Chapter 2: People
The Known World of Rodinia in the current Third Age has many well-developed empires and civilizations. The major power players of the world are the Rodinians, the Honshuans, the Lucarcians and the Khemitians.
Characters from the Books
These characters are the main protagonists of the novels set in the World of Rodinia.
Reynard Ferrand
Reynard was born in 652 AR, is 27 years old and is in excellent physical condition. He is strong and agile and fit as a fiddle. He's lithe and tall, with long blond hair typical of his race. His face is angular and tanned from spending much of the last few years at sea. Reynard has an easy smile and a way with people. He has a habit of putting his feet up on the furniture at any opportunity. Reynard has a penchant for black, with a preference for a particular black silk waistcoat from far-off Honshu. His ornate rapier is a family heirloom.
Reynard was born the second son of a minor noble, Lord Caer Ferrand of Providentia in southern Ursum. He was a wastrel, a gambler and a drunk, until one day he woke in the hold of a Guild ship as a slave.
Organizing the other slaves into a revolt he personally killed Captain Anton Waverley and took control of the ship. He and a few of the other slaves took up positions as the new command crew and used the ship as their own.
But soon the Guild were onto them. They were summoned to Cansae where they were ordered to perform a task for the mysterious Trade Lords - find a magical golden suit of armour: the Armour of Lucar. This was being worn by a rogue corsair called Captain Nikolai Kester.
Kester was building a rag tag bunch of corsairs into a dangerous organization who were striking various political entities around the empire. Reynard and friends tracked him down to a base in the small port of Coruba on the edge of the desolate island of Granita. There Reynard and his crew, supported by a large force of mercenaries loyal to the Guild, raided the corsair base and killed Kester. In this final fight Kita's father, Heremod, was killed by Kester's first mate Baku.
Reynard and friends tracked Baku into the wilds of Granita and there discovered that a terrible thing was going on. Someone had opened a gate into the Void and the Writhing Death were pouring through. Incredibly they were somehow being controlled by Baku.
Returning to the Empire for advice and help, Reynard and friends discovered that the Emperor, Jovius Azure II had just died, throwing the continent into turmoil.
Reynard and Tanithil travelled Lucarcia, trying to bring the waring noble houses into line to support another expedition to Granita to deal with Baku and the Writhing Death. Meanwhile Kita took Okoth of Nubia and Mosi of Hishan off on a tour of the world to try and find out how to shut the gate to the Void. The two groups reunited and returned to Granita with a force of soldiers, mercenaries, assassins and pyromancers from across the continent.
In a titanic battle the Writhing Death was destroyed, Baku was slain and the gate to the Void was closed. In this battle Kululu Jade and her Jade Assassins proved themselves to be treacherous and were all killed.
Reynard and companions returned to the capital city of Lucar where he was voted the unlikely First Consul of the fledgling new Republic of Lucarcia.
Kita of Sapporo
Kita is a niten warrior. Born in 655 AR in the far-off town of Sapporo in the Dragon Province of Honshu and now aged 24, she is the only child of Heremod. He holds the honour of being the only outsider to have ever earned the rank of Master at the famous niten dojo.
Kita’s father, Heremod, had been born in the lands of Albion yet the Niten Dojo in neighbouring Honshu had accepted him. There he had learnt the art of fighting with twin blades. He had been a gifted student and had risen to the rank of Master, becoming the first gaijin Master in the history of the dojo. Heremod had settled in Sapporo, the town where the dojo was found, and had married a local girl. They had one child — Kita.
When Kita was old enough to wield a blade, the dojo had accepted her too, allowing her to follow in her father’s footsteps. She was the youngest student ever to be accepted and grew to become one of the school’s best students.
Then, when Kita was approaching her tests to graduate from the school, Heremod had left suddenly, disappearing without the permission of his sensei. The school declared Heremod ronin — effectively a rogue, cast out of the school in disgrace. Kita had gone to her mother and asked where her father had gone, but all her mother knew or would tell her was that her father had travelled to Lucarcia.
Trying to complete her studies Kita had stayed at the school, a shadow hanging over her. Eventually one of the other students cast aspersions on her and her father’s honour and a duel ensued. The dojo strictly forbade duelling. To make matters worse Kita had lost her control and had killed her opponent. The school had no choice but to declare her ronin too and expel her from the dojo.
She had got on a ship to Lucarcia to try and find her father and discover the truth, hopefully to clear both their names. Kita met an Ibini in a bar in a small port in Manabas. She was low on funds having spent most of her money travelling there from Honshu. She wanted to get to Ursum, where her father had last been seen, but she did not have enough money to do so. The Ibini offered her a deal. She thought she was going to be working passage from Manabas to Ursum and had agreed to travel for free in exchange for working on the oars when needed. As it turned out she was handing herself over to a slaver crew.
Okoth of Nubia
Okoth was born in 645 AR in the far-off land of Nubia, across the other side of the known world, thousands of miles from Lucarcia. The Nubians are hunters and farmers. A simple race, far less advanced than their neighbours the Rodinians. Hence they were easy pickings when the Rodinians decided to invade them and subjugate them many years ago. Since that time Nubia had been a colony of Rodinia and a regular source of slaves for the Rodinian Empire.
Okoth had been a hunter. The Rodinians allowed the Nubians to continue their traditional cultural practices, and hunting was one of them. Standing the best part of seven feet tall Okoth stood out in a crowd so it was inevitable that someone would notice him one day. When the Rodinians were looking for Nubian slaves to take part in their gladiatorial games, of course someone spotted Okoth and realized his potential. The Rodinians dragged the huge warrior off to the gladiator school where they had trained him to fight. He was already a capable warrior and of course was incredibly strong, but when the Rodinian arms masters got hold of him and gave him formal training, he became deadly.
