Shifty
04-05-2011, 10:28 PM
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5783/kesareen.png
The Island of Kesareen is a large island, bisected by a jutting, ragged mountain range. On one side of the mountains, called the Barrier Ridge, a lush forest flourishes. On the other lies dry desert and plains. The forested side, called Niorset, is an ancient wood, with trees hundreds of feet high and several dozen feet in diameter. Rivers from the Barrier Ridge trickle between the gargantuan trees to the sea beyond. The wooded side of the island is smaller and far hillier than on the desert side, with elevations going from over 30,000 feet to sea level in less than ten miles in some areas. This elevation means that there are very few navigable rivers, as they rush down the hills into the sea, cutting large fjords in the landscape.
On the other side of the Barrier Ridge lies Masi Tiona, “the White Desert”, so called for the nearly pure white sands that cover most of this part of the island. The land here is nearly perfectly flat, allowing someone to see for miles if they are able to find even a small hill. There are only two rivers that flow through MasiTiona; The Duresiel and the Vorovas. Both start close to each other, and eventually flow together to form the Dure’Voro River. As one gets further from the Barrier Ridge, the landscape begins to come to life, as you approach the plains. Here, small woods can be seen, though they are miniscule compared to the massive trees to Niorset. There used to be larger forests, but most have been cut down for lumber by the indigenous people for construction.
The tall, unwelcoming peaks of the Barrier Ridge can be seen from any part of the island. They are home to dark legends and stories, and some of the most dangerous creatures on the island. There are only three paths through the ridge, and each one holds its own dangers. Travel through the ridge puts a person at risk of rockslides, dangerous animals, steep cliffs, and even a few active volcanoes. The most impressive of these volcanoes is Iria Sor, a massive, mile high active volcano, and according to legends when it erupts next, it will signal the end of the age of the Niorsetites and Miorans.
Niorsetites- These people inhabit the forests and hills of Niorset, and are akin to a tree folk. They are short, averaging 5 feet tall, and have light brown complexions. Their hair is usually brown or red, and they almost always have blue or green eyes. They build their cities and villages around the largest trees in the forests. They also inhabit some cities along the coast that are literally cut into the hills and claffs of the fjords. The largest of these coastal cities is Ori, which is a massive city of grey stone set into the cliffs and the capital of the Niorsetites.
Miorans- The Miorans roam Masi Tiona. They have darker complexions than the Niorsetites and blonde hair. Like the Niorsetites, they are usually short, averaging about five and a half feet. They are less unified than the Niorsetites, with several clans that fight over territory, mostly along the Duresiel and Vorovas rivers. The largest city of the Miorans is a sprawling trade center called Unut, set at the merging point of the Vorovas and Duresiels rivers. Most of the buildings are short and made of mud bricks from the river bed.
Buro Tumai “the Mountain People”- A rare and mysterious group that inhabit the Barrier Ridge. They are rarely encountered and little is known of them, but it is said that they are of no relation to the Niorsetites or Miorans, and that they are descended instead from demons. According to stories and legends, they stand over 6 feet tall and have jet black hair and bronze colored skin. They are said to have either red, pure black or pure white eyes. Still, all of this is from legends and stories, and none has been confirmed.
The religion on Kesareen differs from place to place, especially among the Miorans. The most common belief is in two lead gods; Kuruk, who represents the Earth, and his sister Tivi’anai, who represents the heavens. These two gods are the staples of Kesareen religion, but from there the beliefs differ. None of the religious stories or legends are written down. It is all passed on orally, so the head priests and story-tellers must be specially trained to remember all of the tales and testaments. Thus some of the most highly respected people are bards and priests.
Niorsetite- The Niorsetite culture is heavily based on maintaining nature in its pristine form. They consider the greatest tress in the forests to be ancient spirits with unimaginable power, and should the forests be disturbed, then this power will be released, and the Niorsetite people will be punished. Thus most of the cities and villages are built of stone and into the earth itself. Very little, if any, lumber is used. The second largest city of the Niorsetites, after Ori, is Summarak, a massive cave structure built around the roots of the largest tree in Niorset. It stretches for nearly two miles in every direction.
