The core tenet of Dystan warfare is to make each fight quick, decisive, and entirely one-sided. When their adversary flinches, they have already won. Thus they favour weapons that minimise their own risk during skirmishes and ambushes: daggers and shortswords for close quarters, and polearms to keep foes at a distance.
In the absence of conventional ranged weaponry and spellcraft, some Dystan adventurers wield curious methods of fighting in two places at once...
In a stark contrast to other nations of #Auvia, Espre dabbles in a little bit of everything in matters of war. The nation of students learns all they can, *about* all they can, and brings that to bear if it is ever attacked.
As a result, Espren military divisions have more diversity among their soldiers than any other, at the expense of a little bit of coherency. Every unit has specialists in a wide variety of fields - even different forms of magic, as shunned as they are.
#Lore24 17/02/24 NZT
Espren adventurers most often train in lightweight weapons that are simple to wield and can be used in myriad ways. Spears, daggers, crossbows, and smaller axes are common among beginner adventurers, but as one trains and broadens their abilities, they too often specialise in the same manner as their soldiers.
Augmenting weapon training with other methods is common. If one earns an honour or two, they are taught to wield their mind alongside their arms and armour...
When Ioh-Né goes to war, its army wields magic in any form it can. Illusory defenses mislead enemy scouts into thinking Iohnites are well-entrenched. Basic fire magicks are enhanced through refitted cannons to unleash ruin. Frontline soldiers hurl spikes of ice and lightning, forcing the enemy to dodge into carefully placed traps.
Ioh-Né has few reasons to wage war against the rest of #Auvia. It commits smaller numbers to the field, but those forces are devastating.
#Lore24 19/02/24 NZT
Though spellcraft is considered the pinnacle of Iohnite achievement, much of it is still academically studied. As such, though Iohnite forces are all magically trained to a degree, they still wield familiar weaponry such as a longsword or spear paired with a shield, armour of all types, and hefty hammers of various sizes.
Occasionally, those taught to wield destructive magicks are given combat training, making them into a force to be reckoned with whether near or far...
Khava is known far and wide for its cavalry, and rightly so. They rely on their steeds just as much as their comrades: astride horses, ponies, war dogs, and more besides, the Khavans conduct hit-and-run attacks to keep their adversaries on the back foot.
Owing to their travellers' lifestyle, the Khavans keep no permanent settlements on the outer fringes of their lands. This often confounds inexperienced commanders who find ambushes waiting for them instead of campsites.
Surprising absolutely nobody, the warriors of Khava train with weapons that work well astride a steed. Shortbows, spears, lances, and similar weapons with longer reach are the traditional Khavan style. They supplement their arsenal with light, practical armour, and small wood and leather shields strapped to the forearm.
The best of the outriders, those who have fought in defense of their nation and achieved feats of heroism, are given the honoured title of "Khava'Lia".
To Thau, the best offense is a good defense. Their abundance of stonecutters, blacksmiths, and armourers ply their trade in fortifications when the need arises. Thaun soldiers are clad in heavy mail, armed with hefty weapons, and trained to be the anvil on which their foe's hammers break.
When a Thaun encampment is in danger of being overrun and captured, fuses are lit and the site abandoned. Kegs of canandust reduce defenses to rubble, ideally taking the enemy with it.
Thaun armies favour heavy weapons and heavier armour. Blades are rare, as hammers of all sizes, crossbows and ballistas, and the occasional repurposed mining pick are seen in the hands of Thau's soldiers.
The arms and armour of the most lauded troops are inscribed with the deeds of the heroes who take them into battle. Ancient knowledge of the legendary runic devices, and the means to properly inscribe them, remains a closely guarded Thaun secret...
Rhizel's approach to warfare, much like most of the nation's practices, highlights the differences between nobility and commoners. Detachments of conscripted and somewhat-organised smallfolk are each led by lower-ranked knights, while the nation's soldiers and knights of the upper tiers are much more coherently arranged - and trained.
There are many opponents of Rhizeli methods, without and within the nation, but the latter operates in the shadows for fear of reprisal.
