Althainions
1. Introduction
Althainions are foolhardy, reckless, talented and hardworking. They are
constantly on the move either running to plant crops on the fertile plains
of central Althainon in the Sedise (spring and summer) or running from
the harsh weather and onslaught of Orc hoards that come during Antrok (fall
and winter). They are similar in ancestry to the Areons of the north. They
have dark straight hair, although red hair does show up especially among
those living in the Forest of Abhorrence and across the river from Brearon,
and black, brown or hazel eyes. Their skin is very dark, almost black in
color and their features sharp with high cheeks, sharp noses, and defined
jaw and chin.
Althainions are ruled by the changing seasons of Althainon. During the
Sedise (Summer and Spring) they grow enormous quantities of crops on the
rich soil of the plains from the banks of the Black Tear River to Castle
Theamar. Then when the wind changes and black ash clouds set in they pack
up and flee to winter on the shores of the Lamarhen lakes and within the
well fortified city of Sadok. At which time they hold extravagant feasts
and engage in a mortal game of cat and mouse with the invading Orcs that
pour into Althainon with the Black storms of Antrok.
2. Appearance
They are similar in ancestry to the Areons of the north. They have dark
straight hair, although red hair does show up especially among those living
in the Forest of Abhorrence and across the river from Brearon, and black,
brown or hazel eyes. Their skin is very dark, almost black in color and
their features sharp with high cheeks, sharp noses, and defined jaw and
chin.
Althainions generally appear unkempt with grubby faces, tangled hair
and dusty wreaked cloths. In the Antrok season (winter and fall) they do
clean them selves up a bit, bathing mostly and lame attempts at keeping
there cloths and hair tidy. Their tastes in clothing are utilitarian in
look and fashion. Both men and women wear thick pants heavy shoes and plain
long sleeve shirts or ponchos. At festivals, though, women have been known
to wear dresses but these are usually reserved for the young and unwed.
Their physique is gangly and awkward having lean well muscled arms and
large strong calloused hands from plowing and harvesting. They are also
always with bow and arrows. Items that never leave their sight.
3. History
The Althainon people arrived to there now home land some 400 years ago.
They are closely related to the people of Areon and in fact slowly migrated
from that land as they adapted to Althainon's harsh conditions. Most of
how they live has remained unchanged since they migrated here except for
some refinements to the harsh environment they call home.
War have played an important part in shaping Althainion history. They
have been at constant war with the Orcs of Tragothar; the most recent large
scale war occurred about 100 years ago when a great leader unified the
Orc tribes and set off to conquer all of western Eldiron. Through an uneasy
alliance with Nin'calaris, Thasia and the peoples of Areon they where able
to push back the Orcs. Many cultural precedents where set from this war.
The most striking were the incorporation of women upon the battle field,
the habitation of the Abhorrence Forest by Althainions, heavier fortification
of Sadok and the Floating Islands, and continued year long occupation of
Castle Theamar along with a more binding political military agreements
with the Areon people. In the past there has also been conflicts with the
people of Nin'calaris. Mostly border disputes and skirmishes with Nin'calaris
militia who travel into Althainon in pursuit of Orcs who yearly raid portions
of Nin'calaris.
4. Culture
Althainion culture is shaped by the land they live upon. They are wild
like the seasons that wreck the land and rebirth it again each year. They
live to the fullest be it in work or play and have a tentative respect
for nature and weather that is similar to how a seaman views the Ocean.
Common life of Althainions is a wild binge and purge of activities between
hard work and leisure. In the Sedise season (spring and summer) they rush
madly to the Althainon central plains to sow their crops. At this time
they work hard often 18 to 20 hours a day. Then in late Sadise they harvest
what is left pack up and leave often with enough food to last three years.
They haul it on rafts, put it on mules and stack full the granaries atop
the Floating Islands. Most spend the Antrok months in the walled city of
Sadok but others winter on the coast, in the Lamarhen islands, in the Forest
of Abhorrence and atop the Floating Islands. Then the feasts and festivals
begin. Althainions are renowned for finding reasons to celebrate. They
have parties, post harvest feasts, pre-planting festivals, weddings, Orc
raiding celebrations both before and after, coming of age parties for young
men and women even for funerals. They drink eat and spend the large sums
of wealth which they accumulate from trading their crops.
Althainions are plagued with war brought by the Orc who invade Althainon
year round. Though this is more prominent during the Antrok season, which
the Althainions avoid by migrating, it remains a constant threat. A threat
that has forged the Althainions into some of the best archers in all of
Majik. It is said that any Althainion child of twelve can shoot the wings
off a butterfly 300 meters away. They teach the lessons of war to their
children at a young age and regard it as an unpleasant necessity for survival.
These wars have fostered a deep hatred of Orcs and few things please an
Althainion more then to watch the death throes of an arrow filled Orc.
4.1. Food and Trade
The abundance of food produced during the Sedise (spring and summer) season
make Althainions some of the most well fed humans in all of Majik. Huge
stores of grain and fruit preserves are kept by them for the Antrok season.
