Slagar

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

[Removed]

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

@Slamurai @SomeWordsmith @Noblebandit

Caslan Interactions with Nagintyar, Kengir, and Basmarra

Although Caslan has been fairly silent throughout much of its history since rebelling and leaving the Orduin empire, their presence in trade has always been partly felt as traders in paper and fish. However, troubles on the isle and political intrigue has been pushing the Kerks out of their island home, and moving more abroad, primarily more and more south.

On the large isle itself, the laxing of requirements to the Kycer has intrigued the paper merchant Tesner Uman and his political ally Lavar Brav. Tesner’s grand political ploy was to bring prosperity to the isle, proving that despite being a human amongst the Kerks, he was worthy and capable of joining the Kycer by providing jobs, trade, and wealth to the Kerks. To do this, Tesner and Lavar looked south for their goals. Tesner was especially interested in increasing trade from the south, wanting to see the Kel Trach becoming a grander trade port and staging ground for trade between the north and south. However, achieving this had many troubling qualities, and a number of political consequences.

The first trouble was the purpose and location of Caslan trade wise, as reaching Caslan was more of a hassle than just rowing up trade ships along the coasts. The other trouble was the sister county of Olgan. Port Uvan was run by a ‘peasant republic’, made up of many minor clan patriarches who ruled the city and surrounding rivers, a rich land which was less than enthusiastic about giving the Brav clan any edge in the grand conflict. Finding solutions to these issues would be difficult, but Tesner was confident that he could convince the southern nations to come to Caslan to trade.
_____

With encouragement from the Bravs, two Kerkian vessels went to the trading ports of Basmarra and Nagintyar. The first to arrive was in Nagintyer, which was already a popular spot for Tesner’s merchants to trade paper, but was also visited heavily by the Elkwood and Coladdic merchants to trade iron and gold. The Kerks who came to Nagintyar were envoys from the merchant Tesner, primarily being his son and several merchants aligned with Tesner, who wished to form a trade agreement, in which the merchants revealed they had brought gifts of vodka, seal skin, and vast sheets of blank paper. Although mentioned in passing of the necromantic faith of the Kerks, Tesner’s son avoided any and all mention of it, as Tesner feared that being a bit too revealing of the necromantic mastery the Kerks had would be damaging to the relationship of nations of cultures which was foreign to them.

The second ship sent by Lavar and Tesner was commanded by Cilov Brav, the spiteful brother of Lavar. Although a merchant by trade and an envoy of the Kycer, he had been sent mostly to keep him away from family affairs more than to trade, so when he arrived in the trade ports of Basmarra, he was grumpy and angry. Basmarra was less frequently traveled to the Kerks, primarily due to distance, but had come with offerings and gifts. Cilov wished to meet with the heads of the Zhosa Alliance, bringing gifts of iron and gold ingots, baskets of paper, and bottles of vodka. As a personal worshipper of the god Melakos, Cilov also came to present a tome of Caslandic history as well, a honored gift in Kerkian culture. Cilov’s deal was rather straightforward and overly honest, promising fair trade agreements with Caslan. Outside of Tesner’s own demands, Cilov mentioned that the people of Caslan were highly interested in the sale of fruits and meats.

The last ship was not from Kel Trach, but rather port Uvan, led by a Kerkian merchant named Syman, a farmer. Syman had wanted to go beyond Basmarra and to explore the regions of the Kengir Emirate. Bringing a trade ship full of fish, paper, and vodka, the Kerk set out for the region. When he and his people landed in the trade ports, taking in the sights and culture, the Kerks wished to present their gifts to the leaders of the emirate, and saw several notable opportunities. Syman spoke of wishing to create a lucrative trade deal, offering fish, shellfish, and seal to the Emirate at a decent cost in order to buy sandstone and other building materials. When Syman and his traders came, they had also brought along with them a number of poor Okan sailors and servants, many of them taking in the sights of the Kengir ports. Many looked and talked like they wished to stay, especially when they noticed how rich even the poorest of the Kengir was compared to their own lives in Caslan.

Universally, the Kerks were. . .interesting envoys to say the least. The Kerks are obnoxiously honest and brought tales of Caslan as they traveled abroad, and it became clear to those who talked and conversed with the envoys that their trade meetings had a secondary purpose; to get an edge in the politics back home. Although the Kerks may not bring their priests or some cadre of the undead with them as they traveled, the tales of Caslan was known enough to know all manner of dark things called the island their home, and the Kerks were all more than eager to regale tales and complain of their homeland.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Caslan
Tomb City of Scribes
Fall Meeting of the Kycer

In early Fall, all the Zupans in Caslan along with the members of the Kycer were ordered back to the Tomb City of Scribes in Hilgas. On the roads to the city, danger and trouble was usually afoot, which prompted most of the Kerkian members of the Kycer to bring an assortment of bodyguards. It wasn’t usual, as the Blyamen guarded the city and the Kycer itself, but usually kept the tomb city’s inner walls. Shov Coladdic made his way first to the city, as was his habit, and began to greet his faction before the arrival of others, while also discussing political strategy in the privacy of his clan’s catacombs. What was more abnormal however was that he had brought a larger contingent then usual, allowing his Beurian bodyguard and slave Drasken, to enter. Many of Shov’s allied clans were not very sure about this, as it was abnormal for a head of the assembly to need such protection, especially with so many undead to guard them in such a neutral environment. It wasn’t forbidden, it just wasn’t done.

Shov however had his reasons, as he was quick to exclaim his intentions to them. He saw the trouble in northern Caslan between the Hydov and Gasner clans as an opportunity they could not miss, and wished to use the trouble to it’s full effect. His vicious glare soon came on Tomov Gasner, who was a member of his faction. Tomov was not a minor priest, but he was in the Zupan council, but the reveal of his clan’s actions against the Hydov’s lost tomb city had created a black spot which Shov did not want his rivals to use against him. Shov ‘politely’ asked Tomov where the necromancers of the clan who defiled the Hydov ancestor were being kept. Although Tomov continued to insist in desperation to his fellow Coladdic clansmen of his innocence, Shov nor his priests did not care.

Tomov relented, saying that the two necromancers were outside the tomb city in disguise, one being apparently a brother and another a brother-in-law, both of whom were in good relations with Tomov and had asked him to seek forgiveness. Shov was pleased by this news, and ordered Drasken to take them into custody. Tomov pleaded for mercy, but was shut down by Shov, who ‘comforted’ the Zupan by exclaiming that he would ‘take care of the troubles’.
_____

Lavar Brav was looked up towards the familiar tomb city, with a shortness of breath as he affixed his purple robes. His assistant Okan servant kept close behind him, turning from side to side in worry. Lavar may have had experience climbing the stone stairs, but Lila was younger, and was less exhausted when they climbed. Several members of the Kycer were behind them, and several more in front of them in a line of purple, red, green, and black. She saw a number of Kerks had brought bodyguards of all types. She could see several Kerkian bodyguards, two Okan Ghilmen, and a Beurian mercenary. Yet, the most common type of guard were the undead, as several necromancers walked together under the shadow of Husks.

“Keep up, Lila” Lavar politely asked of the Okan. Lila snapped back to attention and came even closer to him “I am sorry, sir. It feels like we are marching with an army.”

“I noticed.” Lavar looked around him as well, less impressed and more annoyed. “No doubt everyone is on edge due to the recent events in Nasklan and Fesdan, or they tire of the raptor attacks.”

The name sent shivers down Lila’s spine. They were creatures the Kerks brought over from their homeland, and have menaced the isle since. They could move fast, were intelligent, and hunted in packs. Yet, Caslan was brutal to them, the creatures hibernated in deep, warm caves, as they perished out in the snows of winter. In all her studies, she wondered where the Kerks came from to have such beasts, and yet was quick to wonder why the Kerks even brought them over to start with.

“You think the Kycer is going to do something about the violence there?” Lila meekly asked. Lavar nodded. “Hopefully, but that is not my full business with this session today. No doubt it will come up.”

Lavar and Lila continued onward, coming up to the main gates. Meeting them there was Dylon Geuder whom Lavar had hoped to see. Lavar greeted his fellow Zupan gracefully, but noticed that Dylon’s company was a bit off. Instead of his usual sycophants, Dylon was in the company of his son Polchov Geuder, and a Beurian named Daygov Geuder. To Lavar, this was abnormal. Most times, heirs were not seen with the patriarch, as they were off gaining experience or aiding in administration back home, much like Lavar’s own heir. Daygov is a Beurian, a bear beastfolk who was adopted into the Geuder clan and was Dylon’s brother, but more realistically was his bodyguard as was seen by the large cloak which covered the creature’s large blade he bit to the side of him.

“Ah. Dylon. I was hoping to see you inside, what pray tell makes you live outside these gates?” Lavar asked. Dylon looked to him, as if annoyed by something. He wondered why Lavar was being so kind to him, and was quick to ask “What is it you wish to discuss Lavar Brav. I am in no mood for jests or clever talk.”

“Normally you are.” Lavar shrugged. Lila came up to the side of Daygov as their two respective superiors talked. Daygov gave one quick glance down at the Okan, holding onto a tome for which to write down the Kycer’s business. He grunted as Lila looked a bit uncertain as the two Kerks spoke in an increasingly passive aggressive tone with one another.

“I was hoping the business in my city will be put aside for the good of Kycer, if that is your intention of course, Dylon.”

“Believe it or not Lavar, anything I do is for the good Caslan, not always for the good the Kycer.”

“Is not Caslan one in the same with the will of the Kycer, and thus the gods?”

“Ha! As if the Kycer is meant to represent the will of the gods. You are an idiot and a fool if you believe Shov Coladdic is using the Kycer to embetter the lives of us all.”

Daygov could see Lila was anxious and tried to comfort her with a tidbit of information, whispering “They are being honest with one another, they do not mean much by it.”

Lila looked up at Daygov “They practically sound hostile.”

“They are Kerks, they always sounds hostile.” Daygov lightly chuckled. Eventually, after some complaining, Lavar got to his point.

“Dylon, I know you and your Geuderians do not have much trust in the Kycer, but please I wish to discuss an important matter with you. I wish to bring forth legislation with the help of your faction, since I know Shov will already vote it down. I wish to laxen the laws towards new membership to the Kycer. A friend of mine, an intelligent friend mind you, the merchant Tenser Uman wishes to put up an election to join the Kycer itself. I would have introduced this sooner, but the trouble up north concerns me greatly.”

“As it does.” Dylon rubbed his chin “I was out here actually because of that. I await both Zupan Duman Hazel and Maryl Hydov. Your proposal intrigues me, but I wish to look over the details.”

“Duman?”

Polchov nodded and spoke up “Aye. Duman is experienced despite his age. There is trouble brewing in the north still.”

“Explain.”

Polchov did explain, and it was a sad and sorry tale. The Hydovs were being supported by Geuder clansmen who were putting the boot down on many rogue clans, but the retaliatory nature of the Kerks has made it near impossible to achieve any form of ceasefire. Gasner aligned clans, angry at what was done to them, were now making their way north. The difference however, was that these clans were not being told to not raid by the Gasner patriarch, but were being encouraged by the Gasners. Polchov was well aware of how brutal the raids against Fesdan had been, and ruined a great deal of things. The Gasners had been trying to build up their tomb city for decades, and the Hydov aligned clansmen had in their anger began desecrating and destroying much needed (and expensive) supplies which was ruinous to the Gasners. Now those clans were raiding Nasklan, primarily for supplies they had lost and to take vengeance on any Hydov aligned clan they could see.

Polchov went silent for a moment, as if he was uncomfortable speaking, and looked only temporarily at Lila. He continued, as he described many of the atrocities he had seen in the past few months. Several Okan clans, who had not participated in the attacks in Fesdan, were ultimately attacked. Polchov described in morbid detail the fate of these small beastfolk clans, with many dead or disappeared. Dylon was no phased, thinking that perhaps the ‘less idiotic’ Gasner clans were kidnapping the beastfolk to hold for ransom, but Pulchov was not so convinced. He believed that the Gansers knew of the relationship between the Okan and the Hydovs, and were attacking them specifically to get back at them.

Now the situation got complicated, as Polchov explained that he now had to make deals and alliances with many of the same clans who had gone rogue in the first place just to put down interlopers who attacked Nasklan. These bandit clans sickened both the Geuders especially, as one particular bandit chief and his clan had used the whole ordeal to attack Beastfolk clans and villages to sell as slaves and to hold as ransom. Polchov had no clue how to deal with him, as the bandit chief was helpful in defeating the raiders from Fesdan, and kept them at bay.

The description mortified Lavar, but Dylon reassured him “Duman is a lot more experienced in raids more so then my son, something Polchov and I agree on. We will be speaking to him to get his help in this whole ordeal.”

“You act as if you blame yourself, Dylon.” Lavar noted.

“I do not blame myself, but to the average clansmen, it may as well be. Shov will certainly use it, but these recent turn of events will at least keep this whole thing out of the Kycer. The quicker we deal with this trouble, the better.”

At that moment, Daygov grunted to get the attention of Dylon “I can see them both.”

“Lavar, if you don’t mind, I’d prefer that I talk to my charges amongst fellow Geuderians.” Dylon nodded to Lavar. Lavar nodded back, as he and Lila went through the open gates. Dylon looked out over the hills of Hilgas and down at the coming members of the Kycer, getting ready for a very long week.
_____

The first day of the Kycer was as Dylon predicted, as the entire Kycer got inside were immediately bombarded with speech after speech which spoke against the violence in Fesdan and Nasklan, but a lot of these speeches were hollowed out by the games of blame inflicted onto each other by the Hydovs and Gasners. However, the most powerful and damaging speech was reserved for Shov Coladdic who made the entire room uncomfortable with his vicious rebuke of the Geuderians.

“Is this the much needed reform that our fellow priests speak of, is the blood spilled and heads caved in the much needed leadership the Kycer needs?” was repeated by Shov, snidely looking at Dylon and giving a cruel grin. Maryl Hydov and Tomov Gasner were in attendance, but did not speak to each other. In fact, they spoke to no one, and stared hatefully at one another for much of the session. Lavar rose to speak against the violence as well, but the Geuderian aligned priests however had a much different take, and led a rather controversial attack.

Dylon rose to speak, condemning the violence at first, but then began to speak on how the conflict had even started. He pointed out that a sacred tomb city had been pilfered, an ancient ancestor of the Hydovs was raised, and then puppeted for amusement. Dylon then made accusations against the priesthood itself, much to the gasps and angry callouts of the ceremonial priests in attendance, who were not fully political. Lavar found this political tactic intriguing, but also despicable, as Dylon began to call out the hypocrisies of the priesthood who would condemn violence of the living, but not call out the blasphemy committed by the Gasners. Dylon did not want a debate on this matter, he wanted to muddy the waters enough for the Kycer to avoid talking of it.

Then, as if on cue, Shov ‘agreed’ with Dylon. Dylon was surprised and then immediately suspicious as Shov did call out that the Gasner necromancers had defiled a sacred tomb, but announced that the perpetrators had been caught, tried. . .and killed. The announcement was a shock to Tomov who looked up in despair at Shov, and then to the entrance of the Kycer where a skeletal barrow guard came in the heads of the two blasphemous necromancers. It was a morbid show as Shov came down off his stand, and ritualistic fashion spat upon the two presented heads. He ordered all members of the Kycer, starting with Tomov, to spit upon the heads as well for the crime of blasphemy, much to his physical dismay. Dylon and his faction relented and remained silent, but Lavar could see Tomov was shaking with grief, and after spitting on the heads of his relatives, attempted to excuse himself. Shov denied this request, no one knowing either out of ritual or cruelty.

Dylon was naturally annoyed, as his attempt to muddy the waters had been caught and quickly set aside. Dylon held his tongue as he also noticed that Shov did not offer Maryl compensation, nor did he even propose anything to solve the crises. Instead, Shov had the Kycer pray and demanded a set of rituals to be performed the next few days, asking for the gods to forgive them and to ask for retribution.
_____

By the time the Kycer had met up again, many members were exhausted from the partaking rituals. This wasn’t abnormal, and was a common political tactic Shov used to get a handle over the Geuderians. Being a master of the Kycer’s rituals, the rituals took on boring, long, and sometimes even pointless rituals performed at the tomb city’s various shrines. Various gods were approached by the ceremonial priests, and the minor priests such as Lavar and Dylon had to perform the correct rituals. Some of these rituals were complex and convoluted, such as was the case with Dylon’s patron god Tenera. Dylon would spend much of the early morning giving praise to Tenera, having a spear handle engraved in her name, and then broken apart. Each piece was then put into a sack, dropped from a cliff several times, and then melted back down over a low fire till the wind picked up and blew the smoke straight up. Any instance of this ritual going wrong would have been called out by the heads of assembly who could arbitrarily declare the ritual had been done wrong, and Dylon would have to restart over and over again till it was ‘done right’.

Once the rituals were done, the Kycer would meet for a second time a few days later. Normally, rituals were supposed to be done in between the meeting of the Kycer, but Shov had warped these rituals over the years to take up a majority of the time. This was primarily done to keep the religious Kerks from proposing more ‘disastrous legislation’, but it also kept the Geuderians from debating as Shov moved about in the shadows. It wasn’t long till Tomov Gasner confronted the Coladdic patriarch in private, angry and furious at his treachery. Tomov was a lone kerk, and his experience through the years and control over his own nature saved him from railing on the Coladdic head of the assembly, especially when the towering Drasken guarded him. Shov explained to Tomov that while he despised the Geuders, he would not have the stain of blasphemy on him or his faction, and that their deaths ‘released a stain on the souls of your entire clan’. Tomov angrily stormed out of the Kycer, something which Lavar Brav had noticed while conducting his own rituals.

Lavar sighed deeply and confided to Lila as he watched Tomov leave “The stability of Caslan is more important than life, for without it, only death and fury fill the gaps.”

“Caslan is unstable, sir?” Lila asked.

“If we were stable, neither Fesdan nor Nasklan would burn. The Kycer is an entity, like a king or an emperor, and it must act. Without action, we are useless as an insane monarch.”
_____

When the Kycer met for a 2nd time, it was noticeably more silent and grim. Dylon was peeved, and Shov smirked as the meeting did not begin until Shov called the Kycer to order. Shov noticed that of those who meandered late into the assembly was Duman Hazel and Maryl Hydov. Dylon had approached Duman earlier, but the young Zupan was reluctant to agree. In order to get Duman to agree, Dylon had twisted his arm severely, which annoyed Duman but he ultimately obeyed. However, unknown to Shov who was suspicious as to why Maryl and Duman talked quite casually to one another in low whispers, Lavar and Dylon were trying to put forward another piece of legislation, as during the recess during the rituals, both Zupan had come to a secret agreement.

In return for Lavar’s support in the coming years, Dylon agreed to help push and sponsor Lavar new edict which would open up the Kycer electorate to non-Kerks. To Lavar, this was a long time coming, as the priesthood had never barred non-Kerks from joining but had been extremely biased against them when it came to them joining the Kycer. There has not been a non-Kerkian member of the Kycer since its founding, and Lavar wished to laxen the requirements to allow his friend and ally, Tesner Uman, to join. Tesner had been more politically active as of late, the merchant wished to put forward his own legislation rather than rely on Lavar to get things done. As part of Lavar’s deal with Dylon, if Tesner won, he would be effectively a loyalist to the Geuderians in all but name.

The specifics of Lavar’s bill was debated, and it was lengthy to say the least. Effectively, it would reduce the requirements to become a member of the Kycer, and unbar non-Kerks from entry into it. When it was brought to the Kycer to vote on, Shov nearly vetoed it on the spot, railing against the bill as ‘destabilizing’ during a time of crises. However, Lavar was quicker to the draw, arguing that if the bill was destabilizing, he would not have brought it forth. He argued that if the Kycer was not acting on the troubles in the north, then he assumed the gods and the Kycer were satisfied with what was happening in Nasklan and Fesdan. Shov relented, and allowed the vote to continue, and was passed with a very slim majority.

However, before the Kycer dismissed itself to perform the religious rites for the remaining days, Shov called another vote, and on the spot ordered that a member of the Kycer lead an expedition to Nasklan and Fesdan to bring order. Lavar was open to this suggestion and was supportive of it. . .at first. Shov then called on Pelkov Elkwood to lead a Kycer army into Nasklan and Fesdan to bring back order, something the Zupan confusingly agreed to. Dylon and Lavar looked at one another, unsure of what Shov was playing at, as Dylon was already open to sending Duman Hazel to privately end the conflict.

As the Kycer ended for the day, Lavar met up with Shov, who was instructing Pelkov on the rituals of leading the Kycer’s armies, handing him (and introducing) various Coladdic lieutenants and officers. Lavar asked the head of the assembly why he did not choose himself or his co-head of council Taspov Beusdov. Shov only smiled, not answering his question and simply reiterating his faith in Pelkov as an experienced commander, which Pelkov was not. Lavar wondered what Shov was playing at, but relented, concluding the 2nd meeting the Kycer.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Caslan
Nasklan-Fesdan Feud

With all the trouble in the port of Kel Trach resolved, the zupans and their compatriots began to return back home, with a sudden and dark realization. Mel Coldfinger was away, and already the gears of ambition were turning in the heads of many Zupans. The Hazels were the only clan to return home with some relative peace and stayed quiet as other Zupans swiftly began to speak of Mel’s departure as either the best thing that had happened to them, or the worst. No clan was more thrilled then the Geuders, whose leader Dylon Geuder was to call for immediate return to the Kycer’s assembly, and that the assembly should meet in a more ‘less depressive’ place, such as the grand circular hall in the formal capital of Helgave. The two heads of the assembly sent out couriers denying such a request, and firmly entrenched themselves in that the Kycer will meet in the coming fall as was tradition.

However, Dylon did not give up so easily, and did not return to Helgave just yet, but meandered in Hilgas. Despite being an ‘honored guest’, Dylon’s purpose in Hilgas was more political. He was quick to meet up with Mel’s temporary replacement, the necromancer and priest Naya Coladdic. Dylon was practically wooing the young Kerk, who was nearly 20 years his younger, but was talented in magic. She was being advised closely by the lich and ancient elven librarian Gra’vyen, whose spite for politics was obvious when he magically teleported Dylon three miles out of Kel Loch for trying to barge in on the two. Annoyed and distraught, Dylon was thankfully picked up by some Beurian clansmen who helped him back to Kel Loch.

Dylon was eventually able to get in a conversation with Naya, discovering her general anxiety in leading the Kycer, and that most affairs would be handled by Gra’vyen in his stead, but it was her voice that held final judgement. Although discomforted by Dylon’s persistence, she warmed to the Zupan who seemed genuine in his political career and pursuits, in which Dylon discovered the most important thing about Naya; her distaste for the Coladdic patriarch and his rival Shov Coladdic. Shov was more of a distant relative, but Naya’s line came directly from the children of Mel, which Mel held closely. However, her aligned clan may have bore the name Coladdic, but she Shov and his family viewed them as minor and irrelevant members, and Shov showed no compassion towards her, and often was dismissive of her family. Naya even recounted a tale of her father approaching Shov for a loan and a couple goats, and Shov dismissed him without as much as listening to him. Dylon knew from past experiences with Shov that this was fairly common with the old archconservative.

Dylon finished up his business with Naya, being reassured of her abilities before leaving for Helgave. Once back in his home, he was greeted by his adoptive brother, the Beurian Daygov Geuder and the rest of his clan. The only ones not amongst their number was his heir and his wife, who were out on business elsewhere. Dylon got to work almost immediately, sending out invitations to many of the Zupans aligned to him to meet in Helgave.

Many joined Dylon as he was laying out his ‘battle plan’ to become head of the Assembly before the Zupans of Telgan, Pemolas, Nasklan, and the surprising Zupan of Ushas. Dylon had made a deal with Zupan Molov Pinewood, a Coladdic who had sympathies with Dylon, to run on a joint ticket for the Geuderic faction to run for the assembly. Dylon figured that a fellow Coladdic would make him seem far more neutral then he actually was, and maybe even get support from the likes of Lavar Brav, whom Molov spoke very highly of. It was during this meeting, that an agreement was struck on how to plan for the election, which was divided up Shov’s voting base of conservative Kerks while retaining the support of various minorities, the slaves, and reformers.

The only Zupan who was not fully onboard was Pelkov Elkwood, who was fairly conservative himself. Pelkov wanted stronger reassurances that Dylon and his faction would not go ‘too far’ with reforms related to the slaves, or damage the economic model of the Pelkovs. Although Dylon tried to reassure Pelkov, the Zupan’s single minded fury was more directed towards the Hazels, whom he complained were ‘foxes amongst hens’. It became clear that Pelkov cared very little for his clan’s economic model, and more about damaging the Hazels, bringing accusations that the Hazels were aligned with Okan bandits who prey on the roads of Telgan. The meeting eventually agreed to give Pelkov what he wanted, not wishing to remove his vital support, allowing any reforms passed by the group to ignore Telgas and the Elkwoods in general.
____

Things seemed to be going well, at least at first, up until an incident came to fruition in Nasklan. Zupan Maryl Hydov, who increasingly has become known as ‘The Lady of the Seal Peninsula’, had been in a partial feud with the poorer Gasner clan of Fesden. Zupan Tomov Gasner. For years, the Hydov have been looked down on by the Coladdic clans for having lost their Tomb City to the undead, a misery which the Gasners were quick to exploit. Sending in necromancers from time to time, small teams of Gasner clansmen were making off with large stone pieces of the Hydov tomb city, a grave insult to the clan. Although this had been happening for years, the recent excavation by the illegal pillagers dug their way into an ancient Hydov tomb and pilfered the grave of one of the Hydov’s ancient patriarches, a hero of a long gone age which tamed the Peninsula of Seals. In cruelty, the necromancers raised the ancient dead of the grave, had it dance for them, and then mockingly broke it apart to keep as trinkets. One of the excavators, a poor Okan who was helping the Gasners, was mortified by the show and reported the desecration to Maryl.

The Hydov clan flew into a fury, and a clan meeting was called. Insulted beyond belief, the entire clan was soon shouting ‘Gasner Delenda Est!’ ‘Fesdan Delenda Est!’. Maryl called for a meeting, wishing to retake their ancient tomb city from the rogue undead, but also to take vengeance on the Gasner clan who defiled their tomb. However, the necromancers of the Hydovs were quick to remind their angry clan the reasons why they lost their tomb in the first place, as the ancient powers within the vast burrows were far too strong for their clan to handle, and that any and all burials were done in secret. It was why the excavations of the Gasners brought so many necromancers, to mask them from the denizens within. Maryl however was unconvinced and mustered raiders to retaliate against the Gasners.

Although partly experienced from several internal conflicts, Maryl was confident in her campaign against them. Her first order of business was ‘cleaning up’ the expeditions into the tomb city. Several poor Okan masons had joined the Gasners in this illegal operation, which shocked and angered Maryl to no end, especially with the clan’s close relationship with many of the Okan villages in the north. These masons were found and hanged, much to the equal shock and horror of many of the Okan clans who did not fully understand the brutality against them. Maryl’s clan then began to make their way southward towards Gangave, and were on a crash course towards the home of the Gansers.

Maryl’s retaliatory raids were beyond brutal, targeting structures more so than civilians. Maryl knew that the Gasners were poor and valued construction, and thus Maryl and her clan began a slash and burn raid across Fesdan. Her main target was the city of Gangave, home of the scribes and a smaller and less traveled city. Tomov Gasner was soon gathering his clan to counter the raiders, but was not prepared for the devastation Maryl and her clan wrought. Several smaller Kerkian clans were utterly annihilated, their sacred shrines desecrated, and many of the non-Kerks hanged in rows to mark Maryl’s advance. Tomov and an army of 1,200 Kerkian clansmen were able to catch up to Maryl and her 800 outriders, initiating the Battle of Feslow.

Feslow was a small kerkian village, although the size of a large town by normal standards, and was only a day’s ride from Gangave. Maryl and her clan were in the process of raiding Feslow when Tomov and a mostly infantry army caught up to her. Maryl’s cavalry were too busy dealing with Feslow’s militia, so Maryl and half of her raiders skirmished with Tomov’s warriors. The battle went poorly for both sides, as Maryl’s constant flanking saw severe casualties on both sides, to a point that both Maryl and Tomov were horribly injured. Bloodied and beaten, only 200 of Maryl’s clan limped back to Nasklan as Tomov secured the village, although ironically the Gasner clan raided the village anyways in a bloodlust of victory.

Maryl returned home only to receive worse news. Without her consent or order, many of her aligned clans were now swarming into Fesdan and were brutalizing the clans aligned with the Gasner. Although happy to know the Hydov honor was avenged, the border wars was now slowly killing both districts, and was now turning into a crisis affecting the rest of the country.

For the Coladdic clans, this trouble was an embarrassment, who were only made aware of the extent of the crimes Tomov and his clan had done, even though the Gasners swore their necromancers would never defile a tomb. The necromancers who did defile the tomb however were never found, likely either disappeared or fled once the fighting broke out. A Kycer army marched on Gangave and occupied the city to keep the Nasklan clans from destroying the city outright, but had to watch as the Hydov aligned clans burned and sacked their way around it. Although Tomov was able to beat back many of the raiders, the non-Kerkian populations of Beurian and Okan suffered horrifically. Both races were being captured by Nasklan clans and being dragged north in chains to become slaves, seeing as that many of them were abandoned to fend for themselves, as bandit clans slowly began forming across Fesdan. Norad Okan were especially enthusiastic to capture fellow Midad Okan, whom many blamed for the ruined relationship they had with the Hydovs.

For the Geuderians, this mess became a black spot on them politically, and only grew daily. Dylon Geuder was furious with Maryl and her actions, especially as Fesdan burned and Shov Coladdic was rumored to be preparing speeches for the next Kycer’s meeting to decry the violence by the Geuderians. The whole ordeal became quite a political scandal, especially amongst the reformer Kerks who felt disillusioned about the Geuders and their aligned faction of having any control over the country being little more then the same troubled clans with less religion involved. In order to try to fix this, Dylon Geuder sent his son Polchov Geuder and a contingent of Ghilmen to aid Maryl in bringing many of these new bandit clans down. Polchov however could not do much, even as the vast web of political ties between the aligned rogue clans and Maryl prevented him from enforcing his father’s will. In the end, it seemed the Geuders could only hope the fury of the Kerks died down.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mel Coldfinger’s Interactions with the Hill Tribes

@OddlyParanoid

A cloud of mist and fog comes over one of the tribal ports on the coast, and a small rowing boat appears. The port bears only two living figures, and a skeletal figure in a softer armor rowing at the oars. The two figures are cloaked entirely in a purple gown, their only features showing are their eyes and the tip of their nose, but those who can get close enough to them would see their sunken in eyes, the Kerks of Caslan. They wore no fine jewelry, and have nothing of value besides their clothes and two large books at their side. When they land at the docks, they are quick to try to find a leader to lead them to the former imperial capital, revealing themselves as envoys of the archlich Mel Coldfinger, and announce only in private that their master Mel was coming.

The two figures are entirely silent, and do not speak much, but those of any magical nature would be able to catch on that they were enchanted, as their eyes were very foggy, as if they were being watched. One of the Kerks was also a user of magic, having waved his hand at their boat and skeletal rower, in which it sunk below the waters and rowed into the abyss beneath the waves, but besides this, the two Kerks did openly try not to offend. They were quite studious and self aware, telling those who may try to confront them that any harm that came to them would be cursed, and would incur the wrath of their master, and that they simply only wished to convey their message to the ‘archduke’. It was clear that the Kerks nor Mel were informed on recent events, but did not seem to care much for the changes.

The message they wished to convey was relatively simple, they only wished to inform whoever was in the former imperial capital that Mel was coming, and that he wished for safe passage for himself, his servants, his slaves, and his undead. Once they got an answer, along with any demands from the current leader who greeted them, they would return to inform Mel.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Caslan
City of Kel Trach
Ports of Kel Trach

Back at home, the week-long journey to Kel Trach had left Lavar and his party in poor spirits. One of Lavar Brav’s aids had journeyed out too far during a rest in a village near Kel Loch and was ambushed by Raptors who nested nearby, his remains scattered and half-devoured before the camp could even react. It was a sad state of affairs that despite all the bluster of the Coladdic’s famed roads, built by the dead, they lacked any and all means to defend these roads. Lavar even noted to his aid and servant Lila that the roads of Hilgas were as well managed as the Coladdic ruled all of Caslan, ‘a decaying and rotten thing built high and mighty in its prime, but laid abandoned to the march of time.’

When Lavar and Lila finally made their way back home, the mighty city of Kel Trach was a sight for sore eyes, the billowing smoke from one of the temples had just signaled a sacrifice had been made, mixed in with the busy sounds of city life. To meet Lavar there, on horseback and clothed in the old red garb of Orduin imperial might, was Tesner Uman. Tesner rode up with his own entourage which was mostly parts of his family, including his son and brother. Tesner gave a quick bow to his friend and dismounted to embrace his friend. Despite being a shrewd paper merchant, Lavar was always impressed with Tesner’s firm grip.

“I see you return earlier than usual, Lavar. When I heard of you returning, I was worried they had kicked you right out of the Kycer.”

“Ha! The uproar on that would have considerably ill indeed! No sadly, we met for only one session. Our overlord and ever watchful overwatch makes a mockery of such an institution by using it as his own personal speaking platform. I have much to prepare for, as Mel Coldfinger is coming to the city.”

Tesner looked surprised “Mel Coldfinger himself? That old lich barely ever leaves Hilgas. . .”

Lila interjected out of habit “Well, not technically, Mel is known to travel to Fesdan, and of course there was his journey out of. . .well . . .Oh. I am sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to sp--” Tesner was a little annoyed, but Lavar only gave a friendly pat on Lila’s back. “She is right. You and I have only known Mel to live in Hilgas, but in our most sacred histories, he is known to travel and make his way across Caslan. His view of time greatly differs from ours I think. Being an immortal lich and all.”

Tesner felt a shiver of discomfort with the word ‘lich’. He may have sworn himself to the Kerk’s gods, but the practice of necromancery still felt wrong to him, and he had ignored it mostly. Lavar continued “I must gather the entire clan to a meeting, and prepare for Mel’s arrival along with many others. You will join us, friend?”

Tesner smiled and nodded “Of course Lavar.”
____

Mel Coldfinger’s coming arrival to Kel Trach was cause for celebration for many, but concern for others. Lavar Brav called a meeting of the clan, which may as well have been a meeting of the entire city, to discuss the coming festivities. The clan bickered loudly and violently, as all Kerkian clans did, and eventually it was decided to let the local priesthood command the effort to prepare for Mel’s arrival. The merchants from far off lands who may have been in Kel Trach soon found the Kerks making their preparations, and the dock workers, normally Okan slaves who made their home in a slum enclave in the city, were abandoning their work to make sacrifices in the local temple before the Lich arrived. This was often done in emergency festivities such as these, otherwise the Okan would not have any opportunity to make their sacrifices to the gods due to being conscripted to help set up for the coming festivities.

Lavar and Tesner paid an absurd sum for the coming games and attraction, with Tesner and his people hiring out some popular performances. One was to be a mock battle between two Beurian clansmen in a faked and highly stereotyped gladiatorial battle, more comedic then dramatic, while for the calmer Kerks, a troupe of elves from the north would perform a popular play on Caslan known as The Fool and the Prince, a dramatization of the life of Gazhain and Dezhain who invaded the isle long ago, depicting Gazhain as a naive, arrogant idiot. Lavar also planned to open his library entirely to the guests, along with providing a massive amount of ale.

The first guests to arrive were Shov Coladdic alongside many important zupans and Kycer clergy who had joined him. His procession was priestly, but his attitude towards Lavar as the two met once again was sour. Shov had come early and was quick to only make small talk with Lavar, and immediately head towards the temple to perform the rituals of their faith. Lavar could guess that Shov was unhappy, and avoided him the best he could, as an upset Kerk could quickly turn violent if not left to their own devices. The next arrivals were the Geuderians, among them was Dylon Geuder and Pelkov Elkwood. Both Zupans embraced Lavar quite publicly when they met, but in private were quick to be more distant from him. Lavar expected this behavior from an ambitious creature like Dylon, whose public appearance he felt was more important. This was usually abnormal for the Kerks, but Dylon could pull it off quite well.

Yet of those to arrive before Mel did come by the most absurd means. A Okan fishing vessel docked in Kel Trach and three Kerks made their way into Kel Trach. Lavar was notified that a zupan came by ship, and went out to meet them, only to find Duman Hazel and his brother Jaskov Hazel drinking among the commoners. Lavar calmly came to greet the Hazels, but was instead embraced by the younger Kerk, his youthful expression was cheery.

“Lavar Brav! It's good to see you again. I had originally thought of not coming, but once word reached me of Mel’s intentions, I supposed me and my brother would at least enjoy the festivities!”

Lavar smiled as Duman and his brother chugged down the beer from wooden mugs. They may have been royalty to the common Kerk, but they looked more like ragged bandits. They both wore their armor, rusty breastplates which was covered in a dark green cloth. Another Hazel clansmen was with them, but he was already fast asleep nearby, having drunk himself into a stupor. Lavar found such behavior intolerable usually, but the Hazels were a young family, and were quite agreeable.

“I had hoped you would arrive. You were missed in the Kycer. I imagine your envoy has told you of what happened?”

“Aye. Pelkov mumbles so openly against me when I am not there.” Duman’s mood shifted suddenly, an anger in his eyes. “I am not surprised, but I am not here for festivities alone. I am to speak with Dylon soon, and get a taste of his fury.”

“You suspect he wants you to join the Kycer?”

“Yes, but I am not so certain. I am no priest.”

Lavar laughed “Neither is Dylon nor myself, yet here we are. Come, enjoy the festivities. We have much to do on this fine day.” Lavar led the Hazels through the street, the three talked like friends amongst the crowds of Kerks.
____

Mel’s arrival was quite dramatic, as a black shape of his procession moved alongside a magical mist which covered his group as they traveled, protecting them from the dangers of Caslan. Tesner watched from the ramparts of Kel Trach as the levitating lich came through the open gates, the magical mists disappearing as he appeared amongst the people. Tesner had never seen a Lich before, let alone an undead abomination, the floating mummified corpse wrapped in the decayed purple cloth of the Kycer’s highest clergy was unnerving to him. He turned to see Shov Coladdic and a procession of priests make their way through the crowd and bowed humbly before the Lich, who bowed in humility back. The ancient undead made its way to the temple in the city, and many followed.

Mel made a sacrifice to the god of knowledge, Melakos, before the temple and spoke to the crowd gathered at the foot of the temple itself. Mel’s vast cadre intermingled with the Kerks, a mixture of Bylamen guards, death knights, and undead which stood without motion. Mel preached of the need of knowledge, the will of the gods, and other typical things. It was an uninspired speech, as if the lich was in a hurry to leave, and was quick to allow Shov to take over as he made several long rituals to the point that even his fellow conservative priests became bored. The festivities continued as Mel was soon off towards the docks.

