Rel'Thalla

The Land of Strife

Once a proud, humble nation, Rel'Thalla is now a kingdom in crisis. War with Shikego has decimated the south-western regions, yet its King, Mhen'L, refuses to broker a peace with the attackers. In its desperation, it has awakened an ancient religion, but the tide of the war is not yet turning.

Description
Rel'Thalla is a large kingdom in the South-western region of the Shattered Earth. It borders Syndahl and the Blasted Lands to the West and the North, Imargi to the East, and is separated from the islands of Shikego  to the South by the Shikegan Channel. A rugged, mountainous region, Rel'Thalla's landscape is hard, which has created a sturdy and proud people.

It is home to a few landmarks of note, including one of the Dvar Secludes, Lost Barak-Kath, so named as many of its deepest chambers have been lost, either to cave-ins or incursions from Lost Slai. One of the most unusual landmarks in the country is the Obsidian Tower, a ruin which nobody ventures near.

The Capitol of Rel'Muuta is a sprawling city built across a dozen hills, naturally segregating the capitol into distinct districts. The naturally rough landscape lends itself to defensible locations, yet the Rel'Thallan people were not, until recently, warlike in nature. Since the war with Shikego, the Rel'Thallan border has been pushed back from the southern coast as the nation has lost more and more ground to their opponents.

Culture
Rel'Thallan people are hardy and proud, and the war with Shikego has hit them hard. Four years of war have taken their toll on the nation, and its inhabitants have little hope that the war will end well. Their King, Mhen'L, languishes in what many believe to be madness, reawakening ancient religions in the hope that it will turn the tide of the war, as he refuses to back down and begin peace negotiations. Mhen'L has no heirs, and the uncertainty of the war and the future of the throne weighs heavily on the people.

Despite this, Rel'Thallan are still grimly determined, facing their fate with steel eyes. Because the nation's military is in disarray, Mercenaries are a common sight in Rel'Thalla, with many encampments scattered across the midlands and southern regions of the nation.

Worship of Betenn the Fell Blade has become widespread since the King's decree, and most towns and homes now have shrines to the Lord of War. These are usually plain and unadorned, the focus being the likeness of the ceremonial sword supposedly worn by Betenn.

Appearance
Rel'Thallan people are generally short and stocky, with tan skin and a reddish hue. Brown hair is common, though some have blonde or dark hair, though red is rare. They tend to have thick, coarse hair, and men often wear beards or stubble.

Clothing is usually plain and simple, with linen, hemp, and woollen vests and trousers being common, women sometimes wearing dresses. Most are plainly coloured, though wealthier families dye their clothing simple earthen hues.

Nobles and Courtiers tend to eschew bright or rich colours for their finer, tailored suits, which are fashionably practical in cut and style. It is not uncommon for nobles – men and women alike – to wear full or partial suits of armour, emblazoned with family colours.

Notable Locations
●       Rel'Muuta

●       Lookout Mountains

●       Lost Barak-Kath

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 0cm;margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -17.95pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"><span style="text-indent:-17.95pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">●       Watch

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-17.95pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">

Notable Inhabitants
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 0cm;margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -17.95pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Arial">●       King Mhen'L

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 0cm;margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -17.95pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"><span style="text-indent:-17.95pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">●       Bulwine

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-17.95pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">