Subject: Re: Torell pre-alpha
From: Beregar (beregar@majik.netti.fi)
Date: Sat Aug 28 1999 - 11:06:41 EEST
hook wrote: > I actually did not write this, Beregar did. Im putting it up so i can > print it on a different computer. beregar asked me to work on it and i > find it easier to work with hard copy when editing. Anyway feel free to > read the text and contact me with any suggestions comments and > criticisms. > > Joshua > hook@u.washington There was some Finnish words which are replaced with their English counterparts in this file (hopefully). btw That is actually a race desc NOT region desc. I attach short region desc here. I also repeat reasons why I would like to see certain things in race and regions descs. Short desc of region in race desc <- Title link to main region desc separated Flora & Fauna, resource and landmark part in main region desc because we can compile larger files from those, there is no point making them before regions are finished. This is why I constantly whine those race and region descs. - Beregar (Beregar@majik.netti.fi) 1. Introduction 2. Appearance 2.1 Clothing, Weapons & Armors 3. Culture 3.1 Cities 3.2 Sea life 3.3 Food & Trade 4. Religion 5. Language 6. <homeland> 7. Roleplaying 1 Introduction This small human tribe is simply known as Torell's fisher people. These people origin from same ancestors as Thalamonians but when most high-elves long ago left their city in Sol'Da ran and travelled through human lands, currently known as kingdom of Thalamon, in their search for a new home, some humans told them about beautiful isles raising from they gray ocean. When these same humans found that the elves lacked skill to build their own ships, they offered to build ships and transport them to the isles. When the elves no-longer nee ded their services these people decided to move to nearby Torell isle instead of returning back to continent, after that they have became known as Torell's fisher people or shortly Torellians. Torellians still have close connections to elves of Beheran. It's said that when elves and humans made their pact, one part of the pact was that humans would get mates from some les ser elven tribe and this has left some elven characteristics in their appearance. Sea life has made Torellians more stronger and sturdier than average human citizens but still they aren't exceptionally strong. They have weather-beaten tanned skin and usually blond, white or gray hair. Elven blood can be mostly seen in their bright green, blue or gray eyes and in their graceful movement. Average height of male is 176 cm and of female 165 cm. It's very hard nowadays say who is Torellian and who is not for many of them have born far away from their home isle on the shadowy corner of ships or in upper stairs of some marine tavern. However all Torellians are proud of their heritage and most of them return to isle where they originate from. Those who live in the Isle of Torell are commonly called Fisher people because fishing is a common livelihood for them. Most Torellians however prefer to transport cargo and passangers, mostly between Eastern Isles and Minartan but their ships can be found from anywhere providing one can sail to there. Their ships are small, durable and quick and can survive both in deep sea and in larger inland rivers. Torellians claim that they are the best sea farers in the world and truth is that they, and their ships, of ten seem to have almost magical ability to survive from storms and in areas where others would perish. Torellians don't need large cities because their are most time on sea - They live in small wooden cities and villages in the coast of Torell. They are hotheaded and easily angering people but generally as a tribe are peaceful people who see war either as threat for their business or excellent opportunity for it. Though should need arise and they can provide ex cellent navy - their small fast ships are easy to transform warships. Torellians aren't in terrested in magic but they are fanatic wroshippers of sea gods and often in their favour. 2 Appearance Although Torellians are not exceptionally sturdy or strong, sea life has made them general ly stronger and more muscular than normal citizens. They have weather-beaten, dark tanned skin. Their weather-beaten skin together with their blond, white or gray hair often makes them look older than they actually are but bright blue, gray or green eyes which are deep in the face seem to be ever young and a bit arrogant. Elven blood has made their outlines more delicate and their appearance and movement more graceful than most humans. Torellian sea farers don't spend much time on land however which makes their movement a but clumber some. Torellians are seldom fat or unhealthy because of healthy sealife though men can be quite sturdy and often wear beards. Women are more slender but stronger than most human wo men usually keep their hair short. Average height of male is 176 cm and weight 80 kg. Ave rage height of female is 165 cm and weight 60kg. 2.1 Clothing, Weapons & Armors Torellians prefer practical and light clothes over heavier ones. However, because weather is quite cold in torell and nearby seas these clothes must be also warm. Common material for clothes is wool which is dyed with bright colors. Most common clothes are trou sers, soft boots, sweater and cap which protects from the sun. In warmer climate clothing is usually made of cotton and is loose. Also boots are not necessary in warmer climate and most of them prefer moving barefoot. Torellians like very much gold and silver items and both male and female wear bangles, rings and earrings made from those materials. Torellians prefer trade over war, at least if war has anything to do with them, and do not have permanent navy. However, their ships are often filled with weapons & armors which are simply cargo. They themselves prefer small short bladed weapons such as shortswords or dag gers which are light weighting, easy to carry and quick to use. They rarely use armors be cause they are traders but some of them offer mercenary services as cargo guards and those usually prefer leather armors, as well as bows and more heavy blade weapons. 