the borderlands of spring
We have danced this dance for more than a century. From the West come the proud Cantons of Garmont. From the East, the otherworldly Vicarians. Here we converge, in a hidden valley of the Spire Mountains, returning once again to the hallowed festival grounds of the Dance of Ribbons.
Five years ago, we had forgotten the steps of the dance. The land grew hungry, and six souls were swept into the unknown. In the five years since that fateful day, we all have enjoyed endless prosperity. Five years of Spring, and counting! The crops of the Hathwoad bear infinite fruit; the Vaud never run out of game to hunt; the clever miners of Dunmoore find ever richer seams of gold running through their mountains.
Rumours swirl as we prepare for this year’s Dance of Ribbons. Is ‘The Great Glut’ merely folklore, or has this unending abundance brought about a new threat? How much longer can this spring last, and what will it give way to?
Map created by Frazer Shepherdson.
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Garmont
Vicaria
NPC
Garmont is a land of rolling hills, golden fields, and the breadbasket of the Middlemark. The common people of Garmont enjoy a provincial life, with long nights of leisure punctuated by hard days of working the land. In contrast, the nobles – knights, scholars, and Lades – spend their days attending to their holdings and reaping the benefits.
Garmont is divided into three Cantons (Houses), each with their own Lade (Ruler) and stronghold. The country is run as an elective monarchy: every 10 years at the Dance of Ribbons, the Lades will elect from among their own number a High Ruler of the Cantons. This position allows the High Ruler to collect taxes, modify feudal contracts and oversee all noble weddings. While the individual Lades of their cantons remain largely independent, they cannot make many binding decisions without the High Ruler’s consent.
The current High Lade is Carafina Ascari of Gottenburg, who is five years into her reign. She was elected at the Dance of the Swept, after the death of the previous High Ruler, Dame Heilgard of Vaud. She is a deeply respected High Ruler. Gracious and clever, she manages with every move to enrich her native Gottenburg, whilst always giving the other Cantons just enough to avoid drawing their suspicion or ire.
the Cantons of Garmont
Vaud
Who are they?
The Vaud are hardy inhabitants of Garmont, who navigate the northern rivers and shores. Renowned for their courage, they carry boar spears and rucksacks as they traverse wooded realms between settlements. Their primary trade is furs, prized leather, and horn carvings. Following their leader’s sudden death five years ago, the Vaud were isolated and distrustful, unsure of whom to turn to in their time of uncertainty
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Vaud came to the Dance with scores to settle. Conrad Heilgard, Lade of Vaud, made it his mission to hunt down the Vicarians who killed his wife. He was successful in finding the villain responsible, and sent him running. Vaud now has an alliance with the clan of Hathwoad, and is allowed to hunt members of the “Clanless” on Dunmoore’s lands. Conrad also became a follower of both Io and Celumnous, signalling a new spiritual openness in Vaud. A Lade who honours a Vicarian Sidhe would unsettle most Garmontians.
The last five years
The Lade of Vaud returned home after the Dance but his appetite for revenge was not sated. Thanks to new alliances forged at the Dance, Vicarian clans Hathwoad and Dunmoore allowed Vaud to pass through their lands. This means Conrad could weed out every trace of anyone who harmed his family.
Three years of the Great Spring passed, and the lands were overrun by wildlife. Elk, rabbits, foxes and boar tore away at the countryside. Vaud began a great hunt to cull the booming animal population. But, no matter how much blood was spilt, the beasts still multiplied. More and more Vaud joined the hunt. Carcasses filled the rivers, damming streams with fur and flesh. No animal was spared – and why should they be, when with each new day, new animals sprung forth? As Vaud’s Hunt continues, rumours swirl that in isolated villages, they hunt more intelligent game.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Down-to-earth
– Your Lade is getting into paganism. You’d have strong feelings for or against this.
– Rugged, strong and courageous
– Trusted by both Vicarians and Garmontians
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Straussland, like all their Garmontian brethren, underwent major change as a result of the Dance. Their old Lade was ousted, and their new Lade, Guillaume de Laroche-Beaucourt, decided to accept Vicarians who wished to cross the border and live in Straussland. Phillip the Bard, advisor to the Lade, has been hard at work spreading the doctrine on Io the Nine, accepting the Sidhe as facets of Io. Worshipping the old gods is now accepted, if not celebrated, in these lands.
