Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-25344655-20141207183714/@comment-67.22.249.68-20141209005152

New character, provided what I'm about to describe isn't too ludicrous.

Name: Doesn't say, some call him "Riverton" after the place he governs

Race: Riverman

Alignment: Riverton (serves only his people, will ally with any he believes will help)

abilities: Very Courageous, cares about his people, excellent horseback warrior

Equipment: Full suit of Medieval Knight-like armor (including a helmet that hides his face) made of a strange steel-like alloy known as Riversteel. Over his chestplate there is a white tunic with a slightly cross-like river-blue t pattern, with a river-blue border around it. This is the flag of Riverton. Also a sword and shield made of black metal known as Stariron

Story:

A ways North in the Vale of Anduin there is a small circular range of steep mountains. People have tried to get over the ring of mountains, but to no avail. They all assumed that inside the ring of mountains was just more mountains. Some decided that the shadow of these mountains would be a great place for a civilization. And so a village was constructed in a ring around the mountains. It was a decent place, fountains and markets and whatnot. However, they were destroyed and looted by the Orcs. The ruins are still there, and they are now abysmal and moldy and rotting. This village is called the shattered kingdom. And it is rumored that ten Orcs, during the battle, looted the storages, took all the treasure, and fled. It is also rumored that, like some kind of miracle, they found they're way over the ring of mountains.

And inside the ring of mountains they didn't find more mountains. Instead they found a huge and prosperous valley. The area was very hilly, and there were some smaller mountains here and there within the valley, and many cliffs and hills. However, running through it there were three rivers. And the rivers all met in the center of the valley where they encircled an island. And on that island was a village. It was a very simple village. They're people were trapped in the stone age. The pinnacle of technology for them was the wheeled cart. The village had no defenses, given that they were totally isolated. The Orcs smiled. Another place to pillage and burn, then live out wealthy lives in happy isolation.

And so the ten Orcs, battle-wearied but in full armor and weapons, started picking a path down to the village. The villagers were some odd cross between Men and Elves. They were tall-ish, with fair skin, pointed chins and generally long hair, but without the pointy ears or immortality. The Orcs called them Rivermen. The Rivermen didn't like the new arrivals, but were willing to accept them. The Orcs, however, didn't want to be accepted, they wanted to be feared. And so, they attacked, slaughtered, and burned.

However, they underestimated their opponents. Though the Orcs had better weapons, their adversaries had greater number. The Orcs, wearied from battle, managed to slaughter 55% of the population and destroy 78% of the housing before, one by one, they fell to sharp hunting and farming instruments.

The Rivermen took their armor, weapons and treasure and moved out of the husk of a village. Instead they moved up a cliff, and established a new village on a forested ledge. They dwelt there for many happy years, recovering from the attack. And from then on they had defenses. Ten people donned the old Orcish armor and weapons and defended the village. They had only just begun to use stone bricks in their buildings when HE showed up.

Out of nowhere, a man in sea-blue robes came over the mountains. The villagers asked him how, as the had caused a rockslide in the path the Orcs had used to get there. He introduced himself as Alatar, and demonstrated his use of magic to scale the mountains. Then, he started teaching them. He showed them better ways of building. He showed them the art of metalworking, of advanced farming, and of combat. After teaching them this, he left, heading east.

Within months, the village evolved. It became beautiful, with quartz, glass, and spruce wood becoming active ingredients in the elegant and unique architecture of the Rivermen. They named their village Riverton, or "River Town" given that rivers were very notable features in the surroundings. The other features one could note were spruce trees, mountainous and rocky areas, and of course, the island where still stood a husk of their former home.

It was the way that the river formed a natural moat that first gave them the idea. Slowly, the idea took hold. Mines were established in the rock highlands, excavating tons of iron and stone. Lumberjack homes were established in the forests, and trees were chopped down. And slowly but surely, as farms and homes and towers and walls were established all throughout Riverton Valley, Riverton castle was erected in the site of their original village.

It was a mighty castle. It's towers and walls were thick and high, and it's gates were tall and strong. New technologies were developed as farms and towers and wall systems were enlarged. Before anyone knew it, powerful Onagers (an even more advanced and powerful form of catapult, look it up) with rocks covered in combustible tar were constructed atop several towers. A proper defense force was assigned, with proper and full suits of armor and weapons made from their own special steel. These people excel in the use of siege weapons and crossbows, and those are their primary ranged weapons. Bows are unseen within Riverton Valley.

There is a mayor of Riverton, but he only sees over the town. There is also a sort of "leader" in Riverton Castle, he is known as the Knight-Captain. Though he is not technically the ruler, he sees over the farms, towers, walls, gates, and homes all throughout Riverton valley. He is also captain of the army.

The Rivermen had been isolated within their valley, safe behind the ring of high mountains. Until, one day, they dug out.

One of their mining excavations had managed to breach the outside of the ring of mountains. The mayor of Riverton and the Knight-Captain were ecstatic, but both knew they had to be cautious. their first step was to construct a gate. It was made of Riversteel-bound spruce. And two ledges were constructed higher up on the side of the mountain, with small tunnels leading to the main one that led to the valley. On each ledge stand two crossbowmen. Then there was the matter of getting down the mountain. They made a platform just outside of the entrance to the cave, and a very small ledge was created leading down the mountain. It was a mere foot and a half wide, allowing nothing bigger than a footsoldier to get past. And the gate was far too high up the mountain for any siege tower or ladder. In order to transport larger things up and down the mountain, a rudimentary elevator-like system was constructed out of wood. It involved a gear-and-pulley system pulling a platform up and down the hillside. And, even better, it was made from wood and string, so if anyone tried to use it to transport trolls or, battering rams, a trap system would be activated, and the whole thing would burn down.

And now, the current Knight-Captain of Riverton Castle has decided to explore the wondrous new world outside the Riverton mountains. Who knows what he will find?