The Niorsetites have a government similar to a parliamentary government. The “mortal” ruler has his capital at Ori, and he controls most earthly affairs. However, he still has to differ to the “parliament”, a religious council called the Great Circle based at Summarak. The Monarch holds absolute power over the living, but there has been more than one occasion when a monarch has declared himself a god, which is against the religious law put down by the Great Circle. These situations usually end in coups d’etat.
Miorans- The Mioran culture is more based on trade than that of the Niorsetites, and there are many different clans and tribes. The Duresiel and Vorovas Rivers are wide and slow, perfect for navigation and trade. Although Unut is the largest city and trade center, Cuirna, a port city located at the mouth of the Dure’Voros, is also important. The Mioran government consists of a council of the leading clans, usually trader families, that come together to mediate disputes and discuss political matters.
The Miorans are much more militaristic than the Niorsetites, and have much less use for religion. Thus, they lack the religious fervor of their counterparts, making them relatively equal on the battlefield. There have been many wars over the most fertile tewrriroty, but four clans maintain the largest territory and armies. The Coroso, who control the headwaters of the Duresiel and Vorovas and most of the highlands near the barrier Ridge; The Mim, who control Unut and most of the surrounding farmland; The Shurav’Imkal, who hold Cuirna and most of the coastland; And the Omool, who have claim over nearly all of the Western grasslands.
All people of Kesareen speak the same language, called Kesar, but there are dozens of dialects, despite the fact that it is written nearly the exact same way everywhere. There are two main dialects spoken by approximately 50% of the population. One is the Mimian dialect, spoken by the Mim, Shurav’Imkal and Omool clans, as well as many smaller Mioran clans. The other is called Huam Aerana, or “Forest Speak”, and is spoken by nearly all of the Niorsetites. Huam Aerana is believed to be able to communicate with the trees themselves, if spoken by a person trained in the holy arts.
Some lesser dialects include:
-Barrien, spoken by the Niorsetites and Miorans near the Barrier Ridge
-Huam Rakall (River Speak), spoken by the Coroso and most of the clans and villages along the Duresiel and Vorovas rivers.
-Huam Tiona (Desert speak), spoken by the nomads of Masi Tiona
The Buro Tumai speak an entirely different language, unimaginatively called Huam Tumai (Mountain Speak) by the other inhabitants on the island.
The History of Kesareen is made of stories passed down orally through generations. Thus, it has changed and become exaggerated over the decades, but the basic message stays the same. The Miorans and Niorsetites were not natives to the land. They came from somewhere far from the island, exiles from their home known as the Kesarans, thus the name of the island. They settled on the island, building two cities on opposite ends; Ori in the land that would become Niorset, and Cuirna in Masi Tiona. Over time the two sides began to drift apart, as they were shaped by the landscape and their new ways of life. Nobody knows when the first “Miorans” or “Niorsetites” called themselves by those names.
What is known is that when the Kesars first settled the island, the beings who would later become the Buro Tumai were already wide spread, but they were few compared to the Kesarans. Great wars ensued, in which the Kesarans fought the Buro Tumai into the Barrier Ridge, where they would forever stay.
There are inconsitencies with this history, the most notable being the construction of Ori and Cuirnas. Both names are not originally Kesar words, and it is impossible that the early settlers, few as they were, were able to construct Ori, with its massive and intricate stone structures carefully carved into the cliff faces of its fjord. Curinas is also interesting, as its architecture is far different than that of later Kesaran villages, such as Unut which is mostly mud brick, as it has massive, 30 foot stone walls that are a dozen feet thick that surrounds the entire Old Ciity, which is also built of stone. It is however very similar in layout and architecture to Ori. This leads some radical and most likely insane scholars to believe that the Buro Tumai built these cities before they were driven into the mountains. Of course, these are wild and impossible notions, as the Buro Tumai are considered barbarians, nothing more than animals.
