Ossium

Revision as of 13:29, 7 October 2019

Even with a map, there are parts of Ossium that remain unknown to the Empire.

Overview

Ossium is the north-western territory of the Mallum, which borders Karsk and Holberg, and lies across the Semmerlak from Weirwater andSemmerholm. It is a land of dense, twisted forests and dripping marsh it is rich in both natural resources and threats. Only a small portion of the territory is open - the majority of Ossium is shrouded in old, moss bearded trees, pools of stagnant water, and narrow fast-flowing streams. The majority of the population are orcs - primarily subject tribes dominated by the Druj, the former masters of the territory. There are also scattered small groups of humans, primarily former slaves of the Druj or privileged enclaves such as the Ketsov.

The Empire has made some progress in encouraging the orcs to see them as liberators rather than simply more tyrants. Preachers from several Imperial nations have visited the civilian population and introduced them to the idea of the virtues, and invitations have been given to any orcs who wish to do so to travel to Skarsind and begin new lives as Imperial Orcs

Recent History

The invasion was preceded by the construction of the Golden Causeway, a gift from the eternal Eleonaris. In Autumn 382YE, the causeway allowed the armies of Dawn to cross the Semmerlak and invade Ossium, taking the Druj by surprise. Supported by the Golden Axe of Varushka, and by a major Thule force out of Otkodov, they quickly crushed the Bone Serpent and Amber Scorpion clans. Following initial successes on Bitter Shore and Galath Plains, Winter saw them conquer the Echofell, and culminated in a pitched battle at the Tower of the Scorpion. The Druj attempted to fight back, but with they were unable to prevent the allied forces conquering the whole of Ossium by the Spring Equinox 383YE.

During the Winter Solstice 382YE the Senate voted to assign the territory to the nation of Varushka.

Major Features

Crawling Depths

Under the town of Lomaa there lies the Crawling Depths, a mithril mine. The mine stands as a testament to Druj cruelty, to their embrace of fear and misery. With long, twisting passages too short for an adult to stand and often not wide enough to be able to turn around, the mine was used as a prison for those who worked it. With the coming of the Empire, and the Varushkan mining families that accompanied the Golden Axe, the mine has started producing mithril in a less cruel fashion.

Tower of the Scorpion

A grand tower of white granite, surrounded by a wall topped with twisted metal razors, and standing in a large, open killing field. A network of rope bridges extends from wood towers that squat under the shadow of the walls.

In the season following the Autumn Equinox 382YE, Imperial armies captured the Tower of the Scorpion from the Amber Scorpion clan, significantly damaging, but still claiming it.

The forests of Ossium are dark, and full of traps for the unwary.

Ketsov

A small but secure town located in the Galath Fields, Ketsov is inhabited predominantly by humans. It is led by a council drawing from a number of influential families, the previous rulers of the town having fled east with the Druj. From the first instances of communication between imperial soldiers and the townsfolk of Ketsov they showed a clear understanding of virtue.

Lomaa

A shambolic town on the Galath Fields, built over the Crawling Depths. The civil service has established an office here to help oversee the development of the territory.

Trods

The trods of Ossium, established by the Navarr during a brutal battle that took place in the territory during the Autumn Equinox 382YE, are only partially explored. Many of them run through dangerous, unmapped parts of the territory. It is surmised that the trods here, along with those in Karsk, help to anchor the trods - and the vallorn - of Sküld to the wider network.

Regions

Bittershore

Bittershore was the first region of Ossium encountered by the Empire, and also the first one to be conquered. It lies along the eastern banks of the Semmerlak, and one end of the Golden Causeway is anchored here. The Causeway is quiescent at the moment, but all it would take is a Dawnish witch to open it and the shimmering bridge would stretch back across the lake to Laroc in Semmetholm. Prior to the Imperial invasion, Bittershore was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. The Imperial Senate ceded the region of Misericorde in Holberg to the Sand Fishers and the entire tribe moved south across the Semmerlak to Holberg.

