Post by ★|Sayu on Jul 30, 2018 10:47:04 GMT -7
3.1 Hierarchy
In society, the balance between Chaos and Order are a life defining aspect of its people. Every continent has its own way of governing themselves and keeping order, as well as dealing with the challenges and situations they have to overcome as their population grows and advances. In Glayp'nier the lands and people are ruled by the King and Queen and their Adviser, based on a system described in ancient texts, only here the King isn't chosen by the gods, but by his people, for his hard work and efforts.
At the very top of the hierarchy are the King and Queen of Glayp'nier.
The Prince and Princess are just one tiny step below that being not quite fit to rule but deserving the respect of the Royal Family.
One step lower you will find the Dukes, each with their own part of the country assigned to them that they rule over. Each region acts as a contributor of resources or services to the rest of the country.
Barons, Marquis and Lords are the last step before Counts and Nobles who together rule the various Guilds and Cities.
The Military and Guards as well as religious authorities are on a separate playing-field entirely, with varying amounts of authority over other tiers.
All together these forces lead and govern over the civilians of the kingdom.
3.2 Regions
There are seven major regions each governed by their own Duke and various Guilds: Tith, Fayanway, Dechant, Furiar, Sensous and Novernin as well as the four outlying islands; Nebag, Riktun, Silver, and Joyas
Tith, to the far north of the continent, houses its capital of the same name. The city was once a trading city like Recudor, but built on tradition as it was a fishing village. It became a popular hideout for thieves and assassins but was taken by the pagans during a religious war and has since then been Occupied. The Duke Hullhan who ruled over Tith was a man who strongly believed in technological advancement and thus was a big supporter of the scientists in Global and the military of Teyness. He was executed by the Pagans and his head hung from the arch of the main gateway. The Pagan Resistance is comprised of purist magicians who worship nature and the old ways and despise technology, believing it to bring about an unnatural way of life that will lead the world to ruin. They are split into various different factions and don't pose much of a threat these days after the war had ended, but constantly harass the outlying cities and villages, claiming more and more land for themselves. The region itself is wildly overgrown with nature having taken back most of the cities and villages over time. The resources available there are currently largely unknown.
Dechant is the center of the continent and houses both the Teyness Military Colony as well as the capital of the Country; Global. It's the most technologically advanced region and contains the richest and biggest cities in all of Glayp'nier. It is a hub for Science and Development. It also harbors the King and Queen and their Adviser who govern the rest of the kingdom. The people who live there live a wealthy life and cherish progress above all else. Global is under the protection of Teyness and the Royal Order who are sometimes at odds with one another.
The military colony within Dechant used to be home to a mercenary guild which in later years became a large military force, governed by many different leaders over the time. Currently it stands in contract with Global, protecting it from the Pagans and Bandits that roam the area and acting as the countries military power. The people in Teyness are hard-headed and Proud folk, ranging from mercenaries, to warriors, mages and soldiers. Most of its population is comprised of people who are able to fight and those willing to support them. The city itself is built on top of a massive prison and mining complex, where prisoners work to supply the continent with mineral resources.
Nebag was once a mining colony, inhabited by a great deal of people. It was home to the second biggest city, inhabiting an entire island to the brim. The island to this day holds many resources and much gold, but is seldom visited. A long time ago an artifact from the old world crashed from the heavens, destroying a good third of the island. The artifact carried a disease that slowly spread among the people and turned them into bizarre and odd creatures, giving them strange powers but claiming their sanity as this progressed. The island is uninhabited aside a few secure locations used to this day to mine for resources. It also holds a small colony of sprisoners where people are sent to dig for resources for Global and Teyness, earning their freedom while slowly being destroyed by the disease.
Furiar, the Farmers domain, hosts its capital of Na’Hog. They used to be an independent bunch but have long since been claimed by the King to supply the island with food. They work closely with the traders from Recudor but are trying to reclaim their independence from the Kingdom.The people who reside there are hard working and close-knit. Believing in tradition and festives and a healthy lifestyle without politics or war. While farms and crops can be found all over the continent, the land within Furiar seems almost blessed with good fortune and high yields of goods.
Sensous on at the western coast is home to Soiyam, the scavenger's city built on the ancient ruins of the old world. These ruins were swallowed whole by the mountains and are the biggest remaining ruins left on the continent. The people of Soiyam are mostly scavengers and traders, and scientists working on salvaging the old world bit by bit and surviving by selling their knowledge and inventions. Soiyam was also where the first Spellweave was built, by a genius inventor who has long since passed on and whose apprentice now works in Global on advancing the world.
Novernin to the southern coast houses the main trading city and cultural hub of Glayp'nier; Recudor. With a massive population the city expanded to the shores, and has become the main harbor for foreigners to dock and trade. The city isn't exactly wealthy but there are many riches and much fame to gain for the average tradesman or traveler. Often times the ctiy is a big attraction for people all over the world as Glayp'niers cultural hub. Recudor hosts most of the festivals outside of Global and Na'Hog, and has many attractions for travelers, entrepreneurs and businessmen.
