The Green Empire

Description

The Green Empire comprises the ancient domains of Gotherim and Whisperland, each are lush grasslands and approximately the same size as a modern day football pitch. They are divided east - west by the fork of Great River known as West Wash. The domains were occupied by Green Folk who were constantly at war with each other. Bankside Castle was the foremost stronghold of Whisperland and Woodside Castle held similar importance in Gotherim, purposely built on the opposite side of the riverbank. The strongholds faced each other across West Wash and hurled huge catapult stones at each other for many years. The warriors of Gotherim and Whisperland were so evenly matched that there was never any winner and stalemates led to periods of uneasy truce. Permanent peace was eventually negotiated between the Councils and a new combined Capital was set up on the neutral island of Dwale, located at the fork between West Wash and East Water. The folk of the new Green Empire called themselves Dwalians.

The nations bordering East Water were little known before Bozadir's quest, though it was known that the warlike Red folk of Norg dwelt somewhere along it. Twin Green Towers were built either side of the narrow channel that led into East Water. One stands in Gotherim and the other in Morch-Dewn, Gotherim's old ally. A stout twig connects the towers, from which hang many huge, jagged stones. If any enemy ship dares to try entering Dwalian waters the tower guards, commanded by the Stone Captain, hack the twine attached to the stones and send them plummeting onto the decks of the enemy ships.

Features

Lands occupied	Whisperland and Gotherim
Capital City	Dwale.
Capital description	Small island at fork of West Wash and East Water.
Bordering lands	Ralute-Gromme, Out and Beyond, Hagrath, Norg.
National Standard	Single green blade of green grass bent over at the top. On a yellow background.

Description of Folk

Skin colour	Green.
Hair colour	Light green or yellow.
Eye colour	Black.
Physique	Large oval heads, long limbs and skinny.
Main occupation	Aphid farming.
Background culture	Whisperland and Gotherim once warring nations.
Worship	Deities on Mount Rond.
Insect influences	Butterflies for riding, beetles for riding and hauling.

Warriors

Helmet	Round. Snail-shell. Curling cheek pieces.
Plume	Spider-silk dyed green. Tall.
Hauberk	Yellow snail-shell breastplate.
Hose	Green.
Boots	Green.
Cloak	Green.
Weapons	Snail-shell long sword.
Shield shape	Round. Worm-skin over rosewood frame.
Shield colour	Yellow.
Shield insignia	Blade of green grass bent over at the top.
Mount	Peacock butterfly or war-beetle.
Saddle	High backed worm-skin.
Caparison	Yellow with small blades of grass painted on.

Imperial Guard

Helmet	Round. Snail-shell. Curling cheek pieces.
Plume	Spider-silk strands dyed yellow and green. Tall.
Hauberk	Yellow snail-shell breastplate.
Hose	Green.
Boots	Green.
Cloak	Yellow.
Weapons	Long thorn-tipped spear and snail-shell long sword.
Shield shape	Round. Worm-skin over rosewood frame.
Shield colour	Yellow.
Shield insignia	Blade of green grass bent over at the top.
Mount	Peacock butterfly or war-beetle.
Saddle	High backed worm-skin.
Caparison	Yellow and covered with small blades of grass. Golden-yellow fringe.

Soldiers

Helmet	Open. Round top. Low back. Wide nasal.
Plume	Only Captains have short spray of green spider-silk.
Hauberk	Tough worm-skin dyed green.
Hose	Brown.
Boots	Brown.
Cloak	Green.
Weapons	Long thorn-tipped spear and snail-shell stabbing sword.
Shield shape	Oval. Large. Interlocking for shield wall. Worm-skin.
Shield colour	Yellow.
Shield insignia	Blade of green grass bent over at the top.

Archers/slingers

Dressed the same but worm-skin cap instead.

Notes

Warriors favor tight fitting green tunics, snail shell breastplates and round, yellow painted, worm skin shields stretched over rose thorn frames. Their swords hang in worm-skin scabbards from spider silk baldrics, dyed yellow. Their shield insignia is a painted blade of green grass, bent over at the top. Their helmets are low at the back and sides, with wide cheek pieces that curl round and almost meet in front of their button noses. The smooth, round top bears an array of fine silk spider threads, dyed a deep emerald green.

Their favourite weapons are snail shell long swords, richly engraved and decorated by the most gifted craft-folk on Dwale.

They sometimes wear long green cloaks. Their boots are of soft snail skin, coloured brown and have curled up toes.

The favorite mount of Dwalian warriors and couriers is the Tortoiseshell butterfly. Orange wings edged black and light blue. Leading edge of front wings have a wide band, inside to outside: black, yellow, black, yellow, black and white at tip before edging. Saddles are made from a tough beetle shell framework with a high backed, chair-like seat of soft buttercup petal and stuffed with soft thistle down. The saddle has stirrups and the butterfly is controlled by reins.

Particular Weapons

Bozadir	The sword Hufmol.
Cowdar the Grey	The companion sword Garzon.
Mergal Ethron	Double handed war axe. Haft studded with precious stones.
Erbin Twayblade	Ancient green bladed sword from Bankside.
Gorion Leafshield	Magic bow and quiver of named arrows.

All above given to warriors by Weland, from the Room of Weapons, deep in the bowels of the earth below Dwale Palace.

Other

Erbin Twayblade	Highly polished black beetle shell breastplate and helmet.
Peapod	From Spider Rock - Ornate snail-shell sword and helmet, valuable aphid-link mail hauberk
Grubseed	From Spider Rock: Tough slug skin jerkin and cap. Heavy cudgel.
Archers	Yellow and green quartered tunics.

Bozadir's Final Command at defeat of Wasp

Dwalians	Cowdar, Gorion, Mergal, Harfon, plus 35 archers.
Friends	Dunlin and Elodea plus 50 Guard.
Mercenaries	Chaffblower, plus 110 under the command of Tarragon.
Salicsians	50 White Catkin and 50 Yellow under Siskin Clubmoss.
Flainairians	100 under the command of Bibrax Thornhelm.
Limorians	200 dragon-riders under the command of Kull (later)
Total	606.