Nations. It is the geographical version of a prison with the Endless
Mountains making up the eastern and southern borders and barren wasteland to the
north and west. The world has gone through several Dark Ages when the
goblins controlled all the lands. No one is sure how many Dark Ages there
have been because all written history is destroyed during them by marauding
goblins. During the Dark Ages all innovation stops and society is reduced
to its most rudimentary form. Currency disappears and people barter for
goods. Eventually someone pulls the different races and peoples of the
world together and fights off the goblin menace. Many times that person
has been the Master of the Red Sapphire. Because the goblins are so vast
in their numbers and so easily repopulate, the best that can ever be
accomplished is to cut down the threat and settle on borders. So long as
the people of the world unite, they can fend off the hordes. Once the free
people turn their attention elsewhere, however, the goblins replenish their
ranks and plan their next move. Dark Ages would be much more frequent
except that the only people the goblins like fighting more than the people of
Lavacia are themselves. There are eight goblin clans. After the last
Dark Age seven of them were pushed into the Goblin Nations where they were
easily checked. The clan farthest to the south was forced bit by bit back
into the Southern Marshes by the armies of Valia. The land in the Nations
is poor for agriculture and nearly devoid of natural resources. As a
result, the clans make war on each other for what scraps are to be had.
The largest clan is the Kangons. Their numbers are greater than all the
other clans combined. Alas, they are the least organized and possess the
fewest weapons. Famine runs wild and kills more than war. The
Mandrean Empire needed soldiers that were obedient to fill their devastated
legions after the War of the Unclaimed Territory. A deal was struck to
purchase goblins in exchange for food and weapons. While the Kangons were
pleased with the bounty and those sold had a better life, the clan no longer had
the warriors needed to defeat the other goblins. While they are better
fed, they are no closer to victory than before. Meanwhile the Mandreans
have moved on to new conquests with their replenished forces. While the
Marsh Goblins make raids and occasional invasions into Valia, the rest of the
goblins are too busy fighting each other to be little more than a nuisance to
their neighbors. Lately, however, the Kangons have sent lesser quality
soldiers to the Mandreans before stopping the practice completely. Clearly
they have plans and need only wait until their numbers are sufficient. The
question is, will they attack the other clans or will they start another Dark
Age.