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Governments

While the majority of the information on individual cities can be found in their locations on the Map, this page contains specific information on the political systems of every major city and Tribe. One note that is not covered in other parts of the site is language. There are several languages in Ourissa. However, the people of the city states all speak the same tongue (Varanian), and the majority of the people of the Tribes speak a dialect of Harakkan. While the Sea Peoples, the Centaur and the Dry'cha speak their own unique languages, most learned people will know Varanian at least to a degree. It is assumed that a character speaks Varanian, as well as some measure of Harakkan if a member of the Tribes. However, learning a Lore skill will allow a character to speak small amounts of specific languages, such as Mitiyan or Centauri. It is impossible to become fluent in another language over the course of the RPG unless a character is from that specific culture, or has the Explorer skill Languages. The Tribes do not use any formal currency, however, they will accept coinage from the city states and know its worth. Varans and Ayotya each maintain their own currency, but Ayotyan coin is seen as the currency of trade, the older Varanian coinage slowly dying out as even Varanian merchants now use Ayotyan coins in the Varanian kingdom. While this is technically against the law, the police do not care to stop the merchants for this crime any more. The City States The great civilizations of southern Ourissa are all roughly similar ages, 500 to 700 years old, though it is commonly understood that Varans is slightly older than the rest of them. Varans and Ayotya are the two main cities, and they are the only ones with enough military and political power to control seperate towns and holdings. The free cities of Medya, Thirim and Jadesh also exist, outside the realm of Varanian and Ayotyan control but normally subservient to these larger powers. While these cities have been at war before, they are currently at peace, though they are not allied in much other than trade and occasionally against the pirates of Himal. All of the city states are democratic, though their forms of democracy and the political freedoms allowed their citizens differ from city to city. They each maintain their own military and navy where appropriate, and they each contribute quite heavily to Ourissan trade. Ayotya exports ore and gemstones from mount Keral, while Varans chief exports are food from Gujar and lumber from Tanja, and Jadesh exports primarily livestock. Medya and Thirim have few exports, but the two trade cities lie along the Merchants Highway that connects all the cities, and contribute to the highways upkeep and safety. The Cities treat the people of the Tribes in similar ways, accepting tribal merchants but viewing them as uncivilized and at worst barbaric. The Centaur are especially frowned upon, viewed with a stark racism, especially in Ayotya. Slavery is legal in all the city states, though there are more slaves and indentured servants in Ayotya than any other city. Below the political organization of each city is discussed in specific. Ayotya The double walled city of Ayotya sits along the western coast of Ourissa, on a hill but next to a fairly flat stretch of beach. The people of Ayotya, compared to those of Varans, have things somewhat harder, and are usually seen as made of sterner stuff, but not quite as intellectual. Ayotya has been under constant danger of attack from the Centaur and the Tribes since its founding long ago, and both the wars between the two city states, both long concluded, were initiated by Varans against Ayotya. This has created a people who care for themselves, and while not necessarily suspicious of their allies, try not to count on them any more than is absolutely necessary. The government of Ayotya is that of a democratic election, once every 5 years. Multiple candidates are voted for, and of them all a Grand Consulate and three General Consulates are elected, the Grand Consul ruling with the General Consuls as advisors. The other position of power in the society is that of the Commander in Chief, elected seperately by the the army every year. There are not many safeguards to the political process, save that all three of the General Consuls and the Commander can vote together to veto a bill of the Grand Consul. The military of Ayotya is a mobile one, split into Divisions that are situated at the three border forts that guard the city. The border forts are all seperate townships, but are generally under a military control. Ayotya emphasises light infantry and cavalry to quickly meet Centaur armies on the plains, using the border forts as both fortifications and rest stops for their troops. Finally a single division of troops is usually settled in a camp at the foot of Mt. Keral, to protect Ayotyas trade interests there. It is worth saying that militarily Ayotya is seen as much more organized as Varans, although their military, like their general population, is quite a bit smaller. The political process of Ayotya is dominated by wealthy noble families, who use underhanded and often cutthroat tactics to get ahead. The most successful of these families, the De la Roz, is known to be rather decrepit, but they have produced a Grand Consul every election