[h1]Mirithwood[/h1][h2]NATIONAL[/h2] -[b]Capital:[/b] Nepenthis Majora -[b]Government Type:[/b] Oligarchy -[b]Currency:[/b] Sil [i](Special, marked wooden carvings, about the size of a coin. Impossible to counterfeit due to special preparation methods that cause the wood to glow in the dark.)[/i] -[b]Population:[/b] ??? -[b]Realm Size:[/b] Principality -[u]Unique Trait #1:[/u] The Melons of Mirithwood [hider] [i]Of all the unknowable and fantastical wonders of Mirithwood, its fruit is among the most well known. Spawning from Nepenthetis's divine influence, it could be called food superior to all others, in flavour, nutrition and quantity. Massive amounts of this fruit is harvested each and every day, seemingly without end. Beyond its nutritional value, the Fruit of Nepenthetis has certain magical qualities, known to improve the fertility and rumoured to increase the lifespan of the eater. According to legends, the fruit from Nepenthetis's own branches grants eternal life with a single bite, which might explain why it is such a closely protected secret for the Alraune people.[/i] [/hider] [u]-Unique Trait #2:[/u] PLACEHOLDER [hider] [i]PLACEHOLDER[/i] [/hider] [u]-Unique Flaw #1:[/u] Soylent Green is People [hider] [i]Being at the forefront of Mirithwood's global reputation, it would reflect very poorly on the nation if the dark secrets behind the Fruit of Nepenthetis's production were revealed. No matter how much the Alraunes attempt to obscure the truth, it would be impossible to hide such a secret forever.[/i] [/hider] [u]-Unique Flaw #2:[/u] PLACEHOLDER [hider] [i]PLACEHOLDER[/i] [/hider] [h2]GEOGRAPHICAL[/h2] -[b]World-Realm Map:[/b] (Fill in desired blocks on world map) -[b]Internal-Realm Map:[/b] (A zoomed in map of your controlled blocks and major cities/castles/locations within it) -[b]Major Cities:[/b] Nepenthis Majora, Darklilt -[b]Major Fortifications:[/b] Castle Darklilt, the Fortress of Reeds, Fort Depth. -[b]Buildings of Interest:[/b] The Temple of Nepenthetis [i](In Nepenthis Majora)[/i] -[b]Geographic Features of Interest:[/b] The Sideways Forest, the Lost Grove, the Great Gutter. [h2]RACIAL[/h2] -[b]Majority Race:[/b] Alraunes [i](Plant Folk, Spirits of the Forest, The Children of Nepenthetis)[/i] -[b]Majority Race Appearance:[/b] Alraunes are typically seen in the nude, with planty green skin and hair. While their eyes are commonly green, it is also not uncommon for them to have blue or red eyes, while any variation of brown is virtually unheard of. Their ears are pointed, although for what reason, nobody knows. -[b]Majority Race Characteristics:[/b] Alraunes tend to grow to around the same heights as most human females, depending on their enviroment. It's worth noting that Alraunes from areas closer to Nepenthetis grow taller than those from the outskirts of the forest. All Alraunes are considered to be female, as they possess functioning female reproductive organs reminiscent of humankind, and are even capable of breeding with males of other races if given the opportunity. Reproduction between pairs of Alraunes is very possible, and while it was once common for an Alraune to only go into season once in their lives, repeated consumption of the Fruit of Nepenthetis has caused them to breed with much greater frequency over the last few centuries. -[b]Minority Races:[/b] There are some few humans who live beyond the boundaries of Mirithwood, although they are truthfully not that many in number. [h2]RELIGION & MAGIC[/h2] -[b]State Religion:[/b] The Red Pantheon -[b]Religious Information:[/b] The people of Mirithwood worship a singular deity belonging loosely to the Red Pantheon. They do not discriminate based on religion, but refuse to swear their allegiance to any god besides their great forest's living lord. He is the Maw of the Forest, the Bringer of Fertility, God of Life. His name is the Dark God Nepenthetis, and his incarnate body is said to be among the largest of all of the Red Gods. Each day, a great number of worshippers gather at the foot of the Great Tree, to offer him great amounts of food and praise. In return, he produces his godly fruit, and spreads his roots far and wide so that the forest's borders may extend. The entirety of Mirithwood is an extension of his being, with each and every tree, plant and root having been assimilated into his body. No man may set foot in Mirithwood and not alert the Dark God, and if those who trespass are of malicious intent, it is not uncommon for them to encounter a mysterious, horrible fate in the dark undergrowth. Those belonging to a certain religious sect, considered to be the authorities of the forest, are known widely as Grove Tenders. These folk make up a great council spanning every settlement in Mirithwood, and could be considered the country's government. Additionally, those who attend to the great tree directly are called 'The Coven of Majora', or simply referred to as Nepenthetis's Aides. The Grove Tenders are very much the face of the sect, but the Coven of Majora are a secretive, and mysterious organization. While they do not claim so, they are undoubtedly the leaders of Mirithwood, and are both seen and treated as such by the public. -[b]Holy Relics In Possession:[/b] The Tooth of Nepenthetis -[b]Holy Sites Under Control:[/b] The Forest of Mirithwood -[b]Magical Schools and Curriculum:[/b] The Ways of the Forest are old and mysterious, stemming from the life-giving powers of the Great Tree himself. They aren't all that powerful on their own, but due to the way that Nepenthetis's influence covers the whole of Mirithwood, it is deceptively strong when wielded within its bounds. Said to originate from the practise of tapping into the core attributes of life itself, bringing them out in order to create abnormal effects. Passionlilt has pioneered a new, heretical form of magic, taught only to the select few under her tutelage. Her branch of magic is notably quite malicious when compared to the relatively tame Ways of the Forest, and has been the subject of much controversy. [h2]Military[/h2] [i](Current size, unknown.)