fort is built as a circle with high earthen walls with wooden beams as supports, outside of the walls they usually dig moats. there are 4 gates into the fort, one to the north, south, east and west, which have large wooden gates with iron or steel reinforcements. inside the fort there are usually only a small number of large buildings, a common sleeping area, a crafting area, a large hall for meetings and meals, and an area for shamans/healers.
from what the party saw, they're warriors tend to wear half helms and chain mail, and the weapons hey used were spear, Axe and shield, they didn't see any archers, and only one man with a sword, who was apparently the leader of the clan. (theyre culture is based heavily off of real life viking culture.)
Dwarves: dwarves....well to be honest my dwarves have been left alone mostly, because dwarf culture is awesome. though my dwarves tend to be more stoic than the average fantasy dwarf. so yeah, they live under mountains, like to drink, like beards, like to make weapons and armor and to use them, and are really good at holding grudges and keeping to traditions.
Gnomes: Gnomish culture and cities are as strange as they are, with buildings made mostly with sheet metal, with strange pipes and smokestacks billowing out smoke and steam. but even stranger than that is theyre openness with the other races, gnomes completely ignore the "old rules" and welcome all into theyre cities. another odd feature are the constructs that can be seen walking the streets, and guarding the city. but these are no mindless golems, theyre people whose essence has been put into a new body made of metal, stone and wood, through a magic process discovered by the gnomish hero Turb O'Tron. (my worlds gnomes live in a kind of medieval steampunk culture.)
Elves: all elves are born and raised in the great tree, and believe that its theyre sacred duty to protect the world from the remnants of the dragon king. from a young age theyre taught how to fight, with both steel and spell, and and taught more advanced things depending on performance and aptitude. the party didn't spend much time there learning theyre politics, but the person who seemed to be in charge was the eldest, most powerful wizard there. (my elves aren't very Tolkienian, but theyre culture isn't really based on anything, the idea behind them is really "a race of arcane guardsmen" rather than "self-important hippies"
Humans: Humans are the dominant race in this world, there are more humans than any other single race, and the old gods gave them the most territory when they split up the world, as such, they have the most varied culture.
in the south you have the city-state of Alabaster, named for the white stones all the buildings are made of. the city itself starts at the coast, and then stretches for mile and miles in all directions. it houses 2 orders of importance, the Arcadium and Azure Knights. The Arcadium houses and trains students in the arcane arts, and its principle makes up half of the ruling council of the city. The Azure knights are a pious order of warriors and clerics who are in charge of protecting and policing the city, and its commander makes up the other half of the cities rulership, both holding the title "High Lord" so show that they are above all other lords in the city. The two orders have always worked together in peace and because of this the city has prospered....until it was recently destroyed. (this city is based on the late medieval ages, specifically Britain, but its people have fully embraced magic into they re lives.)
in the north lies the city state of Omasai, its people are red of skin with almond shaped eyes (Japanese) they re culture is similar in many ways to Alabasters, but also very different. theyre more distrustful of magic and its people to be very straight forward, and theyre more fond of wood and clay for construction, than of stone. and many weapon smiths and traders talk of theyre strange weapons. (this place is based off of the early edo period of japan.)
in the east we have Vendria, once close allies of Alabaster, but in recent years trade has slowed. if Alabastians were wool, then Vendrians are silk, and that's something they wear alot of, theyre a more hedonistic people, and they worship coin more than any god. when it comes to combat they eschew heavy armor and giant blades in favor of leathers and sabers and dirks, though it is said they've recently invented a new type of weapon, but theyre keeping whatever it is close to theyre chest. (this place is based on renaissance Italy)
shabdkosh is in the west, not much is known of this city, as they've always kept to themselves and asked anyone who came to theyre lands to leave soon, though as far as anyone knows, theyre never been Violante about it. what is known is that its people are dark of skin and the men tend to grow theyre beards out, and that theyre lands are very warm. (this place is based loosely off of ancient India.)
Demi-Orcs: As far as can be told, the Demi-orcs have no large cities, rather they have smallish (100-200 people) village/forts made of earth and wood, theyre are built to a specific, highly defensible design, the fort is built as a circle with high earthen walls with wooden beams as supports, outside of the walls they usually dig moats. there are 4 gates into the fort, one to the north, south, east and west, which have large wooden gates with iron or steel reinforcements. inside the fort there are usually only a small number of large buildings, a common sleeping area, a crafting area, a large hall for meetings and meals, and an area for shamans/healers.
from what the party saw, they're warriors tend to wear half helms and chain mail, and the weapons hey used were spear, Axe and shield, they didn't see any archers, and only one man with a sword, who was apparently the leader of the clan. (theyre culture is based heavily off of real life viking culture.)
Dwarves: dwarves....well to be honest my dwarves have been left alone mostly, because dwarf culture is awesome. though my dwarves tend to be more stoic than the average fantasy dwarf. so yeah, they live under mountains, like to drink, like beards, like to make weapons and armor and to use them, and are really good at holding grudges and keeping to traditions.
Gnomes: Gnomish culture and cities are as strange as they are, with buildings made mostly with sheet metal, with strange pipes and smokestacks billowing out smoke and steam. but even stranger than that is theyre openness with the other races, gnomes completely ignore the "old rules" and welcome all into theyre cities. another odd feature are the constructs that can be seen walking the streets, and guarding the city. but these are no mindless golems, theyre people whose essence has been put into a new body made of metal, stone and wood, through a magic process discovered by the gnomish hero Turb O'Tron. (my worlds gnomes live in a kind of medieval steampunk culture.)
Elves: all elves are born and raised in the great tree, and believe that its theyre sacred duty to protect the world from the remnants of the dragon king. from a young age theyre taught how to fight, with both steel and spell, and and taught more advanced things depending on performance and aptitude. the party didn't spend much time there learning theyre politics, but the person who seemed to be in charge was the eldest, most powerful wizard there. (my elves aren't very Tolkienian, but theyre culture isn't really based on anything, the idea behind them is really "a race of arcane guardsmen" rather than "self-important hippies"