1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84774616/
2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84847594/
3#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84864673/
3#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84877899/
5 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84890048/
6 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84918731/
7 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84930206/
8 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84943450/
9 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84963046/
10 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84990296/
11 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85001905/
12 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85025361/
13 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85034498/
14 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85074457/
15 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85181021/
15#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85273765/
16 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85357735/
17 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85442583/
17#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85499731/
18 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85554910/
21 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85580942/
22 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85686282/
23 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85775039/
24 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85865971/
25 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85981957/
26 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86150840/
27 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86258892/
28 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86355397/
29 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86504173/

30 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86662491/
31 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86786745/
31#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86924239/
32 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/87072460/
33 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/87171716/
34 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87267880/
35 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87388478/
39#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87472712/
38 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87550989/
39#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87627406/
40 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87795959/
41 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87956630/
42 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88125000/
43 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88278726/
44 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88372296/
45#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88465385/
45#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88563258/
47 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88666593/
48 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88762012/
49 - Someone archive this thread
50 - Someone archive this thread

Google Doc Link for the timeline. As updated as it can be.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Weiu2IWHLvwzuWaCnggBT0nYVzJvvHEeD0ec3KB16WI/edit?usp=sharing

Thread 49 archived.

https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88855281/

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did we sort out a day/night cycle for giantstep?
i like the idea of fading elliptical and many suns and moons cycle that determine the seasons
so

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>>88949802
I remember this was proposed a long time ago, though it was never really sealed as canon.

Was the Lemon Kingdom history updated?

>>88951314
Everything that was added in the last thread about the Lemon Kingdom was updated on the wiki, I think.

>>88951314
Ιt needs to because it's contradictory with the OG lore

>>88952951
What part of it contradicts the lore?

>>88952983
Τhe newly written lore states that the Lemon kingdom is not a vassal of Lorient, which is false

>>88953177
Yes it does.
>This was used by the Lorientant kings to establish their candidate, which eventually ended in the crowning of Guidon the Third as King of Lemonaint. Ever since then, the power of the region has been firmly in the hands of the Lorientant, something that angers the Lemonese noble considerably.

>However, since the rise of Guidon the Third as king of the Lemon Kingdom, the nation’s economy has been steadily declining, losing power and influence to Lorient.

>However, the personal grudges and power struggles between each other allowed them to be blindsided by Lorient’s influence, losing the chance of getting one of their own candidates on the throne. From that point on, lemonese nobility has been conspiring to take back the kingdom from their neighbor, though the skill at politics of their opposites is making it a duel of wits, cloaks and dagger, something far from their natural battlefield.

>Currently, the Kingdom of Lemon has fallen under the influence of Lorient, which managed to put their royal candidate on the throne, keeping the nation as somewhat of a vassal. However, lorientain nobility have refrain from pushing heavily against the lemonese, seeing that the lorientain crown could use the same tools and laws that could subjugate the Kingdom of Lemon to take away the lorientain nobility’s rights and privileges.

Basically, Lorient keeps Lemon as a vassal, but it does not use its power over it that much to avoid scaring lorientant nobles and pissing of the lemonese.

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Reminder that we could use with more monsters.

>>88947130
But the original lore explains its history well enough.

I'm thinking of the elementals we mentioned in the last thread. I've written some stuff for them.

>Elementals
Elementals are monstrous creatures highly related to the natural elements that compose the world. They are believed to come from another plane of existence, a realm where the laws of physics and magic are radically different from the world of Giantstep. However, the low frequency of their sightings and the fact they leave no trace of their existence once they are downed makes them rather difficult to study.

>Composition and behavior
The study of elementals has been going on since ancient times, with many archived and documented encounters with the creatures. Most of the time, the destructive nature of the elementals means that scholars go to their encounter alongside teams of adventurers or wizards to take them down, and thus studying them while they are not fighting is something very rarely done. Thus, the bulk of the information we have about them is about how to confront them. In particular, alchemists are extremely interested in the study of the elementals, since their nature keenly relates to their own science, and many believe figuring out their inner workings could unlock a lot of potential knowledge.

>>88954992
For starters, the elementals’ shape will depend on their power. Lesser elementals are barely a threat, merely magical creatures that have magical abilities with so little power that they can barely keep their shape before dissipating where they stood, only lasting a couple of hours. Proper elementals are able to sustain themselves without dissipating, sustaining themselves by being near the element they are linked to, and absorbing magical energy in the air. In this stage, the elementals are still somewhat shapeless, but they can be clearly differentiated from their environment. It is at this stage where they also have enough energy to affect the world around them, and thus be a threat to people around them. Elementals have a natural tendency to go nearby populations of sentient species, destroying everything on their path. How do these creatures know how to find these centers, we still do not know. The main way to counter them is spending their energy. While the elemental will absorb a consistent amount of energy from the environment, it will attack anything that is sentient, seeing it as a threat. If the team fighting an elemental are able to continuously to disrupt its form (and even better if using mystical weapons and/or spells), its energy expenditure will surpass its ability to obtain sustenance, and will dissolve into nothing.

>>88955031
The elementals can be of different sizes and complexities. The more energy and power an elemental has, the more it will develop a solid shape, adopting more and more a humanoid form. However, this shape is by no means a way to signal the creature’s weak spots (for example, even if you cut off the creature’s “head”, it won’t necessarily kill it, since it has no real biology to destroy). This humanoid form is not a sign for sentience either, since their behavior does not change regardless of their power. However, once they reach a certain humanoid form, if their power keeps increasing, they will devolve into more animalistic and abstract forms. In rare occasions, the creature has been seen splitting into two, halving the original elemental’s power into two creatures. And also, there are also cases where two different elementals have fused together when close to each other, changing not only the resulting elemental’s power, but also their nature. Indeed, most of the elemental encounters are of the four basic types: water elementals, air elementals, earth elementals and fire elementals. Once these creatures combine with each other, depending on their power and types mixed, we could find different kinds of elemental. Even if their energy is spent, their new nature stays, at least until the creatures are spent and dissipate.

>>88955049
Elementals usually appear in areas where the barrier between the material and the magical world is thinner, and the thinner it is, the stronger the creature will appear, since it does not need to spend itself in crossing the realms. However, many wizards have managed to summon elementals, and in these cases, the creature appears with extra power, since the aid of the summoner helps the creature save power. However, elementals cannot be controlled, becoming as much of a threat to the summoner as it is to the general population nearby.

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Maybe we could do an elemental combination list? Could this work? What could the level 2 combinations be?

Another elementals I'm not sure where to put

>Mythical elementals
Such as the sea elemental, or the sun elemental, legendary creatures only see a handful of times throughout history. Massive monsters that bring destruction wherever they go. Do not follow the same rules as other elementals, since their power is so massive.

>Blood Elementals
>Aether Elementals
>Gold Elementals

>>88955629
>Light Elemental

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A reminder we still need to make descriptions for most of the sentient species.

>>88953285
I love the brain monster. I'll write up something for it.

>Cerebellumite
Cerebellumites are magical constructs made by dark wizards. Using a particular form of magic, they are able to transmutate and twist the brain of an individual, giving it claws as well as a possible prehensile tail in the form of the spinal cord. The creature is designed to jump to the face of their master's enemy from the shadows, quickly covering it and twisting its arms and tail around the victim's neck and respiratory system, trying to choke it to death. While its grip is considerably strong, and in many cases it has killed its victims by cutting blood flow from their heads instead of axphixiation, the truth is that the exposed brain is still quite vulnerable, so a dagger or any blunt object could still cripple or kill it. Once the Cerebellumite has killed its target, it will try to pry the victim's brain and eat it. Due to their considerable vulnerability, they attack from the dark, usually from blind spots, and if the wizard who created it knows what it's doing, they'll use them as the first line of attack on an ambush.

Where's yhe lore map?

>>88954165
It does but it was written before the Mossovoy/Waldemaria/Windmills lore was written

Is the Lemon Kingdom lore in the wiki? Can't seem to find it

I can't believe Oront hasn't had any lore written about it for so long

>>88961755
https://crumbling-giantstep.fandom.com/wiki/Lemon_Kingdom

>>88961741
I'll write something up, but it is mostly going to be what's already there...

