The Lands of Otkorion

Introduction

This document describes the region of Otkorion. It is located in Ralios, in the Lands of Glorantha. It describes the area, according to my own interpretation, as of 1621 ST. All information below owes it's existence to either Greg Stafford or a whole host of other sources, specifically The World's Greatest Tournament by Ingo Tschinke. None of this information is official or intended to infringe any copyrights.

Description

Otkorion is a huge tract of land about 300km by 250km, but in Glorantha borders are heavily disputed and exceedingly difficult to determine, more so in the case of Otkorion as all lands it borders are wild or uncivilised with the exception of Borin. The Upper Tanier River is the main source of life. Within the boundaries of the Stormwalk Road the land is heavily settled with agricultural settlemens near the Tanier, and predominantly religious and military bases further away. Outside of the Stormwalk are fewer, more frontier, settlements.

Two forests appear in the lands of Otkorion. The first is the Salantia, which is renowned for it's desolation and evil inhabitants -- a remnant of the Ballid Forest before it was destroyed, what remains is avoided by everyone and rumours of Elven pilgrimages to contain ancient evils are well known. The other forest is the Poldark, on the border of Lalia and Otkorion, which is contested between the Otkorioni and the Uz. The Poldark is a centre of operations for Zorak Zorani, especially for the female only Dark Hound sect that answers to no-one in the Uz hierarchy and well known for their lightning strikes into Otkorion. Large Gorakiki insect units patrol it's border. To the East are very hilly, mountainous terrain where the borders enroach upon Vustria. Two mountains of note stand together some 100km east of Valantia named Arkat's Tomb and Troll's Feet. The Land is fertile, and the weather is constantly turbulent with the winds and storms strongest in the North where the land borders with Lankst.

Two cities exist, Fiesive, the erstwhile capital, and Valantia, older but more heavily influenced by Safelsteran culture. This forms two small city states, although the land they own is only a small portion of the lands of Otkorion. The remaining land is owned by the Lords, who owe allegiance to one of the Families of Otkorion. However, Otkorion is basically controlled by the Henotheistic Chruch of Otkorion, the driving force behind it being Surantyr. All of the twelve Bishops of Otkorion answer to Surantyr. A third major settlement is at the base of a mountain in the East, Tempest Hall's, where there is a Great Temple to St. Orlanth the King of All Gods. Connecting, in a triangular path, all three settlements, is an expansive road called Stormwalk which has many shrines to Saints along it's length as well as inns and coaching houses. Travel along the Stormwalk is safe, especially in large groups. The Stormwalk was built by the only Hero Otkorion has, Calantia the Masonlord, who built it in 1612 ST and also built the Tempest Halls complex. His current project is an enormous Machine Building in the centre of the lands.

Recently, a large number of Forts were built at the border of Tinaros to protect against the ravening monster hordes of Argin Terror. As yet, no such attack has come. Surantyr awaits the coming awfulness and hideous krjalki beasts.

The Henotheistic Church and the Monarchies of Otkorion all have treaties with Borin concerning nono-aggression and trading pacts and military support is sometimes even gained from this state. This relationship has been fostered over the last decade, but the political climate of the Safelster makes all treaties very unstable things. Otkorion is also officially at war with Azilos, although because of the general distance between the two cities and the reluctance of either to mobilize armies, this "war" is mainly enacted through trade embargoes. Relations with the city of Col and Holut are exceedingly strained since the Otkorioni plundered Valantia and forced the Church of Nomia out, killing their prelate.

Inhabitants

All the people of Otkorion are of Wareran ancestry. People originate from Lankst, mainly, where the barbarians migrated from when the Great Plauge struck at the start of the Third Age. The native Safelstrans were over runby the barbarians, and their cultures merged. The population is concentrated around the river, where it is literally seething and only in the last century have people expanded outwards, creating a thick blanket of spadoric, but heavily populated, settlements, all across the Land. The cities are the main concentration for population. Otkorion recognizes about three and a half hundred thousand members of it's Chruch.

Culture

Northern Otkorioni are still heavily steeped in the ritual and family honour of their Orlanthi origins. They recognize violence and turbulent emotion as a valid expression, and use their emotive cunning to great effect. The Southern Otkorioni still retain a large influence of Safelstran culture. However, those who do not have Lanksti lineage are relegated to Farmer Caste in the main, out of choice rather than social prejudice. The Farmer Caste is a lucrative buisness, trading in Otkorion and trading around the Felster isn't at all bad, either. Mainly it is a Theyalan culture with Western overtones.

