Realm of the Rising Sun

Gazetteer

Realm of the Rising Sun

History:
For thousands of years the Mazoku (Elves) dominated the realm, their influence spread across the land to the northern
waste and west to the great deserts, they worshiped to gawds of nature and balance but found that when tribes of men,
orcs and ogres began to multiply in their realm, the found that such balance was impossible to maintain, so they used
their superior knowledge and magic to conquer and enslave the lesser species, turning them into a military and labor
force to expand their influence.
The Mazoku Empire of the Rising Sun reigned over the realm for millennia, the Mazoku grew decadent, and they became
callous and cruel to their slaves performing various magical experiments of them to make the perfect slave, feasted on
pixie meat, and dabbled in dark magics. This sowed the seeds of rebellion among the subjugated.
A sub species of Ogres breed using various magics found that they could command powerful magical forces. The
humans also discovered magic picking it up from various scraps of lore the Mazoku discarded, a secret order was
established among the humans to catalog and learn the ways of the arcane.
Over the course of 200 years Humans, Orcs, Ogres, Oni, Orgima (half-Ogre), and Xi-Yi-Mogui (half-orc) fought against
their oppressors forming an alliance, whittling down their resources though guerrilla tactics and using their own magical
might against them. The rebellion was hard fought but in the end the realm was free, those that were not killed were
enslaved by their former slaves while the rest fled into the feywilde regions.
The rebellion became the three empires, Humans took the Golden Isles as their own, and the Oni and their Xi-Yi-Mogui
generals took the Jade Mountain's in the west. A splinter group of Blood Mages that practiced Dark Magic the Obsidian
Tower in the northern reaches.
Some have gone back to their more traditional barbarian ways and a collection of tribes known simply as the Horde
roam the outlands. While others have put down roots and have established what are called the Free Cities in the Eastern
plains.
It has been over 900 years since the rebellion (954AR) the Golden Empire is thriving as is their staunch allies the Jade
Empire, 300 years ago a group of Dwarves came to their shores offering trade form the far reaches of wurld. The Golden
Emperor traded them a remote island that they have named Torgal Island after their clan's founder.
The exiled Makozu sulk in the Feywilde and plot revenge calling themselves the Phoenix Empire, In the northern waste
the Undead Obsidian Empire is a looming threat and the Dread Pirate fleet terrorizes the seas.

Golden Empire
Racial makeup Human 70%, Dwarf/halfling/Gnome 5%,
Xi-Yi-Mogui 10% Orgima 5%, Elf/Pixie Slaves 10%
Religions: Entire Japanese Pantheon is venerated here,
popular Gawds are: Amaterasu Omikami: LG (sun, Light),
Kishijoten NG (luck), Raiden N (thunder), Reverence is
given to the Emperor as well akin to a minor demi-gawd
Societal Alignment: LG/LN
Government: Feodality
Current Leader: The Golden Emperor, Shogun
Capital: The Golden City
Legal system: World Empire
Political Factions: Emperors Guard, Crimson Ink Order,
Shogun, Daimyo Assembly, Samurai
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Jade Empire, Salty Beards
Enemies: The Horde, Phoenix Empire, Obsidian Empire
History: The golden Isles have always been the primary domain of man since they first emerged from their caves and
began to form a civilization, rich with precious metals and other resources, the fertile lands have known abundance,
when they first encounter the Mazoku the Humans were curious to learn their ways, the Mazoku encouraged human
ingenuity, to a point, the humans became their most trusted an autonomous subjects for centuries, but toward the end
of the Mazoku's reign they began to tax the golden isles and conscript more humans for the conquest of the out lands.
When Human, Orc, and Oger barbarian tribes began open revolt, the Mazoku sent the armies of the Golden isles to quell
the violence, but the spirit of revolution took the men and they joined the cause. In 46 BR a wise philosopher leader
managed to unite the tribes and the armies of humans, orcs and ogres into a cohesive force and routed the Mazoku out
of their strongholds. This man would become the Golden Emperor; legend states that when the emperor dies he is
reincarnated somewhere within the empire, the
Emperors Guard is tasked with finding the
young emperor before his 25th birthday so he
can be coordinated as the new Emperor, how
the guard determines this is unknown to all but
the highest inner circles of the empire, during
the emperors absence the Shogun rules as
regent. There have only been 8 emperors as
they tend to lead unusually long lives, the most
recent passed away in 935 AR, the Emperors
Guard is searching for the reincarnated emperor
they believe to be between 18 and 20 years old.

