Ashfield

Inhabitants: 6104

Industry: fishing, lumber and mining - from open-pit mining with deep shafts. Most surplus is exported towards Ironville.

General: Ashfield is located (mostly) on the south side of the Yokar River, which is at that point is about 700 meter wide. Lots of small boats ferry people at all times of the day to north side, which holds about 500 of the inhabitants in their own pseudo-town, even though it is Ashfield, and otherwise some farms and a trail to Manhurst departing from the north gate.

From the east gate a trail heads east around Trollwood and south towards Questown. Out of the west gate a trail goes along the river to Ringborg.

There is a bias against halflings in Ashfield, they are seen as untrustworthy. Probably because Ringborg has a larger than normal population of halflings, or perhaps due to the influence of the Church of Bane.

Conflicts: Ashfielders really do not like Ringborgians. Ringborg is slightly larger than Ashfield and has a better military. Therefore Ringborg and it's inhabitants are seen as dangerous.

"Never trust a Ringborgian, all he wants is our city, our lumber and our copper. And when he has taken that, he will take our wives."

NPC's of note:

Michael Delacroix (Lord of Ashfield)

Markos (council-member)

Erika (council-member)

Jaren Sunwell (council-member)

James (captain of the guard)

Charming Charlie (enchanter)

Elias (Priest of the Twins)

Zimena Fartree (high-end courtesan)

Valin Barhold (Emissary from Hillstown)

Colonel Zanderoo (Emissary from Ironville)

Drogan Hammerholt (exceptional smith)

Seven Army Nation Timeline

Year 5679 - The Second Demon War begins

Year 5698 - The Second Demon War ends when the Brave Wyverns sacrifice their lives and close the demon portal, sucking all demons back to Hell.

Year 5699 - People return to the Cursed Lands, quickly spreading all over, stacking their claim to old towns and cities who could still be rebuilt.

Year 5714 - Warlord Markos takes the power in Belcoast.

Year 5721 - War between Belcoast & Starkhold

Year 5723 - End of war between Belcoast and Starkhold

Year 5728 - War between Ironville and Lochhurst

Year 5732 - End of war between Ironville and Lochhurst

Year 5744 - Grik Clogmark takes power in Rosewall

Year 5776 - The Seven Warlords make peace and the Seven Army Nation is created.

Year 5779 - The Churches of Bane and Bahamut declare holy war against each other. The newly obtained peace of the Seven Army Nation is threatened as the violence escalates until Eletha manages to broker a peace.

Year 5784 - The Purple Death sweeps across the Cursed Land. The plague infects almost one in two and kills one in twenty of the affected.

Year 5789 - A horrible earthquake emanating from the Dragon Mountains. Most cities sustain severe damage to all but the sturdiest buildings. Black smoke rises up from the Dragon Mountains for days afterwards, but before the expedition sent by Ashfield arrives, the black smokes stops.

Year 5797 - The Black Kings, a male-only religious order connected to the Raven Queen falls into public disgrace in the Seven Army Nation, when it becomes public knowledge that they have been practicing undead rituals on unwilling victims for months. In a very public trial in Starkhold, where their main church was located, their leader and high-priest Kranak (Krakas' father) is publicly executed.

Year 5811 - Enry Kammel becomes warlord of Lockhurst

Year 5814 - The Kyzian Empire attack Belcoast, war begins. The other 6 warlords are true to their word and agreement, and join Belcoast's warlord in the war against the Kyzian Empire.

Year 5825 - When the old warlord of Starkhold dies, José Stark takes on the mantle of warlord.

Year 5826 - When the old warlord is killed in battle with the Kyzian Empire, Tyril Kayzar becomes warlord of Highmeadow.

Year 5827 - The Kyzian empire is beaten back, especially due to the exceptional tactics of Grik Clogmark.

Year 5830 - Three Dragons attacks attack the nation, plaguing the area between Highdale, Ironville and Starkhold.

Year 5831 - Revolt in Highdale and Elisabeth Grimflower takes the mantle of warlord.

Year 5838 - The old warlord of Ironville breaks temple law when his guards enters the Church of Torm, drag out a suspected spy and execute him right in there. Seven days later, he steps down and Sophie Ran ends up replacing him.

Year 5844 - Death of old warlord of Belcoast, Jasper Ladjeer takes on the mantle.

Year 5845 - Rebellion in Freyholm and Laketower sees Eric Bane and Patryk Vazzir take power and join the alliance later during the same year.

Year 5849 - Current year

The Ancient Forest

The Ancient Forest is just that - ancient. Rumored to be one of the first forests on Gemnos, the southern tip of the forest is part of 7AN and the home of many lumber communities. Currently many of the communities are at war with wood elf tribes which for now have been pushed back.

The Bluestone Hills

The Bluestone Hills which partially are part of the 7AN get their name from the blue stones that can be found and mined in the hills. Bluestones have magical properties and extremely rare and valuable.
In 5654, before the Second Demon War, there was a find of Bluestones here, and a lot of people headed there in hope of salvation and riches. Small mining towns popped up here and there, with everybody and their dog looking for the magical but elusive blue stones. But most are disappointed. Some gems were however found, making their owners rich beyond their wildest dreams, or dead.

Aside from the mining towns, the hills crawl with evil humanoids and cultists.

