World flavor and information

[Anastasia]

For all your fluff and flavor needs. It begins in the next post. Also has a table of contents.

Countries

Kabath
Krygur
Malana

Country Information

Malana's Cities
Malana's Social Structure

Misc

Groups of Interest: Shrouders
Information Three-Pack, Volume 1
Known Pirate Groups
Maps
Timekeepping in Malana

[Anastasia]

Malana

Government Type: A kingdom divided into 5 districts.
Leader: Dynast Franz Malana.
Flag: A blue flag with a white stripe down the middle.
Capital: Misty Harbor

Malana is an old nation, one that has existed in several forms for over a millenia. For the last few centuries the Malana Dynasts have ruled the kingdom and given it its name. While the land is good and plentiful on the surface, problems have worn down the country in the past century. Pirate attacks are depressingly common, raiding both ship sat sea and ports. Krygur in the south has menaced, though natural barriers have lessened that threat. Kabath to the west has routinely waged war on Malana, as there are no natural barriers to prevent an army from marching in. The most recent Malana-Kabath war was 8 years ago and resulted in the concession of several border territories from Malana to Kabath.

The current dynast, Franz Malana, has ruled since his father died in the most recent war. He is now only a man of 20 years and spends most of his time in the palace. It is commonly said that he allows others to do as they please, lost in his own amusements. His reign has seen the legalization of the Church of the Bitch Queen, long forbidden by dynast edict. He has loosened the ban on the slave trade, allowing slave ships to dock in the kingdom's ports and even sell their wares there. Taxes have risen as well, all said to pay for the dynast's pleasure palace parties. The dynast's lax attention has allowed bribery to flourish and corrupt practices to reign. These days, it is said gold and knives are merchant's best friends.

The common people struggle under these burdens. Taxes sap the money of all but the rich, while corruption ensures that cronyism is the order of the day. Those that seek the help of the dynast find a disinterested court more interested in the next celebration or civil servants openly demanding bribes for anything. The army is overstretched and mainly focused on the borders, allowing pirates to savage the coasts, with only the navy to try and interdict them. Requests for aid are routinely turned down, as military manpower is overtaxed.

Those that turn to religion find a harder path yet. The old churches are all in decline, having lost the favor of most. The Shining Light Cathedral of Lathander has lost the support of the nobility and has fallen on hard times. The Order of the Whirling Fury was wiped out a generation ago by an unknown disaster and has yet to reform, an entire order of crusaders against the dark gone. The Technos of Gond survive, but recent years have seem them lost in their own work, caring less and less of the common man. Other smaller churches have likewise suffered setbacks.

The Church of the Bitch Queen is a wealthy church and rising, for the priests claim to be able to shield ships from the wrath of the sea and pirates - for the right offerings, of course. The Church is more interested in sating their own interests and the wrath of Umberlee, having no interest in aiding those without gold.

The Order of the Senses likewise has a fair deal of patronage these days, but it is an open secret that they engage in demon worship. Yet the women of the cult are beautiful and they have gold enough, so the authorities allow this to run unchecked. It is whispered that those that oppose the cult have their souls sucked out by women so beautiful that a man can do nothing but allow it to happen.

The Frozen are a cult that is established in the southern mountains. They serve Auril and offer protection from winter's ravages. On the surface they seem beneficial, and indeed have a few benefits. Yet the areas under their stewardship become cold and unfeeling, as do the people. Neighbors become uncaring of other neighbors and the snowy streets run red when the wrath of the faithful is stirred.

Beyond religion, dark things move in the wilderness. Goblins, always a small problem in seaside caves, have grown lately and have been seen further inland. Basilisks, a problem thought exterminated in the plains, have shown signs of a resurgence. Darker things yet are said to be moving, leaving the rural populace in a state of growing uneasiness. Do they turn to the corrupt kingdom, the uncaring nobility or the cruel churches on the rise? Where are the heroes to turn to? Are they doomed to stand alone and afraid?

