|
I'm trying to work out some details in the back stories of two of my Pathfinder Society characters from Kyonin and the neighboring River Kingdoms. I have the Inner Sea World Guide, but not Elves of Golarion, which may talk about some of this stuff. I'm not sure what other books to check.
One is an elf from Kyonin who is snobby about his heritage and looks down on other races. I put him in the Sovereign Court faction for variety, and because it seems to fit his snobby attitude. From the Inner Sea World Guide, I know that Kyonin is a monarchy ruled by a queen, but it doesn't mention nobility below that level. I'm sort of assuming there's a noble class, so I can say my guy is from a minor noble family. Can anyone clarify that?
My second PC from the area is a half-elf. How are they viewed in Kyonin, and the nearby sections of the River Kingdoms? Do the elves of Kyonin accept them?How would most Kyonin elves view those who date other races? If she started dating an elf from Kyonin as a young adult, would his family and friends mostly reject her for not being a pure elf?
Also for that second character, given Kyonin's isolationist nature, how much interaction does it have with neighboring countries? I'm leaning towards saying my character grew up in the River Kingdoms, though her elven parent was from nearby Kyonin. Would the elves engage in trade with the River Kingdoms? I need a good excuse for how her parents met, as well as for her own interactions with Kyonin elves prior to becoming an adventurer. Meeting through merchant trading along the rivers would be the easy answer, if Kyonin isn't too isolationist to trade with its neighbors that way.
These are all great questions. Elves of Golarion is considered a bit retconned at this point, so you might want to check out Inner Sea Races for more information on the elves of Kyonin. If you don't have it, you can just rule in the manner you think works best for your Golarion. It sounds like you're on the right track, just fold the corners in and tie it with a bow.
Read Queen of Thorns.
|
|
I can't just rule what's best in "my" Golarion. As mentioned in the first post, this is for Pathfinder Society. It's a shared world based on Paizo publications.
Mudfoot, I really don't have much free time to do a ton of reading right now. If that book covers some of these types of issues, can you recap the highlights of how it affects my questions?
I'm sort of assuming there's a noble class, so I can say my guy is from a minor noble family. Can anyone clarify that?
There is a noble class. Nobility plays a major role in Kyonin. I had this impression from Second Darkness AP and description of locations of Kyonin. Riverspire, by the way, is populated almost entirely by one BIG family (which is thousands of elves).
Majority of high-ranking nobles are part of Winter Council, the elven shadow government. Considering that conservatism is very strong in noble circles, and possible radicalization of regrouped Winter Council (they had a crippling blow in SD AP) there is a possibility of infight between them and Queen with her loyalist, who support some liberalization of their policies.How are they viewed in Kyonin, and the nearby sections of the River Kingdoms? Do the elves of Kyonin accept them?How would most Kyonin elves view those who date other races? If she started dating an elf from Kyonin as a young adult, would his family and friends mostly reject her for not being a pure elf?
Half-elves in Kyonin are sent to live in Erages. From its description - "Erages' population is almost entirely half-elven, who live in virtual exile from the rest of the country." From it, I draw not a happy picture full of elvish love towards half-bloods. They are probably tolerated, but restricted to the limits of their town. And there are rumors that half-elves in Erages plan to rebel against elvish nobility.
About other races who date elves - I think elves in Kyonin view them as nothing more serious than a side "adventure". Men will enjoy the attention from human women, but with a "nothing serious between us" attitude (elvish ambassador in Korvosa is an example). Family, from elf part, wouldn't even notice his/her "lover". Of course, if the said elf pushes, trying to introduce his significant other to his family, I think he will be labeled as a "black sheep" instantly.given Kyonin's isolationist nature, how much interaction does it have with neighboring countries? ... Would the elves engage in trade with the River Kingdoms?
Not much interaction. Greengold from its description is "the only official entry point into the elvish kingdom for non-elves". Only diplomats can enter further in Kyonin. Others are restricted to the limits of the city. So all-official and mass trade happens in Greengold.
Druma wants the fertile plains on the other side of the river, which separates them from Kyonin. Razmiran holds elves as heretics, because Razmir said that they didn't give the secret of immortality to humans (border skirmishes happen). Galt with its crazy revolutionism is no better. The best relationships they have are with dwarfs and Andoran. With the first because of trade and possibly common enemy in Tanglebriar), and with the second - I suspect its Queens initiative, considering how traditionalist are the nobles in Kyonin. With River Kingdoms... They mostly want to secure an alliance with Kyonin (in which Kyonin isn't particularly interested). If I remember correctly, they have some interest in Gralton (maybe because Gralton is made of exiled galtans who want their country back and stable). Have a colony in Hymbria, which was created for the plan of retaking Sevenarches (and where they send all malcontents and political opponents). Moreover, they want Sevenarches back from the neighboring River Kingdom.I hope, I helped with this wall of text written in mine rusty english.)
I can't just rule what's best in "my" Golarion. As mentioned in the first post, this is for Pathfinder Society. It's a shared world based on Paizo publications.