Fayanway to the east is home its capital of Leirotuet. While in the past merely a wealthy city it has flourished greatly under the guidance of the Dukes, Guilds and various prestigious families, despite the King's continued absence. Despite its relatively small size the Moreau family had an Academy built that serves as an institute for the research and development of magical spells.
3.3 Politics
About roughly eighteen years ago, from our current time, a faction of magic purists stepped into the light. Making themselves known as the Pagan Resistance, they threatened governing bodies to stop seize expansion and development of the technology, seeing it as far to dangerous and corrupt compared to the magic they had been given by the gods after what they call the great reawakening. After the continued research, development and construction of technology, both with Protraction and without, the Pagan Resistance announced war against all neighboring factions who opposed them. They had begun to raid villages, stage attacks of terrorism on cities and newly built factories, and had even taken over a good bit of territory. The army of Teyness along with the Church of the Eye eventually beat them back which resulted in a a treaty. The Pagan Resistance has mostly been dissolved since then, as far as the populous is concerned. Occasionally rumors of attacks, however, continue to appear throughout the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the rumors of a strike between Na'Hog and Recudor has been largely confirmed as with the increasing foreign population demand and, consequently, prices have gone up substantially. Wages and trades have gone down in equal measure, leaving the farmers to fend for themselves financially. Claims have arisen that Na'hog has received no support from either Global or Recudor, and as of recent, the Duke has disappeared, leaving his wife to govern the land.
3.4 Religion
With each of the surfacing religions come one or more variety of gods that uphold all kinds of tasks. As the population on Glayp'nier grew a few of such religions have solidified themselves as the norm all around the continent. Whether they are based on a real deity that governs them or are a mere fabric of the imagination is a matter of belief varying from person to person.
The Eye has been the main religion on Glayp'nier for as long as people can remember. The Church of the Eye believes in a goddess called the Seraph that watches over them and answers their Prayers. A lot of their beliefs follow the old-world Christian system under the guidance of the Seraph. Followers of the Eye believe that other religions are paganism as there can only be one True God and for them it is the Seraph. Many people have said to have received premonitions and messages from the Seraph, or even seen her in the flesh, but to this day there is no physical evidence of the goddess to be found. Still, the Eye follows their beliefs with conviction and without doubt and has even waged wars against other religious groups in the past. The Seraph is said to have the ability to bless her followers with wisdom, insight, and holy power and has protected the ancient tribes. It is believed that she will hand-pick those who she believes to be righteous to cleanse the land of any evil and secure the Eye as the one true religion.
The Seekers are a group of paladins handpicked by the Church of the Eye as an extension of its executive will. Deployed across Gaea with the backing of the Church and its assets, these knights seek to fulfill their assigned task as if it was directed by Seraph herself. Because of their religious affiliations, their presence garners a varied reception from the people of Gaea. Followers of Seraph look positively upon their paladins and will offer assistance in most cases, while others dislike or even abhor them, such as the Pagans. In receiving Seraph's blessing, the Seekers are a prime target of some of Gaea’s more detestable monsters, namely demons. Although they’re trained to deal with said demons, it's not uncommon to hear of the stalwart defenders of the Eye succumbing to more powerful demonic foes.
The other somewhat prominent religion in the west is based on a legend of a Goddess called Chinatsu who was supposedly responsible for humans falling in love and the health of their children. Chinatsu however was said to be an abusive goddess, making a man fall in love with a beautiful woman and marrying her only to take his wife and children from him or causing stillbirths just to see how the humans would react. Anytime the other gods tried to intervene she excused her actions under the guise that this was all part of her plans to build a stronger more fruitful bond between people. Eventually she was set up by some of the other gods and a flaw in her excuses gave the gods enough reason to destroy her. One of them, however, decided that death was no solution and that the only way for Chinatsu to be truly punished was to live out a mortal life and fall prey to the same evils she had sown for generations. Deciding this was the best course of action she was stripped of her power and status and now travels all around Glayp'nier every year to repent for her sins against humanity.
The Huli Temple is a massive temple to the north east of Glayp'nier where monks and shrine maiden worship the supposed reincarnation of Chinatsu.
3.5 Known Factions
Over the course of time many factions as well as social and religious groups have come together all throughout the continent of Glayp'nier. Some have their best in mind while others may wish for nothing but mischief. Working together or apart these factions aim to complete their goals and occasionally support one another through whichever challenges are in their path, whether good or bad. On the other hand other factions would rather remain hidden to instead pursue their beliefs and wants outside of the view of observing eyes.