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Malana's Social Ranks

Dynast

The undisputed ruler of the realm, though the title also goes to the Dynast's spouse. They are styled His Most Wise Royal Majesty along with any other ranks, honors or titles. The Dynast is an absolute king and his word is law. There is no appeal to his decisions and he is the final arbiter of anything within Malana.

The current Dynast is Franz Malana, styled as His Most Wise Royal Majesty Franz Malana, Lord of Misty Harbor and Commander of the Serene Sea. He has no wife as of yet, and it is common knowledge that he has many mistresses. No (acknowledged) children have come of these dalliances. He rarely addresses the problems of the common people, instead dealing with the issues of the nobility and his own personal interests.

Note that it is customary and correct to capitalize Dynast at all times. Franz is the fourth such Dynast to carry that name, though a Dynast's title does not reflect that until after death. He will be known as Dynast Franz in life and Dynast Franz IV in death.

Prince or Princess

The children of the current Dynast. They are automatically next in line for the throne and are groomed as such. They are styled His Most Wise Royal Highness along with any other ranks, honors or titles. The spouses of princes and princesses are not bestowed this title, they are instead given the title scion of the realm.

There are no current princes or princesses, as Dynast Franz was an only child and none of his father's siblings survived the last war with Kabath.

Scions of the Realm

Royalty that is not in the immediate line to inherit the throne. This is usually a title held by family branches that result from Dynasts with large families. They are styled Lord Scion along with any titles, ranks or honors. In common usage they are simply called scions. Should a scion become in line to inherit the throne, they obtain the title or prince or princess. They are ranked below the Dynast and princes and princesses, equal to scions of the district and above all other nobility.

An example scion is Lord Scion Jonah Malana-Willsworth, Marshal of the Western Front and Umberlant. He is a known cleric of Umberlee and said to be an adviser of the Dynast. He's known to be a capable warrior, though he rose to military rank after the last war with Kabath, so his military skill is unknown. It is no secret that he is quite wealthy, though most of the wealth is said to be tossed into the sea for Umberlee.

Scions of the District

The highest non-royal rank, scions of the district rule one of Malana's five districts. They report directly to the Dynast and are equal in rank to a scion of the realm. Unlike scions of the realm, scions of the district usually use their full title. They are styled Lord Scion along with any ranks, titles and honors. They see that Malana's districts are fruitful and benefit the crown. The position is hereditary, though the Dynast can remove a family from this rank.

An example scion of the district is Lord Scion Garrond DuMarier. A former knight during the last war, he was one of the few commanders to hold his position and adequately oppose the Kabath army. He was once a wandering hero, but accepted an invitation from the previous Dynast to join the army. His fortunes have soared since them, as has his wealth.

Lord

Nobles who serve the scions of the district or who have been honored by the crown. They generally hold property and deal with the day to day problems. These days, most are noted to be remarkably uncaring and self-absorbed. They are styled Lord with no further ranks noted, save for military ones. They are below scions of the district but above the rest of the nobility.

An example lord is Lord Jack 'Silver' Maggen. He holds a large deal of property in the Whitepack Mountains to the south. Is known as 'Silver' for his preferred method of executing troublemakers - by drowning them in free-flowing frozen silver. These public spectacles are mandatory for the subjects of his lands to attend. He is a known sadist and is known to revere Auril. Some claim that he is one of her clerics, but it is not confirmed.

Knight

A noble title above square but below all the others. It is bestowed to military officers who distinguish themselves. Knight is still a fairly common title to be used for armored warriors, and not every person who calls himself a knight is a knight of this rank. They are styled Knight along with any military titles they have. They serve in the military and seldom hold land until retirement, at which point is is customary for the crown to reward them with a holding.

An example knight is Knight Willis Umgard, General of the Western Shield. A big, burly and bearded man, he is noted for his personal lusts. While he is an adequate officer, he is primarily known for his assortment of bastard children. It's known he doesn't take particularly good care of them, and he often forces more troublesome ones into the army.

Squire

The lowest form of nobility. They are above commoners but below everyone else and are not landed. This title is given for a variety of distinguished deeds and accomplishments. It's something of a catch-all and the title is held by a broad spectrum of people. Any noble of knight rank or higher can nominate a commoner the title of squire, but the decision rests solely in the hands of the Dynast. Success and failure usually comes down to politics more than any merit.

