Eschaton

[Llum]

I personally would like to see more into the Bestiary section. What kind of fae creatures are around?

[LD]

Yes, monsters please (!) :)

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Bestiary
[ic=The Underworld]From the moment the light rose over the mountains I knew nothing I ever saw would be the same. When I could at last see the sky I realized that the island, for I had climbed through darkness to reach an island, was not in the sea, but in the sky. Clouds drifted by so close I could almost have reached out and touched them, did I not fear the edge. Trees bloomed in a hundred shades of green, and flowers in every color imagineable. But all of this pailed before the muriad denizens. Where those below had been horrific, those above were ethereal. Some flitted across the sky on ethereal wings, some frolicked in the streams without fear of being swept over the side, and others peered at me from hiding places behind the foliage. The spirits of nature viewed me with as much curiousity as I saw them, though less fear.

-Excerpt from the proported journals of Orpheus

[/ic]

On the edges of the mortal world and beyond lurk creatures of enormous power, mystery, and, often, malevolence. Most of the creatures herein dwell in the underworld, or in the case of the most powerful, the upper planes. They are rarely encountered in the mortal world in modern times, where most people see them as myths to be feared or spoken of around campfires. Most types of beings are known by different names in many cultures (if possible one name for each of the twenty-two super cultures), in some cases holding several different names within the same culture.

[ooc]All of the creatures in Eschaton are drawn from mythology, like the characters, magical items, and other features. I felt it important not to just make up new creatures, but rather to adapt the mythical ones to the setting. I wanted to preserve the flavor of each, while still making them at least a little distinct. This contrasts with one of my other main goals in creating the Bestiary--to avoid creature bloat that I think is not conducise to a serious, dark setting that's meant to feel historical. That being the case, I assumed that these beings from another world would be encountered across the Earth, but known by many different names (for example, ghoul and rakshasa are the same creature, as are a gnome and a dwarf, an ogre and a troll).

The strategy required me to also assume that, like people, these creatures would have variations. I've thus condensed just about every creature from Mythological Resource collection I collected into a handful of creatures (excepting some I want to remain unique individuals, rather than monster types). I fear in some cases it makes categories so broad its hard to say much, especially since culture I see as a different topic from race. On the other hand, a few creatures are so specialized, I almost want to condense them further. Have a look and tell me what you think.[/ooc]

Creatures fall in three categories:
1 Spirits - creatures of the Underworld or upper planes, arranged in a four tier hierarchy
2 Monsters - warped mutations created by spirits
3 Mortals - who may have some supernatural origin

Spirits
Spirits exist in a four tier hierarchy. While animistic religions consider all four tiers gods, only those on the upper tiers are held as deities by other religions. The nature of a spirit is rarely understood by mortals; most powerful spirits appear in many cultures under different names. In mythologies, stories often crop up relating various spirits, though such relationships are usually the product of human imagination--Primordials and cosmic beings are non-physical and thus incapable of having children. In each tier there are those natural and those tainted by the Cythrawl.

The Cythrawl is the force of oblivion. For almost every spirit type, it creates one or two corresponded corrutped types. For example, a corrupted gnome becomes a goblin or ogre.

The descending hierarchy (Uncorrupted/Corrupted):
1 - Primordials (Devas/Devils)
2 - Cosmic Beings (Angels/Demons)
3 - Fae (Seelie/Unseelie)
4 - Ghosts (Shades/Spectres)

Monsters
Monsters are animal-like beings created through the power of spirits. Many are created by demons to cause strife and destruction. Others were created by the fae as weapons or guardians. Most monsters are non-sentient. Monsters are found commonly in the underworld and uncommonly in the mortal world.

There are several broad categories of monsters, such as mutants. Rather than describe every one, I give a description of the category, and list specific variations under aliases. In general, no two mutants or chimera are alike.

Mortals
Besides ordinary humans, a number of mortal beings also inhabit the world or the underworld.

This includes giants, the undead, siddha (sorcerers), were-beasts, and the Atlanteans.

Sample Fae
Dragons
Dragons are serpentine spirits of water that may have attributes of other animals, including fish-like scales, which may be of a single color or a full rainbow of color. They are adept at controlling water and weather, bringing or denying rains at their pleasure. They live in the underworld of Patala, a realm of water filled with their undersea palaces. From here they can travel to the waters of Otherworld or the mortal realm. Older dragons can levitate and fly even without need of wings. They continue to grow as they age, the oldest reaching lengths of forty feet or more.

