History of the Suzerain

Contents

• General Overview
• Guild and Subguild Descriptions
• Guild History - Backstory
• Guild Racial Relations
• Guild Fiction Historical Context
• Guild Timeline

General Overview

The Crusade of Iskander was sponsored by the Human Church of the All Father at the end of the War of the Scourge. The Devilmen, and their homes, were unknown but the damage they wrought to the whole world was undeniable. A detachment of four thousand crusaders was sent out across the great plains to search out the places of the Irekei, supposedly located in the ruins of ancient cities deep within the burning lands. None of the kingdoms of man had seen the burning lands, nor had they even seen the redskinned Elves who had opened the Gate.

For several years Iskander's Crusade drove ever eastward seeking out the Burning lands and the Devilmen therein. Long before they found the burning lands they left behind all traces of the Kingdoms of Man. Across the open plains they encountered only scattered cohorts of Horselords. It is true that the War of the Scourge had greatly decreased the populations of the world, but no kingdom of men had settled the lands through which Iskander's Crusade now traveled. The Crusade maintained contact with the Holy Church only through the aide of the Horselords in later years. As such the Human Crusaders were several years behind on the news of the land and heard only that news the Horselords found worthy of remembering or inquiring about. As such, much of the unification was unknown to the Suzerain of Sloth for the Centaur were not in favor of the joining of the Human and Elven churches.

Long years in the desert had changed the Suzerain from its beginnings as a duitiful Crusader Faction of the Human Holy Church. The Suzerain imposed itself on the local nomadic human populations and built up the local population to better serve as allies against the Irekei. The Suzerain set up their watch on the Western rim of the Burning Lands and fought intermittently with Irekei over the next 1200 years. Twice the long watches of the Suzerain were interrupted, once by a war of aggression wherein the Suzerain attempted to conquer the entire desert and the second was due to the growth of decadence and the general decay of discipline throughout the Empire.

View the Suzerain Master Timeline.

Suzerain of Sloth Guild Descriptions

Three guilds form the core of Suzerain Society: a Church of the All Father, a Barbarian's Clan, and a Wizard's Conclave. The Church of the All Father sits at the head of the Suzerain empire while the Barbarian Clan provides military might and the Wizard conclave provides mystical guidance. The Church has the tightest racial requirements, admitting none outside of the preferred races (Human, Half Giant, Centaur, and Aracoix) under any circumstance. The other two guilds have less stringent requirements, none outside the preferred races can advance to leadership positions.

Suzerain of Sloth: A Church of the All Father

The Church of the All Father is the most widespread religion in the world and the local flavor of the Church has a great deal of variation from community to community. Far to the east lies one branch that falls outside the wide distribution of diversity prevalent throughout the Church of the All Father. The Holy Church promotes peace and unity as its main message. This message remains clear despite the local flavor of the Church in most cases. The Suzerain of Sloth, however, often appears more interested in delivering the peace of the dead rather than the peace of coexistence. The recent arrival of a purported prophet, called the Sirdar, has further strained relations with the Mother Church. For their part the Suzerain of Sloth have not claimed this prophet as a tool of the All Father, and has looked for the Holy Church to divine the heavenly origins of the Sirdar's message. The Sirdar provides spiritual guidance to the council of the Suzerain of Sloth, an alliance of eastern desert warlords charged with bringing the glory of the All Father to heathen lands. The Suzerain of Sloth have faithful among only men, centaur, and aracoix. Other races are few indeed due to geography and the nature of the Suzerain's enemies. Though the Sirdar is a recent addition to the Suzerain, arriving shortly after the turning, the Suzerain has long been apart from the Mother Church and in fact all of the western (or petty) kingdoms. While the Church began as an institution of peace and harmony, constant interaction with the Irekei tribes of the eastern deserts have led the Suzerain to teach as much with the sword as with the Book of Staves. As such the Suzerain grew apart from the Church shortly after it took up its holy task in earnest. From the point of view of the Mother Church the Suzerain has faltered from the path of uniting the peoples of the world. The Suzerain suggest that they would first unite the world then work on the peoples, thus breaking their task into more manageable parts. The arrival of the Sirdar has taken some of the pressure off the Suzerain, a prophet in their midst is clearly a mark of divine favor, despite the misgivings of the Mother Church. Still, the Suzerain of Sloth offer their service, loyalty, and tribute to a central Church that disapproves of their methods yet is too far removed and busy with more serious conflicts of faith to correct them.

