GURPS - 4th Edition - Banestorm

tribe’s economy, by hinting for gifts The early denizens of this region origins meant that it quickly evolved
from one person and then giving the came from several different nations, into something rather stranger.
same things out to someone else with and relationships between the first
a greater need for them. Most also communities were very difficult, with Modern Sahudese government
take a lot of advice from elders and serious problems of languages and could politely be described as a clan-
shamans; how good that advice may customs. Hence, a great many com- based oligarchy headed by a “masked”
be is another matter. plex and arbitrary protocols developed monarchy. Less politely, it is a jerry-
to ease relations. These people had built mess with a surfeit of rituals. But
SAHUD brought a number of – mostly eastern it works; the respect which the
Asian – social ideas with them, but few “Heavenking” commands, as a sacred
Denizens of the rest of Ytarria leaders or bureaucrats arrived or sur- and stable element amongst all the
know that Sahud is confusing, in its vived the initial confusion, so the early clan conflicts, enables the court to
government above all else. This is true Sahudese had to hammer out an idea exert as much steadying control as the
for outsiders, but the Sahudese them- of government from garbled memo- society needs. Both the palace and
selves manage well enough. Their gov- ries and partial understanding. They some stronger clans employ quasi-
ernment is subtle and intricate, full of didn’t really start trying for some Confucian systems of bureaucracy to
secrets and plots, and Sahudese politi- years, having other things on their administer their possessions, with
cians themselves tread very carefully, minds. Eventually, a sort of captive limited success; basic Confucian
but it is not actually incomprehensible. monarchy developed, but its peculiar ideals – somewhat-meritocratic gov-
ernment and respect for tradition –
Towns and cities in Ytarria serve as TOWNS help moderate the intermittent chaos.
centers for trade and handicraft
industries. Indeed, a town is almost A townsman is free to move about, learned a painful lesson for not paying
defined by its market; if it doesn’t get change jobs, and even set up a busi- a noble due respect on the street. Still,
customers, the town will collapse. The ness (subject to guild rules; see p. 50). any noble who gets a bad reputation
wealth flowing through such places However, he is still considered inferior in town may find his income mysteri-
makes them a source of tax revenue by any noble, and many a freeman has ously falling and his expenses rising.
for senior nobles. Although feudal
towns are smaller and rarer than City Guards
industrial-age towns, they keep the
land from slipping back into rural In any substantial town or city, there are likely to be two or more
poverty. armed forces. Nobles and monarchs – especially those who claim
authority over the place – keep at least a small personal guard, who they
Hence, kings and nobles encourage may use to enforce the law (probably selectively). Less glamorous are the
towns to grow in their territory, and “city guards” and the “town watch.”
even try to build them from scratch.
This is hard; a town needs reliable In small towns, these may be part-timers, working instead of paying
food and water (it takes several peas- taxes, with a mercenary sergeant or two to provide basic training and
ants to feed one townsman), loyal citi- look after the guardhouse. In other cases, they are standing bodies of
zens, secure walls, and lots of passing mercenaries, employed by the city council, governor, crown-appointed
trade. But it can be done. judge, or Muslim cadi. They have a divided duty: guarding the walls and
gates, and providing law enforcement as a city watch.
Townsfolk generally regard the feu-
dal system, with its obsessions with These are the folks who break up tavern brawls, chase thieves, inves-
land and farming, with disdain. To tigate murders (as best they can), toss drunks in the pond to sober up,
mitigate this, rulers grant towns great and provide what little order a medieval-style town expects. They may
freedoms. These are usually expressed also handle some fire-fighting. Their loyalty and efficiency depend on
in a charter, which sets out the loca- how well they’re paid, the risks of the job, and how they were chosen.
tion of the town, its privileges, its Few are highly competent (those who are get better jobs), and their
taxes, and how its market should be equipment tends to be light: chainmail armor at best, and more likely
run. All the citizens of the town are leather, with light hand weapons only. (They have to walk around with
freemen under the lord or monarch, their gear for hours at a time, and the city usually has to pay for it.)
but most are loyal to the town first. By Mages have better things to do with their skills, but some towns have a
tradition, anyone who lives for a year junior wizard working part-time on the watch, or will pay a profession-
and a day in a town becomes a free cit- al with information spells to help with difficult crimes.
izen, and townsmen defend this rule
fiercely. Thus, many peasants dream While clever criminals can evade the guard for years, PCs of dishon-
of running away and becoming towns- est bent shouldn’t push their luck. In particular, killing a watchman can
men, despite the crowds, disease, and make his brothers-in-arms dangerously annoyed.
unemployment.

LIFE IN YTARRIA 49

TOWN down, the guild pays for the rebuild- they are usually limited to single
GOVERNMENT ing. When guild members become towns or neighborhoods. The two
injured or ill, the guild hires healers. types of guild often do not get along;
Towns have various forms of Some wealthy guilds even build hospi- merchants prefer to buy low, crafts-
administration, but most are essen- tals, churches, and schools, or provide men want to sell high.
tially run by councils of wealthy citi- dowries for poor members’ daughters.
zens. These may even be elected, in A guild can only exist when it has
which case the voters will likely be Finally, a guild represents its mem- at least a half-dozen members, and
limited to rich property-owners and bers to the government. It seeks will not be powerful unless it has
the heads of guilds. The voting is often exemption from tolls and tariffs, pro- dozens. Thus, small towns have few
fixed, but it can give the people some tection along dangerous trade routes, guilds, while the great cities of
say. Mayors are selected by the coun- and reduced taxes. For leverage, it Megalos have scores. This doesn’t
cil, and have to keep them happy, in relies on its monopoly. A baron trying mean that craftsmen in small towns
contrast to governors, who are to fight a war without armorers soon are always guildless, but where a town
appointed by the lord. Some councils realizes the wisdom in granting the might have a single Clothmen’s Guild,
are simply advisors, appointed by a guild’s demands! a metropolis has separate guilds for
governor.
Guild Organization
GUILDS
Guilds have three ranks; apprentice, journeyman, and master. At the
A guild is a society of people in the bottom are apprentices, who cook, sweep, and run errands, while learn-
same craft or trade, typically based in ing their trade from a master. But they are there to learn, and guilds dis-
a specific town. It usually secures a cipline masters who use their apprentices as mere slave labor.
monopoly and limits the craft or trade Apprentices receive room, board and a meager stipend. When they have
to insiders. The guild also protects completed their studies and can demonstrate adequate skill, they
trade secrets, and sponsors the devel- become journeymen.
opment of new knowledge. The for-
mation of guilds is usually governed Journeymen are competent artisans who may work for any willing
by the town’s laws. Guilds in the same master, often traveling from town to town in search of employment.
trade in neighboring towns may rec- Many spend their entire lives at this level, earning an adequate living.
ognize each other’s rules and qualifi- However, a journeyman who feels ready and, more significantly, who can
cations, although there is sometimes afford his own shop, may apply to become a master.
aggressive rivalry. Guilds are financed
by dues, a small fraction of members’ Masters are free tradesmen; they are supposed to demonstrate signif-
incomes. A wealthy guild has a guild- icant skill, perhaps by creating a “masterpiece,” though standards vary.
house where the masters keep records The masters run the guild, usually electing a council to handle routine
and enjoy great dinners; smaller details. The head of the council (who often has skill in both the craft and
guilds meet in inns or taverns, or even Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, and Politics) is an important figure in the town,
at a guild-master’s home. and often automatically appointed to its council. Guilds are thus a route
into politics.
A guild performs several functions.
It regulates the price and quality of A few guilds are more than just economic organizations; they are fra-
goods or services, to ensure that its ternal orders with rites of initiation, religious doctrines and secret agen-
monopoly is not abusive to the point das. Many have a patron saint (p. 60), in whose name they conduct pri-
that the town demands its revocation. vate ceremonies. Some worship pagan gods in secret. Solemn rites and
A guild “hallmark” on a product guar- frightening oaths accompany events such as joining the guild, being pro-
antees that it meets standards. The moted to journeyman or master, and the disciplining of errant members,
guild discourages its members from impressing the need for secrecy. Some of these rituals are actually spells,
competing through bulk discounts or which members learn as they advance.
price-cutting, but encourages them to
outdo each other in quality. The prod- Types of Guilds Spinners, Weavers, Tailors, Dyers, and
ucts of a guild’s master craftsmen are Embroiderers. Guilds are most power-
reliable, but often costly. The two major types of guilds are ful in the free cities of Megalos and
those for merchants and those for Cardiel, and weakest in al-Haz and
A guild also provides for its mem- craftsmen. Merchant guilds (which Caithness.
bers’ well-being. Guilds regulate are more common in Ytarria than in
apprenticeships (most go to members’ the European Middle Ages) are for While guilds are mostly back-
children), and make sure the trade is those who buy and sell for a living, ground color for urban adventures,
properly taught. Guild members are and may control trade throughout they can be central to plots. Guilds can
also provided with insurance; when large cities, regions, or even countries. hire PCs to protect members from
they die, the guild takes care of their The members of craft guilds make attack by competitors (in the form of
families. When shops or homes burn goods or provide specific services; direct assaults or arson against

50 LIFE IN YTARRIA

shops), or to enforce a monopoly, that many employers won’t take non- are as organized as any other profes-
while those guilds with secret wisdom guildsmen. sion, as with the Brothers of Mercury
may need to protect it, or to acquire (p. 101) in Yibyorak. They don’t usu-
more of it. Mages’ Guilds ally bother with formal apprentice-
ships and masterpieces, but they pro-
GUILDS UNIQUE Like mercenaries and criminals, tect their monopoly as jealously as,
TO YRTH mages often hire out their services for and more violently than, any legal
cash, and may need an organizational guild. This monopoly may be limited
The Armsmen’s Guild structure. Hence, some cities and to straightforward theft, or it may
towns have “Mages’ Guilds” alongside encompass illegal gambling, slavery,
In the chaos of humanity’s first all the others. This is a generic term smuggling, blackmail, prostitution,
centuries on Yrth, the profession of for a wide variety of organizations. and protection rackets.
arms became important in ways Mages tend to be contentious; in any
beyond the ideals of feudalism. Faced but the smallest town, if someone says The guild may help its members,
with unknown neighbors, supernatu- “Mages’ Guild,” ask “Which one?” In protecting them from authorities and
ral monsters, and unstable political many areas there are very old rivalries, paying off corrupt guards. It may be
organizations, human society needed and sometimes open battles. However, run by a criminal family, an especially
professional warriors who were will- cooperation between guilds does hap- tough thug, or an ambitious boss.
ing to work for coin and were not tied pen. It can be necessary for enchanti- Visiting freelancers tread carefully on
to the land like knights. ng great magic items, though items guild territory, although many guilds
which require the skills of several will “license” independent jobs, and
Thus, mercenaries became wide- guilds are extremely rare, and come even provide advice and support – for
spread and respectable. Back on only at great cost. Mages’ Guilds are a fee, obviously. The most formal guild
Earth, such people were often a men- extremely jealous of their secrets. is in Tredroy, where there are appren-
ace, engaging in extortion and bandit- tice, journeyman, and master thieves,
ry when otherwise unemployed. With Other mages form colleges, cults, and the guild promotes a romantic
no place in a feudal system, they easi- secret societies (p. 52), or private image based on its activities during
ly turned into outlaws. Ytarrian clubs, any of which can perform the the Crusades, 500 years ago. Players
humanity had a better role for them functions of a guild, and mages may considering playing thieves, affiliated
and, as these fighters provided servic- be members of several such groups. or not, may wish to consult the Urban
es for hire and were often based in Many towns have two or more groups Rogue template (p. 216).
towns, it was natural for them to form setting fees for commercial spellcast-
guilds. Because “armsmen” are neces- ing, and in this, the free market rules – In other cities, someone reputed to
sarily often wanderers, the Armsmen’s and the buyer should beware. be “the guild master” or “sheikh of
Guild is seen as a single body covering thieves” is not usually the most skillful
a very wide area, albeit loosely organ- Alchemists’ Guilds criminal, but may be the best connect-
ized. Most members are considered ed, receiving respect and exerting
journeymen; apprentices are raw Alchemists’ guilds fulfill all the influence. Someone who has had a
recruits in larger companies, while the functions of typical guilds, but in this valued or important item stolen, and
few masters are respected, grizzled case they also exist to protect the buy- can find this master, has a chance of
soldiers, elected by the others. ers . . . and the neighborhood. getting it back, in exchange for a favor
Unskilled or sloppy alchemists can or “finder’s fee.” Streetwise skill is
This guild accepts most of those easily poison their clients. Experi- required to locate such a figure, if he
who fight for a living; guardsmen, mental or insane ones cause explo- (or she – a surprising number are
mercenaries, tavern bouncers, bounty sions. Such incidents bring the profes- female) exists at all. A failed roll can
hunters, and battle-mages. As a rule, sion a bad reputation, to say the least. mean serious trouble.
soldiers in service to a monarch or Thus, alchemists’ guilds crack down
lord do not join, and only the poorest very hard on anyone practicing their Even more shadowy are the
knight would need to. Towns large art without permission. Only the most rumored Assassins’ Guilds (not to be
enough to support a guild-house often isolated hermit-alchemists are free confused with the Hashishin, p. 72).
pay it a retainer to provide a fire from a guild’s firm hand. The existence of one in Tredroy is
brigade, made up of underemployed fairly well-attested; that old, deca-
armsmen who need beer money. Its Criminal “Guilds” dent, divided city supports such
members may receive “bonuses” from evils. Its members are also said to
citizens who want their street watched The guild system is a linchpin of dabble in extortion, blackmail, and
more attentively. Ytarrian society, providing ground espionage, and to be led by the
rules for commerce and giving towns- fabled “Silent Master.” The nobility
The Armsmen’s Guild is where folk a sense of where they stand. of Megalos certainly commission
you go to hire a fighter – or if you are Hence, most humans see it as the nat- enough murders to keep a similar
a fighter looking for work. It’s also a ural way to run things. This assump- guild busy, but most say that the exis-
good place to find a teacher of com- tion has even been applied to crime. tence of a Megalan Assassin’s Guild
bat skills. Mercenaries who don’t join is just a rumor. Others say that their
should be careful in dark alleys, Everyone has heard about the victims know better. For more on
though their main problem will be Thieves’ Guilds, although many assassin characters, see p. 202.
doubt they exist. They do, although
often they are simply gangs with
pretensions. In a few cities, thieves

LIFE IN YTARRIA 51

SECRET SOCIETIES
AND CONSPIRACIES

Every human society has some Some lands draft them into govern- stable positions on the top of the heap
secret societies, illicit conspiracies, ment service, or offer them rewards might be seriously threatened by
revolutionaries, and private clubs. and prestige for serving the Crown or “super-weapons,” wizards just seem to
Yrth has more than its share. nobility; others, less formally, tax take the very idea of peasants able to
them lightly and grant them respect in hurl fiery destruction as a personal
When thousands of humans and exchange for reasonable behavior and insult.
nonhumans were dropped into an occasional assistance. While this is
incomprehensible new situation, con- not enough for some megalomaniacs, This de facto policy developed in
fronted with magical powers, and most wizards realize, sooner or later, the 15th century, as rulers and wiz-
then united under a series of megalo- that they don’t even want to rule the ards with access to reports from
maniac conquerors and wild-eyed ide- world that much. Magical power is Banestorm victims learned of devel-
alists, it was inevitable that some more intellectually satisfying. How- opments on Earth. The wizards often
groups would rebel against the new ever, this wisdom may come later led the way, with several instances of
way of things and go underground. rather than sooner. Some meddling unofficial, illegal attacks on experi-
Some of these secret groups have sur- spellcasters style themselves protec- mental weapon-makers. The policy
vived since the first days of the tors of the trade, arguing they are sac- became official, at least in Megalos, a
Banestorm, while others have fallen or rificing their own scholarly pursuits so century later, following the mass
risen over time. Meanwhile, new influ- others can continue to pursue theirs. arrivals in Araterre, when shrewd
ences and ideas have flowed through battle-wizards pointed out that the
the Banestorm, to confront the older
cliques and entrenched interests – and Fireballs vs. Gunpowder
in the background, the paranoid non-
human conspiracy which created the One thing that enables wizards to suppress gunpowder so effectively
Banestorm still exists. is that magic can be so effective against it. Admittedly, a well-organized
force with 20th-century firearms, who understood a little about magic,
WIZARDLY could probably slaughter opposing wizards and swordsmen quite bru-
CONSPIRACIES tally – but that isn’t what experimenters on Yrth can deploy. Meanwhile,
some wizards have developed basic magical anti-firearm tactics, and
Wizards sometimes seem like natu- make a policy of circulating the information widely in wizardly circles.
ral conspirators. Marked out by exotic Ironically, this means that wizards tend to know more about gunpowder
studies and interests, convinced of than most people on Yrth. While rumors circulate among the masses,
their own superiority thanks to their the powers-that-be prefer to keep even its existence as secret as possible.
paranormal powers, and often blessed
with the ability to communicate In brief, wizards have some idea how to identify gunpowder, and
secretly by magic, they form secret know a good deal about its characteristics – especially that it works very
societies almost by reflex. Then, when badly when damp, explodes very satisfyingly when set on fire, and
they gain power, they inevitably fall requires some skill and care to use safely. Hence, wizards enforcing the
out, disintegrating into factions which ban may use wide-area water, fire, or mental confusion spells. They also
ally with more mundane groups as know that Reverse Missiles is very effective against firearms. While these
they jockey for dominance. tactics are sometimes used with more enthusiasm than judgment, and
more than one fireball-loving wizard has been blown up along with his
Actually, many wizards – perhaps target, they usually work fine. As a result, underground technologists
the majority – are either happy to sit tend to be very wary of using firearms openly; they’re more likely to use
quietly in their laboratories and tow- it for sabotage or in traps.
ers pursuing abstract interests, or are
moral, reasonable people who don’t The Technology Ban superior technology these people
believe that being able to throw fire- were reported to wield could be a
balls entitles them to boss the rest of One place where wizardly conspir- threat to the Empire.
the world around. However, the plot- acies align with the quiet backstage
ters and conspirators do tend to be operations of secular power is the Enforcement is handled by
noticed. informal international agreement to alliances of government servants and
prohibit gunpowder (see p. 30). While wizards, in proportions varying from
The main reason that wizardly nobles suspect that their relatively land to land. In Megalos and al-Haz,
conspiracies are rare is that most of
the nations of Yrth have subsumed
wizards in their power structures.

52 LIFE IN YTARRIA

for example, the state mostly deals Diabolical Cults
with such things, suppressing “rebels”
with enthusiasm, and seeking out, Most humans on Yrth believe in the existence of very literal, physical
interrogating, and magically manipu- demons and devils; some, especially wizards, have seen concrete evi-
lating Banestorm victims with an effi- dence and survived. Mostly, people rationally decide that they want as lit-
ciency which worries wiser freelance tle to do with such things as possible; the threat of eternal damnation
wizards (who guess that information may not keep everyone on the straight and narrow, but the balance of
is being controlled but not destroyed). risks appears such that most folk will not actually, willingly commit
In Caithness, by contrast, the ruling themselves to Evil with a capital “E.”
classes have a more casual attitude
and other things on their minds, and But there are always exceptions. Some people are natural rebels, led
enforcement is largely left to local wiz- into excess by their own perversity, while others think that they have
ards, who may do anything from nothing to lose. Attempts by priests to warn of the dangers of evil may
attacking “technologists” with fireball have the reverse of the intended effect, making some listeners interested
and lightning bolt, to inviting them to in the diabolical gifts which the preachers say are so tempting. And, of
their towers for lunch, a philosophical course, some people have grudges against the church, or against religion
chat, and a job offer, while politely in general, and feel that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” A perse-
hinting at the dangers of refusal. cuted mystery cult can go from innocent paganism to genuine
Many Caithnesser wizards employ demonism simply in self-defense.
agents to keep an eye open for under-
ground technologists. Hence, Yrth has a smattering of demon-worshippers and other
groups who dedicate themselves to supernatural evil. Some are foolish
PAGAN CULTS (if dangerous) dabblers, with no actual contact with genuine supernatu-
ral beings. A few, unfortunately, are contacted or led by supernatural
Paganism (see p. 76) survives on beings of real power and malevolence. One or two are in touch with
Yrth as a minority faith. It is the dom- things that seem to frighten even demons.
inant religion of the Nomad Lands,
but is subject to persecution in most with beliefs which are only revealed in member of one of these groups would
nations. In a few regions, whole vil- detail to new members after complex have a dangerous Secret, and perhaps
lages are overtly pagan, but this is initiations. These often include terrify- Enemies in the church or rival cults,
dangerous; they can too easily become ing vows, subtle psychological condi- but also a Claim to Hospitality from
the targets for a localized crusade. If tioning, or magical procedures to fellow members.
they are converted at swordpoint, they enforce loyalty. It’s a very brave,
can at least preserve their old faith in strong-willed renegade who talks. It is sometimes possible for ene-
secret; too often, though, they aren’t mies to infiltrate such groups by learn-
given the option. Hence, throughout Mystery cults have a wide range of ing these secrets, but that can be a
much of Yrth, paganism of one sort motivations. Some are religious above dangerous project.
or another is the business of secret all, preserving pagan ideas or radical
societies. heresies; some are political revolution- BARDIC
aries, using mystical imagery and COLLEGES
These range from small groups of techniques to preserve secrecy. A few
surly, secretly rebellious peasants con- exist to preserve secular magical tech- A combination of ancient Celtic
ducting unorthodox ceremonies in niques, such as little-known spells, religious traditions, the medieval
rural districts, to intellectual which may actually give their mem- regard for minstrels, ideas from Sufi
eccentrics in urban universities. bers an economic, social, or combat Islam (p. 70), and a style of magic
Despite the propaganda directed advantage. Some are actually harm- based on music and song, has pro-
against them, very few conduct less social clubs with a childish fond- duced Yrth’s “Colleges of Bards.”
human sacrifices or other dark rites; ness for strangeness (which may land
even if their beliefs encourage such them in deep trouble with suspicious This is a very loose network of
things, the risks would simply be too outsiders). And a very few are venues groups which espouse music-based
great . . . most of the time. for illegal hobbies or peculiar sexual mysticism and magic. Most function
activities, whether harmless or as schools and social clubs, bringing
MYSTERY CULTS viciously depraved. members and students together to
exchange ideas and socialize. Bards
Related to paganism, and often Most mystery cults are small and tend to be mutually loyal and very pro-
more or less pagan themselves, Yrth’s based in a single location, or a specif- tective of their “rights and privileges,”
mystery cults are distinguished by ic craft or profession in a specific area. so the Colleges are to some extent a
more specific objectives and much Preserving secrecy is hard otherwise. trade guild and mutual protection
more deliberately obscure philoso- However, a few have created networks society. However, their relationships
phies. While most straightforward across larger areas, with secret signs with more mundane guilds of min-
pagans are secretive by necessity, and passwords permitting members strels or entertainers vary widely.
these cults are secretive by choice, to find friends when they travel. A

LIFE IN YTARRIA 53

Colleges range in size and formali- Personally, bards tend to be flam- their character template for more
ty from a permanently established boyant and unpredictable. They can information (p. 203).
school on the northern edge of the seem amoral, self-indulgent, or shal-
Great Forest in Caithness, through low, but the most serious among them THE
secret societies in Megalos, to circles are intent on their pursuit of mystical UNDERGROUND
of one master and two or three stu- truth. At their worst, they see them- ENGINEERS
dents in the cities of Cardiel and selves as above “mundane concerns,”
Araterre. Bards see the skalds of the while demanding to be respected. At Not every new immigrant to Yrth
Nomad Lands (p. 171) as colleagues, best, they are superb entertainers gets caught by the authorities, and
while skalds see Bards as almost wor- with unique magic and a deep love of some survive long enough to realize
thy of respect, for southerners, despite freedom. the danger they’re in, and acquire the
their foppish manners and use of skills necessary to disguise their ori-
magic. Bards are largely unknown and Bards do not qualify for Legal gins. Most who succeed at this go on
sometimes distrusted in Muslim Immunity (Bardic Immunity), except to lead boring low-tech lives, but a few
lands, although the colleges do have in the domains of wildly romantic decide to try and change things. Some
some friends among the Sufi schools. Caithnessian barons; many a cocksure
bard has been thrown out of a great of them have the skills to do so,
Many of the colleges will teach any- which they secretly teach to
one who comes to them with a sincere house – or worse – for offending the locals. Even with magic, the
wish to learn, but they favor stu- lord. Some other bards will aid in church hierarchy, and major
dents with limited Magery (usually seeking revenge for such slights; most governments all working
“Musical” or “Song,” sometimes will consider the victim a fool. against them, some ideas sur-
“Dance”), and are very adept at However, there are quite a few roman- vive.
locating and recruiting such. Many tics in Caithness, so a limited, 5-point Meanwhile, the general sup-
have other magical advantages as version of this advantage might be pression of, not just gunpow-
well. Primarily, however, the available to bards in campaigns based der, but advanced technology
Colleges are Yrth’s chief teachers of there. A bard visiting the Nomad generally, has inevitably pro-
Enthrallment and Musical Lands does not automatically acquire duced a reaction. In places, it’s
Influence skills, which are their Skaldic Immunity (p. 171), although been enforced so heavy-hand-
hallmark and perhaps their monop- one displaying enough skill, in accor- edly that ordinary craftsmen
oly (if only because anyone using dance with local poetic styles, might with a talent for clever but sim-
them can be considered a bard). be able to claim it, or at least a positive ple contraptions feel harassed
Reputation as “almost a skald” (pur- and oppressed. There are also a
The Colleges also provide chased with experience points). See few bright locals who’ve heard
Patrons or Contacts, and most vague rumors of the wonders of
bards have a Sense of Duty to the Earth; many of these individu-
network (or at least their own col- als – engineers, craftsmen, sol-
lege). Many have disadvantages diers, doctors, minor lords –
such as Compulsive Carousing, have heard enough about
Disciplines of Faith (Mysticism), secrets locked away in the great
Phobia (Claustrophobia or palaces and wizards’ guilds to
Demophobia), or Vows such as become angry that they are
“Never sleep in the same place for being deprived of so much that
more than a week,” but none of
these are mandatory except in some could make their lives easier or
specific colleges. Quirks such as more interesting.
“Considers himself a citizen of the
world” are common. Thus, Yrth has a “technological
underground” – a secret brotherhood
Bards are not, in fact, united by of students of advanced ideas, which
religion, although a few of them have has, over the centuries and despite
a priestly function in pagan communi- considerable risks, become an interna-
ties. They are singer-mystics with a tional conspiracy. However, it’s not in
keen interest in the natural world, and any way centralized or hierarchical –
a belief that too many personal pos- which is one of the things that makes
sessions, or even remaining for too it so hard to destroy. A precious few
long in one place, “fetters the soul,” members have supporters in the craft
preventing proper mystical develop- guilds (though those tend to be
ment. They actually include members staunchly conservative), and even
of almost every religion on Yrth, communicate through guild channels.
despite their pantheistic attitude and In many areas, the movement is pri-
taste for mystical philosophy, though marily a circulating library for banned
some religious leaders denounce
them.