for the past twenty years. The Commander in Chief has been the great Vera Croix for as long as anyone can remember, but he is getting old. Religion is not quite as important in Ayotya as it is in Varans, the Ayotyans seen as a more practical people. However, there are still many gods in Ayotya, and many temples. The Judiciary system of Ayotya is simple but harsh, with every offense having a set punishment. Though there are trials, they are often more based on bribes than evidence. A slaveholder is responsible for the actions of his slaves, though in the case of capital punishment the slave will be killed instead of the master. A final note on the city of Ayotya is that of its slave and its centaur populations. Both the Ayotyans and the people of Varans hold slaves, but in Varans this habit is going out of style, and is seen as somewhat cruel. There are still many captives of war in Ayotya that are sold as slaves however, and most middle class families will own a servant, although it is rare for one person to own multiple slaves. Slaves in both Ayotya and Varans have a good amount of priveledges and rights despite their position as servants and manual labourers. At any given point the slave population makes up three to five percent of Ayotyas populace, almost ten times the size of the slave population of Varans. There are also centaur slaves in Ayotya, as well as a few centaur citizens. The children of slaves are not slaves themselves, and a handful of centaur have grown up knowing only the Ayotyans and growing to see themselves as people of the city states above their identity as people of the Tribes, to the extent that these centaurs will still look down on their nomadic cousins as barbarous. Varans The city state of Varans is the most spread out, as well as the most populated kingdom in Ourissa. The river valley it is in creates a natural system of fortifications, as bridges are easily controlled and defended by the state, leaving for a large and spread out community of farmers and centralised areas. The people of Varans love their homeland and treat it as a blessing from the gods, providing them with a natural and everlasting source of food, protection, and easy trade with their satellite towns. They are a fairly intellectual people, being slow to act but acting with great care. The people of Varans are somewhat elitist in the eyes of the Tribes and the Ayotyans, insofar as comparison with Ayotya is concerned. The government of Varans is that of a council of Elders. The council consists of twenty Elders, each one of them serving for ten years. Every half a year a new Elder is elected by the people, and decisions are made via a majority vote. This council of Elders also controls the military, and due to the fact that military personell are rarely elected, the military of Varans, while large, is known for not having an extremely effective leadership. The Varanian satellite towns of Tanja, Gujar, Pirae and Yernia each contribute one member to the council. However, while this is supposed to ensure the satellites representation, these foreign counsellors are hardly ever listened to by the sixteen who come from the city of Varans itself, and they are rarely able to influence the voting process, except when the sixteen Varanian Elders are split in their decision. This has created unrest in the Varanian satellites recently, who view their lot in the political system as unfair. The military of Varans is markedly different than that of Ayotya. While the Ayotyan military is famed for its prowess and its mobility, the Varanian army is split into two parts. The first is a conscripted militia force from the cities, and these units are famed for being poorly organised and trained. The Legionarres that make up the army proper however are another matter. The Legion fights with incredible discipline and strength, and man for man they are stronger than any other City army. However, the Legion only takes orders from the Council, and due to their bickering they are often slow to act. Finally, Tanja has its own militia, as it has needed to defend against the tribes of the Yaksas, and they are also considered to be very capable. The Judiciary system of Varans is extremely complicated, and offenses and punishments are largely based on where an individual lives. For example, if a Varanian citizen steals from a citizen of Yernia, the fine might be five gold pieces, whereas of a citizen of Yernia steals from a citizen of Varans, the fine may be ten. Judges and lawyers are trained in the Varanian Academy, and the Varanian legal system is large and altogether confusing. The religion of Varans used to be very similar to that of Ayotya, many different dieties being worshipped. However, as of the last three years the cult of the Lynx God has been gaining an unprecedented amount of popularity. This diety is worshipped in the guise of a great black Lynx statue, and its Deacons are said to have frightening supernatural abilities. Their congregations meet at night, and in the last three years they have obtained a large following and quite a bit of money, many new temples being built. Before this surge there used to be only a single temple to the Lynx God in the Varanian Archipelago. While Varanian is the common tongue of all the cities, there is an ancient version of the tongue known as Old Varanian. Only Academy professors speak it in this day and age, but