Jade Empire
Racial makeup Oni 3%, Orc 10%, Oger 10%, Xi-Yi-Mogui 25% Orgima
20%, Human 7%, Elf/Pixie Slaves 25%
Religions: Marduk, Gruumsh, Vaprak, Hokalas
Societal Alignment: LE/LN
Government: Magocracy
Current Leader: The Jade Empress, Council of Mystics
Capital: The Jade Mountain
Legal system: World Empire
Political Factions: Racial groups, Mystics, Military, Slavers
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Golden Empire, Salty Beards
Enemies: Phoenix Empire, Obsidian Empire
History: Oger and Orc tribes lived in the Jade Mountains, this area was also the first conquest of Mazoku, the tribes were
unorganized and easy to subjugate with their magics, seeing a raw labor force the Mazoku enslaved them to build their
mountain palaces and cities. Seeing the Orcs and Ogres as races with little potential, some Mazoku wizards cross bred
them with the more adaptable human's, creating new breeds of Xi-Yi-Mogui and Orgima, these half breeds began to
supplant the pure blooded population, but with their new blood came increased intelligence and resistance to the
magics that enslaved them, one particular cross breed of Ogre became
adept at arcane magic, sages speculate that the Mazoku used their own
blood or perhaps pixie's to cross blood lines to create the Oni. The Mazoku
always kept the Jade Mountains on a short lease and were particularly
oppressive, when the existence of this new breed was discovered all efforts
were made to exterminate them, When revolution took the realm the
Magi emerged to provide valuable magical support for the revolution, and
together with the humans they pushed the Mazoku out of the Jade
Mountains into the Feywild. The Head Magus of the Ogres became the first
Jade Emperor, and the Ogre Magi have presided over the empire as
competent rulers, they have effectively directed their populaces more
violent tendencies outward to the Mazoku, frequently raiding the Feywilde
for more slaves, a lord in the Jade Empire measures his worth by how many
Mazoku slaves they possess.

Salty Beard Clan;

Coin, Loot & Danger Trading Company
Racial makeup Dwarves 80% Halfling 7% Gnomes 8% Other 5%
Religions: Vergadain (almost exclusively), Draper, Brandobaris, Ama-Tsu-Mara
Societal Alignment: N / CG
Government: Syndicracy
Current Leader: Admiral Grall Firebeard, Chairman of the Board, CEO
Capital: Torgal Island, Port Vergadain
Legal system: World Empire
Political Factions: Captains, Trade Guilds
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: The Golden Empire, Jade Empire, The Horde (trade only), Free Cities
Enemies: Dread Pirates, Ryugu-jo
History: Tales of Dwarves or Koro, appear in some of the Mazoku ancient histories and folk tales far, it it said that they
were an ancient race like the Mazoku far predating the rise of men, or orc and ogre. The Mazoku forced them to leave
their mountain hold fast in the northern reaches and eradicated them from the realm, no one had ever seen a Koro,
sages speculate that the Obsidian tower is actually of Koro construction as it doesnt not fit with Mazoku designs. The
Salty Beard Clan dose not claim any link to the Koro but the similarities in how they are described are uncanny. The Clan
are a group of sea going traders from regions beyond the Sun Sea. The clans founder was a priest of Vergadain, the
Dwarven Gawd of Wealth and Luck, calming that Vergadain wanted his to take his kinsmen to the seas to find their
wealth he gathered his followers in a fleet of ships and set sail for uncharted seas. After nearly 100 years at sea exploring
ports of call, trading wares and acquiring new members, even adopting from Gnomish and Halfling communities, looking
for the foretold Sea of Riches, their ships reached the
Sun Sea in 624 AR. First making contact with the
Barbarian Tribes of the Horde and the Free Cities,
thinking their search would have to continue, they
reached the Golden Isles, the Priest, now entering old
age, gained an audience with the Emperor, who was so
taken with the Dwarves and their search for trade grated
them dominion over a small island on the outskirts of the
isles, the emperor knew that healthy trade with Free
cities and the empires would help cement peace but
years of fighting and distrust made it difficult, the Salty
Beards could act as intermediaries. The Dwarves took
the opportunity as a sign form Vergadain and established
a port in his name, after the Priest passed on they
named the island Torgal Island in his honor. They have
established Trade routes throughout the Realm and
beyond the Sun Sea.