Language

The barbarian people of Lankst spoke Lanksti dialects of the Ralios sub-family of Theyalan. However, with the Malkionisation via the Stygian Religion, as well as trade with the Jorstlandi Kingdom, meant that by 1250ST the population were bi-lingual, being fluent in both Lanksti and the Western Languages. The Ralian sub-family of Western, evolving in the lowlands of the Felster Lake, became widespread. When the worship of the Invisible God became prevalent, the Theyalan tongue became secondary - especially phased out by the reign of Balifes the Hammer, whose reign made the new Ralian tongue extremley popular.

Nowadays the primary language is Otkori, a member of the sub-family of Ralian. It has various words borrowed from other languages - for instance, the Safelstran names and words in trading have become more common (names such as Stefan or Gregor are known, while the middle class label of the bourgeoise is also commonly used - all Safelstran words). Some words of Stormspeech have also seeped into the dialect. Slang terms and swear words are taken from Tradetalk. The root language of Otkori is Seshnegi (which evolved from Brithini, which in trun evolved from Old Mantongue).

Speakers of Otkori receive 1/3rd thie percentage in Seshnegi, 1/5th in other Western tongues and 1/10th their percentage in Stormspeech. Note that Tradetalk is a Western Tongue. The language of Otkori is a Ralian tongue, so besides a few colloquialisms the speaker receives full percentage in other Ralian tongues such as Tiskos etc.... Note that all Western tongues have the same written form, and so read/write is unaffected. Their langauge has almost no geographical changes, even across the North/South divide.

Stormspeech is well known throughout the Wizard Caste, and Safelstran is widespread within the Southern Otkorioni, whom associate more with the people of the Felster. Tradetalk is quite common, known by about 17% of the population, most commonly used when dealing with the Uz, Hsunchen and Nidan Mostali. The "Common Speech Campaign" is a recent program designed by Surantyr from prompting by the St. Goldentongue Chruch to teach everyone Trade.

Government

Government is a complicated triarchy. The first are the monarchy. Two monarchies rule Otkorion, the first is the Rolymer lineage of Fiesive and the Finshad lineage of Valantia. They have supposed absolute power within their lands, but this is heavily contested, and they have no power other than that of their noble reputation outside of the areas directly next to the cities. Each monarchy have their own Iron Council, which has corresponding power aswell, but are in general deference to the King of the city -- Surantyr has a position on both the Iron Council of Valantia and Fiesive.

The second type of rule is via families. Seventeen major families and countless minor ones, make up the people of Otkorion. Every member of Otkorion society is also a member of a family, each descended from the same ancestors. Families are what Otkorion society substitutes for clans and tribes. Each family is headed by a single member of the noble caste who can command any member of his own family, thereby wielding great power.

The last type of rule is via the Church, the strongest and single binding power of Otkorion. Without the Chruch, Otkorion would be two cities bound only by family connections, and not a single state. The Church influences everyone's lives and has some interest in every facet of Otkorion life. They even have their own army. Few people dare challenge the Church -- if you are excommunicated from the Church, even if you are the King or Queen, you will be immediatley disowned by your family and cast out of society. Surantyr is the Head of the Church and wields almost autocratic power.

The interactions of the three factions is what makes life in Otkorion interesting. In the end most people will eventually, at some point in their lives, have to choose between one of the three -- and to each person it is an individual decision as to who wins. If one of the factions was removed, however, Otkorion would crumble. Without the Church Otkorion would be plundered. The Monarchy are neccessary both to organize the cities and for their religious positions as avatars of Orlanth Rex. Families are the only stable thing in Otkorion life, and to remove the strong bonds of blood between the Otkorioni people would be impossible.

History

History here begins in the First Age. Humans descended into the Elder Wood in the First Age, the Korioni people of the Enerali. They were civilized lowland folk who took the area of Otkorion as their own. The Aldryami had been forced out during the Darkness by Zebra Hsunchen, and war broke out between the Korioni and the Beast People. Led by Maklamann Ironblade of the Dari Alliance, the battles were won but the Hsunchen would not be totally forced out for a long time to come. The land was named Otkorion, the northern most land of the Korioni lowland folk, named after the tribe that was foremost in the victory. This victory was about 312 ST. The naming ceremony and creation of the first temple was two years later.

