Seeing is not the same as Knowing
Capital: Granden
Languages: Vaiar
Demonym: Grandenari
Government: Unitary Monarchy
Rulers: Sobiran, Eroi, Duc
Example Names:
Formation
Granden was only founded in the last two centuries. Prior to that the peninsula was inhabited only by sparse tribal folks and Vandar nomads. It is from this population that the Granden have drawn their vassals as the descendants of the original Vandar who found the Peninsula Vault now compose the Granden royalty.
Advanced Callings
Enganarome: Nobleborn chevalier who employ the Lightcaster technology in warfare
V’Anma: Wandering protectors and resilient religious guardians changed by ritualized exposure to occult forces. Bulwarks, justicars, and monks.
Summary
An ambitious monarchy descended from the Vandar. The Granden nation was formed by a clan of Vandar who uncovered a vault of first age artefacts and texts detailing the creation of Orick, a resilient construction material, and the use of Lightcasters, devices which can generate incredibly realistic illusions. Granden is a young but powerful nation united by religious ideology.
Description
The Granden nation is the descendant of a particularly ambitious clan of nomadic Vandar fortunate enough to discover and open a first age vault filled with advanced technology. The clan settled near the vault, establishing the city of Granden ,south of most of its neighbours and began conquering the peninsula via a combination of violence, diplomacy, and the advantage offered by the relic technology.
The Granden vault contained what at first appeared to be civil and entertainment technology; scrolls and recordings regarding materials and construction (including the creation and manipulation of an Orick derivative). Deeper delving revealed a technology known as Lightcasters; sceptres which could create illusory images and sounds. This latter technology, originally used for entertainment was modified by the Grandenari for military purposes, allowing them to hide their forces, create phantom armies and fortifications, and employ illusions in large scale warfare. The genius behind the recreation, re-purposing, and enhancement of the Lightcasters, Heigero Sakan, is a household name, and his skill with first age tech was chronicled in a series of journals now highly sought after by Aeldan lorekeepers and first age technicians.
Since their rise to power the Grandenari have developed rapidly; they now have a society with advanced metallurgy, a central postal service, printing presses, and durable pseudo-Orick masonry. They have built several large cities known throughout Aeldos for their sturdy beauty. Despite this the Grandenari remain somewhat isolated by their geography, the open sense of superiority displayed amongst the ruling class, and the mistrust caused by their use of the Lightcaster technology. Grandenari diplomats remain relatively close to home and have only made it as far as Ossandria. Granden has had no official contact with Selene, Tollam, Victra, or Subin.
The common use of Lightcasters or Lutzarrei as they are known in Vaiar, and the convincing illusions they can create, has led to a culture that fixates on the concepts of real and fake. The terms Averal for True and Dalha for False are often used to distinguish what is perceived to be real and what is an illusion crafted by the elites.
Granden does permit slave ownership but unlike Ossandria, Granden slaves rarely need to fear binding. Control of Grandenari slaves is kept not with violence, but with tradition, lack of knowledge of an alternative, and harsh punishments. Grandenari do not characterize their slaves as such, preferring to us the terms ‘vassal’ and ‘retainer’, but the definition still applies as political, social, and economic freedom is something enjoyed only by select families and figures. The entirety of Grandenari society is built on a system of fealty and duty to Patrons (Dukes and lords commonly known as Arrei) who have ultimate say over the lower class.
Granden does celebrate an annual inversion festival where the high figures must, for one day, serve the greater polity or at least indulge their whims. The Granden are also cautious enough to permit the lower class their own sorts of luxuries – drugs and prostitution in particular, but also various religious institutions and activities which are frowned upon by the upper class of Granden are permitted and handled by the indebted lower.
Gear
Medium to heavy fitted plate armours are the height of Granden war-gear. Granden soldiers tend to utilize blunt weaponry (maces, hammers, flails) and double edged long-swords, and greatswords. Plate and chain as core armour types. Armour is very uniform and helmets always include masks to obscure the face and intimidate enemies. This also makes the ghost armies or illusion hosts less identifiable (the tech does not do individual faces well. Granden armour is very utilitarian)
Granden Terms
Enganar/Enganhos: “Deceiver” or “Illusionist”
Averal: “True”
Dalha: “False”
Lutz: “Light”
Servisial/Servidor: “Serf”
Arrei: “Ruler”
Sobiran: “Sovereign”
Eroi/Ome: “Soldier”
Batalheir: “Batteler”
Reina: “Reign”
Naut/Nautor/Aut: “High”
Baish/Bas: “Base/Low”
Trade Goods: Orick, Fruit, Gold, Lobster, Pearl, Whale oil
Mundus Vult Decipi