Common Knowledge in Kronis

This article serves to provide you with the common knowledge known to anyone dwelling in Kronis. This is a must-read for those playing a TTRPG in the setting, but can also a useful tool for those seeking a baseline before diving into other articles.  

The Calendar

The Morosian and Makan Empires both created calendars that circulate across all of Kronis. However, a third calendar was made by the merchant folk, called the Traveler's Calendar - it is far simpler in concept. The Traveler's Calendar classifies dates as Before the Rise of Empires (BR) and After the Rise of Empires (AR), corresponding with Poscaea's Imperial Ascension. A year consists of 4 seasons with 90 days starting in Spring and proceeding to Summer, Autumn, and Winter, ending on the 90th of Winter.   Ideally, the solstices are on the 45th of Summer and 45th of Winter respectively. Weeks last 10 days.  

Currency

Coins come in a variety of silver and gold, though they are minted differently depending on region. Former territories of the Morosian Empire call their currency "Suns" or sometimes "Stars" as they feature a brilliant star to reflect the Morosian deities. Former Makan territories call their currency Lions after their lead deity Sejinojo The Grey Lion, though Makan gold all bears the face of a past Emperor.   Otherwise, varied currencies from other prominent kingdoms, such as the Lammetrian Empire of Thyzanti, Zahretian Caliphate, Kingdom of Vovika, and others will be found in respective regions that were never touched by the Makans or Morosians.  

Brief History

  To 300 BR
Kronis had long been divided among rival tribes, each claiming ancient dominion. The Aetians, Poscaeans, Podrusans, Seikans, and the now-extinct Dan-Verig people all asserted themselves as the first true civilizations—and within their regions, perhaps they were. Around 600 BR, the Kingdom of Ataeria emerged after the unification of clans on the island of Akraleia. Over time, more tribes and clans followed suit, forming unified kingdoms and, in rare cases, republics governed by ancient family coalitions.   300 BR - 1 AR
By 300 BR, the Kingdom of Poscaea had conquered or vassalized vast territories, reaching a scale that required a total transformation in governance. The Poscaeans established an Imperial Government with codified laws and a formal hierarchy. The rise of Poscaea marks a pivotal moment in Kronis' history, dividing time into two distinct eras: Before the Rise of Empires (BR) and After (AR).   1 - 500 AR
The Poscaean Empire’s dominance was short-lived, overthrown within just 50 years by a rival power—the Seleutine Kingdom. The centuries that followed saw a turbulent era of constant warfare among kingdoms and city-states vying for supremacy. Out of this chaos emerged two great empires: the Morosians and the Makans. The Morosians, expanding from their capital city of Moros, named both their empire and their native island accordingly. The Makans, originating from the western island of Tongiu, ruled from their capital, Magasako.   500 - 950 AR
By 500 AR, the Morosian Empire controlled nearly all of eastern Kronis, while the Makan Empire dominated the west. This era, known as The Great Pax, marked a rare and enduring peace across the continent. From 500 to 700 AR, the Great Pax ushered in a golden age of prosperity, learning, and stability. However, the peace unraveled in the 700s when the Dresnid tribes launched devastating invasions against both empires, triggering a cascade of disasters that led to their eventual downfall. By 890 AR, the last remnants of both empires had vanished.   Kronis once again fractured into a patchwork of warring states, while various successor kingdoms clung desperately to the fading legacies of their imperial forebears.  

Pastimes

Pastime amongst people in Kronis varies as widely as the cultures do, but there are some common trends. Taverns spring up with games for gambling, marketplaces offer social acitivties, Monks and researchers read and scribe knowledge to be passed down to generations, and cultural and religious festivities are held on a frequent basis.  

