This is where I will be tracking the game's lore. This is mostly for my own reference, since I'll be making a lot of things up on the spot, and I need some way of keeping track of what I make up. Anything mentioned here can be assumed to be "common knowledge."
Age of Peace: Before the Kinslayer War, the Free Peoples (humans, dwarves, elves, and halflings) lived more or less in peace. The dwarves lived in the mountains in the center of the continent, the elves built vast realms in the great forests along the edges, the humans roamed, farmed and generally lived in the grasslands between the mountains and the forests, and halflings lived in the hills, or with the humans. Each race had an Immortal who guided them and served as their deity, with a single Immortal, the Overseer who oversaw everything as the "First Among Equals."
Kinslayer War: 327 years ago, the Overseer, having grown prideful, corrupt, demonic and evil, betrayed and murdered Cornucopia, the Immortal Mother of Halflings. He became known as the Kinslayer, and set off the Kinslayer War. His monsters, hideous deformations of the Free Peoples and the animals of the world, swept across the world. By present day, he had conquered all but the Last Refuge, and every Immortal but the Seer, Guardian of Humanity, had been slain. The war ended when the Seer led the Ten greatest warriors of the age in a desperate assault on the Kinslayer's fortress. Only the Seer returned, and he was comatose. But the Kinslayer was dead. With his death, his monstrous army turned on itself, ripping itself apart and ending the Thornwall Siege.
Seer: The Immortal Guardian of Humanity, and the last surviving Immortal.
Cornucopia: The Immortal Mother of Halflings, the first Immortal to be betrayed and murdered by the Overseer.
Anvil: The Immortal Craftsman of the Dwarves, the second Immortal to be betrayed and murdered by the Overseer.
Overseer/Kinslayer: Once known as the Overseer, now known as the Kinslayer. The leader of the Immortals, he grew dark and evil. He started the Kinslayer War when he murdered Cornucopia.
Military Organization: I like the idea of using *select levies* as laid out here: https://acoup.blog/2020/05/22/collectio ... -of-rohan/. Basically, some number of households would pool their resources to field one or more soldiers (men or women, this is an equal opportunity universe!) with reasonably good equipment. Everyone would have some combat training, it's baked into their culture what with having fought a desperate war for survival longer than the US has existed as a country. Probably, when it was time for a region to offer up their levy, they'd hold a small tournament, and send the winner (plus second, third, etc. depending on how many levies they have to field).
Magic: Not all music is magic (not by a long shot!), but all magic is music. When Magic-Users, Clerics, Druids and Mountebanks, Paladins and Rangers cast spells, they're singing short songs of power. When they prepare a spell, they're effectively "charging" their souls with magic, which is released by their song of power. A magical duel between two spellcasters might look something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eWZCYuYR6s
Battlecry of the Refuge of Free Peoples: "Fear no fire! Fear no foe! For friend and family, home and hearth!"
Cornucopia's Tears: White flowers that bloom on the Thornwall in Sprintime, and used by Druids and Halflings to treat life threatening wounds. The flowers wilt quickly after being picked, and no process has yet been discovered to preserve them for use away from the Thornwall.
Taxes: Adventurers are expected to pay a 30% tax on treasure found or reclaimed, due within two days of acquiring the treasure. These taxes are paid *after* XP is allocated for treasure found. So if an adventure finds 10 gold, he gains 100 XP, owes 3 gold to Princess Flora's government, and gets to keep 7 gold.
Vault: The Vault is the basement of Thorncity Castle. It serves as a larval bank for the wealthier residents of Thorncity in exchange for a 10% fee on initial deposit. Thorncity (obviously) has no investment economy, so it doesn't do the kinds of things that modern Banks do. It just stores the coins in the most secure part of Thorncity. When a deposit it is made, the Castle gives you several copies of a script verifying how much money has been deposited (they have a copy in their records as well). There is even the early beginnings of a paper currency: when performing large purchases, the two involved parties will often come to the Vault and sign a script certifying the transfer of funds from one's account to the other, without the money ever leaving the Vault. It is a rather clunky process, and smaller purchases are still done with coins. Typically, this script exchange is only done for purchases of 10 gold or more.
Ritual of Plenty: An ancient, long lost class of magical rituals said to have once been conducted by Elves before the Kinslayer War. These rituals are powerful, and difficult magic believed to have enhanced crop yields, and improved the health of the Earth.
Order of the Thorny Rose: An order of Chevaliers dedicated to the protection of Princess Flora and her family.
Lore: Reader's Digest
Re: Lore: Reader's Digest
Flora's Speech from the LFP thread:
Record of Princess Flora's Speech Declaring the Death of the Kinslayer as detailed by Nathaniel James, Royal Historian, April 15 Age of Reclamation 1
The midmorning sun shone bright and clear on the city of Thorncity, a
fortress city hunkering just behind the Thornwall.