3 Culture Society of Torellians is quite desultory - on the other hand there are those who inhabi tat the Torell isle and then there are those sea farers which may never have seen the isle where they originate from. Common fact is that almost all Torellians are either sea farers and traders or fishermen. Even those Torellians who have permanent resident in the Torell spend most of their time on sea fishing or handling local sea trade between continent and the eastern isles. All those who have Torellian blood are considered Torellians and becau se of this many sea farers and traders claim that they are Torellians even if they are not but this doesn't cheat Torellians themselves for they always seem to know whether someone has Torellian blood or not. Because of sealife even "fisher people" do not need large fortified cities and that is why their cities are usually made from wood. These cities tend to be practical and simple but well built, practical because most Torellians don't want spend much money to something whe re they don't spend much time and well built because there are many skilled carpenters who work in the shipyard and also make houses. Sea farers don't have any own laws, they follow common trade rules and rules current area. Torellian fihermen don't have laws either, only rules which are quite loose. Torellians aren't very hostile people as a tribe but as a persons they are somewhat irrita ting and they both anger easily and calm quickly. Torellian traders are seen as a bit gree dy, or one could say that they know their value, but also honorable - if they agree to de liver cargo somewhere they will do so even if it will cost them their ship or life and the refor they are very careful with deals they make. Torellians are both very proud and very sensitive about their reputation and should one of them raid other ship and he or she will get all other Torellians in the area after him/her. Torellians aren't very interrested in magic, scholarship or literature though most of them can read and write - you can't make good contracts if you can't read them. Although not in terrested in magic, they are fanatic worshippers of sea gods making large and valuable sac rifices in their temples which is main reason why sea gods tend to favour them. While they often seem to be carefree and even stupid they are actually fairly clever and many of them have very good business sense which generally makes them good traders. 3.1 Cities Torellians have only few permanent cities in the isle of Torell for most of them prefer li fe as traders and sea farers. Nearly all Torellians who decide to live more stable life as fishermen, tavernkeepers and ship carpenters live in the Torell isle, even those born far from the isle who have never seen the Torell or those who have chosen to retire from trade life eventually return to Torell following some unconscious need. There are only two larger cities in the Torell and most Torellians who have permanent resi dent live in those two cities. Cities are mostly built from wood because there is very lit tle stone in the isle or people who know how to make stone buildings. Even people who live in the cities spend much time in the sea and generally spent much time on land only in win ter when heavy winter storms make fshing difficult and dangerous. Cities are not only inha bitated by humans but there are also fair amount of half-elves who have permanent house in the cities and have mostly same rights as other citizens. Because Torellians don't have any formal laws, they do not have any formal justice either. Each city is lead by city council which concists of all inhabitants of that city and which decides all punishments and accepts presentations. In theory, city council sits once in a month, however to have "juridical" power council meeting must have at least 30% of all ci tizens present and because meetings are free most people prefer not to go there. It is ve ry common that some rich traders pay people to arrive in meeting and also buy their votes to make sure that their presentation is accepted. If presentation gets majority votes be hind it, it's accepted and even those who are not present must follow it. Needless to say these presentations seldom deal with taxes. Furthermore city council is more like a joke and in truth cities are ruled by rich people and Temples of Sea Gods behind them. Temples, mostly through rich people, run cities, they respond from maintenance, public sa nitation and such things. Torellian cities do not have schools, temples handle basic teac hings such as writing and reading as well as convert pupils to worshippers of sea gods. Temples are also only places which have open libraries (mostly religious scriptures) but there are many rich traders who have large personal libraries filled with exotic books which they seldom read. Most skills such as trade, shiphandling and fishing are learned on sea but there are also some professional folk in the isle who often take apprentices. Both cities have large ship yards which built excellent ships for both Torellians and outsiders and cities have merce nary guard service which offers cargo guards. There are also many taverns which are filled with guides, navigators and other seamen. Cities have also many shops which offer wide ran ge of goods and excotic foods and last but not least there are temples and priests of sea gods. Together all these form city culture of Torellians. 3.2 Sea life Though all Torellians originate from the Isle of Torell, many of them have born in sea or upstairs of some marine tavern far away from their homeland. Cities are resting spots for most Torellians, safe havens from the storms that sea gods raise. They are also supply de pots from where they can buy food and hire new crew for their ships. Many Torellians have born on sea, lived on sea and died on sea. Children learn art of trade and seafaring toget her with reading and writing from parents, seamen and passengers. Torellian sea farers are honorable people who respect trade pacts and sea laws. Of all Sea farers Torellians practice less raiding of other ships and other piratism. This does not mean that they don't, from time to time, slip unchecked cargo to some unnamed haven. These people tend to be even more fanatical worshippers of sea gods than those who have more per manent settlements in the isle. It is common fact that most Torellian ships have captain who has Torellian ancestors. They are very... As mentioned earlier, Torellians are not warriors but this doesn't mean that they are inca baple with weapons. Even if they don't have military training they use their weapons quite well and what they lack in melee combat, they win in ship battle. Their small ships are ve ry fast, surprisingly durable and easy to arm with small catapults or ballista. In sea bat le they often easily evade both shots from larger ships and the ships itself and at closer range fill those ships with burning quarrels from their ballista. 3.3 Food & Trade Torellians are excellent sea traders and their... TORELL Torell is smaller forest island located south-east from Lanuin. Unlike Lanuin, Torell is mostly covered with deciduous forest and only northern parts have same grassy plains as in Lanuin. Weat her in Torell is cold and windy all around the year but has slightly less winter storms than La nuin also winds are not so hazardous. the Isle is surrounded with similar rocky islet as Lanuin is making it very difficult to approach shores of Torell from any direction, only human tribe which inhabits the isle knows how to tack in shallow waters surrounding the isle.
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