Otkorion was part of the Second Dari Alliance and also the Bright Empire until Maklamann refused to participate further. He was one of those to fall foul of Lokamayadon's wrath. Apparently the two argued much near the end, resulting in a brawl not befitting of either a Sword of Humath or a Wind Priest. The Vampire Kings of Tanisor were a problem to Maklamann. His forces were battled on an almost daily basis by the Bright Empire's troops. Curses of the Bearer of Lightning caused no end of trouble for the Otkorioni. For four years the Sacred Time rituals could not be properly enacted. Plight and burden plagued the people of Otkorion, and they pleaded to their King for aid. It came in the form of Arkat. When Arkat came to the lands of Otkorion he stayed for seven days and seven nights in conference with Maklamann. The King agreed to form an Iron Ring with Arkat and his companions, and together the band of heroes began to Liberate not only Otkorion and the lands of the Korioni, but also the rest of Ralios. In his place served his cousin as King of the Otkorioni who began the seven Families (which later grew into seventeen by the modern day). When Arkat defected from the path of Humath, Maklamann chose to follow him and so his ties to the Otkorioni people were destroyed. He was declared a renegade and his name was used as a curse until the coming of the Dark Empire. But that is another story.

Until the time of the Dark Empire Otkorion was unaffected by the Gbaji Wars in the main, trying to recuperate from years of hardship and wars with the Vampire Kings. As the First Age came to a close Otkorion granted aid to Arkat Kingtroll in return for two hundred iron swords and helped in his attack upon Dorastor. The Otkorioni were granted few privelages when Arkati brought the lead fisted rule of the Dark Empire to Ralios, and in the battles against Tanisor Otkorioni were often messengers between the Tanisorians and the Mostali. In 737 the Return to Rightness Army and the Kingdom of Seshnela invaded the Stygian Empire and crushed it. However, the Otkorioni barely fared better under them than they did the trolls. Eventually the Otkorioni and the God Learners had so many problems (including the razing to the ground of a particular University the God Learners built) that the Otkorioni and the God Learners broke out into war in 812. Using evil magics and ancient secrets that eventually caused their downfall, the God Learners defeated the Otkorioni, subjugating them and Lankst. With weakened numbers the trolls of Guhan came forth and invaded Lalia and Otkorion, forcing the barbarians to migrate north into Lankst with their brethren. For three hundred years, until the Great Plague of Lankst, the humans all lived in Lankst and Otkorion was little more than troll hunting grounds. Th only enclave was the odd Arkati monastery that had avoided destruction at the hands of the God Learners.

When the northern Lanksti barbarians invaded at the start of the Third Age they forced the trolls out. The barbarians came into contact with the fishing settlements around the Felster and eventually they were assimilated into Orlanthi culture. Otkorion, or what would become Otkorion, effectively became an expansion of Lankst. About 1140 ST the Jorstland Empire had expanded into the lands, bringing with them the Stygian Religion which was first forced, then embraced by the Southerners, and slowly expanded north. In the wars against Tanisor the Arkati were brought out of their ancient monastries by a Wizard and his almighty spell, "The Bowels of the Swords". They followed the Wizard West and all 1043 Arkati never returned. The Lanksti barbarian immigrants who had been in alliance with the Arkati, suddenly inherited the monastery. In doing so they managed to place an iron grip over the Northern lands otherwise prevented by the Arkati warrior-monks, and instigated the Stygian religion over the area. The Northerners, who had been suffering from extensive problems with the Guhani, suddenly found that the advantages of sorcery outweighed their cultural Orlanthi religious views and they firmly embraced the Stygians. Ever since, the bastion of Stygian power has always centered around Fiesive.

Eventually, as the decay of the Jorstland Empire continued, the Guhani Uz began to become more and more of a problem. Otkorion withdrew from the Jorstland Kingdom in 1300 ST, or thereabouts, and the people of the surronding areas fled to either city in the hopes of protection. The close ties of family and monarchy were formed around this time. Otkorion has always since suffered from plagues of trolls, as well as troublesome Aldryami who seem to have a vested interest in the lands. When Balifes the Hammer invaded, Otkorion was shielded by a vicious defence from Tinaros and Holut. Valantia was attacked numerous times, and eventually fell. When the Seshnelans left, as did the vast majority of the Valantians. Valantia ruled it's lands mainly by proxy, so while the state was powerful the city was not. It was not resettled fully until 1611 ST by the Twelve Thousand Pilgrims from all around, wherein a great temple to St. Orlanth was built and Valantia quickly returned to it's former glory. However, in the Pilgrimage, the Church of Nomia and all of the Galvosti adherents were slain, including the Prelate, Carpattia.

