The Iron Empire has fallen. The frostlands are in disarray and the Great Eastern Wall has fallen into dereliction. Now the scattered islands of the Malar Sea struggle to survive, and Danagri's bridge is broken. Where once was civilisation, now is anarchy.
But among the terror and frustration of this new world, there are still pockets of city life. To the east, the Pearl of the North, Aarnor, still recieves trade from the far-off nations of Teraal and Mohambi, and along the island chains the Vamati Covenant vows to reform the old ways. The world is not lost... yet.
Remnant as a Setting
Remnant could be called Post-Apocalyptic, but it is not a world in its final throes. True, to the former inhabitants of the Iron Empire, it may seem that civilisation is gone. But although the capital city of Bekh is now little more than a near-empty ruin, the royal family slaughtered by the Final Revolution, hope still lasts.
Magic and technology are at low and 18th century levels respectively. True magical power is rare, but alchemists and would-be summoners of power are common. Firearms have reached the flintlock stage, and can now be bought on the black market for relatively low prices.
The scene is reminiscent of 18th-century Russia and Germany combined with a French revolution gone wrong. The revolution of the Iron Empire was meant to achieve freedom for the people, but instead it achieved anarchy, with states that had been resentful before splitting off swiftly from the 'new world order'. Bekh was soon emptied, its populace fleeing to become refugees. Only the most staunch supporters of the revolution maintain their 'ideal community' among the ruined parks of the city's centre. Elsewhere, a few of the old cities maintain imperial ideals or stand alone as their own states, but most of the newly independent lands, formerly relying on a symbiotic relationship with others, have swiftly degenerated into anarchistic patterns.
Themes
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There are no other races but humans in Remnant. There are no monsters but us. Torture is a constant theme, injustice, fear, and oppression fill the setting. The remnants of the Iron Empire are not a nice place to live. Such is the horror of a new world. But... there is kindness too. Not all men are evil. Many have good intentions too... although human error is a cruel thing.
The Iron Empire
Once, it is said, the great Arkhaan River was a dividing barrier to all the tribal inhabitants of the Malar Basin, five miles wide and cold as ice. The Malar worshipped it as a god, its powerful and arcane nature visible in the sorcerors who were known to live near its banks. Due to its changing climate, it was nearly permanently covered with a thick mist, making views of the other side of the river uncommon and granting those who had seen them great respect. To cross the river was seen as a sacred act, and almost always failed. These views were shared by the Durkon and Armani peoples who populated the lands to the west of the river, and in a slightly different way by the eastern Laddan, who used the river as a form of transport for a long time (although they would always stay near to the banks).
But, it is said, a visionary appeared from the mists surrounding the river one day. He appeared to the east, and west both, claiming to have crossed it whilst swimming. None believed him, so he promised to show them. Few went to see, but those that did watched as the mists broke totally, showing many views that they had never seen before. The man swam straight across the river bearing a torch, and so they named him Tor Firebearer. Through this amazing act he was declared by both sides - who had not yet met each other - as a god. He told each of them that they should begin building a bridge, and explained how to do so. And so the building of Tor's bridge, the piles of which still stand today, began. This was the foundation of the Iron Empire, as Tor united the three peoples and began teaching them the ways of permanent building.
Tor had seven sons by three wives in his life, and when he died and ascended to the sky-realms, six of his sons formed hordes from the peoples and set out to conquer the river kingdoms. Fifty years later, their mission was complete, and more, despite several blunders by the fifth son, Arrachus. Their descendants became the aristocracy of the Iron Empire, and despite eventual inbreeding, they proved themselves worthy of the task. One and a half centuries before the present day, the Eastern Wall was begun, forming a barrier and what was declared as the end of the Iron Empire. The borders were set at the North, along the Carraghpeaks, at the south, spanning the majestic Seafall Cliffs, at the East, along the Wall, and at the West, along the Fortress Mountains. One hundred years after that, resent for the growingly hostile and uncaring imperial rule reached a high point. Ten years ago, the Last Revolution (the sixth, officially) toppled the Empire. Suddenly the Kumar Guard were just so many unpaid, unfed mercenaries, military weapons were being sold for food, and many turned mutinous. At this point Arrakin T'mar, one of the officers, shot every single officer above him in the chain of command and, with a select group of veterans, created a new army from the remains of the old one - an army that would pay for itself. Furthermore, the Witchers were becoming more common again, and there was now no way of keeping their power in check. It was then that the 'New Prince', a mercenary by the name of Harvald, renamed himself 'Prince Harvaal Du-Manadin' and formed a new faction devoted to bringing a new Iron Empire into being, ruled by him. Hundreds of other groups formed in the chaotic mass, just waiting for a chance to get into power. Ten years on, not much has changed. This is today's Empire.
Wait, the French Revolution went right? Haha.
