Pathfinder Regional Deep Dive: Vidrian

[Music] foreign [Music] the country of vidrion is bounded on the south by the lower Corey River from Port freedom to the lake of vanished armies on the east by the river of lost tears the Bandu Hills and the zimi river on the North by the tropical rainforests of the kava land and finally on the west by the wide and Placid desperation Bay which makes for one of the safest and most secure natural Harbors on the western coast of Garand however these lines on the map did not exist until 600 years ago when chalish colonizers crudely drew them on a map delineating what territory they thought would help secure them the right resources for their growing Imperial Ambitions prior to that time these lands were inhabited by a mix of mwangi tribes and cultures each carving out their individual territories these included the Bandu tribe a backyard tribe For Whom the Bandu Hills would later be named the basso tribe peaceful zenge Nomads who followed the antelope herds through the plains surrounding kalabuto and mazali the ejo and ombo tribes highly skilled tribes of bonuat fisherfolk who historically made their homes around desperation Bay the kalabouta tribe For Whom the city of kalabuto would later be named and who settled into these ancient ruins though its mysterious Origins predate their people by Untold millennia the Mula tribe of central vidrion another ethnically distinct group but who frequently identify themselves culturally with the other zenge tribes the yemba tribe A beckyard Tribe of fierce Warriors said to be allied with cannibal ghouls that lived along the Upper River of Tears and the rivers of burst Souls finally in addition to the major human Societies in the Laughing jungle that was the home of the song go halflings according to their songs the song Go halflings ventured into the Laughing jungle long before the mwangi expanse became a target for exploitation by various empires of galerion they crossed treacherous Landscapes such as vast oceans deserts and mountains to find a place that was just as dangerous but felt like home despite being considered a minor and persistent annoyance in the records of the Region's conquests the Congo halflings have always preferred to remain inconspicuous or avoid being found altogether for around six centuries they avoided contact with Outsiders and force anyone who encountered them to keep their existence a secret it's possible over time that history may yet learn that the song goes had a secret role in vidrian Independence but currently that remains just tall tales and Story songs a third major group can be found in the region along the modern border with the kava lands is one of the demesanies of the echogee elves the history of the echogee diverge from that of the other elves on galerian at the time of Earth fall in minus 5293 While most elves elected to leave for their ancestral realm of severian to survive the disaster the echogee Clans instead decided to stay behind despite having knowledge of the coming Devastation when the earth shattered and the skies went black the echogee remained to defeat a great darkness that arose from the destruction possibly sparing the remaining life on galerion from Total Extinction despite most Scholars belief that the identity of this great Darkness has lost a time or that the whole story is simply a fanciful Legend told by the elves the echogee know the truth of their ancestral foe though they never call it by its common name the great Darkness was an incarnation of the Dragon God dahak who had been lured to galarian by the death and Chaos that racked the world during that terrible time in the age of Darkness the echogee elves trapped the gods incarnation in an elf gate called the Hunter gate which unfortunately effectively severed the connections between the remaining ayudhara this Victory came at a great cost as the most heroic and virtuous Equity elves sacrificed themselves to bolster the strength of the remaining echogee Warriors who managed to pierce the Flesh of the Dragon God while they accomplished the miraculous feat of defeating the God's living aspect with Mortal magic and hands they ultimately only wounded and imprisoned the dragon God thus most ekajay consider their inability to finish off their foe cleanly a failure as a result it became the sacred duty of all ekajay to prepare for the Hawk's return in honor of their ancestors courage and sacrifice throughout the ages of Anguish and Destiny these various peoples lived in these lands with the occasional territorial conflict between each other but otherwise largely keeping to themselves and their respective ways although not directly within the country's boundaries a significant event occurred in the year -308 when a great city was founded just outside the screaming jungle just east of modern vidrion at this site a lineage of warrior kings and queens who claimed to be descended from The Lion God chohar established the city this city mazali would become the largest and most influential Cultural Center in the region these people were fiercely proud of their fighting skills and mummified their royal family and the Royal Family's followers in the hopes that this would Safeguard their Capital even after their deaths the early rulers quickly expanded their power over nearby territories imposing heavy taxes to fund their armies however once they gained control over the area the opportunities for battle and Glory became scarce by -200 the ruling families had become preoccupied with rebuilding and transforming the greatest warriors from among their military forces into gladiatorial Champions they demanded more children from outlying areas to train for their blood games more valuable items for their lavish prizes and more food and fabric to attract audiences for their games in 2653 the first Abyssinian colonialists arrived in southern Garen they would arrive by ship and land in blood Cove the northernmost settlement in the kava lands this is of course before the split of the old talden Empire and these colonialists did not come to be permanent settlers but were rather Traders and Merchants looking to secure trade agreements with local peoples although they went by a different name then these were the precursor Mercantile factions to the powerful aspis trade Consortium of today which is currently headquartered in the cellar city of ostenso as a result of this foreign investment blood Cove would become a powerful nation state in its own right but this place of early avastinian settlement was never incorporated into the talden