54 LIFE IN YTARRIA

texts; in others, it’s a rather unfocused leadership, exceptional professional- war. In the absence of high-tech mass
revolutionary brotherhood. See the ism, and plain luck. A little subtle communications, many useful agents
box on p. 30 for a discussion of typical magic can help, too. never seek out actual secrets at all;
underground engineer capabilities. they simply keep their eyes and ears
While Yrthian espionage remains open, collate publicly available infor-
While most underground engi- less sophisticated than that seen in the mation, and report it to spymasters
neers focus obsessively on technology high-tech conflicts of Earth, compe- with a talent for wading through
and to a lesser extent science, some tent observation of opponents’ mili- masses of disorganized facts.
become involved with other matters. tary activities can often be crucial in
Finding themselves in opposition to
the authorities, they naturally feel Protestantism
sympathy with other anti-establish-
ment groups, and some are entangled The mass of Banestorm victims arrived on Yrth long before the
in revolutionary politics (although Protestant Reformation on Earth. When a significant number of
many, being rather idealistic, find the Protestants did appear in Araterre and Cardiel in the 16th century, the
violence and compromise that such church and the secular powers suppressed this “menace” ruthlessly as
alliances entail deeply distasteful). soon as they learned of its pervasiveness. However, their victory was
Others again, aware that the estab- never absolute. Cardiel, a land which had been forced by circumstances
lished religions are involved in the to learn tolerance, refused to repress this sect among many, while else-
suppression of technology, see them- where, devout believers survived in hiding, or kept their faith secret.
selves as heretics and freethinkers. Furthermore, a few more fall through the Banestorm every decade.
Some, studying illegal texts which
have arrived from Earth, are aware Hence, Protestantism survives today as a leading underground belief-
that some radical theological ideas are system, and even operates publicly in a very few areas. The largest tradi-
also being suppressed, and suspect tion is that of the Huguenots, a French group which arrived through
that there is a direct link between Araterre, and “Protestant” and “Huguenot” are interchangeable terms
innovations in science, philosophy, for most people.
and theology, leading them to involve-
ment in movements such as Protestantism on Yrth is devout and uncomplicated, it being hard to
Protestantism (see box). Thus, the keep casual faith or a complex system of organization going in the face
reactionary nobility of Ytarria assert of sporadic but brutal repression. Beliefs that, on Earth, would be con-
that the underground engineers are sidered Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, or Quaker, all mingle freely, and
allied with dangerous political radi- few Protestants squabble about theology among themselves. While there
cals preaching democracy or commu- is also an “Episcopalian” strand, there is no generally recognized hierar-
nism, and sometimes that’s true. chy of Protestant bishops; indeed, most Protestant priests on Yrth would
be considered lay preachers on Earth, and many Protestant congrega-
For this group’s character tem- tions have no priest at all, as a matter of doctrine as well as necessity.
plate, see p. 215 Separately from Leadership positions are elected and unpaid. Church buildings are very
human engineers, some dwarves are austere, often little more than meeting houses.
also interested in technology (and
are more literally “underground”). See Protestantism still survives in Cardiel, although Protestant characters
p. 161. there might take Social Stigma (Second-Class Citizen). In Tredroy, whose
citizens seem to delight in outraging the rest of Yrth, Protestantism has
SPY RINGS both an administrative leader (the Secretary of the Protestant
Congregation) and some excellent general schools. The latter have such
Espionage is a popular tool among a high reputation that they attract some non-Protestant pupils.
the national conflicts and rivalries of
Yrth. Some spies are dedicated to a Ironically, the other land where Protestants are permitted to pursue
nation or religion; others are “free- their faith, albeit under constraints, is Muslim al-Wazif. Muslims con-
lancers,” selling their skills in the mar- sider Protestants to be fellow monotheist “People of the Book,” no more
ket. The latter have semi-formal or less misguided than other Christians. Indeed, they have some respect
organizations of their own, some of for the Protestant eschewal of images and icons, finding it preferable to
which are old and large enough to the mainstream Church’s “idolatry.” Some Muslim rulers are also
have traditions and hierarchies. pleased at the idea of division among their religious foes, and happily
provide quiet hospitality to those who annoy mainstream Christians.
That said, a typical Yrthian spy Hence, there are open Protestant congregations in some Wazifi cities,
ring is a small, paranoid group dedi- although all Christians have to step carefully in less cosmopolitan parts
cated to a specific short-term objec- of that nation. In theory, the same principles ought to apply in al-Haz,
tive, and certain to break up sooner or but the official Muslim tolerance of Christians is stretched thin there at
later. The rings which hold together the best of times, and the rulers, knowing that Huguenots are considered
for longest need some combination of outcasts by their fellow Christians, take this as an excuse to suppress
strong motivation (often serving, not them.
just a nation, but an associated faith
or ideology), skilled and charismatic

LIFE IN YTARRIA 55

CHAPTER THREE

RELIGION

“Rank heresy! Typical Cardien Comparative Theology
decadence!”
All devout people believe that their god exists. Monotheists mostly
The accusation echoed around the deny the existence of other gods; pagans tend to be more accommodat-
meeting hall in the chapter-house of ing. Further, some people have evidence of various gods’ reality, in the
Aliar cathedral. However, its apparent form of “divinely granted” abilities.
target, the Archbishop of Tredroy, mere-
ly blinked at the dangerous word. The monotheists reconcile this by stating that powers apparently
granted by those other gods actually come from demons or other lesser
“I do hope the good Brother Hugo is beings posing as gods. Thus, many Christians believe that any abilities
not still concerned about my deacons?” worshippers get from Odin, Ganesh, et al, are actually tricks of Satan.
he asked mildly. Extremely liberal followers of the Church might grant, for instance, that
“Hermes” is a moderately powerful and non-malevolent spirit, but
Across the table, Brother Hugo almost none are open to the idea of multiple gods.
scowled furiously. Being cranky and
inflammatory were the least of his tal- Regardless of their true nature, the gods of Yrth evidently only inter-
ents. He was a Hospitaller knight of the fere on the level of individuals. Their miracles are relatively small and
old school, whose opinions on both the personal, not world-shattering. If they compete directly, Ytarrians aren’t
moral legitimacy of magic and the aware of it. None seem to be more powerful than others; the Christian
validity of nonhuman conversions were God has a wider selection of followers to empower, but the abilities He
well known. The deacons in question grants do not on average appear greater than those given by Odin.
were a Jesuit-trained wizard and a hob-
goblin convert whose grasp of theology RELIGION
was generally reckoned to be less signif-
icant than his talents as a bodyguard.
However, the Curia’s doctrines on these
matters were clear.

“I make no comment on the good
father’s taste in household staff,” he
snarled. “I am referring to his uncon-
scionable support for the Friedrichite
necromancers.”

The Archbishop frowned slightly. “I
offer no such support,” he declared. “I
but observe that, given their success in
missionary work, it is only pragmatic to
permit them to establish themselves in
Tredroy. Especially as their rather
bizarre powers actually show no sign of
necromancy, or even of wizardry. In any
case, even if – if – we could persuade the
governor to drive them out, they would
simply cross the bridge and re-establish
themselves on the other side.”

“Hah! So they’re in league with the
Muslims, then! So much for mission-
ary work!”

“Say rather that the Emir is clever
enough to tolerate them for a while to
discommode us. They might annoy
him sooner or later, of course, and be
driven out or be martyred. But the Emir
is rather weak in his faith, and very
clever as a ruler . . .”

“Of course! He’s an infamous
necromancer!”

56

At the head of the table, Gareth, Different Yrthian races and life. Here the supernatural is undeni-
bishop of Aliar and host of this confer- regions subscribe to varying beliefs, ably real, and materialistic science
ence, sighed quietly. They were sup- and as the crusades attest, not every- has never caught on.
posed to be finding a way to stem the one approves of everyone else’s gods.
tide of Protestant broadsheets flowing However, almost every sapient being Whether or not an individual PC is
from the uncensored presses of Tredroy, in Ytarria respects the need for reli- in any degree devout, he should
but that subject had hardly been men- gion and its vital centrality to life, understand the beliefs that motivate
tioned for two days. He was seriously regardless of form. Some areas enjoy everyone around him. There’s no
contemplating permitting Count more religious freedom than need to study every faith practiced in
Faramon to learn that a banned medieval Europeans typically did. Ytarria, but familiarity with local
Hospitaller had somehow slipped into Many have also escaped the Megalan beliefs is essential. Laws against
the city. If the insufferable Hugo were Empire’s unilateral espousal of heresy or blasphemy are often stern,
forced to leave, Gareth and the Christianity, either by resisting and ignorance of those laws is no
Archbishop doubtless could solve this assimilation, defecting and establish- defense. Indeed, in some eyes it
problem with much less fuss, and then ing independence, or simply keeping makes the offense worse!
Gareth could invite the archbishop’s their real faith hidden. While secular
famous household company to perform rulers make sure the church’s politi- Anyone visiting regions dominat-
a masque . . . cal authority remains secondary to ed by some other religion will greatly
their own, faith drives much of the extend their life expectancy by get-
world’s politics and permeates daily ting the basics down. Spiritual belief
in Yrth is virtually instinctive; adven-
turers ignore this at their peril.

CHRISTIANITY

The most widespread faith on THE ONE for the world’s sins. After three days,
Yrth, Christianity is the state religion TRUE FAITH he rose from the grave and ascended
of Megalos, Caithness, and Cardiel, to Heaven. Jesus, God, and the Holy
though that last welcomes folk of all The Church has many faces: world- Ghost make up the Trinity, the Divine
faiths. Members of other races, par- ly and influential in Megalos, austere Being.
ticularly gnomes, goblins, halflings, and pious in Caithness, and unassum-
and kobolds, have also adopted this ing and domestic in Cardiel. However, But Jesus’ gift is not enough to
religion. it uniformly insists Christianity is the assure that one’s soul will go to God.
only true religion. The Curia sees no Since all people share in the original
HISTORY need for any name other than “The sin of Adam and Eve, all need to be
Church.” (In this book, it is sometimes saved, no matter how purely they live.
Initially, clergymen on Yrth main- referred to as the Ytarrian Church to Good works are beneficial but don’t
tained nominal allegiance to Earth’s distinguish it from the many versions satisfy salvation’s requirements. Thus
pope, but Christians in various of Christianity on Earth.) the central theme of the Ytarrian
regions, forced to deal with varying Church’s teaching is salvation through
social and political realities, soon Megalan faith teaches that human- the sacraments (p. 58); without them,
became too contentious to grant ity regained its chance for a happy there is no hope of heaven. Excom-
supreme spiritual authority to one afterlife when Jesus of Nazareth, the munication denies one access to these
person. The small kingdoms of the Son of God, died on the Cross to atone rituals, effectively damning the soul,
11th and 12th centuries frequently which is why any serious Christian of
fought wars over religious issues, and
it was impossible to say who was Beings With Souls
“faithful” and who was “heretical.”
The Church eventually decided many nonhuman races on Yrth have
Megalos ended most of the turmoil souls. Goblins, halflings, reptile men, and other comparable races are all
by forming the Empire: by 1400, vir- marked by original sin and can attain Heaven; as such, they can also
tually all Christians in Ytarria were become priests or clergy. However, doctrine also says certain kinds of
Imperial subjects. However, often-vio- intelligent beings do not have souls capable of salvation, including
lent doctrinal disputes continued. In demons, Sahudese spirits (considered a type of demon), medusas, trolls,
1403, Emperor Antonius II ordered and vampires. The Church regards lycanthropes as people whose souls
his knights to abduct the five most may be in serious jeopardy if their behavior is animalistic enough when
prominent clergymen under Megalan in the clutches of their disease. For other creatures (like dolphins), the
rule. They were forced to stay at the question has never been seriously discussed.
Cathedral of St. Paul in Mehan until
they resolved their differences.
Voluntary or not, this amounted to the
first Conclave of Archbishops, now
termed the Curia (p. 61).

RELIGION 57

Yrth will likely avoid this fate at all The Sacraments
costs. Christians may atone for sins
through penance while alive on Yrth The primary rituals of the Ytarrian Church, the Seven Sacraments are
or in Purgatory after dying. Such repa- baptism, confirmation, confession and penance, communion, matrimo-
rational duties are assigned by a priest ny, ordination, and last rites.
after hearing confession; they usually
involve good works, hard prayer, or Baptism, which removes the taint of original sin from a baby’s soul,
perhaps payments to a good cause. happens shortly after birth. Without baptism, a newborn who dies will
Upon passing the mortal veil, the at best go to Purgatory, at worst Hell. Confirmation usually happens at
faithful are rewarded in Heaven; non- age seven and makes children full members of the Church. After that,
believers, heretics, and the excommu- they are required to attend confession and allowed to celebrate com-
nicated suffer eternally in Hell. munion. A Christian should confess his sins to a priest at least once or
Heretics usually have been excommu- twice a year and perform the specified penances. During holy commun-
nicated, but they’re not the only ones ion, the worshipper consumes the body and blood of the Son of God in
who suffer this judgment. the form of bread and wine; this reconsecrates the soul to Jesus, essen-
tially renewing the soul’s relationship to the divine. To prepare souls for
The Church preaches the virtues of the afterlife and help ensure acceptance into Heaven, priests perform
prayer, charity, confession, forgive- last rites upon dying Christians just before or soon after physical death.
ness, and humility. Obedience to God’s To give the soul the best chance at Heaven, last rites include final con-
will, as revealed through His priests, is fession and absolution when possible.
required. The word of God, His laws,
and the story of Jesus’ life are all Just as knights are dubbed, priests are ordained. They conduct mass,
spelled out in the Bible. the primary gathering for prayer, regularly; most ordinary Christians
attend on Sundays. Services are conducted in Latin. Only priests can per-
The Curia has officially declared form sacraments, although those lacking Clerical Investment (p. B43)
magic to be a tool; in and of itself, it is occasionally baptize and marry people as well as giving them last rites,
neither good nor evil, though it can be particularly if a priest is not available.
used toward either end. Black magic
like necromancy is a grave sin. Openly Church can only make recommenda- yearly income or productivity; since
practiced battle magic is not. The doc- tions to secular authorities. In feudal societies often possess little
trine is quite pragmatic; without Megalos, these recommendations are cash, payments may range from sheep
magic, Megalan armies would be generally enforced; in Caithness and to services rendered. Most tithes are
crippled. especially Cardiel, they are treated paid directly to the local parish, which
more as guidelines. passes some of those funds up the
In practice, Ytarrian Christians hierarchy and uses the rest itself. If a
regard magic with everything from Tithing feudal lord is a cleric as well, the tax
enthusiasm to deep hostility. Some his peasants owe him may stand in for
seminaries require all priests to learn A tithe is essentially a tax paid to their tithe, but this isn’t always the
a little magical theory; others prohibit the Church, although the Curia refer case; sometimes they end up paying
it outright. For more on such atti- to such payments as “donations.” This both tithe and tax to him.
tudes, see Heresy, p. 60. typically amounts to 10% of one’s
One can technically get into heaven
CANON LAW without tithing at all since it doesn’t
stand as one of the sacraments, but
The Megalan philosopher-monk the Church has been known to excom-
Domitus first collated the principles of municate those who refuse to make
Ytarrian canon law in the year 1578. payment for several years without a
The “Domitian Code” contains com- good reason. Social propriety practi-
plete rules for the business of the cally demands the satisfaction of this
Church: heresy (p. 60), excommunica- canonical law, regardless of personal
tion, tithes, administration of church wealth, so most imperial citizens ful-
lands, governance of monastic orders, fill this duty every year.
dealings with non-Christians, conduct
of holy war, relations between Church Marriage
and state, and punishment of way-
ward clergy. Children can be betrothed at any
age by their parents but may not
Canon law covers many areas of marry until age 15. The Church
secular life as well; rulers generally prefers to sanction all marriages but
accept these principles, if only for con- does not require they be performed by
venience. The prescribed punishments
for disobeying Church law range from
minor penance and fines to maiming,
excommunication, and death. For
physical punishments, however, the

58 RELIGION

a priest. It prohibits polygamy and holdings or pay a bride-price to her occasions, the Church might annul a
marriage between people who have a parents. (This does not make her his marriage for other reasons, usually
common ancestor within three gener- property; women have specific rights political; if the joining can be proven
ations. A marriage is not valid until under canon law.) A dowry is usually illegal, in theory it is certain to be
consummated. The Church can grant equal to four months’ living expenses annulled – a rule which powerful peo-
special dispensations regarding these for the bride’s social status. The bride- ple frequently abuse.
rules. price is about one month’s expenses
for the groom’s social status. Inheritance
When a woman marries, her new
husband expects a dowry – her contri- The Church frowns upon divorce, The Domitian Code outlines rules
bution, in lands, goods, or money, to granting it only in cases of the wife’s of inheritance. Secular laws and tradi-
the new household. Parents with any adultery or heresy by either party. tions often override this in practice,
social status try to ensure their daugh- Barrenness is sometimes given as the but church law seeks to ensure that
ters have substantial dowries. Such a reason for such judgments, but the debtors, widows, orphans, and
woman has a wider choice of hus- Curia have yet to rule conclusively on unmarried daughters are properly
bands and may attract a match above this matter. An ex-wife gets her dowry looked after, which is widely respect-
her own status. A groom must in turn back unless she was at fault. The ed. Canon law also encourages
grant his new wife an interest in his bride-price is nonrefundable. On rare bequests to the Church, which some-
times proves actively contrary to feu-
Relics and Pilgrimages dal rules. By both canon and most sec-
ular laws, alternative dispositions
Relics are objects with miraculous powers derived from their holy must be arranged in advance in a writ-
origins. Many can supposedly heal the incurable. A few Christians ten will, which a priest must sign and
brought – or claimed to have brought – Earth relics with them through approve.
the Banestorm. The Ytarrian Church soon developed its own relics as
well. Oaths

The most common type of relic is all or part of the corpse of a saint. Virtually all oaths and contracts are
The burial places of saints radiate great holiness; ground-level cathedral sworn in the name of God or Jesus.
altars often are erected directly over these tombs, which usually reside in Therefore, perjury or breaking a con-
the basement. Many people carry bits of hair or scraps of clothing that tract constitutes a serious crime under
reputedly belonged to a saint. A relic’s inherent power is supposed to pro- canon law. Usually, the Church assigns
tect and bless the person or congregation that possesses it. a penance: a fine, prayer, and a service
of some sort, or occasionally physical
Faith in the power of relics is so great that many people travel long punishment. When oath-breakers vio-
distances and pay large sums to touch or view one. Churches consider late commercial contracts, they forfeit
catering to pilgrims important business . . . so much so that fake relics any goods or money involved.
abound. At least three Yrthian cathedrals and two monasteries claim to
have the corpse of St. Michael Olybrius, and both the Templars and the Usury
Hospitallers allegedly possess the head of John the Baptist.
The Domitian Code forbids charg-
Pilgrims most often travel to St. Paul’s in Mehan, where a piece of the ing exorbitant interest. It originally
True Cross is on display; Serrun Cathedral, under whose altar St. sought to ban Christians from lending
Michael Olybrius is supposedly buried; Martyr’s Oak, near Alimar in money at all, but this proved impracti-
Cardiel, where heretics allegedly hung St. Bertram; and the tomb of St. cal, and even weak laws favored
Giles the Kind, in Craine. Pilgrimages can muster diverse characters – Jewish merchants too much. Today,
such as a new or established group of PCs – for weeks or months, offer- no Christian may charge more than
ing plenty of opportunity for adventure along the journey. Geoffrey 30% annually on money loaned to
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales provides much insight into the politics of another Christian.
such collectives as well as the personalities players might encounter on
a pilgrimage. Slavery

Probably the best way to translate relics into game terms is to intro- Officially, the Church frowns on
duce an item with the advantages Healing (Faith Healing) and/or True slavery as contrary to the Christian
Faith, with a Gadget Limitation (usually both Can Be Stolen and spirit of brotherly love. Practice, as
Unique). Similarly, players must buy these advantages for any relics their with so many things, differs. Canon
characters own. Note that the relic might only “work” for a few people law merely restricts who can be made
who focus their intense faith through it. a slave; it is illegal for one Christian to
own another against the other’s will.
A relic that provides other benefits might be described in terms of Enslaving pagans, heretics, infidels,
other advantages. On examination, some such objects might turn out to the excommunicated, and soulless
actually be “secular” magic items. Wizards who explain this to the faith- beings is perfectly legal. Indenture
ful may not be applauded for their honesty . . . (selling oneself into slavery for a limit-
ed time, usually to pay a debt) is also
allowed.

RELIGION 59

As a result, many slaves in Christianity on Yrth has spawned often varies with politics and the
Christendom are infidel prisoners-of- numerous heretical offshoots. The concern of local churchmen for
war. In the Megalan Empire proper, Church has suppressed most of them, Christian forgiveness and avoiding
however, serious crimes often carry but others survive, often in remote making martyrs; a show of repen-
slavery as sentence. (For formal cor- rural areas, unknown to the Curia. If it tance can save the accused, and
rectness, local bishops may excommu- can agree that there is a problem, the some, with friends, influence, or
nicate convicted criminals.) Many the- Curia may declare a radical theolo- good arguments, spend years in
ologians criticize this practice, but gian or a whole overly independent prison or even free, haggling over
those who profit from it tend to ignore monastic order to be heretical. their relationship with orthodoxy.
such complaints. Others, seen as rebels, may be
Theoretically, the punishment for slaughtered without even a trial.
Indulgences heretics who refuse to recant is death
at the stake, though enforcement
Sin is always evil, and justice
demands a sinner pay for his crimes. Saints
Thus, priests impose temporal punish-
ments known as penance at the time The Church recognizes thousands of saints: men and women who led
of the sin’s confession. The practice extraordinarily holy lives and perhaps died in the service of God. Such
of selling indulgences to sinners – folk are believed to reside in Heaven but may act upon mortal prayers,
absolutions purchased with money – sometimes miraculously. Their power, however, is never their own; it
is controversial, but priests practice it derives from God. The Church treads carefully when distinguishing
openly in Megalos. The Church in between “ordinary” magic and acts of a divine nature. How they draw
Caithness and Cardiel strictly forbids the distinction is another matter.
this method of fundraising. The Curia
has never ruled on the matter despite On Earth, the Pope decides who is canonized; since Yrth lacks any
debating it often and enthusiastically. pope, this responsibility falls to the Curia. Saints borrowed from Earth
are saints here without argument. Yrthians usually must perform a cer-
People are not allowed to buy tain number of miracles to be considered for canonization. Martyrdom
indulgences pre-emptively. The always helps, though.
payment is supposed to indicate peni-
tence. Securing absolution before the Almost every profession, city, guild, church, or monastic order has a
fact, at best, indicates the sin might patron saint; even specific animals, illnesses, and situations have them.
have been premeditated. At worst, it A few popular saints and their areas of responsibility are listed below. All
contravenes the basic precepts of the ones here are human, but this certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t
Christianity and makes a travesty of saints of other races out there.
the entire concept of confession.
Some saints hail from Earth traditions. Others lived and died on Yrth.
Typical prices for indulgences run Many “emigrated” to Yrth and were adjusted to fit the new world; some-
about five farthings ($5) for intoxica- times their legends evolved based on Ytarrian events.
tion, six pennies ($24) for fornication,
12 pennies ($48) for fraudulent trad- Andrew: Fishermen, sailors, Banestorm victims.
ing, a half-mark ($100) for adultery, Barbara: Miners, sailors, metalworkers, help against sudden death.
one mark ($200) for sodomy, and five Bertram: Cardiel.
pounds ($5,000) for killing an oppo- Brigid: Milkmaids, poets, nuns, fugitives, blacksmiths, healers.
nent in a duel. A few indulgences have Catherine: Girls, students, libraries, philosophy, wheels.
been sold for premeditated murder (at Christopher: Travelers.
least 20 pounds – $20,000) and even Constantine the Great: Bureaucrats.
for black magic (around 50 pounds – Cuthbert: Shepherds, sailors, seals.
$50,000). However, most priests Denis: Araterre.
consider such crimes to a require Elmo: Maritime magic.
extended shows of repentance and George: Caithness, soldiers, chivalry, monster-slaying.
penalties beyond the financial; selling Honorius: Megalos (he was the first Megalan archbishop).
instant forgiveness for extreme vile- James the Great: Crusades.
ness is too blatant for even very cynical John the Baptist: Midsummer, the Hospitallers.
clerics. Luke: Physicians, artists, glassmakers, priest-wizards.
Margaret of Antioch: Childbirth, nurses, peasants.
HERESY Mary (the Virgin Mary): The Mother of Christ and Queen of Heaven.
Michael Olybrius: Nonhumans who convert to Ytarrian Christianity,
Heresy is a religious belief which the Olybrian Order.
contradicts some specific teaching of Peter: Boatmen, fishermen – often invoked during Banestorms.
the Church while following others. Raphael: Lovers, pharmacists, young travelers.
Many churchmen find heresy among Sebastian: Archers.
their co-religionists to be more threat- Theodosius: Horses.
ening than any cult or rival faith. Thomas: Mages and magic, builders, geometry.

