|
|
(Note: Map is temporary, hopefully a much nicer looking one will be coming along sometime soon.)
In the realm of imagination there exists the land of Boerengia, inhabited by people both similar to the denizens of our world and others that are vastly strange and inhuman. They know of no lands outside their own continent, which has been ravaged by countless wars in days gone by. Today, the 5285rd year by the Mages Guild calendar, things are relatively peaceful in the lands. Peasants live out their lives toiling away, mages study musty tomes within their towers, and soldiers maintain order within the civilized lands.
You, however, are different. For whatever reason, you have chosen to venture outside the safety and somewhat humdrum existence of the civilized empires into the unsettled Border Lands. Perhaps you have been cast out for crimes against your own people, mayhaps the desire for adventure has lead you into the wilds, or perhaps you simply seek free land to establish your own homestead. You have come to the town of Xebec's Demise, perhaps from rumors of a resurrection site being established, or perhaps because it contains the only inn for a good days travel in any direction.
Civilized Lands:
Granthean Empire - The primarily Human empire that predominates the western portion of the continent. It was established in your father's time or perhaps your grandfather's time, depending upon your age, but so far it has been relatively stable. Perhaps from the wisdom of the monarchy, the prosperity of the guilds, or the lack of any real effect on the life of the average peasants.
Orcish Empire - The long-standing empire of Orcs and Ogres fills the center of the eastern edge of the continent. This empire is a militaristic clan society, with Orcs living by the standards of a system of honor and combat and Ogres acting as advisors and counselors.
Dunewalker Kingdom - This ancient kingdom has declined in power since years long past due to war and the tides of fortune. Merchants, scribes, and workmen inhabit the cities in the southern region of the Great Desert that make-up this nation.
Aberdyne Forest - This haven of the Elves is located north of the Orcish Empire. Beautiful cities are said to exist within the depths of the forest, but no non-Elf has managed to find them as far back as anyone can remember. Very few Elves are ever seen alive outside these woods, and they refuse to discuss their homeland or perhaps they cannot discuss it.
Troll Lands - Not exactly most people would consider civilized lands, but most travelers can find refuge from one tribe of Trolls or another in the northern portion of the Great Desert. These people are not known for being cultured, but they are known to be hospitable.
Uncivilized Lands:
The Moors - The homeland of the Moor Cats, though by no means a safe or civilized land. It is said that all kinds of strange and terrible creatures make their lairs in the dark swamps, and that the Moor Cats hunt them all. The Moors are the major feature of the northern edge of the continent.
The Border Lands - A combination of plains and woods that exists between the civilized lands and the Moors. No one legitimately claims these lands or controls them. Farms and ranches dot these lands, as well as ruins of attempts at civilization, caves that were once attempts at mines, and the occasional camp of nomads, bandits, or worse. The only real cities that exist out in this area are Waifton, a town of Waifkin that is rarely inhabited by them, and Xebec's Demise, a small town that has grown up around the Long Hope Inn.
Money
The most widely accepted monetary system of the land is coins backed by the human empire and its mercantile organizations. They are:
Karls are the smallest coin and worth 1/10 of a Crown, which in turn is worth 1/10 of a Noble.
(Hopefully get some scanned coin pics in here..)
The Months
(Human names,which were spread by merchants and in fairly common usage.)
(A poem used to teach children the months.)
In the days of Greenrise the new lambs are born,
Stumbling and blue-eyed, too young to be shorn.
Sleepy fields awake to Promisetide rain,
and wait for the sower a-casting the grain.
Juven is for the children, Karlus, the land;
Suntide the picnics and weddings are planned.
In Harvestide the dowry and harvest to gather,
But in Hearthmoon the old men their beer would rather.
Brightmoon shines on in the skies overhead
Until Argentide scholars the stars-seas have read.
Silent as a barn owl Stillmoon comes and goes,
Followed by Destine that every child knows,
At last comes Fortune, and shouting, and games!
Children run everywhere and learn all the new names!
(Note: In older versions of the rhyme, the months Promisetide and Karlus are Covenant and Jubilium and the month Destine is not even named, replaced with "the month".)
The New Year begins in Greenrise. It is seen as a time of new beginnings when strangers are treated a little more hospitably and many travel about to witness the changes of the previous year and make new connections. It is a very busy month for business as well and deals are made in plenty at every level of society. (April)
Promisetide is the month when trees show new buds and hope runs the strongest. Conversely any ill fortune happening in this month tends to be viewed as earned rather than simply bad luck among the superstitious. It is also called the month of Covenant by some of the older citizens. (May)
Juven is the month of youth and earnest work , so called because children are often left to their own as the parents work the fields or sell livestock. (June)
Karlus is the month of the land, although the Granthean Empire was founded during Suntide, Karlus I celebrated his birthday during this month. In the time before the Empire the month was named Jubilaim celebrating a long forgotten historical event. Karlus I instituted this change to the calendar soon after beginning his reign. Many in the Border Lands still remember it as Jubilaim (July)
Suntide is the time most linked with sun, hot days where people stay in until it gets dark, parties are often held at night. This leads to the association of love and courtship with the month. The earlier months leave little time for social contact. (August)
Harvestide Weddings planned from the previous Suntide are celebrated with the occasional "Short year Courtship" as well. Those wedded without the standard year of courtship are said by some to be those truly lucky in love or foolish. The harvest comes at this time as well. A wedding party often involves a whole town working the newlywed's homestead for a day as a gift. In city areas this tends to be symbolic favors done or small gestures toward supporting the new home, replacing a wall stone etc. (September)
Hearthmoon means beer, the last of the harvest is brought in and new homes are finished. (October)
Brightmoon is a time of remembering those who have passed on during the year, of telling stories and settling debts. The last of traveling happens then as people visit relatives before winter. The poor are given what can be spared for the long winter. (November)
Argentide, also called the season of portents and the silver month. At this time many people ask the advice of the elder generation, pay for portents to be read, and the stars are watched for hints of the future. The superstitious pay all debts in silver if they can. (December)
Stillmoon marks the quietest time if the year traditionally. Even in areas where there is little agriculture people within the empire tend to remain indoors and close to home. Children born in Stillmoon are believed to be gifted in some way. (January)
The days of Destine, or Desteen, are usually the setting for ghost stories and tales of the Gravedigger and other superstitions. Children born in Destine are not publicized until the first of Fortune lest death come looking for them. Even older children are often not allowed out for the entire month.(February)
The last month of the year, Fortune, is a month of wild parties, elections for public office, the Servants Holiday, and annual taxation. Coincidentally a great deal of spending is done in the weeks before the Imperial Tax collectors arrive. (March)
OOG Conversion - So you know what month it is!
Greenrise = April
Promistide = May
Juven = June
Karlus = July
Suntide = August
Harvestide = October
Brightmoon = November
Argentide = December
Stillmoon = January
Destine = February
Fortune = March