Royals Field Setting

Royals Field
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The following is a living document that I will be updating with information as appropriate for the adventures being written. This setting was originally created to act as a politically rich landscape that had significant racial differences. This project was shelved after development on the setting was complete, but the players decided they actually wanted something more traditional. As such, this can be used a central resource for information about the races, kingdoms, and geography of the setting.

Synopsis
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On a continent surrounded by mountains there exists a vast open prairie known as the Royals Field. In ages past this land had been ruled by two warring nations, but several thousand years ago they were destroyed by the gods themselves. Now, the remaining peoples rebuild in this fertile land, forever afraid the gods will strike them down again.

This setting is specifically low magic, as the gods that granted magic in the past decided it was being used dangerously and sacrilegiously. Also, the peoples of the world know that the gods attacked them due to the powerful civilizations in the past. Because of this, they hold a biyearly council where they actively attempt to limit civilization growth. Declaring wars against nations that are growing too large or technologically advanced. Baring these conflicts, the different races live in relative peace, fearing only the wilds their own policies demand stay untamed.

Terms and vocabulary
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Hands - Unit of distance or lengths. Approximately 4 inches.
Steps - Unit of distance. Approximately 24 inches.
Slabs - Unit of distance. Exactly 1 kilometer.
Pillars - Unit of distance. Exactly 6 kilometers.
Brick - Unit of weight. Approximately 5 pounds.

Environment
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The continent known as Royals Field is an enormous mostly flat land mass that consists of approximately 80% arable prairie land. Around the coast line is a long chain of mountains that shelter the interior from the harshest parts of the ocean climates. The mountains themselves never reach incredible heights however, as the highest mountain is merely 15000 feet high. On average, the mountain peaks are around 9000 feet. In addition, on both sides of the mountain, coastal and interior, giant forests can be found. Once you pass the forests in the interior you will find the vast unending prairie of the Royals Field. The fertile soil of this area reaches on average 10 meters deep and rests upon a bedrock of thick round stones. Anywhere the soil has been eroded down to this bedrock will most likely lead to a fresh water source, as under the bedrock is an enormous aquifer. At many places this aquifer will actually breach the surface and there are hundreds of small lakes, rivers, and ponds spotting the landscape. Being mostly flat, these water sources are very slow moving, and all make their way through mountain passes out to the ocean. The prairie itself however consists mostly of different species of grass that all grow very fast and very tall. It chokes out most other plant life since it can survive on rain alone, meaning shrubs and trees are only found directly along water sources. Everywhere else in the Royals field is just a huge open grassy plains. Wood is therefore a very rare commodity, meaning clay and stones are used more for permanent structures. Metals are uncommon, but mines can be found throughout the continent, as areas where the aquifer doesn't reach are instead very mineral rich. That being said, mines aren't the primary source of metal in the area.

The majority of the trees in the forests surrounding the mountains are very similar to Redwood trees of Earth, averaging 400 feet in height, with 25 foot diameters at the base. In addition, these trees usually exhibit a strange characteristic of having roots that delve just as deeply as their height raises above the ground, and these roots don't actually displace the earth but instead pick it up and move it into the core of the tree slowly. In areas of rich minerals like copper, iron, or gold, this actually leads to the trees having large deposits of metal with the center of the wood. Whether due just to the nature of the plant or not, these trees even begin to use these metals directly in their make up, leading to the ironwood, goldenleaf, silvervein, and copperbark trees depending on the areas around them.

The weather of the continent is almost entirely temperate, with only the coast line itself qualifying as rainforest. Winters are not harsh for the most part, with the northern most tip of the continent getting noticeably colder then the rest, but not so much as to make it anywhere close to uninhabitable. Spring and fall are both longer seasons then either winter or summer, leading to long growing seasons.