His masters sent Okoth into the ring to fight against other Nubian slaves, the occasional foreigner and all manner of wild animals. He was lethal. He fought in the ring for three years and was undefeated; the Gladiatorial Champion of Nubia. Then the call came. The emperor was holding a huge tournament at the capital of Rodin and the emperor's aides told Okoth’s masters that Okoth was to attend. The road from Nubia to Rodin was long and Okoth had found an opportunity to escape. Okoth was never actually sure if he wanted to be a gladiator or not and had never really thought about what he would do if the chance to escape arrived. When it did, he had taken it on a whim. It was then, when he experienced true freedom, that he had come to understand that he never wanted to be a slave again.
Okoth had headed east across the Rodinian Empire until he reached Nargastan. Here the legionaries of the Rodinian army had no sway. The Nargastani were nomads, in many ways similar to the ancient Nubian culture, and Okoth had felt that he would be happy there. But when the bounty hunters came searching for him, he came to see that nowhere in the regions around the Rodinian Empire would be safe. The Gladiatorial Champion of Nubia was worth enough money to tempt mercenaries into Nargastan on his trail, trying to bring him back to Rodinia.
Okoth got on a ship and headed further east to the Empire of Lucarcia and freedom from the yoke of the Rodinians. He had nearly completed the treacherous crossing and was in sight of the island of Ursum when the Hammerhead hove into view. The Hammerhead came alongside and before the captain of Okoth’s ship had appreciated what was happening the slavers were swarming all over them. The slavers had killed many on Okoth’s ship but had taken a few captive. Okoth had killed three slavers single handed before Scraggs and four of his men had overwhelmed him. Just when in sight of the land he thought would mean his freedom, he found himself in the hold of a ship, a slave once more.
In 679 AR, at the age of just thirty four, Okoth led the forces of Lucarcia against the invading Naga forces. He was killed by their general, Lord Vasukini, in the outskirts of Lucar City.
Mosi of Shelech
Mosi is a 37 year-old priest of the Light. He was born in 642 AR in the lands of Hishan on the main Rodinian Continent. There he had been an acolyte of the Light in the town of Shelech. His Haji had sent him on a holy mission to visit Lucarcia and find out what he could about how the Light was worshipped in that far-off land.
Travelling across half the Known World, Mosi had arrived in Lucarcia, only to find himself press-ganged and forced into slavery. He joined up with Reynard and the other slaves to escape captivity and take command of the ship.
Since that time Mosi has served as part of the command crew of the Javelin, and as the ship's spiritual guide and healer.
Tanithil of Lucar
Tanithil is a telepath and ex-member of the Thought Guard. He got himself expelled from that prestigious order after he was caught using his powers to cheat at cards. This took him around the various dens of the empire until he eventually racked up huge debts that ended up with him being sold into slavery by the Ebon Lord.
Like the other members of the ex-slave gang, Tanithil now has a position as part of the command crew of the Javelin — though his position is, perhaps, less formal than the others. He is Reynard's constant advisor, and often his conscience.
His powers of telepathy have slowly developed over his adventures with Reynard and crew. He is now 30 years old.
Sir Jaeden of Littlebrook
Sir Jaeden is a Knight of the Sun. Born the son of a minor noble in the city of Littlebrook, he was squired to Sir Harken, the Grandmaster. He went through the standard process of being a page, a squire and eventually a knight.
On one of his first assignments he was ordered to guard a noble woman on her journey north. On that trip they were ambushed and she was killed. Her father, the king's cousin, saw to it that Jaeden was stripped of his knighthood and thrown out of the order.
Jaeden went on to meet a couple of other misfits and become unwittingly embroiled in a plot to unbalance the security of Albion.
Eventually the three of them realized they were being manipulated by a figure of ancient lore and legend and they banded together to go against him and saved the kingdom.
Sir Jaeden won his spurs back as a result and is, once again, a respected member of the Knights of the Sun.
Chi of Sapporo
Chi is a Ghostwalker. He was born in Albion and named Zachary, but was captured by the Feral at an early age. Rescued by a samurai from Honshu he was taken to the Monastery of the Way in Sapporo and there left to begin his journey as a trainee Ghostwalker.
Once fully trained he was sent into Albion to try and unsettle and destabilize the realm.
Meeting up with two other misfits he eventually realized that he was being manipulated by a third party who did not have Honshu's or Albion's best interests at heart. Working with the others they managed to stop this deception.
At the end of the book he was appointed advisor to the daimyo of Sapporo.
Thia Moonsong of Sylvandale
Thia is an Orator. She was born in the old fey-wood of Eldaran, daughter of a fey member of the Sylvarran and an unknown human male.
Apprenticed to a fey archmage, she was unable to grasp even simple spells, until she discovered her powers lay in the realm of Oratory. She had to work out how to develop that skill herself, supported in parts by a mysterious human priest.
One day her archmage tutor left without explanation and Thia followed him. She met up with two other misfits and became caught up in events outside her control. Slowly it became apparent that the man who had been guiding her had ulerior motives and with the other misfits she managed to stop his nefarious schemes.
The Empire of Rodinia
The greatest empire in the known World of Rodinia. This civilization stretches from the plains of Nubia in the south west all the way to the desolate mountains of Marlek in the east. It borders the warlike empire of Honshu in the north, and was until recently a close ally of Athena in the south east. Most of the entire continent of Rodinia is part of the great empire that bears its name. Those areas which have yet to be annexed by this expansionist realm view it with wary eyes.