The Dragon Mountains

To the west of the 7AN, are the Dragon Mountains. Rising to more than 16.000 feet, these ancient mountains are literally infested with orcs.

Oakwood

All the way to the east, you will find Oakwood and Eletha's Crystal Palace. The ancient forest is a dangerous place, not only because of the elves, who will protect their queen at all costs, but also due to a strong connection with the Faerie, which often enables powerful fay creatures to slip through the cracks of reality and enter the mortal world.

The Black Hills

The Black Hills, located to the south of the nation are split in two parts. The northern lays within the territory of the 7AN, while the southern belongs to tribes of evil humanoids. Hillston, the hill dwarf town, sits further to the south, acting as a shield against the evil monsters.

The Dragon Lake

The Dragon Lake takes it's name after the fact that when the area was settled after the Second Demon War, a great black dragon had a lair in the lake. Now the dragon is long gone. Instead, the area is dominated by the Arcane Academy located on the Island of Cruul at the center of the lake.

Questar Wood

Questar Wood is named after the tribe of wood elves called the Questar, Questar Wood is a dark, damp forest. The Questar elves are fairly xenophobic and few non-elves enter the woods. Queston has some trade with them, but not much. Local rumors claim they protect an ancient evil or an artifact. The Questar tribe rules the eastern part of the wood. The western part is dominated by evil tribes of goblins.

Glimmerlake

Located almost 100 miles outside 7AN territory, Glimmerlake is a lake that glimmers almost unnaturally when the sun shines. It is a semi-holy place to the worshippers of the Twins and their aspects and many pilgrimages end there.

The Yellowwood

The Yellowwood is located outside the borders of the 7AN, to the west of the nation. All trees at the center of the forest have yellow leaves all year around. Sages and druids claim that the yellow leaves have magical properties of various sorts. It is also known to be a very dangerous place to adventure. Many adventurous people have left to collect yellow leaves and never returned again.

Yokar River

The Yokar River starts up high in the Dragon Mountains, from a glacier, and flows down through mountains, often underground, before it arrives on the plains, west of the 7AN. Before Yokar River enters the 7AN, it is more than a mile wide, once inside the 7AN, it is close to 1/2 mile wide. This means it is virtually impossible to cross without a boat, so most crossing takes place at towns or villages.

Seven Army Nation? What a joke. Who in their right mind would seriously think such a thing would last. It is doomed to fail, and I for one do not intend to lose everything when it does.

- Warlord Jasper Ladjeer, Belcoast, Year 5837

Warlord Jasper Ladjeer

Of all the warlords, Ladjeer has the most contact with other nations. He also rules the biggest city of the Seven Army Nation. Due to the location of Belcoast, a big part of the trade with the outside world goes through it. Especially trade with the Kyzian Empire to the south.

Patryk Vazzir? Well, I could tell you some stories about him, but discretion demands that I divulge nothing of my clients. But you might ask Jack, he ought to know...

- Natalia Blackhorn

Warlord Patryk Vazzir

Vazzir is quickly approaching 70 years, so he was already old, when he led the revolution in 5845 that pulled Laketower from the clutches of Starkhold and made him the 9th warlord, shortly after Eric Bane became the 8th. After liberating Laketower, he has been exactly the opposite of what he was during the revolution. Passive, composed and alliance-seeking.

Elisabeth is a beaut' no doubt about it, but if you think she does her thinking on her own, you need a reality check or a visit to the clerics. So if you want to know what she is up to, you need to figure out who pulls the strings, otherwise you will never know.

- Jack

Warlord Elisabeth Grimflower

Holding the eastern flank of the Seven Army Nation, Grimflower has been in charge of Highdale for more than two decades. For years now, she has been trying to convince the other warlords to form a new nation, led by a council, composed of the nine warlords.

If there is one almost honest man amongst all the warlords, it's the thrice-damned José Stark. He even does his own beheadings, for crying out loud.

- Jack

Warlord José Stark

Shrew, crafty and somewhat honorable, José sees himself as the only possibility amongst the warlords as a future king, or at least as the father of the next king. He is a proud man, and claims his bloodline goes more than 10.000 years back, to the first men of Gemnos, but no one alive can disprove that claim, so it might be a cheap one. It is however common knowledge that his family is old and that Starkhold is named after his family, as they were nobles back when it was founded, many years before the Demon Wars.

Stark is generally liked by the populace he rules over, but at the end of the day, he is still a dictator.

It's weird. Nobody speaks ill of Sophie Ran. Not out of fear, and not out of love. The people of Ironville seem fairly content, without being ecstatic about her leadership. Her soldiers see her as a good leader, without her impressing. She seems to have neither allies nor enemies. And that my lords, scares me more than anything else. No one becomes warlord without either.

- Warlord Patryk Vazzir, Laketower, Year 5847

Warlord Sophie Ran

For more than 10 years, Sophie Ran has been in charge of Ironville Crossing. When the former warlord died, she emerged from the pack of contenders and took the mantle of warlord without even shedding a single drop of blood. Since then, Ironville has been running smoothly and increasing it's influence, both in other cities and in the surrounding towns.

Warlord Grik Clogmark

I wonder how the history will remember me? The first gnome warlord? A strategic genius? The one that brought the gnome race to the center stage. Or perhaps as a monster that exterminated everyone that stood between himself and the power he wanted. Only time will tell, but I think, I know - Muhahahaha...

