ARYNIA
You have entered the realm of Arynia, home of many species seeking refuge in its lush rainforests. with 60% of the land consiting of swampy river delta, and the many islands that dot the delta are home to the Lighting demon tribes. On the 40% that is not swampy mixed villages and light demons prosper. This is where Lord Toleranth calls home, his people teaching other demons turned away by their people for lack of abiltiy.
The Pa Delta:
The massive swamp delta that covers most of Arynia is perhaps a great lure for radical demons. With many small rivers that make up a network of transportation and the fact that many places from the eye look the same it goes to say that getting lost within the Delta is easy to do. Teaming with sand crab, crayfish, bottom feeding fish, the deadly water asp snake, various other snakes, frogs of many varieties both poisonius and non poisoniuns, and lastly water dragons(alligators to us)
Inhospitable as it sounds the Pa Delta is home to the brave souls who have the abilites to defend themselves against the hostile enviorment to which they call home. The lighting demon tribes are the primary majority in this region of Arynia, using its frequent stroms to practice their craft, and the ease of people becoming earth grounded is easy with so much water present.
Lighting Demons:
Lighting demons are very territorial, meaning the closer you get to their villages or living areas the more dangerous it becomes. They attak without warning, and in group of two to three. Usually a low level will start the attack with a higher level finishing the job. They are immune to lighting based or eletrically based attacks.
Women rule, their social structure revolves around men doing the unwanted labor, defense, and in the off time pleasure of the mistresses. The mistresses of other tribes trade their men like property or sell them for things they want.
The leadership trial: Once a year the tribes send their best females and they all make their way to the mainland for the sole purpose of proving themselves and their strength to the leadership in the village they are ready to lead,own property, and own men. However this is no easy task as it involves killing a dragon, and more times then often village difference on the battlefield have caused many a whole season to fail. To fail is to die, but the last one to strike when the kill is made chooses three others to join her as champions and new mistresses. So many rivalries have formed and bad blood in early years between the generations of young girls.
The most notable mistress of the lighting demons is Merril, strong as she is wealthy with a grand total of 100 men under her rule and a very good subordinates who bear her many prime men for trading. During her trial, she successfully killed two dragons, a feat that has not been repeated since, but it cost her most of the movement in her left arm.
Whenever Tolly ventures into the delta region for anything he sends word to her first, and he usually encounters no problems. She never once replied with permission, always with a warning that they will be watching, and that he is no different then others who invade their territory.
Free men: Men who have advanced in their abilites to their peak are granted their freedom from being lower then the women. They are branded by hot iron with a mark, and given a choice by their mistress to stay or to leave the protection of the village. If they choose to leave they are forbidden to return to that village under penalty of death.
The Golden earth:
Arynia's Golden earth refers to the mainland section where light demons reside, Toleranth also teaches in the city there, and it is completely surronded in fields. The earth being very fertile, the yeilds are exceptional, and prized upon by the lighting demons. So its a constant battle along the lower fields, one that is always a source for strong debate, but no matter the incident open war between the two tribes has always been avoided by long periods of inactivity.
Lord Toleranth: A teacher of his craft in the city of Arias, and collector of books and journals. He accumlates any knowledge he can from other realms, and applies it too better instructing his students and improving his craft. He is also known to possess a map of the Pa Delta, in the great detail of those carried by senior mistresses of the lighting demon villages. As part of a previous peace agreement he is forbidden from ever showing it to any outsider.
The city of Arias:
The mainland being mostly farm ground, the city plays host to the many markets where product is brought in and sold to local familes and by large brokers who ship it elsewhere. Craftsman hove moved in to repair and build equipment for the local industry, and temporary housing(inns and hotels) for the migrant workers who help during the harvest and planting seasons.
The leadership of Arynia is also seated in this city, and upon occasions of great change, the Lighting Demons have been invited to sit in without hostilies. However the current ruler is having health issues and the whole of Arynia is silently figuring out who will replace him. His wife holds no popularity with the people, and in her weakness she has sought to announce she would not take over should he pass away without a heir being announced.
Naturally the Lighting demons want the chance to rule, but the border riads and the blood shed by both sides have cast a long shadow on that opportunity. This has caused some issues to form iwth the lighting demons and they are being rather quiet about them. A free man leaked that a possible assassination would take place followed by a swift attack on the city could take place. When sought out to be asked further, they found only his head on a pike, burns to the head told all to well that treason even by a free man was not tolerated by any of his kin.
So with the health failing of the current leader and the threat of war looming. The current leader of Arynia stalled the war by allowing the Lighting demons to send their elligable candidates to be voted upon. No surprise that Merril would be one of those said candidates as she strives to secure power over the other tribes in the delta and a foothold in the territory of the Light demons.