empire meanwhile in mizali in 3967 a coalition of regional Governors and local religious leaders formed the Council of manisa to break the ruling family's grip on the Region's economy one of the young princes of the royal family while Kenna had died of illness a few decades before the revolt and was entombed in a hurry in a tomb intended for a famous Gladiator the council's militant followers searched for the Royal tombs and destroyed the mummies but they missed volcanas leaving him to rest in obscurity for centuries just over a hundred years later a pretty significant event occurred that I've discussed in my taldor video in my chelix video and in my history of the world of galerian video before that in 4081 the talden Empire split chelyax became the successor to the taled and imperialist ways and they sought to expand and make a name for themselves in their own right by 4138 only 50 years after the split Cellar ships arrived in desperation Bay as part of a colonial effort ordered by Prince haliad the first of chelyx construction began on a temporary Stockade which would later be named elidar and baron pretorius was appointed as Colonial Governor at this time the colonists began having their first encounters with the various mwangi tribes of the region in 4142 Prince haliad the first visited elidar to check on the colony's progress misunderstanding the name the colonists had given to their land the confused Prince dubbed The Colony sargava after his favorite horse in 4150 the chalish colonists conquered the city of kalabuto and began to establish the borders of their colonial territory at the river of lost tears the kalabouta tribe quickly began to revolt against Colonial leadership but the uprising was just as quickly put down by cellist troops who had Superior armor weapons and Powerful Divine magic conferred by aerodynite clerics in 4217 the kalabouta tribe revolted once again over Colonial efforts to forcibly convert its members to the worship of aridan the rebellion was once again quelled by The Chalice agreed to allow the tribes to worship as they pleased in 4418 chellish corvosons came to sargava with a ship full of Dwarven explorers from yanderhof with whom the city had been trading extensively since the chalish occupation of Southern varicia they began mining for precious metals in the Bandu Hills followed shortly thereafter by no miners looking for rare gems and minerals Dwarven miners also discovered a vein of gold in Mount nakuk establishing the far south mines Fort bondu was built to protect miners from both violent backyard tribes and the Hostile hobgoblins of the region by 4426 competition between the various Bandu Hill mining companies turned to open fighting and the Deep treasure Mining Company one of the smallest concerns in the period barely survived their offices in kalabuto were burned down and their officers presumed dead however by the end of that year the Deep treasure Mining Company resurfaced deep in the Bandu Hills and quickly overcame its Rivals to emerge as the foremost mining concern in sargava and the mwangi expands starting two years later from 4428 to 4431 a three-year-long open war between the mining syndicates occurred where private militias had been hired to rest the region from Deep treasure control at the end of this conflict the Deep treasure mining Corporation abandoned its headquarters but managed to continue operations from a series of secret bases scattered throughout the Bandu Hills in 4577 in sargava's capital of eladar Baron gralus was born to baroness Alexia of house Davion by 4600 Baron gralus Davian would become the new governor of sargava and the high lord of the capital city of Eldar six years after his Ascension the death of Prophecy occurred in Western Garand the most significant event was not the death of aridan but the sudden formation of the eye of abendego which all but severed sargava's ties to its motherland additionally after Aaron's death in 4606 a gradual transformation in chalish culture and Society commenced while internistine Warfare plagued celiacs fundamentally changing its people Baron gralus who was still the governor of sargava at that time pledged his loyalty to his family on the mainland during the chalish Civil War house devian was kept afloat by the financial backing of sargava and its gurundi interests the sargovan colony had become quite wealthy exploiting the indigenous Workforce and relying on the Coast's many Rich natural resources and the various working mining operations despite the setbacks of the mining Wars in spite of Baron grouse's great wealth it was not sufficient and supporting house davian's armies on the home front meant expanding their sphere of control in 4610 Baron gralus tried to take control of the nearby major settlement of mazali using Colonial forces stationed at calabuto things did not go as planned in the intervening years the Council of moniese and mizali had stumbled upon the mummy of walcana and his treasures leading to several councilors having visions of the city's Resurgence with its ancient solar disk emblem replacing the Sun the council believed that mazali was fated to reclaim its Regional power and put the mummified Prince on display inviting neighboring people to witness their proud history when sargavan Colonial forces from kalabuto came to plunder the city The Mummy Rose to defend the city with Holy Fire establishing himself as the city's ruler outraged by The Invasion the newly risen while Kenna vowed to rid the expanse of the Invaders and gained the support of various resistance movements as well this sat back in sargava may have had far-reaching consequences in 4639 house Davian was forced into a last desperate battle with house Throne due to dwindling finances they held a final battle for the fate of the country outside Corrington called The Battle of a hundred Kings which house through and won decisively for some additional details on the chalish Civil War you may also want to see my regional Deep dive video on cheliacs with house through an unexpectedly ascended to the chalish throne growlis had no choice but to seek formidable local allies to Shield himself from the retaliation of his native land the free captains notorious pirates from the shackles had always been adversaries of cheliacs and sergava pillaging the merchant fleet's transporting trade goods between the colony and the motherland despite their criminal activities the Pirates were shrewd businessmen and agreed to provide their services in shielding the sargavan Colonials from their former countrymen in 4643 the chela