Post by Dread Gnat on Nov 30, 2011 13:42:02 GMT -5
Common Opinions: (Ad Decimum)
Ad Decimum
~Upper Class: Our home is a very odd one, and status here is indicated by the size of your library. Frequently even the games at our parties involve wit and intelligence.
~Lower Class: Even most of us poor folk know how to read. That said, there is more to life than what's in a book. Work still needs to be done, and we're the ones who have to do it.
~Military: We have enough soldiers to protect our walls, but that's about it. Fortunately we have wizards to spare. Our walls boast some fine wards, and anyone attempting to siege us best be prepared for some magic to come their way.
~Academic: Ad Decimum is the finest place to learn most anything, and our Royal Libraries boast even ancient texts long thought forgotten. Even among wizards, there is a difference in caliber between those taught here, and those who stumbled upon magic elsewhere.
~Mercantile: I wouldn't call Ad Decimum a wealthy citystate, but we get by. Business revolves around knowledge and one of our major exports are spell scrolls. Take it or leave it, Ad Decimum is home.
Amalgamation ~Upper Class: The lord of the Amalgamation are pompous and though well educated themselves have little respect for literature. The Amalgamation itself is the reason why many of our collection remain incomplete.
~Lower Class: I don't really care what they do. They're east, we're west. Unless they plan on fighting through the Celestine Empire, we have nothing to fear.
~Military: Everyone is well aware of the might of the Amalgamation. Our distance is a greater shield than our forces. Were it not for the Celestine Empire, we'd have likely been subjugated already.
~Academic: The people of the Amalgamation are book burners. They destroy what they can not understand, and considering that most of their population is illiterate, that's saying quite a bit.
~Mercantile: Fortunately we have very few dealings with the Amalgamation, business or otherwise.
Celestial
~Upper Class: Celestials once roamed all over these lands. Now their broken relics are considered treasures to be coveted. A pity they're mostly gone.
~Lower Class: Aint never seen one, don't care to. Sure they're pretty, but who cares when there's work to do?
~Military: Celestials are beautiful, but deadly. We know well the stories of Celestials raining down fire from the heavens. Fortunately they're mostly gone.
~Academic: There are a lot of holes in our research about these creatures, but they are inherently little different than their demonic cousins. I'd love a chance to study them.
~Mercantile: Celestial blood is worth a pretty penny on the black markets, but even still, we stay far away from that sort of trade. Instead, a celestial relic would fetch an inordinate sum. Archeological digs can prove a wealthy endeavor.
Celestine Empire
~Upper Class: Our noble protectors. They have been nothing but just and fair with our dealings with them. We just wish we didn't owe them so many favors.
~Lower Class: They're ruled by a beautiful queen. If I didn't know better, I'd bet that she came from the heavens too.
~Military: The Celestine Empire help us a lot more than simply being a wall against the Amalgamation. They fight the Gael too, which takes a lot of strain off of us. I only wish we could do more to help.
~Academic: Having a philosophical debate with a Celestine is a true pleasure. They respect philosophy and knowledge. We even have many joint archeological endeavors recovering and restoring lost artifacts.
~Mercantile: We trade with the Celestine Empire for just about everything we need. Without them, we'd be a much poorer nation. The Celestine Empire also purchases many of our scrolls, which we offer at a slight discount.
Cestral
~Upper Class: They seem to be good genuine people. Well educated too. I hear Alexander is a good school, though truly, who is to say that it is any better than some of ours?
~Lower Class: Eh? I hear they have good horses. Not sure what else they do.
~Military: Cestral poses no threat to us. From the way I hear it, they have their own problems.
~Academic: Even a few of our own have trained at their school in Alexander. What is amazing about that place is that Nobles and the well educated from all over will travel there to learn. In no other place will you see such a convergence of culture.
~Mercantile: Trade with Cestral? Heh, the cost to even sail that far is enormous, not to mention how poor of a selection they have in terms of goods to sell. Unless you need a well trained animal, its best to just trade with Dace.
