The Cradle

Country of the Cradle of Clay

The Cradle is a group of tribes and communities that unite under a single Shaman just north of the Human Empire. This area has dispersed populations that live in communal villages, rural towns, and large ranches that cover acres of rolling hills. Many travelers do not realize they are on the lands of wealthy ranchers or merchants because of how sprawling the landscape is. These open spaces fall under the leadership of established families, with emphasis placed on agriculture and natural magic. The clan that is most recognized boasts a prominent and long-lived line of Shamans that harness the power of the Arcane Geysers. This clan is called the Runestrike Seers, the current head of this clan is Foonro Timblekeen Narveli Runestrike Seer who is well advanced in both age and wisdom. The Grand Elder is known for their intricate storytelling ability and vast memory that contains the stories and clan histories of every elder that came before him. The elders of the Clay Giants are known to have as much oral history in their memories as an ancient Dragon has gathered throughout their lifespan.
Clans in the Cradle rise and fall in prominence due to merit and performance save for the Runestrike Seers who have been the uniting clan of the Cradle for over a thousand years. Their clan has long been the historians that chart seasons, agricultural methods, weather patterns, and larger cycles of the world that go unnoticed by other species. The duties of the Grand Elder involve the preservation of the histories and practices of the peoples that live within the Cradle and those that travel through their lands. Often, even regular clan elders will participate in a ritual with newcomers and travelers that causes them to share stories and histories through a shared visual medium using the smoke from burning Arcane Dust at a low temperature. These visions create a situation where a traveler can withhold information but they cannot present falsehoods. This ritual is highly prized among the Clay Giants because they will not record nor remember a false history.
The Cradle is bordered on the south by the Human Empire, on the north by the Neither Tundra, and on the east by the sea. It extends westward to a great bay that separates it from the Elven Kingdom. They are a major travel destination from the Human Empire and the Dwarven Kingdom because of their expertise in agriculture, animal husbandry, and their numerous exports including Arcane Dust. This item is critical in the refinement of many magical objects including weaponry, armor, scrolls, and potions.
The most common species to see in this area are Clay Giants, Centaurs, Elves, Humans, and Ursakin who live farther to the north. Species that dwell primarily in the water are rare inland due to the cold winters in this part of the world. Despite the long seasons, this area receives strong winter winds and dangerously cold temperatures during parts of the year due to its proximity to the Neither Tundra. They have lax rules on who can travel through the land depending on which clan has a presence in the area. Ranchers are often fine with people passing through as long as they stick to the main roads but have been known to make those that linger move along depending upon their disposition.

Demographics & Territory

The population of the Cradle is transient and ever-changing during the summer months, with trade and travel flowing rather freely. The Human Empire and the Dwarven Kingdom enjoy nearly unrestricted relations with this culture as ancestral neighbors. The enduring population of the Cradle is made of of 70% Clay Giants, 10% Elves, 10% Centaurs, and the remaining is a mixture of other species including Animal Kingdom races. It was once thought that the Lycanthrope clans still inhabited this area but it has since been difficult to prove. Species is a trait that means little if you belong to one of the clans, especially during the harsh winter months when there is work to be done. Dragons are a common sight in the far north, they have an interest in the Arcane Geysers and in the star reading of the Centaurs.
The Cradle is filled with sprawling rural populations that focus

