Stormheld Bastion
'Do not bow, bend, or break. Better to die, than serve again.' - Mantra of the Vorago
'The boat tosses in the vibrant waters of the ocean. I grab the rail and peer over into the all-consuming darkness below. Lightning crashes through the sky, purple and red of colour, and I flinch back as the world is lit, revealing the twisted shape of something vast beneath the waves. The captain grabs my shoulder and I spin to find her blackened teeth set in a wicked grin as those around her grab weapons and dive overboard into the inky waves. I gaze around at the shadows of the stacks rising high into the cloudy sky and swear, for there is nowhere for me to flee.'
Over the years as they became more widespread, the Yeshi magistrates began to exert more and more influence over The Vorago, until they became slaves in all but name, unable to follow their own traditions or worship, unable to gather food for themselves of sail between the islands. Little was left for them but the subservient life they had unknowingly subjected themselves too (read more about it here)
He was gifted in magic, strength and leadership and it was his awakening as 'The First Stormrider' that acted as the catalyst for The Stormheart Rebellion that eventually led to his death and set his people free. Castellian and the rebellion re-ignited the passion of the Vorago, founded the Stormriders and resulted in the founding of Stormheld Bastion. The 200 years since their freedom from subjugation have not been easy, as the Yeshi refuse to acknowledge them as a state of any kind, and merely a break-away province to be reclaimed. This means that the original rebellion has morphed into a consistent conflict, one that consumes only a fraction of Yeshi's attention, but the majority of Stormheld Bastions. They are outnumbered and outmatched in many areas, but survive due to superior skill in sailing, the devastating climate of The Shattered Shelf and the powers of The Stormriders. As of late Stormheld Bastion has grown in strength through joint ventures and research with the help of their allies under the Unitum Pact.
A small disgruntled and superstitious faction blame the sea-witches manipulation of prophecy on Castellian's shortcomings, citing it as the reason for his failure in washing Venya clean of The Yeshi and truly setting them free, though in truth it was a combination of pride and the Vorago traditionalists unrealistic expectations.
In the last fifty years the role has morphed into a profession with the founding of a 'Stormriders Guild' for those that follow their tenets and embody their spirit. Guild houses have been established in other nations as well as those of the Unitum Pact and enrolment has spread to include those that embody the spirit, but don't possess or wish to master the magic powers, like 'Captain' Yali Surefoot.
These settlements are often built in odd patterns and designs, pressed up against cliff overhangs or in giant hollowed out caves with huge stone pillars holding the roof up. These have been made over thousands of years and are built this way to shield those of the settlements from The Rage of Castellian. Many of the houses are stone, often carved from giant rocks of the stuff so as not to be knocked around and battered and often possess small windows, or in larger houses, those that can be covered through ingenius design. In these sheltered areas there are now dozens of newer wooden dwellings where they won't suffer the impact of the storm. These were constructed more hastily to accommodate the rush of people to the larger cities after the The Stormheart Rebellion and house the now frequent travellers and visitors from allied states.
The Stormheld Bastion is one of the most active members within the Unitum Pact, being in a constant war with the Yeshi, and though their population is lower than some of the other members they are likely one of the strongest, with their skills in sea combat and magical prowess being a huge boon to the nations Pact.