it is said that many of the manuscripts housed in the Academy catacombs are in this tongue, and curiously old Varanian bears some striking resemblances to modern day Harakkan. Medya The free city of Medya lies at the halfway mark between Ayotya and Varans, and is the third largest city in Ourissa, roughly the same size as the Sea Peoples city of Kobbes. It maintains both its own army and navy, though neither of these can cope with the might of Varans or Ayotyas militaries. Medya is often called the Free City, for it holds an unprecedented amount of democracy amongst its political system. The city is ruled by a Regent, elected every five years, but he meets with a Parliamentary Council, elected from districts within the city and numbering twenty people. The Councilmen and the Regent can propose laws, and both sides of the government are allowed to veto the other groups decrees. This is seen as a melding of both the Ayotyan and Varanian systems, and it has proved to be quite effective. Medyan Parliamentary counsellors also act as the cities judges, and handle matters of law and order. However, Medyas position between Ayotya and Varans makes it vulnerable in times of war, and it has been conquered by Varans twice in its assaults towards Ayotya. These wars have left the city smaller and weaker than Ayotya and Varans, and have left the people of Medya slightly suspicious of Varanians. Medyans are proud of their city and their land, and try hard to create something lasting and beautiful. Recently, Medya has been in constant conflict with the Himali pirates, a fight that the Medyans are slowly losing. Medya uses the Ayotyan currency, as that has become the standard currency of trade over the years. Thirim The Trade City of Thirim is known for being an absolute haven for merchants. It is ruled by a Duke, who is democratically elected, however once elected the Duke serves until death. This has been known to cause great differences in the way Thirim is run, with one Duke being warlike and the next being peaceful. However, the current Duke, Duke Elzaym IV, is from a dynasty that has run for the last sixty years, and have been chiefly focused on trade. The lax regulations and corruption here has created a system where con artists, gamblers and seedy merchants are free to do whatever they please. Thirim lies close to Ayotya, and is often in bed with Ayotyas own black market, the De La Roz and their works. For a few hundred years Thirim was even part of the Ayotyan political system, however it became its own city in the first Varans-Ayotyan war. Ayotya was forced to abandon Thirim, and the citizens of the trade city have never allowed the Ayotyans back into their political process, something that has soured some Dukes relations with the double walled city, though at current there doesn't seem to be any bad blood. Thirim borrows Ayotyas political system, as well as its coinage and nonchalant attitude towards religion. Jadesh Jadesh is above all things a farming community, and while the town proper has a yearly elected mayor and Garrison chief, the citizens of Jadesh and especially its outlying farms fend for themselves, with some of the western farms even paying tribute to Ayotya for its protection. Jadesh is not exactly a city, being even smaller in population than the Varanian satellite of Yernia, though it is larger than any of the other small free towns of Ourissa, and does maintain its own Garrison for self defense. But it is small enough that it does not need complicated legal or political systems, the simple rules of mankind applying in most disputes. Most people of Jadesh belong to the temple of Cecilia, a water nymph who they believe lives in their sacred lake. They use Ayotyan coin, and are very peaceful, though they will come to arms to defend their own lands. The Harakkan Tribes The great Tribes of Harakka are all different, speaking different languages and dialects, with different gods and goddesses, customs and rituals. However, they all possess some similarities, and hold some of the same things sacred, such as the great hill at Harakka. Each tribe is formed into a familial structure, led by a chieftain. Further, each tribe has a champion, the strongest warrior in the tribe, who represents the tribe in trials of bravery and heroism. Finally, each tribe has a head shaman, who interperets the will of gods and spirits ad acts as an advisor to the chieftain. Sometimes these titles belong to the same individual, though this is rare. The Harakkan Tribes have a loose cultural alliance with each other. Sometimes they will be at war with each other, or at war with the cities, but in times of need they will rally together. Tribes of the Plains Plains Tribes are more or less nomadic, moving from grazing site to grazing site, though they often have a handful of set camps that differ depending on season. They are masters of horsemanship, and generally hunt on horseback, using thrown spears and swords to hunt down their prey. The language of every Plains tribe is some dialect of Harakkan, which serves as the main language of all the tribes. The Harakkans are the only sedentary Plains tribe, who live in and around the city of Harakka, which serves to protect the great tree and the Harak stone. They are one of the most magically inclined tribes, with a high percentage of shamans and druids. They are seen as very wise amongst the tribes, and