Setting Information

The game will take place in the River Kingdoms, in the north-eastern area of the continent of Avistan. The focus is on on the Stolen Lands region, in the north-east, bordering Brevoy.

The River Kingdoms

Scattered among the forests and marshes of the Sellen River basin are the River Kingdoms: a loose confederation of tiny, independent states, the largest of them holding only a few thousand souls. Hundreds of such kingdoms have risen and fallen over the centuries, for treachery and chaos are rife in this region, and few River Kingdoms outlive their founders.

The lawless reputation of the River Kingdoms draws outcasts, refugees, and anyone else so desperate to escape their pasts that carving out a new life in a rough frontier town seems like an attractive proposition. Such settlers rarely have much money, and as the skills developed in their homelands are often ill suited to hardscrabble lives in the river basin, they generally find it difficult to rebuild their fortunes. The region is further depressed by the River Kingdoms’ instability, which deters trade, investment, and even travel. Thus, most of the River Kingdoms are poor, isolated, and backward—but stubbornly, proudly free.

The Six River Freedoms

The common Riverfolk give great value to the Six River Freedoms, though not all are equally observed. From least to most important, they are:

• Say What You Will, I Live Free. The right to speak freely, though not the freedom to ignore the consequences of your speech. This freedom also covers silencing spellcasters, and a silence spell is seen as a suspicious abrogation of rights.
• Oathbreaker's Die. The counterpoint to the first freedom - Riverfolk take their oaths very seriously. Common oaths include "I swear by the Sellen", "May Hanspur take my sons" and "My freedom is my bond".
• Walk any Road, Float Any River. This freedom prevents lords from blocking land and water travel, or charging tolls to Riverfolk. This doesn't stop lords restricting travel with threats, bribes or 'bandits', but an unpopular lord may end up with no peasants to work his fields.
• Courts are for Kings. Law within the River Kingdoms is malleable, and Kings and Queens may do as they wish within their lands. all visitors are subject to a ruler's laws within that ruler's lands. One consequence of this freedom is that rulers rarely visit one and other, except at the yearly Outlaw Council.
• Slavery is an Abomination. This freedom is taken incredibly seriously - any runaway slave who reaches the River Kingdom is a slave no more. One third of the current Riverfolk are former slaves, or the descendants of former slaves, and runaways make for a steady influx of people every year. In some areas, this restriction also applies to indentured servitude, including summoned monsters and bound elementals,
• You Have What You Hold. The final freedom draws a distinction between robbery and stealing. Taking something by force is considered acceptable, but burglary is punishable under common law. The difference is in allowing the victim a chance to resist, and to plan for reclaiming their goods.

Gods of the River Kingdoms

The mostly commonly worshiped deities are:

• Calistria, who extols the virtues of lust, revenge and trickery.
• Cayden Cailean. the god of ale, freedom and wine.
• Desna, who presides over dreams, luck, stars and travelers.
• Erastil, the god of family, farming, hunting and trade.
• Norgorber, the god of greed, murder, poison and secrets.
• Lamashtu, the Mother of Monsters, and goddess of aberrance, monsters and nightmares. The River Kingdoms are one of the few places she is worshiped openly.

There are also two local deities, who are little known outside of the River Kingdoms:

• Gyronna, the Angry Hag. Goddess of hatred, extortion and spite. Her acolytes are invoked whenever a community falls to infighting and curses. Most folk avoid offending her or her priestesses, lest Gyronna's wrath be directed their way. Chaotic Evil, and only accepts Chaotic Evil followers.
• Hanspur, the Water Rat. God of rivers and river travel. Hanspur's doctrine includes the River Freedoms and other tenets relating to the changing nature of things. He dislikes those who block the rivers, and his priesthood are sometimes seen polling small rafts up and down the many rivers of the land. Chaotic Neutral, and accepts CG, CN and TN followers. His domains are Freedom, Death, Travel and Water, and his favoured weapon is the trident.

Notable River Kingdoms

Mivon - founded by Aldori Swordlords fleeing Choral the Conquerer's invasion of Rostland about 200 years ago (see Brevoy history for more details). A firm ally of the Rostlandic factions within Brevoy, and recently come to an uneasy peace with Pitax. Rulership is decided by duelling, and the current leader is Raston Aldori.

Pitax - one of the older kingdoms, and formerly dominated by four trading houses who vied for power between themselves. 6 years ago, the throne was claimed by an outsider - King Irovetti, who outmanuevuered the trading houses to claim the throne. Since gaining control, Irovetti has attempted to raise the culture of Pitqax, and has funded many bards, artists and entertainers, founding the Academy of the Arts and the Red Crescent Theater.

Brevoy

History of Brevoy

Two hundred and twenty years ago, Choral the Conqueror swept into the rival kingdoms of Issia and Rostland, welding the former foes into the single nation of Brevoy with sword and dragon flame. Choral founded the royal House Rogarvia, and his descendants ruled the new nation for 200 years. Yet the old enmities between Issia and Rostland, which had been held in check only by force, never healed. When Choral reapportioned his new kingdom among the seven great families of Brevoy, he changed their titles and leadership but largely kept the boundaries of their holdings intact. Thus the legal and cultural borders between Issia and Rostland survived, and when every member of House Rogarvia vanished in a single night without a trace, Brevoy’s noble families swiftly fell back into their feuds. Today, 10 years after the Vanishing, Brevoy remains on the brink of civil war despite diplomats’ heroic efforts to mend the country’s fractures.

Noble Houses

• House Garess: Based in the eastern foothills of the Golushkin Mountains, House Garess has many strong ties to regional dwarven clans.
• House Lebeda: This house controls much of the plains southwest of Lake Reykal, as well as much of the shipping interests on the lake itself.
• House Lodovka: Located on Acuben Isle and the central northern coast, House Lodovka has the strongest presence on the Lake of Mists and Veils, having never abandoned their traditional waterborne ways.
• House Medvyed: The easternmost house, Medvyed claims much of the Gronzi Forest. They are a hardy folk who remain associated with the “Old Ways” of worshiping nature.
• House Orlovsky: Northeastern Brevoy is controlled by House Orlovsky, a family that traditionally seeks to remain above petty politics.
• House Rogarvia: Until recently, House Rogarvia ruled Brevoy. Their recent disappearance has thrown the nation into chaos.
• House Surtova: The most influential Brevic house, Surtova is also its oldest. They control Port Ice and much of northwestern Brevoy. Following the disappearance of House Rogarvia, they have claimed the regency of Brevoy.

Gods of Brevoy

The people of Brevoy mostly worship the following three gods, though worship of Erastil clings on in rural areas - as do cults to Lamashtu.

• Abadar, the Master of the First Vault, who holds sway over cities, the law, merchants and wealth.
• Gorum, Our Lord in Iron, the god of battle, strength and weapons.
• Pharasma, the Lady of Graves, who presides over birth, death, fate and prophecy.

The Aldori Swordlords

The legendary Brevic swordsman Sirian Aldori achieved great renown for his unmatched skill at swordplay. The students he accepted—whom he required to swear an oath dedicating their lives to his secret techniques—became the Aldori swordlords. The students all take on the name Aldori, and swear to never reveal their techniques to someone not of the swordpact. When Choral the Conquerer defeated the Rostlanders in battle, many fled to found the River Kingdom of Mivon.