Kislev

• Capital: Herod
• Climate/Terrain Type: Temperate; Temperate grasslands with scattered forests; Scarred terrain
• Population: 135,000
• Military:  Roughly 40% of Kislev's adult population is in the military
• Government: Monarchy
  • Ruler: Lord Maximilian Levis
• Religions: No state religion
• Imports: Arms
• Exports: Livestock, wheat
• Alignment: LG, NG, CG
• Crime: 1
  • See Crime in Therra
• Medium of Exchange: Maddock's Gate Sanctioned Coin, however much of the trade is done by a barter system

Map of the Realm 

Geography

              Kislev is a land that once knew glory thousands of years ago. However, due to the tragedy of three great wars as well as continued conflict, Kislev (including its geography) has been left in ruins. Kislev has mainy fields and hills that were once utilized for farming. However, the devastation of war has left much of the land burnt leaving marginal room for farmland and grazing. The forests that once dominated the area are mostly cut down or incinerated as both the orc and human war machines tried to utilize the lumber and to cut off the enemy's. Fields of tallgrass have been trampled by the march of soldiers and have been spotted by the carnage of battle. Erosion has affected much of the original landscape and the country is spotted with ruins of forts, towns, and cities. A small mountain range has even seen intense modification due to the siege weapons utilized heavily by the orcs during the 2nd Great War.

Life and Society

             Life in Kislev is plagued by the specter of war. The history of Kislev has been nothing but war, as is the case in present Therra. Kislev more than ever fears the prospect of being vanquished altogether. The population is just a fragment of the past and a majority of the major cities and castles have been destroyed. 88% of the population resides in or around Herod, which is a few hundred miles from the Great Orc Wall. The 12% that lives far from Herod has an even harder time. Most of these remaining individuals reside in small manorial villages with, at best, a medium sized keep. The orc invasion poses a constant threat to everyone who lives in Kislev. Society and life are based around war. People either are training, fighting, or providing resources for those that are. While farming and herding remain the largest industries in Kislev, there is a substantial sector devoted to war armements and armor. Although Kislev is on it's last breath, the new prosperity of bordering nations has helped create a rejuvenating economy for Kislev, creating a large cash reservoir for final stands. Rarely does one sleep in Kislev with the comfort of fearlessness.

             There are many ruins across Kislev, which are now the homes of scattered rogues and families too poor to live in Herod. These families reside in destroyed houses, keeps, etc. When Kislev's army is on the move, they often pass these poor souls and are reminded of the devestation that the orcs bestowed upon their homeland. All of the ruins have either been sacked by the orcs or looted by Kislevian stragglers striving to stay alive.

The Arts

          The arts in Kislev are limited for obvious reasons. The rare bits of art and music are all based around war. Lord Levis has commissioned several statues of war heroes and grand murals of battles of the three great wars. The purpose is strictly to help the morale of the nation. Music is rarely commissioned but the few bards in the nation focus almost entirely on the wars in past and present Kislev.

Important Sites

         Herod, the City of Solace: The only true remaining city of Kislev

         Atrum Cavus, Crucible of Worlds: The long piece of land stretching from the Great Orc Wall to 50 miles into Kislev. This area was the most heavily affected by the three great wars that not a single village exists anymore. Most of the large battles take place in this stretch, with much of the fighting outside limited to small skirmishes.

         Great Orc Wall: A great wooden / stone wall of shoddy design stretching 200 miles across southern Kislev. Behind this wall remain the many large war camps of the invading Badland orcs. Although the wall is not of high quality, it has proven absolutely essential for the orcs to repel any attempts to vanquish their Therran mainland forces.

Example Characters

         Dirk Parim, Captain of a cavalry unit: Dirk's existence is entirely based around the survival of his nation, particularly his military division. Dirk maintains a group of 100 trained soldiers part of the Kislevian Cavalry. Dirk trains his soldiers 2 days a week and brings them out on duty for 4 days a week, leaving just 1 for the soldiers to be with their families (although often the division is out for longer periods of time). Dirk has seen the loss of thousands of lives and has seen a hundred battles. His life is plagued by both the sadness of his old friends' lost lives as well as the passion to protect the new life in Kislev.

L4 Fighter, L2 Knight

         Lord Trey Ignatius, minister of foreign affairs: Trey is in charge of one thing: foreign military aid. Trey is now 64 years of age and has seen both years of battle and years of political drama. He has mastered the art of gaining foreign allies and is an essential part in preserving Kislev's own soldiers. Through Trey, the neighboring nation of Occidal has lent some units of warmages, and Three Rivers has a full time infantry regiment stationed in Kislev. Trey is also the personal advisor of Lord Levis.

L4 Fighter, L5 Noble