Fey Por has been home to nearly every race of beings, for as long as history records the distinctions. While many of these races has spread out throughout Malaan and established their own kingdoms, many of the old race live still in Fey Por, descended from ancient stock, or of immigrants from a thousand years ago. During the days of empire (three hundred years ago) humans dominated the land and for that time the so-called humanoid races of orcs and goblins were relegated to second-class citizens and treated as barbarians. But after the crusades, the Uruhrian overseers were uninterested in maintaining the ancient order and both races integrated quickly with the other major races. Now they exceed the human populations in many cities and rule a good third of the realm. The orcs and goblins remember the days of their subjugation, but to date have done litttle to retaliate agains ttheir former oppressors. Instead they welcome them into the cities and families with little prejudice. Theh coastal regions such as Chandra and Zuridown are predominately human. The more inland from the Urasian Sea one gets, the greater the density of orcs and half-orcs one finds. By population the sorts of major races (people) include:
The two great wars of modernity are the Ascension Crusades and the Undeclared War. These have had serious impact on the Fey Porian people. The Ascension Crusades destroyed the ties of fealty that stretched hundreds even thousands of years into the past. In its stead was placed a number of militray governors with no ties to the land and little care for the people, the wealth and history of the realm was exported to Uruhr. In addition the major city-based religions, the Heroic Cults, were replaced by a single cult, the Deh'wheri. At first there was consider resistance to these actions. But over the generations people's memory faded and the new systems were all that they knew. Still the old religion survived for some underground and hopes of restoring their land survived as well. What is left is a number of distinct groups. They include:
Most people in Fey Por are simply tired of war. As a result there are few who speak out against particular nations, peoples or religions. Most are resigned to rebuild what they've lost or find a new life among the ruins of the old realm. Most are happy to embrace whatever authority, legitimate or not, which succeeds in establishing itself.
Fey Por is one place where one's religion is always in question. There is no official religion throughout the realm although some cities and villages have endorsed one or another. The recently acquired religious freedom has had a number of results. Some are apathetic to religion, seeing it as a source of much travail. Others wears the holy symbols proudly to demostrate solidarity with the old cults, or the bruised Deh'wheri church. Fey Porians can divided into three roughly equal religions, each representing an equal portion of the population. They are the Selaye, Deh'wheri and Heroic Cults.
Selaye Religion
The Selaye faith focuses on a being's role in the nature cycles of life and death. Its origins are shrouded in the dark past but far longer than any other religion. It is primarily a religion of non-humans, orcs, elves and dwarves primarily. It preaches harmony with nature and the reverence of perfected beings (spirit creatures). Individuals seek to live in harmony with their spirit selves and eventually reincarnate into sucha perfect being. The Selaye posit no gods instead viewing all things extra-planar with a healthy fear.
Deh'wheri Religion
Based on a core of death related teachings the Deh'wheri faith became the worlds predominate faith in only a hundred years. It is still quite young but possesses a relatively intricate philosophical and hierarchical structure. Imposed for generations on the Fey Porians the religion has found many true followers. However recent political events have jeopardized the temples and shrines which no longer have the support of Uruhrian troops to protect them. Despite their association with the Uruhrian Kingdom, teh Deh'wheri church still has a faithful following of Fey Porians equal to that of any rival religion. The primary tenets of the Deh'wehri faith are the belief in heavenly realms where one goes when ones earthly apprenticeship is complete. The Deh'wheri consider life on Malaan as prepartory for the 'real' life which awaits them on Deh'thiss the Deh'wheri heaven. The Deh'wheri people see the undead as the most pitiful and horrible creatures on Malaan. They deserve only swift death.
Heroic Cults
In the olden days these cults were tied to one of the many cities as patron gods or worshipped at small roadside shrines and oracles. After the crusades the cults united and went underground. There, the religion became inseparable from the resistance movement. Now, legal and legitimate, the religion is coming out into the open to attract previously afraid to worship. The central tenet of the Heroic Cults is that the gods are cruel beings withlittle care for man. The common people's only hope is found form two sources. The clergy are impowered to protect the masses from the brunt of the gods' ill will. The gods themselves are opposed by those humans destined to ascend to godlike status. These are the Heroes who intervene on behalf of the people.
The New Free Pantheon
The Free Pantheon was a small group of idealistic religious people who sought mutual protection from the anti-religious Witchking Illthaut. They were believed to have been wiped out by members of a rival cult. In their memory or from their ashes has risen a new Free Pantheon dedicated to the free worship of any faith. This has found many adherents, most notably of late the TrollKing Yerjin who has committed the resources of his mighty neighboring Kingdom of Abatha to its success.
Given the chaos of the past two hundred years it seems a doomed enterprise to describe the general political systems of Fey Por. Despite the efforts to destabilize the traditional feudal system which existed before the crusades, something very much like it still rules. The main difference between Fey Por's feudalism and the traditional sort is the lack of bloodlines to tie it to the past. This makes the right of any particular ruler somewhat dubious. So far force of arms and habit are the most powerful forces holding Fey Por together, but this could change.
The one exception to this is the Republic of Chandra. Left to its citizens' devices for almost fifty years but with every attempt to promote a leader stymied by the Witchking, the rule of law fell to the guildmasters and wealthy in Fey Por's largest city. With the Witchking gone, Chandra has endeavored to legitimize this popular government with an elected senate of citizens. Although Democracy is distasteful to most civilized people, the experiement in Chandra can be no worse than the anarchy which proceeded it.
Property: Most notions of property are tied to land ownership. Thus most people really do not own anything for everthing they own is tied to the land which is owned by their lord. This does not trouble your typical person, but attempts to treat the relationships of lords to lieges as commercial ones will result in coinfusion and hostility.
Gender: Gender is no barrier to power or position in Fey Porian culture. Women and Men serve equally in almost all positions in life as rulers, soldiers, workers, and child rearing.
Extra-planar Beings: Although technically angels and ancestors are extra-planar, the whole idea of any such creature, especially demons, devils and the undead is met with horror and fear. Extra-planar is synonymous with Evil.