Lore - Realms
The Kingdom of Denland
Denland suffered greatly in the last war, fought 10 years ago against Felaria. Already on the back foot, the Kuhrisch then ambushed the King and the heir to the throne, killing both and leaving the kingdom in a perilous position. In return for surrendering the city of Highford, the Felarians agreed to make peace with Denland and to fight against the Kuhrisch.
It is something of a patchwork kingdom, including a number of different peoples. Half the kingdom is made up of the shires, who sometimes consider themselves the only true Dennishmen. The northern folk of the White Stag Mountains and The Mere are kin to one another, and the people of Ashcombe are thought to be descendents of Jerans, shiremen and northern folk. The Dennish also have a small city, Waldean, on Cara’s Rock and hold sway over The Fettered Isles to the southeast.
The kingdom has been ruled for a decade by the Regent, the Duke of Esden, but now young King William is old enough to take the reins of power. If his uncle lets him…
Denland also shares a border with savage and strange Hykirlund, to the south, and with the Aralla on Cara’s Rock. It trades freely with the Kuhrland and Felaria, and occasionally with the Hykirs and the Republic of Jera, a prosperous but insular island to the east.
The Kingdom of Felaria
Felaria is similar in many ways to Denland, as it shares the same church and its people are broadly similar. However, their skin is darker (the colour of tea) and they find the Dennish taste for smoking and bloodsports, particularly cockfighting, distasteful.
Felaria is roughly twice the size of Denland, and shares a border, to the north, with the Steinland. It is rare for the kingdom to be at peace with all of its neighbours, and it has enjoyed a long period of expansion and military triumphs.
The Kuhrland
(The) Kuhrland refers to both the lion’s share of the country and the country itself. Unlike Felaria or Denland there is no central authority or king. Instead the nation is governed by a system of honour, immutable laws (the Law of Gods and the Law of Men, governing spiritual and temporal matters) and the judgement of the Godi and elders.
A northern land, it is far colder than Felaria or Denland, and as a result its tall people have become somewhat inured to the cold. They possess unsurpassed knowledge of smithcraft and are ferocious in battle. Whilst most of the sprawling country is located across the sea from Felaria and Denland there is a small portion of the Kuhrland which shares a land border with those two kingdoms, named (The) Steinland.
Hykirlund
Hykirlund is a large, unmapped and fractious land populated by constantly warring clans, each led by a khagan. They enjoy raiding the Denland to the north (mostly Fenshire and The Fettered Isles) and Felaria to the west, but rarely pose a serious threat to either kingdom.
They have a third eye, with which they can transfix foes and thus slay them easily. They also use a strange kind of magic, involving tattoos of their own blood, to bind stolen women to them as slaves.
Cara’s Rock
A large island to the northeast of Denland. The Dennish have claimed a small portion of the island and built there the small fortified city of Waldean. Most of the Rock is held by the strange Aralla; short man-like creatures that have bone for skin and whose faces are utterly plain. Those that trade with the Dennish paint eyes and a mouth on their faces to try and make their counterparts feel more at ease.
The Republic of Jera
Situated on a single large island east of Ashbury, Jera is populated by people alike in pallor and height to the Kuhrisch, but (unlike the Kuhrisch) they are naturally disposed towards magical ability. Although not followers of the Divine, their insular and peaceful way of life means Jera has not been at war for many centuries.
The Five Kingdoms
Disparagingly referred to as Les Cinq Villages by the Felarians, The Five Kingdoms are the remnants of the once dominant power that opposed the Hykirs. Now they cling to the southern coastline, with Felaria's might to the north and fearless raiders to the south across the sea. Though united by a common language and shared customs The Five Kingdoms are ferociously independent of and antagonistic towards one another.
Denland suffered greatly in the last war, fought 10 years ago against Felaria. Already on the back foot, the Kuhrisch then ambushed the King and the heir to the throne, killing both and leaving the kingdom in a perilous position. In return for surrendering the city of Highford, the Felarians agreed to make peace with Denland and to fight against the Kuhrisch.
It is something of a patchwork kingdom, including a number of different peoples. Half the kingdom is made up of the shires, who sometimes consider themselves the only true Dennishmen. The northern folk of the White Stag Mountains and The Mere are kin to one another, and the people of Ashcombe are thought to be descendents of Jerans, shiremen and northern folk. The Dennish also have a small city, Waldean, on Cara’s Rock and hold sway over The Fettered Isles to the southeast.
The kingdom has been ruled for a decade by the Regent, the Duke of Esden, but now young King William is old enough to take the reins of power. If his uncle lets him…
Denland also shares a border with savage and strange Hykirlund, to the south, and with the Aralla on Cara’s Rock. It trades freely with the Kuhrland and Felaria, and occasionally with the Hykirs and the Republic of Jera, a prosperous but insular island to the east.
The Kingdom of Felaria
Felaria is similar in many ways to Denland, as it shares the same church and its people are broadly similar. However, their skin is darker (the colour of tea) and they find the Dennish taste for smoking and bloodsports, particularly cockfighting, distasteful.
Felaria is roughly twice the size of Denland, and shares a border, to the north, with the Steinland. It is rare for the kingdom to be at peace with all of its neighbours, and it has enjoyed a long period of expansion and military triumphs.
The Kuhrland
(The) Kuhrland refers to both the lion’s share of the country and the country itself. Unlike Felaria or Denland there is no central authority or king. Instead the nation is governed by a system of honour, immutable laws (the Law of Gods and the Law of Men, governing spiritual and temporal matters) and the judgement of the Godi and elders.