Miorans- The standard Mioran warrior is outfitted with a large leather round shield, a 7 foot spear, and a scimitar-like sword at their side. They rarely wear armor, as the heat of the desert makes it unbearable, but instead dress in baggy clothes and turbans. The Miorans also heavily utilize archers, which are deadly on the desert flats where no cover is available. As wood is scarce, the bows Are short re-curve bows, the largest being barely 3 feet long. Cavalry is used on occasion, usually camels, as horses die of thirst in the desert.
Niorsetites- The Niorsetites use a very guerilla style of warfare. They use their superior knowledge of the hills and foresets of Niorset to their advantage, confusing, harassing and ambushing enemies. They use primarily short swords and longbows. The bows are made from dead or dying trees only, and can be almost six feet long. Niorsetite archers are very deadly, as they are trained from an early age to navigate the branches and rain arrows down, literally, onto their enemies. Cavalry are unused entirely, but pack animals are used to carry supplies.
Navies-Most of the ships the Niorsetites and Miorans use are trade ships. THe Miorans are the more experienced when it comes to the sea, and have a rather large navy. Those from the island of Amorasia are extremely experenced sailors, able to safely navigate some of the harshest, most dangerous oceans. THe Niorsetites on the other hand still retain some semblance of a naval force, but most of these are ceremonial vessels from the early Kesaran days.
The Miorans and Niorsetites are very simple, and have little use for magic, so very few of them practice any magic. Most of them are afraid of angering their gods by attempting to use what they see as “godly powers” to shape the world. Thus magicians and sorcerers and shunned from society, so most of them keep their practice a secret.
The Buro Tumai are said to use magic openly and with great effect. One legend from the early days talks of a single Buro Tumai mage eliminating and over a hundred Kesaran soldiers in a single fiery blast.
The Island of Kesareen is a large island, bisected by a jutting, ragged mountain range. On one side of the mountains, called the Barrier Ridge, a lush forest flourishes. On the other lies dry desert and plains. The forested side, called Niorset, is an ancient wood, with trees hundreds of feet high and several dozen feet in diameter. Rivers from the Barrier Ridge trickle between the gargantuan trees to the sea beyond. The wooded side of the island is smaller and far hillier than on the desert side, with elevations going from over 30,000 feet to sea level in less than ten miles in some areas. This elevation means that there are very few navigable rivers, as they rush down the hills into the sea, cutting large fjords in the landscape.
On the other side of the Barrier Ridge lies Masi Tiona, “the White Desert”, so called for the nearly pure white sands that cover most of this part of the island. The land here is nearly perfectly flat, allowing someone to see for miles if they are able to find even a small hill. There are only two rivers that flow through MasiTiona; The Duresiel and the Vorovas. Both start close to each other, and eventually flow together to form the Dure’Voro River. As one gets further from the Barrier Ridge, the landscape begins to come to life, as you approach the plains. Here, small woods can be seen, though they are miniscule compared to the massive trees to Niorset. There used to be larger forests, but most have been cut down for lumber by the indigenous people for construction.
The tall, unwelcoming peaks of the Barrier Ridge can be seen from any part of the island. They are home to dark legends and stories, and some of the most dangerous creatures on the island. There are only three paths through the ridge, and each one holds its own dangers. Travel through the ridge puts a person at risk of rockslides, dangerous animals, steep cliffs, and even a few active volcanoes. The most impressive of these volcanoes is Iria Sor, a massive, mile high active volcano, and according to legends when it erupts next, it will signal the end of the age of the Niorsetites and Miorans.
