Resistance Intel Report - Terms

Ancient History - The world is presently in its fifth era, as Antarians measure their calendar. First was the Age of Flame, which lasted approximately 13,000 years and marks the continent's pre-history. This period pre-dates calendar systems and is itself so ancient, that it lacks an era designation when dating and simply uses BA (Before Ash).
The Age of Ash was the second era and is considered to have lasted from 2,200 years ago, until the founding of the Kingdom of Eortan, 600 years later. This was a period of great unrest and large-scale disorder, ended by the so-called Golden King. Dates in this era are appended with the designation AA, (Ashen Age).
The third era is known as the Golden Age of Eorten, as a succession of monarchs brought the entire continent under a single cultural influence, through largely peaceful means. Such was the advance of science, art, law and culture during this time, that the monarchs of Eorten came to be worshiped as gods. This time period is considered to have started with the coronation of the Golden King and as such is designated RE (Royal Era).
After seven hundred years of peaceful reign, a political blunder lead to a disaster known as The Fall. Little is known about the fall, but it is typically thought to be marked by large-scale civil war and the destruction of many of Eorten's greatest works. The locations of entire cities were lost and the heartland of the kingdom remained un-charted for the next three hundred years. Naturally, this era is labeled AF (After Fall) in the dating system.
In the year 308AF, the long-lost heir to the throne of Eorten reclaimed her kingdom and the land was re-united. For the next 260 years, Eorten once again flourished. However, growing independence movements and ill health caused the last king of Eorten to abdicate peacefully. With the dissolution of a central government, many smaller nations established themselves in Eorten's former territory and by consensus determined that a new era had begun, marking the start of the New Continental Era (NCE). This period's designation varies, depending on a nation's religious views. Restorationists name it as the New Reign Era (NR), while Orthodox nations simply consider it a latter part to the After Fall era and as such, consider it to have ended in 570AF.

Recent Events - The current year is 214NCE. Since the abdication of the last king of Eorten, Antaria has continued to advance, with various small power blocs emerging from alliance and conquest. Your own nation of Awsbet is just 80 years old, having been formalized by a treaty between the Duchy of Awsbet and the revolutionary democratic forces, in order to avoid a civil war. To the west and north of Awsbet's borders however, the Eortite Confederation had been gathering steam for some time. Only a little older than Awsbet itself, the republics that make up the federations have long been allies and formalized their status as a nation in 105NCE. Rapid industrial progress, coupled with a nationalistic fervor lead to them annexing and incorporating nearby countries, until they were a continental super-power. Last year, they turned their eyes on Awsbet. The fighting was brief, but brutal, as the Confederacy's much more experienced, better equipped, motivated and highly mobile troops were able to blitz the entire country in a matter of months. Winter slowed the fighting, but in the spring of 214, with Federation forces controlling the capitol and 80% of the country, Awsbet's premier surrendered unconditionally. The tattered remains of the Awsbet military was disarmed and sent to internment camps, while a Confederate military commissioner was installed. A campaign of forced labor and cultural suppression has begun, but as yet, the occupation forces are wearing a velvet glove over their iron fist.

Old Eorten - An ancient kingdom that culturally dominated much of Antaria for seven hundred years, following the Age of Ash. Eventually fell to internal strife and was restored three hundred years later, by a last descendant of the royal line. Three generations later, the last monarch peacefully abdicated and the realm split into various fledgling nations, headed either by republican governments, or former nobility. Its rulers are revered as gods for the glory of their reigns.

Antaria - The continent once ruled by the Kings of Eorten, now gripped by the Continental War. It has a mix of terrain, ranging from taiga and temperate farmland and forest; to semi-arid scrubland. It is home to two major faiths, various ethnic groups and two major races.

Tirna - A continent to the east of Antaria, with its north coast frequently lashed by storms. The only continent in the world without a human majority, it is largely forested and mountainous, with deep valleys and a variety of local religions and races. Its nearest coast has been culturally linked to Antaria since the Third Era.

