The Russks
These days, Raskia can be broken into roughly four
parts. The first is the southern peninsula, which is the
home to the three Russk nations. Secondly, the central
plains, home to the Geirlish. Thirdly, the western
mountains which house the reclusive dwarves. Finally, the
northern, rugged parts of the continent which have
recently become home to the wandering Kvells.
We shall first examine the Russk nations, home to a
peaceful, agrarian people transformed over the past two
thousand years by harsh circumstances. Only in the last
few centuries have they finally managed to carve a niche
for their people in Raskia.
Often touted as the "Historical Home of the
Russks", this quaint coastal kingdom is ancient in
both appearance and history. Its capital city Attregna
(uh TREY nyah) boasts the magnificent
Bluestone Palace, said to be over fifteen hundred years
old. Its spires are plated with magically shaped lapis
lazuli, giving the palace its name. Russkland's royal
family has resided there since 312 AG, when the country
first gained its independance.
As it is situated on the far end of the southern
peninsula, Russkland's major trading partners both happen
to be Russk kingdoms. It maintains a very friendly
relationship with both Holwich and
Anar. Lately there has been talk of
trade agreements with East Geir.
Russkland's current monarch is Queen Palafons, a bright
and dashing young lady in her early twenties. Her father,
the late King Palabard II, was credited with much of the
kingdom's current well-being. Many of the older residents
fear that the young queen will steer the country in the
wrong direction. Regardless, she's been quite a hit with
the younger citizens.
While things may seem rather nice on the surface in
Russkland, many of Attregna's sages are worried about the
recent events in the
north. They fear that the Kvells will soon turn their
barbarous eyes southward towards the weaker Russk
kingdoms.
With its thriving trade and excellent fertile ground, it
is no wonder that Holwich has recently been called the
chosen land of Pykano,
and its massive capital city, Brell, the "Citadel of
Yvyx". Granted, the
latter isn't much of a compliment, but the people of Brell
don't seem to mind. If there is any city in Raskia where
one can expect to find Visany, Russks, and Geirlish
mingling together, Brell is it.
Many say that the secret of Holwich's success is the
long-lasting reign of the Yvyxian Syndicate, a
quintet of powerful priests who apparently use communion
with their mischievous deity to make governmental
decisions. It is no surprise that Brell is home to a
large number of Yvyx's priests.
Trade routes from Holwich run as far as they possibly
can. Caravans from this Russk nation have been seen as
far away as Cadosha!
The southernmost kingdom of Raskia, Anar is also home to
the land's second-oldest city, Cardosa. Before the
Anfalas War, Cardosa was the capital of the Russk Empire.
Perhaps for that very reason, then, this southern kingdom
retains only a shadow of its former glory. Everywhere in
the kingdom castles and buildings lay crumbling and
unmaintained.
The current ruler of Anar is King Haly VI. He seems to
spend the majority of his time on his deathbed, and many
jokes say that the aging monarch is older than Cardosa
itself.
Speaking of Cardosa, many have pointed out that the Russk
city bears a name remarkably similar to its northern
counterpart, Cadosha. Legend says that the similarity
came from an error belonging to a cartographer in the days
of the Raskim Empire. As the centuries passed, people
soon forgot which city had been named first. The two
cities became famous rivals, each striving to become
wealthier and more powerful than the other. Sadly, today
neither city can be said to be much of a spectacle.
Recent rumors say that the king's son Othba is preparing
a ship to explore the seas to the south. Some say he
hopes to find the legendary home of the Russks, which they
were forced to leave nearly two thousand years ago by the
Raskim.
The Geirlish
Aside from the dwarves and elves, the Geirlish are the
oldest surviving race in Raskia. They are directly
descended from the ancient Raskim, and as such tend to
think of themselves as the rightful rulers of the land.
Despite their common racial goals, the Geirlish have been
unable to maintain a cohesive, single government since the
Anfalas War.
Given the proximity of Isengroth to the reclusive sylvan
home of the elves and the favored forest hangouts of the
Visany, it is a surprise that neither have tried to
contact their Geirlish neighbors. Then again, knowing the
historical hatred between the Geirlish and the elves,
perhaps this isn't much of a surprise after all. Some
stories claim that there are elves alive today that
remember the atrocities committed by the Geirlish's Raskim
ancestors.
Isengroth's capital city is a bustling burg called
Randeshing, built within the last few centuries in
a marshy area on the shores of the Nunean Sea. In
addition to a great deal of trade with Gulgard and East
Geir to the north, they also have a thriving
overland traderoute with Holwich to
the east.
Isengroth's royal family has often claimed descent from
the Raskim God-King's bloodline. Their current ruler
is Empress Gonriel II, a haughty and over-confident woman
with nerves of steel.
The largest and arguably most powerful nation in Raskia,
East Geir seems to lack nothing. Stories say that the
streets in the aeons-old city of Tannik are paved
with silver, and the East Geirlish Emperor Elgard IV
bathes in a pool heated by the breath of Kuthra himself.
Tannik is known to be home to the Orders of Kuthra and Ase, as well as the militant
Tannite sect of Aggrek.
Nobody was quite sure what to think when Gulgard declared
independance from Geir in 300 AG. Little did they all
know that it was the start of something big: the
Commoner's Revolt. The largest surprise came when this
Geirlish country set itself up as a republic instead of a
monarchy.
Unfortunately, the Republic of Gulgard lasted only thirty
years before being overthrown in a military coup. Since
then, a long line of generals has held the throne, each
calling himself by a different title. Currently, the
Priest-King Arador, High Patriarch of the Elgite sect of
Aggrek, holds the throne.
An interesting bit of trivia: many sages say that
Gulgards capital, Elg, was built entirely by Russk
slave labor in the days of the Raskim Empire.
Once an empire, then a kingdom, now a tiny little cadre of
rebels hiding in the mountains of Kuthra's Spine, Geir has probably
faced more defeats than any of its neighbors. After the
Kvell invasion in 409 AG, God-King Dunruin XXII and
a band of followers retreated into the mountains. For the
past year they have managed to hold off the Kvell armies
in the narrow mountain passes, but that surely can't last
for much longer.
The Kvells
Newcomers to Raskia, the barbaric Kvells have already
managed to make quite an impression. After being given
the Northern Reaches by East Geir, they took the world by
storm after sweeping into Geir itself
and conquering the entire nation. Now everybody has their
eyes on the Kvells, wondering what they're going to be
doing next.
After a six month seige, the Kvells finally captured the
nation's capital city of Cadosha. Then they looted
it clean, leaving crumbling ruins, broken monuments, and
starving Geirlish in their wake. Kvell-Geir is an
occupied nation now. A relatively small number of Kvells
led by the warlike King Vettea controls a large,
demoralized population of Geirlish.
These spindly mountains stretch far out into the sea,
creating hundreds of fjords which are nearly impossible to
navigate for those lacking the oceangoing talents of the
Kvells. Because of this, very few have seen the mountain
homes of the Kvells.
The Dwarves
Deep beneath the surface of Kuthra's Spine live the
reclusive dwarves. Only recently have they been seen
again, when their feared wizards began appearing in the
robes of the mysterious Ganskraad.
This impassible mountain range is home to more stories
than any young Russk can dream. Some legends tell of
sleeping dragons guarding collossal treasures, or ancient
Raskim cities waiting to be plundered. Still others speak
of the wonders to be found on the other side of these
mountains, as if anybody could even cross them.
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