NationStates Jolt Archive


Antanjyl Factbook (Fantasy)

Antanjyl
05-04-2008, 08:05
The Dark Empire of Antanjyl
(Common Nicknames: The Terrorlands/The Dark Empire of Galf/Empire of Devils)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/galf.gif
"I intend to take this world!"
~Emperor Galf~

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/Swiss20Alps.jpg
The Pogwom Mountains, A vast mountain range surrounding Antanjyl

A land of vicious raiders and demon-worshiping cults, a place where dark knights and corrupted paladins mow down the weak and offer up the young and vulnerable to their forbidden masters for sacrifice. Where the land is so cold, that even mens' hearts have frozen over, to better allow them to cope with the unforgiving landscape and their own greedy whims. A land where even the bravest paladin scurries for shelter at night like a mere vermin, for here is one of the few places where the demons of the world have yet to be forced out; these creatures are pact-bound to the land, granted to them through blasphemous pacts from a time forgotten by only the oldest of devils. This is Antanjyl, a castaway land hidden deep to the far North, across the sea, while simultaneously hidden within the deepest portion of every man's heart...


Society

The various people of Antanjyl ranging from the barbaric hordes and viking tribes to the regimented, heavily trained knights and paladins, all value one thing above all else; they value the awe-inspiring power of fear and terror, knowing first-hand the great power that can be attained from them. For they too are controlled by their fear of their own superiors, and the priests, shamans, and wizards who stalk the landscape, consorting with demons and sacrificing those they see fit in horrific rites and obscene rituals. Though all of these groups still appear to be disorganized, there are two distinct groups of them.

The civilized portions of Antanjyl are the exception rather than the rule, generally formed under the behest of the true demonic rulers of Antanjyl. It is in these large cities where some of the largest and most glorious temples to the evil gods are created, and the birthplace of the highly trained dark and unholy knights form regimented armies and units. Most long-term forays into lands outside of Antanjyl are led by these men.

The various tribes of vikings and hordes of barbarians are constantly fighting with one another, and are generally much more fragmented without a strong leader, usually a knight or some sort of shaman or wizard. They lack much in the way of well-ordered magical traditions aside from the occasional shaman, and so magic is usually used by leaders to quell them and bring them together under a single being.

Above all of these groups lies the undisputed God-King of Antanjyl, the Demon Galf, although he prefers that all of the various monsters and more horrifying creatures be called "Ogres", as apparently the word has a significant significance for the land. Galf himself rules a massive blackened fortress rising out of the gluttonous excesses of the capital city of Antalia, the only city in Antanjyl where the occasional demon or devil can be seen walking in broad daylight(That isn't looking for an easy meal).


Geography

The lands of Antanjyl are thankfully isolated from most of the world, accessible from only narrow mountain passes, and by the vast frozen northern seas and glacier-clogged fjords. Beneath all of this are ancient caves from before the time of man, and creatures which defy even the most maddened man's nightmares! Only the swiftest ships can make it in and out of Antanjyl, almost invariably by going down the fast flowing mountain rivers, using specially made ships only known only to the raiders of this land.


~Major Cities~

There are currently three major cities of note in the Empire of Antanjyl; Antalia, Mosperiburg, and Kinshash. They are all built in the typical Antanjylian city style, fortress-like and heavily walled, the streets positioned like a maze. This is to help defend them, but from the large towers which are apparent in these constructs, they form strange archaic patterns in the landscape. Likewise, all cities in Antanjyl, and most large towns, have at least one huge tower which houses the local lord.

Antalia: Built in North Eastern fringes of Antanjyl, the capital of Antalia is a dark masterpiece of excess. Carved on a plateau overlooking a geothermal hotspot, there is actually a small amount of foliage dotting the black city. Surrounded on all sides by massive, as of yet incomplete walls, the most striking landmark is the large black palace, which bathes a dark glow on the large population living here.

Mosperiburg (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/saga_place08.jpg): The religious seat of the Empire, Mosperiburg is built in the center of the Empire, and houses mostly monks and nuns of the religion, along with their progeny and slaves. The most notable feature here is the large step-like religious complex, which sits just outside of Mosperiburg itself. The slaves here are some of the most devout, and most would die for the gods which they believe watch over them always.

Kinshash: The largest port in Antanjyl, Kinshash is located along the South-Western tip of Antanjyl, and has thus been the point most attacked by outsiders. It is because of these reasons that there is perhaps no city better defended than this one, and a fleet of massive warships are constantly nearby in case of trouble. This is also the point of arrival for most of the slaves entering Antanjyl, as it is here where the slaves are sold and dispersed throughout the land to be used for a variety of purposes from pleasure to sacrifice.


~Religion~

For information on Antanjyl's Religion, as written by the prophet Rashidi, go here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=465218).


~Military~

Antanjyl's was machine is a mesh of a wide variety of different fighting groups, ranging from the vicious tribal berserkers and orderly knights to the vicious viking raiders and cutthroat pirates. Combine this with the overly harsh geography and inaccessible nature of Antanjyl itself, and simply wiping the entire lot of them out with a conventional army seems at best, highly doubtful. Even hardened Antanjylian warriors occasionally go missing along the treacherous trails and forests of the lands, whats left of them occasionally turning up again weeks later.

Example of one of Antanjyl's Holy Knights. (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/silent-hill.jpg)

Typical Dark Knights of Galf. (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Kutulmak/12319.jpg)

((I might come up with some hard numbers and data soon, but for the time being this is all you get.))