Ok, here it's the history of the Laurentian Crusade. Again, it's just a retread of what's already on the wiki, but with a bit more context.

>History
The lands that are now under the protection of the Laurentian Crusade did not share a common past. Even when they were under the umbrella of the Western Elven Empire, they were ruled by different faerie lords, and held populations of both fey and human in different proportions. The fey populations of the region had begun moving west after the defeats of the Elven Empire at the hands of Azan, but the land would not become fully human until after the human rebellions in 1.826 ABE. Even then, the land was quite divided between the new powers, with the north under the influence of Zapalovah, the east as part of the culture of the Land of the Windmills and the west and central areas as part of the Kingdom of Waldemaria. The only real thing these groups shared was a common language, brought forth by the mix of fey dialects and the human vernacular. The presence of a common language did little to avoid the fights between all parties, as all the recently born human nations wanted to occupy the lands, as its position between the sea and the edge of the Glass Mountains would guarantee a very good strategic position for trade and defense. It was during this period (and in particular during the Second Zapalovah-Waldemarian War) that a lot of the defensive castles and fortifications that populate the area were built. The frequency of the clashes in the area made the need of militarization essential, and the land became rife with lower nobles in charge of castles protecting their small feuds from other lower nobles.

>>88963629
This situation lasted for centuries, with many of these fortresses falling, being rebuilt and fallen again, or replaced by more modern battlements. It was very frequent to find mere farmers occupying a stone building that used to be a garrison just to guard their cattle at night. All of these infrastructure would come in handy once the followers of Zanzarah were exiled from Zapalovah. The Vzdoruye, an order of necromancers that grew within the underground of the Zapalovah Republic, had been causing unrest within the republic for decades, and was finally chased down and nearly slain completely, with the survivors of the cult exiling themselves in 2.961 ABE. Hiding in a borderland seemingly abandoned by both Waldemaria and Zapalova, they eventually managed to create a thriving underground necropolis, where the necromancers could develop their dark arts unopposed. Eventually, the newly built city of Mossovoy was able to expand their influence against all the human nations bordering it, turning the land into a dangerous realm where zombies, skeletons and rogue necromancers would lash out against the population, causing a major migrations to the human realms. By the time Mossovoy managed to organize full armies of the undead, the nobility in the lands that would become the Laurentian Crusade knew full well that they needed to let their rivalries aside to fight the mossovoian. However, at this point, it was easier said than done, as most simply could not trust the other to not stab them in the back.

>>88963641
This began the first war between Mossovoy and the human realms, in particular against the lords of the Land of Windmills, since they were in the way to the Cursed Battlefield, a place the Vzdoruye adored as some sort of promised land. While this was a considerably long conflict, lasting between 2.989 and 3.013 ABE, the stalemate that resulted benefited a lot more the mossovoians than the windmillese. The nobles and knights from the Land of Windmills fought mostly alone, with little help from the outside, and thus their forces were bloodied hard. The mossovoians, however, not only gained great amount of experience in war, helping them organize great armies of undead, but also took little damage, as the windmillese did not have the knowhow to damage enough the undead to avoid the necromancers from resurrecting them. Many experts believe this was a massive wasted opportunity on the part of the human nations to destroy Mossovoy, as when the next great war happened, the Mossovoian-Waldemarian War between 3.100 and 3.130 ABE, the mossovoian necromancers not only brought much superior numbers, but had also perfected massive necromantic constructs of war. The fall of Waldemaria, left the growth of Mossovoy unchecked, causing once again a massive deluge of refugees, with both civilians and nobles running away from the necromancers.

>>88963651
It was at this point when Lorentz Sugovotinn. Lorentz had been a noble from the Sugovotinn house in the Platinum Princedom, and had served as a voyvod of the princedom, proving his skill at arms and leadership fighting against the elyrians south of the platinum lands in Littlestep. The reasons for his arrival to the fight against the mossovoians are unclear, but the most probable thing was motivated by a deep hatred of necromancy, since part of his family had been slain by a user of the dark arts during the war against the elyrians. He arrived to the region after the disastrous Battle of the Red Snow, a defeat that threatened to leave an opening for the necromancers to arrive at the Cursed Battlefield. While the necromancers went back to Mossovoy to recoup and enjoy their victory, Lorentz Sugovotinn managed to lead his host of knights and mercenaries, rally the human populations fleeing the lands, and form a massive army that manage to win the strip of land between the Demkerin Sea and the Glass Mountains. This action was quickly done, as the only thing the necromancers had left in the area had been hordes of skeletons and zombies, formidable in numbers, but without any leadership, they were just a slow mob to be trampled under the knight’s warhorses. By the time the mossovoians realized what had happened, Lorentz and his host was reorganizing the land and rebuilding the hundreds of castles and fortifications, uniting them with roads for safe travel and training thousands of volunteers, starving for revenge. The building of the great fortress of Krasnogorye in 3.134 ABE meant the founding of what would become the Laurentian Crusade, the order of knights that swore to protect all the land from the threat of Mossovoy and the necromancers, obtaining great victories against the undead.

>>88963661
However, time goes on, and age and the ravages of war caught up with Lorentz Sugovotinn, who died in 3.160 ABE, after nearly three decades of leading the fight against the necromancers. The stalemate between the Laurentian Crusade against Mossovoy has also drained the humans’ resolve immensely. Even after many successes and a lot of knowledge on how to combat the undead, the mossovoians are nowhere as weakened as one might think. Following their philosophy, the mossovoians can simply afford a war of attrition and outlast their enemies, while most of the great leaders of the crusade have been taken by time and age. This has caused a lot of tensions and gloom within the lands of the crusade, with many of the current leaders either too old to continue the fight or less interested in a war that is seemingly lost.

I'll probably begin with Oront next. Can someone tell me if Oront is part of the Azan Empire as of C.Y.?

>>88959006
Is the wolbede a fey or an insectoid?

>>88963685
It's a vassal but I'd like to think it's relatively autonomous

>>88963651
What is the current year of this setting?

>>88964831
3.161 ABE

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Weiu2IWHLvwzuWaCnggBT0nYVzJvvHEeD0ec3KB16WI

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We've reached 50 threads, people.

Ok, so after reading all the mentions in the wiki of Oront, this are all the notes I've made:

-Country surrounded by mountains, highly isolationist.
-There are lakes within the plateau (not represented in the physical map).
-Vassal to Azan, but mostly independent (still pays tribute to Azan).
-Dwarves live around the mountains, but not within Oront itself.
-There's the abandoned city of Tigris at the east (nothing else mentioned).
-The joos trade with the city.
-There's a strip of land that's no man's land to the east, probably between them and Hasteria.
-Is in frequent civil wars.
-The country is heavily fortified, full of fortresses in the mountains (and probably within as well, considering the civil wars).
-It serves as a bulwark against witchelven raids, they cannot cross the mountains.
-The dwarves of Gautland tried to conquer it, they failed.
-Very recently had a civil war and had a new king.
-Snoloth raids used to reach up to the Oront Mountains (I assume they never crossed them)
-Mina is their capital city
-Their armies are composed of foot archers and heavy cavalry (how does that work when fighting in such mountanous terrain).

Considering this, a couple of questions that I don't know if they have been answered already.

-Did Azan conquer the land? Or did it absorb it during their expansion by other means?
-Were they always semi-independent vassals? If they weren't, when did that come to pass?
-Since when do they have a monarchy?
-Why are so prone to civil wars?
-Why are the mountains so fortified?
-Was the invasion of the dwarves something significant to them, or just another conflict?

Also, I was thinking of presenting them with a balcanic aesthetic to it, possibly Montenegro. It's influenced by the byzantine-esque Azan, and it's a country practically covered by mountains, so I think it kind of fits. Any opinions of this?