The Empire has stood for 207 years, since its inception in 472 AR, growing out of the republic that preceded it. Its political heart is the Senate in the city of Rodin. The centre of the empire is the old kingdom of Rodinia, but it now encapsulates the majority of small kingdoms in central Rodinia.
Emperor Augustus Tiberius
The current leader of the Empire of Rodinia. Tiberius is extremely aggressive and expansionist. He has continued the work of his predecessors.
Born on the 600th anniversary of the founding of the city of Rodin, Augustus Tiberius is now 79 years old. He was the son of a labourer in the capital city. At a young age he joined the legions and set off to serve. His sharp intelligence meant he was fast tracked into the officer corps and became a Centurion at the age of twenty. The next year, in 621 AR, he was part of the Legion who were right in the heart of the campaign to subjugate Dardania. This earned him yet another promotion.
Over the coming years he toured all across the northern kingdoms, where he was heavily involved in action against the samurai of the empire of Honshu. Tiberius demonstrated a superior tactical mind on the battlefield and a strategic vision which greatly impressed his superiors.
He rose further through the ranks with great speed, and was soon placed in charge of the First Legion. This posting meant a move away from the front lines with Honshu and into more of an administrative role in the backwater countries of Nubia and Tana Toradja. This move was facilitated by the then Emperor Maximus, who clearly saw Tiberius as a threat. Rightly so.
In the year 657 AR, at the age of 57, Tiberius replaced Emperor Maximus, having successfully negotiated a "Vote of No Confidence" in the former Emperor; which is to say Tiberius had arranged for his assassination. The Senate, whose role then was to vote in the successor, were all either bribed, blackmailed or intimidated into voting Tiberius into office.
The Rodinian Legions
The smallest unit in the Rodinian Legion comprises ten men and is called a Decuria. It is led by a Decurian. Ten units is called a Centuria (one hundred men) and is led by a Centurian. Five Centuria combine into a Cohort (five hundred men) and are led by the most senior Centurian in the Cohort. A Legion typically comprises at least two Cohorts but can be as many as ten, i.e. between one and ten thousand men in a Legion. A Legion is commanded by a Legatus.
The Rodinian Legions are dressed in practical and simple equipment. Given they have thousands and thousands of soldiers to equip, it was deemed best if the standard equipment was not too costly or complex so it can be produced in bulk. As such, a typical Legionary has a spear and shortsword. A large, rectangular shield makes for an important defensive item which is integrated tightly into the combat tactics of the legions.
The Rodinian Gladiator Schools
These are the places where teams of Rodinian Gladiators are recruited, assembled and trained. Typically housed within temples, they are a powerful faction in the politics of the Empire of Rodinia.
The Empire of Honshu
The Empire of Honshu is vast, sprawling and split into seven provinces. It is a beautiful empire of rice fields, mountains and steaming jungles. It is very colourful and seems very peaceful, yet under this calm exterior, it can be a deadly place. Honshu is a place where honour and status mean everything. The smallest slight on a person above your rank can mean death.
Emperor Enoeda Kinosuke
The Light of Heaven, current Emperor and Shogun of the Empire of Honshu.
Born in 615 AR, for a man aged 64 he is in exceptional condition. His martial training, which he continues to do every day, has obviously kept him in excellent shape.
22 years ago, in the year 657 AR, Enoeda was the Shogun of Honshu. His role was that of commander in chief of all the armies of the empire and he swore fealty to the Light of Heaven, Katsu, the then Emperor of Honshu.
In the spring of that year, Katsu died under mysterious circumstances. In an unprecedented power grab, Enoeda took the title of Emperor whilst retaining the position of Shogun, and has been the undisputed leader of the Empire of Honshu ever since.
The Council of Regents
The Council of Regents is made up of the seven ruling daimyo who control the seven provinces of Honshu. Their role is to advise the current emperor and, of course, to implement his edicts and commands across the empire.
The leader of the council is given the title Shogun or Warchief and has the responsibility to lead the armies of the empire in the emperor's name.
In reality, the current emperor, Emperor Enoeda, is a powerful figure and does not consult with or listen to his council as much as his predecessor, Emperor Toki Saza did. Indeed, Emperor Enoeda has still not named any of the daimyo to the title of Shogun and technically this means he currently holds both roles. This is unprecedented in the history of the empire, but it goes to show the ultimate power the current emperor wields.
Since coming to power as Emperor of Honshu 22 years ago, the current ruler of the empire has failed to name a new Shogun, thus currently holding both positions - an unprecedented situation.
Lord Akemi Takeo
The young lord of the Gryphon Province was born in 649 AR. At 30 years of age he is a fearless warrior and a proven general. He has commanded many battles with the southern neighbours of Rodinia and has been a constant and solid supporter of Emperor Enoeda and his plans for expansion beyond the borders of Honshu. Lord Takeo listens to his many advisers when selecting where to fight, but is more likely to choose his own counsel on how and when.
That said, the increasing rumours about the nature of Emperor Enoeda's rise to power and his alleged assassination of the last emperor are putting a strain on Akemi's support of the Shogun. The Gryphon continue to support aggression to the south east, but perhaps their daimyo's support for the new emperor himself is waning.
Lord Enoeda Baisho
The relatively new daimyo of the Ogre Province and younger brother of the emperor. Baisho is a giant of a man, standing nearly 6 ft. tall. He tends to eschew the formal daisho of the samurai in favour of the two-handed odachi greatsword, a weapon which lets him make the most of his formidable size and strength. He was born in 637 AR and is now 42 years old.
