Ossitan

Market Street, Barceno

Species: Human + Heritage Feats (Dominant), Giant, Goblin, Gnome

Era: Feudal

Paths: Middle Sea, Sea of Nodos, Lataine (Mountains), Arridea (Desert), Aenaea (Valley of the Gods)

Contacts: Aenaea (Trade, Pilgrimage), Lataine (Allies, Vassalage), Eossium (Trade), Shaaba (Gold trade)

Enemies:Arridea (Open war)

Government: Principality- De facto Military Dictatorship, Prince Ordoño II, Prince of the Seven Realms

Capital: Barceno

Origin Languages: Ossitan

Typical Encounters: Attendant, Gnomish Banker, Giant Brigand, Cutpurse, Damsel, Devotee, Farmer, Nobleman, Slave, Treasure Hunter, Warlord; Angel, Basilisk, Camel, Demon, Elemental, Mammoth, Hippocampus, Hell Hound, Homunculus, Horses, Imp, Lamia, Merfolk, Salamander, Wyvern.

Keyword Qualities: *Bling of war * Seven Princedoms, united and divided * Horses are prized more than slaves * Giants rule the hill and mountains * Style over substance* Land of spice and dangers *

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The official history of Osstitan begins when St. Herculanos defeated the giant Geryon, opening the path the human settlement of the southern plains of southernmost Vistria, founding the first human-dominated kingdom of these formerly giant-dominated lands.

St. Herculanos himself was half-outsider, and his heirs prided themselves on the strength of similarly unusual heritages. During ancient times the great city of Qardith gained control of the region under the rule of the half-draconic Dydonids, before being destroyed by their rivals the Sallustrians during the Ossic Wars. In modern times the haunted ruins of the once all-powerful Qardith stands as a testimony of the price of the sins of hubris and pride, and as a fearsome reminder of the rage and power of the ancestors of modern Ossitanians.

With the fall of Sallustrian power Ossitan became vulnerable- the once unified realm becoming divided by internal conflict and invasions of Arrideans to the west, Nornishmen from the east and south, and the over-mighty kings and eventual emperors of Lataine of the north.

Over the centuries the seven resulting realms slowly re-coalesced under the rule of the Astones, who unified the varying principalities in a series of shrewd partnerships, marriages, murders and wars.

But with this process came a price: to keep their own hands clean of blood the Princes of Asteon depended upon the services of military leaders known as 'Campeador' to command their armies of retainers. The greatest of these champions was known as El Tizon, and his heirs now hold the position of authority once enjoyed by their celebrated forefather. Although Prince Ordoño II enjoys the luxuries, prestige and nominal position of a monarch of the ream, all true decision making is in the hands of Lady la Tizona de Campeador, last true heir of El Tizon and leader of his legions.

Note that the title of 'Prince' rather than 'King' is intentional: as the Kings of Lataine are styled as Emperors of the West and heirs of Milius, the masters of Ossitan are very careful not to declare complete independence and always pay some form of lip-service to the Emperor's overlordship of their lands.

The current regime pays regular tribute in the form of gold, men and arms to the Kings of Lataine to keep up this appearance and maintain a partnership with their powerful neighbors in their unending wars with the Arrideans to the west. In practice, however, the amount paid in gold is always minimal and the men and women donated serve as the eyes, ears, and a mouthpiece of the Campeador's will while stationed in the Emperors care.

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Barceno, founded by a Quardithian general of the same name, has long served as the de facto or de jure capitol of Ossitan. Here can be found the decadent pleasures of the Winter Palace of the Asteon Princes.

Although now under royal rule, the name of the city is still officially Republica Barceno, and many structures, institutions and traditions of the old republican order still remains intact even under the new regime. The pleasures of food, sport and flesh can be found in ample supply in her streets, under and within the magnificent ruins of Sallustrian built structures that stand in defiance of the passage of time.

A jaunt down any of her streets and alleys will bring a traveler sights of lusty beauties, the heady smell of perfumes and spices, and often the sounds of the clashing swords of her many hot-blooded nobles and street gangs.

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Legends tell that the valleys of Ossitan were once the realm of great giants, the height of two men or more. Although they may have yielded the valleys and farms to their smaller rivals, the many hills and mountains of Ossitan are still home to this ancient and powerful race who survive by subsistence farming, hunting and banditry.

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Ossitan is a nation united by blood and steel and divided by race and class. Although the practice of slavery may have abolished to the north, south and (largely) in the Middle Sea, it thrives here: perhaps 35% of the population lives in a state of bondage here. Her great lords bold and decked in motley finery, her freedmen living simply in fear of possible indenture, and her slaves living in fear of their masters and the things that the night might bring. This is a land where honor is defended at the point of a blade, and defined by the quantity of gold in one's pocket.

There is no greater honor to a great and noble house than to be granted the title of 'Giant Slayer'; a young man who has shed giant's blood will be held in esteem, whereas one who fears or loathes to shed blood at all shall be held a coward- unmanly and weak.

The great houses of Ossitan almost universally feature some great trophy of giant slaying; a skull, a mummified hand, a thighbone, often employed as decoration or even furnishing. This fashion has built up a massive market for real or cleverly fabricated giant parts (even greater than the market for saintly relics- which is itself considerable), since every decent household is expected to sport some gruesome example of past martial triumph along these lines.

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Ossitan is known for the high quality of her swords and blades. During the reign of the Thaedrin Emperors swordsmiths from Damocles were taken captive and transferred to the city of Alcazar, where they crafted some of the finest quality blades in Vistria.

Here the sword is considered the soul of a warrior- every free man is expected to have access and some skill at arms, and every woman of rank as well - usually in the form of well hidden dagger. Those of noble and knightly rank will openly brandish their blades, often encased in beautifully crafted lacquered wood, brass and leather scabbards.

Ossitanian blades are usually inscribed- sometimes just a mark of ownership, a motto, or the name of the blade itself. Those of the appropriate rank and talent will inscribe their blades with magic sigils as well, granting the sword and wielder powers beyond that of more ordinary mortals. It is said that Campeador Tizona and her personal guard all excel at this art, able to call upon their magicked weapons for aid in and out of (rather frequent) combat.