The planned festivities certainly had their effect as Lavar joined with the Hazels as they got a taste of Tesner’s planned bloodsport. Two Beurian clansmen comedically fought one another in a pretend duel, cracking jokes to the crowd in a makeshift arena. The crowd of humans and Landarric kerks were enjoying themselves, but the Geuderians got rowdy and some flooded onto the arena and began boasting loudly. Lavar was about to call guards in, but Hazel convinced him not and instead had the acting Beurians retreat from the field. Three sets of Kerkian clans of the Geuderians soon began to brawl, much to everyone’s entertainment, and much to Tesner’s horror. The viciousness in which the Kerks broke skulls and smashed each other with fists amused the crowd even more so, but eventually the normal play was allowed to continue in a more secure part of the city, as the Geuderians continued to lay down their grievances against one another.

Tesner was unhappy with such a state of affairs, but he was pleased when the Coladdic Kerks became amused by the play being performed by the elven troupe, although this was often interrupted by the scribes and Kerks who were always quick to point out their own histories. During one recess of the play, Tesner listened to a small fight breaking out between two Coladdic clergy over a dramatization of Gazhain’s recorded words, neither of the Kerks agreeing to what was said. Despite such incidents, Tesner was just glad the Kerks also decided to not turn the stage into a brawl.

However, of all the festivities, it was the opening of Lavar’s library that was perhaps the most popular attraction. Lavar was joined by the Hazel brothers as members of the scribes were soon settling down and reading from Orduin historical records, journals, and reports as if they were watching some grand play. Many Coladdic Kerks were also there, although of those Lavar was surprised to see was his servant Lila and a member of Mel’s entourage, the elderly scribe master Cragov Bystan. The elderly kerk, his white unkept beard was barely hidden beneath his absurdly rich robe of purple and green, as he and Lila were looking over an old manuscript and deep in conversation.

Lavar came over as Lila snapped back to attention and quickly tried to excuse herself “I-I am sorry, sir, I was just. . .Just, ummm. . .”

“No need to apologize, Lila. I know who this is. It is an honor Cragov.” Lavar humbly bowed to the elder who gave a bow back. “The honor is mine, Zupan Brav. Zupan Hazel. We were just discussing the older district borders of Governor Antonius, and his absurd proposals.”

Lila was a little embarrassed, she had been under Cragov’s partial tutelage before her poor parents had sold her to Lavar due to their outstanding debts. However, neither Lavar nor Cragov thought of her as a servile, nor treated her as such. Lavar sat down at a table of the library as he look to the Okan servant “Lila, why don’t you get some of the finer vodka from our kitchens. A proper drink of the high society of us Kerks, aye?”

Lila went off and obeyed as Duman and Jaskov Hazel sat next to the group. “You know each other I presume.”

“I know all of my scribes, both successes and failures. Although in the young Lila’s case, it was abnormal. It is always sad to lose such a studious scribe to such a sordid state of affairs. Poverty is quite a bane to many young and intelligent minds, as any scribe can tell you.”

“Hear hear.” Jaskov noted “So what is the leader of scribes doing here anyhow?”

“I will be joining Mel Coldfinger on this journey, of course.”

The Hazels looked surprised, but Lavar seemed rather disappointed. “I see. Who will take over the scribes while you are gone?”

“Several members will decide, a Coladdic I think most likely. Shov had been pushy on that issue entirely.”

“You are old, master scribe. You must certainly think that this journey Mel will drag you along will be beyond difficult for you.” Duman noted.

“It will be, but I am prepared in both body and soul to serve the will of Melakos. In his thrall, I serve the pursuit of knowledge to my dying days, just as Mel and many other Liches have done. I do not intend lichcraft, but I will do as Melakos commands me, for the sake of knowledge. What is not written in history will be forever lost, young Hazels.” Cragov coughed, but looked happier when Lila returned and served the group mugs of vodka. Almost without thinking, Lila looked back down at the old manuscripts and maps as Cragov leaned in.

The happy little moment as the group talked was soon interrupted by a loud crash. Two Coladdic scribes were scrambling about, as two Elkwood clansmen entered the library, partly drunk. The two clansmen, yelling in slurred language at one another, began to knock over several of the visitors to the library. Lavar shot up, yelling at the two to leave, but the two Elkwood clansmen only crept closer. One of the Elkwoods took one look at Lila, and demanded of her to grab them drink. She stood still, and the Elkwood clansman didn’t understand and yelled more harshly at her again. When the two aggressively began to close in, Duman and Jaskov stood in front of the group and silently looked at the Elkwoods. There was a silence as Lavar tried to calm everyone down. This failed as one of the Elkwood got a good shot and punched Duman.

Duman’s head went to the side and slowly returned back around to look at the Elkwoods, and without thinking and with warrior’s speed he grabbed the Elkwood clansman by the throat and threw him to the ground. Duman began to punch into the Kerk over and over again, hitting his face with increasing brutality as his brother grappled the other. Lavar was mortified as blood began to spill from the Elkwood’s head as he intervened, trying to get Duman up. The Kerk had not calmed, but Lavar stood in his path. Lavar and the group looked down at the body, the face mangled and bloody. The Elkwood kerk convulsed for a moment, coughed, and then slumped down. Only realizing what he had done after his rage left him did Duman and Jaskov quickly exit the library, as others looked on.

“Such is the way of the Kerks.” Cragov quoted from an old saying.
_____

Mel was on the docks, as if awaiting to already leave when Shov Coladdic came up to him, his face shallow and grim. From beneath the waves, there was a sudden appearance of an ancient ship coming out from beneath the water. It was a massive, coral covered thing which broke the water’s surface and docked in the harbor. The ancient wreck then began to repair itself, wood from the water creaked and added itself onto the ship and water spilled from it. It was once the ship Mel had used to travel to Caslan, and it was truly ancient, but was big enough to contain a huge crew and bigger library. Shov was unimpressed, the casual use of magic and the size of the ship did not matter to him much, and he personally seethed as his eternal patriarch began to summon shambling Drowned Lyches to make the final repairs of the ship. Of the necromancers and their pupils who watched, they were in the complete thrall of what they saw, and how little energy Mel had used to summon such a ship to his will.

“Something bothers you, Shov Coldfinger.” Mel began, looking over his vessel.

“You are open with me, so I shall be open with you, my eternal patriarch. Why have you cursed me, your own flesh and blood. Our enemy circles us like wolves, and you abandon us to go on some trip to entertain yourself. You leave some wretched niece of mine in charge? Your personal librarian? Am I a joke to you, oh my eternal patriarch, avatar of Melakos, Br--”

“Your passive aggression does not amuse me, Shov, I’d only appreciate your honesty.” Mel was used to the fury of fellow Kerks, nor surprised by Shov’s fury. “The wolves who circle you are little more than an upstart Geuder and his damaged friends, and you are of an age which should be wisened to the politics of the Kycer to keep them in line. I will be with Naya at all times, keeping me informed and versed in the schemes here. I will not make the same mistakes as last time. You will obey the directives I set before you and keep the Kycer stable in my stead. However, my distrust is towards the nature of the Kycer, not towards you alone.”

Shov sighed and took in the lich’s words. The group was soon being passed by a large number of scribes and necromancers, all hand picked by the ancient lich. Mel would be the last to board as all the zupans and members of the Kycer came to see him shove off from Kel Trach’s port. As Mel levitated onto the ship, joined to his side by his ancient bodyguard Granchkov. Mel looked down on Shov who bowed humbly to the Lich, and the Lich bowed back. After much fair and bluster, the ancient black ship was soon beyond the port, and Mel began his journey to the mainland. Shov remained on the docks, looking out at the sea, depressed as he watched the ship disappear beyond his sight.
_____

“I want their heads.” Pelkov seethed under his breath, looking over the body of one of his dead nephews. Pelkov Elkwood and Dylon Geuder were in the basement of Kel Trach’s temple, as Lavar and son Torpov Brav were overseeing the body of the dead Elkwood, being covered for the return home for burial. Normally, such a minor member would have been buried in little more then a shallow grave or thrown into a mass pit in a tomb city, but Pelkov was quick to declare his nephew another martyr in the ancient feud between him and the Hazels. Lavar tried to calm down the Elkwood zupan.

“Duman Hazel was enraged, and defend me and my honor beyond what he needed to. I know you seek vengeance, but I would prefer it not to be done in my lands.”

Pelkov pounded the table where his dead nephew was on, uncaring of the work he was disrupting with the priests. “You have much to say, you wretched snake! The Hazels kill one of my clansmen in your city, and you defend these murderers! I should have both your heads one way or another.”

“Pelkov, please.” Dylon interrupted “What the Hazels did was wrong, but we can be at least civil. More than once you and I have accidentally killed in a fit of rage and fury. I will sp--”

“No more words, Dylon. No more words.” Pelkov shouted “The Hazels have lived long enough in my ancestor’s lands as the bandits they are, and this is more than enough proof to demand their extermination. I will gather my armies and I wi--”

“And you will die, like last time Pelkov.” Dylon shouted back in authority. Pelkov held his tongue, because what Dylon said was true. More than enough times the Hazels had beaten him in campaign and the field of battle, each defeat more costly than the last. The idea of facing down Hazel clansmen did not sit well with the angry Zupan. Duman had personally defeated Pelkov on the coast years ago, using Okan slingers and skirmishers to swarm his flanks in what he thought would have been a one sided slaughter, and that Duman had some mysterious benefactor amongst the undead who gifted him and his clan some magical benevolence. Pelkov sighed and looked to Dylon “Then join me, Zupan Geuder. They live on your lands as well.”

“They do, but the Hazels are more useful to us alive then dead. They prove something which I haven’t failed to notice. Our armies are trash, our people rely on slaves to fight for us, and the Hazels are competent. That kind of clan is useful to my. . .” Dylon caught himself and looked at Lavar and smiled. “Useful to my faction. He is quite popular amongst the Okan, and their vote has proven to be influential before.”

“Quite.” Lavar raised an eyebrow. As the three talked, a Okan Ghilman came through the door, rushing to Torpov and whispering something in his ear. He nodded and went off. “The Hazels are here, looking for you Dylon.”

The Zupans went out, much to Lavar’s annoyance. He had told the Hazel brothers to flee the city, but instead the two brothers were outside the temple, meandering awkwardly at the foot of the temple. Duman looked up at Dylon Geuder as he and his cadre came down. When the group reached the Hazels, Pelkov drew his sword, which prompted Duman and Jaskov to draw their flat blades. The situation turned worse when several Brav clansmen came over, drawing their own weapons. The standoff was tense, but Dylon spoke quickly. “Enough! We are not here as enemies. Please, all of you, put down your weapons and let us reason with one another.”

“I am not letting this murderer go, Dylon. . .”

Lavar spoke up “Harm them in my city, Pelkov, and you will be a murderer yourself.” Pelkov shot a deadly glance at Lavar, but reluctantly sheathed his blade. Jaskov was the last to put his weapon down as Dylon practically dragged the two inside the temple.

Pelkov felt empowered as he, Duman Hazel, and Dylon Geuder went into a temple office to discuss. Dylon yelled and shouted over Duman as he tried to defend his actions, with Dylon practically threatening to abandon the Hazels to the Elkwoods. The Hazels were partly defended by the Geuders, although that relationship was often strained at best, and the threats by Dylon made the Zupan feel meek. Dylon then levied a compromise between the two, demanding that Duman’s clan pay for reparations for the death, and to leave each other at peace. Duman was shocked when Pelkov agreed to such a thing, mocking Duman that ‘If he cannot pay in coin, he can pay in friends’. This was a rather subtle nod to Pelkov’s intentions, planning to take the free Okan who lived amongst the Hazels as tribute. As Pelkov left the two alone, Duman was shocked as Dylon’s mood changed and shifted, as he began to chuckle and laugh outside of Pelkov’s range of hearing.

“Holy shit, the bed fellow I make. Come boy, sit down.” Dylon looked around for something to drink and Duman slowly sat down, a bit confused. “You are angry, are you not, Dylon?”

“Disappointed, not angry. Your antics are unwanted and dangerous, but I’d prefer your company to Pelkovs. I need his money, not his ideals.” Dylon found what he was looking for, Vodka hidden by some priest which he quickly took a swig of. “Now, for the real conversation.”

“Real. Conversation?”

“Aye, are you deaf?” Dylon’s mood changed suddenly again to a sneer. He poured Duman a drink and motioned for him to drink. “Taste only slightly better then Lich’s cursed blood, mind you. I can forgive this foolery, but on some conditions. You have slacked in wanting to become a Minor Priest, which starting now, you will put forward to join the assembly.”

Duman looked concerned and shaken, but nodded. It was a rare opportunity to be forgiven by his ally, as Dylon took another swig. Duman had a realization and looked up at him “And of you? Getting into minor priesthood is no easy feat. I would be stealing from your voting block I take it.”

“You would normally, but the way the Kycer works is considerably estranged. You will be up against some Coladdic nobody, which I plan to fund heavily against. You are right however, you would be dipping into our normal votes. However, this is abnormal.”

“Abnormal?”

“Aye. I will be looking to run for Head as Assembly this coming election. Everyone else knows amongst my allies, so you are the last to find out. I hope you are in on this affair, otherwise this is the last time we meet as friends.”

Duman sighed and nodded, the one thing he tried to avoid now was slapped into his face. He disliked the priesthood, and disliked the rituals they conducted. He found it boring and too far fetched from his own beliefs. Dylon could see Duman was unsure, and it disappointed him considerably. Duman was a capable leader, but lacked any ambition. Yet before they left, Duman spoke up.

“My clan is quite poor, and any run to become apart of the Kycer will be expensive. Pelkov’s reparations will be brutal on me, and my clan, and I fear I will truly have to trade those who call me friend for coin. That would hurt my chances overall, and all of us as well.”

“Explain.”

“Dylon, we align with the Okan for our vote, and although many slaves in Pelkov’s lands vote for you, they do not vote for Pelkov. Besides, a slave’s vote is only half of a commoner’s. If Pelkov is grievous towards me, he will lessen my chances. . .and yours of victory.”

Dylon grunted and then smiled. “I see. I will pay a share to pay for your. . .reparations to Pelkov. Now, return home and prepare for my instructions. This year is going to be a very long year. For all of us.”

Duman left Dylon alone in the room as the Geuder Patriarch felt a tinge of rage. He hoped all the effort he put into this young and fool clan would be worth all the effort. Sour days were ahead for Caslan.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Religion

Religion

Theology

Theology

Gyloism
Gyloism is a very cynical, polytheistic faith for which is tied to the subsets of three gods who are in a ceaseless war with one another. It is believed that a great creator, a singular and vile entity known as Uthena. Uthena created the sun, stars, and moon and carved flesh into her legs to form the Viyter. The Viyter created the mortal plane of existence, and had children known as the Barkotar. The Barkotar, in their oppression, destroyed Uthema and ate of her flesh, becoming gods themselves. The war between the Viyter and Barkotar was earth shattering, and the blood of that war flowed into the streams and bore the Se’muthar. The Se’muthar’s ‘disposal’ would become the mortal beings of the world. The Barkotar, taking pity on mortal beings, tricked the Viyter into a contract for which they would spare mortals in return for worship and reverence. These gods have since lived in a constant state of fighting one another, endlessly feuding to try to one up one another.

The Viyter (Mountain Gods)
The Viyter are the eldest, and the most evil, of the gods of the Goyloist faith. The Viyter lived in the highest mountains and were the sons and daughters of the god Uthena, the creator of the mortal world, and built much of the world in their mother’s name. The mountain gods live in the mountains high and above in an unknown land, and whose great castles live in clouds. It is said they feast on the life of the mortal world in fall and their refuse is the snows that come in winter, for they are cruel and angry at all times towards mortals and care little for them. The Viyter are the ones who grant mortals the gifts of snow, ice, and stone in return for their eternal servitude in death.

• Pelka
  
  • Domain: High Places, Mountains, Cliffs, Avalanches, Passes, Tolls, and Taxes
  • Pelka is the queen of the Viyter, and the heir of Uthena. Pelka is a goddess who lives in a vast stone fortress above the clouds and made all the mountains of the world, and despises all who live within it. Pelka despises mortals the most of the Viyter and demands much of them, and made the idea of taxes to spread amongst mortals out of spite, so that they would give her tribute if they dared pass through her mountains and domain.
• Vicera
  
  • Domain: Lust, vodka, wildness, drunkeness, cruelty, parties, gatherings, and berries
  • Vicera is the goddess of parties in the Gyloist faith, a beautiful woman depicted with a goat’s head and a bull’s hooves who pranced about changing gender and shape to all who saw her. Vicera was said to join amongst all parties, encouraging rowdy behavior and cruelly tearing apart relationships in fits of joy. Her blood was spilled in war, which grew to become berries.
• Tencha
  
  • Domain: Homes, structure, earthquakes, floods, disaster, castles, siege weapons, arrows, and rockslides
  • Tencha is both destroyer and builder, whose work was stolen by mortals to build their homes and castles. Tencha hated this and drove rocks into rivers so they would flood the lands of mortals, and tore apart the earth so that mortals could not copy his designs. Tencha hated all mortal kinds, and only granted peace to those who worshipped him. It was said he granted invaders the secrets of siege weapons so they could invade the land and hinder all who made walls and keeps without his blessing.
• Garga
  
  • Domain: Magic, arcane power, elemental power, fire, storms, lightning, sound, and witchcraft.
  • Garga is the only ‘good’ Viyter in most ways, having eagerly granted mortals the secrets of magic and seduced the first priesthoods to being given children who would spread her gift abroad. Garga hates mortals who abuse her magic and do not respect the gifts she gives, and sends onto them storms and fire. Garga in legend is said to tempt the clergy and necromancers to turning away from their faith and embracing a wilder form of magic, one which bind them to her will, where she tortures their immortal souls to feed her spells and power.
• Toruv
  
  • Domain: Law, Order, Kings, Hierarchy, Slavery, Soldiers, Smiths, Shackles, Bondage, Brokenness, Judgement
  • Toruv is a being who took the most interest in mortals amongst the Viyter, who built a realm in the mountains, an ordered society which had rules, laws, and enforcement which was copied amongst all realms of the Viyter. Toruv made rules and laws inherent in all mortals, and showed mortals how to make chains to imprison and enslave others just as the gods do. Toruv in turn demands a tribute of souls to feed into his empire in the sky. In legend, Toruv showed a spiritual slave how to smith and make tools, which when this spirit escaped, possessed the first Kerkian smith who made tools and weapons for the Kerks. When this spirit returned to Toruv’s realm, it was bound into a dungeon and forced to watch all wars ever committed by its actions for showing the Kerks the power of smithing.

The Barkotar (The Tree Gods)
The Barkotar were the children of the Viyter who were hated by their parents and were forced into the menial labor of populating the world. The Barkotar are considered ‘the disgusting but good’ gods of the faith, having the most empathy towards creations and are the most associated with Kerkian culture and worship, but were also the most vile in many instances since it was the Barkotar who showed the Kerks the secrets of necromancery. The Barkotar are the enemies of the Viyter and remain in a frosty relationship with the Se’muthar. They are said to live close to mortals, living in the forests, underneath them, or in the world of shadow. The closest one came to the Barkotar was during the night, where most of their rituals were held.

• Nausarine
  
  • Domain: Dreams, Night, Darkness, Secrets, Thievery, Altruism, Poverty, Isolation, and Prophecy
  • Nausarine is the head god of the Barkotar, and is chiefly worshipped like most Barkotar. Nausarine is special, and is said to live primarily in a world of dreams, taking those who swear their souls to him to these dream lands. Nausarine is generally considered merciful but had kept to itself, even once having believed that it preferred not to be worshipped, and took no mortal form. Nausarine was said to spread its children, the shadows of the world, across all worlds where it learned its secrets. Nausarine was said to steal magic from the god Garga and grant her mastery onto certain mortals, and granted it’s most profound secrets to Melakos.
• Saokuv
  
  • Domain: Death, Decay, Peace, Forests, Rot, Mushrooms, Fungus, Disease, Plague, Necromancery
  • Saokuv is the god of necromancery in the faith. Saokuv made the world of the dead, and built the forests and deep caves of the world. Saokuv taught the first necromancers the power to raise the dead, and how to control them, a gift for their services. Saukov had the form of an upright and decaying stag who’s touch brought death and advanced decay, covered in fungus and plagued flies. Saokuv was said to grant favor to the Kerks, giving them their immunity to plague and making plagues so that their enemies would be lessened in number.
• Tenera
  
  • Domain: War, Tactics, Luck, Rain, Growth, Life, Fertility, Butchery, Spears
  • Tenera is a goddess of war, depicted as a strong spear wielding maiden and is a warrior whose tales were filled with legend. Tenera was said to make her spear, Gytherya, from the metal from a volcano. Tenera was said to have destroyed a race of mountain giants who were built to destroy mortal kind, and whose tactics and trickery granted her reverence. She is said to have made the edible food of the world and taught mortals how to cultivate crops. Tenera is as much a god of war as she is a god of crops, and for this both soldiers and farmers.
• Melakos
  
  • Domain: Books, Learning, Knowledge, Unknowns, Forgetfulness, Libraries, History, Time, Immortality
  • Melakos is the dragon god, a god who is associated heavily with learning and time, and is considered the god of the Liches. Melakos is better known as the patron god of Mel Coldfinger, depicted as a great dragon. Melakos was born of Pelka and stole from her the knowledge of the world and built a library for all the Barkotar to learn from, and delivered the final blow on Uthena. Melakos is said to be the most gifted of the Barkotar, and created a wheel of time for the god Saokuv so that he would know when mortals could die. It is said that Mel Coldfinger made a pact with Melakos for immortality in return for restoring knowledge onto all mortal kind, and collecting the knowledge for the Kerks.
• Nurazul
  
  • Domain: Love, Brotherly Love, Marriage, Families, Flowers, Murder, Emotion, Madness
  • Nurazul is the ancient mistress of love and emotion, a family god who is depicted as a faceless crone. Nurazul was born of a love between Vicera and the trees, but unlike her mother who only lusted for things, Nurazul loved and cared deeply for others, and married her beloved Saokuv. She gave the dark being many sons and daughters to love, each died upon birth, but each became powerful minor deities to the ants, birds, and beetles of the world. Nurazul is deeply associated with emotion, including more negative aspects, such as murder and insanity, and she curses mortals who abuse their love for others with fits of rage and deep sorrow. Nurazul is blamed for having granted the Kerks their aggression, a curse for which was brought on by an abuse given to her while traveling amongst them in mortal form.
• Pe’van
  
  • Domain: Savagery, Beasts, Birds, Marshlands, Tameness, Pets, Cattle, Grazing, Horses, Horsemanship.
  • Pe’van is a being who is a beast and a god, taking the body of a bear, the head of a toad, the arms of a lion, and the legs of a horse. Pe’van is said to have horns which grow and twist across all the world, and hunts in the deep woods, and is associated heavily with hunting and meat. Pe’van is considered primarily a god of granted onto mortals the power to tame animals it had shepherded, such as the dog and horse. Pe’van was once wrestled by a legendary priest who granted the priest the ability to speak the tongues of animals. Pe’van is considered the father of all ‘beast races’.

The Se’muthar (The Water Gods)
During the war for creation, the Se’muthar were born of the blood and gore spilled amongst the Viyter and the Barkotar which spilled into the rivers and seas, and born gods who took on forms more familiar to mortals. Se’muthar live in underwater cities made of coral and shipwrecks, surrounded by the bloated dead and fish. Se’muthar are the creators of all mortal kinds and animals, their ‘disposal’ became the flesh from which mortal kind sprung from. While Pe’van is considered a creator of ‘beast races’ in the world, the Se’muthar are the beings who made mortals such as mankind, elves, dwarves, and the Kerks. Se’muthar demand worship, but are neutral in the affairs of mortals, viewing them as little more then future slaves to their domains.

• Okatugar
  
  • Domains: Sea, Wind, Ships, Galleys, Gulls, Sand, Sinkholes, Trade, Coin
  • Okatugar is a leader of the Se’muthar who leads the Se’muthar and was the first born of their kind. Okatugar built a city from the lifeblood of those who fought, and made a throne from the bones of a fallen Barkotar. Okatugar is considered a father of elven kind. Okatugar gifted the mortals the ability to trade for a fair bargain, but also took away their ability to fully understand it when they tried to trick him into giving away more secrets. Okatugar is said to grant an audience only to his favored priests, and turn those who trespass on his domain into golden statues.
• Gaivya
  
  • Domain: Innovation, Exploration, Settlement, Fish, Rivers, Swamps, Bridges, Otters
  • Gaivya is the goddess of exploration and general curiosity, but is generally considered to be a river god, more associated with more positive aspects. She is said to be a mother of mankind, and encouraged her children to learn and explore. Gaivya’s greatest gift was said to be the bridge and the otter, which she granted onto the Kerks, granting them furs and meat for their clans and bridges to cross the river without perishing. Gaivya was said to have taught mortals how to swim, and her generosity had made her well liked amongst mortals.
• Kulchyaka
  
  • Domain: Manslaughter, Beheadings, Bad Smells, Rabbits, Hunting, Nomadism, Hatred, Stags
  • The Kerks consider Kulchyaka to be their creator, and thus his physical appearance takes on a Kerkian form. Kulchyaka is a powerful deity in conflict with Gaivya, but did not grant Kerks aggression, but instead grant the Kerks the ability to kill during their fits of rage. He is said to have come in the form of a rabbit and bit into the neck of the first pregnant Kerk, giving them the ability to breed with many children. Kulchyaka cares little for his children and despises them, but as their parent gives them what they need to survive and protect them whenever viable. Kulchyaka is said to be spiteful of humanity, and turns men who harm his favored priests into Kerks and small woodland animals.
• Mang
  
  • Domain: Moon, West, Tides, Currents, Drowning, Bloating, Shipwrecks, Dread, Anxiety
  • Mang is the moon god, who was said to dredge up the moon from beneath the ocean and made his home in the sky to escape the drama of the other gods. In his legend, Mang is a western god who takes the moon for rides around the world, and hates mortals deeply for disturbing his rest. In turn, he steals away fishermen and drowns them, wrecks their ships, and bloats their corpses in shallow water. Mang is not considered an evil god however, and is more of a cautionary one, who destroys those who disturb his domain. Mang is in constant conflict with ocean god Okatugar, who is said to always be usurping his domains. Kerks believe the Moon is a realm full of shipwrecks and dead sailors who live in poverty and misery under Mang’s tyranny.
• Turzanchya
  
  • Domain: Coves, Natural Ports, Lobster, Crabs, Seals, Sharks, Teeth, Fruits
  • Turzanchya is a god of coves and sea mammals, but is more associated as a god of prosperity, fruit, and teeth. Turzanchya granted mortals teeth and taste, allowing them to enjoy and despise what they hate, but in turn stole their ability to live without food so that they would always be hunting in his domain. He uses this to entrap mortals, demanding their sacrifices for his fish and food, and is always lurking along the ports and sandy beaches, making contracts and deals with mortals. He is said to have a special love of fishermen, whom he makes absurd deals with, turning them into crabs when they fail his missions and tasks.
• Pelchigar
  
  • Domain: Dragons, Monsters, Invasion, Massacre, Tombs, Graves, Conflict, Armies
  • Pelchigar is a war god who is a mother of monsters and a bloodthirsty monster, a murderer who is said to nearly killed the Viyter god Tencha when she invaded his home and stabbed him. Pelchigar herself was slain however, but was incapable of dying, and was sealed away in a tomb where she could slumber. Plechigar is best known as a god of invaders, and her rumblings inside her tomb are blamed for the Kerkian exodus into their homeland. It is said she is guarded over by Turzanchya, who guards her tomb personally.

Beliefs
Beliefs vary in the Gyloist faith, but in general, the Gyloists believe above all is the cruelty of the gods and the demanding nature of life. Gyloists do not view life with the same reverence as others, and instead view it as but a short stepping stone before the plunge into a worse world thereafter, but will worship the gods for a meager chance at power and a better outcome in the world after. Gyloists worship their gods for the power the gods supposedly provide, and because it is tradition. Only the priesthood can divine the signs of the gods, and can make sacrifices on their behalf. Gyloists believe that once one dies, the soul automatically leaves the body, and that soul goes into the realms of one of the three sets of gods.

Magic
Gyloist magic is varied, with various schools which reach into partial druidism and the arcane, but its most important lores of magic is curses and necromancery. Gyloists have no intolerance towards any schools of magic, viewing it as a gift of their gods, and those who can practice it as being touched by those gods. Necromancery is fairly self explanatory, the art of bringing the dead to life, and to serve their necromantic masters as undead servants. Cursing is an art, a usually very dark art, in which the Gyloist necromancer will create a powerful brand onto the soul of their victim, infusing them with a magical malus which harms them in differing ways, or even bends reality around them to inconvenience them. Curses tend to be expensive and long lasting. The most powerful forms of magic, and the most difficult to obtain, is the lore of Lichcraft, the art of soul transfer.

Views on Slavery
Gyloists have a rather unique view on slavery, which is engrained in the religion itself. Much of what a Gyloist does in their life is a reflection of their gods and ancient superstitions, and thus just as the gods enslave one another or the souls of mortals, so can the Gyloists enslave others. This view does have a unique limit to it, for Gyloists also believe they must become ‘better’ or ‘outdo’ their own gods in order to not become like them. Slaves are not seen as much as property or as inhuman, but are more seen as forced laborers and serfs who toil for their masters. Gyloists tend to be taught by the priests to be kinder then normal to their slaves, and to respect their wants and needs for freedom without giving them that freedom.

Views on Sexuality
Gyloist views on sexuality are considered very warped and weird, even for a polytheistic religion which doesn’t initially care for it. Gyloists hold legends of their gods having marriages between the male and female gods, and thus just as the gods have these marriages, so do they. Gyloists have no real opinion on relationships outside of heterosexuality, but view it as a very minor taboo. This minor taboo is at best shunned or encouraged to stop, but it often depends on the relationship between Gyloists. Gyloists believe that both sexes are equal, but there are vague concepts of what is considered masculine and femenine. This often means there are some gender roles in Gyloist faith, but when it comes to political or economic matters, both sexes are considered on equal footing.

Views on Other Religions
Gyloists view other faiths as interconnections of their own, and this is due to their founding myths as their own gods having created all the world and those within it. Other gods in the mind of Gyloist believers are minor gods, or are misattributed gods. These minor gods can have hundreds of explanations, but the Gyloists view these gods with similar reverence as their own. However, the Kerks only respect the rituals and practices of their own religion, and view outside gods and practices of other religions as inherently inferior to their own. Even if a god is considered one in the same with a Gyloist god, that god is worshipped in the Gyloist way.

Views on Knowledge and Magic
Gyloism is deeply entrenched in knowledge and the use of magic, having a full acceptance of all forms of magic. To the Gyloists, the preservation of knowledge is a sacred act, and the truthful recording knowledge is seen as a divine means of honoring the best traits of the Gyloist gods. Knowledge is primarily associated with the favored gods of the Kerks, Melakos. Although Gyloist prefer the magic of necromancery, there is no magic that is considered too taboo for the Gyloists themselves. Magic such as light may be seen with some suspicion, but all magic is seen as a blessing of the gods and thus is respected. Mages of other faiths are seen with similar reverence, but in a different aspect, as they see mages who worship different gods as cursed beings who were sent against the Gyloists as punishment from their own gods.

Views on Apostasy, Heresy, and Atheism
Of one of the few things Gyloists do not tolerate at all is heresy and atheism, and is seen with utter disdain. Although the gods are cruel, breaking the sacred oath of divine reverence of them is seen as blasphemy. Thus, those who go against the temple’s beliefs or suggest the gods are unworthy of worship are despised. Apostasy is a different realm of its own, and its more a complex issue. Gyloists shun those who turn from their gods, but do understand fully that the point of their faith is rebellion against the gods who shun them back. Those who go the extra steps to come into their faith, only to leave it, are seen as weak and misguided.

Religion

Religion

Clergy
Although there are novels that could be made on all the different types of clergy within the Gyloist faith, it is best described as a faith which is meant to be rather universal, and thus priests are not a special class above others as much as they are chosen from their community to represent them to their gods. Priests come in various classes, which is all connected to the Kycer itself. Clergy for the most part perform rituals and sacrifices to the gods, and in turn act as community leaders and studious priests. Clergy have a great deal of responsibility, answerable to both the community and the gods, but also having power over the community itself. Clergy are sacred, and the harm of one is considered a deep tragedy to the Gyloists who likely elected them to their positions within the Kycer.

Believers
Those who have faith in Gyloism are known as Gyloists, although this is not a name they give themselves. Gyloists simply believe themselves as ‘religious’ or as ‘faithful’. Being Gyloist isn’t an identity, at least not initially, and is more of a belief in the ancient practices and mythology of Gyloist lore. Gyloists are not expected of much, but the requirements are to pray at shrines to the gods, a monthly sacrifice in the temple, and respect for members of the clergy. Gyloists otherwise do not have a lot of obligations outside of this, and are mostly free to do whatever. Clergy do not preach to their believers often other than to remind them of their religious obligations.

Temples
Gyloist temples are normally small, but fairly tall, structures where the members of the clergy hide out alongside their libraries. Temples are where the priests make their rituals and dedicate themselves to making sacrifices to the gods. These sacrifices, usually grain or meat, or presented on small altars and burned, the smoke rising through chimneys to signify they had made the sacrifice. Temples do not initially dedicate themselves to singular gods, instead they have materials for the building of shrines dedicated to specific gods and decorate their temples in the fetishes and pictographs of their mythology. Each Gyloist temple has a large basement where the clergy live and stay in, alongside their servants. Larger temples make room for more intricate courtyards and studies, with larger populations making larger sacrifices within.

Tomb Cities
Tomb Cities are massive stone structures, normally located in stone mountains or built into them, where the dead of the Gyloist faith are thrown into. Tomb Cities, as the name suggests, are massive temple cities dedicated to burial and are a popular haunt for the necromancers of the faith for obvious reasons. However, beyond this, the cities are major final rests for patriarches, Kerks of importance, and the mustering ground for the undead. Tomb Cities are always being expanded upon, usually by an undead workforce, which digs new tunnels and tombs beneath these massive complexes. On top, most Tomb Cities are built like fortresses, with entire castles and stone estates surrounding it and manned by the undead. The most famed Tomb City is the Tomb City of Scribes, a burial place for the Coladdic clan and the traditional assembly ground for the Kycer. Mel Coldfinger considers the Tomb City of Scribes to be his home, and his ‘formal library’.

Holy Orders
There are several holy orders in the Gyloist faith, as different bands will sometimes solely dedicate themselves to individual gods. However, there is only one relevant order in the Gyloist faith; The Death Knights. Death Knights are Gyloist zealots who perform an ancient ritual known as the Sacrifice of Flesh, in which a necromancer oversees the zealot cut away pieces of their own flesh and are ‘healed’ by the necromancer. These Death Knights then are draped in a rainbow of cloth and granted a magic blade and given a spiritual quest to seek partial immortality by doing a quest for a god. These quests can go in many different directions, but normally, the quest is complete and the Death Knight returns with knowledge and zeal for which they join the Bylamen to serve the Kycer.

Economy

Economy

Imports

• Meat
• Fruits
• Beer
• Copper
• Spices
• Silk
• Dyes
• Slaves
• Bones
• Peat

Exports

• Grain
• Vodka
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Leather
• Iron
• Gold
• Paper
• Stone

Taxation
Taxation is a difficult issue for Caslan, primarily due to two major issues; The Kerks and the clan structures they live in. Taxation is shaky at best, often based on the relationship between the clans and their Zupans, and Zupans with the Kycer. The Kycer does not administer their own taxes, but instead gives the privilege to guilds who bid on how much taxes they can collect. Deeply unpopular, these tax collectors have to be well guarded as they collect taxes. Kerkian clans tend to be required to give the Caslan state with about 10% of their crop, or a coin equivalent. Taxes are then stored in one of the Tomb Cities where it is counted by the undead and then spent as a budget for the coming year, with the rest being saved. Zupans and cities also pay taxes into this general treasury, but their tax bracket is much higher, usually around 20%.

Trade Policy
Kerkian trade policy is very lax, with Caslan ports being very open to trade with the outside world. Caslan authorities do not mind what is traded in their markets, so long as it makes money for them, and merchants are only subjected to the same equally lax laws of the Kerks. Caslan ports demand a moderate toll to be parked in their ports, with only some limited repair services for their stay. Caslan holds some authority to confiscate ships of merchants who had offended the Kycer. The only major restriction the Kerks have on trade is the sale of slaves to outsiders. Foreigners can sell slaves in Kerkian ports, and the Kerks will buy them, but the Kycer forbids the sale of slaves to outsiders and foreign markets. This is primarily due to the major restrictions set in place during the slave revolt.

Caslan Gold and Iron Mines
In the central hills and mountains of Caslan has an obnoxious amount of gold and iron nodes, which were developed many times over. Although the Kerks have little use for gold, they mint it into coins and sold it to Orduin for many different resources. Iron is considered more valuable, and thus the iron mines of Caslan are more valued above its gold mines. While in theory this should make the island rich, the use of gold is so poorly used amongst the Kerks that they often just sell entire ingots to other nations or store them in huge vaults. Most of these mines are controlled by mining clans who sell solely to the Kycer, who handle any and all trade of iron and gold.

Okan Fisheries and Seal Hunting
Despite being the least known, the most considerable industry on Caslan is controlled by the Okan. Okan mastered the building of fisheries, building truly impressive fish farms all along Caslan’s coastal villages, bringing a huge stock of food for Caslan. Okan Fisheries are professionally run, well stocked, and well supplied. Kerkian clans are rather infamous for trying to get into these industries by forcing Okan slaves to build new fisheries. Associated with fisheries is seal hunting, another Okan practice of hunting the native seals of the isle for meat, leather, and bones. This practice evolved into Kerkian hunting of seals, who quickly mastered the craft themselves.

Kerkian Paper Industry
Kerkian paper is highly advanced and also a core part of Kerkian society, as books and knowledge keeping is an integral part of Kerkian society. Kerkian paper is a state industry, and is thus by nature also an industry primarily used by the clergy. Kerkian paper is absurdly easy to make, and also absurdly cheap and for the most part long lasting. Paper made by the Kerks is just superior in many ways, and its production is considered as state secret. This flourishing industry is controlled primarily by the Coladdic clan, and is the primary foundation of the Kycer’s economy.

The Doil (Social Services)
The Doil is a Kycer institution which acts as a form of proto-social service to the people of Caslan. Each city has a special granary set aside to doll out grains and vegetables to struggling individuals and clans which may have fallen on hard times. Getting onto the Doil is easy, but this social service does come with consequences. Those who remain on the Doil for too long or are caught abusing it can be subject to horrifying consequences. These consequences can include being conscripted to serve the Doil in pseudo-slavery as a farmer who provides 90% of their crop to the Doil, or even being sold into slavery. The Doil has a weird way of lifting half of those put on it out of poverty, and the other half being put into further misery.

Territory

Territory

Physical Terrain

Caslan is primarily a very alpine land, with a long snowy season and is very hilly. The island is home to a wide range of wildlife, with limited fertile plains, but is home to a very vibrant amount of sea life. Normally, the island has very dense forests, but the farther south one goes on the isle, the clearer it becomes.

Physical Features

Peninsula of Seals
Caslan’s northern coast is known as the Peninsula of Seals, which as the name suggests holds a sizable seal population. Most seal hunts take place here, and is generally considered the coldest region on the isle. The Peninsula of Seals is particularly unique in its terrain, as it has large and extensive beaches which go into small tundra plains before it heads into forests. In the central part of the peninsula is a massive series of hills and cliffs.