Enough to feed them even in years when Antrok season does not end. With
the great abundance of food they make a good sums of money through trade.
Most trading in Althainon ocures at Baor during the Sedise season. Hundreds
of ships, caravans, craftsmen and merchants converge there to buy Althainion
grown crops and to sell goods to Athainions. The crops are usually sold
for cheap because of the sheer quantity produced but goods sales are fair
the Nin'calaris usually kept honest by the competition of tradesmen and
craftsmen from Adremas and the Lamarhen lake Islands. Little trade occures
in the city of Sadok. There is some exchange of luxury good for festivals
and the purchase of fish livestock and woolen goods but generally not as
as much for another city of its size. The city of Jaspin has fishing and
trade to support itself. The Althainion Woodsmen from the Forest of Abhorrence
produce bows and arrows, the bow strings made from the guts of Orcs, plow
and ax handles and other crafts which they sell at Baor along with fire
wood.
4.2. Philosophy and Temperament
Althainions are simple, strait forward, loyal and honest. They act how
they feel and think. If they are angry they show it, if happy they dance. Deceit
is none existent among them. A common saying among them is "No lying thief
has ever lead a richer or happier life then any honest man I ever heard
of." They have a deep respect for the land they toil upon and share that
respect among their brethren. Community among the Althainions is a necessity
to survival. They are genoruse to one another almost to a fault; riches
and possessions are seen as next to nothing when compared to the friendship
and loyalty they bestow upon each other. It is not uncommon for a family
to give up half their crop earning to neigbors who fall upon hard times.
As stated above Althainions show their emotions. This leads to the view
that they are very hot tempered. It is not uncommon to see Althainions
screaming at the top of their lungs at one another. Although disagreements
are common they never end in blood shed only in red faces and some shoving
and are resolved with an even hand and quickly forgotten. Althainions are
fiercely loyal. An indiscretion against one Althainion is against all Althainions.
Sword play in a tavern against an Althainion often leads to a quick death
to any outsider.
4.3. Military
Formal Orginization of arms does not exist among the Althainions. Instead
more of an organic coordination occures when the time is needed. Every
Althainion knows basic stratigy and war tactics along with exceptional
archery skills all which is taught at an early age. It is said that a bow
is placed in an Althainion child's' hands, both boys and girls, before
they can walk. Althainions are the best human archers in all of Majik if
not the best period. They are accurate at a full run while firing at targets
behind them. In Sedrok archers upon the city ramparts and along the outer
towers have range targeted, with leg fired bows, as far as a kilometer
out and kill Orcs by the dozens each year before the Orcs even see who
is firing upon them.
After four hundred years of warring with the Orcs the Althainions have
adapted a simple yet effective strategy. They unload as much arrows upon
an attacking group of Orcs as they can then run. Althainion war tactics
are based upon defense and soft retreating archers. Orcs have been known
to attack Althainions a hundred strong bering down upon a group a fifth
their size chasing the Althainions over kilometers of plain to only be
picked off one by one before they even get within sword striking distance.
The keystone to Althainion defense and survival are the Floating Islands.
The inaccessibility of the Islands Combined with Althainions exceptional
archery skills make them vertualy impenitrble to the Orcs. They are used
as a safe base upon which the Althainions weather the most fierce Orc attacks.
In fact most agricultural work is done in sync with the moving Islands
so that working Althainions on the plains can flee to them at a moments
notice never more then a few kilometers away. Althainions are rarely offensive
in battle preferring to flee only holding ground at Sadok, Theamar castle,
and within the Floating Islands. They have never attacked into Tragothar
land but do encourage adventures to do so in the hopes that some Orcs will
be killed before the adventurers inevitable demise.
4.4. Law and Order
Althainions lack any written set of laws and regulations. Instead they
rely upon "common sense and the law of the land" as they like to call it.
Luckily little enforcement and litigation is needed. Althainions are to
honest to be thieves or hustlers and most arguments over land and property
are settled between themselves. If an argument is unsettle able a mutual
friend will act as arbitrator who's decision is almost always adhered to.
Capital offenses such as murder and rape are treated quickly and brutally,
death being the only sentance for such crimes. Execution of such punishments
are done by mob, archer firing squad as the preferable method.
Decisions and government are finalized by consensus or elected official.
Leadership positions are filled when the time is needed scouting party
and war band leaders are chosen on the spot with an impromptu election
and unquestioned. Government in the city of Sadok is decided once a year
by a general election but no decision is made by any single man or women
without some input by fellow citizens. Althainions see themselves as freemen,
and free women, and as such view servitude, usury and slavery as abominations
and are simply not allowed.
4.5. Woodsmen and Druids
A small population of people live in the forest of Abhorrence and are refered
to as Woodsmen. They are of Althainion blood and character. The Woodsmen
are the extreme of Althainion belief and temperament being highly individualistic
and shun civilization. They prefer the isolation of nature and the forests.