Antarian Ocean - An ocean on the east of the Antarian continent. Separates Antaria from the continent of Tirna and is prone to frequent inclement weather caused by warm southern and cold northern air mixing around the Hurricane Islands.

Naamek Gulf - Part of the Antarian Ocean, but mostly un-troubled by the weather that complicates navigation across the rest of the expanse. Many major trade lanes pass through it and Awsbet's southern coast just touches the northern edge of the gulf.

Eortite Confederation - A technologically-advanced collection of republican states united under a nationalist ideology. They see themselves as the heirs to the ancient Kingdom of Eorten, taking the abdication of King Vidros as handing power to the Eortan Senate - a body that housed many leaders of the nations that would later form the Confederacy.  The Confederation's intion is to claim the glory of those ancient days by military conquest of the continent of Antaria. Their state religion is fanatically Royal Orthodox.

Awsbet, Republic of - Your homeland. Once, a young and free land, ruled by a democratically-elected Premier and cabinet of the old nobility. Now under occupation and control of the Federation's military commissioner. A substantial portion of its population are Restorationist.

Solveyn, Kingdom of - A large, majority-elven kingdom on the Tirnan continent. Despite ancient ties with Eorten, they were never fully a part of the kingdom. They are a modern, industrial nation and are a rich and considerable world power, but suffer from a degree of infighting, as the control of the High King over local princes varies by the generation. The current monarch is considered competent, but has yet to be truly tested. They are also religiously divided, with the human minority being mainly Orthodox, while the elves are split between Restorationist, Orthodox and Totemist.

Ben Ressara, Kingdom of - A small absolute monarchy that dominates the Naamek Gulf and the Strait of Spires and has far-flung colonies across most of the world. On top of being the largest hub of imports and exports in Antaria, its homeland and colonies combined account for 43% of world manganese production and 27% of oil supplies, as well as substantial amounts of cobalt and nickle, making them an utterly vital trade partner for all modern nations.

Royal Orthodoxy - The largest religion in Antaria and prevalent across the world. Their beliefs include the worship of the original kings and queens of Eorten as either divinely-inspired, or gods in their own right. The Eortite Federation has made Orthodoxy its state religion. Orthodoxists do not accept the three monarchs following Eorten's restoration as part of their pantheon and there is a dogmatic split as to whether the successors were either 'not of the same quality' as their ancestors, or were outright pretenders.

Royal Restorationist - A heretical offshoot of Royal Orthodoxy, which has grown to be the second dominant religion of Antaria. They worship the rulers of the Kingdom of Eorten in the same manner as Orthodoxists, but also accept the rulers that followed the restoration as equally divine.

Human - The most widespread sentient race on the face of the planet and the most diverse too. Humans are the dominant race on two of the three known continents and a substantial minority on the third. Humans have a tendency towards organisation and can be found living in almost any environment capable of supporting life. Humans often are divided into sub-races based on the small genetic adaptations developed in their hereditary environment.

Elf - The second most numerous intelligent race in the world, with minor environmental genetic adaptations creating a small number of sub-races. Elves are the dominant intelligent life-form of Tirna and have a minority population in Antaria, but are virtually unknown elsewhere. Elves greatly resemble attractive, lithe humans, with long, tapering ears and typically live well over a century, with a small number surviving into their second.

Dragonbreed - A minority intelligent race, found almost exclusively in Antaria. Long persecuted against on religious grounds, the various branches of the Royal faiths hold that 'dark dragons' were involved in the fall of Old Eorten and that the Dragonbreed (often referred to by the racist slur 'Wyrms' 'Whelps' or 'Drakes') are their misbegotten progeny. At birth, Dragonbreed resemble humans, but as they mature, they gradually sport scales, horns and claws, exagerated carnivorous dental structure, become hunchbacked and are increasingly cold-blooded. Some even begin to sport vestigial wings. Many Dragonbreed are reliant upon fits of emotion; high-temperature living conditions, or various drugs and dietary supplements, in order to galvanise themselves to action. Dragonbreed can sport various colours on their reptilian parts, but the most common are black and red, with green being a distant third