#netherscape

In a region of the multiverse known as the Netherscape, a plane known as Briarthorne floats through the aether. It is a plane of seclusion, freedom, and the unknown. Small towns and villages dot the landscape, large plantations stand against ancient forests, roving bands of rangers roam the plains, and great schooners float in the sky high above.

On Briarthorne, there are five distinct groups of denizens, each aligned with a wedge of colors from the MTG color pie. Today will be a brief introduction to all five, with more in-depth introductions starting next week.

Roaming Rangers (White, Red & Black) - Honor and Justice. These are the bywords of the rangers of the plains. Working together in small bands of 5-20, they ride throughout the lands seeking to uphold the law. They act swiftly, raining down punishment on the perceived wrong-doers. Although they are often seen as vigilantes by the other denizens of the plane, most people accept their decisions as binding. The Rangers have some skill with communing with the spirits of the deceased, and it has been said that, in times of great need, the spirits of fallen Rangers are recruited to aid in seeking justice.

The Living Archive (Blue, Green & Red) - Truth and Understanding. In the forgotten corners of Briarthorne, huge cities lay in ruins. The Living Archive is made up of a small set of adventures who are seeking out an understanding of the people who came before. Finding this truth is important to the Archive, because, according to their current research, it is unclear how these ancient cities became destitute so quickly. Research can be sporadic at times, as sites will sometimes be abandoned when a new site is discovered and the chance to learn something new is made available.

The Manors (Black, White & Green) - Ambition and Wealth. Between the unending plains and the unyielding forests, the Manors stand in the middle of enormous plantations. These agricultural centers provide most of the food for the Briarthorne, an fact that has led the Manor heads to become extremely wealthy and competitive. The manors are often headed by vampires, who grow not only grain, fruit, and cattle  for trade, but the very workers for their own sustenance. Wealth is power in the community, the wealthiest manor family holding sway over the others in regional conflicts.

Schooners in the Sky (Red, Blue & White) - Freedom and Adventure. The sailors of the sky schooners are the main traders of Briarthorne; however, this trading is done not to build up wealth. It maintains their lifestyle of freedom and puts just enough in their coffers to buy the next round of bumbat.  Each ship is autonomous and conflicts between crews are dealt with in a very frontier manner- might is right. With the ships being air-born, the crews also are connected to storms and have mages who specialize in channeling lightning and understanding patterns in the weather.

Path of the Ancients (Green, Black & Blue) - Harmony and the Natural World. When the Ancient cities were discovered, this clan grew as denizens of Briarthorne began to live the old ways. Those who practice the Path leave behind the towns and cities and live in small groups off in the wilds. They have developed an acute knowledge of medicinal uses of plants, and they are sought out as healers and shamans by the less believing. This understanding of nature and its interaction with humanoid biology has also led itself in the opposite direction of healing; assassination through poison. ‘Path potions’ have found their way into many a glass of those who have been deemed as those who have upset the balance of nature.