Valtameri

Valtameri is an archipelago world consisting of hundreds of islands, many of which are populated by the civilized races. The large seas are mostly uncharted, and dozens of islands are mysterious or unknown.

The race of elves rules the civilized world, having conquered humankind and other races over millenia ago. Humans, dwarves, and halflings are mostly second-class citizens in the elven kingdoms. These “lesser races” occupy a number of dangerous and difficult professions, making up the bulk of the agricultural and labor classes. They also comprise a majority of the poor and, as might be expected, number many among the criminal legions.

A Brief History

The Ancient Ones were a mysterious progenitor civilization who created the dwarf, elf, and human races over four millennia ago. Their physical appearance is unknown, but they are described and depicted as very tall and supernaturally strong humanoids. Intellectually, they were almost as gods, founding most of the arts and sciences as they are known today.

The elves were a race gifted with magical and mental abilities beyond those of humans and dwarves. History teaches that through magic the elves attained longevity and grew powerful, eventually overthrowing the Ancient Ones. Alternately, some teach that the Ancient Ones simply went away and may someday return.

The elves soon conquered and dominated the other civilizations, creating the elven kingdoms. Many of the “lesser races” were subjugated in slavery, a condition that persisted for many centuries. Humans and dwarves are no longer enslaved but are second-class citizens throughout the kingdoms.

The elven kingdoms are constantly in conflict, with shifting political allegiances and military alliances, and war with an alarming regularity. The “lesser races” are sometimes conscripted into armies, where honorables service may grant them full citizenship. Full citizenship accords one the right to own property, become a licensed merchant, and rise in social status.

Humans, dwarves, and halflings form a multifaceted subculture within the elven kingdoms. There is very little interaction between elves and the lesser races

Religion

Religion, like a lot of "high culture," is mostly an elven thing. Humans, halflings, and dwarves have their own beliefs, of course, but they do not tend to be serious or fanatical about it. Mostly because elves are serious and fanatical about religion, and many elves use religion to justify the enslavement and second-class status of non-elves. For this reason a great many non-elves tend be be "agnostic," and any non-elven religion tends to be localized to specific islands.