Quick Facts

Population Breakdown

Clay Giants

70%

Centaurs

10%

Other Races

20%

Other Information

Specialties

Agriculture
Ranching

Common Flora

Cradled Wheat

Common Fauna

Tatanka

around ranching or geyser collectors in one way or another. Settlements are generally centered around the grand house of a Clan Elder or a prominent family in an area. It is more correct to say that Clay Giant 'towns' are really just large estates and manors that have leased land to businesses. The Cradle is geographically positioned just south of the Neither Tundra, it touches the coast with its eastern edge and nearly reaches Lake Idryl with its western. The southern border touches both the Human Empire and the Great Furnaces from which they often cut timber. Despite the large amount of land, the Cradle enjoys a quieter life and smaller concentrations of population than its neighboring countries do. Despite having a coastline, they have little interest in naval ventures due to the jagged cliffs on the eastern side of the continent, necessitating most goods be shipped over land with some exotic items coming by sea through the use of pulley systems and cliffside settlements.
Taxes are not levied or annexed centrally in the Cradle. Power is held in the large ranches and homesteads that permeate the area. Some clans tax others or lease them land in exchange for a percentage of their yield from crops, ranching, or other ventures. Others become workers on these estates that can range for miles upon miles of open land and earn a good living, some taking up residence under the roof of a clan permanently. The uniting clan, the Runestrikers have dominion over laws that apply throughout their entire country and over work efforts. They can call upon a percentage of labor from an estate in an area or within the entire Cradle to make projects happen that benefit the whole of their society or summon Warriors and unite them under a common cause. Law is enforced through the honor of Clan Elders and their influence with a sophisticated system of courts, rankings, and affluence based upon the history and merit of a clan's accomplishments.

Insignia of the Cradle

Insignia of the Cradle by Crest via Armoria, created by RiverFang

The symbol of the Cradle is the heated iron shoe. Much of their culture and commerce revolves around the herds and animals that they have raised over the vast years in the north. When the Removal of the Weak occurred among the hierarchy of Giants, the Clay Giants were initially branded as a target of oppression among their stronger kin. Despite having a high intellect, their status fell to that of Trolls and Ogres in the hierarchy which remains a source of contention. When the Clay Giants carved out their own expertise in the world, they always displayed their symbol as a heated iron shoe to symbolize the ire and drive that they felt to become something more after being trampled upon. The holes symbolize the 8 prominent clans that helped to tame the wild north and create the borders that are known today. The Runestrike Seers are not counted among these and are instead said to be the shoe itself that binds the clans together. This symbol can commonly be found on currency, chests, crates, and other surfaces that can be carved or engraved when it leaves their country as an export.

Military

Every Clay Giant sees themselves as a protector and a Warrior of their Clan. This is a great pride that has been instilled in their people since ancient times. There is no standing military in the Cradle, instead, there are functional fighting forces that are employed or trained throughout the Cradle at the expense or favor of influential clans. The more tactically minded Clan Elders often take great care to focus on their fighting forces, ensuring a great deal of training in mounted combat that makes use of the sprawling landscape in the Cradle. The largest fighting force belongs to the Runestrikers because it levies a portion of all forces employed to influential clans on a rotational basis to allow for cross-training and understanding of the myriad of relations across the country.
Each fighting force is specialized to the needs of the clan that employs them, ranging from purely Clay Giant clansmen to a mixture of mercenaries and assorted species that make their home on one of the larger ranches. Despite this, there are a few similarities across these forces including a focus on mounted combat and ambush tactics. These forces are generally led by a Shaman or a tactician who is empowered with divine magic. They often specialize in large-scale battlefield influences including terrain and weather manipulation or curses and blessings that affect wide but specific populations. They are known for meticulous planning and logistical supply of their forces that enable long, dug-in conflicts especially when it comes to defending or delaying attackers in a given area.

Foreign Relations

The Cradle has strong diplomatic ties with the Human Empire, the Elven Kingdom, and the Dwarven Kingdom. Often functioning as a northern crossroads, the Cradle has cultivated a strong trade market with the countries around it. Their farther-reaching relations include the Fairy King's Wood, Coastland, and some ocean-based settlements off the eastern coast of the mainland. They do not often send envoys to lands more distant than these as their specialties tend to have greater application on the Northern Continent itself. Their strongest relation is the Human Empire which has been their historical ally in conflicts with Giants from the north.
Most trade conducted by the Cradle takes place overland instead of using the Great Tunnel due to its geographic location. That combined with the stature of most Clay Giants means that most trade takes place traditionally through the use of caravans on the surface of the continent. If trade goes further than what can be accomplished feasibly, they will exercise trade deals with the Human Empire which has a much wider web of trade transportation.
The Cradle sends envoys to various countries that rotate on a five-year basis. These are considered diplomatic pilgrimages that enhance the relations between the Cradle and other nations. These diplomats are generally the heirs to large ranches or up-and-coming Clan Elders who need to learn about the wider world. These Clay Giants learn about new technologies, wider diplomatic webs beyond their country, and how they can improve their own country. The areas that have constant, rotating diplomatic pilgrimages are the Human Empire, the Elven Kingdom, the Dwarven Kingdom, and Coastland. They have not spread strong ties further south or across the sea to the Southern Continent because of the distance and logistical challenges involved but they are still involved in the wider global economy as the only exporter of Arcane Dust in the world. The Fairy King has recently petitioned to have his country included in such pilgrimages as well in order to allow Clay Giants access to study the ecology and possible agricultural opportunities in the Wandering Forest. The Geas that the Fairy King enacts over his land have also been a subject of interest to the Runestrikers due to how it holds sway over a large area all at once.