• Preferred Classes: Crusader, Healer/Priest, and Prelate.
• Guild Ranks:
  • Acolyte / Catechist
  • Deacon / Deaconess
  • Priest / Priestess
  • High Priest / High Priestess
  • Bishop
  • Lord Cardinal / Lady Cardinal
  • Patriarch / Matriarch

Barbarians of the Steppe: A Barbarian's Clan

While the stereotypical barbarian hails from the Frozen North, barbarous activities are by no means confined to the Northern Wastes. Indeed, few peoples of the world can match the ferocity and savageness of the Horwathi tribes of the Great Steppes. The Barbarians of the Steppe will not hold you in contempt as a lesser species like the Northern Barbarians will, for to hold you in contempt they would have to hold you in any regard at all. For the tribes of the Steppe life is too hard to worry about the personal shortcomings of others. For a Horwathi, if you need resources you take them. If you cannot take these resources your clan dies off or you find allies who can take them for you.

The hard life of the Steppe breeds a fierce loyalty to one's clan and little else. Truly, the loyalty they show anyone is in direct proportion to what they provide in the way of resources. Though these barbarians may acknowledge the All Father as the creator they respect the land, the animals, and the skies. Until the arrival of Suzerain missionaries this meant the All Father had no influence in the day to day workings of the Barbarians of the Steppe. When the Suzerain of Sloth arrived, speaking of the All Father and more importantly bringing with them martial and agricultural technology, scattered clans of the Steppe could come to coexist peacefully. The decline in interclan warfare led to a dangerous overabundance of idle young men, which were gladly recruited into the armies of the Suzerain.

• Preferred Classes: Barbarian, Bard and Fighter/Warrior.
• Guild Ranks:
  • Barbarian
  • Skald
  • Raider
  • Karl
  • Jarl
  • Chieftain
  • Thane

Order of Khaddock: A Wizard's Conclave

Far to the east are great cities of silk and sorcery. One such city, Susa, lies at the junction of forest, desert, and sea. Great are the monuments and gardens of Susa, and well stocked are the centers of arcane learning. The libraries and universities of Susa are available to all, for a price. Though there are many Wizard's Conclaves represented in the population it is rumored that appointment to the city council is contingent on approval of the Order of Khaddock, a secret organization of eastern mystics loyal to the Suzerain of Sloth.

Many are the conclaves in Susa but foremost among them is the Order of Khaddock. Long have children of Suzerain Lords been sent to study the ways of magic, but only rarely have such children joined conclaves other than the Order of Khaddock. It is said that all seeking the higher mysteries available at Susa seek membership in the Order, but that membership comes at a price of service to the Sloth. Though far more diverse than other cities under the banner of the Suzerain, visitors who do not hold the All Father first among Gods will not find welcome in Susa nor in the Order of Khaddock.

• Preferred Classes: Channeler, Mage/Wizard, and Warlock.
• Guild Ranks:
  • Apprentice
  • Adeptus Minor
  • Adeptus Major
  • Magus
  • High Magus
  • Archmagus

Suzerain of Sloth Guild History

The Suzerain of Sloth

Nobles and guests gather round to hear the tale of The Suzerain of Sloth. The Suzerain is not nearly so old as the sand itself, do not be fooled. The Suzerain is not nearly so wicked as the Irekei of the desert, do not be fooled. The Suzerain is not nearly so blasphemous as the Temple of the Cleansing Flame, do not be fooled. Lest the unyielding heat of the Desert of Lights overwhelm you, and drive you to foolishness, take up our offer of hospitality and partake of the shade of our pavilion. Find comfort on silken pillows and refreshment from spiced wines and fresh fruit. Sit back and take heed this tale I weave, learn the history of those most noble of desert raiders, The Suzerain of Sloth.

This tale is best told in four parts, first shall be the telling of how the Suzerain of Sloth came to be named (Warning - each part is approximately 10,000 words, which makes for some hefty reading). Actually, Part 4 is the first to reach beta status (Dec 01).

