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| The East: Arlien, Dunmadragh | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 4 2010, 02:48 AM (193 Views) | |
| Davick | Jun 4 2010, 02:48 AM Post #1 |
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Squire
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UNDERGOING CHANGES (Written and created by Aelruil) Introduction: Arlien An ancient kingdom of myth and legend, Arlien is a sub-section of the expansive Dunmadragh forest that blankets eastern Alnoroth, though they inhabit the vast majority of it in small pockets. Largely unexplored by men, Dunmadragh and the crescent of mountains within created a perfect sanctuary for the exiles of Daelgar. Over a thousand years those exiles with the blessing of the godess Liresa founded a shining kingdom built upon the values of respect for the earth and pacifism that even now remains undiscovered by the rest of the world. Ruled by the immortal Queen Jilandra from the capital city Velias, Arlien is host to one of the most unique military forces on Alnoroth with a people adapted to the near-eternal darkness of Dunmadragh's vast woods thats boughs see little sunlight. Masters of archery and the art of tracking, Arlien's militia are dead eyes without mercy, devoted to the protection of their sanctuary. Ruling over the land and its armed forces are the five Arliath Lords, men (and woman) who have excelled in their mastery of the bow and highly respected figures charged by the Queen to maintain peace and prosperity. ![]() Velias Religion The Arlien people worship the god Liresa, warden of all things that live and grow. Depicted both as a lithe woman and as a great bear, she is very much the heart of society and the foundation of their kingdom as legend tells it was the godess herself that welcomed the exiles into her glade and offered them sanctuary from the corruption of mortal men. The gentle bears native to the region are also revered as avatars of the godess and treated with the upmost respect, often allowing them into their homes and among their families as exaled guests. Liresa is said to come before the enemies of Arlien in the event that their Queen is under threat, having blessed the chosen monarch with long life to secure her soveirengty. ![]() Liresa Military Trained from a young age to handle a bow, both males and females are drafted into service from their earlly teens with the consent of their parents. Highly disciplined and taught the values of respect and valor the recruits are often put through harsh tests of survival in the wilds of Dunmadragh, forcing them to hone their senses in the darkness against predators (mainly wolves) though they are not left to death, their instructor often close enough to save them should they fail. Swift and silent the milita of Arlien is designed with the purpose of keeping their kingdom safe and hidden, tracking men that venture into their woods and putting them down without ever giving a hint of them ever being there. In numbers they are a force to be reckoned with, using the trees as vantage points as well as cover, capable of raining death upon large groups of attackers before moving again to repeat the process. While they certainly favor their home environment they would not be entirely helpless on an open field either, their swifter movements allowing them to close or put distance between themselves and an enemy force while their keen senses give them a strong advantage in night battles. Arlien rangers are lightly armored in leather tunics that are designed to provide as much flexibility as possible, leaving the arms exposed. Generally favoring bare foot while on patrol, only the Arliath are known to wear any kind of boots. Hooded olive cloaks allow them to remain concealed where their pale skin would give them away, though are light and easily discarded should the need arise. Lorosan oak, a tree found only in the glade of Arlien makes the base for most of their weapons, specially crafted bows are both light and durable with personal touches made for each ranger as weapons are passed down through families. Thin daggers of steel with carved wooden hilts allow them to engage in melee combat should the need arise, making the most of their agility while full length blades are reserved only to the Arliath and their leuitentants as steel is difficult to come by with only one mine in the kingdom rich in it. Arrows use sharpened wooden heads instead of metal, but are no less deadly as the crafters of Arlien have perfected the art over centuries. ![]() Arlien Ranger Physical Appearance Arlien folk do not differ too greatly from most men, but their are some distinct differences that set them apart from the rest of the worlds men and women. To begin with, they are typically shorter than a typical person, the average man reaching just above five feet in height as an adult. Slightly elongated fingers and toes give greater mastery of knocking arrows and climbing trees while their narrow eyes can pick up on small details that would evade most and also give them greater vision in darkness. Most curious of all however is their ears with their