AnonymousOne
First Post
Well this is the culmination of my summer's dabbling in building a campaign setting.
Please note that my friend and DM who is running this campaign next year at school asked that the Dwarven race be removed for storyline issues (no idea, we'll just have to find out). The full version came out to 20 pages in word, so I'll only post the overview. Also the map for this campaign in this state is unfinished. I'm in midst of fleshing it out on my other computer.
Map:
The Northern Reach Campaign
A Brief Political Climate Overview
Areen
Areen is a very large nation which was forged out of many smaller nations nearly 200 years ago. Their society is a progressive one where the rich, because of political compulsion, help to support the lower classes of citizens. The country is still riding its economic and trade profit from its past but has begun to slip into economic decline. The government is one of a Democratic Republic where a legislature, known as the Seated, is elected and then a head of state is elected from within that legislature. Political infighting, corruption, and special interest groups are beginning to undermine the economic status of Areen, though few see it. Areen is best known militarily for its heavy cavalry made up of Knights and Paladins. They helped to unite Areen from the Bay of Areen to the windswept plains of the northeast.
Languages – Common, Various local dialects
Major Cities – Areen, Clostin, Vaan, Vale
Economic Keystones – Agriculture, Fishing, Trade, Husbandry, Lumber
Magic – The use of magic is carefully controlled by the state. Its use outside of
prescribed limits, which are very narrow, is harshly punished. This has led to most magic users working directly for the Areen government as advisors, researchers, or combatants. Most combat mages and clerics specialize in illusion and confusion spells to disrupt the enemy in order to allow their heavy cavalry to make a decisive and crippling attack.
Alliances/Feuds – Areen has been at war on and off with Skarl and the Garic City States
for years, but at this time, due to its corruption and weakness it has sued for peace with both nations.
Garic City States
The Garic City States are a collection of cities that have banded together to form a confederation to oppose Areen expansion into their territory and provide general protection and trade with each other. Their political climate is very libertarian. The leaders of each city are elected but have very limited powers, mostly the enforcement of property rights laws and the use of the highly trained armies of the city states. Each city has basic autonomy from its neighbors. Free trade is the order of the day and government interference in the economic habits of its businesses and populace is nearly nonexistent. The Garic City States are heavily supported by the key city of New Garen. New Garen is a city comprised mostly of Elves and possesses an asset which has made the Garic City States a force to be reckoned with: an Air Force. The Elves have found a way to tame and train Griffons and other flying species for their uses. There is rumor that under New Garen a pair of Silver Dragons rest and breed. Reports have been received that younger dragons have been used to drop off groups of deep strike troops during war. Various species of Elves inhabit these cities, including a small pocket of Drow who all seem to have moved into the northern city of Getheen. These Drow, though not entirely trusted by the population, seem to be assimilating into the culture of Getheen and many serve in their small but ruthlessly efficient military units.
Languages – Common, Elvish, Drow, Gnome, Draconic
Major Cities – New Garen, Valan, Getheen, Pevin, Walsh
Economic Keystones – Trade, Weapon and Armor crafting, Agriculture,
Technology/Technomancy, Magic, Mercenaries, Timber, Shipbuilding
Magic – Unlike its neighbor, Areen, the Garic City States put few regulations on the
spellcasters within its borders, making it a very popular place for Areen expatriates, who do not want to operate under the watchful eye of the state. This move has greatly aided the Garic Cities both in the realms of magical research and the effectiveness of its small military forces. Various cabals in the GCS are actively working to undermine the state of Areen because of their oppression and control of magic users. Because of the influx of spellcasters, both arcane and divine, the price of magical services, weapons and items is much lower than elsewhere in the Northern Reach.
