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 Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:16 am
I'm going to put up the ideas and write-ups for the Winter Kingdom here.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:06 am
Winter Kingdom
The Winter Kingdom began long ago when the nomads braved the icy tundra. They were spurred by the hunt of the great white beasts that roamed in the snow and the meat and fur they offered. What they hadn't expected was the ferocity of the bears and the raw power of winter. Several hundred nomads in varying clans had spear-headed their own way across the white plains but after a few short months only half remained. The tribes fell into despair as they came together to pool resources in a last attempt to survive. It was then that the collective began to pray to the heavens, to the stars that seemed ever present in the wintry nightmare and the constant beacons of light. Be it faith or natural phenomena, the ground began to soften and the air began to warm. The now single tribe rejoiced and quickly went about preparing the land for harvest. Where they settled became the capital city of the Winter Kingdom.
It wasn't long before buildings of stone had been erected and a township set up. Soon after, they received their first visitors from the other kingdoms. When the harsh winter set upon them again, they had dried meats and fruits to sustain them and the occasional fresh kill. Even in the beginning days of prosperity there was still an ever present danger. The polar bears were not happy to have man encroach on their land, nor were the other creatures of the North. They struck at parties that strayed too far from home or were foolish enough to attack them.
It was during the reign of the settler's fourth leader that the stars seemed to speak again. A lone female bear wandered into town. The hunters were out gathering food so there was no hope of scaring it away so the townsfolk hid in their homes to wait for it to pass through. The bear marched through the streets and into the leader's hut. His followers cried out in horror at the fate that was sure to befall him. However, after nearly an hour had passed the two beings walked out of the hut and the leader climbed upon the bear's back. A treaty had been struck between man and beast under the never ending night sky and there was peace.
Per writ of the treaty, men were to never again hunt. The bears and other beasts of the snow would bring them meat in return for offerings of fruit. Should a bear of the treaty be killed, the man who slayed him would be handed over to the creatures as compensation. As well, if a polar bear killed a man of the treaty, the polar bear would be turned over to his people. Keep in mind, not all men nor all bears follow the treaty and rogues are incredibly dangerous.
The man that forged the treaty was crowned the Bear King, but there has not been one since. Once the great bear died, a new one did not grace the king nor any after him. The treaty holds still five generations later but the skills used to create it have been lost. The bears no longer speak to the men and the men can no longer understand them. Instead, the bears are now revered as sacred and shrines have been established in their visage. Polar bears were also incorporated into the Church of the Stars, now named the Heralds of the Heavens. The clergy are the select few that give the fruit offerings to the bears after the harvest and through the winter. The clergy can be easily recognized by the white furs they wear. No bears were harmed to get them, they're simply made from the shed fur. A clergy man is accepted into the order when he completes his Walk with the Bears and attains enough fur to create his cloak. To wear the fur of a polar bear is one of the greatest honors of the Winter Kingdom. Conversely, should someone be seen wearing a pelt of their fur, they are subject to death or to be given over for punishment from the bears.
Though religious men, the holy order is not without corruption. it began when the rite of offering fell into their hands. It was the clergy that forbade other men from communicating with the bears or learning how to do so. It was their way of solidifying their position in the tribe. Though an established Kingdom now, their beliefs and morals are still deeply rooted in their nomadic heritage. If you were old or infirm, you were no longer an asset to the tribe and banished yourself. Everything was for the greater good of the tribe. The clergy saw their 'unique' talent to speak with the sacred bears a way to remain in the city long after their useful life had passed. They keep their ranks thin for a reason and have made the rites of passage difficult for the same. If an outsider learned the ways of communication they might teach it to the masses, their special trait would get spread and they would no longer be needed. That being said, the clergymen are still very kind and the lower class monks are unaware of the reasons they alone know the secrets of the Heralds. They still believe in bettering the Kingdom any way they can and everything they do is for the greater good.
Polar Bears
The polar bears have resided in the tundra for ages. They know the ways of the winter lands and have explored its secrets. They live in what is called the Great Den, a series of ice caverns near the pole in the harshest environment to ensure their safety. All bears live here and strive to better their circumstances. No man has ever found or seen the Great Den and they want to keep it that way. It's where their cubs live and grow up, it's where their elderly rest and where they all sleep at night.
It was the bear elder Norsa that came to the men in the first place, asking for peace. It split the clan nearly in half, those who supported the idea and those who were against it. Scuffles broke out daily until all the Elders were in agreement, so Norsa began her trek across the snow to the human encampment. She waited in the snow drifts for the hunters of the tribe to leave before entering because even though she came with good intentions, the men have hunted her kind veraciously. However, she wasn't scared. She'd lived for a long time by a bears standards and if it was her time to go as she made this journey of peace then so be it. To her surprise, the village didn't bother her and she reached the leader unopposed. They spoke for nearly an hour, discussing how best they could serve each other. The bears had a hard time finding food during the worst parts of winter but the men had dried meat and fruit. The men were unsuccessful hunters and needed meat to stock their stores.
When Norsa returned with tidings to her people, they rejoiced at the pact. While many had been unhappy in the beginning, they soon found how beneficial the treaty was and apologized to the Elders for their insubordination. Norsa went back to live out her days with the humans and an age of prosperity fell on both races.
Rogues
There are rogue members on both sides of the treaty. There are men who have separated from the Kingdom of Winter but still reside on its land. They scorn the pact and hunt polar bears as they see fit. These men and women are tough, braving the cold on their own in small groups. They wear the furs of their kills proudly whether it be bear or other. They're dangerous folk to run into no matter who or what you are.
The polar bears can be the same. While the bears have their own society, some disdain being servants to men and left the safety of the Great Den. Rarely more than one rogue bear will be found in the same location as they tend to hate all other bears even if they feel the same as they do about the treaty. Occasionally though, pairs or small trios will crop up. They're terrifying in the best situations. They stopped grooming their fur when they left the Great Den so their usual white complexion is muddied with dried blood from their kills. They're ambushers and actively stalk human foraging parties.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 3:28 pm
That sounds very nice! I really like it 3nodding Poor polar bears T-T
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