The beginnings of the Henotheistic Church of Otkorion started in about 1540 ST when the Lightbringers of the Stygian Religion, prevalent in the lands of Fiesive and Valantia, started to pull together in a much more organised fashion. Old bonds between the two cities were picked up and started anew. The two separate factions who worshipped St. Orlanth were, at this time, separate bodies, much as the Protestant and Catholic churches are separate in the Real World. However, the two readily joined together in 1550 ST when the worship of Darkness gods began to enter into their lands. This allying of forces both scared and angered the other religions in the area, notably the Rokari and the Church of Nomia. This led to heated relations and violence in many cases - at one point the newly appointed Abbot of Valantia was found brawling with a Rokati Abbot in the Rokari Church! Many humans were turning to the worship of the awful darkness beings in an effort to appease the raiding trolls from the West, so the joining of two churches bolstered the support that Orlanth's worship brought. More importantly they formed an effective army. After some researches carried out by the St. Lhankor Mhy churches they compiled a history and mythology which was, obviously, the Truth. Shortly afterwards the other churches joined together, the last being St. Humakt. The powers of the Church were very effecctive in combating the Darkness creatures and their worship, far more so than the other religions in the area and this led to a greater proportion of the population joining their Church in the south where many religions still held sway.

In 1587 ST the two churches had the Conference of Henotheism, held in Valantia. At the end, they officially joined together and the Church of Henotheism began. They catalogued their history and records, making decisions on which gods were, and were not, official Saints as recognised by the Church and the Invisible God. They had to contend at this time, however, with the religions of pagan Orlanth worship, Darkness cults and Rokarism, as well as the dying worship of Water gods in the fishing villages nearby the Tanier. Suddenly the worship of Tanier, the River God, disappeared from this area, thorugh disasters that befell their priests. However, the Henotheistic Church had the ears of both Fiesive and Valantia who had heavily supported the proto-henotheistic Church within their own cities, although this caused many religious crises in Valantia.

Slowly, the worship of other cults started to die out. With the support of the Church the lands of Otkorion expanded outwards, pushing back the Guhani Uz, conquering the wildlands of Vustria and began to convert the Lanksti barbarians. In 1607 ST Surantyr the Nonheretic became Archbishop and used policies of extreme prejudice towards other religions. Firstly, their temples were banned on Fiesive grounds, and later they wree banned from the estates of other northern Lords. As Northern Otkorion was almost wholly supporters of the Henotheistic Church the disappearance of other religions was not sorely mourned. However, in 1611 ST Surantyr ordered the Twelve Thousand Pilgrimage, which was little more than an invasion of Valantia with overwhelmning forces and eventually led to great violence. The Church of Nomia was utterly destroyed, their Prelate was kiled, the Rokari Church was burnt to the ground and whilst a new one was built it was not finished before 1614 ST. The Aetheric Church quietly closed down and left, avoiding violence but never returning. The royalty of Valantia supported all of this, and their forces aided the Henotheists.

In 1614 ST Otkorion appointed an official Church, the Henotheistic Church. The worship of St. Orlanth categorically became the state religion, and all other religions were forced to close down any temples or shrines they had in the lands. The land was officially divided into Bishoprics, all Abbots became Bishops and Otkorion was finally united.

In 1616 ST the worship of Siglolf Cloudcrusher was imported from Lankst to Otkorion and the spirit became known as a true servant of the Invisible God. According to sources, Garundyer was said to be very displeased at this.

Otkorion now remains a large, and ever growing, nation of people bonded by blood and common religion. Other states now follow in the footsteps of creating Henotheistic Churches, seeing the measure of political power and influence it grants.