Niorsetites- These people inhabit the forests and hills of Niorset, and are akin to a tree folk. They are short, averaging 5 feet tall, and have light brown complexions. Their hair is usually brown or red, and they almost always have blue or green eyes. They build their cities and villages around the largest trees in the forests. They also inhabit some cities along the coast that are literally cut into the hills and claffs of the fjords. The largest of these coastal cities is Ori, which is a massive city of grey stone set into the cliffs and the capital of the Niorsetites.
Miorans- The Miorans roam Masi Tiona. They have darker complexions than the Niorsetites and blonde hair. Like the Niorsetites, they are usually short, averaging about five and a half feet. They are less unified than the Niorsetites, with several clans that fight over territory, mostly along the Duresiel and Vorovas rivers. The largest city of the Miorans is a sprawling trade center called Unut, set at the merging point of the Vorovas and Duresiels rivers. Most of the buildings are short and made of mud bricks from the river bed.
Buro Tumai “the Mountain People”- A rare and mysterious group that inhabit the Barrier Ridge. They are rarely encountered and little is known of them, but it is said that they are of no relation to the Niorsetites or Miorans, and that they are descended instead from demons. According to stories and legends, they stand over 6 feet tall and have jet black hair and bronze colored skin. They are said to have either red, pure black or pure white eyes. Still, all of this is from legends and stories, and none has been confirmed.
The religion on Kesareen differs from place to place, especially among the Miorans. The most common belief is in two lead gods; Kuruk, who represents the Earth, and his sister Tivi’anai, who represents the heavens. These two gods are the staples of Kesareen religion, but from there the beliefs differ. None of the religious stories or legends are written down. It is all passed on orally, so the head priests and story-tellers must be specially trained to remember all of the tales and testaments. Thus some of the most highly respected people are bards and priests.
Niorsetite- The Niorsetite culture is heavily based on maintaining nature in its pristine form. They consider the greatest tress in the forests to be ancient spirits with unimaginable power, and should the forests be disturbed, then this power will be released, and the Niorsetite people will be punished. Thus most of the cities and villages are built of stone and into the earth itself. Very little, if any, lumber is used. The second largest city of the Niorsetites, after Ori, is Summarak, a massive cave structure built around the roots of the largest tree in Niorset. It stretches for nearly two miles in every direction.
The Niorsetites have a government similar to a parliamentary government. The “mortal” ruler has his capital at Ori, and he controls most earthly affairs. However, he still has to differ to the “parliament”, a religious council called the Great Circle based at Summarak. The Monarch holds absolute power over the living, but there has been more than one occasion when a monarch has declared himself a god, which is against the religious law put down by the Great Circle. These situations usually end in coups d’etat.
Miorans- The Mioran culture is more based on trade than that of the Niorsetites, and there are many different clans and tribes. The Duresiel and Vorovas Rivers are wide and slow, perfect for navigation and trade. Although Unut is the largest city and trade center, Cuirna, a port city located at the mouth of the Dure’Voros, is also important. The Mioran government consists of a council of the leading clans, usually trader families, that come together to mediate disputes and discuss political matters.
The Miorans are much more militaristic than the Niorsetites, and have much less use for religion. Thus, they lack the religious fervor of their counterparts, making them relatively equal on the battlefield. There have been many wars over the most fertile tewrriroty, but four clans maintain the largest territory and armies. The Coroso, who control the headwaters of the Duresiel and Vorovas and most of the highlands near the barrier Ridge; The Mim, who control Unut and most of the surrounding farmland; The Shurav’Imkal, who hold Cuirna and most of the coastland; And the Omool, who have claim over nearly all of the Western grasslands.
All people of Kesareen speak the same language, called Kesar, but there are dozens of dialects, despite the fact that it is written nearly the exact same way everywhere. There are two main dialects spoken by approximately 50% of the population. One is the Mimian dialect, spoken by the Mim, Shurav’Imkal and Omool clans, as well as many smaller Mioran clans. The other is called Huam Aerana, or “Forest Speak”, and is spoken by nearly all of the Niorsetites. Huam Aerana is believed to be able to communicate with the trees themselves, if spoken by a person trained in the holy arts.