Races
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The major races in Royals Field are split into 3 different genetic families; Humanoid, Fae, and Goblinoid. Of which, there are the two humanoid species of Humans and Halflings, the three Goblinoid species of Goblins, Hobs (extinct), and Bogins, and the two Fae species which include Elf and Dwarf. In addition to this, every species in Royals Field has a "dire" version known as an emergence which represent the last spark of magic left in the world. Outside of Royals Field there are reports of other races, like the Fae Merr, but they won't be discussed here.

Humanoid
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The humanoid races differ only in size. Both have an average life span of roughly 75 years, reach maturity between 13 and 15, and females tend to be shorter then the males by a few inches. Their emergence is based upon proximity of population.
Halfling (Leffa)
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The most dominant race in Royals Field. They are the shortest race in Royals Field standing between 3 and 3 1/2 feet tall, but are proportioned like humans. Their skin tones match the range of humans, and follow the same general distribution. Generally peaceful people, they tend towards agriculture and moderate sized settlements (1000-4000) with either a familial lordship, or council of officials leading the settlement. Not xenophobic in the slightest, Halflings are known to be great merchants and artisans. They defend themselves well, utilizing militia, men-at-arms, mercenaries, and cavalry. Halfling societies rarely grow beyond a single settlement, but there are a few city states, and two nations (Farfeld and Amberfeld) both of which are ruled by monarchs. Halfling architecture is usually made from clay, building short adobe style buildings that have had a small amount of earth excavated to create a foundation. Small settlements take great care to never build a structure that is higher then the plant life surrounding their areas, but larger settlements will build stone or brick walls standing 8 feet high at least. This means these larger towns will build multi-story buildings, and even limited defensive structures like watch towers, gates, and forts.

The emergent Halfling is known as a Leffa. Leffa are amongst the rarest of the emergent races, as they are only born when a single mother spends several months isolated away from civilized contact. Leffa cannot be distinguished from a common halfling in any way physically, and in fact, many Leffa spend their entire lives without being identified publicly. The only difference is a Leffa may turn their body invisible with direct concentration. This process takes a few seconds to take effect, and is very tiring to maintain. However, with practice a Leffa can be capable of staying invisible for minutes at a time. A Leffa is just as likely to be male as female.

Human (Valoran)
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Humans taken as a whole are in a strange state of flux in terms of their prominence in Royals Field. The average Human stands between 5 1/2 and 6 feet tall, but its also quite possible to meet one that is less than 5 feet or taller then 6 and half feet. Humans tend to building large communities if they are allowed. In ages past it was very common to see cities of 40,000 or more in practically any part of the continent. However, after the fall of Vale, the other races have been very diligent in preventing the rise of the Valoran scourge, which means any settlements that are primarily human have been limited to less than 1000 individuals. For their part though, Humans are actually a welcomed sight by most other races. If nothing else, their diverse nature means humans are able to integrate into every other society very easily, filling in the less common roles that would benefit the communities best. For example, humans will be guards for Halflings and Goblins, farmers for Dwarfs, craftsmen for Bogins, or merchants for Elves. Because of this their numbers continue to grow, which is actually a bit of a problem...

The emergent human is known as a Valoran. Valorans are fairly uncommon (2-5%), and in many societies are looked upon with respect. Every time a human mother gives birth there is a chance she will have a Valoran instead of a human. This chance is actually based upon how many other Humans there are in the local community. As the population increases, so too does the chance of a Valoran birth and additionally, a Valoran female with a Valoran male will always have Valoran children. On average, there needs to be more then 10,000 Humans in a concentrated area before Valorans become common enough to warrant action from the other races. Valorans could be best described as a peak performance human; they are stronger, smarter, faster, more attractive and just plain better then their human kin. Standing between 6 and 7 feet tall, and weighing between 200 and 300 pounds on average, they always strike an imposing visage. They are immune to most illnesses and diseases and when injured they heal far faster than any other race. Ultimately, this makes them arrogant, militant, and dangerous when taken as a group. Otherwise, when judged as a single person they are generally well liked. After all, they are just another (better than average) Human.