Felgord Bay
South-west of Caslan is a long bay in which goes into more shallow water and smaller marshes. The Felgord Bay is a major trade port and shipyard, but is also treacherous to navigate for inexperienced sailors. Felgord Bay is known for the large amounts of shellfish which are farmed by local Okan communities which existed for thousands of years, and it is also known to be the main body of water which keeps the port city of Felgord afloat.

Inner Highlands
Beneath the Barka mountains are the inner highlands, divided by the mountains between the north and southern side. The highlands jut up more so than other hills of Caslan, noticeably higher than other hills across the isle. The Inner Highlands is considered highly valued ground due to its large nodes of stone, iron, and gold. The highlands are normally also the stomping grounds of the Beurians, although their clans normally herd in the areas between the highlands and the forests.

Barka Mountains
The Barka Mountains have various names depending on who is asked. To the Kerks, the Barka Mountains are known as the ‘God’s Realm’, who believe the mountain gods live upon. To the beastfolk, they are simply known as the Inner Mountains. The mountains are popular places to build the kerkian tomb cities, as the stone and relative isolation make them perfect for the clans to build the vast structures in, far off from clan conflict.

Barka River
The eastern-most river which flows from the northern side of the Barka Mountains which flows into rapids and small waterfalls until it reaches the sea. The Barka River is usually difficult to navigate.

Lake Fergar
Lake Fergar is Caslan’s only major lake, and is also its deepest lake as well. Not a lot is known about the lake, although it is heavily implied that it isn’t a naturally built lake at all. The Fergar river flows into the lake, and much of its terrain is weird.

Fergar River
The Fergar river is a western most river which flows from the very southern end of the Barka mountains and into the Fergar lake, where it divides into two smaller tributaries into the sea. The Fergar river is usually very peaceful and easy flowing, but is also unnaturally shallow. Much like Lake Fergar, the river itself is considered abnormal.

Sichok Fields
The Sichok fields is an abnormal field in southern Caslan which is simply an abnormal grassy field, with few trees and small forests. The field is strange for being very flat, and thus is also very windy. The field is considered the ‘safest’ area on the isle.

Political Map

Caslan is divided more around generalized clans then formal realms, but a lot of the borders are also based on the old stomping grounds of Okan and Beurian kingdoms as well. Most villages may not always consider themselves in one territory or region, as clans usually build their own ‘borders’ based on clan alignment.

Political Map

Astar

• Capital - Helgave
• Cultures - Geuderian, Ulkad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Geuders

Astar is formally the true ‘capital’ of Caslan, but is not the host of the Kycer itself. Astar is home of the infamous Geuder clan who settled the region and made the capital of Helgave its home. Astar is run more like a feudal territory then other parts of Caslan, and is highly developed despite it not being a center of trade for the island itself. The Geuders, an ancient family which is known for its feud with the equally ancient Coladdic clan, is famed for their military prowess and unity of their family.

Telgan

• Capital - Kel Felgord
• Cultures - Geuderian, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Elkwoods

Telgan is one of the richer northern provinces, primarily thanks to the city of Kel Felgord. Telgan is famed for its iron and gold mines, as well as its impressive tomb cities, but is poorly developed. Much of the land is cultivated by beastfolk slaves, with Kel Felgord being a center of slavery itself with its large slave slums which surround the city. Telgan is ruled by the Elkwoods, a clan famed for its pragmatic approaches and their close relationship with the Geuders, whom they descend from. Elkwoods have a long standing feud with the Hazels, and often their large scale retaliations between each other has left Telgan in a state of trouble due to historic failures against them.

Pemolas

• Capital - Kel Gaven
• Cultures - Geuderian, Ulkad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Hazel

Pemolas is one of the larger provinces and also the poorest of Kerkia’s provinces, with few resources and little development. However, Pemolas is also the youngest province, its identity tied to the upstart clan known as the Hazels. The Hazels are unique in many circumstances, being dubiously pragmatic in war, and also deeply honorable. Unnaturally kind to non-kerks, the province of Pemolas is also the most unified. The Hazels are very skilled generals and warlords, having beaten the more richer Elkwoods in fight after fight. Pemolas use to be divided between the Geuders and the Elkwoods, which is why neither clan likes the Hazels, but only the Geuders gave up on trying to reclaim their lands and openly embraced the Hazels as apart of their family.

Ushas

• Capital - Ferdgave
• Cultures - Coladdic, Landdaric, Human, Tannad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Pinewoods

Ushas is a very diverse region with many different cultures and kerks which intermingle in the general area. The region is interlocked between the Coladdic and Landdaric, and is enriched off its vodka production. Ushas however is also deeply divided between Humans, Okan, and Beurians who all openly despise one another, giving the local Kerks the awkward position of policing them. Ushas is ruled by the ever troubled Pinewoods, a diplomatic family which is associated with the Coladdic, but has major sympathies with the Geuderians and Landdaric.

Nasklan

• Capital - Kel Dargath
• Cultures - Geuderian, Norad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Hydov

Nasklan is the northernmost province on the Peninsula of Seals, and relies heavily on its fisheries and seal hunting for its economy. Although enriched by this trade, Nasklan is also horribly underdeveloped, leading to the region to be plagued by the undead. Nasklan is home to the largest elven population on the isle, along with the largest metal craftsmanship industries along with it. Nasklan is famed for its armored warriors and raiding musters, and its general isolation keeps the land far away from the troubles of Kerkian politics. It is ruled by the Hydov family, a Geuderian aligned family which are extremely distant relatives. The Hydovs tend to value their relationship to the Okan, much like the Hazels, and thus often tend to adopt them into their own family. Hydovs are also the only Kerkian clan to have a tomb city lost to them, and often are looked down upon for this.

Hilgas

• Capital - Kel Loch
• Cultures - Coladdic, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Coladdic/Coldfinger

Hilgas is not the heart of Caslan, and is a deeply under developed land, despite what the Coladdic think of it. Hilgas is the host of the Kycer, with many of its tomb cities, mines, and paper industries within it. The city of Kel Loch however is Caslan’s smallest city, and the deep wilderness is ruled almost primarily by the Beurians. Despite this, it is the land inhabited by the Coldfinger clan. The Coldfingers is the tribe of Mel, although the name Coladdic and Coldfinger may as well mean the same thing. The clan is highly influential, deeply religious, and also stupidly conservative. Coladdic, while also being the general name of the culture most associated with them, is also highly devolved to the general groups of clans which provide priests to the Kycer.

Fesdan

• Capital - Gangave
• Cultures - Coladdic, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Gasner

Fesdan is Kerkian’s eastern most province and also one of its poorest. Fesdan doesn’t have a lot to trade, but it does have a lot of settled Beurians who work as laborers. Poorly populated, the region is deeply religious and conservative, and its main goal for years was the construction of a tomb city for its Zupan. Fesdan is ruled by the Gasners, a smaller clan which broke off from the Coladdics and founded Gangave. Gangave used to be an Okan city, but was brutalized and destroyed, and was rebuilt by the Gasners. Although the clan is dedicated to religious affairs, their true main goal has been construction.

Lowglan

• Capital - Kel Trach
• Cultures - Landarric, Soukad Okan, Human
• Ruled By - Brav

Lowglan is the only major province owned by the Landarric Kerks, and is also a center of trade. Lowglan is strange, being not the richest Kerkian province, or even the most developed, but being a busy port for which trade comes in. Kel Trach is also Caslan’s largest city, and this is primarily because of the Port Pact with Orduin. Kel Trach is littered with drydocks, warehouses, and houses Caslan’s fleet. It is ruled by the prestigious Brav family, one of Caslan’s richest families. The Bravs often are considered a very neutral family, who openly do not involve themselves in the Kycer, and often are diplomatic to outside forces to better help their trade.

Olgan

• Capital - Port Uvan
• Cultures - Landarric, Soukad Okan, Human
• Ruled By - Council of Uvan

Olgan has a strange history, as Uvan use to be primarily an Okan city which was protected by the Ferdgave rivers which acts as a barrier to its core lands. Fertile and highly valued, Olgan was eventually settled by a group of feuding Kerkian clans and the port city sat as another province of Lowglan. However, Olgan eventually exploded into violence, and the Zupans were ousted. The Kycer put a small group of Baruns in charge of the region, who have remained in power since, a separate republic which is run much like a miniature Kycer within Olgan. This small republic is effectively run by peasants, and is one of the freest (and richest) regions in Caslan due to its farms and fields.

Monsters and Beasts

Necromancery and curses have a very bad habit of producing what the Kerks refer to as ‘blights’, a ceaseless array of cursed and undead creatures which arise naturally that inhabit Caslan’s countryside. Careless necromancers are often to blame for raising these abominations and not putting them down, and will occasionally cause trouble.

Monsters and Beasts

Husk
When Necromancers gather bodies, the usually dry and decaying bodies are collected into pits within the Tomb Cities and raised as Husks. Husks are abnormal zombies, as Husks are not a single undead entity, but rather several. Organs, dismembered limbs, and skeletal fragments all are jumped to life to form a full Husk. These creatures are unnaturally difficult to destroy, and can use various body parts to better kill their prey. Husks tend to ‘eat’ their prey, which is used to regain and assimilate body parts into themselves to remain whole. Husks tend to be slow moving, but unlike Lyches, are not vulnerable to fire.

Revenant
Revenants are cursed beings, who die either so angry and so betrayed that instead of dying outright, they will continue to rise up from the dead till they are appeased. Revenants are unnaturally born undead, usually the product of necromantic spells or powers. Revenants cannot die, but instead will arise regardless of circumstance or destruction to continually hunt their prey. Revenants also are partly intelligent, but are so single minded that they cannot be reasoned with. Revenants cannot be truly destroyed till either their victims is dead, or are appeased in some other manner. Normal ways to deal with Revenants is by sealing them away to a point they cannot possibly escape. Necromancers usually advise not trying to destroy Revenants, as each time they return, they tend to grow more stronger, horrifying, and resilient.

Bog Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Bog Lyches are variants of mummified remains of those who drowned in bogs, and arise from them. Bog Lyches, like most, tend to remain near graves unless summoned by necromancers or controlled by them. Bog Lyches are the weakest of the Lyches, but are also the most stalkerish, and are unknown to ambush by bursting from the ground and dragging their victims into the bog itself. Like all Lyches, they are usually very vulnerable to fire.

Drowned Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Drowned Lyches are somewhat mummified remains of those who drowned, and bloat inside watery groves until they are attracted by prey. The Drowned are most easy to spot, as they are the slowest and most deformed of the Lyches. Drowned are also the hardest to kill. Drowned Lyches are mortifyingly difficult to kill by normal means, as they rarely ever leave the water where they are at an advantage. Although immune to fire while underwater, they are surprisingly easy to set aflame, with their entire bodies bursting into flames when outside the water.

Mountain Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Mountain Lyches are mummified remains of ice bound bodies which died in the icey hills and mountains, basically ice mummies who had frozen in place. Mountain Lyches are terrifying enemies, being able to casually appear from the ice and attack without warning. Although easy enough to kill, their claws can cause almost instant frostbite. Mountain Lyches are dormant normally, but unlike other Lyches can ‘move’, usually towards colder climates if their old graves become too ‘busy’ or warm.

Rot King
A weapon of the defensive necromancer, Rot Kings are unique undead abominations which are guardians of Necromancer tombs, but also a sign to not trespass on their groves and studies. Rot Kings are bodies infused with undead biting insects and flies, which swarm inside and around the body as a mass. These Rot Kings are held together by a magic cloak which raises dead insects around it to join in the Rot King’s festering. These beings act as turrets, sending out the swarm of biting insects to tear into enemies with horrifying results. Without the use of magical means or an absurd amount of fire, Rot Kings normally can just decimate bandits or adventuring raiders who disturb a Necromancer who had built it.

Rat King
Rat Kings work in a similar way to Rot Kings, except the main difference is that undead rodents and small critters are used. While not as effective, their construction and use is very different. Rat Kings are built in cities and tomb cities as guardians and as patrolling abominations to attack would be thieves. Necromancers usually do not build Rat Kings normally, but only during a time of emergency, as the undead abominations do not always differ between enemy and neutral targets. Rat Kings are often sometimes used for more nefarious purposes, deployed in rural settings to cause chaos or to attempt assassinations of a Necromancer’s enemies. Rat Kings are considerably easier to kill then Rot Kings, but are a lot more devastating in general.

Vaymar
The Vaymar are cursed vampires, cursed primarily by Mel Coldfinger, with eternal damnation. Vaymar ultimately are vampires of a sort, bound to an oozing ‘blood sludge’ which is waterborne. This cursed ooze turns its victims into the Vaymar, who become addicted to it and can only satiate themselves on cannibalism. At first, these creatures when remaining in this state are paler, having unnatural speed, and abnormal strength. However, the curse grows stronger the more they indulge, becoming more and more inhuman until a more freakish, balding, and demonic looking figure seems to emerge. Vaymar are cursed beings, eventually succumbing to their bloodlust and getting themselves killed, or feasting in secret for years. The cursed ooze eventually will blacken and die, but in its wake will raise the already deceased as undead. Vaymar also have a host of other ‘inconveniences’, such as being unable to read from books, being harmed by sunlight, being unable to look at themselves in the mirror, and so on.

Ghoul
Ghouls are, for the most part, Vaymar who have degenerated to such a degree that they lose much of their abilities. While Vaymar are intelligible and aware of their curse, Ghouls are not and are very barbaric, single minded horrors. Ghouls often are a result of a Vaymar starving for blood, and thus result of eating the dead to survive. Ghouls are always hungry and will attack a living creature instantly. Ghouls, like Vaymar, are subject to all the inconveniences and curses of the Vaymar itself, but in some instances get additional curses stacked upon them. Vaymar cannot regain consciousness, and any blood they eat also harms them as well. Ghouls can drink a great deal of blood which they crave, but instantly weaken and become pained as they drink, which is when they are most vulnerable. Ghouls also lose all strength and speed associated with Vaymar, and thus become a sort of ‘living zombie’ of sorts.

Warg Cursed
Like many cursed beings, being Warg Cursed is perhaps the ‘least unfortunate’ curse to be damned with. Warg Cursed during the day or forced to turn into massive wolves who prowl as any normal animal, but during the night turn into normal humanoid beings. This curse has some odd specifics, as the warg beast is automatically made into a loyal servant of the one who cursed them, with the cursed being unable to resist the words of their curser. The cursed being also constantly hungers for the flesh of their own family as a cursed being, and is damned to witness the mental images of the Warg’s kills. The Warg itself partly demonic in nature, having a hyper intelligence different from the one it is bound to. These curses are sometimes put onto the tombs of important Kerks to gravely inture grave robbers who find themselves made into unwilling slaves of the descendents they tried to rob.

Leech Cursed
Leech Cursed are essentially undead being who slowly are killed and turned into terrifying abominations over time. Leech Cursed begin as common humanoids who become suddenly attractive to a common type of leech in Caslan, who hook onto their bodies, die, and then become undead. These undead leeches then suck the blood and hunt the cursed being relentlessly, eventually consuming them by sucking down their blood. Effectively becoming a being similar to that of a Rot King, the Leech Cursed are eternally pained by their existence as zombified walking leeches. Leech Cursed, once fully digested by the leeches, usually are dominated by necromancers who use them as guardians of the tomb cities, specifically the tomb cities located in marshy lands.

Ent Cursed
The Ent Cursed are cursed to eventually become walking undead trees, a strange and mortifying concept which is brought to life by Gyloist necromancers. The cursed beings are ritualistically murdered and their bodies mulched into a tree, which kills the tree and springs it back to life. This cursed being is tortured eternally within it, but it is capable of moving and is infused with all manner of dark powers and auras. Ent Cursed are basically moving trees, which conjure undead birds to swarm its prey, can ooze acidic sap when it is damaged, and conjure ropes to hang nearby enemies and convert them into zombies. Ent Cursed are usually directed against traitors, and are unleashed against the traitor clan by the Necromancers, which then pollute the area with necromantic power.

Resurger
Resurgers are undead beings very similar to revenants, half burned corpses which are ‘blessed’ rather than cursed. When a Kerkian family is decimated by a raid, a sympathetic necormancer will sometimes use a ritual by burning the undead to raise up a ‘Resurger’, a being made from the ashen flesh and bones of the burned dead. Resurgers take up flaming weapons and always are covered in light flame. These undead beings are then blessed with all manner of powers, the most potent of which is their aura of withering, which unnaturally ages those around it. Resurgers are terrifyingly powerful, capable of wiping out entire Kerkian clans as a single entity. Resurgers only go away once their vengeance is complete, and can be reborn from the same ash pile they spawn from. Resurgers, unlike Revenants, can be destroyed by disrupting the ash pile they spawn from, or by convincing a member of the Kerkian family which helped build the Resurger to sacrifice themselves in the pile.

Haunt
Of the most powerful undead of the isle, Haunts are most doom bringing. Haunts are wraiths of sorts, effectively ghosts bound to armor but are granted all manner of twisted gear and enchantments which make them juggernauts against their enemies. Haunts are built normally by Necromancers, and the soul which inhabits them is a necromancer themselves, capable of conjuring undead beings to its aid. Haunts are very single minded and their power comes from their enchantments. Haunts usually have swords bathed in dark magic, which rot the metal and flesh of those it touches, they have unholy auras which unnaturally age those around them and turn weaker willed beings into ghoulish undead slaves. Haunts also tend to be given cursed armor which can reflect damage done to them onto their enemies. When Haunts are killed, they are not fully destroyed, but instead linger and try to latch onto their enemies far into the future to return to the place of their defeat and become new Haunts. Their images drive those they fight to madness.

Raptor
Raptors are not undead, but are still dangerous beasts. Raptors are large 6 feet tall reptilian creatures which travelled with the Kerks when they invaded Caslan. They are upright animals, who hunt in packs of usually 12 to take down larger pray like stags and bears, and are a menace across Caslan. Raptors are abnormally intelligent, and their packs tend to keep to the inner parts of the isle itself. Raptors are dangerous carnivores, but while they may hunt Okan, Humans, and Elves, they refuse to hunt Kerks and Beurians. Beurians can easily kill a pack member or two with their own strength, but Kerks are oddly avoided by the creatures.

Factions

Factions

Coladdic Loyalists
In the Kycer’s politics, there are many political factions, but the biggest one is the conservative faction led entirely by the Coladdic clan and its aligned clans. The Coladdic loyalists are stubborn members of the Kycer, deeply rooted in tradition and religion, and view outsider influence on the Kycer with immediate hostility. Although its safe to say Mel Coldfinger is a member of this faction, his influence and interest in it is debatable. The Coladdic loyalists are more interested in keeping all Kerkian affairs under their own control and using the Kycer to better control Kerkian society. The main political avenue of the clan is encouraging faithfulness, defending the status quo, and brutally suppressing attempts by the Zupans from ruining the Kycer’s politics.

Geuder Loyalists
Opposed to the Coladdic are the Geuders, an ancient feuding family which has been both ally and enemy of the Coladdic. The Geuders may be a part of a clan opposed to the extreme conservatism of the Coladdic, but they are best thought of as the clan whose policies are more aligned solely to the ambitions of the Geuders themselves. Geuder Loyalists take on the causes of the Geuders which can change depending on the situation, their ultimate goals are to expand the influence of the Geuders and usurp control of society from the Coladdics. The Geuders take on various political causes, and have a strange melding of coalitions amongst slaves, foreign interests, merchants, and the nobility. This balancing act of the Geuders is also difficult to maintain.

Scribes of Gangave
The Scribes are a respectable group of history makers and authors who live in a college in Gangave, which set up a guild of national libraries in most Kerkian cities. The scribes take on all manner of Caslan society to serve as historians, account writers, and philosophers to better look into the world. The scribe’s greatest patron is Mel Coldfinger, who enriches the guild and often takes on their highest members as apprentices. The scribes have a very relaxed reputation as legitimate and honest historians, who will go to absurd lengths to understand every facet of history. Scribes are honest Historians however, and their works tend to be popular more amongst the Kerks then foreign courts. The scribes are also very politically neutral, and will also go to equally absurd lengths to distance themselves from the Kycer.

The Unbroken
One of the oldest organizations in Caslan is the Unbroken, a group of Okan bandits and thieves who used to resist the Beurian occupation of their cities, but became a common gang of thugs when the Kerks took over. The Unbroken are mostly a thieves guild, whose ranks are made up primarily of runaway slaves, bandits, and criminals who inhabit the underground of Kerkian society. Although most of their higher members are Okan, many poorer Kerks tend to join their ranks for quick money. The Unbroken tend to have a very negative view of the Kerks, and have little to no respect for the Kycer. Free willed, their greater goal is to free the slaves of Caslan, which makes them increasingly an ally of the Geuders and an arch enemy of the Coladdic. The Unbroken had some role in the Slave Revolt, but were uprooted by Mel Coldfinger.

The Blackhand
The Blackhand are a guild of assassins and spies who provide their services to Kerkian society for coin and tolerance, a strange group which operates underground and far away from the prying eyes of the Kycer itself. The Blackhand earns much of their income from things the Kerks consider distasteful, such as assassination. Blackhand members are brought on from only specific backgrounds, with the Blackhand believing only those born of parents with unique traits for their guild can join them. This tends to make the Blackhand very diverse in race as much as skill. Okan, Elven, and Human members are common in the Blackhand, who work alongside the sons of hunters, serial killers, and even the occasional lich. The Blackhand is deeply tied to politics, but is not a part of any faction, providing the Kycer with experienced members to help defend them against attempted assassinations and spycraft.

Characters

Characters

Archlich Mel Coldfinger

• Age - Unknown
• Titles - The Great Reformer, Cursed and Curser, Winter’s Song, Eternal Patriarch, Death Dealer, Murderer, Friend and Enemy of the Okan, Subjugator and Ally of the Beurian, Bringer of Books, Scroll Maker, Historian

Mel Coldfinger is a long standing member of Kerkian society, and the head of not only the priesthood, but also effectively the tyrant over all of Kerkian society. Mel Coldfinger is physically an undead being, mummified and clothed in an obnoxiously flowing black and purple robe, all but his hands and eyes covered in cloth, and wearing a tall cur cap. Known even for his height, he is a terrifying and studious figure, deeply entrenched in his beliefs and personal motivations. Mel is ultimately a highly pragmatic and intelligent figure, going to great lengths to not only preserve knowledge, but to also collect it. In legend, he learned how to become a lich from the god Melakos, and shared this knowledge only to those he found worthy of it. Mel is weirdly enough known for his kindness, but also his retribution. As a lich, Mel had split his soul into the very ground of Caslan, into one of his oldest tomes, and into the very bloodline of his family. This kind of lichcraft, according to Mel, was painful, difficult, and expensive.

Associates

• Naya Coladdic (Female Kerk) - Naya is Mel Coldfinger’s direct descendent and a living apprentice under him, and a member of a minor clergy. Talented, Naya is honored to serve under her ancestor, as Mel prepares her to become another important member of the Kycer. In truth however, Mel enjoys aiding his most direct descendants from his now deceased wife, who he cherishes in his immortality.
• Cragov Bystan (Male Kerk) - Cragov is the leader of the Scribes, and its head master over them. Although an older necromancer, Cragov and Mel are good friends and consider each other equals in the histories of Caslan.
• Granchkov (Male Kerk) - Granchkov is a Death Knight in the service of Mel, and is one of his favored bodyguards. He is adorned with countless cursed artefacts, his most infamous being the Sword of Exodus, whose strike against mortal flesh can rend against the spirit of its target.
• Twine (Male Undead Okan) - Twine is a nameless Okan king who had at one point insulted Mel, who cursed him into becoming his servant. Twine is an eternally reforming undead creature who is fully conscious of his existence, and teleports into Tomb Cities to warn delving grave robbers and intruders to turn back. He is also used to summon those of Mel’s interest to him.
• Gra’vyen (Male Undead Elf) - Gra’vyen is an elven lich who had been his apprentice, and showed such skill and majeststy in his crafts as a necromancer that Mel granted him the knowledge of Lichcraft. Gra’vyen has been Mel’s librarian and keeper of his vast book collection, and a powerful being who often despises the politics of the Kycer.

Zupan Dylon Geuder

• Age - 45
• Titles - Zupan of Astar, The Grim, Minor Priest, Head of the Zupan Assembly

Dylon Geuder is the current patriarch of the Geuder clan, and is a rising star politically in the Kycer. Having joined the Kycer as a reformer, he was also the head of the assembly of Zupans. Dylon is an ambitious man and a near legendary commander, having put down smaller revolts and dealt with bandits harshly, but he believes he has yet to prove himself. Dylon’s grand ambitions however hide his true motives, and that of his family. Dylon has a hateful feud with Shov Coladdic, whom he despises for his staunch and stubborn beliefs.

Associates

• Mara Geuder (Female Kerk) - Dylon’s wife and co-ruler in the family. While Dylon is in the Kycer, Mara is back in Astar ruling in his stead. Mara is a very strict woman, much like many Kerkian matriarchs, and is often ruling both her family and the region with an iron fist.
• Polchov Geuder (Male Kerk) - Dylon’s son and heir from his second brood, Polchov had proven himself when he help end a feud between several small clans on his lonesome, and oversaw the construction of a new temple. Polchov is currently in the studies to become a priest, which in turn will make him able to join the Kycer. Much like his father, Polchov is ambitious, but is less battle hungry like Dylon, and a very good friend of Zupan Hazel.
• Daygov Geuder (Male Beurian) - Daygov was found as a young wandering pup who happened upon the Geuder farmstead and was found sleeping in a shed, likely abandoned by his clan. Dylon decided to adopt the Beurian into his family, who soon became a fanatical member of the clan, being a close friend and bodyguard to Dylon.
• Uchov Geuder (Male Kerk) - Brother of Dylon Geuder, a studious necromancer and priest of the family who has considerable influence amongst them. Uchov is very centrist, much to the annoyance of Dylon, who still loves him as a brother.
• Tanya Geuder (Female Kerk) - Sister of Dylon and a captain in his family, who leads the militia into battle. Beloved by Dylon, Tanya is influential over her brother’s attitude and policies.

Zupan Shov Coladdic

• Age - 61
• Titles - Zupan of Hilgas, Head of Council

Shov Coladdic is the elder patriarch of the Coladdic clan, and the Head of Council over all of the Kycer. Shov is an old and staunch archconservative, who grew up mastering the faith even though he is not a necromancer himself. What Shov lacks in magic he makes up for in stubbornness and political mastery over the rituals of the Kycer. Shov is best described to have a very ugly set of features, and generally has a long history of denying the Geuders further political power in the Kycer. Although a Coladdic, he has a nasty and toxic relationship with most of his family, and is avoided even by Mel Coldfinger himself. Due to Shov’s age and mastery in the Kycer, most of the Coladdic faction looks up to him to lead them against the ambitions of Dylon Geuder, whom he has a vicious rivalry with.

Associates

• Taspov Beusdov (Male Kerk) - Taspov is currently the other Head of Council in Caslan who joined Shov as co-ruler on a joint ticket. Although Taspov is a skilled politician in his own right, he is considerably meek in comparison to Shov’s shadow and acts more as his lackey, a political trouble which he fears will be his legacy. Unlike Shov, he is a necromancer, but not a very good one, a surprise and disappointment to many members of the Kycer.
• Yila Coladdic (Female Kerk) - Shov’s wife and matriarch of the Coladdic clan, who also happens to be a ceremonial priest in the Kycer. Although Shov is not a mage, Yila is, and is a very good one at that. Yila, like many Kerkian matriarchs, are very brutal and cold women, something which Shov comes to love.
• Darsov Coladdic (Male Kerk) - Darsov is Shov’s son and heir from his first brood, who shares many of his father’s beliefs and convictions, but is more hot headed and spiteful towards the Geuders. Unlike other heirs, Darsov was solely trained in the Kycer’s politics in the hopes he will become the next Head of Council after Shov passes.
• Drasken (Male Beurian) - Drasken is a Beurian bodyguard and slave of Shov who follows the Head of Council wherever he goes, having been bought and trained for the sole purpose for his own protection.
• ‘Big Toe’ (Male Lun’Kerk) - Grandmaster of the Blackhand, a Lun’Kerk assassin and son of a spy. ‘Big Toe’, as he is named, does not in fact have big toes, but has abnormally smaller ones. Although skilled, he and Shov are in a deep political alliance in the hopes of bringing the Blackhand as a formal institution into Caslan society, in return for some dirty dealings.

Zupan Pelkov Elkwood

• Age - 55
• Titles - Zupan of Telgan, Minor Priest

Pelkov Elkwood is an important figure in the Geuderian faction in Caslan, and is generally considered a very divisive figure. Although he sides with the Geuderians, he is politically conservative, and also one of the faction’s richest members. Pelkov however is often described as a greedy creature, who is more interested in usurpation for his own family then actually improving his own realm, much to the dismay of his allies. Pelkov is also considered extensively cruel towards non-Kerks, and is arch enemies with the rising Hazel clan.

Associates

• Trema Elkwood (Female Kerk) - Pelkov’s wife and true power in the Elkwood clan, a cruel and brutal woman who has raised all three broods of Pelkov’s children with considerable efficiency. Trema has no love towards her husband and bickers often with him, and often rules Telgan with an iron fist while he is away in the Kycer.
• Galya Elkwood (Female Kerk) - Pelkov’s daughter and heir from his first brood, a well trained priest and upcoming matriarch with her own family. Although equal to her father in authority, Gayla doesn't share his personality and motivations, and is more content with remaining more neutral.
• Lokov Elkwood (Male Kerk) - Pelkov’s brother and a necromancer, a priest of Telgan and a Ceremonial Priest in the Kycer. Lokov is one of Pelkov’s only true friends and companions, and both have a brotherly fondness towards one another.
• Quilkov Elkwood (Male Kerk) - Pelkov’s brother, although neither share much love towards one another. Dedicated to his family, Quilkov leads his own elite band of Ghilmen, and is highly protective of the Elkwood clan and its interests.
• Anyan (Male Okan) - An Okan slave of Pelkov and his personal servant. Although abused and meek, Anyan secretly works as a spy for the Unbroken, and in turn, the Hazels.

Zupan Duman Hazel

• Age - 24
• Titles - Zupan of Pemolas, Friend of the Okan

Dunman was not the first choice for Patriarch by his clan, but his upbringing and deeds became known after he and several members of his clan counter-invaded their own tomb city to free it from the grasp of wandering bandits, and then led impressive raids against the Elkwoods. When both the zupan and his heir died in a suspicious ambush, the clan chose Duman to lead them, and has since made strides that has impressed his allies and angered his enemies. Dunman made trade deals with Lavar Brav, reasserted the clan’s loyalty to the Geuders, and reformed their clan’s militia into a more professional militia. Duman is known for his strong sympathies towards the Okan, whom the Okan clans consider him friend.

Associates

• Ula Hazel (Female Kerk) - Ula is Duman’s wife, who is abnormal for the Kerks for being both very calm and kind hearted towards her family, even though she is by all means a matriarch of the clan. Ula continues to struggle keeping the clan in line alongside her husband, but is truly loving of Duman.
• Jaskov Hazel (Male Kerk) - Duman’s brother from the 2nd brood and his chosen heir. Jaskov had been both a great aid to Duman during their travels, but also is mostly equal in skills. Jaskov however is very hot headed, and deeply invested in the feud between the Hazels and the Elkwoods.
• Benton (Male Okan) - Leader of the Unbroken, a thief and petty thug who bribed and blackmailed his way into a position as criminal overlord of Caslan. Benton is normally spiteful of Kerks, but aligns himself with Duman out of mutual interests. Benton hates the Elkwoods in particular, as he had grown up a slave under their iron fisted rule.
• Kas Hazel (Female Okan) - Kas is a supposedly minor adoption of the clan, when Duman’s father had adopted her due to her creativity and intelligence. Kas joined Duman in his adventures, but also became influential for getting him to side more for her people due to their friendship. Her main interests have been construction and building.
• Lurchov Hazel, The Sunken (Male Undead Kerk) - Lurchov is a hermit lich who lives in the Hazel’s tomb city and struck up a friendship with Duman, and was convinced to act as the Hazel's main priest. Although still a fervent isolationist, Lurchov aids the young patriarch in his quests.

Zupan Lavar Brav

• Age - 58
• Titles - Zupan of Lowglan, Minor Priest

Lavar Brav is a very political member of the Kycer, despite the objections of his family, with his main political philosophy being the stability and safety of the republic itself. Lavar is a priest, but is very secular at heart and is more interested in mediation and pragmatic statesmanship. He is popular amongst the lower members of the house, but is unpopular for his rising stardom by Dylon and Shov. Lavar has a friendly relationship with the Hazels, an upstart family of the Geuder’s political faction, and a mentor to many new members within the Kycer. Lavar is often described as a legendary orator and writer, his seething speeches and professionalism has been the bane of many of his rivals within the Kycer.

Associates

• Lena Brav (Female Kerk) - Lavar’s wife and matriarch of the Brav clan, but unlike many kerkian Matriarches, she is far more collected, calm, and concerned for the well being of her clan. That concern often means Lavar is pushy towards her clan to better themselves and aid in the clan’s success, regardless of their own personal troubles.
• Torpov Brav (Male Kerk) - Torpov is Lavar’s son and heir from his first brood, a well learned and mercantile Kerk who travels often as a merchant. Lavar is particularly proud of Torpov for his engagement in politics and his starting job as a Ghilman captain.
• Cilov Brav (Male Kerk) - Lavar’s brother and his spiteful rival in the family, a merchant by trade and a envoy of the Kycer. Cilov despises Lavar’s political scheming and rejection of neutrality. Cilov works with other members of the family to usurp the position of Patriarch from Lavar.
• Tesner Uman (Male Human) - Tesner is one of Lavar’s friends and a merchant of Caslan, who primarily sells paper. Tesner and Lavar share many political convictions and beliefs, but also a unique taste for writing and speech. However, Tesner is not a Kerk and does not stand to get into the Kycer, but Lavar views him as equal to or better then his peers.
• Lila (Female Okan) - Lavar’s personal servant and slave, although is more treated as family. Lavar views Lila fondly for being curious and well educated, having once been a scribe before her poor parents sold her to pay off debts.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Kycer of Caslan

“Garza Vak Sher” “Glory to the Gods"

=-=General Information=-=

• A theocratic republic based on the island of Caslan
• Is ruled by the Kerks, a barbarian people who settled and conquered the island
• Has a large native beastfolk population, with a significant human and elven minority
• Is a home of a necromantic faith and its practitioners, called Gyloism
• Is a fairly isolated state, although it had larger ambitions to become a power on the eastern coasts
• Is ruled by a powerful and immortal lich scholar and his clan
• They speak and write in Kerkian and Caslandic
• A person from Caslan is called a Caslanian
• Population - 2.4 Million
• Manpower - 120,000
• Wealth - Moderate
• Espionage - Moderate

Races

Races

Kerkians
Kerkians are a race of humanoids which highly resemble humans in many ways, being around the same height, lifespan, and shape of human beings but with some small physical differences. Kerks tend to be entirely light-olive skinned, Kerks have sunken in eyes and large noses. Kerks differ in major ways from humans in other ways, their most known features being the fact they breed in litters of children at a time, and are fiercely aggressive. Kerks are known to be unbreakable in their pursuits and violent swings of rage, often lacking in self preservation. Instead, most kerks act for the good of a group or family, and will give their own lives to save friends and family, making them by nature deeply loyal as much as vengeful. Kerks also are partly immune to disease, in which they will regurgitate diseases from their bodies by vomiting, as their bodies aggressively expunge any foreign element from their bodies. This also applies to medicine, making Kerks capable of both surviving diseases that would kill any normal person but also being near impossible to heal from diseases which affect them.

There are 3 major Kerkian cultures on Caslan; The Coladdic, Geuderian, and Landarric. Coladdic Kerks come from the original tribe of kerks who convinced their people to cross the sea to Caslan, a deeply religious and conservative clan which looks down on the others kerks as inferior. The Geuderians are a rival clan to the Coladdic which settles the north side of the isle, a clan known for its political and warrior traditions and have a deep feud with the Coladdic. The Landarric are Kerks which settled the southern isle, primarily a culture which infused itself with trade and separated itself from the feuding clans, and often intermingled with other cultures.

Okan
Okan are a Beastfolk who are native to Caslan, a mustelid race which resemble river otters. Standing around 5-6 ft tall on average, they have large tails which helps them balance when swimming, and their fur colors usually range between light grey to dark brown. Okan are natural born swimmers, although they must be taught to do so and can ‘glide’ in the water itself. Okan fur is very dense, allowing them to swim the cold waters of their homeland with little difficulty. Okan are by their nature very social and familial creatures who aggressively defend their families and homes, but are also outwardly friendly and curious.

• Ulkad - Oldest known Okan culture which primarily lives in the north-west of Caslan, the Ulkad are deeply conservative and spiritual people who view themselves as the original Okan culture, and look down on other Okan for not keeping to their old ways.
• Norad - A north-east Okan culture which lives entirely on the coast and sea. The Norad are semi-nomadic hunters, known for their autonomy and very loose clans. Norad are deeply conservative, but in their own way, and are deeply distrustful of outsiders.
• Midad - A central culture of Okan who fled into the highlands and southern mountain rivers. The Midad are fiercely independent, and are also very isolationist and generally do not like other Okan intruding on their customs and territory. While their attitudes generally come off as xenophobic, most prefer to be left alone.
• Soukad - Southern most Okan whose culture is based primarily on their naval craft and trading with other Okan, which evolved into a general mercantile culture. Soukad revolves around sailing and trade.
• Tannad - A western Okan culture closely related to both the Soukad and Ulkad. Tannad are coastal people, who are deeply religious but also infused with their craftsmanship and trade, being considered industrious.

Beurians
Beurians are a large ursine Beastfolk race native to Caslan, who resemble a mix between bears and wolverines. With short tails, normally hunched backs, large arms and short legs, Beurians are a slow but very strong people. Beurians stand around 7-8 feet tall on average, their size often matches their absurd strength, easily being able to rip limbs from their enemies. Beurians are normally nomadic by nature, and are fiercely solitary and territorial. Beurians tend to have a wide range of fur colors of brown, black, white, and gray.

Beurians would often claim their different clans represent their differing cultures, although this is not true. Most Beurian clans have the same customs, their feuds and traditions are entirely clan based rather than cultural. The biggest divide in culture is between the clans which continue their nomadic lifestyle and those who ended up being forced into being settled as slave laborers of the Kerks, who adopted the Kerkian lifestyles.

Minorities

• Havaki (Elven) - The Havaki are an high elven culture which fled to Caslan and settled and attempted to invade through the north. Although they failed, the Havaki were ultimately allowed to settle and become a powerful minority in northern Caslan and are deeply rooted in Kerkian culture, although most have kept some parts of their old customs.
• Umperai (Human) - A southern human culture which descends from the Orduin empire, a once mainland human culture which moved into Southern Caslan as refugees and adopted their own culture and customs. While very separate from the Kerks, they are a small and influential minority whose customs, beliefs, and expertise have mixed into southern Caslan over its many years
• Lun’Kerk - Lun’Kerks are half-breeds between humans and elves with the kerks themselves. Lun’Kerks tend to share most of the traits of humans and elves, with some small but key differences. Lun’kerks generally share partial physical features such as partly sunken in eyes, have violent mood swings, and generally have some strong resistance to diseases. Lun’kerk lineage is considerably strange, as eventually Lun’kerks will eventually phase out the more they marry into non-kerk bloodlines, but do not become more Kerkian the more they marry into Kerkian families. While tolerated by non-Kerks, Kerkian view Lun’Kerks as abominations and deeply distrust them.