Alliances/Feuds – The Garic City States have been in an on and off state of war with the nation of Areen for years. It has a strong Alliance with Wistron and Wistronian spellcasters and diplomats often teleport between the two countries for purposes of trade and recruiting mercenaries to fight for Wistron in times of war. The GCS are currently on neutral but friendly terms with Skarl. They are carefully watching the actions of Lumen. Garic agents maintain a constant presence in Wistron so as to stay abreast of the events on the border and those within Wistron. No attempt has ever been made to infiltrate the three houses, though some Garic agents and information brokers are utilized by the three ruling families for the purposes of expanding their own information networks.
Isle of Manse
The Isle of Manse is a singularly odd entity in the realm of the Northern Reach. It is a society which is based solely around the use and research of magic. These arcane and divine spellcasters spend their time in the primary city of Manse, studying magic. They wield great power and yet choose not to involve themselves in the political workings of the other countries who many on the island see as petty political scandalmongers who have nothing better to do with their time. There have however been a series of shakeups on the Isle of Manse. The School on the Isle used to focus on such fields such as scientific discovery as well as magical discovery. Twelve years ago, the spellcasters decided that the school would not be focused on science as magic was the true path to understanding the world. The scientific researchers were exiled to the mainland and the Isle of Manse became a place solely for work in the magical arts.
Languages – Common, Draconic, Elvish, Gnomish, Sylvan, Abyssal, Celestial
Major Cities – Manse
Economic Keystones – Magic, Production of Magical Items
Magic – On the Isle of Manse, magic is life. Those on the island spend their time
tinkering with the arcane and divine or serving those who do. The Island is entirely self-sufficient, with crops and herds being grown and enhanced with magic. Magic is used so commonly that it is not uncommon to see a wizard of low power working as a master cook for the school, using his spells to augment and prepare his dishes.
Alliances/Feuds – The Isle of Manse has not had any direct contact with the rest of the
Northern Reach in some 80 years, the time of the Lumen people’s revolution. Despite the enormous power this small island could wield, they choose instead to isolate themselves and keep to their studies and research.
Lumen
Lumen is a nation that thinks of itself as being more enlightened than its “barbaric” neighbors. They see the Skarl as a group of unorganized and primeval beings. The Wistron are seen as little more than a parasite leaching off the “advancements” of the Lumen, though the Lumen cannot deny the effectiveness of the Wistron military. The Lumen abhor magic and its use. They see mental enlightenment as the path that humanity should take. The Lumen share their possessions communally, though it seems that the leadership is more “well to do” than the populace. The people participate constantly in the political system. They see themselves as the liberators of mankind. They are extremely racist and see humanity as the pinnacle of evolution. This belief has led to the outright slaughter of non-humans on the battlefield. This has been especially clear in the continuous war with Skarl and occasionally with Wistron, though Lumen’s last campaign against Wistron ended in disaster because of the aid of Garic troops, spellcasters, air combatants, and rumor has it, a dragon. Still, many wounded Skarl warriors have been summarily executed because of their non-human blood. The Lumen military is best known for their very small group of Psionic warriors coupled with crusaders for the Lumen ideals who are seen as having truly developed the skills of their mind to such a degree that they are the pinnacle of human warriors. The rest of their military is made up of relatively mediocre units who rely on vastly superior numbers to defeat their opponents on the battlefield.
Languages – Common, Lumen (rarely used)
Major Cities – Lumen, Hyl, Castra, Duten
Economic Keystones – Agricultural, Lumen Mines
Magic – The Government of Lumen and its local governors have forbidden the use of
magic and harshly prosecute those who are caught breaking the law. Often these people disappear in the middle of the night, taken by the Lumen secret police, and are never seen again. Lumen makes it a practice to execute any enemy spellcasters they are able to capture, regardless of their race.
Alliances/Feuds – Lumen is currently in open war with Skarl, and rumors in the streets
suggest that the People’s Council, the governing body of Lumen is looking at Wistron as a possible target. They have yet to move against Wistron and some posit this is out of fear of involving the Garic City States. They view all the other countries in the Northern reach with disdain, saying that they exploit the common man through magic and markets. This rhetoric has led to many harsh words between diplomats, leaving Lumen virtually alone in the Northern Reach, with the exception of some radical elements within the Areen Government.