Dragons begin their lives as water-bound serpents, sometimes mistaken for fish. Those that grow strong enough may choose to pass through the Dragon Gate in Otherworld, beginning their personal evolution, a process by which dragons evolve and change form as they age. They may grow camel-like whiskers, horns of a beast, eagle-like talons, or even wings. Others may become feathered serpents. Many master the ability to shapeshift, allowing them to change their appearance or even assume human form.

Dragons are harmed by iron, but they love jewels, jade, and gold. An angered dragon relies on its power to control the elements. Besides water and weather, some master fire or earth. If necessary, a dragon also has great physical strength.

Nature: Spirit: Fae: Seelie
Aliases: Amphiteres (Anannites for feathered), Dragon-maid (Anannites for dragons in human hybrid form); Rainbow serpent (Bilites), Lightning Serpent (Bilites); Ryong/Yong (Dagunites), kyo (Dagunites for mountain dragon), dragon-carp (Dagunites for carp form), kye-ryong (Dagunites for chicken feathered dragon); Safat (Deucalites), Sciritae (Deucalites for humanoid form); long/lung (Guanites), kiao/yu-long (Guanites for carp form), kiao-long (Guanites for horned dragon), ying-long (Guanites for winged or feathered form), lung wang (Guanites for a Dragon King), tien-long (Guanites for palace dragon), fu-t'sang long (Guanites for treasure dragon), li long/ti long (Guanites for earth dragon), shen-long (Guanites for spiritual dragon); veri celen (Hanwasites); tatsu/ryu (Hononites), ri-ryu (Hononites for winged dragon), Tobi-tastu/hai-ryu (Hononites for feathered serpent); rainbow serpent (Imanites); naga (Kapilites), mahoragas (Kapilites for humanoid form), rong (Jang); Bujanga/nogo (Lalahites); Draconopedes (Melkarites); Cynoprosopi (Mulcibites for dragon with dog head); Harun (Neithites); zomok (Paivites); sarkanykigyo (Paivites for winged version); Yuxa/sly snake (Ugunsmatites for humanoid form)
Siddhi: Aerokinesis, Heightened Senses, Hydrokinesis, Resilience
Rare Siddhi: Astral Projection, Clairvoyance, Electrokinesis, Empathy, Geokinesis, Levitation, Pyrokinesis, Shifting, Telepathy

[LordVreeg]

I want to know more about the 'dark angel'.

Needs more of a name.

wondering if he has servants, operhaps taking some of the fey who were castigated for not choosing sides?  and how would his relationships to demons(mentioned above) be seen by the Vatian Church?

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I want to know more about the 'dark angel'.

Needs more of a name.

An excellent question, albeit a more difficult one for me to answer.

The simplest answer is that there is no Dark Angel, or at least no one cosmic being directly corresponds to the history presented by the Vates Church.

Theletus has sometimes been mistaken for the Dark Angel. And there are fallen angels (demons) that serve Kroni, who is basically the Vatian "dark god," though I haven't detailed any yet.

I thought about giving him a personal name besides the title. Since all the names in the setting are from mythology, it would have to come from there. Most major spirits are already aliases of other spirits, and I'm not sure if I want to conflare the Vatian Dark Angel with a real personality--yet. Possibly I could just pull some unused demon name from Judeo-Christian mythology.

wondering if he has servants, operhaps taking some of the fey who were castigated for not choosing sides?  and how would his relationships to demons(mentioned above) be seen by the Vatian Church?

The first question becomes sort of moot since the Dark Angel didn't really happen. However, that's such a cool idea I almost wish I could use it.

The second question: The Church considers him the prince of demons, having inheritted the throne of the dark god. I need to add that to the description. Good catch.

[LD]

Side note (Constructive Criticism): Regrettably the hyper-realistic map does not seem to fit this style. You may want to consider changing the map style when you have time/resources to better reflect the ancient world ethos. The map looks too modern.

[Llum]

I just read up on how magic works on the wiki. I think your system is fantastic.

Now I did have some questions. Orichalcum, obviously a great material for creating magical items. Are there a lot of non-sword Orichalcum items? So far of the 9 mentioned, all of them are swords.

I know in mythology there are tons of non-sword magic weapons (not as common as magic swords, but what can you do), so have you put any thought into how they would fit in?