Coatl
~Upper Class: An artless people bent on slaughter. The Coatl's one redeeming factor is that they keep the Amalgamation focused on them rather than those of us to the west.
~Lower Class: Aint no problem with them, cause they can't get to us. Would have to fight through both the Amalgamation and the Celestine Empire, and that ain't never gonna happen.
~Military: They say that the Coatl once practiced Demon magic that caused all sorts of destruction. Fortunately that magic has been lost to them. As a result, they're no threat to anyone.
~Academic: A fascinating people steeped in superstition. They have strict rules and customs, and outsiders are frequently killed. I'd love to learn more about them, but I'm not foolish enough to visit.
~Mercantile: Even considering to trade with them would hurt other business deals. That coupled with logistic problems, there is no reason to even think about them in terms of trade.
Cole
~Upper Class: They seem friendly, but every time I play them at cards, I lose all my money.
~Lower Class: They be swindlers and liars! I lost my goat dealing with them! They said these were magic beans!
~Military: If a Citizen of Cole comes to Ad Decimum, you'd better be sure that we're going to watch them closely. Too many rogues, and con-men for my liking.
~Academic: They have no respect for knowledge, nor the people who wield it! Plus they make fun of us! I don't like going there.
~Mercantile: Well.... Cole is a good place to go for business, but you have to do your research ahead of time. You can get some great deals, but if you let your guard down, you'll be taken for everything you're worth.
Dace
~Upper Class: The nobles of Dace are beyond wealthy and can make for some excellent allies. Unfortunately, they have so many rules of etiquette, which aren't written down, that it's almost impossible to keep up. I actually wonder if that's the idea.
~Lower Class: I love when the Dacian's visit. it seems like you get rich just standing near them.
~Military: Whats there to say? They're so burdened by luxury, they can't even run let alone fight. I just wish that they couldn't bribe our own garrison to turn against us if they so decided.
~Academic: They understand beauty and the arts, but Dacians place less of an emphasis on learning than I feel they ought. This isn't to say that they are poorly educated, far from it, but they care more about what party they are going to be attending than the contents of a good book.
~Mercantile: Dacians have everything. Unfortunately, it's difficult getting to trade with them. I wish their island was a bit closer.
Demon
~Upper Class: They are vile creatures that pollute our lands. They are the very reason why there is so much distrust in the world.
~Lower Class: Hey, Hey! Not so loud. If you even mention one of their names they can hear you. Those are topics best left untouched.
~Military: We are once again fortunate to have Castle Thorn to the south defending the Expanse against their kind. Compared to other citystates, Ad Decimum is less threatened by demon kin, but that is solely due to our abundance of wizards.
~Academic: I may know a bit more about their kind than most would prefer.... But knowledge is important! We must study and learn, and only in learning shall we ever hope to transcend our differences!
~Mercantile: You know, hate to say it, but I wish we did have a good trade relationship with Breach. There are some potent artifacts all around Breach. The Demons have them, and we could make a fortune off of any one of them. Unfortunately, every time we've tried to do business, our merchant hasn't come back.
Draconic
~Upper Class: I once patroned an archeological expedition to uncover one of their bodies. Unfortunately it turned out to be a waste of time and money.
~Lower Class: I grew up on those tales. Knights in shining armor, slaying dragons, rescuing maidens. By the tales of it, I'm glad that the Dragons are all extinct.
~Military: I prefer to spend my time thinking of actual threats.
~Academic: They were an amazing race of beautiful creatures. Unfortunately virtually no texts exist from a date when Dragons actually lived. Even finding the bones of a Dragon is considered a remarkable find.
~Mercantile: There are merchants out there who will claim that any old bone is a Dragon's bone. You have to be careful. You can tell though, simply by the strength of the thing. It can hold up to damn near anything.