The last five years
The Vicarian gods thrive in Struassland, now that the Lade’s advisor spread the doctrine of Io the Nine, accepting them as facets of Io. The Strauss welcomed Vicarians to their lands, and with them came the Sidhe.
Beneath this seeming peace, however, dark things brewed. In the first year after the Dance, a Lord of Straussland was found sleeping at his dinner table, his dinner half-eaten and his wine half-drunk. He only waited, chest rattling, unable to ask for release. He remains that way, even four years on. In another town, far away, a couple was blessed with eternal youth on the night of their wedding, and have not aged in four years. They are beautiful to look upon, but their neighbours turn away, scared to witness whatever magic is at work. Every Strauss can tell you a story like these, for Straussland seems caught in a terrible slowing of time. Worry is spreading that these events are punishments from Io for straying from her righteous path.
You want to be in this faction because:
– It’s fun to be rich and pompous.
– You live in a society that is inventing a new cult
– The power-plays of the Strauss are often the centre of attention.
Gottenburg
Who are they?
Gottenburg thrives on knowledge, deploying their cunning citizens as diplomats, ambassadors, and spies. Renowned as dealmakers, they trade in soft cheese, quality timber, and secrets. Cunning, rhetoric, and knowledge are skills valued in all citizens, from peasants to nobles. Gottenburg houses a vast library, safeguarding texts from Ioite Cardinals and even rumoured restricted sections of ancient Vicarian texts. Despite political tensions with Francia, Gottenburg’s diplomatic finesse has averted hostilities.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
The Lade of Gottenburg, Carafina Ascari, rose to High Ruler of Garmont. She promised to be a unifying force, with an understanding of and presence in each canton. While Vaud and Straussland strengthened their ties and understanding of their Vicarian neighbours, Gottenburg turned towards Io, forming a defensive alliance with Franica while maintaining ties to Emor.
The last five years
A year after the Dance, in a quiet Gottenburg town, folk began dancing, and singing. It started with a single jig, but spiralled into unbridled movement. They would not stop. They could not stop. Those that watched could not help but join. This Dancing Sickness spread from township to township. Countless feet wore away to bone. Dancers wept yet could not stop. Young and old alike dropped dead from exhaustion. Then as suddenly as it arrived, it stopped. To this day, people are shy – to sing, or dance, or even skip – too scared to reawaken the madness that had taken hold of them. A fearful silence has settled over the land, as people pray never to see the dancing sickness return.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Power-brokering and secret alliances
– Your Lade is the High Ruler – this comes with certain advantages
– Gottenburg are cultured
– You get to wear red – it’s giving opulence and power.
Vicaria, the Children of the Fey, the first born, the waiting. Found in the expanding lands of pasture, mountains, and bogs, the Vicarians are a hardy group of tight-knit clans.
Superstitious and wary of outsiders, the Vicarians worship the archaic and esoteric old gods. They are led by a combined group of priests called Woaden, and the clan leaders known as Kelda. As a people who live by the codes of tradition and spirituality, the Vicarians are constantly negotiating their relationship to an ever-modernising world.
the Clans of vicaria
Dunmoore
Who are they?
Dunmoore, the wealthy mountain folk, thrive on their mines and hoarded riches. As the oldest and arguably strongest clan in Vicaria, they command Dwell. Dwell is a formidable citadel hewn into the mountains, serving as a bulwark against invasions. Despite recent arrogance, Dunmoore’s trade in precious gems and ores – including iron, tin, and copper – makes them indispensable to other Vicarian clans, solidifying their powerful position in the region.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Dunmoore tended to internal turmoil for much of the Dance, with many members secretly associated with the League of the Thistle. Their Woaden, Broccan, perished on the night of the May Queen’s possession. Cianat (Ci) was named Woad, spiritual leader in training, in Broccan’s absence. Woad Ci sustained corruption after casting a protection spell over the Dunfolk to keep them safe during a powerful dark ritual. With the help of the witch Aunt Niamh, Woad Ci pleaded with Kayew and managed to stem the spread of their corruption, a feat which had never been seen before in Vicarian history. But such gifts are not given without consequences…
The last five years
The hills and mountains of Dunmoore rang with hammers the first year after the Dance. Gold spilled like water in the great forges, and Dunfolk said that Lugh himself had blessed their hands. It was a year of plenty, so rich was the stone harvest.
