User:Terrorblades/Sandbox/Luiren

" Luiren: a realm of lush, bucolic farmlands, with pipesmoking, contented and well-fed halflings as the masters of all."

- Volo

Luiren (or slurred by humans into Llurien or lurien) was known as the land of the halflings since its population was almost completely comprised of their race. In 1372 DR it was a small kingdom with a population of about 839,000. Travelers to Luiren were often surprised to find the locals adventurous and bold as opposed to the fat and quiet Halflings one could find elsewhere. The capital city of Luiren was considered to be Beluir, a coastal city with the largest population in country, the largest temple to Yondalla and a gathering point for foreign dignitary's.

Halflings of Luiren spoke Luiric.

Geography
Luiren was a coastal country with coastline on the Great Sea. Most of the coastal area was made up of plains, but heavy forests took up the northern, north eastern and western areas. To the north the country was covered with the Toadsquat Mountains that lead to the Endless Wastes, other than that the country was filled with thick forests, bumbling plains of good soil and coasts, and the Swamp to the south. The mountains of Luiren caused it to rain allot more than its eastern and western neighbors, especially around the winter season when it slowed trade but feed the plains. (?Source?) Prior to 328 DR Lluirwood was not separated in a norther and a southern part, as the forests central part had yet to be cut down for lumber and the new trade rout.

Most of the non-forest or swampland of the land is filled with rich farming soil that produced many different crops and foodstuffs.

Society
Halfings have no real class system or official leadership, it has a reasonably sized middle class of artisans, bakers and merchants. The once that others might deem upper class would be the wealthy merchant families. The only type of leadership in the country is religions a especially Yondalla, the nurturing matriarch. Most Luireners loved gambling with dice or cards or playing strategy games and the cities where filled with them. Boardgames also saw a rise before the spellplague.

The most popular religions in Luiren where that of Yondalla's Children and so the unofficial leader of the country was the Devout voice of Yondolla. The faithful Arvoreen where also very numerous and there priests held many points of political power.

Economy
Luiren traded allot of foodstuff to the rest of the world, many boats left with food to feed many parts of the world, even reaching as far as the Sword Coast. A great amount of trade was made with the dwarfs of the Great Rift, most of the sea trade was done by Durpar merchants and the remainder trade was taken by caravan to Dambrath.

Trade
Trade between the peoples of Luiren was done by a bartering system, and thus the people did not feel the need for a coinage. Because of the bartering system money was mostly used to trade with outsiders, some people might spend years without seeing a coin.

Culinary
The country use to have a large amount of the Glael slug, but they were harvested nearly to extinction for there "Squirmhard". The "Squirmhard" is used to gel the jellies and Glael flesh is rubbery something that the Hin love. Fruit jellies have come to become very popular as many food items tend to rot in that damp and hot corner of the Realms as people bake them into jellies. These Fruit Jellies saw wide distribution even as far as Sembia or Waterdeep, and have grown to be common in Calimshan, Tethyr and Amn. Several foodstuffs and drinks have the Lurien name sake and most were made in the country.
 * Luiren's Best: a ale from the Smokardin clan of the coast.
 * Luiren spring cheese: a drug for the Halflings and a less palatable cheese to humans
 * Luiren Rivengut: A type of Whisky.

Forbidden trade
The mayor, people and clergy of Beluir have stood firmly against a Thayan trade enclave. The Red wizards have inquired several times about the ability to build a trade post but the Luirener have denied them everytime.

Legacy
Before the fall of Myth Drannor the land of Luiren and Estagund was was covered in a mighty forest called Lluirwood. It was ruled by ogres that terrorized the Hin of Luirenstrand whom prayed for salvation. Deliverance came with Kaldir Swiftfoot, he encountered the mighty avatar of Vaprak, first provoking the ogre until he chased him for ten days and ten nights. The ogre collapsed from fatigue and Kaldir challenged him to a test of strength, angered Vaprak agreed to the test and a deal. The test was to lift a tree from the earth and not damage the roots but if the ogre won the Hin would leave and the ogres would have the woods. If Kaldir won the ogre's would leave to the mountains and the Hin would have the forests. Vaprak agreed and after many failures, Swiftfoot got his turn. He took a small sapling and carefully removed it to spare the lone tap root. The avatar now beaten, shaking and howling with anger got to know Kaldirs true identity - he was Brandobaris. The ogre torn with rage, left with the ogres for Toadsquat Mountains. This came to be known as how Brandobaris won the Luiren for the Hin.

Founding
In around -6000 DR human Scouts reported a discovery of 3 different tribes of Halflings living in approximately the Luiren areas these tribes where The Lightfoot, The Strongheart and the Ghostwise. The tribes defended their areas passionately for hundreds of years against intruders like Gnolls or Dambrathan barbarian raids, but between the tribes there was peace, but every so often bad blood would arise.

