The Band of Misfit Heroes

A Great World

• Alternia

  The world had known many names from various tongues, Alternia was a massive continent that spanned half of the globe and was the cradle of all life. It was the epicenter of creation, the home that led to the founding of kingdoms and castles, hamlets and burgs. Humans and furres dotted Alternia and created houses for themselves. Borders were drawn on maps and territories were formed. Law and order were birthed into existence from a coalition of species that sought liberty, freedom. The anthros lived within their own borders, the humans stayed in their own countries, and some... mingled to create nations of cooperation. Hills of rolling green grass, forests of haunted mystery, caves that stretch to the belly of the world, Alternia was a land of growth.
  
  The Golden Wilds
  Even among its deserts to the south one could find a thousand lives under their feet, the scorching sun above did very little to quell the machine of civilization from staking a claim on the Golden Wilds. Sandstorms did little to damage the temples and cities that sprouted up, stationary creatures known as "Poets" would often be found sitting among rocks as they played tiny flutes that lulled anyone who traveled too far south asleep... though the ones that were lulled usually found themselves waking up back before they even left their homes.
  
  Golden mounds and mountains were common, heated wind did very little to alleviate the pressures of living in such a harsh climate. Ancient ruins are constantly being uncovered, each one containing a trove of wealth or a library stocked full of forgotten knowledge and secrets. oasis's ranged from puddles to rivers, each one surrounded by wild animals, tribesman, and trees. Ancient monsters skulk the sand, horrific beasts prowl the nights. If the secrets of the world could be found in one place, it would be the Golden Wilds. The land itself was believed to be under the protection of a jokester god that shifted the sands to confuse travelers and locals alike. Mirages were played and sanities were lost... The Golden Wilds would either make a boy a man, or break him completely.
  
  The Vogol Marsh
  Life could still be found among the waste and swamps of the east, constant mists and heavy rainfall weathered anyone who dared linger too long. The Vogol Marsh was a land of mystery, many in Alternia consider it haunted and plagued by monsters... Though the Vogols, a gentle and quiet race of creatures, always guided those that found themselves lost in the putrid wilds.
  
  Mazes of vines and shriveled trees often serve to disorient or frighten. Muck hangs in the air and even on a cloudless day sunlight never graces the rotten waters of the marsh. The atmosphere was dismal and morose, many if not all sane people avoided it entirely. Whispers danced in the wind, growls scratched from the darkness. It was a terrible place to find yourself alone, but a Vogol is usually nearby. The Vogol Marsh is a land flooded with mystery, it could hold heavenly treasures or demonic evil... One just had to look.
  Chains of mountains snaked across the continent and were always nearby to provide a romantic backdrop or a muse to a struggling bard. Birds of prey took the skies, wild unevolved animals munched on their feed as they hid from the world of man. Alternia was a land for all, big and small, hateful or kind. It existed before the kingdoms of man and it will exist long after they are gone.
  
  Dordwell Grasslands
  Not all places in Alternia were so heavily steeped in archaic and misshapen magic. A preponderance of the continent is covered in charmingly green forests and symphonies of billowing green hills. Places like these were mostly controlled by human hamlets and sturdy but antiquated strongholds. Do not let the cheerful song of birds and the fields of corn fool you, even these places have ancient stories to them. More than once there have been times children wandered from the safety of their homes to play in meadows and babbling brooks... only to find trouble lurking in the forests that would never hesitate to snatch them away.
  
  It was home to thousands of creatures, each one holding a secret that waited to be explored, all it took was a little drive from a curious boy or girl.

• Civilization

  The nation of Asyln was a proud and territorial monarchy that fervently denied access of their redwood forests to outsiders, especially humans. They were the known world's leading supplier of timber and construction, anyone that needed the supplies to build a project would find themselves dealing with the hardy people of Asyln, though their prices were surprisingly meek.
  The Oligarchy of Tanvia was a sprawling set of cities that were sat comfortably in a ring of mountains. Led by a collection of prophets, the Oligarchy hold true to their own faith though they welcome outsiders of all races in an attempt to teach. They firmly stand against witchcraft and herbalism, but their grip is comforting to their own people. Outsiders have nothing to fear as long they avoid disrespecting the nation's beliefs. Many in the Oligarchy are cynical of the faith, but the prophets are kind and life is healthy.
  The dominion of Lan is a stalwart human kingdom that exists within the center of the Golden Wilds to the south, they are a militaristic populace that would not hesitate to call their banners when threatened. Life in the desert has strengthened them, they have no intention of heading north to the greenery above. They along with their furre slaves will forever remain among the dunes protecting their mines. If you find yourself in need of an expert shipment of weapons, the dominion of Lan is the place to visit.
  The city-state of Pervium was renowned for their festivals and firework shows. Braced against a long coast the city and its people were specialists at conceiving wine, song, and dance. Culture was the blood of the citizens and they all swore loyalty to their merchant ruler who is known for striking hard deals and coercing people into selling everything they own to him. Business, gold and negotiations are common, even a lowly peasant in Pervium was well versed and taught things many others in neighboring countries were not. Humans and furres alike were welcomed and encouraged to vacation on the coast... as long as they brought gold!
  The empire of Kanta was the largest country and an indisputable influential force in the world. They dominated a majority of Alternia and were everything you would expect from such a cumbersome society. The empire was ruled by a noble human family that welcomed furres into their cities... but such a large nation had an abundance of wildly different opinions. Kanta was respected but decaying. Corruption, famine, and hints at civil war would deter many from dealing with the empire.

• Bandits and Hamlets - The Folk

  Despite the glittering cities, the fantastical creatures and the beautiful mountains there were some that lived in a much smaller world. Townships and villages, hamlets and tents, peasant life could be a grim one. Muddied streets after summer rains, coughs that spread and took lives with it. It was never ideal to live the life of a commoner, but no one had the choice to choose. Poaching was common, as was farming and baking. Little boys that couldn't find their fit in their towns were swiftly gathered up by the military of their respective kingdoms. It was a slow life. A life that existed on a day to day basis, many counted themselves the luckiest people on the planet just because they had their family with them and food on their table. Magic and dragons, Vogols and Poets, all of that was a fairytale told to children.. though children were often the happiest. Rolling fields, expansive forests. It warmed the adult's hearts to watch as children chased each other from house to house or fought invisible minions of evil in the fields behind their hovels. This was the life of the lowly people, one that earned respect but rarely received it.
  
  The biggest problem to the common folk was not famine or disease, it wasn't the drums of war... It was the bandits and raiders. The murderers and rapists. Some people existed simply to take what they wanted and hurt anyone that tried to resist. Bandit camps were common in the kingdoms, some stocked with furres, others with humans. The deadliest ones were the groups that were comprised of both races. Towns had guards, hamlets had boys with spears. It was easy to imagine the targets the bandits would choose... The common folk needed help and there simply wasn't enough of that in the world. If thieves and rapists weren't enough, monsters had begun to emerge from the mists. Banshees, vampires, lycans, and ghosts. They were countless in number... something was happening in the quiet places of the earth.