The Hunger began sometime in the third year after the Dance. Chefs were ordered by the dozen to brew, bake and boil around the clock. The Dunfolk ate and ate and ate. But when the stores ran empty, the people still hungered for more. One of the halls had eaten a months’ worth of food in an afternoon, so they moved away from food. They ate the mice, the dogs, the cats. They ate the forks, the knives, the bowls. Eventually, they ate the gems, the silver, the gold. After a month of eating, as abruptly as it had arrived, the Hunger ended. All the riches they had acquired had disappeared in a matter of months; now the strongholds are destitute. Although the Hunger has ended, each Dun feels their stomach turn and churn with the echoes of wanting for more.
You want to be in this Clan because:
– Although you’ll be human, the vibe is very much Tolkien’s Dwarves
– Gold, gems and metals, oh my!
– You’re the oldest Vicarian clan, and your city is literally carved into a Mountain.
– Powerful and influential without being a Garmontian snob
Hathwoad
Who are they?
The Hathwoads derive their strength from knowledge of the unseen and spiritual connections with the world. This mystic clan claims many great Woaden from their lands. Seeing themselves as the Fey’s eldest children, they eye neighbouring lands as their rightful inheritance. Their seat of power, the Hall of Erid, is a city of moss and wood rumoured to have a living, self-defending structure. Though Hathwoad itself produces little, their citizens conduct cunning raids on Garmont for some of their sustenance. This fostered tensions between the two cultures.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Hathwoad established their camp as a site for ritual and tradition. Their Woaden, Talibus, was tried for assisting with a dark ritual and was banished from the clan, only to later return transformed by corruption. An alliance was formed with Vaud: “The Stag and the Wolf will now hunt together.”
The last five years
The five-year spring has swollen Hathwoad’s verdant landscape. The people first rejoiced in this great Flourishing. Trees bloom and bear fruits never seen before on Hathwoad branches. The local stags shed their velvet and it gave way to iridescent moss. Animals eat the foreign fruit until they bloat and die, and yet more flora sprout from their carcasses. Grave mounds push bodies and bones back up to the surface in a macabre dance of abundance and death. The thatched roofs of their homes become gardens for oozing fungus and noxious smelling flowers. Now the landscape must be cut back each day lest it overgrow all Hathwoadians camps. Beneath the ripened skin of the clan, what rot may have set in?
You want to be in this faction because:
– The most spiritual of the clans, deeply connected to the gods and land.
– The chosen ones of the Fey
– Do a lot of freaky mystical stuff.
– Honestly a big slay in general
– Connected with Vaud – a good ally to have.
Kilkern
Who are they?
Kilkern, Vicaria’s modern pioneers, embrace travel and trade, setting them apart from the insularity of other clans. As adventurers, poets, and explorers, the youngest clan seeks to understand the world, sometimes through cultural exchange with Garmontian cantons. Kilkerni are curious, intrepid, and eager to make their mark. Their unique claim lies in Faery Weave, a special silk rumoured to be spun by the last of the Fey folk. Their proximity to Garmont makes Kilkern cosmopolitan, with a blend of cultural influences and progressive practices – and even a bit of Io worship here and there.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Kilkern welcomed any and all to their tavern, ‘The Whirling in Silk’. The clan cast a protective spell over their tavern that served as a haven on the night of the May Queen’s possession. Cillian was cursed with the Evil Eye for his murder of Delfina. Most notable of all, Moira, Kelda of Kilkern, enacted her clan’s will – that Clanless would be given a second chance in Kilkern.
The last five years
After a unanimous decision to allow Clanless back into Kilkern, the young clan quickly became known as the clan of second chances. In the year following the Dance, Clanless from all the hidden corners of Vicaria flocked to the humble coastal settlement of Kilkern. The shoreside infrastructure of Kilkern was woefully under-prepared for such an inundation of people. It swelled rapidly into a bustling port city with shanty-towns on its edges, and below the surface, a lethal undercurrent of organised crime. Trade boomed, but between the wash of culture that rolled in with ships from Garmont, and the poorly-integrated Clanless, the Kilkerni identity grew blurry.
