FEF World Fluff

WHO ARE PLAYERS?

Whilst I will by no way restrict the backgrounds of the PC's, this is basic 'prologue' background for the starter PC group:

-A group of young mercenaries hailing from Mercia, whose leader have been slain by an assasin, whilst the group was en route to Fortress Kesselring, residence of Lady Prixima, one of Countesses of the Menelea: The group is to perform some kind of mission for her. Of course, if you want, you can be a random mercenary who 'joined' the group shortly afterwards, or you can be one of Menelean soldiers, or... well, think!

NATIONS:

Mercia:

Small republic of mercenaries and adventurers leaded by a Council of veteran mercenary group leaders. Mercia was created from several conquered provinces of the Berebian Kingdom after the disasterous Battle of the Lilik Bridge, where King Andros III sent eight hundred mercenaries to death, including brilliant and famous tacticians, like Leo Saberknife or Virius Varius. This caused an uproar in the ranks of mercenaries, leading to several bloody skirmishes between then and armies of various kingdoms.

Today, Mercia keeps low profile on the international theatre, supplying other kingdoms with mercenaries for high insurancy and profit. The wealth of the Hills - iron, coal and copper mines - are almost exclusively used by Mercian industry.

Mercia is further divided into two sub-regions; the Hills, and the Peaks. Hills are jagged plateaus where most of settlements are. Peaks are under control of the less-honorable and poorer mercenaries, most often, they're forming bands of bandits, smugglers and such.

Deynastia:

Oldest kingdom of the world of June, it occupies Eastern Grassfields, Yoa Mountains and entire Glass Coast. It had it's time of poverty and prosperity. It is ruled, since it's founding in 0FY (Founding Year), by the Dey Dynasty, with elderly Teymius V currently on the Deynastian Throne, and his oldest of four sons, Prince Yemek, preparing for the day when he will have to take the crown from the hands of his dead father.

The two civil wars in the ancient times made Deynastia break into few smaller pieces; the Ys Duchy in the Zenith Valley, the Berebian Kingdom in the north, the Manelean Kingdom behind the Splitting Peaks, all those were once parts of the grandiose Deynastian Kingdom, back in the times of it's greatest size. Nowadays, Deynastia is a mere shadow of the giant empire of the antiquity, however, it is still strong politically and militarily.

Ys Duchy:

Smallest country on the map, the rulers of Ys understood long ago that they will have to take some special measures to ensure survivability of their nation.

Those steps revolutionized June; Ys Duchy opened first public magic schools on the whole known world. No longer the arcane magics were reserved only for the nobility; now even a son of poor farmers could enroll to the Universities, proving he had the entry fee and at least small bit of talent. With the immense wealth gotten from the registration fees, export of books, scrolls and such items, and general provision with well-trained magic users, Ys Duchy is currently a wealthy, stable country.

Menelea:

Menelean dynasty was created by General Menelus the Brave, who couldn't stand the corruption and lawlessness plaguing Deynastia in the 182FY, and rebelled against the king of the current times, Deyus VIII. General Menelus quickly seized large chunk of the Western Province, held it against poorly equipped and commandeered forces of the Deyus' lieutenants, and expanded his newly gained country further to the west, south and north.

Today, Menelus' great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Paragor, is ruling from the throne with iron, just fist. First to acknowledge Mercian independence in 551FY, he quickly formed a treaty with the mercenary republic, offering it protection in exchange for mercenary aid in his war against Berebians.

Berebia:

When Menelus the Brave revolted in the west, so did Bereb the Crude, a heinous, cruel commander in the Deynastian forces. Partially thanks to his tactical brilliance, and mostly thanks to the chaos of his times, Bereb managed to secure large swaths of land in the still wild North, and created a Kingdom after his own name: Berebia.

Nowadays, descendants of the Bereb try their hardest to gain control of more and more land to satisfy their greed. Considering the amount of claimants to the throne, created from many 'morally dubious' or straight incestous relationships, it is a miracle that Berebia haven't descended into a spiral of civil war between tens of duchies, counties and baronies.

RELIGIONS:

Back in the ancient times, 'Cult of the Divine Dragon, Guide of the Humanity, Vanquisher of the Demon Gor-Tah', was the only faith on the June. But, with the passing of the times of demons, dragons, undead and such fanciful creatures, the Crusaders and Bishops had less and less influence on both the simple folk and the mighty rulers of Deynastia. Nowadays, whilst Divine Dragon's shrines are still present, raising the bulk of Clerics and Sisters, there are at least several tens of smaller cults, more or less noble.

Several of such prominent faiths include: 'Church of the Holy Spirit' in the Menelean province of Phalae, 'Cult of Giantess Gyra the Crimson Axe' in the southern Deynastia, the stoic 'Cult of Saint Ragaia' in the Splitting Peaks region, and 'Followers of the Golden Candle', with their headquarters in the coastal city of Cliffera, on the western Menelean coast.

HODGE-PODGE CHRONOLOGE:

0FY: Demon Gor-Tah vanquished by Divine Dragon and his human allies; Humans settle down in settlements. Deynastia is founded.
158FY: With edict of Deyus VII, Cult of the Divine Dragon loses the priviledge of being the only religion in Deynastia.
182FY: General Menelus the Brave and Commander Bereb the Crude rebel against Deyus VIII. Menelea and Berebia are founded.
333FY: Duchess Mirena stages coup d'etat against Deynastian king, Timus II. Whilst she fails to take the throne, she and her followers seize Ys Valley and create Ys Duchy.
345FY: First public magic school opens in Ys Duchy.
410FY: Beginning of the centuries long Menelean-Berebian hostilities, starting with the Battle at River Horr.
548FY: Battle of the Lilik Bridge; in the aftermath of the battle, several thousand mercenaries take arms against their Berebian employers.
549FY: Mercenary Army takes over Veran, Visena and Zolt provinces, forming the independent Mercia Republic.
551FY: Paragor of Menelea is first to acknowledge the newly created Mercia nation.
590FY: TODAY

CULTURAL&CLIMATE REFERENCES FOR KNOWN LANDS IN COMPARISON TO EARTH:

Berebia: Northern Europe; Scandinavia
Menelea/Mercia: Southwestern Europe; France/Spain
Deynastia: Greece/Byzantium
Ys Duchy: Turkey/Caucasian Mountains