- Grik Clogmark, in a rare moment of honesty, Rosewall, Year 5778

Warlord Grik Clogmark

The only of the original warlords left, Grik is also the only non-human warlord. Ruling in Rosewall for a bit more than 100 years, things are exactly how he wants them to be. Most of the other warlords fear him, but none have dared attack him for decades, as the history books clearly show that doing so is inviting doom.

Unlike Warlord Tyril Kayzar, who keeps his obsession with Eletha a secret, Grik never hid the fact that he wants the elf for himself. Although depending on his mood, you might be tempted to think that he wants to own or even eat her.

Warlord Tyril Kayzar

To say the Warlord is obsessed with Eletha is an understatement. His private room, which no one but him and his servants see, is full of statues and paintings in her likeliness. He has even spent years and thousands of gold pieces not only learning perfectly inflected elven, but also collecting elven artifacts and learning everything about elven history.
- Former servant of Tyril Kayzar, Highmeadow, the day before he disappeared, Year 5838

Warlord Tyril Kayzar
Ruling Highmeadow for more than two decades, Tyril Kayzar has his aging eyes set on several things. Aside from the alleged obsession with Eletha, the Elven Queen, Kayzar has wanted to take over Lockhurst and especially the Dragonlake, with the Arcane Academy for many years. He sees the magic university as the key for a bid to rule all of the Seven Army Nation.

For too long my people have been forced to live in exile in the mountains. For too long my proud brothers have been forced to live in caves instead of palaces. For too long have we been considered monsters and killed on sight. Make me your chieftain and it will stop. I will unite all tribes and march on the humans. I will crush their armies and force them to acknowledge the Kingdom of Orcs, side by side with the human kingdoms. This I swear, by Orcus.

- Xuk the Destroyer, somewhere in the Dragon Mountains, Year 5838

Xuk the Destroyer

West of the Seven Army Nation lies mountains and hills filled with orcs. The most known of those are chieftain Xuk, called the Destroyer. The orcs believe he is destined to lead them down the mountains and into human lands.

The Three

I am not sure the Three have ever existed. They are like a boogeyman, a scary story you tell kids, so that they do not do wrong. "Go to bed, or the Three will send someone to take you away from your mother" - pfft. I mean, one thing is that the idea that a green, a black and a blue dragon might have been hiding in Oakwood for hundreds of years, without ever being seen, is not just silly, but downright ludicrous. But the idea that they have been working together, plotting and scheming just shows that you either aren't terrible bright, or you know nothing about dragons.

- Marquan the sage, Rosewall, Year 5832

More bad things get attributed to the Three than to anything. They (assuming they exist) have become the scapegoat of almost any unexplained occurrence in the central part of the Seven Amy Nation, especially near Oakwood.

Virgins. Nothing tastes better than a virgin bathed in the sweat of fear. Aside from a righteous paladin cooked in his plate armor. Mmmm. Just speaking of them make me hungry. Maybe it is time for a little afternoon snack. Any volunteers?

- Balerion, Year 5709

Balerion the Red Menace

As soon as the Second Demon War ended, Balerion moved in and took over a large area east of the Dragon Mountains. The humanoid tribes who arrived later were quickly subdued and forced into worship of the great red dragon. For a century, Balerion terrorized the area and was like a god for the tribes who lived there. The Seven Army Nation had to halt their progress eastward out of fear of the dragon. Now, it's been 77 years since anyone has seen the red master.

At the age of 14, Natalia decided to kickstart her demonic powers. She dragged her own little-sister Angelica to an altar she had built in the forest, and sacrificed her there. She cut out her own sister's heart and ate it! Can you imagine just how sick in your mind and soul, you would have to be to do something like that? Oh how I failed, Lathander, please forgive me, for I could not know.

- Amina, mother of Angelica and Natalia, near Oakwood, Year 5730

Natalia Blackhorn

Ever since coming into her power, Natalia has been obsessed about one thing and one thing only. Starting the Third Demon War. Or at least, that is what the stories will have you believe. Even though perceived as evil, many men and women of power hire her to summon and question creatures from Hell in order to get the upper hand against whomever they compete against.

The Dragon Mother... What a scary name for such a little girl. I mean, what is up with that? And does she have everyone over at that damn church enspelled or what? She shows out of the blue, a street-kid of 17 years, and 2 years later, she is behaving like the queen of all worshippers.

- Warlord Jasper Ladjeer, Belcoast, Year 5845

The Dragon Mother

Called Mother most of the time, the high priestess of the Twins might look like a young girl and a pretty face, but the moment you see her eyes, you no longer have doubts. The black-haired, pretty-faced girl with the teasing mouth sitting in front of you might look like an adolescent's wet dream, but she runs the biggest church within 2000 miles with an iron fist and shrewdness normally attributed to those much older than her.

The Arcane Academy shall be a place of acceptance, where anyone with the aptitude can find solace and peace and avoid being hunted by ignorance and fear. No one shall ever be turned away. Instead we shall strive to teach the right moral and ethics to those of power.

- Archmage Marlin, at the opening of the Arcane Academy, Year 5789

Marlin the Archmage

Marlin has been advising the Lockhurst warlords for more than 90 years, yet he is still by all accounts a young man. Some call him the power behind the throne, others call him a madman, but he is definitely the man who convinced the seven warlords to make a permanent alliance. Nowadays he spends most of his time as leading the Arcane Academy, which he founded himself. The Academy is located on an alleged magical island in the middle of Dragon Lake.