Ghost Wars
In around -102 DR a cleric of Malar named Desva gained power with the Ghostwise and began corrupting them, worshipping the Beastlord and revelling in violence and bloodshed. The Ghostwise became feral and stalked Lluirwood hunting for Hin prey, in time they gained more powers of Malar and the greatest among them became Werewolfs. For a generation the forest was a place of death, but in -64 DR the Strongheart and the Lightfoot united under the Strongheart Chand to fight the evil of the Ghostwise this started the Hin Ghostwar. After three years of fighting and Desva dead the war was over, few of the original number Ghostwise had survived and they were exiled. The Ghostwise that left Desva and Malar was allow to stay, moving to Chondalwood vowing not to speak until they had atoned for very long they took care of ever speaking. The vicious and horrendous slaughter of war and acts of the Strongheart left many Lightfoot to leave the land to become nomads. This left Luiren for a majority of Stronghearts whom unbound by the other tribes moved from nomadism to deforesting and agriculture over the generations turning to semi-permanent settlements. After that age came times of city foundings, population and mercantile growth even fending off a Merrow attack in 148 DR that destoyed half of Chethel and Ogres that pillaged the north for 3 years after being defeated at the battle of Three stumps in 450 DR.

Dambrath occupation
in 546 DR the Arkaiun barbarians invaded and enslaved a majority of the country, this occupation lasted till 554 DR when the King Reinhar I of Dambrath was slain in Halruaa and Luiren regained freedom. Because of the invasion and to insure the safety of the country "The Marchwardens" where founded in 572 DR, a first line of defence force. There aid was needful to repel invaders like the Crinti barbarian invasion in 922 DR that was repelled after three days of fighting. There aid and that of the Ghostwise was also instrumental in defeating the evil druid Voolad Espiral in 1264 DR. Amongst the lessened danger from old rivals a new enemy, the Yuan-ti, appeared in 709 DR at the center of southern Lluirwood. Creating a portal to their capital of Ss’yin’tia’saminass they captured stray Halfling and take them back to experiment. Marchwardens were weary of the area but did know of the threat.

Pre Spellplague era
In 1373 DR the country saw less danger from the old enemy of Dambrath but still did not lost there guard against them. The Ogres of the Toadsquats had learned from conflict with the Marchwardans that the Halflings are a formidable foes, and so have lessened there attacks.

Spellplague
As of 1479 DR a result of the Spellplague, the entirety of Luiren was submerged in the Great Sea and was thereafter called the Gulf of Luiren. The open seabed came to be home to creatures of the sea like Sahuagin, aquatic ogres and trolls and the ghosts of the former halfling residents of Luiren.

The second sundering
In the century after the disaster, in the era of the Second Sundering the sea receded back and stories have been told of Halfling communities surviving on islands.

Religion
All of Yondalla's Children were honoured in the realm, but some gods where more favoured than others among the Halfling folk groups. The most passionate following was that of Arvoreen, as his views on the defence of the realm matched their own. Arvoreenian clerics also held many seats of power in the realm. Yondalla is the second most popular god as her views of home and security draw many to her, viewing her as wise. Another group of hin favoured Sheela Peryroyl, most of these are Rangers and Druids. To many in the realm the following and the teachings of Cyrrollalee was odd, she sought for her followers to establish a Hin nation, which Luiren was in their eyes. Many priests found them self's as the spiritual leaders and secular leaders functioning also to settle disputes and provide healing. The priests of the land held no official power but still had influence.

Defence
The defence of Luiren before the Spellplague can be defined in four general ways: land, naval, outsiders and diplomacy.

Land
Luirens land defence forces are built upon Marchwardens and militia, the Marchwardens guide the militia and together they defend the land viciously. The defenders would usually employ guerrilla tactics enabling them to crush a invader, especially in the forested areas. This was used for example against a Keltar invasion of 180 000 men that faced the Luiren force of less than a 1000. The Keltar force lead by General Krastarian engaged the Luiren force in the forest and brush, the Luireners shot arrows and flung stones from safe distances and devastated the enemy. Finely the forest was put ablaze by the invasion force, the defenders safely fled the danger area. Krastarian wanted to return to Luiren with a larger force, but was executed instead. This heroic victory granted many years of peace for Luiren.

Beluir is not only large but it also houses allot of wardens and militia, it's also well defended and its mayor Calcitro Burrow is also known to have slain two Hill giants single handedly. The giants turned out to be drunken ogres but he is still a able fighter.

Naval
The coasts are largely defended by friendly Corsairs whom get a cut from the country's trade, the lesser part by a Halfling independent "navy".

Outsiders
On other occasions other defences where used or appeared, at some point there was a Doppelganger infestation that was repelled with mercenaries and friendly mages. Unexpectedly Halruaan mages have appeared to obliterate two invasions at two separate times (Shaar Nomads and a pirate fleet) to then only disappear again. This sent a clear message that caused major raids on Lurien to end.

Diplomacy
Due to Luriens wealth of trade they could force a aggressive and expansive Dambrath to get in trouble with Durpar, Estagund and Var should they attack.

Orders
There were several orders or different types that are based or created in the realm that where known to exists before the Spellplague:
 * Crusaders of Arvoreen: A order of Crusaders and Warblades who follow Arvoreen.
 * Hin Fist: Was an order of Halfling monks whom focus on using the discipline "Setting sun". It focused on turning weakness to strength and to have the opposite effect for the enemy.
 * Hin Blades of Brandobaris: Was an order of Brandobaris that where trouble causing Bloodstorm Blades based in Beluir, whom also would go to the aid of the country when needed.
 * Knights of the Hound: A Urogalan order that preformed funereal functions and preserved funeral traditions and to have a stable point during disasters.

Settlements

 * Ammathluir • Beluir • Chethel • Crimel • Ojannath/Djannath • Fasriul • Krenalir • Shoun • Thruldar

Geographical areas

 * Lluirwood • Luirenstrand • Southern Lluirwood • Mortick Swamp • Quelthiir • Toadsquat Mountains