Freemen

The general term for the common folk. Goodman is used as well, but the term has fallen out of favor in recent times. The nobility seldom cares to differentiate between freement, but the common folk tend to refer to themselves based on their profession. For example, a butcher may be called Butcher Freeman, a seamstress as Seamstress Freewoman and so forth.

Slave

The lowest rank, until recently forbidden by law. It is still illegal to make a citizen of Malana a slave, but foreign slaves are now tolerated. A slave has no rights and is simply property.

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Kabath

Government Type: A reformed tribal federation.
Leader: Queen Penelope II
Flag: A black banner with a white lightning bolt in the middle
Capital: Tempalar

Kabath is a nation that has taken many forms and names. They inhabit the plains and forests west of Malana and are a collection of tribes. In the past few centuries, the tribes have been united and reformed by the House of Kabath. The land is acceptable and natural resources are not scarce, but nor are they abundant. The culture is one of warriors and battle-lust, with war being seen as the highest honor. Pirate attacks are gladly welcomed on their northern sea coast, and wars with neighboring Malana, Delldale, Weslite Kingdom and Orthan are common.

The reigning monarch of Kabath is Queen Penelope Kabath, known as Penelope II. She is a savage warrior queen aligned to Tempus Foehammer and has reigned ably for a decade. She is cruel and views any form of cowardice as grounds for execution, and she has stated several times she will have a brave kingdom or no kingdom at all. The worship of Tempus is mandatory, though the worship of other deities is allowed, so long as Tempus is honored. Society in Kabath has become even more brutal in her reign, as it seems her kingdom cares only for the next glorious conquest.

While the brave and the warlike prosper, the normal folk struggle. Do they attempt to become as warriors and shed their lifesblood in war? The only good coin in the realm is in the military, with trade and agriculture regulated to best benefit the army. Or do they live a poor life serving those who serve the endless hunger of war? Perhaps they try and travel to another country, but those from Kabath are rarely trusted, as all assume they are spies eyeing the next conquest.

Religion in Kabath is dominated by the church of Tempus. A barracks and battle-hall is not complete without a chapel to the Foehammer. His glory is war and the praises of its fires are sung nightly. They care about matters beyond war only to assure that the army will be provided for. If you are not a warrior, you are a tool to ensure that warriors will have what they need.

The Scorched Shield is an order who follows the Red Knight, who support the church of Tempus. In particular, they focus on providing able strategists to ensure the next war goes well. They reside in monasteries that are forbidden for the common folk to enter. These rich places are full of the treasures of battle and accumulated knowledge, for by right they are entitled to a share of the spoils of victory. As strategists, they also are entitled to demand food and supplies from any nearby villages, for wasting time producing such themselves would slow the gears of war.

Auril has a small following in Kabath. It is not a popular religion there, but a few splintered sects from Malana and Krygur have taken up residence. They keep a low profile except in the heart of winter. Here they prey on the populace for sacrifices, which are bought from the government in exchange for intercession to Auril, so that winter does not impede their military campaigns.

Until the rise of Penelope, Eldath had a following. The deity of pacifism bade her worshipers to calm the heart of Kabath, but Queen Penelope put them to the sword once she took the throne. She accused them of being a subversive influence and initiated a purge against them. It is said the only signs of that faith left are burnt churches and gravestones.

Dozens of other faiths have small followings in Kabath. Most have been suppressed by Queen Penelope, but localized cults and traditions remain. Yet cut off from support and hunted, it seems inevitable that they will fade away. Names such as Tyr, Helm, Mielikki, Gond, Sune and Chauntea all are at risk of being forgotten in favor of war and war alone.

Unlike Malana, Kabath has little problem with things in the night. Queen Penelope has proven skilled at rooting them out, and either enlisting them or scattering them to the wind. It is whispered the common people have more to fear from military exercises, rogue military golems and ghosts of past battles than anything else.