60 RELIGION

Heresies and Magic Local Heresies Caithness and Cardiel, local bishops
and secular rulers effectively possess
Many heresies revolve around A common issue, too trivial to be final jurisdiction, even for selecting
magic and nonhumans. Some main- counted as heresy by most church- bishops and archbishops. If the
tain that magic is forbidden, and wiz- men, occurs in isolated farming vil- Emperor tried to use the Curia to take
ards are all servants of the Devil. The lages where pagan nature worship such power for himself, he would risk
now-suppressed Penitentines (p. 94) gets mixed into Christian beliefs. undermining its authority and even
believed this, claiming that Yrth was These beliefs usually involve fertility breaking up the Church. The
Purgatory, the humans there were sin- rites to ensure a bountiful harvest. Caithness Schism, two centuries ago,
ners serving penance, and nonhumans taught the Empire its limits; it has
were corruptor demons. Penitentine THE CURIA accepted systematic compromises
fanatics waged campaigns of terror ever since.
against mages and nonhumans. The Conclave (p. 57) is now known
as the Curia. It consists of the Grand HOLY ORDERS
On the other hand, at least one Masters of the Olybrians, the
cult, the Manites, believes that mages Templars, the Hospitallers, and the The priesthood is exclusively male
are God’s chosen. Their inner circle of Thomasites, and the nine archbish- but not exclusively human; any being
Manites seeks to recruit people with ops. Caithness has one archbishop, considered to have a soul (p. 65) can
magical ability. Many wizards worry Cardiel three, and Megalos five. Cities be ordained, though some particularly
that the cult will create an anti-mage and large towns have resident bishops. conservative holy orders refuse to
backlash. The Church considers the acknowledge this. Wise bishops keep
Manite beliefs heretical and would not The initial five Curia members their goblin priests and their
hesitate to act forcefully if it realized realized they needed archbishop titles Hospitallers well out of each other’s
they were being spread by an organ- for their decisions to carry proper paths. Nonhuman priests technically
ized group of power-seekers. See The weight with the rest of the Church, so can rise as high in the hierarchy as
Manites, p. 94. they essentially assumed that rank by anyone, but in fact, the Curia have
fiat. They received support for this never been anything but human.
Protestantism from each other, their followers, and Women may become nuns and can
the Emperor, causing relatively little rise to positions such as mother supe-
Protestants (see p. 55) deny some controversy. However, this and other rior of a convent, but they cannot per-
Ytarrian Church doctrines and so are arbitrary decisions of the First Curia form religious services.
considered heretics. The Church per- provided ammunition for dissenting
secutes them everywhere in Megalos sects; some secretly maintain to this All members of the clergy are
,and when they can in Caithness. day that the whole hierarchy of the bound to codes of chastity. Virtually
Ytarrian Church is based on deceit. all priests are literate. Holy folk dress
Schism in robes buttoned in front from neck
Lacking contact with Rome, the to ankle. These may be of any color
When a heretical belief takes Ytarrian Church has no cardinals and save red or green and range from the
strong root, or when a doctrinal dis- no pope. The Curia is thus the highest simple, rope-belted brown robe of a
agreement divides church leaders, governing body of the Church; it sets monk to a bishop’s jeweled raiment.
into fairly equal parties, the result can doctrine, formally appoints bishops, Nuns always wear veils.
be a schism . . . a splitting of one faith and attempts to guide rulers. As the
(or at least one hierarchy) in two. On greatest single landowner in Ytarria, it The Rule of St. Benedict
earth, Protestantism represented a has tremendous political power.
schism from the Catholic Church, but The Ytarrian Church has many
on Yrth, the Protestants are outsiders. Church politics, especially appoint- monastic orders, and all observe –
The Church has never experienced a ments, are a complex subject, howev- with varying degrees of fidelity – the
faith-based schism. However, a schism er, with a lot of local variety. In the Benedictine Rule, laid down centuries
can be political in nature, as happened Empire, churchmen do not contradict before the Banestorm.
in Caithness 200 years ago (see p. the stated will of the Emperor if they
110). know what’s good for them; in Monks and nuns living under
Benedictine Rule must take the triple
oath of chastity, poverty, and obedi-
ence. They may own no property save
their habit or robes; they usually sleep
on a mat on the floor. They may not
speak during meals and must attend
mass. All monks must serve in some
useful capacity: by working in the
monastery’s fields and gardens,
preparing food, constructing and
repairing monastic buildings, and so
forth. In addition, they must fulfill
duties of prayer, Bible study, and

RELIGION 61

charitable work for the poor. Some and declared God had chosen them They regard dwarves and elves (who
monks and nuns are cloistered – total- for a Crusade in this new world. largely maintain their own religious
ly isolated from the secular world. beliefs) as the spawn of Satan. And,
Their vows prohibit them from The Hospitallers founded New not surprisingly, Hospitallers despise
leaving the monastery grounds or Jerusalem on the site of their arrival. Muslims. Hospitallers are required to
speaking to anyone outside the order. Despite some initial feuding, common strictly adhere to their vows except
cause led to an alliance with Megalos, when campaigning, which may be
The Hospitallers and the Empire and the Hospitallers why most are eager to march on the
fought together to spread Christianity slightest pretext.
The Hospitallers are a monastic to all of Ytarria. The Emperor reward-
order of knights following the ed their efforts with titles and land While the Order does not claim
Benedictine Rule; their declared goal grants, and the Order went on to magic is inherently evil, it forbids its
is Christian domination of Yrth. establish priories throughout members to cast spells, holding that
Though they do actually operate a Christendom. However, the Hospital- magic opens one to the temptations of
hospital in New Jerusalem, their pri- lers have always maintained their evil. Thus, using magic is unwise for
mary function is military. independence from the Empire, weak, mortal men. Hospitallers regard
answering only to their grand master wizards as fools dabbling in some-
The Order of the Hospital of St. and occasionally to the Curia. thing better left to God.
John of Jerusalem arrived in Ytarria
from Europe in 1187. On Earth, The Hospitallers epitomize theo- All across Ytarria, the Hospitallers’
Grand Master Roger des Moulins and logical conservatism and intolerance. symbol of a white cross on a black
11 Knights of the Order, the last sur- Church policy compels them to accept field is known and feared. Because of
vivors of a battle with the Saracens, that goblins, halflings, reptile men, their intolerant theology, the Cardien
were saved from death when a and other races may receive redemp- Prince expelled them from Cardiel in
banestorm carried them to Yrth. Des tion, but they don’t admit these “sec- 1845. The Knights Templar inherited
Moulins interpreted this as divine aid ond-class Christians” into the Order. the vacated Hospitaller lands, foment-
ing a rivalry between the two orders
The Order of Friedrich which has only intensified with time.
The Hospitallers also have little pres-
“Friedrichites” are an unorthodox group of Christian friars. Their ence in Caithness. During the decades
founder is known only as Brother Friedrich; the order is careful not to the Caithness Church was separate
claim sainthood for him. Friedrich lived about 200 years ago and spent from Megalos’, Hospitallers enthusias-
most of his life as a Franciscan (see p. 63), until his unusual theological tically participated in Megalan attacks
ideas and radical forms of devotion led him to depart the main order. on any “heretics”; many Caithnessers
However, his followers still preserve many Franciscan principles, espe- still bear grudges over these events.
cially the vow of poverty, and dress in the same plain style. They do not
form monasteries, but wander the world or become hermits. They live The Olybrians
off alms from the faithful, who often are impressed by their dedication,
or off their surroundings; many have high levels of Survival skill. Like the The Holy Order of St. Michael
Franciscans, they are most commonly found in Caithness. Olybrius of Serrun is Yrth’s largest
monastic organization. Olybrius first
The group has no official status in the church, which occasionally carried Christianity to the Goblin
investigates it on suspicion of heresy; Friedrichite teaching regards the Kingdoms; his success earned him the
material world as fundamentally tainted with evil, as did various older love of many goblin peasants but the
outcast sects. However, the Curia has never quite decided to condemn enmity of their chieftains, who execut-
them, perhaps because Friedrichites have a curious if distant alliance ed him in 1194. His example inspired
with the Templars (p. 63). Friedrichites are often treated simply as others, and in 1199 they founded the
Franciscans, to the Franciscans’ embarrassment. order to further his work. Within 20
years, the goblins of the south were
Friedrichites are defined by their disdain for the material world. thoroughly Christian.
However, they have developed a set of mystical, meditative disciplines
which express their rejection of the material in very practical form. The Olybrians continue their evan-
Friedrichites can also make terrifyingly convincing preachers; their puri- gelical tradition today. Wandering
ty of purpose and commanding presence can impress even unbelievers. Olybrian friars, preaching the Gospel
and aiding the poor, are a familiar
Friedrichites may not seem very suitable as adventurers, but they do sight throughout Christendom. In
not have an absolute commitment to pacifism, although they regard their great monasteries, theologians
physical violence as another aspect of the corruption of the world. formulate arguments against heresy,
Members of this order also possess a fierce sense of morality. They do abbots organize missions to distant
not get involved in quests for gold or glory, but they might well assist in lands, and monks work to keep peas-
a struggle against oppression or injustice – in their own way. ants on the orthodox path. Olybrians
implacably oppose heretics.
For character specifications and special advantages Friedrichites may
possess, see Mystic Lenses, p. 213. Father Jobert, Abbot of Evrow, cur-
rently leads them. He and other lead-
ing Olybrians are frustrated by the

62 RELIGION

Megalan nobility’s lack of crusading The Secret
zeal. Together with the Hospitallers, of the Templars
Jobert is pressing for another assault
on the Muslims. There are many rumors about the original Yrthian Templars: they
adapted to Yrth too easily, their skill with magic came too quickly, the
Olybrians swear to follow the spread of their order was too rapid. Their Halloween arrival seemed
Benedictine Rule and to preach the almost orchestrated. A few enemies of the Order whisper that the
Christian faith to any who cross their Templars are the only Earthlings who ever came to Yrth voluntarily, and
path. They need not be pacifists, espe- that they might know how to get back.
cially where infidels and heretics are
concerned. Many friars can wield The truth about the Templars’ arrival and whether it was truly
their innocuous walking staves with planned is left to the GM, but any truth of the matter should be a mys-
deadly skill! tery and perhaps a surprise for PCs, even if they are Templars them-
selves. The full story is only known to the highest officers of the Order.
The Templars
It’s recommended that Templars not have reliable access to interdi-
In Paris in the summer of 1310, the mensional magic, and they certainly shouldn’t be able to return to Earth
Catholic Church burned 60 knights of at will. That would be more power than the dark elves have after cen-
the Templar order as witches. The turies of research. More to the point, if such spells exist, they will cer-
Pope declared the entire “Order of the tainly be used, and the campaign will then transform into something dif-
Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple ferent; see Magical Inter-World Games, p. 236.
of Solomon” heretical, and the Crown
seized its lands and castles. The One possible answer to the Templar enigma is that the original
remaining knights had to either con- knights were not completely random Banestorm victims. They may have
fess to heresy and renounce the order had some knowledge of real magic on Earth (or their version of Earth),
or go into hiding. and even learned enough about the Banestorm to locate an occasional
manifestation. When the Templars found themselves facing destruction,
On Halloween of that year, in the some used this knowledge to escape. Thus, they were better prepared
middle of a furious storm, 60 knights than most immigrants – though still very lucky.
in full armor rode up to the doors of
the Abbey of St. Giles outside the walls If the GM adopts this story, it’s likely that the Templars have been
of Megalos. They requested sanctuary, researching gate magic in secret ever since. They may have a policy of
claiming to be knights who had taken kidnapping interesting Banestorm victims and dark elf mages for inter-
monastic vows to defend Christendom rogation, a practice which could backfire in interesting ways.
and were fleeing persecution arising
from false accusations. were overjoyed at having their own The Templars are strong through-
military order to counter the out eastern Megalos and Cardiel,
The startled abbot admitted them. Hospitaller influence in the west. They weaker west of the Blackwoods, and
The Banestorm rarely manifested at kept tight control of the Order, hand- excluded from Caithness. They wear
that time, but it was clear they had picking each Grand Master, who white habits with a red cross, symbol-
just arrived from Earth. The abbot received a seat in the Curia, strength- izing holiness and their willingness to
notified the Archbishop of Megalos, ening the eastern voting bloc. The become martyrs.
who sent Olybrian inquisitors to inter- Templars did not get the right to elect
view the newcomers. Although the their own Grand Master until 1850, The Franciscans
knights were not entirely cooperative, when the Hospitaller Grand Master
the archbishop invited them to estab- and the archbishops of Caithness and The Order of Friars Minor were
lish their order in his diocese, the Craine took issue with the eastern relative latecomers to Yrth, arriving
Hospitallers having proved how effec- archbishops’ continued manipula- in the 14th century. Their Order has
tive such warriors could be. tions. The current Grand Master is Sir downplayed preaching to focus
Jordan Siegebreaker (p. 93), a human obsessively on its traditions of pover-
Though the Templars claimed they from the County of Sho’joor. ty and mysticism. They show little
knew nothing of magic, many of the interest in politics, either ecclesiasti-
original 60 became competent wiz- The Templars remain the primary cal or secular, but are content to
ards within a year. Further, the new military arm of the Church, as they serve God through manual labor.
order almost immediately began are more willing to heed the Curia Friars are frequently illiterate and
accepting other races, at a time when than the Hospitallers are. They accept committed to absolute poverty.
many humans still considered them warriors from all races, as long as they
demons. The Earth-born Templars are fit to become knights and willing In their search to escape worldly
eventually dispersed, following “divine to take the vows. The Templars also distractions, the followers of St.
visions.” At river crossings, important value battle magic, and their college at Francis have pioneered some of
crossroads, and commanding hilltops, Azer (p. 96) trains mages for both the Yrth’s most inhospitable territory.
the knights founded houses of the Order and the Legions. Many accompanied the original
order, and eventually built fortresses. colonists of Caithness, and
Franciscans remain numerous there.
The Templars quickly became pow-
erful through Church gifts of land.
The archbishops of eastern Megalos

RELIGION 63

The Thomasites From the start, the Order concen- – but those that exist are talented
trated on the study of magic, a force physicians and excellent instructors.
The Order of St. Thomas (one of obviously more prevalent on Yrth Members of the Order administer the
the 12 apostles) is dedicated to under- than Earth. Initially, Thomasites had hospitals, but the staff include lay
standing the laws of the universe in to devote at least as much time to brethren and secular healers. Almost
the hopes of obtaining empirical proof magic as to any other discipline. They all forms of magical healing are avail-
of God. St. Gareth Aristophiles found- soon recognized, however, the poten- able at Thomasite hospitals, but they
ed the order on Yrth in the late 1300s. tial for evil in undisciplined research, will not attempt to resurrect the dead,
He was a Benedictine abbot who and began reprimanding or expelling considering such magic contrary to
devoted his life to studying the works brothers who pursued arcane studies God’s will.
of Aristotle, Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and to the exclusion of religious matters.
other ancient Greek philosophers. His All Thomasites are required to take The Order of St. Thomas accepts
school, at Nordenbury near Hidelban, oaths not to use magic for evil, and the both men and women of all races.
attracted scholars from all over Order strongly encourages the study Thomasite abbeys are strictly segre-
Christendom, and the Order spread to of ethics. gated, but members have equal access
most of the cities of Megalos. There to libraries and laboratories. There are
are many Thomasite universities; The flower of Thomasite research even a few abbesses ruling convents.
those at Megalos and Calder rival the is their hospitals, specializing in mag-
great Muslim institutions as store- ical healing. These institutions are Because of the extraordinary abili-
houses of knowledge. However, some located in Megalos, Teridar, Craine, ties and knowledge of its members,
Thomasites prefer to wander the and Calder. The Order turns no one this Order is instrumental in formulat-
world, learning through observation away, but expects those who can to ing Church doctrine. Father Thales
and experience instead of studying make an appropriate donation. There Sapientis, the current Grand Master,
ancient manuscripts. are few Thomasite healers – most rarely takes an interest in Curia poli-
brethren prefer research to doctoring tics but is always deeply involved in
any theological debate.
The Michaelites
The Jesuits
A group of priests and knights founded the Order of the Archangel
Michael in 1412 as a secular “auxiliary order” to guide an inquisition Members of the Society of Jesus
against nonbelievers in Megalos. The Michaelites handled solely reli- first came to Yrth during the 1570s,
gious crimes for 200 years, until heretics became scarce in the Empire. arriving in Araterre. The Church ini-
They then took on duties similar to Earth police, investigating political tially persecuted them, since their
affairs and spectacular or magical crimes. Their investigative methods brand of monasticism was startlingly
are sophisticated enough to counter clever and sorcerous criminals. different from the Benedictine orders.
However, their obvious zeal and suc-
Medieval Earth had no equivalent to the Michaelites, and on Yrth cessful missionary activity (not to
they are neither city guardsmen nor knights. There are separate mention oaths of loyalty to the Curia)
Michaelite organizations in each of the Christian lands. They cooperate, eventually won them respect and
but share no leadership. favor.

Megalan Michaelites, the direct successors of the original Order, are Although they take vows of obedi-
fanatical, exclusively male, and effectively under the admittedly loose ence, poverty, and chastity, Jesuit
control of the Emperor, despite their religious trappings. monks are not cloistered, and often go
out into the world to perform God’s
The Michaelites of Caithness are skilled investigators and good “street work. Their philosophy calls for them
cops,” often of common birth, and report formally to the archbishop but to take the Church to the people,
work closely with secular authorities. rather than bringing the people to the
Church. A Jesuit’s pulpit may be a
Cardien Michaelites are purely policemen, with no connection to the crate in a busy town square or a fence-
church; some are Muslim, and all report to the Prince. All are supported post in a village commons. Members
by holdings granted to the Order and stipends from crown or church. of the Society are also known for their
For Michaelites in Caithness and Cardiel, the better kind of American intellectual breadth and rigor. They
FBI agent is a good model. In Megalos, a Spanish inquisitor is a closer can follow many professions in addi-
analogy. tion to monk, such as architect, diplo-
mat, merchant, physician, teacher, or
Michaelites work in teams of around five, called Fists of Michael in wizard. (All their earnings, of course,
Megalos, and Hands of Michael in Caithness and Cardiel. In Megalos, go to the Society.) There are Jesuit
one member will always be a priest. In Cardiel, there may be a mullah. advisers in virtually every Megalan
Except in low-mana Caithness, there will always be a wizard in the group noble’s court.
as well. The Caithness order doesn’t have as many wizards as it has
Hands, and is always interested in recruiting more. The Society of Jesus sometimes
meddles in politics. Its influence is
Michaelites wear a blue surcoat with a white shield device. In such that others frequently accuse it
Megalos and Caithness, the shield is quartered by a blue cross. of conspiracy . . . often correctly.
Some even claim that the Society uses

64 RELIGION

assassination to achieve its goals. It is The Afterlife
sometimes unclear what Yrthian
Jesuits gain from their political Most human religions on Yrth posit some kind of afterlife, separate
maneuvering, but it is apparent they from the mundane world, where the souls of the dead reside. The dispo-
have an agenda known only to sition of dead souls is the province of the divine, and the living do not get
themselves. to interfere in the matter.

Jesuit mages are particularly mys- This means those magic spells which apparently manipulate the dead
terious. They often have unusual or (e.g., Summon Spirit, Soul Jar, and Resurrection) are controversial. The
even unique powers, the secrets of Church classifies them as black magic and also holds that these spells do
which they never reveal. Many of not, in fact, affect souls. A good Christian believes that the entity sum-
these seem to come from magical moned by a Summon Spirit spell is at best a kind of “echo” of the
devices of unknown origin. This has deceased, and at worst a deceitful demon. Further, anyone brought back
led to deep and justifiable suspicion to life by secular magic, as opposed to a genuine divine miracle, is treat-
among secular mages. ed as a kind of undead.

The Constantinians A few theologians hold that Resurrection spells are legitimate – if they
work, the soul has evidently not truly passed on, and hence such invoca-
St. Constantine was a 16th-centu- tions are no more than an extreme form of healing; if they don’t do any-
ry monk in charge of the Imperial thing, the subject was truly dead. This is hotly debated, but mostly as a
Archives of Megalos. He wrote on point of theory; the spells in question are, after all, little known and hard
logic, philosophy, and ontology, and to cast. The main branches of Islam and Judaism believe similarly,
is best known for his book The though there are sects of all three religions with divergent views.
Organization of Daily Life, a primer
on the philosophies and practicali- The religions of the Elder Folk have very different attitudes. Most
ties of management and administra- dwarves, elves, and orcs believe that necromantic magic does exactly
tion. In his later years, he built a what it appears to do. In their belief systems, a person’s soul doesn’t “go”
small monastery on the outskirts of anywhere after death but rather merges with the world at large.
the capital with the emperor’s sup- Summon Spirit and related spells cause a person’s essence to re-coalesce,
port. This became the nucleus of the temporarily or permanently. It’s possible that both points of view are
small Constantinian Order, whose right . . . or that something far more complicated is going on.
members play key roles in the
administration of Church and ISLAM trade, towns sprang up, providing
Empire. refuges for doctors, artists, poets, mul-
significant power, and consequently lahs (teachers and scholars of the
The lands of southwestern Ytarria suffered setbacks: invaders from sacred law) and holy men. A dual cul-
are the home of the followers of Islam. Central Asia overthrew many Arab ture grew up, part nomadic, part
Their faith is straightforward yet all- rulers . . . only to convert to Islam urbanized, but united by faith.
encompassing; one need only pro- themselves. The Banestorm struck Encounters with nonhumans and
claim, “There is no God but Allah, and when Islam was first facing Christian functioning magic were startling, but
Muhammad is His Prophet,” to be crusaders from Europe. magic was covered by the law,
accepted as a Muslim. The Muslims although early bad experiences made
have reconstructed the great urban Arrival on Yrth some Muslims nervous about it.
and mercantile culture which they Nonhumans could be compared with
remember from medieval Earth, and While the Banestorm was as star- the djinn of legend; some members of
stand proudly in this new world. tling for Muslims as for anyone else, these other races even converted to
the faith adapted quickly. After all, the Islam.
HISTORY Koran itself points out that God could
recreate the world any time He The faithful did not immediately
Islam appeared on Earth at the wished; His will is mysterious, but He attempt to recreate the great Muslim
beginning of the 7th century A.D., pro- had not placed the faithful in an intol- nations of Earth. During this period,
pounded by the Prophet Muhammad erable position. the two major branches of Islam,
in the Arabian city of Mecca. It explod- Sunni and Shi’ite (p. 69), lived in rela-
ed as a faith and political power across The Muslims deposited on Yrth, tive harmony. The mullahs argued the-
North Africa and the Middle East as mostly Arabs and North Africans with ology, but nomads and peasants were
far as China, India, and Spain, eventu- a few Persians, found themselves in a more concerned with their feuds over
ally confronting Christian Europe and wide, empty country of rolling, arid territory and goat thefts.
other rivals as its own major religion. plains and winding rivers. Some
But the Muslim lands eventually split adopted the nomadic lifestyle of their
into a number of states, dividing their Bedouin and Berber forebears, wan-
dering, fighting, and herding. At oases
and riversides where they gathered to

RELIGION 65

The New Holy City assuring Sunni access to the Holy City, the profession of faith in Allah and His
which holds to this day. Since then, Prophet. One need only utter this
In the year 1160 – 555 of the lunar- conflicts with Megalos have come and short prayer, and believe it, to be a
based Islamic calendar – wandering gone, and what was al-Kard has Muslim.
tribesmen, deep in the mountain become the independent, religiously
range called the Fence of God, discov- diverse nation of Cardiel. Although the Salat, the second pillar, is worship.
ered a great valley. They came upon a situation appears to have reached a Muslims pray five times daily, at
great black rock jutting up from the kind of equilibrium, the Frontier Wars dawn, midday, mid-afternoon, sunset
valley floor, with passages from the (p. 16) showed how fragile this state of and nightfall. They face the qibla, the
Koran carved upon its surface. Upon affairs is. direction of Geb’al-Din, and repeated-
it sat an ancient man. He greeted them ly prostrate themselves from a stand-
in Arabic, saying he had been waiting THE FAITH ing position. (On Earth, the qibla is in
for 60 years to show the Muslims of the direction of Mecca.) One may pray
Yrth where to build their holy city. Islam is based on the word of God anywhere, but a mosque (p. 67) is pre-
Awed by a sense of holiness, the tribes- as revealed in the Koran as well as on ferred. Travelers typically carry special
men left, promising to return with as the hadiths, the reported sayings and rugs on which to pray. Muslims
many mullahs as they could gather. deeds of the Prophet Muhammad. The almost always attend a mosque at
Arabic word Islam means “submis- midday on Fridays. Imams, scholars
When they returned several sion”; the Prophet preached this rever- of the Koran, deliver sermons and lead
months later, the old man was dead – ence of God in all things. For the the congregation in prayer, though
yet his corpse had decayed not at all, Muslim, religion is more than a mat- imams are not required for valid wor-
and was untouched by scavengers. ter of spiritual fulfillment; it is a way ship. Muslims always wash ritually
The mullahs pronounced this a sign of life. before praying.
and founded the hidden city of Geb’al-
Din (see p. 126) upon the spot. It soon The Koran is the Muslim’s primary Charity, or Zakat, is the third pillar.
came to stand in place of Mecca for behavior guide. It is not considered All Muslims are expected to give to the
the Muslims of Yrth. But Ytarrian the work of a mortal author, but the needy, especially to orphans, widows
Muslims remained, mostly, scattered direct word of God. Every syllable is and pilgrims. At least 5% of a person’s
and disunited. It took a shock from divine – Muhammad was merely the income is normal.
outside to change everything. instrument through which God made
His will known. It is the final word of The fourth pillar is Sawm, the fast.
The Wars God; any further “revelations” are For the entire lunar month of
automatically false. Translations are Ramadan, no Muslim should eat or
The Grand Crusade of 1440, a flawed by definition; the only proper drink anything other than water while
Megalan invasion, surprised the way to study the Koran is in Arabic. the sun shines. Pregnant women, the
Muslims with its surprise and ferocity. old, the sick, and travelers are exempt.
Still, they responded quickly, and by Idolatry of any kind is strictly for- The end of Ramadan is marked by a
1450 the scattered sheikhdoms had bidden. It is a sin to associate anything great feast.
coalesced into nations. First was al- with God or to create a representation
Haz, with a Shi’ite holy man as Sultan of Him. Even depictions of the human The fifth and final pillar is the Hajj,
and Chief Imam, claiming to be the form are traditionally considered or pilgrimage. At least once in every
supreme leader of Muslims on Yrth. A improper, since man was made in Muslim’s life, he should make this
few years later, Sunni tribesmen to the God’s image. For this reason, most
north founded al-Wazif, naming their Islamic art is abstract in nature.
most able chief as Caliph – the politi- Calligraphy, however, is very refined.
cal and spiritual leader of Islam. The Often, great works of calligraphy con-
scattered Sunni tribes of the southeast sist of verses from the Koran worked
founded al-Kard shortly afterwards, into geometrical forms and patterns.
under a Sultan who gave merely nom-
inal allegiance to the Caliph. Only the There is no separation of church
threat of a common foe and the spirit and state in Islam; the highest reli-
of Islamic brotherhood prevented war gious authority among men theoreti-
between the factions. cally rests with the ruler – the Caliph
for al-Wazif and Cardiel, the Sultan
This alliance did not last long. for al-Haz. The crescent is the faith’s
Megalos eventually focused its atten- traditional symbol, often used to mark
tions on al-Kard as the weakest oppo- out mosques. No specific attire is
nent, and al-Wazif took the opportuni- required for the scholarly Ulama (p.
ty to try taking control of Geb’al-Din 67), though black robes are common.
from the Shi’ites of al-Haz. A 20-year
series of four-sided wars ensued, dur- The Five Pillars
ing which al-Kard fell to Christian
armies. Faced with the growing The core of the Faith are the basic
Megalan threat, the two surviving duties known as the Five Pillars of
Muslim nations concluded a truce Islam. The first of these, Shahada, is

66 RELIGION

holy journey, partly in honor of not required for a person to be a good minarets attached to mosques or from
Muhammad’s Farewell Pilgrimage, Muslim – but the Ulama, the class of the doorways of smaller places of wor-
the Prophet’s final journey to Mecca religious scholars, are greatly respect- ship. In Sunni cities, magic is some-
before he died. However, the crux of ed as guides to correct understanding. times used to louden the call; visiting
the Hajj is to rekindle one’s humility, Religious leadership is thus conferred Shi’ites find this distasteful at best,
to cast off the self-centered trivia of by the consensus of the community, blasphemous at worst.
daily life and rejoice in the communi- not through formal ordination,
ty of Islam under Allah. although qualifications from a reli- The presence of the opposite sex is
gious school or university almost considered a distraction during
Mecca, by the will of Allah, not guarantee acceptance. Any man prayer, and so women often pray at
being reachable, Yrthian Muslims accepted as knowledgeable in the faith home – but many larger mosques have
now travel to Geb’al-Din. Thousands and of good character may become an two separate prayer halls, one for each
make the journey every year; the poor imam. In game terms, this is treated gender.
among them beg alms along the way. as Clerical Investment with no
Great pilgrim caravans, protected by Religious Rank; most imams are THE SHARI’A
treaty and sanctity of purpose, are a Status 1.
common sight along the roads to the The Shari’a is the Islamic legal
Hidden City. The slow, steady growth Greater seniority in the Ulama code. It consists of rules drawn from
of these groups as they progress comes from greater learning and the Koran and the hadiths, as inter-
toward the black Koranic stone, cen- acknowledged wisdom. A mullah usu- preted over the centuries, supplement-
ter of Islam on Yrth, in part represents ally acts as a teacher, and perhaps as a ed, usually on specific local matters,
the journey from within to without, community leader or a judge; such by edicts from Muslim rulers. There is
from self to other to all. respected figures may have Status 2-5. no separate secular code; the Shari’a
General agreement among the Ulama regulates religious, social, political
Destiny and Free Will is required to accomplish a significant and private life.
change in doctrine or interpretation.
Islam declares that every event, On Yrth, all cases are heard before
from the beginning of time to the end Mosques religious courts, overseen by a full-
of the world, is predetermined by God. time judge known as a cadi, or in
It also states that each person has free A mosque is a building dedicated smaller towns, by a mullah. Laws are
will and bears responsibility for his to Muslim prayer, sometimes with a generally interpreted fairly, and many
actions. God gave men the power of school attached. Important features cadis are high-minded religious
choice, and the ability to distinguish usually include facilities for the faith- thinkers who cannot be tempted by
between good and evil. Being omnis- ful to wash their hands and feet before bribes or influenced by social status.
cient, He knows what choice each entering the main part of the building, However, low-status Muslims make
individual will make, without influ- a procedure generally seen as a central jokes about cadis, not all of whom are
encing the person either way. feature of the faith – especially as the as saintly as they wish to appear.
faithful prostrate themselves to pray, Christians and Jews – the “peoples of
Hence, some Muslims are fatalis- so, pragmatically, clean floors are the book” protected under long-stand-
tic, holding that the times of their essential. Also present is a large open ing tradition – have at least basic
deaths are not theirs to control – prayer hall, with a pulpit and niche rights under the Shari’a, although they
which can make them formidably indicating the qibla. The call to prayer may have difficulty claiming them in
brave in battle. On the other hand, is issued by muezzins from tall intolerant regions.
popular stories in Muslim lands are
full of heroes who find great treasures Julnari Dervishes
or suffer great disasters in seemingly
arbitrary ways; such is destiny. The This Sufi order was founded around 1750 by the poet, musician, and
only catastrophe would be if they scholar Julnar ibn-Daud abd-al-Malik ath-Thamadi. They are often
despaired of God. Nonetheless, a known as the “Chanting Dervishes,” although they are not the only
Muslim will, for example, consult a dervishes to use chanting and singing as a meditative system, and also as
doctor or take medicine if he is sick; it “the Truth-Tellers.” They are committed to perceiving the universe as it
may be his destiny to be cured. truly is, holding that, when everything is understood without deception,
the path to God becomes clear.
The Umma
and the Ulama They use an extremely intricate system of solitary and communal
chants and songs, partly formulaic and partly improvised, to focus their
Muslims have a strong sense of minds. In the process, some gain an uncanny ability to perceive facts
their religion as a unified whole, and which are hidden to others. These abilities make Julnaris very useful to
may feel loyalty to the umma, the the powerful; however, such guides require an absolute commitment to
community of believers, above all else. the ideal of truth.
This community is entirely voluntary;
the Koran explicitly states that no man For more on designing Julnari characters, see Mystic Lenses, p. 213.
should be forced to convert to Islam.