Baisho spent most of his life commanding various garrisons on the southern borders, defending the empire from the barbarians of the Empire of Rodinia. He is a seasoned warrior and skilled strategist.
Lord Nakao Yasotaro
Nakao Yasotaro is the daimyo of the Phantom Province. There is some disagreement about whether Lord Nakao is also the head of the mysterious Ghostwalkers - but secrecy and misdirection are that group's mode of operation so that is not greatly surprising.
The daimyo of the Phantom province was born in 640 AR, 39 years ago, and was first son to the last daimyo. He took over as ruler when his father died in mysterious circumstances, 9 years ago in 670 AR. Some suggested the young, ambitious Yasotaro was to blame. But no one has voiced these thoughts aloud — and lived.
Lord Oshima Heizo
Oshima Heizo is daimyo of the Naga Province and a poet an artist of great renown. His work sells for huge amounts of gold among the ruling samurai caste all across the empire.
It is said that he brings these qualities into his fighting too, being an exceptional student of the skill of iaijutsu — the art of fast drawing a katana to strike a foe with a previously scabbarded blade.
Born in the year 627 AR, at 52 he is both one of the oldest and the longest serving members of the Council of Regents and his voice carries great weight.
Lord Ota Yushiro
Head of the Sphinx Province and a noted wu-jen himself, Lord Ota is newly ascended to the position of daimyo. Born in 658 AR, at just 21 he is young - the youngest of the Council of Regents - and it is widely believed he will be politically manipulated by his elder, more experienced peers.
Lord Ota has already passed a decree to rise practitioners of the arcane into a semi-noble quasi-caste, above the normal peasantry, but of course, below the samurai. It is rumoured that the emperor is not happy with this move and considering how to deal with the bold stroke.
Lord Tagashi Goku
The daimyo of the Dragon clan, Lord Tagashi Goku is a fearsome warrior and, of course, an expert in the niten style. When he was a student at the Niten Dojo it is said he could beat every single student and master there, bar the legendary Sensei Kanasawa, the school head. Lord Gaku is also a student of the Naga clan's art of iaijutsu, the skill of combining the action of drawing a blade into making an attack with it. Scholars say that no one has been able to merge the two styles before and that Lord Gaku's abilities are unheard of anywhere else in the empire. He is probably the single most formidable swordsman in the empire today.
Lord Tominaga Goro
Daimyo of the Kirin Province. An excellent horseman who fights with a lance - a weapon which is unprecedented in the Empire of Honshu and considered by many samurai to be dishonourable.
Tominaga Goro is rarely seen in the capital of Ido City nor at any of the meetings of the Council of Regents - and it appears his peers and the emperor are entirely happy with that arrangement.
It seems to many that Tominaga Goro has a little of the blood of the north in his veins, but he can trace his formal heritage back nearly a hundred years. Many believe he is the bastard son of a barbarian.
The Current Politics of Honshu
The Ogre clan are the closest to the Shogun as their daimyo, Lord Enoeda Baisho, is the emperor's brother and ally. The Phantom clan are believed to be very close allies to the emperor too. He supposedly uses many Ghostwalkers to protect the Imperial Palace, though of course such a thing is officially denied. The Sphinx clan have been close supporters of Enoeda since he took power, and it's rumoured their magic may have been involved in the young emperor's death. But a new daimyo has taken control of the Sphinx clan recently and his actions have led some to believe that support may be waning.
The Kirin Province is so distant from both Ido City and the politics of the lands that they must be considered to be totally neutral in any political analysis. The Gryphon clan is also currently appearing to political observers to be carefully balancing their position. They are one of the most honourable of the clans and the new Emperor's actions in taking control are beginning to be questioned. If those actions could be shown as dishonourable then the powerful Gryphon clan might begin to oppose the emperor.
Directly in opposition to the emperor are the Naga and Dragon clans. The Naga clan see things in black and white and the rumoured assassination of the child emperor less than two years after swearing fealty to him, by the regent who should have been protecting him, is seen as a clear act of dishonour.
The Dragon clan are the ancestral clan of emperors Toki Saza and his son Toki Katsu. Clearly, they and Lord Tagashi Goku, their daimyo, are deeply angry about the current position. They have also had many years to plot their revenge.
Ghostwalkers
The Phantom clan of Honshu has long been associated with assassins and spies. However this association has always been loudly and forcefully refuted by the clan themselves. But then again what clan would openly admit to frequent and heavy utilization of spies and assassins as part of their usual day to day affairs?
The Ghostwalkers of the Phantom clan are mere rumours of course but were those rumours found to be true then it would be found that scattered across the southern mountains of the Phantom Province are many small ryu or schools. These ryu teach the art of Ghostwalking. Their students are taught simple skills at first: how to move stealthily and how to open locks and bolts fashioned inside Honshu and further afield. They are taught how to spot hidden enemies and to notice things which others less observant might miss. They are taught how to climb, with and without the assistance of specialized equipment. They are taught balance, poise, control and relaxation techniques. And they are taught to fight.
Their fighting techniques vary greatly. They are shown how to use a great variety of weapons and how to be effective when unarmed — for their missions will often require them to disguise themselves and all manner of different ways — so one day they might appear to be a daimyo's guard and be expected to wield a sword, another day they might be a farm labourer and be expected to wield a sickle. And importantly there is no Ghostwalker martial art style to speak of — so any observer would never be able to see a Ghostwalker fight and recognize his training from the way he fights. The Ghostwalkers don't exist — so how could they have a single martial style which would give their existence away?