sharmada arrived in full force to replace Governor growlis Davian and reassert control over the colony the free Captain Fleet from the shackles struck decimating the entire chalish Armada and sinking it to the depths of desperation Bay although it came at a high price the free captains honored their end of the deal enabling sargawa to operate independently without fear of chalish retaliation effectively 4643 became the date of the first sargavan Independence of course that would not be the last time Chely ax attempted to recapture its Lost Colony but thankfully for the colonialists the independent colony of sargava was kept secure because Governor growlis Davian continued to pay a stipend to the Pirates to secure those Waters in 4660 a second challenge Armada moved South and this time it was intercepted by three captains and driven into the eye of abandago the chalish fleet was forced to turn back after losing 30 ships to Hurricane conditions in 4662 Baron gralus died he was succeeded by Baron utilinus as governor of sargava in 4667 Baron utilinus traveled to Port Peril to renegotiate the protection contract with the hurricane King he successfully argued the hurricane King into accepting half the normal payment due to argue his case he pointed to the numerous transgressions by the free captains during the previous year in actual fact this was a crucial negotiation for sargava because although the Pirates provided protection from cheliaks they did not provide any protection from the indigenous moengi people who had been the primary Workforce of the colonists for Generations the locals had been subjugated and oppressed since the colonists had taken over and now that sargava could not rely on the might of the chalish armies to quash the occasional Insurrection the mwangi were growing aware of Their Own Strength and better organizing consequently Baron utilinus realized his new nation was balanced on a knife's edge and he was fast running out of gold reserves to pay off the Pirates he knew it was only a matter of time before the mwangi launched a final Rebellion Against The Outsiders that renegotiation of the protection payments of the shackles pirates only brought Baron utilinus in the sargavan colonists so much time however by 4678 the newly risen child-sized god king while Kenna was finally ready to make good on his promises of Retribution from when mazali had been invaded by the sargavans earlier mazali forces seized and sacked kalabuto the ancient city became a Battleground for an ongoing military conflict that would last six years finally in 4684 the sargovan colonists managed to retake kalabuto but at Great cost with their finances stretched to Breaking the sargavan colonists became increasingly cruel task Masters to the indigenous wangi people they were effectively galvanizing separatist sentiment with each victory over Masali and losing the internal war in the long run in 4690 and again in 4702 mazali agents in coordination with local separatists managed to retake kalabuto but each time the sargavan colonists managed to take it back in 4710 the serpent skull Adventure path took place in this adventure a group of Shipwrecked survivors from the large nearby island of Smuggler's shiv just off the coast of sargava learned of a plot by the ancient and secretive race of serpent folk to resurrect their dead God they had to navigate the many political factions of colonial sargava's capital of elidar including the sargovan government itself indigenous mwangi separatists the Pathfinder Society the aspis Consortium the free captains of the shackles and the deadly red mantis assassins despite the complex politics of this land they forged crucial alliances and headed deep into mwangi expanse to prevent the serpent folk from fulfilling their dark Prophecy in the course of this chaotic struggle these adventurers also managed to kill the Savage Guerrilla King of the moengi expanse something which I'll delve into more deeply in a future video dedicated to that region by 4715 Colonial governor utilinus was now on his waning years and he had run out of chances it was not the external forces of volcano and mazali that ended sargavan rule but the the people of sargava itself that finally had enough while Governor utilinus exhausted the country's coffers and paying private protection waging Wars against mazali and spending money on considerable policing forces to brutally oppress any dissent to Colonial rule the native wangi peoples along with exasperated lower-class colonists felt they had no choice but to rebel against their oppressors this rebellion was sparked by a small Revolt led by slaves and servants at a plantation on the outskirts of eladar and quickly spread Nationwide using Guerrilla tactics actually learned from the free captains of the shackles in what became known as the vidrich revolution The Tipping Point came when sargavan soldiers themselves began to defect and so the revolutionaries were able to force the colonial Nobles out of the region they declared independence and named their new country vidrion and renamed the capital city enthusis an older bonuet name for that region that had existed before the coming of the chalish however the struggle for Independence had only just begun for vidrion in 4716 the free captains attempted to extort the fledgling Nation as they had with sargava before it but vidrion was able to sign a deal with nearby sengor for Naval protection in exchange for expanded trade relations the free captains were routed by a combination of singori ships and obgoblin mercenaries from the Bandu Hills vidrions are consequently very anti-pirate and to this day any pirate who comes to enthusis must conceal their true occupation this all brings us to vidrion today today vidrion is still recovering and although its people may mask their anxieties about an uncertain future with confidence their unwavering determination to remain free cannot be denied despite its Newfound Independence politics and vidrion are as complicated as they ever were let's start with its people as discussed earlier there were seven local human tribes in the region before the chalish came the Bandu the basso the ijo the kalabouta the mullah the ombo and the yamba tribes however after almost 600 years of colonial rule indigenous people with clear ancestry are now rare today most wangi vidrians simply identify as vidrick the vedrick people have a completely unique culture from among the moengi people of central Garand the majority of vidrich citizens are former slaves or servants who were once subjugated by sargavan