Some lesser dialects include:
-Barrien, spoken by the Niorsetites and Miorans near the Barrier Ridge
-Huam Rakall (River Speak), spoken by the Coroso and most of the clans and villages along the Duresiel and Vorovas rivers.
-Huam Tiona (Desert speak), spoken by the nomads of Masi Tiona
The Buro Tumai speak an entirely different language, unimaginatively called Huam Tumai (Mountain Speak) by the other inhabitants on the island.
The History of Kesareen is made of stories passed down orally through generations. Thus, it has changed and become exaggerated over the decades, but the basic message stays the same. The Miorans and Niorsetites were not natives to the land. They came from somewhere far from the island, exiles from their home known as the Kesarans, thus the name of the island. They settled on the island, building two cities on opposite ends; Ori in the land that would become Niorset, and Cuirna in Masi Tiona. Over time the two sides began to drift apart, as they were shaped by the landscape and their new ways of life. Nobody knows when the first “Miorans” or “Niorsetites” called themselves by those names.
What is known is that when the Kesars first settled the island, the beings who would later become the Buro Tumai were already wide spread, but they were few compared to the Kesarans. Great wars ensued, in which the Kesarans fought the Buro Tumai into the Barrier Ridge, where they would forever stay.
There are inconsitencies with this history, the most notable being the construction of Ori and Cuirnas. Both names are not originally Kesar words, and it is impossible that the early settlers, few as they were, were able to construct Ori, with its massive and intricate stone structures carefully carved into the cliff faces of its fjord. Curinas is also interesting, as its architecture is far different than that of later Kesaran villages, such as Unut which is mostly mud brick, as it has massive, 30 foot stone walls that are a dozen feet thick that surrounds the entire Old Ciity, which is also built of stone. It is however very similar in layout and architecture to Ori. This leads some radical and most likely insane scholars to believe that the Buro Tumai built these cities before they were driven into the mountains. Of course, these are wild and impossible notions, as the Buro Tumai are considered barbarians, nothing more than animals.
Miorans- The standard Mioran warrior is outfitted with a large leather round shield, a 7 foot spear, and a scimitar-like sword at their side. They rarely wear armor, as the heat of the desert makes it unbearable, but instead dress in baggy clothes and turbans. The Miorans also heavily utilize archers, which are deadly on the desert flats where no cover is available. As wood is scarce, the bows Are short re-curve bows, the largest being barely 3 feet long. Cavalry is used on occasion, usually camels, as horses die of thirst in the desert.
Niorsetites- The Niorsetites use a very guerilla style of warfare. They use their superior knowledge of the hills and foresets of Niorset to their advantage, confusing, harassing and ambushing enemies. They use primarily short swords and longbows. The bows are made from dead or dying trees only, and can be almost six feet long. Niorsetite archers are very deadly, as they are trained from an early age to navigate the branches and rain arrows down, literally, onto their enemies. Cavalry are unused entirely, but pack animals are used to carry supplies.
Navies-Most of the ships the Niorsetites and Miorans use are trade ships. THe Miorans are the more experienced when it comes to the sea, and have a rather large navy. Those from the island of Amorasia are extremely experenced sailors, able to safely navigate some of the harshest, most dangerous oceans. THe Niorsetites on the other hand still retain some semblance of a naval force, but most of these are ceremonial vessels from the early Kesaran days.
The Miorans and Niorsetites are very simple, and have little use for magic, so very few of them practice any magic. Most of them are afraid of angering their gods by attempting to use what they see as “godly powers” to shape the world. Thus magicians and sorcerers and shunned from society, so most of them keep their practice a secret.
The Buro Tumai are said to use magic openly and with great effect. One legend from the early days talks of a single Buro Tumai mage eliminating and over a hundred Kesaran soldiers in a single fiery blast.