>>88967983
>-Dwarves live around the mountains, but not within Oront itself.
there may be some still in the area, there is a brief mention of dwarves coming from Oront to Furlaniya "a few centuries ago" and another mention of dwarves arriving in Furlaniya sometime during the 10th dynasty, possibly referring to the same event

there is also some abandoned dwarven holds in the area (described as partially abandoned circa 8th dynasty)

>Their armies are composed of foot archers and heavy cavalry (how does that work when fighting in such mountanous terrain)
no idea, but their reputation for mercenary work and working for the azanese legion are probably worth mentioning

>Were they always semi-independent vassals? If they weren't, when did that come to pass?
the historical maps would be good to check out for this

>Why are the mountains so fortified?
due to infighting and rebellions, lots of forts were built and most communities are well fortified

>Also, I was thinking of presenting them with a balcanic aesthetic to it, possibly Montenegro
seems reasonable

their original image was armenian, but I always saw them as more carcassonne-ish

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A reminder we still have a lot of creatures to complete.

Current number of creatures/animals: 208

Also, here's the updated monster lists. Added the elementals mentioned previously. Still need to complete the other elemental combinations, though.

Also, now that we mention it:
>Number of animals/creatures
208
>Number of monsters
39
>Number of named gods
156
>Number of sentient species
111

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What are the monsters in Glutton Island?

>>88948871
>The carpetflower is a group of closely related species of grass that inhabit the northeastern part of the map, especially the lands of the drow, the Azan empire, cocoon islands, the Wzards isle, the Hedge Plains, the Plains of Kings and Queens, the Curhinday plains and the Cardammon plateu.
>It is a short grass, usually covered in brightly coloured flowers and resembles a carpet as its name implies, and feels like a luxurious carpet when walked on barefoot. It covers entire plains and meadows. It comes in many different varieties depending on the region

Thats it, thats my contribution. Remember to include this plant in the countryside if you make a story set in the northeast part of the map

>>88967205
halfway to a hundred

>>88974483
*NORTHWEST, my dumbass forgot

Starting with the lore of Oront. I'll try to finish the history later or tomorrow, I need to do stuff now.

>History
The lands of Oront have been tied to the Azanese Empire for nearly as long as it has existed. And yet, it has managed to fiercely keep its own identity and much of its independence, even at the height of the empire. The first believed contact between Azan and the many orontian cities was around 1.500 BBE. The legends tell that an azanese explorer, searching for a way to find the source that feed the Green River and the Greenspot Lake, with the mountains believed to be impassable at the time. Stopping to catch his breath, he was found by a local shepherd, who casually pointed to him a small crossing between the tall mountains. Following this small road, he managed to find the city of Cetna, finding it surprisingly well defended, with battlements and earthworks highly advanced by the time. While the locals were welcoming to the stranger from outside the mountains, they warned him of mentioning this place to anyone from the other side. Unperturbed by this, the explorer went back to Azan to tell about the good news. The emperor sent a diplomatic team to Oront, wishing to bring them to the empire peacefully. What transpired next is not well known, but it is said that the only response the orontian sent was the heads of the diplomats attached to the backs of goats.

>>88975061
Naturally, war followed, starting around 1.663 BBE. The Azanese-Orontian War is not a well documented conflict, at least not on the part of the orontians. The different cities within the mountains had been a state of war pretty much since their origins, back in untold times. And they saw the war against the outsiders as just another conflict. The azanese, however, saw the execution of their mandataries as a deep insult, and quickly dispatched a great army to deal with the barbarians who had killed the emissaries. However, the high and treacherous mountains, with routes and crevices barely able to let a single man pass, stopped the offensive on its tracks. After the Battle of the Racägnna Pass in 1.649 BBE, where the azanese forces were ambushed and fell into the precipices, Azan saw no further action against the orontians, stopping the fights against them. While they prioritized the conquests of the nearby lands, the orontians began building great fortresses near the mountains, in case of the azanese decided to attack again. However, during this process, the orontian cities began infighting again.

>>88975073
This was a chance taken by the azanese emperor Henne. Presenting himself to the orontian cities, he proposed a peace pact between the orontians and azan. Unarmed, and accompanied only by wise men and counselors, he presented to the orontians the truth that, while Oront had won the war against Azan, the empire had conquered all of the terrains surrounding the mountains. This meant that Azan could isolate the nation to death, not only blocking it from trade with the rest of the world, but also the advances in technology and warfare. While the cities of Oront were formidable in war, and had developed extraordinary fortifications, the truth was that, in any other aspect, they were way behind with the civilized Azan. On the other hand, if Oront willingly joined Azan as a vassal with many freedoms and rights, they would enjoy all the benefits and riches that befitted a member of the empire. Impressed by the bravery of the emperor Henne, and realizing the few options they truly had, the orontian accepted the deal. In 1.451 BBE, the Kingdom of Oront was born as a province of Azan, with the government of the region done from the city of Cetna.

>>88975084
This pact worked well enough for all parties involved. In exchange for many freedoms from the capital and benefits in regional trade, Azan gained a well fortified province that controlled many of the roads to the east, as well as a great host of the powerful orontian warriors. The princes and knights of Oront were highly militarized, and trained in warfare from a very early age in the arts of cavalry. Orontian heavy cavalry was able to launch great and powerful charges from distances other cavalrymen would assume too short to pull off. Their ability to dash against the enemy was also great due to their skill with traversing difficult terrain, particularly mountainous land, which was used to attack the enemy from behind against what, one would assume, is a defended position. The victories the orontian knights gained also allowed Oront to become very wealthy fast, allowing it to develop at the same level as the rest of the empire. However, one of the clauses of the deal was that, in case of infighting within Oront, then Azan was not allowed to participate in favor of anyone, allowing the orontians to deal with their own problems, though they were still obligated to pay their taxes. The frequency of these fights, while low in intensity and bloodshed, meant that traders and merchants from outside tended to keep their businesses outside of Oront, meaning that only the knights lived in wealth, while the rest of the population had little access to the benefits from the empire.

So when did the even of the war between the dwarves and Oront happen?

>>88967205
i think it should be canon that almost noone in giantstep can count very well without using their fingers
even though some scholars in the more literate nations can do intricate geometry and logic, they struggle with numeracy

>>88976108
sometime between 1935 and 1957 ABE

>>88976128
This is just part of the weird time flow in Giantstep, since not two years last the same amount of time.

>>88976324
What do I even add in the gap? Also
>sometime between 1935 and 1957 ABE
right during the war between Azan and the Second Elven Empire. Does it have anything to do with it, or is it unrelated?

>>88965999
Oh, my bad

Who is Cnyaz "redhair" Artyom and what's his connection with Lorentz?

>>88977390
>>88977390
I picked it as Azan gets driven out of the Baalps region sometime in between part 11 and 12 of the historical maps, which corresponds well to the gibberling invasion which triggers the dwarven invasion into gautlan and oront

The fact that Azan was distracted with other issues probably helps explain how they made it as far as gautlan

>>88975101
Despite its level of infighting, Oront would prove its worth during the chaotic days of the 20th, 21st and 22nd centuries. During the first great war against the witchelven, the orontian partook in the fight against the witchelven, both by sending their famous cavalry to battle and by fortifying the Oront Mountains. The quick advances of the witchelven were difficult to stop once they were on the move, raiding and pillaging the land to survive instead of needing supply lines, and burning anything they could not carry. The level of these intrusions forced Azan to push for faster forces, preferably mounted cavalry that could respond quickly and chase down the witchelven once they were on the run. The orontian cavalry excelled in surprise attacks, being able to silently sneak up on witchelven raiders and quickly charge them before they could respond. However, attrition and numbers hurt the orontian numbers, and they were forced to retreat to a secondary position in the war. They decided to fortify the Oront Mountains, seeing as losing this area would be a knife stuck at the center of the empire. The orontians had been fortifying the region for centuries, but now the needs of war forced them to double their efforts, creating an impassable wall that could stop the witchelven cold, forcing them to move south if they wanted to advance, helping Azan to gather their forces against the witchelven on a single spot.