One day I will rule the world. I will raise armies of undead and they will sweep across the land, sack the cities of the living and replenish my armies. And because I have been here, I will save this place for last, but in the end, you will all bow before me and call me: Master.

- 11 year old Krakas on his first and last day at the Arcane Academy, Year 5811

Krakas the Dark

For many years, Krakas has operated out of Highmeadow, where he helps Warlord Tyril Kayzar rule. He is a necromancer of exceptional skills, and uses them to bolster the army of Highmeadow. The undead scare the common people, but most soldiers have gotten used to them by now. Those that can not, usually never last long.

Civilization is the bane of nature. Man builds but in the process destroys what the Twins have given us. There must be a balance again, at all cost, or we as a race will not survive. Sometimes walls need to be torn down in order to make us stronger.

- John Greenclover, village of Manhurst, year 5808

John Greenclover

Widely acknowledged to be the senior druid in the central area of the Seven Army Nation, John Greenclover is both well known and an enigmatic figure. Old, but with a youthful appearance, the half-elf hermit rarely surfaces near urban areas. A self-professed protector of nature, he will go to great length when protecting what he holds dear.

Jack knows!

- Common saying in just about every city in the Seven Army Nation.

Jack, the King in the Shadows

Jack, One-Eyed Jack, King Jack, King Shadow. The little halfling with an eye-patch certainly has many names and an even bigger reputation. If you believe just half the stories attributed to him, he lost his eye when he succeeded in cheating in cards playing against Mask himself, and no matter what happens where, the information always finds it way back to Jack.

In reality... well, things would be no fun, if everyone knew the truth, but Jack runs Laketower and a nation-wide thieves guild, the Short Brothers, usually called the Brothers.

Warlord Eric Bane

When Eric Bane enters a room, even the shadows become silent and subdued.

- First Sergeant Viggot, Freyholm, Year 5845, a few days before he was hanged for desertion.

Eric Bane

Named after the god, Eric Bane, warlord and ruler of Freyholm, is a man of many names and few words. Called the Dark Crusader behind his back, he is feared and adored by both soldiers and populace. His unyielding quest to rid the world of magic, undead and demons both scare and excite.

Eric Bane is one of the two extra warlords, after he sparked a rebellion in Freyholm and "liberated" it from the grasp of Warlord Jasper Ladjeer of Belcoast in 5845, just four years ago. Since then, Eric Bane has been busy, and rid both the city of Freyholm and the surrounding area of magic-users and other magical beings.

Kammel? The old man might still have the biggest army and rule one of the biggest cities and once, his dream of a united kingdom instead of the 7AN might have been realistic. But he is getting old and his dream is quickly fading before the realities of the world. The question is only whether he will die before his dream..

-Warlord Sophie Ran, Ironville Crossing, year 5848

Warlord Enry Kammel

Warlord and ruler of Lockhurst, Enry Kammel is one of the most senior of all the warlords. Approaching 60, he still looks very fit and sharp, but his age is beginning to show.

For years, Kammel has been the glue holding the strategic alliance of the 9 warlords together. But while doing that, he has never hidden the fact that he believes everyone, warlords and people alike, would be better off with changing the 7AN into a nation, a kingdom ruled by the best and fairest of the warlords.

Seen as generally fair and just by most of his soldiers, the general populace under his rule tend to see him as harsh and unbending.

Cyric, the Prince of Shadows

The other gods? I laugh at them. They may think they have power, but in reality, they only have what I give them. I rule the Underworld and all souls pass through me.

-Cyric to an anonymous devil. 

Cyric
Neutral (evil)
Cyric is like Bahamut and Bane not an aspect of the Twins. What he is or was has been long forgotten, but nowadays he is the god of death and the dead. He rules the Underworld and, at least according to his clergy, where the souls of all who die go afterwards.

Tenants

• All souls eventually go to the Underworld
• He who controls the souls, control life
• Everybody dies
• Dying is a choice

Looks

• Grey cloaks with a silver lining

Last Rites

• Blessed is he whose soul leaves Gemnos. Blessed is he whose soul travels to Cyric, to bask in his dark glory. 

Organization

• Cyric has the strongest presence in large cities
• His clerics often perform mercy-killings
• The Church has a radical wing, which thinks that anyone who might die soon, might as well die immediately. They call themselves the Bringers of Death. 
• Cyric's clerics either have the knowledge, trickery or death domain. The Church also has a significant number of paladins with the oath of vengeance. 

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Combat demons and devils, or they will steal Cyric's souls.
• Never raise the dead.

Requirements of the faithful

• Never make a deal involving your soul. Your soul belongs to Cyric.
• Pay 10% of all income to the church.

Holy days

• 8th day of the 5th cycle
• 34th day of the 10th cycle

Holy Places

• 
  

Bahamut the Savior

... and as Bahamut died tied to the burning pole, his soul took form and left the mortal body as smoke. As it rose towards Heaven, the smoke took form of a great wyrm, and the inhabitants of Varioz knelt before it's magnificent glory.