History

History

The Lost Era (0-777)
Not much is known of the Beastfolk, let alone of the histories which proceed the first united kingdoms and tribes of Caslan. What is known is that the first kingdoms of Caslan were normally peaceful Okan kingdoms in coastal mottes and baileys, living in small earthwork settlements, with the Beurians living the middle hills and inland forests and semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers. The Okan, presumably more civilized, built the first lasting kingdoms, and discovered or traded along weak trade routes. The island was undeveloped and had its own religion, institutions, and generally was regarded with disinterest due to having supposedly few if any resources worth developing.

Beurian Kingdom (778-910)
In 778, a powerful Beurian warchief named Gasglof the Black had united the Beurian tribes into a singular entity through marriage, displays of strength, and blackmail. Gasglof, who had been envious of the Okan coastal settlements, their metal working, and their wealth decided to invade. In the 30 year long war, Gasglof achieved many victories and subjected the Okan kingdoms into a singular tribal kingdom under his rule. Rather than simply taking over the settlements, Gasglof and his descendents had their people learn metalworking for themselves and acted as a guard force in which the Okan kingdoms paid tribute to. The system eventually began to fall apart due to a lack of threats to the isle, resulting in severe corruption and discontentment, and that Gasglof ultimately failed to build his own capital settlement and have his people settle down.

Okan Sessessions (911-988)
Starting in 911, the Okan city of Astar revolted in a general rebellion against the Beurian kingdom. Although greatly outmatched and outnumbered, the Astaran Okan were able to bog down their enemies in ambushes, using a mixture of magic of hydromancery to their great advantage. The Okan king and legendary lord Ostof the Bog King of Astar defeated the Beurian forces and earned his kingdom’s independence. Okan city states across Caslan soon followed suit, with the last kingdom falling from Beurian control in 978. Although the war was a success to the Okan, the personal feud between Okan and Beurians during the war grew significantly and would come to haunt them in the next crises which soon followed.

The Kerkian Exodus (989-1023)
In 989, the Kerks came across the sea and began landing in Caslan under King Diov Geuder. Where the Kerks came from is unknown, but they landed on the eastern shores and came in droves, likely as refugees. The Kerks began settling the east, and came into contact with the Okan who tried to drive them from their lands. The Kerks fought back with brutality, enslaving the survivors, and took over the kingdom with superior weaponry, magic, and tactical skill. The Kerks were soon joined by their ancient priesthood, in which Diov Geuder bowed on the docks of his new conquered fiefdom to the lich Mel Coldfinger, who had brought the Coldfinger priesthood with him. The Coldfinger clan and its priesthood took the reigns of Diov’s warlord state and settled the eastern lands, with Mel establishing a temporary state for which he was sole ruler, much to Diov’s annoyance. Mel spent much of the years fighting back counter invasions and helping to settle the Kerks who were arriving on shores, the last ships not arriving till 1023.

Caslan Delenda Est (1024-1066)
Mel and Diov were both ambitious and skilled warlords in their own right, but they were faced with a huge and dangerous coalition of Okan states who wished to see them gone. Mel Coldfinger went to the Beurian tribes, using his magic to charm their leaders into serving the Kerks and used his legendary charisma to reignite the tribes’ hatred of the Okan. The Kerks then launched a campaign whose sole purpose was to utterly destroy the Okan kingdoms, giving them only the choice of surrender or utter destruction. While at first ignoring such threats, the combined Kerkian forces, Mel’s magic, and Beurian allies soon began to gobble up Okan cities one by one. True to their word, the Kerks butchered these cities, only sparing a fraction of survivors as slaves to serve as examples. The Okan were eventually defeated during the Battle of Faltzak, where the entire coalition army was ambushed by Diov and some Beurian tribes and were decimated. Mel’s cruelty was legendary, having the survivors charmed in front of a horrified coalition stronghold and had them walk off cliffs until the city surrendered. The last Okan city would not surrender till 1066.

Founding of the Kycer (1067)
The war for Caslan was brutal and costly, but the Kerkian victory came with both boons and problems alike. While Diov expected to be made a king of the Kerks for his efforts, he was instead shocked and horrified when Mel Coldfinger and his priest re-established the ancient Kerkian theocratic republic known as the Kycer. Diov threatened civil war, but was approached by the priesthood with an offer to give him a powerful role in the new Kycer as a founder of its new institutions. Diov and Mel gathered the priesthood in Astar, where they laid the foundations of this new Kerkian society, the rules of their senate, the rituals of their religion, and the fate of the Beastfolk thralls beneath them. The first elections were held that year, which surprised their new subjects when both free and slave were allowed to vote in the new priesthood. The Kycer’s founding celebrations lasted for over a month, with the Kerks settling down in their new home.

The Cold Age (1068-1109)
The years after and Kycer’s founding and before the coming of the elves was known as the Cold Age, which was marked by years of unrest in Caslan as well as the shaky foundations of the Kycer. The Kerks spent much of the age putting down Okan rebellions and taming the Beurians, forcing them into their society with increasing cruelty and ruthlessness. Mel and his cadre of priests stayed on the island in these years, primarily converting the natives to their faith and overseeing the construction of the first Tomb Cities. This misery of the Beastfolk ended rather suddenly and prematurely, as the Kerks began to slowly return to their spiteful feuds towards one another rather then spend their time putting the Beastfolk down, with many of the Beastfolk often taking different sides for their own survival and to return to their old social positions in some capacity. By 1109, the Kerks were permanently settled in, and spread across the entire isle.

The Elven Raids (1110-1134)
Starting in 1110, a group of elven raiders from Navarros had discovered the isle during the midst of the Pinnacle War, under the direction of an elven chieftain named Gazhain. Gazhain and his raiders had come to loot the island for the war effort, and to bring back slaves to enrich himself and his family. However, what he found on the isle surprised him, as the Kerks soon found themselves fighting the elves, and miserably failing against them. While unable to enslave the Kerks, Gazhain and his raiders were finding stashes of arcane knowledge, tomes of magic, and a lot more loot then the sea raider expected to find. The elves returned seasonally from there on, brutally raiding the island and its western settlements which only intensified in 1130 when the elves soon began threatening larger settlements and walled towns.

The Elven Invasion (1135-1172)
Gazhain and his son Dezhain had become influential enough to earn a major mission from their overlords, who wished to send them out to conquer the neutral territory of Caslan during the midst of the war to establish a naval outpost and port. Gazhain gathered a large number of mercenaries, sea raiders, and his entire tribe to this mission and set off for the campaign. When the elves arrived, they expected an easy fight against the scattered Kerkian forces, and were soon laying siege to most western settlements on Caslan’s coast. However, the sieges stalled due to the Kerks refusal of surrender, which gave time for Mel Coldfinger and the other Zupans to gather a large enough force to fight Gazhain and his armies. The long and drawn out conflict often resulted in Gazhain’s own tactical skills, as well as him avoiding the lich as much as he could, causing untold destruction to the isle with elven and kerk magic. The war would not reach its conclusion until 1173.

Battle of Light and Shadow (1173)
During the siege of Kel Dargath, the elves were able to capture the settlement but were held down by a Kerkian army. Gazhain was trapped in the settlement, but his son Dezhain was out in the field and was returning to relieve the siege. However, on the way the elven warrior spotted Mel Coldfinger’s smaller army, and it was decided to end the conflict in a risky ambush to slay the lich. Dezhain and his elite force ambushed the lich and his guards on the coast, and was quickly slaughtering Mel’s guards. Mel used his magic to freeze a part of the coastal waters and retreated onto the ice itself, in which Dezhain and his soldiers followed. Dezhain and Mel duelled on the ice for hours, but the Lich coaxed his powerful adversary further onto the ice sheet. Confident of victory, Dezhain surrounded Mel and the remaining Kerks, desperately trying to slay the lich whom they were winning against. Mel then raised the dead of the slain kerks on the beaches where he was ambushed, raising an entire division which surrounded the elves on both sides. Dezhain and the remaining elven soldiers were surrounded and killed, with Mel delivering the final flow against Dezhain. Mel and his armies then marched to Kel Dargath and defeated Gazhain, and finally putting an end to the elven invasion.

The Great Rebuilding (1174-1233)
The defeat of the elves was shocking, with the elves having had brought along many peoples under the expectation of victory against the Kerks, but instead were now their prisoners. Mel showed mercy and compassion to these elves, allowing them to stay on Caslan if they converted to his faith and integrated into the Kycer. Most elves agreed, with those who didn’t being allowed to return home. The elves had brought with them much expertise which the Kerks had generally been missing, with elven architects helping to rebuild the destroyed town and cities, refurbishing old tribal holdings, and establishing new schools of magic much to the scholar lich’s delight. The war had also taught the kerks a valuable lesson in warfare, with Gazhain’s former captains being key reformers in the restructure of the kerkian army. The Kycer would continue to rebuild and reform until the later year of 1233, where Caslan was not only rebuilt, but progressed into a stronger nation.

Travels of the Red Merchant (1234-1246)
Caslan retained its neutrality for many more years, mostly trading at first with Navarros, but it increasingly became a popular port for Orduin. An Orduin merchant by name of Kance Olstar traveled to the isle, not only to trade but to record and report. Kance and his close companions traveled across Caslan, their interviews with the Kerkian priesthood, necromancers, zupans, and the native beastfolk built an insightful journal. Kance had even been able to interview the lich Mel Coldfinger, and was present during a session of the Caslan senate where Mel declared to the assembly where he planned during the times of peace on Caslan to go out and collect books of knowledge. Kance would return to Orduin in 1244, where his presented works brought attention to Caslan.

Port Pact of Caslan (1247-1253)
Before Mel set off on his own journeys, a leader of Orduin came to Caslan with an offer to the Kycer in a meeting in Astar. During the Orduin civil war, Orduin approached the Kerks with a port treaty, wishing to build a naval base and dockyard in Caslan in return for large payments and profitable trading pacts. Mel agreed to the pact, and so did the priesthood. The port treaty brought a great deal of trade and immigration to the isle, primarily humans who settled the port and parts of the southern settlements. This intermingling was seen with increasing suspicion by the Kycer, but the development of kerkian politics resulted in many troubles to be ignored. This corruption would not become known until 1254, as Kerkian politics soon got distracted with personal clan feuds and small political disruptions.

Caslan-Orduin Pact (1254-1677)
In 1254, the Kycer was approached again by Orduin with a more powerful offer and expansion of the port pact. Having seen potential growth in Caslan, Orduin envoys wished to establish trading posts, expand and improve Caslan road networks, and establish cultural enclaves. The Kycer’s priesthood was immediately suspicious, but a substantial bribe from the envoys secured enough votes within the assembly to create the Caslan-Orduin pact. The pact effectively made Caslan a vassal in all but name, with Caslandic citizens now paying taxes into the empire to build roads and improve on the southern settlements to give larger room for imperial settlement. The Kycer originally forbid Orduin military presence on the isle, but increasingly tolerated a loophole of classifying imperial garrisons as mercenaries. Angry at the Kycer for the pact, the Geuder clan and their allied clans aggressively began to form political resistance to the pact, although this resistance increasingly became another excuse to get back at their ancient rivals.

Caslan Civil War (1678-1702)
Although peaceful for hundreds of years, the troubles of the Caslan-Orduin pact exploded when Geuder representatives in the Kycer accused the priesthood of openly taking bribes from Orduin envoys to further give away the autonomy of Caslan. Angry at the accusation, the Coladdic clan’s patriarch Margov Coladdic launched a surprise attack and raid on the assembly, rounding up Geuder representatives, and executing them. Margov’s use of imperial mercenaries during this attack only fueled rumors of conspiracy, and the Geuder patriarch Jasnick Geuder gathered his clan for war against the Kycer. The Geuders used odd tactics, not relying on magic or the undead as the Coladdic armies did, and began using advanced tactics and brutal strikes against the Coladdic armies with increasing ruthlessness. Margov Coladdic died along with a majority of his warriors during the Battle of Hynt’s Shore, a coastal battle in which Jasnick used Okan Ghilmen on ships to flank around Margov’s line and land a contingent to surround and batter the Coladdic forces. The defeat left the Kycer vulnerable.

Occupation and Annexation (1703-2108)
In 1703, desperate to not be destroyed by the Geuders, the Kycer used a spell to call back Mel Coldfinger from his trip. Teleporting to Caslan, the lich attempted to reason with the Geuders, but failed due to their personal blood feud. Mel, knowing he had no forces to spare, gathered the Kycer and fled to the empire’s stronghold in southern Caslan, and asked the empire to intervene in the matter. The empire agreed, and launched a campaign against the Geuders and their allies for control of the Isle. Jasnick Geuder died fighting alongside his sons at the Battle of Kel Loch, and Orduin took control of the isle. The Kycer were allowed to return to governance, but were put under a governorship and were forced to approve their legislation before Orduin representatives. Mel stayed for several years to make sure Caslan did not fall apart before leaving once again, but not before reprimanding his own clan by having the assembly dismissed and calling for immediate new elections. The empire’s tedious occupation of the isle was fraught with trouble, culture shock, and limited tolerance.

2nd Caslan Civil War (2109-2155)
The power struggle between the Kycer and the governorship often caused a great deal of trouble and controversy amongst the island’s inhabitants. While some sided with the empire’ governors, the increasing corruption of those governors caused discontentment. It all came to a head during the reign of an increasingly authoritarian governor by the name of Rolyan, a Lun’Kerk native and fanatical loyalist. Rolyan attempted to dissolve the Kycer by vote, but was rebuked by them instead. Rolyan eventually tried to ignore the Kycer’s role in his government, but this too failed, and eventually the Kycer tried to forcefully recall him. Kycer loyalists, under a skilled necromancer named Vadov Geuder, led a fanatical army of kerk guards into Rolyan’s estate and murdered him, sparking a brutal civil war between the governorship and the Kycer. The empire sent an expedition to put down the Kycer, and did so with increasing brutality. Eventually, Mel Coldfinger was again called back to the isle by the Kycer, but was failed to be summoned for an unknown reason. The last Kycer holdout lasted till 2155, where the last members fought to the bitter end in their tomb cities, and were eventually buried alive within them.

Age of Repression (2155-2377)
Although the Kycer as a political body was destroyed, the empire put the isle and its people under military control in order to reign in the isle’s inhabitants. Although the island was governed normally, even more merciful than others by comparison, the island was plagued with troubles and curses. Rumors of Mel Coldfinger returning to the isle was rampant, with the governorship of the isle cursed to have each governor die more undignified and crueller deaths then the previous ones. Military rule of the isle often resulted in further dissatisfaction and discontent amongst the Kerkian clans. Although the empire tried to make friends of the Beastfolk as a countermeasure to the Kerks, this also fell flat on its face, as poor policies and general incompetence on the island resulted in awkward betrayals and incidents which caused further divide. These troubles would continue for a long time, with the isle never truly being stable.

Ambitions of Simov Geuder (2378-2399)
Although the island continued to chafe under the rule of the empire, a young and ambitious captain of the Geuder Clan named Simov began his military career on the island. While well travelled and an excellent soldier, Simov had been active in not only his clan’s local politics as much as imperial politics as well. Simov was eventually assigned back to Caslan to help keep control, although his methods became more and more odd. Rather than his normally brutal attitude for a Kerk towards others, Simov became more compassionate towards his home isle, especially towards the Coladdic clan whom he would marry into. Simov began climbing through the promotions with increasing efficiency, but soon many of his internal rivals also began to disappear. Investigations were halted, and garrisons were shifted constantly under his orders, effectively staffing the entire island with younger and inexperienced garrisons from the empire. Simov eventually was able to squeeze his way into becoming the military governor of the isle, and would continue to be the head of government till 2400.

The Ferdgave Massacre (2400)
In early spring of the year 2400, Simov Geuder called for a large-scale military exercise in the city of Ferdgave, along with inviting many local governors and loyalists. While being the host of the party, Simov left and returned with a contingent of Geuder and Coladdic warriors, who descended upon the empire’s loyalists, and shortly resulted in a battle outside the city. The events surrounding Simov’s victory was relatively unknown, with rumors speculating that the disorganized imperial garrisons performing the exercise were struck down by a sudden and swift killing plague, while others would claim the necromancer priesthood arose a small undead army to aid them. Regardless of the case, the empire’s leading men and majority of their garrisons were killed or captured on the isle, starting Simov Geuder’s great rebellion for the island itself.

Simov Geuder’s Revolt (2401-2423)
With most of the garrisons and leading officers of the isle defeated, Simon’s campaign for the isle was short. However, keeping the isle was a difficult affair as the empire began preparing for a campaign for Caslan once again. The first major expedition to the isle ended in total disaster, with a storm blowing the ships off course and crashing into reefs on the north side of the isle where Simov defeated landing imperial forces in 2411. The second invasion was to be better planned, although increasing political pressures at home caused the invasion to be delayed. Simov spent much of his time preparing for defenses, up until 2422, when the bug invasion appeared and decimated the empire. Without an empire to fight, Simov had technically won, and he would use this personal glory to improve his own image.

Restoration of the Kycer (2424-2466)
Although Simov had plans of his own, they were put aside when Mel Coldfinger returned in a rather dramatic fashion, appearing to him in his court through a shroud of mist. The discussion between Simov and Mel prompted him to retire, and prompted Mel Coldfinger and the Coladdic clan to restore the Kycer under its original form. However, major differences and new rules for the Kycer was placed drastically onto it to prevent their subjugation by another power, and promoted Simov’s clan as a ‘guardian king’ to become a powerful force within Caslan to act as a military head and to restore the theocratic republic in times of trouble. Mel in this time also brought back countless new books of magical lore, and reserved himself in his study as he watched the Kycer reform itself and wiped away the last powers of the Orduin empire from Caslan.

The Dultsev Crises (2466-2487)
When Simov died around 2466, his influence was not lost fully. The Kycer held elections in 2466, but was interrupted by one of Simov’s confidants, an ambitious kerkian named Dultsev. Dultsev and his loyalists put on a populist show, decrying the corruption of the Kycer and challenged the usefulness of it. When Dultsev tried to run for the election to become the head of the assembly, he was humiliated when he lost quite significantly. Dultsev sulked in Geuder territory for years, and was delusional about his own support, and began gathering an army of loyalists to his cause. Dultsev’s conspiracy against the Kycer was reported to it by one of Dultsev’s mercenaries, and an army was dispatched to resolve it. Dultsev was killed in the fighting, but the Coladdic soon blamed the Geuders for inviting him and for harboring a traitor in their territory. The troubles restarted between the Geuders and the Coladdics, with reprisal killings stretching across much of Caslan.

The Proscriptions (2488-2534)
Although Dultsev was dead, his actions haunted the Kycer for years up until 2488 when the new electorate was called to deal with the increasing violence and instability. The patriarchs of both the Geuders and Coladdics agreed to a ceasefire between their two respective clans, but the biggest and most drastic action taken was the call for Proscriptions, or the political assassination and banishment of several influential members of the Kycer who had aided Dultsev. The killings began in 2492, when Dultsev’s entire clan was rounded up and executed, and many of his aligned clans and those who had tolerated his presence were brutally murdered. The way the Kycer handed out proscriptions created a whole new set of problems, as they Kycer rewarded the murderers with the estates and lands of those they murdered. The Geuders were especially enthusiastic with this deal, and effectively took over a larger quarter of lands, and enriched them considerably. The Proscriptions would not end until later in the years 2511, and would have lingering effects for years after.

The Slave Revolt (2535-2544)
Although the Geuders were now getting richer and even more influential than before, the clan found their new found wealth useless by their lacking influence in the Kycer and became more politically active. The Geuders took on a number of strange issues to squeeze their way into power, including servitude limits, which would have limited the years a slave could remain in servitude. The Geuders narrowly lost their election, which infuriated the slaves enough to revolt against the Kerks. Much of Caslan’s cities became internally sieged by rebelling slaves, with the biggest revolt being able to take the city Kel Gavan. Although the Kerks were preparing for a long and drawn out war, Mel Coldfinger intervened and went from city to city to speak to the rebel leaders. Through diplomacy, magic, and religion the slave revolt was mostly put down peacefully, with only the slave revolt in Kel Gavan having to be taken by force.

Current Events (2545-2622)
Following the slave revolt, Caslan entered several years of peace just as politics between the Geuders and the Coladdic began to gravely divide between the two feuding clans. Although Mel Coldfinger continues to linger on the isle for now, it is rumored he plans for a 2nd journey across the world of the ruined empires to collect knowledge and magical lore, leaving a concerned and embattled Kycer who relies heavily on his wisdom and skills. The Kycer looks out across the oceans, unsure of what to do next in the wider world.

Culture

Culture

Appearance
Kerks are a fairly simple people by nature, and this is highly reflected in how they look and what they wear. Kerks prefer comfortable and easy to slip on clothes, and have no interest in what makes them look good in the eyes of others. Kerks do not wear jewelry for these reasons, they maximum extent to what they will wear are brooches and rings, and even then these pieces of jewelry are entirely simplified. Kerkian nobility tend to wear armor and weapons, the maximum extent of their ‘formal wear’, and often simply wear more colorful clothes to identify them as a clan’s chief or the region’s Zupan. Only the priesthood and scribes wear more valued clothes, usually large and outlandishly ornate purple robes with cloth scarfs which cover their mouths. Kerkians of more notable status also wear tall fur caps, although this sometimes does not fully indicate status by default, as commoners and even slaves will wear fur caps to give off a false sense of authority and fashion. Beards are common amongst Kerks, who tend to grow out their beards into large, unshaven messes but will crop their hair short.

Craftsmanship
Caslan craftsmanship is considered almost universally poor. Kerks themselves are not good smiths, preferring quantity over quality. The best most Kerkian smiths can do on Caslan is the making of medium armor, chainmail, and the traditional flat blades. Okan and Beurian smiths do not fare much better, which is why quality smithing is handled by foreigners, and the local elven population which produces better quality equipment to nobility and elite guard. Caslan Architecture tends to be a strange mix; with Kerkian stone and brick work being fairly rare. Most structures are a mixture of wood and stone, with blacker stone used in the construction of the tomb cities and keeps. Elven, and even old Orduin imperial, styles are commonly found in enclaves across Caslan. Caslan’s Okan style of building is considered rather beautiful, often using intricate and humble round designs made of wood, often with small basements and depots, which became a common building style across Caslan.

Traditions
Kerkian traditions differ between family to family, and while the Kerks will have many respected traditions, there are few unifying and known ones. The Kerks are a deeply religious people, and are also very communal. Some families, especially the Coladdic, are known to dress their youngest in brightly colored cloaks and clothes to celebrate their lives, Geuderian Kerks are known to martial customs and will often go out on their own to raid or go adventuring on their own accord. The only real unifying tradition amongst Kerks is that when Kerks become adults, they are given the option to either serve their family and keep their surname, or to choose a new surname and leave the clan to form their own. Those who choose to stay tend to end up in the clan as laborers or militia, while those who leave are partly banished from the clan’s grounds but are ultimately still tied to the clan in many ways.

Law
To outsiders, Kerkian law is brutal, harsh, but ultimately pragmatic. Most laws are reinforced by the clans themselves, which bow to a higher religious authority which trumps their own landed laws. Those who enforce those laws are usually a part of a clan’s militia, with cities tending to have their own town guard who are also usually a part of a family militia. Larger legal battles are often presented to the courts of the Kycer itself, and overseen by a necromancer priest who decides on the value of evidence and makes swift decisions. Kerkians do not have prisons or dungeons, as Kerks often immediately turn to swift execution either by throat cutting or hanging. It isn’t abnormal for Kerks to have a special grove with a great and ancient oak where many skeletal and decaying forms of executed Kerks are guarded by their executioners to serve as warnings against criminal behavior. Kerks view throat cutting as a honored and dignified way to die, but it isn’t abnormal for the Kerkian cities to put on ‘shows’ of public torture and execution.

Rights
Rights is an odd concept to the Kerks, who are normally fairly tolerant of most except their own half-bred cousins. Kerks treat their women with equality, and tend to show some limited tolerance towards other races and their faiths. However, Kerkians exemplify the term ‘tyranny of cousins’ to the maximum degree, where the lives of Kerks and their thralls tend to live under the strict rules and restrictions of the clan, and where family has a slavish control over their own lives. The Kycer has several major restrictions on other religions, forbidding the construction of foreign temples in their lands and the general demand for respect for their clergy at all times. Those who do not bow to the necromancer when asked on Caslan soil can be subjected to the harshest punishments

Slavery
Slavery isn’t an integral part of Kerkian society, nor a backbone of its economy. Kerkia does rely on cheap and generally unpaid labor, but this comes from family peasants who work for their clan. Slaves are usually native beastfolk or those who are captured in war, forced to do manual labor and are universally treated poorly by their masters, who view them as beneath them. Slave soldiers such as the Ghilmen are trained by the clans to use them as professional soldiers in war, fighting alongside Kerkian armies or to act as bodyguards. Most slaves are identified by deep gashes on their faces, along with blue or white handkerchiefs on their necks which identifies them as personal servants. Normally, slavery is for life, with the children of slaves also being considered slaves themselves. Necromancers are known to enchanted iron collars with spells in order to control larger slaves like Beurians, who are considered popular laborers and bodyguards for the Kycer’s clergy.

Philosophy
Kerkians by their nature lack self preservation, and their attitudes towards life reflects their general offset to life. Kerkians value three things in life; faith, freedom, and merit. To the Kerks, religion is a central part of their lives, viewing that the gods who look over them and bother to guide them are worthy of respect and worship. Kerkians will say they value freedom, but truthfully value autonomy and statelessness. Kerkian Merit is a very odd term, for the Kerks value those of great skill, no matter where that skill comes from whether it be by experience or those born naturally to it. Kerks tend to be highly cynical and deeply rooted in their beliefs, but are open to new ideas if they can be proven to work for the greater good of their clan and kingdom.

Education
Due to their faith, education is considered a major facet of life for the Kerks, and works in tiers much like social status. Lower castes such as laborers, small clans, and slaves tend to rely on tutorship of their own families for education, which more specialists castes can expect monastic schooling. Most of Caslan society, at some level, can read and write, but the better one is at reading and writing, the higher one’s social status is assumed. Schools and colleges are often seen either next to or near Caslan temples, with specialized colleges in the richer towns and cities. Coladdic clans tend to have their own personal libraries and documentation depots scattered across Caslan’s mainland, some containing the ancient lore and histories of the Kerks. The most impressive educational institution in Caslan itself is Scribe’s School Gangave. The Kerks largest repository of knowledge is Mel Coldfinger’s personal library, found deep in the catacombs of his personal abode in the mountains, containing countless volumes of magical and historical lore.

Family
Kerkian family life is considered an important part to the Kerkian identity, as all things a Kerk does in their lives is to improve the status of their family and to ensure its survival. Whether it be working slavish hours farming for the clan, or dying for the clan in a brutal feud, the family’s prestige, honor, and wealth is too important to abandon. In return, these families provide work, stability, and safety to their members as well as justice and order in their lives. Clans are led by two leaders usually; a matriarch and a patriarch. Both have joint power in the clan, and usually are the most influential members of the clan who make decisions on the behalf of the entire clan. Kerkians have tiers of broods due to how they have children, with the first brood being higher and more valued then 2nd and 3rd generations. Due to the exhaustion of raising so many children at once, Kerkian families tend to be very grim, and have no real bonds which bind them together, which often results in internal family feuds and deeply rooted abuse which is passed down between family to family.

Entertainment
Entertainment tends to be different from city to city, culture to culture within Caslan. The Geuderians for instance may host blood soaked tourneys between each other, practicing full fledged battles to cheering crowds in a festival of sorts. Coladdic Kerks are perhaps more ‘nuanced’, trying to often remove themselves from their violent nature and to wind down in their libraries, play board games, or even enjoy mediation within their groves. Almost all Kerks enjoy books, and writing in books, and it isn’t abnormal for even poorer Kerks to write down journals and make observations. Festivals and clan games tend to happen seasonally, but perhaps the most obscure and unspoken love of the Kerks is tavern life. Kerks while crowd into taverns and pubs to drink and merrily sing and gamble to their heart's content.

Language
If language is a barrier, then the Kerkian language is a fortress wall, difficult if not downright impossible to assail. The Kerkian language is often described as difficult to orally speak, but easy to read. Kerkian tone can drastically change the meaning of phrases, and often it takes considerable effort to learn and fluently speak Kerkian. The native language of Caslan, spoken primarily by the beastfolk natives, is a much in the same way a opposite of the Kerkian language. Caslandic is difficult to orally speak, but near impossible to write down or read. Caslandic as a very specific structure to it, with very literal phrases and meanings. Both languages are spoken by the people of Caslan, although not always equally. The Kycer consider Caslandic a ‘slave language’, only spoken by the lower classes and by the Beastfolk themselves. The Kerkian language, although promoted, is often abandoned by non-Kerks who will often just turn to speaking Caslandic in frustration. This often results in Kerkian being a ‘court language’ in Caslan, only spoken between Kerks who wish to speak openly and mockingly of those who do not understand them.

Burial
Caslandic Burial is a difficult subject to the Kerks whose communities can produce so many bodies, which is why the necromancer faith of the Kerks so well with them. When a non-royal or important Kerk dies, their body is presented to the temple and given over to the priesthood to do as they well, although it isn’t uncommon for kerks to just leave bodies in ditches. Kerkians believe that what a body is done with in death is not of significance. Most clan bodies, especially important Kerks who the clans wish to remember, are buried in the tomb cities, which act both as respectful places of the dead as much as as depots for the necromancers. Only the beastfolk differ greatly in burial, and view being buried in a Tomb City as a terrible fate. Okan bury their dead in underwater graveyards off the coasts of their cities, and Beurians burn their dead on pyres.

Pets
To any outsider, the Kerks are considered strange for their choice of pets and companions. Kerks in general tend to have tamed and trained otters, badgers, and wolverines as pets which they use for all manner of purposes. Otters are used by Kerkian fishers, with badgers and wolverines being used much in the same way as dogs. Although dogs and cats are seen amongst Kerks, especially herders, these pets are considered weird and abnormal for the Kerks. Insects are considered ‘sacred’ and ‘protected’ animals to the Kerks who see them as holy, which is why some Kerkian clans will have ‘pet’ mayflies, dragonflies, cicadas, hornets, and moths. Richer Kerks have a fondness for shellfish, like lobsters and horseshoe crabs, which only adds to their estranged behavior.

Feuds/Retaliation
Kerkian feuds between clans are long lasting, with rivalries between clans capable of starting miniature civil war and deep instability in kerkian society with just a sheer number of Kerks and clans which get involved. Kerks tend to retaliate with violence, which often means each clan has a small but well armed host of militia which acts as guards as much as raiders. Retaliation between clans is often difficult to solve, let alone avoid, with Kerkian priests having to get in the way to force cease fires. In order to solve long standing feuds, the patriarchs of both clans often make sacrifices in the nearest temple and pray together with a Kycer’s representative overlooking them. If the feud is complex, such as unknown reasons for the feuding or land disputes, the two patriarches work out a deal in the temple to appease both parties. Kerkians are stubborn however, and will go to absurd lengths to fulfill their feud’s oaths.

Honesty
Kerkians are considered obnoxiously honest, a cultural attitude most Kerks and those in Caslan have. Kerks will in general tell each other and others harsh truths, and often refuse to lie under most circumstances. Kerkians are known as terrible diplomats and merchants, who will just often tell others their intentions. Kerkians try to get around this habit by not answering questions directly, or being not forthcoming about their direct answer. Kerkians have no trouble with lying, it's just that the Kerks see it as pointless and impractical. While Kerks themselves are honest, they often do not expect the same of others, a common trap of those ignorant of the Kerks themselves.

Superstitions
While being a very religious people, the Kerks are also deeply superstitious and have many tales, legends, and general beliefs which impact their lives. Kerks believe there is a sacred divinity in albinism, with albino animals and even humanoids being hunted for their fur. Kerks believe drinking the blood of these beings will grant strength, intelligence, or unnatural magical powers. There are hundreds of different ghosts, spirits, and vampires which inhabit Kerkian mythology, each one more grim and vile then the next. Kerks tend to avoid marching off in winter due to these beliefs, as well as avoiding the deep forests and groves beyond civilization. Kerkians also tend to believe that their gods ultimately control the outcome of battles and campaigns, with commanders and officers making offerings to the gods. These offering rituals are so often used that Kerkian campaigns have stalled for months until a good sign was had.

Okan Culture
Just as the Okan are a communal people by nature, they are also a communal people by culture. Okan are deeply family tied, with entire clans often living in single rooms and moving close to one another. Separating an Okan family is difficult, if not downright impossible. Okan are peaceful, deeply pacifistic in their beliefs, often due to their general belief that they cannot afford to fight or harm one another. Although Okan clans tend to adopt mostly Kerkian customs, the one custom which they did not abandon fully was the trading of wards between feuding clans to gain peace between them. These clan wards often grow up as adopted members of the clan. While Okan are fairly peaceful, their laws are considerably more ‘notable’ and concerningly brutal. Okan drown those who harm their clans and communities, and then have them tied down to anchors just enough for them to float slightly below the surface of the water in a morbid reminder to those entering their ports of their brutality.

Beurian Culture
Beurian society and culture is clan based, being very tribalistic and highly nomadic. Beurians do not live in settled places, instead moving with their moose herds to new lands to graze. Beurians who are born in these clans are forced into a lifestyle of constant war and training, decided entirely by their shaman. Beurians tend to be very free spirited in culture, having no love of authority over their lives, especially by their own chiefs and peoples. Hunter-Killers are Beurian rangers who separate from clans, and take on a holy vow to fight the clan’s enemies through more subtle means, and act partly as monster hunters. One of the notable parts of Beurian society is their use of cloaks and kilts to signify their loyalty to certain clans.

Military

Military

Recruitment
Recruitment is a difficulty in Kerkian society despite its abundance of manpower. Although there is a central government, Kerks do not have a truly professional army which allows for recruitment drives. Instead, individual Kerkian clans recruit from their own, forming larger levy warbands which then journey to a central mustering ground underneath an individual Zupan. The Kycer tends to have its own armies, normally specialized Coladdic clansmen and their undead levies which assist them in battle, who collect only from their own clan. In order to make up for their troubles, large and rich Kerkian clans and cities employ the use of Ghilmen, slave soldiers of the island which are professionally trained for war. Ghilmen are recruited from poor families or from the families of slaves from a young age, and brutally trained by Kerkian militia captains in a barrack society.

Organization
Caslan’s armies are horrifyingly decentralized, as each army is feudal in its nature which relies so heavily on the loyalty of easily angered Kerkian clans. The formal leaders of the army are the members of the Kycer who are voted on to lead the Caslan armies. These generals then are given subordinates by the Kycer who then under their own personal skill divide up Caslan’s united forces. In normal circumstances, the burden of leadership is put onto the Zupans, who have their own captains and subordinates to lead their armies. Patriarches do not lead armies, and instead will send heirs and militia captains in their place. It isn’t uncommon for clergy to also lead armies, even more successfully than their secular counterparts. Often, since Ghilmen and Bylamen are outside the absurd feudal structure of Kerkian armies, they often are the most professional armies of Caslan and thus are the most respected.

Tactics
Although poor in organization, Kerkian warfare is considered horrifying for outsiders for several reasons. Kerks in general have a hard time retreating and shrug off mortifying losses. Kerkians fight to a bitter end, a fact of their psychology which makes them miserable to fight against. Kerkian armies tend to use a mixture of spellcraft and skirmishing, trying to drastically weaken and hamper an enemy down before they engage. Kerkian commanders are quite infamous for purposefully losing battles, using engagements to grievously weaken or kill more terrifying divisions, before retreating into the arms of a friendly army where they can crush their enemy with a fresh force. Kerkians do not mind casualties very much, especially with necromancers aiding their army, who can use their own dead to swiftly reforge their ranks. Kerkian armies also do not shy away from massacring their enemies, with more infamous instances of Kerks stacking the bodies of entire cities in the commons area like a mountain.

Navy
The Kerkian navy is a weird mix of professionally built war galleys and carracks, but also an absurd amount of transport vessels. Different cities tend to have different ports, with the Okan shipbuilders primarily providing Caslan’s fleet and naval officers. However, ports and drydocks are scattered across the south and were consumed by Caslan into becoming naval bases for Caslan’s considerable fleets. Caslandic ships are built primarily for skirmishing and ranged warfare, with boarding action and ramming being avoided. This is often because Caslandic ships are very fast, an Okan design to Caslandic ships which allow them considerable maneuverability on the open waters.

Siege Weapons
Kerkian siege warfare has a strange history, as siege warfare was not a common occurence on Caslan and thus often most Kerks have little experience with sieges. However, this is not to say the Kerks have not come up with absurd tools and designs. Although Kerks do use battering rams and catapults, the favored weapon of Kerkian armies are large hurling catapults which are infused with dark magic by necromancer engineers who hurl balls of skeletons and decaying bodies over the walls of enemy settlements to cause disease (and to occasionally raise up from the dead to attack the defenders inside the walls).

Clan Levies (Basic Division)

• Units: Kerkian Clansmen (Light Axe and Shield Infantry), Kerkian Warrior (Light Sword and Shield Infantry), Kerkian Spearman (Light Spear Infantry), Kerkian Bandits (Light Archer Infantry), Kerkian Skirmishers (Light Javelin and Shield Infantry)

Clan levies are a long standing core of the Kerkian armies, which are mustered by the clans of Caslan into large warbands. Due to the sheer size of a Kerkian clan and family, each clan can provide a large number of levies. However, most levies are poorly armed, and often fight with little more than the clothes they had brought. At best, the Kycer will provide for these levies tents, meals, and weapons if they lack them. Clans, not Zupans or the Kycer, are expected to foot the bill for these levies. Levies tend to be trained in maneuvering rather than skills, making them quite obedient when it comes to complex maneuvers but are universally considered terrible soldiers.

Outriders (Cavalry Division)

• Units: Kerkian Outriders (Medium Axe and Shield Cavalry), Kerkian Raiders (Medium Sword Cavalry), Kerkian Hunters (Medium Archer Cavalry)

Outriders are a common occurrence amongst Kerkian armies, being the backbone of the mounted divisions Kerkia will field. Kerkian horses are expensive and difficult to maintain for many of the clans. This often makes riders considered a grade above that of Kerkian levies and common clansmen, their skills invaluable for the militias of Caslan. Kerkian outriders however perform almost universally poorly, being quickly to get surrounded during engagement, being the last to retreat, and the rather odd tactic of Kerkian throwing themselves from their horses and onto their enemies. Outriders primarily act in the capacity as fast, mounted skirmishers.