Soldiers of all sizes and races filled the central square in front of a wooden
stage, arranged in neat and orderly lines. Those few civilians brave enough to
live in on the frontlines leaned out windows, or clustered on rooftops.
Princess Flora Bastion climbed upon the stage. She was a human woman in her
forties, but tall and powerful. Her braided brown hair hung over one shoulder,
and her breastplate gleamed in the sun. A hush fell over the city,
so complete the rustle of the Princess' skirts could be heard. Her blue eyes swept
over the assembled soldiers and clustered civilians, bright and fierce in a face criss-crossed
with a spiderweb of fine white scars.
She spoke in a clear, powerful voice. "A year ago today the Last Immortal, the
Seer, the guardian of Humanity, gathered to His side the ten greatest warriors
of the age. He led them deep into the heart of the Kinslayer's Maw."
Princess Flora pointed behind her, to the clump of distant black towers looming
over the city. A great shudder ran through the crowd, as before an icy breeze.
"For four days, and four nights we waited, barely able to breath. On the
very day when the Kinslayer's army ripped itself to shreds, the Seer returned.
Comatose, His body riven with grievous wounds. Of the Ten who
accompanied Him, there was no sign--"
Princess Flora's voice broke, and for a moment she stood silent. It was well
known that her husband was the greatest Magic-User of the age. When she spoke
again, her voice was once more clear and strong. "For a year, the Seer's
Council, our greatest clerics, communed with His mind. We sent our best
and bravest scouts deep into the Maw. Finally, we could only come to one
conclusion, though we dared not hope it to be true."
Silence. A silence so deep, no one dared to breath for free of breaking it.
Princess Flora lifted her arms to the sun. "The Kinslayer is dead!"
A moment of gathered breath. A great cheer erupted from the city. Grimfaced
soldiers hugged each other, sobbing like children. Elves kissed dwarves.
Lupines let up a great howl.
Princess Flora dropped her arms and watched the celebration for a moment. She
held up her hand, and the celebration ceased. "The War is won. Begun hundreds
of years ago, when the Kinslayer slew his sister Cornucopia, the Immortal
Mother of Halflings. Fought all across the world, from the Amber Sea to
the Great Green. Always we gave ground, until here, on this small penninsula,
we made our final hopeless stand. Yet against all hope, thanks to the courage of
the Seer and The Ten, the War is won."
Princess Flora drew her sword and held it above her head. Silver flames raced
across the gleaming edge. The ring of bared steel filled the courtyard. Hearts
skipped a beat, and soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons. All their
lives that sound had meant one thing: fight! The enemies are at the gates! Fight
for your lives! Fight for your children! "The War is won, the Kinslayer's army
fallen upon its own steel and claws. It is time now to reclaim our homes! To take back
the Great Green for the elves, the Rust Mountains for the Dwarves, the Amber Sea for
the Humans, the rolling hills between for the Halflings! Join me now! The Kinslayer War
has ended. The Age of Reclamation has Just! Begun!"
Record of Princess Flora's Speech Declaring the Death of the Kinslayer as detailed by Nathaniel James, Royal Historian, April 15 Age of Reclamation 1
The midmorning sun shone bright and clear on the city of Thorncity, a
fortress city hunkering just behind the Thornwall.
Soldiers of all sizes and races filled the central square in front of a wooden
stage, arranged in neat and orderly lines. Those few civilians brave enough to
live in on the frontlines leaned out windows, or clustered on rooftops.
Princess Flora Bastion climbed upon the stage. She was a human woman in her
forties, but tall and powerful. Her braided brown hair hung over one shoulder,
and her breastplate gleamed in the sun. A hush fell over the city,
so complete the rustle of the Princess' skirts could be heard. Her blue eyes swept
over the assembled soldiers and clustered civilians, bright and fierce in a face criss-crossed
with a spiderweb of fine white scars.
She spoke in a clear, powerful voice. "A year ago today the Last Immortal, the
Seer, the guardian of Humanity, gathered to His side the ten greatest warriors
of the age. He led them deep into the heart of the Kinslayer's Maw."
Princess Flora pointed behind her, to the clump of distant black towers looming
over the city. A great shudder ran through the crowd, as before an icy breeze.
"For four days, and four nights we waited, barely able to breath. On the
very day when the Kinslayer's army ripped itself to shreds, the Seer returned.
Comatose, His body riven with grievous wounds. Of the Ten who
accompanied Him, there was no sign--"
Princess Flora's voice broke, and for a moment she stood silent. It was well
known that her husband was the greatest Magic-User of the age. When she spoke
again, her voice was once more clear and strong. "For a year, the Seer's
Council, our greatest clerics, communed with His mind. We sent our best
and bravest scouts deep into the Maw. Finally, we could only come to one
conclusion, though we dared not hope it to be true."
Silence. A silence so deep, no one dared to breath for free of breaking it.
Princess Flora lifted her arms to the sun. "The Kinslayer is dead!"
