This small continent was once a part of a larger continent that was sunk thousands of years ago through the concerted efforts of the elemental gods during the War of the Gods. Ageond, the former continent, was the homeland of the Danaij, and home to many other races, but when Ispa incited a war amongst the gods, the Danaij and other races of darkness conquered, slaughtered, and drove out the races who did not share their religion. As a last ditch effort to destroy the armies of darkness, the elemental gods razed and sank Ageond while their brother defeated Ispa.
However, the entire continent wasn't destroyed. Though most of it lays beneath the ocean, the small southern tip of the continent was spared, and there are many islands scattered throughout the new ocean that are all that remain of mountain ranges. The remnant, now known as the Forsaken Land, is an island-continent slightly larger than Australia, and through the power of the dark gods, it is a land shrouded in dark clouds.
Danaij, Danaij'vai, humans, vampires, and Asath that managed to survive the war rebuilt their nations that had been wholly devastated and began their societies anew. The land is broken up into several nations divided by race, but they all share the same religion of darkness.
Desert of Black Sand
The northern region of the Forsaken Land is mostly desert, which was once a grassland in the heart of Ageond. In the ensuing burning, and subsequent sinking of the continent, the grassland became a desert, and the black volcanic rock from the sinking of Ageond was eventually ground to sand, leaving the desert and beach most markedly black, though in the southern reaches, the sand is golden.
The largest river in the Forsaken Land, the Nasip, flows from a mountain source, down to the lowlands, then cuts through the center of the desert, then pours out into a delta as the desert slopes down into the ocean. The desert is near sea level, and the land steadily rises upwards to the south, cresting at a range of high, jagged mountains that follow along the west and south coasts.
The desert is not a hot desert, but a barren wasteland where few plants can find a foothold to grow. However, there are lifeforms that manage to survive and flourish in this cruel environment. The desert is often victim to severe sandstorms.
East Coast - Ny'skel Mountains
The east coast of the Forsaken land rises up from the desert, and on the north-eastern tip is the small mountainous region of Ny'skel, which is the remains of a much larger mountain range. If one travels north, a sprinkling of islands up along the coast of Thiskel marks what else is left of this mountain range. The Ny'skel range blocks most access--short of a broad pass long what is now a cliff pass on the north coast--to a small human nation on the upper east coast called Rilema.
East Coast - Kiran
On the south side of the Ny'skel is the northern border of the Danaij nation of Kiran which occupies the rest of the east. There is a small human nation ruled by a vampire lord that is carved out of Kiran and sits on the east coast. The borders of Kiran to the north are narrow, keeping a distance away from the desert before it broadens into the heart of the nation, which is nestled in a valley between the southern arc the long Ormiss mountain range that goes down the west coast and an offshoot called the Kixes Mountains. The nation of Kiran also contains two major rivers; the Neasit which flows from the Kixes Mountains, going north-east from the mountains to empty into the ocean on the east coast; and the Aldeti which flows from another source on the southern side of the Kixes, cuts across the southern part of the valley and flows into the ocean on the southeast. The Aldeti also provides a natural border for two nations of Danaij'vai, which are further separated by broad, but short river that flows down from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti.
Most of the Kiran lands, as well as the rest of the continent, is forested with dark-needled conifers, though there is some open space between the edges of the desert and the forestland. The northern reaches of Kiran are steppes and hilly prairie until it rises into higher altitudes and transitions into forest.
Ormiss Mountains
The Ormiss Mountains are a long, high, craggy mountain range that follow along the west coast and down to the south of the Forsaken Land. When the continent of Ageond was whole, they reached several hundred miles further north, and the remains of this lost portion can be found as islands just north of the Forsaken Land.
There are two off-shoots of the Ormiss Mountains; the northern range being the Fisay, and several hundred miles south is the Kixes range. The valley between the northern arch of the Ormiss and the Fisay is occupied by the small Danaij nation of Nalxad; between the Fisay and Kixes is the nation of Mairax, and between the Kixes and the southern arch of the Ormiss is the nation of Kiran.
Rivers
The Ormiss and its connected ranges are also the source of many rivers. Starting from the north is the Samim and Hatal rivers. The Hatal River starts in the west of the Fisay Mountains and flows northwestwards through the heart of Nalxad, then forks north and northwest, the northwest becoming the Samim River, which cuts through the north of the Ormiss range, creating a deep canyon, then empties into the sea on the northernmost point of the continent. The Hatal continues on slightly northeasterly, and is joined by a short river that flows from the end of the Fisay range before emptying into the sea.
The largest river in the continent is the Nasip, which has its source in the Kixes Mountains, flowing from the Mairax nation and cutting straight through the center of the island, through the desert, and emptying into the ocean from the central north coast at the lowest point of land, where it fans out into a delta.
In the lands of Kiran, there are two major rivers. The northern river, the Neasit, flows from the end of the Kixes range on a mostly easterly path where it empties into the ocean in the east coast. The second and southernmost river of the Forsaken Land is the Aldeti, which flows from a southern point of the Kixes and cuts a natural border through the southern most point of the Kiran valley, separating Kiran from the Danaij'vai lands. There is another small river that follows from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti, which then flows on a southeasterly course and empties into the ocean in the south.