Rhizeli knights are trained to wear plate and chainmail, and wield weapons from the sword to the spear. They favour the former, however, taking up the greatsword or a sword-and-shield pairing to take the field, and the rapier in the cut and thrust of the courts.
The conscripted commonfolk aren't so lucky. They are given basic leather jerkins and one weapon. Some folks are lucky enough to be assigned to a crossbow detachment, where there's a better chance of coming home.
Zesh-Muran regiments are disciplined, tactically deployed, and equipped with a wide arsenal. Cannon artillery backs up battalions of infantry and cavalry, while supply carts and couriers ride between tactical outposts to keep commanders informed.
Zesh-Mura's soldiers fight without fear, for they have trained to expect the chaos of war and all that comes with it. Broken formations are resumed quickly with practiced precision, and casualties are always accounted for.
Every Zesh-Muran who volunteers for the military receives dedicated training in the weapon that speaks to them, as well as the basics of wielding secondary arms. They are organised into squads that all wield similar if not identical preferred weapons, for unit coherency.
The cadets who prove themselves beyond their calling are reassigned to elite cadres who train to follow in the footsteps of their nation's honoured founder: the hoblin blademaster Sa-Mura the First.
There have been several international conflicts across #Auvia over the generations. One stands out among them, though: the Unification War, a battle between all eight nations. Each believes that uniting Auvia under one banner will earn them great power rivaling that of the Seven Gods themselves.
Or, at least, that's the tentative plot that started all this. A campaign where the entire party is made up of Fighters. Everyone's from different nations and has different subclasses.
#Lore24 29/02/24
Agriculture and farming practices vary across #Auvia, but staple crops and herbs are widely grown. Chief among the latter is a plant called tempremint that grows year-round. When picked at full growth and eaten, tempremint cleans the mouth and teeth, freshening breath and preventing damage.
The mint was named after Tempresa of the Seven Gods in ages past, when They were more widely known as a deity of love. Auvians calling on their prospective partners chew it for good luck.
#Lore24 01/03/24
Let's take a look at transportation: how the folk of #Auvia get around. The most common mode of long-distance travel is horse-drawn carriages, requiring few tools to build and able to get from one town to another in a few days at most, depending on where you need to go.
The nations have easy access to the resources needed to build carriages - notably, the horses to pull them - though not all are equally well-supplied. Metal for reinforcing is rarer in some lands than others.
#Lore24 02/03/24
Though they may not compare to Aeskellian vessels, most nations maintain a naval fleet for travel along the coasts and to the outlying islands, as well as international trade by sea. Civilian trade or transport ships typically fly flags of both their homeland and the Aeskellian iconography for a ship that means no harm: a pennon that tapers to a rounded point, blue with a white line bisecting it. Such ships in Aeskellian waters are *usually* respected and given passage.
For generations, people of #Auvia have entertained the dream of taking to the skies. Some Khavans succeed in forming an accord with the massive birds that roam the wilds. Birds of prey and the occasional other species, such as ravens or gulls, can grow to enormous size if, through some blessing of the Seven, they are able to live long lives and establish territory for themselves. Khava's druids, the rare few who can speak with these flying wonders, are their most common riders.
#Lore24 04/03/24
An adventurer's life on the roads of #Auvia can be hazardous. When you need to get somewhere and expect danger along the way, a two-horse khariot may be the best solution - even if it's expensive.
A khariot doesn't provide much beyond a place to stand and a little bit of cover. But if you expect to get into a fight on the road, it's good for outrunning attackers or fighting as you go. On a khariot built for the Small, you can let loose its war dogs to help you stand and fight.
#Lore24 05/03/24
Getting raw materials from their point of origin to a place they can be made into resources is often one of the least thought-about parts of the process. Tradesfolk and governments alike pay good coin to ensure these operations are smooth.
Whenever a greatwagon lumbers down the roads of #Auvia, it is always under guard - not just for its cargo, but also for the magick worked into it. This Iohnite spell lightens the cargo, allowing greatwagons to carry considerable amounts.