Ghostwalkers finish their initial training as competent spies and assassins. At this stage they are usually sent out into various positions through the Phantom Province, given to the various minor daimyos of the province to use as they see fit. Their position is one outside of the usual honour system because they don't exist. The daimyos use them for their own ends — doing all the things they have been trained extensively to do.
When out on their missions Ghostwalkers wear the traditional garb for which they have become famous — they dress head to toe in comfortable loose fitting clothes which cover every inch of their bodies apart from their eyes. Traditionally this garb is black — but clearly it depends on the mission that the Ghostwalkers are under taking as to what colour this garb is at any given time. Ghostwalkers on a mission in the ice bound tops of the Dragon Province mountains might wear all white suits. Those in the jungles of the Phoenix clan might wear green camouflage. But there is no denying that occasionally warriors clan in this fashion are killed. But when they are, they have nothing at all to identify them as belonging to any clan or organization. And none that have ever been caught have ever confessed — even under the greatest torture. Thus the Ghostwalkers remain a legend, a mystery and a deniable part of the Phantom daimyo's arsenal.
Experienced Ghostwalkers sometimes return to the Phantom lands to be given their final training. The Ghostwalker masters teach them the ability to become like ghosts — the skills from which the Ghostwalkers get their name. With mystical powers augmenting their already legendary dexterity and athleticism, the Ghostwalkers learn the art of invisibility. With this knowledge they are able to scout out places without fear of being seen. They are able to get into the private bedrooms of kings and lords to listen in on important conversations or to remove people considered enemies of the Phantom clan. At this stage the Ghostwalkers really come into their own — and from these few individuals the legend of the Ghostwalker name was made.
Of course that would all be true if Ghostwalkers were not just mythical people merely rumoured to exist. But these are all just rumours and myth. These Ghostwalkers don't actually exist, the Phantoms will tell you...
The Lucarcian Republic
Lucarcia is an island continent. Historically home to two empires; the Lucarcian Empire and the Rainbow Empire before that; it recently became a Republic after the emperor died leaving no heir. This is a land still finding its way in the aftermath of the power struggle the old emperor's death precipitated. Most people do not distinguish between the continent and the Republic of Lucarcia, and both are really the same thing.
The Republic of Lucarcia is a fledgling political entity, having only been formed 2 years ago in 677 AR. The initial First Consul, Reynard Ferrand, recently resigned his position after the newly formed Senate failed to support him during the invasion of these lands by a terrible horde of Naga aberrations from the Void.
This has left the republic in a position of chaos that has yet to resolve itself.
Rainbow Empire
The Rainbow Empire comprised seven noble houses and was a centre for powerful magic and technology a thousand years ago. History tells us High Magi from two of the houses unwittingly unleashed the terror of the Writhing Death which could not be stopped without the Sundering. Many ruins dating back to the time of the Rainbow Empire still existing across Lucarcia. Rumours tell that wonderful and powerful artefacts lie in these ruins for the taking, but most who venture in never return. Those who do are inevitably changed forever.
Lucarcian Empire
The Lucarcian Empire was created when Emperor Lucar, the then leader of the old Rainbow Empire, decreed that the High Magi should sunder the lands to protect the empire from the Writhing Death that had been unleashed by High Magic. The Sundering destroyed two of the noble houses of the Rainbow Empire and split the remaining lands into four islands, where before they had been one continuous land mass.
The five remaining noble houses; Azure, Snow, Jade, Ebon and Ruby, proceeded to maintain control over the continent for the next five hundred years, when the last emperor, Jovius Azure II, died without an heir.
Upon Jovius' death the empire nearly fell into civil war but a group of heroes led by Lord Reynard Ferrand rallied the forces of the empire against the return of the terrible Writhing Death and saved the day. The noble houses decided to turn the continent into a republic and Lord Ferrand was voted the land's First Consul.
The Lucarcian Noble Houses
There were once seven noble houses here, but two were utterly destroyed in the Sundering. That leaves five. These were, for the last five hundred years: Azure, Ruby, Ebon, Jade and Snow.
However recently the line of the Azure house ended with the dead of the emperor who had no children. The Iron House was voted to take its place. In the last few years the Jade House has also been ended, and no house has yet been voted to take its place. With the new constitution not yet fully in place, it's unknown what might happen there.
This has left the republic in a position of chaos that has yet to resolve itself.
House Azure (ended)
The royal house, was ruled by the old Emperor, Jovius Azure II. The Thought Guard were the emperor's personal guard and they are all telepaths and empaths. The house was rumoured to keep control via mind reading, ESP and thought manipulation. They were not a religious house. This house was based in central Ursum, with its base in the capital of Lucar which lies on the northern shore of the island, on a promontory sticking out into the Inner Sea. Their standard was a huge blue whale on an azure background.
This house ended with the death of Emperor Jovius II.
House Iron
This house controls the Spine of Ursum from its base in Providentia, though it is in a state of flux.
Lord Caer Ferrand
Lord Caer Ferrand is the aging ruler of Providentia. He has two sons, Maynard and Reynard. Though Maynard is the older, Reynard was announced as his heir. Later the old Earl officially gave up his position, handing the title to Reynard. Since then Reynard moved on to become First Consul of the fledgling republic and then renounced his title, meaning Lord Caer is once more head of this house. Lord Caer continues to live in the Iron Fortress in his home town of Providentia.