Woodsmen live off of what the forest provides. They produce wood crafts
and exceptional bows and arrows which they often sell at Baor during Sedise.
Some even try their hand at farming on and off through the years. Family
groups of 3 to 7 individuals live in wood tree house like structures that
are nearly impossible to see being well camouflaged from Orc marauders.
Lone woodsmen living deeper in the forest are not uncommon.
Druids live deep in the forest and number from seventy five to a hundred
they worship Grebifor the god/goddess of nature and practice the art of
healing upon the population of Althainon. Their main residence within the
forest is not known even among the woodsmen. Each year a group of five
or ten travel to Baor where prospective children are assessed and worthy
one are allowed to join the Druids. The ages of those chosen are between
10 and 12 and only 2 to three are taken each year. Druids can be found
fairly easily within the forests for they often travel among the trees
and make their presence known to the woodsmen by frequently stopping at
their homes and staying for small times at common gathering places.
5. Religion
Althainions are generally private among strangers in their worship and
do not hold grand ceremonies or have temples dedicated to their god Grebifor.
Their beliefs and spiritual feels do run deep but they view religion as
a personal affair and are humble in their worship. Prayers are usually
done silently but can be spoken aloud at meal times, with children at their
bed time or before the celebrations that ocure at Antrok. Althainions also
sing spirituals about and to their god while working in their fields. They
worship almost exclusively Grebifor god or goddess of nature. Grebifor
lacks any gender because to the Althainions nature has no gender. The druids
of the Forest of Abhorrence are holders of religious knowledge for the
Althainions and those seeking spiritual and religious guidance will travel
to the forest for such knowledge often spending up to a year there learning
the ways of Grebifor. Althainions also pay homage to Aerfik god of archery
and defensive war though to a much lesser degree. Before a battle or while
making a bow they will sometimes say a silent prayer asking for his favor.
6. Language
Antrok means black and Sedise means green in Althainion. The Althainion
language is nearly identical to the language spoken in Areon except for
a few more derogatory terms used by them to describe Orcs.
7. Althainon
Map
Althainon is a region located on the southern portion of Majik's second
largest continent Eldiron. Life in Althainon is dictated by the extreme
seasonal changes brought on by its vicinity to the volcanos of Tragothar.
In the summer and spring months (The Sedise season) it is a lush green
paradise with grassy plains flower covered hills and lush forests. In the
winter and fall (the Antrok season.) all vegetation dies, or becomes dormant
and the land turns into a desolate waste of ash ruled by marauding Orcs.
Western Althainon borders the smoldering wastes of Tragothar. To the north
it borders Areon and the Lamarhen lakes. Several islands in the lakes are
considered part of Althainon. To the west is the region of Nin'calaris.
The south is bordered by the Sea of flames. In the south of Althainon is
forest land with a small group of short mountains, the east is mostly ash
year around. The central area are plains rolling hills and a nicely sized
river that dumps into the azure lakes. Also in the central plain are the
Floating Islands, 30 or so large gravity defying land masses that levitate
200 meters from the ground, circling the central plains region of Althainon
in a clock like yearly migration. In the north near the coast are forests
and marsh lowlands. The primary inhabitants of Althainon are the Althainion
people who toil in the plains during the pleasant Sedise season (spring
and summer) then flee east during the ash driven storms of Antrok (winter
and fall).
8. Role-playing
- Names
-
In the words of Beregar "I demand names that has preferably have nothing
to do with any real life languages. Structure of name must be suitable
for their language (check words). If I, or preferably players of this race
find some person using unsuitable names there will be punishment of some
sort, like creation of new character. Should same person continue violating
these rules and I'll see personally that he or she won't play Majik anymore."
(Although I probably don't have that kind of power:) )
- Battle
-
In hand to hand Althainions use most types of arms; swords, axes, pikes,
spears, etc. All Althainions use bows and train to be the highest proficiency
in its implementation as possible. On the whole they are defensive warriors
and are excellent in the art of stratigic withdrawal. Often firing their
bows then retreating back past another battery of archers and setting up
to fire again.
- Religion
-
They are deeply religious and are unbending in faith to Grebifor, but are
private in their worship. They are often seen praying but such prayers
are silent. They do not not like to speak of worship and religion with
strangers.
- Magic
-
Magic at this point holds no piece of Althainion life. Though they have
no aversion to it. It is not inconceivable for an Althainion to leave Althainon
in search of magic. The Druids in the Forest of Abhorrence do practice
magic but it is of a religious nature and primarily used for healing and
defense.
- Philosophy
-
Althainions have little trouble saying what they think. They should be
played brash if not a bit rude. They are quick to anger but not quick to
start a fight. They are exceptionally loyal and will fight with their lives
to defend a friend. They are not easily allied with but when they do make
friends it is with the deepest love and loyalty. They also hate Orcs and
will have nothing to do with them. They usually kill them on sight if it
is within their power.
Joshua Corning
Last modified:Thu Oct 7 03:09:44 PDT 1999