In the past year, a strange curse has settled over the Clan. Any ship that leaves the port, no matter how prepared, is doomed to sink just off the coast. All pleas to the Sidhe for answers have proven futile.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Idealistic and hopeful
– Cosmopolitan – you get along well with all cultures
– Good-natured pirate vibes. Practise your sea shanties!
NPC Factions
Garmont and Vicaria are just two lands nestled within the wider continent of the Middlemark. Beyond them lie other empires, holy cities, and duchies.
NPCs, or Non-Player Characters, are skilled performers cast in specific roles written by our Story Team. Within A Dance of Ribbons, several foreign factions are exclusively available to our NPCs. This is because these groups exist solely to manoeuvre story beats and enhance player experiences.
Designer’s Note: When you encounter an NPC, remember, they are working hard to help you have fun – this is especially the case for our wonderful villains. In-character, you might think of them as deplorable. Out of character, we should be loving them to bits for all their generosity. How to love our villains will be covered in workshops, but remember these performers are real people; you are expected to role-play generously and consensually at all times.
Church of Io
At the Dance five years ago, players lived in fear of the Inquisition. The High Matron of the Church of Io, for most of her life, was determined to stamp out idol worship and heathen practices wherever they took root across the Middlemark. But in recent years, the never ending Spring has put her in an unsettlingly pleasant mood. Recently, her vassals have been doing less crusading and more observing. In her old age, The High Matron is inspired to strive for cultural unity. But the High Matron ought to be wary of having built up a martial faction as fearsome as the Inquisition, only to ignore them. They may set their own Inquisitorial agenda.
Clanless
In Vicarian culture, certain crimes are considered especially heinous. Across the Middlemark, those who have committed these crimes are members of an infamous population known as The Clanless. These are their stories. Dun dun…
While being made Clanless was, for most of history, regarded as the worst fate any Vicarian could face, at the Dance five years ago, the clan of Kilkern opened its doors to the Clanless – Kilkern now known as the Clan of Second Chances. But letting in such morally questionable folk has, of course, brought about difficult tensions.
Emor
Emorians without a homeland set up one of the Taverns at the Festival grounds in an attempt to start anew. While maintaining a hospitable and festive charm, alleged reports were made that the Emorian Tavern was the epicentre for the buying and selling of illicit items and poisons. However, no such evidence was ever found.
After the election of the High Ruler, and an uneasy alliance was sealed with Francia, foreign tensions were at an all-time high. Carafina Ascari, High Ruler of Garmont, knew she had to ease pressures, so it was that Giorgio Solace, the younger brother of the murdered Don, was bestowed with a position within her court: “the Count of Emor.” Though perhaps a tokenistic appointment, it has nonetheless resurrected the family’s legacy. Their homeland was destroyed by Inquisitorial purge, but there is at least now hope for them in these lands.
While some say Kilkern is flourishing, others regard the newly accepted Clanless with deep suspicion. Recognising the potential, the Count of Emor dispatched an Emorian Ambassador to Kilkern. Is he fostering stronger trade relationships, or influencing the surging crime within the clan? The Count of Emor insists his intentions are pure: after all, he is not his brother…
Francia
Francia, otherwise known as the Empire of Francia, is without question the most powerful nation on the continent. Having spent fifteen years aggressively expanding, the Empire has managed to conquer countless lands, including the Princedom of Emor.
After the events of the Dance of the Swept, three delegates were sent to assess the ripeness of the lands of Garmont and beyond. They made the following report: ‘These lands are an accursed place of terror. No further expedition needed. Investment would yield poor results. Continue observation from afar.’ The strange occurrences over the proceeding five years served only to cement this belief. And either way, a campaign far to the West across the seas has called Francia’s attention.