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Cities of Malana

Note: A map will be added here in due time. I plan to employ a certain person to do that.

Misty Harbor

The capital city of Malana. It is named for the fact it is routinely foggy. In spite of that, it's home to an amazing natural harbor and is the main port of call for Malana. The fog also gives some protection from pirate raids, though other cities on the cost are not so lucky.

Banam

A city that sits in the higher foothills of the southern mountains. It is a the main coordination point to the defenses of Whitepack Pass and forces rotate between there and Whitepack Pass commonly. Martial law prevails in the city, as the military brooks no interference with its duties. This protects the city from most threats but leaves them open to whatever the army wishes to do.

Fortresses Highspire, Tyr's Spite, Adamantine, Jellan, Breakshield and Iron Resolve

A series of western border fortresses. They coordinate the defenses against Kabath. They also serve as places for travelers to rest - and to be interrogated, as the stories say. Especially travelers from Kabath.

Warmfolk

A port town south of Misty Harbor. Once prosperous, pirate raids have crippled the town. Many sailors have left, families have moved and only the resilient remain. Despite all the losses, the pirates continues to attack.

Luremdale

A small city in central Malana. The majority of Malana's gold mines are here. The mines are quite ancient, with common rumor suggesting that older mines can be found deeper down, ones that hold lost treasures. They have some trouble with the earth genasi as well.

Arenel

A small city in the Whitepack Mountains. Ruled by Jack 'Silver' Maggen. It's noted for its silver mines and isolation, as well as wintry weather year-round or close enough to it.

There are additionally many smaller villages, towns and settlements.  These are just the most noteworthy areas.

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Krygur

Government Type: Kingdom
Leader: Prince Alan-Greenholm
Flag: A blue field decorated with white stars, with a silver stripe down the center
Capital: Kryguros

Unlike Malana, Krygur is a kingdom of mountains and valleys. Each valley is close to its own world, separated from the other valleys and the rest of the world by mountains. Only narrow passes permit travel deeper in. The mountainous coastline shields Krygur from the ravages of pirates, with the mountains stopping cold at the shoreline, with drops of hundreds or even thousands of feet from mountain to ocean. Instead, it is a land of isolated valleys, with the mountains being the domain of monsters, only held back from the passes by military force.

Prince Alan-Greenholm is a young man. While he is bright and motivated, he has little use for the common man. He is an intellectual that spurs all save for those who follow knowledge for the sake of knowledge. His rooms in Snowflake Palace are dominated by vast piles of books. It is said Prince Alan-Greenholm makes offerings to any deity and power of knowledge that will take what he offers. As Prince, he is unafraid to offer anything, and whispers state maidens have been offered.

Meanwhile, each valley of Krygur sinks into further isolation. The military holds the passes open, but the Prince cares little for them, so long as they secure the border with Malana. Yet meanwhile monsters rise in numbers and threaten the passes. Should the passes fall, each valley will be left alone, fruit waiting to be plucked by the more ambitious monsters of the mountains. Ogres, hippogriffs, white dragons and snow-spirits all openly lust after the treasures of the valleys.

Shorn of attention and caring, the military compensates by drafting from the common folk. With Prince Alan-Greenholm's apathy towards the common folk, they meet little resistance in shoring up their numbers. These new recruits are used to meet monster attacks head on, fodder to protect the core of the army in case of war with Malana. Yet the monster attacks rise in frequency and viciousness, straining the army even further.

The religions of Krygur are varied. Auril holds sway within the nation and has since days immeasurable. The current prince has little interest in them, but nor does he overly impede them. The Frozen are allowed so long as they show no signs of sympathy with Malana. So long as this is met, the official policy is one of tolerance.

The Callers of Barachiel once held considerable worship within the realm. A group dedicated to heralds and spreading peace, they were a factor centuries ago in the unification of Krygur's valleys into one kingdom. Recent times have seen them on a slow and steady decline, though some refugees from Kabath's Church of Tyr have been noted to settle with them.