Forsaken Land (Ageond)
Forum rules
Rules of Development
Rules of Development
- Keep in mind that this world may be published in one way or another. I encourage you not to integrate any concepts of a story or RPG world that you are creating and intend to publish independent of Aserra.
- Any ideas you use must be original, as if I publish this game, I would not like to get slapped with copyright infringement suit for a rip-off I didn't catch.
- Do not model any nations or cultures entirely after existing nations and cultures in the real world. You may use aspects of any existing cultures, though, and it would be best to mix things up too.
- There is a need to be reasonable with cultures, abilities, and the like that are created for Aserra. I don't want nations that are the epitome of perfection, or an entirely unreasonable set of abilities that causes them to be sensationally over powered compared to others of their race.
- I must give approval for anything major created by other players, so until I tell you that I'm ok with that, don't automatically assume that it'll be canon.
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World of Aserra
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land (Ageond)
This small continent was once a part of a larger continent that was sunk thousands of years ago through the concerted efforts of the elemental gods during the War of the Gods. Ageond, the former continent, was the homeland of the Danaij, and home to many other races, but when Ispa incited a war amongst the gods, the Danaij and other races of darkness conquered, slaughtered, and drove out the races who did not share their religion. As a last ditch effort to destroy the armies of darkness, the elemental gods razed and sank Ageond while their brother defeated Ispa.
However, the entire continent wasn't destroyed. Though most of it lays beneath the ocean, the small southern tip of the continent was spared, and there are many islands scattered throughout the new ocean that are all that remain of mountain ranges. The remnant, now known as the Forsaken Land, is an island-continent slightly larger than Australia, and through the power of the dark gods, it is a land shrouded in dark clouds.
Danaij, Danaij'vai, humans, vampires, and Asath that managed to survive the war rebuilt their nations that had been wholly devastated and began their societies anew. The land is broken up into several nations divided by race, but they all share the same religion of darkness.
Desert of Black Sand
The northern region of the Forsaken Land is mostly desert, which was once a grassland in the heart of Ageond. In the ensuing burning, and subsequent sinking of the continent, the grassland became a desert, and the black volcanic rock from the sinking of Ageond was eventually ground to sand, leaving the desert and beach most markedly black, though in the southern reaches, the sand is golden.
The largest river in the Forsaken Land, the Nasip, flows from a mountain source, down to the lowlands, then cuts through the center of the desert, then pours out into a delta as the desert slopes down into the ocean. The desert is near sea level, and the land steadily rises upwards to the south, cresting at a range of high, jagged mountains that follow along the west and south coasts.
The desert is not a hot desert, but a barren wasteland where few plants can find a foothold to grow. However, there are lifeforms that manage to survive and flourish in this cruel environment. The desert is often victim to severe sandstorms.
East Coast - Ny'skel Mountains
The east coast of the Forsaken land rises up from the desert, and on the north-eastern tip is the small mountainous region of Ny'skel, which is the remains of a much larger mountain range. If one travels north, a sprinkling of islands up along the coast of Thiskel marks what else is left of this mountain range. The Ny'skel range blocks most access--short of a broad pass long what is now a cliff pass on the north coast--to a small human nation on the upper east coast called Rilema.
East Coast - Kiran
On the south side of the Ny'skel is the northern border of the Danaij nation of Kiran which occupies the rest of the east. There is a small human nation ruled by a vampire lord that is carved out of Kiran and sits on the east coast. The borders of Kiran to the north are narrow, keeping a distance away from the desert before it broadens into the heart of the nation, which is nestled in a valley between the southern arc the long Ormiss mountain range that goes down the west coast and an offshoot called the Kixes Mountains. The nation of Kiran also contains two major rivers; the Neasit which flows from the Kixes Mountains, going north-east from the mountains to empty into the ocean on the east coast; and the Aldeti which flows from another source on the southern side of the Kixes, cuts across the southern part of the valley and flows into the ocean on the southeast. The Aldeti also provides a natural border for two nations of Danaij'vai, which are further separated by broad, but short river that flows down from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti.
Most of the Kiran lands, as well as the rest of the continent, is forested with dark-needled conifers, though there is some open space between the edges of the desert and the forestland. The northern reaches of Kiran are steppes and hilly prairie until it rises into higher altitudes and transitions into forest.
Ormiss Mountains
The Ormiss Mountains are a long, high, craggy mountain range that follow along the west coast and down to the south of the Forsaken Land. When the continent of Ageond was whole, they reached several hundred miles further north, and the remains of this lost portion can be found as islands just north of the Forsaken Land.
There are two off-shoots of the Ormiss Mountains; the northern range being the Fisay, and several hundred miles south is the Kixes range. The valley between the northern arch of the Ormiss and the Fisay is occupied by the small Danaij nation of Nalxad; between the Fisay and Kixes is the nation of Mairax, and between the Kixes and the southern arch of the Ormiss is the nation of Kiran.