The faith has no formal clerical
hierarchy – the services of a priest are

RELIGION 67

As in medieval European law,

punishments are generally of the “eye

for an eye” type; thieves only have

their hands cut off if they steal fairly Islam has no specific prohibition
large amounts. Usury, defined as

charging any interest on loans, is against magic, but its use for evil has
both a sin and illegal; merchants seek

out business partners, not bankers. traditionally been severely punished,
The Shari’a is actually designed to

prevent blood feuds and excessive and idolatry, let alone consorting with
punishments, with much allowance demonic beings, is absolutely prohibited.
for payments of compensation and
encouragement of forgiveness,

though this doesn’t always work. It

also has quite strict rules of evidence;

conviction for many crimes requires

multiple eyewitnesses. treat them all equally; a woman may Slavery
only have one husband at a time. The
Food and Drink legality of concubines is actually ques- Islam sees slavery not as a good
tionable, but very wealthy men some- thing, but as perhaps an unavoidable
Islam includes a set of dietary times have large harems. thing. Muslims may own slaves, but it
rules, known as halal, somewhat simi- is a virtuous act to free them.
lar to the Jewish kosher (p. 75), A man may divorce his wife at any However, it is illegal to free a slave
notably prohibiting pork. It also pro- time, provided that she is not preg- who has no skills or other honest way
hibits alcohol and other intoxicants. nant, by simply declaring that they to support himself! Slaves are protect-
In al-Haz, this law is enforced rigor- are divorced, in public, three times; ed from abuse by strong customs. See
ously. Alcohol is tolerated in al-Wazif he need not give a reason. However, pp. 42-43 for more on this.
as a custom of the Christian minority, his wife then keeps the bride-price.
and lax Muslims often have wine at Women may obtain a divorce, with Free Muslims cannot be enslaved,
home, but it is frowned upon, and the husband’s consent, by paying a fee even in war. Slaves don’t automatical-
public drunkenness is a serious crime. to him. They may also be granted ly gain their freedom by converting,
In both countries, violators are divorces by a cadi if their husbands but often receive it eventually, at least
flogged. are guilty of cruelty, adultery, or in their owner’s will. Hence, the sys-
desertion. tem depends on a steady supply of
Family Law new slaves from beyond the borders of
Adulterers can be punished with Islam.
In Islam, marriage takes the form death by stoning; fornicators with
of a contract between husband and flogging. However, by strict interpreta- Another law prohibits castration of
wife. The groom negotiates the con- tions of the law, a conviction may human beings. As wealthy Muslims
tract with the bride’s guardian, usu- require multiple eyewitnesses to the acquired the idea of the harem, com-
ally her father or oldest brother. A crime, and false accusations of any plete with eunuch guards, slavers
bride-price must be specified in the crime are punished severely. sought victims for this purpose when
contract, and is paid directly to the raiding far beyond known lands,
bride. The groom receives no dowry. Two-thirds of a dead man’s estate is where the law could be effectively dis-
The bride has the right to refuse a distributed among his relatives; the regarded. In practice, there are few
match her guardian has made for remaining third may be divided any eunuch guards found outside the
her, but may not marry without his way the deceased wished. A complex harems of the very wealthy and pow-
permission unless she has been pre- system determines the shares received erful, and many of them are orcs or
viously married. by wives, children, and blood rela- ogres – who, not being human, are
tions; basically, the size of the share is arguably not covered by the law.
The Koran allows a man to have up determined by the degree of kinship.
to four wives at one time, but he must Heresy

Many Muslims would argue their

Muslim Oaths faith has no concept of “heresy” as
Christians understand it. They can
Muslims take oaths very seriously, despite a common tendency to hardly deny that it has its divisions –
make vows with little provocation. Sometimes, for example, a man may primarily that between Sunni and
declare that, if he breaks his word, his wives will be divorced and his Shia (the collective term for Shi’ites) –
slaves freed – and this is considered fully binding. but neither of those groups would say
that the others were not true Muslims.
However, swearing “by Allah” is considered simply emphatic, not This, they say, is a difference between
blasphemous. them and the divided, confused

Christians.

68 RELIGION

Moreover, there is no parallel word Human Religions’
or even concept for “atheist” in Views of Nonhumans
Muhammad’s faith; to Muslims,
“unbelievers” recognize God’s pres- Some of the religions which humanity brought to Yrth were well-
ence and that all roads lead to Him, accustomed to promoting themselves. Furthermore, they eventually
but they refuse to acknowledge this or became the beliefs of the dominant race on Ytarria. Quite soon, they
give thanks for His bounty. Yet the began to spread to nonhuman races.
Koran teaches that all prophets,
Muslim or otherwise, bring greater This represented a complex problem for theologians, some of whom
wisdom of God to humanity, so this refused to accept that nonhumans had souls, let alone that they could
should not be interpreted to mean convert. However, most concluded that outward form was less important
those of Islam are intolerant. They than inner nature, and that nonhuman belief could be sincere and
refuse to condemn any other faith, should not be denied. Islam in particular remembered that the Koran
viewing them as different roads to itself spoke of djinn, spirits of smokeless fire, created by God, who could
truth. They also will not force anyone become devout Muslims, so creatures with lesser differences to human-
to convert to their belief. Granted, reli- ity than that could hardly be turned away. However, not all Muslims are
gious idealism often clashes with tolerant enough to reach out to nonhumans.
bloody reality, as Islam’s history and
current inner conflicts attest. Christianity had more theoretical trouble – the Bible had little to say
that seemed relevant – but eventually, theologians determined that non-
ISLAM’S humans were either descendants of the “giants” hinted at in some texts,
DIVISIONS much-changed children of Adam, or outcasts from a different Eden.
Whatever the truth – and intellectual debate continues – it would be
Long before the Banestorm, Islam wrong (and impolitic) to ignore even the possibility of saving a soul.
had been divided into two groups, the Halfling and goblin citizens of Megalos serve as good examples of
Sunnis and the Shi’ites, and members Christian nonhumans.
of both groups found themselves on
Yrth. The original division was caused Judaism regards this as a matter of abstract debate rather than doc-
by a dispute over succession after the trine. The religion never sought converts, but politely suggested to non-
death of Muhammad; the minority Jews that they should follow some basic moral rules which might be
Shi’ites supported the claims of found in other faiths. Occasionally, some curious nonhuman studies
Muhammad’s cousin ‘Ali, while the Judaism and seeks to convert; many rabbis actually try, very delicately,
majority Sunnis supported Abu Bakr, to discourage this, to avoid annoying local Christians or Muslims, but
who became the first Caliph on Earth. rarely some believer will be quietly accepted into a synagogue after care-
After a series of negotiations, the ful assessment of how Jewish laws and requirements might be applied.
assassination of ‘Ali, and other deaths,
the division became ingrained. Shi’ites Pagans vary widely in their treatment of nonhumans; most are wel-
held that the right to rule was heredi- coming, some actually worshipful, but others are violently hostile.
tary in ‘Ali’s family, while Sunnis
adopted the more pragmatic idea that Sunnis and wizards, and suspicions of possi-
a leader could be selected by the con- bly diabolical activities – followed by a
sensus of the community. The pragmatic, consensual Sunnis two-year stint in the army if they are
had little difficulty in resolving this judged merely careless or lazy. Female
Over time, the two groups devel- issue. Misuse of magic could be pun- spellcasters worry the socially conven-
oped other differences. However, ished like any other crime, and other- tional, but are generally tolerated; they
much of this is forgotten by or irrele- wise, a wizard could be a good may serve the government for their
vant to all but the most educated of Muslim. Hence, magic is quite com- two years from within the domestic
the faithful on Yrth. mon in al-Wazif. Indeed, some Sunni staff of rulers or administrators, or be
theologians study it, viewing this as excused full-time duty in exchange for
Today, nationalistic rivalry aside, part of the holy pursuit of understand- a longer period of occasional service
the main practical point of contention ing, which Muhammad specifically to the government. Visiting foreign
is magic. Islam has no specific prohi- encouraged. wizards are tolerated, but seen as,
bition against magic, but its use for simply, foreigners with too much
evil has traditionally been severely The chief limit on Wazifi wizards is power; they are closely watched, and
punished, and idolatry, let alone con- that they are required to declare them- prosecuted if their activities ever
sorting with demonic beings, is selves on completing their course of include any sort of misdemeanor.
absolutely prohibited. This led to a basic studies, and then serve the
strong sense of disapproval towards Caliph’s government for two years, Wazifi magicians are much con-
magic among some Yrth Muslims. often in the army. Anyone found prac- cerned over the rising animosity
However, its usefulness in war and ticing magic who cannot prove that towards magic in al-Haz, fearing that
peace was too clear to ignore. they have done so will face a tricky someday they will be forbidden access
interrogation by a panel of mullahs to Geb’al-Din.

RELIGION 69

Shi’ites Because Sufi leaders are thought to created formal groups which face the
commune with God, their utterances Christian knightly orders on very sim-
Shi’ite Islam is based, as much as are often regarded as holy. Upon a par- ilar terms. Indeed, many Anglish-
anything, on opposition to the consen- ticularly holy Sufi’s death, he (or she) speakers refer to them as “knights”
sual majority, and faith in the wisdom becomes a saint, his grave a pilgrim- and even acknowledge that they meet
of the heirs of ‘Ali. Hence, it provided age site. the ideals of knighthood pretty well,
a spiritual home for many who doubt- for unbelievers. Warriors belonging to
ed the morality of magic when they Very orthodox Muslims sometimes any of these orders have a +2
first saw it on Yrth – especially as none regard Sufis as dangerous eccentrics Reputation in Islamic lands – and a +1
of the claimants to Shi’ite leadership or idolaters, especially as some in Christian lands.
status who appeared in those days had dervishes are relatively casual in their
any magical talent. Magic looked dan- obedience to sacred laws. Sufi orders’ The Ghazis of the
gerous and morally dubious to these attitudes to magic vary widely, but are Crescent Moon
people. more often favorable than hostile;
Sufis are traditionally tolerant, within Some of the best warriors in al-Haz
This suspicion hardened into broad limits. belong to this order. They are pledged
active hostility over the years. to the defense of Islam, though they
Although magic isn’t illegal in al-Haz, THE GHAZI don’t swear homage to the Sultan; the
it is closely monitored. It is generally ORDERS words of the Ulama carry greater
accepted that Allah will forgive wiz- weight with them.
ards who work for the good of Islam, The Muslim and Christian lands of
but, most Shi’ites believe, use of spells Yrth have been in contact for far The Ghazis
for any other purpose will lead the sor- longer than their medieval progeni- of the Pegasus
cerer to damnation. tors, and inevitably some ideas have
cross-fertilized. One such concept is The Order of the Pegasus, the chief
Some mullahs want to outlaw the idea of warrior “orders.” Wazifi “chivalric” order, is pledged to
magic entirely. As the Megalan threat the Caliph. They are ready to serve
declined over the years, their numbers Certainly, Islam always had its him at any moment and form the elite
grew; the Frontier Wars (p. 16) caused “ghazis” – warriors sworn to fight for core of his army. The most honored
some uncertainty, but when the the faith – but the ghazis of Yrth have Ghazis of the Pegasus also act as the
legionary advance was halted, the
sense of threat receded, replaced by a Nonhumans’ Views of
sense that magic was a tool of the infi- Human Religions
del. The radicals are still a minority; in
regions under their control, however, While elves and dwarves have their own religions or sets of beliefs
any display of arcane power is likely to (see p. 81) which appeal to them strongly, making conversions to human
attract swift, painful responses. faiths quite rare, some of the other races seem notably inclined to accept
human beliefs. The halflings, settled among larger human communities
Sufis all across Yrth, accepted human beliefs with apparently complete sin-
cerity; most are Christians, and some have risen in the priesthood. The
Sufis are Muslims of a mystical goblins, equally adaptable and fascinated by novelty, similarly tend to
bent; full-time Sufi mystics are known emulate the faith of their more numerous human neighbors, although
as dervishes. (The word “Sufi” may be many churchmen have a suspicion that they would convert to other
derived from suf, a coarse woolen faiths on a whim, if it were safe and interesting. If anyone says as much,
shirt worn by many dervishes.) Their goblins deny this with great shows of unhappiness. Their hobgoblin
ultimate goal is spiritual union with cousins show little interest in religion but go along with what seem like
the universe as the manifestation of good deals.
God. Sufis achieve this through spiri-
tual ecstasy brought on by chanting, Those reptile men who choose to live among humanity must be
fasting, harsh discipline, and intense “more human than humans” to be accepted. These rare individuals often
meditation. Some (the “whirling make extraordinarily devout converts.
dervishes”) use a rigorous dance.
Finally, orcs and their ilk seem fundamentally unable to accept
There are several dervish orders on human religious ideas. There are some genuine exceptions, and some
Yrth, usually organized around a spir- who simply misunderstand the nature of the business, but the clash of
itual leader. They often build “monas- temperament and instinct is usually simply too strong. The orcish idea
teries” in remote regions, where they of honor, which tends to involve destroying or despoiling lots of proper-
may concentrate on the divine. Unlike ty, doesn’t help. While priests and mullahs both deny that the devil could
Christian monks, however, Sufis do create a living race, there is a certain unavoidable tendency to wonder if
not take vows. They may sometimes orcs are inherently diabolical.
have wives and children, own proper-
ty, and pursue ordinary occupations.
Sufis do tend to the unconventional,
which is one reason why they accept a
few female dervishes.

70 RELIGION

Caliph’s bodyguard. Being Sunnis, of humanity’s arrival on Yrth, the raiding Megalan territory are caught
and more active in the wars against Kharijite name was resurrected. and hung as bandits, he makes no
Megalos due to the two powers’ protest; if they survive and return with
shared border, the Pegasi have little Today, Ytarrian Kharijites are gen- useful intelligence, his generals are
use for the Crescent Moon. The rivalry erally seen as an order of holy war- grateful.
between the two occasionally turns riors, although there are noncombat-
violent. ant Kharijite believers. They are most Kharijites don’t object to magic,
common in al-Wazif, where they have but they do not use it much. Any
The Warriors a number of powerful fortresses; al- Kharijite who does train as a wizard
of the Quill Haz regards them with deep suspicion chafes if his two-year service to the
for claiming association with the mur- Caliph is peaceful, demanding to be
The Warriors of the Quill are a reli- derers of ‘Ali. Kharijites are bitterly sent against the infidel.
gious order spread throughout opposed to the Hospitallers, whose
Muslim lands. They would agree that strongholds lie just across the border; In game terms, sincere Kharijites
“the pen is mightier than the sword,” the Frontier Wars saw many clashes in have both Fanaticism (sometimes
although they are also skilled in com- which any “chivalrous” rules of war- Extreme Fanaticism) and Intolerance
bat. They are expected to memorize fare were completely abandoned, and (directed at either Christians or all
the Koran and other Islamic works the Kharijites ache for another fight. non-Kharijites). The group has a
word for word. Their primary role is Reputation (+3 from fanatical
to preach, to teach, and to judge. It So far, their leaders have managed to
isn’t sufficient for them merely to say refrain from accusing the Caliph of Sunnis, +1 from merely dedicated
what is right or wrong; they must act cowardice or blasphemy for agreeing Sunnis, -2 from devout Shi’ites, -3
to promote Allah’s will. They include a truce. from Christians who know of their
everything from thoughtful and past behavior), and usually demands
devout warriors to bookish but ener- For his part, the Caliph sees the a Duty of members. It can also act as
getic teachers. Kharijites as useful – so long as they a Patron (treated as a powerful
can be kept on the border. If Kharijites organization).
MUSLIM
RADICALS AND
“HERETICS”

Some groups, starting out as
Muslims, have developed beliefs and
practices so heterodox as to make
them widely despised and sometimes
persecuted – if one recognizes most of
God’s reality but denies the rest, that
makes any following blasphemy
worse. Still, these cults include some
fanatics who regard themselves as
willing martyrs for truth.

Yrthian Kharijites

The Kharijites of Earth arose out of
the same political conflicts as the
Sunni-Shi’ite division. Originally
allied with ‘Ali, they rebelled when he
accepted adjudication in the dispute;
judgment, they declared, belonged to
God alone. So they murdered ‘Ali, and
declared that jihad – struggle, and for
them, specifically, holy war – was the
sixth pillar of Islam.

Ruthlessly moralistic and puritani-
cal, they were a persistent source of
trouble for early Muslim states until
they were more or less wiped out.
However, some apparently survived –
or at least their ideas remained inter-
esting to some Muslims. In the chaos

RELIGION 71

The Hashishin immediately evident. “Hashishin” is Candidates for the higher ranks are
the source of the English word “assas- selected for intelligence and the right
The Isma’ilis were a radical Shi’ite sin.” Members of the group simply call combination of dedication and mal-
splinter sect which arose on Earth in themselves “true believers” or some- leability, and are carefully mentally
the eighth century. They formed a thing similar. Their enemies often conditioned as they advance. Some
secret revolutionary society, given to think the Hashishin must indeed be receive training in magic.
finding hidden meanings in the drugged to pursue their suicidal
Koran. In 1090, a Persian-based group
broke away from the main body, and Hashishin Assassination
began a program of subverting and
taking over remote mountain fortress- Yrth has assassins of every stripe, from back-alley murderers to
es and – most famously – assassinat- refined courtly poisoners and the fearsomely professional Assassins’
ing its enemies. They became known Guild of Tredroy (p. 147). However, the most feared group of all is the
to outsiders as the Hashishin. cult which gave its name to the act of political murder. Hashishin are ter-
rifying because they are so demonstrably willing to die as well as to kill
The group’s fortresses on Earth for their beliefs. This terror suits them very well; indeed, it is as much the
were eventually destroyed, leaving point of their assassinations as the deaths of specific foes.
only a peaceful Isma’ili sect. However,
some Hashishin had been caught up Hashishin assassins are trained in disguise, stealth, and basic knife
by the Banestorm and brought to combat. Typically, working alone or in twos or threes, they get close to
Yrth, where they preserve their sinis- their target, then draw concealed blades and attack, aiming to land
ter traditions. killing blows before bodyguards or bystanders can intervene and cut
them down. They have no compunction about, say, attacking a victim at
Some of the more senior pro- Friday prayers, as they regard the rituals of mainstream Islam as hollow
claimed themselves leaders, claiming mockeries.
that they had a special, secret under-
standing of the truth – of the The Hashishin have also acquired some knowledge of magic. A sen-
Banestorm, why it had brought them ior initiate mage may operate in support of a mission, but will typically
here, and anything else that drew con- be miles away when the killers actually strike.
verts. As the sect had always claimed
there were many layers of secret doc- missions, but the plain fact is they are Hashishin Characters: All Hash-
trine accessible only to the “illuminat- religious fanatics who devoutly believe ishin have Extreme Fanaticism and a
ed” hierarchy, their followers accepted that death in service of their faith Duty, which for some fedayin is
this. They drew members from the guarantees them entrance to Paradise. Extremely Hazardous – although
confused and desperate and began many are left in place for years, spying
building fortresses in the mountains. Virtually every city in Islamic lands and establishing themselves in society,
They preserved secrecy as to their true (and, some say, beyond) harbors before they strike (and hence have a
nature for years; only gradually did secret Hashishin cults. Their theoreti- large and dangerous Secret). Those
the mainstream Muslim community cal goal is to spread their faith all who advance through the hierarchy
realize the old menace had returned, across Yrth, but this is a remote can gain levels of Rank in the cult. The
and some Hashishin communities prospect. They see themselves as pur- sect may represent a Patron, although
remain unidentified even today. Of suing a great, lengthy quest by slow it generally only grants aid that is
course, the sect’s talent for subversion stages – most of which involve elimi- directly appropriate to a mission.
and secret proselytizing helps. nating those who impede their
progress. However, their leadership In twisted campaigns, Hashishin
Their main headquarters, high in often shows subtlety in its choice of leaders may actually possess super-
the mountains of western al-Haz, is targets, eliminating rulers whose poli- human insights, and hence the
named Al-Amut, “The Eagle’s Nest,” cies would threaten the Hashishin in Illuminated advantage.
after their similar base on Earth; con- the long term. They try to spread
cealed by total secrecy and countless chaos as well as fear. Balikites
spells, it remains completely unknown
to outsiders. Their leader, known only In theory, Hashishin communities Balikites are followers of Balik
as the Old Man of the Mountains, are religious foundations which pur- Abdallah al-Firuz, a fanatical Shi’ite
dwells there and never leaves, but sue a kind of theological communism, mullah from northwestern al-Haz
determines their policy and – his fol- holding all property in common. In who preaches that magic is an abom-
lowers believe – communes with God. practice, they are a rigid theocratic ination. Balik has declared a jihad
hierarchy, in which higher ranks claim against practitioners of magic every-
“Hashishin” actually means “users higher levels of enlightenment. where; all magicians, he says, are
of hashish” – or, more colloquially, Ordinary members, known as fedayin, evil, and must be slain. Muslims
“thugs and ruffians.” The Yrth drug “self-sacrificers,” are required to serve, killed while trying to slay a mage are
which bears the name “hashish” is dif- kill, and die, without question. martyrs, earning instant admission to
ferent from that of Earth, but pro-
duces the same euphoric effect. Its
trade is banned in Islamic Yrth but
continues quietly regardless, making
the name more appropriate than is

72 RELIGION

Paradise. This belief makes Balikites more unwilling to serve the state. The Hashishin, and their tactics are cer-
totally fearless. Sultan has offered a fortune in gold to tainly similar. However, the two
any man who brings him Balik’s head. groups nurture mutual contempt as
Wizards throughout al-Haz have Balikites have also struck in al-Wazif, only two sets of fanatics can. The
fallen prey to Balikite gangs. Balik where, if caught, they are publicly tor- Balikites know that the Hashishin
himself has been condemned, some- tured to death. Mages in Islamic lands employ magic, while the Hashishin
what half-heartedly, by the Shi’ite have taken to hiring bodyguards, and note that the Balikites are ultra-con-
mullahs; the Sultan, however, hates imagine Balikites lurking in every ventional in most of their theology,
the Balikites with a passion. One of his shadow. and hence utterly opposed to Isma’ili
most trusted advisors was once doctrine. The only thing keeping the
dragged from his bed and flogged to The Balikites might appear to have two groups from each others’ throats
death because he was merely rumored something in common with the is that both have bigger targets.
to be a mage, and wizards grow ever
JUDAISM for some time, as there was insuffi-
The Jews of Earth at the time of the cient trade to support it and many
coming of the Banestorm were a scat- faiths. Hysterical mobs too often Jews turned their hands to more
tered people. Often forbidden to own blamed them for the “doom” which immediately useful skills, but reap-
land, they formed isolated communi- had fallen upon them. Some Jews sim- peared later as old constraints were re-
ties within the cities and towns of ply failed to find co-religionists to imposed. Some Jews found jobs as
Christian and Islamic kingdoms. Very marry. However, a few groups endured court advisors and physicians.
few substantial groups arrived on Yrth and worked diligently to locate and
together. aid others. Enough rabbis were found Yrth’s largest modern Jewish com-
to preserve essential traditions, munities are located in the cities of
And yet today, Judaism as a reli- although any distinction between Megalos and Tredroy. Others are
gion and the Jews as a race thrive in Jews from the Western and Islamic found in almost all human cities –
most of the major cities of Yrth. While worlds vanished.
there are pockets of intense anti- there are even a few in Sahud – and
Semitism in Caithness and Megalos, Meanwhile, Christian and Muslim indeed, wherever there is a place for
Jews are generally tolerated. Still for- kingdoms were being created by flexi- traders or doctors, two professions
bidden to own land or hold noble ble, pragmatic leaders, who remem- Jews tend to dominate. As on Earth,
titles, many are craftsmen, merchants, bered the practical usefulness of some have risen to important posi-
scholars and healers. Because their Jewish communities back on Earth, tions in Muslim courts. There are,
laws don’t explicitly forbid lending especially their reputation for medi- tragically, very occasional small-scale
money or charging interest – at least cine. Thus, many such leaders actively waves of persecution in both Christian
to non-Jews – many bankers are encouraged Jewish families to settle in lands and Muslim cities, usually when
Jewish. They have become, as on their areas, and protected them someone wants an excuse to destroy
Earth, a very important minority. against persecution. Jewish moneylenders’ records, but
most rulers hate to lose such useful
HISTORY The Jewish population grew, living, citizens, and punish rioters severely.
as on Earth, in close-knit groups
The history of the Jews on Earth, according to their own law.
as a people and as worshippers of one Moneylending actually disappeared
God, goes back to Old Testament
times. They proved stubborn, rebel-
lious subjects for the Roman Empire,
although as individuals many were
successful businessmen. Eventually,
the Romans responded to a Jewish
revolt by destroying the great Temple
of Jerusalem. This left the Jews scat-
tered and seeing themselves as exiles,
but they preserved their distinct iden-
tity. This “Diaspora” meant that indi-
vidual Jews and small groups were
caught up by banestorms in many
lands.