The Horde/ Outlands

Racial makeup Human 80%, Xi-Yi-Mogui 10%, Orgima 5%, Other 5%
Religions: Varies from tribe to tribe, Kahn, The Great Hordemaster is
venerated as a Demi-Gawd among most tribes
Societal Alignment: CN
Government: No Central Government
Current Leader: Every Tribe has its own leader, a Hordemaster may
rise to unite
Legal system: Barbarian Tribe
Political Factions: Each Tribe
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Salty Beards (trade only), The Free Cities
Enemies: Golden Empire, Phoenix Empire, Obsidian Empire
History: The barbarian tribes of the horde can all trace their linage back to Kang The Great Hordemaster, the barbarian
chief that is credited for sparking the great revolution, while the men of the golden isles and the Oni may have provided
the resources and magic to win the fight, it was the Horde that was the revolutions beating heart. The barbarians of the
east were the most oppressed of the Mozakus subjects and suffered the greatest at their whip. The Hordemaster gave
his life to secure the revolution, personally slaying the Mozaku Emperor in the Jade Mountain Fortress. With no leader
to unite them the tribes returned to the outlands and their ancestral divisions, the Golden Empire tried to bring them in
to the fold but they chafed at the thought of replacing one civilized master for another. Today the tribes of The horde
roam the outlands living as they have for centuries, some hunt, some farm, other rape and pillage, they are all fiercely
independent, and seek to make sure the Great Hordemasters sacrifice was not in vain.

The Free Cities

Racial makeup: Human 70%, Xi-Yi-Mogui 5%,
Orgima 5%, Halfling 10%, Other 10%
Religions: Varies, each city follows its own
Gawds
Societal Alignment: N
Government: Independent city states, varying
forms of government
Current Leader: n/a Varies
Capital: n/a, Dhazatanar is the largest most
prominent of the cities
Legal system: World Empire / Remote Village
Political Factions: Each City
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Salty Beards (trade only), Golden Empire
(some), The Horde (Mixed), Other Free Cities
Enemies: Obsidian Empire, Phoenix Empire, The
Horde (mixed), Other Free Cities may war against
each other
History: When the Mazokus empire spread to the
east across the outlands, they built a series of outpost
and oasis in the harsh region, When the Mazoku were
driven from the outlands, the cities remained, these
outpost remained, clamined by the peoples on the outlands they became the Free Cities. There are seven cities;
Dhazatanar, Huzuz, Qudra, Hiyal, Vtaqa, Almorel, Manass. These cities have prospered and maintain their independence
as fiercely as The Horde dose. They serve as the
major land trade route to the east and the deserts
beyond the outlands.