- The Origin of Bahamut, by various unknown authors

Bahamut the Savior
(Lawful) Good

Bahamut is the god of justice, honor family and all things good. Depicted both as an angel, a dragon and a halfling, he is a very popular god in modern day Gemnos.

Tenants

• Do not ask of others, what you can do yourself 
• Be honorable, be just. To everyone. 
• Raise your sons so they become better than you. 
• Shield your family from all evil. 
• There is one, and only one god. 

Looks

• Red cloaks with platinum dragon

Last Rites 

• Followers of Bahamut are burnt on a funeral pyre of wood, just like Bahamut himself was burnt at the stake.

Organization 

• Clerics of Bahamut can choose the knowledge, war or life domain. The church of Bahamut also has a lot devotion paladins.
• Despite the legacy left by Bahamut, the church is very fractured. The Church has 3 large fractions. The Resurrected, the Platinum Knights and the Followers of the One God.
• The Resurrected is the oldest fraction, who believe the will of Bahamut must come to the world through good example and preaching.
• The Platinum Knights are a militant fraction that believe that in order for the will of Bahamut to spread throughout the world, evil must be purged from Gemnos.
• The Followers of the One God is the last and newest fraction. They believe fervently that Bahamut is not only the only god worth worshiping, he is literally the only god. All other gods are demons in disguise, and those who worship them are either deluded and must repent or die.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins 

• Never ask of others what you can do by yourself.
• Father at least one son. Teach him all you know.
• Never refuse to help someone who asks for help.
• Give everyone a second chance.

Requirements of the faithful

• 5% of all you earn goes to the church
• Once per year, you offer your services to the church

Holy days

• 27th day, 7th cycle
• 18th day, 9th cycle

Holy Places

• Where Bahamut was burnt (TBA)

Bane the Dominator

Only humans are made to rule. All other races were created to serve... or to die.
-Bane

Bane the Dominator
Evil

Bane is the god of humans, perfection, domination and war. One of three gods that does not derive from the original twins, Bane is according to some a fallen angel, according to others an angel ascended to godhood. He is a very popular god amongst humans and due to the dogma of his church, he is often the only one worshipped in a given city or nation.
Bane is, according to the new gods and their followers, the absolute ruler of Hell. All devils and demons follow him and his Seven Lords of Hell. The irony of a god that believes in the supremacy of the human race being ruler of all devils and demons is not lost on those outside the faith.

Tenants:

• Be human, be perfect.
• Work hard, every day, towards your goals.
• Work with those who bow before you, wage war on those who do not

Looks

• Clerics of Bane wear black garbs and armor with red bloodstains.

Last Rites

• Followers of Bane are decapitated and buried naked with their weapon of choice.

Organization

• Clerics of Bane belong to one of two fractions of the church. The Black Fist, which preaches that Banites ought to lead the human race, and that all other races should serve the humans, and the Ebon Crusaders, which is even more radical and extremist. They believe that their mandate to lead is god-given and that only humans should exist. All other races should be exterminated. They are banned from most civilized areas, but run the Ebon Empire.
• Tempels of Bane usually have two sections. An upper section, which consists solely of columns, a roof (ie no walls) and an altar. The other section is below ground, and consists of everything from personal rooms to dungeons. Chambers for fighting and sparring are also common.
• Clerics of Bane are expert summoners of demons and devils. They are also widely regarded as the foremost experts on anything related to the demons and devils.
• Clerics of Bane have either the war, knowledge or tempest domain. The church also has a significant number of oathbreaker paladins.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Be physically perfect
• Be ruthless, never hesitate
• Amass power and wealth and use it in the name of Bane
• Ensure human rule
• Always head the denizens of Hell. They are the voice of Bane.

Requirements of the faithful

• Serve the church for 3 years.
• Pay 15% of all earnings to the church

Holy days

• 4th day of the 1st cycle
• 20th day of the 4th cycle

Holy Places

• Where the leader of the Ebon Empire first appeared (TBA)

Torax the Moon

Torax, my brother, my son, my husband. Know that despite the madness hidden beneath your infinite calm, I love you still.

-Nira, allegedly

Torax the Moon
Lawful

Torax is the moon god, but also the god of divinations, hunting, lycanthropes, healing, death. Often depicted as a sly-looking slender white male, Torax is, just like Nira, mostly worshipped in the rural areas and by primitive people. In the ancient times, Torax worshippers were known for their pyramids stained by the blood of many sacrifices.

Tenants

• Control the beast, then unleash it.
• The truth and future is hidden in the blood.
• Cooked or traded flesh are for others
• Lycanthropes are holy creatures, the children of Torax

Looks

• Grey cloaks, large iron chains with moon-circle of iron

Last Rites

• Heart is removed (and eaten or burnt) before burial in ground.

Organization

• The church of Torax is very civilized and rural these days. Their priests mainly serve as advisors of small farming communities. It used to be very different. Torax was just called To, and the primitive, primal worship involved human sacrifices, cannibalism and mating with lycanthropes. But those days are long gone.
• The clerics of Torax have either the nature, knowledge, trickery or death domain.
• The church also has a number of oath of the ancient paladins.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Pray that the moon rises (at sundown)
• Sacrifice blood, every day
• Only eat raw flesh that you have caught yourself
• Advise the flok
• Bury the dead, leading them back to Torax

Requirements of the faithful

• Once per cycle, spend a night of meditation, outside, under the moon.