The Cradle does not have a seat on the High Council of the Arcane because their focus on magic is generally turned towards nature, the divine, and widespread atmospheric control. Despite this, they are considered the authority in their field when it comes to battlefield magic that determines not only the conditions but also the pace of battle as it unfolds over a large area. The study of magic is not common, often reserved for those aspiring to become Shamans or community leaders after a tradition in their clan. The most commonly saturated knowledge in the Cradle involves handling mounts and detailed knowledge of weather conditions along with their impacts on various activities.

Government Bodies

There are three levels of government in the Cradle, they are tiered from lowest to highest.

Ranchers

Those who own a sizeable amount of land, enough to graze and maintain two thousand Tatanka, are considered to have immediate authority over their land and those who live on it. Land ownership is an indicator of status, though the amount of land is the deciding factor for self-governance. Those that own less land will fall under the leadership of their Clan Elders or family elders more directly while those that meet the requirement can enforce the laws of the land and claim a banner for their own fighting forces. These Ranchers are able to carry out every penalty and judgment of the law as it concerns their land and those on it up to the point of capital punishment, which is deferred to Clan Elders and their higher court systems.
Ranchers are not able to enter into formal contracts with organizations or other countries without the approval of their Clan Elder. It is heavily emphasized that they are able to speak for no one but themselves when they travel abroad. In conflicts, their fighting forces may be summoned by Clan Elders or they may be allotted tasks to assist in the improvement of the country by Clan Elders. Ranchers have the ability to lease parts of their land and levy taxes in accordance with the laws of their clan.

Clan Elders

For those that are at the head of a minor or major clan, there is no requirement to own a certain amount of land but it is often an expectation that they own the most influential ranch in their clan. There are many clans and several branches that exist throughout the Cradle, all of them have someone who is acknowledged as an elder whether it be patriarch or matriarch. They are responsible for overseeing the activities of all ranchers and estates that fall under their family name. These elders can enforce laws and hold court hearings, the level of court is dictated by the amount of power and affluence awarded to them by the Runestrike Seers which can range from lower courts that handle offenses up to those deserving capital punishment among their citizens to higher courts that deal with international affairs and punishments for those that do not belong to their country. Clan Elders can levy special instructions about how fighting forces are trained and direct the priorities of ranches and estates that directly belong to their clan.
This status is often seen as equal to those who become diplomats for the country because Clan Elders can enter into deals with organizations and entities outside of the country, while they cannot make promises on behalf of other clans, they can freely support agreements within their level of influence without oversight. In conflicts, they are often logistical hubs that can account for large formations of organized fighting forces and run many battlefield logistics even if they are incapable of taking to the battlefield themselves. Clan Elders have the ability to alter leases, contracts, and change taxes as long as they do not clash with overarching laws of the country.

Grand Elder

The head of the Runestrike Seers Clan is often referred to as the Grand Elder, they have all the qualifications and experience of a regular Clan Elder but they are tasked with looking after the country as a whole. Much of the Runestrike Seers Clan is devoted to treating the entire country as if it were part of their clan and advising the elders. This position passes to the most qualified member of the family upon the passing of the current Grand Elder. Some Clay Giants have been appointed to this position during the prime of their life though none have taken it as a youth. As the uniting member of all clans, the Grand Elder has dominion over laws and courts that preside throughout the Cradle and can change them through organized processes and councils convened with the major Clan Elders. They can also direct a percentage of labor and materials from the estates within the land for projects and efforts that benefit the whole of the country such as roads, dams, defenses, diplomatic pilgrimages, and fighting forces during times of conflict.
The Grand Elder also sets the merit and precedence of other clans, judging their level of influence by their accomplishments and historical merit. Moving up or down in station in the Cradle is not an easy task as it often takes many generations of consistent growth or success for a clan to gain recognition beyond economic success. The Grand Elder also stands as an appeal of last resort in extreme court cases of high controversy and is the only one with the authority to meet leaders of foreign countries and make agreements on behalf of the Cradle.