Varushkan settlers have already begun to establish vales on the shores of the lake, taking advantage of the rich fishing opportunities and fertile farmland. As the prosperity of the region increases, the likelihood that Varushka will be able to support another Imperial army increases.

Bonewood

Quality: Forest, Otkodov

The northernmost region of Ossium is the Bonewood, which allegedly takes its name either from the rich profusion of beggarwood trees or from the number of bleached bones that litter the forest, remnants of many historical battles between the Druj and either the Thule or the Varushkans. Even before it was conquered by the Thule, the forest had a dire reputation for being "haunted". The local orcs tell grim tales of shadowy figures that prey on travellers among the ancient pines, leaving blood-drained corpses in their wake. The Thule have not welcomed Imperial scouts into this area. They have been polite but firm, and made it clear that they are not welcome. The pine forests have been lightly mapped; they extend north to the borders of Sküld, and west to the borders of Krevsaty. There is known to be a large weirwood forest here - the Silent Pines - which is now controlled by the Thule.

There is also a castle here - Fljajokep - controlled by the Thule. It overlooks the Silent Pines and was finished in a mere six months, the construction supplemented by powerful Autumn magic. It stands at one end of a narrow but well-travelled pathway that extends from the Silent Pines south toward Ketsov, and was used by the Druj to transport shipments of weirwood south into more open ground.

Drownbark Forest

Qualities: Forest, Marsh

The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. Varushkan settlers have comparatively little experience dealing with the marshy terrain of the Drownbark Forest, and there are no vales established here.

In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the Druj town of Orieb, a settlement surrounding a sprawling and labyrinthine Druj palace. From discussions with the local populace, it appears that Orieb was the seat of one of the Druj clans that dominated Ossium - the Bone Serpent clan - ruled with an iron fist by an ancient Buruk Tepel named Bleakbane. The Buruk Tepel herself, and her apprentices, have not been accounted for. The town is composed of stinking hovels, populated by a number of freed orc and human slaves, who have thus far cooperated fully with the liberating forces. There only real concentration of Varushkans in the region are centred here - three bands of wagon raiders from Karsk and southern Volodmartz have congregated here, creating a small enclave surrounding the Stinking Market where they sell valuables wrenched not only from the depths of the Drownbark Forest but also from daring raids across the border into Farweald and the Forest of Ulnak.

In Autumn 383YE, scouts reported the presence of something significantly more dangerous than even Druj bandits in the Drownbark Forest. There is at least one group of horrible unliving servants - tormented souls bound into the tormented corpses of Dawnish knights - in the Drownbark forest. It's not clear if they are part of a larger force, or whether like the tormented souls of [[[Reikos]] they have broken free of the control of their Druj masters. Regardless, the scouts deliver warnings to settlers in the area to give them a wide berth.

Echofell

Quality: Forest

The Echofell was the home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, and the site of the Tower of the Scorpion. The first real engagement of the invasion took place here when Imperial forces besieged the tower during torrential rain. The fortification was ultimately overrun and captured by the Empire - it is now garrisoned by a small force of Varushkans. A posting to the Tower of the Scorpion is seen as a particularly unpalatable tour of service by most Varushkan soldiers. While most of the Druj have been driven from the area eastward in to the the Forest of Ulnak, the woods are home to a disturbing number of unpleasant insects and poisonous creatures that seem to enjoy feasting on human blood.

Galath Fields

Along with Bittershore, the Galath Fields represent the only real open ground in Ossium. The soil here is rich, and the darmp grasslands are scattered with smaller settlements belonging to native orcs, most of whom are cautiously welcoming of the Imperial presence. There are two larger settlements - the town of Lomaa which sits above the Crawling Depths, and Ketsov, home to the human clan of the same name. As with Bittershore, Galath Fields have proved popular with Varushkan settlers, especially those from wealthy Karov looking to start new vales in the comparative safety of the new territory.