>>88979471
It was during the war against the drow that Oront became involved in one of the bloodiest events of the period. In 1.946 ABE, a massive gibberling invasion begins in the azanese areas of the Baalps. While Azan initially tries to help their vassal population, the defeat in the Battle of Broken Horn Fortress meant horrible losses against the witchelven, and combined with their fights to the west against the drow, the emperor decided their holdings in the Baalps were no longer sustainable. Evacuating them allowed abled personnel to reinforce the desperate fronts everywhere else, and the gibberlings did not seem to move towards the south (and even then, Azan expected to just retake the land at a later date once the gibberlings began fighting each other). Thus, all the azanese population in the area was ordered to evacuate to deeper parts of the empire. This angered the dwarves from the Staliguard dynasties. Their lands abandoned with little fight, they decided to secretly rebel against Azan. To create their own dwarven kingdom, they set their eyes on Oront, a mountainous land similar to their old home.

>>88979486
In 1.948 ABE, they managed to reunite enough of their wealth and influence to take over the land of Gäutland, at the time very impoverished by corruption and the war. From there, they launched an undercover attack against Oront, seeing as, if they managed to take down the province, Azan wouldn’t be able to dislodge them. It also helped that the news of the great losses suffered by the orontian knights were well known, so the staliguardians thought it would be an easy surprise coup. However, due to the growing chain of fortresses within the mountains, the dwarves were forced to follow the darkest and most dangerous roads, with hundreds of them dying during their travels. Once they came back from the mountains, they found themselves surprised by the orontian knights. At some point, the watchers of Oront had noticed the army of rebel dwarves coming, and had gathered their forces at the mouth of the pass to take them down before they were any further within the land. Tired, starved, wounded, and having already lost a good portion of their forces, the staliguardians were in no position to fight, so they asked for terms. This was utterly ignored by the knights, thinking the dwarves were in league with the witchelven. This began the Battle of the Serpent Pass, or what it’s better known as, the Staliguard Massacre. The dwarves were not able to put up a fight, and since they appeared as a hostile army, they couldn’t convince the orontians they weren’t allied with the witchelven, not without revealing their treachery. The orontian knights butchered nearly to the last man, with the few survivors hiding in the mountains. The orontians, also thinking that the land of Gäutland was part of this conspiracy, gathered their forces for an assault against them.

>>88979501
Luckily, azanese diplomats arrived before another bloodbath could commence. Getting in between the knights and the terrified gäutlanders, the azanese managed to offer a deal. Having heard of the staliguardians’ treachery, they quietly detained all survivors that were part of the conspiracy, and let the survivors who had not partaken in treacherous acts free, with stern warnings that they should prove their loyalty from now on. The orontians were privately forgiven by their actions, having inadvertently stopped another focus of war. This gained them a lot of accolades within the azanese administration, something that would continue during the Azanese Civil War. While there were initial fights and discussions, Oront quickly declared in favor of Azan, though their contribution to the war was limited, due to the high attrition they had been suffering for so long.

>>88973251
There have quite a few been mentioned a log time ago

>>88979959
In which thread?

Where's the lore map?

Is there any monster left to add to the list?

What's the closest thing to Sauron in this setting?

>>88987735
Nothing comes to mind. The bog witch could be in terms of power, but she isn't interested in conquering the world beyond the swamps. Vandervax is not necessary evil, just too focused on the vampires. The Nameless Gnoll Emperor could sound like him, but even then his goals and scope do not fit.

>>88987735
probably Gogotha or one of the other demon lords

Continuing with Oront.

>Society and Culture
Oront is a harsh land. High peaks blocking the region from the rest of the world, a poor and rocky soil not really suited for agriculture, and scant rains during most of the year. This situation doesn’t allow for any extensive agriculture. Historically, the orontians have struggled to obtain enough produce from the land to sustain themselves, and control over the fertile spots was always disputed by force. For the most part, the kingdom’s agriculture is focused around barley, wheat and fodder for domestic animals. Most houses also produce the typical orontian strawberries, a local variety of highly nutritious berry that grows in many crevices within the mountains. Many distillers have used these berries to prepare berry wine, a sweet vine taken during celebrations in Oront. Outside of this, husbandry is also an important sector, producing mostly bovine and the famous orontian horses. Fishing in the lakes is not an options, for there are no fish in them. It is believed that, in unremembered times, the entire region was covered by glaciers. This, as well as the lack of connection between the rivers within and without Oront, makes it so that there is no way for fish to reach the lands. Instead, these areas are filled with insects and many kinds of migratory birds, perfect for hunting.

>>88988077
Outside of this, the land of Oront is very poor. The lands are divided between the knights and the orontian lords, who rule from the cities. These live as mercenaries, fighting wars outside of the mountains and live from the spoils of their victory. The poverty within their nation means that they have had to become excellent warriors, either to control as much orontian land as possible or to sell their services to the highest bidder. This means that the knights are trained (and even bred to an extent, with marriages of convenience seeking to produce stronger warriors as well as political alliances) for war, and thus are some of the most capable fighters in all Azan. They are highly specialized as heavy cavalry, preparing to break enemy formations even despite their strong defenses. The orontian horse breeds are massive horses, and are very strong, able to speed up their galloping in little time. However, this explosive acceleration, as well as the weight of knight and the armor they wear, comes at the cost of endurance. Orontian horses are not particularly resilient, and need to rest relatively frequently, especially after a charge, least their own weight choke them. To compensate for this, they are somehow capable of walking in near perfect silent, even when carrying heavy weights. They are also trained to avoid creating dustclouds, with the orontian secrets that teach them this art kept in secrets under oath. Also, they are extremely skilled at traversing obstacles and difficult terrain. This makes them superb ambushers, as very few armies in the world are prepared for a surprise charge of heavy cavalry from close range. This makes the orontian knights always need support, either in the form of peasant levies or foot archers, allowing the spent knights to go back and rest while protecting their retreat.

>>88988084
Outside the nobles, the peasants spend harsh lives toiling the land or taking care of the livestock. They also have to prepare themselves for the many grudge wars between the knights and the orontian cities. These fights keep the knights in top shape, even during the times of peace within Azan. The nobles and knights are proud and petty, and there is little to stop them from honor duels and armed fights. Going from that to local wars is more complicated, usually needing the support of multiple noble houses at once, but it’s still frequent enough to see one or two inner wars every century. Nowadays, the capital city was established in Mina, after their masters defeated the lords of Cetna and gained the right to hold the capital.

>>88987735
Avangar

>>88988349
>Avangar
How?

>>88987735
We don't have that many named characters in current year, much less big overarching villains.

>>88987735
>>88989301
The world is too divided to have a worldwide threat like that. The way the lore has been written, the east and the west are too isolated from each other. Hell, the fact it's a flat world with such a continental geography means that something that affects one side is going to take a long time to affect the other side.

>>88948871
> It's still going
Autists-sama, I kneel

>>88971213
> Number of named gods 156
We need one giant pantheon chart

>>88990580
>We need one giant pantheon chart
About what?

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rabbits aren't actually fauna autochtonus to Giantstep, they fell down from one of the passing moons millenia ago.

>>88990580
Actually we should have multiple competing ones and deities that dont fit into any. Not every irl pagan religion just accepted all deities yknow.

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Ancient representation of a satyr knight repelling a snoloth raid.

>>88994648
If anyone makes art of this shit, it should all be like this

What is the religion of Oront?

>>88995855
Is Oront a Kingdom or is every city within it autonomous?

>>88995893
I imagine it would be a somewhat confusing system. Since it technically it's a kingdom, but also part of Azan, but also it's constantly infighting, I imagine the cities all have a lot of autonomy, with the city currently ruling in charge of taxation for Azan. Otherwise, it's just another city. And since Azan lets them have a lot of freedon, I imagine there's a lot of politicking there, mostly solved by knightly duels and local wars.

I do need to write it better, because it sounds like a clusterfuck as I have it right now.

