Ruptaea

A nation clinging to chilly rocks and sparse boreal forests, Ruptaea’s harsh land has solicited a generous response from its people. The rainy summers and blizzard-ridden winters have instilled in Ruptaeans a sense of kinship and shared suffering. Ruptaeans will commonly invite one another over to share in what little food they have.

Academic.

Most of Ruptaea’s settlements have schools that cover the basics of reading, mathematics, and history. Ruptaea has no major universities or advanced educational institutions, which is something that Queen Belle is trying to remedy.

Aristocratic and Political.

The aristocracy of Ruptaea are the lords and ladies that govern each individual settlement. These aristocrats elect a monarch from among their ranks; that monarch rules until their death or abdication, at which point the aristocrats elect the monarch’s successor. The current monarch is a hondu named Belle, better known for her empathetic nature than for her political smarts.

Mercantile and Trade.

Ruptaea is economically weak with few natural resources to offer in international trade. It has some mineral mines, some stone quarries, and some forests that can produce timber and plant and animal byproducts, but none of its resources are notable enough to make Ruptaea competitive with other nations.

Militant.

Ruptaea has a weak military, but they have a good relationship with Fjordenhaven and Eryndor. They dedicate most of their military resources to the border they share with Vaenyth.

Religious.

In general, Ruptaeans are very religious. They worship many pantheons, making sacrificial offerings to the Celestial Council for good luck, to the Fiends and Exiles of Inferno to ward off their wrath, and to the Archfae Conclaves for bounty. They also worship the Avadri and Avatars, primarily because they do not want any pantheon to feel overlooked or slighted.

Social.

Ruptaeans are humble folk, and this usually extends to the aristocracy as well. They will make plans for their days or weeks, but if a neighbor or traveler needs food or shelter, most Ruptaeans will invite them into their own homes and provide for those who need it, setting aside their own plans for the day.

Underworld.

Small, localized gangs are uncommon but not unheard of in some of the larger towns and cities. Given Ruptaea’s poor economy, large crime syndicates have not formed in the nation as there is no major profit to be gained.

Essur

The capital of Ruptaea is Essur. Built on a hill rich with groundwater springs, it is one of the most defensible locations in the nation. A small palace of common stone polished to resemble marble is the residence of the reigning monarch. Marketplaces and cramped residential houses spread out in a tangle of crooked streets radiating from the palace. Many temples stand proud throughout the city as well, and the foundation has been laid for the new Essur University.

Points of Interest

The Ruptaea Glacier. In the north, an enormous glacier looms over Ruptaea. Moving at its snail-like pace, it carves a trench on its journey west towards the ocean. In hundreds of years, it will likely complete its journey. Ruptaeans harvest ice from the glacier, and young adventurous types try to climb it and explore its frigid top.

The Storm. A couple days’ sail from Ruptaea’s west coast, a tremendous hurricane churns in perpetuity. It has been there for hundreds of years, never moving, never growing or shrinking either in size or in magnitude. Known simply as the Storm, the Ruptaeans do not know why it has sustained itself without moving, but so long as it continues to remain static it poses no threat to the nation.

Quest Ideas

• Some foolish would-be adventurers have sailed into the Storm. Queen Belle asks the heroes to mount a rescue mission.
• Vaenyth has been acting belligerent near Ruptaea’s border, and the aristocrats would like for the heroes to travel to some Vaenythan towns and tell them to back off.
• A warm summer has cause chunks of the glacier to break off and melt, which is causing serious flooding in some Ruptaean towns. Can the heroes rescue the commoners?