Military

The Militant Arms of the Church are the main force behind Otkorion's military success. Known as the Sword of Malkion, they can be ordered to any part of the country by Surantyr and his Council. However, if they were ever ordered to challenge another Otkorioni army, such as one of the cities private militia, there would almost certainly be a crisis as the army started to make decisions about where their loyalties actually lie. The Sword of Malkion is composed of worshippers mainly of St. Humakt, with a smattering of Home Guard in the form of St. Orlanth. The Church also sponsors the Raped Whores who are pagan Babeester Gori from Lankst, or new worshippers from Otkorion, who have foregone both their feminity and their chance in Solace by worshipping the Pagan Avenging Goddess. They have been visciously effective against the trolls and the Dragonewts.

The other important military forces include City Guard. These units exist both in Fiesive and Valantia. The Fiesive City Guard are mainly Orlanthi devoting their loyalty to the King, but they number only 1,000 full time soldiers and 2,000 part time peace keepers. The Valantian City Guard is, by far, more impressive. It consists of worshippers of the Warrior Caste and St. Urox, the patron of Valantia, and also has the support of the private Arkati armies from the cults of Great Arkat and Arkat Chaosbane. They have the entire of the cult of St. Urox to call upon when needed. The General of Fiesive is General Stefan, from Valantia, and his cousin, Crelatia, rules the city army for Valantia. Both have noticeable idiosyncrasies such as their refusal to accept positions in the Henotheistic Army, even though they both worship St. Humakt, and their abstention from sorcery.

The final type are the private armies of Otkorion. They belong to major families and the Arkati sects. The major families employ their own Orlanthi and Humakti to protect them, in Valantia the Family Armies are small while in Fiesive, where they gather support from their barbaric relatives in Surkorion (some say more by conscription han by persuassion), they have Humathi, Elmali and more Orlanthi. The private armies in Fiesive are a lucrative, reponsible and respected organisation. The private armies of the Arkati sects are their own personal units of death to protect them from Chaos attacks, violent surges of activity against their sect and for battles against other Arkati sects. The Henotheistic Church tolerates both Arkati Sects and their armies, as they lend support to the Church. Whenever a sect poses a threat to the power of the Church or monarchy they are expunged, as happened to the cult of Arkat the Destroyer many times in the past.

Fiesive

Fiesive is the main city of Otkorion. It houses about twenty to twenty five thousand bodies in it's main city at any one time. Fiesive is built on around a mountain, the entire city has dominated the mountainside for centuries. It hangs on the horizon like a finger stretching to dominate the entire of Middle Air. Fiesive was built on the remanents of the Arkati Monastery that was present there beforehand. It is the supposed capital of Otkorion, as pronouced by Surantyr. It contains a proportionally high number of Lord Caste, this city is known as the City of Nobles.

The innards of the city, those which have been built over by more and more buildings and now remain in perpetual darkness and shadows, is called the Old City. Here are the dregs of society, beggars, thieves and those who don't want to be found. Even beyond the Old City you will find that Fiesive is a catacomb of tunnels, darkened alleyways and shadowed streets. It is not a city in any normal sense of the word. It is said that the main part of the city was built by the Mostali of Bad Deal.

Dominating the city from the outside is a huge gate that opens into the Church to St. Ralia, which is contained in the great chest of the mountain that was hollowed out by great magics in Godtime to contain a long since de4parted chaos beast. At the peak of the city is the Great Temple to St. Orlanth, where all worshippers go for the high holy day.

Surronding the city are very fertile and expensive fields with their own manor houses. Here is where the highest of the Farmer Caste live in quite a high state of luxury, about 8,000 members of the farmer caste live here. The land is exceedingly expensive and owned by various major families, given by their Lords to the Farmers on lifetime leases, renewable to the deceased farmer's relatives upon the farmers death. Usually they are renewed, and in this way the best land has been reserved for particular lineages for years.

The city has a particularly strange Wizard Caste. The Wizard Caste is mainly overseen by a group of Magi known as the Red Circle which was created as a general guild for sorcerors to join and engage in sorcerous activities together, while also monitoring illegal acitivities. However, they have, in the last decade or so, been taking liberties. Nowadays one must be a member of the Circle to avoid any type of persecution if they are Wizards, and to gain access to the magic times of the library you must, again, be a member. The Red Circle's power base is growing and the non-aligned Wizards power is waning.

The city was ruled until recently by King Leoban III, upon his death Leoban IV took the throne. They are all members of the family Rolymer. Leoban IV was, to all accounts, quite normal right up until the point he married his own sibling. He exercised an ancient law in a discarded ledger, and actually married his own older sister. Even stranger, she accepted!! This has caused much consternation within the city ranks. Also recently, the Court Wizard dissappeared without a trace and has since been declared dead.