The Royal Body is lead by the King and Queen and their Royal Adviser and contains the Royal Family, Royal Guard, and various smaller political groups, as well as the dukes and duchess', barons and baroness' of the land.Little more than a generalized group, reserved for only leading members of the continent, the Royal Body governs most of Glayp'nier and its outlaying islands. They are the ruling force of most cities and areas and act as the guiding force of the people on Glayp'nier. The bloodline of the Royal Family is said to contain the powers of the gods, with the King being the medium of those gods. The Royal Family has passed its duties along strictly within the family for generations, there-while never once failing to produce a worthy heir to the throne, who is selected by the gods to be King past his father and rule the continent.
The Teyness Military was Initially a band of thousands of Mercenaries,and has since grown into the single biggest military force on the continent. Instated and absorbed by the Royal Body they now act as a military and police force to protect the continent from all kinds of dangers. There are rumors that they sometimes conduct special exercises in and around the continent. In the past, the Teyness Military has been at war with the Pagan Resistance, dubbed so by the Church and Military officials. Though initially varied, the religious beliefs of Teyness have over time converted to the same values and beliefs the Royal Body and the Church of the Eye holds; following the same goddess and religion.
The Pagan Resistance is believed to be full of non-believers, cultists, devil worshipers and criminals come together to form a paramilitary group against the Royal Body and the Teyness Military. Often confused for a group of crazed bandits and sects, the Pagan Resistance has taken over numerous cities around the continent, re-building their numbers slowly and steadily.
After a great war they were beaten back by the Teyness Military and have since been dormant, keeping to their own cities and regions, though tensions are still high and reports of numerous occasional assaults still come in from time to time.
The League of Assassins is nothing more than a rumor, really, and are suggested to be a group of legendary assassins that roam the continent strategically taking out high-key targets. Many unsolved murders are blamed on this rumor and some bandits will claim to be part of the League of Assassins, though this has so far always proven to be nothing more but a hoax or some cry for attention. No evidence of any real League of Assassins existence has ever come to light, and what little investigations crop up always lead back to the rumor being nothing more than folklore and scapegoats.
The Harvest Community Party, with most of their members being farmers and traders from Na'hog and Recudor, follows their goal to create a self sufficient Region, that doesn't have to rely on the other guilds and the Royal Body for support in their daily lives. There have been political tensions between the HCP and the Trader's Guild in Recudor for a long time, as the both rely on one another for trade and survival. By now the HCP is even in conflict even with the local Farmer's Guild who in turn believe they should work with the other guilds to build a sustainable and fruitful economy together.
The Crimson Claw is a notorious group of outlaws and bandits, taking their origin from Na'hog. Initially the Crimson Claw started as a group of extremists, seeking to oppose the Royal Body and the Trader's Guild and protesting for the sake of better treatment and respect as well as supplying a way for the people of Na'hog to stand up against the government bodies. Their motives and beliefs have long since been scrambled, and the Crimson Claw mostly acts as a raiding party, occasionally raiding villages or stealing valuables from the main cities. They are relatively few, and they don't have much of a presence, though they have been growing in numbers as of late.Rumor has it the Recudor Underdogs and the Crimson Claw have formed an alliance together.
The Recudor Underdogs were originally a high-society black market formally known as The Fine Print Society and have been making a living by selling illegal goods, services, and information in and around Recudor, sometimes even selling a guilds secrets to other guilds. The reputation of the underground society has fallen in the last couple of years, and they desperately act as a supplier for anything, to anyone who has enough money. The group has been losing more and more members ever since the new Duke inherited Recudor when his father passed away. With the new laws and the militia making the prospect of more legal activities over police raids seem like a good alternative to such a dangerous lifestyle. Rumor has it the Recudor Underdogs and the Crimson Claw have formed an alliance together.
The Militia was a small and rather unique group of militants who had their origin as the Recudor Militia, acting as a guiding force for Mercenaries and want-to-be Guardsmen. They made business handing out bounties, supplying their missions in hopes of keeping sanctioned parts of the city safe. The group has been steadily growing and now offer these services all across the continent in all the major cities and as of late some of the bigger villages.
The Church of the Eye is the biggest religious body on the continent. With the exception of a few sub-belief systems most followers of the church believe in a god-like entity described as a seraph angel who guides all living things. They own a sizeable task-force of skilled mages and demon hunters but generally do not openly believe in unnecessary violence.
The Royal Order of Knights was established two years after the monarchy on the continent of Glayp’nier by the King of that time. These knights were handpicked by the king to secure the future of Glayp’nier’s prosperity and it's government. The knights are chosen for their skill, intelligence, and ability to complete even the most daunting tasks. Assigned to one particular mission at a time, the knights complete their objectives, with little regard for most laws. Their feats spread throughout the country, giving the position a considerable amount of prestige amongst the commonwealth. Some people however, view the Order in a negative light; seeing their various shortcomings as a sign that their stature is undeserved. In recent years the current king has become more reclusive. As such, recruitment falls mostly on the knights themselves or to a much lesser degree, applications.
