Thornlay

Thornlay is a very large landmass south of Estaklyos. While there is plenty of land in the nation, a relatively small amount of it is livable. For the most part, settlements only exist along the rivers of Thornlay. However, some nomadic groups live in the arid areas between rivers and some established mining camps have settled in the steep, frozen mountains of the southwest.

History

For most of its history, the region that would become Thornlay was embroiled in conflict between the different races that called it home. Dwarves, elves, orcs, and humans all vying to take the dominant position in the desolate land they called their home. Each race felt that if they were to take complete control, they may be able to do more than simply survive. That was until the incursions began. A group, their name either lost to time or suppressed, attempted to summon a great Demon to swing the war in their favor, and in doing so weakened the barrier between the material plane and The Pit. Demons swarmed out from this tear pushing each of the factions to their breaking point, and thus the rulers of each group, blinded by their own hubris and greed, struck out to hold one final battle. A pyrrhic victory to crown one of them as the ruler of a doomed land. The generals and soldiers, those who were set to fight, chose differently. They dropped their blades and turned on those who would have them fight a pointless battle, ending the period of warring amongst mortals. These disparate races joined together to form the nation of Thornlay, joining together with the devils of the Hells. These groups came together and created The Living Contract and The Clauses, magical bindings that would tie Thornlay and the Hells together against the threat.

Geography

While Thornlay may have a sizable landmass, much of it is largely uninhabitable. Dangerous arid plains split the land between settlements, and the south is a frigid wasteland. There are two mountain ranges that nearly split the continent in half. The northern border with Estaklyos and southeastern border to the sea are covered by a harsh desert.

Landmarks

Site of the Signing

On the plateau to the west of Paulu’a lake lies the origin of the Treaty of Thornlay. This site marks the origins of the nation and has been turned into a large meeting hall for the Living Contract and Clauses to meet and discuss the future of the nation. Due to the importance of the location, the capital of the country naturally coalesced around this seat of the nation’s power.

The Bladefall

North of the Site of Signing, nestled in the crook of the Malosi river, lies the Bladefall. It was here that the leaders of the Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and Humans once decided to bring the continent under one of their control in a final, decisive battle. As the soldiers stood facing each other in the plains, they began to let their swords fall to the ground, rejecting their despotic leaders’ cries for bloodshed. If the Site of Signing was the birth of Thornlay, the Bladefall was its conception.

The Living Contract and Clauses

When the first Thornlayans drafted and signed the contract at the Site of Signing, the first Living Contract and Clauses were designated. These were the people who would uphold the binding contract of Thornlay and ensure that the nation completed the duties outlined therein. The Living Contract represents the document itself, standing as the highest judge and leader of Thornlay. Their word is, quite literally, law and they are expected to uphold all of the clauses of the original contract. And seek to further advance the nation. The Clauses are the second-highest station in Thornlay, each representing a specific tenet of the contract itself. They head the organizations and bodies dedicated to the pursuit of their specific clause, though they are still expected to follow the contract in its entirety. The titles of Living Contract and Clause are passed through meritocracy, not bloodline. When a Clause dies or is otherwise left unable to complete their duties, several candidates are chosen. The candidates are tasked with proving themselves, and eventually one will be chosen by the Living Contract to succeed the previous Clause. When a Living Contract dies or is left unable to fulfill their duties, a candidate is chosen from each of the Clause’s organizations, with each expected to prove themself through some great meritorious act. The new Living Contract is then selected by the Clauses to represent and lead the nation.

Clauses

Defend the Material Plane

Provide willing soldiers for the Hells

Raise the next generation

Advancement of technology and arcane prowess

Create and enforce laws to maintain order

Provide sustenance for those who contribute

Search for a way to permanently repel the demons

Create and maintain a state religion

Culture

Thornlayan culture, like the land it hails from, is harsh and unyielding. The people are expected to adhere to a strict social contract created by The Signing and there is often little cause for large-scale celebration. The nation is largely utilitarian, considering a person’s worth to be tied to the value they bring to their community and position is determined not by birth, but by the merit of an individual. The people of Thornlay are similarly strict, they view those who step outside of the social contract as failures and it is difficult, if not impossible, for a breaker to be welcomed back into Thornlayan society. While not unheard of, the trials that these tests that these individuals must undergo leave most dead. Children start their general apprenticeship at around 12, joining a clause they are to pursue with excellence for the advancement of the community. No one clause stands above any of the others as it is only when each comes together in harmony that the people of Thornlay reach their full potential. While celebrations are largely kept small and private, Thornlay does have one national holiday spanning three days that celebrates The Bladefall and The Signing.

Religion

The Thornlayan pantheon can be broken into two groups, gods and devils. The gods are native deities to Thornlay, representative of the land that spawned them. They are often strict and unforgiving, however they do not often act out of malice, preferring to harden their followers so they may grow stronger. The devils are a more ‘recent’ addition to the pantheon, joining as a consequence of the state religion established in The Signing. Many who are devout followers of the gods find the devils to be a necessary evil against the tides of the demons. Conversely those who tend towards the devilish view the gods as impotent to their plights, as it was the Hells who answered their call for aid against the demons. While some tension exists between the two sects, they are expected to put their own personal feelings aside to face a common foe. Beyond those who worship the state religion, there are some groups who wander the inhospitable wilderness of Thornlay and worship the demons who threaten the material, viewing their eternal onslaught as inevitable.

Inhabitants

The people of Thornlay are harsh and steadfast, often looking past differences that would be irreconcilable in the world at large. Many from outside the region would view the people of Thornlay as a strange patchwork, races that should, by all accounts, be at each other’s throats instead joined together. Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, and Humans all living together to form one great nation. The people of Thornlay are strict, adhering to a rigid social contract and do not take kindly to those who deviate from it. Most live in settlements along the rivers, the easy access to water creating relatively livable conditions. Travel between these pockets of civilization is dangerous, and only those who have earned the right to travel are allowed to freely move, though they may be tasked with transporting less-capable individuals through the harsh landscape. Beyond those who live under the contract are those who choose to instead worship demons. These wandering bands are welcome nowhere and are often viewed with outright contempt and hatred by Thornlayan’s proper. These groups are considered an affront to everything their nation stands for and are dealt with harshly.

Land and Monsters

The land of Thornlay is harsh, anything that lives there is forced to scrape out and claw their continued existence from the grip of death. The land is anything but bountiful, and nothing is given freely. Plants, animals, monsters, and humans must all vie for their own survival in the proving ground. There is also a far less natural source that threatens Thornlay and the greater material plane. The boundaries between Thornlay and The Pit are thin, making it a prime location for demonic incursion. Not only must the natural life of the region fight to eke out their own existence, but they must also contend with demonic forces from beyond the realm.