Rivers
The Ormiss and its connected ranges are also the source of many rivers. Starting from the north is the Samim and Hatal rivers. The Hatal River starts in the west of the Fisay Mountains and flows northwestwards through the heart of Nalxad, then forks north and northwest, the northwest becoming the Samim River, which cuts through the north of the Ormiss range, creating a deep canyon, then empties into the sea on the northernmost point of the continent. The Hatal continues on slightly northeasterly, and is joined by a short river that flows from the end of the Fisay range before emptying into the sea.
The largest river in the continent is the Nasip, which has its source in the Kixes Mountains, flowing from the Mairax nation and cutting straight through the center of the island, through the desert, and emptying into the ocean from the central north coast at the lowest point of land, where it fans out into a delta.
In the lands of Kiran, there are two major rivers. The northern river, the Neasit, flows from the end of the Kixes range on a mostly easterly path where it empties into the ocean in the east coast. The second and southernmost river of the Forsaken Land is the Aldeti, which flows from a southern point of the Kixes and cuts a natural border through the southern most point of the Kiran valley, separating Kiran from the Danaij'vai lands. There is another small river that follows from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti, which then flows on a southeasterly course and empties into the ocean in the south.
However, the entire continent wasn't destroyed. Though most of it lays beneath the ocean, the small southern tip of the continent was spared, and there are many islands scattered throughout the new ocean that are all that remain of mountain ranges. The remnant, now known as the Forsaken Land, is an island-continent slightly larger than Australia, and through the power of the dark gods, it is a land shrouded in dark clouds.
Danaij, Danaij'vai, humans, vampires, and Asath that managed to survive the war rebuilt their nations that had been wholly devastated and began their societies anew. The land is broken up into several nations divided by race, but they all share the same religion of darkness.
Desert of Black Sand
The northern region of the Forsaken Land is mostly desert, which was once a grassland in the heart of Ageond. In the ensuing burning, and subsequent sinking of the continent, the grassland became a desert, and the black volcanic rock from the sinking of Ageond was eventually ground to sand, leaving the desert and beach most markedly black, though in the southern reaches, the sand is golden.
The largest river in the Forsaken Land, the Nasip, flows from a mountain source, down to the lowlands, then cuts through the center of the desert, then pours out into a delta as the desert slopes down into the ocean. The desert is near sea level, and the land steadily rises upwards to the south, cresting at a range of high, jagged mountains that follow along the west and south coasts.
The desert is not a hot desert, but a barren wasteland where few plants can find a foothold to grow. However, there are lifeforms that manage to survive and flourish in this cruel environment. The desert is often victim to severe sandstorms.
East Coast - Ny'skel Mountains
The east coast of the Forsaken land rises up from the desert, and on the north-eastern tip is the small mountainous region of Ny'skel, which is the remains of a much larger mountain range. If one travels north, a sprinkling of islands up along the coast of Thiskel marks what else is left of this mountain range. The Ny'skel range blocks most access--short of a broad pass long what is now a cliff pass on the north coast--to a small human nation on the upper east coast called Rilema.
East Coast - Kiran
On the south side of the Ny'skel is the northern border of the Danaij nation of Kiran which occupies the rest of the east. There is a small human nation ruled by a vampire lord that is carved out of Kiran and sits on the east coast. The borders of Kiran to the north are narrow, keeping a distance away from the desert before it broadens into the heart of the nation, which is nestled in a valley between the southern arc the long Ormiss mountain range that goes down the west coast and an offshoot called the Kixes Mountains. The nation of Kiran also contains two major rivers; the Neasit which flows from the Kixes Mountains, going north-east from the mountains to empty into the ocean on the east coast; and the Aldeti which flows from another source on the southern side of the Kixes, cuts across the southern part of the valley and flows into the ocean on the southeast. The Aldeti also provides a natural border for two nations of Danaij'vai, which are further separated by broad, but short river that flows down from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti.
Most of the Kiran lands, as well as the rest of the continent, is forested with dark-needled conifers, though there is some open space between the edges of the desert and the forestland. The northern reaches of Kiran are steppes and hilly prairie until it rises into higher altitudes and transitions into forest.
Ormiss Mountains
The Ormiss Mountains are a long, high, craggy mountain range that follow along the west coast and down to the south of the Forsaken Land. When the continent of Ageond was whole, they reached several hundred miles further north, and the remains of this lost portion can be found as islands just north of the Forsaken Land.
There are two off-shoots of the Ormiss Mountains; the northern range being the Fisay, and several hundred miles south is the Kixes range. The valley between the northern arch of the Ormiss and the Fisay is occupied by the small Danaij nation of Nalxad; between the Fisay and Kixes is the nation of Mairax, and between the Kixes and the southern arch of the Ormiss is the nation of Kiran.
Rivers
The Ormiss and its connected ranges are also the source of many rivers. Starting from the north is the Samim and Hatal rivers. The Hatal River starts in the west of the Fisay Mountains and flows northwestwards through the heart of Nalxad, then forks north and northwest, the northwest becoming the Samim River, which cuts through the north of the Ormiss range, creating a deep canyon, then empties into the sea on the northernmost point of the continent. The Hatal continues on slightly northeasterly, and is joined by a short river that flows from the end of the Fisay range before emptying into the sea.
