Inhabitants

Below you can find information about the personages, factions, and races within the archipelago. Demographically, the archipelago as a whole is 75% human, 10% halfling, 7% elf, 5% dwarf, and 3% all other races. Sucrathists account for about 60% of the total population, with the majority of humans following this religion.

## Personages (PC)

Cornelio Verti

Elway Kidd

## Personages (NPC)

The Bear Man

Bishop Luca Dachund

Count Phillipe Dalquin

Figlily

Hakim ibn al'Kasari

Munar Bottlethane

The Panther

## Factions

### Governments

**Archipelago City-States:** The city-states have more or less come to peaceful agreements on most issues. There is, however, some tension. The other city-states resent Delmirev for allowing pirates to operate with impunity. Sucrathia creates some tension with their lack of acceptance of Primists. Fairwind's rampant use of slavery and close ties to Ventaris ruffle some of the other city-states' feathers as well.

**Asanora:** The once dominant empire of Asanora covered the whole of the northern continent in years past. Now, however they have been relegated to the sidelines as the human empires simply outgrew them. They are still a fierce power that will not roll over, but they certainly know their place. Instead of brute force and manpower, they use magics and subterfuge to attain their goals in the wider world.

**Dwarven Holds:** None know the extent of the Dwarven holds, only that they can be found in every corner of Nasria. Since their defeat at the hands of the elves, they have mostly turned their sights downward, expanding and exploiting the depths of the Underdark. The only above-ground settlements they have are generally explicitly for trade, and they make vast fortunes selling their precious metals, gems, and handiwork to the sunwalkers.

**Rulathar:** The dominant power on the continent of Asanora. This human kingdom is ruled by King Albrecht Rasmus. They are roughly the same size as their rivals, Ventaris, and a tenuous peace is the only type they have ever known. They are known for their centers for education and study. They are, with the help of their close Dwarven allies, the most technologically advanced kingdom in Nasria. They have even been known to field Dwarven canons and firearms in their battles. Though a majority of them are Sucrathists, the larger cities are more tolerant of arcane magic. Some of the Rulatharian universities have even been known to host guest lecturers from the Elven lands. Several small companies of their military are even made of sorcerers and wizards.

**Ventaris:** The ruling power in the continent of Ventaris, the Ventari Triumverate has ruled over their lands for almost as long as human civilization has existed. The religion of Sucrathism was founded in their lands, so they are a highly devout people. Many of the clerics and paladins in the world can be found in their borders. As such, students of the arcane are not welcomed at all.

### Others

**Ash Miners:** This is a group of mostly dwarves (though other races are present) who work in the Skittering Hills of Drajminus to mine the precious dragonash from the dry mesas there. They are a hardy group who are adept at escaping or battling the giant insects found there. An old dwarf named Foreman Malgwar is the leader of this group.

**Bladesingers:** The Bladesingers are the elite military units of the Asanorian Empire. They protect the king and are sent to deal with the most pressing matters of the empire. They are also used to infiltrate enemy lines when needed. An elf is required to have 100 years of training before they can even think of joining.

**Children of Silence:** This group of fanatical paladins patrol the lands looking for heretics who use abominable magics without the church's sanction. They are ruthless and attack any they see without hesitation. Once they have captured a heretic, they will use the rite of purification on them, which involves strapping them to a pole and bombarding them with divine energy. The innocents will be protected by the Father, while the guilt will have the skin ripped from their bones. They answer to no authority save for the church, and they will operate in any region. Archbishop Crowster is the current leader.

**Church of the Father:** This is the religious group devoted to the tenets found within the Gospel of the Father as laid out by Sucrath the Wise. They can be found in every human settlement in some capacity. The range is unlimited, and there is really no corner of the world they do not consider their jurisdiction. Crossing the church gives even kings reason for pause. Speaker Marius the Generous is the current leader.

**Darkstalkers:** This is an ancient order of human monster hunters. They were first formed to strike against the hobgoblins who threatened the whole of the race, and they have stayed relevant since, as there are always threats to civilized lands. The Darkstalkers have now opened up to include any races who want to join, though the only way to gain entry is to be invited and trained by a current member. There is no central authority for this group anymore, and they simply keep on with their tradition and missions without outside interference.

**Freebooters:** The freebooters of the archipelago are a loose coalition of pirate fleets who work to ply their trade while not attracting the attention of the authorities. They can be found on every island, and they employ an extensive chain of lookouts and spies to determine when attacks might be coming. The ruthless dwarf Captain Ironeye is the closest thing they have to any authority figure, as he settles disputes among the younger pirates.

**Golden Scorpions:** Though they act as Drajminus's private military, this mercenary company is still independent and can be found throughout the archipelago. They began as a simple mercenary company, but they are now the largest such group in the area. They are employed mostly to hunt pirates, but they have at times been hired by islands to get rid of other types of dangers. Folc Dalavon is the leader of the company.

**Harvesters:** This group is made up of revenants who are willed to the service of Eddenroth, the primordial god of death. They seek out any who attempt to break the cycle of death by using necromantic or ressurection magics. They also seek to destroy undead wherever they find them. Some living members also join the cause if they are particularly devout Eddenroth followers. Their current leader is the revenant Jiles Freehollow.

**Mirthfolk:** These nomadic travelers make their way through the archipelago entertaining sailors and commoners wherever they stop. They will typically make a circuitous route to travel to every village they can. Ezerae is the half-elf in charge of the troupe currently.

**Primist Shamans:** The shamans of the Primists serve as the ultimate religious authority for those who do not follow the ways of Sucrathism. They have temples in all non-human lands, and even most human ones. They worship and structure is much less rigid, as worshiping the primal gods is more of an individual pursuit. As such, their temples and shrines tend to be less grand that Sucrathists, but many Primists prefer to worship unfettered in nature regardless.

**Roderick's Champions:** This is a guild of adventurers seeking to follow in the footsteps of Saint Roderick. They can be found at nearly any temple or shrine devoted to the saint, and they operate like an adventurers' guild, handing out contracts and selling useful equipment.

**Tomekeepers:** These field scholars travel forth from the Jade Tower in the Elven lands of Asanora to investigate strange magical occurrences or simply gather information from the world at large. They also sometimes delve into ruins to attempt to find secrets within. They have to be careful when traveling in human lands, due to the Sucrathists who would not take kindly to their field of study.