Ghilmen (Elite Division)

• Units: Ghilman Spearman (Medium Spear and Shield Infantry), Ghilman Soldier (Medium Sword Infantry), Ghilman Skirmisher (Medium Javelin and Shield Infantry), Ghilman Archer (Medium Archer Infantry), Ghilman Saudkar (Heavy Sword and Shield Infantry)

Ghilmen are slave soldiers who are taken from a young age, and trained into professional soldiers in the service of a specialized guild. Ghilmen are normally Okan from slave families within the cities who are sold to a Ghilman barracks. These Okan have their tails cropped and their faces permanently disfigured, but most Ghilmen are marked with special tattoos across their body which identify their status. Ghilmen are trained primarily by a Kerkian equivalent to a mercenary company, who sell the services of the Ghilmen to Kerkian clans and cities for protections, armed services, or as bodyguards. Normally grim and viciously trained, Ghilmen are well respected by the Kerks who tend to appreciate them and their services. Ghilmen who lives to an older age or perform admirably for their guild are allowed to be ‘freed’ and to start a family or business, under the contract obligation that any of their children are recruited as Ghilmen themselves and half their income goes back into their guild.

Bylamen (Undead/Elite Division)

• Units: Violet Guard (Heavy Halberd Infantry), Bylaman Rainbow Knight (Heavy Sword Cavalry), Barrow Guard (Heavy Sword Infantry/Undead), Skeletal Levy (Light Undead), Wraith (Medium Undead)

The Bylamen are the elite guard and personal army of the Kycer, whose sole duty is protecting the Kycer and its assembly. Members of the Bylamen are usually elite clansmen, but its main core is made up primarily of the undead. Most living members wear a vibrant purple or violet dress around their heavier armor, who use enchanted gear. Rainbow Knights for instance, also sometimes known as Death Knights, use runed swords with various necromantic blessings and curses. The most known and terrifying element of the Bylamen is the use and building of Barrow Guard, skeletal undead soldiers who are super charged with magic. Incredibly fast, strong, and skilled in the arts of combat, the Barrow Guard also can ‘regenerate’ in the midst of combat, often tearing their enemy’s limbs to attach it to their own bodies. Bylamen are the personal guard of Mel Coldfinger, as well as the most elite force Caslan can muster in war.

Necromancers (Magic Division)

• Units: Necromancer (Necromantic Lore Mage), Curse Bearer (Curse Lore Mage), Lich (Ice Lore Mage), Shadow Lich (Shadows Lore Mage)

Most Caslan armies in some capacity have a necromancer which follows them, or a member of the clergy. Most Necromancers are identified by their lavish purple robes, the colors of the Kycer, as most Necromancers are either members of the clergy, or have some role in the Kycer itself. While most lores of magic are practiced and studied, the most important lores is necromancery and curses. Kerkian tactics often require a drastic weakening of enemies, and high casualties in battle often requires an undead force being raised in the midst of battle to assure total victory. Every once in awhile, a Lich will join an army, but not by that army’s choice. Liches will often join the Kerkian ranks either as sub-commanders or as allied mages, and most Kerkian armies tolerate their presence.

Blackhand (Scout Division)

• Units: Blackhand Stalker (Spy), Blackhand Scout (Scout), Blackhand Murderer (Assassin), Blackhand Observer (Counterspy), Blackhand Hunter Killer (Counter-Assassin)

The Kerks do not often use their own clans to scout or spy on their enemies, as intrigue is usually handled by an old and specialized guild of assassins known as the Blackhand. Paid well for their services, the ancient order of spycraft amongst the Kerks provides valuable services for Kerkia’s armies. The most infamous groups of the Blackhand often provide counter-assassination services to their commanders, acting as hidden bodyguard who specialize in the protection of Kerkian officers and generals. The Blackhand tends to be a very diverse group, and often shadow the Kerks wherever they go.

Government

Government

The Kycer

The Kycer

Kerkian Kycer (Theocratic Republic)
The Kycer is a theocracy and republic, a weird and complicated mix between a theocratic government with a secular assembly which governs daily politics. The Kycer is divided into 2 main branches which assemble into one generalized senate. There is the theocratic council, and then there is the Zupan’s assembly beneath it. There are two leaders in the Kycer, the heads of council, the major and minor ones. From there, beneath them is regional priests, ceremonial priests, representative priests of the whole of Caslan, the provincial priests, and then the various bodies of smaller institutions. The members of the Kycer meet up in a gathered assembly, usually the Tomb City of Scribes, where they would hold votes and perform rituals to the gods. The Kycer also has a body of nobles, made up of nobles of Caslan who get automatic positions based on their title, and voting power within the Kycer itself. Only priests of the Gyloist faith can join the Kycer, although becoming a priest is considerably easy.

Ruling Caste

• Head of the Council - The highest leading position amongst the Kycer is a member of the Head of the Council, for which there are two official positions, and one informal one. The head of council is the formal leader of the assembly itself, often having the most fitting robes and most fanfare of all the priests. Normally, the head of council is also a head of religious ceremonies, leaders of armies, and so forth. The Head of Council does not lead the vote, but does have the last say on it, and has veto power. As custom, all members of the Head of Council are bowed to in a sign of respect by all members of the Kycer.
• High Member of the Kycer - The highest offices of the Kycer, such as the administrative offices which follow the Head of Council and associated priests are considered the most important heads of the assembly. Normally living near or on the grounds of the assembly’s grounds, the higher members tend to meander and discuss law. They mainly exist as a federal role in the government in most circumstances.
• Lower Member of the Kycer - The lowest members of the Kycer, usually representative bodies and guards of the Kycer itself is a position which inhabits ‘above nobles, below leaders’ kind of position. Informally, they are the most minor positions of the assembly itself, but are formally considered a high position in Kerkian society. Most lesser members do the wet work that higher members do not do, and act as a state role in government.
• Clergy - Although all members of the Kycer are clergy, informally the true clergy of Caslan are within its temples and amongst the more ceremonial roles within the Kycer. Clergy still play a significant role in administration, as their authority and faith are the backbone of the power of the Kycer itself. Clergy have a significant social role in the lives of Caslan and are ultimately informal leaders. In all but name, the clergy of Caslan are often its most influential leaders in the Kycer.
• Zupan - Zupans are the landed nobility of the Kerks, at least in comparison to those landed nobility. Zupans often are the most powerful patriarchs of a region, having authority and power over smaller aligned clans. Zupans have some general say in local as much as national politics, and often are in ceaseless opposition to the religious authorities. Zupans swear fealty to the Kycer, who in turn grant them titles over the regions they rule. Zupans act as ‘guardians’ of the Kycer’s republican traditions, who tolerate their monarchy over their fellow Kerks.

Specialist Caste

• Patriarch - In Kerkian society, the Patriarch is the clan’s leader. Chosen by the previous patriarch, the clan leader is the ruler of the entire family and makes decisions on behalf of the clan. Although all patriarches share power with an equally powerful matriarch, most clans have patriarches be their envoy and decision maker. Patriarches normally specialize in local politics as much as leading the family through crises.
• Heir - Heirs are the inheritors of Kerkian titles, chosen by their superiors to inherit their positions and given the best in education and services to become as learned as possible before becoming Patriarchs and Zupans. It is crucial to note that Heirs are hand picked by their superiors, or by the clan itself, and do not inherit based on blood lines. Heirs tend to be the 2nd in command of a clan, being above captains and are highly respected. However, to keep themselves as heir for the clan, they must be constantly proving themselves to the family to keep their position, as it can be taken away at any time.
• Captain - Captains in Kerkian society are about the closest thing to knights they have, usually the higher positioned members of a Kerkian militia or a respectable position as an officer in a city or the Kycer. Normally a military position, Captains are often chosen by clans to lead, train, and arm the clan’s levies. Captains tend to be a close family of their respective clans, and their strongest warriors who in turn are granted better homes and lifestyles to better suit their position.
• Barun - Kerkian cities and larger towns are not directly ruled by a clan, but instead vote in a Barun. Baruns are small, meager leaders which is a title which is granted by the Kycer to rule over a city. They can be either a monarchy, republic, or theocracy. Baruns answer to the Kycer but have full reign over the city’s laws and organization, but must always bend the knee and pay taxes to the Kycer or the local Zupan.
• Craftsman - Craftsmen who make trade goods are considered a high position in Kerkian society, as not every Kerk is capable of learning such trades. Rather than working on their own, most Craftsmen live among their own family clans who help them provide resources and buy materials, often in return for a cut of their profits.
• Merchant - Kerkians are considered very poor merchants, which is why most Non-kerks who get to a higher position in society often become Caslan’s merchants. Elves and Okan buy from Kerkian clans and make deals with them to sell their products and raw resources they collect to the markets in return for a mutual and beneficial cut of profits.
• Scribe - Minor administrators and helpers of the temple priests are known as scribes and play a vital role in Kerkian society by providing meager and mundane rituals to the Kerkian clans. Often members of Kerkian clans, especially minor ones, scribes often leave the clans to get an education and then return to help organize the clan, figure out their taxes, and keep the clan in the good graces of the gods.

Labor Caste

• Clansman - Clansmen are the true citizenry of Kerkian society, being bound more so the clan rather than the Kycer itself. Born into individual clans, clansmen act as the laborers, soldiers, and toilers for all of Kerkia and do so for very little pay and reward. Effectively peons to their own families, most Clansmen own no land of their own and live entirely at the whims of their clan. Living without a clan is considered a death sentence for many Kerks.
• Non-Kerk - Although socially below the clansmen, being a Non-Kerk in Caslan is not considerably bad. Most Non-Kerks may not have a large amount of land, but they are considered commoners in Kerkian society. Commoners often find work much harder to come by, but it also allows them to buy their own plots of lands and homes within cities to specialize their trades. Most Non-Kerks are unfavored in politics, and the social ladder is often denied to them. However, universally, Non-Kerks live better and more stable lives than that of common Kerkian clansmen.
• Foreigner - Kerkians have a strange view of foreigners in most cases, often depending on what non-Caslan citizens interact with. Kerkian clans automatically view foreigners with suspicion and doubt, and do not care if they disappear, get robbed, or get captured by another clan. Foreigners are demanded to follow Kerkian laws, and are not treated differently from the Kerks themselves.
• Slave - Being a slave is a lifelong position for most, and a miserable one at that. Slaves are owned by their masters who can generally do with them as they please, but there are social norms and regulations which prevent true cruelty. Most slaves in Caslan are put into slum shacks, and are more or less property of an entire clan or city, with personal servants often being reserved for members of the clergy or the zupans. Slaves can buy their freedom, or earn it, but it's a very rare occurrence. Slaves are motivated often to do so, as slaves who have children in captivity will have those children also grow up to become slaves themselves.

Kycer Assembly
The Kycer’s assembly gathers all at once in a singular meeting. Although all members of the Kycer are priests, these priests are best thought of as regional representatives for individual clans, territories, and cities. At the head of this assembly is the Heads of Council, for which there are two. There is the Head of Council and the lesser Head of Assembly. Both are co-rulers of the Kycer. Each Head of Council had a group of administrators and clerks known as the Body of Council, who were also elected upon. Each district and region also elected a Ceremonial priest who would lead religious affairs in the Kycer alongside the Minor Priests, the main voting body of the Assembly. Minor priests were voted on by a national assembly, and there were only 18 of them at a time. The assembly also has a ‘shadow assembly’ which meets beneath them, which is made up of Caslan’s Zupans.

Kycer Voting
Voting on members of the Assembly is a months long process, usually around a month of preparation and a month of actual voting. The Kycer allows almost universal (and weighed) voting all across society, the only requirement is for those who do vote to appear before the temples to cast it. The system allows nearly everyone to vote; free and slave, rich and poor, landed and unlanded. Even foreigners and non-citizens can vote, as the Gyloism religion views voting as a sacred art. Necromancers oversee the entire voting process, and once a vote is casted, the necromancer creates a temporary magical symbol on the palm of the voter’s hand so that they do not cast their vote twice. Patriarches, zupans, clergy are a higher vote, their casted vote counts as 2. Normal clansmen and citizens count as 1, with slaves being counted as half a vote. Foreigners who vote tend to only count as 1/10th of a vote. It is important to note that during voting, slaves who intend to vote are herded by a special group of necromancers and their undead guards into groves, so that their vote is not interrupted or overseen by their masters.

Kycer Law Making
How the Kycer works is considerably strange, being a republic first and foremost, but also the official clergy of the country as well. The Kycer has a set date of 5 until all positions which aren’t the Zupan’s assembly are put up for voting. Members of the Kycer can be voted on several times over. When the Kycer votes, it will do a ‘talley by popularity’ where there is only a 50% majority needed to pass laws. There are speeches and discussions held beforehand before legislation is passed, but there is a moment before major discussion where a ‘gallery of vetoes’ is held. If the Legislation is considered destabilizing or simply bad, the Heads of Council can automatically veto the vote. However, the Ceremonial Priests can also veto the legislation as well, although they must have a 60% majority to do so. Minor priests and Zupans also have veto power, but their veto requires 80% veto power. When laws are passed, the legislation is then brought before shrines of the gods where laws are blessed by sacrifices and prayer, before it is made into law.

Kycer Institutions
Most Kerkian institutions are known as Bodies, which follow the administrations of new Heads of Body. The Body of Study handles most administrative costs and affairs, along with the collection of court documentation. The Body of Enforcement handles the defense of the Kycer, and promotes members of the Kycer to become generals. The Body of Rituals performs the religious rites and establishes the chosen gods of the Kycer. Of the bodies, none is more important than the Overwatch of Mel Coldfinger, who was granted a permanent and immortal stay in the Kycer as partial leader and watcher. Liches under Mel’s directorate are refused from stay in the Kycer itself, as only he and his scribes take a very hardline stance against any form of populism and radicalized behavior. When not around, this position is usually held by an equally immortal death knight, a lich associated with Mel, or the patriarch of the Coladdic clan itself. An Overwatch has considerable powers, such as war declaration, veto power, and the ability to just outright remove a member of the Kycer. However, the most important part of Overwatch is to keep the Kycer’s politics aligned and focused.

Society

Society

Kerkian Inheritance
Kerkian inheritance is a very important aspect of Kerkian life. When Patriarchs and Matriarchs die, their possessions and land cannot just go to their first born, since all Kerks are born in broods. Instead, each Kerkian clan picks their own heir. Kerkian patriarches choose the most competent and highly skilled of their family to become the next patriarches, with all others effectively being disowned. To the Kerks, being an heir is a cursed affair, as they become responsible for a lot of their family and the clan’s affairs. Kerks tend to choose only the best amongst a wide range of family members, with cousins and distant relatives who happen to live close by often having equal status of inheritance to even first born broods. When clan leaders die without naming an heir from their family, the clan often gets together to vote on who will become the heir instead. Due to this, Kerkians tend to lack major inheritance feuds with their siblings.

Adoption
Kerkians have a very strange sense of family, but what often complicates these matters is how Kerkians adopt. Although some clans may care greatly about the purity of their bloodlines, most Kerks often care more about their dynasty and the success of their clan. The most infamous clans are the Geuders when it comes to this, which is why the clan is well known for adoption. Kerkians will adopt virtually anyone, and anything into their clans. Kerkians of others clans, disillusioned bandits, Non-Kerk orphans, nearly anyone can be adopted into a Kerkian clan. Often, these adoptions are without a lot of flare, but the adoption process often adds the surname of that new member into the clan as a full fledged member. These adoptions can also happen at nearly any age, with it not being uncommon for Kerks to simply adopt into their families to extend their own influence. Non-Kerks who get adopted into a clan are often identified by having them wear the clan’s colors on handkerchiefs, scarfs, or small demands of clan pride emblazoned onto armor and weapons they carry.

Clan Autonomy
Kerks are notorious for being difficult to rule, an issue the Kerks solved long ago by trying to not rule their people as much as trying to deal with them. Kerks are fiercely territorial, so to get around this the Kycer effectively rules through bread rather than iron. The Kycer collects taxes by convincing the clans of the Kycer’s divine authority, and promotes powerful Zupans to rule over the Kerks in their name. The clans often are avoided whenever possible, allowed to have their own laws and rules, and to feud amongst each other so long as they do not harm the cities and temples. Clans respect these rules, which causes the Kycer and the clans to walk a very fine line. Zoning and negotiations are crucial for the Kycer’s survival, and having a good relationship with each clan helps Caslan in both the short and long term. However, some clans are notoriously cynical and difficult to rule, and when some clans get out of line, they may be subject to being purged by the Kycer.

Secular vs Religious Rule
The difficulties of the question ‘Is the Kycer as theocracy, or a republic’ has haunted the theocratic republic since its conception. Officially, the Kycer considers itself a republic. Informally, it is a theocracy with extra steps. Priests are still priests, and Caslan society often votes not on who will represent them, but what clan will be the one to make sacrifices to the gods. Most Kerks view the Kycer as little more than a temple, and that their lives are more ruled by the Zupans. However, the reality often is that the Zupans answer to the Kycer and obey their laws and edicts. The Zupans would love nothing more than to break away from the Kycer, but the reality often is that they need the Kycer a lot more than the Kycer needs them. The power of religion and its effects also afflicts the local political scene, where zealous priests are considered equal in politics to genuine lawmakers.

Clan Moots
Kerkian clans feud with one another very often, and they feud so much that their wars can devastate regions. In order to prevent this, Kerkian clans hold Moots where patriarches of the entire region gather together to discuss peace and the troubles of their clan. These Moots are often temporary, and are very much a minor form of governance. However, these patriarches often meet to grant their loyalty to a Zupan, discuss ceasefires, and complain amongst themselves. Moots can often help end disputes, but they are not a sure thing, and can often very quickly backfire. This is often why when a Moot is formed, they invite the region’s Zupan or a member of the Kycer to act as arbitrators in these meetings.

Zupanships
Zupans are effectively the Kerkian version of landed nobility, often large estate owners who demand the fealty of others. The main difference however is that most Zupans are just very powerful and old clans, whose patriarches effectively made up their title to hold some authority over smaller clans. Zupans have some very limited, but crucial authority over a region. Zupanships tend to be very shaky at best, their authority coming from their relationship with the Kerkian clans themselves as much as their wealth and military might. Zupanships can shift often based on the mood of the Kycer, as well as the Zupan’s power. Zupans have a very limited, but crucial, authority in the Kycer itself and act as a monarchal bulwark against theocratic designs.

Familicide and Proscriptions
The society of feuding clans and brutality amongst the Kerks results in a very unfortunate aspect of Kerkian society; the use of purges and familicide to secure stability. Hostile clans, especially those who do not bend their knee to the Kycer, are subject to extermination at the hands of the Kycer and its allied Zupans. To the Kerks, such things are normal, as the system of family which can extend to many clans can quickly result in a severe internal conflict which can engulf an entire region if hostile families continue to thrive. These purges are not considered personal, and as a normal part of Kerkian life and governance. This practice unfortunately is followed on over for peoples to a lesser extent.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Caslan
Tomb City of Scribes
Assembly of the Kycer

The Tomb City of Scribes sat in the southern mountain ranges, the massive stone towers thick walls of gray and weathered stone shot up across the range like a vast and untamed ruin, with a central courtyard of stone mixed in with grassy hills and small cliffside shrines. To the naked eye, it was difficult to spot, as the towering trees mixed in with the ancient Tomb City, even as it was occupied. Skeletal guards stood with motion at all corners of the city, all while in the recess of the priests who meandered around them who were deep in thought or prayer. Living amongst the dead did not bother them, nor did the smell of the undead workers tirelessly working away at expanding the city give them much distraction. It was during these hours did the priests of the Assembly began to file towards shrines, giving praise to their gods via sacrifice. Of those most noted was Shov Coladdic and Dylon Geuder.

Both Kerks were similar in many regards, but yet polar opposites. Shov was true to his traditionalism as ever, his gathering of aligned clan members all gathered at the shrine of Saokuv. The shrine was on a raised pyramid-like platform, where Shov laid down a lamb before the shrine and cut into it, spilling its blood and guts expertly onto the ground, spattering on his purple cloak. Shov turned his attention towards the shrine, depicting a deer’s skeletal head fixed to an emancipated figure. Shov coldly began to pray to the god before him, asking him for his mercy and power. A necromancer came over and waved his hands, chanting as he did, and a blue flame consumed the body of the sacrifice. Shov joined his fellow supporters, silently filing into the central structure, but lazily looking over at where Dylon was.

Dylon Geuder was at the shrine dedicated Tenera, and was surrounded by all manner of figures. For a creature such as Dylon, he was constantly surrounded by Kerks of import who were both a mix of vicious loyalists and curious onlookers. Pelkov Elkwood was near him, observing the ritual close by, but scoffed as Dylon took a priest’s knife and cut into a lobster and spilled it onto the shrine. Shov could not see it, but he had known Dylon had brought such a cheap and insulting sacrifice which bothered him to no end. He stopped, staring out as Dylon’s priest burned the sacrifice. Before Shov filed inside, he was soon joined by two other figures.

Approaching Shov was a minor priest and representative Lavar Brav, who had been curiously watching Dylon’s sacrifice unfold. Joining beside him was his servant and slave Lila, an Okan who was quick and clumsy in bowing to Shov and his fellow priests, nearly forgetting the customs. Shov ignored the Okan and turned his attention to Lavar and was quick in his tongue to mock.

“For a clan as rich as the Geuder’s one would think they would have the consideration to at least bring a proper sacrifice. Lobster. Practically an insult if you ask me. Join me Lavar, we have much to discuss.”

Lavar and Lila followed Shov’s group, the Coladdic priests were petty in their mockery of their Geuder-aligned peers. However, Lavar was quick to note a couple things to Shov “You may mock him, but it is smart what he does. As the elections come up, Dylon is set to win the vote amongst the Okan once again. Maybe even the Beurians. He relies quite heavily on it. The slaves and poor along the coasts sacrifice sea urchins and crab to the gods, and ever the populist, Dylon simply follows suit.”

Shov scoffed “He should focus on the Kerks then. The election is coming up, yes, but it years away.”

“One can never start too early, Shov. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t even Mel Coldfinger himself preparing his protege for such things?”

“Do not remind me, Lavar. My meeting with Naya did not go very well. She is studious, yes, but hardly material worthy of the Kycer. I need loyalists to the cause of the gods, not upstarts who think they know how to run things. Our society is dependent as ever on our fealty to the gods. Pretending we are overly political and petty fools like those on the mainland only drags us down to their level.”

Lavar kept his mouth shut as the two walked into the main chamber. Lavar stopped, as if knowing his own servant was shocked by just the sheer size of the assembly's main room. The dimly lit parts of tomb city’s insides were normal for any other, dirty caverns and stone hallways with little light. Yet, the main chamber was massive, a central square where the entire assembly of the Kycer met and casually discussed. On each side of a grand stadium, overhanged by a rock ceiling, stood four braziers. Coladdic necromancers chanted into them and light bursted from them, and filled the room with illumination. Then she saw him, a figure which shocked her a bit when she saw it. Mel Coldfinger himself.

Mel levitated on an upper balcony near a stone throne, above the entire Kycer itself. He was wrapped in a faded purple and dark green robe, lined with black silk. Dangling cloth swirled around him, his arms folded as he stared off into a book which levitated in front of him. His massive fur cap comically nearly reached out towards the ceiling, and the pages in front of the lich magically flicked. He looked mummified, but it was sometimes difficult to tell, as a great scarf covered his mouth and nose. Only his dry eyes with a dim light shone through the eyeless sockets, peering without care as he continued to look into his books.

Lila was terrified at first, but Lavar comforted her “Come. He is more friendly then he looks. Just be sure to take down the Kycer’s business, and pry your attention away from. . .the pettiness.”

The Okan only nodded. She had not been brought along as an observer, but as a writer. Lavar wanted to bring back the court’s business due to a fading memory by the time he was back in their home down south. Lavar took his place, giving humble bows to his peers. Lavar took his place and began to intermingle amongst several others in the assembly. It wasn’t until Dylon Geuder and his own confidants entered that things truly began to pick up pace. Dylon laughed and joked with his fellow Zupans and aligned members, but Pelkov Elkwood was pushy and more grim. Despite those in the assembly referring to Dylon as ‘The Grim’, he Kerk was vibrant in personality and humor.

“Zupan Geuder, you must take this matter most seriously. The Hazels have no intention of joining the Kycer, and their infernal family continues to hound at my borders, and yours by default!” Pelkov complained openly “You must see some reason in all this? Can you not?”

“Pelkov, you worry far too much about them. I have talked to the Hazels on both of our behalfs, and their new Zupan does seem rather open to talking at least. Duman Hazel has reassured me that he will not fiddle with your underbelly of a country, in turn you will not do the same! Trust me Pelkov, it will take time for that family to join us here in the Kycer.”

Pelkov shook his head, partly in anger. Lavar listened in on the conversation, amused that of all of Pelkov’s complaints, the Hazels being slow to join in the Kycer was his top issue. Lavar could only guess, and rightfully so, that Pelkov was trying to pry Dylon’s interest away from aligning with the growing Hazel family. Lavar himself had even talked with Duman, and made trade deals on their behalf. As Pelkov and Dylon took their place in the Kycer. There was a loud and obnoxious slapping of a book, closing with vicious intent. Everyone turned to Mel, as the book that was once infront of his face began to float down to the ground and took its places on a small pedestal.

“I call the Kycer to order.” Mel began.
_____

Lila may have been writing down conversations and summaries of the Kerks in the Kycer, but could barely understand the politics. Lavar would occasionally interject as the day dragged on, as many in the Kycer made speeches. There wasn’t a lot happening in Caslan, and every small issue was overblown into a major trouble simply to pass the time. One such trouble was the debate over the rising minor family known as the Hazels.

The Hazels had a long time ago fought a war of independence from the Elkwoods, and won with stunning victories. The clan was deeply militarized, and was perhaps the 2nd most organized clan next the Geuders themselves. However, the Hazels were poor, distrusted, and they lacked a great deal of ambition. For years the clan had been content, but only recently did the clan seek to slide its way into the election cycle for the coming years. Pelkov made speech after speech decrying the small clan, and mocked them openly, but few were listening to his constant complaining. More so, Shov showed open concern that the Hazels would disrupt the delicate balance of the Kycer. More accurately however, it would disrupt the Coladdic’s majority within it.

What had prevented the Hazels from joining the Kycer before was their trouble with money. They were not even present in the Kycer itself, and their single representative was a meek messenger who was simply there to inform the Kycer that family matters kept Duman Hazel at home. Lavar was disappointed that the Zupan again shirked any and all opportunity to join in the politics of the country, but he understood fully his caution. Duman was a great warrior, but a terrible speaker. A trip to the Kycer would have been costly for him, and Lavar blamed himself for disillusioning the young Zupan far too early to the pettiness of the assembly.

However, the calm of the Kycer was suddenly interrupted by a sudden speech by Dylon Geuder.

“My Lords, and fellow priests of the Kycer. When I was leaving for the Kycer last week, my party stopped by the cities of Kel Felgord, and what I saw depressed me. The north has ports, but we have shit ports, manned by shit sailors. Our ports have little more then fishermen, as Orduin robbed us of any means of building up proper drydocks and shipbuilding. We have ships in the south, sure, but they are used far more for trade. The defense of this island and the Kycer relies on a stronger fleet of galleys and warships, and our forests remain almost entirely untouched. So I have a proposal for our dear Heads of the Ass--” Dylon Geuder was pulling out what looked like a tome at first, but before Dylon even could present it to any of the heads of the assembly, Shov shouted out a very meager and bored “Veto.”

“My good lord, you jest.” Dylon fumbled his words, creasing with anger.

“I do not remember you having poor hearing, Dylon Geuder.” Shov mocked, and continued “Now is not a year for drastic reform. We have no need for warships, and we certainly do not need to spend the Kycer’s coffers supplying your clan with those ships. I hardly need to ask or guess what you will even do with them.”

Dylon shot back, accusingly “Perhaps if you read my proposal first, rather then casting it aside, you would not need to gues--”

“I will hear no more of this, let us continue.”

“Continue what?” Dylon had a rather sudden realization as Shov was looking primarily at the silent Pelkov. Shov was biding his time, trying ever so silently and unmovingly, trying to see the Geuder’s coalition of Zupans break apart. Pelkov’s anger towards the Hazels had already been in debate throughout most of the day, which only made Dylon mad himself. Dylon looked back, knowing full well what Shov was doing.

“My head of assembly, when did our republic become so wretched you would have us endlessly debate over the troubles of my aligned clans rather then the good of this republic? Do you care so little for the Kerks?” Dylon shouted back. The murmurs in the Kycer became shouting as Coladdic and Geuder aligned minor priests were soon shouting and accusing one another. Fists were raised, and only the Ceremonial priests kept themselves away from the small fights already breaking out between the two groups. Shov was looking on in amusement, up until Dylon was descending the stairs upward towards him.

The Braziers of the assembly hall suddenly turned a bright blue and dimmed, and the Kerks fell silent once again and stopped. This had a specific meaning, for Mel was about to speak.

“Enough of this pettiness, the both of you. I have watched worse things in days long gone, and as I had not tolerated it then, I will not tolerate it now. Back to your positions, or I shall curse each and every one of you till you act less like children.” The groups stopped and calmed, as the brazier’s fire returned to normal. Mel levitated off the stand, keeping his pose as he came in front of Dylon Geuder and reached out his mummified hand to him. Dylon gave his proposal to the Lich’s who then levitated back to his chair and spoke.

“Shov Coladdic, I Veto your Veto as of now, you will read the proposal and debate its merits, and you will vote on the Geuder’s proposal. Then you are all dismissed.”

Shov turned in a confused state towards Mel “My eternal patriarch, we have only just arrived.”

“You will understand in time, young Shov. Now please. Do as the gods demand, and read.” Shov had Dylon’s proposal float to him and reluctantly began to read it.

The proposal was massive, far more than what Dylon had marketed it as. The proposal went into many details, from the construction of lumber yards, to the assignment of ship builders, to the buying of galley slaves, and even the apartments for sailors and captains. Shov sighed as he read aloud each individual thing, and the Kycer began to groan as debate continued to rage for what felt like days over each individual piece of legislation. Shov tried his best to rally his faction against every aspect of the bill, but soon found many being intrigued by it. Lavar was vehemently against the bill, speaking out against it alongside Shov, much to Dylon’s personal fury. Lavar didn’t wish to see his own clan get put down, and seeing Dylon’s deathly stare at him, he proposed a mutual exchange. However, this only infuriated Shov, who wanted to shut down the bill entirely.

Dylon could read the room, especially amongst the very skeptical Landarric Kerks who did not wish to lose their specialization to the Geuders. Dylon spoke and debated for the new ports to be purely drydocks and shipyard buildings, and that the Kycer would pay effectively for a new fleet on the northern coast rather than a general overhaul. Shov’s immediate agreement made Dylon’s stomach drop, but Lavar was happy with the change and was soon singing the proposal’s changes. Shov and his faction next began to speak on the costs of the bill, and complained of how expensive a new fleet would be. Dylon fought back, claiming these new warships would be primarily used to protect trade and defend the isle, and would in fact boost the income of all clans. Shov was naturally skeptical, but his clan was growing discontent. After hours upon hours of debate, the vote came. With Lavar’s support, Dylon Geuder’s shipyard proposal had passed.

Effectively, the proposal would have the Kycer pay for the construction of shipyards, forestries, and support structures in the cities of Helgave, Kel Felgord, Kel Gaven, and Kel Gargath. Individual clans would pay for the wages of workers or pay for the buying of slaves to fill most of these positions. Okan captains would oversee the training of sailors, with Kel Felgord being the main naval training ground. Southern Caslan in turn would no longer need to pay for the maintenance cost of the Caslan fleet, but instead the responsibility of both fleets will go to the Kycer. The Northern fleet would also be captained by both a member of the Geuder and Coladdic clan. Dylon suspected Shov would try to sabotage this as well, but he was satisfied for now by the passing of his bill.
____

As recess was called, Dylon and Lavar spoke to one another with Dylon openly questioning the expert statesman of his neutrality. Although both of them were annoyed with one another, Dylon had a strange respect for Lavar, as much had a strange respect for Dylon. As the two spoke in length, there was a call for a return to the Kycer. Lavar was unsure why the Kycer would meet only to be dismissed so early, and asked Dylon on this. Dylon could only guess, believing it had something to do with Mel Coldfinger himself.

Dylon was right, as when the Kycer met again, there was no speeches, only Mel standing above them all and looking down at them. Beside him was Naya Coladdic and a skeletal elven sorcerer named Gra’vyen. Mel looked over them, especially at Shov and Dylon with critical eyes, as he spoke directly to all of them.

“For a long while I have lived amongst you as Overwatch, and when I left the Kycer, I had hoped they were as mature as me to not need my position as Overwatch. However, your petty feuds today only reinforces my beliefs in your inabilities. A shame before us all. However, fret not, my protege Naya Coladdic will be taking my place as Overwatch, alongside my elder companion, my librarian Gra’vyen. You will come to know them well, and will respect them as you respect me. Shov Coladdic, Dylon Geuder, stand in the middle.”

“I will be leaving soon, on a journey across the whole of the world in the ruins of the Orduin empire, and I will be gone for a time. Many of you will see me off at the docks of Kel Trach. I will be looking for many older tomes and magical lores, and I cannot oversee you from a ship let alone on the continent. I will be ever watchful however.”

Both Zupans and members of the Kycer dared not disobey the ancient Lich. Taking a silver knife in his dry and crinkly hands, Mel cut into his palm and furled his black blood into two stone goblets. He snapped his fingers and two skeletal figures took the goblets to both Shov and Dylon.

“Drink.” Mel ordered.

Shov was the first to drink, without question and coughed a bit. Dylon was next, smelling Mel’s blood, and gulped down the vile liquid. Both coughed and gagged as Mel told them of their fates.

“My blood is cursed, for so long as you live, no harm will come to my protege by your hand or any hand you command. If you harm even a single hair upon the head of my temporary replacement, you will dissolve and become like ash. I had have you both swear onto the gods, but I felt it wasn’t enough. You are all dismissed.”

The Kycer began to file out as Dylon angrily stomped out. Shov looked at Mel, confused and distraught that his own patriarch would curse him with such distrust, but he meagerly accepted and joined his fellow priests. Lavar and his servant Lila were the last to leave. Lila was dumbstruck by the whole thing, but dutifully wrote down what had happened. As they left, the tomb doors closed as Mel turned to Naya who gave a humble bow to him.

“Thank you, my eternal patriarch. I wish to not disappoint you, but you think I am ready?”

“No. That is why Gra’vyen will be aiding you, my good Naya. Now, I must make my preparations and give some final, makeshift lessons.”

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Religion

Religion

Theology

Theology

Gyloism
Gyloism is a very cynical, polytheistic faith for which is tied to the subsets of three gods who are in a ceaseless war with one another. It is believed that a great creator, a singular and vile entity known as Uthena. Uthena created the sun, stars, and moon and carved flesh into her legs to form the Viyter. The Viyter created the mortal plane of existence, and had children known as the Barkotar. The Barkotar, in their oppression, destroyed Uthema and ate of her flesh, becoming gods themselves. The war between the Viyter and Barkotar was earth shattering, and the blood of that war flowed into the streams and bore the Se’muthar. The Se’muthar’s ‘disposal’ would become the mortal beings of the world. The Barkotar, taking pity on mortal beings, tricked the Viyter into a contract for which they would spare mortals in return for worship and reverence. These gods have since lived in a constant state of fighting one another, endlessly feuding to try to one up one another.

The Viyter (Mountain Gods)
The Viyter are the eldest, and the most evil, of the gods of the Goyloist faith. The Viyter lived in the highest mountains and were the sons and daughters of the god Uthena, the creator of the mortal world, and built much of the world in their mother’s name. The mountain gods live in the mountains high and above in an unknown land, and whose great castles live in clouds. It is said they feast on the life of the mortal world in fall and their refuse is the snows that come in winter, for they are cruel and angry at all times towards mortals and care little for them. The Viyter are the ones who grant mortals the gifts of snow, ice, and stone in return for their eternal servitude in death.

• Pelka
  
  
  
  • Domain: High Places, Mountains, Cliffs, Avalanches, Passes, Tolls, and Taxes
  • Pelka is the queen of the Viyter, and the heir of Uthena. Pelka is a goddess who lives in a vast stone fortress above the clouds and made all the mountains of the world, and despises all who live within it. Pelka despises mortals the most of the Viyter and demands much of them, and made the idea of taxes to spread amongst mortals out of spite, so that they would give her tribute if they dared pass through her mountains and domain.
• Vicera
  
  
  
  • Domain: Lust, vodka, wildness, drunkeness, cruelty, parties, gatherings, and berries
  • Vicera is the goddess of parties in the Gyloist faith, a beautiful woman depicted with a goat’s head and a bull’s hooves who pranced about changing gender and shape to all who saw her. Vicera was said to join amongst all parties, encouraging rowdy behavior and cruelly tearing apart relationships in fits of joy. Her blood was spilled in war, which grew to become berries.
• Tencha
  
  
  
  • Domain: Homes, structure, earthquakes, floods, disaster, castles, siege weapons, arrows, and rockslides
  • Tencha is both destroyer and builder, whose work was stolen by mortals to build their homes and castles. Tencha hated this and drove rocks into rivers so they would flood the lands of mortals, and tore apart the earth so that mortals could not copy his designs. Tencha hated all mortal kinds, and only granted peace to those who worshipped him. It was said he granted invaders the secrets of siege weapons so they could invade the land and hinder all who made walls and keeps without his blessing.
• Garga
  
  
  
  • Domain: Magic, arcane power, elemental power, fire, storms, lightning, sound, and witchcraft.
  • Garga is the only ‘good’ Viyter in most ways, having eagerly granted mortals the secrets of magic and seduced the first priesthoods to being given children who would spread her gift abroad. Garga hates mortals who abuse her magic and do not respect the gifts she gives, and sends onto them storms and fire. Garga in legend is said to tempt the clergy and necromancers to turning away from their faith and embracing a wilder form of magic, one which bind them to her will, where she tortures their immortal souls to feed her spells and power.
• Toruv
  
  
  
  • Domain: Law, Order, Kings, Hierarchy, Slavery, Soldiers, Smiths, Shackles, Bondage, Brokenness, Judgement
  • Toruv is a being who took the most interest in mortals amongst the Viyter, who built a realm in the mountains, an ordered society which had rules, laws, and enforcement which was copied amongst all realms of the Viyter. Toruv made rules and laws inherent in all mortals, and showed mortals how to make chains to imprison and enslave others just as the gods do. Toruv in turn demands a tribute of souls to feed into his empire in the sky. In legend, Toruv showed a spiritual slave how to smith and make tools, which when this spirit escaped, possessed the first Kerkian smith who made tools and weapons for the Kerks. When this spirit returned to Toruv’s realm, it was bound into a dungeon and forced to watch all wars ever committed by its actions for showing the Kerks the power of smithing.

The Barkotar (The Tree Gods)
The Barkotar were the children of the Viyter who were hated by their parents and were forced into the menial labor of populating the world. The Barkotar are considered ‘the disgusting but good’ gods of the faith, having the most empathy towards creations and are the most associated with Kerkian culture and worship, but were also the most vile in many instances since it was the Barkotar who showed the Kerks the secrets of necromancery. The Barkotar are the enemies of the Viyter and remain in a frosty relationship with the Se’muthar. They are said to live close to mortals, living in the forests, underneath them, or in the world of shadow. The closest one came to the Barkotar was during the night, where most of their rituals were held.