>Government and the rule of Oront
The organization of the Kingdom of Oront has been described as “chaotic” by no few amount of azanese administrators and diplomats over the years. The terms of the incorporation to Azan estipulate that the orontian cities would be able to rule themselves, only following the most strict and overarching rules demanded from the capital. In practice, this means that orontian cities have their own set of rules and laws. Trade disputes, crimes and other recourses are resolved with the set of laws in effect within the city, and not with azanese laws, with the only exception being matters of military and defense, magnicide, treason and tax evasion. Outside of these, the orontian cities are allowed to pretty much rule themselves. The role of representing the orontian cities falls within the purview of the King of Oront. The title “King of Oront” has little power within the orontian cities. He is in charge of collecting the taxes from the cities, making sure everyone pays their dues, and sending it to the capital. The other job of the “King of Oront” is just represent the demands of orontian society to the azanese throne, selected by all of the cities in the region. While the ownership of the title is not particularly sought after, a recently defeated city cannot bear it, on the grounds that they are not strong enough to defend Oront’s interests with enough conviction and will.

>>88995855
probably azan faith with maybe some other religions in the minority

>>88998288
Pretty much.

Did the eldritch jungle have dinosaurs? I was thinking that some of those could have moved northwards, and some groups herded Protoceratops as if they were sheep.

Where is the Orrothos river in the physical map?

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Do we have quilin and other asian creatures/monsters?

>>88948871
More like /tg/ makes a seething

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>Ladybug Crab
The ladybug crab is a species of crustacean that lives in the north of scimitarian. A creature the size of a small dog, they have developed massive, oversized pincers to be able to crack fruits and the shells of animals. They are also capable climbers, going up trees to get to the coconuts and other fruits. Once they are up and they have thrown the food to the floor, they will jump down, slowing their descent down by using a pair of wings they have under their carapace. These wings are strong enough to keep the creature from plummeting to the ground, but due to the crabs' weight, they cannot fly or hover. To reduce their weight, these crabs' shells are quite light, and despite their strength, they avoid the sea as much as possible, since many predators are able to quickly eat them.

>>88978549
I think he's just another warlord fighting against the necromancers.

>>88999878
How would that work?

>>89003096
Protoceratops were herbivores the size of sheep, and they lived in herds. They were probably intelligent enough to be domesticated and herded. They would basically be really big chickens that need herding.

So what monsters could there be in the Crimson Plateau? The lore says the swamps are filled with creature, but what creature could be a threat to a ra?

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The tale of St. Cuthelbrus the Paradoxical

Born as a homeless orphan in the cold cobblestone alleys of Cetna many centuries ago, St. Cuthelbrus is considered to be one of the chief patrons of Orornt. Though he embraced his fate as a beggar from a young age, living shrouded in rags and covered in dirt, Cuthelbrus was known to possess a heart filled with unparalleled optimism or more accurately acute delusion.

Despite his sightless eyes, St. Cuthelbrus firmly believed he was the wealthiest man in the realm. With a boundless imagination as his only guiding light, he waltzed through the streets, casting his voice like a beguiling bard, regaling tales of untold riches and opulent splendour of his would-be court to any who would listen. Oh, the treasures he claimed to possess! Jewels that rival the sun, castles that kissed the sky, and feasts that could satisfy the most insatiable glutton!

Alas, unbeknownst to our saintly hero, his pockets were eternally empty, and his dreams of grandeur were naught but a whimsical mirage. Mischievous thieves, sensing his blissful ignorance, made off with his meagre alms time and time again, leaving him none the wiser in his reverie. The entire kingdom marvelled at his unyielding optimism, his faith in his own delusions of wealth, and his unwavering trust in the human spirit.

He died as he lived, freezing to death on the pavement of Cetna on a particularly chilly summer day, with a smile on his face and the remains of a half-eaten mountain newt in his cold hands. In his honour the men of Oront celebrate the feast day of Fools on the eleventh sunrise before midsummer to this day.

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>>89004476
During the the holy feast of St. Cuthelbrus, Orontians are known to let loose a little and celebrate. The blind, the fools, the beggars, and the narrow-minded all gather in jubilant revelry, embracing the saints spirit of whimsy. It is a day to honour the beauty in blissful ignorance, to celebrate the sheer audacity of living in a world that defies expectations.

The day starts early with what is known as the Fool's Parade in Cetna and The Saints March in Mina. Under the command of the Mayor of Fools, jesters of the city come together in a grand procession, parading through the streets with colorful costumes (for Oront) and jesters' masks. Laughter echoes through the air as these merry pranksters entertain the crowds with their clever tricks, and all manners of mischievous tomfoolery. In Cetna it is customary for fools to self-flagelate with ivy as the dance while in Mina, women must whip unmarried men with thorns and inversely serve brandy to married men.

As the shadows start to grow long, the Mayor of Fools officially declares the Beggars' Banquet open. In a rare display of solidarity, communities gather for a communal feast where the impoverished and mentally incapable are considered honored guests. The townspeople, dressed in humble attire, partake in a simple hearty meal while passages from the stories of the Saint are read aloud as a reminder of the importance of compassion and the inherent dignity in every soul, regardless of worldly possessions.

The feast day ends with the Candlelit Procession. As dusk descends upon the mountains, a mesmerizing candlelit procession illuminates the streets. The townsfolk carry candles and lanterns, their soft glow casting a magical aura. In a symbolic gesture, they express gratitude for the light of hope that St. Cuthelbrus represents. The day ends rather soberly with an evening service and a traditional serving of lentil soup with boiled newts.

>>88997529
I say we call him the King-in-Oront to drive home how little power the guy has.

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The tale of Blessed Illes of Ussika, Patron of soldiers, horses and mourners, Guardian of Sorrows

St. Illes also known as the Tragic Knight is an Orontian saint who met an untimely demise while bravely serving his king, leaving a legacy of devotion and sorrow.

A noble and chivalrous soul devoted to Oront, St. Illes is said to have been the only knight to have answered the call from the King-in-Oront when he summoned the knights of the realm to him to repulse a dwarfish incursion. With unwavering loyalty, Illes donned his armor and rode forth into battle alone, fearlessly defending his liege's realm from the perfidious dwarves. His prowess in combat was legendary, as he fought with unmatched valor, driven by a deep-rooted sense of duty and honor.

Tragedy struck when St. Illes embarked on a fateful journey through treacherous mountain terrain. As he gallantly rode atop his trusted steed Gallo, a harrowing accident unfolded. A sudden misstep, a stumble on an uneven path, and St. Illes was unseated from his horse, his mortal journey abruptly halted at the bottom of an unnamed mountain ravine. The land mourned the loss of the gallant knight, recognizing the profound sacrifice he had made for his king and country.

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>>89004816
In commemoration of St. Illes' unwavering dedication and his tragic fate, his feast day is observed on the first da of autumn, a somber occasion when the kingdom pauses to remember his noble spirit. The day is marked by solemn processions and prayerful remembrance, honoring the fallen knight who gave his life in service to the crown. St. Illes, in his untimely departure, has become a patron saint of several causes. He is revered as the patron of soldiers, offering guidance and protection to those who bravely defend their lands.

His intercession is sought by those facing the perils of war, granting them courage and strength in times of conflict.He is also regarded as the patron saint of riders, his tragic accident forever intertwining his legacy with the bond between humans and horses. Those who engage in equine pursuits and depend on the noble steeds find solace in his patronage, seeking his blessings for safety and skilful horsemanship. Lastly and most importantly, St. Illes is the patron saint of those who have experienced sudden and unexpected tragedies, offering solace and comfort to the grieving. His story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the fickleness of fate which can take even the most valiant in the most mundane of ways.

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Lesser Orontese Saints:
>Blessed Ventagnan of Gurm-Mol
Feast day: first day of the harvest moon
Patronage: Forgotten moments, inexplicable situations, herbalists, drink peddlers

Ventagnan's path to sainthood, if it can be called that, was paved with eccentricities and bizarre incidents. His spiritual journey was marked by a series of inexplicable miracles, which were often met with equal parts awe and scepticism by those who witnessed them. These miracles, though perplexing in nature, were characterized by their complete lack of practical significance or theological profundity. Legend has it that Blessed Ventagnan possessed the extraordinary ability to turn water into mildly lukewarm tea, a feat that impressed some and baffled others. This seemingly trivial miracle became the hallmark of his strange spiritual vocation, as he travelled from village to village, offering tepid tea to the unsuspecting faithful who really didn't ask for any of this.