The largest river in the continent is the Nasip, which has its source in the Kixes Mountains, flowing from the Mairax nation and cutting straight through the center of the island, through the desert, and emptying into the ocean from the central north coast at the lowest point of land, where it fans out into a delta.
In the lands of Kiran, there are two major rivers. The northern river, the Neasit, flows from the end of the Kixes range on a mostly easterly path where it empties into the ocean in the east coast. The second and southernmost river of the Forsaken Land is the Aldeti, which flows from a southern point of the Kixes and cuts a natural border through the southern most point of the Kiran valley, separating Kiran from the Danaij'vai lands. There is another small river that follows from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti, which then flows on a southeasterly course and empties into the ocean in the south.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Rilema [Human]
Rilema
Pronunciation: rih-LEE-mah
Rilemian, Rilemans
Cities
Location
Rilema is a rather secluded nation in the Forsaken Land, which is partly to blame for its success. Located on the north-east tip of the continent, it has sea on one side, and is mostly blocked in by the Ny’skel Mountains on the other. A small pass along the northern coast allows for travel to the rest of the Forsaken Land. The actual borders of Rilema don’t radiate more than two hundred miles from Dradel, the capital city, even though there is more land before the foothills of the Ny’skel. The forest land is incredibly treacherous due to the monsters, vicious, and poisonous flora and fauna that inhabit the Forsaken Land. Much of Rilema itself is land cleared for meager crops. There are no major rivers, but many streams and creeks that flow down from the mountains.
The capital city of Dradel is a citadel in the heart of the nation, away from the coastlines where they could be raided by pirates or enemies from Thiskel, and away from the dangerous borders. The port city of Ishild is on the coast, where trade and travel flows in and out to Thiskel. A few small farming villages are scattered across the land, but they are often heavily fortified and their people are hearty.
History
Rilema was founded by criminal deportees from Thiskelian nations who found it crucial to form a cohesive government to survive in the accursed remnant of Ageond. This began over five hundred years ago. Since, Rilema has gone through many forms of government, few of which were lasting. Men who have dared to declare themselves king of Rilema have risen and fallen over the centuries, but very rarely do their lines continue beyond a single rule. One family, the Garands, managed to maintain the throne for three generations through the skillful leadership of the first Garand king, followed by his son who emulated his father, and ending with his son who had already succumbed to the comforts of nobility and grew complacent with his family’s role. At the first sign of weakness, the third Garand king was overthrown by a rising warlord who claimed the throne for himself.
Another notable ruler was the only woman to ever hold power in Rilema, the “Blood Queen” Neih Moras, a half-Danaij, cast out of Kiran by her pure-blooded mother to begin her life on the streets of Dradel. She survived as a thief, and then thrived as she climbed her way to the top of the guild and eventually built an army of the downtrodden beneath her to overthrow the warlord who held the throne. Her rule was strict, and she was quick to shed the blood of those who disobeyed or threatened her position, thus earning her the title of Blood Queen. Her decisions were often unpredictable; those who were sent before the queen for punishment would never know if she would show mercy, or kill them on a whim. For one hundred and fifty years she held the throne until she was assassinated by the order of the council that has since controlled Rilema for the last forty years.
The rulers of Rilema have run the gamut between strict and benevolent, and brutal and bloodthirsty, but the one constant to remain in power is competence and strength in this forsaken kingdom. At the heart of it all, Rilemans, leaders or followers, have only sought to survive in the harsh environment their forefathers and mothers were thrown to.
Government
Since the assassination of the Blood Queen, a council of men and women who formerly served the queen, and the successors of the original councilmen, have controlled the country for the last forty odd years. There are seven council members in total, and on the surface, their rulings appear to be democratic, but behind the scenes each council member will backstab and bribe and bargain to make sure they come out on top.
The original councilmen, Morenan Hisay, Rauch Cerrod, Ostor Rodon, Sull Faskel, Aren Radpol, Rakther Verech, and Quedan Rilcer, first served the Queen Neih Moras. While they had all been appointed by the Blood Queen as her advisers, they soon found themselves disenchanted by the vindictive woman and joined together to overthrow her. They hired an assassin to kill her, then stepped in to take her place as leaders of Rilema. In the decades following, the camaraderie of the councilmen faltered. Aren Radpol and Ostor Rodon died under mysterious circumstances, then were replaced by Kelrak Stekelis and Belom Ormskel, men chosen by the rest of the council. Rauch Cerrod died of natural causes, and was replaced by his wife, Isril Cerrod. Morenan Hisay eventually succumbed to age, and named his student, Dan Rynar as his successor. Successors are voted in by the rest of the council, regardless of relations to the predecessor. Isril and Dan were both chosen based on competence and opinion of the rest of the council, as will future replacements. The council now stands as Sull Faskel, Rakther Verech, Quedan Rilcer, Kelrak Stekelis, Belom Ormskel, Isril Cerrod, and Dan Rynar.