[brainface]

I'm kind of curious of the role Prometheus plays, if any--he's pretty much my favorite mythological character ever right now. :)

I really like the "real"-world myth mining in general--there's a lot of really neat and crazy myths of items and creatures that should be used more in our crazy games, in my opinion.

[Superfluous Crow]

How prevalent are the fae? Would a common craftsman in the city or a farmer see them every day walking down the street? Or would they be lucky to ever clearly spot a denizen of the supernatural world?

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Lot's of questions, so thanks CBGers, it's very encouraging! I'm actually away from home right now, which makes updates more sporadic and ad hoc, but I'll be in at least once a day or so.

I just read up on how magic works on the wiki. I think your system is fantastic.

I'm kind of curious of the role Prometheus plays, if any--he's pretty much my favorite mythological character ever right now.  

I really like the "real"-world myth mining in general--there's a lot of really neat and crazy myths of items and creatures that should be used more in our crazy games, in my opinion.[/quote]Prior Eras[/url] section of history. He's been responsible for the introduction of Pandora's Box, manipulating the Destroyer in almost every Era, and generally annoying the Conclave.

One of my goals in Eschaton was to make it all real-world myth. I interpret stuff in new ways, and relate stuff that was never related in the real world. But I haven't made up wholesale new items, creatures, or cosmologies.

Anannites[/url] that worship them, and hated in many other places, in part thanks to the Vates Church.

[sparkletwist]

The simplest answer is that there is no Dark Angel, or at least no one cosmic being directly corresponds to the history presented by the Vates Church.

I really like this. I think I may have mentioned this before, but I really like when a setting has its own mythology, too-- I think, too often in fantasy settings (and I must admit I'm guilty of this myself sometimes too) everything is "real" and there is no real folklore or beliefs beyond what the people can see. It's kind of ironic since the worlds are so fantastic and yet, because everything "fantastic" is "real," the people come across as cold rationalists.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

1 - Primordials (Devas/Devils)

It was something that I considered, especially since so much of Eschaton's cosmology is Dharmic religion based. I've lately actually been thinking about making "Archon" the base name, and deva an alias (if you follow the link you can see a few cultures call them other things).

I use "asura" as an alias for Unseelie because the asura races more closely mirror the Unseelie (indeed they are the Kapilite aliases for most Unseelie races).

I don't know that I see a huge difference between devils and demons, either. I suppose the word devil, derived from Persian daeva, is meant to imply a greater being (e.g. The Devil). And as such I made it the name of the higher rank of corrupted spirit (which needed some generic name). Actually, thinking it should be generic gives me more reason to change deva to "archon" (which was the Deucalite alias only because it was a Greek derived word, not so much because we see archons in Greek mythology--they are really Gnostic).

Thanks for getting me thinking Sparkletwist!

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Cultures
[note]A little cultural information while I work on some of the requests put forth. The Mulcibites are the people that inhabit Logres and Thrinakia and thus form the backbone of the Vatian Empire. Rather than detailing culture extensively under each land, I have an extensive culture page for each super culture. Then, differences from that are explained on the locale.[/note]
Humanity in the eastern hemisphere is divided into twenty-two super-cultures, each claiming literal or cultural descent from a messiah. These messiahs lived during the Bronze Age, at which time they led their respective peoples apart, helping the m to survive in a hostile world. Thousands of years have passed and many of these cultures have now subdivided, but all cultures within a super-culture retain some commonalities, such as the veneration of their messiah.

Each of the super-cultures developed its own language, which, over time has subdivided into regional dialects which may or may not be mutually understandable.

Mulcibites
Appearance
Mulcibites stand shorter than many other races, usually with ruddy complexions and brown hair and eyes. Men wear their hair short and most often shave clean. All but the poorest men visit the barber at least every couple of days for a shave. Men consider baldness a mar, prizing a full head of hair. Young women gather their hair in a bun in the back, but older women use much more elaborate hairstyles. They often tie their hair at the top of the head with a ribbon, or arrange them in layers. Many women use tongs to add curls to their hair. Married upperclass women spend a great deal of effort to look in fashion, such that professional hairstylists have become commonplace. Some women also dye their hair, adding a reddish tint.