#Lore24 06/03/24
The spellcraft used in constructing a greatwagon sees use in more than just transportation. Ioh-Né's first uses of the magick were involved in the creation of the capital city's spire-bridges: miraculous stonework connecting tall towers. Gliding platforms, which move through the air rather like a sailing ship, are a newer invention.
It was also used to make the first Bag of Holding. It rendered anything put into it feather-light but was destroyed in a magical explosion.
The Auvian war dog is widely known as a loyal and dedicated companion. The species typically stands at two and a half to three feet tall, appearing in a wide variety of fur colours from black or white to dark blues and greens, and with a set of retractable claws not seen in other dogs.
A properly trained war dog can be taught to pull khariots or serve as a mount for a Small rider. It's often said they're smart enough to speak, and they simply choose not to.
In the north of #Auvia, temperatures rise and certain species used to warmer climes are more prevalent in the plains and forests. One such creature is the veyahn (pronounced vee-awn), a cousin of the gryphon.
Veyahns are quadrupedal, almost lionlike creatures with a large set of feathered wings. Ordinarily, they use their wings for gliding, or kicking up wind and dust to confuse their prey. But with a careful, patient hand, a trainer can raise their veyahn to learn to fly.
#Lore24 09/03/24
The downside to raising flight-capable veyahns, of course, is that they have to be hand-reared from birth. It's a difficult process unless you already have a mated pair in captivity - a feat oft attempted over the generations, but rarely achieved.
In the wilds, veyahns live in packs and fiercely retaliate against anyone intruding on their territory. Even when their home is secure, one of the pack will always be on watch for threats and ready to rouse their kin.
All along the coasts, but primarily in the south, small establishments can be seen for the stabling and raising of Drash's crabs: surprisingly docile creatures that grow to giant size when safeguarded from predators. The crab is named for the goblin biologist Drash the Witty, whose love for sea life is well-documented.
Drash's own crab stables still stands on the east coast, between the borders of Aeskell and Rhizel. His apprentices follow in his footsteps to this day.
Drash's crabs are often seen as a mode of transport in Aeskell and coastal towns in other nations, but savvy ship captains will keep a small stable of them for their own purposes. The first use of Drash's crabs in ship-to-ship combat was as an ambush force, swimming from their home vessel with riders just beneath the surface of the sea. The riders would then breach the hull in several places under the surface, sending the enemy ship into a panic as water flooded in.
I've mentioned previously that warlocks all across #Auvia want power where they had none before. Sometimes that power is offered before a warlock even begins to look.
When someone is thrust into danger, and can't find a way to safety, a ghostly figure of their ancestor may appear before them, clad in mail and with seven swords about their person. They are unseen and unheard to all others, and they offer the imperiled the means to save themselves. Time stops so they can speak.
#Lore24 13/03/24
The Blademaster, as they have come to be called, does not offer an easy exit from the dangers that a would-be warlock faces. They simply offer a chance to survive, a test to overcome.
A prisoner bound and kept under guard by bandits, for instance, might find their bonds unravelled and a dagger where there wasn't one before. The Blademaster will observe, and may offer some small thought here and there. Should the warlock succeed, they join the ranks of the Voidblades.
Voidblades who spend time and effort to learn more about their newfound powers find themselves speaking with the Blademaster more and more. The spirit is curious and enigmatic in their speech, and they are always, *always* well-informed, perhaps more so than the Voidblade who speaks with them.
What some find unsettling, however, is that the Blademaster never speaks of their own agenda. They only ever take interest in the Voidblades, and the people they interact with...
"It's a curious thing, the void. I find my dreams take me there, but never to the same place twice. It glints with the light of the stars above and the treasures of the earth below.
"Sometimes my dreams tell me what I need to know. Other times I hear something and I don't understand it until much later. But I know this for sure: I will be more than I was, and I will help others like me to do the same."
- Excerpts from the records of Seta-Aza, hoblin voidblade
The Blademaster is based on, and replacing, the Hexblade otherworldly patron in #Auvia. Some features and patron-specific spells will be different from the Hexblade, in the interest of encouraging players to think differently about it and try out character builds inspired by the narrative just as much as, if not more than, their mechanics.