The final major church of Krygur is that of the Mountain Man. It is a persistent cult that has become something more, organized around busts of a bearded man. His dogma is to become one with the mountains and grow stronger. Those woh seek help from the faith are put to the tests, ones that claim the lives of a fair share of those that need help. Many who need help only find death's embrace as they prove unworthy of the Mountain Man's help.

Beyond that, there are many small cults in isolated valleys. In the more remote ones, these cults essentially own the valley they are in. There are also whispers of remote mountain fortress-cathedrals to other, darker powers yet.

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Timekeeping in Malana and surrounding countries

Time is kept in Malana and the surrounding regions in one style. While more distant regions may have their own time schemes, this is what you'll be dealing with. The origins of this system hail from Kabath, though this is largely forgotten except to the scholarly inclined.

Daily timekeeping is the same as ours. Hours, minutes, seconds and days are used. You shouldn't expect anything new here. Generally, precise timetelling is not a concern of the people. Informal use usually goes by generalisms, such as early morning, mid afternoon and so forth. Clocks are rare and either waterclocks or creations of magic.

The local calendar is divided into 6 months. Each month has 60 days, except for the last, which has 68.

Calin

The first month of the year. Calin is a time of high winter, with frequent snowstorms that come in off the Lene Sea. This month is generally the quietest of the year in the countryside, while the cities are more active with entertainments. Sea trade is at its peak at this time, as the snows severely slow land based merchants. This also means pirates are at their peak, attacking ships and harbors both.

Salin

The second month of the year. It's a mix of winter and spring, Salin 34th is considered the end of winter. The weather begins to warm, with snows giving way to sleet storms and cold rain. The first part of the month is similar to Calin, while the second part is busier with spring plantings. Land based trade remains slow, as spring muds foul most of the roads.

Orla

The third month of the year. This season sees a rapid increase in temperature, with spring soon giving way to summer. Rains slow somewhat, with most coming in great gushes from thunderstorms. Thick humidity sets with the heat, especially along the coastlines. This is the start of the busy seasons in the region, as the roads are clear. Bandit activity tends to rise during this time, though the army does a far better job of keeping that in hand than the navy does with pirates. Orla 49th is considered the first day of summer.

Tola

The fourth month of the year. This is the full breath of summer, with hot and humid days being the norm. It's said that the prosperity of the year is made during this time. Indeed, farms rely on enough rain to feed the crops without too much ruining them. Land based trade is hugely active at this time, and a merchant's fortunes are made during this month.

Sess

The fifth month of the year. Summer begins to wane in this month, with the days shortening and the fall rains coming. Storms give way to days of drenching rain, while farmers hurry to finish the harvest before too much rain damages crops. The rains bring mud, which ends the summer travel season. Summer is considered to end on Sess 24th.

Pess

The sixth and last month of the year, as well as the longest. This month is the wet autumn giving way to the frigid breath of winter. With the harvest done, the countryside hunkers down for another winter while the cities celebrate the passing seasons. Snow begins to occur by the mid-point of the month, often sooner. Winter begins on Pess 41st.

There are no leap years and the calendar is stable. The seasons aren't evenly divided, with winter having a whopping 121 days, spring 75, summer 95 days and fall 77 days.

The current year is Unified Year 754. The name of the year comes from an old unison of Kabath, though it didn't last. Nonetheless, the name persists. Most people simply use the year number and nothing else. There have been occasional attempts to change it, but none have taken root, nor has any Dynast chosen to press the issue.

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Known Pirate Groups

Orange Sky

A group of pirates based somewhere on Malana's eastern shoreline. They terrorize everything in that area, from the southernmost reaches of Malana to Misty Harbor. They prefer to go for ships that have made the long trip around Krygur's coastline, though cities and the occasional raid near Misty Harbor does occur. It's generally suspected they have multiple ships and crews.

The group's name comes from the orange banner they fly when attacking a ship. While local captains know what it is, not all foreign ones do, leading to confusion.

Bloodbound

A group of extremely savage pirates who focus on raiding shore villages across Malana and Kabath. They take no prisoners and gladly cut throats. Only the seemingly superhuman skills of their captain, Clapper Gavin, has allowed them to escape being wiped out. He's named for how he fights and finishes off his opponent, namely, barehanded and by crushing their heads between his hands, like he's clapping.