On Yrth, dispersed even more
widely than before, many perished or
were forcibly converted to other

RELIGION 73

THE PEOPLE OF death and resurrection of Christ, his Proverbs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes,
THE COVENANT redemption of humanity, and his har- Song of Solomon, Job, Esther) and the
rowing of Hell, the Torah focuses on Prophets (the remainder of the Old
Judaism, the predecessor-religion the liberation from Egypt, the gift of Testament). The Talmud is the collect-
to Christianity and Islam, has much in the Commandments, and being ed wisdom of the rabbis, with almost
common with those faiths. All Jews brought to the Holy Land. Jews in 2,000 years of scriptural interpreta-
believe that God is one and that man Christian Megalos and her holdings tion; this is the law by which Jews live.
was created in His image. Idolatry is usually keep this sort of thing to them- To study the Torah and the Talmud is
evil, as are murder and adultery. selves, but as with the Protestants (p. a holy act. Jews on Yrth learn a schol-
Charity is mandatory. The word of 55), this pragmatism does not lessen arly form of Hebrew to study the reli-
God is revealed in the Scriptures; His the fervor of their belief. gious texts; while they don’t consider
laws were given to the Jews through translated Judaic holy works as sacri-
Moses. There is some belief in Heaven Second, it is very difficult to lege, they stress that God’s word is best
and Hell, though this is less central to become a Jew. In general, one has to approached in its original tongue.
the faith; Judaism has little to say be born one. Jewish tradition holds
about the afterlife. that God made a covenant with the Orthodoxy
people of Israel, and they and their
Judaism stands apart in three descendants are His chosen. He cares By the standards of modern-day
things. The primary difference, which for them and will someday send the Earth Judaism, Yrthian Jews seem
cannot really be overstressed, is that Messiah to lead them back to the strongly Orthodox, dressing plainly
Jews do not believe in the divinity of Promised Land, where they will and following Talmudic laws closely.
Christ. To them, Jesus was a holy rebuild the Temple; in return, they However, this is a matter of commu-
rabbi, a great teacher, and a historical obey His Commandments and wor- nal identity, not religious obsession;
figure. He was not, however, the liter- ship Him alone. Jews do not seek most Jews are adaptable, and tolerant
al Son of God, and they argue that the converts – the People of the Covenant of other faiths and of minor lapses
Bible never portrays him as such. To a maintain their heritage by marrying among their own people.
Jew, the phrase “Son of God” applies within the faith. However, if a Jewess
to all people, just as their term binds herself to a Gentile (non-Jew), While Jewish laws are many and
“Daughter of the Tongue” refers to her offspring are considered Jewish; detailed, most of them amount to gen-
those women gifted with revelations. the line passes through the mother in eral concepts of good behavior, such
Judaism insists that while Jesus was Judaic tradition. as not stealing or committing adultery,
instrumental in bringing the Word to and are easy enough to obey in most
the people of his time, rendering him Third, Judaism is a literate religion. places; a fair range of kosher food is
divine lessens the achievements of his Most Jewish men and many women available wherever there is a substan-
simple mortality. Whereas the can read Hebrew. The Jewish scrip- tial Jewish community. Therefore,
Christian Bible turns heavily on the tures consist of three primary bodies there is no automatic game disadvan-
of text: The Law (the Pentateuch tage for living by Jewish law However,
or Torah), the Writings (Psalms, someone obsessive about the details of
such things might qualify for
Playing an Yrthian Jew Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism), while
someone keeping kosher in the
Jewish PCs would be perfectly possible in most campaigns, although absence of convenient arrangements
few Jews learn combat skills today (it was perforce a little more common might be considered to have a -5 point
shortly after the Banestorm first struck), and any who were known to Vow. Either would make Judaism
bear weapons or use combat magic would be regarded with extreme sus- hard to keep a Secret.
picion by less tolerant non-Jews. A Jewish character might have Social
Stigma (Second-Class Citizen), or even Social Stigma (Minority Group) Magic
if based in an area where prejudice is running particularly rife; this is the
GM’s option. Yrth’s Jews have a complex attitude
to magic. A number of ancient laws
Jewish converts to the dominant local religion receive a mixture of speak sternly against dealings with
respect (for having “seen the light”) and mistrustful disdain (as people “magicians,” but as it became clear, in
doubt their sincerity); this may rate as a minor negative Reputation the early days of humanity on Yrth,
(among bigots and religious fanatics), or Social Stigma (Second-Class that magic worked and was essential-
Citizen) if the general local attitude to the race is especially hostile. They ly secular, some rabbis made careful
also usually have a negative Reputation among other Jews. abstract studies to assess exactly what
was or wasn’t prohibited.
Of course, a practicing Jew passing as a Christian or Muslim would
have a dangerous Secret. On the other hand, Jews are so rare in Sahud They concluded that some magic
or the Nomad Territories that few locals have any sort of opinion about followed natural philosophy and
them at all, except perhaps for mild curiosity. could be lawful, so long as the user
was scrupulous about refraining from
forbidden studies. Banned topics
include most forms of necromancy
and anything involving demons,

74 RELIGION

period. Any procedure which requires Berakhot and Kashrut
sacrifices or ceremonial invocation of
spirits is prohibited as idolatry. Observant Jews live their lives by strict rules of conduct. This is most
Divination is regarded with caution at clearly seen in the berakhot, or blessings, small rituals which accompany
best, since it attempts to determine a broad spectrum of everyday actions and serve as a reminder that there
the will of God; this branch of magic is is no human behavior in which man cannot be met by God.
usually avoided. Healing spells, on the
other hand, are accepted as fine and The dietary law called kashrut (adj. kosher) says meats and dairy
humane; Judaism is less inclined than products may not be served at the same meal; in practice, some Jews will
other religions to regard suffering as a do so, but keep separate plates and utensils for each. Marine animals
punishment or a test. lacking fins and scales are prohibited, and no animal may be eaten
unless it chews cud and has a split hoof. Animals should be killed in a
The written judgments of various prescribed fashion. Certain foods, such as matzah and gefilte fish, are
rabbis concerning magic were collect- mandated for specific occasions. Rabbis have determined that hardings
ed and now form part of the curricu- and woolens (p. 229) are kosher, but milkfish (p. 229) are not.
lum of every rabbinical school. Many
Jews are hesitant to approach spell- Occasionally, messianic cult leaders RABBIS AND
casting, but others study the art suc- arise, proclaiming the Jews should CANTORS
cessfully. Unfortunately, some preju- make Yrth their own, but these
diced Christians or Muslims find the remain a minority. Like Muslims, Jews hold that one
idea of Jewish “wizards and witches” does not need the aid of a priest to
terrifying, leading to vicious persecu- Another less popular theory sug- serve God correctly. There was once a
tions, so Jewish mages tend to be very gests Yrth is merely another phase of Jewish priesthood, but it was scat-
discreet – but they do exist, and some the Diaspora, and that Jews should be tered when the Romans destroyed the
of these baal shem (“masters of the less inclined to settle here in comfort. Temple. Judaism’s “clergy,” the rabbis,
name”) are highly skilled and respect- “Diasporists” occasionally conduct are teachers above all.
ed. Flamboyant or morally careless magical research into ways to return
Jewish mages earn, at minimum, a -3 to Earth, but most simply long for the To become a rabbi on Yrth, one
Reputation in the Jewish community. Messiah. A third, small faction, the must study at a rabbinical school in
mystical “Zebulunists,” identify the one of the major cities. Having
Attitudes Toward Yrth Jews of Yrth with the Lost Tribes of achieved the required knowledge of
Israel, despite their known origins. All the Scriptures and the Talmud, the
The experience of the Banestorm hear occasional rumors of the state of new rabbi must find a congregation
was in some ways even more traumat- Judaism on Earth but often have great to hire him. He enters into a contract
ic for Jews than others; some won- difficulty believing them. with the community, under which he
dered if God was once again casting leads group prayer and interprets the
them out, putting them far beyond Talmud in exchange for financial sup-
even the hope of the Promised Land. port. Like all good Jews, rabbis are
On the other hand, they were used to expected to marry and have children.
the idea of being scattered and A rabbi has Clerical Investment; while
exiled, and they never thought one is not absolutely required for a
their exile would end without synagogue to function – any adult
the coming of the Messiah – and male Jew in good standing can per-
when the Messiah did appear, he form the offices – most Jews see reli-
would obviously be able to lead gious ceremonies as a rabbi’s job. If
them back to Earth. no rabbi is available, the preferred
leader of services is one of the tribe of
In fact, a common school of Levi, the teachers of Jewish tradition.
thought in Yrthian Judaism says However, rabbis cannot purchase lev-
that Yrth is a land given as much els of Religious Rank; there is no rab-
to Jews as to any other peoples, binical hierarchy. An especially senior
and hence it can be regarded to rabbi, respected for wisdom and
some extent as a “secondary learning, will have a positive
promised land.” Contrary to gar- Reputation among Jews, however.
bled reports, few if any Jews
think that Yrth is the Promised Cantors are members of the con-
Land – that can only be on Earth gregation selected to be the chief
– but most hold the comforting singer and leader of the liturgy in a
belief that Ytarria can be a “new synagogue. They require no formal
Zion.” The tolerant city of training.
Tredroy (p. 142) is even seen as
something of a second
Jerusalem, the main synagogue
there as almost a new Temple.

RELIGION 75

OTHER RELIGIONS

While the monotheistic jugger- land, sky, flora, and fauna with spirits Roman Empire. The truth of this
nauts have dominated Ytarrian and powers of their own. assertion is unknown. Whether these
humanity from the first days of the beliefs survived in the shadows of
Banestorm, other human religions While the often bewildering array Christianized Europe or were
have proven remarkably resilient on of pagan cults share few beliefs, what Banestorm-delivered to Yrth from
the fringes. Unwilling emigrants from they do share is fairly universal. other worlds, if not both, is equally in
Earth often clung to these faiths as Primarily, they are polytheistic; they question. In any case, priests of this
comforting reminders of traumatical- worship many deities, each governing “Old Religion” often insist on being
ly lost homes; also, such systems of some region or aspect of the natural called druids – or witches, wise ones,
belief have become badges of individ- world. While there might be one chief or “horned ones,” as just a few exam-
uality for minority groups. Their devo- god, and while some different gods ples. Some groups are fiercely patriar-
tees also claim they survive persecu- might actually turn out to be different chal; others have mostly or all female
tion because they receive direct aid names for the same being, pagans priesthoods.
from their deities. reject the core claim of monotheism. A
pagan may choose to worship a single Indeed, the “Old Religion” is so fac-
PAGANISM deity, but he would consider it point- tionalized, it’s hard to call it a single
less and dangerously rude to deny that faith; every cult and circle seems to
On Yrth, paganism is defined as a others exist. have its own ideas about every detail.
set of religions based on Europe’s
pre-Christian beliefs, combined in The Goddess is an amalgamation of several old
practice with many other ideas. European nature goddesses, with elements of the
While the word “pagan” naturally elven Eternal added. She embodies birth, growth,
carries negative associations in the and summer. Her consort, the Horned God, brings
Empire, precise theologians point out death, war, and winter.
that the collective term itself is only
used for convenience and implies The Nomad Lands (p. 167) are a However, all practice a form of nature
nothing good or bad. pagan stronghold; otherwise, such worship, honoring nature, joy in life,
faiths linger secretly in rural commu- bravery, strength and wisdom; some
Initial pagan populations came nities and hidden cults (see p. 53). treat prowess in battle as the highest
from several sources. A small but sig- Paganism’s popularity is, in fact, stag- good. Priests often study magic, which
nificant fraction of early Banestorm nating; aside from the danger, pagans they view as a natural force only made
victims came from lands or worlds tend to assume at heart that other good or evil by action or intent.
Christianity and Islam had not lands have their own gods. Importing
reached. Also, some claim paganism one sect’s beliefs into a distant land In general, this strain of paganism
survived secretly even among would not only be presumptuous but recognizes two primary deities.
medieval Christians and Muslims. perhaps insulting, to both the faithful Names vary, but the first is most often
Amidst the chaos and confusion of there and their deities. called Mother Earth or simply the
those first days, some new Ytarrians Goddess. She is an amalgamation of
believed their one God had abandoned Pagan priests have Clerical several old European nature goddess-
them. Face with an unfamiliar moon Investment but almost never Religious es, dating from the Greeks on, with
in the sky, intelligent nonhuman Rank; most cults are simply not large elements of the elven Eternal added.
beings in the forests and mountains, enough for hierarchical organization. She embodies birth, growth, and
and secular magic in the hands of Where paganism is a major public summer. Her consort, the Horned
mortals, some despaired that the Bible religion, a priest will have some level God, brings death, war, and winter.
and Koran were utterly unreliable. of positive Status; elsewhere, the posi- Yet druids point out this is often inter-
tion carries a dangerous Secret. preted too simply: the Goddess has
In this situation, the idea of a less her tyrannical, consuming side, and
ordered metaphysical realm – perhaps The “Old Religion” the Horned God, as death, also repre-
with multiple gods – presented what sents transition. He is the keeper of all
seemed a sensible alternative, and Many rural pagans claim their portals. Without him, rebirth is
some pagan believers found interested faith goes back to the Celts and impossible.
audiences. Many such simply desired German tribes who opposed the
to make sense of their new world,
which had a disturbing tendency to
wax abruptly strange just as it seemed
to be settling into something like nor-
malcy. Like many of their forebears,
these folk eventually embraced reli-
gions that intruded much more literal-
ly into the mortal world, infusing the

76 RELIGION

Upon death, souls are said to rein- than symbolic, they usually consist of in trust until springtime. Other sym-
carnate into animals or intelligent fruit, grain, or occasionally an animal. bols vary from group to group, but the
beings, over and over again – provid- A very few sects practice human sacri- sickle, pentagram, and ear of wheat
ing worshippers with a sort of basic fice. Some also consume the flesh of are common. Still, as with all the Old
optimism: while they have no expecta- their enemies to gain their strength, Religion, their meanings and uses
tion of Heaven, they have no fear of partly in celebration of victory, partly vary from cult to cult. Ceremonial
Hell either, and some hope of a better out of reverence for their opponents; garb may range from long robes and
life next time around. these are rare indeed, and often live stag-horned helms to “sky-clad” –
far from what most Ytarrians consid- nothing at all.
Rituals both celebrate and mourn er civilization.
the changing of the seasons, phases of Greco-Roman Cults
the moon, weather, and natural cycles Both the oak tree and mistletoe are
of birth and death. Ceremonies are sacred to the Mother. The former, In some places on Yrth, humans
always conducted outdoors, often on sometimes called The Lord of Truth, is worship the Olympians, the gods of
the night of the full or new moon; said to house the elixir of life itself, the ancient Greeks and Romans.
some are solemn, some joyous, some from which humanity sprang. These beliefs may have arrived in
frenzied or darkly disturbing. The Mistletoe, which often twines in the Ytarria via routes like those taken by
most important occur at the solstices branches of oak trees, stays green in the “Old Religion,” but many suspect
and equinoxes and usually involve winter when the oak is leafless; it is they were revived by Simon Menelaus
dancing, singing, ritual processions, thought the vining plant, so often con- – whose Empire was a conscious emu-
and sacrifice. If sacrifices are more sidered a parasite, holds the oak’s life lation of Rome – and then cast aside
as too confusing for the populace.
The Problem of Paganism These sects are now mostly secret,
sometimes becoming mystery cults
It’s obvious to anyone who studies the pagan religions of Yrth that (see p. 53) as Christianity and Islam
they cannot all be literally correct; there are too many contradictions. both seek to stamp them out. Most
Those who know something of the universe’s true nature can see even common in large cities, Greco-Roman
larger problems. It’s also clear, to anyone who has enough dealings with centers of worship often have wealthy
them, that the pagan priests do sometimes make contact with conscious, aristocratic adherents, thanks to
supernatural, often powerful beings. curiosity, impatience with the Church,
or tradition.
Most Christian and Muslim theologians have little difficulty with this.
The pagan “gods,” they say, are actually Hell-spawned demons, tempting Ytarrian believers hold that the
the gullible with false promises. If they don’t generally require their faith- Roman and Greek gods are the same,
ful to perform overtly evil acts and even appear benevolent, this simply despite differences in name and some-
shows they have cunning, long-term plans. More sophisticated thinkers times traditional nature. Any given
suggest there may be subtle categories of fallen angels and “airy spirits”; cult is usually devoted to a single deity,
the pagan “gods,” while deceptive and not actually divine, may not be although others may be invoked.
demonic either, but are certainly self-interested, claiming far more than Worship usually consists primarily of
they can deliver so they can bask in the worship of their victims. sacrifices. Goats, fowl, fruit and wine
are most frequent; human sacrifice is
Cynical agnostic wizards (and perhaps some observers from high- very rare, and usually explicitly con-
tech universes) suspect this is close to the truth, although they dismiss demned. In return, the god is expected
talk about “fallen angels” as being unnecessarily mystical. There are to grant requests – a tricky business,
clearly spirits – powerful, immaterial, supernatural entities, possibly of since the Olympians are a fickle and
extra-dimensional origin – on Yrth, and some of them seem to profit temperamental lot. A request out of
from worship. Setting themselves up as gods is probably just shrewd proportion to the sacrifice made, one
strategy. Whether any of them also had access to Earth and did the same which goes against the god’s nature, or
there is an interesting but largely abstract question. one which merely catches the deity in
the wrong mood is likely to fail . . . per-
Pagans themselves dislike such discussions and differ as to whether haps disastrously.
all their gods exist. Some insist virtually every religious belief is literal-
ly correct and dismiss any contradictions as “higher mysteries”; others Major gods include the following,
accept that some stories may be garbled, although most hold that sto- listed by Greek name, then Roman.
ries, however presented, usually hide truth or metaphorical lessons at
their core. Many believe that the same god may be known by different • Zeus/Jupiter, king of gods, men,
names, showing one face here, another there; traveling pagans may seek and the weather.
to identify some local deity with their own chosen favorite and then fol-
low local customs regarding his worship. This can get complicated; • Hera/Juno, Zeus’ wife, goddess of
regardless of whether Zeus, Thor, Indra, and the Spirit of the Lightning marriage and patron of wives.
Spell really are the same being, their characters and modes of worship
differ substantially. • Apollo, god of truth, prophecy,
archery, music, medicine, and the sun.

• Athena/Minerva, goddess of wis-
dom and household crafts, often wor-
shipped by classical scholars.

RELIGION 77

• Ares/Mars, the god of war, whose with the Horned God – usually by life will cease. The giant Surt will set
worship among common soldiers and patriarchal and bloody-handed cults fire to Yggdrasil, the great ash that
gladiators is tolerated and even who pay mere lip service to Mother links the nine worlds; all will burn and
encouraged by some Megalan com- Earth. The people of these lands often wither. Then a new, idyllic world, free
manders. see nature as a source of problems of pain and battle, will arise.
rather than as a benign provider, so
• Aphrodite/Venus, goddess of love avoiding naming her is sometimes Magical Cults
and beauty. seen as the best way to avoid her
wrath. Thor, god of thunder and bat- Some pagan cults focus on imme-
• Artemis/Diana, the huntress, also tle, is often invoked in a cursory way diate supernatural effects rather than
goddess of childbirth and midwives. by warriors of the coastal regions, on worship. These “magical cults”
who say he would not expect more of vary; some are little more than confi-
• Demeter/Ceres, responsible for those with battle on their minds. Loki, dence games, perpetrated by wizards
agriculture, crops, grain and fruit. the trickster-god of fire, is sometimes pretending to perform “blessings and
blamed for misfortunes, in a supersti- curses.” Such fakery can be hard to
• Poseidon/Neptune, lord of the sea tious way, but never worshipped. pull on someone familiar with the
(paid lip service by many superstitious capabilities of secular magic – but
Christian sailors). Cults that take Norse belief as a that’s hardly everyone on Yrth. Other
whole are extremely rare but exist here true cultists seem to have contacted
• Hermes/Mercury, messenger of and there. They worship the full pan- genuine supernatural beings, albeit
the gods, patron of commerce, inven- theon of their gods, propitiating some, not usually anything meriting the
tion, cunning and theft, and hence warding themselves against others. term “god.” A few cults, mostly based
popular among urban thieves, but also They have little tolerance for those in high-mana areas, teach their priest-
associated with magic. neighbors who pick what they like hood a handful of spells, enabling
from the mythology and ignore the them to retain the loyalty of their fol-
• Hephaestus/Vulcan, god of rest, but being somewhat fatalistic, lowers; such priests may sincerely
smiths and artisans. believe their power comes from a
deity.
• Dionysus/Bacchus, god of wine,
fertility, revelry and drama. (Rumor At least one group, known as the
says that Emperor Diophrates himself Cult of Spells, has a complex pan-
occasionally invokes Dionysus.) theon they claim is linked to the
source of all magic. Its priests use
The Religion spells themselves, but “respectfully”
of Bilit Island and in a ritualistic context. The Cult
claims to despise ordinary wizards,
The beliefs of those who found themselves on Bilit Island merged and regarding them as enslavers and
synthesized to produce a faith of dark and bloody gods. Most hailed from abusers of sacred power; still, its most
Mesoamerican myth, with a few stray inclusions from Asia and else- senior members acknowledge that
where. The all-too-obvious presence of powerful and bizarre creatures these pretenders are touched by divin-
on the island serves to confirm the worshippers’ dour pessimism. ity, even as they mock it. A few devo-
tees take it upon themselves to punish
The deities of Bilit include the gods of rain (Chac), sun (Kin), death such “abuse” but are rarely powerful
(Kisin), war (Bulac Chabtan), and others; few of them are anything enough to defeat the protections of the
resembling benevolent. The natives of Bilit are not so foolhardy as to ask powerful wizards they select as tar-
their deities for anything, but they regularly appease them with sacri- gets. Mostly, the Cult of Spells remains
fices. These usually involve animals, jewelry, or the carefully extracted in hiding from the religious and wiz-
blood or pain of the worshippers themselves – the higher the social class, ardly persecution which it has drawn
the better. Such offerings are not usually fatal, but full human sacrifices upon itself. Its believers are constantly
do sometimes take place; this is infrequent, less out of restraint than seeking more of the thaumatological
because the victim has to be ritualistically and symbolically perfect. lore which they hold sacred, and
sometimes they acquire enough
Bilit’s gods are fastidious in their unceasing hunger – though some, power to become a local problem.
such as Kisin, are less fussy. Still, those who manage to stay in their good
graces possess remarkable, often frightening abilities. Their hereditary HINDUISM
priests have tremendous power – political and magical – second only to
their quasi-divine kings, and sometimes superior. The Banestorm didn’t take many
victims from the Indian subcontinent,
For more on this ominous island, see p. 108. but small, isolated villages of Hindus,
mostly of Balinese descent, can be
Norse Cults they accept this, continue to live by found in southern Araterre and other
their precepts, and await Ragnarok, out-of-the-way regions.
The Norse deities are sometimes the great battle at the end of time.
worshipped in the Nomad Lands, Gods and men will fight and fall beside
although the “Old Religion” is domi- one another; seas will boil with the poi-
nant there; Odin, all-father of the son of the Midgard Serpent; almost all
Norse pantheon, is often identified

78 RELIGION

“Hinduism” is in fact a compendi- a common set of teachings, though merely souls in various powerful
um of beliefs; Hindu culture has thou- they may disagree on details. Today, incarnations. It isn’t necessary to wor-
sands of deities, some worshipped Buddhism is a minority faith in Sahud ship gods to attain Nirvana, and a
only in small areas. The issue is cloud- and an exotic rarity elsewhere. Even in man can exceed the gods in holiness.
ed further by claims that some are exceptionally tolerant Kinkaku,
aspects, avatars, or incarnations of Buddhism is partly distrusted but not Those who are believed to have
others. Indeed, some believers say actually prohibited; its teachings are reached or be approaching Nirvana
Hinduism is ultimately monotheistic, thought to lead to disrespect for social are looked to for spiritual guidance.
and all these gods are aspects of the order. While occasionally fashionable Yrthian Buddhism, borrowing from
same divinity, known as the Brahman. among eccentric intellectuals in various Earth traditions, recognizes
Ytarrian Hindus often revere Vishnu, Cardiel, Buddhism is persecuted by three categories; the arhat, or disciple,
Krishna (as an aspect of Vishnu), Christian or Muslim authorities in who is approaching enlightenment;
Shiva, Shakti, and Lakshmi, among most of Yrth. the buddha, who has achieved it; and
others. A few cults of Kali exist as the bodhisattva, who has postponed
well, though these always practice in
secret, since most monotheists and A soul’s next life depends on its karma,
even many Hindus regard the four- the sum of its good and bad deeds in its
armed goddess as more nightmare current incarnation. Unrighteous persons
than deity. Priests of Shiva are a may be reborn as worms, dogs, or even
notable exception. demons.

Hindus believe in reincarnation, Ytarrian Buddhist monasteries, his own attainment of Nirvana to
calling this cycle of life samsara. A centers of contemplation and study, remain in the world and guide others.
soul’s next life depends on its karma, are traditionally established in remote How one may recognize such beings
the sum of its good and bad deeds in regions, especially in mountains. for certainty, if one is not oneself
its current incarnation. Unrighteous Although Buddhists excel at convinc- enlightened, is unclear; most
persons may be reborn as worms, ing dwarves or elves of their harmless- Buddhists treat all monks and respect-
dogs, or even demons. The righteous ness, local dragons and trolls are less ed teachers as at least arhats, if only
may become human again, with a sta- inclined to be reasonable. For this rea- out of politeness. Various legendary or
tion and status proportionate to their son among others, Buddhist monks historical figures are accepted to have
righteousness. Exceptionally holy have revived their practice of the mar- been bodhisattvas.
individuals are allowed to pass the Veil tial arts. Several such monasteries
of Maya, which shrouds the true exist around the Sahud-Zarak border; Ytarrian Buddhism has teachers,
nature of existence from all human a few can be found in the Nomad but no priests as such; it regards the
eyes. Released from the cycle of Lands, where the locals regard the idea of intercession with the divine as
rebirth, such souls dwell restfully with monks as touched by the gods and misguided. Ceremonies tend to be
the gods. treat them with respect, even when the conducted in small groups, and are
monks deny that such gods exist. essentially private; marriage is seen as
Hindus on Yrth have preserved Traditionally, Buddhist monks live on a secular matter. Teachers often have
only a minimal version of the caste alms received from believers; in prac- good Reputations with fellow
system; in any case, priestly Brahmins tice, some Yrthian monasteries are Buddhists and other advantages, plus
often have to keep their religious role landlords to neighboring villages. Disciplines of Faith (Asceticism or
secret. Hence, Hindu priests usually Mysticism), and usually a Secret, but
have Clerical Investment (and often a Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in lack Clerical Investment. Buddhist
large Secret, in intolerant areas) but reincarnation; they also hold that life monks have Disciplines of Faith
no Religious Rank or automatic is pain and suffering. The world is an (Monasticism). Buddhist “holy men”
Status. They are generally respected in illusion in which humanity languish- are noted for their ability to annoy
their communities, but this may es. Through wisdom and meditation, inquisitors of other faiths; they are,
amount only to a local Reputation. one can realize and transcend the after all, dedicated to the idea of tran-
Such figures are usually literate in the emptiness of the world, breaking the scending suffering. Buddhist scholars
classical language Sanskrit. cycle of suffering, thus reaching must be literate in Pali and, if possible,
Nirvana – an unknowable state of eter- Sanskrit, the ancient Indian languages
BUDDHISM nal bliss. If there are gods, they are of their sacred texts.