Maynard Ferrand
Maynard Ferrand is Lord Caer Ferrand's first born son. He stood to inherit his father's title and estate but instead chose to embroil himself with the machinations of the Dark Lord and the Ebon House, arranging for Reynard to be sold into slavery about the Hammerhead. When his father found out he decided to name Reynard heir. Maynard remains in Providentia and his father appears trying to decide what to do with him. His brother has refused to see him punished so Maynard remains free — for now.
House Ruby
This house controls the Head of Ursum. Ignatius Ruby, 'The Dragon', the leader of this house, is a man with a reputation for action. His personal guard, the Red Cloaks are a strict warrior caste in these lands and they are muted upon their enrolement. It is a great honour to serve in the Red Cloaks (also known as the Silent Scarlets by the populace). The house worships Onatar the god of fire and the Dragon priests are known for their command of fire magic. Their standard is a fire breathing dragon.
Ignatius Ruby
Ignatius Ruby, 'The Dragon', the leader of House Ruby, is a man with a reputation for action. He is an old man, past his prime physically, but he is still sound of mind and his voice has lost none of its power or authority.
He frequently dresses in simple but elegant clothes cut from fine Honshu silk and dyed the ruby colour of his House. Since the death of his son and the lifting of the ban on the arcane he more recetly has taken to wearing the robes of the Pyromancers, though it is not thought he has developed this skill.
Melissa Ruby
Daughter of Lord Ignatius Ruby, Lady Mellisa Ruby is a demure figure. She is slight of stature and has the typical strawberry blonde hair of the females in her family. She is oft seen wandering the markets of the town of Mamucium and is well liked by the population here. Rumour has it she is a Pyromancer of great power.
House Ebon
This house controls the Tail of Ursum. Lord Barrius Ebon, 'The Dark Lord', the leader of this house, is a man with a sinister reputation. His personal guard are known to be undead warriors of unswerving loyalty. Their standard is a black raven in flight.
Lord Barrius Ebon
Barrius Ebon the head of House Ebon is said to be a necromancer and to have a personal guard of undead warriors called the Dread Guard. He is known as the Dark Lord.
He has black hair, unusual in Lucarcians, that is now turning grey in places. He is skeletally thin, with a gaunt face. He has a tendency to wear simple grey clothes of good quality. His voice is reed-thin and soft, but holds a menacing tone.
He is the mortal enemy of Lord ignatius Ruby, the Dragon.
Wiktor Ebon
First son of Lord Barrius Ebon, Wiktor is unlike his father in every way apart from his looks. Unlike most Lucarcian's Wiktor has the House Ebon family trait of raven black hair. He led the Dread Guard to Granita in support of Lord Reynard Ferrand . He took control of the Pyromancers upon the death of their leader at the hands of the treacherous Jade Assassins, even though they were previously mortal enemies.
He is a firm friend of Reynard Ferrand, and was a big supporter of the former lord during his time as First Consul of the Lucarcian Republic.
House Snow
The ruling house of Manabas. Their standard is a pair of rampant ice bears.
Agamedes Snow
Based in the Stoneheart mountains of central Manabas - Agamedes Snow is the current king of Manabas. 'The Ice King' as he is known prefers to keep out of the politics of Lucarcia, although he still held true to his oath to the Emperor until his death. Now his allegiances are uncertain at best.
Agamedes is a giant of a man who wears ice bear skins. He has a deep voice and a white beard and hair. He was a great warrior in his day and still strong as a bear.
House Jade (ended)
The Jade house is the royal house of Ibini. Until recently it was ruled by Lily Jade, 'The Verdant Queen'. This house is known to use assassins and spies, and to favour the use of poisons to solve their problems. The Verdant Queen was unusual in that she had no personal guard. The standard of the Jade House is a sibilant snake curled around a jade gem.
Both Lily Jade and her daughter Kulul Jade died in the recent events surrounding the Writhing Death and subsequent Naga invasion, leaving the Jade House a dead house.
Queen Lily Jade (RIP)
Lily Jade, 'The Verdant Queen', ruled House Jade in Ibini from her ancestral home in the Verdant Palace in the southern jungles. She inherited the throne from her mother, and had only one daughter.
She was unstable to say the least. She commanded her daughter to research and then open a gate to the Void. The purpose behind this was to summon Naga Lord Vasukini to aid her taking control of the lands. The side effect was to allow the Writhing Death back into the world.
Vasukini repaid her by biting off her head.
Kululu Jade (RIP)
The daughter of Lily Jade, Kululu was the head of the secretive and feared Jade Assassins until recently. Sent to the desert island of Granita to supposedly aid Reynard Ferrand and his team in defeating the Writhing Death, Kululu instead turned on the raiding party and tried to kill them. As she did so, her Jade Assassins also turned, fighting and killing the Pyromancers of the Ruby House they were supposed to be supporting and protecting.
Kululu Jade was killed when Okoth of Nubia threw a javelin at her as she was using an ancient Ritual to control the Writhing Death. The javelin struck her but didn't kill her. However it was enough to break her concentration on her Ritual leading to her losing control and subsequently being eaten alive by the creeping doom.
Baron Isla
Baron Isla is the richest baron in northern Ibini. She controls the lands on the Inner Sea - lands easiest by far for the Guild ships to reach. She is intelligent and strong willed. She rose to power when her husband met a tragic and slightly suspicious death. He drowned in the river, after apparently drinking too much and going for a late night swim. Though he was a strong swimmer and rarely drank too much, so many doubt this was a mere accident. Baron Isla immediately took over control of the territory and has not wavered in her approach, continuing on the same business approach as her late husband. The Guild merchants appear to trust and like working with her.