Skarl
Skarl is a nation of warriors. Their society in a way mirrors that of Sparta. They live simply relying on an agricultural base to help feed and supply some of the best infantry melee units in the Northern Reach. Their political climate is one of hereditary monarchy where the crown is passed down from father to a son. Upon the death of the king, the sons of the king all race back to the capital, the one which arrives first to claim the crown is announced king and is to hunt down his other brothers and kill them. The king may hold absolute power, but relies heavily on a group of political and military advisors. Skarl are known for their impressive infantry. Few things are more terrifying than a tactical charge made by an infantry force hailing from Skarl. Their professional warriors are constantly training and drilling while those in the populace who are not “professionals” drill occasionally to ensure that Skarl has a large force of well trained warriors to draw on in time of need.
Languages – Common, Goliath, Gnome, High Skarl
Major Cities – Skarl, Basch, Varg
Economic Keystones – Agriculture, Weapons and Armor, Pottery
Magic – Magic in Skarl is rare and limited mostly to military applications. Various
Warchanters, Sorcerers, and War Wizards serve with The Mystics, a small branch of the army made up of specialized arcane magic casters which provides magical support to the Skarl military. All of the Clerics and Paladins serve with The Stained Ones, a small branch of the army made up of specialized magic casters which provide magical healing and battlefield medical services to the military. Receiving magical healing without military connections is nearly impossible.
Alliances/Feuds – Skarl has been at war with Areen and Lumen for years, and on rare occasions has had border skirmishes with Wistron. It is politically neutral with regards to the GCS, but does hold some respect for the GCS for their mercenary involvement with Wistron and willingness to help Skarl against Areen. Currently they are at war with Lumen, while Wistron remains neutral. Their peace with Areen is shaky but holding due to the fact that Skarl forces hold the Paldrin Pass, the only viable route into Skarl from Areen.
Wistron
Wistron is a small country, little more than a large city surrounded by farmlands, which sits between Skarl and Lumen. This small country has avoided being gobbled up by its larger neighbors through a strange and complex series of agreements and political treaties. Maintaining its neutrality is sometimes difficult, and historically Wistron has allied itself with the power which appears to have won near the end of a war. Its independence makes it a perfect place for the Lumen and Skarl governments to engage in espionage and spies riddle the city. Strangely, the Wistron Government, made up of a council of the three wealthiest families, seems to be completely inaccessible to foreign spies. This small country relies on its small but extremely well trained army for protection. Their signature military units are platoons of crossbowman coupled with pikemen. They are renowned throughout the Northern Reach for their very private and secure banks and financial institutions
Languages – Common, Elvish
Major Cities – Wistron
Economic Keystones – Trade, Finance and Banking, Production of Magical Items and
Weapons
Magic – Magic is quite common in the small state of Wistron. A traveler can find
anything from clerical orders selling their healing skills to mages that work with hired Skarl blacksmiths to produce fine arcane and divine weapons. Wistron’s banks are warded and heavily protected by magic and the banks keep a full staff of Arcane and Divine spellcasters on retainer. The Wistron Military makes devastatingly effective use of their supporting spellcasters who specialize in teleportation in order to move their small army from location to location very rapidly, and in various buffing and offensive spells as well as weather spells to slow down or harass enemy units.
Alliances/Feuds – Wistron has a standing alliance with the Garic City States who hold
many of the same social and economic values. Currently, Wistron is on good terms with Skarl. Their alliance does not yet extend to Wistron getting involved in the current war between Skarl and Lumen, though many Skarl blacksmiths are working hand in hand with Wistron spellcasters to produce weapons for the Skarl forces. Lumen seems hesitant to declare war on the small country given its ties to both Skarl and the Garic City States. Wistron is rather apathetic to Areen, though has sent troops to aid Skarl against Areen attacks in the past.
