Re: Things most everyone knows -Politics and Peoples
POLITICS AND EVENTS IN RECENT CAITHNESS HISTORY
Since Conall's ascension , he filled his Father's wish of giving Lord Peredur his long overdue elevation to Baron in Oct. 1987 . To prevent any misunderstanding by other Barons of more tenure, he also made him Duke Of the Eastern Borders, Guardian of Caithness. This elevation was not completely popular, but most thought it well deserved. Then Baron Deneral called him "Duke of a scratch on a map", though not to his face.
Since Peredur's family had no male heir, and to prevent any confusion on Perredur's death, Lady Bronwyn was been named the Baron's heir, never before was a woman so recognized, but given Lady Bronwyn's ability and drive, not many disagreed with the decision. Since, Deerhall has also become a female held Land.
Duke Peredur passed away in the fall of 1988, but had lived to see all his major concerns, save one, handled. The Duke is still concerned about the lack of knowledge of what is occurring to the west, for he does not believe the Orcs simply disappeared, to never return. He has urged Conall to see if the settlement set up by Lord Kerin still survives, for they would have the first knowledge of Orcs on the other side of the Great Desert.
Population of Caithness: 3 million
System of Government: Feudalism
Control Rating: 3 (moderate laws and taxes)
Capital: Carrick (residence of King Conall VI)
Largest Settlement: Photius (only city in Caithness, ruled by Archbishop Siccius)
Royalist Territories: Carrick, Tacitus, Fordham, Deerhall, Redhall and Durham
Rebel Territories: Mershall, Wallace, Sterling, Ferrier, Denton, Oakwood and Donlis
Neutral: Photius and Simonton
Other: Castle Defiant (not on the map but located west of Great Desert)
Special: Harkwood (supports king but is isolated, effectively neutral), Autheuil (abandoned due to an ancient curse), Blythe doesn't really support the king but is not in rebellion either.
NON-HUMANS
(Racial Templates are in GURPS Banestorm, or you can ask me for them)
Elves: Elves have indepedant communities in many of the forests (including the Elf-Woods to the south of Redhall); but are welcomed throughout Caithness. There are also a few half-elves living among human settlements.
Halflings: Halflings are well-liked in most parts of Caithness. They stick to their own villages, but are otherwise integrated with human society.
Goblins: Goblins trade along the Rivers Conn and Smoke, but rarely settle down in one place. The exception is Simonton, where goblin merchants are common.
Dwarves: The dwarf city of Ginnrel does good trade with Caithness, particularly with Tacitus. But only outcasts or adventurers would ever live permanantly among the humans.
Reptile Men: Reptilian warriors from the Great Desert are a constant threat to humans along the western border of Caithness. They are universally hated, because of their raids and practice of eating humans.
Orcs: Orcs once lived in Caithness, but were driven out beyond the Great Desert generations ago. They still raid from time to time, but are not the great threat they once were.
NEIGHBOURS
Caithness won it's independence from Megalos less than 200 years ago, and there are still significant tensions between the two nations. However, Caithness merchants have good trade relations with the city of Craine (home to King Connal's ancestors).
Al Haz and Al Wazif are two Muslim nations to the southeast. Arab merchants occassionally show up in Caithness, selling very exotic wares.
The Zarak Mountains are part of the Zarakun Dwarf Empire. Only the city of Ginnrel has any regular contact with Caithness.
THE BANESTORM
The world of Yrth is populated by people and creatures from many other worlds, accidentally transported from their home worlds by a magical storm. This "Banestorm" began during the middle ages, and most Yrth humans are descended from people who lived on Earth at the time of the Crusades. It's now the 21st century, but technology and culture have been very slow to advance. People still live in feudal societies, and use medieval methods of farming and warfare.
There have been a few subtle changes. Finger prints are used to catch criminals, though without computer databases, finger-printing is little more than a new form of heraldry. Hygiene is also better than would be expected of a medieval society. Nobody is quite sure what a “germ” is, but people generally understand the importance of bathing, washing their hands and sterilizing surgical tools.
The works of Shakespeare are well-known, though how the people of Yrth got hold of them is open for debate. Other advances in popular culture include perspective in art, and the modern novel. A notable change is the existence of magic. Many humans who had no such abilities on Earth found they had a hidden talent for magery once they reached Yrth. The elves helped to nurture these talents, and there are now human wizards in every human nation.
THE CHURCH
As in Europe of the middle ages, the Church is very important in Christian nations like Caithness. Reformation theology has not gained any hold, and Yrth Christians are similar to Earth Catholics, but with a few very dramatic changes.
Since the Banestorm is only a one-way portal, there is no way to contact the Pope, and the Church on Yrth is lead by a Curia of Archbishops. The Curia has accepted that the Church is not just for humans, so non-humans are now very active in congregations. Dwarves, elves, goblins etc. are even ordained as priests. Unlike the Church of the middle ages, the modern Church on Yrth has no aversion to witchcraft, and sees magery as a gift from God. Harmful black magic is of course condemned, but Christians are encouraged to practice the arts of wizardry, if they have the talent and can use it charitably.
LANGUAGES
The most common language is “Anglish”, a form of Norman-French that has been influenced by many other languages, both human and non-human. Latin remains the official language of the Church, and is still used in academic texts. Most other Earth languages exist in some form, but Anglish is known almost everywhere.
Arabic is the language of Muslim nations. The written form is the same as the Classical Arabic of the Koran, but the spoken language has changed over time. Jews use Old Testament Hebrew in the synagogues, but their primary language is Ladino (a form of Medieval Spanish written with Hebrew characters).
Dwarves have their own language, but those who trade with humans generally have some knowledge of Anglish or Arabic. Every elf community has it's own language, but “Elvish” acts as a neutral tongue used between them. Many humans can speak this type of Elvish. The goblin language is less common, as most goblins function in Anglish, and have little use for their native tongue.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Sun 07 July 2019.