Overseer Emilia
Emilia is the daughter of Baron Abund and his first wife. She died giving birth to Emilia. This makes Emilia Baron Isla 's step daughter. With the recent death of Baron Abund, it was wondered if Emilia would keep her position, but it is clear that the new Baron rates her Overseer’s skills and that the relationship is strong.
Emilia herself is a beautiful young lady, of moderate build, but with incredibly toned muscles from her constant training with her weapon of choice - the quarter staff. She is auburn haired, green eyed and with a constant smile on her face. She seems like everything is a game to her, and is massively competitive. Whether it be beating her Enforcers on their daily training runs, or drinking them under the table in the Purple Parrot, Emilia puts her all into everything.
When Emilia was young a traveller from Honshu arrived in Barusi. He said he was a mystic from the Sphinx Province, and would take one student and teach them the secrets of his order for a year and a day, in exchange for board and lodgings. Baron Abund agreed and set Emilia to learn from the mystic. In that year Emilia developed incredibly quickly, and learned to fight, run, climb and tumble like no one else in the town. Rumour has it the mystic also taught her to access the Void and that she has powers beyond those just physical.
Emilia’s good looks, quick smile and happy go lucky nature make her a firm favourite around town and the region.
Baron Gilbert
Baron Gilbert is middle aged and rotund, living well off the bounties of his estate. He likes to dress in flamboyant outfits, often of outrageous colours. He has a twirly moustache and favours a wide-brimmed hat. Gilbert is a shrewd businessman and deals well with the Guild merchants who choose to come as far as his estates. He has a couple of very good associates, or partners in the Guild who continue to make the extra trip to his port of Zaneth to collect the farm produce he sells.
Overseer Varnell
Overseer Varnell works for Baron Gilbert and leads his enforcers. He is tall and thick-set, and has a preference for tight fitting clothes which show off his physique. He has a huge scar across his face and his left eye is totally missing. Stories tell that it was ripped out when Varnell fought and defeated a cave bear in single combat. Whether that unlikely tale is true or not, Varnell does not hide the terrible injury and it can take people back when they first encounter him. Most in Grunal are well used to him by now.
Varnell is a powerful personality as well as strong. He commands the enforcers with an iron will and does not suffer fools likely. He owns a suit of chainmail – one of the few in the region – and a horse which was a gift from the Baron. His weapon of choice is the broadsword and he’ll strap on a shield if he expects a fight.
The Guild of Master Merchants and Seafarers
The Guild of Master Merchants and Sea Farers is the organization which controls all trade across Lucarcia. They are a powerful group headed by a council known as the Trade Lords. Their banner is a fox sat upon a set of scales. They are powerful and ubiquitous enough throughout all of Lucarcia to just be known as the Guild. Few seek to cross them as their methods are uncompromising and their leadership sinister and mysterious.
The Corsairs of Lucarcia
These have always been a disparate lot, until recent times when a powerful corsair started to get the different groups of corsairs to work together for a single cause. This Corsair King sailed the Moray and sailed under the banner of an eel. He created a base for corsairs to sail to. This base was called Coruba and was based in the ravaged island of Granita. The Corsair King was called Captain Nikolai Kester and his first mate was an aberration known as Baku.
The corsairs were destroyed when a fleet of ships attacked their Coruba base, led by Reynard Ferrand and companions.
Captain Nikolai Kester (RIP)
Captain Nikolai Kester was the leader of the Corsairs of Lucarcia.
Kester captained the Moray and his first mate was an aberration from the Void called Baku.
Once a minor noble of the Jade House, nephew of Lily Jade, and successful member of the Guild, Kester left his position on the Trade Lords council under a dark cloud. He later worked for the Verdant Queen disrupting trade and generally causing a nuisance, aiming to control the Inner Sea so that Lucarcia would fall under her control.
Baku (RIP)
First known as the First Mate on the Moray, Baku was a hulking aberration from the Void and general of the Writhing Death.
He was defeated on the island of Granita by Kita of Honshu when Reynard Ferrand led an assault there to close the gate to the Void that had been opened by Kululu Jade.
The Jade Assassins
This was a secretive band of highly trained and deadly agents of House Jade and headed up by the beautiful and formidable Kululu Jade. The Jade Assassins were Lily Jade's personal bodyguard and were used for espionage, spying and of course assassination. It is believed that Lily Jade hired a Ghostwalker from the far off Phantom Province of Honshu to train her cadre.
In recent months the Jade Assassins were disgraced when their leader, Kululu Jade ordered them to turn on the Pyromancers of House Ruby on the island of Granita. The cadre of assassins which had gone on the mission were all killed, as was their leader, Kululu. This then leaves the Jade Assassins in a state of flux. No one knows how many of them are left. No one knows who is their leader, if anyone. So the band of secretive and mysterious assassins are even more of an enigma now than perhaps they ever have been.
Other Notable Characters
Ser Aruthas of Vacheron
Ser Aruthas is tall, and broad, with a classic chiselled jawline and, of course, slight stubble. He wears his blond hair cut very close, against the current fashions in his home city of Vacheron. This serves to emphasize his deep blue, piercing eyes.
He is clad in exquisitely crafted steel plate armour, of the style only found in the city of the Platinum Dragon. The armour is the symbol of the order of knights that run the city. They call themselves the Great Council and take the symbol of a platinum dragon on a blue sky as their sigil. This standard is emblazoned on the tabard Ser Aruthas wears over the top of his plate armour. At his side is a broad sword with a gorgeous, bejewelled hilt.
The paladin has an aura of calm, confidence about him, which seems to flow out and effect all those around him, generating a sense of peace and calm.