Various forms of Buddhism arrived
at scattered points around Yrth,
including both Sahud and some
remote southern communities. While
it had split into various branches on
Earth, Buddhist teachers in Ytarria –
who have somehow managed to
build and maintain communications –
buried their differences and established

RELIGION 79

SAHUDESE An’Fo’Tama Monks
RELIGION
The Buddhist monastery of An’Fo’Tama is located in the mountains
Religion in Sahud evolved from a of northern Zarak, far even from the nearest dwarven community; the
collision between faiths and philoso- monks seek to avoid distractions while they study and meditate, and few
phies from China and Japan, includ- people are interested in making the long, hard journey to disturb them.
ing Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, and However, some monks occasionally venture into the world, seeking other
Confucianism. These mixed further sources of wisdom. Sometimes they emerge to deal with personal mat-
with stray ideas from other lands and ters they choose to resolve directly, despite their belief that suffering
other worlds, as well as assorted peas- should be transcended, not confronted. A few monks are apparently
ant beliefs and superstitions. exiled for some misdemeanor. Most are male, but the monastery has a
Relatively few priests or monks came small annex for female members.
over with the initial population, so a
great many unorthodox, often garbled The An’Fo’Tama pursue some unusual forms of meditation in com-
doctrines, recited from memory by parison with most Buddhists, although probably nothing dubious
non-experts, were accepted as truth. enough to draw censure from those who share their faith. Moreover,
their meditational disciplines sometimes grant them extraordinary abil-
Since then, no one has managed to ities. For details on these skills and further character specifications, see
disentangle any of the original individ- Mystic Lenses, p. 213.
ual religions well enough to establish
distinct traditions. The Sahudese than Christian sense. But Buddhism most impressive melding of different
themselves seem happy with the teaches that there are no gods, and to spiritual practices on Yrth . . . or the
results, although their beliefs are regard any entity as a god is to will- most literally unholy mess ever con-
immensely confusing to visitors. The ingly pull the wool over one’s own ceived. Ytarrian Christians and
language barrier only complicates the eyes. Still, the Sahudese make it work, Muslims tend to assume the latter.
matter. For more on the spirits of Yrth to the marvel and horror of most
and Sahudese attitudes toward them, Megalans. Within Shinto, the Buddha The Heavenking
see pp. 8 and 151. tends to be viewed as another Kami;
Buddhism in turn considers the Kami The monarch of Sahud is regarded
A Stew of Beliefs to be manifestations of various as a god by his subjects, who appear to
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. believe this world is heaven. It is, after
Taoism, based largely on the I all, where the gods live, they say. Thus,
Ching, is a particularly strong influ- The interaction of these four their ruler is the king of Heaven, and
ence in Sahud, followed closely approaches is daunting enough, but divine. What remains disturbingly
by Confucianism, popular among things don’t stop there. Included in unclear to the Empire is whether the
the governing classes – which is this potpourri of belief are myths and Sahudese believe their Heavenking
befuddling enough for anyone at all practices from Mongolia, Siberia, and has the right to command the other
familiar with these two traditions. pre-Columbus North America, which divine beings which dwell in his
Taoist heritage emphasizes individ- are simply too bewilderingly diverse to domain. It has proven unwise to ask
ual freedom and spontaneity, mysti- go into here. Suffice it to say that a this question of the locals; in any case,
cal experience, and self-transforma- typical Sahudese’s form – perhaps the Heavenking, cloistered in his
tion. Confucianism concerns itself forms – of worship may represent the palace, is far less accessible to most
with personal moral duties, commu- Sahudese than their gods.
nity standards, and conformity to
traditional social roles. In short, The Heavenking is also the closest
Taoism encourages dynamic behav- thing to a high priest in Sahud.
ior, while Confucianism stresses Whenever a national crisis arises, it is
stability. Still, both belief systems at his duty to make sacrifices on the
base urge one to cultivate character behalf of his subjects. Similarly, a clan
and a sense of responsibility, albeit in leader acts on behalf of his clan, and a
very different ways. A Taoist would father for his family. Some traders
say this only represents another have suggested this explains why the
manifestation of the yin-yang which Sahudese place such importance on
permeates all life. Non-Sahudese honor or “face” (p. 150); if a man has
usually just shake their heads, or nod been dishonored or shamed, the gods
them and change the topic. are less likely to listen to his prayers.
However, it may be just as true to say
The pantheistic beliefs of Shinto that this is an aspect of a social phi-
further snarl the situation, especially losophy which values propriety above
placed next to Buddhism. Much of all else.
Shinto involves worshipping the
Kami; this term usually translates
as “gods,” but more in the Hindu

80 RELIGION

NONHUMAN RELIGIONS

Though Earth religions dominate mind. While anchaliel are the closest than a group united against orcs, but
Ytarria, many of the nonhumans – thing elves have to priests, they are in over the centuries their spiritual views
indeed, almost all of the elves and no way necessary to elven worship of have diverged from the mainstream.
dwarves – follow their own faiths. the Eternal. A solitary elf who never They believe in using magic to
sees a dryad can be extremely pious. improve on nature, guiding it actively
THE ETERNAL toward union with the Eternal. Most
Elves find most human religious elves consider this perverted and dan-
The religions of the Elder Folk, doctrines horribly constrictive. While gerous. Plants and wildlife near dark-
while distinct, are all based on the a handful have converted to human elven villages are often visibly altered,
concept of the Eternal. This is envi- religions, very few have adopted even monstrous to outsiders’ eyes.
sioned as a vast, perfect conscious- Christianity or Islam. Hinduism and They sometimes use these creations
ness, omnipresent and unchanging. Sahudese beliefs are much more com- for defense. Anchaliel of this stripe are
The worshipper’s goal is to understand patible with their culture. extremely dangerous.
it, emulate it, and eventually become
one with it. Nonsapient beings like “Return with your shield or on it”
animals, plants, and rocks are also translates into Dwarvish as “Better a
slowly ascending to the Eternal in broken axe than a bent knee.”
their own way. Indeed, their lack of
conscious choice makes it easier for
them, and thus the elves revere trees;
the dwarves, stone. As the universe
grows naturally out of primal chaos,
the Eternal is seen as both the prime
creative power in the universe and as
its emerging unity. Eventually, all will
become the Eternal.

Elves Sea Elves Dwarves

The elves worship the Eternal as it The aquatic elves worship the Dwarves worship the Eternal in
is found in animals and plants, partic- Eternal as manifest in the ocean: vast, stone and metal. Like the elves, they
ularly trees. The arboreal qualities nurturing, and calm, but irresistible. practice patience and endurance. If a
they revere are slow growth, silence, They experience the ocean from marble column can bear a mountain
endurance, living within life’s cycles, beneath its surface; the waves and for centuries without complaint, a
and the ability to stand firm against storms above have little meaning to dwarf can endure hardships as stoical-
troubles but to bend before breaking. them. As to their great losses during ly. However, they don’t believe in qui-
the Banestorm, they lay most of the etly swaying aside from great troubles.
Elves also respect the interconnect- blame at the feet of the dark elves. “Return with your shield or on it”
ed web of ecology and strive to find Still, some of the damage is consid- translates into Dwarvish as “Better a
their proper place in it. Most elven ered their own failure: had they been broken axe than a bent knee.” They
homes are living shelters formed from more like the sea, they might have sur- also don’t regard life as cyclical, but
carefully tended trees and brush. They vived the Banestorm better, by encom- rather as a series of small, gradual
do their best to take only what they passing the threat and engulfing it changes toward an ideal state.
need. Indeed, most of what they con- from all sides. Their current philoso-
sider “sinful” behavior revolves phy of rebuilding diverse strength Dwarves seek spiritual perfection
around waste. Immoral acts such as before directing it anywhere also fol- in their craft. Creating things that
unnecessary deforestation, murder, lows from their reverence for the endure is good. If elves despise waste,
and sloth are all defined in terms of ocean. dwarves hate pointless destruction.
waste. Thus it’s no surprise that elves The two are not the same thing; dwar-
and orcs (see p. 82) don’t get along. Humans almost never encounter ven woodworkers will carve away
the anchaliel of the sea elves; nine-tenths of a block of wood to get
Elves don’t have organized religion those who do sometimes call them the axe-handle they need, enhancing
and churches; nor do they usually “nereids,” after Poseidon’s retinue. its value as they do so. The state of
proselytize. Those who have come dwarf-orc relations is as bad as could
closest to the Eternal sometimes serve Dark Elves be expected, considering the latter’s
as guides, advisors, and ritual leaders penchant for aimless ruination.
for others. They are called anchaliel in The “Defenders of the Shaded
Elvish and are almost always powerful Woodlands” began as nothing more
wizards with a deep understanding of
trees. Many humans refer to them as
“dryads,” and the elves don’t seem to

RELIGION 81

Converted Humans mass of potential which Bozdaag had
ripped from the void. Devotees of
Almost all humans on Yrth – certainly over 95% – follow human reli- Bozdaag hold that he forged the
gions. A few, however, find something appealing in the faiths of other world out of chaos, and Uunkuy
races. Some pagans incorporate aspects of Eternal-worship into their merely polished it and added point-
beliefs or borrow legends from Loren’dil (p. 22); these latter deities are less decorations. Both Uunkuy and
sometimes presented as the Greco-Roman gods under other names. Bozdaag supposedly have influence
Other humans follow the Eternal in its pure form, usually emulating on Yrth, though Uunkuy has very few
elves or gnomes. A few barbarians worship the reptile men’s Bozdaag true followers.
(below), finding him appealingly direct.
Goblins
A handful of arrogant humans have believed they could become gods
as dragons do. When they went to the dragons for advice, the best On Gabrook, almost all goblins and
response was patronizing laughter. some hobgoblins followed Uunkuy. In
addition to civilization, Uunkuy was
Dwarves see the Eternal in the Orcs and Ogres responsible for agriculture, medicine,
materials under their hands. A crafts- magic, trade, and the like. Acting for
man’s product should be functional Orcs believe the Eternal is out to the good of society and properly
and beautiful, but most of all it should destroy them. It’s obviously much enjoying the fruits thereof was virtu-
last. The great dwarven halls are as stronger than they are and sends ous; giving in to destructive urges was
much shrines as they are homes, for storms, diseases, and enemies. Worse, sinful. The religion was highly struc-
every arch and column embodies the it is by definition impossible to tured, with the equivalent of priests,
Eternal. destroy the Eternal, and thus no orc archpriests, bishops, and archbishops.
can ever control it (see p. 165). The The Mouth of Uunkuy, a goblin who
In dwarven culture, both civic lead- idea that emulating the Eternal is the spoke directly for their god, oversaw
ers and master craftsmen fill priestly whole point of life falls on deaf ears – the entire religion.
roles. The leaders perform ritual to orcs, the struggle is never the point.
duties and officiate at weddings and Victory is, and victory means destroy- On Yrth, the goblins made the
similar ceremonies. The master crafts- ing things before someone else does, transition from Uunkuy-worship to
men provide moral and spiritual guid- the Eternal or otherwise. What little Christianity relatively smoothly. There
ance. Creating a whole and sound formal religion orcs have is mostly a were enough similarities that some
adult dwarf from the fresh ore of a series of warnings: “The world is out early converts believed only the names
newborn is seen as requiring skills to get you! Get it first!” had changed, with Bozdaag becoming
very like those of metalworkers and Satan. Few goblins still follow
stone-carvers. Legendary orc heroes are seen as Uunkuy, though many use his name
having betrayed, outsmarted, or out- when cursing.
Few dwarves adopt human reli- fought the Eternal; orc wizards claim
gions. Of those who do, most become they can wrest power from it. Some Kobolds
Muslims. They admire Islam’s struc- orcs in human lands turn to the blood-
ture and tradition, and any religion ier varieties of paganism, or even The kobolds of Gabrook, usually
whose holy city is in the middle of a Christianity or Islam, probably slaves, mostly followed the god of
mountain range can’t be all bad. because they offer some kind of hope. their masters. A very few worshipped
a third god, Algan, who would suppos-
Gnomes FAITHS OF edly free them and set them above
GABROOK their oppressors. This cult isn’t very
The gnome religion is something of complicated and still exists among
a synthesis of elven and dwarven Gabrook had a dualistic religious some kobolds on Yrth.
beliefs. Like the elves, they seek the tradition. The goblins worshipped
Eternal in nature, but like dwarves, Uunkuy, god of civilization, the Reptile Men
they believe it is in perfecting their guardian against Bozdaag, god of bar- and Hobgoblins
skills that they improve and approach barism. The reptile men saw the situa-
perfection themselves. For gnomes, tion the other way around; they The reptile men and most hob-
these skills involve farming and rais- revered Bozdaag, god of strength, the goblins of Gabrook followed
ing livestock. A bountiful crop, healthy overthrower of Uunkuy, god of deca- Bozdaag. His faith is about personal
animals, and strong children are visi- dence. Not surprisingly, all wars strength, about surviving without
ble signs of the ideal spiritual life. between goblins and reptile men were, anything but one’s own teeth and
Gnomes respect awareness of one’s in whole or in part, religious. claws. Over-reliance on others and
home and surroundings; they also the decadent complexities of civiliza-
respond well to those who understand Myth holds that both gods togeth- tion make one weak and unworthy.
that small changes, not great remak- er created the universe. Goblins say Followers of Bozdaag may have com-
ings, are all that is needed to make Uunkuy shaped and refined a raw panions and tribes, but all must be
Yrth’s bounty one’s own. equally worthy. Abandoning friends
in the desert, knowing they will
emerge stronger and more able, sets
a good example for them. Since

82 RELIGION

Bozdaag-worship on Gabrook wasn’t Halflings OTHERS
heavily structured, most tribes had
only one holy man (usually also a The primary deity for halflings was Of the other known intelligent
wizard) who judged what was strong Halaina, goddess of the home. Her beings of Yrth, dragons, merfolk, and
behavior and what was weak symbol was the cooking-hearth, and shark men have their own widely vary-
dependency. her seat within the body was the heart. ing beliefs. Some scholars have
Prayers to her made a house safe, attempted to equate these “religions”
Many reptile men on Yrth still fol- meals nourishing, and children with more familiar ones, with little
low Bozdaag, particularly those who healthy. The other popular halfling success. Draconic worship seems
live deep in the Great Desert. They see god was Heclan, god of trickery and more self-oriented than anything else,
the Christian God and Uunkuy as one stealth. His symbol was a black hid- merfolk avoid the subject, and even
being: the enemy. Some tribes also ing-hole, and his seat in the body was the Sahudese seem wary of the shark
conflate those two gods with Allah, the feet. Halflings appeased him with men’s spiritualism.
while others see Him as a third party. sacrifices to gain stealth and cunning.
To the latter group, Islam strikes a bal- Dragons
ance between decadence and bar- On Yrth, most halflings follow the
barism. It is obviously a civilized reli- local human religion. However, a few The great wyrms seem to believe
gion, but it places an emphasis on still regard the hearth as holy, some they eventually become gods them-
arduous pilgrimages and fasting, are dedicated members of Greco- selves after attaining enough power
acknowledging that too much civiliza- Roman cults, and a few worship the and understanding in this world.
tion isn’t necessarily a good thing. Eternal in the style of the gnomes. Given that dragons are apparently an
Also, the story of Muhammad appeals Yrthly race, this may be equivalent to
to a desert race. Almost all reptile men Giants union with the Eternal, but no one has
who have converted to a human reli- been quite brave enough to ask. Such
gion have chosen Islam. The gods of the giants were mostly transcendence apparently takes thou-
on the losing side of the ancient war. sands of years at minimum to achieve.
FAITHS OF Their leader was Chane, god of Thus, for dragons, religion is a form of
LOREN’DIL strength, whose symbol was a fist, and ancestor worship, in which they occa-
who resided in the hands. Also influ- sionally ask their ascended relatives
Loren’dil had a pantheon of inter- ential were Otrik, god of untamable for boons. Most dragons, however,
related gods, some of them bitter ene- seas, and Therneen, goddess of prefer to pray only when all other
mies, who had allegedly been very immovable earth. The latter two sur- alternatives have been exhausted.
active among mortals in recorded his- vived the war and vowed to obey the Achieving godhood with as little help
tory. The creation of their world was a new order. Chane died in the war, but as possible makes for a better recep-
complex drama of many acts. Those the Giants often still paid respect to tion upon ascension. The exact activi-
gods most worshipped at the time of him in absentia. ties of the god-dragons are unknown,
the Banestorm were the survivors of but since mortal wyrms regard gods of
an ancient divine war, in which the Giants didn’t have organized reli- other Yrthian races as unimportant, it
children rose up and killed their mon- gion on Loren’dil and have forgotten is doubtful that the immortal ones feel
strous parents. One of the issues of the many of their myths since coming to differently.
war had been how much deities Yrth, but some still follow the old
should interfere in mortal life; the ways. Others have switched to human Merfolk
winners were those favoring less inter- religions.
ference. Thus, those Loren’dilians Merpeople are uniquely nonreli-
who came to Yrth saw gods who acted Centaurs gious. The first merfolk immigrants to
directly on the world as figures of Yrth were apparently glad to be away
ancient legend. The primary deity of the centaurs from the strange gods of Olokun, and
was Atallie, goddess of wisdom and their descendants look on all religions
On Loren’dil, mortals usually learning. Her symbol was the hohck – warily. Some have adopted sea-elven
devoted themselves to a primary god a nocturnal hunter resembling a beliefs about the Eternal.
but would pray to others when a wolverine – and her seat in the body
request fell within one of their was the brain. Centaur sages were her Shark Men
domains; gods might choose to grant acolytes, often mixing religion with
strength, skill, or inspiration in their secular teachings. Centaurs also The shark men, by contrast, appear
response to those prayers, but would followed Atate and Daura, twin god- to regret leaving behind their gods,
never manifest personally. The desses of freedom and the hunt. whose names are unpronounceable by
Loren’dilian deities appear to have no Interestingly, Atallie was depicted as a humans. They still worship them and
influence on Yrth, but many of them giant, while Atate and Daura were seek ways to re-establish contact with
bear a slight resemblance to the believed to be centaurs. them. All available evidence – what
Greco-Roman gods, whose worship- there is of it – indicates this would not
pers believe, with little evidence, that Many centaurs on Yrth still wor- be good for any other races.
their gods are sometimes active here. ship Loren’dilian deities, though
they’ve learned to be quiet about this
in human lands. Others now follow
the elven conception of the Eternal or
have become pagans.

RELIGION 83

CHAPTER FOUR

LANDS OF YRTH

“Heed, my apprentice, what I tell with their verdant jungles and blood- and brooding, eating and eaten. Know
you of the lands of Ytarria, at the end of stained pirates. Far, strange Sahud of these lands, my student, as they were
the first millennium after the Bane. It the glittering pagodas and silk-clad war- then. For it was at that time that there
was an age of kingdoms and empires, riors. Zarak, the empire beneath, where came new heroes . . .”
both mighty and meek. Proud al-Haz, the dwarves crafted treasures, deigning
home to the Hidden City, to which no to sell only trinkets. And look further, to This chapter describes the major
unbeliever dared come. Al-Wazif, fierce the Northmen of the Nomad Lands, regions of Ytarria. It includes geogra-
and strong, where wealthy merchants with their strange gods; the wild orcs of phy, history, and a discussion of the
dealt in strange magics. Chivalric the west, who fought each other when society of each country, followed by
Caithness, where knight battled knight they could not fight men; and the brief descriptions of significant areas
for honor. Cardiel, in which every man mighty djinn of the south, whose or groups within the nation. Certain
held his head high, and cunning could secrets none yet know. cities particularly suited to adventures
make a prince a beggar, or a beggar a are covered in more detail.
prince. The sun-clad islands of Araterre, “And casting its shadow over them
all, the dragon empire of Megalos, dark

Countries and Regions of Ytarria

Name Citizen(s) Population Government Control Rating

Megalos Megalan(s) 16 million Semi-Feudal Autocracy CR4
Al-Wazif
Cardiel Wazifi(s) 6 million Monarchy CR3
Al-Haz
Caithness Cardien(s) 6 million Feudal Oligarchy CR3
Zarak
Sahud Hazi(s) 5 million Theocracy CR4
Araterre
Orclands Caithnesser(s) 3 million Feudalism CR3
Nomad Lands
Southwestern Wilderness Zarakun (singular and plural) 3 million Tribal Oligarchy CR3

Sahudese (singular and plural) 1.8 million Clan Oligarchy CR4*

Aralaise (singular and plural) 1.5 million (Principality of Megalos) CR3

Orclander(s) 1 million† Tribal CR0‡

Northman(men) 1 million Tribal CR2

?? ??

* Mostly socially enforced; the actual laws are only CR3.
† This is an average, subject to decades-long cycles.
‡ Chiefs try to enforce a higher CR, but killing them for it is not necessarily punished.

84 LANDS OF YRTH

Pronunciations

al-Haz: ahl-HOZZ. Megalos: MEG-uh-lohss.
al-Wazif: ahl-wozz-EEF. Sahud: sa-HOOD.
Aralaise: ARR-ah-lehhz. Sahudese: saa-HOOD-eez.
Araterre: ARR-ah-TAIR. Tredroy: TREHD-roi.
Autheuil: AUTH-yoo-EEL. Uulinn: ooo-LEEN.
Caithness: KAYTH-nuss. Wazifi: wah-ZEEF-ee.
Cardiel: KAR-dee-ell. Yibyorak: YIB-YORR-ak.
Geb’al-Din: JEHB-ahl-DEEN. Yrth: EERth.
Hazi: HAH-zee. Ytarria: ee-TARR-ee-uh.
Heolford: HEHH-ohl-fohrd. Zarak: zorr-ACH.
Kinkaku: KEEN-kah-KOO. Zarakun: zorr-AHH-koon.
Megalan: MEG-uh-lahnn.

Megalos is the mother-country of MEGALOS For the next century, Megalos was
the Christian nations . . . but not a lov- at its zenith. The Empire was invinci-
ing parent. The Megalan dragon sym- Menelaus, and many of its leaders still ble – or so everyone thought. The inva-
bol is far too appropriate. Old, rich, pursue that goal. Menelaus founded sion of the dwarven territory of
and strong, the Empire has been at Megalos in 1200 A.D., at the end of the Thulin’s Folk proved otherwise. As it
war more often than not. Now it has Banestorm’s most active phase, and progressed, greedy Megalan nobles
turned inward, stagnating as the dark- found easy prey among the disorgan- squabbled over spoils not yet won.
ness at its core spreads. ized immigrants. Before he died, Disgusted, the Hospitallers went
Menelaus ruled most of northeastern home, and a sudden dwarven counter-
GEOGRAPHY Ytarria. However, to the south, the attack crushed the invaders. Seizing
great goblin clans resisted the armies the opportunity, Northmen overran
Megalos dominates eastern of the Dragon. New Jerusalem defied northern Quartedec, forcing the con-
Ytarria, its greatest cities on its east- them in the west, and to the north- struction of the Emperor’s Wall – a
ern coasts. Many rivers cross the west, fierce nomads roamed. great rampart marking part of
Empire, and its center surrounds the Megalos’ northern border.
great lakes Acheron and Styx. Weather Menelaus’ descendants did not give
resembles that of Earth’s Europe: up. By 1300, only the Hospitallers of During this period, explorers dis-
northern ports are icebound in winter, New Jerusalem stood fast. In 1350, covered humans on the islands south
and southern farmers raise crops year- Octavius Magnus, warlord of a realm of Megalos. The Emperor chartered
round. Winter storms drop snow on adjacent to the southern Muslim the Principality of Araterre, and
most of the country; spring rains are tribes, conquered them as well. Megalan sailors set out to explore it. In
vital to each year’s planting. Known for his smooth tongue and the west, expeditions pushed back the
hatred of non-believers, Octavius orcish hordes, eventually forming the
While Megalos’ eastern and south- negotiated a truce for the purpose of County of Caithness.
ern regions are heavily populated and launching a crusade southward. This
cultivated by Ytarrian standards, the was exactly what the Hospitallers had Then, while the Emperor was
northern and central regions are been longing for, and they quickly occupied with political infighting,
wilder. Untamed forests full of beasts agreed to join the Empire. Octavius Cardiel declared independence. Two
separate the settled lands. The far west led the Megalan forces in the First generations later, Caithness followed
is almost as densely populated as the Crusade, receiving the new Duchy of suit. The Empire was stymied.
east, but with a drier climate. Craine as his reward. Incessant power struggles among the
nobles left Megalos unable to recover
The Great Roads of dressed stone, The Muslim response was explo- lost territories or conquer new ones.
property of the Emperor, connect the sive. The wandering tribes of the south The next century was marred by con-
cities of Megalos. Barges ply the major banded together to form the countries stant bickering as one noble after
rivers, and vessels crowd the harbors. of al-Haz, al-Wazif and al-Kard. The another plotted conquest, only to fail
Megalan nobility were delighted – orcs from lack of support. The past hun-
HISTORY and fur-clad barbarians were poor dred years have seen nothing but
sport. As Wazifi armies reclaimed lost small gains balanced by small losses,
Megalos sees itself as destined to territory, al-Kard fell to crusaders in despite two wars with al-Wazif.
rule. World domination was the stated the late 1460s. The region was
aim of the first Emperor, Simon renamed “Cardiel,” and the younger
sons of Megalan nobles flocked there
to carve out holdings.

LANDS OF YRTH 85

Today, the unity of the Empire is Social Status largely limited to members of the
doubtful. Megalos remains Ytarria’s aristocracy, but most monastic orders
most powerful state, and the legions In Megalan society, few people rise have their own hierarchies and are
are still potent, but the Emperor’s con- above their birth rank. Only truly open to anyone. Of course, a good
trol is slipping. Many Dukes and extraordinary accomplishments can monk receives only respect; worldly
Marquesses, sensing weakness, are propel one from peasant to knight or benefits are forbidden.
either ruling as ruthlessly as they noble. An achievement that would win
please or actively seeking the throne. advancement elsewhere will probably Nonhumans
bring only money or favors in
Emperor Diophrates XII is old but Megalos. Noble children can advance Megalos, though human-ruled, is
still powerful. He has long been infa- through inheritance, and some prove cosmopolitan. Cities harbor all races,
mous for licentiousness and intelli- unwilling to wait for old age to take its while villages are rarely mixed. The
gence, and over the past decade he’s course. For examples of the privileges duchies of Yibyorak and Sho’joor, as
worsened. His revels are now not just different status levels carry, see p. 187. well as many lesser fiefdoms, are
excessive but truly barbaric, and he largely populated by goblins.
seems genuinely uninterested in But one may rise by buying rank.
events beyond the central Empire. He For 50 to 100 times the monthly cost Halflings are also common. They
is in danger of both excommunication of living for the desired title, one can usually live in segregated villages due
and usurpation, but shows no sign of purchase a newly created title by mak- to issues of scale, making up 5% of all
changing his behavior. ing a gift to an appropriate lord. Such farming hamlets. They typically
titles do not entail duties, lands, or choose their own mayor, who reports
SOCIETY income, and are little respected in to the local human lord. The long-
other lands, but they carry weight in lived dwarves still remember the
Megalan society is feudal in detail Megalos. Knighthood, however, must attack on Thulin’s Folk, so trade with
but imperial and autocratic at heart. still be earned. them is somewhat limited; dwarves
Caithness and Cardiel are regarded as will not sell their best work to
backwaters. Megalan aristocrats are However acquired, nobility and Imperials. Elves are rare, especially in
particularly offended by Cardiel’s reli- rank are socially essential and often eastern Megalos, because there are
gious tolerance and female knights. convoluted. The Status table defines few of the wild lands they love.
Caithnesser or Cardien aristocrats the standard relationship between
have a negative Reputation (-1; as too position and title, but in practice, rel- Magic
tolerant of inferiors; all the time) ative standing is often subtle and
among Megalan nobles (a small class variable. Magic is common in Megalos,
of people in most campaigns), though which is mostly a normal-mana region
familiarity may erase this. The Church provides another with scattered pockets of variation.
route to power in Megalos. The Magery is admired throughout high
highest levels of the priesthood are society; commoners also respect it.