Phoenix Empire (Feywilde)

Racial makeup Mazoku (Elves) 15%, Slaves (human, orc, ogre) 20%, Pixiehybrids (65%- Fairy 10%, Sprite 15%, Brownie 15%, Nixie 3%, Leprechaun 15%
Elvaeiels 4%, Fae-Born 2%, Grixie 1% )
Religions: Arnuya, Shevarash, Fenmarel Mestarine, Puck, Titania
Societal Alignment: CN
Government: Monarchy
Current Leader: Queen Illaria
Capital: The Feywilde, exact location unknown
Legal system: World Empire
Political Factions: Five Surviving Noble houses
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Ryugu-jo, Dragon Lands (?)
Enemies: Golden Empire, Jade Empire, Phoenix Empire,
Obsidian Empire, Free Cities
History: After their Emperor was killed and they were
forced from their strongholds across the realm, the
surviving Noble Mazoku families fled to their last redoubt
in the Feywilde, using the magical forest to hide them and
regroup, they have established a civilization in exile,
supported by what slaves they could bring with them.
They call themselves the Phoenix Empire, stating that the Mazoku will rise from the ashes and retake the realm,
however they have done little offensively in the past 400 years. The Jade Empire has constantly pushed into the
Feywilde to try and eliminate the last remnants of the Mazoku. But the Phoenix Empire are not without defenses, they
have used the wild fairies and pixies of the region to great effect in repelling would-be invaders, The Natural magical
properties of the area combined with powerful Mazoku
sorcery make the Feywilde is a dangerous and unforgiving
place for the unprepared. Little else is known about the
Feywilde, during the height of their empire it was largely
left untouched except as a source for Pixie slaves and
meat, rumors of the pixies mounting there own rebelling
have circulated but never confirmed, it is assume that the
pixies were inherently too chaotic to organize any type of
effective resistance against the Mazoku, and that the
Mazoku have special magical means of controlling the fey
creatures. Pixie hybrids are still highly valued by Magi as
familiars and pets, and the Jade Empire makes a profitable
trade from its raids in the outer edges of the feywilde for
them.

Obsidian Empire
Racial makeup Human 15% Undead 65% Living Slaves 20%
Religions: Yen-Wang-Yeh, Kuchooloo, Grawdyng
Societal Alignment: N / CE
Government: Magocracy
Current Leader: Obsidian Emperor
Capital: Obsidian Tower
Legal system: Magocracy
Political Factions: Magelords
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Dread Pirates, Free City of Almorel
Enemies: Golden Empire, Jade Empire, Phoenix Empire
History: Blood Magic is one of the oldest ad darkest forms of the arcane arts
known in the realm, Mozaku barbarian mystics are said to have used it at the
dawn of creation, its practice had fallen out of favor at the height to the Mozaku
Empire but when humans and Oni began to discover magic for themselves the
primitive practice was rediscovered, one of the first arcane orders founded
among the humans was the Bleeding Eyes, during the great revolution their
talents were used to predict the enemies moves, when the Mazoku began to use
necromancy to raise an army of undead defenders the Bleeding Eyes responded
in kind, the Oni-Magi and the Magus of the Golden Empire did not approve, but
in times of war, honor was not a luxury they could afford. The difficult task of
taking the harsh northern
reaches was given to them and
their undead armies, when the
revolution was over the issue
could no longer be avoided, the Blood mages hunger for power was a
threat to the living. It is rumored that the Mages discovered even darker
secrets in the north and that is why they proclaimed the Obsidian tower
and the reaches as their own. Today little is known about what goes on
inside the Obsidian Empire; scattered reports of undead raiding the
northern outlands and ships with black sails on the seas have the rest of
the empires on edge.

