The Matter of Theoratos

Overview Even before the Population, Theoratos was inhabited by adventurous colonies of Iskuzai Giants and the culture of this land continues to reflect aspects of these original folk. Warlike, enterprising, and with great reverence for the higher powers of the natural world, the many smaller folk who inherited this land in later ages continue traditions of pastural farming, raiding, and council-making.     Regions of Interest Theoratos is a scarred land, host to the great catastrophes of the Early Ages. Within the eastern wing-plain lay desolate battlefields and the marring of Avaloros.   The Inner Sea. When campaigning Giants sought dominion over all of Vilya and Ronor, they harnessed powerful magics from their homeplane of Ysgard and threatened the integrity of the Material. Behemoth was called to intervene and lifted the Giant capitol into breathless Ilmen. What remained was an empty yet fertile plain, with only a narrow strip of land holding back the waters of Pelnen. In time the stone was eroded and a great flood entered the bottom hundreds to create the Inner Sea.   The Deadfields. After countless cycles of peace between the folk of northern Theoratos, a great war erupted between the Tiefling and Aasmiar hundreds. In the final confrontation much life was lost in a series of battles that left heaps of dead among the fetid fields between their ruined kingdoms.     A Few Folk   Amphibians. Feudal Warriors. Inheritors of much of Giant lands.   Dragonborn. Sovereign Artists. Master ceramicists.   Gnomes. Rugged Crafters. Master metallurgists.     Shared History & Culture   Societal structure. No king has ruled in Theoratos since the marring of Avaloros. Instead the folk are governed by local ealdormen who, during war, cast lots for leadership but who, in times of peace, are equal in power. The eastern wing of Avaloros is divided into 3 provinces so-named Gaue, each composed of roughly 100 “Hundreds”. There are 3 castes; first are Edhilingui who descend from the leaders of folk during the Population, second are Frilingi who are freefolk, third are the Lazzi who are conquered folk and make oaths of submission and pay tribute to Edhilingui. Weregild for a member of the Edhilingui can be as much as 700 head of cattle, while that for a Frilingi averages around 100 head and the family of a slain Lazzi must be satisfied with a payment of 10 head of cattle, sometimes less.   Council-meet of Sangrazul. At the conclusion of the Great Tapestry each cycle, a meeting is held in Chrysopotis. There, 12 representatives from each caste and from each hundred meet to confirm laws, give judgment on outstanding cases, and determine by common counsel whether they would go to war or be in peace that cycle.   Irminsul. A large tree or sometimes stone pillar can be found in the central court of all towns of Theoratos, save the smallest of villages. Around such landmarks, the folk convene and celebrate the changing phases of each cycle. There, parent deities, elder elementals, and legendary heroes are venerated and celebrated to mark the passage of time in the Material.     Some Landmarks   The Petraments. Found midway between ancient Giant ruins, these large stone circles are thought to mark the meeting sites of that First Age empire. The weathered carvings show rune-tales that tell of the founding and laws of the Giant empire.   Giant’s Paths. Massive stone causeways stretch across the breadth of Theoratos. Once used as major routes of travel, the remaining paths dwindle under the erosion of the elements and from the scavenging of stone for new construction projects.   Picture 1   picture 2