Founding Date

195,000 IM

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Leader

Foonro Timblekeen Narveli Runestrike Seer

Ruling Organization

Runestrike Seers Clan

Leader Title

Grand Elder

Government System

Tribalism

Power Structure

Federation

Official State Religion

Pantheons of Isekai

Location

Cradle of Clay

Official Languages

• Common

Related Traditions

• Tatanka Roundup

Related Ranks & Titles

• Grand Elder

Controlled Territories

• Arcane Geysers
• Campfire
• Cradle of Clay
• Hills of Vollan
• Igloos of Clay
• Tabled Tale
• Tantes Hollow

Neighboring Nations

• Dwarven Kingdom
• Elven Kingdom
• Human Empire

Related Items

• Cradle-Fed Beef

Notable Members

• Mokan Dawnleader Elananathi

Related Species

• Clay Giants

Related Ethnicities

• Clay Giant Culture

Related Historical Events

• 4000 IM to 3500 IM
  Giant Wars
• 5000 IM
  Line of the Tundra
• 139,000 IM
  Naming of a New Shaman
• 148,000 IM
  Export of Arcane Dust Begins
• 152,000 IM
  First Appearance of the Tatanka
• 160,000 IM to 159,700 IM
  Axiom's Gaze
• 165,000 IM
  Domestication of the Tante
• 180,000 IM
  Domestication of the Black Stout
• 181,700 IM
  The Great Fire
• 194,900 IM
  First Relations
• 194,975 IM to 194,970 IM
  Building of the Arena at the Hills of Vollan
• 195,000 IM
  Settlement of the Cradle
• 200,000 IM
  Removal of the Weak

Religion

This area worships Rerena as its primary deity as the goddess of agriculture, it is said she has acted as their patron deity since the Removal of the Weak. It is said that the first Runestrike Seer met with Rerena and acted as a Shaman of her religion, where the Clay Giants cultivated an immense amount of wisdom in how to care for crops and animals. Other popular deities in the area include Ygg, Dern, and Lycana who are often worshipped as adjacent deities that deal with harvest and nature. The Pantheon of Life is considered to be the most important one in this area due to the ancestral ties of the Clay Giants. Small temples in this area will be exclusively dedicated to Rerena and cared for by an appointment family member of a Clan Elder who has an interest in divine study while large temples are dedicated more broadly to the Pantheon of Life with an area set aside for the worship of Dern due to the relation that the Cradle has with the Human Empire. Small temples are found on most estates while Clan Elders maintain temples on their larger ranches as a general rule. The iconography of Rerena or other Pantheon of Life deities is displayed often as a muted or background design, often in faded colors or as pieces of other tapestries and artwork that include the Tatanka and native landscapes.

Currency

The specific currency used within the Standard Metal Value system for the Cradle is called Shoes. Instead of being shaped like a round or edged coin, these are actually small shoes made of various metals. The Clay Giants are also the only country that makes an oversized coin due to their stature which have been divided into two denominations, small Shoes that are the same weight and approximate size as a coin from other countries and regular Shoes that are ten times the weight of a small one. These regular Shoes have the weight to equal ten coins from their neighboring countries.
These coins are common to find in countries throughout the Northern Continent, most prominently in the Human Empire and more recently common in Coastland. The coins are not widely collected, despite having a unique shape they do not display dates or craftsmanship marks. The reason is that any clan can mint their own coins from metal in their possession, so in the effort of favoring no clan there are no identifying marks. It is not uncommon for denominations of high value to be blessed by a divine magic practitioner and hung over the inside of a door to the main house of a clan. This coin is often a gift to mark a meeting between two important friends or a promise between two people. Breaking that relation or promise is said to result in cracking the coin in half and causing misfortune to befall the clan for a season while maintaining it is said to bring prosperity and good luck.