Cultrius (Kul-tree-us)

Capital: Cultrius
Languages: Cultrius, Low Elven, Tor, Nord
Cultrius was the gem of the old world but now stands in a suspended state between ruin and rebirth. Centuries of poor relations with their neighbors, slavery, and abuse of the dragons while the dragons were crippled by their curse resulted in the elves cultivating a world full of enemies. Karma from the events of their past reached a breaking point when the Dracolich ravaged the nation and destroyed the city of Cultrius. In the face of those losses the elven people fight to press on and rebuild their home to its former glory.
The latest threat to the elven people comes from Munasarja military as forces encroach on the boarders of Cultrius. In this moment of desperation King Lucan 'Caracal' 'Stag' Bellrie sought the aid of the Grippli forces from Gnoglin, and the Gnolls of the Dragon Waste. In trade Cultrius would provide shelter and supplies while the Grippli and Gnolls push the Munasarjan military back. King Lucan Bellrie made this agreement knowing that it would give the strength to these forces that would allow the Grippli and Gnolls to invade Alivara as well. The influx of livestock, weapons, and protection, made the decision nearly impossible for the King to resist as his desire to restore the nations strength.

Demography and Population

Population: 2,000,000 (62% Elf, 10% Gnoll, 5% Dwarf, 5% Human, 5% Half-elves, 4% Orc, 4% Dragonborn, 6% Other)
Much of Cultrius has changed since the Munasarjan military began their occupation of the eastern regions of Cultrius.  In the past the nation had been dominated with massive elven cities that were brimming with traditions and beliefs of the people.  Modern Cultrius is a melting pot of races who have come in search of a fresh start away from the prying eyes of others knowing that the slave trading and abusive elves of the past have been broken and forced to change their ways.  With new people come a change in beliefs and ideals that shape the future of the nation.
Elves still stand dominate in the land even though their numbers have drastically reduced from what they had once been.  Many of the elves live in small and segregated villages spread across Cultrius where they happily grow crops and care for livestock.  These communities do not exclude others from joining the communities as the elves understand that they need to move beyond the ways of their past in spite of their long memories.  These communities were born from elves fleeing from their destroyed home and eventually grew into villages as more and more people of all races joined the community.  Threats of dragons to the north, and the Munasarjans to the east, are still present for those that live in Cultrius.  These threats motivate the communities that have formed to avoid the development of large cities so as to allow the people to move on if a threat approaches.  
Elven artistry is evident in the structures, and the tools that they use, while Gnollish influence appears in the meals and development of livestock farms.  As the cities are rebuilt the elves take care to incorporate gnoll traditions into the structures.  Elements of horns, gemstones, and fine metals such as gold and silver are combined in sweeping lines that make the edges of the buildings and sills of the windows.  Though there is a high level of tension among the various communities due to the constant threats of attack, the elves have made great strides in cultivating their alliances in an attempt to achieve a different role in the future of the world.

Territories

The Vitalm Ocean traces its way along each of the shores of Cultrius and feeds the Bay of Leaves, a gargantuan body of water that provides a natural protection for the city of Cultrius from potential threats of invading naval forces.  At the head of the Bay of Leaves rests the capital city which shares a name with the land that holds her, Cultrius.  Small towns have formed at the mouth of the Bay of Leaves as well, with Alu Tira and Palurin flanking the entrance to the bay.  Alu Tira is renowned for their extensive and skilled fisherman, while Palurin is known for the Crystal Lighthouse that ushers in trade ships that seek port during rough weather.
Spreading to the east the lands of Cultrius shift from thick forests to flat planes that but up against western edge of the Keth Vador mountains.  This small mountain range branches south from the Arcane Mountains of Munasarja and act as the defined border between the two nations.  Several rivers cut their way from these various mountain ranges and feed into the Bay of Leaves and providing vital irrigation to the farming communities that have populated the open areas of land.
To the north the nation of Cultrius borders the Dragon Wastes where the constant threat of a dragon strike looms over the nation.  Because of this ever present threat the people of Cultrius have avoided settling within twenty miles of the actual border so as to avoid accidently angering their neighbors.  Gnoll villages have popped up along the border within the gap that the elves have left along the northern border.  These villages have acted as a buffer for trade negotiations between the gnoll communities of both Cultrius and the Dragon Wastes and the elven people of Cultrius.

Military

The Cultrius military consists largely of foot soldiers that spend much of their time patrolling the northern and eastern borders of the nation.  Many soldiers are trained on the grounds of Fort Maina before being stationed at various locations across Cultrius.  A small contingent of these soldiers are trained in both archer and the arcane and form the specialized group known as Arcane Archers.
Cultrius also has a small navy that is slowly growing in strength.  Since forming an alliance with the Grippli the Cultrius navy has made rapid strides in their strength and the training of their seaman.  Firearms training has been incorporated in the training of the sailors as well so as to provide the ships of the Cultrius navy with long range strike capabilities as well as an advantage when it comes to boarding another vessel.

Religion

The people of Cultrius have lost much of their faith in the organized churches dedicated to the various gods.  In spite of this loss of trust the people of Cultrius remain heavily steeped in traditions that are focused on their prior relationships with the gods and goddesses of the pantheon.  Farmers of Cultrius spend their mornings dancing the Naiatri rain dance in their fields as their sprinkle water on an effigy of Monde.  Closer to the larger hubs of civilization soldiers trace tattoos of elven script dedicated to each virtue of Cyril, the Law Bringer (law, order, and honor).  Each night before bed the gentle sounds of a lullabies telling a tale of the goddess Nuit crafting the powers of the Arcane from the stars of the night sky.  Lastly their people of Cultrius carefully carry their dead to various familial tombs spread across the land with the bodies of those that passed dressed in the colors of Raugh (Dark purple, silver, and blue).

