Anno Domini 1350
A chronicler's account of the kingdoms, sigils, ancient wars, and forgotten faiths of a fractured world — compiled in the first month of peace after the War of the Caliphate.
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In the field of arms, history is written
Table of Contents
Chapter I
A month and a bit on horseback — the measure of the known world.
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Chapter II
Seven factions, the Dark Forest, and the Unknown Lands beyond.
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Chapter III
Banners, crests and marks of house and war — rendered in ink and gold.
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Chapter IV
From the Great War of the Dark Forest to the War of the Caliphate.
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Chapter V
The True Belief, the Following of the Idol, Nørgar atheism and more.
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Chapter VI
Arts, languages and currencies across every faction.
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Chapter VII
A field guide to the tongues of every kingdom and island.
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Chapter VIII
Anno 1350 — one month after the War of the Caliphate.
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Chapter IX
Skjölbrunda, Skjøldungår, the Frappian Empire and the Khoun-Udag.
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Chapter X
Beyond the seas — wildly contradictory accounts of a vast unmapped world.
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Finis
The chronicle is laid open. Read onward.
Chapter I
To cross the main island of Griba on horseback is to ride for a month and a bit. Such is the measure of the known world — vast enough that kingdoms rise unaware of one another's borders, and small enough that no ship sailing its seas has yet returned with its full tale.
Chapter II
The Largest Kingdom
Nordic-inspired. Territory stretches from the freezing northwest to the moderate southwest. Once a patchwork of chiefdoms and jarldoms, recently united under a powerful warlord. Known for the formidable shield wall and a deep mistrust of horses — they ride only small, shaggy garrons. Locked in a five-hundred-year war with the Súo.
The Smallest Princedom
French-inspired. A tiny realm in the northeast of the main island, known for devastating cavalry charges. One of the oldest factions on the map. Their territory was cruelly diminished after the Two-Front War, immediately followed by the War of the Caliphate. A princedom, not a kingdom — and now surrounded by enemies.
The Second Largest on the Island
Controls almost the entire south of the main island. Renowned for silks, camel hides, and rich milk. Camel-back warriors crush enemy cavalry charges. Formed roughly 250 years ago from nomadic tribes united by the Kabáz Idol. Has fought no major external war — though numerous civil wars have torn its internal regions.
The Oldest Kingdom
English-inspired. Controls the entire northeastern island. The finest sailors in Griba — the only people known to sail regularly to the unknown lands and return. Bring home strange fruits, rare spices, fine alcohol, foreign warriors, and huge swamp lizards. Ruled by King [pending] VI. The oldest faction on the map.
The Axe Islands — Shrouded in Mystery
Jungle warriors of the Axe Islands, southwest of the main island. No Nørgar warrior has ever made it more than a mile inland. Rumoured to practise ancient blood curses, immortality rituals, and child sacrifice to alter fate. Speculated to have migrated from the unknown lands.
A Trading Hub, Not a Faction
A neutral trading hub beneath the main island. Inhabited by elite merchants and their retinues. "A place for the wealthy to go, not to be born." Beneath the legitimate trade, Chírí is rife with assassinations, smuggling, illegal deals, and cutthroat intrigue.
Southwest of the Main Island — Uninhabited
Bordering both Nørgar and the Kabáz Caliphate. Extremely dangerous — no one who has entered has ever returned. Site of the Great War of the Dark Forest, which nearly destroyed it. Peasants report screaming from deep within. The Hounúd royal family recently sent assassins into it to dispose of them. They never returned.
Beyond the Seas — Name Pending
A vast, largely unmapped landmass beyond the seas. Home to many civilizations and peoples distinct from those of Griba. Sailors' accounts are wildly contradictory: "There's fifteen wars going on at once!" — "So peaceful out there." — "God! It's chaos! Everyone's dead." — "Massive creature it was! Like a cat with a beard!" The Hounúd are the only Gribans known to sail there regularly and return.