Effendal
~Upper Class: They were a misunderstood race of beautiful and elegant people. It's a pity what happened during the purification. The modern world could stand to learn a thing to two from their sort.
~Lower Class: I've been picked on in the past, and it isn't much fun, I can tell you. From the way we've heard it, the elf types were just defending themselves, but that's all in the past. Ain't no one alive for a long time who was ever involved in any of that.
~Military: The effendal were driven out a long time ago. Unless they ever come back to the expanse, we have little to fear.
~Academic: Those Effendal who have survived must have a wealth of knowledge. That coupled with their extended lifespan makes each and every one of them their own fount of knowledge, makes potentially any conversation with them an incredible opportunity.
~Mercantile: We remain optimistic that we could make contact with the Effendal, and perhaps trade in both knowledge and trade goods, but the odds of that actually happening are quite dim.
Fae
~Upper Class: When I was a child I thought a Faery prince would come and rescue me from my dull family. Now I realize that those were just foolish dreams.
~Lower Class: I heard that those nasty creatures would come in the night and steal children! Glad they're gone!
~Military: People like to use the fae as excuses for why things don't get done, or why they've misplaced something. Don't believe any of it. If someone claims a fae stole their child; they probably weren't watching the kid and he wandered off. The kid will show up sooner or later.
~Academic: The fae are a remarkable yet paradoxical type of creature. They exist both everywhere and nowhere. Some say they're dead, others say that they never can die. Some say they're in hiding. Who is to know for certain?
~Mercantile: Fae goods are a scam. Some merchant puts a shell on a stick and claims that it's a faery wand. Don't trust it.
Gael
~Upper Class: They are witless barbarians who smell as badly as they speak.
~Lower Class: I'm more afraid of the Gael than I am of Demons. Hell, I use them as the stories I tell to frighten my children.
~Military: It is because of the Gael that our walls exist. We've had more than a couple incidents with them over the years, and lost some good men.
~Academic: The Gael are superstitious and follow a mostly oral tradition. They are broken into tribes, but each of those tribes are brutal and thirst for blood.
~Mercantile: There is no dealing with the Gael.
Drir
~Upper Class: If you go west, and see a string of isles, don't go further. There lies death.
~Lower Class: They do curses and hexes. Best not to let any of your possessions go unattended if passing through their waters. One missing hair could be your undoing.
~Military: The Drir only come to the expanse if they need something. When that happens, it never ends well. Aside from that, they keep to their islands.
~Academic: The Drir are descendants of necromancers, demon worshipers, and blood mages. They hold powerful and forbidden knowledge, yet they lack control and the ability to use their power wisely.
~Mercantile: Ships that sail through their waters rarely return. They say even the dead protect their islands.
Mandala
~Upper Class: They take themselves very seriously, and have more pride than they deserve. In time they will be set in their place, but we are not the ones to do it.
~Lower Class: They're um... not the nicest of people. They seem to not think much of us either, though I'm not sure what we ever did to them.
~Military: We have a loose alliance with Mandala, but that doesn't mean we're friends. I feel like they'd just assume help us in combat as drink tea over our bodies.
~Academic: Were we ever invited to their parties, we might feel less distain for these elegant yet pretentious people.
~Mercantile: There are some good trade opportunities in Mandala, most people just don't see it. Believe it or not, but there are quite a few circles among them who thirst for magic.
Nadine Empire
~Upper Class: They terrify me in an exciting way. You have to admire their confidence, and for once its deserved. I may not agree with how they treat their underlings, but they certainly get results.
~Lower Class: I once saw an imperial. I had nightmares for a week. Seriously. A week.
~Military: Forget the distance, if they wanted us dead we would be. Its that simple.
~Academic: Even the history of the Nadine Empire is frightening, and scholars who delve too deep are eliminated. Some topics are best left untouched.
~Mercantile: We do business with them on occasion, but since their nation is so far away, opportunities to do so are rare.
Saek
~Upper Class: I've heard they exist but little more than that. Savages I believe.
