Swizeland (Existence Supplement)
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The Basics
Swizeland is the northernmost of the known nations. Located on the northwestern portion of the continent, it has massive amounts of open land that are often covered in snow. A small mountain range exists towards the northwestern part of the nation, but once you get any distance from those mountains, the land settles down into small hills and slopes. Swizeland has a small archipelago on its southwestern edge, with many small tribes of people living upon the islands. The capitol, Mortholm, is located along the coast near the Morthilia River, which is the only major river in the entire nation. The only other city of size is Ralioholm, located on the mainland right where the archipelago begins.
With the Deadlands and the Dead Forest marching the entire eastern border, and no other known occupied lands anywhere besides the southeastern border, the people of Swizeland are quite independent, hardy, and strong. The climate is constantly cold and dry, with only one month considered summer, and five months capable of sustaining plant life. While the weather is generally dry, snow is very common, and drifts several feet deep can appear overnight.
Beliefs
The people of Swizeland are lead by a queen with the blood of a goddess, whose sole purpose is to have children. The very land itself is dependent upon the people being led by a fertile queen. Starting at age 12, the heiress starts to have children, and until she is no longer capable of having children, she is in a constant state of pregnancy. The first two daughters born are kept, the eldest the heiress and the second eldest to be in reserve if something befalls the first before producing a new heiress herself. The rest of the children, and all males, are sent across the land to the different villages and towns as soon as they are weaned from their mother’s breast and allowed to live a normal life, thus ensuring the population is always blessed by the divine. When the queen can no longer have children, or goes six months without becoming pregnant, the heiress takes over as the new queen and the current queen retires and is permanently sterilized. It is believed that if the nation ever goes a year without their appointed queen having a child, the whole land will become barren and all the people living there shall die.
Swizeland is open to multiple beliefs, though the Swize pantheon predominates. The gods are as hardy as the people - they are rarely called upon to help, and help even less; but when they are seen and active upon the land, nothing can stop them.
Race & Gender
All races are equally welcomed within the nation of Swizeland, and gender is not a deciding factor on anything besides who is capable of having children and who is not. Either man or woman may stay home with the children, though due to the cultural tendency for many children, oftentimes the woman who is pregnant remains to take care of the young. The harsh climate kills many children each year, and only the hardiest races can survive in the climate; thus though all are welcome, the vast majority are humans, half-orcs, and a number of dwarves in the mountains.
Current Affairs
Queen Arilla has had twenty eight children so far, but the last four months she has been unable to become pregnant again. Her eldest daughter was assassinated by an unknown group earlier this year, and the new heiress is missing. With no one else in line to take over, a massive award has been offered to any who could grant the queen a child, though many now believe that the end of all Swizeland may be at hand.
From the Deadlands, raids of the wild beasts are more common than ever before, and Demons are now being spotted in the midst, causing ever greater damage to the border villages. No survivors are ever found, and fear is growing throughout the land. People suspect this is in thanks to Queen Arilla’s lack of fertility.
Classes
Common Classes
• Barbarian: The land of Swizeland is harsh, and many small tribes of people exist - nomads ever on the move for food and shelter. From these tribes, many barbarians arise.
• Bard: With little to do in the main cities during winter besides relaxing inside, bards have evolved to a new level of skill. Stories have been perfected, recitation has become common, and the lore and history of the nation is learned by, and sung by, all bards of the land.
• Fighter: Living in such a harsh environment, and in constant threat from the Deadlands, the borders of Swizeland are well-patrolled. Those that survive quickly become hardened warriors.
• Witch: With little formal arcane training available, witchcraft has grown in popularity by those wishing to have an extra edge for survival. With the Deadlands and the Lost North so close, it is quite easy to find a power with which to make a pact to grant powers - for a price.
• Sorceror: Will add later....
Rare Classes
• Cavalier: The harsh conditions do not facilitate an easy life for a mount, and though cavaliers are not unheard of, with the heavy snow so often afoot, they are quite rare.
• Wizard: With no formal schools to train in, and few willing to become Masters, Wizards are rare simply due to the lack of places to learn and acquire spells.
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