Goblinoid
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Beyond just size, the Goblinoid races differ physiologically a fair amount. What they do share in common is a very short gestation period, strong hearing, an extra gland in the throat, and a brain that never stops growing. Their skin and hair colors are also quite similar, ranging from a light greenish-yellow, to a brownish-yellow with the brown colorations being more common the further south you travel. Hair distribution does change between the species, but the diverse colors do not. Ranging from bright reds to platinum blondes and even dark browns. Black, white, gray, and the blue spectrum's are not seen however, and a Goblinoids' hair doesn't change as they age.  Females and males are generally the same height in their respective races, but the females will usually weigh much more then the males. Also, Goblinoid life spans are very different with females living between 2 and 4 times longer than the males. Male Goblinoids have essentially no sex drive, requiring a pheromone to interact with the gland in their throat to produce sexual arousal. The emergent forms of the Goblinoid races are based upon the lunar cycle.

Goblin (Folin)
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Goblins make up a sizable population in the Royals Field continent. Standing just under 4 feet tall on average, the males weigh close to 40 pounds while the females weigh closer to 60. This difference is mostly in the body core, as both sexes have long thin limbs with long fingers. Goblin hair grows exclusively on their head, starting above the brow and only growing on the skull. The hair is rather thick, growing slightly faster then Humanoid hair, and has been theorized to be related to keeping the head and ears warm in cooler temperatures. Males have a fast paced life, taking just 25 days to gestate, reach sexual maturity at the age of 7 after a short puberty lasting at most 4 months, and an average life expectancy around 30 years. Females differ vastly though, taking 45 days to gestate, reach puberty around age 12 lasting 2-3 years, and have an average life expectancy of over 100 years. Regardless of sex, Goblins tend to wean off of mothers milk by the end of 3 weeks, and can walk at roughly the same time.
Goblin brains when born are exceedingly small, encompassing mostly the functions required to live. However, their brains grow continually as they learn throughout their life easily doubling in size, and in some older males cases nearly tripling. One characteristic all Goblins share is their hearing. With long pointed ears that look fairly comical on their small bodies, Goblins have a very distinct quirk in their audio recognition; they are able to parse multiple different sources of sounds distinctly simultaneously. The number differs for each individual, but even the least capable amongst them can easily listen to half a dozen people speaking at the same time and completely follow each conversation. This makes Goblin communities very noisy places, and their political assemblies completely incomprehensible to every other race. Typical Goblin settlements will involve the matrons listening to and advising the leaders. The head matron acts like a de facto monarch if an impasse happens, but otherwise the 20-30 Goblins will all talk at the same time discussing matters of importance and pass decrees for the group to follow.

The male frame has a very compact body that can appear malnourished when compared to a humanoid, but don't let that fool you as the males are plenty healthy enough. The musculature itself is mostly built for dexterity and speed rather then lifting or power. As for the skeletal structure, the bones are sturdy for their size and rather flexible. The largest bone on a male goblin at birth is the skull, and it grows continually as they age, reaching roughly the size of a Human skull by the time they die. A major advantage male Goblins have compared to the other races of Royals Field is their curiosity and ability to learn and specialize. As stated before, their brain starts incredibly small, but grows very quickly. A prole (male child) is usually given free reign to explore the world shortly after they start walking. Each prole will shortly pick up on something that intrigues them, and spend as much time as they can learning about it. Their brain will then grow in such a way that whatever they find interesting will become what their specialty. A prole that watches a carpenter work, will likely become a master wood worker, or a prole that listens to people speak in the town markets will have incredible accounting skills later. Even in cases where a prole has no one to observe or emulate, their brain will still grow every day allowing them to get better as they learn the hard way. An elderly male goblin is likely amongst the best in his profession in all of Royals Field.