Brother Fabian (RIP)
A tall man, dressed in immaculate white silk robes. He gives the immediate impression he is someone of great importance. He is greying, with his hair well cropped. What hair he does have, he has oiled down, as if he fears losing control of it. The robes he wears are sublime. In perfect condition, as if never before worn, they never have a single crease out of line. They are covered with shining golden thread and a huge sunburst is embroidered onto the chest in more gold. The High Priest tends to look at others as an owl might look at a mouse.
One of Lily Jade's main pawns in the recent battle for power in Lucarcia, Brother Fabian, once High Priest of the Light in Prvidentia, was killed by Brother Mosi in a titanic battle in the Azure Palace.
The Kingdom of Khemit
Scholars trace the origins of the Kingdom of Khemit back around three millennia ago when the first humans arrived on the shores of The Known World. They landed on the western coastline of the western-most continent. Their leader was a great warrior called Khemit, and he named the land after himself, a name that has stuck for millennia.
Civilized Khemit is mostly a broad brush down the centre of the island, following the Nylle river from its source in Upper Khemit to where it flows into the sea at the delta. The majority of Khemits population and virtually the entirety of their knowledge, learning, magic and technology is based in that swath, the floodplain of the river. Most of the towns and cities of the country are there. There are a few exceptions with towns like Rosetta and Anhk growing up on the shores of the island and becoming ports for trade with the rest of the world. But for the main part, like in Khemit is based around the Nylle. In fact, for most in the country, the river is life.
Khemit is a land of high magic. This country is probably the single strongest location of magic on the planet, and indeed this is where arcane magic is most understood. The country is famous for its Keri-heb, Mage-Priests who wield unspeakable power. Indeed it is said by some, that the Khemit goddess, Isis, was responsible for introducing magic into the world of Rodinia. Wizards and sorcerers are the most common in this land of all lands in the world, and the Khemit pantheon of gods is many score fold, meaning that there is no shortage of priests either.
Pharaoh Ramesis
The God-king of the huge island continent of Khemit. One of the most powerful people in the whole World of Rodinia. Ramesis is the first pharaoh of that name and he rules over the oldest civilization on the planet. The mystical Keri-heb are under his direct control through their leader Neferu, who has sworn allegiance to him.
Born the first son of the last Pharaoh Akhom, Ramesis is an only child. Born in 645 AR he has just turned 34. He grew up in the city of Luxore in the royal palace.
An extremely self-assured individual, you would be hard pressed to find a person with more will power and resilience in the entirety of Khemit.
An upstanding and generally well-balanced man, Ramesis has no overriding urges to expand the kingdom beyond its current borders. Indeed when the Theocracy of Hishan declared independence from Khemit he watched his father do nothing about it, and that lesson seems to have sunk deep.
That said, Ramesis is a stalwart fellow and none of the expansionist empires to Khemit's east look at his lands as easy pickings ripe for the taking. Especially not with the Keri-heb at his command.
Keri-heb
The Keri-heb are the mage-priests of Khemit. They are extremely powerful and train from birth. Any people in the kingdom who show any signs of connection with the Void are tested to see if they can join the organization.
They are led by the extraordinarily powerful and dangerously pretty Neferu. She is, perhaps, the most powerful archmage on the planet. It is said by some that only the threat of the Cabal of Callindril keeps her in check and that the pharaoh has little to no real command over her or her organization.
The Keri-heb are both practitioners of the arcane and the divine branches of Magic, though they are educated enough to know that there is not a great difference between the two in practical terms. They embrace all forms of gathering and controlling energy from the Void.
They organize themselves into schools which are closed to all but the members of their semi-secret society. The ways of the Keri-heb and their teaching methods are kept to themselves. To date, no Keri-heb has ever talked about them. Many speculate they are magically compelled to refrain from telling any of the organizations secrets.
Global Organizations
There are a number of organizations whose influence span the Known World of Rodinia. Some of these are forces for good; others less so.
The Cabal Of Callindrill
The Cabal of Callindrill is a secretive group of mages and archmages who tell the world that their focus is on protecting Rodinia from serious threats that are too significant to be dealt with by regular adventurers or even local governments and armies.
They are led by the enigmatic and mysterious Camero the Archmage, one of the famous group who were responsible for destroying the Demon Prince in his own abyssal fortress, thus ending his threat permanently. The Cabal point to Camero's leadership as proof that they must be a force for good, but some worry that no single organization should wield such unrestricted power. Others point out that the Cabal is all that keeps other powerful organizations like the Keri-heb in check.
The Cabal are not in the habit of advertising their works to the common folk, but it is said they keep open channels of communication with the leaders of all the powerful civilizations in the world. Conspiracy theorists claim this is how the powers that be maintain their control over the peasants of the world.
Camero the Archmage
A very striking figure with almost reptilian eyes, Camero appears like a strange fey but he is actually half fey, half dragon. Camero is tall for a fey and has golden hair. His face is warm and open. He often wears multicoloured robes that shimmer in the light. Those of a keen historical mind would recognise them as similar to those worn by the High Magi of the ancient Rainbow Empire.
Camero's full past is unknown but it is believed he was born and raised with the fey somewhere in the Rodinian continent. He came to be known 12 years ago when he and his companions foiled a terrible plot by a cult of the Demon Prince in southern Mochica. They then went on to enter the Void itself and destroy the Demon Prince forever.
After this he moved into the small village of Hollytree and there magically raised a huge, mysterious tower. He then went on to form the Cabal of Callindrill.
Camero has recently helped Kita of Sapporo seeking a way to close a gate to the Void on distant Granita. These events are chronicled in the novel Kita's Honour.