colonizers many have lost their ethnic Heritage over many generations and most have mixed Origins while some vitrix have adopted aspects of other mwangi cultures others seek to create a distinct identity for themselves they may wear modified sargavan fashion such as tunics with sleeves torn off or traditional gowns caught in non-traditional ways some vidricks see wearing chains or chainless shackles as a sign of defiance others find it offensive despite their many differences vitrix citizens share a strong desire for Freedom which they want after many hard-fought struggles they enjoy Newfound opportunities and can often be found celebrating with parties and feasts while they are grateful for those colonialists who defected and who help them gain freedom and respect their laws they still Harbor bitterness towards colonizers and fear the possibility of enslavement once again they have even more distaste for the backyard people who were complicit in the sargavin slave trade and it's probably just as well that the bondu and yemba tribes live in the more remote regions of vidrion and apart from the vedric majority speaking of the defecting Colonials those people are now commonly called sargavans even though that country doesn't exist anymore and they are an interesting subgroup in their own right and they can still be found in relatively large numbers in vidrion today we can think of the sargavans or white vidrions as being shaped by two major events the first occurred in 4643 when sargava became independent of cheliacs that was 80 years ago now four generations of sargavans have lived in sargava and then vidrion knowing full well that their original homeland of cheliacs would never accept them back moreover with the state religion of cheliacs becoming the Church of asmodius most wouldn't want to return anyway although sargovans were complicit with slavery in the colony and should rightly be condemned for that for their part most were not devil worshipers and they had long since abandoned kinship with the mainland the second major event was the vedric revolution After the vidrich Revolution the sargavan people were split into two groups those who fought against the revolution mostly fled to blood cover the shackles after their defeat where they tried to establish themselves among the Pirates and other factions of organized criminals in vidrion however sargovans who helped in the slave revolts were helped in the fight against the shackles Pirates are considered official citizens and are technically free from retribution however they continue to face culture clashes and growing pains as they adjust to a paradigm shift where they are no longer the dominant culture sargovans are viewed negatively not just in vidrion either but across Central and Southern Garand being seen primarily as Invaders and slavers the vedric revolution only exacerbated this perception and many mwangi are now hostile towards sargavans sir Govans who lack wealth face significant challenges as few mwangi are willing to work with them and they are often shunned those sargavans who have managed to hold on to some wealth After the Revolution or who have specific in-demand skills are also in a precarious position because although the government has recognized them as Citizens the people consider their wealth illegitimate and are angered that there are former colonialists that still possess any measure of power and influence in the region at all finally there are the miners in the Bandu Hills the avastinian dwarves and gnomes that worked the mines in the boundu hills and largely had their communities in Fort bondu are largely viewed in the same light as the sargavans although the antipathy for them doesn't run quite as deep among the vidrick and other moengi people the reason for this are twofold first the dwarf and gnomish miners never engaged in widespread settlement of the region and were consequently never in positions of gubernatorial Authority even in Fort bondu where most of them lived that was always held by Challenge sargov and colonialists second is that the mining consortiums helped vidrion establish the combined Mercantile interests something that had started to emerge organically from the need to make peace after the devastating miners Wars from 4428 to 4431 the combined Mercantile interests was an allegiance of various commercial guilds representing leaders of the assorted Mercantile combines for mining but also for shipping trade laborers Artisans stone masons Weavers Smiths and local markets they also provided and coordinated funding for the resistance against the pirate retaliation and helped hire both obgoblin merchants and secure the Strategic alliance with sengor in effect the augustinian dwarves and gnomes are viewed primarily through the lens of foreign merchants and not as occupiers although they've now been living in sargava almost as long as other sargavans let's touch on the lifestyles of modern vidrions in the port cities people of all Stripes have their lives dominated by political Mercantile and financial concerns and many people work as merchant Sailors and Office Clerks these Merchants work tirelessly to secure new trade deals balance their debts and income pay their Crews and taxes and acquire new customers to begin the cycle Anew this commercial cycle has allowed vidrion to build a stable foundation for their future and repay their allies who help them secure their independence particularly sengor in the former jungle plantations now converted into Cooperative farmlands life has become simpler the farmers work together with the aid of enthusiasts government to provide most of the Grain and luxury foods that comprise vidrion's Mercantile trade in addition there is a thriving business in welcoming adventurers and explorers who wish to excavate the many ruins and unknown regions of the mwangi expanse vedric leaders even suggest shoes and heavily vet guides for adventuring parties who can ensure The Outsiders make it back to Port safely dissuade them from stealing items of cultural significance and Report any who cannot be dissuaded to the proper authorities the Pathfinder society's local influence likewise helps soothe fears as the agency can be trusted to not only police their own but also assist in monitoring and sanctioning other companies to ensure that non-spirit away any important sacred artifacts of the expanse under it all looms the ever-present threat of the pirate captains of the shackles who counted the colonial government as clients and now feel slighted by the revolutionaries for cutting off