Mütvia is a dark, xenophobic confederation of principalities each with its own laws and traditions. Its bloodied ancient history has turned the country into a haven for folk evils and spirits. In response, its people have learned to endure at the cost of freedom. Strict rules brought down by draconian princes and the stringent caste system keeps everything together on the surface, but below lurks The Land itself, a seeming unthinking, uncaring entity of divine origin that divides those that dwell within as either survivors or victims. 

THE LAND

Some Mütvi believe The Land is embodied by Nor’dagha, the divine facet of Sythlia that oversees nature with an uncaring eye. As such, Nor’dagha is also the patron deity of Mütvia.

“Her Eyes”, the two Moons Caelen and Serith, also play a part in Mütvian lore. Their phases often determine important religious holidays, while agricultural festivals and events are counted out by their cycles.

Vyers and archvyers oversee the religious practices. In d20 games, these are represented by the druid class.

Superstitions & The Horrors Within

Culturally, Mütvi understand death to be both an aberration and a natural cycle. Whereas other countries can enjoy relatively peaceful funeral rites as their society would dictate, the Mütvi must take part in rituals that will cause bodies to stay in the ground. Salting the earth, for example, is a common practice but not always practical. Therefore, the Mütvi have discovered various methods to stave off death, especially if it comes at the hands of the creatures of the night.

Outsiders find Mütvian society curious and perhaps even hypocritical. The people view arcana as something to revile, yet they practice folk magic and healing practices that rival the most potent of divine healers. Their brand of warding protection comes in the form of crude amulets, talismans, herbs, and superstitious practices. A braid of garlic on every window and door of a home will keep strigoi away, but the addition of some holy relics may also repel the more powerful vampyr. Meanwhile, the ubiquitous sanji, a class of troublesome land spirits, can be kept at bay with porridge & butter in the winter, or a loaf of bread in the summer.

Yet, all of these practices stave off death. They prefer not to foolishly combat the agents of nature with steel when a bundle of herbs wrapped around an iron nail will do the trick.

THE NOBLES – Mind of the Land

Someone stood on a plot of land and managed to hold it until they had an heir. Thus a noble was born.

Nobles are organized into Ruling Houses, Academic Houses, and Military Houses. Larger noble houses are usually an alliance of two or more houses.

Some nobles are one person whose mudpit hasn’t yet been claimed by someone else. Most nobles are petty and have at least a small court (mainly friends and family) and maybe a manor house. The largest oversee vast territories, have a standing militia or two, and are effectively their own country with their own laws.

Most nobles are excessively cruel for a very good reason: it keeps the commoners tough enough to survive the night and prevents “the drósti from stealing”, a view seen as exceedingly ignorant by the more wise.

Certain elder houses, such as House Dracovich, value drósti presence and when there’s no heir to the title, they leave their entire principality to whichever drósti family they have ties to until an heir is found.

Noble Rumors: Powerful Nobles have a connection to The Land (geomancy) commensurate with their political power. The Land communicates with them, updates them on the goings on in their demesne and warns of natural disasters. Others receive portents to their own demise.

In the actual play, both Elias and Danix are Nobles.

THE COMMONERS – Body of the Land

The most populous in all of Mütvia is the commoner, a term held in high regard by those who possess it. For no other has their station in life: they are a real, salt of the earth, hard-working sturdy people who know better than any the threats the Land mercilessly offers.

Proud to live in homes they’ve carved out or built themselves and proud they can survive the depredations of the night, commoners are united by their shared plight. In fact, the entire thought process of a commoner can be summed up in one phrase uttered in times of war to rally troops against enemies: Mütvia Regestöi.

Commoners are typically organized into guilds. They can be Crafting Guilds, Military Guilds, or Illicit Guilds, the latter of which whose practices are seen as subversive to ruling nobles. Illicit guilds may contain deeper secrets and from their ranks are the legendary kirkejoi (berserker), mystics, and other wielders of odd and mysterious magics.

While their name suggests homogeneity, commoners are anything but all the same. Commoners represent a crucial facet of Mütvian life and without them, their crafts, their strength, and all they have to offer with their diverse skills, Mütvia would crumble.

In the actual play, Vin, Merci, and Belle are Commoners.