Military
Rilema’s military is loosely affiliated, and mostly broken up into militias serving local governments in Dradel, Ishild, and the scattered farm villages. Vigilante justice is common, and most people tend to look out for their own needs instead of relying on guards. Warlords often rise and fall on the borders, and take over farmland, forcing farmers to feed their militias, which often causes conflict with Dradel, as they rely on these farmers to feed the city.
In Dradel, there is an organized military, and depending on threats of the moment, young men between the ages of seventeen to twenty-seven can be conscripted. At any time, young men of those ages can choose to join the military. Men who crave battle are quick to join, as are those who want the stability of a reliable income for their families and can over look the potentially corrupt leaders they serve. Women are not allowed to serve in Dradel’s military, though other militias may readily recruit women.
Dradel also has a loosely affiliated knighthood that has managed to stand through various changes of leadership, though the knights themselves come and go with those in powers. In the past, it has not been uncommon for a warlord to kill every knight of the former regime and replace them with his own subordinates. When knights can maintain their position, they often attempt to follow Thiskelian and Kalesten traditions by training their children to become knights as well. Women are allowed into the ranks of knighthood. Knights serve as the right hand of their ruler and can command the Dradel military.
Resources
Rilema’s offerings seem meager, but the people have managed to survive quite well. The coasts offer fishing resources, making seafood a mainstay of Rileman diets, especially in Ishild and the coastal fishing villages, and Dradel, to where it is shipped daily. Inland, Rilema’s farms breed typical livestock, though goats have more prevalence than cattle due to their size and heartiness. In lean times, it is not uncommon for even horses and dogs to end up on the supper table, however. Hunting is a treacherous job in the forests of the Ny’skel mountains, but many hunters manage to make a living on wild game once they know what to avoid.
The food grown in Rilema is rarely the familiar fare of the sun-touched lands. Most fruits, grains, and vegetables from Thiskel failed to flourish under the overcast skies of the Forsaken Land, so farmers adapted to native plantlife, discovering grains in the native grasses, and fruits, nuts, and vegetables that were non-poisonous through trial and error, things which are now grown en masse to feed the nation.
Another resource of Rilema is actually one of the things that made it so dangerous; poisons. Many apothecaries quickly took to learning of the dangerous plants, insects, and other creatures that inhabited their homeland and learned to make a variety of poisons and antidotes which are sought world wide on black markets. While many of these poisons are found all across the Forsaken Land, it is mainly the apothecaries of Rilema who have turned them into international trade.
Religion
Like all nations of the Forsaken Land, Rilema follows the Religion of Darkness. Soon after they established their first settlements, it seemed that the gods that ruled the land took notice, and sent emissaries from the Danaij nations to convert the Rilemans. Some of the original settlers resisted, and were slain, but others accepted the religion, either welcomingly, or under fear of death. Thus, the Danaij emissaries helped to establish a temple in Ishild (the original settlement), and later in Dradel. Some villages have small shrines to the dark gods. The worship of the dark gods is still a requirement, and most people worship, or at least attend services, out of fear of the wrath of priests or gods themselves.
The temples of Rilema are mostly populated by Rilemans, but the Danaij see to seeding the temples with their own officers, and often a Danaij priest heads the temples. Vampires, Asath, Danaij’vai, and mixed-blood priests also serve in the Dradel and Ishild temples.
Population & People
The population of Rilema is predominantly human, with mixed backgrounds, but mostly Thiskelian in origin. Over the generations, the palest complexions have won out. Black and brown hair colors are the most common, with a variety of eye colors. Danaij make up the second largest group in the population; consisting of priests who serve the dark temple, exiles from the Danaij nation, and individuals who for one reason or another just want to live in Rilema. The third largest group is mixed-blood individuals who are a mix of human and Danaij to varying degrees. Often, half-Danaij individuals are outcasts in their Danaij parents’ nation, and flee to Rilema where they have a better reception. These half-Danaij often end up marrying humans or other half-Danaij, thus continuing the mixed-blood lines further.
Other populations in Rilema include Asath from the Black Sand Desert, Danaij’vai who have left the Danaij lands for similar reasons as the Danaij, and vampires, which are often originally human or Danaij. Vampires are reluctantly accepted in Rilema (and most Forsaken Land nations) as they serve the Dark Gods. In Rilema, vampires are controlled by unspoken laws of conduct. They are allowed only so many kills; often the homeless and transient, elderly and infirm, criminals, and other individuals who are undesirable or considered useless to society. These deaths are often overlooked by the militias (especially in the cities), but once vampires start hunting outside these groups and the bodies start piling up, “open season” is declared on vampires. Vampires have also found themselves in positions of power in Rilema, often as knights or advisers to warlords and kings, and in these cases, rulers find having a vampire around handy for executions and keeping order.
Pronunciation: rih-LEE-mah
Rilemian, Rilemans
Cities
- Dradel (Capital)
- Ishild (Port)
- rilema.jpg (288.18KiB)Viewed 4032 times
Rilema is a rather secluded nation in the Forsaken Land, which is partly to blame for its success. Located on the north-east tip of the continent, it has sea on one side, and is mostly blocked in by the Ny’skel Mountains on the other. A small pass along the northern coast allows for travel to the rest of the Forsaken Land. The actual borders of Rilema don’t radiate more than two hundred miles from Dradel, the capital city, even though there is more land before the foothills of the Ny’skel. The forest land is incredibly treacherous due to the monsters, vicious, and poisonous flora and fauna that inhabit the Forsaken Land. Much of Rilema itself is land cleared for meager crops. There are no major rivers, but many streams and creeks that flow down from the mountains.
