ANDAR
Introduction including physical description.
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COMMON KNOWLEDGE
The pale-skinned humans that established this realm were explorers from an empire far to the south of Kodo. Their ships landed in the southeast over 400 years ago, and as the Kodo Empire was struggling, it didn’t take long for the Andarans to establish themselves. The Akado of the Blackscar Valleys welcomed the more martial Andarans and soon trade for the Andarans' steel weapons and armor was underway. Eventually, Akadoans in the north of the region (along the Blackscar Mountain valleys) adopted the Andaran Pantheon too, (use Greyhawk deities) turning their backs on The Overpower.
After remaining strong for several centuries, and surviving a war with the Magocracy of Kodo 27 years ago, the Holy Realm was swept aside in a very short war that ended only one year ago.
For years, residents feared that the realm’s lack of knowledge of arcane magic would be its downfall. But invasion did not come from the Magocracy of Kodo, their long time neighbour and part time enemy; the invasion swept in from the east. The Andarans called the invaders The Shoguns, but that is a term for their leaders. The people are the Rokugani. Highly skilled martial leaders led a force of living construct soldiers backed up with casters that used elemental magic to great effect. The king was cast down and Shogun magistrates now rule Andar in honour of their distant, unnamed emperor in the east.
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REGIONAL FEATURES
Bay of Andar
This is the informal name given to the large bay where the Andaran people have settled. The waters here are also called Emerald Bay which is a translation of what Akado people called it due to its rich green waters.
Daethal Sands
The desert formed from a dried out bay in the southwest of the realm. Home to desert dwarves and the lizardfolk called the ziggur.
Eldoria
Capital city. Port.
Gola River
Forms the western border with the Magocracy of Kodo. Many ibisil live along its banks.
Khun-Drukar
Dwarven city in Tormarr Mountains. (Detailed in and adapted from Dungeon Magazine #142).
The Lake of Birds (Ziwa la Ndege)
Large lake on the northeaster border. Has a large ibisil population.
Silverstream Weald
Forest at the southern verge of the Tormarr Mountains. Home to elves.
Sunken Coast
The southwest coastline where the Daethal Sands spill into the sea.
Tormarr Mountains
(Detailed in and adapted from Dungeon Magazine #142).
The Vale
A sheltered valley in the southeast Tormarr.
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PEOPLE OF REALM
Andaran humans are the pale-skinned people that have called this home for 400 years. Andarans tend to be passionate and emotional people, with a strong work ethic. They are however reclusive by nature and have tried to live in isolation of the realms around them, thinking that a 'hands-off' approach would not make them a target. Most Andarans are excellent riders, as the horses they brought to Kodo are exceptional steeds.
Model culture: standard D&D/Medieval England.
Rokugani humans have narrow eyes, pale skin tones and dark hair. They a few in number, but rule as local lords in most important Andaran centres. Many Andarans have accepted their new rulers, as they are an honourable people, but many (especially noble families stripped of their lands) resent the new lords. The Rokugani are even more technologically advanced than the Andarans, forging weapons of the finest steel and warrior constructs.
Model Culture: the clans of Rokugan.
Warforged make up the bulk of the foot soldiers of the Rokugani army. Warforged are innately loyal to the Shoguns. They were constructed in the east and infused with the souls of samurai and other great warriors.
Some find it odd that the largest concentration of dwarves in the Kodo region is not in the Blackscar Mountains. It is common history that the mountains were the dwarves' ancestral home, but they left them thousands of years ago, dividing into the groups that are left today. The Tormarr Mountains have long been the homeland of a branch of the dwarven race. Many mountain dwarf holds and small kingdoms have remained autonomous throughout the Andaran reign and now struggle to do so against the Shoguns.
There are also desert dwarves and muls found in the south of the kingdom. This branch of dwarves made the Daethel Sands and Sunken coast their homeland and have adapted to the harsh conditions there. Through intermixing with humans, the mul lineage was created and the two live alongside each other. Rare desert dwarves and muls find work on southern farms or in southern cities.
Forest elves have always dwelt in small numbers within the many forests of the Kodo region. Within Andar, they mixed very well with the Andarans and regarded them as kin. This led to many half-elf children. The elves took to the horses introduced by the Andarans too. The elves fought on the side of the Andarans in the recent war. Having lost, most have retreated to hidden enclaves in the forests.
Many Akado humans, that have always called this land home, live amongst the Andarans. Manyhave assimilated into Andaran society, including using steel weapons and worshipping the same deities. There are actually three main sub-groups of Akadoans within Andara:
- The Pembe Nyeusi who came to Andara as refugees, fleeing the Kodo mages who experimented upon them by mixing their bloodlines with those of fiends, hence their name that means 'black horns'. Several people do have black horns or orange eyes and around 10% are actual tieflings. Found mostly in the west and central parts, they mostly live in the poorer parts of larger cities. They have a dislike of water.
- The short, sable-skinned Simbazi were the first Akadoans to come into contact with the Andarans, so they have liveed amongst them the longest. The Simbazi say their ancestors were lions and other large cats and they bear an affinity for such animals. The mostly live in the southwest including throughout the Daethal Sands. Simbazi are renowned trackers and rangers.
- The Umoja are a very martial people and were already working iron before the Andarans arrived. They have embraced the chivalry and metal arms and armour of those people. The Umoja are a people from the northern foothills. They have exaggerated facial features, such as large almond eyes, broad noses and large ears.
Ibisils typically live close to the two large rivers that flow through or form the border of Andar, with a particularly large population living on the shores of the northeastern lake, The Lake of Birds. The are intermixed with locals that also live on the water.
Sea elves live in the Bay of Andar, but frequent many port cities of the Andarans. They have their own rulers, but have an alliance with Andar (and have recently negotiated to keep this with the Rokugani). The two cultures remain distinct, but still intermix to a degree.
Warforged are found wherever their Rokugani masters require them. They are a clear underclass of the Rokugani and act as its main army, serving as guards, patrols, city watch and peacekeepers where they must.
Ziggur (lizardfolk) live happily alongside the desert dwarves of the Daethal Sands, but as a curious people, many have spread into and live with the humans of south Andar.
ADVENTURERS
Most likely adventurers in the realm.
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GROUPS & ORGANISATIONS
Name
Description
GAME MECHANICS
Class & Concept Options
- List any relevant classes/subclasses/kits/archetypes/feats/etc that suit the organisation.
Name
Description
GAME MECHANICS
Class & Concept Options
- List any relevant classes/subclasses/kits/archetypes/feats/etc that suit the organisation.