Other Powers/Lands
Dread Pirates

Ryugu-jo

Racial makeup (Undead 45%

Goblins 35%, Other 20% )

Racial makeup Aquatic-Elves 60%,

Hai Nu 20% Nixie 20%

Religions: Yen-Wang-Yeh,
Kuchooloo, Grawdyng

Religions: Ryujin (Dragon Gawd of the Sea)

Societal Alignment: CN

Societal Alignment: NE

Government: Monarchy

Government: Autocracy

Current Leader: Queen Elahras

Current Leader: Dread Captain

Capital: Ryugu-jo, exact location unknown

Capital: Skull Port

Legal system: World Empire

Legal system: none

Political Factions: unknown

Political Factions: none

Diplomatic Relations:

Diplomatic Relations:

Allies: Phoenix Empire

Allies: Obsidian Empire

Enemies: Salty Beards, Dread Pirates

Enemies: Salty Beards, Ryugu-jo

Dragon Lands
Racial makeup: Unknown
Religions: Io, Aasterinian, Astilabor, Chronepsis, Lendys, Tiamat, Bahamut
Societal Alignment: N
Current Leader: Unknown
Diplomatic Relations:
Allies: Phoenix Empire (unknown)
Enemies: None
History:
The Area called the Dragon Lands is shrouded in myth and secrecy, even the
Mozaku did not dare to encroach on the areas north of the Feywilde, it is said
that the most powerful Dragon Lords of legend slumber here. All expeditions
into the Dragon Lands for the past 500 years have failed to return. It is
unknown why the Mozaku retreated so close to the area, it is speculated in
ancient times they were allied with the Dragons.

The Crimson Ink Order

Name of Members: Suzuri (inkstone)
Location: Golden Empire, Golden Mountain Monastery
History: Among the humans a secret order was established to learn the elves
magical knowledge they gathered this knowledge via any means and
preserved it for future generations of men, they became known as the
Crimson Ink order because of the cost in blood that such knowledge carries.
Over the centuries their quest for knowledge has grown to encompass
intelligence gathering for the Empire as well. They report directly to the
Emperor.
Purpose: To gather and preserve knowledge, at all costs
Master of Organization: Master Sung-chi Monk 9 (PM 3)
Organization Alignment: LE
Membership restrictions: Must have an Int of 14 or higher
Symbol: A Calligraphy brush dripping with red
Allies: Golden Empire, Emperors Guard
Enemies/ Rivals: Magus Guild
Sayings: Knowledge is Power, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
STPs: Arcane Lore, Read / Write Makozu (elven), Intelligence Gathering, Scribe Skill Suite, Photographic Memory, Spell
Tattooing (@ level 3)
Special Abilities: Due to their intense training and magical knowledge Monk members of the order can advance as a
Painted mage for every 3 levels of Monk (a lvl 3 monk can cast spells as a lvl 1 painted mage,, level 6 as level 2 ect)

Magus Guild
Name of Members: Magi / Magus
Location: The Golden City, Magus Guildhall
History: Established as a secret society in 154 AR by a group of magic users that
were dissatisfied at the Crimson Inks restrictive and secretive ways the guild
was established to research magic and not just collect old Makozu tomes. The
Shogun acting as regent formally recognized them in 200 AR and gave them
sanction, all magic users in the Golden Empire must belong to either the guild
or the Crimson Ink Order. The guild is responsible for assigning a court Magus to
each Daimyo house and deploying magical support for the Shoguns armies.
Purpose: To advance mankinds understanding of arcane forces and represent the interest of Magi in the Empire
Master of Organization: Magus Ito (level 9 Elementalist)
Alignment: Any Allowed
Allies: Shogunate, Order of the Holy Fist
Enemies/ Rivals: Crimson Ink
Sayings: Magic is the universes power made manifest, we only need to have the will to wield it.
STPs: Arcane Speak, Diplomacy, Hearldry,
Special Abilities: Upon induction into the order undergoes a ritual that will bond a specialized familiar to the Magus. (see
alternate familiar rules). Upon gaining access to a new spell level a Magus may attempt to learn any one spell from the
previous spell level from the guilds library.