Umberlee's Teats

A relatively new pirate group composed of Umberlant fanatics estranged from the local clergy. They believe murdering crews and sinking ships sends them as tribute to Umberlee, so they do exactly that. Little is known about them, though both the navy and the Church of the Bitch Queen have made statements against them.

Sea Salt's Bones

A pirate group that raids ships coming from Kabath. It's whispered they're soldiers from the last war who hold a grudge against Kabath, or even a covert privateer group commissioned by the Dynast. Not much of them is known in Malana, as they generally leave Malana and Malanese ships alone. It's known Queen Penelope II has set a bounty of 5,000 gold to any who bring her the heads and ship of the group.

There are several lesser groups that don't last long, may change names and aliases or range further afield than the local area.

[Anastasia]

Maps

For any and all maps.



Old map 1: [spoiler]

[Anastasia]

Information Three-Pack, Volume 1

Forgotten Staff

The forgotten staff was once the royal staff of Malana, the birthright and symbol of the Dynast. It was a mighty weapon that could strike down an armored knight in one blow, split the land apart with a gesture and cause great bursts of fire to appear where the Dynast wished. It was lost a century and a half ago at the Fifth Battle of Iron Resolve, where it is said a Kabathian wizard banished or sundered it. While a replacement was commissioned, it is generally accepted it is a pale imitation of the previous royal staff.

Needless to say, finding the staff (if it still exists) and returning it would be a ticket to an easy life. Many have tried, but none have succeeded.

Tum's Inn

It is said that there was once another mountain city south of Arenel. It was known as Tums and laid atop a rich silver mine. What happened to it is surrounded in myth - perhaps taken by a white dragon and razed, lost to a magical experiment gone wrong, abandoned when the mine was exhausted or destroyed by hateful children of Auril. Regardless of what the final fate of Tums was, it is said an old inn survives.

Tum's Inn is said to be a inn manned by ghosts of the past. Many seek it and some find it - tales of ghostly paradise and otherworldly things come from those who found it. But details on the location, who exactly resides there and so forth are far less forthcoming, unremembered by those who sought it. Tales of treasure and a great horde of silver further propel seekers to find the strange, ghostly inn.

National Crypt

There is an ancient boneyard in Krygur, just past the Malana-Krygur border. It is said to be the crypt of a lost city-state that resides within the mountains. It was conquered by a mad lich who converted the city in an undead reserve - for he transmuted the fallen into copies of every undead creature he knew of, then sealed it away. The mighty magic of the lich is said to be within, guarded by an army of the walking dead.

Unlike other ruins, exploring for it is banned. This doesn't stop the brave and foolish from searching, but declaring that you are doing so is a crime. The reasons why date back hundreds of years and are lost to time, though most any bard will give you a few reasons.

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Group of Interest: Shrouders

This group is spoken of all across Misty Harbor. It is said to be comprised of the worst cut-throats, brigands, thieves and no-goods Malana can produce. A secret thieves guild for the best of the worst, blamed for every crime in the city. It is said to be ran by a man with no eyes, one who speaks with a Krygur accent.

What little is known about them comes from their calling card. When they conduct assassinations, they leave a black shroud over the victim. This shroud is magical, for once it lays on a dead body for a time, it prevents spells such as speak with dead from functioning on the body. It is known they've been active for decades, mostly targeting merchants and the lower nobility.

It's said that if a thief manages to join the Shrouders, that they're set for life. The truth of this isn't known, as members are seldom captured and all quickly commit suicide or escape.

The reasons for the fanaticism of the Shrouders as well as their enduring presence is not known. It's assumed that a wizard or wizards support them due to the shrouds. The possibility of the wizard being a noble is not discounted, or being the direct vassal of a powerful noble. Unfortunately, there simply isn't enough information to make a concrete guess. Interestingly, divinations on the subject tend to fail or turn up worthless information.

Notable Recent Assassinations

Lord Richard Amberge
Dale O'Brook
Knight Holsen Farrel