Nearweald

Quality: Forest

One of the last regions of Ossium conquered, Nearweald borders onto Farweald - the northernmost part of the Barrens. The woodlands here are dense, and broken up by maze-like game trails, and overgrown pathways. Most of the Druj who inhabited this area retreated into the Barrens once it was clear Ossium was lost, but as with the Webwood there are still a few small bands living in the depths of the woods who emerge sporadically to raid Varushkan settlements.

A particularly bloody-minded band of settlers from Livardz in Volodmartz have claimed an extensive section of the forest and despite some opposition from the bandits have established a relatively secure vale here named Karantzy from which they are engaging in extensive logging. The timber from the Nearwald is being sold to other settlers, and has proved extremely popular for helping new settlers establish vales across Bittershore and Galath Fields. Boyar Irina Karantzy and her allies are making money hand over fist. Not only from the trees themselves - Nearweald is particularly rich in precious ambergelt that has a particularly vibrant crimson colouration that is already being touted as "blood amber".

Webwood

Quality: Forest

The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. As its name implies it is home to large numbers of spiders - many of them either very large or very venomous. There is a well-hidden structure in its depths which apparently serves as a temple or lair for orcs dedicated to the service of the eternal Arhallogen. It is not entirely clear if the orcs are really druj or not, or whether they are an example of a tribe that managed to maintain some level of independence despite living in land oppressed by the Druj. The orcs have kept very much to themselves, but there have nonetheless been disappearances reported in the area which is littered with traps and deadfalls that pose a constant threat to travelers and settlers.

The "temple" has been recognised by the Imperial Conclave as being the property of Arhallogen. and Varushkan settlers are discouraged from attempting to establish vales here. This has not stopped the most ambitious or bloody minded from starting to build along the southern and western margins.

Webwood is perhaps the most dangerous and least explored region of Ossium, and there are known to be at least two bands of Druj bandits in the depths who periodically emerge to raid Varushkan settlements, reaching as far afield as the north-western Galath Fields and the northern Echofell.

Ossium Characters

Ossium is on the list of territories new Varushkan characters can come from. For now however, the only appropriate character backgrounds for Varushkans in Ossium are "Imperial citizen from somewhere else starting a new life as a Varushkan in Ossium" or "freed human slave who has embraced Varushkan culture". An obvious example of the latter would be someone who was freed from the Crawling Depths by the armies and introduced to Varushkan ways by the soldiers of the Golden Axe or the miners of Moresvah. It is explicitly not possible to start as a member of the Ketsov family, or similar group of Druj collaborators.

It's also of course also possible to move to Ossium in-character using the normal rules for changing territory.

For some time the Empire worked with only a very vague sketch map of the territory.

OOC Notes

The Empire does not have a reliable map of Ossium - large areas of the territory are completely unknown. It is not possible to cast rituals on Ossium that require a map such as Eyes of the Sun and Moon.
Every region except Bonewood belongs to Varushka, meaning Ossium is an Imperial territory. Bonewood is controlled by the Thule.
The Tower of the Scorpion is a rank one fortification