Valantia

Valantia was the original city of the Otkorion tribe of Ralios. It was built on the orders of Maklamann of the Dari alliance and is far older than Fiesive in origin. The worship of Humath was widespread. It became a Humathi centre of religious activity, becoming the chosen place for duels, honourable battles and contests of magic and will. In the Second Age, when the trolls came, the Humathi remained and most others fled - this cut the Valantians off from their families and clan members who all went north to Lankst. At this stage in it's history Valantia was little more than a collection of temples of Humath.

By the end of the Second Age the Humathi had all but forgotten their blood ties to the nortern Lanksti. The Safelstrans who immigrated from around the Felster Lake settled down, bringing with them religions that had to live in harmony with the Humathi. Under the watchful eye of the Humathi the Church of Nomia was introduced into the area. The Humathi demanded the right to still keep their rites, slaughters, battles and duels continuing, and the Church of Nomia, if a little shocked at the brutality displayed by the Humathi allowed it. Soon a city was growing again around Valantia, which led to the creation of an arena. It became both a centre of Humathi religion and violent entertainment.

Evetnaully a wall was built around Valantia using foreign magics. More, less sturdy, walls have been added to the main wall section as the city has expanded. However, raids began on Valantia from the northern Storm Worshippers, and in 1093 ST the house of Dunfal and the House of Ruam Clis (both Humathi Houses) agreed to treaties with the Orlanthi.

Continually, the city was subject to a disparity of rulership, the royalty were the native Safelstrans up until 1440 ST. They were staunch Galvosti, and Valantia was a great and stalwart community of the Church of Nomia, the Orlanthi were a recognisable, but still small, power block.

This state continued until 1440 ST when King Ulianus III of Seshnela invaded the Safester. The battles in and around Valantia were long and harsh, and most retreated north some thirty key miles to Gilhaven, still a large town. Fortunately, the hardships in fighting the Valantians, and the tough of having to do it once more at Gilhaven, made the Seshnelans think twice about advancing further into Otkorion. Valantia was mainly populated during their reign by Seshnelans and their slaves. When the Seshnelans left in 1512 ST, so did the slaves, leaving an almost empty city. However, the Valantians still owned huge tracts of land even though there were very few of them left. They established a system whereby the mere 600 citizens of the city of Valantia would send proxies to the lands they owned, and the satellite towns and villages of Valantia to collect tithes, taxes and so forth. At this point, the native royalty were usurped by a revolt by the remaining citizens. In a contest that followed, the Finshad family, Orlanthi by brithright, took power. Obviously they supported the Valantian Aeolian Church, and came to blows many times with the Galvosti and the increasing presence of Rokari. For a century, Valantia was afflicted by inner conflict.

While the population slowly increased it was not until Surantyr took over the Henotheistic Church and sent another 12,000 souls to repopulate it that Valantia was returned to it's former glories. It was very successful and was called the Twelve Thousand Pilgrimage. The end result was a new Great Temple to St. Orlanth. During the pilgrimage, great violence broke out and the enemy religions were defeated - the worst atrocities being committed upon the Gavlosti of the Nomia whose Prelate was brutally executed.

The current ruler is King Remeual II, of the family Finshad. His rule is prosperous, stable and the man is in his prime. He is currently trying to select a new queen. The power behind the throne is the cult of St. Humakt who ensure the smooth running of the famous coliseum.

Religious Groups

Religion in Otkorion is unified and mainstream, it is a stability that everyone enjoys. Most of the nations problems stem not from religious disputes but from political factionism. The state religion of Otkorion is the Henotheistic Chruch of Otkorion, as led by Surantyr the Non-heretic.

The Church supports many of the Orlanthi gods. They know that the gods are also devout followers of the Invisible God and his Way. They claim that the Evil Emperor, struck down by Orlanth, ruled the Cosmos at first. Later, to return the Cosmos to normality, Orlanth went on the Lightbringer's Quest and became the King of All Gods taking his rightful place as Lord of the Universe. The major Saints worshipped are St. Orlanth, St. Ralia, St. Chalana, St. Humakt, St. Urox, St. Vinga, St. Goldentongue, St. Malkion, St. Paslac and St. Lhankor Mhy. Minor Saints that are worshipped include St. Eurmal, St. Arkat the Liberator, St. Arkat the Deceiver, St. Avlor, St. Conwy, St. Daly, St. Dromal, St. Elleish, St. Gerlant, St. Horal, St. Hrestol, St. Jonat, St. Josselyne, St. Menena, St. Nomia, St. Ouxey, St. Raceen, St. Regis, St. Talor, St. Valkaro, St. Xemela and St. Yingar.