Mudfoot, I really don't have much free time to do a ton of reading right now. If that book covers some of these types of issues, can you recap the highlights of how it affects my questions?
Practice your google fu and work on your manners then.
My second PC from the area is a half-elf. How are they viewed in Kyonin, and the nearby sections of the River Kingdoms? Do the elves of Kyonin accept them?How would most Kyonin elves view those who date other races? If she started dating an elf from Kyonin as a young adult, would his family and friends mostly reject her for not being a pure elf?
Elves reaction to half-elves is complicated, and there are a wide variety or responses. Most elves look to half-elves with pity considering their considerably shorter life-spans. Most half-elves in Kyonin live in the town of Erages, and are not welcome in the rest of the kingdom. A Kyonin elf who dated a half-elf would not be that unusual, but would probably not be interested in anything permanent or serious, as the elf would outlive his or her spouse (and any resulting children) by centuries. Followers of Callistria would have an easier time with this, however.
Also for that second character, given Kyonin's isolationist nature, how much interaction does it have with neighboring countries? I'm leaning towards saying my character grew up in the River Kingdoms, though her elven parent was from nearby Kyonin. Would the elves engage in trade with the River Kingdoms? I need a good excuse for how her parents met, as well as for her own interactions with Kyonin elves prior to becoming an adventurer. Meeting through merchant trading along the rivers would be the easy answer, if Kyonin isn't too isolationist to trade with its neighbors that way.
Kyonin is very isolationist, but there is some trade through Greengold. There is, however, an elven colony in the River Kingdoms called Hymbria, so that could be a very plausible place to have grown up.
All of this info can be found in PathfinderWiki.com
Mudfoot, I really don't have much free time to do a ton of reading right now. If that book covers some of these types of issues, can you recap the highlights of how it affects my questions?
The whole book is set in Kyonin and features several of the nobility so it gives you a good feel for the place and its people. In brief, they're isolationist, snobby and arrogant. It doesn't say anything about the River Kingdoms.
Anyway, it's a good book (like Dave Gross's other books) so you won't regret it.
Is there any info on how the various fey creatures are treated in the Kingdom? Are they confined to specific places or allowed to live alongside the elves?
Would elven born aasimars, tieflings, genie-kins or skinwalker also be confined to Erages?
I thought I heard somewhere that a small colony of Lashunta can be found in the area.
I would like to see what the elves of Kyonin think of other races (outside core). Though I am sure they dislike tielflings and are fine with aasimar(well at least the ones that look like elves anyway).
I don't have my books to check the info from pathfinderwiki, but this is what it has on the matter of fey population in Kyonin:
"The (Fierani) forest is home to a wide variety of fey, who the local elves treat with a mixture of respect and caution. Treants, Giant Owls and satyrs are also quite common".
And about elvish views on other races:
"Kyonin is considered the spiritual homeland of the elven people; as such, many elves are steadfastly opposed to the idea of non-elves living in Kyonin. Some extremely conservative groups, such as the Winter Council, are known to be violent in their opposition.
Unlike the Forlorn, the elves of Kyonin have no desire to live amongst non-elves, despite the many cultural and technological advances humanity has achieved in the last few thousand years. In the eyes of the Kyonin elves, human cultures and religions are simply too diverse and chaotic to compete with their own culture's serene refinements. Kyonin therefore follows a strictly isolationist policy, and its rangers patrol its borders with deadly effectiveness".
Only Erages, Greengold and Omesta are places where non-elves can live in Kyonin.
I thought I heard somewhere that a small colony of Lashunta can be found in the area.
That would be nice for people wanting to play Lashuntas on Golarion.
One is an elf from Kyonin who is snobby about his heritage and looks down on other races. I put him in the Sovereign Court faction for variety, and because it seems to fit his snobby attitude.
There are non-snobby elves from Kyonin?
There are non-snobby elves from Kyonin?One is an elf from Kyonin who is snobby about his heritage and looks down on other races. I put him in the Sovereign Court faction for variety, and because it seems to fit his snobby attitude.
James Jacobs had stated a few times in his thread that the way Elves have traditionally been depicted - namely, via Second Darkness, which sort of set the basis for their characterization in print - was contrary to what he wanted Elves to be. Part of his attempt to decouple Golarion's Elves from the general lore from D&D was not only removing their fey affinity but also, in his setting/game/mind, denouncing the typical Elven social standards of being.. Well, snobs. I mean, snobbish Elves of course WOULD still exist, but from what he's said, I imagine that the super hardcore/snobbish Elves of Kyonin would be largely constrained to its older citizens and those whose power is deeply entrenched in tradition. (I.E. Winter Council and its noble puppets.)
Despite the "snobbery" of Elves existing in canon, there's examples in publications that readily support the idea of James's Elves becoming more mainstream. Greengold, Telandia herself (and her wishing to take a non-Elven consort), the most likely result of Second Darkness (the Winter Council being severely weakened if not disbanded), and the fact that Telandia's liberal regime is highly popular among the more recent generations of Kyonin.