Subject: Race+region info
From: Ville V Sinkko (vsinkko@cc.helsinki.fi)
Date: Sat Aug 28 1999 - 17:17:16 EEST
This is a first draft, quite unfinished, of my race+region desc for Nin-Calaris. I haven't studied Hook's latest version of the Althainon desc yet, so if this somehow conflicts with it, this is what will be changed, not it. I'm kinda multi-tasking IRL right now, so the progress is irregular and happens in irregular places. The Chreith ----------- The Chreith are a humanoid race which populates the southeastern land of Nin-Calaris. A fairly old race, it roughly subdivides in three. In the southeastern Danheir peninsula, their oldest place of residence, the race is purest, most full-blooded and distinct - the True-Chreith. In the north, the most 'outward' region of the land, the folk has intermingled with other peoples of the continent. Lastly, in the mid-west and southwest the so-called 'Non Chreith', who are few. The average True-Chrei (chrei being the singular form) male is smaller than a RL human male but relatively stockier, averaging 160 to 168 centimeters and 65-80kg. The skin is a strong brown-tinted olive green, the complexion bearing faint vertical stripes of gray that strengthen with age, and the hair light gray with a slight pink to beige undertone. The eyes are grayish-green. The northern Chreith are more variable in stature, often taller than the above; the complexion is most often sandy brown, and in the overall appearance the distinctive true-chreith properties are fainter and diluted. Of the genealogical history of the southwestern Non Chreith little is known. Historical annals relate that the present-day inhabitants of Althainon settled there four hundred years ago; from this fact historians have speculated that the strangely mixed blood of the Non Chreith could possibly have its source in mingling with another race that inhabited Althainon before them. No traces of such hypotethical culture have however been discovered, at least by Nin-Calaris researchers. The Non Chreith are the only ones of the race to exhibit distinct magical tendencies (see section on magic below); their hair is red and their complexion akin to that of the true-chreith but paler. But whatever a Chrei looks like, don't jump to conclusions. You can never know what goes on inside his head by just looking: the Chreith are not one step behind the Orcs in the strength of their spite and the darkness of their souls. While the old maxim "Give an Orc a brain and he'll thank you in Chrein" is admittedly rather insightful, the only material connection between the two races is their inner malice, and aside from it they could not be much farther apart. The Chreith are a fairly civilized and organized people. They value surreptitious and discreet courses of action to achieve their goals. They are haughty and contemptuous towards other races, hot-headed and vindictive, but their outward guise of gelid, infinite patience never fails. Notes on culture and politics ----------------------------- Nin-Calaris is nominally ruled by a king who holds but symbolic reins over the land. The true power is in the hands of the government which consists of representatives of the lords of the six provinces of Nin-Calaris and an office of ministries which is separate and independent of the counties. The Chreith are rather fond of politics and organization. Of the population of Nin-Calaris the bulk (78%) is northern-chrein - the 'common folk' (at least from True-chrein point of view). The remaining 22% are True-Chreith, who hold most of the influential administrative positions. They are in majority only in the native Danheir and the much-disputed Brearon province. Of Non Chreith there are but two or three hundred; during the history of the nation they have been both respected and discriminated, even witch-hunted, but most often just quietly shunned, depending on where the current cultural wind has been blowing from. Nowadays they are held in great esteem, especially the ruling class to whom having a nonchrein acquaintance is something of a status symbol. (see section on Magic) After the feudal chain of hierarchy that separates the common folk from the lords, the only division of people into social classes is based on ancestry and blood: the pure True-Chreith are always above the common, despite their lesser number. These two hierarchies overlap most of the time, for 'lord' equals 'True-Chrei' except for the north and northwest where the common Chreith have more power. Social division via occupation is so vague as to not exist in the chrein society with the exception of the soldier profession which is valued high. Religion and cosmology ---------------------- Design unfinished here. - Strongly dualistic - Two paths: path of spirit and path of earth; Life is where they cross. Hence the symbolic monogram: \.-./ '\ /' | X | `/ \' /'-'\ - According to the belief reincarnation occurs when (if) a spirit conjuncts with a new Earth-path - Two Gods, non-anthropomorphic, one is seen to guide the Spirit paths, one those of Earth - Deeply philosophical in nature - no crusade mentality or fanaticism Of Magic -------- Magic holds a major and strange role in chrein culture. The many legends and stories of folklore relate great deeds done and great wars won by the Chreith sorcerer warlords. Klamirka, the daemon-souled sword of the fourth warlord of Danheir, is still wielded by the kings of the Crescent Palace, but only to remind all of olden days of glory. For times have changed, and magic is waning from the souls of the Chreith. If a True-Chrei child is now caught of lighting his sister's hair on fire with a blink of his eye, it is a wonder indeed and his parents can well be proud, for people skilled in magic are growing fewer and weaker day by day. The northern-Chreith have lost the light of magic centuries