Basic dress for men is a wool or linen tunic. Silk imported along the Royal Road, while popular for women, is considered effeminate by men. A basic tunic consists of two pieces of cloth sown together, untailored, with the surplus making short sleeves. Tunics are belted at the waist. Nobles and knights may wear a pallium (short cloak) over the tunic, and most citizens wear a licium (loincloth) underneath. A noble or knight's tunic bears a purple stripe, while the Vicar wears purple-lined robes. The purple dye for these garments is a prime import from Palaetyrus.

On formal occasions men wear a long piece of cloth called a toga, which is worn draped over the shoulder. Togas are hot and cumbersome, so at dinner parties men more often wear a cross between a toga and a tunic, called a sythesis.

Women wear a similar kind of tunic, called a stola, sometimes with a palla (mantle) overtop. They wear a strophium (leather strap bra) underneath. Only prostitutes and adulteresses wear togas, in some cases transparent silk ones.

Both men and women wear sandals, though women may at times wear soft leather shoes. In winter or in colder lands Mulcibites may wear puttees. Women favor gold and silver jewelry. Mulcibites rarely wear hats, but they may wear hooded cloaks called paenulae in inclement weather.

Mulcibites use a variety of glyphs to represent their social status. These glyphs are tattooed on the skin as a mark of standing; bearing a glyph one has not earned is a serious crime. A member of a noble or knightly house receives its glyph tattoo on his or her cheek at age fifteen. In addition, a trusted servant may receive the tattoo on the back of his hand, while a slave is marked on the inner wrist by his owning house. A freed slave receives an appropriate modification to the glyph tattoo.

Other status tattoos include the mark of the legion, commendations for valor, records of campaigns fought in, and certain civic offices or service awards. A noble can bestow a glyph for master swordsmanship as a mark of favor; such a tattoo is drawn on the right hand. Many Mulcibites also receive a glyph tattoo indicating the year of their marriage, and sometimes the number of children they have.

Social Structure
Mulcibite society is highly patriarchal. The father is considered the head of the household, while the heads of the noble houses are considered the metaphorical fathers of the state. A family consists of all people descended from the same father. A father's daughter's children are not part of his family, they are part of his daughter's husband's family. This system means that even a man with married children may still be a legal dependent of his father--who can still arrange marriages or divorces for all members of his family, as well as disown them or sell them into slavery, even execute them. If a father dies, a guardian is appointed to manage the affairs of his daughters and unmarried sons.

Because of the frequency of death and divorce, blended families are common. A household may thus consist of many step-siblings, half-siblings, or even adopted children. Adoptions are most common when a man needs an heir and is unable to have children, or his children have died. Despite the blending of families, relations between siblings are usually strong. Familial loyalty and obedience to the father is a key virtue in Mulcibite culture. Corporal punishment is a common child-rearing technique, which many Mulcibites believe prepares children for the harsh world.

Mulcibite society is organized into four tiers. At the top are the noble houses, that own the most land. Most wealth originated in agriculture, though the noble houses no longer work their own land. The knightly houses, each usually serve as a client to a noble house. Each noble or knightly house is represented by a glyph. The common people, or plebeians, serve as craftsmen, merchants, farmers, and similar workers. Slaves are the lowest rung of the social ladder.

Knightly houses provide the cavalry and most military officers. Knights own much of the property in and around Mulcibite cities. Knights believe in personal heroism as justification for their status. Their deeds enhance their family name and can win greater favor from the noble houses. Knights receive privileged seating at public events.

Plebeians (freemen) stand too far below the aristocracy to experience social mobility. Most aristocrats look down on plebeians as though they were children: ignorant and rash. Others disdain them simply because they must work for a living. Commonly they are seen as urban, but the class also includes farmers and shepherds. Shepherds in particular lead hard, lonely lives. Plebeians work undesirable job such as porters transporting goods and raw materials around cities.

Slaves stand beneath plebeians: legally they are non-people with no rights or even personal identities. A person taken as a slave is usually given a new name. Most slaves are taken as prisoners of war, captured rebels, rescued exposed children, children sold into slavery by poor parents, or the children of other slaves. However, others may become slaves when abducted by pirates or kidnappers. Slaves are commonly physically abused. Slaves bear a slave glyph indicating his house of ownership, and only noble or knightly houses are allowed to own slaves, with the exception of state slaves.

State slaves spend most of their time on city works, maintaining or building aqueducts, sewers, and the like. Most other slaves work on farms, or serve in the household to provide comfort. Slaves in Vatian provinces may have other hard or dangerous labor jobs, such as the silver mines of Listeneise. Farm slaves have become less common, as many nobles and some independent farmers have found tenant farming more profitable.