their leader, the Great Sage, is often the man other Tribes go to to receive guidance. The Harakkans universally worship the Harak stone, as well as the Talil mountains. They believe their god watches them through the Harak stone, and imparts his guidance through the Great Sage. Lissiyans are the largest of the plains Tribes, dwelling southeast of Harakka and just outside the Tauny Hills. They are one of the most warlike of the plains Tribes, and have become very large through conquest of other plains tribes. However, compared to the Yaksas or the Mitiyans, they are much less warlike or barbaric. Lissiyans have several religions, one of the only tribes large enough to have multiple faiths. However, for the most part they worship the goddess of horses Lakshi, who they believe is responsible for their excellent breeds. Lissiyan horses are famed throughout all of Ourissa as the strongest and most intelligent of all the animals. The Arakani live in the frigid Chillsteppe to the east of Harakka. While most plains tribes warriors are often seen shirtless, covered in warpaint with beads and feathers in their hair, the Arakani will be seen in bundles of thick hides, which serve both as warmth and as a form of armor. The greatest Arakani warriors, the Trollguard, wear dark blue troll hides from head to toe. The Arakani are slightly more sedentary than other Plains tribes, but they still move from camp to camp from summer to winter. The Arakani and their shamans worship the goddess Liashu, who they believe keeps them warm within the chilled steppe, and protects them from the marauding trolls of the north. The Spirnis Centaur are the only pure Centaur tribe amongst the Harakkan Tribes. Though other plains Tribes may have a centaur or two amongst them, the Spirnis are a dedicated Centaur clan, with a Pegasus King and all that comes with it. However, they have been calmed from their warlike behaviour, due to their proximity with the other tribes, and the lack of other centaur tribes around. There has only been one Pegasus at a time amongst the Spirnis for hundreds of years, so it is assumed that the god Ari is okay with their predicament. The Spirnis are viewed with a bit of skepticism by the other Tribes, though not quite to the degree of the racism that the poeple of the cities have towards their kind. They are proud warriors, and friends with many Tribes, and though the Spirnis are often at war with the Lissiyans, the two camps are quick to become friends if a larger opponent appears. Aside from the Harakkans, Spirnis, Lissiyans and Arakani, there are many lesser Plains Tribes, who live in the fields of Harakka and the Tribelands. These groups are smaller, and usually culturally similar to the Lissiyans, speaking some dialect of Harakkan. These tribes are small, usually less than a few hundred souls, and though they have chieftains and champions, they are generally of much less reknown than the other Tribes. Yaksas The forest tribes are known as the Yaksas, who are actually a group of smaller tribes who all live in the same area of the western Andhra Prad. They have one chieftain and one champion amongst them all. However, they live in different locations, and often act independent of each other. This makes it difficult to view them as having any sort of central organization or authority, and makes them seem to be more warlike than they are. However, the Yaksas are one of the more warlike tribes, for they have been at war with the people of Varans for as long as any can remember. Though the Yaksa warriors, who fight on foot with throwing weapons and axes, are nigh unbeatable in the thick woods, the well-formed Legionarres can defeat them in open ground, and this dichotemy has created an ages long stalemate between the two cultures. The Yaksas wear fewer clothes than even the Lissiyans, and are often seen fighting naked, with nothing but warpaint and a large shield for protection. They worship the Dry'cha universally, and believe that they will save them in any time of need. The more peaceful of their Shamans are at times visited by the tree herders, but the Dry'cha for the most part dislike their warlike nature and leave them alone, caring for them little more than they care for the people of Tanja. The Yaksas speak their own language. However, most of their citizens know Harakkan in addition to Yaksan, and many of them speak Varanian as well. Keralis The most sedentary of all the tribes, the Keralis live at the peaks of Mount Keral, in caves just below the point of the mountain where snow falls all year round. They mine ore in the mountains, and their blacksmiths are known as the best in all the Tribes. While other tribes use warpaint and hides for armor, the Keralis make suits of scale mail that are superior than the armor worn by Varanian and Ayotyan armies. The Keralis worship two gods, the wind goddes Jinxis, and the great blue dragon Kera, who is believed to live atop Mount Keral, which gives him its name. Only the head Shaman of Keral is allowed to travel to the very top of the snowpeak, and it is said that he speaks to Kera face to face. The Keralis fight chiefly with spears, using their mastery of wind magics to jump high into the air, bounding up dangerous mountain paths. While they are slow to anger and for the most part peaceful, they are fearcely territorial of the mountain, and will quickly capture or kill anyone