• Nausarine
  
  
  
  • Domain: Dreams, Night, Darkness, Secrets, Thievery, Altruism, Poverty, Isolation, and Prophecy
  • Nausarine is the head god of the Barkotar, and is chiefly worshipped like most Barkotar. Nausarine is special, and is said to live primarily in a world of dreams, taking those who swear their souls to him to these dream lands. Nausarine is generally considered merciful but had kept to itself, even once having believed that it preferred not to be worshipped, and took no mortal form. Nausarine was said to spread its children, the shadows of the world, across all worlds where it learned its secrets. Nausarine was said to steal magic from the god Garga and grant her mastery onto certain mortals, and granted it’s most profound secrets to Melakos.
• Saokuv
  
  
  
  • Domain: Death, Decay, Peace, Forests, Rot, Mushrooms, Fungus, Disease, Plague, Necromancery
  • Saokuv is the god of necromancery in the faith. Saokuv made the world of the dead, and built the forests and deep caves of the world. Saokuv taught the first necromancers the power to raise the dead, and how to control them, a gift for their services. Saukov had the form of an upright and decaying stag who’s touch brought death and advanced decay, covered in fungus and plagued flies. Saokuv was said to grant favor to the Kerks, giving them their immunity to plague and making plagues so that their enemies would be lessened in number.
• Tenera
  
  
  
  • Domain: War, Tactics, Luck, Rain, Growth, Life, Fertility, Butchery, Spears
  • Tenera is a goddess of war, depicted as a strong spear wielding maiden and is a warrior whose tales were filled with legend. Tenera was said to make her spear, Gytherya, from the metal from a volcano. Tenera was said to have destroyed a race of mountain giants who were built to destroy mortal kind, and whose tactics and trickery granted her reverence. She is said to have made the edible food of the world and taught mortals how to cultivate crops. Tenera is as much a god of war as she is a god of crops, and for this both soldiers and farmers.
• Melakos
  
  
  
  • Domain: Books, Learning, Knowledge, Unknowns, Forgetfulness, Libraries, History, Time, Immortality
  • Melakos is the dragon god, a god who is associated heavily with learning and time, and is considered the god of the Liches. Melakos is better known as the patron god of Mel Coldfinger, depicted as a great dragon. Melakos was born of Pelka and stole from her the knowledge of the world and built a library for all the Barkotar to learn from, and delivered the final blow on Uthena. Melakos is said to be the most gifted of the Barkotar, and created a wheel of time for the god Saokuv so that he would know when mortals could die. It is said that Mel Coldfinger made a pact with Melakos for immortality in return for restoring knowledge onto all mortal kind, and collecting the knowledge for the Kerks.
• Nurazul
  
  
  
  • Domain: Love, Brotherly Love, Marriage, Families, Flowers, Murder, Emotion, Madness
  • Nurazul is the ancient mistress of love and emotion, a family god who is depicted as a faceless crone. Nurazul was born of a love between Vicera and the trees, but unlike her mother who only lusted for things, Nurazul loved and cared deeply for others, and married her beloved Saokuv. She gave the dark being many sons and daughters to love, each died upon birth, but each became powerful minor deities to the ants, birds, and beetles of the world. Nurazul is deeply associated with emotion, including more negative aspects, such as murder and insanity, and she curses mortals who abuse their love for others with fits of rage and deep sorrow. Nurazul is blamed for having granted the Kerks their aggression, a curse for which was brought on by an abuse given to her while traveling amongst them in mortal form.
• Pe’van
  
  
  
  • Domain: Savagery, Beasts, Birds, Marshlands, Tameness, Pets, Cattle, Grazing, Horses, Horsemanship.
  • Pe’van is a being who is a beast and a god, taking the body of a bear, the head of a toad, the arms of a lion, and the legs of a horse. Pe’van is said to have horns which grow and twist across all the world, and hunts in the deep woods, and is associated heavily with hunting and meat. Pe’van is considered primarily a god of granted onto mortals the power to tame animals it had shepherded, such as the dog and horse. Pe’van was once wrestled by a legendary priest who granted the priest the ability to speak the tongues of animals. Pe’van is considered the father of all ‘beast races’.

The Se’muthar (The Water Gods)
During the war for creation, the Se’muthar were born of the blood and gore spilled amongst the Viyter and the Barkotar which spilled into the rivers and seas, and born gods who took on forms more familiar to mortals. Se’muthar live in underwater cities made of coral and shipwrecks, surrounded by the bloated dead and fish. Se’muthar are the creators of all mortal kinds and animals, their ‘disposal’ became the flesh from which mortal kind sprung from. While Pe’van is considered a creator of ‘beast races’ in the world, the Se’muthar are the beings who made mortals such as mankind, elves, dwarves, and the Kerks. Se’muthar demand worship, but are neutral in the affairs of mortals, viewing them as little more then future slaves to their domains.

• Okatugar
  
  
  
  • Domains: Sea, Wind, Ships, Galleys, Gulls, Sand, Sinkholes, Trade, Coin
  • Okatugar is a leader of the Se’muthar who leads the Se’muthar and was the first born of their kind. Okatugar built a city from the lifeblood of those who fought, and made a throne from the bones of a fallen Barkotar. Okatugar is considered a father of elven kind. Okatugar gifted the mortals the ability to trade for a fair bargain, but also took away their ability to fully understand it when they tried to trick him into giving away more secrets. Okatugar is said to grant an audience only to his favored priests, and turn those who trespass on his domain into golden statues.
• Gaivya
  
  
  
  • Domain: Innovation, Exploration, Settlement, Fish, Rivers, Swamps, Bridges, Otters
  • Gaivya is the goddess of exploration and general curiosity, but is generally considered to be a river god, more associated with more positive aspects. She is said to be a mother of mankind, and encouraged her children to learn and explore. Gaivya’s greatest gift was said to be the bridge and the otter, which she granted onto the Kerks, granting them furs and meat for their clans and bridges to cross the river without perishing. Gaivya was said to have taught mortals how to swim, and her generosity had made her well liked amongst mortals.
• Kulchyaka
  
  
  
  • Domain: Manslaughter, Beheadings, Bad Smells, Rabbits, Hunting, Nomadism, Hatred, Stags
  • The Kerks consider Kulchyaka to be their creator, and thus his physical appearance takes on a Kerkian form. Kulchyaka is a powerful deity in conflict with Gaivya, but did not grant Kerks aggression, but instead grant the Kerks the ability to kill during their fits of rage. He is said to have come in the form of a rabbit and bit into the neck of the first pregnant Kerk, giving them the ability to breed with many children. Kulchyaka cares little for his children and despises them, but as their parent gives them what they need to survive and protect them whenever viable. Kulchyaka is said to be spiteful of humanity, and turns men who harm his favored priests into Kerks and small woodland animals.
• Mang
  
  
  
  • Domain: Moon, West, Tides, Currents, Drowning, Bloating, Shipwrecks, Dread, Anxiety
  • Mang is the moon god, who was said to dredge up the moon from beneath the ocean and made his home in the sky to escape the drama of the other gods. In his legend, Mang is a western god who takes the moon for rides around the world, and hates mortals deeply for disturbing his rest. In turn, he steals away fishermen and drowns them, wrecks their ships, and bloats their corpses in shallow water. Mang is not considered an evil god however, and is more of a cautionary one, who destroys those who disturb his domain. Mang is in constant conflict with ocean god Okatugar, who is said to always be usurping his domains. Kerks believe the Moon is a realm full of shipwrecks and dead sailors who live in poverty and misery under Mang’s tyranny.
• Turzanchya
  
  
  
  • Domain: Coves, Natural Ports, Lobster, Crabs, Seals, Sharks, Teeth, Fruits
  • Turzanchya is a god of coves and sea mammals, but is more associated as a god of prosperity, fruit, and teeth. Turzanchya granted mortals teeth and taste, allowing them to enjoy and despise what they hate, but in turn stole their ability to live without food so that they would always be hunting in his domain. He uses this to entrap mortals, demanding their sacrifices for his fish and food, and is always lurking along the ports and sandy beaches, making contracts and deals with mortals. He is said to have a special love of fishermen, whom he makes absurd deals with, turning them into crabs when they fail his missions and tasks.
• Pelchigar
  
  
  
  • Domain: Dragons, Monsters, Invasion, Massacre, Tombs, Graves, Conflict, Armies
  • Pelchigar is a war god who is a mother of monsters and a bloodthirsty monster, a murderer who is said to nearly killed the Viyter god Tencha when she invaded his home and stabbed him. Pelchigar herself was slain however, but was incapable of dying, and was sealed away in a tomb where she could slumber. Plechigar is best known as a god of invaders, and her rumblings inside her tomb are blamed for the Kerkian exodus into their homeland. It is said she is guarded over by Turzanchya, who guards her tomb personally.

Beliefs
Beliefs vary in the Gyloist faith, but in general, the Gyloists believe above all is the cruelty of the gods and the demanding nature of life. Gyloists do not view life with the same reverence as others, and instead view it as but a short stepping stone before the plunge into a worse world thereafter, but will worship the gods for a meager chance at power and a better outcome in the world after. Gyloists worship their gods for the power the gods supposedly provide, and because it is tradition. Only the priesthood can divine the signs of the gods, and can make sacrifices on their behalf. Gyloists believe that once one dies, the soul automatically leaves the body, and that soul goes into the realms of one of the three sets of gods.

Magic
Gyloist magic is varied, with various schools which reach into partial druidism and the arcane, but its most important lores of magic is curses and necromancery. Gyloists have no intolerance towards any schools of magic, viewing it as a gift of their gods, and those who can practice it as being touched by those gods. Necromancery is fairly self explanatory, the art of bringing the dead to life, and to serve their necromantic masters as undead servants. Cursing is an art, a usually very dark art, in which the Gyloist necromancer will create a powerful brand onto the soul of their victim, infusing them with a magical malus which harms them in differing ways, or even bends reality around them to inconvenience them. Curses tend to be expensive and long lasting. The most powerful forms of magic, and the most difficult to obtain, is the lore of Lichcraft, the art of soul transfer.

Views on Slavery
Gyloists have a rather unique view on slavery, which is engrained in the religion itself. Much of what a Gyloist does in their life is a reflection of their gods and ancient superstitions, and thus just as the gods enslave one another or the souls of mortals, so can the Gyloists enslave others. This view does have a unique limit to it, for Gyloists also believe they must become ‘better’ or ‘outdo’ their own gods in order to not become like them. Slaves are not seen as much as property or as inhuman, but are more seen as forced laborers and serfs who toil for their masters. Gyloists tend to be taught by the priests to be kinder then normal to their slaves, and to respect their wants and needs for freedom without giving them that freedom.

Views on Sexuality
Gyloist views on sexuality are considered very warped and weird, even for a polytheistic religion which doesn’t initially care for it. Gyloists hold legends of their gods having marriages between the male and female gods, and thus just as the gods have these marriages, so do they. Gyloists have no real opinion on relationships outside of heterosexuality, but view it as a very minor taboo. This minor taboo is at best shunned or encouraged to stop, but it often depends on the relationship between Gyloists. Gyloists believe that both sexes are equal, but there are vague concepts of what is considered masculine and femenine. This often means there are some gender roles in Gyloist faith, but when it comes to political or economic matters, both sexes are considered on equal footing.

Views on Other Religions
Gyloists view other faiths as interconnections of their own, and this is due to their founding myths as their own gods having created all the world and those within it. Other gods in the mind of Gyloist believers are minor gods, or are misattributed gods. These minor gods can have hundreds of explanations, but the Gyloists view these gods with similar reverence as their own. However, the Kerks only respect the rituals and practices of their own religion, and view outside gods and practices of other religions as inherently inferior to their own. Even if a god is considered one in the same with a Gyloist god, that god is worshipped in the Gyloist way.

Views on Knowledge and Magic
Gyloism is deeply entrenched in knowledge and the use of magic, having a full acceptance of all forms of magic. To the Gyloists, the preservation of knowledge is a sacred act, and the truthful recording knowledge is seen as a divine means of honoring the best traits of the Gyloist gods. Knowledge is primarily associated with the favored gods of the Kerks, Melakos. Although Gyloist prefer the magic of necromancery, there is no magic that is considered too taboo for the Gyloists themselves. Magic such as light may be seen with some suspicion, but all magic is seen as a blessing of the gods and thus is respected. Mages of other faiths are seen with similar reverence, but in a different aspect, as they see mages who worship different gods as cursed beings who were sent against the Gyloists as punishment from their own gods.

Views on Apostasy, Heresy, and Atheism
Of one of the few things Gyloists do not tolerate at all is heresy and atheism, and is seen with utter disdain. Although the gods are cruel, breaking the sacred oath of divine reverence of them is seen as blasphemy. Thus, those who go against the temple’s beliefs or suggest the gods are unworthy of worship are despised. Apostasy is a different realm of its own, and its more a complex issue. Gyloists shun those who turn from their gods, but do understand fully that the point of their faith is rebellion against the gods who shun them back. Those who go the extra steps to come into their faith, only to leave it, are seen as weak and misguided.

Religion

Religion

Clergy
Although there are novels that could be made on all the different types of clergy within the Gyloist faith, it is best described as a faith which is meant to be rather universal, and thus priests are not a special class above others as much as they are chosen from their community to represent them to their gods. Priests come in various classes, which is all connected to the Kycer itself. Clergy for the most part perform rituals and sacrifices to the gods, and in turn act as community leaders and studious priests. Clergy have a great deal of responsibility, answerable to both the community and the gods, but also having power over the community itself. Clergy are sacred, and the harm of one is considered a deep tragedy to the Gyloists who likely elected them to their positions within the Kycer.

Believers
Those who have faith in Gyloism are known as Gyloists, although this is not a name they give themselves. Gyloists simply believe themselves as ‘religious’ or as ‘faithful’. Being Gyloist isn’t an identity, at least not initially, and is more of a belief in the ancient practices and mythology of Gyloist lore. Gyloists are not expected of much, but the requirements are to pray at shrines to the gods, a monthly sacrifice in the temple, and respect for members of the clergy. Gyloists otherwise do not have a lot of obligations outside of this, and are mostly free to do whatever. Clergy do not preach to their believers often other than to remind them of their religious obligations.

Temples
Gyloist temples are normally small, but fairly tall, structures where the members of the clergy hide out alongside their libraries. Temples are where the priests make their rituals and dedicate themselves to making sacrifices to the gods. These sacrifices, usually grain or meat, or presented on small altars and burned, the smoke rising through chimneys to signify they had made the sacrifice. Temples do not initially dedicate themselves to singular gods, instead they have materials for the building of shrines dedicated to specific gods and decorate their temples in the fetishes and pictographs of their mythology. Each Gyloist temple has a large basement where the clergy live and stay in, alongside their servants. Larger temples make room for more intricate courtyards and studies, with larger populations making larger sacrifices within.

Tomb Cities
Tomb Cities are massive stone structures, normally located in stone mountains or built into them, where the dead of the Gyloist faith are thrown into. Tomb Cities, as the name suggests, are massive temple cities dedicated to burial and are a popular haunt for the necromancers of the faith for obvious reasons. However, beyond this, the cities are major final rests for patriarches, Kerks of importance, and the mustering ground for the undead. Tomb Cities are always being expanded upon, usually by an undead workforce, which digs new tunnels and tombs beneath these massive complexes. On top, most Tomb Cities are built like fortresses, with entire castles and stone estates surrounding it and manned by the undead. The most famed Tomb City is the Tomb City of Scribes, a burial place for the Coladdic clan and the traditional assembly ground for the Kycer. Mel Coldfinger considers the Tomb City of Scribes to be his home, and his ‘formal library’.

Holy Orders
There are several holy orders in the Gyloist faith, as different bands will sometimes solely dedicate themselves to individual gods. However, there is only one relevant order in the Gyloist faith; The Death Knights. Death Knights are Gyloist zealots who perform an ancient ritual known as the Sacrifice of Flesh, in which a necromancer oversees the zealot cut away pieces of their own flesh and are ‘healed’ by the necromancer. These Death Knights then are draped in a rainbow of cloth and granted a magic blade and given a spiritual quest to seek partial immortality by doing a quest for a god. These quests can go in many different directions, but normally, the quest is complete and the Death Knight returns with knowledge and zeal for which they join the Bylamen to serve the Kycer.

Economy

Economy

Imports

• Meat
• Fruits
• Beer
• Copper
• Spices
• Silk
• Dyes
• Slaves
• Bones
• Peat

Exports

• Grain
• Vodka
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Leather
• Iron
• Gold
• Paper
• Stone

Taxation
Taxation is a difficult issue for Caslan, primarily due to two major issues; The Kerks and the clan structures they live in. Taxation is shaky at best, often based on the relationship between the clans and their Zupans, and Zupans with the Kycer. The Kycer does not administer their own taxes, but instead gives the privilege to guilds who bid on how much taxes they can collect. Deeply unpopular, these tax collectors have to be well guarded as they collect taxes. Kerkian clans tend to be required to give the Caslan state with about 10% of their crop, or a coin equivalent. Taxes are then stored in one of the Tomb Cities where it is counted by the undead and then spent as a budget for the coming year, with the rest being saved. Zupans and cities also pay taxes into this general treasury, but their tax bracket is much higher, usually around 20%.

Trade Policy
Kerkian trade policy is very lax, with Caslan ports being very open to trade with the outside world. Caslan authorities do not mind what is traded in their markets, so long as it makes money for them, and merchants are only subjected to the same equally lax laws of the Kerks. Caslan ports demand a moderate toll to be parked in their ports, with only some limited repair services for their stay. Caslan holds some authority to confiscate ships of merchants who had offended the Kycer. The only major restriction the Kerks have on trade is the sale of slaves to outsiders. Foreigners can sell slaves in Kerkian ports, and the Kerks will buy them, but the Kycer forbids the sale of slaves to outsiders and foreign markets. This is primarily due to the major restrictions set in place during the slave revolt.

Caslan Gold and Iron Mines
In the central hills and mountains of Caslan has an obnoxious amount of gold and iron nodes, which were developed many times over. Although the Kerks have little use for gold, they mint it into coins and sold it to Orduin for many different resources. Iron is considered more valuable, and thus the iron mines of Caslan are more valued above its gold mines. While in theory this should make the island rich, the use of gold is so poorly used amongst the Kerks that they often just sell entire ingots to other nations or store them in huge vaults. Most of these mines are controlled by mining clans who sell solely to the Kycer, who handle any and all trade of iron and gold.

Okan Fisheries and Seal Hunting
Despite being the least known, the most considerable industry on Caslan is controlled by the Okan. Okan mastered the building of fisheries, building truly impressive fish farms all along Caslan’s coastal villages, bringing a huge stock of food for Caslan. Okan Fisheries are professionally run, well stocked, and well supplied. Kerkian clans are rather infamous for trying to get into these industries by forcing Okan slaves to build new fisheries. Associated with fisheries is seal hunting, another Okan practice of hunting the native seals of the isle for meat, leather, and bones. This practice evolved into Kerkian hunting of seals, who quickly mastered the craft themselves.

Kerkian Paper Industry
Kerkian paper is highly advanced and also a core part of Kerkian society, as books and knowledge keeping is an integral part of Kerkian society. Kerkian paper is a state industry, and is thus by nature also an industry primarily used by the clergy. Kerkian paper is absurdly easy to make, and also absurdly cheap and for the most part long lasting. Paper made by the Kerks is just superior in many ways, and its production is considered as state secret. This flourishing industry is controlled primarily by the Coladdic clan, and is the primary foundation of the Kycer’s economy.

The Doil (Social Services)
The Doil is a Kycer institution which acts as a form of proto-social service to the people of Caslan. Each city has a special granary set aside to doll out grains and vegetables to struggling individuals and clans which may have fallen on hard times. Getting onto the Doil is easy, but this social service does come with consequences. Those who remain on the Doil for too long or are caught abusing it can be subject to horrifying consequences. These consequences can include being conscripted to serve the Doil in pseudo-slavery as a farmer who provides 90% of their crop to the Doil, or even being sold into slavery. The Doil has a weird way of lifting half of those put on it out of poverty, and the other half being put into further misery.

Territory

Territory

Physical Terrain

Caslan is primarily a very alpine land, with a long snowy season and is very hilly. The island is home to a wide range of wildlife, with limited fertile plains, but is home to a very vibrant amount of sea life. Normally, the island has very dense forests, but the farther south one goes on the isle, the clearer it becomes.

Physical Features

Peninsula of Seals
Caslan’s northern coast is known as the Peninsula of Seals, which as the name suggests holds a sizable seal population. Most seal hunts take place here, and is generally considered the coldest region on the isle. The Peninsula of Seals is particularly unique in its terrain, as it has large and extensive beaches which go into small tundra plains before it heads into forests. In the central part of the peninsula is a massive series of hills and cliffs.

Felgord Bay
South-west of Caslan is a long bay in which goes into more shallow water and smaller marshes. The Felgord Bay is a major trade port and shipyard, but is also treacherous to navigate for inexperienced sailors. Felgord Bay is known for the large amounts of shellfish which are farmed by local Okan communities which existed for thousands of years, and it is also known to be the main body of water which keeps the port city of Felgord afloat.

Inner Highlands
Beneath the Barka mountains are the inner highlands, divided by the mountains between the north and southern side. The highlands jut up more so than other hills of Caslan, noticeably higher than other hills across the isle. The Inner Highlands is considered highly valued ground due to its large nodes of stone, iron, and gold. The highlands are normally also the stomping grounds of the Beurians, although their clans normally herd in the areas between the highlands and the forests.

Barka Mountains
The Barka Mountains have various names depending on who is asked. To the Kerks, the Barka Mountains are known as the ‘God’s Realm’, who believe the mountain gods live upon. To the beastfolk, they are simply known as the Inner Mountains. The mountains are popular places to build the kerkian tomb cities, as the stone and relative isolation make them perfect for the clans to build the vast structures in, far off from clan conflict.

Barka River
The eastern-most river which flows from the northern side of the Barka Mountains which flows into rapids and small waterfalls until it reaches the sea. The Barka River is usually difficult to navigate.

Lake Fergar
Lake Fergar is Caslan’s only major lake, and is also its deepest lake as well. Not a lot is known about the lake, although it is heavily implied that it isn’t a naturally built lake at all. The Fergar river flows into the lake, and much of its terrain is weird.

Fergar River
The Fergar river is a western most river which flows from the very southern end of the Barka mountains and into the Fergar lake, where it divides into two smaller tributaries into the sea. The Fergar river is usually very peaceful and easy flowing, but is also unnaturally shallow. Much like Lake Fergar, the river itself is considered abnormal.

Sichok Fields
The Sichok fields is an abnormal field in southern Caslan which is simply an abnormal grassy field, with few trees and small forests. The field is strange for being very flat, and thus is also very windy. The field is considered the ‘safest’ area on the isle.

Political Map

Caslan is divided more around generalized clans then formal realms, but a lot of the borders are also based on the old stomping grounds of Okan and Beurian kingdoms as well. Most villages may not always consider themselves in one territory or region, as clans usually build their own ‘borders’ based on clan alignment.

Political Map

Astar

• Capital - Helgave
• Cultures - Geuderian, Ulkad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Geuders

Astar is formally the true ‘capital’ of Caslan, but is not the host of the Kycer itself. Astar is home of the infamous Geuder clan who settled the region and made the capital of Helgave its home. Astar is run more like a feudal territory then other parts of Caslan, and is highly developed despite it not being a center of trade for the island itself. The Geuders, an ancient family which is known for its feud with the equally ancient Coladdic clan, is famed for their military prowess and unity of their family.

Telgan

• Capital - Kel Felgord
• Cultures - Geuderian, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Elkwoods

Telgan is one of the richer northern provinces, primarily thanks to the city of Kel Felgord. Telgan is famed for its iron and gold mines, as well as its impressive tomb cities, but is poorly developed. Much of the land is cultivated by beastfolk slaves, with Kel Felgord being a center of slavery itself with its large slave slums which surround the city. Telgan is ruled by the Elkwoods, a clan famed for its pragmatic approaches and their close relationship with the Geuders, whom they descend from. Elkwoods have a long standing feud with the Hazels, and often their large scale retaliations between each other has left Telgan in a state of trouble due to historic failures against them.

Pemolas

• Capital - Kel Gaven
• Cultures - Geuderian, Ulkad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Hazel

Pemolas is one of the larger provinces and also the poorest of Kerkia’s provinces, with few resources and little development. However, Pemolas is also the youngest province, its identity tied to the upstart clan known as the Hazels. The Hazels are unique in many circumstances, being dubiously pragmatic in war, and also deeply honorable. Unnaturally kind to non-kerks, the province of Pemolas is also the most unified. The Hazels are very skilled generals and warlords, having beaten the more richer Elkwoods in fight after fight. Pemolas use to be divided between the Geuders and the Elkwoods, which is why neither clan likes the Hazels, but only the Geuders gave up on trying to reclaim their lands and openly embraced the Hazels as apart of their family.

Ushas

• Capital - Ferdgave
• Cultures - Coladdic, Landdaric, Human, Tannad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Pinewoods

Ushas is a very diverse region with many different cultures and kerks which intermingle in the general area. The region is interlocked between the Coladdic and Landdaric, and is enriched off its vodka production. Ushas however is also deeply divided between Humans, Okan, and Beurians who all openly despise one another, giving the local Kerks the awkward position of policing them. Ushas is ruled by the ever troubled Pinewoods, a diplomatic family which is associated with the Coladdic, but has major sympathies with the Geuderians and Landdaric.

Nasklan

• Capital - Kel Dargath
• Cultures - Geuderian, Norad Okan, Elven
• Ruled By - Hydov

Nasklan is the northernmost province on the Peninsula of Seals, and relies heavily on its fisheries and seal hunting for its economy. Although enriched by this trade, Nasklan is also horribly underdeveloped, leading to the region to be plagued by the undead. Nasklan is home to the largest elven population on the isle, along with the largest metal craftsmanship industries along with it. Nasklan is famed for its armored warriors and raiding musters, and its general isolation keeps the land far away from the troubles of Kerkian politics. It is ruled by the Hydov family, a Geuderian aligned family which are extremely distant relatives. The Hydovs tend to value their relationship to the Okan, much like the Hazels, and thus often tend to adopt them into their own family. Hydovs are also the only Kerkian clan to have a tomb city lost to them, and often are looked down upon for this.

Hilgas

• Capital - Kel Loch
• Cultures - Coladdic, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Coladdic/Coldfinger

Hilgas is not the heart of Caslan, and is a deeply under developed land, despite what the Coladdic think of it. Hilgas is the host of the Kycer, with many of its tomb cities, mines, and paper industries within it. The city of Kel Loch however is Caslan’s smallest city, and the deep wilderness is ruled almost primarily by the Beurians. Despite this, it is the land inhabited by the Coldfinger clan. The Coldfingers is the tribe of Mel, although the name Coladdic and Coldfinger may as well mean the same thing. The clan is highly influential, deeply religious, and also stupidly conservative. Coladdic, while also being the general name of the culture most associated with them, is also highly devolved to the general groups of clans which provide priests to the Kycer.

Fesdan

• Capital - Gangave
• Cultures - Coladdic, Midad Okan, Beurian
• Ruled By - Gasner

Fesdan is Kerkian’s eastern most province and also one of its poorest. Fesdan doesn’t have a lot to trade, but it does have a lot of settled Beurians who work as laborers. Poorly populated, the region is deeply religious and conservative, and its main goal for years was the construction of a tomb city for its Zupan. Fesdan is ruled by the Gasners, a smaller clan which broke off from the Coladdics and founded Gangave. Gangave used to be an Okan city, but was brutalized and destroyed, and was rebuilt by the Gasners. Although the clan is dedicated to religious affairs, their true main goal has been construction.

Lowglan

• Capital - Kel Trach
• Cultures - Landarric, Soukad Okan, Human
• Ruled By - Brav

Lowglan is the only major province owned by the Landarric Kerks, and is also a center of trade. Lowglan is strange, being not the richest Kerkian province, or even the most developed, but being a busy port for which trade comes in. Kel Trach is also Caslan’s largest city, and this is primarily because of the Port Pact with Orduin. Kel Trach is littered with drydocks, warehouses, and houses Caslan’s fleet. It is ruled by the prestigious Brav family, one of Caslan’s richest families. The Bravs often are considered a very neutral family, who openly do not involve themselves in the Kycer, and often are diplomatic to outside forces to better help their trade.

Olgan

• Capital - Port Uvan
• Cultures - Landarric, Soukad Okan, Human
• Ruled By - Council of Uvan

Olgan has a strange history, as Uvan use to be primarily an Okan city which was protected by the Ferdgave rivers which acts as a barrier to its core lands. Fertile and highly valued, Olgan was eventually settled by a group of feuding Kerkian clans and the port city sat as another province of Lowglan. However, Olgan eventually exploded into violence, and the Zupans were ousted. The Kycer put a small group of Baruns in charge of the region, who have remained in power since, a separate republic which is run much like a miniature Kycer within Olgan. This small republic is effectively run by peasants, and is one of the freest (and richest) regions in Caslan due to its farms and fields.

Monsters and Beasts

Necromancery and curses have a very bad habit of producing what the Kerks refer to as ‘blights’, a ceaseless array of cursed and undead creatures which arise naturally that inhabit Caslan’s countryside. Careless necromancers are often to blame for raising these abominations and not putting them down, and will occasionally cause trouble.

Monsters and Beasts

Husk
When Necromancers gather bodies, the usually dry and decaying bodies are collected into pits within the Tomb Cities and raised as Husks. Husks are abnormal zombies, as Husks are not a single undead entity, but rather several. Organs, dismembered limbs, and skeletal fragments all are jumped to life to form a full Husk. These creatures are unnaturally difficult to destroy, and can use various body parts to better kill their prey. Husks tend to ‘eat’ their prey, which is used to regain and assimilate body parts into themselves to remain whole. Husks tend to be slow moving, but unlike Lyches, are not vulnerable to fire.

Revenant
Revenants are cursed beings, who die either so angry and so betrayed that instead of dying outright, they will continue to rise up from the dead till they are appeased. Revenants are unnaturally born undead, usually the product of necromantic spells or powers. Revenants cannot die, but instead will arise regardless of circumstance or destruction to continually hunt their prey. Revenants also are partly intelligent, but are so single minded that they cannot be reasoned with. Revenants cannot be truly destroyed till either their victims is dead, or are appeased in some other manner. Normal ways to deal with Revenants is by sealing them away to a point they cannot possibly escape. Necromancers usually advise not trying to destroy Revenants, as each time they return, they tend to grow more stronger, horrifying, and resilient.

Bog Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Bog Lyches are variants of mummified remains of those who drowned in bogs, and arise from them. Bog Lyches, like most, tend to remain near graves unless summoned by necromancers or controlled by them. Bog Lyches are the weakest of the Lyches, but are also the most stalkerish, and are unknown to ambush by bursting from the ground and dragging their victims into the bog itself. Like all Lyches, they are usually very vulnerable to fire.

Drowned Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Drowned Lyches are somewhat mummified remains of those who drowned, and bloat inside watery groves until they are attracted by prey. The Drowned are most easy to spot, as they are the slowest and most deformed of the Lyches. Drowned are also the hardest to kill. Drowned Lyches are mortifyingly difficult to kill by normal means, as they rarely ever leave the water where they are at an advantage. Although immune to fire while underwater, they are surprisingly easy to set aflame, with their entire bodies bursting into flames when outside the water.

Mountain Lych
Lyches are basically mummified corpses which are brought back as undead stalkers and murderers which haunt their prey. Mountain Lyches are mummified remains of ice bound bodies which died in the icey hills and mountains, basically ice mummies who had frozen in place. Mountain Lyches are terrifying enemies, being able to casually appear from the ice and attack without warning. Although easy enough to kill, their claws can cause almost instant frostbite. Mountain Lyches are dormant normally, but unlike other Lyches can ‘move’, usually towards colder climates if their old graves become too ‘busy’ or warm.

Rot King
A weapon of the defensive necromancer, Rot Kings are unique undead abominations which are guardians of Necromancer tombs, but also a sign to not trespass on their groves and studies. Rot Kings are bodies infused with undead biting insects and flies, which swarm inside and around the body as a mass. These Rot Kings are held together by a magic cloak which raises dead insects around it to join in the Rot King’s festering. These beings act as turrets, sending out the swarm of biting insects to tear into enemies with horrifying results. Without the use of magical means or an absurd amount of fire, Rot Kings normally can just decimate bandits or adventuring raiders who disturb a Necromancer who had built it.

Rat King
Rat Kings work in a similar way to Rot Kings, except the main difference is that undead rodents and small critters are used. While not as effective, their construction and use is very different. Rat Kings are built in cities and tomb cities as guardians and as patrolling abominations to attack would be thieves. Necromancers usually do not build Rat Kings normally, but only during a time of emergency, as the undead abominations do not always differ between enemy and neutral targets. Rat Kings are often sometimes used for more nefarious purposes, deployed in rural settings to cause chaos or to attempt assassinations of a Necromancer’s enemies. Rat Kings are considerably easier to kill then Rot Kings, but are a lot more devastating in general.

Vaymar
The Vaymar are cursed vampires, cursed primarily by Mel Coldfinger, with eternal damnation. Vaymar ultimately are vampires of a sort, bound to an oozing ‘blood sludge’ which is waterborne. This cursed ooze turns its victims into the Vaymar, who become addicted to it and can only satiate themselves on cannibalism. At first, these creatures when remaining in this state are paler, having unnatural speed, and abnormal strength. However, the curse grows stronger the more they indulge, becoming more and more inhuman until a more freakish, balding, and demonic looking figure seems to emerge. Vaymar are cursed beings, eventually succumbing to their bloodlust and getting themselves killed, or feasting in secret for years. The cursed ooze eventually will blacken and die, but in its wake will raise the already deceased as undead. Vaymar also have a host of other ‘inconveniences’, such as being unable to read from books, being harmed by sunlight, being unable to look at themselves in the mirror, and so on.

Ghoul
Ghouls are, for the most part, Vaymar who have degenerated to such a degree that they lose much of their abilities. While Vaymar are intelligible and aware of their curse, Ghouls are not and are very barbaric, single minded horrors. Ghouls often are a result of a Vaymar starving for blood, and thus result of eating the dead to survive. Ghouls are always hungry and will attack a living creature instantly. Ghouls, like Vaymar, are subject to all the inconveniences and curses of the Vaymar itself, but in some instances get additional curses stacked upon them. Vaymar cannot regain consciousness, and any blood they eat also harms them as well. Ghouls can drink a great deal of blood which they crave, but instantly weaken and become pained as they drink, which is when they are most vulnerable. Ghouls also lose all strength and speed associated with Vaymar, and thus become a sort of ‘living zombie’ of sorts.

Warg Cursed
Like many cursed beings, being Warg Cursed is perhaps the ‘least unfortunate’ curse to be damned with. Warg Cursed during the day or forced to turn into massive wolves who prowl as any normal animal, but during the night turn into normal humanoid beings. This curse has some odd specifics, as the warg beast is automatically made into a loyal servant of the one who cursed them, with the cursed being unable to resist the words of their curser. The cursed being also constantly hungers for the flesh of their own family as a cursed being, and is damned to witness the mental images of the Warg’s kills. The Warg itself partly demonic in nature, having a hyper intelligence different from the one it is bound to. These curses are sometimes put onto the tombs of important Kerks to gravely inture grave robbers who find themselves made into unwilling slaves of the descendents they tried to rob.

Leech Cursed
Leech Cursed are essentially undead being who slowly are killed and turned into terrifying abominations over time. Leech Cursed begin as common humanoids who become suddenly attractive to a common type of leech in Caslan, who hook onto their bodies, die, and then become undead. These undead leeches then suck the blood and hunt the cursed being relentlessly, eventually consuming them by sucking down their blood. Effectively becoming a being similar to that of a Rot King, the Leech Cursed are eternally pained by their existence as zombified walking leeches. Leech Cursed, once fully digested by the leeches, usually are dominated by necromancers who use them as guardians of the tomb cities, specifically the tomb cities located in marshy lands.

Ent Cursed
The Ent Cursed are cursed to eventually become walking undead trees, a strange and mortifying concept which is brought to life by Gyloist necromancers. The cursed beings are ritualistically murdered and their bodies mulched into a tree, which kills the tree and springs it back to life. This cursed being is tortured eternally within it, but it is capable of moving and is infused with all manner of dark powers and auras. Ent Cursed are basically moving trees, which conjure undead birds to swarm its prey, can ooze acidic sap when it is damaged, and conjure ropes to hang nearby enemies and convert them into zombies. Ent Cursed are usually directed against traitors, and are unleashed against the traitor clan by the Necromancers, which then pollute the area with necromantic power.

Resurger
Resurgers are undead beings very similar to revenants, half burned corpses which are ‘blessed’ rather than cursed. When a Kerkian family is decimated by a raid, a sympathetic necormancer will sometimes use a ritual by burning the undead to raise up a ‘Resurger’, a being made from the ashen flesh and bones of the burned dead. Resurgers take up flaming weapons and always are covered in light flame. These undead beings are then blessed with all manner of powers, the most potent of which is their aura of withering, which unnaturally ages those around it. Resurgers are terrifyingly powerful, capable of wiping out entire Kerkian clans as a single entity. Resurgers only go away once their vengeance is complete, and can be reborn from the same ash pile they spawn from. Resurgers, unlike Revenants, can be destroyed by disrupting the ash pile they spawn from, or by convincing a member of the Kerkian family which helped build the Resurger to sacrifice themselves in the pile.

Haunt
Of the most powerful undead of the isle, Haunts are most doom bringing. Haunts are wraiths of sorts, effectively ghosts bound to armor but are granted all manner of twisted gear and enchantments which make them juggernauts against their enemies. Haunts are built normally by Necromancers, and the soul which inhabits them is a necromancer themselves, capable of conjuring undead beings to its aid. Haunts are very single minded and their power comes from their enchantments. Haunts usually have swords bathed in dark magic, which rot the metal and flesh of those it touches, they have unholy auras which unnaturally age those around them and turn weaker willed beings into ghoulish undead slaves. Haunts also tend to be given cursed armor which can reflect damage done to them onto their enemies. When Haunts are killed, they are not fully destroyed, but instead linger and try to latch onto their enemies far into the future to return to the place of their defeat and become new Haunts. Their images drive those they fight to madness.

Raptor
Raptors are not undead, but are still dangerous beasts. Raptors are large 6 feet tall reptilian creatures which travelled with the Kerks when they invaded Caslan. They are upright animals, who hunt in packs of usually 12 to take down larger pray like stags and bears, and are a menace across Caslan. Raptors are abnormally intelligent, and their packs tend to keep to the inner parts of the isle itself. Raptors are dangerous carnivores, but while they may hunt Okan, Humans, and Elves, they refuse to hunt Kerks and Beurians. Beurians can easily kill a pack member or two with their own strength, but Kerks are oddly avoided by the creatures.

Factions

Factions

Coladdic Loyalists
In the Kycer’s politics, there are many political factions, but the biggest one is the conservative faction led entirely by the Coladdic clan and its aligned clans. The Coladdic loyalists are stubborn members of the Kycer, deeply rooted in tradition and religion, and view outsider influence on the Kycer with immediate hostility. Although its safe to say Mel Coldfinger is a member of this faction, his influence and interest in it is debatable. The Coladdic loyalists are more interested in keeping all Kerkian affairs under their own control and using the Kycer to better control Kerkian society. The main political avenue of the clan is encouraging faithfulness, defending the status quo, and brutally suppressing attempts by the Zupans from ruining the Kycer’s politics.