The capital city of Dradel is a citadel in the heart of the nation, away from the coastlines where they could be raided by pirates or enemies from Thiskel, and away from the dangerous borders. The port city of Ishild is on the coast, where trade and travel flows in and out to Thiskel. A few small farming villages are scattered across the land, but they are often heavily fortified and their people are hearty.
History
Rilema was founded by criminal deportees from Thiskelian nations who found it crucial to form a cohesive government to survive in the accursed remnant of Ageond. This began over five hundred years ago. Since, Rilema has gone through many forms of government, few of which were lasting. Men who have dared to declare themselves king of Rilema have risen and fallen over the centuries, but very rarely do their lines continue beyond a single rule. One family, the Garands, managed to maintain the throne for three generations through the skillful leadership of the first Garand king, followed by his son who emulated his father, and ending with his son who had already succumbed to the comforts of nobility and grew complacent with his family’s role. At the first sign of weakness, the third Garand king was overthrown by a rising warlord who claimed the throne for himself.
Another notable ruler was the only woman to ever hold power in Rilema, the “Blood Queen” Neih Moras, a half-Danaij, cast out of Kiran by her pure-blooded mother to begin her life on the streets of Dradel. She survived as a thief, and then thrived as she climbed her way to the top of the guild and eventually built an army of the downtrodden beneath her to overthrow the warlord who held the throne. Her rule was strict, and she was quick to shed the blood of those who disobeyed or threatened her position, thus earning her the title of Blood Queen. Her decisions were often unpredictable; those who were sent before the queen for punishment would never know if she would show mercy, or kill them on a whim. For one hundred and fifty years she held the throne until she was assassinated by the order of the council that has since controlled Rilema for the last forty years.
The rulers of Rilema have run the gamut between strict and benevolent, and brutal and bloodthirsty, but the one constant to remain in power is competence and strength in this forsaken kingdom. At the heart of it all, Rilemans, leaders or followers, have only sought to survive in the harsh environment their forefathers and mothers were thrown to.
Government
Since the assassination of the Blood Queen, a council of men and women who formerly served the queen, and the successors of the original councilmen, have controlled the country for the last forty odd years. There are seven council members in total, and on the surface, their rulings appear to be democratic, but behind the scenes each council member will backstab and bribe and bargain to make sure they come out on top.
The original councilmen, Morenan Hisay, Rauch Cerrod, Ostor Rodon, Sull Faskel, Aren Radpol, Rakther Verech, and Quedan Rilcer, first served the Queen Neih Moras. While they had all been appointed by the Blood Queen as her advisers, they soon found themselves disenchanted by the vindictive woman and joined together to overthrow her. They hired an assassin to kill her, then stepped in to take her place as leaders of Rilema. In the decades following, the camaraderie of the councilmen faltered. Aren Radpol and Ostor Rodon died under mysterious circumstances, then were replaced by Kelrak Stekelis and Belom Ormskel, men chosen by the rest of the council. Rauch Cerrod died of natural causes, and was replaced by his wife, Isril Cerrod. Morenan Hisay eventually succumbed to age, and named his student, Dan Rynar as his successor. Successors are voted in by the rest of the council, regardless of relations to the predecessor. Isril and Dan were both chosen based on competence and opinion of the rest of the council, as will future replacements. The council now stands as Sull Faskel, Rakther Verech, Quedan Rilcer, Kelrak Stekelis, Belom Ormskel, Isril Cerrod, and Dan Rynar.
Military
Rilema’s military is loosely affiliated, and mostly broken up into militias serving local governments in Dradel, Ishild, and the scattered farm villages. Vigilante justice is common, and most people tend to look out for their own needs instead of relying on guards. Warlords often rise and fall on the borders, and take over farmland, forcing farmers to feed their militias, which often causes conflict with Dradel, as they rely on these farmers to feed the city.
In Dradel, there is an organized military, and depending on threats of the moment, young men between the ages of seventeen to twenty-seven can be conscripted. At any time, young men of those ages can choose to join the military. Men who crave battle are quick to join, as are those who want the stability of a reliable income for their families and can over look the potentially corrupt leaders they serve. Women are not allowed to serve in Dradel’s military, though other militias may readily recruit women.
Dradel also has a loosely affiliated knighthood that has managed to stand through various changes of leadership, though the knights themselves come and go with those in powers. In the past, it has not been uncommon for a warlord to kill every knight of the former regime and replace them with his own subordinates. When knights can maintain their position, they often attempt to follow Thiskelian and Kalesten traditions by training their children to become knights as well. Women are allowed into the ranks of knighthood. Knights serve as the right hand of their ruler and can command the Dradel military.