ago; Only faintly it flickers in the True-Chreith, casting images of madness and obsession in the minds of great lords who, staring at frescoes hung on the walls of their palaces that depict the deeds of the ancient sorcerer warlords, spend great fortunes on treatments by frauds and quack doctors who cash in by claiming to be able to reconjure magical power inside their souls. The Non Chreith are above all this, and are thus at an advantage whatever they do. They rarely stir at events domestic or foreign; though they could probably well take over the entire nation if they so chose, they remain at a distance from the affairs of others. Their behavior has inspired many a conspiracy theorist to suspect, amongst other things, that they have infiltrated the entire government and are the real leaders of the nation. Section 2. Geography and Wildlife --------------------------------- Nin-Calaris borders on two lands. In the west lies Althainon: The border runs along the Miren, or Ashenwater, which flows southwards from the biggest of the Azure Lakes towards the southern sea. The river branches twice in two: the latter branch, near the south coast, creates an estuarial island. The ownership of the island is a continuing source of debate and dispute between the two nations. Nin-Calaris authorities say it is THEIR province; so do Althainonians. The northern border of Nin-Calaris is loosely marked by the vale of the river Adwoir. It is constantly pestered by outlaw bands: they are on prey for trade caravans for whom this is the fastest land route from the northern coast to Nin-Calaris and eastern Althainon. A mountain range, divided in three by Miren and a northern river atm anonymous, lines the northwestern part of the land. A source of iron and quite likely other as of now undetermined minerals, it is dotted by mines. The quarried ores are delivered to the harbours at the Lakes, whence they are transported on riverboats either to be sold in Jarpin (on the Althainonian side of the water), or on to Nin'Calaris to be refined and processed by chrein metalworkers. Major cities and centres of inhabitation ----------------------------------------- The cities marked into Nin-Calaris on the majik4 maps are void, save for Brearon and the unnamed yellow splotch at the river Adwoir, which marks the only ford across the river. The capital city is located at the shore of the gulf of Danheir, southeast of the red dot that says 'Tridus'. Other than them, this section is still sitting pants down on the toilet. Wait for the 'plop'. Trade and related items ----------------------- Agriculture is mainly concentrated in the heartlands of Nin-Calaris, on the west and south sides of the Mistmoors. A major portion of the agricultural products consumed is however imported from neighboring lands. Animal meat is not a part of the chrein diet mostly due to the fact that the meat of the major native animals of Nin-Calaris is not very well fit for eating. Fishing is common, thanks to the multitude of marine life both in the Tranian Sea and in the southeastern Azures. Fauna ------ Unfinished. Done so far: *northwestern swamps surrounding the Azure Lakes pestered by tiny insects which can eat a 100 kg human to the bone in an hour *the Wangnaw or 'ghost mole', a large nocturnal lizard of the Mistmoors, lives in burrowed tunnel networks Roleplaying rant ---------------- (using the format of Beregar's Brahjian text) Combat. While proficient in swordsmanship, Chreith generally avoid direct conflict and bloodshed unless they specifically intend to kill. And when they intend to engange in combat, the strategy is pre-planned and they are seldom alone against the enemy. The chrein weapon of choice is a short broad sword of domestic origin. Armours are generally light, for Chreith are not the strongest of people and especially True-Chreith doth lack endurance for fighting in full metal armour. A common suit of armour includes a leather breastplate or hauberk and greaves, and a singular, tough leather helm called "ruffian's crown" which offers excellent protection from sword hits but is useless against eg. polearms and bludgeons. Shields are seldom used; sometimes small and very broad-bladed parrying daggers are used. As said somewhere above, the profession of the soldier is honored high. There is no one 'royal army' which would take care of defense and war; each province wages its own military forces, and in addition private mercenary armies are upkept by several lords. The honor of the soldier is in the extreme strenuousness of the work: only the strongest of men can meet the requirements of constant, unrelenting physical training and stress. The weaponry varies with the army; most common are light halberds and longswords. With the former, a short sword backup is common. The soldier's armour consists of banded field mail, covering the torso, neck and the front of the legs. The color of the crest of the helmet is unique for each provincial army; non-provincials are forbidden to wear crests. Religion. As stated above, religion is philosophical in nature and holds no great significance in the society. Magic. Very few Chreith can boast magical senses; even fewer learn to control and manipulate them, for those skills are forgotten to all but Non Chreith. A Chrei who discovers such senses in himself is eager to seek and find a nonchrein sage under whose guidance he may be able to learn to utilize his abilities. Not many have found such a master, and those who have do not tell what they have learned. -- The chance to wind up in one of the three whachamacallits in character creation: common Chrei - 80% True-Chrei - 20% Non Chrei - <1% The chance for the character to be magically-inclined: common Chrei - <1% True-Chrei - 7% Non Chrei - 100% -- 65 Zn 30
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