Garlyn: bound by blood. (ooc)

[rengadeirishman]

alright everyone, fantasy time. In the world of Rennith, magic is bound to the runes. but not everyone is happy with this. For millenia, the nation of Garlyn has stood in western Tiris, a bastion of strength and solidarity in an uneasy world. But there are many nations in the world, most who resent the might and majesty of Garlyn.

Many who think Its founder had no place to bind the magic.
Many who wish magic unbound, and Garlyn to fall.

So sharpen your blade, lace up your boots, and practice your runes, because theres a whole world that needs saving.

 

[rengadeirishman]

The world of Rennith

Rennith has three continents. Tiris, Jorith, and Rinya. there once was a fourth continent, Korin, the greatest of all, that was lost due to war among its people. Some say it was destroyed utterly by rampant magic, others say it was hidden by the gods until such time as the races prove their worthiness of its bounty. None know for sure. The continents are seperated by the Illydrian ocean, which according to legend was formed from tears of the Goddess Illydria over the death of her husband Narynel in the founding of the world.


Korin was once home to most every race upon Rennith, until its loss at the end of the Age of Wrath. The loss of Korin is still felt deeply by many races, notably the Dragonelves, whose greatest stories are based upon it. After the loss of Korin, Tiris became the largest continent, and the most powerful, due to its geographical position.

Tiris' power however is divided by the nations upon it. The largest of these nations is Sera, but the most powerful is Garlyn.

There are many nations upon Tiris, they are: Garlyn, Frosthold, Tyrvel, Sera, Rinda, Macalus, Barendur, Toreny, Dushlan, and Kyrthak

Garlyn is situated in the northwest of Tiris but extends quite far south. It is bordered on the northwest and west by the Illydrian ocean. The Illydrian ocean also has an inlet extending half the way across the breadth of the country upon which many cities, including the capital, Garlys, are located. this Inlet is known as Rending Bay. Garlyn is bordered on the northeast by the Frosthold peninsula, the east by Tyrvel, the south east by Sera, and the south by Rinda. In the north near the ocean is the Jagar'tur Range, the largest mountain range on Tiris, and possibly on Rennith. The large and magnificent Solinash river flows from the northern coast down in a rough semicircle into Rinda, before returning to the sea technically making much of western Tiris an island.

The most important city in Garlyn is the capital, Garlys, (formerly Korinaya). It was founded during the Age of Wonders under the name Korinaya by the Mage Garlys as his capital following the loss of Korin. It is one of the largest cities in the world, with massive walls and a fortified harbor. Korinay Castle sits on a plateau overlooking the harbor with a commanding view of Rending Bay. The King or Queen of Garlyn resides there. in the suburbs of Garlys is the Garlyn academy of Might and Magic, an elite military academy jointly sponsored by the King, the Duke of Stormgarde, and the Count of Ravenshold, better known as The Lord Corvus.

Important places in Garlys
Warriors Guild Headquarters- Residence of the Primarch, leader of the warriors guild. The warriors guild is a union for workers in all combative pursuits, provides services, helps mercenaries find work etc. etc. Often used as a bounty hunting and body guarding service. Members of the warriors guild may be conscripted by the King in times of great national need, and paid as soldiers in the Royal Army. This has only happened a handful of times in 2000 years, the last time was the fifth Serak-Rindan War, when Akaron Talarus, then duke of stormgarde was killed in the defense of stonebridge, and the combined Serak and Rindan forces got as far as the city of Ravenshold, killing the Lord Corvus in battle.

Tower of Mages-Home to the Archmage, and headquarters of the mages guild. The mages guild are the keepers of lore and the chief scholars of the kingdom. They run the libraries in all the great cities and Dorian College, the greatest center of magical and mundane study in the world, is located on the grounds, alongside the Syrla library, named for Queen Syrla the great grandmother of the current king Soren.

Temple of Bariden- Dedicated to the War god Bariden, and seat of the Council of Saints. The temple is the largest Temple dedicated to Bariden, and is home to many of the Order of Bariden's warrior monks.

Garlys is also home to many guilds and temples, dedicated to a variety of causes. it is also home to much trade, and many bazaars and marketplaces.

 

[rengadeirishman]

History of Garlyn.

Garlyn was founded at the beginning of the age of wonders, by Garlys, a mage of power so vast he is considered a demigod. Garlys led a multitude of humans from Korin just prior to its loss. Haunted by the destruction and utter waste that he had been party to during the wars in Korin, he made a pact with the Elder gods. With the aid of Runak, god of magic, he bound all magic into the runes, in an event known as the Binding, in order to keep the wild tides of magic from being unleashed in the same way again. he then founded the city of Korinaya, and ser up about carving a kingdom for his people. During this time the Temple of Beriden was built, along with Korinay castle and Stormgarde- a fortress so huge that it is its own city. During his life, he also crafted three magical items of incredible power and import. Scathach, commonly known as the Sword of Talar, Fugin, better known as the Staff of Dor, and Mughnin, better known as the Ravensspear.