[/i] --[u][b]The Mirithwood Ranger Corps[/b][/u] -[i]It should be noted that, despite how structured they may seem on paper, the Rangers are not a very formal organization, and are in practise not actually that organized at all.[/i] -[b]Command Structure:[/b] Captain Commander Lilly -[i]The Captain Commander holds total authority over all Rangers, and is at the forefront of all political and strategic affairs.[/i] -Three Lieutenant Commanders [i]-Lieutenant Commanders serve the Captain Commander directly, and assist her in all day-to-day matters. They do not command a division of their own, but instead take on eleven Captains each as their own direct subordinates. [/i] -Thirty-three Captains [i]-Each Captain oversees their personal Division, possessing abnormally high autonomy over their actions. A Division can contain any number of common-ranked Rangers, although the requirements to join each Division varies between them. Some are harder to join than others.[/i] -[b]Standard Equipment:[/b] All Rangers should be considered to be carrying all of the given items, at all times. [i]-One Hand-crafted Longbow, for use in hunting and large-scale engagements. Personal to each Ranger. -Twenty Hand-crafted arrows, broadheaded and with metal tips. -One eight-inch metal knife, for use in hunting and small-scale engagements. -Two waterproof Cloaks, one for Night Missions and another for Day. -One metal pin, of varying colour and design. Indicates the Division and Rank of the Ranger. -One backpack. Contains medical salves, bandages, firestarters, rope and emergency rations. Other items vary.[/i] -All Rangers of Captain rank or higher carry their own personal Horn, with the sound of each Horn differing between Rangers. [i]-During troubled times or for specific operations, other specialized equipment may be issued. -Designated members of each Division carry additional Arrows. -Rangers are expected to maintain their own equipment.[/i] -[b]Training:[/b] The Mirithwood Rangers undergo a wide range of specialized and general training and conditioning, so that they may best serve the forest and all of its needs. Most importantly, they protect the forest from outside threats, and enforce strategies to resist any foreign trespassers. Besides that, they oversee all foreign affairs and often accompany foreigners during extended visits to Mirithwood. -Rangers are trained to operate in smaller groups, rather than as part of a large unit. During missions, it is not uncommon for a Division to designate several smaller Cells within their ranks to accomplish given objectives. It is virtually unheard of for any mission to be undertaken by numbers less than three, or more than thirty. [i]-Trained in Stealth, Survival, Archery, Tracking and Guerrilla Warfare. -Also trained in Forest Preservation Techniques, Herblore, First Aid and Leadership. -Little specific training for large-scale engagements.[/i] [h2]NATIONAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE[/h2] -[b]Heads of State:[/b] --[u]The Coven of Majora[/u] Matron Selilt High Priestess Brinlilt [High Priestess Holly] [i]An ex-Ranger, who retired to Nepenthis Majora and worked her way through the ranks to eventually reach the position of one of the Coven's highest. She understands the plight of the Rangers, and often tries to influence the decisions of the Coven to aid them. Out of all of the Coven's leaders, she is the only outsider.[/i] High Priestess Ellense High Maiden Recker *Selilt's Daughter High Maiden Gigasviel *Selilt's Daughter [High Sorceress Passionlilt] [i]The strangest of the Coven's highest members, Passionlilt is hailed as a great magic-wielder and is essentially in charge of all magical ventures in Mirithwood. She and her rank are abnormal, going against the traditions and beliefs of the Coven simply by continuing to exist.[/i] -[b]Constable Of The Army:[/b] Ranger Corps. Commander Lilly -[b]Religious Head:[/b] High Priestess Brinlilt -[b]Persons of interest:[/b] TBA [h2]HEROIC DRAMATIS PERSONAE[/h2] [hider=Selilt][u]The Womb of Nepenthetis[/u] Inarguably the most influential individual in Mirithwood, who holds sway over nearly the entire Coven of Majora. Selilt possesses an unrivalled blessing of fertility and vitality, completely unlike the others who have consumed the Fruit of Nepenthetis. Said to have once laid with the Dark God himself, and born him child, although there are none within Mirithwood who could be seen to be the result of this union.[/hider] [hider=Passionlilt][u]The Hollow Womb[/u] The greatest Sorceress in Mirithwood, said to have given up her divine fertility to the Dark God in exchange for power. While her ways of thinking are heretical at best, her understanding of the forest's ancient, magical arts is prodigal, and she has even begun to develop new magics of her own to teach to her pupils. [/hider] [hider=Willow & Jonquil][u]The Fangs of Mirithwood[/u] Twin Captains of the Ranger Corps, Willow and Jonquil have set themselves apart from the rest by possessing a direct contract with Nepenthetis himself, in addition to being a part of the Rangers. While they lack Lilly's strategic mind, they excell at every other Ranger-related duty that there is. These two are at the forefront of the Dream Plague countermeasures for the Mirithwood region, and are considered the forest's greatest protectors.[/hider][h2]CULTURAL[/h2] -History -List of Historical Grievances -Relations -Cultural Notes [hider=SPECIAL NOTE]The Alraunes are a secretive and seclusive people, and this is very strongly shown by how little is known about them outside of their own forest. Since ages past, the misinformation that they are in fact a Dryadicist people has been spread far and wide, to the point where they are in no real rush to correct others. It appears as if they are devoted to the worship of "Nature", when in fact they only really care for tending Nepenthetis's needs. Most things about their culture and organisation are not very well known, and much about their nature remains a mystery. It seems that the confusion about their chosen religion stems from a misunderstanding, as some poorly misguided cartographer once made the mistake of calling their people "Dryads", which prompted others to think that it was a description of their religion and not their species.[/hider]