Games

Games, whether by children in a yard or at a table in a tavern, vary across the continents by culture and region. The following are some common games known and played across Kronis.   The Bones This game was created by the Rhalans and spread throughout the north continent of Severon. It involves tossing a piece of rock or knuckle bone in the air--called the "trigger"--and picking up a scattered array of similar pieces off the ground before catching the trigger again. This must be done quickly and without dropping any pieces, including the trigger, or else you net 0 points for that round. This can be played for any number of rounds.   Hands of Fate (Gambling) Founded in the Makan Empire and spread throughout the West. Players roll 1 secret d12 and make bets or fold. 2 more successive rounds are played but these two rolls are made public. Player with the highest total wins the pot.   King's Game A game from Morosia, it is played on a checkered board where one side is defending 3 or 4 kings and the other is attacking it. All the pieces-save for the kings-are a similar round and colored piece of wood. Eliminate opposing pieces by moving two of your pieces to either side of an opponent's piece. Similar to Tablut/Hnefatafl.   Liar's Dice Founded by the Aomeki and widely used in Eastern Kronis. Each player has a set of 5 d6 dice which they roll and keep hidden from the others. They then make increasingly risky bets on how many dice of a certain rolled-number are out there.   The Godd's Favor (Gambling) Both the Zuremi and the Podrusans take credit for this game, which is popular on Barakon as a whole. Players roll 2 d10s and add rolls as needed to try and get as close to 21 as possible without going over - played against the dealer to varying payouts.   Ringfall Ringfall is the premier sport played almost exclusively by the Balan culture, who pride themselves on physical fitness. Ringfall is an intensive game where the goal is to throw a ball of animal skin, heavy leather, or a chiseled rock through vertical hoops or horizontal nets by any means necessary.   Stick Juggling Often played by children, you use a stick in each hand and attempt to keep a third stick of various length up in the air for as long as possible.   War A game shared by the Ismians, Salkans, and Rhalans. Players shuffle and deal out cards or roll a d20. Each player plays a card from their hand or the roll is taken, and any player who's number is doubled is eliminated (player with a 4 is eliminated if an 8 or higher is played). This continues until there is one winner.   Wargames Founded out of a combination of Morosia's "King's Game" and Ismia's deep interpretations for warfare led to the creation of wargames wherein minitature models of soldiers are used to simulate a battle.  

Reading

Scrolls are 10 times more common than the leather-bound book, and both are primarily found in temples and archives afforded by royalty. Books and scrolls are only produced through scribing as anything resembling a printing press have not yet been invented.   Reading is a a highly prized and coveted pastime for those who can afford it on Kronis. It is often seen as a luxury or a mark of status to possess and be able to read a rare book. Reading is viewed as a form of escape and way to pass the time, giving hidden joys to those who can lose themselves in the pages of a book. As a result, certain practices in reading is also dangerous as the possession of certain written works is strictly controlled, carrying punishment for those who are caught with forbidden books or scrolls.   Aside from luxury, reading is also be viewed as a means of gaining knowledge and information that is not commonly known. Therefore, guilds and orders have arisen as a means of consolidating funds and manpower to acquire a variety of books from which to research, learn, and expand upon.  

Celebrations and Holiday

Every culture has their own reason to celebrate and different aspects of the world which they idolize, which creates a lot of gatherings for pure enjoyment.   Days in multiples of 5 are broadly significant in different ways to most religions, and multiples of 10 tend to be widely celebrated as a week's end. Many religions have "Days of Gathering" where the community comes together to socialize and celebrate something. There are also "Days of Feast", usually in the autumn, where a feast is organized by a community or local lord.  

Honor and Karmic Beliefs

Across many societies in Kronis, there exists a widespread belief that the gods—or some unseen cosmic force—ensure that those who commit especially vile acts against innocents are eventually punished with fates even more terrible than those they inflicted. What qualifies as a “heinous act” varies from culture to culture, but countless tales tell of wrongdoers meeting their ends in a grotesque mirror of their own conduct.   As a result, it is often in one’s own self-interest to uphold honor, particularly in matters of warfare and justice. Many believe that to act without restraint or principle is to invite divine retribution.   This is not to suggest that atrocities never occur—far from it. But when they do, their weight is felt all the more heavily by those cultures that still hold fast to these karmic principles.  

Mythos

Magic users are somewhat rare and knowing multiple forms of magic is even more so. Every culture discovered magic in their own ways, and therefore culturewide magic use is fairly homogenous. The only unifier between all forms of magic is that they derive from the basic elements of the world: air, earth, fire, water, aether, void, and life.   Magic against non-magic users is viewed as dishonorable by many cultures, more so on the continent of Severon than elsewhere. Use of magic in duals is strictly forbidden unless it is the only weapon of choice for both parties. Using magic to maliciously exploit others is met with severe punishment almost globally.   See the following article to learn about the magic system in the Mythos of Kronis