I like your ideas, especially on the magic part. One of my campaign ideas was a similar thing, but mostly alchemy to make magic primitive. Your country of Aarnor looks/sounds a lot like Arnor, where the Nazgul inhabited in LotR. If you don't want that connection I would change it but if you don't mind than just ignore me.
Yes! Another human-only setting! I was hoping more would crop up.
I like your Tor-figure. Almost akin to a Jesus-Moses, in aspect to the combining of the peoples and god-like prophet status, etc. The world is bleak but has a lot of playability it seems for the players. Did you get sme ofyour influence from the fall of Rome?
I'm sure you'll explain this later but who are the Kumar Guard?
Nice job I'll keep in touch ;)
I got most of my influence from the French Revolution, Russian Revolution and basically the european nations of the eighteenth century, but Rome was also one of my influences.
The Kumar Guard were originally (with a short history) warriors of the Princes' bodyguards, but the whole army eventually became nicknamed the 'Kumar'. Once the Empire was completely conquered, the Kumar became a more... police-like force, as well as quashing thoughts of rebellion.
Sounds like a good start. I like the low magic, and especially the all human, no monsters setting. I think it is likely to create a very human setting (no pun intended), focused on politics and life rather than the fantastic.
Question, though. You mention summoners of power? Are these people using summoning magic, or did you mean something else? What do they summon if there are no monsters?
Fire, ice, monsters, elements. That kind of thing. You can summon up fire out of the air, no? :D
Thanks for the comments. More coming up soon...
The Malar Kingdoms
As what was once the most important part of the Iron Empire, Malar deserves first mention. The Malar 'Sea', really just a colossal freshwater lake, has held mystery to the Imperials for thousands of years. Its waters have always remained pure, although not clear, no matter what has happened, and the church declared its waters holy during the later years of the Empire. Large islands dot the inside of the Malar Sea, many unpopulated. At one end the colossal Arkhaan pours into the depths, leaving a wraithlike mist over the lake. At the other, the two-mile-wide Seafall pours into the ocean. At one time Vilaan, a trading town stretching across numerous islands on the western edge of the lake, was connected to the mainland by Danagri's bridge, named after (although not constructed by) the eldest of Tor's sons, who is said to have pacified the Malar Islands. Danagri's bridge was destroyed in rioting, however, shortly after the execution of the royal family.
The Malar Kingdoms were the most fertile of the Empire's lands, and the most rich. Even now they remain extremely rich, although not as much as they once were. They are at present under the dominion of the New Prince, although he is elsewhere and has little power in the region. The ruler in his place is Vazzar, a merchant prince, and he is supported by the Council (the real power behind the throne). The Council consists of twenty-three heads of noble houses, guilds, and merchant businesses, which included at one point Dela Lamarr, aunt of the last Emperor (now deceased due to old age).
Shortly after the riots, a new noble class sprang up from the riches of the Malar Kingdoms, and they swiftly consolidated the lands around with a swiftly-raised militia. Shortly afterwards the New Prince declared his ownership of the Malar Kingdoms and enstated a new lord there. Although many would believe that the Malar Kingdoms would have rebelled against this, they didn't. The reasoning? The Council are much too intelligent. Under the New Prince's rule, they retain real control whilst gaining protection and trade from other states in the New Empire. The New Prince will not allow enemies to retake the Malar Kingdoms, and in return he gets very little in the way of taxes.
Life in the Malar Kingdoms
Since the degeneration of the Iron Empire, most people in the Malar Kingdoms are mercenaries, fishermen, farmers or traders. There is much money to be made in trading to and from the Malar Kingdoms and Shiyan-Fa'an port towns, where exotic goods can be found.
Life is more peaceful than elsewhere - indeed, the Malar Kingdoms are one of the few places untouched by conflict, mostly because of their distance from any factions that would wish to take them (other than the New Prince, who officially holds them anyway). The only visible signs of conflict are the erratically-spaced recruiting parties, rarely taking more than two or three back to their camps.
Notable Organisations
The Merchants' Guild of Xachariah: The Xacharian Guild of Merchants is an ancient institution which operates dually in Shiyan-Fa'an and the Malar Kingdoms. It essentially schedules caravans of wagons and coaches for travellers and mercenary protection, as well as allowing members to use its Exchange for free. Nobody really knows who 'Xachariah' was, although it is not a Shiyan-Fa'an or Malar name. In fact, it is distinctly non-Iron-Empire. It is possible that it is a foreign synonym name for one or more of the original founders, who may have been threatened by the then royals, although this has not been proved.
Shiyan-Fa'an
The Long Beaches, or Shiyan-Fa'an in some forgotten tongue, are a region stretching across most of the old Empire's coast. Most of the towns in this region are either trading or fishing towns, with any other food they might gain being found in the trading wagons and ships that pour into their towns and ports. Shiyan-Fa'an is not precisely a political region - it is split up geographically and part of it is controlled by Arrakin T'mar's mercenary army, part of it uncontrolled and part of it the headquarters of the New Prince.