Thoughts? Comments?
Please note that my friend and DM who is running this campaign next year at school asked that the Dwarven race be removed for storyline issues (no idea, we'll just have to find out). The full version came out to 20 pages in word, so I'll only post the overview. Also the map for this campaign in this state is unfinished. I'm in midst of fleshing it out on my other computer.
Map:
The Northern Reach Campaign
A Brief Political Climate Overview
Areen
Areen is a very large nation which was forged out of many smaller nations nearly 200 years ago. Their society is a progressive one where the rich, because of political compulsion, help to support the lower classes of citizens. The country is still riding its economic and trade profit from its past but has begun to slip into economic decline. The government is one of a Democratic Republic where a legislature, known as the Seated, is elected and then a head of state is elected from within that legislature. Political infighting, corruption, and special interest groups are beginning to undermine the economic status of Areen, though few see it. Areen is best known militarily for its heavy cavalry made up of Knights and Paladins. They helped to unite Areen from the Bay of Areen to the windswept plains of the northeast.
Languages – Common, Various local dialects
Major Cities – Areen, Clostin, Vaan, Vale
Economic Keystones – Agriculture, Fishing, Trade, Husbandry, Lumber
Magic – The use of magic is carefully controlled by the state. Its use outside of
prescribed limits, which are very narrow, is harshly punished. This has led to most magic users working directly for the Areen government as advisors, researchers, or combatants. Most combat mages and clerics specialize in illusion and confusion spells to disrupt the enemy in order to allow their heavy cavalry to make a decisive and crippling attack.
Alliances/Feuds – Areen has been at war on and off with Skarl and the Garic City States
for years, but at this time, due to its corruption and weakness it has sued for peace with both nations.
Garic City States
The Garic City States are a collection of cities that have banded together to form a confederation to oppose Areen expansion into their territory and provide general protection and trade with each other. Their political climate is very libertarian. The leaders of each city are elected but have very limited powers, mostly the enforcement of property rights laws and the use of the highly trained armies of the city states. Each city has basic autonomy from its neighbors. Free trade is the order of the day and government interference in the economic habits of its businesses and populace is nearly nonexistent. The Garic City States are heavily supported by the key city of New Garen. New Garen is a city comprised mostly of Elves and possesses an asset which has made the Garic City States a force to be reckoned with: an Air Force. The Elves have found a way to tame and train Griffons and other flying species for their uses. There is rumor that under New Garen a pair of Silver Dragons rest and breed. Reports have been received that younger dragons have been used to drop off groups of deep strike troops during war. Various species of Elves inhabit these cities, including a small pocket of Drow who all seem to have moved into the northern city of Getheen. These Drow, though not entirely trusted by the population, seem to be assimilating into the culture of Getheen and many serve in their small but ruthlessly efficient military units.
Languages – Common, Elvish, Drow, Gnome, Draconic
Major Cities – New Garen, Valan, Getheen, Pevin, Walsh
Economic Keystones – Trade, Weapon and Armor crafting, Agriculture,
Technology/Technomancy, Magic, Mercenaries, Timber, Shipbuilding
Magic – Unlike its neighbor, Areen, the Garic City States put few regulations on the
spellcasters within its borders, making it a very popular place for Areen expatriates, who do not want to operate under the watchful eye of the state. This move has greatly aided the Garic Cities both in the realms of magical research and the effectiveness of its small military forces. Various cabals in the GCS are actively working to undermine the state of Areen because of their oppression and control of magic users. Because of the influx of spellcasters, both arcane and divine, the price of magical services, weapons and items is much lower than elsewhere in the Northern Reach.