Other spirits are worshipped without rebuff from the Church, including Siglolf Cloudcrusher. However, pagan worshippers, as well as Involvists (those who worship both the Invisible God and Pagan Gods) are admitted easily into Otkorion society, although there are no legitimate non-Henotheistic chruch temples in otkorion other than the Arkati temples and the single temple to Babeester Gor, which are both tolerated. Pagan gods commonly found are Babeester Gor, Donandor, Elmal, Humath, Issaries, Hippoi, Maran Gor, Odalya, Orlanth, Uleria and Bemurok.

Tempest Halls is a huge mountain located approxiametley 120 km from Fiesive along the Stormwalk Road on the border of Surkorion/Vustria. Supposedly blessed by Orlanth, it is meant to have contained in it's cavernous depths the Storm God's personal Armoury, although it has never yet been found by anyone in recent history, tales abound though of those who claim to have discovered it. A Temple, mined out of the chest of the mountain with ornate carvings, intricate statues and detailings, winding staircases and a labryinthe of chambers. It is a Great Temple to Saint Orlanth, the First Among Equals, and the focus of virtually every major Pilgrimage in the region. It was built to contest the leadership of Windy Hill as the largest temple in the area. It is the central location for Surantyr the Non-heretic's work and he is the official High Priest of the Temple when he attends.

Other Ralian Churches have no jurisdiction in the area and it is High Treason against the Church to create religious locations to such a religious sect or lead worship ceremonies without the approval of a Priest of the Church. However, virtually all Malkioni sects are permitted entry and are not persecuted, as a token of Surantyr's good will. However, no permanent sites of worship are permitted. The worship of Chaos or Darkness worship is an executable act.

Arkati are always prevalent in the Safelstran religion, and the worship of Arkat in Otkorion is a major reason why the Orlanthi of Lankst revile them as evil. In Otkorion, the Henotheistic Chruch supports directly only one version of Arkat, Arkat the Liberator who is worshipped via the Cult of St. Humakt. Other versions of Arkat are permitted and allowed to receive worship within the boundaries of Otkorion, the sects permitted are; Great Arkat, who receives a large amount of worship in Valantia; Arkat Chaosbane, whom is worshipped throughout the land, but with only a small amount of the population worshipping him; Arkat Destroyer; Arkat the Deceiver, a dying remnant of what it once was.

Here is a reliious breakdown of Otkorion:

Religion	%
Non-Orlanthi	1
Pagan Orlanthi	3
Church Only	72
St. Chalana and the Church	0.5
St. Humakt and the Church	5.5
St. Lhankor Mhy and the Church	2
St. Goldentongue and the Church	6
St. Urox and the Church	1.5
Great Arkat and the Church	2
Other Arkati sect	2.5
Other Saints	4

Trade, Agriculture and Merchant Organisations

Virtually all Otkorioni merchants are at least lay members of St. Goldentongue. As a result, all trade is regulated by the Church, and taxes are brought on most trading activities. In return, however, trade is very organised and regulated to maximum effect within the borders of the Church. Most members of the Farmer caste who are merchants also find that they have easy access at acceptable prices to the materials produced by the farming people of Otkorion. Vice versea, the farmers find that they rarely have excess stock they cannot sell and always make a tidy sum. The brilliance of this internal self supporting system is the major contribtuting factor to Otkorions success. It has very few imports, for a start, managing to create most necessities within it's own borders. Export is not as organised. Rountinely, large caravans of Goldentongue worshippers congregate together and leave their countries borders to deal with other Safelstran states, although as part of the conversion process of their barbaric cousins, many Otkorioni deal with the Lanksti with materials that most appeal to them.