The Moreau Family is a prestigious family of extremely talented mages who have dedicated their lives and the lives of their future generations to improving all magic in the world and creating a bright future for humanity. In recent years their discoveries and inventions have nearly catapulted humans on Glayp'nier into a new age of magic-technology. This breakthrough warranted the opening of two large towers and an academy dedicated to the study and teachings of next level magic.
3.6 The Eastern Continent
The continent of Ao Diago has a rather troubled history. It was the late emperors belief that the east should be united under one banner, however it were his methods that set him apart from his son; the new emperor. While the old empire strived for unification by free will and contract the new empire believes in a more forced approach. Ever since the late emperors passing the empire has raged war on the rest of the continent slowly taking over more regions every day. The resulting mass exodus of easterners fleeing to the north and west has created it’s own conflicts within other countries.
3.7 The Northern Continent
The continent of Kakushi Tengoku is a small collection of islands surrounding an island-continent that mostly keeps to itself. The amalgamation of old nordic design with classic asian values make them stand out a good bit. Not a whole lot is known about their culture and beliefs but from time to time some travelers will make their way down from the north.
3.8 Points of Interest
Shades Peak - A village lost to the northern forests and overgrowths. It use to be a very pronounced fishing village but has long since been lost to the pagan resistance.
Castle Tith - Once a prestigious castle full of the latest technological advancements it has been reclaimed by nature and now stands as the headquarters of the pagan resistance.
Nebag Ruins - What little remains of the grand mining colony on Nebag. The city and its castle have long been abandoned due to the intense monster activity now threatening the island.
Camp Montis - A military camp initially built to prevent the pagan resistance to assault Harn’s Keep from the water and secure the Bridge Checkpoint. It is now largely used for training military cadets.
Harn’s Keep - This castle overlooks a small village on the western extension of Glayp’nier but is largely disconnected from the rest of the world. It’s rare to see travelers coming from or going to Harn’s Keep and as such the Keep and it’s village has been surrounded in mystery for the past 20 years or so.
Riverside Keep - The keep houses military supplies and reinforcements that occasionally patrol the area between there and the Bridge Checkpoint.
Lakeview Keep - This abandoned keep has been subject to many explorers disappearance. The area around the keep has been largely overtaken by swamps and lakes and thick forests but remain unexplored as of late years.
Groston Slums - The slums between Teyness and Global are quite massive and house a large population of eastern refugees and rejects who couldn’t make a proper living in Global. The slums sustain themselves by leeching off both cities and making due with what they can get their hands on.
Mizu Village - A small settlement of northerners who had come from the harsh north to settle in a warmer climate. Initially they were very recluse and didn’t welcome outsiders but have since tried to keep up a relationship with the rest of the country.
Severin Farms - These large farms to the west of the continent supply goods to the nearby city of Soiyam. However in recent years the pathways through the mountains have been full of bandits and thugs making transportation of goods incredibly dangerous.
Heroes Tavern - This rather extravagant and large Inn is a gathering hub for adventurers and travelers. Anyone from the local drunk to even the occasional Knight can be found telling their stories here. It’s incredible popularity has risen only in the last couple of years and has since then attracted quite a lot of people from all over the world.
Golding Manor - The manor of a wealthy count. It stands proudly amidst an unnaturally dark forest and overlooks a nearby lake.
Drunnbase - The village underneath the drunnberg ruins was built out of necessity when the majority of the original city slid off the mountain in an earthquake.
Drunnberg Ruins - The original city ruins of Drunnberg which was largely claimed in an earthquake.
Vuno Village - A rather unique city that has made its living making wine and ale in the mountains. It is a large supplier of alcoholic drinks across the continent.
Lakeshire - A small close-knit village that is built next to a large lake. It’s population claims to live in the most beautiful village on the whole continent which stands to reason given their large grassy plains and striking hillside.
Dericott Farms - A collection of farms to the west of Leirotuet. It is also where the local supply of ale is made.
Castle Leirotuet - The castle of the duke of Fayanway, located in the eastern part of Leirotuet.
Argentum - A town located north of Silverstein Keep. The island it's a part of, is off the south western coast of Glayp’nier.
Silverstein Keep - The keep was built to keep mining operations safe as the island, appropriately named; Silver, offers a large supply of rare minerals.
Clithrow - A town located at the edge of a forest bordering the mountain range north of Recudor. Rumors of ancient ruins located at the base of the mountain have recently been confirmed, lifting the curtain on new discoveries.
Castle Recudor - The castle of Duke Rappax Lux, located in the western side of Recudor. It oversees the city and is connected by a bridge hanging above the sea.
Castle Vikuur - Northeast of Recudor lays Castle Vikuur, which was recently revealed to be a vampire stronghold. It was abandoned shortly after and left to ruin.