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>>89005031
>St. Ardenna, First abbess of the Convent of His Eternal Mountains
Feast day: day before the autumnal equinox
Patronage: nuns, settlers, mountaineers

St. Ardenna emerged as a beacon of piety in the rugged wilderness of the Oront mountains. From a young age, she displayed an innate connection to the divine, seeking solace and enlightenment amidst the majestic peaks that surrounded her village. Guided by a profound sense of calling, St. Ardenna embarked on a solitary spiritual pilgrimage, venturing deep into the heart of the mountains. It was there, amidst the whispering winds and the sacred silence of nature, that she received a divine revelation—a vision of a sanctuary where devout souls would seek solace and dedicate their lives to prayer and contemplation.

With unyielding determination, St. Ardenna undertook the monumental task of establishing the Convent of His Eternal Mountains. Guided by her unwavering faith and inspired by divine guidance, she rallied a group of devout followers. Together, they cleared the rugged terrain, erected the foundations of the abbey, and constructed a place of sanctuary deep in the Klagg Wilds of Eastern Oront. Under St. Ardenna's wise and compassionate leadership, the Convent of His Eternal Mountains flourished as a bastion of piety and devotion. The saints profound teachings and exemplary way of life resonated beyond the walls of the convent. Pilgrims from far and wide sought her counsel, drawn by the reputation of her spiritual wisdom and divine insights. Her legacy endures in the hearts of those who seek divine enlightenment and find solace in the embrace of His Eternal Mountains.

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>>89005067
>St. Laude Amonis, priest of the Eternal-Flame-in-Heaven
Feast day: day of the vernal equinox
Patronage: choirs, mystics, singers

St. Laude Amonis dedicated his life to the pursuit of divine harmony and celestial poetry. He exhibited a remarkable gift for music and his voice was said to carry the echoes of heaven itself. Amonis composed a repertoire of canticles and psalms that have survived the eons and continue to enrapture the souls of the faithful to this day.

Of his compositions, all written in old clerical Azanese, the most well known ones is "Dal Ciel Venne Messo Novello," a hymn celebrating the arrival of a new message from heaven, which gained popularity during the times of the Azanese reformation. Also of note are "Pentamerone," a mellifluous melody of praise, encapsulating the multifaceted beauty of creation, mirroring the elements that shape the world and "O Monaciello Incandesce," a luminous chant that spoke of the transformative power of piety.

The feast day of St. Laude Amonis is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. A very pious occasion, the faithful come together to honour his legacy as choral ensembles perform his compositions, filling the air with celestial harmonies and uplifting the spirits of all who are willing to listen.

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>>89005119
>Kirye Zaleveyos, "patron y des gueux"
Feast day: 13th day of the autumnal equinox (folk calendar)
Patronage: beggars, vagabonds, the city of Zaleya

Kirye Zalevevos is an Orontese folk saint, unrecognised by most church authorities, meaning information on the figure is even more scarce than for most saints of old. Said to have lived sometime in the 14th century, the so called "patron y des gueux," - literally chief of the beggars in Middle Orontese. There are many tales surrounding Kirye, some more ribald then others all along the Hollun mountain chains and amongst the deep valleys of the Gurrina river. All of the paint the saint as an enigmatic ally to outcasts and vagabonds. Most of the tales usually end with Kirye triumphing against tyrannical nobles and corrupt clergy which explains why his veneration is rather curtailed by official authorities. On his feast day, bread is offered to beggars and all manners of vagabonds and outlaws can be seen raising a glass of Gurrinnese sour wine to the memory of old Zalavevos.

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>>89005210
>St. Smyrre the Venerable, draughtsman of the Church
Feast day: 15th day of the automnal equinox
Patronage: Enorioi, temples of the lower Klagg, the Exarchical Prelacy of Mina

St Smyrre was a rather dour man credited with implementing vast church reforms during the latter days of he Azanese 8th dynasty and fully converting Oront to the New Azan Faith. Third born son of a small noble family, he was sent to Narses to attend seminary. There he was introduced to the new doctrines of the faith and the Hiranurist reform movement.

His attempts to reform the local church structure were first met with disdain in Oront, but Smyrre managed to gain a key ally fairly early on, Kyrlos XXI. the Lord-Marcher of Cetna and King-in-Oront at the time. With his patronage, the reformer slowly but surely got to work, translating new and old texts into contemporary Orontese and reforming the parochial and fossilised structure of the local prelacies.

The crown jewels of his campaign are the Three White Enorias, imposing new temples that were built in Cetna, Mina and Gurm-Mol. Built in all white stone according to the mystico-mathematical precepts of the new faith, the three temples continue to serve as the centre of the church in Oront to this day.

How many cities does Oront have? Within the mountains there's bound to be not that much space.

>>89005119
If Azan is a byzantine-style nation, wouldn't the poems be written in a mix of greek/latin, instead of italian?

Also:
>Da Ciel Venne Messo Novello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm8xuFNBtb0

>Pentamerone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SjCDTyGRTU

>>89004562
>>89006214
>King-in-Oront
Maybe he could be called king-in-oront by the orontians, and just king of oront by everyone outside of it.

>>89003290
Good creatures for monstrous predators that live in the swamps could be crocodiles, anacondas, mosquitoes, leeches, giant otters, snapping turtles, bats...

>>89006497
Jaguars too...

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Also, heavily feathered dinosaurs could live in the swamps? Maybe these are big herbivores, but are as violent as rhinos, attacking anything that comes nearby?

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Where is this happening?

>>89006551
Where could this be located?

>>89006534
>>89006551
Where do we have dinosaurs?

>>88953285
I'll write something for some of the monsters:

>Mechanoids
Mechanoids are alchemical and astromantic constructs created as weapons of war. Trying to recreate the ancient khenomeric battle automata with the little information that has survived to this day, the alchemists and astromancers have managed to create great artificial beasts. However, unlke the ancient constructs, these have little in the way of intelligence, only capable of obeying the simplest of commands. This means they are very easy to control, but they can be hijacked with ease as well, or tricked into situations where they are unable to continue following orders. Another thing that can disable them is taking damage to the contraption added to their skulls, since that functions as its sensory organs. Without it, they cannot see, hear, smell or touch. Their bodies can vary depending on their design, but usually they are gifted a hulking humanoid body, highly resistant to blunt, cutting and fire damage. Lightning does hurt it, since electricity interfeers with the head contraption.
>

>

>

>

What does Oront's lore still lack?

>>88953285
>Screaming Aparition
The screaming aparitions are dark entities that appear in areas with high levels of magical pollution and dark energies, such as Diaoul or the Cursed Battlefield. One of the most inoffensive demonic entities one could find in the world, they are nonetheless a threat for those who encounter them. The screaming apparitions will differ from ghosts and other encounters of the sort in that they have no real sentience. Wizards and mystics of the world have described them as "the rage of the long departed taken form", as they are seemingly just a remnant of a strong emotion left floating around. They are intangible, and can only be harmed by magic and certain sound-based attacks, but them on turn, cannot phisically harm the world around them. The biggest threat they can pose is the effect on the psyche of their witnesses, overloading their minds with the emotion they represent, usually screaming rage and fear, hence their name. However, there have been plenty of reports of screaming aparitions that represent emotions such as happiness, depression, confusion and disgust. Many experts believe the most dangerous one is that which represents full and total apathy. This creatures will make the people who see them absolutely numb to the world around them. They will stop moving and become unresponsive, literally falling to the ground and stop breathing such is their disinterest from the world. Only those with strong will to live or high protection against the effects of these creatures can gain enough distance from them to flee from their effects and fight back.

>>89007369
Places
People
any distinguishing aesthetics

What the hell is up with Kalydon?

>>89007369
Religion and and a mention to demographics/foreign relations

So, to sum it up:

>Oront
>Jeraxih
>Gokmavi

Small amounts of lore needed to be written

>Dsrvyth
>Lorient

Decent amount of lore needed to be written

>Kalydon
>Hasteria
>Ampleazzo

Lots of lore needed to be written

>>89009035
Thing is, religion was already mention, they follow the azanese faith. And since they are technically a province of Azan, their foreign relations are the same as azan.