tips pointed towards the top and stretched slightly, granting them a natural ability to pick up sounds from a distance. Pale skin is also a natural side effect from their nocturnal way of life, much closer to white than to the pink that is familiar to outsiders. Society The people of Arlien vary depending on the areas they live in. Those within Velias hold the respected jobs and duties such as scholars, priests, artists, musicians and philosophers. There are ten areas that are governed by the Lords outside of Velias, each one varies in its uses. For instance, the areas that are by either of the two rivers that pass through the forest contain fisherman and those within an area with a large amount of clearings farm the open land. The most common job however is that of the hunter, but this task is usually handled by the military that roam the forest. Due to an almost non existent threat of intruders, the rangers that make up most of the army are usually tasked to hunt the wildlife and supply the surrounding homes and villages while a portion of the force is left on the borders. Bears are the only creature within the forest that are left unhunted due to the appearance of Lorosa, instead they are treated as companions and some are trained to follow simple commands and can be used in battle is needed. Owls are also treated as companions and trained to carry messages between the regions of the forest. Arlien folk are known to live to up to two hundred years old, allowing them to hone their skills over time. The people of Arlien are mostly very religious, believing their home to be provided by the bear Deity Lorosa who watches them and keeps them safe. There are priests dotted about all over the kingdom in the most populated areas, giving spiritual guidance and serving as advisers to the fifteen lords. Homes are generally built like log cabins wherever there is room but there is a set limit as to how many trees they are able to take from each month, so as not to break the trust of their god who provided for them and ruin his domain. There are very few non house structures outside of Velias, but here and there shrines to Lorosa stand amongst a group of homes and all business' are operated from within their cabins. Some of the poorer folk live in the trees, carving homes out of the thick trunks. Political Structure Arlien is governed by a single monarch, a Queen descended of an ancient line of women from the founding of the kingdom. This Queen has direct power over every member of her kingdom, defiance will almost always result in imprisonment and depending on how severe the treason is sometimes execution. Ruling from the seat of power in Velias, the Queen is rarely seen outside of the waterfront city, only roaming into the forest on special occasions or during the festival of the dragonflies. Her palace is guarded by the first two Arliath and their respective regiments as well as several elite archers that line the walls. The Queen herself is not versed in any form of combat and relies entirely on the serving two lords. It is said however that if she were to ever come into direct harm should her guardians fall, Lorosa himself will come to her defense ... but this has never been witnessed as no threat big enough has ever been present in Arlien. The fifteen lords that serve directly under the Queen are chosen based on their families and their aptitude in combat. As such the strongest and wisest lord is the first and the rest of the numbers down to fifteen are given based on the same values, fifteen being the weakest. The first two lords remain within the palace itself and serve as her personal guardians while, the next three guard the city itself and the other ten are positioned throughout the forest with their own regiments. Each lord governs their own region appointed to them by the Queen, taking care of the people within it and dealing with the political duties. Velias Palace ![]() Historical Information Thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Arlien people were said to have come from a kingdom by the name of Daelgar in the far south of Alnoroth. In ancient times the kingdom was beset by conflict and razed to the ground by ravaging armies from the north, in a desperate attempt to preserve themselves, the city guards attempted to escort as many survivors as they could away from the fighting, traveling north east in hopes of finding a place to rest. Originally they had stumbled upon Dunmadragh and attempted to settle there, only to be constantly under assault by the hostile wildlife. In the night wolves would use their camps as a hunting ground. Eventually it was decided that they could remain there no longer and moved further east, eventually stumbling upon a steep mountain range at the edge of the forest. Following the mountains south they came across a valley covered in a thick layer of mist. Warily they made their way through, as the mist began to clear they came upon another forest. It was a for boding place, dark and silent but with it came a sense of peace. As they entered they were confronted by an enormous bear with trees jutting from its flanks. The bear identified