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ==Regions==
 ===Bittershore===
-Along the eastern banks of [[the Semmerlak]], one end of the [[Semmerholm#The_Golden_Causeway|Golden Causeway]] is anchored here. The first region claimed by Imperial forces, it was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. Following a [[Cede_region_of_Misericorde_to_Sand_Fishers|Senate decision]] during the Spring Equinox 383YE, the Sand Fishers were encouraged to move across the river to [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]], leaving Bittershore free to be exploited by Varushkan settlers - and increasing the likelihood that a fourth Varushkan army could be raised here.
+Bittershore was the first region of Ossium encountered by the Empire, and also the first one to be conquered. It lies along the eastern banks of the Semmerlak, and one end of the Golden Causeway is anchored here. The Causeway is quiescent at the moment, but all it would take is a Dawnish witch to open it and the shimmering bridge would stretch back across the lake to [[Semmerholm#Laroc|Laroc]] in Semmetholm. Prior to the Imperial invasion, Bittershore was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. The Imperial Senate [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceded]] the region of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] in [[Holberg]] to the Sand Fishers and the entire tribe moved south across the Semmerlak to Holberg.
+Varushkan settlers have already begun to establish vales on the shores of the lake, taking advantage of the rich fishing opportunities and fertile farmland. As the prosperity of the region increases, the likelihood that Varushka will be able to support another [[Imperial army]] increases.
 ===Bonewood===
-* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]]
+* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]]<br>
-The northernmost region of Ossium, Bonewood has a dire reputation for being "haunted". There is known to be a weirwood grove somewhere in its depths. The [[Thule]] claimed Bonewood during their first season of alliance with the Empire. It is also believed to be rich in [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood]] trees. As of the Summer Solstice 383YE, the Thule are building a castle here with supernatural assistance - it is likely to be entirely completed before the Autumn Equinox.
+The northernmost region of Ossium is the Bonewood, which allegedly takes its name either from the rich profusion of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood trees]] or from the number of bleached bones that litter the forest, remnants of many historical battles between the Druj and either the Thule or the Varushkans. Even before it was conquered by the Thule, the forest had a dire reputation for being "haunted". The local orcs tell grim tales of shadowy figures that prey on travellers among the ancient pines, leaving blood-drained corpses in their wake. The Thule have not welcomed Imperial scouts into this area. They have been polite but firm, and made it clear that they are not welcome. The pine forests have been lightly mapped; they extend north to the borders of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]], and west to the borders of [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]]. There is known to be a large weirwood forest here - the '''Silent Pines''' - which is now controlled by the Thule.
+There is also a castle here - '''Fljajokep''' - controlled by the Thule. It overlooks the Silent Pines and was finished in a mere six months, the construction supplemented by powerful [[Autumn magic]]. It stands at one end of a narrow but well-travelled pathway that extends from the Silent Pines south toward Ketsov, and was used by the Druj to transport shipments of weirwood south into more open ground.
+===Drownbark Forest===
+* '''Qualities:''' Forest, Marsh<br>
+The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. Varushkan settlers have comparatively little experience dealing with the marshy terrain of the Drownbark Forest, and there are no vales established here.
+In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the Druj town of '''Orieb''', a settlement surrounding a sprawling and labyrinthine Druj palace. From discussions with the local populace, it appears that Orieb was the seat of one of the Druj clans that dominated Ossium - the Bone Serpent clan - ruled with an iron fist by an ancient [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] named ''Bleakbane''. The Buruk Tepel herself, and her apprentices, have not been accounted for. The town is composed of stinking hovels, populated by a number of freed orc and human slaves, who have thus far cooperated fully with the liberating forces. There only real concentration of Varushkans in the region are centred here - three bands of wagon raiders from Karsk and southern Volodmartz have congregated here, creating a small enclave surrounding the Stinking Market where they sell valuables wrenched not only from the depths of the Drownbark Forest but also from daring raids across the border into Farweald and the Forest of Ulnak.
+In Autumn 383YE, scouts reported the presence of something significantly more dangerous than even Druj bandits in the Drownbark Forest. There is at least one group of horrible unliving servants - tormented souls bound into the tormented corpses of Dawnish knights - in the Drownbark forest. It's not clear if they are part of a larger force, or whether like the tormented souls of [[[Reikos]] they have broken free of the control of their Druj masters. Regardless, the scouts deliver warnings to settlers in the area to give them a wide berth.
+===Echofell===
+* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