The female frame has a much larger pelvis than the male producing larger hips and posterior. In addition, the chest cavity is slightly larger, which overall produces a relatively hourglass shaped frame. Musculature on females contains a bit more body fat, but otherwise does not lose a great deal of strength. Like the males, the brain grows continuously as they age, but is fairly less specialized. The females need to learn a far more diverse set of skills and abilities to care for the young, and as such they tend to learn a few more generalized skill sets early. This allows them access to more potential mates as they age, and generally helps diversify the genetic pool as well. That said, its entirely possible to find specialized women Goblins in certain communities that have grown large enough to have multiple matrons. Two major physiological differences female Goblins have is an organ attached to their fallopian tubes and the gland found in their throat. The very first change that happens in puberty for a female Goblin is the production of a pheromone in the gland that mixes with the air they breathe out which acts as an aphrodisiac for the males. The organ found next to the fallopian tubes acts like a stasis bank for activated eggs. When a Goblin has intercourse, the egg that is impregnated is then moved into this organ where it is chemically stabilized for later. Over the course of puberty, the female Goblin will mate as many times as possible to produce as many active eggs as she can, for once puberty ends she will no longer produce more eggs being left only with the stored amount in the ovaries. Post puberty, the female will then gestate an active egg if she has one after spending a few days rest after a birth. Any female that has at least one daughter is then considered a matron which is of some importance to Goblin culture. Roughly 1 in 20 activated eggs will produce a daughter, though some mothers never actually have a daughter themselves.

The emergent Goblin is known as a Folin. While its not known for sure if a Folin is exclusively male, no known female Folin has been documented. A Folin is born when a full moon cycle (roughly 27 days) passes during an active gestation, as in the gestation starts on a full moon, and the prole is born on a full moon. The current best guess is a female Folin would require 2 full moon cycles. What sets a Folin apart from a regular prole is a slightly darker skin tone, usually reddish, but sometimes brownish. A Folin is completely immune to the effects of fire. Their skin won't burn, their flesh doesn't cook, and their hair won't catch fire. This doesn't make them immune to heat or smoke however, as they can still suffocate from a large fire, or dehydrate from heat. They do still feel the heat from fire as well producing excruciating pain if present for long, meaning most Folins still avoid direct contact with flames. Otherwise, Folins look, act, age, and exist exactly like other Goblins.

Hob (Emergent form unknown)
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Very little is known about the Hob race as none have been seen in over 10,000 years. What is known is they looked like a larger version of a Goblin mixed with a Human. Hobs stood between 5 and 6 feet tall and weighed around 180 pounds. Evidence exists everywhere in the Royals Field continent of a vast empire created by the Hobs. Ruins of great structures of stone and marble are buried near almost every source of water. Great amphitheaters, tombs, cities, and bath houses have all been discovered, each with wonderful murals and reliefs depicting Hob life. Hobs can also be seen worshipping great deities in their temples, and this has lead most scholars to guess this was their downfall.

Bogin (Cha'uk'kra-kiai)
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Bogins are the least common race on Royals Field. Taken as a whole, Bogins are xenophobic and quiet. They carve out small areas as far from the other races as possible where they live their lives hunting and ranching. Bogins aren't nomadic, nor savage, being just as capable at intellectual pursuits as the the other races. They just tend to like their space to themselves. Occasionally female Bogins will develop wanderlust though, so they aren't completely unknown to the other races. Standing on average 7 feet tall, and weighing easily 300 pounds of mostly muscle they are by far the largest of the races. They have short legs for their body, and extremely long arms reaching to just below their knees. Both sexes take the same time to gestate at around 11 months, enter puberty around 15 years of age, and can expect puberty to last an average of 5 years. Life expectancy of males is a bit shorter than females at around 80 years compared to 90. Bogin skulls are roughly the same size as Humans, but much blunter and wider in perspective. Bogin brains are similar to Goblins, where it does grow continually over their life span, but this is far less pronounced as an infant Bogins brain is fairly close to fully grown at birth. Almost all growth they exhibit appears to related to their senses, allowing slight specialization in their roles. For example, a cooks brain would have a more defined taste and smell, where as a tool maker would have a better defined sense of touch. Hair growth for Bogins is entirely based upon the climate they in, and changes with the seasons. In areas of heat or hot summers, they will lose all of their hair and when the temperatures drop, the hair will grow back over the course of a month. Bogins only have hair colors in the 3 general shades of black, brown, and dark red. Their hair is never very long and grows mostly on areas behind them; their backs, behind the head, back of the neck, behind the thigh and calf, etc. Bogin hearing is unique as well, as their stubby pointed ears each have two sets of holes and eardrums. This allows them to have near perfect spatial awareness for sounds, being able to pin point distances and directions with surprising accuracy. The average Bogin has no better range or clarity of hearing then a Human does, but the Bogins that develop their hearing can do some spectacular feats. Bogin males are considered direct equals to females, and vice versa, meaning the political elite are usually the ones most capable for the positions.