Geuder Loyalists
Opposed to the Coladdic are the Geuders, an ancient feuding family which has been both ally and enemy of the Coladdic. The Geuders may be a part of a clan opposed to the extreme conservatism of the Coladdic, but they are best thought of as the clan whose policies are more aligned solely to the ambitions of the Geuders themselves. Geuder Loyalists take on the causes of the Geuders which can change depending on the situation, their ultimate goals are to expand the influence of the Geuders and usurp control of society from the Coladdics. The Geuders take on various political causes, and have a strange melding of coalitions amongst slaves, foreign interests, merchants, and the nobility. This balancing act of the Geuders is also difficult to maintain.

Scribes of Gangave
The Scribes are a respectable group of history makers and authors who live in a college in Gangave, which set up a guild of national libraries in most Kerkian cities. The scribes take on all manner of Caslan society to serve as historians, account writers, and philosophers to better look into the world. The scribe’s greatest patron is Mel Coldfinger, who enriches the guild and often takes on their highest members as apprentices. The scribes have a very relaxed reputation as legitimate and honest historians, who will go to absurd lengths to understand every facet of history. Scribes are honest Historians however, and their works tend to be popular more amongst the Kerks then foreign courts. The scribes are also very politically neutral, and will also go to equally absurd lengths to distance themselves from the Kycer.

The Unbroken
One of the oldest organizations in Caslan is the Unbroken, a group of Okan bandits and thieves who used to resist the Beurian occupation of their cities, but became a common gang of thugs when the Kerks took over. The Unbroken are mostly a thieves guild, whose ranks are made up primarily of runaway slaves, bandits, and criminals who inhabit the underground of Kerkian society. Although most of their higher members are Okan, many poorer Kerks tend to join their ranks for quick money. The Unbroken tend to have a very negative view of the Kerks, and have little to no respect for the Kycer. Free willed, their greater goal is to free the slaves of Caslan, which makes them increasingly an ally of the Geuders and an arch enemy of the Coladdic. The Unbroken had some role in the Slave Revolt, but were uprooted by Mel Coldfinger.

The Blackhand
The Blackhand are a guild of assassins and spies who provide their services to Kerkian society for coin and tolerance, a strange group which operates underground and far away from the prying eyes of the Kycer itself. The Blackhand earns much of their income from things the Kerks consider distasteful, such as assassination. Blackhand members are brought on from only specific backgrounds, with the Blackhand believing only those born of parents with unique traits for their guild can join them. This tends to make the Blackhand very diverse in race as much as skill. Okan, Elven, and Human members are common in the Blackhand, who work alongside the sons of hunters, serial killers, and even the occasional lich. The Blackhand is deeply tied to politics, but is not a part of any faction, providing the Kycer with experienced members to help defend them against attempted assassinations and spycraft.

Characters

Characters

Archlich Mel Coldfinger

• Age - Unknown
• Titles - The Great Reformer, Cursed and Curser, Winter’s Song, Eternal Patriarch, Death Dealer, Murderer, Friend and Enemy of the Okan, Subjugator and Ally of the Beurian, Bringer of Books, Scroll Maker, Historian

Mel Coldfinger is a long standing member of Kerkian society, and the head of not only the priesthood, but also effectively the tyrant over all of Kerkian society. Mel Coldfinger is physically an undead being, mummified and clothed in an obnoxiously flowing black and purple robe, all but his hands and eyes covered in cloth, and wearing a tall cur cap. Known even for his height, he is a terrifying and studious figure, deeply entrenched in his beliefs and personal motivations. Mel is ultimately a highly pragmatic and intelligent figure, going to great lengths to not only preserve knowledge, but to also collect it. In legend, he learned how to become a lich from the god Melakos, and shared this knowledge only to those he found worthy of it. Mel is weirdly enough known for his kindness, but also his retribution. As a lich, Mel had split his soul into the very ground of Caslan, into one of his oldest tomes, and into the very bloodline of his family. This kind of lichcraft, according to Mel, was painful, difficult, and expensive.

Associates

• Naya Coladdic (Female Kerk) - Naya is Mel Coldfinger’s direct descendent and a living apprentice under him, and a member of a minor clergy. Talented, Naya is honored to serve under her ancestor, as Mel prepares her to become another important member of the Kycer. In truth however, Mel enjoys aiding his most direct descendants from his now deceased wife, who he cherishes in his immortality.
• Cragov Bystan (Male Kerk) - Cragov is the leader of the Scribes, and its head master over them. Although an older necromancer, Cragov and Mel are good friends and consider each other equals in the histories of Caslan.
• Granchkov (Male Kerk) - Granchkov is a Death Knight in the service of Mel, and is one of his favored bodyguards. He is adorned with countless cursed artefacts, his most infamous being the Sword of Exodus, whose strike against mortal flesh can rend against the spirit of its target.
• Twine (Male Undead Okan) - Twine is a nameless Okan king who had at one point insulted Mel, who cursed him into becoming his servant. Twine is an eternally reforming undead creature who is fully conscious of his existence, and teleports into Tomb Cities to warn delving grave robbers and intruders to turn back. He is also used to summon those of Mel’s interest to him.
• Gra’vyen (Male Undead Elf) - Gra’vyen is an elven lich who had been his apprentice, and showed such skill and majeststy in his crafts as a necromancer that Mel granted him the knowledge of Lichcraft. Gra’vyen has been Mel’s librarian and keeper of his vast book collection, and a powerful being who often despises the politics of the Kycer.

Zupan Dylon Geuder

• Age - 45
• Titles - Zupan of Astar, The Grim, Minor Priest, Head of the Zupan Assembly

Dylon Geuder is the current patriarch of the Geuder clan, and is a rising star politically in the Kycer. Having joined the Kycer as a reformer, he was also the head of the assembly of Zupans. Dylon is an ambitious man and a near legendary commander, having put down smaller revolts and dealt with bandits harshly, but he believes he has yet to prove himself. Dylon’s grand ambitions however hide his true motives, and that of his family. Dylon has a hateful feud with Shov Coladdic, whom he despises for his staunch and stubborn beliefs.

Associates

• Mara Geuder (Female Kerk) - Dylon’s wife and co-ruler in the family. While Dylon is in the Kycer, Mara is back in Astar ruling in his stead. Mara is a very strict woman, much like many Kerkian matriarchs, and is often ruling both her family and the region with an iron fist.
• Polchov Geuder (Male Kerk) - Dylon’s son and heir from his second brood, Polchov had proven himself when he help end a feud between several small clans on his lonesome, and oversaw the construction of a new temple. Polchov is currently in the studies to become a priest, which in turn will make him able to join the Kycer. Much like his father, Polchov is ambitious, but is less battle hungry like Dylon, and a very good friend of Zupan Hazel.
• Daygov Geuder (Male Beurian) - Daygov was found as a young wandering pup who happened upon the Geuder farmstead and was found sleeping in a shed, likely abandoned by his clan. Dylon decided to adopt the Beurian into his family, who soon became a fanatical member of the clan, being a close friend and bodyguard to Dylon.
• Uchov Geuder (Male Kerk) - Brother of Dylon Geuder, a studious necromancer and priest of the family who has considerable influence amongst them. Uchov is very centrist, much to the annoyance of Dylon, who still loves him as a brother.
• Tanya Geuder (Female Kerk) - Sister of Dylon and a captain in his family, who leads the militia into battle. Beloved by Dylon, Tanya is influential over her brother’s attitude and policies.

Zupan Shov Coladdic

• Age - 61
• Titles - Zupan of Hilgas, Head of Council

Shov Coladdic is the elder patriarch of the Coladdic clan, and the Head of Council over all of the Kycer. Shov is an old and staunch archconservative, who grew up mastering the faith even though he is not a necromancer himself. What Shov lacks in magic he makes up for in stubbornness and political mastery over the rituals of the Kycer. Shov is best described to have a very ugly set of features, and generally has a long history of denying the Geuders further political power in the Kycer. Although a Coladdic, he has a nasty and toxic relationship with most of his family, and is avoided even by Mel Coldfinger himself. Due to Shov’s age and mastery in the Kycer, most of the Coladdic faction looks up to him to lead them against the ambitions of Dylon Geuder, whom he has a vicious rivalry with.

Associates

• Taspov Beusdov (Male Kerk) - Taspov is currently the other Head of Council in Caslan who joined Shov as co-ruler on a joint ticket. Although Taspov is a skilled politician in his own right, he is considerably meek in comparison to Shov’s shadow and acts more as his lackey, a political trouble which he fears will be his legacy. Unlike Shov, he is a necromancer, but not a very good one, a surprise and disappointment to many members of the Kycer.
• Yila Coladdic (Female Kerk) - Shov’s wife and matriarch of the Coladdic clan, who also happens to be a ceremonial priest in the Kycer. Although Shov is not a mage, Yila is, and is a very good one at that. Yila, like many Kerkian matriarchs, are very brutal and cold women, something which Shov comes to love.
• Darsov Coladdic (Male Kerk) - Darsov is Shov’s son and heir from his first brood, who shares many of his father’s beliefs and convictions, but is more hot headed and spiteful towards the Geuders. Unlike other heirs, Darsov was solely trained in the Kycer’s politics in the hopes he will become the next Head of Council after Shov passes.
• Drasken (Male Beurian) - Drasken is a Beurian bodyguard and slave of Shov who follows the Head of Council wherever he goes, having been bought and trained for the sole purpose for his own protection.
• ‘Big Toe’ (Male Lun’Kerk) - Grandmaster of the Blackhand, a Lun’Kerk assassin and son of a spy. ‘Big Toe’, as he is named, does not in fact have big toes, but has abnormally smaller ones. Although skilled, he and Shov are in a deep political alliance in the hopes of bringing the Blackhand as a formal institution into Caslan society, in return for some dirty dealings.

Zupan Pelkov Elkwood

• Age - 55
• Titles - Zupan of Telgan, Minor Priest

Pelkov Elkwood is an important figure in the Geuderian faction in Caslan, and is generally considered a very divisive figure. Although he sides with the Geuderians, he is politically conservative, and also one of the faction’s richest members. Pelkov however is often described as a greedy creature, who is more interested in usurpation for his own family then actually improving his own realm, much to the dismay of his allies. Pelkov is also considered extensively cruel towards non-Kerks, and is arch enemies with the rising Hazel clan.

Associates

• Trema Elkwood (Female Kerk) - Pelkov’s wife and true power in the Elkwood clan, a cruel and brutal woman who has raised all three broods of Pelkov’s children with considerable efficiency. Trema has no love towards her husband and bickers often with him, and often rules Telgan with an iron fist while he is away in the Kycer.
• Galya Elkwood (Female Kerk) - Pelkov’s daughter and heir from his first brood, a well trained priest and upcoming matriarch with her own family. Although equal to her father in authority, Gayla does share his personality and motivations, and is more content with remaining more neutral.
• Lokov Elkwood (Male Kerk) - Pelkov’s brother and a necromancer, a priest of Telgan and a Ceremonial Priest in the Kycer. Lokov is one of Pelkov’s only true friends and companions, and both have a brotherly fondness towards one another.
• Quilkov Elkwood (Male Kerk) - Pelkov’s brother, although neither share much love towards one another. Dedicated to his family, Quilkov leads his own elite band of Ghilmen, and is highly protective of the Elkwood clan and its interests.
• Anyan (Male Okan) - An Okan slave of Pelkov and his personal servant. Although abused and meek, Anyan secretly works as a spy for the Unbroken, and in turn, the Hazels.

Zupan Duman Hazel

• Age - 24
• Titles - Zupan of Pemolas, Friend of the Okan

Dunman was not the first choice for Patriarch by his clan, but his upbringing and deeds became known after he and several members of his clan counter-invaded their own tomb city to free it from the grasp of wandering bandits, and then led impressive raids against the Elkwoods. When both the zupan and his heir died in a suspicious ambush, the clan chose Duman to lead them, and has since made strides that has impressed his allies and angered his enemies. Dunman made trade deals with Lavar Brav, reasserted the clan’s loyalty to the Geuders, and reformed their clan’s militia into a more professional militia. Duman is known for his strong sympathies towards the Okan, whom the Okan clans consider him friend.

Associates

• Ula Hazel (Female Kerk) - Ula is Duman’s wife, who is abnormal for the Kerks for being both very calm and kind hearted towards her family, even though she is by all means a matriarch of the clan. Ula continues to struggle keeping the clan in line alongside her husband, but is truly loving of Duman.
• Jaskov Hazel (Male Kerk) - Duman’s brother from the 2nd brood and his chosen heir. Jaskov had been both a great aid to Duman during their travels, but also is mostly equal in skills. Jaskov however is very hot headed, and deeply invested in the feud between the Hazels and the Elkwoods.
• Benton (Male Okan) - Leader of the Unbroken, a thief and petty thug who bribed and blackmailed his way into a position as criminal overlord of Caslan. Benton is normally spiteful of Kerks, but aligns himself with Duman out of mutual interests. Benton hates the Elkwoods in particular, as he had grown up a slave under their iron fisted rule.
• Kas Hazel (Female Okan) - Kas is a supposedly minor adoption of the clan, when Duman’s father had adopted her due to her creativity and intelligence. Kas joined Duman in his adventures, but also became influential for getting him to side more for her people due to their friendship. Her main interests have been construction and building.
• Lurchov Hazel, The Sunken (Male Undead Kerk) - Lurchov is a hermit lich who lives in the Hazel’s tomb city and struck up a friendship with Duman, and was convinced to act as the Hazel's main priest. Although still a fervent isolationist, Lurchov aids the young patriarch in his quests.

Zupan Lavar Brav

• Age - 58
• Titles - Zupan of Lowglan, Minor Priest

Lavar Brav is a very political member of the Kycer, despite the objections of his family, with his main political philosophy being the stability and safety of the republic itself. Lavar is a priest, but is very secular at heart and is more interested in mediation and pragmatic statesmanship. He is popular amongst the lower members of the house, but is unpopular for his rising stardom by Dylon and Shov. Lavar has a friendly relationship with the Hazels, an upstart family of the Geuder’s political faction, and a mentor to many new members within the Kycer. Lavar is often described as a legendary orator and writer, his seething speeches and professionalism has been the bane of many of his rivals within the Kycer.

Associates

• Lena Brav (Female Kerk) - Lavar’s wife and matriarch of the Brav clan, but unlike many kerkian Matriarches, she is far more collected, calm, and concerned for the well being of her clan. That concern often means Lavar is pushy towards her clan to better themselves and aid in the clan’s success, regardless of their own personal troubles.
• Torpov Brav (Male Kerk) - Torpov is Lavar’s son and heir from his first brood, a well learned and mercantile Kerk who travels often as a merchant. Lavar is particularly proud of Torpov for his engagement in politics and his starting job as a Ghilman captain.
• Cilov Brav (Male Kerk) - Lavar’s brother and his spiteful rival in the family, a merchant by trade and a envoy of the Kycer. Cilov despises Lavar’s political scheming and rejection of neutrality. Cilov works with other members of the family to usurp the position of Patriarch from Lavar.
• Tesner Uman (Male Human) - Tesner is one of Lavar’s friends and a merchant of Caslan, who primarily sells paper. Tesner and Lavar share many political convictions and beliefs, but also a unique taste for writing and speech. However, Tesner is not a Kerk and does not stand to get into the Kycer, but Lavar views him as equal to or better then his peers.
• Lila (Female Okan) - Lavar’s personal servant and slave, although is more treated as family. Lavar views Lila fondly for being curious and well educated, having once been a scribe before her poor parents sold her to pay off debts.

Ishtar, Lands of Strife

Kycer of Caslan

“Garza Vak Sher” “Glory to the Gods"

=-=General Information=-=

• A theocratic republic based on the island of Caslan
• Is ruled by the Kerks, a barbarian people who settled and conquered the island
• Has a large native beastfolk population, with a significant human and elven minority
• Is a home of a necromantic faith and its practitioners, called Gyloism
• Is a fairly isolated state, although it had larger ambitions to become a power on the eastern coasts
• Is ruled by a powerful and immortal lich scholar and his clan
• They speak and write in Kerkian and Caslandic
• A person from Caslan is called a Caslanian
• Population - 2.4 Million
• Manpower - 120,000
• Wealth - Moderate
• Espionage - Moderate

Races

Races

Kerkians
Kerkians are a race of humanoids which highly resemble humans in many ways, being around the same height, lifespan, and shape of human beings but with some small physical differences. Kerks tend to be entirely light-olive skinned, Kerks have sunken in eyes and large noses. Kerks differ in major ways from humans in other ways, their most known features being the fact they breed in litters of children at a time, and are fiercely aggressive. Kerks are known to be unbreakable in their pursuits and violent swings of rage, often lacking in self preservation. Instead, most kerks act for the good of a group or family, and will give their own lives to save friends and family, making them by nature deeply loyal as much as vengeful. Kerks also are partly immune to disease, in which they will regurgitate diseases from their bodies by vomiting, as their bodies aggressively expunge any foreign element from their bodies. This also applies to medicine, making Kerks capable of both surviving diseases that would kill any normal person but also being near impossible to heal from diseases which affect them.

There are 3 major Kerkian cultures on Caslan; The Coladdic, Geuderian, and Landarric. Coladdic Kerks come from the original tribe of kerks who convinced their people to cross the sea to Caslan, a deeply religious and conservative clan which looks down on the others kerks as inferior. The Geuderians are a rival clan to the Coladdic which settles the north side of the isle, a clan known for its political and warrior traditions and have a deep feud with the Coladdic. The Landarric are Kerks which settled the southern isle, primarily a culture which infused itself with trade and separated itself from the feuding clans, and often intermingled with other cultures.

Okan
Okan are a Beastfolk who are native to Caslan, a mustelid race which resemble river otters. Standing around 5-6 ft tall on average, they have large tails which helps them balance when swimming, and their fur colors usually range between light grey to dark brown. Okan are natural born swimmers, although they must be taught to do so and can ‘glide’ in the water itself. Okan fur is very dense, allowing them to swim the cold waters of their homeland with little difficulty. Okan are by their nature very social and familial creatures who aggressively defend their families and homes, but are also outwardly friendly and curious.

• Ulkad - Oldest known Okan culture which primarily lives in the north-west of Caslan, the Ulkad are deeply conservative and spiritual people who view themselves as the original Okan culture, and look down on other Okan for not keeping to their old ways.
• Norad - A north-east Okan culture which lives entirely on the coast and sea. The Norad are semi-nomadic hunters, known for their autonomy and very loose clans. Norad are deeply conservative, but in their own way, and are deeply distrustful of outsiders.
• Midad - A central culture of Okan who fled into the highlands and southern mountain rivers. The Midad are fiercely independent, and are also very isolationist and generally do not like other Okan intruding on their customs and territory. While their attitudes generally come off as xenophobic, most prefer to be left alone.
• Soukad - Southern most Okan whose culture is based primarily on their naval craft and trading with other Okan, which evolved into a general mercantile culture. Soukad revolves around sailing and trade.
• Tannad - A western Okan culture closely related to both the Soukad and Ulkad. Tannad are coastal people, who are deeply religious but also infused with their craftsmanship and trade, being considered industrious.

Beurians
Beurians are a large ursine Beastfolk race native to Caslan, who resemble a mix between bears and wolverines. With short tails, normally hunched backs, large arms and short legs, Beurians are a slow but very strong people. Beurians stand around 7-8 feet tall on average, their size often matches their absurd strength, easily being able to rip limbs from their enemies. Beurians are normally nomadic by nature, and are fiercely solitary and territorial. Beurians tend to have a wide range of fur colors of brown, black, white, and gray.

Beurians would often claim their different clans represent their differing cultures, although this is not true. Most Beurian clans have the same customs, their feuds and traditions are entirely clan based rather than cultural. The biggest divide in culture is between the clans which continue their nomadic lifestyle and those who ended up being forced into being settled as slave laborers of the Kerks, who adopted the Kerkian lifestyles.

Minorities

• Havaki (Elven) - The Havaki are an high elven culture which fled to Caslan and settled and attempted to invade through the north. Although they failed, the Havaki were ultimately allowed to settle and become a powerful minority in northern Caslan and are deeply rooted in Kerkian culture, although most have kept some parts of their old customs.
• Umperai (Human) - A southern human culture which descends from the Orduin empire, a once mainland human culture which moved into Southern Caslan as refugees and adopted their own culture and customs. While very separate from the Kerks, they are a small and influential minority whose customs, beliefs, and expertise have mixed into southern Caslan over its many years
• Lun’Kerk - Lun’Kerks are half-breeds between humans and elves with the kerks themselves. Lun’Kerks tend to share most of the traits of humans and elves, with some small but key differences. Lun’kerks generally share partial physical features such as partly sunken in eyes, have violent mood swings, and generally have some strong resistance to diseases. Lun’kerk lineage is considerably strange, as eventually Lun’kerks will eventually phase out the more they marry into non-kerk bloodlines, but do not become more Kerkian the more they marry into Kerkian families. While tolerated by non-Kerks, Kerkian view Lun’Kerks as abominations and deeply distrust them.

History

History

The Lost Era (0-777)
Not much is known of the Beastfolk, let alone of the histories which proceed the first united kingdoms and tribes of Caslan. What is known is that the first kingdoms of Caslan were normally peaceful Okan kingdoms in coastal mottes and baileys, living in small earthwork settlements, with the Beurians living the middle hills and inland forests and semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers. The Okan, presumably more civilized, built the first lasting kingdoms, and discovered or traded along weak trade routes. The island was undeveloped and had its own religion, institutions, and generally was regarded with disinterest due to having supposedly few if any resources worth developing.

Beurian Kingdom (778-910)
In 778, a powerful Beurian warchief named Gasglof the Black had united the Beurian tribes into a singular entity through marriage, displays of strength, and blackmail. Gasglof, who had been envious of the Okan coastal settlements, their metal working, and their wealth decided to invade. In the 30 year long war, Gasglof achieved many victories and subjected the Okan kingdoms into a singular tribal kingdom under his rule. Rather than simply taking over the settlements, Gasglof and his descendents had their people learn metalworking for themselves and acted as a guard force in which the Okan kingdoms paid tribute to. The system eventually began to fall apart due to a lack of threats to the isle, resulting in severe corruption and discontentment, and that Gasglof ultimately failed to build his own capital settlement and have his people settle down.

Okan Sessessions (911-988)
Starting in 911, the Okan city of Astar revolted in a general rebellion against the Beurian kingdom. Although greatly outmatched and outnumbered, the Astaran Okan were able to bog down their enemies in ambushes, using a mixture of magic of hydromancery to their great advantage. The Okan king and legendary lord Ostof the Bog King of Astar defeated the Beurian forces and earned his kingdom’s independence. Okan city states across Caslan soon followed suit, with the last kingdom falling from Beurian control in 978. Although the war was a success to the Okan, the personal feud between Okan and Beurians during the war grew significantly and would come to haunt them in the next crises which soon followed.

The Kerkian Exodus (989-1023)
In 989, the Kerks came across the sea and began landing in Caslan under King Diov Geuder. Where the Kerks came from is unknown, but they landed on the eastern shores and came in droves, likely as refugees. The Kerks began settling the east, and came into contact with the Okan who tried to drive them from their lands. The Kerks fought back with brutality, enslaving the survivors, and took over the kingdom with superior weaponry, magic, and tactical skill. The Kerks were soon joined by their ancient priesthood, in which Diov Geuder bowed on the docks of his new conquered fiefdom to the lich Mel Coldfinger, who had brought the Coldfinger priesthood with him. The Coldfinger clan and its priesthood took the reigns of Diov’s warlord state and settled the eastern lands, with Mel establishing a temporary state for which he was sole ruler, much to Diov’s annoyance. Mel spent much of the years fighting back counter invasions and helping to settle the Kerks who were arriving on shores, the last ships not arriving till 1023.

Caslan Delenda Est (1024-1066)
Mel and Diov were both ambitious and skilled warlords in their own right, but they were faced with a huge and dangerous coalition of Okan states who wished to see them gone. Mel Coldfinger went to the Beurian tribes, using his magic to charm their leaders into serving the Kerks and used his legendary charisma to reignite the tribes’ hatred of the Okan. The Kerks then launched a campaign whose sole purpose was to utterly destroy the Okan kingdoms, giving them only the choice of surrender or utter destruction. While at first ignoring such threats, the combined Kerkian forces, Mel’s magic, and Beurian allies soon began to gobble up Okan cities one by one. True to their word, the Kerks butchered these cities, only sparing a fraction of survivors as slaves to serve as examples. The Okan were eventually defeated during the Battle of Faltzak, where the entire coalition army was ambushed by Diov and some Beurian tribes and were decimated. Mel’s cruelty was legendary, having the survivors charmed in front of a horrified coalition stronghold and had them walk off cliffs until the city surrendered. The last Okan city would not surrender till 1066.

Founding of the Kycer (1067)
The war for Caslan was brutal and costly, but the Kerkian victory came with both boons and problems alike. While Diov expected to be made a king of the Kerks for his efforts, he was instead shocked and horrified when Mel Coldfinger and his priest re-established the ancient Kerkian theocratic republic known as the Kycer. Diov threatened civil war, but was approached by the priesthood with an offer to give him a powerful role in the new Kycer as a founder of its new institutions. Diov and Mel gathered the priesthood in Astar, where they laid the foundations of this new Kerkian society, the rules of their senate, the rituals of their religion, and the fate of the Beastfolk thralls beneath them. The first elections were held that year, which surprised their new subjects when both free and slave were allowed to vote in the new priesthood. The Kycer’s founding celebrations lasted for over a month, with the Kerks settling down in their new home.

The Cold Age (1068-1109)
The years after and Kycer’s founding and before the coming of the elves was known as the Cold Age, which was marked by years of unrest in Caslan as well as the shaky foundations of the Kycer. The Kerks spent much of the age putting down Okan rebellions and taming the Beurians, forcing them into their society with increasing cruelty and ruthlessness. Mel and his cadre of priests stayed on the island in these years, primarily converting the natives to their faith and overseeing the construction of the first Tomb Cities. This misery of the Beastfolk ended rather suddenly and prematurely, as the Kerks began to slowly return to their spiteful feuds towards one another rather then spend their time putting the Beastfolk down, with many of the Beastfolk often taking different sides for their own survival and to return to their old social positions in some capacity. By 1109, the Kerks were permanently settled in, and spread across the entire isle.

The Elven Raids (1110-1134)
Starting in 1110, a group of elven raiders from Navarros had discovered the isle during the midst of the Pinnacle War, under the direction of an elven chieftain named Gazhain. Gazhain and his raiders had come to loot the island for the war effort, and to bring back slaves to enrich himself and his family. However, what he found on the isle surprised him, as the Kerks soon found themselves fighting the elves, and miserably failing against them. While unable to enslave the Kerks, Gazhain and his raiders were finding stashes of arcane knowledge, tomes of magic, and a lot more loot then the sea raider expected to find. The elves returned seasonally from there on, brutally raiding the island and its western settlements which only intensified in 1130 when the elves soon began threatening larger settlements and walled towns.

The Elven Invasion (1135-1172)
Gazhain and his son Dezhain had become influential enough to earn a major mission from their overlords, who wished to send them out to conquer the neutral territory of Caslan during the midst of the war to establish a naval outpost and port. Gazhain gathered a large number of mercenaries, sea raiders, and his entire tribe to this mission and set off for the campaign. When the elves arrived, they expected an easy fight against the scattered Kerkian forces, and were soon laying siege to most western settlements on Caslan’s coast. However, the sieges stalled due to the Kerks refusal of surrender, which gave time for Mel Coldfinger and the other Zupans to gather a large enough force to fight Gazhain and his armies. The long and drawn out conflict often resulted in Gazhain’s own tactical skills, as well as him avoiding the lich as much as he could, causing untold destruction to the isle with elven and kerk magic. The war would not reach its conclusion until 1173.

Battle of Light and Shadow (1173)
During the siege of Kel Dargath, the elves were able to capture the settlement but were held down by a Kerkian army. Gazhain was trapped in the settlement, but his son Dezhain was out in the field and was returning to relieve the siege. However, on the way the elven warrior spotted Mel Coldfinger’s smaller army, and it was decided to end the conflict in a risky ambush to slay the lich. Dezhain and his elite force ambushed the lich and his guards on the coast, and was quickly slaughtering Mel’s guards. Mel used his magic to freeze a part of the coastal waters and retreated onto the ice itself, in which Dezhain and his soldiers followed. Dezhain and Mel duelled on the ice for hours, but the Lich coaxed his powerful adversary further onto the ice sheet. Confident of victory, Dezhain surrounded Mel and the remaining Kerks, desperately trying to slay the lich whom they were winning against. Mel then raised the dead of the slain kerks on the beaches where he was ambushed, raising an entire division which surrounded the elves on both sides. Dezhain and the remaining elven soldiers were surrounded and killed, with Mel delivering the final flow against Dezhain. Mel and his armies then marched to Kel Dargath and defeated Gazhain, and finally putting an end to the elven invasion.

The Great Rebuilding (1174-1233)
The defeat of the elves was shocking, with the elves having had brought along many peoples under the expectation of victory against the Kerks, but instead were now their prisoners. Mel showed mercy and compassion to these elves, allowing them to stay on Caslan if they converted to his faith and integrated into the Kycer. Most elves agreed, with those who didn’t being allowed to return home. The elves had brought with them much expertise which the Kerks had generally been missing, with elven architects helping to rebuild the destroyed town and cities, refurbishing old tribal holdings, and establishing new schools of magic much to the scholar lich’s delight. The war had also taught the kerks a valuable lesson in warfare, with Gazhain’s former captains being key reformers in the restructure of the kerkian army. The Kycer would continue to rebuild and reform until the later year of 1233, where Caslan was not only rebuilt, but progressed into a stronger nation.

Travels of the Red Merchant (1234-1246)
Caslan retained its neutrality for many more years, mostly trading at first with Navarros, but it increasingly became a popular port for Orduin. An Orduin merchant by name of Kance Olstar traveled to the isle, not only to trade but to record and report. Kance and his close companions traveled across Caslan, their interviews with the Kerkian priesthood, necromancers, zupans, and the native beastfolk built an insightful journal. Kance had even been able to interview the lich Mel Coldfinger, and was present during a session of the Caslan senate where Mel declared to the assembly where he planned during the times of peace on Caslan to go out and collect books of knowledge. Kance would return to Orduin in 1244, where his presented works brought attention to Caslan.

Port Pact of Caslan (1247-1253)
Before Mel set off on his own journeys, a leader of Orduin came to Caslan with an offer to the Kycer in a meeting in Astar. During the Orduin civil war, Orduin approached the Kerks with a port treaty, wishing to build a naval base and dockyard in Caslan in return for large payments and profitable trading pacts. Mel agreed to the pact, and so did the priesthood. The port treaty brought a great deal of trade and immigration to the isle, primarily humans who settled the port and parts of the southern settlements. This intermingling was seen with increasing suspicion by the Kycer, but the development of kerkian politics resulted in many troubles to be ignored. This corruption would not become known until 1254, as Kerkian politics soon got distracted with personal clan feuds and small political disruptions.

Caslan-Orduin Pact (1254-1677)
In 1254, the Kycer was approached again by Orduin with a more powerful offer and expansion of the port pact. Having seen potential growth in Caslan, Orduin envoys wished to establish trading posts, expand and improve Caslan road networks, and establish cultural enclaves. The Kycer’s priesthood was immediately suspicious, but a substantial bribe from the envoys secured enough votes within the assembly to create the Caslan-Orduin pact. The pact effectively made Caslan a vassal in all but name, with Caslandic citizens now paying taxes into the empire to build roads and improve on the southern settlements to give larger room for imperial settlement. The Kycer originally forbid Orduin military presence on the isle, but increasingly tolerated a loophole of classifying imperial garrisons as mercenaries. Angry at the Kycer for the pact, the Geuder clan and their allied clans aggressively began to form political resistance to the pact, although this resistance increasingly became another excuse to get back at their ancient rivals.

Caslan Civil War (1678-1702)
Although peaceful for hundreds of years, the troubles of the Caslan-Orduin pact exploded when Geuder representatives in the Kycer accused the priesthood of openly taking bribes from Orduin envoys to further give away the autonomy of Caslan. Angry at the accusation, the Coladdic clan’s patriarch Margov Coladdic launched a surprise attack and raid on the assembly, rounding up Geuder representatives, and executing them. Margov’s use of imperial mercenaries during this attack only fueled rumors of conspiracy, and the Geuder patriarch Jasnick Geuder gathered his clan for war against the Kycer. The Geuders used odd tactics, not relying on magic or the undead as the Coladdic armies did, and began using advanced tactics and brutal strikes against the Coladdic armies with increasing ruthlessness. Margov Coladdic died along with a majority of his warriors during the Battle of Hynt’s Shore, a coastal battle in which Jasnick used Okan Ghilmen on ships to flank around Margov’s line and land a contingent to surround and batter the Coladdic forces. The defeat left the Kycer vulnerable.

Occupation and Annexation (1703-2108)
In 1703, desperate to not be destroyed by the Geuders, the Kycer used a spell to call back Mel Coldfinger from his trip. Teleporting to Caslan, the lich attempted to reason with the Geuders, but failed due to their personal blood feud. Mel, knowing he had no forces to spare, gathered the Kycer and fled to the empire’s stronghold in southern Caslan, and asked the empire to intervene in the matter. The empire agreed, and launched a campaign against the Geuders and their allies for control of the Isle. Jasnick Geuder died fighting alongside his sons at the Battle of Kel Loch, and Orduin took control of the isle. The Kycer were allowed to return to governance, but were put under a governorship and were forced to approve their legislation before Orduin representatives. Mel stayed for several years to make sure Caslan did not fall apart before leaving once again, but not before reprimanding his own clan by having the assembly dismissed and calling for immediate new elections. The empire’s tedious occupation of the isle was fraught with trouble, culture shock, and limited tolerance.

2nd Caslan Civil War (2109-2155)
The power struggle between the Kycer and the governorship often caused a great deal of trouble and controversy amongst the island’s inhabitants. While some sided with the empire’ governors, the increasing corruption of those governors caused discontentment. It all came to a head during the reign of an increasingly authoritarian governor by the name of Rolyan, a Lun’Kerk native and fanatical loyalist. Rolyan attempted to dissolve the Kycer by vote, but was rebuked by them instead. Rolyan eventually tried to ignore the Kycer’s role in his government, but this too failed, and eventually the Kycer tried to forcefully recall him. Kycer loyalists, under a skilled necromancer named Vadov Geuder, led a fanatical army of kerk guards into Rolyan’s estate and murdered him, sparking a brutal civil war between the governorship and the Kycer. The empire sent an expedition to put down the Kycer, and did so with increasing brutality. Eventually, Mel Coldfinger was again called back to the isle by the Kycer, but was failed to be summoned for an unknown reason. The last Kycer holdout lasted till 2155, where the last members fought to the bitter end in their tomb cities, and were eventually buried alive within them.

Age of Repression (2155-2377)
Although the Kycer as a political body was destroyed, the empire put the isle and its people under military control in order to reign in the isle’s inhabitants. Although the island was governed normally, even more merciful than others by comparison, the island was plagued with troubles and curses. Rumors of Mel Coldfinger returning to the isle was rampant, with the governorship of the isle cursed to have each governor die more undignified and crueller deaths then the previous ones. Military rule of the isle often resulted in further dissatisfaction and discontent amongst the Kerkian clans. Although the empire tried to make friends of the Beastfolk as a countermeasure to the Kerks, this also fell flat on its face, as poor policies and general incompetence on the island resulted in awkward betrayals and incidents which caused further divide. These troubles would continue for a long time, with the isle never truly being stable.

Ambitions of Simov Geuder (2378-2399)
Although the island continued to chafe under the rule of the empire, a young and ambitious captain of the Geuder Clan named Simov began his military career on the island. While well travelled and an excellent soldier, Simov had been active in not only his clan’s local politics as much as imperial politics as well. Simov was eventually assigned back to Caslan to help keep control, although his methods became more and more odd. Rather than his normally brutal attitude for a Kerk towards others, Simov became more compassionate towards his home isle, especially towards the Coladdic clan whom he would marry into. Simov began climbing through the promotions with increasing efficiency, but soon many of his internal rivals also began to disappear. Investigations were halted, and garrisons were shifted constantly under his orders, effectively staffing the entire island with younger and inexperienced garrisons from the empire. Simov eventually was able to squeeze his way into becoming the military governor of the isle, and would continue to be the head of government till 2400.

The Ferdgave Massacre (2400)
In early spring of the year 2400, Simov Geuder called for a large-scale military exercise in the city of Ferdgave, along with inviting many local governors and loyalists. While being the host of the party, Simov left and returned with a contingent of Geuder and Coladdic warriors, who descended upon the empire’s loyalists, and shortly resulted in a battle outside the city. The events surrounding Simov’s victory was relatively unknown, with rumors speculating that the disorganized imperial garrisons performing the exercise were struck down by a sudden and swift killing plague, while others would claim the necromancer priesthood arose a small undead army to aid them. Regardless of the case, the empire’s leading men and majority of their garrisons were killed or captured on the isle, starting Simov Geuder’s great rebellion for the island itself.

Simov Geuder’s Revolt (2401-2423)
With most of the garrisons and leading officers of the isle defeated, Simon’s campaign for the isle was short. However, keeping the isle was a difficult affair as the empire began preparing for a campaign for Caslan once again. The first major expedition to the isle ended in total disaster, with a storm blowing the ships off course and crashing into reefs on the north side of the isle where Simov defeated landing imperial forces in 2411. The second invasion was to be better planned, although increasing political pressures at home caused the invasion to be delayed. Simov spent much of his time preparing for defenses, up until 2422, when the bug invasion appeared and decimated the empire. Without an empire to fight, Simov had technically won, and he would use this personal glory to improve his own image.

Restoration of the Kycer (2424-2466)
Although Simov had plans of his own, they were put aside when Mel Coldfinger returned in a rather dramatic fashion, appearing to him in his court through a shroud of mist. The discussion between Simov and Mel prompted him to retire, and prompted Mel Coldfinger and the Coladdic clan to restore the Kycer under its original form. However, major differences and new rules for the Kycer was placed drastically onto it to prevent their subjugation by another power, and promoted Simov’s clan as a ‘guardian king’ to become a powerful force within Caslan to act as a military head and to restore the theocratic republic in times of trouble. Mel in this time also brought back countless new books of magical lore, and reserved himself in his study as he watched the Kycer reform itself and wiped away the last powers of the Orduin empire from Caslan.

The Dultsev Crises (2466-2487)
When Simov died around 2466, his influence was not lost fully. The Kycer held elections in 2466, but was interrupted by one of Simov’s confidants, an ambitious kerkian named Dultsev. Dultsev and his loyalists put on a populist show, decrying the corruption of the Kycer and challenged the usefulness of it. When Dultsev tried to run for the election to become the head of the assembly, he was humiliated when he lost quite significantly. Dultsev sulked in Geuder territory for years, and was delusional about his own support, and began gathering an army of loyalists to his cause. Dultsev’s conspiracy against the Kycer was reported to it by one of Dultsev’s mercenaries, and an army was dispatched to resolve it. Dultsev was killed in the fighting, but the Coladdic soon blamed the Geuders for inviting him and for harboring a traitor in their territory. The troubles restarted between the Geuders and the Coladdics, with reprisal killings stretching across much of Caslan.