86 LANDS OF YRTH

The “Evil Empire”? tend to be severe; death and slavery
are more common than mutilation.
Definitely an empire, Megalos is inarguably “evil” in many ways. It Megalos can always use slaves, and a
conquers its neighbors and covets those it can’t; its society is rigidly clas- whole slave works better. Torture is
sist; and its leaders are blithely corrupt – or worse. PCs can easily find uncomfortably common, and a tortur-
themselves at odds with Megalan authority, even attacking it. er who doesn’t do permanent damage
can earn a high salary.
That said, many citizens of the Empire are good people. Even high-
ranking dukes are not automatically evil. Story-wise, Megalos can range On the other hand, the rich can
from just an autocratic government to a black kingdom that corrupts bribe their way out of any difficulty
everything within its borders. except high treason. Sometimes it’s
called “paying a stiff fine,” but the
Mages’ guilds wield great political armies depend on magic. This is one effect is the same. Trial by ordeal is
power, and even the smallest villages reason they have never conquered popular; such trials wait until the
have part-time wizards. Many past mana-poor Caithness. judging noble’s next arena spectacu-
emperors also have been powerful sor- lar, where they form part of the
cerers. Megalan rulers are either wiz- In wartime, the legions receive sup- entertainment.
ards or advised by wizards – the port from the elite cavalry of the
exceptions don’t live long. Megalan knighthood. Although they Slavery
are formidable individually, these
The Legions knights have little discipline; their Despite the Church prohibition on
effectiveness depends on their leader’s enslaving Christians, slavery is com-
Often at war, Megalos keeps a large strength. mon in Megalos; if necessary, the local
standing army, supplemented by levies bishop can always excommunicate a
when needed. The Imperial Legions The most powerful lords keep their convict. Criminals, political trouble-
are said to be the best fighting force in own legions as well. When quarrel- makers, and prisoners of war work for
Ytarria. Actual quality varies, depend- some nobles aren’t busy fighting the the state or get sold to nobles for their
ing on whether they are led by profes- Empire’s neighbors, they often fight own use. Megalos also has many
sional soldiers or spoiled sons of each other. Strictly speaking, this is slave-run farms, quarries, and lumber
noblemen. The legions welcome com- against the law, and the Imperial camps, the sources of much of its
moners, and the best officers are often Legions occasionally intervene. wealth.
commoners or even freed slaves. Usually, however, such battles are
Almost all are infantry wielding a mix- ignored for political or economic It is illegal to free a slave without
ture of long spears, crossbows, and expediency. Imperial permission, which is compli-
polearms, clad in mail, with a few cated to obtain; only gladiatorial valor
mounted scouts. Each legion has an The Law or extraordinary artistic ability lead
attached corps of wizards; Megalan reliably to freedom. However, some
Megalan law largely adheres to a shrewd emperors have carefully main-
semi-feudal pattern. Punishments tained a small pool of grateful,
intensely ambitious freedmen. Under
Megalan Status and Titles weak emperors, some nobles have
bent the rules to create their
Level Title Form of Address own dependent freedmen for similar
purposes.
8 Emperor Imperial Majesty
7 Imperial Consort or Heir Imperial Highness Megalan Arenas
6 Prince/Princess Imperial Highness
6 Duke/Duchess Your Grace Fortunes are won and lost on this
5 Marquess/Marchioness Your Lordship/Ladyship most popular Imperial entertainment.
5 Earl or Count/Countess Your Lordship/Ladyship Most nobles cannot maintain their
4 Viscount/Viscountess Your Lordship/Ladyship social position without sponsoring
4 Senior Baron/Baroness Your Lordship/Ladyship gladiators, or, better yet, hosting
3 Lesser Baron/Baroness Your Lordship/Ladyship games. Every town has an arena; the
3 Landed Knight/Dame Sir/Dame largest cities have several. Private
2 Unlanded Knight/ Dame Sir/Dame estates have small arenas where
2 Governor/Mayor Your Honor favored guests can observe whatever
2 Guildmaster/Guildmistress Master/Mistress entertains their host. Arena events
1 Squire Your Honor tend to be bloody; they may include
1 Captain Captain gladiatorial contests, magical duels,
1 Craftsman, Merchant – ceremonial executions, battles against
0 Villein, Townsman – monsters or animals, and anything
-1 Serf, Urban Rogue – else a depraved despot can think of.
-2 Beggar, Slave – Voluntary fighters can easily earn two
gold marks ($400) for surviving a bat-
tle – more if the event is especially
unfair, spectacular, or well-sponsored.

LANDS OF YRTH 87

Names in Megalos wizards who can twist a person’s soul.
However, its function is ultimately less
Human naming practices in the Empire vary by region, class, and to suppress than to control; if Megalos
race. For popular names among other races, see Nonhuman Names, should ever need to field musketeers,
p. 20. it is the Ministry that knows how.

Commoners All of the stories may be true in
part. Legends within the Ministry
Most people are known by one name, with an epithet added – a claim that it was founded by Simon
descriptive word or phrase. A few families adopt epithets as true family Menelaus himself, after he received a
names. Most names are Celtic, Norman, or Anglo-Saxon in origin, terrifying vision. It has existed in
though spelling may vary. some form for centuries, giving it a
strong sense of tradition. Its canny
Some common male names are Alfric, Andre, Ashe, Bruce, Bryan, agents are sometimes borderline
Edward, Evan, Cerdic, Donnwulf, Francis, Geoffrey, Giles, Hal, Hugh, fanatics. They are also subtle; they
John, Lyon, Marc, Morgan, Niall, Olen, Osric, Rann, Sean, Trent, Wade, prefer wiping memories to killing,
Warren, and Yrving. and loyalty to terror.

Women’s names include Adea, Alyce, Blanche, Bronwyn, Cathyn, Above all, the Ministry is addicted
Ceredyn, Giselle, Juliet, Justina, Katha, Maye, Norla, Pearl, Rosemary, to secrecy. Hence, almost no one in
Susanna, Vylette, and Yrena. Megalos below the level of the court
knows the identity of any Ministry
Epithets take several common forms: place of birth (John o’ the agents. However, every watch captain
Lake); occupation (Donal Coppersmith); appearance (Merid Redlocks); and landed noble knows a correctly
deeds (Justina Wolfslayer); parentage (Carre Half-Elven); and habits worded report will quickly attract the
(Adolph Ear-Puller). Ministry’s attention – and action will
follow, sometimes invisible, some-
Such additions often evolve over a lifetime. Justina Wolfslayer was times brutally direct. Likewise, failure
simply Justina until she was 12. When she started to go to market with to make such a report when appropri-
her family, she was Justina of Trent. Her love of the bow made her ate will be punished.
Justina the Archer. Then, one winter, she killed a dozen wolves in two
days, acquiring her current name. The Offices

Nobles The Ministry is divided into three
offices, each controlled by a Captain
Nobles always have at least one epithet, often a true family name. A under the supervision of the
noble’s peers frequently call him by the name of his fiefdom: Count Chancellor of Serendipity. All four of
Darius of Kethalos is simply “Kethalos” to other nobles. these positions are held for life,
although the holders can retire if they
Most Megalan nobles speak Latin, and many noble children (espe- wish. Most prefer to die in office.
cially eldest sons) receive Roman-flavored names. Common Latin-style
male names include Aloysius, Claudius, Flavius, Honorius, Julian, Leo, The Office of Acquisition tracks,
Marcus, Procopius, Rufus, Tiberias, Titus, and Valerian. Women rarely identifies, and acquires anything that
receive Latin names. arrives on Yrth through the
Banestorm. Hence, many of its
Goblins employees are wizards or intelligent
knights-errant; others are spies and
Except in rural areas, Megalan goblins no longer use their ancestral infiltrators, working beyond the
language except for names. However, some goblin nobles have Latin or empire’s borders.
part-Latin names, such as Jelkejek Viridis (“The Green”). Many humans
in goblin fiefdoms also have goblin names. Common ones include The Office of Truths controls the
Baajikiil, Dakiiri, Gykkii, Jandig, K’jaakis, K’tiiki, Potiij, Shiikus, spread of ideas and stories which,
Toov’tekki, Viitagi, Yig’oor, and Yivirrl. Goblin names typically have no unlike material items, cannot simply
assigned gender. In general, consonant sounds are explosive, vowels are be acquired and locked away. It deals
long, and most names have two or three syllables. in the long-term. There is a con-
tentious division within the Office
THE MINISTRY people say the Ministry’s main pur- between those most concerned with
OF SERENDIPITY pose is dealing with people, items, and political ideas and the safety of
ideas brought to Ytarria by the Megalos, who tend to be pragmatic,
Officially, the Ministry of Banestorm. Much of its work involves cold-blooded politicians, and those
suppressing advanced technology, more worried by religious heresies
Serendipity is a department of the especially firearms and explosives. and divergences such as Protest-
Underground engineers regard it with antism, many of whom are fanatical
Megalan Imperial Court, charged with fear and hatred, exchanging tales of priests.
assassins, torturers, and black-clad
defending the Empire against threats Finally, the Office of Records keeps
the Ministry’s vast libraries of data
from beyond Ytarria. Knowledgeable

88 LANDS OF YRTH

“Ministries” of ADVENTURING
Other Lands IN MEGALOS

Ministry agents are notorious for kidnapping “interesting” Megalos is a vast empire with near-
Banestorm victims from all across Ytarria. Similar groups, some less infinite possibilities for adventurers.
well known, exist elsewhere. In Caithness, Lord Mortlake’s People work Spies survey military assets and steal
within the Silver Hand (p. 110); the Prince of Cardiel’s chancellors can secrets for other countries or ambi-
call upon the Chaplaincy of St. Andrew and its many secular servants – tious nobles. In the legions, grim sol-
some of them, curiously, Muslims. In Sahud, the Office of Harmony and diers and wizards put down uprisings
Thunder and the fictional “Clan Lo” seem to be involved in whatever the and rout infidels. Every palace and
Eyes of Heaven (p. 155) declare needs attention. The Roving Inspectors keep is a center of intrigue. Visiting
of al-Wazif appear whenever the Banestorm manifests. And in al-Haz, barbarians can find work as merce-
the people responsible have no name or public identity. naries, troubleshooters, or gladiators.

Relations between these groups are complicated, especially when the Many adventures in Megalos will
Ministry is involved. When an interesting acquisition is at stake, compe- walk the line between embracing
tition can get brutal. Essentially, they are bitter rivals who have more in amorality and trying to impose some
common than most allies. order on a decaying social system. A
quick sword and a glib tongue can get
A Suspicious Unanimity you far; a fat purse can get you even
farther. PCs may decide to simply take
For several centuries, no major Ytarrian nation has seriously violated what they can grab, or they can try to
the unspoken agreement to suppress technology . . . which may seem stand up for decency in a system that
strange. Some underground engineers believe a bigger conspiracy, using doesn’t reward it.
mind control magic, lies behind all the national groups. Who might be
Behind It All is much debated; the Jesuits, the djinn (p. 174), and various MEGALOS:
minority ethnic groups are favorite candidates. Slightly cooler thinkers CAPITAL OF
look at nonhumans; dragons, for instance, have unknown magical THE EMPIRE
resources and enigmatic reputations.
Megalos, seat of the Emperor, is
regarding Earth, other dimensions, tradition of not interfering in ordinary Ytarria’s greatest city. It is first in
and technology – using both written court matters – but tradition may soon everything: the wealth of its citizens,
and living sources. Hence, it runs a be set aside. On the other hand, the the magnificence of its cathedrals, and
very secret prison; it also employs Emperor may recognize the suspi- the number of its thieves, murderers,
some immensely subtle and talented cious look in their eyes before they can and conspirators. Every race can be
wizards, interrogators, and diplomats bring themselves to act. found among its 400,000 inhabitants,
. . . as well as a few carefully vetted, and ships bring foodstuffs from
closely supervised engineers. Serendipitous Games all over the Empire. If a foe could
blockade the harbor, the city would go
Dark Secrets The Ministry is most likely to hungry within a month.
appear in games as an enemy, and a
While the Emperor nominally dangerous one; its competent, well-
appoints the Chancellor of equipped, and devious agents kidnap
Serendipity and his Captains, the Banestorm victims, eliminate under-
Ministry is generally a law unto itself. ground engineers, and scheme to keep
Few emperors have sought to interfere Megalos on top. However, gamers can
in its generally efficient operations, certainly play heroic Agents of
and those who did, sooner or later, Serendipity . . . Wizards in Black, the
ended up wondering if “their” people best of the best, protecting Yrth from
had been mind-washed into switching the scum of the multiverse. This cer-
sides. In the last decade, however, the tainly doesn’t mean the Ministry can
four amazingly well-informed noble- be depicted as nice; members are
men who run the Ministry are feeling always watching each other for trea-
the tables turned; their well-practiced son, all the while struggling with the
paranoia and otherworldly knowledge gap between idealistic rhetoric and
has them very worried about Megalos’ pragmatic deeds. Do demons slain
current ruler. They have barely men- and vile weapons destroyed justify
tioned this to each other, let alone minds wiped and dreams crushed?
tried to investigate, but their fears are And why does the Emperor giggle
coming to a head. The Ministry has a when he receives Ministry reports?

LANDS OF YRTH 89

Megalos has never been peaceful.

As the capital, it is plagued by conflict Arms Control
between court factions. Assassinations

are commonplace, and the knights Megalan law places harsh restrictions on weapon ownership, but as
and men-at-arms of opposing nobles these laws are intended to maintain the power of the ruling classes, they
fight duels and brawls in the city’s don’t apply to knights or nobles.
streets. Corruption extends from the
top to the bottom; the alleys hold cut- Plate armor may not be owned or worn by anyone less than a knight
throats who would kill their mothers (Status 2). Scale and chainmail may not be owned or worn except by
for two coppers. couriers, city and castle guards, and the armed forces.

Missile weapons are allowed only to the armed forces, foresters, and

History guardsmen. Lords who feel secure will ignore vassals using short bows
and slings for hunting, but peasants carrying full-sized longbows or
Prior to the city’s founding in A.D. crossbows will be arrested.
1200, Megalos’ site had been an unre-
markable fishing town. Menelaus Military polearms are limited to the legions, city guards, and nobles’
built a massive keep and declared the retainers. (Peasants using billhooks for work try not to look threatening.)
location capital of his new empire. As Swords are not permitted to anyone below Status 0. Bladed weapons are
the Empire grew, so did the town, as entirely prohibited to beggars or serfs, though many wear them anyway;
spoils of war and taxes flowed in. By they may carry staves for self-defense.
1230, Megalos was already bustling,
and few of the original buildings still Magical weapons and defenses are prohibited by law to anyone below
stood. In 1290, Menelaus II began a Status 2. A servant or smith carrying weapons for a higher-status master
massive program of civic improve- or customer will pass if he looks the part, but shouldn’t wear them or
ments, including a vast sewer system look threatening.
and a solid new city wall (now called
the Old Wall). At the dawn of the 15th For all of these restrictions, writs of exception are available. This
century, Megalos was the showpiece of almost always entails a bribe, which can vary from one gold mark ($200)
the Empire, full of marble buildings, for permission to wear chainmail, to a dozen marks ($2,400) if a com-
moner wants to carry a polearm. Being a member of the Armsmen’s
Guild (p. 51) will often reduce the bribe.

wide avenues, and gleaming towers.

In 1412, the Church established the

Order of the Archangel Michael in In 1630, Emperor Titus II, tired of In the late 19th century, Emperor

Megalos. Until then, Megalos had enduring life in a 400-year-old keep, Metellus IV ordered the construction

been mildly cosmopolitan; now the designed a new palace, to be built a of a new city wall, five miles outside

Michaelites began aggressively weed- mile outside the wall on a small hill. the old one. This enclosed all of

ing out non-believers. Soon, every He preserved the old building, Megalos and a fair bit of farmland,

Imperial citizen in the city was either Menelaus’ Keep, for its historical too.

a Christian or very good at keeping up value, and the civic government con- For most of the last century –

appearances. tinued to operate from it. indeed, for most of the last 500 years –

Megalos as a city has changed little in

character. Since the end of the

The Emperor’s Guard Frontier Wars, however, the general
self-consciousness that has afflicted
Hundreds of years ago, Megalos won an “unconquerable” island by the Empire has also affected its capi-
freeing a thousand enslaved reptile men and telling them it was theirs, if tal. The citizens of the greatest city in
they could take it. They took it. Their descendants are loyal Megalan war- Ytarria care less and less for the world
riors, and from their ranks come the most feared Megalan legion, the outside, satiating themselves with the
True Dragons. diversions found within the city.

These reptile men form the Emperor’s elite bodyguard. Renowned for Layout and Architecture
their ferocity, they are completely loyal. Few humans can even think how
to offer them a bribe, and those who do rarely have anything that would Megalos surrounds the mouth of
interest the inhuman guards. Worse, the guards are permitted to eat any- the New River Jordan, which flows
one who attempts bribery. They are said to be baptized Christians, but into a south-facing harbor opening
nobody inquires too deeply into their beliefs. into the Megalan Ocean. The bulk of
the city lies northeast of the river,
The True Dragons are led by Captain Ah’ziranthl Dgansis Rextlyin, including all the major governmental
who has held the position for nearly 20 years. Scarred and canny, he buildings. The less fashionable part of
never relaxes. He actively dislikes Emperor Diophrates, but while he is the city across the river is sometimes
well aware of the changes in the man’s behavior, he is less shocked by the referred to as South Megalos. Many
Emperor’s excesses than most humans. Though he regards the Emperor bridges connect the two.
as undisciplined and soft, Ah’ziranthl would still defend him with his life.
The semicircular Old Wall

surrounds the original city on the

90 LANDS OF YRTH

landward side; it is centered on less-competent higher-ranking nobles and parcel of running the country, and
Menelaus’ Keep, with a radius of just (placed there to keep them out of decisions about the city are made by
over a mile. Over the centuries, the trouble), and Church officials (both the Assembly. Any purely local deci-
Old Wall has become little more than honest and scheming). The Emperor sions too minor for the Assembly typ-
structural support for dozens of build- directly appoints most of the impor- ically come from the “City Hall” of
ings that lean against and even burrow tant service positions, and his Menelaus’ Keep.
through it. The neighborhood within appointees are usually loyal – not
is mostly low-rent, being so close to least because the civil service is one The primary peacekeepers are the
the docks. The New Wall is over 20 of the few parts of Imperial govern- city watchmen. Though adequately
miles long, bigger, thicker, and in ment where one actually gets paid. paid, their job is thoroughly thankless,
much better repair. The land between and impossible to do honestly – a
the walls makes up the bulk of the city, The government of the city is not watchman who refuses a noble’s bribe
including the palaces and mansions of separate from the government of the could easily end up dead. Arrogant
the wealthy, the Great Arena, and bar- Empire – running the capital is part and abusive, even the best watchman
racks for the First and Second
Legions. The city has continued to
expand since the construction of the
New Wall, but there are still farms and
large, carefully groomed parks inside
it. The outermost districts, inside and
outside the New Wall, mostly consist
of warehouses, stables, and homes for
the newly rich and the very poor.

Government

The Imperial Government was
originally modeled on the Roman
Empire, and even now, hundreds of
yars later, many similarities remain.
The Emperor is supreme, and the
position is hereditary. Decisions are
made either by the Emperor (advised
by his Council) or by the Assembly of
high-ranking nobility and church
leaders. A seat in the Assembly is
technically tied to a specific holding,
but many exceptions and variations
exist.

The simplest way to get anything
done is to convince the Emperor to
order it so. As a result, many members
of the nobility and Church spend all
their time ingratiating themselves at
court. Since sending an underling to
plead one’s case could be seen as
insulting, many holdings are left in the
hands of family or servants while their
lord tries to obtain some concession.

The Assembly handles routine
matters and low-level policy and is
home to heated discussions about
the future of the Empire. Underlings
representing people of high rank get
slightly more respect here than from
the Emperor, but the best way to
get something done is still to come
oneself.

There is also something like a
civil service, made up of a mix of
extremely clever low-ranking nobles
(who mostly bought their titles),

LANDS OF YRTH 91

will not tolerate rudeness or threats The Emperor
from commoners. They are, however,
fawningly polite to nobles and Sixteen years ago, a demon attacked Emperor Diophrates XII, but the
officers. Guard and Grand Master Jordan saved him, killing the hellspawn. After
a Templar mage determined that Diophrates’ head court wizard, Phocas,
Actual criminal investigations are was the demon’s master, the Emperor had Phocas tortured and eventu-
often handled by Michaelites (p. 64). ally beheaded.
In the city, their investigations are
politically motivated as often as not, That’s what the official chronicles say, and that’s what the balladeers
and their distinctive blue-and-white sing. The truth is something else again: Jordan, working with a high-
surcoats are greeted with trepidation. ranking Jesuit ally, arranged for the demon’s attack, with the intent of
People arrested by the Michaelites are controlling Megalos after Diophrates died. Unfortunately, the demon
rarely seen again. Xuvutruobacaoly outsmarted him; a powerful shapeshifter, he could also
alter the forms of others. The “demon” who died was Diophrates, and
The Factions Xuvutruobacaoly is now Emperor. Since Phocas would have eventually
penetrated the ruse, the demon arranged for him to be found guilty and
In theory, the most powerful fac- killed. Jordan was simply blackmailed into silence.
tion is the Emperor and those loyal to
him. However, that’s a fairly small Few suspected any change for a long time, mostly because
group, and the Emperor doesn’t use Xuvutruobacaoly is not that much worse an Emperor than Diophrates
his power in a focused manner. He can was. The demon has let his debauched pastimes emerge slowly over the
move a mountain with a word, but is years; his servants and the inner court keep these as secret as possible.
likely to lose interest in the mountain Xuvutruobacaoly is almost completely ineffective as a ruler; he has diffi-
between lunch and dinner. culty understanding the relevance of border tensions thousands of miles
away and finds religious differences utterly trivial. He does know he is in
A related faction works to hide the a position to lead a great empire into chaos and ruin, and applies him-
Emperor’s depravity and incompetence; self to that goal – but he also knows that, if he goes too far, he will be
Grand Master Jordan Siegebreaker (p. found out, and lose all his tasty playthings.
93) leads this group, which by necessity
operates in secret. Thanks mostly to In his role as Emperor, Xuvutruobacaoly appears as a thin but strong
Jordan, they have a great deal of power old man. He hasn’t aged since 1989, and his demonic self briefly emerges
by which they shape Yrth’s perception of on occasion in the form of sharper teeth, redder eyes, and other minor
the Emperor. changes. His manner alternates between fantastically rude and silky
sweet, he quickly becomes bored with any governmental task, and his
Jordan also leads the Templars, a personal habits are best left to the imagination. Many people know he
major power in the capital. Their cur- has changed, but almost none know the truth. Only the most powerful
rent goal is to free themselves of magic could penetrate his disguise, and casting any spell on the Emperor
Church control while remaining the without his permission is a quick way to get killed by the True Dragons.
most significant military order in
Megalos. Jordan only spends a small Many of the remaining factions are neighborhoods. The city is cosmo-
portion of his time pursuing these regionally based, led by high-ranking politan enough that quiet religious
goals; Master Publius, his second-in- nobles. Their goals are usually to con- unconventionality is tolerated, but
command, does most of the work. vince the Emperor to send more it’s not a comfortable place to be a
money or troops to their lands. For non-Christian.
The Church itself is big enough for example, nobles representing Zehan
half-a-dozen factions, most of which and other southern holdings troubled At any given time, the city also
scramble for power among them- by pirates stand together on getting has a substantial population of non-
selves. One notable group, led by more ships to protect their ports. Megalans, mostly traders, some
Archbishop Sosius, is made up of diplomats.
churchmen devout enough to be out- The Citizenry
raged by their Emperor’s behavior but Places of Interest
worldly enough to feel the solution is About 50% of the city’s population
to kill him and put someone new on is human; goblins and halflings make The three seats of government are
the throne. Sosius is having trouble up another 40%. The rest are a mix of the Imperial Palace, the Assembly
finding new recruits, since honest every other race, including dwarves, Hall, and Menelaus’ Keep. The first
priests are horrified by the thought of elves, gnomes, hobgoblins, kobolds, was originally a single huge building
a coup and dishonest ones would par- and reptile men. Even centaurs, of dubious architectural merit; it has
ticipate for all the wrong reasons. giants, minotaurs, ogres, orcs, and grown and sprawled over the years,
stranger creatures can be found here. and now has no coherent plan or style.
Prince Miltiades, heir to the The True Dragons and the city watch-
throne, heads his own conspiracy. He Over 95% of the population is men aggressively guard it, but
believes his father to be completely Christian. Adherents of other reli- between the hundreds of servants and
mad, but as the man is also annoying- gions tend to keep to their own
ly healthy, Miltiades plans to poison
him. He is supported by a surprisingly
wide array of nobility who think no
one could be worse than Diophrates.

92 LANDS OF YRTH

The sewers of Megalos are an

Jordan Siegebreaker architectural marvel. Menelaus II,
who had a keen interest in urban

Jordan is Grand Master of the Templars . . . and a haunted man. He design, hired a hundred dwarves to
is one of the few who knows Diophrates’ secret – because it’s all his fault. construct a system that would serve a
Worse, if he tells anyone, it could easily lead to a lengthy and painful population five times its then-current
death, if not at Diophrates’ hands, then through the fully justified wrath size. The subterranean ducts have
of the people. been extended several times since, and
not always for the purpose of
Jordan was once one of the most powerful people in Ytarria. Now in drainage. Many nobles have had pri-
his mid-60s, Jordan’s power base is theoretically still strong, but he no vate escape tunnels put in on the city’s
longer has the will to use it fully. Instead he hovers by the Emperor’s side bill, and many more poor but desper-
and tries to blunt his worst excesses. Years of tension have left his nerves ate people have dug their own exten-
on a hair-trigger, and he may snap at anyone for any reason. sions. No complete maps exist, even in

official records, and no one individual

dozens of entrances, it is impossible to merchants, and less reputable busi- has explored more than a fraction of
keep the whole complex secure. nessmen. Some form of entertainment the system.

