Dice Additional background info

[Silanon]

This topic will include a number of information about the world we live in. As the game progresses, I'll try to keep a list with important organisations, persons etc. up to date for quick references. As for now: Some basic geography.


Starting at the center, we have what usually is referred to as the "kingdom" - a large area, mainly lowlands covered by young forests, fields and grasslands. Up until Mormon the Forth died three years ago in the midst of the orc invasion, it was ruled by his bloodline. The noble ranks are filled with humans, but the lower classes offer a variety of different races - and a few of them, while in theory still as good as any of the others, have reached more influence than any noble can have. Indeed, the leader of The All-Seeing Eye, the most influential magic guild, is a halfling, and the King's Bank is owned by two dwarven brothers.


In the west, we have the Great Ocean - there are a few islands out there that noone really has bothered to populate - nothing to be found there that isn't available on the main land. The coastal region is the richest, and here is where the capitol, Mordomon, lies. To the north, the cliffs are getting steeper, preventing the lively fishing industry and thus causing the lands there to be rather unpopulated - at least until the orcs came. When the northern cities fell, many inhabitants chose to flee here, protected by the armies marching northwards. The formed a couple of improvised settlements with basic farming there, waiting to return to their traditional husbandry areas.


Southwards, the coast turns into a rather wild woodland scenery, with only a few villages and no major cities. Further in the interior, the Bloodbeard Mountains tower the landscape - named after the dwarven clan residing in its ancient tunnels. Noone apart from the dwarves themselves knows how far their nation spreads out underneath the surface, and if it's connected to the larger dwarf kingdoms in the east - they tend to stay on their own, although they tend to make quite a diffence whenever they decide to act on something.


Im the south-east, nestling between the two mountain ranges in the south and east, forests as old as the earth grow. The kingdom once tried to expand there, causing a war with the elven civilisations guarding their holy trees. Centuries have passed since then, though, and although some elves still remember the blood shed right at the forests' edge, most come and go rather frequently to trade - and a few stayed already, standing out in whatever area they perform best while learning more about the hasty life style of the other peoples around.


Most recent changes happened in the north - covered by a mixture of old forests and swampy ground, noone cared to challenge the elves for this arid land, with the plains further south being big enough to fulfill a whole kingdom's needs for empty space already. That changed when five years ago the orcs decided to leave their islands, landing right in the midst of the lands and chasing away the local tribes. Noone quite knows what suddenly made them start their assault - probably just their blood-seeking nature. All that matters is that they didn't stop, but burnt down all the northern cities before finally being stopped by the Order of the Flame. The cost was high, though - Mormon IV died shortly after leading his guard right into the midst of the bloodbath, leaving the kingdom in the hands of those who had secured the unlikely victory. Since then, the orcs were driven all the way back to the northern coast, Kazragun being the last stronghold to be conquered. Consequences are already to be seen, though: It will take centuries to rebuild the burnt-down cities in their former glory, and most of the lands were burnt down by pillaging orcs on their retreat. It'll take a strong lead to deal with what follows, and many people raise their hand if being asked who should take the responsibility for that.