encroaching upon their sacred land. Kerali's are also the tribe that is most likely to have a single member or two in other camps, or in the cities. While they are very sedentary, their geographic position requires them to trade with others for food and hides from time to time. They send blacksmiths to the other Tribes, and assist them with their metalwork in return for continued trade. Kerali's have their own language, but it is a religious tongue and only spoken occasionally. For the most part, the Kerali's speak Harakkan. Mitiyans Possibly the most interesting of all, the Mitiyans of the great desert are so infused with the deserts magics that they even look different in comparison to other humans. Mitiyans are short, dark skinned, but with a burly figure and bright red hair. They are a very magically inclined race, containing more shamans and enchanted items than possibly even the Harakkans. It is said that they find many powerful magical artifacts in the great desert on their hunts. The Mitiyans are a people who are changed through need. They worship the great desert and refuse to move from their native homeland. However, the desert and its monsters take quite a lot from them, and this has turned the Mitiyans into a hardened people. They are very practical, they waste nothing, and ask for little assistance in times of need. They keep great desert spiders as pets, but have few horses, for there is no grazing land in their ancestral home. The Mitiyans are seen as more barbarous and warlike than the other tribes amongst the tribes themselves, and are rumored to even be cannibals. However, these myths could not be further from the truth. They are a hearty people who happily accept visitors, and though they are terrifying in battle, they are very amicable with their friends. Mitiyans speak their own language, though the majority of their peoples also speak Harakkan. Other Himali Pirates Pirates have always lived on Himal. A lack of noticeable raw material, thick vegetation, bad weather and more monsters than the mainland have discouraged Varans and Ayotya from settling there, and likewise encouraged settlement by all of their criminals. Coa is an old village, and has served as a den of thieves for hundreds of years. However, until very recently the pirates were split into different crews, with few captains commanding more than a single ship. Thirty years ago the great Whitescar changed this. He was one of the older captains, and spent five years waging civil wars with the differing pirate bands on Coa, forming them into a single united kingdom. His ultimate goal was to create a new city state, and rule all the waters of Ourissa. However, both he and the gods had a fickle sense of humor, for he died of illness and old age fifteen years after the pirates had been united, after building up his army of cutthroats. And, wishing to delve his work back into chaos, he named his favorite whore his successor, Lisa Rakasha. However, to everyones surprise, Lisa proved to be a better ruler than Whitescar had ever been. In a quick and bloody conflict she had everyone on Coa who opposed her rise to power killed, and started building her forces anew. Now, ten years later, she is the most feared woman in all of Ourissas seas. Rakasha's pirates are largely given the freedom to operate as they will, but all the captains ultimately report to her. Certain ships or targets will be deemed off limits, while certain others will be attacked in coordinated assaults by multiple crews. Lisa's reign is built more on loyalty than on laws. It is difficult to say what is allowed and what is not on Coa, the only rule seems to be to not anger the pirate queen. Rakasha has also formed an alliance with the Sea Peoples who live in the Cove, who have given her a startling supply of resources and even manpower. The reasoning this is unknown, although it is known that it was the Possessed who brokered the final deal, and Rakasha's chief advisor is one of the Krakens minions. There are a few outlying pirate bands, who live in secret docks in the southern Varanian Archipelago, in Medya or just to the east of the Garga river. However, these groups are small, often only controlling a single ship. They are survivors of the initial opposition to Rakasha's rule, and they are the last of a dying breed. It is unclear what Rakasha's ultimate goal is, but it is assumed that it is the same as Whitescars was. Subjugation of the seas of Ourissa, and the turning of Himal into a third great power in the region. Outlaws Rest Bandits The village at Outlaws Rest, north of Gujar, has been slowly increasing in size for hundreds of years, slowly changing from an occasional camp into a fully fledged city. Much like on Coa, there are no laws here, and whoever is currently in control of the bandit horde makes the rules. However, unlike the pirates of Himal, the people of Outlaws Rest are not controlled by a single individual at this time. The current leader of the camp is a man by the name of Talen Krane, a Fire Mage from Varans who was kicked out of the Academy. He is obsessed with power, and has been trying hard to unite the disparate groups of the Wildlands outlaws into a single cohesive army. However, he has had little luck. While he is a powerful warlord in his own right, and has gained control of Outlaws Rest itself, he cannot yet command every band of brigands as a single body. This