A northern land, it is far colder than Felaria or Denland, and as a result its tall people have become somewhat inured to the cold. They possess unsurpassed knowledge of smithcraft and are ferocious in battle. Whilst most of the sprawling country is located across the sea from Felaria and Denland there is a small portion of the Kuhrland which shares a land border with those two kingdoms, named (The) Steinland.
Hykirlund
Hykirlund is a large, unmapped and fractious land populated by constantly warring clans, each led by a khagan. They enjoy raiding the Denland to the north (mostly Fenshire and The Fettered Isles) and Felaria to the west, but rarely pose a serious threat to either kingdom.
They have a third eye, with which they can transfix foes and thus slay them easily. They also use a strange kind of magic, involving tattoos of their own blood, to bind stolen women to them as slaves.
Cara’s Rock
A large island to the northeast of Denland. The Dennish have claimed a small portion of the island and built there the small fortified city of Waldean. Most of the Rock is held by the strange Aralla; short man-like creatures that have bone for skin and whose faces are utterly plain. Those that trade with the Dennish paint eyes and a mouth on their faces to try and make their counterparts feel more at ease.
The Republic of Jera
Situated on a single large island east of Ashbury, Jera is populated by people alike in pallor and height to the Kuhrisch, but (unlike the Kuhrisch) they are naturally disposed towards magical ability. Although not followers of the Divine, their insular and peaceful way of life means Jera has not been at war for many centuries.
The Five Kingdoms
Disparagingly referred to as Les Cinq Villages by the Felarians, The Five Kingdoms are the remnants of the once dominant power that opposed the Hykirs. Now they cling to the southern coastline, with Felaria's might to the north and fearless raiders to the south across the sea. Though united by a common language and shared customs The Five Kingdoms are ferociously independent of and antagonistic towards one another.
Lore - Organisations
The Church of the Divine:
The state religion of Felaria and Denland, founded in the dim and distant past. The Church teaches that once there were thousands of Divine, gods who walked upon the earth. They made all living things, and fostered mankind from its primitive beginnings to a more civilised state. But when men began to war upon one another the Divine became contaminated by their own creation. At first they tried to make peace, but the heart’s of men were too tainted with ambition for such a hope to be realised, and then the Divine too embarked upon war, on the earth and in the Heavens. Eventually, their numbers were whittled away to just one hundred. The victors were the Fifty Divine who reign in Heaven and sometimes appear to Felarians and Dennishmen. The vanquished became the Fifty Damned, who lust for dominion but are sentenced to forever remained trapped in Hell, the Vault of the World.
Mages are said to be touched by the Divine, for the greater powers that transfigurae, animavates and augurs possess are all innate.
The state religion of Felaria and Denland, founded in the dim and distant past. The Church teaches that once there were thousands of Divine, gods who walked upon the earth. They made all living things, and fostered mankind from its primitive beginnings to a more civilised state. But when men began to war upon one another the Divine became contaminated by their own creation. At first they tried to make peace, but the heart’s of men were too tainted with ambition for such a hope to be realised, and then the Divine too embarked upon war, on the earth and in the Heavens. Eventually, their numbers were whittled away to just one hundred. The victors were the Fifty Divine who reign in Heaven and sometimes appear to Felarians and Dennishmen. The vanquished became the Fifty Damned, who lust for dominion but are sentenced to forever remained trapped in Hell, the Vault of the World.
Mages are said to be touched by the Divine, for the greater powers that transfigurae, animavates and augurs possess are all innate.
The Dames de l’Acier:
A Felarian order of women warriors whose souls have been torn from their bodies. Thus hollowed out, they become immune to the direct effects of magic, and use enchanted arms and armour to similar effect. They report directly to the King of Felaria, and are responsible both for keeping mages in line and ensuring the nobility respect and obey the royal laws and pay royal taxes. This dual role means that they are disliked by just about everyone.
The Hollow Knights:
The Hollow Knights are the Dennish equivalent of the Dames de l’Acier. The process of soul removal is tremendously dangerous and the male survival odds are half those of females (the Felarians prioritise survival instead of opting for a male order). They are tasked only with keeping order amongst the mages of Denland, and report directly to King William (rather than the Regent).
The Law Lords:
A special rank of nobility in Denland, the Law Lords represent the King’s interests regarding law and taxes but hold no lands themselves. Typically they live quietly alongside landed nobility, but have the authority to overrule and command anyone save the King himself, should the situation demand it.
The Kriegmeister of the Kuhrland:
When a warrior achieves a feat of incredible bravery and skill the Godi and elders may choose to confer on them the status of Kriegmeister (or Kriegmeisterin for a female). In addition, they are given a fine ivory-handled weapon and are exempt from much of the Law of Gods and Law of Men.
The Godi:
The Kuhrisch usually resolve disputes amongst themselves (often by way of contests or bloodshed) but when necessary they turn to the Godi. The Godi are men tasked with knowledge and implementation of the Law of Gods and Law of Men, and their decisions and sentences cannot be revoked and cannot be ignored. The rank of Godi can be acquired in any number of ways. Some inherit it from their fathers, others buy it outright, and it is not unheard of for an elderly Godi to make it the prize of a contest so that he is succeeded by a strong and skilled man.
Because of this, the numbers of Godi are usually unchanging, but if needed the elders can elect to increase their numbers slightly.