Holy days

• 36th day, 2nd cycle
• 1 day, 10th cycle

Holy Places

• TBA

Nira the Sun

Nira is my daughter, my wife and my sister. I will love and hate her to the end of time, where I will devour her and darken the world.

-From the Book of Torax

Nira the Sun
Chaotic
Nira is the sun goddess as well as goddess of growth, agriculture, farmers and summer. Once worshipped across Gemnos, Nira, who is depicted as a black female wielding a staff and humble robes, is nowadays mostly worshipped in rural areas and amongst primitive people, which also cling to the ancient rituals of blood sacrifice to honor the goddess and amongst quite a few tribes of wood elves.

Tenants: 

• Life is meant to be lived, do not interfere with life.
• Life is sacred, but death is inevitable.
• Strong seed should be spread for strength

Looks

• Golden chain with sun.

Last Rites

• Mounted on a pyre to dry in the sun for 7 days, then burnt

Organization

• Church of Nira is still strong in some rural districts, where the clerics mostly serve as advisors of war, but also with regards to planting crops. They also act as midwives.
• In the old days, when she was called Ni, the clergy was promoting bloody rituals and orgies that lasted for days without end.
• The clerics of Nira have the life, war, nature or life domain.
• The church also have a number of oath of the ancient paladins.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Pray at dawn for the sun to rise
• Spill blood every day
• Lead the flok
• Live life to the fullest, never regret any choices
• Teach the children

Requirements of the faithful

• Serve your god and she will serve you in return.

Holy days

• 1st day of 5th cycle
• 36th day of 7th cycle

Holy Places

• TBA

Mask the Master of Secrets

Even the best friend of a cleric of Mask can not trust a word he says. No matter how much he loves his friend, he will never tell him the truth.
-Ghael Willowwind, year 4857

Mask, the Master of Secrets
Chaotic
Mask is the god(?) of deception, secrets, illusion, thieves and spies. He or she is mostly depicted as a genderless white person with hidden features.

Tenants

• Tell me your secrets, and I will use them for more power.
•  Only fools tell the truth.
• If you have to tell the truth, don't.

Looks

• Usually black garbs and black halfmasks

Last Rites

• Wrapped in black silk and put into the ground in a secret spot without markings

Organization

• The Black Masks is the most common name given to the clerics of Mask
• The Black Network is a unconfirmed, rumored fraction of the church that collects information on a nation-wide scale. 
• The Black Cloaks are the magical assassins of the church of Mask. Or at least, that is the rumor. Noone has ever admitted knowledge of such a group.
• The clerics of Mask have the trickery or the knowledge domain.
• The church of Mask also have some oathbreaker paladins.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Trick others into giving you wealth and power
• Never tell the whole truth
• Never trust an outsider
• Acquire information and pass it on to the Black Network

Requirements of the faithful

• Provide information
• Give 30% of all money acquired with the information provided by the church
• 5% of all earnings

Holy days

• 11th day, 5th cycle
• 22nd day, 10th cycle

Holy Places

• Unknown

Torm the Silent

We can not have chaos. With chaos, everything stops, therefore, chaos must be fought at all costs, on all fronts. I rather put a city that has fallen into chaos  to the sword, than risk that is contaminates other cities of the Empire.
-High Imprecator Julius Maccra, Year 4298

Torm the Silent
Lawful

Torm is the god of protection and also of honor, justice, practicality and paladins. His clerics (and paladins) are often used as judges and otherwise to settle disputes. While his clerics aren't silent, they are however usually reserved and prone to think (alot) before talking. Some say that is because they are dim, but most know it is because they tend to make sure they have considered all sides of the matter before they speak or act.

Tenants

• Without truth, there is chaos. Without justice, there is chaos. Without honor, there is chaos. There must be no chaos.

Looks

• Armor ?

Last Rites

• Followers of Torm are buried in complete silence, in the dead of night

Organization

• Clerics of Torm have the knowledge or war domain.
• The church of Torm also has a lot of devotion and vengeance paladins 
• The most common fraction of Tormites are the Truthseekers. 
• The Crusaders of the Silent God, an ancient wing of the church of Torm  that held a lot of power in the old days, waged war on just about any nation that didn't live up to the rigid structure of the church. Today, they still exist in small cells. The Crusaders believe falsehoods and lies are destroying the world and that those who wield them as weapons need to be killed. Obviously they do not play well with the church of Mask, amongst others.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Must be chaste
• Must never accept a bribe
• Must always speak the truth
• Work against change

Requirements of the faithful

• Always speak the truth
• Pay 5% of all earnings

Holy days

• 11th day, 2nd cycle
• 21st day, 2nd cycle

Holy Places

• TBA

The study of magic is not a science it's not an art, it's not a religion. Magic is a craft. When we do magic, we do not wish and we do not pray. We rely on our will and our knowledge and our skill to make a specific change to the world.

-Archibald the Wizard, Year 5794, Dragonlake

Mystra the Arcanist

Lawful

Mystra is the goddess of magic and also of music, arts, mages, arcane and knowledge. She is depicted as a white woman, red hair, wielding a staff.

Tenants

• Magic is everywhere and everything. It creates order and structure out of nothing.


• Strive for knowledge for knowledge will show the way forth.


• Judge not people based on social rank, but instead on what they have accomplished.