Everyone important within thus has goes on at the Arena every day; see
T Mtheir own bodyguards.
Megalan Arenas, p. 87, for possibilities. HE IDLANDS

The Assembly Hall, near the One of the most popular events is the This area is heavily cultivated
Palace, is generally agreed to be beau- twice-annual Grand Elimination, in except for the Emperor’s Forest. Wild
tiful, if imposing. The Assembly itself which 160 skilled prisoners fight one- animals larger than squirrels and
meets in the main chambers, which on-one, to the death, until only 10 rabbits are almost unknown. Wheat,
are surrounded by private chambers, remain. These aren’t forced to fight oats, rye, and hay are the most com-
meeting rooms, and numerous each other, but neither are they freed mon major crops, as well as flax,

bureaucratic offices. The Assembly until they’ve won a total of 50 combats. sugar beets, and apple and cherry
Hall is guarded as heavily as the The emperor is usually on hand for the orchards. The hills west of the capital
Palace but much more effectively. last few bouts, watching from the are rich in tin and iron ore.
Imperial Box.
Menelaus’ Keep is old, with signs Hidelban
of numerous repairs. Most of the cor- The New Wall has three gates, ori-

ridor floors have visibly been worn ented roughly southwest, north-north- This duchy is one of the breadbas-

down in the middle by 800 years of east, and northwest. (The Old Wall has kets of the Empire. The region is well

scurrying officials. The city watch and many gates and gaps.) There is no watered by creeks and streams, and

many other agencies have their head- serious attempt at security; hundreds its small chief city hugs the banks of

quarters here. Since many common- of people pass the bored guards every the navigable River Bressel. The

ers have legitimate business at the hour, morning, noon, and night. If buildings are mostly one to three sto-

keep, security is loose, though very someone needs to be prevented from ries, either brick or shingled. They

responsive if trouble appears. entering or leaving the city, however, have high, peaked roofs, and the

The Imperial Library, marked by the head of the watch can notify the streets are notoriously narrow. The

distinctive gryphon and unicorn stat- guards magically and send an extra Duke’s castle is ancient and of solid

ues guarding the front steps, is the platoon to each gate within minutes. stone construction.

largest public library in Ytarria.

Access is restricted to people of Status

1 and above or those willing to offer a Adventuring in the
bribe of five silver pennies ($20). It City of Megalos
houses tens of thousands of books,
scrolls, maps, and other documents. As a corrupt capital city, Megalos is an ideal site for a wide range of
The only way to find anything is with adventures. At street level, nearly anyone could be in need of protection,
the help of a librarian, most of whom troubleshooters, or ombudsmen-with-swords. Merchants could be hav-
specialize in one field, and all of ing trouble with gangs; visiting diplomats need bodyguards; and nobles
whom expect to be paid five pennies a are always being blackmailed.
day. This library is thoroughly cen-
sored by the Church and the Ministry At higher levels, characters can be merchants themselves, wheedling
of Serendipity; any information that profits out of the most competitive market in Ytarria, or nobles trying to
might be dangerous to the status quo get concessions from the civic government. At the top, the city of
is well-concealed. Megalos is where much of the fate of the continent is decided. Any
attempt to change the course of the Empire will have to end here, possi-
The Great Arena is vast, capable of bly by finally dealing with the Dark Emperor himself.
seating thousands. Admission is free;
the city profits by renting stall space

too hundreds of bookmakers,

LANDS OF YRTH 93

site. Vettius, the Archbishop of

Mehan, rules the coastal town of

Thysdretum to the south and is sec-

Diophrates’ next visit may be ond only to the Duke in influence.
Vettius’ work has been complicated

marred by a hunting “accident” . . . lately by a popular heresy stating that
mages are God’s chosen. This belief

has popped up here and there over the

years, and the Curia does not approve.

The agency behind the current out-

break of heresy is a secret wizardly

Politically, the area has a turbulent from the court, so day-to-day manage- society called the Manites (see box).
history. The people of the Barony of ment is left to the hereditary leader of But this is still a mystery to Vettius,
Scariswic, two day’s ride northwest of the Emperor’s huntsmen, currently who wants to restore Mehan’s reputa-
Hidelban Town, revolted 15 years ago, the Marquis Honore Bourmont. tion for orthodoxy. The Duke has been
killing their baron. Duke Kylar put Honore is loyal to the prince, and no help; he prefers the atmosphere at
down the uprising severely; Scariswic knows of his plans (p. 92); he has been the Emperor’s court.

has never recovered. Kylar died of a capturing forest beasts, training them THE NORTHERN
sudden illness soon after and was suc- to attack people dressed like the MARCHES
ceeded by his son, Cuin. Today, the emperor, and releasing them near the
young Duke Cuin depends heavily on Tower. Diophrates’ next visit may be

the advice of his chamberlain, Lord marred by a hunting “accident.” With the exception of the
Maskill. With his guidance, Hidelban Blackwoods and the Emperor’s Forest,
has prospered, but its relations with Mehan this is the wildest region of Megalos.
other duchies have suffered. Cuin is Cultivated lands are separated by
unusually power-hungry, and his per- The Duchy of Mehan is one of the scraggly grasslands and gloomy
sonal legions have grown large. The richest in Megalos. Its fleet controls forests of pine and fir. These lands are
County of Kethalos (p. 96), currently trade and fishing on most of Lake home to treetippers (p. 225), foxes,
weak, could be his first target. Acheron, and Duke Thomas holds elk, and dangerous beasts such as
land on both sides of the lake. Wool, wolves, bears, wild boar, and night-
Hunt Tower grain, furs, and copper ore from the stalkers (p. 223). Along the northern
southern Whitehood Mountains pass coasts seals and walrus are common,
Hunt Tower is the lodge used by from Mehan via boat to Yibyorak and and whales and other sea monsters
the Emperor when he hunts in his then to the Sa’azraq Straits. Mehan are occasionally sighted.
Forest. These woods of pine and oak mustard is also a major export item.
surround a small mountain range har- The city of Mehan is a mix of stone Farmers here grow oats, rye,
boring fierce monsters; the rest of the and wood construction, with many beans, lettuces, root vegetables, and
forest contains safe beasts – nothing large public plazas. lightbush, an Yrth-native shrub whose
more formidable than tigers and seeds provide good-quality lamp oil.
gryphons (see p. 221). Poaching in the Mehan is an important religious Ranchers raise cattle, woolens
forest is a capital offense, though local center, and the great St. Paul’s (p. 229), and pigs.
nobles are allowed a limited number Cathedral – where the Curia holds its
conclaves – is a popular pilgrimage

of kills. The Tower is a five-story stone

structure, surrounded by a sprawling

collection of stables and vast wood- The Manites
beamed halls. Social life at the Tower

is marked by regular feasts, where the The Manites were originally a secret society of wizards, formed to
nobility gorge themselves on the best combat a magic-hating group of heretics called the Penitentines. They
cuts from rare magical animals. eventually succeeded in taking mental control of the Penitentine leaders
and discrediting the cult. With their purpose fulfilled, most of the indi-
Technically speaking, the tower, the vidual Manites went their separate ways . . . but some among their num-
town around it, and the forest itself ber found that they enjoyed exercising secret power.
are the fiefdom of Prince Miltiades,
the royal heir. Megalan emperors Today, the Manites are using mind-influencing magics to spread the
know better than to bestow powerful idea that mages are touched by God and should be respected, even ven-
fiefdoms on family members who erated. Their “alterations” to the minds of prominent citizens occasion-
might use those resources to take the ally have side effects; a few community leaders have had to be restrained
throne, so it is customary to place the after they tried to attack the voices in their own heads.
Emperor’s Forest in the prince’s care,
since it has no significant population The Manite leaders seek to recruit both wizards and untrained mage-
from which to raise troops. However, born to swell their ranks. To their dismay, though, entirely too many of
few princes are willing to live so far their recent recruits have been true believers in the heresy . . .

94 LANDS OF YRTH

Lord Claudius Maskill (525 points)

Maskill was a young vampire and powerful mage in Skills
the 18th century when an ambitious knight trapped him
in a crypt surrounded by a stream. He survived by cast- Acting-16 (IQ+2) [4]*; Administration-15 (IQ+1) [4];
ing Suspended Animation on himself, setting an Awaken Alchemy/TL3-11 (IQ-3) [1]; Area Knowledge (Hidelban)
spell to go off if someone should enter the crypt. -14 (IQ+0) [1]; Body Language-17 (Per-1) [1];
Centuries later, drought and an inquisitive girl freed Brainwashing/TL3-14 (IQ+0) [4]; Brawling-13 (DX+0)
him, and he took vengeance on the knight’s descendants, [1]; Cloak-12 (DX-1) [1]; Connoisseur (Wine)-13 (IQ-1)
the ruling family of Scariswic. Maskill arranged for the [1]; Crossbow-13 (DX+0) [1]; Current Affairs/TL3
1990 uprising and the death of Baron Angus. He then (Megalos)-15 (IQ+1) [2]; Detect Lies-17 (Per-1) [1]*;
maneuvered himself into his current position by poison- Diplomacy-15 (IQ+1) [4]*; Fast-Talk-14 (IQ+0) [1]*;
ing the Duke and magically enslaving his son. Forgery/TL3-13 (IQ-1) [2]; Heraldry-13 (IQ-1) [1];
Hidden Lore (Demons)-13 (IQ-1) [1]; History (Hidelban)
Today, Maskill plots to supplant the Emperor. He sus- -13 (IQ-1) [2]; Holdout-13 (IQ-1) [1]; Hypnotism-14
pects the truth about Diophrates – evil knows evil – but (IQ+0) [4]; Interrogation-15 (IQ+1) [4]; Intimidation-16
is confident in his own powers. Nevertheless, he may be (Will+1) [2]*; Knife-13 (DX+0) [1]; Law (Megalan
moving too quickly. Many powerful people are nervous Property)-12 (IQ-2) [1]; Lip Reading-17 (Per-1) [1];
about Hidelban, and Maskill has had trouble keeping his Lockpicking/TL3-13 (IQ-1) [1]; Mind Block-15 (Will+0)
nature hidden, given his vampiric weaknesses. Too [2]; Observation-17 (Per-1) [1]; Occultism-15 (IQ+1) [4];
many servants have vanished, and Maskill’s wife Lydia Poisons/TL3-12 (IQ-2) [1]; Politics-16 (IQ+2) [4]*;
(Angus’ daughter, the girl who freed Maskill), driven Research/TL3-13 (IQ-1) [1]; Riding (Equines)-12 (DX-1)
mad by years of enslavement, has begun babbling dark [1]; Savoir-Faire-16 (IQ+2) [2]*; Shadowing-14 (IQ+0)
secrets at awkward times. [2]; Shortsword-12 (DX-1) [1]; Stealth-14 (DX+1) [4];
Thaumatology-16 (IQ+2) [4]†; Traps/TL3-13 (IQ-1) [1].
Lord Claudius Maskill
Spells
Age 299; human vampire; 6’; 165 lbs.; black hair and
eyes, white skin. Analyze Magic-15 [1]†; Apportation-15 [1]†; Aura-15
ST 19 [20]; DX 13 [60]; IQ 14 [80]; HT 13 [30]. [1]†; Awaken-15 [1]†; Blur-15 [1]†; Bravery-15 [1]†;
Damage 2d-1/3d+1; BL 72 lbs.; HP 23 [0]; Will 15 [5]; Per Charm-15 [1]†; Clumsiness-15 [1]†; Cold-15 [1]†;
Command-15 [1]†; Continual Light-15 [1]†;
18 [0]; FP 13 [0]. Counterspell-15 [1]†; Create Fire-15 [1]†; Create Water-15
Basic Speed 6.5 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0]; Dodge 9; Parry 9; [1]†; Darkness-15 [1]†; Daze-15 [1]†; Deathtouch-15 [1]†;
Deflect Missile-15 [1]†; Delay-15 [1]†; Detect Magic-15
Block 9. [1]†; Dispel Magic-15 [1]†; Emotion Control-15 [1]†;
Enslave-14 [1]†; Extinguish Fire-15 [1]†; False Memory
Social Background -15 [1]†; Fascinate-15 [1]†; Fear-15 [1]†; Fog-15 [1]†;
Foolishness-15 [1]†; Forgetfulness-15 [1]†; Heat-15 [1]†;
TL: 3 [0]. Hide Thoughts-15 [1]†; Hinder-15 [1]†; Identify Spell-15
CF: Christian region [0]. [1]†; Ignite Fire-15 [1]†; Itch-15 [1]†; Lend Energy-15
Languages: Anglish (Native/Native) [0]; Arabic [1]†; Lend Vitality-15 [1]†; Light-15 [1]†; Link-15 [1]†;
(Accented/Accented) [4]; Latin (Native/Native) [6]; Lockmaster-15 [1]†; Loyalty-15 [1]†; Madness-15 [1]†;
Northland (Accented/Accented) [4]. Magelock-15 [1]†; Mass Daze-15 [1]†; Mass Sleep-15 [1]†;
Mass Suggestion-15 [1]†; Mind-Reading-15 [1]†; Mind-
Advantages Sending-15 [1]†; Pain-15 [1]†; Panic-15 [1]†; Paralyze
Limb-15 [1]†; Permanent Forgetfulness-14 [1]†; Purify
Attractive [4]; Charisma 2 [10]; Danger Sense [15]; Water-15 [1]†; Recover Energy-15 [1]†; Resist Fire-15
Eidetic Memory [5]; Hard to Kill 2 [4]; Magery 3 [35]; [1]†; Rooted Feet-15 [1]†; Seek Earth-15 [1]†; Seek Water-
Recovery [10]; Sensitive Touch [10]; Silence 2 [10]; 15 [1]†; Seeker-15 [1]†; Sense Emotion-15 [1]†; Sense
Smooth Operator 1 [15]; Status 2 [10]; Vampire (p. 201) Foes-15 [1]†; Shape Fire-15 [1]†; Shape Water-15 [1]†;
[100]; Wealth (Wealthy) [20]. Sleep-15 [1]†; Spasm-15 [1]†; Suggestion-15 [1]†;
Suspended Animation-15 [1]†; Telepathy-14 [1]†; Terror-
Perks: Deep Sleeper [1]. 15 [1]†; Trace-15 [1]†; Truthsayer-15 [1]†; Weaken Will-15
[1]†; Will Lock-15 [1]†; Wither Limb-15 [1]†.
Disadvantages
* +1 from Smooth Operator.
Callous [-5]; Compulsive Behavior (Always seeks † +3 from Magery.
vengeance) (12) [-10]; Curious (12) [-5]; Enemies GMs who wish to emphasize Maskill’s social connec-
(Assorted minor Hidelban nobles; Fairly often, 9 or less) tions may add Contacts and Favors as appropriate. He
[-10]; Megalomania (“I will replace the emperor.”) [-10]; has his fingers deep into many levels of Hidelban society.
Reputation -2 (Unsettling chamberlain – or worse?;
People of Hidelban and many Megalan nobles, small
group; Sometimes, 10 or less) [-2]; Sadism (15) [-7];
Secret (Evil megalomaniacal vampire; possible death)
[-30]; Selfish (15) [-2].

Quirks: Attentive; Careful; Obsessively tidy [-3].

LANDS OF YRTH 95

Azer Adventuring in Azer

This city is the only major port on As a school of magic, the Templar College is an ideal setting for a
Dyecastle Island, off the eastern campaign of youthful mages growing into power and adulthood.
coast. Heavily wooded in parts, the Students typically come to the College around age 18. They are 95%
island is known for its shipbuilders. male; women are not allowed in the Templars, and very scarce among
Indeed, these have made such the Legion battle mages, so any at the College have powerful patrons.
inroads into the best, most accessible However, fully 20% are nonhuman (primarily goblins and halflings).
woods that there is concern for the Almost all come from noble families. The curriculum focuses on battle
future of the industry. magic, but also touches on healing and communication spells, and pri-
vate classes are available on nearly any non-black branch of magic.
Azer’s other claim to fame is the
Templar College of Battle Magic, a Adventures for students at the college can include conflicts between
rambling collection of keeps and halls the students, conspiracies among the faculty, friction with the citizens of
on a hill overlooking the city. The Azer, and the mystery of the Jesuits. The administration and bailiff
College trains for both the Templars expect the students, as knights-in-training, to behave like mature adults.
and the Legions. The faculty’s They are inevitably, repeatedly disappointed; many of the students are
researches sometimes yield spectacu- arrogant and vicious.
lar results – local gamblers bet on how
long before the next explosion. Young Myrgan Heavenking, relations with Sahud
students come down the hill to the city blossomed; Myrgan now has the
for entertainment. Their magical The most northern Megalan city, largest Sahudese community outside
duels (technically forbidden) always Myrgan thrives on trade with the the country itself. This community of
draw crowds. Nomad Lands and vies with several hundred mostly avoids friction
Quartedec for Sahudese business. with the Myrgans by being insular and
The college grounds also hold a Although nearby fields are fertile dur- very polite. Unfortunately, more and
Jesuit mission. The bailiff who invited ing the short northern summers, com- more trade is coming through “Sahud
the Jesuits to the College hoped to merce is the lifeblood of the city. Its Town” before the Megalan merchants
learn some of their unusual magical thick-walled, close-packed buildings get their hands on it, creating resent-
secrets; this ploy has been a failure, loom over the snowy streets in the ment. Attempts to intimidate the
but the Jesuits do invite talented stu- winter; some show Sahudese architec- Sahudese traders verbally are met
dents to join their order. This is con- tural influence. with feigned if polite incomprehen-
troversial and divisive, since many sion. The few instances of actual vio-
Templars do not entirely trust Jesuits, Ten years ago, the son of Viscount lence have been repelled by stunning-
and students who do join become very Rufus, then ruler of Myrgan, bungled ly effective martial arts and occasional
tight-lipped shortly thereafter. a trade negotiation with Sahud so magic. The situation is on the verge of
badly that the Heavenking declared a deteriorating into outright war.
Kethalos high war. When Rufus insulted their
champion, this became a low war. Teridar
The County of Kethalos is located Rufus was then killed by a Sahudese
on the Johns River in northwest assassin. The local merchants, who Teridar is the richest city in north-
Megalos. The main city consists of had disliked Rufus for his extortionate ern Megalos, the seat of both an Earl
innumerable buildings of timbered taxes, agreed that this was his own and an Archbishop and the site of one
construction along the coast, backed fault, negotiated a peace, and pulled of only four Thomasite hospitals in
by a few solid stone structures. In strings so that their guildmaster, Ytarria. Located on a south-facing
times of peace, Kethalos prospers Walsham Markant, became a Baron cove at the mouth of a fertile river val-
from its fishing fleet and from trade and the new ruler. Since the mer- ley, it enjoys mild winters. Many of its
with the Northmen across the bay. chants control most of the economic buildings are huge wooden halls, sym-
However, Count Darius is not terribly power in Myrgan, this was largely bols of civic pride.
smart, and some vengeful Northmen unopposed, although Rufus’ family is
remember how he helped to drive naturally bitter. This region boasts the greatest
them back when they attacked in the lumber camp east of Lake Acheron,
early 1990s. Between Walsham’s sensible poli- worked by the slaves of Earl Sigmund
cies and the new peace with the Bonus. Using those same slaves,
An excellent knight, good-natured Sigmund also sponsors lavish arena
and handsome, Darius would much spectacles. One regular event is the
rather be hunting and jousting than Libertatum, in which four slaves bat-
governing. However, he understands tle each other for potential freedom.
his duty and tries his best. His mis- The Earl petitions the Emperor to
management is nevertheless making release the victor – petitions which
Kethalos weak, and it’s only a matter somehow never succeed. The slaves
of time before the Northmen try
again. There have already been a few
stealthy raiding parties, and some
people don’t go out at night for fear of
“nomad savages.”

96 LANDS OF YRTH

City of the Dead one yet, or even reliably traced one
back to its lair. The best guesses say
Rumors say the darkest city in Megalos lies somewhere near Lake that they live either in the Ekhans
Styx. These tales of a shadowed city of necromancers and zombies have Forest a hundred miles to the east, or
never been confirmed. Those who seek it out either vanish or return stat- under the waters of Sorcha Bay to the
ing with impressive certainty that it does not exist. The few supposedly northeast. It is clear that the dragons
reliable texts on the subject have all been lost or destroyed, but the are intelligent and informed – they’ve
Ministry of Serendipity doubtless secured its own copies centuries ago. been picking off the best cattle in the
herds.
are starting to realize this, and con- Sho’joor and Zehan have fallen on
stant unrest and minor acts of rebel- deaf ears. Min
lion now plague the area. The Earl,
who blames these troubles on the The previous Earl of Dekamera, The city and barony of Min are at
Emperor or the bureaucracy, is con- Gavin Magnus, was known for raiding the southernmost tip of the Megalan
templating ignoring the Imperial tax towns in al-Wazif with his private mainland. With poor farmland and a
collectors. fleet. One of these raids ended with his harbor too shallow for large merchant
son Taveon in Wazifi hands. Gavin’s vessels, Min is struggling. The region’s
THE rescue attempts failed, and, several major industries are milkfish farming,
SOUTHLANDS years later, he died, bitter and angry. fishing, and clam-diving. Without this
Meanwhile, the Wazifis had treated income, Baron Martignac of Min
This warm, heavily settled region is Taveon as a guest. When the Frontier would be a pauper. Min’s one claim to
known for its cotton and hemp plan- Wars ended, they returned him to fame was its role as the staging area
tations, vineyards, olive orchards, and Dekamera. This was a miscalculation; for the invasion of al-Kard 500 years
cattle. Taveon deeply resents the Wazifis for ago. No one has paid much attention
his situation and is mustering forces to it since.
Dekamera for further raids (see p. 134).
These days, however, Min is a
Dekamera, on the estuary of the Ekhans haven for pirates. The harbor is fine
River Regina, is one of Ytarria’s finest for small war galleys and quick sail-
ports. Though not as busy as Megalos, The Duchy of Ekhans is as famous boats. Using nearby islands as bases,
its sheltered harbor enjoys mild for its rich plantations and vineyards the pirates exact a heavy toll on ship-
weather year-round. Its buildings are as for its herds of cattle, which feed ping between Cardiel, Sho’joor, Zehan,
mostly low stone structures with flat much of the surrounding lands. At the and Araterre. Many traders give the
roofs. The center of trade between al- center of this rural splendor is the city entire region a wide berth. Baron
Wazif, Cardiel, and the eastern of Ekhans, one of the most prestigious Martignac would rather run his
Empire, its importance is further ducal holdings in Megalos. barony within the law, but he can’t
enhanced by pirate activity affecting ignore the economic benefit of pirates
ports to the south. Pleas for aid from Currently, Ekhans is suffering from spending their loot in his city. His tol-
a rash of nighttime dragon attacks on erance has reached the point that
its cattle. There appear to be at least famous pirates can now cheaply bribe
five of the beasts. Nobody has killed their way out of any trouble they
cause. The rich protect themselves
Pirates with guards (often ex-pirates them-
selves), but the poor are frequently
Trading ships crossing the Mare Media, the Erythraean Sea, and the prey to the whims of drunken cut-
southern parts of the Megalan Ocean are always at risk from pirates. throats.
Most ships, of course, make it to their destinations unscathed, but too
many become plunder to be ignored. Serrun

The majority of pirates are rapacious criminals. They have some The region around the city of
honor among themselves, but no sympathy or mercy for their prey Serrun, home of the Order of St.
unless a rich ransom is possible. A very few possess scruples and ideals, Olybrius, is a feudal holding of the
such as those who attack slave ships and immediately free the slaves. Archbishop of Serrun. Famously pros-
Others restrict their attacks to one target, out of revenge or for political perous, its vineyards and farmlands
reasons; the latter often want to free Araterre from Megalan control. benefit from a mild climate, and mer-
chants grow rich from the trade in
Some Yrthian rulers sponsor “privateers” – raiders who are sup- Serrun cotton cloth, demanded all
posed to attack only their nation’s enemies, and who may even claim over Ytarria. Though Serrun over-
the status of prisoners of war if captured. The distinction is little looks the coast, its rocky cliffs and
respected in practice. unpredictable currents make it a
minor seaport; only smaller boats can
safely navigate its harbor. Thus, most
of its trade is overland to Dekamera,
Zehan, or Ekhans.

LANDS OF YRTH 97

While Archbishop Nikolai is tech- THE WESTERN The duchy has been torn by war
nically the supreme authority in the EMPIRE since its creation. The staging ground
area, the de facto power is the devious for Megalan invasions of al-Wazif,
Count Sergius, lord of Shambray. Over The lands west of Lake Acheron Craine has been besieged many
recent decades, he has carefully are drier than eastern Megalos. The times, most recently during the
manipulated the populace into resent- ominous Blackwoods dominate the Frontier Wars. Occasionally the
ing Nikolai. They now see Sergius as central region, while the far west and duchy has fallen under Muslim rule,
their protector from the tyrannical north are mostly rolling plains. In only to be liberated by Imperial
whims of the Archbishop. In truth, addition to standard crops such as forces. A large minority of the peas-
Sergius’ only concern is acquiring as wheat, farmers grow peaches and ants remember their Muslim roots,
much power as possible. Once he feels pecans. Cattle, hardings (p. 229), and although very few actively practice
his grip on Serrun is secure, he plans horses are the most common live- Islam; those who are caught doing so
to infiltrate the power structure in stock. Antelope, bison, zebra, and wild are persecuted ruthlessly.
Ekhans. horses roam the western plains.
Prior to the Frontier Wars, Duke
Nikolai, while strict and deeply Arvey Bran, along with the Grand Master of
involved in Church politics, is truly New Jerusalem and the Archbishop of
pious and genuinely wants the best for Snuggled in the foothills of the Raphael, repeatedly encouraged the
everyone. While aware that Sergius is Bronze Mountains, the Barony of Emperor to strike first against al-
less than trustworthy, he is too Arvey marked the western border in Wazif. They failed, but the wars vali-
embroiled in affairs in the capital to the 1300s. Today it is the second- dated their argument. Though the
pay proper attention. Eventually, largest center of trade with Zarak. conflict ended with few changes to the
Sergius will probably overreach him- Though few dwarves make their home map, Bran’s prestige has risen further
self, with ensuing complications. in the city, they are a common sight from its already lofty height.
wandering the streets or selling their
Sho’joor fine work. As the sturdy stone city is Currently, he is rebuilding his
very hilly, many streets are actually strength. He believes there will be
Sho’joor is located on a large, deep stairs. another war, but is unsure whether
bay on Megalos’ southern coast. While to prepare for it, try to replace
traditionally a stopping point for ves- Craine Diophrates as Emperor, or seek
sels traveling between Megalos and
the Islamic countries, pirate activity Famous for its wide boulevards independence for Western Megalos
has reduced this traffic, traders going flanked by beautiful granite and mar- with himself as its king. Fortunately
to Dekamera or Sauvons instead. ble buildings, Craine, on the River or not, he may actually have enough
Duke Yivirrl of Sho’joor, a goblin, has Conn, is the greatest city in western personal power to pull off that last.
recently arranged for aid from the Megalos and a major center for Meanwhile, he sends spies and
Imperial Navy; while area shipping is Caithness-Megalan trade. The Duke of agents south to al-Wazif and east to
now slightly safer, the local economy Craine is the region’s dominant lord, the capital.
has yet to recover. Worse, Yivirrl has and his fiefdom is the largest between
no fallback position – if the Emperor Caithness and Lake Acheron. A land of Hyrnan
should whimsically recall the ships, rolling plains and gentle rivers, the
the city would collapse into poverty. duchy is dotted with stands of pine, A quarter-century ago, Hyrnan
oak, and poplar. It is excellent country was a small, prosperous duchy, cover-
Zehan for livestock; cattle, buffalo, and sheep ing the territory between Keyhole
are common. Bay and the Blackwoods. Then, in the
Zehan is in a similar position to early 1980s, Imperial tax collectors
Sho’joor, though it also profits from discovered that their official maps of
trade with sea elves and merfolk.
Instead of “pointlessly” appealing to
the Emperor, Count Aloysius of Zehan
has made a deal with the sea-lords of
Sauvons. They are providing him with
advanced ships and capable crews,
which he is paying for out of steep
taxes on everything but shipping. He is
also attempting to hire sea elves to spy
on the pirates. If they can locate the
major pirate hideouts, he may be able
to solve his problems with a few swift
strikes. However, this may place him
in violent confrontation with Baron
Martignac of Min.

98 LANDS OF YRTH