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| | ==Orcs== | | ==Orcs== |
| | [[Crucible:Orcs|Orcs]] | | [[Crucible:Orcs|Orcs]] |
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| | ==Dwarves== | | ==Dwarves== |
| | [[Crucible:Dwarves|Dwarves]] | | [[Crucible:Dwarves|Dwarves]] |
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| - | | + | ==Humans== |
| - | ==Terminus (Humans)== | + | [[Crucible:Humans|Humans]] |
| - | Driven from their original homes by raids from orcs and kobolds, and given no hospitality from the elves, humanity came to a shore beyond which they could go no further, and this was where they made their first home. Largely safe from foes that dwell along the Inner Sea, humanity began expanding along this coast, guided first by trial and error and then by the gnomes that discovered them here. Having an accessible sea route to ferry troops and supplies made this position easy to defend against kobold invaders, who had to move their own supplies through mountainous terrain.<br>
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| - | Terminus is a land rich with trouble. Many predators such as harpies make their homes among cliffs on the shoreline, harassing shipping and settlements. The weather is prone to hurricanes, tides behave erratically, and the open ocean is a home for many gigantic monsters. Many dragons also make this place their hunting grounds, swooping in from the Greyjaws and taking advantage of sea winds to cover large distances looking for prey. To the south, past Shadowvale, a day where there was only a goblin raid is a good day – humans have made it further into the frontier lands than anyone, and pay the price for their temerity daily.<br>
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| - | For this reason, humanity has a strange relationship with many of these monsters. Seeing no need to bend down before a ruler that can’t personally beat up them and their entire clan, most human settlements are actually ruled by monstrous creatures – most commonly dragons in the south and giants on the foothold on the northern continent and islands. Thus, one of the duties of the royal court is to periodically sweep the land to put the fear of the King into said monsters. That title is not entirely accurate, as Terminus is a theocracy, ruled by the pantheon of humanity’s gods. These gods tolerate the presence of monstrous rulers in their kingdom because they are so short-staffed, but in reality would like nothing more than to wipe out every single non-human creature in Terminus, and often secretly sponsor would-be monster hunters to take on some ruler or another that has annoyed them without officially breaking any laws.<br>
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| - | Terminus maintains terse relations with its former enemies. What trade comes from the islands to the north is usually sent to other settlements in Terminus rather than abroad. Due to the ambassadorial influence of its significant gnomish population, some lines of communication are maintained with kobolds (mostly for teaming up on dragon hunts), elves of Shadowvale (to combat frontier threats), and orcs (to coordinate fleets against pirates). Terminus trades often with the Deeplands, however, and human travelers wishing to head east often wisely choose to brave the mountain passes rather than take the sea route.
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| - | ====Religion in Terminus====
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| - | As previously mentioned, the pantheon of Terminus doubles as its executive government. The one in charge, the god Cain, is officially referred to as the First Citizen, which is no modest title as he is literally the very first human to have come into being (at least, insofar as anyone has been able to determine). Cain's portfolios are plentiful - he is the god of Humans, Domination, Survival, and Strife. His right-hand man, Memitim, controls the portfolios of Vengeance and Zeal, and is usually the one tasked with eliminating threats to the stability of Terminus. These two rarely participate in the actual day-to-day administration of Terminus, this duty generally delegated to Malkira, goddess of Sacrifice and Hope. While many offer their prayers directly to these gods, they each have their own retinues composed of minor gods and powerful mortals. Cain's honour guard of five hundred elite warriors is known as one of the fiercest fighting forces in the world and usually spend their time training, dispersed among the realm's urban centres. Occasionally, they are called under Cain's personal banner, usually used as a hammer against denizens of the frontier lands to shatter initial resistance and establish a beachhead. The gleaming armours and curved sabres of these warriors are regarded as the symbols of Cain. The representatives of Memitim are black-cloaked inquisitors and assassins, loved by none but feared by all. For one to reveal himself as a member of Memitim's retinue is a significant thing, as they usually work in deep secrecy - and often means that those around to witness the declaration won't be alive for much longer. Malkira's most trusted servants are no warriors, and many of them have no combat training to speak of. They are all, however, fanatically devoted to ensuring that Terminus runs along the course set by Cain (or, as dissident factions often imply, the course chosen by Malkira herself). If a Terminus citizen is in desperate enough straits to directly appeal to a member of the ruling caste, they will turn to Malkira's administrators who, in turn, constantly demand favours of the other retinues.
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| - | Where minor gods are concerned, every single position of importance in Terminus is usually filled by one. Even some especially popular monstrous mayors have been known to find themselves gaining divine powers, though the shadowy men of Memitim are usually quick enough to put a stop to that sort of thing. A show of devotion is expected from everyone who is anyone in society, and humans living outside Terminus are expected to make a pilgrimage to "their" country every few years, tithing goods or knowledge to the gods. Through the tithe, they maintain a sort of social standing - a man gone for years at a time who brings back something of value from each trip is considered of more value to the community - and thus higher in the pecking order - than someone who hangs around at home but doesn't have much to offer. For this reason, just about every wealthy family in Terminus has held on to that wealth through adventuring or trade; those who built up a stack of cash and retire often find themselves on the wrong end of an angry mob seeking to divest that treasure from someone who, in the eyes of society, is no longer worthy of possessing it.
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| - | ====Adventuring in Terminus====
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| - | While there is no shortage of monster-hunting edicts issued by the ruling gods, outside of population centres there is not very much law in Terminus. Smuggling and piracy are more common than legitimate shipping, bands of rebels congregate in the wilds and plot attacks against anything from the nearest hamlet's ogre chief to the pantheon itself, and many a farmer with an infertile plot of land has turned to banditry as a way of making ends meet. Shadowvale is also a constant thorn in the side of Terminus, and many border rulers take every opportunity to push the extent of their holdings further east into elven lands.
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| - | In the north, the island colonies of Terminus are constantly feuding with giants, and also experience the same sahuagin and sea monster problems that the orcs to the east face. With a much smaller navy and a plethora of problems at home, the rules of Terminus mostly leave it to the colonists to defend themselves, and experienced adventurers looking for some status could do worse than appointing themselves as sheriff after the current one bites it and then not dying for as long as possible.
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| | ==The Great Cities== | | ==The Great Cities== |