their business for each damaged ship that comes into Port an each that never returns the rallying cry grows louder for a larger military and navy to protect their interests from those who would love to see them fail religion in vidrion is just as varied and complicated as its people are the new nation's Constitution enshrined freedom of religion as a central tenet in vidrion choosing a religion is a personal decision reflecting the Newfound individual freedoms of its people many faiths from the Inner Sea were introduced to vidrion through its ports and are prevalent in major cities in contrast more remote areas tend to adopt the beliefs of their closest neighbors the vidricks primarily worship deities such as abedar gazra ayamide sarinray and Shay Lin and they also draw heavily from ancestor worship and the pre-colonial gods of the muingi expands unfortunately Colonial expansion led to the loss of Many pre-colonial religious practices but some aspects were preserved and continued to influence local faiths today in addition to these deities Priests of various gods have arrived in vidrion drawn by invitations of the promise of opportunities as the vidricks attempt to forge a new identity in the aftermath of their rebellion and Independence the revolution also brought other obscure Mindy deities into the mainstream despite this many people still fear being punished for worshiping other mwangi gods such as grandmother spider due to their persecution under chalish colonial rule however some pockets of their worship have resurfaced in the fledgling nation of these resurgent Gods perhaps none is worshiped more strongly than lubaiko lubaiko an appropriate deity for the region is also called the spark in the dust and she is a goddess of wildfire inspiration and Revolution her edicts are to set fires change the world and act with ambition or not at all though a dangerous God lubaiko has a playful mischievous side just as there is erratic Beauty in dancing Sparks and in the teasing Whisper of a candle's flame revolutionaries inventors artists and arsonists all offer lubaiko prayers to help their achievements spread quickly although she is a deity associated with causing trouble she also has been known to intervene and protect others from destructive Strife such as saving a homestead from a natural disaster in addition to worship of lubaiko worship of volcano has increased in popularity especially in the eastern part of the country closer to mazali where the child God rules finally let's discuss the government of vidrion During the post-revolutionary Reconstruction of vidrion the issue of governance was a contentious one suggestions of a singular ruler were a small out-numbered group were quickly dismissed as were Governors and custodians due to associations with colonial rule eventually representatives from various walks of life decided to form their own body to govern commonly referred to as the Council of vidrion the council comprises trusted leaders including Heroes of the vedric Revolution who were elected by various guilds and factions and serve as Association spokespersons the following groups and organizations hold the majority of the council's decision-making power the combined Mercantile interests I've already mentioned this group in the context of the Dwarven and gnomish miners of the Bandu Hills the combined Mercantile interests always has representation at the Council of vidrion however the frequent rotation of representatives from the Mercantile interests contributes to conflicts within the larger Council as a new representative will often disagree with measures previously voted on by their predecessor the self-serving nature of the Mercantile interests often derails conversations and their continued presence on the council is sometimes attributed only to their wide-ranging connections and contributions to the city's wealth at any given Council assembly it is impossible to predict who will serve as a representative for the Mercantile interests the field unions following the rebellion and vidrion that ousted plantation owners and overseers experienced workers with respected leadership pooled their resources and knowledge to provide food for the city this loose Association eventually grew into an organized Coalition which then unionized with one representative for each region of vitrian the field unions were one of the first organizations asked to sit on the new council with bemisola Mambi an older woman an overseer chosen to represent them the independent Bankers Guild as the Rebellion spread from elidar some realized the need to take stock of the valuables left behind by the sargavan colonists for rebuilding purposes however even as new money lenders established themselves people were hesitant to seek financial aid fearing exploitation as the colonizers had done for years to address these concerns the assessors developed a lending system that followed the principles of never demanding repayment from those without means and avoiding the use of hard labor and debtors prisons this system evolved into a network of Banks and money changers that worked with a combined Mercantile interests to create work programs and apprenticeships while not perfect this system aligned with the ideals of the new government without undermining it a halfling named Meriden who was formerly a cello slave before they became a free vitrian money lender is the independent Banker's Guild representative on the vidrion council the represented theologies during the colonial period vidrion adopted a diverse mix of various religions from across gallerian worshipers of deities occult figures ancestors spirits and more practice their Customs or some approximation of them as Trends waxed and waned the vedric revolution took action to ban chalish diabolism and eventually codified laws to support the span After the Revolution the clergies who supported the rebellion and rebuilding efforts United to form the represented theologies to protect religious freedoms in the new nation representing the theologies is mandla Dube a vedric priest of sarinray whose calm demeanor hides his tenacious opposition to any situation in which the theologies might lose ground even if the loss is not particularly significant the vein the Council of vidrion initially resisted the notion of forming an intelligence network but eventually recognize its necessity for the security and protection of the nation avarnius a skilled innovator and spy who played a crucial role in the Revolution by coordinating the actions of elidar's own Thieves Guild was the obvious