But not all was lost for the Francian delegation. A contract signed by one of the many haphazard Lades of Straussland secured Francian authority. The loyal Maxamillia ensured that Francia has an enduring toehold in the affairs of Garmont for the foreseeable future. Who knows when the Francians will require aid, resources, or soldiers from Straussland? Although Francia may have absented themselves from the Dance, they retain stake in the region still. And it seems that nothing can happen in Garmont or Vicaria without word getting back to Francia. Who might be their eyes and ears this year?
Viverra
A far off country. Not much is known about it or its people in Garmont or Vicaria.
Garmont
Vicaria
NPC
Garmont
Garmont is a land of rolling hills, golden fields, and the breadbasket of the Middlemark. The common people of Garmont enjoy a provincial life, with long nights of leisure punctuated by hard days of working the land. In contrast, the nobles – knights, scholars, and Lades – spend their days attending to their holdings and reaping the benefits.
Garmont is divided into three Cantons (Houses), each with their own Lade (Ruler) and stronghold. The country is run as an elective monarchy: every 10 years at the Dance of Ribbons, the Lades will elect from among their own number a High Ruler of the Cantons. This position allows the High Ruler to collect taxes, modify feudal contracts and oversee all noble weddings. While the individual Lades of their cantons remain largely independent, they cannot make many binding decisions without the High Ruler’s consent.
The current High Lade is Carafina Ascari of Gottenburg, who is five years into her reign. She was elected at the Dance of the Swept, after the death of the previous High Ruler, Dame Heilgard of Vaud. She is a deeply respected High Ruler. Gracious and clever, she manages with every move to enrich her native Gottenburg, whilst always giving the other Cantons just enough to avoid drawing their suspicion or ire.
the Cantons of Garmont
Vaud
Who are they?
The Vaud are hardy inhabitants of Garmont, who navigate the northern rivers and shores. Renowned for their courage, they carry boar spears and rucksacks as they traverse wooded realms between settlements. Their primary trade is furs, prized leather, and horn carvings. Following their leader’s sudden death five years ago, the Vaud were isolated and distrustful, unsure of whom to turn to in their time of uncertainty.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Vaud came to the Dance with scores to settle. Conrad, Lade of Vaud, made it his mission to hunt down the Vicarians who killed his wife. He was successful in finding the villain responsible, and sent him running. Vaud now has an alliance with the clan of Hathwoad, and is allowed to hunt members of the “Clanless” on Dunmoore’s lands. Conrad also became a follower of both Io and Celumnous, signalling a new spiritual openness in Vaud. A Lade who honours a Vicarian Sidhe would unsettle most Garmontians
The last five years
The Lade of Vaud returned home after the Dance but his appetite for revenge was not sated. Thanks to new alliances forged at the Dance, Vicarian clans Hathwoad and Dunmoore allowed Vaud to pass through their lands. This means Conrad could weed out every trace of anyone who harmed his family.
Three years of the Great Spring passed, and the lands were overrun by wildlife. Elk, rabbits, foxes and boar tore away at the countryside. Vaud began a great hunt to cull the booming animal population. But, no matter how much blood was spilt, the beasts still multiplied. More and more Vaud joined the hunt. Carcasses filled the rivers, damming streams with fur and flesh. No animal was spared – and why should they be, when with each new day, new animals sprung forth? As Vaud’s Hunt continues, rumours swirl that in isolated villages, they hunt more intelligent game.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Down-to-earth
– Your Lade is getting into paganism. You’d have strong feelings for or against this.
– Rugged, strong and courageous
– Trusted by both Vicarians and Garmontians
Straussland
Who are they?
The affluent families of Straussland, often labelled as arrogant, trace their lineage to ancestors who repelled an ancient threat and saved Garmont. This noble house, proud of their history, cherish tales of heroic deeds sung around hearths. As the region’s breadbasket, farmer-nobles prosper through close ties with the foreign and expanding Francian Empire. However, the High Ruler of Garmont imposes strict restrictions on intermarriage, fearing Francian influence. Strauss claims fame as the birthplace of notable Garmontians like Hera, the High Priestess, and Genevieve, the oldest May Queen (now missing). Despite accusations of haughtiness, the Strauss are often integral to the political power plays, both domestic and foreign. Their folk ambitiously strive to be celebrated and recognised for their wealth, history and refined culture.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Straussland, like all their Garmontian brethren, underwent major change as a result of the Dance. Their old Lade was ousted, and their new Lade, Guillaume de Laroche-Beaucourt, decided to accept Vicarians who wished to cross the border and live in Straussland. Phillip the Bard, advisor to the Lade, has been hard at work spreading the doctrine on Io the Nine, accepting the Sidhe as facets of Io. Worshipping the old gods is now accepted, if not celebrated, in these lands.