Warlocks have also been given a few upgrades as a class, to help them keep up with adventurers who might not need short rests as much.
#Lore24 17/03/24
While the Blademaster seeks out those in need and offer them their power, the fiends of Zhel may look upon a covetous Auvian in search of power and simply ask them to prove how far they will go for it. The warlock's power depends on their answer. Some engage their would-be patron in debate, others request a task to be given, and some go so far as to offer sacrifices and worship for a time.
The fiend known as 'Ophidia the Venomwing' is particularly fond of deal-making...
Through her deals with Auvians, Ophidia has obtained a sizeable chunk of Zhel as her own domain. She commands a legion of lesser fiends and minions from her illustrious island-castle.
But she wasn't always one of the major players. It all began during her time as a lowly temptress, when she was petitioned for aid. She thought for a moment, and then said,
"If you desire what power I choose to give you, then bring me the heart of my closest rival."
The warlock obliged.
At the time, Ophidia had no idea that her would-be servant would succeed. But a fiend's heart is a source of infernal magicks. By consuming a fiend's heart, you gain their power - in more ways than one.
The rival's servants fell in line with Ophidia's authority. Thus began a campaign to dethrone the temptress's enemies and literally steal their hearts.
But that was generations ago now. Today, Ophidia's power is on par with lesser archfiends, and she aspires to more...
In a stark contrast to the eagerness of fiends to make deals, the celestial servants of the Seven react to pleas for power with perplexion. Is it not the sacred duty of those chosen by the divine to carry out Their will? One who actively seeks the power of the divine is likely a pretender to divinity itself.
As a result, Celestial warlocks are few and far between. Most often, they are the travelling companion of a cleric or paladin, inspired to follow the same cause.
It takes a good bit of persuasion and bargaining to convince a servant of the divine to grant a measure of holy power. Acting in service of their would-be patron is the most frequently-used bargaining chip, but there are other means of paying what is owed. It all depends on who you're talking to.
There's no tricking or deceiving them, because they always know if they've been lied to. Nobody has yet managed to outsmart the divine, but there will always be someone to try.
A warlock who seeks power from the Courts of the Fey must be willing to risk more than they bargain for. The complexity of travelling to one of the moons of #Auvia is the easy part.
Some fey delight in beguiling mortalkind, from influencing their dreams to tricking them into traps. Though they may be kept in check by the Courts proper, some individuals can and will get away with anything they can. A warlock must navigate these perils to even reach the Courts and make an offer.
#Lore24 23/03/24
The Courts of the Fey all have the same hierarchy, as dictated by ancient law. Each Court is ruled by a King, who is attended by their Queen, Prince, Knight, and Aide. Titles are held regardless of gender identity, marriage, or other proclivities.
If the King of a Court dies, a new one must be crowned as soon as possible, for Kings hold the most power and authority - over both their subjects and the season they embody. The Queen is often first in line to become King.
How an aspiring warlock is received when they approach a Court of the Fey depends on a wide variety of things, but the largest factor is the Court they choose. The Summer and Winter Courts are the most prone to drastic shifts in emotion, while the Spring Court is more down-to-earth and jovial, and the Autumn Court is practically-minded.
Even knowing this, one must exercise caution in their choice of words, behaviour, and even their attire when speaking with the Fey.
While it has yet to be confirmed that creatures of the deep such as krakens or leviathans exist, it doesn't stop active imaginations of sailors and other coastal folk. The depths of the ocean hold great mysteries that few even think about and fewer have ventured out to see.
A warlock of the Fathomless or the Great Old One will have undertaken such a venture and been rewarded for their efforts - or driven to fear what they discovered even as it empowers them.
Elder water elementals also lend themselves well to the Fathomless patron. Dwelling in the depths of great lakes across #Auvia, they shun contact with non-aquatic peoples. However, water genasi are capable of breathing underwater, and often act as a go-between to convey the elemental's words to others.