Chapter III
Each banner, each crest, each mark of house and war — rendered in ink and gold.
Two-handed battle axe
The horseshoe
The anchor
Camel, milk & silks
Poisoned arrow
Shield, bow & arrow
Poisoned dart
Flower & snake (ancient)
Chapter IV
A chronicle of blood, told in order of years.
-980 to -678
Skjölbrunda vs. Skjøldungår
Two nearly identical chiefdoms, both ruled by chiefs named Håíłster. Cause unknown. The forest was nearly destroyed; its ghouls are said to haunt it still.
Casualties: ~20,000,000
-567 to 0
Frappians vs. native chiefdoms of Griba
The native peoples held their own for a time but were ultimately annihilated. The Frappian Empire was established and the calendar reset to mark its completion.
Casualties: ~35,000,000+
134 to 973
Khoun-Udag vs. Frappian Empire
Cause unknown. The Khoun-Udag won through superior sea power. The empire was utterly destroyed; no land was taken.
Casualties: ~10,000,000
~500 years (ongoing)
Súo vs. Nørgar
Deep ancient hatred. No Nørgar warrior has ever made it more than a mile into the Súo islands.
Casualties: ~1,000,000
1109–1110
Zħaľän Bägż vs. Dħałän Bïn-Ðïèf
Dispute over the title of Caliph. Dħałän Bïn-Ðïèf won.
Casualties: ~10,000
1139–1142
Dħałäņ Bħagif vs. Prophet Mösáéd
Mösáéd claimed to be the Idol reborn. He was executed for impersonation.
Casualties: ~7,500
1205–1278
Hounúd royal house vs. itself
73 years of war sparked by the revelation that the king and queen were secretly blood relatives.
Casualties: ~120,000
1300–1306
Hilt Island & Dart Island vs. Axe Island
Dispute over differing gods. Noted as evidence the Súo are ingenious warriors but often remarkably foolish in internal affairs.
Casualties: ~1,000
1307–1312
Nørgar vs. Hounúd
Nørgar won. Fought for no material reason — neither land nor treasure. A war for war's sake.
Casualties: ~12,500
1309–1337
Ķhaķałħak vs. Dħałán Bïn-Žeth
Camels had become rare. Only the south had them. Ended in a peace treaty with no clear victor.
Casualties: ~10,000
1321 (one month)
Hilt Island vs. Dart Island
A dispute over a piece of land. Widely regarded as either the worst or the best war ever fought in Griba.
Casualties: 1 (bad stomach)
1327–1349
Guílle vs. Nørgar & Hounúd
The Guílle were perceived to be growing too powerful. Ended one year before the story begins.
Casualties: ~15,000
1349–1350
Kabáz Caliphate vs. Guílle
The only war the Caliphate has fought on foreign soil. Resulted in a decisive draw. Ended one month before the story begins.
Casualties: ~5,000
Chapter V
Hounúd & Guílle
A man in the sky — always depicted as male — created the entire world. He sent his son to die. The son, Jesse, was executed as a traitor by the Frappian Empire. Jesse is now the most common name in both kingdoms. Led by an Archbishop, served by bishops. The holy text is simply called The Book. Private ownership is forbidden.
Kabáz Caliphate
Centered on the Kabáz Idol who united the nomadic tribes into the Caliphate roughly 250 years ago. His name is recorded but currently lost to memory. Reputed to have single-handedly stopped a war, conducted a peaceful conquest, and sacrificed himself for his people. The exact circumstances of his death remain unknown and contradictory.
Nørgar
The Nørgar reject gods or divine creators. They believe the world is simply a large rock — not flat, as most other cultures assume. This belief is regarded as foolish and absurd by the other factions, though the Nørgar remain unmoved.
Axe Islands
The Súo worship in stone temples dedicated to stone idols. The idols often depict animals with human features. Worship appears to vary by region and statue, with no single unified deity.