Order of the Celestial Fist

Name of Members: Lifers
Location: Crystal Mountains
History: Blood Magic and Necromancy had long been forbidden
magics in the Empire but The Crimson Ink Order still maintained
quite a wealth of knowledge about its practice in order to
understand the threats it may pose to the Empire, the sect that
was charged with maintaining this knowledge wanted to be more
proactive in combating the undead and rooting out the practice of these unholy arts, the leaders of the Order however
did not agree for they feared that training more with this knowledge might lead to its spread. In 334 AR The Crimson Ink
Order suffered another schism, with the support of the Temple of Amaterasu Omikami the Order of the Celestial Fist
was established by sanction of the Emperor. Their mandate was to be experts on undead, sprits, Necromancers and
Blood Mages, and protect the empire from these threats. Over the Centuries they have formed a good working
relationship with the Magus Guild.
Purpose: To combat the undead
Master of Organization: Master Lee-hu (lvl 9 Monk)
Alignment: LG / LN
Allies: Magus Guild, Temple of Amaterasu Omikami, Crimson Ink (shaky)
Enemies/Rivals: Obsidian Empire, Dread Pirates
Sayings: Life is the light
STP: Sprit Lore, Arcane Lore, Life Smite, Curse Resistance
Special Abilities: May take the Undead Hunter Package, Due to their intense training and close association with the
Temple of Amaterasu Omikami; Lawful Good members of the order can cast healing and anti-undead spells as a shaman
of the same level, they may also turn undead as a Cleric 3 levels lower than their Monk level (a lvl 3 monk can turn as a
lvl 1 Cleric, level 4 as level 2 ect)

Class / Race Notes

General restrictions:
Barred Classes: Magic-User, Specialist, Double Specialist, Dark Knight, Knight Errant, Cavalier, Paladin, Blood-Mage, Holy
Knight, Charlatan, Non related Zealots
Humans: All humans from the Golden Empire get 3 mastery dice of a single Skill Suite that fits with the social class and
background And the Lucky Talent
Dwarves Halflings. Gnomes: get 3 mastery die of the Sailor Skill Set and they get the Aquatic Background Talent
(regardless of race) Dwarves can also be Swashbucklers, Dwarves and Gnomes lose their underground detection abilities
Gnomes can be illusionist
Half-Orc- Xi-Yi-Moguis: May change their +1 str for a +1 int or their +1 con for a +1 wis, Can be Monk, Ninja,
Elementalist, Battle Mage, Wild Mage, and Yakuza, use human modifies for social class
Half Ogre- Ogrima: May change their +2 str for a +2 int (+0 to in net) may purchase the Spell abilities talent, can be a
Painted Mage, Elementalist, Battle Mage, Wild Mage, or Power Speaker, use elf modifiers for social class
Elves: All PC elves will be slaves, they are barred from learning magic, but they all receive the spell like abilities talent at
no cost, social class is automatically slave class.
Pixie Fairies: Are considered magical animals, they are well treated pets at best, dinner at worst. Always will be
considered property. They are naturally magical thus can take magical classes, can be illusionists.
Packages
Magic User Packages
Hermit -Preferred for Elementalist, cost is half (8bp)for Elementalist
Mystic Preferred for painted mages- cost is 7 BP for PM
Witch cost is lowered to 12 BP, Pixie & Elf Spell casters must take this package, they get it for free
Fighter Packages
Falconer-Samurai are preferred for this package and may take it for 2 fewer BP
Thief Packages
Blade- Ninja receive a 2 bp discount
Corsair Salty Dwarves can take this package regardless of class and for 3 less BP
Loremaster- Monks can take this package for 2 less BP
Skald - Salty Dwarves can take this package regardless of class and for 3 less BP
Sleuth Monks and Samurai can take this package for 2 less BP
Spy- ninja's can take this package for 7 BP
Swashbuckler- Salty Dwarves can take this package regardless of class and for 3 less BP
Warbler- Monks Can take this Package for 2 less BP
Cleric
Fighting Monk Any Human of any Non fighter class may take for 10 BP must be Lawful alignment and will be part of a
monk order
Inquisitor - Monks can take this package for 2 less BP
Pacifist- cost reduced to 5 BP
Undead Slayer- Monks and Samurai can take this package for 8 BP