[center][h2]Compendium[/h2][/center]

[center][b][u]Flora & Fauna[/u][/b][/center]
[color=aba000][b]Alecairn[/b][/color]
A sweet wheat that grows in the wild, Alecairn is used for many brews in Vintarland and Orlandis. It grows twice as tall as a man, and in the winter, is frozen solid. There is a popular children's game using frozen Alecairn stalks as spears in a mock-battle.

[color=aba000][b]Boartail[/b][/color]
Named for its spiraling leaves, Boartail is a small shrub that grows in most forests. It is used in many peasant stews as a spice, and has been likened to a mix of peppers and cinnamon.

[color=aba000][b]Bogfern[/b][/color]
A cousin to the natural fern, this plant is found only in swamps and marshes, usually in small clumps. Although nearly inedible, the roots are made into tonics, and used to cure headaches and nightmares.

[color=aba000][b]Dire Beasts[/b][/color]
The larger, fiercer members of the animal kingdom. Some are only slightly larger than their usual species, such as the Dire Hawk, or the Dire Wolf. However, some are much larger than normal, such as the Horse-Sized Dire Goat, Dire Spider, and rare Dire Shark.

[color=aba000][b]Croakers[/b][/color]
Named after their distinctive bellowing, Croakers are a cousin of the walrus, brought along during The Black March by Noririan immigrants. Called "Legged Dugongs" by southerners, these gentle giants live on a diet of fish and seaweed.

[color=aba000][b]Dragons[/b][/color]
Undoubtedly the rarest creature in the world, these magnificent beasts are known only to some as legends. Said to possess human intelligence, and able to breathe fire, dragons are revered as gods in some cultures, and seen as invaluably priceless commodities in others.

[color=aba000][b]Kite Snakes[/b][/color]
Found in the southern tip of Orlandis as well as most of Atularis, Kite Snakes are a species of legless lizards with a long flap of skin that allows them to glide. Although they cannot flap, their skin is thin enough that they can maneuver through air currents, and effectively glide for miles. They prey on small birds and rodents.

[color=aba000][b]Mocking Crab[/b][/color]
The Mocking Crab is often confused for a "Dire Hermit-Crab". About the size of a dog, these crustaceans have evolved the ability mimic sounds similarly to parrots. Used as a hunting method, they frequently perch on rocks and use mating calls to attract seagulls and the occasional croaker. They are featured in many Hinterlander fables and superstitions for their tendency to mimic the cries of drowning sailors.

[color=aba000][b]Muller's Oak[/b][/color]
Called "Mullwood" by some, Muller's Oak is a species of tree that grows in high altitudes. Growing it is banned by most kings, as when the bark is boiled, the powdery residue left behind is a deadly poison.

[color=aba000][b]Sandseed[/b][/color]
Illegal to own, grow, or distribute in all of Orlandis, this Atularian grain is used as an aphrodesiac as well as a hallucinogen. It is crushed into a fine sandy powder, mixed with charcoal and salt for potency, boiled in a special pot, and inhaled as a vapor through a long pipe. It is highly addictive, and users are quickly recognized by brown burn scars around their lips, from the heated pipe tip. It is popular with smugglers, bandits, and pirates.

[color=aba000][b]Trolls[/b][/color]
About the size of a large man, these creatures are seen in the wild in small groups, hunting with clubs and stones. They are deceptively unintelligent, as their strength is far beyond that of a man, and they best are left alone in the wild. Although they fear humans, there are some reports of trolls sneaking into homes at night and stealing children from their cribs.

[color=aba000][b]Troll's Branch[/b][/color]
When produced into a poultice it has extreme side effect when ingested such as bearing “the strength of a great troll” at the sacrifice of throwing the user into an adrenaline-fueled intensity that makes them more prone to violent outbursts. Prolonged use suggests it has permanent problematic effects such as ultimately death through cardiac arrest.

[color=aba000][b]Widowfruit[/b][/color]
Featured in many tragic plays and ballads, Widowfruit is synonymous with suicide. It is said that one bite is enough to kill a man almost instantly, and is also known for its extremely vivid shades of red, yellow, and orange. The taste has been described by those recording their final moments as "The sweetest taste there is" and "Tasting like the sound of a harp".