The last five years
The Vicarian gods thrive in Struassland, now that the Lade’s advisor spread the doctrine of Io the Nine, accepting them as facets of Io. The Strauss welcomed Vicarians to their lands, and with them came the Sidhe.
Beneath this seeming peace, however, dark things brewed. In the first year after the Dance, a Lord of Straussland was found sleeping at his dinner table, his dinner half-eaten and his wine half-drunk. He only waited, chest rattling, unable to ask for release. He remains that way, even four years on. In another town, far away, a couple was blessed with eternal youth on the night of their wedding, and have not aged in four years. They are beautiful to look upon, but their neighbours turn away, scared to witness whatever magic is at work. Every Strauss can tell you a story like these, for Straussland seems caught in a terrible slowing of time. Worry is spreading that these events are punishments from Io for straying from her righteous path.
You want to be in this faction because:
– It’s fun to be rich and pompous.
– You live in a society that is inventing a new cult
– The power-plays of the Strauss are often the centre of attention.
Gottenburg
Who are they?
Gottenburg thrives on knowledge, deploying their cunning citizens as diplomats, ambassadors, and spies. Renowned as dealmakers, they trade in soft cheese, quality timber, and secrets. Cunning, rhetoric, and knowledge are skills valued in all citizens, from peasants to nobles. Gottenburg houses a vast library, safeguarding texts from Ioite Cardinals and even rumoured restricted sections of ancient Vicarian texts. Despite political tensions with Francia, Gottenburg’s diplomatic finesse has averted hostilities.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
The Lade of Gottenburg, Carafina Ascari, rose to High Ruler of Garmont. She promised to be a unifying force, with an understanding of and presence in each canton. While Vaud and Straussland strengthened their ties and understanding of their Vicarian neighbours, Gottenburg turned towards Io, forming a defensive alliance with Franica while maintaining ties to Emor.
The last five years
A year after the Dance, in a quiet Gottenburg town, folk began dancing, and singing. It started with a single jig, but spiralled into unbridled movement. They would not stop. They could not stop. Those that watched could not help but join. This Dancing Sickness spread from township to township. Countless feet wore away to bone. Dancers wept yet could not stop. Young and old alike dropped dead from exhaustion. Then as suddenly as it arrived, it stopped. To this day, people are shy – to sing, or dance, or even skip – too scared to reawaken the madness that had taken hold of them. A fearful silence has settled over the land, as people pray never to see the dancing sickness return.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Power-brokering and secret alliances
– Your Lade is the High Ruler – this comes with certain advantages
– Gottenburg are cultured
– You get to wear red – it’s giving opulence and power.
Vicaria
Vicaria, the Children of the Fey, the first born, the waiting. Found in the expanding lands of pasture, mountains, and bogs, the Vicarians are a hardy group of tight-knit clans.
Superstitious and wary of outsiders, the Vicarians worship the archaic and esoteric old gods. They are led by a combined group of priests called Woaden, and the clan leaders known as Kelda. As a people who live by the codes of tradition and spirituality, the Vicarians are constantly negotiating their relationship to an ever-modernising world.
the Clans of vicaria
Dunmoore
Who are they?
Dunmoore, the wealthy mountain folk, thrive on their mines and hoarded riches. As the oldest and arguably strongest clan in Vicaria, they command Dwell. Dwell is a formidable citadel hewn into the mountains, serving as a bulwark against invasions. Despite recent arrogance, Dunmoore’s trade in precious gems and ores – including iron, tin, and copper – makes them indispensable to other Vicarian clans, solidifying their powerful position in the region.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Dunmoore tended to internal turmoil for much of the Dance, with many members being secretly associated with the League of the Thistle. Their Woaden, Broccan, perished on the night of the May Queen’s possession. Cianat (Ci) was named Woad, spiritual leader in training, in Broccan’s absence. Woad Ci sustained corruption after casting a protection spell over the Dunfolk to keep them safe during a powerful dark ritual. With the help of the witch Aunt Niamh, Woad Ci pleaded with Kayew and managed to stem the spread of their corruption, a feat which had never been seen before in Vicarian history. But such gifts are not given without consequences…
The last five years
The hills and mountains of Dunmoore rang with hammers the first year after the Dance. Gold spilled like water in the great forges, and Dunfolk said that Lugh himself had blessed their hands. It was a year of plenty, so rich was the stone harvest.