History of Occupation
Long before the establishment of Stormheld Bastion The Shattered Shelf was ruled by various clans that sailed the turbulent waters and lived within the sheltered outcrops and caves of the islands. This changed when The Yeshi sailed from the north and began to settle the hostile environment of the islands with the help of the clansmen, an action that would spell doom for The Vorago (the race of humans that have resided upon the islands since The Cataclysm). The Yeshi acted as friends at first, trading equally and welcoming their aid.Over the years as they became more widespread, the Yeshi magistrates began to exert more and more influence over The Vorago, until they became slaves in all but name, unable to follow their own traditions or worship, unable to gather food for themselves of sail between the islands. Little was left for them but the subservient life they had unknowingly subjected themselves too (read more about it here)
War of Freedom
The Yeshi Domination of The Vorago lasted more than 400 years and saw their people pushed to brink of extinction, while they awaited a saviour borne from prophecy. Their prayers were eventually answer, though not through chance but by the magic and manipulation of the sea-witches (the magic users and traditionalists amongst The Vorago). They fabricated a pregnancy and birth to co-inside with all the markers of their prophecy and so their saviour, Castellian Harlscurl, was born.He was gifted in magic, strength and leadership and it was his awakening as 'The First Stormrider' that acted as the catalyst for The Stormheart Rebellion that eventually led to his death and set his people free. Castellian and the rebellion re-ignited the passion of the Vorago, founded the Stormriders and resulted in the founding of Stormheld Bastion. The 200 years since their freedom from subjugation have not been easy, as the Yeshi refuse to acknowledge them as a state of any kind, and merely a break-away province to be reclaimed. This means that the original rebellion has morphed into a consistent conflict, one that consumes only a fraction of Yeshi's attention, but the majority of Stormheld Bastions. They are outnumbered and outmatched in many areas, but survive due to superior skill in sailing, the devastating climate of The Shattered Shelf and the powers of The Stormriders. As of late Stormheld Bastion has grown in strength through joint ventures and research with the help of their allies under the Unitum Pact.
A small disgruntled and superstitious faction blame the sea-witches manipulation of prophecy on Castellian's shortcomings, citing it as the reason for his failure in washing Venya clean of The Yeshi and truly setting them free, though in truth it was a combination of pride and the Vorago traditionalists unrealistic expectations.
Life Within the Storm
A culture of excitement and boldness has developed amongst the denizens of Stormheld Bastion, much to do with the environment around them. It offers extremes of all things, whether that be the storms those of the shelf called The Rage of Castellian, the dangers of creatures deep below the waves and nesting in the magic rich environments of stacks or navigating the mists and jagged mountains rising from the stormy seas. All in the environment is deadly and those of Stormheld Bastion revel in that danger, eager to push themselves to acts of dangerous competition and collaboration, in battle and in peace. Everything done is to its most extreme and this has become a staple of life in a world so rife with hostility and deadliness.Stormriders
A guild of magic and power founded by Castellian Harlscurl, The First Stormrider, they manipulate the powers of the storm, bending water, air and lightning around themselves to propel them through dangerous waves, fly, create mist or unleashed devastating lightning. Absorption of the storms can also be used to augment physical speed and strength and has naturally created two factions, those that wield the magic like spellcasters and those that use it for physical enhancements. This primal magic is difficult to manipulate and incredibly powerful and has so far enabled the Stormheld Bastion to repel the attacks of the numerous Yeshi. This power has also developed a culture of boldness and excitement and has helped push The Vorago into daredevil like acts of extremes in exploration, monster hunting and competition.In the last fifty years the role has morphed into a profession with the founding of a 'Stormriders Guild' for those that follow their tenets and embody their spirit. Guild houses have been established in other nations as well as those of the Unitum Pact and enrolment has spread to include those that embody the spirit, but don't possess or wish to master the magic powers, like 'Captain' Yali Surefoot.
Settlements
Small settlements litter the hundreds of islands of the Shattered Shelf, left over from the days of clans and traditional homes, though many of them either lie abandoned now, or possess barely a handful of people. Most have flocked to the larger settlements of the southern isles with Kotsmurk, Anagor, Kelen and Thiron being the largest of them with the biggest of the southern islands becoming the stronghold of Stormheld Bastion.These settlements are often built in odd patterns and designs, pressed up against cliff overhangs or in giant hollowed out caves with huge stone pillars holding the roof up. These have been made over thousands of years and are built this way to shield those of the settlements from The Rage of Castellian. Many of the houses are stone, often carved from giant rocks of the stuff so as not to be knocked around and battered and often possess small windows, or in larger houses, those that can be covered through ingenius design. In these sheltered areas there are now dozens of newer wooden dwellings where they won't suffer the impact of the storm. These were constructed more hastily to accommodate the rush of people to the larger cities after the The Stormheart Rebellion and house the now frequent travellers and visitors from allied states.
