Andovri

Lifespan: Average 45-60 years
Average weight: 80-100 Kilograms
Average height: 170-210 cm

Biology

Physically imposing, Andovri often stand more than two meters tall and possess hefty, muscular builds. They are immediately recognizable by their metallic toned skin which varies from copper to steely-grey, or rarely gold tones. They typically have red or orange eyes.

Their faces usually have smaller eyes with defined brows and sunken cheeks.

History

The Andovri arrived to Auria from Vatoru around 2,000 years ago, in a massive migration that threw the Forskan out of Eyr's land, and then pushes east and south until they came to blows with the ancient sylvan Carfdiniad empire. Though they had the edge, teh Andovri struggled to gain ground against the Sylvans, and the wars slowed nearly to a halt until they were finally stopped by the arrival of the Sidri from the west.

By this point, however, the Andovri had already spread throughout the northern lands of Auria, as well as dominating their home continent of Vatoru. Their physical strength combined with quick wit and relatively advanced technology allowed them to easily gain a foothold anywhere they went.

With time however, the Andovri fractured. Those colonies who landed in Abryssia in the northeast rejectedd the worship of the god-projenitor Eyr and set up their own empire, based upon fanatical devotion to their emperor. Meanwhile, the main Andovri kingdoms in Eyr's Land grew fractitious, fighting over ancient blood feuds and territorial disputes. Many of the Andovri's most devout travelled inland to the deserts, and became the nomads of today.

Today, the Andovri are vast, populous, and metropolitan. Different cultures thrive in the Andovri's vast domains, but their strength has still not won them final victory against the Sidri- and now, with the infighting that has characterized the Andovri for the last several centuries, it appears doubtful that the Sidri or Sylvans will ever be brought to heel.

The Abbryssian Empire

Technology

The Abbryssians have some of the most advanced technology in the world, including an odd implement of a hollow steel rod that, through means unknown, is able to propel a metal projectile, or 'slug', at immense speeds. This weapon, or 'gun', varies greatly in size from heavy artillery pieces to individual infantry weapons.

This is far from the only unique Abbryssian technological advancement, though. They have developed massive, self-moving machines of brass and copper, wondrous ships that fly through the air, and curious devices of pressure and steam which drive their technology. Their industrial centers are thriving, producing massive quantities of material.

Government

The Abbryssian Empire is a hereditary, absolutist empire, fully under the control of their Emperor with a complex bureacracy underneath them attending to the empire's needs. The landed nobility has had much of its power stripped away, such that the nobles of the cities hold more influence.

Though the emperor is all-powerful in theory, they are heavily reliant on their bureacracy to maintain their power, and reliant on the nobles support to survive. Conversely, the nobility that fall out of the grace of the emperor will quickly find themselves stripped of influence and shunned to the rural estates, considered by Abbryssian society to be little more than backwater farms populated by inbred pigs, even though without the produce from these farms their empire would crumble in a matter of weeks.

Military

The Abryssian military is highly professional, divided into strict regiments with their own banners and insignias. These regimental soldiers typically wear thick cloth armor with steel helmets and breastplates, and wield guns and backswords for combat.

More elite forces such as janissaries and their cavalry have more intricate, "pneumatic' rifles which are more accurate and faster firing than the guns wielded by others. These forces typically wield elaborately designed sabers and wear tall, plumed helmets.

They also possess lines of sword-and-buckler men equipped for close combat, wearing chainmail, cloth armor, and distinctive feathered helmets.

Society

The Abbryssians live in a highly isolated, sheltered civilization governed- or at least, so they say- by laws of reason and truth. The average Abbryssian citizen does little more than work, eat, and sleep, and what little downtime they may have is spent at home.

This is not the case for the nobles, who flaunt their wealth and play games of intrigue at court. Generally those who live closer to the royal court at Zjat enjoy more influence than those who live without, and so it is a constant struggle to gain more influence.

For those nobles who prefer to avoid the constant court politicking, they may retire to the coutryside where they manage the production of grain. These 'backwater nobles' as they are called may not be respected by their peers in the cities, but they at least are far more likely to live to a ripe old age.

Religion

The Abryssian's are staunchly intolerant of religion, having their philosophy they term 'rationalism', although it has little resemblance to that word as used outside of their civilization. According to the Abbryssians, their strict adherence to this philosophy- which entails total obedience to the emperor, selfless service to the nation, and rejection of all powers without, divine or otherwise- is the reason for their technological edge, though the reality of the matter is quite different. Indeed, much of the Abryssian's technological might originates from a time before the "rationalist' philosophy.