The Hunger began sometime in the third year after the Dance. Chefs were ordered by the dozen to brew, bake and boil around the clock. The Dunfolk ate and ate and ate. But when the stores ran empty, the people still hungered for more. One of the halls had eaten a months’ worth of food in an afternoon, so they moved away from food. They ate the mice, the dogs, the cats. They ate the forks, the knives, the bowls. Eventually, they ate the gems, the silver, the gold. After a month of eating, as abruptly as it had arrived, the Hunger ended. All the riches they had acquired had disappeared in a matter of months; now the strongholds are destitute. Although the Hunger has ended, each Dun feels their stomach turn and churn with the echoes of wanting for more.
You want to be in this Clan because:
– Although you’ll be human, the vibe is very much Tolkien’s Dwarves.
– Gold, gems and metals, oh my!
– You’re the oldest Vicarian clan, and your city is literally carved into a Mountain.
– Powerful and influential without being a Garmontian snob
Hathwoad
Who are they?
The Hathwoads derive their strength from knowledge of the unseen and spiritual connections with the world. This mystic clan claims many great Woaden from their lands. Seeing themselves as the Fey’s eldest children, they eye neighbouring lands as their rightful inheritance. Their seat of power, the Hall of Erid, is a city of moss and wood rumoured to have a living, self-defending structure. Though Hathwoad itself produces little, their citizens conduct cunning raids on Garmont for some of their sustenance. This fostered tensions between the two cultures.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Hathwoad established their camp as a site for ritual and tradition. Their Woaden, Talibus, was tried for assisting with a dark ritual and was banished from the clan, only to later return transformed by corruption. An alliance was formed with Vaud: “The Stag and the Wolf will now hunt together.”
The last five years
The five-year spring has swollen Hathwoad’s verdant landscape. The people first rejoiced in this great Flourishing. Trees bloom and bear fruits never seen before on Hathwoad branches. The local stags shed their velvet and it gave way to iridescent moss. Animals eat the foreign fruit until they bloat and die, and yet more flora sprout from their carcasses. Grave mounds push bodies and bones back up to the surface in a macabre dance of abundance and death. The thatched roofs of their homes become gardens for oozing fungus and noxious smelling flowers. Now the landscape must be cut back each day lest it overgrow all Hathwoadians camps. Beneath the ripened skin of the clan, what rot may have set in?
You want to be in this faction because:
– The most spiritual of the clans, deeply connected to the gods and land.
– The chosen ones of the fey
– Do a lot of freaky mystical stuff.
– Honestly a big slay in general
– Connected with Vaud – a good ally to have.
Kilkern
Who are they?
Kilkern, Vicaria’s modern pioneers, embrace travel and trade, setting them apart from the insularity of other clans. As adventurers, poets, and explorers, the youngest clan seeks to understand the world, sometimes through cultural exchange with Garmontian cantons. Kilkerni are curious, intrepid, and eager to make their mark. Their unique claim lies in Faery Weave, a special silk rumoured to be spun by the last of the Fey folk. Their proximity to Garmont makes Kilkern cosmopolitan, with a blend of cultural influences and progressive practices – and even a bit of Io worship here and there.
What happened at the dance of ribbons five years ago?
Kilkern welcomed any and all to their tavern, ‘The Whirling in Silk’. The clan cast a protective spell over their tavern that served as a haven on the night of the May Queen’s possession. Cillian was cursed with the Evil Eye for his murder of Delfina. Most notable of all, Moira, Kelda of Kilkern, enacted her clan’s will – that Clanless would be given a second chance in Kilkern.
