Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Haith 07-21-07, 07:34 AM	Right, I’m in the mood for writing so here it comes Warning The following is a dry homily on the geography and history of a bloodstained region in a lesser known campaign world. This will be of little interest to freebooters and adventurers, but of supreme interest to grey bearded sages and intellectual posers, you have been warned! Background The middle region of this world’s hemisphere is dotted with the ruins of 3 empires that have fallen over the last 1000 years. The collapse of these empires has left little but crumbling ruins and eternal hostility between the gods and races that helped build the said empires. The current occupants, mostly nomadic settlers, have little idea of the history the live and build upon. Early history (-300 to year 0) The Elf kingdoms dominated the vast woodlands in the north and south; broad grassland (300 miles) separated them. Elk riding elf bards and jugglers traversed this area which was free of demons and monsters. Northern Kingdom of Greenwood Geographically large, the vast greenwood forest was populated by fey spirits and wood elves, both of whom worshipped the nature god, who in those days walked the forest in the shaped of a great bear and was known as Brumbar. The wood elves were nomadic and left little sign of their passing or the size of their population which numbered 40000.The neighbouring mountains had a population of 12000 Dwarf miners who traded metals for elf produce. The southern (Grey Elf) kingdom A warm dry forest on the coast of an inland sea was ruled by grey (high) elves that were masters of magic. They did not worship Brumbar as the wood elves, but Craw the air god. With a population of about 50 000,They built magical towns and citadels and sent scouts flying pegasi all over the world to explore and collect specimens. These artistic and magical kingdoms soon influenced the rude humans who followed the Elfwater River in the east and settled in the valleys and plains between the two Elf territories. Kimart These humans settled around a lake in the grasslands and built a hut town called Kimart. As contact with the Elves of both kingdoms increased, the Kimarti’s became artistically and magically stronger then the other tribes, who settled on the other side of the lake at Kalesh. The Kmarti’s worshipped Uxul, the Fire god who was a jealous and demanding deity.When the Kimarti’s saw Kalesh was attracting Elf visitors, they raided it, slew the leaders and enslaved the remains. The fire temple of Kimart was a giant tower, with an eternally fuelled flame inside, certain noble families of Kimart fed their young to the fire, who were supposedly transformed into salamanders and Efreeti, who exited the tower as servants of the fire cult. Kimarti expansion When the Elves saw the brutal nature of their students, they vacillated about what they should do, the fey and wood elves disliked Uxul and wished to punish the Kimarti arrogance, but the High elves won out with a policy of avoidance. For 300 years the Elves withdrew contact. When Kimarti traders could no longer find elves to deal with, they moved further afield and eventually linked up with the dwarves who traded metals with them. From these contacts was built a small northern kingdom, whose name is lost to history. The Kimarti lust for metals fueled their conquest of other tribes in the grasslands, and soon a large empire rivaling the Elf kingdoms in size was born. Its armoured legions were lead by Salmander and Efreeti and none of the human tribes could defeat it. http://limboislands.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Early_kingdoms1.JPG Uxul it seems was not below employing devilish allies and sent them as assistants to his priests. These devils slowly, over a period of 50 years corrupted the church of the fire god. They controlled the priest-lords like puppets, and saw a chance to seize the magical power that was invested in the temples and citadels of the high elf kingdom. The first raids to the southern kingdom saw a Devil-lead Kimarti legion of 2000 fighters attack the nature shrine on the northernmost isolated edge of the High elf kingdom. The resulting battle is said to have accounted for the entire legion, but the lead devil died in the spring that fed the nature node, and its protecting tree withered and died. The High elves were furious and sent their Pegasus riders to raid every corner of Kimarts Empire In the north the forgotten city quickly fell, while the human inhabitants were slaughtered, the Dwarves retreated into the mountains. Over the next 30 years Kimarti armies plundered the citadels and library of the High Elf Kingdom, until the Fey and wood elves marched out of Greenwood, on a meeting with destiny. The Elf army was met at the gates of Kimart