After many years, Garlys died, leaving the throne unoccupied. Garlys had three sons, though only two were born by his death. Garlys had left no rules for succession and the people were split. The Rune knights supported Talar, the eldest son, who was their founder. The army likewise supported him as he was a warrior. The mages and scholars supported Dor, the younger, for he was a mage. the people were split roughly in half. War was brewing. But Talar, who was two hundred years older then Dor, doted on his younger and weaker brother and declared that his place was on the battlefield, not on the throne, and deferred the crown to Dor, saying he preferred the harsh cold and rough beauty of his fortress Stormgarde to the opulence and glamour of warm Korinaya. Dor was reluctant, believing himself to be unworthy when compared to his father and older brother, but upon Talar's insistence and oaths of support agreed. His first act was to grant his brother the title Duke of Stormgarde, and almost the entirety of the northern reaches for his own, as well as the position of Lord Protector and status of Marchwarden. He then changed the name of the capital to Garlys, in honour of his father.

Soon after, the youngest son of Garlys was born, and his mother named him Corvus, meaning son of death, before she died. Talar adopted his baby brother and raised him, teaching him the arts of war. Garlys, who was gifted of foresight, had crafted the spear Mughnin for Corvus, knowing what his youngest son would do, and on his deathbed had instructed Talar to see that his brother recieved it. When Corvus was a lad of 12, he succeeded in making a pact with the Elder Ravens, offering them food and a home forever if they would consent to bear riders upon them. Jhad, King of the Ravens, agreed, and the mighty bird became the mount of the young prince, and the Elder Ravens joined forces with human Knights creating the Raven-knights. Impressed by his young brother, Talar told Dor to grant him a county upon his coming of age. Dor agreed, and when Corvus came of age Talar gifted him with Mughnin and suit of jet-black armour, and Dor granted him control of Ravenshold, and the title of count. Ravenshold became the Aviary of the Elder Ravens, and the home of Corvus, eventually developing into the third most important city of Garlyn.

Since that time it has remained the same. House Dorus, House Talarus, and House Corvus are the most important familys in Garlyn. The all the have the same rules of succession, that the eldest child, whether Male or Female takes the title, the heirloom, and the same job as their predecessor. The Ruler of garlyn is always a mage, the ruler of Ravenshold, always a raven knight, and the ruler of Stormgarde always a Rune-knight. The houses intermarry often, to keep their blood close, but not so often as to risk inbreeding. Through the whole history of garlyn, they have fought only a handful of times, and only when bad luck had befallen the succession, and always each house forgives the others, for the sake of Garlyn, and for the memory of Korin.

The current King of Garlyn is Soren Dorus, residing at Korinay Castle in Garlys

the current Duke of Stormgarde is Alleron Talarus, residing at Frostcap Keep in Stormgarde.

the current Countess of Ravenshold is Lillian Corvus, residing at Ravenspire in Ravenshold.

 

[rengadeirishman]

as for races, we have all your favorite flavors, there are elves running around, as well as dwarves, ogres, orcs, trolls, halflings, gnomes, Minotaur, Lupines etc. etc. In garlyn there is no "evil" race, Strolling through the bazaar in garlys one is likely to see every race on the continent represented, even some from Jorin and Rinya. You'd see an ogre and a dwarf haggling over a wellmade axe or perhaps a troll and a halfling discussing sports scores over a pint at the pub.

the point is, its a really big world, bigger then ours even, and think of it as such. Although Garlyn is ruled by humans, other countries are not, and many of the nobility of Garlyn, outside the three great houses, are not human. for instance the Marquis of Illiden is a High Elf, while the Baron of Durnhall is an Orc.

on orcs, think world of warcraft or elder scrolls.
and about humans, humans in Rennith are not exactly the same as we are. They tend to be a bit bigger and stronger, but that varies ethnically. Tirisian humans are not as big and fair as Korinite humans. but there are very few korinite humans, as korin was destroyed millenia ago. The purest blood example of Korinite humans would be House Talarus, House Dorus, and House Corvus, being descended directly from 3 pure korinites and for some time breeding only with others of high korinite blood. most people are of mixed blood, due to the relatively small amount of Korinites who came to Tiris and their losses in the wars to carve Garlyn into the map. Even the great houses are not pure, and have lost some of the lifespan and power that they're ancestors had.

anyway rennith humans live longer and are stronger and tougher then we are.