The last five years
After a unanimous decision to allow Clanless back into Kilkern, the young clan quickly became known as the clan of second chances. In the year following the Dance, Clanless from all the hidden corners of Vicaria flocked to the humble coastal settlement of Kilkern. The shoreside infrastructure of Kilkern was woefully under-prepared for such an inundation of people. It swelled rapidly into a bustling port city with shanty-towns on its edges, and below the surface, a lethal undercurrent of organised crime. Trade boomed, but between the wash of culture that rolled in with ships from Garmont, and the poorly-integrated Clanless, the Kilkerni identity grew blurry.
In the past year, a strange curse has settled over the Clan. Any ship that leaves the port, no matter how prepared, is doomed to sink just off the coast. All pleas to the Sidhe for answers have proven futile.
You want to be in this faction because:
– Idealistic and hopeful
– Cosmopolitan – you get along well with all cultures
– Good-natured pirate vibes. Practise your sea shanties!
NPC Factions
Church of Io
At the Dance five years ago, players lived in fear of the Inquisition. The High Matron of the Church of Io, for most of her life, was determined to stamp out idol worship and heathen practices wherever they took root across the Middlemark. But in recent years, the never ending Spring has put her in an unsettlingly pleasant mood. Recently, her vassals have been doing less crusading and more observing. In her old age, The High Matron is inspired to strive for cultural unity. But the High Matron ought to be wary of having built up a martial faction as fearsome as the Inquisition, only to ignore them. They may set their own Inquisitorial agenda.
Clanless
In Vicarian culture, certain crimes are considered especially heinous. Across the Middlemark, those who have committed these crimes are members of an infamous population known as The Clanless. These are their stories. Dun dun…
While being made Clanless was, for most of history, regarded as the worst fate any Vicarian could face, at the Dance five years ago, the clan of Kilkern opened its doors to the Clanless – Kilkern now known as the Clan of Second Chances. But letting in such morally questionable folk has, of course, brought about difficult tensions.
Emor
Emorians without a homeland set up one of the Taverns at the Festival grounds in an attempt to start anew. While maintaining a hospitable and festive charm, alleged reports were made that the Emorian Tavern was the epicentre for the buying and selling of illicit items and poisons. However, no such evidence was ever found.
After the election of the High Ruler, and an uneasy alliance was sealed with Francia, foreign tensions were at an all-time high. Carafina Ascari, High Ruler of Garmont, knew she had to ease pressures, so it was that Giorgio Solace, the younger brother of the murdered Don, was bestowed with a position within her court: “the Count of Emor.” Though perhaps a tokenistic appointment, it has nonetheless resurrected the family’s legacy. Their homeland was destroyed by Inquisitorial purge, but there is at least now hope for them in these lands.
While some say Kilkern is flourishing, others regard the newly accepted Clanless with deep suspicion. Recognising the potential, the Count of Emor dispatched an Emorian Ambassador to Kilkern. Is he fostering stronger trade relationships, or influencing the surging crime within the clan? The Count of Emor insists his intentions are pure: after all, he is not his brother…
Francia
Francia, otherwise known as the Empire of Francia, is without question the most powerful nation on the continent. Having spent fifteen years aggressively expanding, the Empire has managed to conquer countless lands, including the Princedom of Emor.
After the events of the Dance of the Swept, three delegates were sent to assess the ripeness of the lands of Garmont and beyond. They made the following report: ‘These lands are an accursed place of terror. No further expedition needed. Investment would yield poor results. Continue observation from afar.’ The strange occurrences over the proceeding five years served only to cement this belief. And either way, a campaign far to the West across the seas has called Francia’s attention.
But not all was lost for the Francian delegation. A contract signed by one of the many haphazard Lades of Straussland secured Francian authority. The loyal Maxamillia ensured that Francia has an enduring toehold in the affairs of Garmont for the foreseeable future. Who knows when the Francians will require aid, resources, or soldiers from Straussland? Although Francia may have absented themselves from the Dance, they retain stake in the region still. And it seems that nothing can happen in Garmont or Vicaria without word getting back to Francia. Who might be their eyes and ears this year?
Viverra
A far off country. Not much is known about it or its people in Garmont or Vicaria.