No single faith
As a neutral trading hub attracting merchants from all over Griba and beyond, Chírí hosts a wide mix of beliefs. Worshippers of many gods — and those who worship none — can be found among its transient population.
Generally Disbelieved
Magic is widely dismissed across Griba as mummery and trickery. The sole exception is the Súo: unconfirmed rumours claim they practise blood curses, dark rituals to extend their lives, and child sacrifice to alter the course of the future.
Chapter VI
Nørgar — Dismissed as barbaric by others, yet the continent's first true art — music — is said to originate here. Renowned for silver-tongued poets and singers.
Kabáz — Fine silks and rich milk. The silk trade has made them one of the wealthiest factions.
Hounúd & Guílle — Exceptionally capable farmers. ~75% of all food and drink in Griba originates here. Farming is the most honourable profession for a commoner.
Súo — Culture and arts remain unknown to outsiders.
Chírí — A blend of all factions and influences from the unknown lands. No single tradition dominates.
1 Gold = 20 Silver = 400 Copper
Chapter VII
Male: Dħałán
Female: Dħałín
Male: Jesse
Female: Emilia
Male: Jesse, Luoun
Female: Cossete
Male: Björn
Female: Björk
Male: Haydér
Female: Stetta
Male: Mixed
Female: Mixed
Chapter VIII
Anno 1350 — One month after the War of the Caliphate
Deeply angry with Hounúd and Nørgar after the Two-Front War. Now nursing fresh tensions with the Kabáz Caliphate after their decisive draw in the War of the Caliphate. Surrounded by enemies.
Other factions have grown hostile toward them for their role in the Two-Front War — widely seen as a taboo act. Their own two-front war against the Súo and Guílle simultaneously has been branded hypocrisy.
Political instability is rising. An assassination attempt was recently made on the current Caliph. His son, Dħałán Bïn-Zaýð, has been publicly exposed as a bastard and exiled. Relations with Guílle remain uneasy.
Old scandals are being unearthed. The revelation that the first civil war was caused by royal incest has shaken public trust. The current royal family's involvement in the murder of bankers — and the disposal of assassins in the Dark Forest — is beginning to surface. Many fear a second civil war.
As always, the Súo remain silent. No intelligence has reached the mainland regarding their current state.
The usual shadow war of assassins continues unabated. No single faction dominates the island's underworld.
Chapter IX
Extinct
One of two rival chiefdoms that fought the Great War of the Dark Forest. Fierce warriors ruled by Chief Håíłster. Branched from an older chiefdom whose name is lost to time.
Extinct
The other rival chiefdom in the Great War of the Dark Forest. Nearly identical to the Skjölbrunda in culture, warfare, and leadership — also ruled by a Chief Håíłster. Branched from the same ancient chiefdom.
Revered Founder — Name Pending
United the nomadic tribes into the Caliphate through peaceful conquest roughly 250 years ago. Reputed to have single-handedly stopped a war and sacrificed himself for his people. His legacy is the foundation of the Following of the Idol faith and the basis for all claims to the title of Caliph.
Extinct — Destroyed 973
Originally invaders from the unknown lands. Descended upon Griba when it was a continent of savage chiefdoms and jarldoms with no true kingdoms. Through the Frappian Conquest, wiped out the native population and established an empire occupying the entire main island. After its fall, the remaining population fragmented into new kingdoms and chiefdoms — the precursors to today's factions.
Ancient Precursor to Hounúd
Occupied the northeastern island. Sigil: a flower with a snake beneath it. Victorious in the Great War of the Frappian Extinction. Following their victory, they changed their sigil to an anchor and eventually evolved into the modern kingdom of Hounúd.
Chapter X
Hark! If thou hast questions of Griba, or would speak with the scribe, leave thy missive here.
~ Finis ~
"And so the chronicler sets down his quill. The ink is dry, the candles low, and the world of Griba continues to turn — as it always has, as it always will."