While state slaves commonly serve for life, privately own slaves often find manumission. House slaves, especially, tend to earn the respect of their masters. Owners may free slaves that have pleased them, slaves that have raised enough money to buy their freedom, slaves they wish to marry or adopt, or slaves too old or sick to be worth supporting. To free a slave, the slave and master appear before a praetor; the slave's glyph tattoo is then altered to indicate he has been freed. A master may also free a slave in his dying will. A freed slave may even be granted citizenship.

Mulcibite states operate through a system of patronage. Those with the most power offer their advice, protection, and in the case of plebeians, someone to plead their cases. In exchange, the client offers his patron service and aid with political campaigns. Patrons can accomplish the work of police or provide social services and basic security for their clients. They constantly reinforce their position of superiority, however, using tactics like keeping their client waiting for long periods of time.

Customs
Mulcibites consider determination, discipline, and self-sufficiency the most important virtues, along with loyalty to the state and family. They are a people that quickly adapt techniques that work well for others, while trying to maintain an image of an ideal Mulcibite. They believe in hard work, but also take time to relax and socialize during the day. The Mulcibite day begins at sunrise and ends just before sunset. Service to the state is considered the proper occupation for those in power, and thus many nobles and knights pursue public careers, sometimes without pay. They may serve as lawyers, judges, diplomats, military officials, or even join the Church, in addition to pursuing the ends of their own house in more private ways.

Mulcibites can bear up to three names. The first, or given name, of which there are some forty to choose from, is followed by the gens or clan name. Wealthy citizens may also have a more limited family name (cognomen), a practice that became common within the last two generations. Women usually bear an effeminate form of their clan name as their given name (for example, Maria is of the house of Marius).

An ideal remains of a father as the teacher of his children. In the case of the wealthy, however, private tutors are more often hired, or even slaves used; Deucalite teachers are popular. Even among the plebeians, in the last century children have been taught in schools--privately run schools that allow many families to pay for a tutor together. These schools are taught in open air, or in rented space such as apartments; classes last until noon. Tutors and schools teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, preparing children for service and business. Wealthy families grant their children further education with paedagogues, who serve as escorts and teachers. Education can be carried further: a grammaticus teaches children about language, literature, astronomy, and basic philosophy. Beyond a grammaticus, a rhetor teaches the most advanced subjects usually reserved for clergy and statesmen, including the same subjects as a grammaticus and also history, law, geography, and especially public speaking. The most prized wealthy children may even go beyond this level, studying abroad in Athinai or other famed cities for a year. All but rhetors receive very low pay, and often limited respect, which can lead teachers to take out their frustrations on students. Corporal punishment is an acceptable means of discipline. Those that cannot afford schooling, or schooling beyond the basic level, may send their children on to apprenticeships, or take their children as their own apprentices. Children of the poor begin work at a young age--in some cases even girls work.

Most Mulcibites eat three meals a day, with very simple breakfasts and lunches which may consist of olives, cheese, figs, and nuts. The upper classes eat very well, sampling exotic foods from all around the Thalassa Sea, while the poor subsist mainly on wheat, boiled to make porridge--the poor may also have beans, leaks, and sheep lips. Supper is taken in early evening, often at dinner parties for the wealthy. The wealthy eat meats, vegetables, fruits, and cheese, with several courses. An appetizer may consist of fish or raw vegetables; the main meal is usually cooked vegetables and meats; dessert is nuts, figs, dates, plums, apples, grapes, and honeycomb. All people drink wine--or vinegar in the case of the most poor--watered down.

Cookbooks are popular with the upper classes, offering recipes from exotic lands such as Libya and Khemia. Popular recipes include sweet and sour pork, rabbit with fruit sauce, and Libyan chicken. Because many meals are prepared with honey, fruit, vinegar, or a fish sauce called liquamen, they can take on a sweet and sour taste.

Over the last several centuries Deucalite culture has had a profound influence of Mulcibite culture. Mulcibites have adapted Deucalite art, architecture, and sometimes even fashions, in addition to employing Deucalite teachers. The state remains somewhat leery of Deucalite philosophers, who have also occasionally run afoul of the Church. Deucalite medical knowledge has advanced Mulcibite medicine, but many remain skeptical of doctors who still have a low rate of success.