Alliances/Feuds – The Garic City States have been in an on and off state of war with the nation of Areen for years. It has a strong Alliance with Wistron and Wistronian spellcasters and diplomats often teleport between the two countries for purposes of trade and recruiting mercenaries to fight for Wistron in times of war. The GCS are currently on neutral but friendly terms with Skarl. They are carefully watching the actions of Lumen. Garic agents maintain a constant presence in Wistron so as to stay abreast of the events on the border and those within Wistron. No attempt has ever been made to infiltrate the three houses, though some Garic agents and information brokers are utilized by the three ruling families for the purposes of expanding their own information networks.
Isle of Manse
The Isle of Manse is a singularly odd entity in the realm of the Northern Reach. It is a society which is based solely around the use and research of magic. These arcane and divine spellcasters spend their time in the primary city of Manse, studying magic. They wield great power and yet choose not to involve themselves in the political workings of the other countries who many on the island see as petty political scandalmongers who have nothing better to do with their time. There have however been a series of shakeups on the Isle of Manse. The School on the Isle used to focus on such fields such as scientific discovery as well as magical discovery. Twelve years ago, the spellcasters decided that the school would not be focused on science as magic was the true path to understanding the world. The scientific researchers were exiled to the mainland and the Isle of Manse became a place solely for work in the magical arts.
Languages – Common, Draconic, Elvish, Gnomish, Sylvan, Abyssal, Celestial
Major Cities – Manse
Economic Keystones – Magic, Production of Magical Items
Magic – On the Isle of Manse, magic is life. Those on the island spend their time
tinkering with the arcane and divine or serving those who do. The Island is entirely self-sufficient, with crops and herds being grown and enhanced with magic. Magic is used so commonly that it is not uncommon to see a wizard of low power working as a master cook for the school, using his spells to augment and prepare his dishes.
Alliances/Feuds – The Isle of Manse has not had any direct contact with the rest of the
Northern Reach in some 80 years, the time of the Lumen people’s revolution. Despite the enormous power this small island could wield, they choose instead to isolate themselves and keep to their studies and research.
Lumen
Lumen is a nation that thinks of itself as being more enlightened than its “barbaric” neighbors. They see the Skarl as a group of unorganized and primeval beings. The Wistron are seen as little more than a parasite leaching off the “advancements” of the Lumen, though the Lumen cannot deny the effectiveness of the Wistron military. The Lumen abhor magic and its use. They see mental enlightenment as the path that humanity should take. The Lumen share their possessions communally, though it seems that the leadership is more “well to do” than the populace. The people participate constantly in the political system. They see themselves as the liberators of mankind. They are extremely racist and see humanity as the pinnacle of evolution. This belief has led to the outright slaughter of non-humans on the battlefield. This has been especially clear in the continuous war with Skarl and occasionally with Wistron, though Lumen’s last campaign against Wistron ended in disaster because of the aid of Garic troops, spellcasters, air combatants, and rumor has it, a dragon. Still, many wounded Skarl warriors have been summarily executed because of their non-human blood. The Lumen military is best known for their very small group of Psionic warriors coupled with crusaders for the Lumen ideals who are seen as having truly developed the skills of their mind to such a degree that they are the pinnacle of human warriors. The rest of their military is made up of relatively mediocre units who rely on vastly superior numbers to defeat their opponents on the battlefield.
Languages – Common, Lumen (rarely used)
Major Cities – Lumen, Hyl, Castra, Duten
Economic Keystones – Agricultural, Lumen Mines
Magic – The Government of Lumen and its local governors have forbidden the use of
magic and harshly prosecute those who are caught breaking the law. Often these people disappear in the middle of the night, taken by the Lumen secret police, and are never seen again. Lumen makes it a practice to execute any enemy spellcasters they are able to capture, regardless of their race.
Alliances/Feuds – Lumen is currently in open war with Skarl, and rumors in the streets
suggest that the People’s Council, the governing body of Lumen is looking at Wistron as a possible target. They have yet to move against Wistron and some posit this is out of fear of involving the Garic City States. They view all the other countries in the Northern reach with disdain, saying that they exploit the common man through magic and markets. This rhetoric has led to many harsh words between diplomats, leaving Lumen virtually alone in the Northern Reach, with the exception of some radical elements within the Areen Government.