means Outlaws Rest is much more chaotic than Himal. Fights break out over control of this or that from day to day, with different brigand leaders controlling different groups of men. The one rule Outlaws Rest has that is paramount is that nobody messes with the well in the center of the town. The well, and the land immediately surrounding it, is strictly off limits to any sort of violence or dirty dealings. Individual brigand leaders will come and go as they will, attacking Gujar or moving towards the Merchants Highway. While Krane is the supposed leader of the city itself, he has no influence outside the Wildlands. Ourissas Religions There are many different gods and goddesses worshipped on Ourissa, and religion can have anywhere from a minor to a very major impact on peoples lives. Gods and Goddesses in Nimrodel are normally real beings, a powerful dragon or elemental that actually does speak to its cult leader and perform miracles, though these are generally very few. The city states do not have one specific faith, but rather dozens of these small cults, with each holding its own tax exempt temple. The gods do not pay taxes to the cities, and in return they do not meddle in city affairs, at least that is the theory. To most, religion is a matter of faith and of prayer, and most people will belong to a single religion, but only as part of a social network. Only the most devout and fanatical are privy to the words of the actual god, and different cults religious leaders behave in different ways, though they are almost always strange. The Tribes take matters of religion slightly differently. The entire Tribe worships a single deity, who they believe to be a spiritual figurehead that guides them in times of crisis. And because the Tribes are generally more devout than people of the cities, their gods often do. The religions of specific tribes are detailed on that Tribes government section. Most of the Sea Peoples do not belong to a specific cult, although their major faith is that of the Possessed. Merchants by design, very few non Possessed worship the Kraken, and they merely keep the Possessed around as an engoing manipulative business venture, trying to manipulate the powerful Kraken into furthering their cities and their culture. However, the Possessed are all but completely controlled by the devious Kraken, and it is often unknown who is manipulating who. One interesting faith of note is the cult of the Black Lynx, which was incredibly small until only recently, and has since exploded in size in Varans, mostly on the Archipelago and in Pirae. This diety is worshipped in the guise of a great black Lynx statue, and its Deacons are said to have frightening supernatural abilities. Their congregations meet at night, and in the last three years they have obtained a large following and quite a bit of money, many new temples being built. Before this surge there used to be only a single temple to the Lynx God in Pirae. Specific Faiths The four major faiths of note in the city states are as follows. Others follow the Black Lynx, still others worship the temple of Cecillia in Jadesh, or the same gods as the seven Harakkan Tribes. Some in Ayotya even worship the Centaurs fire god Ari. On top of this, there are many smaller faiths, usually based on a single temple within a single city. Orun, god of the mountains. Rumored to be a great white dragon who lives atop Mount Ulum. It is possible he is the same diety worshipped by the Arakani. His worshippers wear white robes and a dragons eye is their symbol. Shevi, goddess of the ocean. Possibly a powerful elemental, though none know for sure. It is highly unlikely that Shevi is in reality the Possesseds Kraken. Her followers are said to wear nothing and douse themselves with water in services. Her symbol is the teardrop island of Himal. Hator, otherwise known as mother earth. Likely a powerful Dry'cha, though it is unknown if she lives in Ourissa or not. Hator is known to be worshipped outside Ourissa as well, her faith was brought by the Sea Peoples from the great city of Mu in the south. Her followers wear robes of light green and are always vegetarians. Jinxis, goddess of the wind. It is not known exactly what Jinxis really is, other than a powerful diety. The triple moons of Ourissa are associated with her, and they are her symbol. Her priests wear glittered robes of black, sparkling and representing the night sky. Jinxis is worshipped outside Ourissa as well, her faith brought by the Sea Peoples from Mu along with that of Hator. The Dry'cha Almost nothing is known about the Dry'cha, other than that they live somewhere in the great forest, and are worshipped by the Yaksas and even some of the Tanjans as gods. It is unknown if they have their own religion, or if they live in one community or many scattered ones. Only the oldest and wisest scholars have any information about them at all. Their leaders are known as Patriarchs or Matriarchs. What is known is that the Dry'cha are immortal, and value age above all things. The eldest tree herder in a given community will be the leader, though they will normally ask for consensus from the group before making decisions. They are very territorial, seeing a certain region of the forest as theirs, and protecting it with a fury that is difficult to match. Dry'cha have a very ancient and strict moral and ethical code, and they will not break