Shiyan-Fa'an was never a particularly important region in the Iron Empire - more of a stopping point for traders than anything else - and the New Prince was born in a part of it, and made his claim there, in the centralmost point near to the Malar Sea. Shortly after the rebellions the reformed Kumar Guard took the western areas, seeing a chance for trade, although they have not yet advanced further. The Witcher Cabal of Ma'an Kataan are said to have been seen in this region, so it is perhaps possible that they have land here, although evidence has not yet been found to prove this. Whether Ma'an herself has come to the Beaches is unknown, although if she has, the inhabitants of Shiyan-Fa'an should fear. Thaumaturgy has certainly increased in use recently, and freelance hunting groups have been stripping towns unprovoked in their search for heretics.
Life in Shiyan Fa'an
Fishing is a major part of Shiyan Fa'an's economy - they fish for food and for goods. Of course, fish are extremely cheap because of the abundancy, and so fishermen rarely make much money. The main part of Shiyan Fa'an's revenue is of course trade. Shiyan Fa'an is based around a kind of independent town system, each town being ruled over by a local lord, a council of merchants, elders, or some other body of authority.
You're good with details for regions. One suggestion would be to add a sidebar (note) or something with the basics, e.g. population, land area, and so forth. Such things help some in getting a feel for the land.
*nod*
Such I will be doing, once I've got more of a map than a sketch. :P
I like Shiyan-Fa'an. Is it based off of medieval Chinese culture? I've always been a fan of those. If so, how would the Shiyan-Fa'an deal with adventurers, as corpse and grave looting is considered unsacred? Or have you changed that altogeth to make it easier for players (my personal choice)?
No, Shiyan-Fa'an's got very little to do with chinese culture. Although you will find some traits of it there from the Teraal traders. It's more from gaelic.
ooops. My bad. That makes a lot more sense now that I look back at it. I'm trying to work Gaelic/Celtic culture into some of my setting as well, where do you get reference? All I have so far is Wikipedia lol.
Various people who live around me are either Irish or celtic scholars. :P
A lot of my influence for other, as yet unwritten parts of the Empire comes from welsh ancient culture (that is, before we got cheese on toast as our national dish.)
haha cheese on toast. hopefully not american cheese?! lucky to live next to history scholars, I don't know anyone of any such use.
Nah, Welsh Rarebit. We use pure home-made (in China) cheese.
And indeed I am.
More coming up tomorrow!
Witcherblight
The area once named Arranim Province - and still called as such by its inhabitants - was at the most southeasterly point of the Empire, and is still the furthest official extent of knowledge. Arranim has always been the most heretical province, and near to two-hundred years ago, the Witchers there rose up in mass rebellion. Since then, 'Witcherblight' has been its unofficial, and in some cases official, name.
Witcherblight has a... different... culture from the other parts of the old empire, and seems at times a twisted parody of the Imperial states. Temples of Tor exist side-by-side with - indeed, are often part of - academies of Witchers, and the council of nobles is replaced by the High Coven, with representatives from each cabal powerful and cunning enough to be invited. Ma'an Kataan holds the 'first among equals' position in the High Coven.
Other than this, Witcherblight is... generally normal. The normal people are USED to witchers walking among them - their grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents were born into this setup. Inhabitants of Witcherblight are taught that Tor was the first Witcher, and that all other Witchers stand above normal men, bathed in Tor's light and continuing his bloodline. All witchers, whatever their apparent ancestry, are monarchs of a sort, of pure royal blood. To be the father or mother of a Witcher is considered a great honour.
Whilst the common people get along generally as normal, the Witchers organise themselves into Colleges and Cabals. These are two extremely different things, and many witchers are part of one of each.
A Cabal is a collection of experienced Witchers, often politically-minded, who allow others to enter by invitation only. There are generally twelve or less Witchers in a cabal, with twelve being a rarity. A College, on the other hand, often includes several Cabals among its ranks, and thus has several representatives on the council (making Colleges extremely powerful in the political life of Witcherblight). Colleges normally accept 'students', who become part of a body known as the 'Unbound' or 'Accepted'. Colleges are not necessarily buildings, although many are at least a few scattered accomodations and lecture rooms, but they are all, essentially, training grounds and selection arenas for the Cabals. It is rare that a Cabal from outside a college binds a student from that college (binding being a process the student has very little say in), instead having to wait for Accepted to come to them.
The most famous Cabal of all is that of Ma'an Kataan, said to be the most powerful Witcher in the Empire and possibly the world. She is said to be unaging - it is certainly true that a woman answering to the name of Ma'an Kataan was there at the Rebellion - and she is known for always wearing a white porcelain mask with a sinister, laughing face marked upon it in red ink. She herself is rarely seen anymore - she only occasionally turns up in person for High Coven meetings - and rumour has it that she is plotting something greater than anything ever done before...