Elven politics may seem strange to outsiders, but its a system that works for the elves, most of the time. For great houses stand among others, picked through intrigue, money, and death. Three ways to become a great house. You can spy, bribe, and "take care of" those others, and eventually they may submit, and give you their place. That, or you can campaign, spill your hard earned Leaves into making your house head look good in the public eye, the people may vote to have one of the great houses replaced for you. Lastly, you can declare war on a great house, cast civil blood for your own chance of power, win against a great house, and you are a great house. Three ways to become part of the highest place in Elven society, which perfect describes the Elven peoples. Crafty, hardworking, yet brutal.
Avrak is the seat of power in the Elven Empire, where the great houses live, as does the Septose, leader and ruler of their people. The new Septose, Tregas Telvear, came to power the simple way, make money in the simple ways, spread propaganda, hire people to make him look good, and donate money to the study of science and magic. The people knew his views, the views he had towards the humans, the beastkin and the macgi, but they never, ever, saw coming what he wanted to do. He passed in laws, fighting for the rights of other races in his lands. For the first time in over three centuries the other races were allowed in the Empire. To become citizens, comes and go freely, and even have their hands in their politics. The people are less than happy about this transgression, and a new Septose may be at hand.
Elves: The Elves, the life blood of their nameless empire, so to them and the rest of the word, they're known only as the Elven Empire. They first came to be know to the other races after what is simply called "The First War" to the Elves. Their first real war, with the outside world. Sad their first contact was just that. A bloody war, fought against the humans. A half year of fighting, and the humans were drove back, but not without loses on both sides. Through prisoners captured, they learned of the outside world. The kingdoms of the humans, the existence of beastkin and the Macgi. Out of fear, they closed themselves away, disallowing any and all outside of their race from entering their glorious nation. To the outside world, they're known for their magic, and their craft. Tales recall their amazing golden armour, stronger than the humans best steel, strong enough to stop anything but the arrows of a ballista. Very few examples of their armour and weapons exist outside of the homeland, but all that is not is owned by the humans, held prized by warriors, scholars, or kings, spoils of the First War.
Humans: The human race, a race split thrice through stupidity. In the east lay a kingdom, the kingdom of Cardona, where wheat grows golden and good, through the labour of enslaved humans and beastkin. The south is ruled by the Kingdom of Nekkoa, where simple people live simple lives, farmers farm, warriors fight, slavers collect, and thieves thrive. Last, to the west is Aurora, where the magically gifted live, free to chase their ambition. So long as they're successful. Cardona was one of the first, built from the capture and slavery of Unath and Furouth, traded and used to any and all wants of the humans. For them, to rebel, would surely mean death. Then Nekkoa came, born in rebellion. They felt that Cardona had to many laws, to oppressive because they had laws about how many cattle you could own, taxed slaves, and used the motto of "Eye for an Eye" in their punishments. Cardona didn't much care for those trouble makers anyway, so they let them go, no need to shed their blood for those who didn't know how to be civilized. They built their land on the principle that any man should be free to be their own, no matter what they wanted to do. As long as you don't go sticking your knife into your fellow man, you were free to do what you pleased, and they even allowed asylum for any and all who wanted it, making it a haven for slavers, thieves, and those who wanted to practice illegal magic. Lastly, Aurora just... Appeared as it seems. Humans practicing magic, coming from neither land, as it seemed. Both other kingdoms had centuries to build their places, they seemed to appear one day, living in simple houses, and then a week after they had a castle and towns to rival the others. No one knows quiet how, but they thrive in magic.
Unath: Known as beastkin along with the Furouth, they are reptile in nature, with strong tails, cold blood, and venom fangs. They live in tribes, run by the strong, the men warriors by rights, the women revered crafters and brewers. The leaders of tribes are determined by strength and family right. Only the chieften are allowed to have wives, and as many wives as they please. When the chief grows old, and son may challenge him to battle to become the new leader. The one who walks away alive becomes the new leader. Both men and women of the Unath must learn to make, repair and hone their weapons and armour, knowledge passed from mother to children. Women are known as the best crafters of their kind, they're also known to be great brewers, making poisons and potions to help the men in battle. The women are trained to fight at home, defend while the men first away. Women are given more priority when trained to fight, for they are the ones who will fight if they are attacked, and who will defend their leader in trying times. Should a chief die with having no male sons, the tribe just disperses, going to any tribe that will take them, pr maybe start their own.
Furouth: Beastkin to all but them and Unath, they're furred people who stand on their hindlegs. They live in tight knit societies, small towns, self governed by elected councils. They're born in small litters of 3 to 5, and they're young are raised by a birth mother, one female of the group who they have decided who can best raise they children and impart good values, skills, and health. They're peaceful, docile, and kind. A war among the Furouth are unheard of, they don't even teach how to craft their own weapons or armours, they only make jewelry and robes to wear. Their jewelry is of master quality, made of purest metal, and rare jewels that only the Furouth seems to know how to find. Their craft made them great traders, all races want the craft of Furouth, no one could craft like them, and the jewels themselves were worth twice their weight in blood to others. Leverage like that was an easy gateway to trade. But it also made them targets, easy to make slaves of those who spent all their time making necklaces over neckpeices.
Elves: Being an Elf means you can always have your hand in politics, being the head or part of a house. If you find yourself being the sort to craft weapons and armour, you'll also start with the knowledge of making famed Elven craft. You're also guaranteed that any shops, inns, and businesses will accept you.
Humans: Humans are known for thinking with their sword before their brain, thats why all humans keep a sword or a shield with them at all times. Plus, while the Elves may have won the First War, its almost certain you could take an elf in a first fight.
Unath: Unath are proud warrior people, they always carry small daggers, forged strong, with the blood of your father mixed in, for luck. Unath blood is also poisonous to one other race, unknown to you. If you're male, you will also know to work a forge, making high quality arms. If you are a female, you will know how to make fine poisons and herbal potions.
Furouth: Furouth has masterful tongue, you can trade better than any elf, man or Unath. You also know secrets of the Furouth gems, the jewels that made your people the traders they are.
With the exception of humans, the race advantages will be taken into account right away. If you're human, put whether you want a sword or shield next to "Human" in the race section. Please don't use someone's sheet to automatically know someone's character, unless they want you to, I will allow characters that know each other if both agree, even characters with familial bonds.
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Now, theres isn't a real point to this, I want you all to make your own goals, ambitions, et cetra, want to be known as the greatest human traders in the Elven Empire? Cool. Want to settle down and have a family? More power to you. Hell, you can even become the Septose if you go through the proper channels. Just try not to do something against your races lore.
