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+ | ======Daria====== | ||
+ | * [[roleplaying: | ||
+ | * [[roleplaying: | ||
+ | The Kingdom of Daria spans all the coastal lowlands from the River Jarlsblut in the north to the Peaks of Dawn in the south. Once, Daria claimed all lands to the Druidwash, but these ambitions were smashed in the Twenty Years War. After this stinging defeat, King Kron ordered the construction of a huge wall, as high as four men and 40 feet thick, running from the River Jarlsblut to the lake. Kron declared the wall a defense against further attacks by the barbarian Ambrians , and ever since then, Daria has isolated itself from Ambria completely, as the wall was built with no gates. | ||
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+ | Since the time of the Twenty Years War, Daria has been ruled by a series of petty despots, each of whom has used the army more for terrorizing the populace than harassing neighboring Kingdoms. The current king, Zephrahm IX, is of a somewhat different mold, however. He rules Daria with a proverbial iron hand . Zephrahm has capitalized on Daria' | ||
+ | ===== Roleplaying Synopsis ===== | ||
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+ | Daria' | ||
+ | ===== THE LAY OF THE LAND ===== | ||
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+ | Daria is primarily composed of coastal lowlands. These are covered by grain fields and a few small deciduous forests. The climate is very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter, and is always humid. | ||
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+ | Some of the areas along the seacoast and Lake Bellora are very marshy, and home to swarms of mosquitoes and biting flies. Large wildlife is uncommon except in the Peaks of Dawn, where there are fewer humans. The climate there is also cooler and drier, due to the higher elevation. | ||
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+ | ===== LIFE IN DARIA ===== | ||
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+ | The lifestyle of the average Darian is marked primarily by thankless toil. The earth is not especially fertile, and the peasants must labor from dusk to dawn in order to make a living. As a result, few Darians have the time or energy to foster a rebellion against their oppressive rulers. The King rules through the military, which traditionally has been kept in line through fear of the Royal Wizard. This loyalty is reinforced by superstitions that one will not sit in honor with his ancestors in the afterlife if he betrays the King. Many Darians have attempted to escape the dismal farming life of the peasantry by moving to Darius or Ulgrad, Daria' | ||
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+ | About the only chance a commoner has to escape his lot in life is to join the military. The Darian army is very well-trained and equipped. Officers are accorded a great deal of respect, and even foot soldiers are given many privileges. A soldier may take any food and clothing he needs from commoners, even though the army is paid well. While the general populace may grumble about this, most accept it, as they accept most misfortune, as yet another necessary hardship of life. | ||
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+ | Darians practice ancestor-worship, | ||
+ | ===== PLACES OF INTEREST ===== | ||
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+ | **Darius**: the capital of Daria, Darius is a burgeoning city of 500,000 citizens. The city is centered around the Royal Citadel, a fortress-like structure made of black granite. More fortifications are also being built at the present time. The city's buildings are generally ugly and utilitarian. The only exception is the tower of Sarador, the Royal Wizard, which is a 350' tall obelisk of black and white marble. It can be seen from anywhere in the city. | ||
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+ | Sarador is a cool, calculating man who aids King Zephrahm to the best of his ability, but many Darians suspect he has darker secret motivations. The King himself is a devious and petty man. He cares nothing for the citizenry, and would gladly have the entire population of a city killed if it would assure him a place in the history books. | ||
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+ | **Ulgrad**: Much like Darius, Ulgrad is a sprawling city of dull, functional buildings. Somewhat smaller (pop. 300,000), Ulgrad' | ||
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+ | **Vlaskarov**: | ||
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+ | **Kron' | ||
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+ | **The Peaks of Dawn**: These low mountains are similar to the U.S. Appalachians, | ||
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+ | The Dwarves mine the region, and are excellent warriors and craftsmen. They also claim all of the low mountains as their own, and brook no incursion to their sovereignty. Their existence has been a thorn in the side of the Darian kings for 500 years, but a dedicated effort to drive them from the hills was never attempted until the time of Zephrahm IX. The King currently has dispatched an entire legion (25,000 men) to hunt down and kill any Dwarves spotted. Many border skirmishes have already occurred, with inconclusive results, but since the entire Dwarven population numbers no more than 10,000, it is only a matter of time before they are driven away or exterminated. |