Blackwinters - A small city east of recudor that has seen a great influx of eastern refugees making a living there.
In society, the balance between Chaos and Order are a life defining aspect of its people. Every continent has its own way of governing themselves and keeping order, as well as dealing with the challenges and situations they have to overcome as their population grows and advances. In Glayp'nier the lands and people are ruled by the King and Queen and their Adviser, based on a system described in ancient texts, only here the King isn't chosen by the gods, but by his people, for his hard work and efforts.
At the very top of the hierarchy are the King and Queen of Glayp'nier.
The Prince and Princess are just one tiny step below that being not quite fit to rule but deserving the respect of the Royal Family.
One step lower you will find the Dukes, each with their own part of the country assigned to them that they rule over. Each region acts as a contributor of resources or services to the rest of the country.
Barons, Marquis and Lords are the last step before Counts and Nobles who together rule the various Guilds and Cities.
The Military and Guards as well as religious authorities are on a separate playing-field entirely, with varying amounts of authority over other tiers.
All together these forces lead and govern over the civilians of the kingdom.
3.2 Regions
There are seven major regions each governed by their own Duke and various Guilds: Tith, Fayanway, Dechant, Furiar, Sensous and Novernin as well as the four outlying islands; Nebag, Riktun, Silver, and Joyas
Tith, to the far north of the continent, houses its capital of the same name. The city was once a trading city like Recudor, but built on tradition as it was a fishing village. It became a popular hideout for thieves and assassins but was taken by the pagans during a religious war and has since then been Occupied. The Duke Hullhan who ruled over Tith was a man who strongly believed in technological advancement and thus was a big supporter of the scientists in Global and the military of Teyness. He was executed by the Pagans and his head hung from the arch of the main gateway. The Pagan Resistance is comprised of purist magicians who worship nature and the old ways and despise technology, believing it to bring about an unnatural way of life that will lead the world to ruin. They are split into various different factions and don't pose much of a threat these days after the war had ended, but constantly harass the outlying cities and villages, claiming more and more land for themselves. The region itself is wildly overgrown with nature having taken back most of the cities and villages over time. The resources available there are currently largely unknown.
Dechant is the center of the continent and houses both the Teyness Military Colony as well as the capital of the Country; Global. It's the most technologically advanced region and contains the richest and biggest cities in all of Glayp'nier. It is a hub for Science and Development. It also harbors the King and Queen and their Adviser who govern the rest of the kingdom. The people who live there live a wealthy life and cherish progress above all else. Global is under the protection of Teyness and the Royal Order who are sometimes at odds with one another.
The military colony within Dechant used to be home to a mercenary guild which in later years became a large military force, governed by many different leaders over the time. Currently it stands in contract with Global, protecting it from the Pagans and Bandits that roam the area and acting as the countries military power. The people in Teyness are hard-headed and Proud folk, ranging from mercenaries, to warriors, mages and soldiers. Most of its population is comprised of people who are able to fight and those willing to support them. The city itself is built on top of a massive prison and mining complex, where prisoners work to supply the continent with mineral resources.
Nebag was once a mining colony, inhabited by a great deal of people. It was home to the second biggest city, inhabiting an entire island to the brim. The island to this day holds many resources and much gold, but is seldom visited. A long time ago an artifact from the old world crashed from the heavens, destroying a good third of the island. The artifact carried a disease that slowly spread among the people and turned them into bizarre and odd creatures, giving them strange powers but claiming their sanity as this progressed. The island is uninhabited aside a few secure locations used to this day to mine for resources. It also holds a small colony of sprisoners where people are sent to dig for resources for Global and Teyness, earning their freedom while slowly being destroyed by the disease.
Furiar, the Farmers domain, hosts its capital of Na’Hog. They used to be an independent bunch but have long since been claimed by the King to supply the island with food. They work closely with the traders from Recudor but are trying to reclaim their independence from the Kingdom.The people who reside there are hard working and close-knit. Believing in tradition and festives and a healthy lifestyle without politics or war. While farms and crops can be found all over the continent, the land within Furiar seems almost blessed with good fortune and high yields of goods.
Sensous on at the western coast is home to Soiyam, the scavenger's city built on the ancient ruins of the old world. These ruins were swallowed whole by the mountains and are the biggest remaining ruins left on the continent. The people of Soiyam are mostly scavengers and traders, and scientists working on salvaging the old world bit by bit and surviving by selling their knowledge and inventions. Soiyam was also where the first Spellweave was built, by a genius inventor who has long since passed on and whose apprentice now works in Global on advancing the world.
Novernin to the southern coast houses the main trading city and cultural hub of Glayp'nier; Recudor. With a massive population the city expanded to the shores, and has become the main harbor for foreigners to dock and trade. The city isn't exactly wealthy but there are many riches and much fame to gain for the average tradesman or traveler. Often times the ctiy is a big attraction for people all over the world as Glayp'niers cultural hub. Recudor hosts most of the festivals outside of Global and Na'Hog, and has many attractions for travelers, entrepreneurs and businessmen.