Skarl
Skarl is a nation of warriors. Their society in a way mirrors that of Sparta. They live simply relying on an agricultural base to help feed and supply some of the best infantry melee units in the Northern Reach. Their political climate is one of hereditary monarchy where the crown is passed down from father to a son. Upon the death of the king, the sons of the king all race back to the capital, the one which arrives first to claim the crown is announced king and is to hunt down his other brothers and kill them. The king may hold absolute power, but relies heavily on a group of political and military advisors. Skarl are known for their impressive infantry. Few things are more terrifying than a tactical charge made by an infantry force hailing from Skarl. Their professional warriors are constantly training and drilling while those in the populace who are not “professionals” drill occasionally to ensure that Skarl has a large force of well trained warriors to draw on in time of need.
Languages – Common, Goliath, Gnome, High Skarl
Major Cities – Skarl, Basch, Varg
Economic Keystones – Agriculture, Weapons and Armor, Pottery
Magic – Magic in Skarl is rare and limited mostly to military applications. Various
Warchanters, Sorcerers, and War Wizards serve with The Mystics, a small branch of the army made up of specialized arcane magic casters which provides magical support to the Skarl military. All of the Clerics and Paladins serve with The Stained Ones, a small branch of the army made up of specialized magic casters which provide magical healing and battlefield medical services to the military. Receiving magical healing without military connections is nearly impossible.
Alliances/Feuds – Skarl has been at war with Areen and Lumen for years, and on rare occasions has had border skirmishes with Wistron. It is politically neutral with regards to the GCS, but does hold some respect for the GCS for their mercenary involvement with Wistron and willingness to help Skarl against Areen. Currently they are at war with Lumen, while Wistron remains neutral. Their peace with Areen is shaky but holding due to the fact that Skarl forces hold the Paldrin Pass, the only viable route into Skarl from Areen.
Wistron
Wistron is a small country, little more than a large city surrounded by farmlands, which sits between Skarl and Lumen. This small country has avoided being gobbled up by its larger neighbors through a strange and complex series of agreements and political treaties. Maintaining its neutrality is sometimes difficult, and historically Wistron has allied itself with the power which appears to have won near the end of a war. Its independence makes it a perfect place for the Lumen and Skarl governments to engage in espionage and spies riddle the city. Strangely, the Wistron Government, made up of a council of the three wealthiest families, seems to be completely inaccessible to foreign spies. This small country relies on its small but extremely well trained army for protection. Their signature military units are platoons of crossbowman coupled with pikemen. They are renowned throughout the Northern Reach for their very private and secure banks and financial institutions
Languages – Common, Elvish
Major Cities – Wistron
Economic Keystones – Trade, Finance and Banking, Production of Magical Items and
Weapons
Magic – Magic is quite common in the small state of Wistron. A traveler can find
anything from clerical orders selling their healing skills to mages that work with hired Skarl blacksmiths to produce fine arcane and divine weapons. Wistron’s banks are warded and heavily protected by magic and the banks keep a full staff of Arcane and Divine spellcasters on retainer. The Wistron Military makes devastatingly effective use of their supporting spellcasters who specialize in teleportation in order to move their small army from location to location very rapidly, and in various buffing and offensive spells as well as weather spells to slow down or harass enemy units.
Alliances/Feuds – Wistron has a standing alliance with the Garic City States who hold
many of the same social and economic values. Currently, Wistron is on good terms with Skarl. Their alliance does not yet extend to Wistron getting involved in the current war between Skarl and Lumen, though many Skarl blacksmiths are working hand in hand with Wistron spellcasters to produce weapons for the Skarl forces. Lumen seems hesitant to declare war on the small country given its ties to both Skarl and the Garic City States. Wistron is rather apathetic to Areen, though has sent troops to aid Skarl against Areen attacks in the past.
Thoughts? Comments?