their word once uttered. One hundred years ago, the Dry'cha had a great battle with the people of Tanja, where thirty or perhaps fewer of the tree herders fought and nearly defeated an entire army of Legionarres. Following this great battle a truce was signed by both parties, the original document in the Marble Hall to this day. The people of Tanja agreed to plant one tree for every tree they fell, and not fell a single tree beyond a certain distance east of the Sarasva river. Free to cut into the forest west of the Sarasva, the Tanjans agreed to this deal, and the Dry'cha have not been heard from since. However, it is this very deal and encroachment into the West that has aggravated the Yaksas recently, and a new war is brewing. Centaur of the West The western Centaur are a barbarous lot, who live in constant warfare with each other, and with any civilized settlement who happens to get close enough to their lands. They are a simple people, culturally, religiously and politically. Every time a winged Centaur is born, known as a Pegasus, the tribe will split in two, for every Pegasus must lead their own tribe. At the time of parting this will be a solemn thing, families deciding which ruler they want to stay with, with little bloodshed. A regent will take control of the new fledgling tribe until the Pegasus is of age to lead his or her people, which will normally be quite young. Pegasus Centaur mature quicker than the normal sort, and live much longer. However, once the Regent hands control to the Pegasus, all ties to the former tribe are lost. A war will begin, for the only way to make your tribe bigger is to kill the Pegasus of other tribes. Every Centaur must belong to a tribe, after all. This political system has plunged the great west into centuries of war, only the rule of the Pegasus Kings absolute. The Pegasus King is simultaniously the political, military and religious leader of his or her tribe. The Pegasus worship the sun god Ari, who they believe give them the Pegasus as a manifestation of his own will. It is unknown what Ari actually is, but the Pegasus weild powerful fire magic, and their god will speak to them in visions in dire times. Fires are sacred to the Centaur, and they worship at bonfires that send their prayers up in smoke to their god. It is forbidden to pray to Ari at night, for he is not there to hear your prayers after the sun goes down. Sea Peoples Capitalism is the form of government for the Sea Peoples, and they are ruled near completely by various trading guilds, all of whom barter and bicker with each other in an incredibly complex and Byzantine social structure. Bribes and assassinations are commonplace, with families looking after their own and their profit margin. To an outsider a Sea Peoples city is impossibly complicated, with all sorts of rules and regulations that will refer only to a specific guild or a specific section of the city, or a specific species of the Sea Peoples seven races. Trading guild leaders make and argue over the laws, and money is the closest thing they have to a god. The Sea Peoples refuse to put their nose in non Sea People business, lest they add even more confusion to their already fractured political system. There are Sea Peoples city all over Nimrodel, Kobbes being but one. However, Kobbes is a large city, and it controls all the trade between Ayotya, Varans, and the great city of Mu to the south, where Humans and Sea Peoples live in tandem. There are many smaller towns in Ourissa, one in the Cove at Himal, one under the Varanian Archipelago, yet another somewhat southeast of Ayotya. However, Kobbes does not exactly rule these, even though the guild heads of the region likely live in the coral tower. The two outliers to this confusing political system are the Possessed temples, and the Manta Knight Corps. The Possessed are fueled by the machinations of the Kraken, and are the Sea Peoples only real religion. They bring magical enchantments and wisdom to the Sea Peoples, at the expense of at times placating the evil and manipulative Kraken. The Manta Knight Corps, on the other side of things, are sworn to protect all Sea Peoples cities and trading ventures, whatever they may be. They lie outside the normal political system, and do not care for profit margins or the like, only working to protect the system from outside attack, by monsters or men. Every guild pays a tithe to the Manta Knight Corps to fund their protection, and like any insurance policy, this is one of the few things the guilds will not skimp payments on. The Great City of Mu Far to the south, past the great storm and farther than any Ourissan has ever travelled, is the great city of Mu. It is said to be a sprawling metropolis, larger than both Varans and Ayotya put together, and it makes Ourissa look like a barbarous land. Sea Peoples traders come from there, and it is said that in Mu Sea Peoples, Humans and even Dry'cha live in concert, though the Centaur are not known there. Many technologies have come from this land, chiefly gunpowder and firearms which came only recently. On very very rare occasion a human from Mu comes to Ourissa along with the Sea Peoples, although the number of travellers who do so mark maybe a single person per generation. None from Ourissa ever make the returning trip. Many Ourissans do not even know the city by name, just knowing of it as the lands past the southern storm.