Other

• Clerics of Mystra's position in the clergy can be surmised by the number of stars on their neck and cheek. An initiate has one star, the high priest has seven stars..

War is brutal, but necessary.

-Tempus

Tempus the Warmonger

Chaotic

Tempus is the god of the sword, of war. He is also the god of courage, independence and fighters. He is depicted as a black male wearing a plate armor and a great-axe.

Tenants

• War, peace and freedom. Those are three sides to the same coin.


• Live by the sword, die by the sword.


• Blessed is the man who does not die in his bed.

Other

• Clerics of Tempus have military-like titles, such as priest-captain, priest-general etc.

It is not that I worship the Stormbringer, lads. She is a bitch of a goddess and I disagree with everything she stands for. But what kind of fool ventures out on the ocean without paying her some respect.

-Captain Yerrick, last words he ever said on firm soil.

Umberlee the Stormbringer

Chaotic

Umberlee is the goddess of the sea, storms, winds, lightning, sailors, autumn and rebirth. She is capricious and unpredictable. She is depicted as a white woman with lightning bolts on her cheeks.

Tenants

• There is nothing like the sea.


• Salt are the tears of gods, in crystallized form.


• Take what is yours.


• Show no pity, just like a storm would show no pity.


• Be like lightning. Quick, decisive, yet unpredictable.


• Destruction is a glorious thing.

Other

• Clerics of Umberlee wear skin-tight blue or green body stocking worn with a voluminous cape trimmed with white fur that represents foaming breakers.


• They bury their dead at the sea, or if that is not possible, covered in salt.

Erathis says "built to last". But the Wall of Gemnos was built over 65 years by more than a million men. And it still crumbled before the dragons.

-The Three, year unknown, place unknown.

Erathis, the Builder

Lawful
Erathis is the god of the land, but also of  structure, civilization, crafting, learning, sages, inventors, lawmakers. He is depicted as an aging, but strong black man with a greying beard.

Tenants

• Built to last.
• Bring civilization everywhere with you, in your heart.
• Knowledge is power.
• The Law must be obeyed.
• Creating something can never be bad.
• Community and order are always stronger than individuals.

Looks

• Grey cloaks with scales and a hammer. It is impossible to distinguish a high priest from an acolyte.

Last Rites

• Followers of Erathis are buried in carefully constructed mausoleums or at least in permanent structures.

Organization

• Erathis has the strongest presence in large cities
• His clerics are often used as judges and final arbiters of the law.
• The Church has is divided into two wings, the Inquisitors and the Arbiters. The Arbiters are focused on making the world a better place, by expanding civilization and applying it everywhere. They are by far the most common type of Erathis priest encountered. The Inquisitors belong to a group of the church that believes that lies destroy civilization. They do not have an official branch, but instead operate within the church or clandestinely for hire, purging the world of lies.
• Erathis' clerics all have the knowledge domain. The Church also has a significant number of paladins with the oath of devotion.

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Be patient
• Build, create
• Resist change

Requirements of the faithful

• 15% of all you earn goes to the church
• Once per year, you must help build/create something that will last

Holy days

• 6th day, 8th cycle
• 34th day, 2nd cycle

Holy Places

• The Great Wall
• Every other impressive man-made building

As far as I know, I am the only person alive outside the clergy of the Raven Queen to see a death dancer and survive. I saw him, at least I think it was a him, in a mirror, through a crappy window, and yet, I am still lame in my left leg, 27 years later.

-Sam Good-Luck the halfling, year 5787 in Ironville

The Raven Queen

Chaotic

The Raven Queen, whose name has never been, is the god of death, fate, luck, unluck, thieves and assassins. The Raven Queen is most commonly depicted as a black-skinned woman wearing a black mask and black raven wings.

Tenants

• Death comes to all.


• What will be, will be.


• Say her name and die.


• Noone escapes the death dancers.

Other

• The clerics of the Raven Queen always wear black masks.


• Dead buried by the clerics of the Raven Queen are swept in black silk before put into the ground.

When I stand before Pelor, in his mighty halls, I hope that I can say that I have no talents left, that I gave everything he gave me at birth.

-Unknown saying from before the Second Demon War.

Pelor, the Bringer of Life

Lawful

Pelor is the god of life and also the god of fertility, birth, rebirth and destiny. He is usually depicted as a old white man with a beard, wearing simple clothes.

Tenants

• All things most live, but how they live is theirs to choose.


• Children are everything.


• Children are sacred, no matter what.


• Structure trumphs chaos.


• Life is only life, if you lead it the right way.

Other

• Clerics of Pelor wear

From the depths of her Ice Palace, secluded and hidden away from the eyes of men, most people think the Frostmaiden rules both hearts and lives of all on Gemnos. This is however a lie. Auril is a lie and all that follow her will one day see the truth.
-The Raven Queen, in the Raven Book, page 459

Auril, the Frostmaiden

Lawful
Auril is the goddess of ice and cold, but also of death, sorrow, cold, winter and abstinence. She is depicted as a platinum-blond woman with ice-blue eyes.
Tenants

• Like fragile ice anger passes away in time.
• Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way: Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on, And see the dangers that we cannot shun.
• Cold is the eternal death.
• Keep cold, always.