Foreign Relations

Cultrius elves had spent centuries oppressing their neighbors and cultivating relationships based on military might and fear. This resulted in the elves struggling to find allies willing to help the elves rebuild from the destruction of their homeland. Born from this desperation came the alliances Cultrius formed with the gnolls of the Dragon Wastes and the Grippli of Gnoglin. Due to their undermanned military and naval forces King Bellrie worked the agreement to be taht the Cultrius people provide supplies to the Grippli and Gnoll forces in place of troops.
To this day the nations of Jyn Urndlikr, Groph, Einsaung Nat, and Munasarja find Cultrius to be untrustworthy and perpetually suspicious. Alivara is actively involved in a war that involves Cultrius though the Alivaran military has not made any effort to retaliate against Cultrius for the elves involvement in this war. There are those that believe this to be because of the relationship between brothers King Bellrie and Cesar Alivarice Bellrie .

Agriculture & Industry

Sheep and goat farms are the dominant industry in Cultrius.  These farms are primarily run by gnolls who work to teach the elven people of Cultrius how to tend the farms.  It is thanks to these teachings that the number of Cultrius farms are increasing with each passing month.  A gnoll farm is roughly thirty to forty acres of land that spans out from a single stone or wood structure.  In comparison the elven farms have a small village in the center of the farmland with buildings provided for each farmer, and the land spreads out in a circular pattern from that collection of buildings.
Far less common than in the nations history, there are still some lumber mills sporadically throughout Cultrius.  The exportation of the live wood lumber has significantly decreased and the majority of the wood that is harvested is used to rebuild structures in Cultrius.  Additional lumber is used to reinforce the various fortresses and to build naval vessels to bolster the defenses of the Cultrius nation.

Important Locations:

Cultrius

SETTLEMENT 12

NG

METROPOLIS

Elven

Cultrius is the largest population center in the nation of Cultrius.
Government Lucan “Stag” Bellrie (Crowned King)
Population 94,772 (Elf 48,335, Human 18,007, Gnoll 17,059, Halfling 5686, Half-Elf 3791, Gnome 947, Hobgoblin 947)
Languages Quessesti, Valrok, Alavin, Deccun

Religions Monde, Cyril, Nuit, Raugh
Prohibited Religions Geheimnisse, Guerre
Threats During the summer months the combination of heat and humidity bring frequent rains and occasional hurricanes to the area. Flash flooding is common as a result.
Live Wood: Cultrius is surrounded by an extensive forest of live wood trees that are used to train Elven soldiers. If players make a Stealth or Acrobatics check while in the forest they gain a +2 circumstance bonus
Bay of Leaves: The Bay of Leaves cuts through much of the land that makes of Cultrius and presents a natural defense for the capital city. When rolling Sailing Lore to Earn an Income the player considers a success to be one tier higher than their rolled result. A critical success is two tiers higher.
Moon Door: The Moon Door is a grand temple dedicated to Nuit. Once a month worshipers of Nuit can receive one free treatment of a status effect, healing of a wound, or removal of a curse.

Cardinal Rasseth (LG male black dragonborn Champion of Nuit) Rasseth is the head of the Cultrius chapter of Nuit
Adhana (NG elf female rogue) Leader of the Silver Finger’s rogue's guild
Lieutenant Felie (NE elf female warrior) A ranking member of the city guard and organizer of underground pit fighting events.

Maps

• 

  Cultrius

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Decorated/Honored

Leader

King Lucan 'Caracal' 'Stag' Bellrie

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Economic System

Palace economy

Currency

Cultrius coin is referred to as the Radh (leaf).

Major Exports

Textiles, Elven Paper, Fruits

Major Imports

Spices, Stone, Common and Rare Metals

Legislative Body

Cultrius had spent three decades aimlessly stumbling forward without a designated leader after the destruction that was reigned down on the capital city by the Dracolich. When the armies of Manusarja breached the eastern boarder of Cultrius the elven royal families went into hiding. Some of these royals made homes in other places, such as Alivara or Einsaung Nat, and as a result their royal lines spread into the population of those countries. During the absence of the royals the nation found itself being lead by various members of the clergy who intended to keep the nation safe while remaining passive against those that sought to take land from Cultrius. These actions of these religious figures led to a wide distrust of churches throughout all of Cultrius.
Near the end of these three decades Princess Elspeth returned to the capital to take the throne from the clergy and return the crown to the royal blood line. Princess Elspeth's presence re-established the royal control of the crown, however her own actions resulted in more devastation across the land as the Princess looked to leave the planet using the central powers of the planet. Through the actions of a group of heroes this plot was prevented, but through these heroes it was also discovered that one of them, King Lucan 'Caracal' 'Stag' Bellrie, was the next true heir to the throne.
Crowning Lucan Bellrie re-established the monarchy to Cultrius and restored power to the royal bloodlines. Since taking the throne the various royal families have slowly returned to their homeland to rebuild their ancestral homes. Support for King Bellrie has been strong with few detractors throughout the nation and the strength of the crown appears to have secured the monarchy as the ruling authority for centuries to come.

Neighboring Nations

• Dragon Wastes
• Munasarja