choice to lead such an organization despite initially declining the offer avarnius eventually had a change of heart and appeared at a council meeting to announce that their group the vein would be responsible for negotiations and foreign diplomacy their impressive efficiency has since allowed them to retain this role the vein takes its name from the feathers it stabilize an Arrow's flight the reasons behind the varnius's change of heart Still Remains unclear a few other small groups also have membership at the Council of vidrion including the Briars a group of Smugglers who are aligned with the new government and have immunity from repercussion for their activities thanks to their special relationship the Coalition of medicine which represents a faction of secular healers and Alchemists and the United laborers who represent other manual laborers not represented by the field Union on the positive side rule by Council has prevented the return of the brutal policing that came with colonial rule however all in all the council's large number of voices and strong personalities often lead to Discord infighting and political gridlock that hinders progress although vidrine is more hopeful than ever the Troubles of its people didn't go away overnight violence between tribal groups especially between vidrick and beckyard people's flare up constantly around the borders there are still large numbers of struggling and poor families throughout the country that have not found reliable work yet and of course various criminal syndicates and networks have found use for the Idle Hands yet all in all though vidrion today is a new and still relatively unsteady Nation it remains hopeful and fiercely eager to continue to protect itself and its hard-won freedom against outside foes it is taken for its flag and symbol a phoenix of red plumage and teal tail feathers Rising in a Nimbus of yellow flames against a pale blue backdrop in the wake of the Revolution the Council of vidrion's First Act was to grant their many towns farms and people the opportunity to rename themselves in order to throw off the shackles of colonial rule many did change their names some returning to ancestral names nearly lost a Time elidar became enthusis calabuto became umanjango and Crown's Ender became Silver Tree just to name a few these name changes are more than just symbolic the country is rapidly finding its new identity more than any other part of central Garand vidrion today is truly a fractious Clash of cultures and ideologies what kind of nation will they become in the future maybe you and your players will get a chance to shape that in a future game important locations in vidrion include enthusis the heart of vidrion remains its capital city anthusis formerly the colonial capital of elidar is grappling with the challenge of reconciling its Origins as a small duck town with its current status as the bustling Port City it was forced to become under sargovan rule despite its efforts to move on from the scars of Revolution the remnants of the conflict can still be seen in Eerie displays throughout the city the statues of Baron utilinus the last Colonial governor of elidar that once stood prominently in the city Square are now beheaded their Stone faces turned to dust meanwhile the statue of elidar herself the young childish Girl For Whom the city was named who first learned the local mwangi language and ultimately led to the subjugation of the region stand silenced in front of the custodians Palisades as a constant reminder of the past The Monument's arms have been hacked off and the graffiti from the rebellion's anger once visible on the marble has since started to fade away enthusis relies heavily on desperation Bay a sprawling Port that enables larger trading ships to transport their goods over land or Upstream along the Kori River into the interior the city is also a popular destination for adventurers and explorers much to the dismay of the council and some citizens who fear the potential for exploitation though some businesses cater to these visitors most locals these days tend to be unwelcoming towards foreign adventuring parties who ask about mwangi artifacts and Mysteries the bulk of enthusiasts is economic activity centers around foreign trade and local governance with potential Intrigue as the Council of vidrion dispatches spies and Scouts abroad while rooting out those placed by other factions the council's various organizations are constantly plotting against one another forming alliances as circumstances demand while the commoners appreciate the representative democracy and fair work programs they still face struggles some sargovans continue to reside in their old family homes still enjoying the Privileges that came with their former status so for many invidrian the fight for complete independence from outside Rule and influence continues and the Rebellion is not yet over enthusis also houses the vitrian fleet popularly known as the patchwork Navy when vidrion established its Navy it was unique in that every ship it possessed had been stolen as a rebel group lacking government recognition their sole means of acquiring a fleet was by daringly stealing from sargavan or free Captain forces the umbral spark the Navy's Flagship was even taken from Hurricane Queen Tessa Fairwind herself which is one of the many insults resulting in lasting grudges among the pirates of the shackles despite now having the funds to purchase ships from foreign sellers vidrion is still struggling to establish its own shipbuilding industry consequently the government is contemplating offering substantial incentives to attract skilled ship rights to its cities in the meantime the vidrian Navy is ready to seize any hostile ships that threatens its people and is particularly interested in stories of recoverable wrecks is a trading post that was constructed under the encouragement of an elder Druid matriarch of the songo tribes shortly after vidrion declared independence and renamed itself it is the first of its kind and it signifies the slow-growing trust that the song goes have started to develop towards the other inhabitants of the country the encampment is built around a large tree with a symbol carved at the halfling eye level the market comprises well-organized tents and swiftly assembled stalled and booths for trading trinkets excess food dyed Fabrics woven baskets and pottery from like I say for new tools interesting books succulent treats and spices and seasonings that are scarce in the jungle a more permanent set of buildings constructed by vidrick