[center][b][u]General Terminology[/u][/b][/center]

[color=aba000][b]The Black March[/b][/color]
There have been two historically notable winters that are defined by the vnytic terminology. A march is a “migration of ideas, people, and culture against oppression or peril when the winter consumes the sea so that it is like stone.” – basically referring to the legendary northern winters that freeze over the northern seas. The first time it happened was sometime before the First Age of Aavaar and is largely associated with mythology and the second one is the one that sprung the Schism of Kaard as the western vyntic people fled across the Sea of Echoes and settled in northern Orlandis.

[color=aba000][b]Kynligr[/b][/color]
One of several mythological enemies in Kaardic mythology, roughly translated to 'The Strange', The Kynligr are a supposed race of creatures that Rorik “the Fearless” Meinsamr did battle with as depicted in the myths of Kaard, they are said to have skin of winter and physique of sirens. Not much else is known of the Kynligr outside of them being an enemy once faced.

[color=aba000][b]The Silver Temple[/b][/color]
The Silver Temple is the religious center of those that follow the religion known as The Word of Aavaar. Notoriously known for its symbolism etched in silverite, the temple is located the capital of the Kingdom of Terijas. As the most notable bishopric in Orlandis, the Temple is extravagant and large with large banners of Aavaar’s Silver Cross decorating the pillars alongside the doors and gates of the religious structure. 

[color=aba000][b]Stormbreaker[/b][/color]
The legendary mountain that defined western Hinterlander culture. The Stormbroken, as they have aptly named themselves, describe the event as like a near-apocalypse as the mountain lost its “helm” as the tides swallowed the cracking earth whilst blowing the hovels down into these pits of fate. In short, Stormbreaker is a currently inactive volcano that sits on a fault.

[color=aba000][b]Vigforaor[/b][/color]
One of several mythological enemies in Kaardic mythology depicting constructs of stone or iron that were said to be the reapers for those who dared try to prove themselves against them. The hero known as Astra Dvergr was said to be the one to lead a quest against the Vigforaor and drive them back past the Frozen Wastes.

[color=aba000][b]Zeitfeier[/b][/color]
The holiday and festival that begins not just a new year, but a new "age".

[center][b][u]Songs, Tales, and Poems[/u][/b][/center]

[color=aba000][b]The Barmaid's Knight[/b][/color]
About a knight who seduces a village barmaid after being rejected by several highborn ladies, this song is usually sang in taverns, or used as a slight for some men -- To call a man a "Barmaid's Knight" is to say that he thinks himself handsome and cultured, but can only manage to sleep with less attractive women.

[color=aba000][b]The Coast of Atularis[/b][/color]
A bawdy song about the skills of the women on the ports and small towns along the coast of Atularis, that is a favorite of bandits and tavern bards alike. For a period of time, singing it was banned in The Expanse, as their at-the-time king took an Atularian princess to marry as his Queen, and it was used as an insult to him at his wedding.

[color=aba000][b]The Fedosi Spears[/b][/color]
A sad song, sometimes sung as a dirge or threnody, abut the invaders from Fedos Plur. The song's title is frequently referenced when talking about those who fled from Voltaan, as well as The Verge's history in general.

[color=aba000][b]Midland Bandit[/b][/color]
A humorous song, about a naked bandit who steals the clothes of several famous Kings of The Midlands. Because of the song, young men who lose bets or wagers are occasionally seen streaking through fields, singing the song.

[color=aba000][b]My Highland Maiden[/b][/color]
Although usually seen as a simple love song, describing the beauty of a maiden from The Arm, 'My Highland Maiden' is actually a song of nationalist pride. The phrasing of the fair features of the "Maiden" actually describes the landscape of The Arm.

[color=aba000][b]Hurly & Burly[/b][/color]
A humorous song about two trolls named Hurly and Burly, squabbling over a loaf  of bread, who both decide that they will let the bread choose which troll it will be eaten by. They patiently await the bread's reply for days, until it begins to grow mold and crumble into dust.