by an assortment of Fire spirits, lead by the avatar of Uxul. As the battle was joined, the infuriated avatar of the other elementary gods did arrive and there was much slaughter. The Avatar of Uxul was slain and cast deep into the southern ocean. The adobe city of Kimart was visited with ruination, and the great central lake, reservoir of water was turned to salt. Human life in the area was all but extinguished within 10 years. In year 700, the kingdom of Kalesh was formed from the remains of Devils who avoided destruction it Kimart. They forged an alliance will Kaleshes rulers, giving them Cambion offspring who, after 100 years became ancient master mages. As the Cambion became more powerful, they grew to despise their “sires” They summoned and conversed with demons that convinced them to overthrow the Devils. By 800 the evil Kingdom settled the central plains with several small forts to cut off reinforcement from the north. The Cambion then marched on the depleted high elf kingdom in the south and caused its final destruction. As the last citadel fell, the angry sea god Shanky tore away at the roots of the southern land and it sunk into a morass swamp, now called Python province. http://limboislands.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Late_kingdoms1.JPG For the next 200 years the war between Kalesh and the FeyElf kingdom raged, the fortresses built as a buffer by Kalesh were destroyed by treants while the various fey portals in Greenwood were broken by demons. Eventually, both kingdoms collapsed through attrition, the Fey vanished and the Wood elves withdrew deep into the northern wilderness, on the Kaleshi side, few humans were left and the city was sacked by 3000 vengeful nomadic horsemen who had suffered evil rule for 600 years, the land fell into chaos. This suited the demons well. Thus ends the homily of the firste, it will be shortly followed by the second homily which details the current situation of this troubled region (years 850-1000).
Haith 07-22-07, 07:22 AM	The Current state of things As a grey bearded scholar uses his magical powers to study the wild lands of central Ringworlde, he reports his particulars via magic to eager readers in various civilised settlements on this worlde and others. Red blood District The central portion of this tormented land is ringed to the south and east by mountains, while to the west stands the blasted sulphurous desert of Zin. This region has had no rulers for the last 100 years, but was once ruled by an enigmatic wizard called Mirgoth whose “burrow” tomb stands but an arrow-shot from the gentile settlement of Skarlon. This burrow is not very impressive, but I have it on good recommendation that there are two underground levels, wherein lies the wizards mouldering corpse. The central lands are mostly wilderness with a beateb track leading to the populated areas in the north, but overland travel should be avoided as there are many monsters dwelling in this area. The northern quarter of Red blood district (containing the village of Nulb) is now dominated by the upstart principality of Mahat, ruled by a bastard noble from the east, it has grown in size to dominate trade out of the Redwater valley. Greenwood forest A verdant carpet of green covers this region, but it is best not to fly over it as I have found. A large and crotchety green dragon dwells somewhere in its eaves and attacks travellers at any opportunity! The village of Nulb nestles just within the eaves and here I took shelter in its only Inn to nurse my wounds. The peasant inhabitants of this backwater have obviously never seen a wizard before, and constantly referred to me as a “mirg”. They complained that the Princes taxes caused them to fell more trees in the forest, and giant ticks were becoming more aggressive. I suggested they employ guards with scrolls of fireball to which they scratched their donkey heads. Refreshed the next day, I was pointed to what passes for a provincial capital 40 miles down the road, Shinglingsburg. Shinglingsburg Entry into this walled town consists of a rather rude search by hobgoblin guards who seem stationed here in numbers, after the indignity I entered the squalid settlement of perhaps 50 stone buildings with high slopped thatch roofs. By the smells and sights, I can judge this is a cattle town with stockyards and tannery, it is also ruled by Prince Mahat his banner hangs over the town hall along with the giblets containing the rotting remains of its leading citizens. The Principality of Mahat As described before, this “prince” is of questionable parentage and rules through terror more than any noble right. It appears he spent time among the hobgoblin tribes who inhabit the wilderness in the north-east and formed some alliance with them. With these tribes at his side, he seized the city of Chauncy and has slowly increased his position up the head of the Redwater valley and into Red blood District. I care not for brutal rulers and decided not to go to Chauncy and make a review. http://limboislands.