Resources
Rilema’s offerings seem meager, but the people have managed to survive quite well. The coasts offer fishing resources, making seafood a mainstay of Rileman diets, especially in Ishild and the coastal fishing villages, and Dradel, to where it is shipped daily. Inland, Rilema’s farms breed typical livestock, though goats have more prevalence than cattle due to their size and heartiness. In lean times, it is not uncommon for even horses and dogs to end up on the supper table, however. Hunting is a treacherous job in the forests of the Ny’skel mountains, but many hunters manage to make a living on wild game once they know what to avoid.
The food grown in Rilema is rarely the familiar fare of the sun-touched lands. Most fruits, grains, and vegetables from Thiskel failed to flourish under the overcast skies of the Forsaken Land, so farmers adapted to native plantlife, discovering grains in the native grasses, and fruits, nuts, and vegetables that were non-poisonous through trial and error, things which are now grown en masse to feed the nation.
Another resource of Rilema is actually one of the things that made it so dangerous; poisons. Many apothecaries quickly took to learning of the dangerous plants, insects, and other creatures that inhabited their homeland and learned to make a variety of poisons and antidotes which are sought world wide on black markets. While many of these poisons are found all across the Forsaken Land, it is mainly the apothecaries of Rilema who have turned them into international trade.
Religion
Like all nations of the Forsaken Land, Rilema follows the Religion of Darkness. Soon after they established their first settlements, it seemed that the gods that ruled the land took notice, and sent emissaries from the Danaij nations to convert the Rilemans. Some of the original settlers resisted, and were slain, but others accepted the religion, either welcomingly, or under fear of death. Thus, the Danaij emissaries helped to establish a temple in Ishild (the original settlement), and later in Dradel. Some villages have small shrines to the dark gods. The worship of the dark gods is still a requirement, and most people worship, or at least attend services, out of fear of the wrath of priests or gods themselves.
The temples of Rilema are mostly populated by Rilemans, but the Danaij see to seeding the temples with their own officers, and often a Danaij priest heads the temples. Vampires, Asath, Danaij’vai, and mixed-blood priests also serve in the Dradel and Ishild temples.
Population & People
The population of Rilema is predominantly human, with mixed backgrounds, but mostly Thiskelian in origin. Over the generations, the palest complexions have won out. Black and brown hair colors are the most common, with a variety of eye colors. Danaij make up the second largest group in the population; consisting of priests who serve the dark temple, exiles from the Danaij nation, and individuals who for one reason or another just want to live in Rilema. The third largest group is mixed-blood individuals who are a mix of human and Danaij to varying degrees. Often, half-Danaij individuals are outcasts in their Danaij parents’ nation, and flee to Rilema where they have a better reception. These half-Danaij often end up marrying humans or other half-Danaij, thus continuing the mixed-blood lines further.
Other populations in Rilema include Asath from the Black Sand Desert, Danaij’vai who have left the Danaij lands for similar reasons as the Danaij, and vampires, which are often originally human or Danaij. Vampires are reluctantly accepted in Rilema (and most Forsaken Land nations) as they serve the Dark Gods. In Rilema, vampires are controlled by unspoken laws of conduct. They are allowed only so many kills; often the homeless and transient, elderly and infirm, criminals, and other individuals who are undesirable or considered useless to society. These deaths are often overlooked by the militias (especially in the cities), but once vampires start hunting outside these groups and the bodies start piling up, “open season” is declared on vampires. Vampires have also found themselves in positions of power in Rilema, often as knights or advisers to warlords and kings, and in these cases, rulers find having a vampire around handy for executions and keeping order.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Radythril [Danaij'vai]
Radythril
Pronunciation: rah-DIH-thril
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: rah-DIH-thril
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Nalxad [Danaij]
Nalxad
Pronunciation: NAHL-zahd
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: NAHL-zahd
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Mordan [Human/Vampire]
Mordan
Pronunciation: MOHR-dahn
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
Ruled by a vampire lord and lower vampire nobles.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: MOHR-dahn
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
Ruled by a vampire lord and lower vampire nobles.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Mairax [Danaij]
Mairax
Pronunciation: mai-RAY
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: mai-RAY
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Leras [Human]
Leras
Pronunciation: leh-RAHS
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: leh-RAHS
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Kiran [Danaij]
Kiran
Pronunciation: KEER-ahnKirian, Kirans
Cities
- Inedra (Capital)
The largest Danaij nation, Kiran is situated on the south of the continent, stretching along the southeastern seaboard. The bulk of Kiran is in the south, nestled south of the Kixes mountains. Two rivers flow from the Kixes through Kiran. To the west, the river Aldeti provides a natural border for the Danaij’vai nations of Enakril and Radythril which lay against the Ormiss mountains to the west. The second river is the Neasit which flows to the east from the end of the Kixes mountains.
Most of the Kiran lands are forested with dark needled conifers, especially off the mountain slopes. The rest of the land is prairie or steppe, some converted to farmland. Kiran shares no borders with other Danaij nations, but the northern reaches that stretch beyond the Kixes are close to Mairax. The nation of Mordan is carved out of Kiran on the upper east coast, and the borders finally end at the southern slopes of the small Ny’skel range.