+The Echofell was the home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, and the site of the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The first real engagement of the invasion took place here when Imperial forces besieged the tower during torrential rain. The [[fortification]] was ultimately overrun and captured by the Empire - it is now garrisoned by a small force of Varushkans. A posting to the Tower of the Scorpion is seen as a particularly unpalatable tour of service by most Varushkan soldiers. While most of the Druj have been driven from the area eastward in to the the [[The_Mallum#The_Forest_of_Ulnak|Forest of Ulnak]], the woods are home to a disturbing number of unpleasant insects and poisonous creatures that seem to enjoy feasting on human blood.
 ===Galath Fields===
-Perhaps the most fertile region of Ossium, there are many settlements here including [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]] and [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]]. The [[#Crawling Depths|Crawling Depths]] lie beneath Lomaa.
+Along with Bittershore, the Galath Fields represent the only real open ground in Ossium. The soil here is rich, and the darmp grasslands are scattered with smaller settlements belonging to native orcs, most of whom are cautiously welcoming of the Imperial presence. There are two larger settlements - the town of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]] which sits above the [[Crawling Depths]], and [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], home to the human clan of the same name. As with Bittershore, Galath Fields have proved popular with Varushkan settlers, especially those from wealthy [[Karov]] looking to start new vales in the comparative safety of the new territory.
+===Nearweald===
+* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
+One of the last regions of Ossium conquered, Nearweald borders onto [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]] - the northernmost part of [[the Barrens]]. The woodlands here are dense, and broken up by maze-like game trails, and overgrown pathways. Most of the Druj who inhabited this area retreated into the Barrens once it was clear Ossium was lost, but as with the Webwood there are still a few small bands living in the depths of the woods who emerge sporadically to raid Varushkan settlements.
+A particularly bloody-minded band of settlers from [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] in [[Volodmartz]] have claimed an extensive section of the forest and despite some opposition from the bandits have established a relatively secure vale here named '''Karantzy''' from which they are engaging in extensive logging. The timber from the Nearwald is being sold to other settlers, and has proved extremely popular for helping new settlers establish vales across Bittershore and Galath Fields. Boyar ''Irina Karantzy'' and her allies are making money hand over fist. Not only from the trees themselves - Nearweald is particularly rich in precious [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that has a particularly vibrant crimson colouration that is already being touted as "blood amber".
 ===Webwood===
-* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
+* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
-The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. There is believed to be a temple of some kind dedicated to the [[eternal]] [[Arhallogen]] somewhere in its depths. Traps and deadfalls are a constant danger to settlers here, along with bands of guerilla Druj orcs who occasionally issue from the Webwood to attack nearby regions.
+The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. As its name implies it is home to large numbers of spiders - many of them either very large or very venomous. There is a well-hidden structure in its depths which apparently serves as a temple or lair for orcs dedicated to the service of the [[eternal]] [[Arhallogen]]. It is not entirely clear if the orcs are really druj or not, or whether they are an example of a tribe that managed to maintain some level of independence despite living in land oppressed by the Druj. The orcs have kept very much to themselves, but there have nonetheless been disappearances reported in the area which is littered with traps and deadfalls that pose a constant threat to travelers and settlers.
-===Echofell===
+The "temple" has been recognised by the [[Imperial Conclave]] as being the property of Arhallogen. and Varushkan settlers are discouraged from attempting to establish vales here. This has not stopped the most ambitious or bloody minded from starting to build along the southern and western margins.
-* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
-The home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, Echofell is also the site of the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]].
-===Nearweald===
+Webwood is perhaps the most dangerous and least explored region of Ossium, and there are known to be at least two bands of Druj bandits in the depths who periodically emerge to raid Varushkan settlements, reaching as far afield as the north-western Galath Fields and the northern Echofell.
-* '''Quality:''' Forest<br>
-A dense forest, one of the last regions of Ossium conquered.
-===Drownbark Forest===
-* '''Qualities:''' Forest, Marsh<br>
-The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the town of '''Orieb''', a settlement surrounding a sprawling and labyrinthine Druj palace.
 {{Anchor|Ossium characters}}
 <box>'''Ossium Characters'''
@@ Line 59: / Line 72: @@
 It's also of course also possible to move to Ossium in-character using the normal rules for [[Resource#Changing_Territories|changing territory]].</box>
 {{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium Sketch.png|caption=For some time the Empire worked with only a very vague sketch map of the territory.|align=right|width=400}}
 ==OOC Notes==
 * The Empire does not have a reliable map of Ossium - large areas of the territory are completely unknown. It is not possible to cast rituals on Ossium that require a map such as [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]].