The Proscriptions (2488-2534)
Although Dultsev was dead, his actions haunted the Kycer for years up until 2488 when the new electorate was called to deal with the increasing violence and instability. The patriarchs of both the Geuders and Coladdics agreed to a ceasefire between their two respective clans, but the biggest and most drastic action taken was the call for Proscriptions, or the political assassination and banishment of several influential members of the Kycer who had aided Dultsev. The killings began in 2492, when Dultsev’s entire clan was rounded up and executed, and many of his aligned clans and those who had tolerated his presence were brutally murdered. The way the Kycer handed out proscriptions created a whole new set of problems, as they Kycer rewarded the murderers with the estates and lands of those they murdered. The Geuders were especially enthusiastic with this deal, and effectively took over a larger quarter of lands, and enriched them considerably. The Proscriptions would not end until later in the years 2511, and would have lingering effects for years after.

The Slave Revolt (2535-2544)
Although the Geuders were now getting richer and even more influential than before, the clan found their new found wealth useless by their lacking influence in the Kycer and became more politically active. The Geuders took on a number of strange issues to squeeze their way into power, including servitude limits, which would have limited the years a slave could remain in servitude. The Geuders narrowly lost their election, which infuriated the slaves enough to revolt against the Kerks. Much of Caslan’s cities became internally sieged by rebelling slaves, with the biggest revolt being able to take the city Kel Gavan. Although the Kerks were preparing for a long and drawn out war, Mel Coldfinger intervened and went from city to city to speak to the rebel leaders. Through diplomacy, magic, and religion the slave revolt was mostly put down peacefully, with only the slave revolt in Kel Gavan having to be taken by force.

Current Events (2545-2622)
Following the slave revolt, Caslan entered several years of peace just as politics between the Geuders and the Coladdic began to gravely divide between the two feuding clans. Although Mel Coldfinger continues to linger on the isle for now, it is rumored he plans for a 2nd journey across the world of the ruined empires to collect knowledge and magical lore, leaving a concerned and embattled Kycer who relies heavily on his wisdom and skills. The Kycer looks out across the oceans, unsure of what to do next in the wider world.

Culture

Culture

Appearance
Kerks are a fairly simple people by nature, and this is highly reflected in how they look and what they wear. Kerks prefer comfortable and easy to slip on clothes, and have no interest in what makes them look good in the eyes of others. Kerks do not wear jewelry for these reasons, they maximum extent to what they will wear are brooches and rings, and even then these pieces of jewelry are entirely simplified. Kerkian nobility tend to wear armor and weapons, the maximum extent of their ‘formal wear’, and often simply wear more colorful clothes to identify them as a clan’s chief or the region’s Zupan. Only the priesthood and scribes wear more valued clothes, usually large and outlandishly ornate purple robes with cloth scarfs which cover their mouths. Kerkians of more notable status also wear tall fur caps, although this sometimes does not fully indicate status by default, as commoners and even slaves will wear fur caps to give off a false sense of authority and fashion. Beards are common amongst Kerks, who tend to grow out their beards into large, unshaven messes but will crop their hair short.

Craftsmanship
Caslan craftsmanship is considered almost universally poor. Kerks themselves are not good smiths, preferring quantity over quality. The best most Kerkian smiths can do on Caslan is the making of medium armor, chainmail, and the traditional flat blades. Okan and Beurian smiths do not fare much better, which is why quality smithing is handled by foreigners, and the local elven population which produces better quality equipment to nobility and elite guard. Caslan Architecture tends to be a strange mix; with Kerkian stone and brick work being fairly rare. Most structures are a mixture of wood and stone, with blacker stone used in the construction of the tomb cities and keeps. Elven, and even old Orduin imperial, styles are commonly found in enclaves across Caslan. Caslan’s Okan style of building is considered rather beautiful, often using intricate and humble round designs made of wood, often with small basements and depots, which became a common building style across Caslan.

Traditions
Kerkian traditions differ between family to family, and while the Kerks will have many respected traditions, there are few unifying and known ones. The Kerks are a deeply religious people, and are also very communal. Some families, especially the Coladdic, are known to dress their youngest in brightly colored cloaks and clothes to celebrate their lives, Geuderian Kerks are known to martial customs and will often go out on their own to raid or go adventuring on their own accord. The only real unifying tradition amongst Kerks is that when Kerks become adults, they are given the option to either serve their family and keep their surname, or to choose a new surname and leave the clan to form their own. Those who choose to stay tend to end up in the clan as laborers or militia, while those who leave are partly banished from the clan’s grounds but are ultimately still tied to the clan in many ways.

Law
To outsiders, Kerkian law is brutal, harsh, but ultimately pragmatic. Most laws are reinforced by the clans themselves, which bow to a higher religious authority which trumps their own landed laws. Those who enforce those laws are usually a part of a clan’s militia, with cities tending to have their own town guard who are also usually a part of a family militia. Larger legal battles are often presented to the courts of the Kycer itself, and overseen by a necromancer priest who decides on the value of evidence and makes swift decisions. Kerkians do not have prisons or dungeons, as Kerks often immediately turn to swift execution either by throat cutting or hanging. It isn’t abnormal for Kerks to have a special grove with a great and ancient oak where many skeletal and decaying forms of executed Kerks are guarded by their executioners to serve as warnings against criminal behavior. Kerks view throat cutting as a honored and dignified way to die, but it isn’t abnormal for the Kerkian cities to put on ‘shows’ of public torture and execution.

Rights
Rights is an odd concept to the Kerks, who are normally fairly tolerant of most except their own half-bred cousins. Kerks treat their women with equality, and tend to show some limited tolerance towards other races and their faiths. However, Kerkians exemplify the term ‘tyranny of cousins’ to the maximum degree, where the lives of Kerks and their thralls tend to live under the strict rules and restrictions of the clan, and where family has a slavish control over their own lives. The Kycer has several major restrictions on other religions, forbidding the construction of foreign temples in their lands and the general demand for respect for their clergy at all times. Those who do not bow to the necromancer when asked on Caslan soil can be subjected to the harshest punishments

Slavery
Slavery isn’t an integral part of Kerkian society, nor a backbone of its economy. Kerkia does rely on cheap and generally unpaid labor, but this comes from family peasants who work for their clan. Slaves are usually native beastfolk or those who are captured in war, forced to do manual labor and are universally treated poorly by their masters, who view them as beneath them. Slave soldiers such as the Ghilmen are trained by the clans to use them as professional soldiers in war, fighting alongside Kerkian armies or to act as bodyguards. Most slaves are identified by deep gashes on their faces, along with blue or white handkerchiefs on their necks which identifies them as personal servants. Normally, slavery is for life, with the children of slaves also being considered slaves themselves. Necromancers are known to enchanted iron collars with spells in order to control larger slaves like Beurians, who are considered popular laborers and bodyguards for the Kycer’s clergy.

Philosophy
Kerkians by their nature lack self preservation, and their attitudes towards life reflects their general offset to life. Kerkians value three things in life; faith, freedom, and merit. To the Kerks, religion is a central part of their lives, viewing that the gods who look over them and bother to guide them are worthy of respect and worship. Kerkians will say they value freedom, but truthfully value autonomy and statelessness. Kerkian Merit is a very odd term, for the Kerks value those of great skill, no matter where that skill comes from whether it be by experience or those born naturally to it. Kerks tend to be highly cynical and deeply rooted in their beliefs, but are open to new ideas if they can be proven to work for the greater good of their clan and kingdom.

Education
Due to their faith, education is considered a major facet of life for the Kerks, and works in tiers much like social status. Lower castes such as laborers, small clans, and slaves tend to rely on tutorship of their own families for education, which more specialists castes can expect monastic schooling. Most of Caslan society, at some level, can read and write, but the better one is at reading and writing, the higher one’s social status is assumed. Schools and colleges are often seen either next to or near Caslan temples, with specialized colleges in the richer towns and cities. Coladdic clans tend to have their own personal libraries and documentation depots scattered across Caslan’s mainland, some containing the ancient lore and histories of the Kerks. The most impressive educational institution in Caslan itself is Scribe’s School Gangave. The Kerks largest repository of knowledge is Mel Coldfinger’s personal library, found deep in the catacombs of his personal abode in the mountains, containing countless volumes of magical and historical lore.

Family
Kerkian family life is considered an important part to the Kerkian identity, as all things a Kerk does in their lives is to improve the status of their family and to ensure its survival. Whether it be working slavish hours farming for the clan, or dying for the clan in a brutal feud, the family’s prestige, honor, and wealth is too important to abandon. In return, these families provide work, stability, and safety to their members as well as justice and order in their lives. Clans are led by two leaders usually; a matriarch and a patriarch. Both have joint power in the clan, and usually are the most influential members of the clan who make decisions on the behalf of the entire clan. Kerkians have tiers of broods due to how they have children, with the first brood being higher and more valued then 2nd and 3rd generations. Due to the exhaustion of raising so many children at once, Kerkian families tend to be very grim, and have no real bonds which bind them together, which often results in internal family feuds and deeply rooted abuse which is passed down between family to family.

Entertainment
Entertainment tends to be different from city to city, culture to culture within Caslan. The Geuderians for instance may host blood soaked tourneys between each other, practicing full fledged battles to cheering crowds in a festival of sorts. Coladdic Kerks are perhaps more ‘nuanced’, trying to often remove themselves from their violent nature and to wind down in their libraries, play board games, or even enjoy mediation within their groves. Almost all Kerks enjoy books, and writing in books, and it isn’t abnormal for even poorer Kerks to write down journals and make observations. Festivals and clan games tend to happen seasonally, but perhaps the most obscure and unspoken love of the Kerks is tavern life. Kerks while crowd into taverns and pubs to drink and merrily sing and gamble to their heart's content.

Language
If language is a barrier, then the Kerkian language is a fortress wall, difficult if not downright impossible to assail. The Kerkian language is often described as difficult to orally speak, but easy to read. Kerkian tone can drastically change the meaning of phrases, and often it takes considerable effort to learn and fluently speak Kerkian. The native language of Caslan, spoken primarily by the beastfolk natives, is a much in the same way a opposite of the Kerkian language. Caslandic is difficult to orally speak, but near impossible to write down or read. Caslandic as a very specific structure to it, with very literal phrases and meanings. Both languages are spoken by the people of Caslan, although not always equally. The Kycer consider Caslandic a ‘slave language’, only spoken by the lower classes and by the Beastfolk themselves. The Kerkian language, although promoted, is often abandoned by non-Kerks who will often just turn to speaking Caslandic in frustration. This often results in Kerkian being a ‘court language’ in Caslan, only spoken between Kerks who wish to speak openly and mockingly of those who do not understand them.

Burial
Caslandic Burial is a difficult subject to the Kerks whose communities can produce so many bodies, which is why the necromancer faith of the Kerks so well with them. When a non-royal or important Kerk dies, their body is presented to the temple and given over to the priesthood to do as they well, although it isn’t uncommon for kerks to just leave bodies in ditches. Kerkians believe that what a body is done with in death is not of significance. Most clan bodies, especially important Kerks who the clans wish to remember, are buried in the tomb cities, which act both as respectful places of the dead as much as as depots for the necromancers. Only the beastfolk differ greatly in burial, and view being buried in a Tomb City as a terrible fate. Okan bury their dead in underwater graveyards off the coasts of their cities, and Beurians burn their dead on pyres.

Pets
To any outsider, the Kerks are considered strange for their choice of pets and companions. Kerks in general tend to have tamed and trained otters, badgers, and wolverines as pets which they use for all manner of purposes. Otters are used by Kerkian fishers, with badgers and wolverines being used much in the same way as dogs. Although dogs and cats are seen amongst Kerks, especially herders, these pets are considered weird and abnormal for the Kerks. Insects are considered ‘sacred’ and ‘protected’ animals to the Kerks who see them as holy, which is why some Kerkian clans will have ‘pet’ mayflies, dragonflies, cicadas, hornets, and moths. Richer Kerks have a fondness for shellfish, like lobsters and horseshoe crabs, which only adds to their estranged behavior.

Feuds/Retaliation
Kerkian feuds between clans are long lasting, with rivalries between clans capable of starting miniature civil war and deep instability in kerkian society with just a sheer number of Kerks and clans which get involved. Kerks tend to retaliate with violence, which often means each clan has a small but well armed host of militia which acts as guards as much as raiders. Retaliation between clans is often difficult to solve, let alone avoid, with Kerkian priests having to get in the way to force cease fires. In order to solve long standing feuds, the patriarchs of both clans often make sacrifices in the nearest temple and pray together with a Kycer’s representative overlooking them. If the feud is complex, such as unknown reasons for the feuding or land disputes, the two patriarches work out a deal in the temple to appease both parties. Kerkians are stubborn however, and will go to absurd lengths to fulfill their feud’s oaths.

Honesty
Kerkians are considered obnoxiously honest, a cultural attitude most Kerks and those in Caslan have. Kerks will in general tell each other and others harsh truths, and often refuse to lie under most circumstances. Kerkians are known as terrible diplomats and merchants, who will just often tell others their intentions. Kerkians try to get around this habit by not answering questions directly, or being not forthcoming about their direct answer. Kerkians have no trouble with lying, it's just that the Kerks see it as pointless and impractical. While Kerks themselves are honest, they often do not expect the same of others, a common trap of those ignorant of the Kerks themselves.

Superstitions
While being a very religious people, the Kerks are also deeply superstitious and have many tales, legends, and general beliefs which impact their lives. Kerks believe there is a sacred divinity in albinism, with albino animals and even humanoids being hunted for their fur. Kerks believe drinking the blood of these beings will grant strength, intelligence, or unnatural magical powers. There are hundreds of different ghosts, spirits, and vampires which inhabit Kerkian mythology, each one more grim and vile then the next. Kerks tend to avoid marching off in winter due to these beliefs, as well as avoiding the deep forests and groves beyond civilization. Kerkians also tend to believe that their gods ultimately control the outcome of battles and campaigns, with commanders and officers making offerings to the gods. These offering rituals are so often used that Kerkian campaigns have stalled for months until a good sign was had.

Okan Culture
Just as the Okan are a communal people by nature, they are also a communal people by culture. Okan are deeply family tied, with entire clans often living in single rooms and moving close to one another. Separating an Okan family is difficult, if not downright impossible. Okan are peaceful, deeply pacifistic in their beliefs, often due to their general belief that they cannot afford to fight or harm one another. Although Okan clans tend to adopt mostly Kerkian customs, the one custom which they did not abandon fully was the trading of wards between feuding clans to gain peace between them. These clan wards often grow up as adopted members of the clan. While Okan are fairly peaceful, their laws are considerably more ‘notable’ and concerningly brutal. Okan drown those who harm their clans and communities, and then have them tied down to anchors just enough for them to float slightly below the surface of the water in a morbid reminder to those entering their ports of their brutality.

Beurian Culture
Beurian society and culture is clan based, being very tribalistic and highly nomadic. Beurians do not live in settled places, instead moving with their moose herds to new lands to graze. Beurians who are born in these clans are forced into a lifestyle of constant war and training, decided entirely by their shaman. Beurians tend to be very free spirited in culture, having no love of authority over their lives, especially by their own chiefs and peoples. Hunter-Killers are Beurian rangers who separate from clans, and take on a holy vow to fight the clan’s enemies through more subtle means, and act partly as monster hunters. One of the notable parts of Beurian society is their use of cloaks and kilts to signify their loyalty to certain clans.

Military

Military

Recruitment
Recruitment is a difficulty in Kerkian society despite its abundance of manpower. Although there is a central government, Kerks do not have a truly professional army which allows for recruitment drives. Instead, individual Kerkian clans recruit from their own, forming larger levy warbands which then journey to a central mustering ground underneath an individual Zupan. The Kycer tends to have its own armies, normally specialized Coladdic clansmen and their undead levies which assist them in battle, who collect only from their own clan. In order to make up for their troubles, large and rich Kerkian clans and cities employ the use of Ghilmen, slave soldiers of the island which are professionally trained for war. Ghilmen are recruited from poor families or from the families of slaves from a young age, and brutally trained by Kerkian militia captains in a barrack society.

Organization
Caslan’s armies are horrifyingly decentralized, as each army is feudal in its nature which relies so heavily on the loyalty of easily angered Kerkian clans. The formal leaders of the army are the members of the Kycer who are voted on to lead the Caslan armies. These generals then are given subordinates by the Kycer who then under their own personal skill divide up Caslan’s united forces. In normal circumstances, the burden of leadership is put onto the Zupans, who have their own captains and subordinates to lead their armies. Patriarches do not lead armies, and instead will send heirs and militia captains in their place. It isn’t uncommon for clergy to also lead armies, even more successfully than their secular counterparts. Often, since Ghilmen and Bylamen are outside the absurd feudal structure of Kerkian armies, they often are the most professional armies of Caslan and thus are the most respected.

Tactics
Although poor in organization, Kerkian warfare is considered horrifying for outsiders for several reasons. Kerks in general have a hard time retreating and shrug off mortifying losses. Kerkians fight to a bitter end, a fact of their psychology which makes them miserable to fight against. Kerkian armies tend to use a mixture of spellcraft and skirmishing, trying to drastically weaken and hamper an enemy down before they engage. Kerkian commanders are quite infamous for purposefully losing battles, using engagements to grievously weaken or kill more terrifying divisions, before retreating into the arms of a friendly army where they can crush their enemy with a fresh force. Kerkians do not mind casualties very much, especially with necromancers aiding their army, who can use their own dead to swiftly reforge their ranks. Kerkian armies also do not shy away from massacring their enemies, with more infamous instances of Kerks stacking the bodies of entire cities in the commons area like a mountain.

Navy
The Kerkian navy is a weird mix of professionally built war galleys and carracks, but also an absurd amount of transport vessels. Different cities tend to have different ports, with the Okan shipbuilders primarily providing Caslan’s fleet and naval officers. However, ports and drydocks are scattered across the south and were consumed by Caslan into becoming naval bases for Caslan’s considerable fleets. Caslandic ships are built primarily for skirmishing and ranged warfare, with boarding action and ramming being avoided. This is often because Caslandic ships are very fast, an Okan design to Caslandic ships which allow them considerable maneuverability on the open waters.

Siege Weapons
Kerkian siege warfare has a strange history, as siege warfare was not a common occurence on Caslan and thus often most Kerks have little experience with sieges. However, this is not to say the Kerks have not come up with absurd tools and designs. Although Kerks do use battering rams and catapults, the favored weapon of Kerkian armies are large hurling catapults which are infused with dark magic by necromancer engineers who hurl balls of skeletons and decaying bodies over the walls of enemy settlements to cause disease (and to occasionally raise up from the dead to attack the defenders inside the walls).

Clan Levies (Basic Division)

• Units: Kerkian Clansmen (Light Axe and Shield Infantry), Kerkian Warrior (Light Sword and Shield Infantry), Kerkian Spearman (Light Spear Infantry), Kerkian Bandits (Light Archer Infantry), Kerkian Skirmishers (Light Javelin and Shield Infantry)

Clan levies are a long standing core of the Kerkian armies, which are mustered by the clans of Caslan into large warbands. Due to the sheer size of a Kerkian clan and family, each clan can provide a large number of levies. However, most levies are poorly armed, and often fight with little more than the clothes they had brought. At best, the Kycer will provide for these levies tents, meals, and weapons if they lack them. Clans, not Zupans or the Kycer, are expected to foot the bill for these levies. Levies tend to be trained in maneuvering rather than skills, making them quite obedient when it comes to complex maneuvers but are universally considered terrible soldiers.

Outriders (Cavalry Division)

• Units: Kerkian Outriders (Medium Axe and Shield Cavalry), Kerkian Raiders (Medium Sword Cavalry), Kerkian Hunters (Medium Archer Cavalry)

Outriders are a common occurrence amongst Kerkian armies, being the backbone of the mounted divisions Kerkia will field. Kerkian horses are expensive and difficult to maintain for many of the clans. This often makes riders considered a grade above that of Kerkian levies and common clansmen, their skills invaluable for the militias of Caslan. Kerkian outriders however perform almost universally poorly, being quickly to get surrounded during engagement, being the last to retreat, and the rather odd tactic of Kerkian throwing themselves from their horses and onto their enemies. Outriders primarily act in the capacity as fast, mounted skirmishers.

Ghilmen (Elite Division)

• Units: Ghilman Spearman (Medium Spear and Shield Infantry), Ghilman Soldier (Medium Sword Infantry), Ghilman Skirmisher (Medium Javelin and Shield Infantry), Ghilman Archer (Medium Archer Infantry), Ghilman Saudkar (Heavy Sword and Shield Infantry)

Ghilmen are slave soldiers who are taken from a young age, and trained into professional soldiers in the service of a specialized guild. Ghilmen are normally Okan from slave families within the cities who are sold to a Ghilman barracks. These Okan have their tails cropped and their faces permanently disfigured, but most Ghilmen are marked with special tattoos across their body which identify their status. Ghilmen are trained primarily by a Kerkian equivalent to a mercenary company, who sell the services of the Ghilmen to Kerkian clans and cities for protections, armed services, or as bodyguards. Normally grim and viciously trained, Ghilmen are well respected by the Kerks who tend to appreciate them and their services. Ghilmen who lives to an older age or perform admirably for their guild are allowed to be ‘freed’ and to start a family or business, under the contract obligation that any of their children are recruited as Ghilmen themselves and half their income goes back into their guild.

Bylamen (Undead/Elite Division)

• Units: Violet Guard (Heavy Halberd Infantry), Bylaman Rainbow Knight (Heavy Sword Cavalry), Barrow Guard (Heavy Sword Infantry/Undead), Skeletal Levy (Light Undead), Wraith (Medium Undead)

The Bylamen are the elite guard and personal army of the Kycer, whose sole duty is protecting the Kycer and its assembly. Members of the Bylamen are usually elite clansmen, but its main core is made up primarily of the undead. Most living members wear a vibrant purple or violet dress around their heavier armor, who use enchanted gear. Rainbow Knights for instance, also sometimes known as Death Knights, use runed swords with various necromantic blessings and curses. The most known and terrifying element of the Bylamen is the use and building of Barrow Guard, skeletal undead soldiers who are super charged with magic. Incredibly fast, strong, and skilled in the arts of combat, the Barrow Guard also can ‘regenerate’ in the midst of combat, often tearing their enemy’s limbs to attach it to their own bodies. Bylamen are the personal guard of Mel Coldfinger, as well as the most elite force Caslan can muster in war.

Necromancers (Magic Division)

• Units: Necromancer (Necromantic Lore Mage), Curse Bearer (Curse Lore Mage), Lich (Ice Lore Mage), Shadow Lich (Shadows Lore Mage)

Most Caslan armies in some capacity have a necromancer which follows them, or a member of the clergy. Most Necromancers are identified by their lavish purple robes, the colors of the Kycer, as most Necromancers are either members of the clergy, or have some role in the Kycer itself. While most lores of magic are practiced and studied, the most important lores is necromancery and curses. Kerkian tactics often require a drastic weakening of enemies, and high casualties in battle often requires an undead force being raised in the midst of battle to assure total victory. Every once in awhile, a Lich will join an army, but not by that army’s choice. Liches will often join the Kerkian ranks either as sub-commanders or as allied mages, and most Kerkian armies tolerate their presence.

Blackhand (Scout Division)

• Units: Blackhand Stalker (Spy), Blackhand Scout (Scout), Blackhand Murderer (Assassin), Blackhand Observer (Counterspy), Blackhand Hunter Killer (Counter-Assassin)

The Kerks do not often use their own clans to scout or spy on their enemies, as intrigue is usually handled by an old and specialized guild of assassins known as the Blackhand. Paid well for their services, the ancient order of spycraft amongst the Kerks provides valuable services for Kerkia’s armies. The most infamous groups of the Blackhand often provide counter-assassination services to their commanders, acting as hidden bodyguard who specialize in the protection of Kerkian officers and generals. The Blackhand tends to be a very diverse group, and often shadow the Kerks wherever they go.

Government

Government

The Kycer

The Kycer

Kerkian Kycer (Theocratic Republic)
The Kycer is a theocracy and republic, a weird and complicated mix between a theocratic government with a secular assembly which governs daily politics. The Kycer is divided into 2 main branches which assemble into one generalized senate. There is the theocratic council, and then there is the Zupan’s assembly beneath it. There are two leaders in the Kycer, the heads of council, the major and minor ones. From there, beneath them is regional priests, ceremonial priests, representative priests of the whole of Caslan, the provincial priests, and then the various bodies of smaller institutions. The members of the Kycer meet up in a gathered assembly, usually the Tomb City of Scribes, where they would hold votes and perform rituals to the gods. The Kycer also has a body of nobles, made up of nobles of Caslan who get automatic positions based on their title, and voting power within the Kycer itself. Only priests of the Gyloist faith can join the Kycer, although becoming a priest is considerably easy.

Ruling Caste

• Head of the Council - The highest leading position amongst the Kycer is a member of the Head of the Council, for which there are two official positions, and one informal one. The head of council is the formal leader of the assembly itself, often having the most fitting robes and most fanfare of all the priests. Normally, the head of council is also a head of religious ceremonies, leaders of armies, and so forth. The Head of Council does not lead the vote, but does have the last say on it, and has veto power. As custom, all members of the Head of Council are bowed to in a sign of respect by all members of the Kycer.
• High Member of the Kycer - The highest offices of the Kycer, such as the administrative offices which follow the Head of Council and associated priests are considered the most important heads of the assembly. Normally living near or on the grounds of the assembly’s grounds, the higher members tend to meander and discuss law. They mainly exist as a federal role in the government in most circumstances.
• Lower Member of the Kycer - The lowest members of the Kycer, usually representative bodies and guards of the Kycer itself is a position which inhabits ‘above nobles, below leaders’ kind of position. Informally, they are the most minor positions of the assembly itself, but are formally considered a high position in Kerkian society. Most lesser members do the wet work that higher members do not do, and act as a state role in government.
• Clergy - Although all members of the Kycer are clergy, informally the true clergy of Caslan are within its temples and amongst the more ceremonial roles within the Kycer. Clergy still play a significant role in administration, as their authority and faith are the backbone of the power of the Kycer itself. Clergy have a significant social role in the lives of Caslan and are ultimately informal leaders. In all but name, the clergy of Caslan are often its most influential leaders in the Kycer.
• Zupan - Zupans are the landed nobility of the Kerks, at least in comparison to those landed nobility. Zupans often are the most powerful patriarchs of a region, having authority and power over smaller aligned clans. Zupans have some general say in local as much as national politics, and often are in ceaseless opposition to the religious authorities. Zupans swear fealty to the Kycer, who in turn grant them titles over the regions they rule. Zupans act as ‘guardians’ of the Kycer’s republican traditions, who tolerate their monarchy over their fellow Kerks.

Specialist Caste

• Patriarch - In Kerkian society, the Patriarch is the clan’s leader. Chosen by the previous patriarch, the clan leader is the ruler of the entire family and makes decisions on behalf of the clan. Although all patriarches share power with an equally powerful matriarch, most clans have patriarches be their envoy and decision maker. Patriarches normally specialize in local politics as much as leading the family through crises.
• Heir - Heirs are the inheritors of Kerkian titles, chosen by their superiors to inherit their positions and given the best in education and services to become as learned as possible before becoming Patriarchs and Zupans. It is crucial to note that Heirs are hand picked by their superiors, or by the clan itself, and do not inherit based on blood lines. Heirs tend to be the 2nd in command of a clan, being above captains and are highly respected. However, to keep themselves as heir for the clan, they must be constantly proving themselves to the family to keep their position, as it can be taken away at any time.
• Captain - Captains in Kerkian society are about the closest thing to knights they have, usually the higher positioned members of a Kerkian militia or a respectable position as an officer in a city or the Kycer. Normally a military position, Captains are often chosen by clans to lead, train, and arm the clan’s levies. Captains tend to be a close family of their respective clans, and their strongest warriors who in turn are granted better homes and lifestyles to better suit their position.
• Barun - Kerkian cities and larger towns are not directly ruled by a clan, but instead vote in a Barun. Baruns are small, meager leaders which is a title which is granted by the Kycer to rule over a city. They can be either a monarchy, republic, or theocracy. Baruns answer to the Kycer but have full reign over the city’s laws and organization, but must always bend the knee and pay taxes to the Kycer or the local Zupan.
• Craftsman - Craftsmen who make trade goods are considered a high position in Kerkian society, as not every Kerk is capable of learning such trades. Rather than working on their own, most Craftsmen live among their own family clans who help them provide resources and buy materials, often in return for a cut of their profits.
• Merchant - Kerkians are considered very poor merchants, which is why most Non-kerks who get to a higher position in society often become Caslan’s merchants. Elves and Okan buy from Kerkian clans and make deals with them to sell their products and raw resources they collect to the markets in return for a mutual and beneficial cut of profits.
• Scribe - Minor administrators and helpers of the temple priests are known as scribes and play a vital role in Kerkian society by providing meager and mundane rituals to the Kerkian clans. Often members of Kerkian clans, especially minor ones, scribes often leave the clans to get an education and then return to help organize the clan, figure out their taxes, and keep the clan in the good graces of the gods.

Labor Caste

• Clansman - Clansmen are the true citizenry of Kerkian society, being bound more so the clan rather than the Kycer itself. Born into individual clans, clansmen act as the laborers, soldiers, and toilers for all of Kerkia and do so for very little pay and reward. Effectively peons to their own families, most Clansmen own no land of their own and live entirely at the whims of their clan. Living without a clan is considered a death sentence for many Kerks.
• Non-Kerk - Although socially below the clansmen, being a Non-Kerk in Caslan is not considerably bad. Most Non-Kerks may not have a large amount of land, but they are considered commoners in Kerkian society. Commoners often find work much harder to come by, but it also allows them to buy their own plots of lands and homes within cities to specialize their trades. Most Non-Kerks are unfavored in politics, and the social ladder is often denied to them. However, universally, Non-Kerks live better and more stable lives than that of common Kerkian clansmen.
• Foreigner - Kerkians have a strange view of foreigners in most cases, often depending on what non-Caslan citizens interact with. Kerkian clans automatically view foreigners with suspicion and doubt, and do not care if they disappear, get robbed, or get captured by another clan. Foreigners are demanded to follow Kerkian laws, and are not treated differently from the Kerks themselves.
• Slave - Being a slave is a lifelong position for most, and a miserable one at that. Slaves are owned by their masters who can generally do with them as they please, but there are social norms and regulations which prevent true cruelty. Most slaves in Caslan are put into slum shacks, and are more or less property of an entire clan or city, with personal servants often being reserved for members of the clergy or the zupans. Slaves can buy their freedom, or earn it, but it's a very rare occurrence. Slaves are motivated often to do so, as slaves who have children in captivity will have those children also grow up to become slaves themselves.

Kycer Assembly
The Kycer’s assembly gathers all at once in a singular meeting. Although all members of the Kycer are priests, these priests are best thought of as regional representatives for individual clans, territories, and cities. At the head of this assembly is the Heads of Council, for which there are two. There is the Head of Council and the lesser Head of Assembly. Both are co-rulers of the Kycer. Each Head of Council had a group of administrators and clerks known as the Body of Council, who were also elected upon. Each district and region also elected a Ceremonial priest who would lead religious affairs in the Kycer alongside the Minor Priests, the main voting body of the Assembly. Minor priests were voted on by a national assembly, and there were only 18 of them at a time. The assembly also has a ‘shadow assembly’ which meets beneath them, which is made up of Caslan’s Zupans.

Kycer Voting
Voting on members of the Assembly is a months long process, usually around a month of preparation and a month of actual voting. The Kycer allows almost universal (and weighed) voting all across society, the only requirement is for those who do vote to appear before the temples to cast it. The system allows nearly everyone to vote; free and slave, rich and poor, landed and unlanded. Even foreigners and non-citizens can vote, as the Gyloism religion views voting as a sacred art. Necromancers oversee the entire voting process, and once a vote is casted, the necromancer creates a temporary magical symbol on the palm of the voter’s hand so that they do not cast their vote twice. Patriarches, zupans, clergy are a higher vote, their casted vote counts as 2. Normal clansmen and citizens count as 1, with slaves being counted as half a vote. Foreigners who vote tend to only count as 1/10th of a vote. It is important to note that during voting, slaves who intend to vote are herded by a special group of necromancers and their undead guards into groves, so that their vote is not interrupted or overseen by their masters.

Kycer Law Making
How the Kycer works is considerably strange, being a republic first and foremost, but also the official clergy of the country as well. The Kycer has a set date of 5 until all positions which aren’t the Zupan’s assembly are put up for voting. Members of the Kycer can be voted on several times over. When the Kycer votes, it will do a ‘talley by popularity’ where there is only a 50% majority needed to pass laws. There are speeches and discussions held beforehand before legislation is passed, but there is a moment before major discussion where a ‘gallery of vetoes’ is held. If the Legislation is considered destabilizing or simply bad, the Heads of Council can automatically veto the vote. However, the Ceremonial Priests can also veto the legislation as well, although they must have a 60% majority to do so. Minor priests and Zupans also have veto power, but their veto requires 80% veto power. When laws are passed, the legislation is then brought before shrines of the gods where laws are blessed by sacrifices and prayer, before it is made into law.

Kycer Institutions
Most Kerkian institutions are known as Bodies, which follow the administrations of new Heads of Body. The Body of Study handles most administrative costs and affairs, along with the collection of court documentation. The Body of Enforcement handles the defense of the Kycer, and promotes members of the Kycer to become generals. The Body of Rituals performs the religious rites and establishes the chosen gods of the Kycer. Of the bodies, none is more important than the Overwatch of Mel Coldfinger, who was granted a permanent and immortal stay in the Kycer as partial leader and watcher. Liches under Mel’s directorate are refused from stay in the Kycer itself, as only he and his scribes take a very hardline stance against any form of populism and radicalized behavior. When not around, this position is usually held by an equally immortal death knight, a lich associated with Mel, or the patriarch of the Coladdic clan itself. An Overwatch has considerable powers, such as war declaration, veto power, and the ability to just outright remove a member of the Kycer. However, the most important part of Overwatch is to keep the Kycer’s politics aligned and focused.

Society

Society

Kerkian Inheritance
Kerkian inheritance is a very important aspect of Kerkian life. When Patriarchs and Matriarchs die, their possessions and land cannot just go to their first born, since all Kerks are born in broods. Instead, each Kerkian clan picks their own heir. Kerkian patriarches choose the most competent and highly skilled of their family to become the next patriarches, with all others effectively being disowned. To the Kerks, being an heir is a cursed affair, as they become responsible for a lot of their family and the clan’s affairs. Kerks tend to choose only the best amongst a wide range of family members, with cousins and distant relatives who happen to live close by often having equal status of inheritance to even first born broods. When clan leaders die without naming an heir from their family, the clan often gets together to vote on who will become the heir instead. Due to this, Kerkians tend to lack major inheritance feuds with their siblings.

Adoption
Kerkians have a very strange sense of family, but what often complicates these matters is how Kerkians adopt. Although some clans may care greatly about the purity of their bloodlines, most Kerks often care more about their dynasty and the success of their clan. The most infamous clans are the Geuders when it comes to this, which is why the clan is well known for adoption. Kerkians will adopt virtually anyone, and anything into their clans. Kerkians of others clans, disillusioned bandits, Non-Kerk orphans, nearly anyone can be adopted into a Kerkian clan. Often, these adoptions are without a lot of flare, but the adoption process often adds the surname of that new member into the clan as a full fledged member. These adoptions can also happen at nearly any age, with it not being uncommon for Kerks to simply adopt into their families to extend their own influence. Non-Kerks who get adopted into a clan are often identified by having them wear the clan’s colors on handkerchiefs, scarfs, or small demands of clan pride emblazoned onto armor and weapons they carry.

Clan Autonomy
Kerks are notorious for being difficult to rule, an issue the Kerks solved long ago by trying to not rule their people as much as trying to deal with them. Kerks are fiercely territorial, so to get around this the Kycer effectively rules through bread rather than iron. The Kycer collects taxes by convincing the clans of the Kycer’s divine authority, and promotes powerful Zupans to rule over the Kerks in their name. The clans often are avoided whenever possible, allowed to have their own laws and rules, and to feud amongst each other so long as they do not harm the cities and temples. Clans respect these rules, which causes the Kycer and the clans to walk a very fine line. Zoning and negotiations are crucial for the Kycer’s survival, and having a good relationship with each clan helps Caslan in both the short and long term. However, some clans are notoriously cynical and difficult to rule, and when some clans get out of line, they may be subject to being purged by the Kycer.

Secular vs Religious Rule
The difficulties of the question ‘Is the Kycer as theocracy, or a republic’ has haunted the theocratic republic since its conception. Officially, the Kycer considers itself a republic. Informally, it is a theocracy with extra steps. Priests are still priests, and Caslan society often votes not on who will represent them, but what clan will be the one to make sacrifices to the gods. Most Kerks view the Kycer as little more than a temple, and that their lives are more ruled by the Zupans. However, the reality often is that the Zupans answer to the Kycer and obey their laws and edicts. The Zupans would love nothing more than to break away from the Kycer, but the reality often is that they need the Kycer a lot more than the Kycer needs them. The power of religion and its effects also afflicts the local political scene, where zealous priests are considered equal in politics to genuine lawmakers.

Clan Moots
Kerkian clans feud with one another very often, and they feud so much that their wars can devastate regions. In order to prevent this, Kerkian clans hold Moots where patriarches of the entire region gather together to discuss peace and the troubles of their clan. These Moots are often temporary, and are very much a minor form of governance. However, these patriarches often meet to grant their loyalty to a Zupan, discuss ceasefires, and complain amongst themselves. Moots can often help end disputes, but they are not a sure thing, and can often very quickly backfire. This is often why when a Moot is formed, they invite the region’s Zupan or a member of the Kycer to act as arbitrators in these meetings.

Zupanships
Zupans are effectively the Kerkian version of landed nobility, often large estate owners who demand the fealty of others. The main difference however is that most Zupans are just very powerful and old clans, whose patriarches effectively made up their title to hold some authority over smaller clans. Zupans have some very limited, but crucial authority over a region. Zupanships tend to be very shaky at best, their authority coming from their relationship with the Kerkian clans themselves as much as their wealth and military might. Zupanships can shift often based on the mood of the Kycer, as well as the Zupan’s power. Zupans have a very limited, but crucial, authority in the Kycer itself and act as a monarchal bulwark against theocratic designs.

Familicide and Proscriptions
The society of feuding clans and brutality amongst the Kerks results in a very unfortunate aspect of Kerkian society; the use of purges and familicide to secure stability. Hostile clans, especially those who do not bend their knee to the Kycer, are subject to extermination at the hands of the Kycer and its allied Zupans. To the Kerks, such things are normal, as the system of family which can extend to many clans can quickly result in a severe internal conflict which can engulf an entire region if hostile families continue to thrive. These purges are not considered personal, and as a normal part of Kerkian life and governance. This practice unfortunately is followed on over for peoples to a lesser extent.