Rulers
Though a parliament of sorts exists within the Kotsmurk, most clan leaders are not required to attend yearly, instead only on a bi-yearly basis, called a Harlmoot. The Harlmoot is a festival of sorts in which all matters between clans are discussed and resolved as well as matters of additional note. This is then followed by a long feast and celebration in memory of their ancestors and saviour Castellian Harlscurl, The First Stormrider. This has been the way since the The Stormheart Rebellion and due to the ongoing war, all matters are resolved before departure. Any that are not are resolved by the standing Primarch who makes final decisions during times of war.The Primarch
An ancient position, though with much more modern ideals. A Primarch is selected in times of war by the clan leaders to lead them until a time when it is not longer necessary and conflict has passed, though there has never been in a time in Stormheld Bastion's history when that has been the case. The primarch holds a higher position that any of the clan leaders and during a time of war makes final decision upon troop movement, collaboration and defense. They are tasked with dealing with threats from without and organising responses and raids as well as holding together the bickering clans within. The current primarch is a man named 'Palnir Stormsquall' and by his side is his 'Stormrider' advisor, a woman named 'Kalina Wavestrider'. Between the two of them they manage much of Stormheld Bastion as well as deal with threats from within and without.Clan Leaders
Of the hundreds of traditional clans that once occupied the Shattered Shelf over a thousand years ago, only 73 survived the Yeshi occupation with any kind of traditions held intact. Of those, now only 58 exist, with some of the smaller ones merging through alliances or migrating to the larger encampments for strength and safety. The clan leaders make decisions that effect their clan managing the day to day and usually each have their own spiritual guide, though the larger clans usually have more of a council in that regard. The breadth of difference between clan succession, tasks and culture is staggering, even from a nation that has been unified for over two hundred years. This is partly due to The Vorago's reluctance to let go of their oldest traditions, caused by The Yeshi's attempts to wipe them from the face of Venya.Wealth & The Unitum Pact
Much wealth resides beneath the seas of the Shattered Shelf as well as across the islands, be it ancient artefacts, hidden knowledge or unique materials like Airite. This is why the Yeshi sought dominion of this area and why they are loathe to recognise it as a nation, instead claiming it as their land. This wealth is difficult to reach for the inexperienced or those that lack the magic to break the storms and is another reason why the power of the 'Stormriders' have become so valuable to Stormheld Bastion, they can often reach where others can't. These unique items and artefacts are a huge boon to their allies of the Unitum Pact, and that alongside dozens of hidden coves and islands provide places for secret meetings, research, training and cultivating of rare plants and animals.The Stormheld Bastion is one of the most active members within the Unitum Pact, being in a constant war with the Yeshi, and though their population is lower than some of the other members they are likely one of the strongest, with their skills in sea combat and magical prowess being a huge boon to the nations Pact.
Desire
Excitement, peace and retribution against The Yeshi is what many of those in Stormheld Bastion wish. They want to sail the seas and compete in competitions in all things, whether it be strength, speed or wisdom. They wish to be left to sail the oceans and explore the lands without their nation and people suffering in their absence. All they really seek is peace and the freedom such things bring, for now their lives are tied to conflict and survival. Though they would accept peace of any matter, they would prefer if it came with retribution against The Yeshi for all they have done to them. Though many know that is a tall ask, and will settle for being left alone.Founding
2387 A.C.Area
The Shattered ShelfPopulation
140,000 (90% human [80% Vorago, 10% Other], 10% Other)The 'Vorago'
A unique race of humans adapted to life amongst the dangers of The Shattered Shelf and the founding race of the Stormheld Bastion collective. They suffered greatly at the hands of Yeshi until they made their freedom during the Stormheart Rebellion.
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
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