Male Bogins have a very even distribution of their weight. As short as their legs are, they are comparatively strong and stout. Their arms in contrast look just ever so slighty too thin, especially considering the great length of them, but like the smaller Goblins the muscle is very dense. Male Bogins hands have a much higher grip strength than the other races, and when under duress have been known to one handedly break limbs. Which leads into another quirk of the Bogin physiology; their bones could be considered brittle considering their size, considering they have roughly the same durability as a human's bone. This great strength combined with weak bones leads the Bogin culture to resist infighting. A simple fist fight could easily result in death after all. The gland in the throat for a male Bogin has evolved into a multi functional role as well because of this. When even the tiniest amount of this pheromone is detected from a female this extremely sensitive gland produces a major testosterone release in their bodies and acts as a direct chemical aphrodisiac.  Additionally, this gland produces an extra paralysis agent sapping the strength. In fact most male Bogins can barely move, let alone stand when aroused. This was likely an evolutionary work around as the testosterone also leads to a major aggressive response in the Bogins. The paralysis wears off within minutes, but the aggression lasts for 4-6 hours. This of course lead to wild rumors amongst the other races that Bogin males were literally aroused by combat as during major conflicts the males would often enter battle in such a state.

Female Bogins have a top heavy distribution of their weight compared to the males. Weighing an average of 30-50 pounds more then the males, most of this weight is found in the chest and shoulders in the form of fat. Additionally, the bones in the arms and chest are noticeably larger than the males, and significantly more resistant to fracture. Measured directly, females tend to be slightly weaker than the males but this doesn't mean they can't still crush bones with their hands though. An angry female can kill just as quickly as a male. Unlike the pheromone in the female Goblins which is air soluble, the female Bogin gland can only produce the pheromone in a water soluble manner, diluting it to an incredible degree. This means the saliva of the female is required to arouse the males, but generally has no effect on any other race. Also unlike Goblins, this gland stays active for life once it has matured. The organ that is attached to the fallopian tubes on a Bogin differs slightly from a Goblins as well. A Bogin will slowly begin producing eggs starting at puberty so long as she isn't pregnant. She will produce an egg once every two months on average and when her body has reached a critical point (on average once a year) will release all of the eggs simultaneously to her uterus. If she mates, all of the active eggs will then be transfered to the organ and stored, much like a Goblin stores her active eggs. These eggs will then be moved one by one for gestation. Children are just as likely to be male as female.

The emergent for of the Bogin is only known in the Bogin language: Cha'uk'kra-kiai (Cha OOK craw key eye). Roughly translated this means "weather watcher". If a Bogin mother is pregnant during a lunar eclipse, which happens once every 7 years, the child will be born a Cha'uk'kra-kiai, making them easily the most common emergent race. Physically, they appear no different from any other Bogin, aging the same, and acting the same. However, their bodies never react to the temperature around them. In the middle of a desert they appear calm and cool. In a snowstorm, like its a pleasant spring day. They can feel rain falling on them, but it doesn't chill them like it does everyone else. There is an upper and lower limit to this ability, but it is rare to the extreme to meet these conditions. The temperature must be below -50 degrees celsius or above 120 degrees celsius before their body reacts. Fire as an example affects them the same as any other Bogin. Since the weather ends up being a complete non-issue for these people, they often abandon settlements all together and live by themselves off in the wilds, happily alone.