• The Naming of Sloth
• The Makings of an Empire
• The Rise of Decadence
• The Sack of Persepolis

Suzerain Society

The Mother Church did not officially sanction the actions of Cambruin, the man widely regarded as the avatar or incarnation of the All Father, the Great God who, it is taught, created the things of the world. The Mother Church did not condone the violence with which Cambruin executed his machinations, namely his policy of genocide against the Deathless Empire of the Elves. Though we too bring violence unto our enemies we do not place ourselves as arbiters and executioners over the All Father's creation. Even the All Father did not directly harm his creation, who are we to do so when The Great God held his wrath in check? Once Cambruin was slain, one of his champions deemed himself the next vessel of the All Father and founded his own Church in opposition to the weakness the Mother Church had shown. Though violently natured, they seem violent for the sake of violence, whereas the Sloth is violent out of necessity, we live in a much harder place. This violent streak shown by the Western Nobles who now comprise the Church of the Cleansing Flame, who have lived so long in luxury seems out of place and petty. Our doctrine is the message of the All Father, but our Holy Duty is to bring the All Father to the heathen and reclaim this land in his name. We educate with the points of our swords because some, the Irekei in particular, understand few other lessons. As does the Holy Church, we too work to unite the world under the All Father, but we have long dealt with the infidel sword to scimitar, face to face and know that not all seek the redemption the All Father offers.

The Suzerain of Sloth would like to be fully in step with the Mother Church, but recognize that we are not. The Suzerain are not as inclusive as the Mother Church, due to the more dangerous lifestyle the Suzerain maintains. The Sloth is faster to arms than the Mother Church for the same reason. The Suzerain are generally willing to offer their services to any of the Mother Church who request it, but reconcile themselves to being seen as barbarous by those who have long forgotten what it is to fight at the borders of the Mother Church's influence.

The Suzerain is a council of eastern warlords charged by God to bring the Light of the World to the heathen. To aid them in this task a Prophet was sent unto them, the most Holy Sirdar of the Suzerain of Sloth. This Prophet was sent in response to the turning, which is relatively recent in the history of the Suzerain. The arrival of the Sirdar seems to indicate that the Suzerain's course has been reaffirmed by the All Father or an Archon sympathetic to the conflict the Suzerain fights in the All Father's name.

Suzerain of Sloth Guild Racial Relations

First the Bad Relations:

Minotaur: The Minotaur are not the All Father's creation. They are the creation of the Elves, a wicked race born of Human slaves and magical energies. The Minotaur are engineered to be stupid and aggressive, mindless thugs. They were the Elven shock troops used to put down Human rebellion. The Minotaur are hostile towards us (and everything really) and they are an abomination unto the All Father.

Irekei: The Irekei are Elves who have been turned by their life in the Burning Lands. They worship the Dragon as their creator and despise any of the weaker races who sweat water. These rainbleeders are treated with no respect, and used for sport and for personal gain. The Irekei do not see themselves as the perversion against the All Father that they are. They see themselves as the loyal footmen of The Dragon, Terror of Terrors, and the mortal enemy of the All Father. The Irekei are aggressively hostile towards non-Irekei.

Elves: The Elves are the firstborn of the All Father. They are also plagued by a history of self destructive wickedness. Elves rose up in rebellion against the All Father and inches away from slaying the All Father with Shadowbane, a tool wrought to protect the Elves from The Dragon. Elves are petty and prideful and bitter that Humans have become the rightful heirs of the world. The Elves enslaved the first men, breaking the race into seven subraces. Since Elves are immortal many of those wicked, bitter, Elves are alive today. The Elves continually turn away from the All Father, it is perhaps in their nature. Some live their lives to atone for the sins of their race, most do not. Elves run from helpful to aggressively hostile towards Humans. Elves as a race are passively hostile towards the Human race, only because since the War of Tears they lack the numbers to operate in their favored aggressively hostile mode.

Orcs: Orcs are a non-playable race in Shadowbane. They are the leaders of the twisted breeds (Orcs, Grobolds, and Ogres). They are the most intelligent and usually command the respect of the other breeds. They don't like Humans, and they command their armies of grobolds and ogres to war with them. They are a fairly common foe for Human communities throughout the world.