In addition, sightings of a dread fiend on the sea are becoming more and more common. Though none yet dare to sail closer to learn more, Aeskell has given it a name:
Moby Duck.
#Lore24 27/03/24
Similarly to the elders among water elementals, those of earth, air, and fire are rarely seen outside of their natural habitats: the peaks of the tallest mountains, the depths below the grass, and the hearts of dormant volcanoes. Elder elementals tend to shut themselves off from the rest of #Auvia, though that does not stop the curious and the determined.
Elder elementals fill the role of the Genie otherworldly patron (though it needs a bit of reflavouring to suit this world).
#Lore24 28/03/24
When folk need to get in touch with their peers, comrades, friends, and lovers, but can't meet in person, the written word is always there to send a message. Letters and packages are delivered across the realm by none other than priests of the Seven Gods, one of the few groups nigh-unconditionally trusted by all.
Courier priests travel by khariot, horse, and even veyahn or crab to ensure the post is delivered in a timely manner, unread until it's in the right hands.
Many creatures of the Wild Untamed fiercely defend their territory from Auvian incursions. On the rare occasion that an adventuring party happens across a dryadic grove, they are welcomed with open arms, provided they have no intention to cause harm.
These groves are usually populated with dryads and their treefolk protectors, as well as beasts of the wild gifted with the blessing - and burden - of intellect, and the ability to communicate in the dryads' language.
The first dryads of #Auvia were eladrin punished for their crimes against the Courts of the Fey. A small group plotted to overthrow all four Courts at the same time. They were unsuspecting of the Kings' magickal might, and ultimately crushed before their plan could be completed.
Each of the four Courts contributed to their sentencing. Spring gave them new lives, turning them all into treefolk. Summer gave them the power to walk the land, but never return to the moons.
#Lore24 31/03/24
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Autumn bound them each to individual trees across #Auvia, that they would not stray far from their homes. And Winter erased their memories of their past lives, reshaping their minds to accept their place in the world.
Those few outside of the Courts who learn the history of the dryads' creation are asked not to blame the dryads of today for their ancestors' acts. After all, generations have passed. Those once-eladrin are now long gone, though their trees may remain.
Talking about fey this month, just because I can: #Feypril
Ormharach, the King of Spring, enjoys literal flights of fancy from his lunar palace: a building made purely of jade, emerald, and gold, set in a massive floating daffodil flower that roams the moon. Ormharach himself is somewhat mercurial in his rulership, announcing decrees on a whim, surprising his Court with all manner of events or requests, and changing moods quicker than an Auvian can change their clothes.
Maorghnea, the Queen of Spring, handles the vast majority of actual day-to-day operations, administration, and overseeing of things that Ormharach doesn't care to attend to. Some say they are the de facto ruler of the spring moon, even if they must defer to their king's judgement.
Some spring fey whisper that Maorghnea has designs on the throne proper, while others believe they use Ormharach's flightiness to hide schemes even more sinister than a simple coup...
Griannamai, the Prince of Spring, oversees the Court's standing military and ensures they're prepared to muster at a moment's notice. The Courts of the Fey might rule the moons, but they too have hostile inhabitants that oppose them.
Prince Griannamai has the patience of unbreaking stone. She endures and tolerates her King's whims: she is expected to respect him, but she believes that trust and respect are earned and Ormharach hasn't done anything to earn hers.
Toghalann, the Knight of Spring, handles matters internal to the Court. Xey are also the first major fey that those visiting the Court of Spring must speak with, that xey might learn of potential petitioners - and would-be warlocks.
Xey are also charged with undertaking missions that the King, Queen, and Prince cannot resolve themselves. Whether this is by ancient law or the whims of King Ormharach, xey are... well, indifferent to. A mission is a mission.
Curalamh, the Aide of Spring, is at first glance a fey of many trades. He can routinely be found almost anywhere, whether at the Court proper, elsewhere on the spring moon, or even venturing to #Auvia itself in the right circumstances for some errand or other.