Other

• Clerics of Auril are called icepriests and icepriestesses.
• They wear white robes with a hint of pale blue.
• Icepriests freeze the bodies of those that they bury.
• Important worshippers are sometimes encased in eternal ice and thus preserved forever in the state they died.

Set a man on fire, and he will be warm the rest of his life.

- Rh'lor Ashbringer, year 5839, Belcoast

Kossuth, the Scorching King

Chaotic

R'hlor the Scorching King is the god of fire and also the god of war, destruction, passion, love, sex and fighters. Depicted as a naked black man on fire,

Tenants/sayings

• Fire is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.


• Burn, burn them all


• Cleanse by fire, not sword, not words.


• Wage war for your beliefs.

Other

• A radical sect of worshippers of Kossuth are called Black Flame Zealots


• Clerics wear bright red, yellow and orange robes.


• Ceremonies always involve the burning of something living.

Everyone is like Torax. They lie about it, but they all have a dark side they never show.

- Marcus Twayn, Pre-Second Demon War.

Shar, the Black Empress

Lawful

Shar is the goddess of the night, of the darkness, but also of magic, mistresses, undead, witchcraft, misery, sorrow and assassins. She is mostly depicted as a raven-haired pale but extremely beautiful woman in flowing black robes, wearing a half-mask.

Tenants

• The will of the Empress is best done in the darkness.


• Without light, there can be no darkness.


• Bad things happen to all, the strong harness the misery and sorrow and it makes them stronger.

Other

• Clerics of Shar wear all black robes.


• High priests are called Nightbringers.


• Ceremonies are conducted during the night.

And as the Arakus the Morninglord entered the temple, the darkness dissipated and the undead fled from the nimbus of light surrounding him, screaming in terror, much like their victims usually do. I had never heard such a sound before, and I suspect I never will again...

- William Bonegrinder, year 5701

Lathander, the White Lord

Chaotic

Lathander is the god of Light, Rebirth, Beauty, Dawn, Truth and Spring. Mostly depicted as a black man with a full beard and a halo, Lathander is the bringer of Light in Gemnos.

Just as it is with many other gods, the interpretations of the god's cryptic words has created several fractions amongst the church. The most common faction are just strongly opposed to undead. They dedicate their life to the eradication of all things undead. When they do not do that, they bless newborns, prepare new parents for what will come and also often act as judges. There is another fraction called the Order of Holy Light, that believe that man should never be called back from the dead, so they never raise the dead. And while paladins are very common amongst both factions, there is also a paladin-only faction, that have taken the words of Lathander to the extreme. The Will of Lathander, as they call themselves, believe that getting raised is an affront to their god, and on top of fighting undead, they also hunt those who have been raised by the dead. Of course, the Church of Lathander denies that such a faction even exists. But rumors persist.

Tenants

• Undeads should not exist.
• Death and truth should never be tampered with.
• Make sure the dead never rise again.

Other

• Clerics of Lathander are called Dawn Priests.
• High priests are called Morninglords.
• All religious ceremonies performed in Lathander's name are performed at dawn.
• Morninglords wear golden ribbons.
• Temples to Lathander are always circular, built without a roof (so that the light can always shine on it's dawn priests),  with an altar in the middle.
• A common greeting used by Dawn Priests and other worshipers is: May his light shine on you, brother.

The Twins

We are the Sun and Moon

We are Man and Woman

We are Black and White

We are Light and Darkness

We are Fire and Ice

We are the Land and the Sea

We are Truth and Deception

We are the Sword and the Magic

We are Life and Death

We are the Twins

We are everything

-The Twins, allegedly written on the Tyrabor Rock more than 10.000 years ago.

The Twins

Neutral

The Twins are the beginning and the end. The twin entity covers all aspects of life from life to death. Because of the broadness of the portfolio, the focus of individual churches can sometimes (often) differ a lot.

Because of their place in the history of Gemnos, it is not uncommon for followers of the Twins to see themselves as leaders of communities or advisors to those who lead. "For Gemnos" is a common saying amongst it's clergy.

Tenants

• What is good for Gemnos is good for us.
• The Twins are the only gods of Gemnos
• Pity those that does not follow, for they know not, what they do.

Looks

• Brown, simple robes.
• Symbol: circle, yellow on one side, grey on other
• Necklace with links shows how high in the hierarchy a priest is.
  • Iron, brass, bronze, copper, silver, gold, platinum.

Last Rites

• Buried at either sunrise or sunset in the earth of Gemnos. 

Organization

• A priest with a platinum necklace runs the biggest church of the empire.
• A priest with a gold necklace runs the biggest church of the kingdom.
• A priest with a silver necklace runs the biggest church of a metropolis.
• A priest with a copper necklace runs the biggest church of a big city
• A priest with a bronze necklace runs the biggest church of a city
• A priest with a brass necklace runs the biggest church of a village
• A priest with an iron necklace runs a shrine

Requirements of the clerics and paladins

• Seek influence to steer Gemnos in the right direction.
• Offer guidance to those who seek it.
• Pray at sunrise and sunset.
• Pay 15% of all income to the church

Requirements of the faithful

• Pay 10% of all income to the church
• Attend temple at least 5 times per season.

Holy days

• 45th day of winter
• 45th day of summer

Holy Places

• The Grand Temple in Belcoast
• Tyrabor Rock
• The Twin Rocks at the Great Crevasse