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All the theme and
environment of Falamar comes to nothing without a
cast of characters to in-habit it. The people of
Night Reign embody the themes and give substance
to the setting by providing perspectives that your
adventurers can react to. By incorporating the
folk of Falamar into your story, you will create a
story full of richness and depth.
The denizens of the Night Reign are widely varied,
hailing from many different kingdoms, societies,
and races. Each group holds to their own customs,
notions, and ideals, thus providing a unique
perspective. Faced with a horde of shambling
hungry dead, a slave worker from the Fire Plain
city-states will have a very different reaction
than a battle-hardened Helvadan soldier.
In general, all living things in Falamar are
affected by the absence of the Sun, and the
citizens are no different. Furred peoples tend to
have darker pelts, unbleached by sunlight. Those
who have bare skin or hide are more pale than is
natural. Common-folk of all races suffer from poor
nutrition and short food supply to varying
degrees, leading to continuous problems with
disease. Nobility and the wealthy fare better, and
to serve them is to eat well. This is not to say
that all evil regimes starve and torment their
citizens indiscriminately. That would be foolishly
self-destructive because, as the saying goes, dead
peasants do not pay taxes.
More impactful than simple lack of sunlight,
perhaps, is the constant presence of fear. The
most common emotion of the average person in Night
Reign is fear – of becoming undead, of being
consumed by what lurks in the persistent dark, of
failing crops, of anything and everything. It is
little wonder, then, that so many turn to the
powerful Church of the Moon for protection. Though
that faith has led to the two decades of darkness
and terror that they seek shelter from, the people
cling to the greatest bastion of strength and
security the world has to offer. With the Church
comes food, regular patrols of trained guards, and
a promise of safety in an uncertain world. All
that is required is loyalty and obedience. What
the people truly believe in their hearts, they
prudently keep to themselves … out of fear.
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