Merchants who came to trade stands at the fringes of the songgo encampment the merchants also use the Outpost as a staging ground and launching point for their forays into the jungle often accompanied by songo guides who know their land well while the vidrick merchants are grateful for the song Go halfling's openness to trade other Outsiders who try to cheat or steal from them may face rebuff with sharp tongues lightened pockets and surprisingly painful stick strikes Fort Bandu Fort bondu nestled within the Bandu Hills has changed its purpose since the Rebellion while it still oversees mining operations in the hills and still houses a number of the Immigrant augustinian dwarves and gnomes that established those mines its new Focus has shifted where the fort's colonial occupants prepared for sabotage and Insurrection today it works towards ensuring minor safety safeguarding against the natural dangers of the Jungle and preventing theft Additionally the fort serves as a training ground and a staging point for vidrion's militia with peaceful watches allowing for personnel to become accustomed to their responsibility before moving on to more Vigilant assignments the council intends to establish more forts on outposts in the region and it is likely that as one of the older settlements Fort bandu's Regional influence will continue to grow ER Crossing Trading Post the old town of Stark point now renamed career Crossing Trading Post has been struggling to revive its economy the population has dwindled since the vedric revolution with most young and able residents leaving for better opportunities elsewhere to demonstrate its safety and peacefulness as a place to live and work the remaining populace have taken efforts to cleanse and reconsecrate the town and Cemetery the town's Patron guard used to be arrogen and it was built around a very large Church aaradin has been gone for over 100 years and yet no other faith has reclaimed the old church yet like I say like I say is the sole permanent settlement of the Sango people and is located on the banks of the Korea River the town is surrounded by small fields of crops such as beans Maize and yams it also has a Central Square that is used for the seasonal kanafete celebrations the town has a diverse range of buildings that could accommodate all the nomadic sanghas of the mwangi expanse if necessary many song goes temporarily reside in the town to assist their extended families and satisfy the wonderlust of other residents some prefer this way of life and travel less While others only stay if necessary a few daring song goes and like I say have started exploring trade and commerce starting with vidrion after Caravans have been supplied and enough stores have been set aside for the next kanafete any surplus is packed and taken to Bon secession for trade the buildings and like I say are made of found Stone and fired brick painted in bright and vibrant colors and patterns that mirror songo clothing and makeup these buildings convey many stories to those who can read them along with providing facilities for drying smoking and storage like I say is also known for fermenting a tea-based beer that is highly coveted by some Outsiders as it is reserved for special occasions only the Grand Arena called estar de bomaye is located adjacent to like I say as well this is the site of the great tri-annual stick fighting tournament held during the seasonal Gathering of Elders called the kanafete described as something between an intricate fencing duel and an epic Clash of longswords stick fighting is a grueling test of strength skill and endurance all set to high Tempo Music song goes believe that by withstanding the painful wealt from an opponent's stick and Rising above the pain to overcome them they may prove themselves worthy champions of their people the arena remains vacant for much of the year falling into disrepair as song goes go about their nomadic lives however when a tournament approaches workers clean the arena and make any necessary repairs chase out Vermin and replenish medical supplies they also touch up the paint around the building adding new murals depicting the best of the recent fights that took place within the infirmary is the most robustly built structure in the Assad and is the only part of the Arena that is maintained throughout the year it serves as a place for Stick Fighters to recover from injuries during tournaments or even afterwards if the injuries are severe it also serves all traveling Congo Caravans throughout the year providing them a place to heal and rest for as long as necessary without disturbing the flow of life and commerce and like I say recently the arena has been used more often throughout the year as a place to train in the art of stick fighting in the weeks leading up to the kanafete aspiring Champion Spar for hours at a time some even arrive early to train before their Caravans what started as an informal school for competitive students has grown to include anyone willing to teach stick fighting to any student tough enough to withstand the rigorous training up to and including Outsiders for the very first time Maneri Valley cattle ranch formerly known as Freehold the Maneri Valley cattle ranch was historically owned and operated by the wealthy chalish machini family before the Revolution mindra and her grandfather algren who ran the farm before her believed in paying Fair wages and offering basic chellish educations to the indigenous mwangi workers who labored there the machinis were supporters of the rebellion and following the revolution mindra reduced her role to financier and entrusted daily operations to two mwangi siblings that were familiar with her operation together they renamed The Farmstead to Maneri Valley cattle ranch honoring the land on which it stands while some argue that mindra should divest herself of all claims to the land others view her as representing the ideal of cooperation with Outsiders in an equitable exchange that benefits both parties Port freedom Port Freedom a river Outlet town was ruled by the native wangi long before the vidrich Revolution their riverman's Guild with its reliable barge navigation allowed them to retain control of the town and the Kori River route Inland as well as its immediate Outlet into desperation Bay Port Freedom managed to maintain its autonomy by never directly opposing colonial rule but sergava's directives were often handled more like suggestions there after the revolution The riverman's Guild is now at the core of the combined Mercantile interests gaining increased