The Mulcibite people were once animists, but the Vates Church has come to totally dominate their culture. It pervades daily life in Logres and many Mulcibite territories. Believers in the old ways are few, and must practice in secret. Religious festivals are common, and the state helps to orchestrate them.

Mulcibites are famed for their skill as engineers. They have built not only massive buildings, but impressive works such as aqueducts, working sewers, roads, and irrigation systems.

Marriage and Gender
Men and women usually marry young, at twelve or thirteen for girls, and around sixteen for boys. Both must marry the spouse chosen for them by their father. The bride's family pays a dowry to help support her in her new family. The wedding is a time of song, and a procession escorts the bride from her old home to her new one. Marriage was once a private affair, but it has become common to receive the blessings of the Church before marriage or divorce. Divorce is common among the upper classes, when one partner longer consents to the marriage. In the case of divorce, children remain with the father, and the bride returns to her prior family--which will likely try to marry her off again as soon as possible.

The function of marriage is to produce children, and thus a couple may hope for harmony, but romance is not a priority in most marriages. Couples are urged to have children early and often, partly to negate the high infant mortality rate. Sometimes those with enough children practice contraception, but with limited success. Death in childbirth is common, particularly because of the young age at which many bear children; those that survive may have grandchildren by the time they're thirty.

The ideal Mulcibite woman is said to be self-sacrificing and devoted to the betterment of her children. Mulcibites see the function of women as bearing children. They are also responsible for managing the household. Independent thought in a woman is considered scandalous, though they are expected to have enough education to understand their husband's work. Husbands frequently abuse their wives, whose only recourse is intervention from her family. In the poorest families, women may take jobs outside the home.

Adultery is tolerated among men provided it is with slaves, prostitutes, or unmarried women--to compromise another man's wife gives him ground for justified killing. Among women, no adultery is tolerated, even though they are expected to tolerate their husband's affairs. However, sexual restrictions have begun to loosen in the last century.

Birth and Death
Birth and death announcements are painted on the outside walls of a house or apartment. Many children are born, but the infant mortality rate is high. Even so, unwanted children may be left exposed. Sometimes they are found and sold into slavery; often they die.

Leaders and religious men receive eulogies at their funerals, and wealthy usually have extravagant processions. Even simple funerals are expensive for plebeians, so many join funeral clubs to mitigate the costs: they pay monthly dues at each dinner meeting, and club pays for their funeral when they die.

Most Mulcibite cities have strict funerary laws, which include not bringing a corpse into a city, nor burying or cremating within city limits. Violation of a gravesite is a major crime, but many families go farther, whispering curses on graverobbers.

Leisure
[ic=Loth Gawain]The mob is easily amused. Which is fortunate, since when roused, they can make even the highest noble tremble with their voice.

-supposed lecture to his sons Gaheris and Gareth

[/i][/ic]
The favorite activity for most Mulcibites is wine or dinner parties. The poor cannot afford to host such things, but a large number of bars accommodate them, and their funeral clubs allow social dinners once a month (to pay dues). The wealthy display their wealth by frequently inviting their friends for dinner. Even the invitations themselves have become something of a literary genre, as a host tries to win over guests that almost certainly have competing offers. During dinner parties, hosts offer entertainment such as music or poetry readings. The wealthy prefer to recline on couches for dinner. Weather permitting, many favor outdoor gardens. Guests bring their own napkins, which can be used to carry food home in.

Gambling, especially dice games, occupy many Mulcibites; some even call it an addiction among soldiers. Gaming boards provide similar entertainment. Athletic competitions are also common.

State-sponsored festivals called ludi provide days of entertainment, with a variety of state-hired performers--all following the appropriate religious rites, of course. Chariot races are a favorite of both the poor and wealthy, with fanatical fans cheering on teams wearing colored uniforms. Many Muclibite cities have multiple race tracks--the great track in Astolat can hold almost a quarter million spectators. The gladiatorial arena provides another spectacle for the masses, as gladiator slaves are forced to fight each other or wild beasts.

The most educated may enjoy recitations of poetry. Most citizens, however, prefer the theater. Theater fees are low, or non-existent in the case of some open public theaters commissioned for ludi. Women are not allowed on stage, and thus male performers play the parts of women.

In rural areas where many of these pursuits are unavailable, people more often occupy themselves with hunting, fishing, or wrestling. Many Mulcibites, especially the wealthy, also favor travel. They try to stay with friends, for inns are usually nothing more than a few rooms above a public tavern with a stable, and perhaps prostitutes available.

