The New world, called “Aksh” (the Hungry Land) by the indigenous Uruk people and “Osterheim” (the Eastern Home) by the Sollunian colonists, is rich and lush, but terrible. It is full of hungry beasts that prey on Uruk and humans alike – and of even worse things that stalk the dark of the wilds.
Recently
The colony in Osterheim was meant to be a joint settlement by the Patronic and Matrial churches to plant the foot of Sollundom firmly in the New World. A plan to share power, wealth and space in the colony was drawn up and an Iskan governor selected to run the place with the blessings of all four Sollunian nations.
However, the governor was overthrown and the church’s representatives assassinated or chased back across the sea by rebellious colonists. A group broke away, declaring themselves the sovereign nation of Charleston.
The original settlement kept their ties with the Old World but came under control of the Patronic church, with one leader a victim of assassination and another managing to feed the populace only with the assistance of Angheim. The idea of cooperation in Osterheim seems to have been discarded as the churches prepare for conflict.
The Local Area
Here three local communities reside in a relatively small amount of space: the town of Old Adelina, so called because it was settled a whole 2 years ago by the nations of the Old World; the new village of Charleston settled just 1 year ago, by a group wishing to cut all ties with the old world to form their own nation; and the ancient meeting ground called Eisguthur where four local Uruk clans come to share stories and make trade. Tensions are high between the three groups, and the scarcity of local resources coupled with the ever increasing populations is only going to make it worse.
Charleston
The small town of Charleston has faced its own challenges along the road to independence and acknowledgement. It has been hard and it has been bloody, with valiant souls laying down their lives to see it survive. And yet they have managed to remain independent from all old world forces, gained the recognition as an independent state from Adelina and begrudgingly many of the powers in the old world. This has come at great cost, as the fledgling town was forced to send their laborers and farmers to Adelina, lest they all starve. See here for more information.
Adelina
The Old Town of Adelina was founded in 1616 by a representative group from each of the four nations of Sollundom in the name of the Solunian Church and God Herself. It has experienced a range of setbacks and challenges in this new environment but has pulled through and it is stronger for it. The settlement is growing at an increasing rate as it takes in refugees from across the seas as well as those abandoned by the neighboring independent settlement of Charleston. Whether they have the resources to support the newcomers remains to be seen, but it is clear they have the heart. This challenge is further impeded as their lands have now expanded to the boundaries of those currently inhabited by the native Orcs.
Recently
The settlement now known as Adelina was originally the Patronic settlement of the combined Sollunian colony in Osterheim. Following the overthrow of the Iskan governor and the rebellion of the Tommies, the loyalist Sollunians moved “up the hill” to the now-named Adelina.
Led by a Patronic Deacon, the Adelinans declared a private war on the rebellious settlement of Charleston, which ended with the Deacon’s untimely demise in murky circumstances. Another Patronic clergyman, supported by other faithful and representatives of Angheim, has stepped up to lead the colony and is recognised as the official governor of the settlement.
Eisguthur
The place Eisguthur, is an ancient place, a sacred place. It serves as a meeting ground for nearby Uruk clans to meet on peaceful ground to trade and share stories and it has served that purpose for hundreds if not thousands of years. That is, until the arrival of the soft skins. They have stolen this land and ravaged the local fauna and hunting grounds for their grossly enlarged village. They have ignored all please to leave, to keep their village small, to stop tearing down the trees, to stop building or to respect the sacred nature of the space they have chosen to enhabit. The have not heeded the warning of the doom, and it would seem that whether caused by the newcomers or not, something dark has awoken and the Land is angry.
Many are losing hope, and wish to fight. Some have a new hope. These soft skins have new weapons of great power that have proven to be useful against horrors of the wilds. This, as well as other signs, have led some to wonder if the arrival of the soft skins truly is all bad, or if it is but one part of a larger story that is to come.
See here for more information on the Uruk
Recently
The area of Eisguthur is nestled where four Clans’ territories meet. The land on which the soft skins settled has long been known to the Uruk as a shared meeting place, for peaceful gathering and trade rather than permanent settlement or use as hunting-grounds. Tradition dictates that the Uruk treat them with hospitality, although many now ask how far that tradition should go.
Since the coming of the Soft Skins, Eisguthur has become a somewhat permanent settlement, attracting more Uruk who want renown or safety. Word of two heroes, the Jarl of the Brood of Lulli, and the Jarl of the Namesh, has reached Uruk fleeing the Doom. One entire Clan, the Kurmaugh-du, have joined the Namesh and it is becoming evident that there is only so much food to go around.
Uruk tradition holds that very large settlements eventually attract some kind of terrible fate that wipes them out – since this hasn’t yet happened to Eisguthur many Uruk are coming in the fragile hope that they will be safe from whatever is destroying villages further inland.
Holy Ground
Holy Ground is a powerfully sacred place for all the known religions in the game. Any true ceremonies or rituals must take place in Holy Ground. This has caused some contention between the groups, but thus far no violence has occurred.