Then the Merely Disliked and Mistrusted Relations:

Giants: Giants were the first creation of the All Father. They were instructed in the ways of working runes and helped the All Father write the story of the world. When they read the story and found that their destiny was subservient to the Humans they rebelled. Unlike the Elves the Giants quickly stopped fighting with the All Father and took out their aggressions on the story of the world, breaking the runes and setting the story in motion. The Giants are prideful, but resigned to their place. They read the story, they know how things turn out. They can't change it, but they can be unhappy about it. Giants don't usually go hunting for Humans, and as long as Humans stay away there is little trouble between them. During the War of the Scourge the Giants fought alongside the Humans, but without the impetus of a world conflict the Giants are more likely to fight against Humans.

Dwarves: Dwarves were created by Thurin, the Shaper and the All Father's closest companion. They work their forges deep within the earth creating great weapons. As such there is little interaction between Humans and Dwarves. The secrets of the forge were passed on to Humans by the Dwarves, but the Dwarves are more like machines than men. The Dwarves won't go out of their way to harm Humans, and generally the reverse applies.

Aelfborn: Aelfborn are halfbreeds between Elves and Humans. The worst of both worlds, Aelfborn are sterile and unstable (mentally/magically). They combine the wickedness of Elves and the folly of Man in one imperfect being. Aelfborn are scribed with protective runes in the rest of the world, in the Suzerain world they are firstly few (due to their sterility and the lack of Elves) and secondly treated as a very low caste. The Aelfborn are actually only treated better than Shades in Suzerain Society. Aelfborn are universally viewed with mistrust and superstition, and are generally the result of an unwilling union.

Shades: Shades are a double curse against man. Born only after the sundering of the world, and born only when the father dies while the child is in the womb, these halfbreeds of Men and Undead are reviled like no other breed of Men. The Shade is a living reminder of the closing of the gates of heaven, and that the All Father has turned away from the world. Born only since the All Father has turned away they are suspected to be a perversion against Him. Treated as the lowest caste of society, Shades cannot hope to rise above their (lowest) station in life. Shade offspring are frequently killed at birth, by their cursed parents.

Lastly the Tolerant Relations:

Aracoix: The Aracoix are alien invaders long thought to be bestial. Encountered only recently in Suzerain society there hasn't been time for animosity to form. Indeed, the Suzerain has encountered mostly the rebellious Aracoix. They represent something alien, they are born of another world and much speculation abounds as to why they are here. Initially an invading army, the Aracoix have been forced to accept that this world will not be so easy to subdue as their own. Perhaps the All Father let these invaders into this world to fight on the front lines against the Dragon? Perhaps their world shall be an escape for the All Father's creation when the final battle does come? Little is known about the Aracoix, save that some of their young have taken to worship of the All Father, despite his absence.

Centaur: The Centaur were the only race to rejoice at the coming of man, for the Centaur were the only race to find joy in the All Father's creation above their own position in the world. Born of Kenaryn the Hunter (All Father's Companion) and Saedron (Moon Goddess) the Centaur are Noble and Warlike. They taught the ways of warfare to Men, and instructed them in the ways of nobility. The Centaur respect and honor the All Father often serving as Crusaders or Prelates. Centaurs are a strong ally of Man.

Halfgiants: Halfgiants are a halfbreed of Men and Giants. The "half" designation is misleading however, as men with as little as 1:1000 Giant blood may manifest the unusual size and strength of a Halfgiant. Halfgiants are typically welcome in Human societies, since their strength is useful and their minds easy to control.

Humans: Humans make up the bulk of the population of the Suzerain. Mainly comprised of Horwathi descendants, the Suzerain has long lived apart from the rest of humanity.

Suzerain of Sloth Historical Setting

The Suzerain of Sloth practices roleplay more akin to historical fiction than high fantasy. We take the cultural setting of the middle east at about 500BC - 500AD and apply it as a filter to the game fiction created by Wolfpack. Concerns of the day included the encroachment of neighboring empires, the control of water resources, and the arrival of goods and technologies from both ends of the Silk Road as well as out of Persia. Though we realize that neither Greece nor Eqypt exist in the Shadowbane fiction it allows us a unique context and setting from which we shall build our story in the world of Shadowbane. To this end, the geographic setting of the Suzerain of Sloth can be represented as follows:

Cities of note are Van in the North, Arbela, Susa, Uruk, Ecbatanna, Persepolis, and Gulashkird. These cities were prosperous over 2,000 years ago and as existing so far in the distant past we shall take great liberties with transporting them into world of Shadowbane.