Baths are a part of daily life for all but the most poor. While nobles may have private baths, a large number of public baths are available in all Mulcibite cities, and are a priority construction in Vatian provinces. These houses charge a very small fee, and thus are readily accessible to all. Most visit them in the afternoon, some many go straight from the baths to dinner. Baths offer rooms of hot water, warm water, and cool water. They offer far more, however, as many feature massage parlors, ballgames, jogging tracks, swimming, snack shops, gardens, and meeting rooms. They are places for socialization and sometimes informal business deals.

Military
Because most Mulcibites are members of the Vatian Empire, their militaries have become totally subsumed by the Vatian military. Mulcibites value personal heroism and glory in battle, seeking to distinguish themselves. However, they also value discipline, and thus issue personal challenges only when it will not jeopardize the greater army.

History
Mulciber was one of the messiahs in Lemuria, and he led his people to Unug, where he secretly slew Kapila. Following this he settled in Logres, where he was eventually killed by Anann. After many years, Mulcibites spread to several Thalassa islands, including Thrinakia. They rose to the world stage with the rise of Arcturus, who built his great empire--an empire that spread Mulcibite culture to many lands.
Following the fall of Arcturus's empire, the Vates Church gained great prominence among Mulcibites. Thrinakia, now the state of the Church, eventually came to control most Mulcibite lands. Logres remains the heart of the Mulcibite people, and a privileged state within the Vatian Empire.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Logres
[note]Even though Thrinakia is the capital of the Vatian Empire, Logres is probably the most important Mulcibite land[/note]

Social Structure[/b]
There are eight noble houses in Logres, which are the eight great noble houses of the Vatian Empire. These noble houses are descended from the generals of Arcturus, and thus claim to be heir to his empire. The houses are: Bors, Gawain, Lancel, Lionel, Lucan, Palamedes, Pellinore, and Tristram. The heads of these houses compose the Senate, which governs Logres.

A large number of knightly houses exist beneath these, most of which are clients of one of the noble houses. A knight receives a state dispensation for purchasing a horse for military use. Position in these houses is hereditary, but a person can be expelled by the nobility, and others can be added, including the creation of new houses.

The Empire appoints men to fill the magistrate offices, such as city mayors, chief justice, chief engineer, public treasurer, and the quaestor, who inquires into public finances. Many of these positions are traditionally held by particular houses.

Economy[/b]
The currency system in Logres has become the official currency of the Vatian Empire.

1 golden aureus (pl. aurei) = 25 denarii
1 silver denarius = 5 dupondii (one day's skilled labor)
1 brass dupondius = 2 asses
1 bronze as = 4 quadrans
1 bronze quadran is the lowest

Logres trades with many lands around the Thalassa Sea, especially Thrinakia, Valland, and Ellas. Through the Royal Road they can receive goods from far beyond the Vatian Empire. Astolat is the center of international trade in Logres.

Architecture[/b]
The noble and knightly houses own most of the housing buildings, including apartments, in urban centers. Plebeians commonly rent space in these buildings. Apartments may have shared space for cooking and toilets. A house may also have space that can be rented for a shop, combining residential and commercial locations. Houses for the wealthy also have space for slaves.

Outside the cities, most people live in farm houses. Though modest, they are more spacious than city dwellings. Most farms expect to be self-sufficient, and thus they may have limited contact with their neighbors. Many noble and some knightly houses also maintain villas out in the country so that they can escape city life from time to time.

Most houses follow a similar design plan. They feature a central atrium.

Because houses are built close together, fire is a constant threat. Many companies sell insurance against fire for an annual rate. Burglary is also a threat. The rich employ house guards, while the poor have to rely on their neighbors.

Mulcibites are famed for their engineering, and nowhere is this more evident than in Logres. A system of aqueducts provides mountain water to every major settlement. Public toilets can be found in marketplaces, and these flush into the miles of sewer tunnels which carry waste away from the cities. Cobblestone roads connect the entire nation and beyond.

Daily Life[/b]
Logres follows most Mulcibite customs. Life in the country is quieter than life in the cities, though the people lack protection against brigands. Yet many people find themselves drawn to the excitement of urban centers, despite the noise, risk of disease, crowds, traffic, and the threat of crime.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

As requested, some new magic items:

Tarnhelm - magic helm
Wave Sweeper - magic ship
Gungnir - magic spear

All created by the fae.