Fayanway to the east is home its capital of Leirotuet. While in the past merely a wealthy city it has flourished greatly under the guidance of the Dukes, Guilds and various prestigious families, despite the King's continued absence. Despite its relatively small size the Moreau family had an Academy built that serves as an institute for the research and development of magical spells.
3.3 Politics
About roughly eighteen years ago, from our current time, a faction of magic purists stepped into the light. Making themselves known as the Pagan Resistance, they threatened governing bodies to stop seize expansion and development of the technology, seeing it as far to dangerous and corrupt compared to the magic they had been given by the gods after what they call the great reawakening. After the continued research, development and construction of technology, both with Protraction and without, the Pagan Resistance announced war against all neighboring factions who opposed them. They had begun to raid villages, stage attacks of terrorism on cities and newly built factories, and had even taken over a good bit of territory. The army of Teyness along with the Church of the Eye eventually beat them back which resulted in a a treaty. The Pagan Resistance has mostly been dissolved since then, as far as the populous is concerned. Occasionally rumors of attacks, however, continue to appear throughout the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the rumors of a strike between Na'Hog and Recudor has been largely confirmed as with the increasing foreign population demand and, consequently, prices have gone up substantially. Wages and trades have gone down in equal measure, leaving the farmers to fend for themselves financially. Claims have arisen that Na'hog has received no support from either Global or Recudor, and as of recent, the Duke has disappeared, leaving his wife to govern the land.
3.4 Religion
With each of the surfacing religions come one or more variety of gods that uphold all kinds of tasks. As the population on Glayp'nier grew a few of such religions have solidified themselves as the norm all around the continent. Whether they are based on a real deity that governs them or are a mere fabric of the imagination is a matter of belief varying from person to person.
The Eye has been the main religion on Glayp'nier for as long as people can remember. The Church of the Eye believes in a goddess called the Seraph that watches over them and answers their Prayers. A lot of their beliefs follow the old-world Christian system under the guidance of the Seraph. Followers of the Eye believe that other religions are paganism as there can only be one True God and for them it is the Seraph. Many people have said to have received premonitions and messages from the Seraph, or even seen her in the flesh, but to this day there is no physical evidence of the goddess to be found. Still, the Eye follows their beliefs with conviction and without doubt and has even waged wars against other religious groups in the past. The Seraph is said to have the ability to bless her followers with wisdom, insight, and holy power and has protected the ancient tribes. It is believed that she will hand-pick those who she believes to be righteous to cleanse the land of any evil and secure the Eye as the one true religion.
The Seekers are a group of paladins handpicked by the Church of the Eye as an extension of its executive will. Deployed across Gaea with the backing of the Church and its assets, these knights seek to fulfill their assigned task as if it was directed by Seraph herself. Because of their religious affiliations, their presence garners a varied reception from the people of Gaea. Followers of Seraph look positively upon their paladins and will offer assistance in most cases, while others dislike or even abhor them, such as the Pagans. In receiving Seraph's blessing, the Seekers are a prime target of some of Gaea’s more detestable monsters, namely demons. Although they’re trained to deal with said demons, it's not uncommon to hear of the stalwart defenders of the Eye succumbing to more powerful demonic foes.
The other somewhat prominent religion in the west is based on a legend of a Goddess called Chinatsu who was supposedly responsible for humans falling in love and the health of their children. Chinatsu however was said to be an abusive goddess, making a man fall in love with a beautiful woman and marrying her only to take his wife and children from him or causing stillbirths just to see how the humans would react. Anytime the other gods tried to intervene she excused her actions under the guise that this was all part of her plans to build a stronger more fruitful bond between people. Eventually she was set up by some of the other gods and a flaw in her excuses gave the gods enough reason to destroy her. One of them, however, decided that death was no solution and that the only way for Chinatsu to be truly punished was to live out a mortal life and fall prey to the same evils she had sown for generations. Deciding this was the best course of action she was stripped of her power and status and now travels all around Glayp'nier every year to repent for her sins against humanity.
The Huli Temple is a massive temple to the north east of Glayp'nier where monks and shrine maiden worship the supposed reincarnation of Chinatsu.
3.5 Known Factions
Over the course of time many factions as well as social and religious groups have come together all throughout the continent of Glayp'nier. Some have their best in mind while others may wish for nothing but mischief. Working together or apart these factions aim to complete their goals and occasionally support one another through whichever challenges are in their path, whether good or bad. On the other hand other factions would rather remain hidden to instead pursue their beliefs and wants outside of the view of observing eyes.