>>89009052
Pretty much. All we have left is this:

>Small amount of lore to work with
-Hasteria (province of Azan)
-Republic of Kalydon

>Lore half developed
-Laurentian Crusade Fortresses (needs society, culture and maybe geography)
-Gökmavi Khaganate (the history is in the historical maps thread, needs society/politics, religion and geography)
-Dsrvysth Peninsula (needs history, culture and possibly religion)
-Jeraxih Tribes (needs history)
-Oront (religion and foreign relations)

>Lore contradictory with the rest
-Kingdom of Lorient (dates and events do not fit with the general timeline)

>>89009859
Laurentian Crusade is done.

>>89006402
Yeah that's just what was playing on my playlist while I was writing the post. Honestly all of the saints were written very half-assedly while procrastinating real work. Feel free to frizz them up to be more engaging.
>>89006408
I can see most outsiders not really caring about what the crazy mountain people are up to.
>>89006379
I mean "city" is relative, I assume that it refers to any slightly larger oppidum.

>>89010515
>I mean "city" is relative, I assume that it refers to any slightly larger oppidum.
Pretty much. I imagine that orontian cities are just big fortified towns with a knight castle in the middle, and with very strong walls.

>>89009842
I'll write a small passage about thst when I get home

>>89011321
Neat. I'm writing now about the orontian cities, architecture and stuff.

>The Orontian Cities
The land within the Orontian Mountains is not very spacious. Between the harsh badlands that occupy most of the realm and the lakes that double in size during summer, there is very little room for agriculture. In those areas where they can plant crops, small fortified towns pop up. The biggest of those have grown to become the orontian cities, ruled by the knight houses of the realm. And yet, calling them cities would raise an eyebrow in many members of the Azan Empire. In comparison to even the most modest cities of the empire, orontian cities are barely overgrown towns, built irregularly and without any planning. Far from the ample streets from the imperial capital, orontian streets are narrow and claustrophobic. This is by design, as the frequent fighting in the cities tends to favor small spaces, blocking the attackers’ movements while allowing the defenders to rain arrows upon them. Houses are also design with war in mind, though most civilians basically bunker down on their property until the knights’ affairs have concluded. Windows are small, with iron frames and bars to avoid entering, and the residents always have planks of wood nearby to block them in case of conflict outside. In general, houses are made of stone and brick, since there is not that much wood within the land, which fortunately helps the cities avoid fires during the fights, at least for the most part.

>>89012476
The size of these “cities” is very small, with the biggest one barely arriving at the 15.000 inhabitants. However, they are heavily prepared for war. All of these cities have double walls, considerably high and with plenty of archer arrows aiming at both the outside at a pre-prepared killing fields. Around the cities, we can find big moats, filled with water connected to the local lakes, blocking most access to the city, and allowing the doors to be protected by retractable bridges to enter. The cities’ neighborhoods are themselves walled and fortified, needing to be besieged and taken one by one. The city streets always prepared to become barricades against the invaders, blocking them into a few streets where the fighting will be concentrated, and some streets are themselves blocked by stairs designed to force mounted knights to get down from their horses and fight on foot. At the center of each city, there lies a massive fortification, a castle that is itself walled and fortified, and filled with fixed positions for archers and cannons to fire at the enemy (though gunpowder weapons are not used during knight disputes as a matter of honor, and were only installed as a precaution against the witchelven). Fights as a matter of knightly disputes will rarely involve the population, and thus the castle is not used as a refuge for the population, preferring instead to bunker down on their houses until the fight is done.

>>89012488
The lands near the cities produce most of the food they require daily. Despite this, the cities are well connected to the rural towns near them, in case they need more produce. Spread around the land, these small towns of barely a couple hundred people live from the land, trying as hard as they can to avoid getting mixed up with the affairs of the knights. Most of these towns are also fortified, though their fortifications are limited to a big watchtower made of stone that doubles as a keep.

In total, there are around seven populations that are considered orontian cities: Cetna, Mina, Zaleya, Gurm-Mol, Birabar, Tinnat and Knotsza. Each of them have multiple knight houses, plus many vassal families and other servants of the knights, as well as the commoners. There used to be eight, but the city of Tigris was long ago abandoned. The reasons for this are poorly understood, but apparently, the ruling knight house of the city managed to gain the enmity of all of the others, who fought them in such a vicious and bloody fight that depopulated the entire city. As such, it is considered a place of bad luck, and no other knight house has taken it into their domain. They also forbade the common folk to occupy the city, under penalty of death. Thus, their remnants lie near the lake, as a strange casualty of the knights’ rivalries.

>>89012507
The architecture of Oront has been described as “beautiful in its simplicity”. Due to the need to design around the frequent warfare and the lack of wood, the orontian architecture has adopted a very practical philosophy. It needs to be functional enough for the daily activities and resilient enough so as to the damages caused by the knightly wars are reduced to a minimum. Fortunately, the Orontian Mountains are able to provide the locals with high quality minerals, with plenty reserves of stone and granite. The oldest buildings in Oront still around are made out of crude but effective masonry using these elements. Nowadays, we can find a big distinction between the buildings for commoners, usually done with a combination of brick, mortar and stone, and the fortifications and castles, done exclusively with highly crafter stone masonry. Both of them are designed with simplicity in mind, with very few decorations in the façades, preferring instead to follow a more sober and austere style. The dependence of stone and granite for building means that the weight of these structures is considerable, and since the orontians avoid many of the architectural advancements from outside the mointains in favor of defensive functionality, the buildings have a reduced height due to the weight of the walls. In theory, this also makes them very vulnerable to gunpowder, but since knights do not use it as a matter of honor, and an outsider who would do it would require bringing cannons all the way through the treacherous mountains, this is not considered a threat. The most decorated buildings are the temples, and even then they are considerable more humble that what one could find outside of Oront. An element they have over other azanese temples is the presence of a large bell tower, usually separated from the temple, which serves both as a watch point and as an alarm system in case of attacks.

Where's the lore map?

>>89015715
What is a lore map?

>>89016975
The map with the remaining nations in need of lore.

>>88961782
>I can't believe Oront hasn't had any lore written about it for so long
>After a single thread, it is one of the places with the most lore.

in faroowt, the vast majority of the population are so zonked out of their mind that it is difficult for any kind of bookkeeping or administration to occur outside of routine farming practice
the caemurph councils(of senior and junior druids) are both based in the coastal unofficial capital of caemurph
the senior council meet, or at least casually gather in the old town's temple whose beach entrance is notable for being perfectly split into five corridors. senior official druids are well known in caemurph and can be seen entering and exiting the temple across the sand.
their influence is very limited but can make direct suggestions to their bright one, note this is not an advisory role, the bright ones are very perceptive of ulterior motives
the squareheads are junior druids appointed every 5 years go on a sober mission inland, reporting to and being promoted to the caemurph council of senior druids for the to keep an eye out for foreign encampments(mostly recent converts) and to ensure that worship of the faerie lords is carried out in spirit
some carry out unofficial censuses to keep themselves from getting bored,
mothem(from mother's hymm) is a common local turn of phrase meaning that it is more important to join in with worship with those around you, than to try to force others into your own specific way, and can also be used to indicate that someone is willing to fall in with whatever is happening around them (e.g.1 dance round the fire? i'll just mothem for a bit then --- e.g.2 for dinner? a mothem bowl will do fine)
at the end of each squarehead journey, the druid will remove their as named mortarboard-like hat with mesh faceveil and recite their findings and actions before a senior druid who will decide if they have acted in a mothemly manner and not self serving beyond survival even while not under the influence of local substances
this will decide if they are to be admitted to the council, interestingly there is no stigma attached to failing this judgement

>The Mountain Fortresses
The Orontian Mountains are filled with dangerous peaks and treacherous roads, blocking most of the accesses between Oront and the outside world. In those well known roads that actually allow relatively easy travel from one place to another, the orontians have build great fortresses, blocking anyone suspicious from entering into Oront. Many of these constructions were already operative before the union with Azan, but nowadays, the majority of the fortresses are of very modern design. In particular, the start of the war against the witchelven forced Azan to invest in the defense of Oront, as if the region fell, the enemy would gain a very defensible position and access to the heart of the empire. The orontians, who did share the hatred towards the witchelven, also dedicated great efforts into these defenses, especially after the orontian knights began suffering important casualties during the war. Because of this, the fortresses are very modern and highly defensible, full with the most modern weaponry Azan can give them. The orontian knights, who usually disdain gunpowder and magical weapons for matters of honor, have no qualms in using them against unwelcomed enemies. This has turned the Oront Mountains into a near impregnable fortress. Even the western side of the mountains, which used to be much less defended, became the focus of great building after the Staliguard Massacre, presenting the real possibility of an attack through the weaker side.