The main imports are delicate foods from Galin, Naskorion and Tiskos, silk is also a major import. Most major export are in Orlanthi items, enchanted silver and crop produce, as well as fruit. However, other important trade forms exist within Otkorion. Cartography is a booming trade, the maps of Otkorion's St. Lhankor Mhy temples are becoming very popular, detailed, acccurate and, most of all, cheap. Maps of Ralios are available all over Ralios, but the temple of St. Lhankor Mhy, with it's Guild of Map Making, has maps of everywhere, even the spirit plane due to their connections with the Spirit Masters of Lankst. Mead has always been popular in Orlanthi lands, and mead from the cult of St. Orlanth is sent to Surkorion, who find it easy to buy than make themselves, and also has become very popular in Borin. Arena Combat is a popular and lucrative form of entertainment, and routinely fetches Valantia 10% of it's annual income alone, although few people outside of Otkorion care for the sport much. Members of the Argan Argar Chain are prevented from coming through Otkorion. A lot of sea trade is carried out, and Dormal worshippers find good buisness in taking ships from Fisive into the Felster and beyond.

The Farmer caste mainly organise themselves in Land Plots around the cities, which are rented out on long term loans to the Families which in turn give them to their Farmer Caste members. Outside of the cities are Estates, which are owned solely by the Lord of a particular Family. Past these are the minor villages of people which are owned by the highest ranking Lord in the village, which may vary often, even so much as changing once every year.

The official coinage of the country is the Orb, which is a small silver coin printed with the head of the King of Fiesive on one side, and the head of the King of Valantia on the other, allowing someone to determine it's date of creation and printing. One Orb is equivalent to about one penny. Other penny-type currencies are accepted if they are readily recognized as being form the Safelstran states, although if the coin is small and silver a merchant may well give the same value anyhow. The smaller currency type is the Common, of which ten are equal to one penny. Wheels, especially from the Aetheric Church of Galin, are well known and are given an exchange rate of about 20 pennies to the Wheel depending upon current exchange rates and the temprement of the trader. Peasants, who know the difficulty of changing foreign coins, will rarely give more than 10 Orb for a wheel. The Otkorioni have printed a coin with the face of St. Orlanth on one side and Surantyr on the other, in honour of the Archbishop's investment. They are large and made of gold, and worth 50 Orb in the Otkorion state, and about 40 anywhere else. Ancient currencies are abound within Otkorion due to the amount of people who have owned the land, Jorstlandi opanets, Uz coins, Arkati travests (the currency of the Dark Empire), and lots more. Coinage minting is strictly regulated by the St. Goldentongue temple in it's base temple in Valantia.

Lands Around Otkorion

Lalia

The Western Border opens into the sprawling wastes that are known as Lalia. Marshes, barren hilly terrain and sporadic primitive tribes exist. However, it is a troll infested land, the main barrier between Guhan and Otkorion. It is contested and raided by both the Uz and the Otkorioni, although the Uz have many ad hoc bases of converted Jorstlandi ruins that they use as headquarters to coordinate attacks into Otkorion. The Valantians have their own order of Knights dedicated to repelling these attacks. A major forest, the Poldark, occupies the main amount of space between Lalia and Otkorion. There is a large mountain that oversees the entire of the forest, known as the Mashtnog, an important Uz holy place. The Uz occupy the Poldark completley and many Zorak Zorani temples have been built here.

Lankst

The northern reaches of Otkorion border completely on Lankst, and their borders have been expanding ever since. The Lanksti, however, have taken great offence at being converted to this new religion, and very few offer a warm reception to their civilized brethren. The Orlanthi have, in general, merely refused to communicate with Otkorioni visitors, although those Lanksti who have tasted the warm delights of a civilized culture have managed to accustom themselves to the preachers who enter their lands. In particular, Surkorion, a land slightly north east of Otkorion, has converted quite well and the Surkorions have been holding good negotiations with the Church for some time.

Vustria

Vustria, mainly inhabited by Hsunchen, coincides with the Surkorion lands and it is difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins. Vustrian Hsunchen are spotted quite often around these lands, although neither the Orlanthi nor the Hsunchen engage in communication or negotiations.

Tinaros

This land, ruled by the late Count of Jorglaban, was quite prosperous until the appearance of Argin Terror, the Archmagi who consorts with the Evil Emperor. The Land has thenceforth become reputed to contain all manner of chaos monstrosities and so forth. To protect themselves against Tinaros the Otkorioni have built a series of Border Forts along the southern reaches known as Sword Fort, Bull Fort, Vadrus Fort, Orlanth Fort, Umathil Fort and Kolating Fort. They are well guarded. No-one has heard any solid information from Tinaros for many years.