The Wilderlands is a setting in decline. Long ago empires covered the region. But great wars, with the gods themselves fighting alongside men, has reduced the splendor of those past civilizations, leaving them in ruins. Cities that do exist today are generally built on the sites of ancient cities, some among the ruins themselves. Broken roads, crumbled walls, sunken buildings and half-ruined towers dot the landscape, a constant reminder of the faded past.
There are no true kingdoms in the Wilderlands. Instead, six city states dominate the politics of the Wilderlands and the lands of the Winedark Sea and the Sea of Five Winds. Viridistan, called the City State of the World Emperor and the City of Spices, ruled by the sorcerous and otherworldly Green Emperor; the City State of the Invincible Overlord, build on the ruins of an ancient city on the Estuary of the Roglaroon; Valon, a major sea power and home of the lithe and tall Avalonian ice-wizards; Tarantis, ruled by Atar the Lion, a major sea power and home of the Tarantine Merchants' Association; Tula, the legendary City of Mages; and Rally, the City State of the Sea Kings Each city state is also a major military power in its own right.
Though powerful, these city states exercise political control only over areas within striking distance of their nearest army or navy. Vast areas remain under no direct political control despite ancient claims and numerous annexations in the past. All populations consider themselves self sufficient to a large degree and barter is more common than trade in coins of any realm.
The Elphand Lands are dominated by the Irminsul Forest, one of the largest forests in all the Wilderlands. There is little civilization here. Most of the human population, aside from the villages, consists of cavemen. The forests and plains contain mastodons, saber toothed tigers and other great beasts. Female amazon warriors can sometimes be seen here with their saber toothed tiger animal companions.
Setting Information
Re: Setting Information
Elves
HIGH ELVES
Most of the elves of the northern portion of the Wilderlands are of the high elven race, by far the most common of the subraces of the elves. Most high elven folk consider their settlements to form a single, widely dispersed kingdom, known as Alfheim. Each lord of a settlement is King in his own realm, answerable only to the High King, though there has not been a unified High King for centuries. The high elves are the greatest allies of the Dunael Woods- Folk, forming a united front against the Orcs of the Purple Claw in Dearthwood. A few high elves turn from the merry ways of their brothers and strive to return to the ancient ways of war and high wizardry; such folk become the stuff of legends among humans and elves.
Description: Pale white to silver skin, black hair, blue eyes, 5 ft. 8 in., 140 lbs, lean build.
HIGH ELVES
Most of the elves of the northern portion of the Wilderlands are of the high elven race, by far the most common of the subraces of the elves. Most high elven folk consider their settlements to form a single, widely dispersed kingdom, known as Alfheim. Each lord of a settlement is King in his own realm, answerable only to the High King, though there has not been a unified High King for centuries. The high elves are the greatest allies of the Dunael Woods- Folk, forming a united front against the Orcs of the Purple Claw in Dearthwood. A few high elves turn from the merry ways of their brothers and strive to return to the ancient ways of war and high wizardry; such folk become the stuff of legends among humans and elves.
Description: Pale white to silver skin, black hair, blue eyes, 5 ft. 8 in., 140 lbs, lean build.
GM: Dwimmermount (ACKS)
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8
Re: Setting Information
Additional background material. Ignore the 3e system stuff, but it should give you an idea of some more details...
Languages: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_languages_pre.pdf
Gods: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_gods_pre.pdf
Cities: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_cities_pre.pdf
Languages: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_languages_pre.pdf
Gods: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_gods_pre.pdf
Cities: http://www.judgesguild.com/pdf/JG_cities_pre.pdf
GM: Dwimmermount (ACKS)
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8
Re: Setting Information
Historical Information provided by Damiane's snake.
Thousands of years ago, the world was united under a single kingdom, known as Kelnore, which stretched for thousands of miles, covering from the frozen north down to the hot deserts to the south. The kingdom declined, through infighting and war, and little remains but ruins, which dot the world. A few kingdoms, known as the Ghinoran Successor States, still survive to this day. In the north, Damkina is one of them. Though it cannot be anything like it was in its former days of glory, it is still standing.
The Kingdom fell, and a new great kingdom arose, the Dragon Kingdom. It was ruled by powerful wizards, who had dragon blood in their veins, and practiced alchemy beyond the knowledge of people today. Sotur, the ruins up north of the Bay, was one of their capitals, but it was destroyed by feuding Dragon Kings. There is still a strong tradition of alchemy in the Elphand Lands... perhaps wizards seeking knowledge have been able to recover things from the ruins that have fueled their research.
One legendary artificier of recent memory was Ornzak, of Deeprock Lake, which is north of here, nearer to Sotur. He is said to have created an incredibly powerful wizard staff. He was killed by an ancient black dragon known as Corruptis, and the staff was never found. Was this an artifact stolen from the grave of the Dragon Kings?
We have no kingdoms on that scale today, not since the Great War between the Pious and the Philosophers, which pitted the technology of craftsmen against the magic of the gods. The war reduced civilization to tatters, and led to a very dark time. The World Empire, and the City State have emerged since, but nothing like what once was. There are many areas that bear the taint of this war... ancient battlefields. I cannot lead you to them, but they would be known to the locals if you were to come upon one.
Another great wizard, an alchemist known as Mirny, lived in the Irminsul Forest. He could produce great transformations, and created many strange creatures. His students, or maybe students of students, still practice, but his workshop and palace have been lost.
Thousands of years ago, the world was united under a single kingdom, known as Kelnore, which stretched for thousands of miles, covering from the frozen north down to the hot deserts to the south. The kingdom declined, through infighting and war, and little remains but ruins, which dot the world. A few kingdoms, known as the Ghinoran Successor States, still survive to this day. In the north, Damkina is one of them. Though it cannot be anything like it was in its former days of glory, it is still standing.
The Kingdom fell, and a new great kingdom arose, the Dragon Kingdom. It was ruled by powerful wizards, who had dragon blood in their veins, and practiced alchemy beyond the knowledge of people today. Sotur, the ruins up north of the Bay, was one of their capitals, but it was destroyed by feuding Dragon Kings. There is still a strong tradition of alchemy in the Elphand Lands... perhaps wizards seeking knowledge have been able to recover things from the ruins that have fueled their research.
One legendary artificier of recent memory was Ornzak, of Deeprock Lake, which is north of here, nearer to Sotur. He is said to have created an incredibly powerful wizard staff. He was killed by an ancient black dragon known as Corruptis, and the staff was never found. Was this an artifact stolen from the grave of the Dragon Kings?
We have no kingdoms on that scale today, not since the Great War between the Pious and the Philosophers, which pitted the technology of craftsmen against the magic of the gods. The war reduced civilization to tatters, and led to a very dark time. The World Empire, and the City State have emerged since, but nothing like what once was. There are many areas that bear the taint of this war... ancient battlefields. I cannot lead you to them, but they would be known to the locals if you were to come upon one.
Another great wizard, an alchemist known as Mirny, lived in the Irminsul Forest. He could produce great transformations, and created many strange creatures. His students, or maybe students of students, still practice, but his workshop and palace have been lost.
GM: Dwimmermount (ACKS)
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8
Zim: 7/7 | Torgyr: 14/14 | U Tar: 3/3 | Nazares: 6/6| Emm: 9/9 |Quinn: 13/13
Ranulf: 10/10 | Solaine: 12/12 | Liam: 4/4 | X | Randolpho: 10/10 | Audi: 8/8