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>>89006534
We could have these and spinosaurus on the swamps. Definitely something that would need the strength of a ra to fend off.

>>89009027
What do you mean?

>>89021302
>Swamp Spinosaurus
The Swamp Spinosaurus is one of the species of reptiles living in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. Believed to be a species originated from the Eldritch Jungle that somehow found its way into the swamps up north, the spinosaurus is a smaller version of the dinosaur giants from the south. A creature of 5m of length from head to tail, it is nevertheless a formidable predator, mostly hunting giant fish and whatever other creature has the misfortune to cross in its path. Its massive dorsal sail is covered in vegetation and plants that have attached themselves to it. The swamp spinosaurus use these as camouflage, staying still for days until something comes close enough to catch with their powerful claws and jaw. However, this species is not particularly fast, and its big size can become a problem when moving through certain parts of the swamp. Thus, it much prefers the role of ambush predator. It is also much faster on water than on land, since its weight and the uneven terrain of the swamp stop them from fast movement. The swamp spinosaurus have a deadly rivalry with another of the apex predators of the swamp, the giant sarcosuchus. Both follow a similar lifestyle and strategy, and it's not uncommon for the two to be close enough to each other yet undetected due to their camouflage, only to enter into a deadly fight once prey gets close enough to make them jump.

>>89023890
Also, now that we're on it:

>Giant Sarcosuchus
The Giant Sarcosuchus is a species of crocodile that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A massive predatory reptile that can easily reach the 8m of length from head to tail, it is a dangerous presence in the murky waters, and even big enough to be a threat on land. The darkness of the bogs and the murkiness of the waters can easily hide their movements as just a rotting log, hiding their bodies until they are ready to strike. Their scales are incredibly resilient, and have been seen resisting even fire enchantations, so durable and impervious they are to damage. Once they catch their prey, they will begin spinning their bodies to rip out chunks of their victims, or just cut them in half with the sheer bone-breaking pressure of their bite. However, the Giant Sarcosuchus have a bitter rivalry with the Swamp Spinosaurus. The Swam Spinosaurus have learned that, if they can avoid the first strike of the crocodilians, they can use their powerful claws to flip them upside down, leaving their soft underbelly unprotected. However, this is easier said than done, as the sarcosuchus' bites are strong enough to cripple the dinosaurs if caught unaware.

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>>89024079
>Therizinosaurus
Therizinosaurus are a species of reptile that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A very tall herbivore, it feeds off the many plants growing in the swamps. It can grow up to 5 meters tall, using its long neck to reach the top of the trees. Its skin is protected by very resilient feathers, protecting the creature from slash attacks. It has developed massive claws, both to defend itself from predators and to carve its way through the swamps. Due to its low intelligence and the presence of many predators in the area, it is highly agressive, entering into a rage if it feels threatened, something highly dangerous, as the claws are long and sharp enough to disembowel big predators and cut smaller creatures in half.

>Great Babirusa
The Great Babirusa is a species of mammal that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A wild pig almost 6 meters of length, they are surprisingly peaceful creatures, eating anything that's edible in the swamps. They are extreme omnivores, though they always tend to go towards highly caloric elements, such as the oysters the ra breed. The ra tend to fight these creatures, as not only they can eat massive swathes of the oyster fields, but also attract many predators that frequently target the babirusa. The babirusa can be scared away easily with fire and loud noises, but if the babirysa is hurt or thinks their lives are in danger, they will become fierce, charging at the threat with their six pairs of tusks and horns. These are the size of a human arm, perfectly capable of impaling a creature. Usually, however, the babirusas are not a threat for the carapaces of the ra, but they are still dangerous if they are hit through a vulnerable spot.

>Swamp Otters
Swamp Otters are a species of mammal that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A lanky creature of near 2 meters of length, they are highly intelligent predators. While their size compared to many giants of the swamps, the otters are pack hunters, attacking unsuspecting prey in groups of 20 or more otters. They have been known to attack species such as giant sarcosuchus and swamp spinosaurus, going for their eyes and genitals, trying to cause the creatures to bleed to death. Their complexion helps them avoid attacks, and their smaller size allows them to be more agile than their prey. Then they'll use their powerful claws and jaws to attack wherever they can. Once their target is hurt and bleeding, they will pursue it and harass it until it falls from exhaustion. They are smart enough to keep their distances from the ra while travelling, but the ra need to take extra precautions to keep these critters away from their oyster fields. And since they are highly intelligent creatures, they need to come up with new traps constantly or always keep the fields on guard to avoid the otter attacks.

What other swam preatures could we add to the swamps of the Crimson Plateau?

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>>89024944
this

>>89027776
What is that?

>>89024855
>Electric Cod
Electric Cod are a species of fish that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A fish that lives in the deepest parts of the ponds in the area, it can reach nearly 2m of length. Due to the great amount of predators in the area, the Electric Cod has developed a very unique defensive system. The creature has distributed all thorughout its body a series of modified muscles called electrocytes, which generate an electrical discharge when threatened. The bigger the cod is, the bigger and deadlier the discharge is, being able to momentarily stun the giant predators (the same voltage can cause heart failure for a healthy human if caught unaware).

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How do you turn a mudskipper into a fantasy creature?

Will the thread autosage soon?

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>Smiling Glutton
The Smiling Glutton is a species of reptilian monster that lives in the swamps of the Crimson Plateau. A creature of unknown origins, its biology has focused its digestive system to the extreme, to the point most of the space inside of its body is just stomach and intestines. Its head has been reduced to a stump with multiple giant eyes, the number and size of which depend from individual to individual. The entire head can open from the neck, presenting a track full of sharp teeth all the way to the stomach. To capture its prey, it uses its powerful arms and claws to immobilize the prey and swallow it whole. In case of being prey capable of fighting back, it will spew from its "mouth" a torrent of digestive system, which can easily cause second degree burns, and are particularly painful. The Smiling Glutton has very little in the way of intelligence, having a brain the size of an apple.

Since when threads autosage after a week?

>>89000437
>Sacred Qilin
The Sacred Qilin is a species of chimeric creature living in some of the forests of Changrila. Its origins are closely linked to Changrila's independence and the rise of the first God-Emperor of Changrila. Seeking to create a great symbol of power, the newly appointed God-Emperor ordered the creation of a new creature, a mix between unicorn, elk, deer, horse, lion and dragon. After many attempts, the end result would be the qilin, which greatly pleased the emperor. However, the qilin were stolen from the palace, with the perpetrators never being caught or identified. Dismayed, the God-Emperor forbade the creation of further qilins. However, centuries later, sightings of strange creatures would appear in some of the forests, later identified as the mythical qilin. They are strange creatures, with a head of a deer, horns of unicorn and elk, mane of a lion, tail and scales of a dragon, body of a deer and legs of a horse. They are highly intelligent, and avoid the company of sentient beings as much as possible, which they achieve with their natural talents. They are nimble and silent to an uncanny degree, which has allowed them to avoid their capture, since they are greatly appreciated in private collections. They are frugivores, only eating very selective forest fruits.

>>89020331
Is this in the wiki?

>>89034675
Yes.

NEW THREAD

>>89035095
>>89035095
>>89035095
>>89035095