[color=aba000][b]The Hymn of Kaard[/b][/color]
A long song, sang exclusively at Kaardist events. As it is sang in Noririan, which uses the same word for "Journey beyond" as it does "Journey together", it is sang at both funerals and weddings, with different keys and speeds.

[color=aba000][b]The Sailor from The South[/b][/color]
A love song about a sailor from the south, and a mermaid. The two meet every night, and each night, the sailor asks the mermaid to be his bride -- Eventually, the mermaid accepts, on the condition that he live with her under the sea. He accepts her condition, and swims with her to the bottom of the sea, where they live in a castle inaccessible to humans. It is unclear if the song is a metaphor for the sailor's death or not.

[color=aba000][b]Strong Fenrik[/b][/color]
A tavern song, about the fictional King Fenrik (Although some historians believe him to be one of the earliest Kings of Perhyr, which bears the same name), who slew a troll with its own severed arm, seduced twelve other queens with only his charm, and many other incredulous feats, frequently made up on the spot by the singer.

[center][b][u]Noble Dynasties[/u][/b][/center]

[hider=Thralonian Dynasty]
Descended from figures such as Aaroun ‘the Prophet’ and Dierk ‘the Conqueror’, House Thralon is an imperial dynasty that lasted as an empire for more than six centuries and despite the deformation of their imperial reign still hold lands to the modern day with the Kingdoms of Terijas and Euritia. 

[hr]
[color=aba000][b]Dierk ‘the Conqueror’ Thralon [i](143-181)[/i][/b][/color]
The story of Dierk ‘the Conqueror’ begins with the death of his father, [color=aba000]King Alduin Thralon[/color] who fell ill at the age of forty-three in a sudden spring sickness that would take his life as he took control in 143. After his coronation, Dierk made it clear with the first meeting of his council that an overbearing sense of concern overwhelmed him as the wars around central Orlandis that had started years before had begun to take their toll as humanity seemed to turn on one another—stability needed to be brought. Initially it appeared that Dierk did not plan for conquest of his own but rather simple defeat of the conquerors to the south and north of Terijas: [color=aba000]King Barun ‘The Highlander’ Erayan[/color] and [color=aba000]King Damon ‘The Lowlander’ Etlas[/color]. Worried foremost about his enemy to the north as he was the more vicious of the two, Dierk took to his horse with his closest allies and kin. It was here that he appealed to both [color=aba000]King Magnus Balkr[/color] and [color=aba000]King Lothar Atgeirr[/color] to arrange a deal for their military and political support. The northlandic men were skeptical, but reasonable as in the end for their support they asked for aid against the overlord beyond the Echoes that plagued them. The rest of history goes pretty quick as Dierk defeats King Barun, King Damon, and pushes back the Stormbroken “King” from the Hinterlands. Given his successes people acclaim their supposed “High King” that had united the realm—following such things nearly every kingdom in Orlandis would bend the knee.

[color=aba000][b]Kristof ‘the Zealot’ Thralon [i](538-589)[/i][/b][/color]
A Imperial King of Orlandis, and probably the first one to be written down in infamy. Early during Kristof’s life he was known as a pious and kind man who was distant from materialism, lust, and excess—a favorite of the religious leaders of his faith of the time and very popular amongst the lowborn. That was, of course, until his coronation in 538. The first thing Kristof did was throw away the promises and supposed treaties where his predecessors promised the “heathens and heretics” that he wouldn’t force Aavaar upon them—he declared war with The Northlands, but many vassals and commonfolk adored Kristof and took his call to arms seriously when the Northlandic people refused to take his god as their own. Thus a brutal and long war swept through for many years, taking the lives of the reigning King of Skavia and their family thus ending the Atgeirr line. Kristof showed no mercy to heathens which spurred the concern of many. The temporary “King of the Northlands”, [color=aba000]King Henke ‘the Wall’ Balkr[/color]. In the end, a treaty was signed despite the hatred for Kristof who they nicknamed “the Betrayer” after the incident. The Aavaar influence in the Northlands would be temporary as the priests who traveled under the premise of the treaty found a stubborn and proud people who would only tolerate their presence.