Few can say they truly know Curalamh, however, for he presents many different faces to many different people. Most often these personae are figurative, but he has been known to adopt the guise of other fey...
A wide range of plant life, awakened or otherwise, can be found all across the spring moon. Botanists, gardeners, florists, and alchemists make the journey from #Auvia every new year to gather new or unfamiliar plants as they begin to bloom and grow - if they have permission from the Court. Some, however, travel to the spring moon simply to take in the sights.
(The Auvian calendar begins with the first month of spring and ends with the last month of winter.)
The Court of Spring is not without problems of its own. King Ormharach routinely ignores diplomatic meetings with delegates from the other moons, finding them uninteresting and thus not worth his time. Rumours abound of rebel factions seeking to undermine or dethrone the Court. Creatures of the wild, reflections of #Auvia below, run rampant through settlements. The chaotic nature of Spring moods leave the land in constant upheaval.
But they persist, somehow.
Whetuwhiti, the King of Summer, conducts herself as she believes the head of a Court of the Fey should: with the utmost elegance, grace, and compassion for her people. She rules the city of Sunharbour, the Court that people of #Auvia can reach by sailing ship.
Though a just ruler who does right by her kin, Whetuwhiti is not without flaw. Her taste in art varies from day to day, and much of her time is spent designing and redesigning her Court aesthetics and function.
Ahiraumati, the Queen of Summer, is the chief advisor to the throne. They have seen many take the throne of King in their lifetime, but to be Queen, naught more, is enough for them. They are often asked why.
They are a curiosity among the summer fey, for none can quite recall how old Ahiraumati is, even though they've been at the King's right hand for as long as anyone can remember. Ahiraumati is often the first of the Summer Court to speak with petitioners.
Ātahāpara, the Prince of Summer, is currently next in line to become King, contrary to tradition among the Courts. Sie has little experience in ruling, however, and is unlikely learn much of it from sier mother Whetuwhiti, who prefers to attend to every decree herself.
In the absence of guidance, Ātahāpara has taken to walking among the people sie may someday be tasked with guiding. Sie finds the people of #Auvia fascinating, and speaks with them whenever possible.
Whakarewa, the Knight of Summer, began his days as a humble blacksmith. When it came to light that one of his commissioned works was used in an assassination attempt, he swore before the Court to ensure that such things would never be permitted again. He was thus appointed Knight and head of the army.
The smith continues his trade, outfitting the fey under his command with the finest arms and armour he can produce - and also training his people in their use.
Rākaipuke, the Aide of Summer, has the duty of overseeing Sunharbour's naval fleet and its operations. Travellers from #Auvia come to the Summer Court by sea, and they're always met by a welcoming committee of sorts: sailor fey armed and ready to repel those who don't sail under a banner of peace.
Rākaipuke has the loyalty and trust of the captains who answer to xem, even if those same captains feud among themselves each summer when tempers flare and skirmishes ensue.
There is much to be said of the markets of the Summer Court. Folk from all across #Auvia and the other Courts visit in the summertime, hoping to trade for all manner of curios, rare valuables, and magicked crafts. However, coin matters little to the summer fey, who find the shiny metals that Auvians prize to be lacking in excitement.
As a result, traders can and will exchange goods for anything and everything, from silver-plated swords to live musical performances.
Settlements across the summer moon grow more and more dissatisfied with their lot as the years go by. As much as Whetuwhiti provides, the people seem to want for more, and neither their King nor travellers from #Auvia seem to be able to solve the problem.
Perhaps the people are scared... of strange bandits that shrug off their fey magicks. Of spontaneous decrees. Of fey from the other Courts, even as they try to help the smallfolk.
But they persist, somehow.
Bierce, the King of Autumn, is also known as the Masked King. They never show their real face, covering it with a mask of leaves and vines. The mask shifts and reshapes itself to match Bierce's moods - or so it is believed.
Some fey of other Courts say they wear the mask to hide their intentions. But Bierce alone knows the reason for the mask, and confounds all who ask to see their true face. Those who persist... well. The palace garden ever wants for company.
WriterRaven