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/current_kingdoms.JPG The Ruins of Flock Located on the bank of a freshwater lake, and in the shadow of a smoking volcano,lies the vine covered ruins of Flork. It appears to have been a wealthy town with much dwarvish carvings and stone work to be found, again hideous monsters have made their lodging here, and I was unable to present a comprehensive report. The Desert of Zin Said to have been create by the vengeful gods, in curse of ancient Kimart, this desert stretches almost 200 miles west and is 100 miles north to south. Located in its eastern portion are the ruins of Kimart, and the waystation of old Kalesh. Kalesh Now here is a town worth your worthy chroniclers time, within its adobe dwellings are a wealth of beautiful women, scrolls and potions to make even an aged lothario like myself a ladies man. Unfortunately, the class that this environment also attracts is sneak thieves who are apparently organised and rule the sewers. As I had run short of money I attempted to enter the Pashas palace to complain of my treatment but was ordered away by halberd wielding Ogre wearing oriental pantaloons. The Kingdom of Cur To the south of the desert is the border of another malevolent kingdom. This is ruled by a family called Cur, descendents of old Kalesh tis said. The Kingdoms northernmost boundary is guarded by mountains except for a 30 mile wide pass that is guarded by a large castle. Python Province The southernmost area of this discussion it’s the sunken snake infested swamp that is known as python province. For what reason I can only guess, it appears of little value to anyone, save Troll and lizardmen who propagate in ever increasing numbers. A few human settlements cling to the coastline, wooden shacks on stilts appear very temporary and all the inhabitants have row-boats hoisted on their roofs and ready to flee. Some could no doubt do with protective adventurers, if they don’t mind the midges. The Western grasslands Neighbouring great Greenwood and above the desert of Zin is a sprawling grassland stretching 300 miles almost to the western coast, it also extends up to the northern ice plains, from where strange monsters do spawn. A cult of mounted knights who have sworn to patrol these lands and fight the monstrous incursions dwells in a collection of wooden outposts and are apparently very successful in their mission. At least one thing is going right in this region. Thus ends my second discourse for the learned, I shall return soon with a description of the various deities whose influence falls over this area
GoriceXII 07-22-07, 07:31 AM	Out of curiousity, why do you call it a 'cult' of knights? What do they serve and to whom are they beholden?
Haith 07-23-07, 12:31 AM	The aged scholar called it a 'cult' but it is actually a company of Pelor worshiping Paladin, something the scholar does not fully understand. Alot of his information is second hand so he tends to paint it in broad strokes.
Haith 07-23-07, 08:54 AM	On reflection your question deserved a better answer, the paladins were only briefly covered in the earlier posts because they lie on the edge of the geographical area discussed. Here is additional information from my notes, but this area is underdeveloped very "One dimensional" The Protectorate The name given to the broad grasslands that appear empty of civilized life, save for the occasional fort/waystations built by the order of knights who patrol this land 'protecting' travelers (merchant convoys) and pilgrims. This is a brutal killing ground where paladins, their henchmen and goodly adventurers battle the twisted monsters (manticore, chimera etc) that regularly swarm out of the Ice and snow of the north. Notable location-The tomb of Goldenhelm Tomb of Ringworldes most renowned paladin, it stands in the western mountains (looks like Petra/Indiana jones the last crusade) Inside the is a large domed chapel with a statue of Goldenhelm the renowned paladin. It is a common 'rite of passage' for new paladins(lvl 1) to travel here for worship and contemplation.It is said the paladins tomb is empty and his remains are actually hidden in one of the many caves that dot the adjoining mountains. I have thought about a terrible plot, a spirit naga hidden in the tomb 'converting' the young paladins to its cult but this has never been developed. Goldenhelms corpse could also have a powerful intelligent magic sword that falls into a Orc hands, making him a powerful chieftain to menace the trade routes. Anyway, thats all for the moment, I will post the gods up soon if I can find pins to stick in them:D