The Royal Body is lead by the King and Queen and their Royal Adviser and contains the Royal Family, Royal Guard, and various smaller political groups, as well as the dukes and duchess', barons and baroness' of the land.Little more than a generalized group, reserved for only leading members of the continent, the Royal Body governs most of Glayp'nier and its outlaying islands. They are the ruling force of most cities and areas and act as the guiding force of the people on Glayp'nier. The bloodline of the Royal Family is said to contain the powers of the gods, with the King being the medium of those gods. The Royal Family has passed its duties along strictly within the family for generations, there-while never once failing to produce a worthy heir to the throne, who is selected by the gods to be King past his father and rule the continent.
The Teyness Military was Initially a band of thousands of Mercenaries,and has since grown into the single biggest military force on the continent. Instated and absorbed by the Royal Body they now act as a military and police force to protect the continent from all kinds of dangers. There are rumors that they sometimes conduct special exercises in and around the continent. In the past, the Teyness Military has been at war with the Pagan Resistance, dubbed so by the Church and Military officials. Though initially varied, the religious beliefs of Teyness have over time converted to the same values and beliefs the Royal Body and the Church of the Eye holds; following the same goddess and religion.
The Pagan Resistance is believed to be full of non-believers, cultists, devil worshipers and criminals come together to form a paramilitary group against the Royal Body and the Teyness Military. Often confused for a group of crazed bandits and sects, the Pagan Resistance has taken over numerous cities around the continent, re-building their numbers slowly and steadily.
After a great war they were beaten back by the Teyness Military and have since been dormant, keeping to their own cities and regions, though tensions are still high and reports of numerous occasional assaults still come in from time to time.
The League of Assassins is nothing more than a rumor, really, and are suggested to be a group of legendary assassins that roam the continent strategically taking out high-key targets. Many unsolved murders are blamed on this rumor and some bandits will claim to be part of the League of Assassins, though this has so far always proven to be nothing more but a hoax or some cry for attention. No evidence of any real League of Assassins existence has ever come to light, and what little investigations crop up always lead back to the rumor being nothing more than folklore and scapegoats.
The Harvest Community Party, with most of their members being farmers and traders from Na'hog and Recudor, follows their goal to create a self sufficient Region, that doesn't have to rely on the other guilds and the Royal Body for support in their daily lives. There have been political tensions between the HCP and the Trader's Guild in Recudor for a long time, as the both rely on one another for trade and survival. By now the HCP is even in conflict even with the local Farmer's Guild who in turn believe they should work with the other guilds to build a sustainable and fruitful economy together.
The Crimson Claw is a notorious group of outlaws and bandits, taking their origin from Na'hog. Initially the Crimson Claw started as a group of extremists, seeking to oppose the Royal Body and the Trader's Guild and protesting for the sake of better treatment and respect as well as supplying a way for the people of Na'hog to stand up against the government bodies. Their motives and beliefs have long since been scrambled, and the Crimson Claw mostly acts as a raiding party, occasionally raiding villages or stealing valuables from the main cities. They are relatively few, and they don't have much of a presence, though they have been growing in numbers as of late.Rumor has it the Recudor Underdogs and the Crimson Claw have formed an alliance together.
The Recudor Underdogs were originally a high-society black market formally known as The Fine Print Society and have been making a living by selling illegal goods, services, and information in and around Recudor, sometimes even selling a guilds secrets to other guilds. The reputation of the underground society has fallen in the last couple of years, and they desperately act as a supplier for anything, to anyone who has enough money. The group has been losing more and more members ever since the new Duke inherited Recudor when his father passed away. With the new laws and the militia making the prospect of more legal activities over police raids seem like a good alternative to such a dangerous lifestyle. Rumor has it the Recudor Underdogs and the Crimson Claw have formed an alliance together.
The Militia was a small and rather unique group of militants who had their origin as the Recudor Militia, acting as a guiding force for Mercenaries and want-to-be Guardsmen. They made business handing out bounties, supplying their missions in hopes of keeping sanctioned parts of the city safe. The group has been steadily growing and now offer these services all across the continent in all the major cities and as of late some of the bigger villages.
The Church of the Eye is the biggest religious body on the continent. With the exception of a few sub-belief systems most followers of the church believe in a god-like entity described as a seraph angel who guides all living things. They own a sizeable task-force of skilled mages and demon hunters but generally do not openly believe in unnecessary violence.
The Royal Order of Knights was established two years after the monarchy on the continent of Glayp’nier by the King of that time. These knights were handpicked by the king to secure the future of Glayp’nier’s prosperity and it's government. The knights are chosen for their skill, intelligence, and ability to complete even the most daunting tasks. Assigned to one particular mission at a time, the knights complete their objectives, with little regard for most laws. Their feats spread throughout the country, giving the position a considerable amount of prestige amongst the commonwealth. Some people however, view the Order in a negative light; seeing their various shortcomings as a sign that their stature is undeserved. In recent years the current king has become more reclusive. As such, recruitment falls mostly on the knights themselves or to a much lesser degree, applications.
