Year 201 AS (After Settlement)Eseria was a bountiful and empty land when the first settlers arrived and established themselves in Firstport ( later known as Stormport). As the people grew and spread, central rule was nonexistent and loose affiliations to local leaders bound men for common security but beyond that, freemen were in charge of their destiny.
Land heaved under the growing numbers of people and several domains arose, with the warriors, mayors, chiefs and captains taking charge, albeit with grudging consent rather than outright love.
All this changed with the Storms. As beasts attacked and land failed, people flocked to those more capable, who in return granted them protection. But that protection was not free and over few short generations, people became serfs, huddling around small castles and hoping for the light of day each night as darkness brought death to those who did not watch themselves.
The Storms subsided and land became bountiful again, but not all monsters fled and not all men gave up their power - knights and lords became a permanent fixture of the land, just as they were centuries ago in the now forgotten homelands.
Those who sought different life flocked to the cities, where coin and wit were king and where the sheer mass of humanity kept the worst out. It did little to improve the men themselves and the “free cities” became both the worst and the best of what man was capable of.
Now, the lands are in a state of flux - all signs in the heavens and in the water point to new Storms, beasts rear their heads once more, but the land is still rich and people are eager to face adversity with their heads held high.
Drowner - With webbed hands and feet, these man-shaped monsters covered in mud and slime will devour anyone foolish enough to roam their territory alone
Manticore - Resembling a large lion with stunted leathery wings and a scorpion's tail, it is one of the apex predators of Eseria
Direwolf - A wolf size of a bear. Very hungry and very angry. Enough said
Spidercrab - An unholy union of overgrown spider and a deep-sea arthropod with large pincers and tough shell. Will embed you in its webbing to then rip you in half with pincers to drink your juice from a convenient wrapping.
Wyvern - One of few "noble" monsters of the swamps, it resembles an elongated dragon, with long, slithering body, short legs and large wings. It dwells in the canopies of the larger trees, picking clean the swamps with its long neck and sharp bite.
Owlbear - Run. Now.
Stormspawn - No creature resembles the other, each a twisted and disgusting hybrid of two beings that should not have been crossed. Haphazard mutants, their residue is a vile poison. bulk of monsters invading during storms.
Gheist - A man posessed by the evil spirits of the Storms, severl times stronger and more wicked than any man. Spirits bend him out shpe and frame but retain enough intelligence to wield weapons or consort with others, sometimes they go berserk as well
Troll - Furry, hunched hunks of meat, they live in variety of climates, hunting smaller prey and marking their territory with their powerful claws.
Unit rosterTrent GreysteelTrent, this year began with the dark clouds over the horizon and snowfall in the northern mountains. These are out of season, a mark of the impending problems and darkness coming over the land.
Yet, your small realm is strong and rich, your lords rallied behind you and willing to march with you. Lowlanders might be bothered by beasts, but you are safe behind your gates and with tall mountains on all sides, you are untouchable. Whatever you decide, your land is secure... for now.
At the moment, there is ever-increasing demand for iron from your mines and the merchant cities demand ever greater quantities. You will have to make new arrangements with them if you are to profit from this.
There might be other issues as well, but those will become clear once you hold court and speak to your bannermen. Each of them administers a portion of your domain as a hereditary fief and keeps their own revenues, but provides you with leal service and troops if you need them. but be sure to keep an eye on them.
Prince VishkarThe Lake Kingdom that you inherited was once bountiful and pleasant land. It still is in many aspects, but the Storms depopulated many a town and what remains are fishing villages on the shores of the waters of your land. But even there they cannot find respite, as drowners and beasts from the hills harass your people. Trade has dried up and what little resources are left are focused on subsistence.
Yet, there is will to rebuild it and your lords, though wary of you and your predecessor’s wrathful legacy that might arise, are behind you. What your people need however, is security. If you can put the land at ease and get the country connected again, you might be in the best position on the continent.
Lord Mayor Morghaen up VelkyrodVelkyrod, Velkyrod, city of wonders and wealth. mugs and merchants, princes and paupers, all living within tight confines of the city walls, while outside manors and fiefs of the city dwellers supply them with everything they need. Alas, everything they want is traded for and the city is the richest place on the continent. Or so you think.
Storms have not been kind, smashing ships and cutting you off, but there was brief respite, allowing you to rebuild and bring the wealth back in. Others were not idle however, with Northaven and Stormport doing the same. While you might dominate the west, they dominate the east and everyone is fighting for the untapped inland.
While Palensk is keeping majority of beasts away, there is a lot of empty land between you and others and that is where the beasts roam, looking for prey and barring way to traders. If Velkyrod is to survive and beat the competition, you must re-establish trade, or perish.
Józef RajuncPalensk is finally at peace. The lands are under your family’s rule again, the monsters are kept on the other side of Matec and your warriors are probably the finest on the continent, swinging the sword and lance with skill and ferocity rarely matched by other knights.
Yet, you sit uneasy. The elector counts are watching you and they see someone who proved them wrong. To challenge these lords might be something that any sovereign has to deal with, but in your case, you face even larger problem. Your coffers are not as great as others and hussars, despite providing feudal service, still need good coin to provide for their entourages and horses.
Matec is the ultimate border, a wise man would turn east to others for opportunities. Yet, the west is the unknown and what more, untapped. Whichever way you pursue, you must ensure you do not get strangled by the problems at home.
Sara GallieneSara, your land is peaceful and untouched by Storms as much as others. It is a blessing and a curse, for the peace is reinforced by isolation of your land. Yours was always a land of sullen quiet and gloomy forests, untamed hills but also of fearful and estranged people. Despite your proximity to the first landing sites in Stormport, this corner of the continent came to be most isolated of all.
Your isolation has it's benefits - beasts are not as numerous and being in everyone's backyard means you do not have to worry about invaders. But your people yearn for contact and growth, they yearn for light in their lives. Or you can deliver them power. But will that bring them, and you, any respite. The storms are growing and you have to find a way past them.
Falrak OberithValden is a scarred land. Fleeing across the whiterun and the subsequent bother from many a beast left you with little respite. Yet, you are secure for now. You live, but you will not survive if you do not grow.
You are not the only people in Eseria and strangely, you are not the only isolated ones, although yours is one of choice rather than desire.
While in the past it proved to be a source of security and trade now it barrs you from reaching others. If you are to survive, you must thrive and that will not happen without external help. After all, are you not keeping them safe from the bother of the monsters that lay beyond the Whiterun?
You know however, that far in the south there are massive mountains, far surpassing the Ironpeaks. These virgin lands, while occupied by beasts, were always a lure for your people who pushed towards that land like a beacon. Maybe if you manage to do that again, you just might find riches greater than anywhere else….
It is late, so sheets will come tomorrow. But for now, feel free to take these in and start the play. Since we are in a limbo before sheets arrive, you can RP in the past or with each other.
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Topic: Lords of Eseria [6/6] - Claim the land! (Read 4949 times)