himself as Lorosa, a diety from times of old where gods roamed Alnoroth freely. The settlers explained their situation and the bear god offered them refuge in his domain. The woman, Saylia, was chosen to be the ruler of the new order they intended to begin and was the first Queen of the realm they called Arlien (Haven). The Arliath would not be established until much later when the kingdom would expand. There has only ever been one documented war in the history of the kingdom in which the Arliath rebelled against their Queen in order to take control. The conflict ended with the deaths of countless men and women, in the end the Arliath responsible took their own lives in shame of the atrocities they had committed at the Shrine of Lorosa. This would in later years be remembered in the Festival of the Dragonflies. Traditional Events The Festival of the Dragonflies is a traditional celebration held at the Shrine of Lorosa every year during the summer. When the fifteen Arliath that began the first civil war took their own lives, it is said that dragonflies of equal numbers entered the shrine and made their home among the ponds. The celebration is attended by every person in the realm, the Queen included who makes a personal appearance at the shrine. The Arliath however remain in Velias, at this time they hold an annual meeting, the shame of their predecessors stops them from celebrating the festival. Queen Jilandra The Immortal Queen Jilandra is just as much an icon of the Arlien people as its godess Liresa, having supposedly ruled since the founding of the kingdom thousands of years ago. In legend, Jilandra was the daughter of the noble house that had lead the exiles of Daelgar to Dunmadragh, young and naive her only contribution to the journey had been through her kind heart and enthusiasm. Though the exiles faced many challenges on their perilous expedition into Dunmadragh, it all payed off when the young woman was confronted with the image of a great bear, standing fourty feet above the relatively tiny Jilandra. The bear named itself Liresa and promised that she and the rest of the exiles would be granted sanctuary in the godess' glade; Arlien. With the mighty bears aid, Jilandra lead the refugees through dark forest and misty mountain until at last they arrived in what they had considered to be their promised land. Jilandra was appointed leader by both the godess and her people, her personality melding to fit her new role as she came to be both wise and devout. Thousands of years later Queen Jilandra still sits on the throne of the now capital Velias, maintaining her rule from within the walls of her shining palace, only standing before her people once a year, acting as the silent hand that guides the tools of her reign; the Arliath. While it is widely accepted as truth that the Queen is actually immortal, widely circulated theories suggest that the Queen is a figurehead, a symbol used to inspire the people and keep them in line. Skeptics speak of a conspiracy in which young girls of a similar age and appearance to the Queen are taken to replace the current monarch in order to maintain the illusion of immortality. The Queen's extravigant appearance would make it difficult to be able to discern any difference between women, her skin is painted white to show a connection with her people, having been originally from Daelgar and living in Velias (the only place in Arlien with sunlight) she lacks the pale complexion that her people do. The Arliath The Arliath are the governors and protectors of Arlien society as a whole, numbering fifteen in total. Chosen by the ruling Queen, these individuals are experts in their chosen style of combat but are all proficient in archery. Usually taken from powerful families that have bred these Lords of Arlien over the generations, they are said to be noticed through visions given the monarch. Females are rarely given a seat, but it is not unheard of. Arliath are appointed numbers, the highest being one and the lowest fifteen. These numbers are allocated based on strength and wisdom and the areas they govern are assigned to certain numbers. The first and second Artliath remain within the palace, protecting the Queen and her servants. Three, four and five are charged with protecting and governing the capital city of Velias and help train recruits into the Arlien armed forces. The final ten watch over the forest kingdom, each one given a district. They deal with protecting the borders and keeping the citizens happy. Each one is in possession of considerable wealth and has power to over rule any decision not supported by the Queen. Garbed in olive cloaks the lower ten Arliath generally keep concealed within the dark forest undergrowth, no trespasser has yet been able to slip past one of them and enter the kingdom. The second, third, fourth and fifth are cloaked in a similar manner, but in golden rather than olive to show their nobility and position. The first lord is always covered in his white cloak to show his purity and absolution above the other fourteen, though he is rarely seen outside of the palace. He is essentially in charge of the other