The capital city of Inedra sits at the base of the Kixes mountains to the northeast, alongside the Neasit. A few small cities and towns are sprinkled across the landscape, but there are no major ports, only fishing villages along the coast as most trade is by land, and there are no naval threats.
Government
The Danaij nation of Kiran has been ruled by the Kiran family for innumerable generations, ever since the people of the Forsaken Land were able to recover from the cataclysmic War of the Gods that devastated their continent. Even with the thousand year lifespans of the Vana’Maraet Danaij, the Kiran family history reaches into the realm of legend.
The family line is supported by stringent marriage protocols to maintain the purity of Vana'Maraet blood. The sitting ruler or heirs are only allowed to marry pure-blood Vana’Maraet, either of the Kiran courts, or of Mairax or Nalxad royal and noble families—depending on relations at the time. Marriage to lower caste Danaij, Danaij’vai, or humans is forbidden, and if an heir decides to follow love before duty, they will be disowned and none of their heirs with a low-born partner will ever be allowed to claim the throne. Incest occurs from time to time, but no closer than second cousins are allowed to wed. The noble families are infused with blood from the royal family, but family heritages are carefully documented to make sure that potential spouses are not too closely related, as the Danaij have discovered that too much inbreeding can cause too many health issues and shorter lifespans. Children born outside of wedlock to someone in line for the throne, or the sitting sovereign, may be considered legitimate heirs only if their parent is Vana’Maraet, or a well-bred Vana’Malir.
Gender has no role in leadership. Men and women have equal rights, all that matters in choosing a sovereign is purity of blood and strength. Generally, the first born child to a king or queen is considered the heir apparent, but it is typical for siblings to murder their way to first in line. In the absence of children born to the current king or queen to succeed them, there is a line of aunts, uncles, and cousins who are considered next in line. Even they are known to kill their nieces and nephews to advance their own goals. Overall, the throne is succeeded by the strongest relative in the right position to claim it. The spouse of a king or queen has no claim to the throne, but can act as regent after the death of their spouse until an heir is decided, or until their child comes of age.
Beneath the sovereign is a tier of nobility, much like human kingdoms. There are three noble castes known as the Vana; the Vana'Maraet, which are the royal family and highest ranked nobles; the Vana’Malir, which are mid to high ranked nobility; and the Vana’Melal which are the low to mid ranked nobility. Regions of Kiran are broken up into districts led by tiers of Vana’Melal and Vana’Malir beneath the guidance of the sovereign.
The current ruler of Kiran is Nezihiki Kiran, daughter of the previous king, Osian Kiran. Though not first born, she earned her place without spilling a drop of her siblings’ blood. A prodigy of a dark elementalist, she intimidated her elder brother Terza Kiran, to step aside and allow her to succeed their father after his death. She was arranged in marriage to a Nalxad prince, Taref, who sired her only one child; their daughter Sevrina. However, the princess Sevrina is currently in exile after a failed attempt to take the throne from Nezihiki.
Military
Kiran’s military is controlled by the Shan, and in peacetime, maintained only by the Shan. The warrior caste is equal to the knighthoods of human nations, and is based both in bloodline and worth. The Shan typically marry amongst themselves and their children will fill the ranks of the house, and they also take in Rothet and Vauth of marked martial and elementalist talent and bring them into the house. When there is the threat of war, the Shan will typically draft healthy young men of the Rothet and Vauth, and accept male and female volunteers to fill the ranks. In this scenario, Shan are typically in the roles of generals and commanders while the recruits are foot soldiers. In the aftermath of a war, the surviving soldiers may be taken into Shan houses, or retire on a government pension.
Resources
Kiran has significant resources; located near mountain ranges, they have plenty of resources to mine, vast tracts of farmland, and coastline to fish in. Shadow ore is also mined in Kiran, as it is in other Danaij nations.
Religion
Like all Forsaken Land nations, Kiran follows the Religion of Darkness. Ispa holds the highest position in their pantheon, and her children are well respected. Temples are run by the Shuri caste, and are typically only populated by Danaij and Danaij’vai.
Population & People
Kiran is predominantly populated with Danaij, of course, with a rather substantial population of Danaij’vai compared to other Danaij nations. Humans and other races make up an insignificant percent of the population, and most are slaves that have found their way bought into the nation. Vampires are not well tolerated in Kiran, and often forced to keep to Mordan, which the Kiran generously granted to them. Typical of Danaij nations, the country is ranked by castes.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Revised
Reason: Revised
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World of Aserra
Forsaken Land - Enakril [Danaij'vai]
Enakril
Pronunciation: eh-NAHK-ril
Cities
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
Pronunciation: eh-NAHK-ril
Cities
- listed
Location
Overview of location of the nation and general habitat.
Government
A look at the leaders of the nation, the traditions of royal families, ranking of nobility.
Military
Overview of military forces, conscription laws.
Resources
What sort of resources the nation has to offer in trade or to support themselves.
Religion
The prevalence of religions, which gods dominate the nation.
Population & People
Cultural traditions, the phenotypes of natives, what other races live nearby.
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World of Aserra
Desert of Black Sand
To be edited