[color=aba000][b]Dieter ‘the Fallen’ Thralon [i](789-796)[/i][/b][/color]
Dieter's reign is the beginning of the end for the imperial throne as it turns out that he is a man of apathy, hedonistic whims, and incompetence as he drains the economy even more by distracting himself with fruitless feasts and festivals. This is the straw that breaks the camel’s back— political dissent spreads throughout the land, the majority of the military begins to suffer against the Stormbroken in a harsh winter that has plagued the Hinterlands, plague hits the southwestern plains damaging the breadbasket of the Imperial Kingdom, and the economy becomes completely spent. It all ends when Dieter falls off a balcony in a drunken stupor, though some speculate he was pushed.

[color=aba000][b]Armin Thralon [i](796-799)[/i][/b][/color]
Dieter’s cousin, since the only siblings he held were sisters, was elected through succession to be the next Imperial King of Orlandis, however the fallout from the problems Dieter chose to ignore and the royal treasury he had sapped left him in a difficult situation—and Armin had not been taught the ways of stewardship—he had been trained in the art of war, after all. He scrambled to organize the military despite the revolts that exploded and tried to make easy coin by breaking several golden rules of Landic society such as selling imperial prisoners to slaver’s overseas. This combined with his economic ineptitude led to a situation where uprising of nobility led to the demand of revoking his titles. These faction demands, revolts, and civil wars would ensure that Armin’s reign was a short one. He abdicated in three years to a distant relative—the King of Terijas.

[color=aba000][b]Edric ‘the Wise’ Thralon [i](799-802)[/i][/b][/color]
The King of Terijas was advanced in years and ascended to the imperial throne when he was five and fifty. Trained as well as experienced in the arts of stewardship and administration, it seemed King Edric was the perfect fit—but even he knew the imperial seat was tainted and the public’s confidence shaken. With the military forces spread out against the Stormbroken, plague devastating the Lowlands, social unrest due to the discovered slavery ordinances, peasant revolts in the Highlands, and the royal treasury being sent into a deficit; it would take more than that was able to repair the entire damage. Edric did what he thought he had to do and repealed the illegal ordinances, called back the military, and sorted the economy the best he could before he called a meeting with all of the kings of Orlandis—and disassembled the imperial court, returning Orlandis to a realm of independent kings. For this history remembered him as “the wise” to acknowledge the humility and wisdom he acted upon that day. He was the last Imperial King of Orlandis.
[/hider]
[hider=House Dvergr Dynasty]In Kaardic mythology, the Dvergr are known as the predecessor to their culture and envied for different reasons after the great schism occurred during the Black March in early history. The Dvergr were an ancient existence of the people from Vintar who were known for their mastery of metalworking, war, and craftsmanship. However since “The Fall” as detailed in the old stories the civilization collapsed in a fit of chaos, disease, and ruin. The only thing that remains are the old Dvergr weapons and the old structures as well as the great runes that detail the legends of High Kings.

[hr]
[color=aba000][b]Astra ‘the Forlorn’ Dvergr [i](???)[/i][/b][/color]
Was said to be the one to lead a quest against the Vigforaor and drive them back past the Frozen Wastes.

[color=aba000][b]Baldur ‘the Trollslayer’ Dvergr [i](???)[/i][/b][/color]
High King Baldur is known for his defeat of a mythological troll army/horde.

[color=aba000][b]Drukar ‘the Stonesmith’ Dvergr [i](???)[/i][/b][/color]
High King Drukar is known for his obsession with the stone and his mastery of crafting mountains.

[color=aba000][b]Ulfrik ‘the Lawbringer’ Dvergr [i](???)[/i][/b][/color]
High King Ulfrik is known for bringing order to his people, he is the first High King of Legend.

[color=aba000][b]Wolfos ‘the Unbroken’ Dvergr [i](???)[/i][/b][/color]
High King Wolfos is known for his supposed strength that made the man unslayable by iron or bone.

[/hider]