The Moreau Family is a prestigious family of extremely talented mages who have dedicated their lives and the lives of their future generations to improving all magic in the world and creating a bright future for humanity. In recent years their discoveries and inventions have nearly catapulted humans on Glayp'nier into a new age of magic-technology. This breakthrough warranted the opening of two large towers and an academy dedicated to the study and teachings of next level magic.
3.6 The Eastern Continent
The continent of Ao Diago has a rather troubled history. It was the late emperors belief that the east should be united under one banner, however it were his methods that set him apart from his son; the new emperor. While the old empire strived for unification by free will and contract the new empire believes in a more forced approach. Ever since the late emperors passing the empire has raged war on the rest of the continent slowly taking over more regions every day. The resulting mass exodus of easterners fleeing to the north and west has created it’s own conflicts within other countries.
3.7 The Northern Continent
The continent of Kakushi Tengoku is a small collection of islands surrounding an island-continent that mostly keeps to itself. The amalgamation of old nordic design with classic asian values make them stand out a good bit. Not a whole lot is known about their culture and beliefs but from time to time some travelers will make their way down from the north.
3.8 Points of Interest
Shades Peak - A village lost to the northern forests and overgrowths. It use to be a very pronounced fishing village but has long since been lost to the pagan resistance.
Castle Tith - Once a prestigious castle full of the latest technological advancements it has been reclaimed by nature and now stands as the headquarters of the pagan resistance.
Nebag Ruins - What little remains of the grand mining colony on Nebag. The city and its castle have long been abandoned due to the intense monster activity now threatening the island.
Camp Montis - A military camp initially built to prevent the pagan resistance to assault Harn’s Keep from the water and secure the Bridge Checkpoint. It is now largely used for training military cadets.
Harn’s Keep - This castle overlooks a small village on the western extension of Glayp’nier but is largely disconnected from the rest of the world. It’s rare to see travelers coming from or going to Harn’s Keep and as such the Keep and it’s village has been surrounded in mystery for the past 20 years or so.
Riverside Keep - The keep houses military supplies and reinforcements that occasionally patrol the area between there and the Bridge Checkpoint.
Lakeview Keep - This abandoned keep has been subject to many explorers disappearance. The area around the keep has been largely overtaken by swamps and lakes and thick forests but remain unexplored as of late years.
Groston Slums - The slums between Teyness and Global are quite massive and house a large population of eastern refugees and rejects who couldn’t make a proper living in Global. The slums sustain themselves by leeching off both cities and making due with what they can get their hands on.
Mizu Village - A small settlement of northerners who had come from the harsh north to settle in a warmer climate. Initially they were very recluse and didn’t welcome outsiders but have since tried to keep up a relationship with the rest of the country.
Severin Farms - These large farms to the west of the continent supply goods to the nearby city of Soiyam. However in recent years the pathways through the mountains have been full of bandits and thugs making transportation of goods incredibly dangerous.
Heroes Tavern - This rather extravagant and large Inn is a gathering hub for adventurers and travelers. Anyone from the local drunk to even the occasional Knight can be found telling their stories here. It’s incredible popularity has risen only in the last couple of years and has since then attracted quite a lot of people from all over the world.
Golding Manor - The manor of a wealthy count. It stands proudly amidst an unnaturally dark forest and overlooks a nearby lake.
Drunnbase - The village underneath the drunnberg ruins was built out of necessity when the majority of the original city slid off the mountain in an earthquake.
Drunnberg Ruins - The original city ruins of Drunnberg which was largely claimed in an earthquake.
Vuno Village - A rather unique city that has made its living making wine and ale in the mountains. It is a large supplier of alcoholic drinks across the continent.
Lakeshire - A small close-knit village that is built next to a large lake. It’s population claims to live in the most beautiful village on the whole continent which stands to reason given their large grassy plains and striking hillside.
Dericott Farms - A collection of farms to the west of Leirotuet. It is also where the local supply of ale is made.
Castle Leirotuet - The castle of the duke of Fayanway, located in the eastern part of Leirotuet.
Argentum - A town located north of Silverstein Keep. The island it's a part of, is off the south western coast of Glayp’nier.
Silverstein Keep - The keep was built to keep mining operations safe as the island, appropriately named; Silver, offers a large supply of rare minerals.
Clithrow - A town located at the edge of a forest bordering the mountain range north of Recudor. Rumors of ancient ruins located at the base of the mountain have recently been confirmed, lifting the curtain on new discoveries.
Castle Recudor - The castle of Duke Rappax Lux, located in the western side of Recudor. It oversees the city and is connected by a bridge hanging above the sea.
Castle Vikuur - Northeast of Recudor lays Castle Vikuur, which was recently revealed to be a vampire stronghold. It was abandoned shortly after and left to ruin.
Blackwinters - A small city east of recudor that has seen a great influx of eastern refugees making a living there.