A moment of gathered breath. A great cheer erupted from the city. Grimfaced
soldiers hugged each other, sobbing like children. Elves kissed dwarves.
Lupines let up a great howl.
Princess Flora dropped her arms and watched the celebration for a moment. She
held up her hand, and the celebration ceased. "The War is won. Begun hundreds
of years ago, when the Kinslayer slew his sister Cornucopia, the Immortal
Mother of Halflings. Fought all across the world, from the Amber Sea to
the Great Green. Always we gave ground, until here, on this small penninsula,
we made our final hopeless stand. Yet against all hope, thanks to the courage of
the Seer and The Ten, the War is won."
Princess Flora drew her sword and held it above her head. Silver flames raced
across the gleaming edge. The ring of bared steel filled the courtyard. Hearts
skipped a beat, and soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons. All their
lives that sound had meant one thing: fight! The enemies are at the gates! Fight
for your lives! Fight for your children! "The War is won, the Kinslayer's army
fallen upon its own steel and claws. It is time now to reclaim our homes! To take back
the Great Green for the elves, the Rust Mountains for the Dwarves, the Amber Sea for
the Humans, the rolling hills between for the Halflings! Join me now! The Kinslayer War
has ended. The Age of Reclamation has Just! Begun!"
Re: Lore: Reader's Digest
Order of the Clenched Fist: An order of clerics and priests of the Seer, commonly called "inquisitors." They are focused on rooting out and punishing evil, especially heretics who follow the Kinslayer. They are more than a little fanatical about it, and seem to show little concern for any innocents who may be swept up and unfairly accused in their investigations. Princess Flora expressly forbids them from operating within her lands (all the Thornwall, and about two-three days west from there). Nonetheless, they still have spies working in Flora's lands.
Order of the Weeping Eye: An order of clerics and priests of the Seer. Most priests and clerics in Thorncity and the surrounding lands are members of this order. They are primarily focused on healing those who have been victimized by the Kinslayer (and, increasingly, the inquisitors). Their Patriarch is High Priest Derek.
Order of the Weeping Eye: An order of clerics and priests of the Seer. Most priests and clerics in Thorncity and the surrounding lands are members of this order. They are primarily focused on healing those who have been victimized by the Kinslayer (and, increasingly, the inquisitors). Their Patriarch is High Priest Derek.
Re: Lore: Reader's Digest
Demographics, and People's Views of Outside
The Thornwall went up 25 years ago. This means that, realistically, anyone under 30 has no real memories of the outside world. Even for those up to 40, their memories are mostly of fear and monsters, fire and death, hunger and flight. Those older than 40 were old enough to fight, and fight they did. Fight and die by the thousands. Even for the survivors, they mostly remember the unstoppable approach of the Kinslayer's monsters. Of villages burned, entire peoples eradicated, of desperate losing battles. Furthermore, after the Thornwall went up, there was a pretty massive baby boom. People were the safest they'd been in 300+ years, plus they needed more soldiers. So everyone had a lot of kids. Plus, thanks to the expertise of the Druids and Elves, the fertile lands of the Refuge, and the low population density, those children mostly survived (Astrid's family, with only four children is unusually small. Most families probably have 7-12). So the majority of the population is under 25.
While the Refuge did occasionally send raiding parties Outside to disrupt the enemy, they were rare and often carried devastating casualties.
So there are as many horror stories, and conspiracy theories about the Outside as there are people in the Refuge. Some do indeed believe that everything outside the Refuge is a blasted wasteland. Even some of those who have looked out beyond the Thornwall insist that it's an illusion crafted by the Kinslayer to lure people Outside, or perhaps the Seer to give people hope.
The Thornwall went up 25 years ago. This means that, realistically, anyone under 30 has no real memories of the outside world. Even for those up to 40, their memories are mostly of fear and monsters, fire and death, hunger and flight. Those older than 40 were old enough to fight, and fight they did. Fight and die by the thousands. Even for the survivors, they mostly remember the unstoppable approach of the Kinslayer's monsters. Of villages burned, entire peoples eradicated, of desperate losing battles. Furthermore, after the Thornwall went up, there was a pretty massive baby boom. People were the safest they'd been in 300+ years, plus they needed more soldiers. So everyone had a lot of kids. Plus, thanks to the expertise of the Druids and Elves, the fertile lands of the Refuge, and the low population density, those children mostly survived (Astrid's family, with only four children is unusually small. Most families probably have 7-12). So the majority of the population is under 25.
While the Refuge did occasionally send raiding parties Outside to disrupt the enemy, they were rare and often carried devastating casualties.
So there are as many horror stories, and conspiracy theories about the Outside as there are people in the Refuge. Some do indeed believe that everything outside the Refuge is a blasted wasteland. Even some of those who have looked out beyond the Thornwall insist that it's an illusion crafted by the Kinslayer to lure people Outside, or perhaps the Seer to give people hope.