political clout and has been rumored to be seeking control over more towns from behind the scenes just south of Port Freedom lies an extensive River delta famed for an extraordinary type of super fauna the Delta Lions the largest lions in the mwangi expanse possibly due to their excessive muscle growth from continuous swimming and an abundance of prey can grow up to five times the size of a typical predatory cat these Delta lions are capable of taking down colossal prey like the large cattle that vidrion herders raise as well as water buffaloes and even elephants although these Lions mainly remain in the Delta and only attack humanoids if provoked vidricks generally keep their distance from the southern border however this doesn't deter Trophy Hunters animal Tamers or ambitious naturalists from venturing into the swampy Waters in search of one of these remarkable beasts Silver Tree the town of Silver Tree formerly known as Crown's end was renamed After the Revolution inspired by The Grove of nearby trees whose unique silver leaves cannot be found anywhere else and Garand the town has been in a state of soft conflict with the Council of vidrion since the vidrich revolution as its northernmost town the council wants to establish a naval base there while the townspeople would prefer it to become a center for trade and commerce many of silver tree's residents have a criminal record and have cut deals or fled to evade prosecution for slavery smuggling or piracy many of its citizens are now affiliated with the Briars a smuggling Syndicate granted Special dispensations by the government for its support of the vidrian rebels During the Revolution today the combined Mercantile interests fear for the Briar's growing political power and it and other groups are pushing hard to establish the Naval Base not least in the hopes and active Naval Yard will allow some policing of the criminal networks and smooth over some of silver tree's rougher edges the populace here is disgruntled and increase leads many sargovans who only reluctantly defected when they saw who was going to be the clear Victor in the revolution the problems in Silvertree are therefore most likely only just beginning Smugglers shiv Smuggler shiv is a small uninhabited Island that has gained a special place in the hearts of the people of enthusis and other ports along desperation Bay the island became well known during the Rebellion when the free captains scuttled many ships on its Shores while the enthusis rebels bled the sargovan government dry with the help of a few shackles Pirates the island was declared a safety hazard after expeditions to it by the council ended in failure still Tales persist of Undead creatures guarding the Treasures of the free captains and these stories continue to attract people foolhardy enough to seek the island out the stasis Fields about 200 years ago now a group of adventurers searching through some of the abandoned binds of the deep treasure conglomerate uncovered an underground prison filled with armored Warriors who appeared to be Frozen in Time this cavernous complex located among the treacherous reaches of the Bandu Hills is an irresistible lure for explorers and adventurers however the location of the fields is shrouded in secrecy and once the entrance is found would-be explorers would have to contend with ancient and deadly warding spells that would prevent them from getting too close to the Frozen prisoners or attempting to steal their equipment without Awakening them sweet Fields farms and Distillery sweet Fields is one of the largest sugar cane growers in vidrion and a primary producer of rums and candies within the combined Mercantile interests it was established on the bones of Aryan Manor Plantation which was burnt down by its slaves in a controlled burned as they trapped the retreating Nobles only the manor house was destroyed and the fields and Distilling equipment were untouched sweet Fields commitment to crafting high quality products and the help of the alchemist's commune in manyango have made its Spirits highly sought after in foreign markets formerly known as calabuto is technically the largest city in vidrion but its location and the port Freedom rivermen's Guild Chokehold on The Courier River made it unsuitable for a capital city the city has thrived as a Bastion of history and traditions for garden elsewhere in Western Garand and its original settlers the kalabouta tribe moved in and reworked the ruins of a much older civilization that had long since abandoned it Colonial kalabuto had a long and difficult history with the nearby city-state of mazali during the chalish Civil War they attempted to conquer mazali but the child God while Kenna a risen mummy had thwarted them then in retaliation mizali's Army had managed to take the city on a number of occasions as a consequence of mazali Agents deliberately stoking insurrectionist sentiment and spreading its influence throughout the city and the surrounding region even before the Revolution belief in the child God while Kenna was growing among the indigenous population After the Revolution this faith has grown substantially yet this religion's rapid growth has been stymied somewhat by some fairly adamant opposition today belief in walcena is confined to a small portion of them younger's people kept in check by those vidricks who fought for their own freedoms and recognize an oppressive worldview when they see it as well as refugees from mazali itself who fled to umyango in recent years for fear of Retribution from their Undead child God whom they recognize as a powerful autocrat and despot still a central tenant at vidrion's new identity is religious freedom so while Kenna's Faith does continue to find converts and those who believe are eager to spread the word of volcano through whatever means necessary like many other places the city was scarred by the vedric Revolution and by many other conflicts before this and efforts are ongoing to rebuild despite trepidations about the child God to the east the people of umniango have chosen to model the new structures and their city after mazali architecture as they wish for their City to flourish in the same way [Music] thank you

Channel: MythKeeper

Views: 5,853

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Id: GlOOs9TCiBQ

Length: 49min 39sec (2979 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 22 2023

Reddit Comments

[u/Mathin1]

I just wanted to share this video because I noticed it hadn't been posted here and this is the best video really about the nation of Vidrian I could find.