fourteen though rarely exercises this right. Each year during The Festival of the Dragonflies the fifteen lords gather in the Court of Arliath to discuss important topics regarding the future and the past. They rarely deliberate among themselves outside of this event. When one of them dies or retires, a new one is chosen by the Queen. Depending on their skill level the numbers allocated to each Arliath can change as the new member can be given a position already taken if they prove more powerful than the current seat holder. The most recent example being Aelruil, who took the position of first, forcing his predecessor to step down to second and those below him to shift down a seat. Their seat is determined through a series of trials and duels with the currently seated Arliath. |
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| Davick | Jun 4 2010, 03:42 AM Post #2 |
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Squire
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Introduction: Dunmadragh Dunmadragh is a harsh, unforgiving forest that covers almost all of the mid eastern portion of Alnoroth. Home to some of the fiercest beasts and creatures in the world, it is rarely traveled by men without good reason. In times past the forest was used as a hiding place for tyrants and brigands, occasionally being used to shroud vast armies on the war path. Thousands of years ago, the people of Daelgar had attempted to settle here after a great war had ravaged their homes and some of the remnants of their old civilization there still remain. Those daring enough to explore them will find a high price for the relics recovered there. It is from these ruins that the myths of the kingdom of Arlien were created, though they are inaccurate. In the far east a ring of mountains prevents explorers from moving any deeper, the only way through being a narrow valley covered in mist. No one that has ventured into the valley has ever returned to tell of its location or what lays beyond, it is rumored that the spirits of the damned lurk in the fog and claim the lives of any who stumble inside. For the most part, Dunmadragh is void of any form of human life beyond the western edges where brigands from the north make their camps, hoping to avoid the scouting parties of Velossen. Rumors are often spoken around camp fires and taverns of sightings of cloaked men moving through the trees and stealing peoples lives in the night but are often regarded as tales to ward people away from the forest. Lorosa and the Creation of Dunmadragh There was once a time when Alnoroth was the domain of gods, numbering seven in total. They were revered by the still young mortals of the world and helped shape the land to their liking. Still unexplained to historians or religious figures to this day, there was a dark age that soon followed in which the seven took up arms against their brothers and sisters. The war was long and bloody, the land they had tried to shape was almost ravaged entirely by their unrelenting fury. At that time, the god revered by the Arlien's known as Lorosa was known under a different name; Liresa. Liresa was depicted as an enormous bear with chestnut brown fur and similarly colored trees growing from his hide. His appearance was deceiving, as he was one of the most timid and caring of the seven, tending to the flora and fauna of Alnoroth. When the war began he was the last to strike at his kin, opting to continue his work while they fought around him. Eventually however, Pordos came to challenge him. The mighty bear rose to the challenge and the battle began, claw and trident coming to blows as their powers clashed. They fought for almost a full year without rest before Liresa was victorious, tearing at the throat of his opponent with his thick claws. Grievously wounded, Liresa retreated to the only portion of the land that had been untouched by the war, a forest far to the east that he had taken so much time in creating. It was here, in this forest that he created his recluse, the trees that once stood no more than thirty feet tall were now in the hundreds, the ground below shrouded in darkness. Mountains were raised to shelter his own portion of the forest and a haven was made, hidden from the vision of unwanted visitors by a thick of layer of fog and mist. When his work was complete, Liresa rested in his newly created glade, a portion of his once mighty power lost from the wounds inflicted upon him and the energy used to create his new home. Adopting the name Lorosa, he remained in his glade for the remainder of the war, safe. When there was but one other god left, he made no effort to confront her, still weak from his wounds. In time he grew lonely and created creatures to roam his new realm with him, bears as timid as he that made the forest their home. It would remain this way until the arrival of the refuges from Daelgar when he would welcome them into his home and help them build a kingdom for themselves. Now he watches over his newly named home, Arlien, with care and affection, tending to his hidden glade. (Credit goes to Aelruil) |
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