~Lower Class: The what?
~Military: Some legends say that they are fierce warriors capable of bringing down even the strongest of demons. Personally, I think those are just legends.
~Academic: The Saek are a tragic people, and I certainly admire their determination to stay in their homeland and fight for what they believe in.
~Mercantile: First you'd have to get to breach. Then find a group of Saek. Then convince them to trade with you. Then see if they even have anything you want. It's not a promising expedition.
Castle Thorn
~Upper Class: They are a people who live in a brutal world. As such, Some of their demeanor can be excused. Just remember they are warriors first and foremost.
~Lower Class: They're the best! Strong willed, proud, and disciplined! They keep the demons at bay, and for that, all the expanse can never repay.
~Military: We owe them a debt, as do all the citystates. They safeguard the western expanse from the demonic forces of breach. Without them, the demons would swarm in and overwhelm us all.
~Academic: The men and women who fight at Castle Thorn are descended from the very men and women who fought in the crusades. They have the same personality and outlook, and genuinely see dark forces as a threat. Unlike the Amalgamation, they don't let politics get in the way of that.
~Mercantile: Castle Thorn can't exist by itself. As such, we do our part, and Ad Decimum sends a small, but steady supply of scrolls their way to keep their wizards well equipped. Its a charity, but it helps us too.
Vein
~Upper Class: They seem like a Gael warrior dressed in the trappings of a Knight. Like a wolf in the skin of a sheep.
~Lower Class: Stout fellows. Giants in my eyes. I hear that they're the strongest warriors out there!
~Military: The Vein are stuck in the past. They scorn anything different, and that inability to change ultimately brought their downfall.
~Academic: The Vein scorn magic, and though exceptions exist, they execute any mage found within their lands... Well... They did anyway. The Amalgamation conquered them, so now its like having a rabid wolf on a chain. When it breaks loose, it'll bite.
~Mercantile: What would a nation that specializes in magic have to trade with a nation which ignores it? The Vein are too ignorant to even understand what I sell, let alone buy any of it.
Vicaul
~Upper Class: They're just a cruder kind of pirate. They feel as though they can take whatever they want. Fortunately they are far from us.
~Lower Class: Going where they want, doing what they want. In some ways I like them, but on the whole, they seem like bullies.
~Military: The Vicaul do what they have to in order to survive. I don't fault them for that.
~Academic: When the Vicaul raid they simply burn and pillage. Books are never taken nor preserved, so when they do this, that knowledge is lost. They are not a culture we respect.
~Mercantile: Fortunately for us, Vicaul raids don't involve the people we do most of our trading with, so if anything, they help us by eliminating some competition.
Ad Decimum
~Upper Class: Our home is a very odd one, and status here is indicated by the size of your library. Frequently even the games at our parties involve wit and intelligence.
~Lower Class: Even most of us poor folk know how to read. That said, there is more to life than what's in a book. Work still needs to be done, and we're the ones who have to do it.
~Military: We have enough soldiers to protect our walls, but that's about it. Fortunately we have wizards to spare. Our walls boast some fine wards, and anyone attempting to siege us best be prepared for some magic to come their way.
~Academic: Ad Decimum is the finest place to learn most anything, and our Royal Libraries boast even ancient texts long thought forgotten. Even among wizards, there is a difference in caliber between those taught here, and those who stumbled upon magic elsewhere.
~Mercantile: I wouldn't call Ad Decimum a wealthy citystate, but we get by. Business revolves around knowledge and one of our major exports are spell scrolls. Take it or leave it, Ad Decimum is home.
Amalgamation ~Upper Class: The lord of the Amalgamation are pompous and though well educated themselves have little respect for literature. The Amalgamation itself is the reason why many of our collection remain incomplete.
~Lower Class: I don't really care what they do. They're east, we're west. Unless they plan on fighting through the Celestine Empire, we have nothing to fear.
~Military: Everyone is well aware of the might of the Amalgamation. Our distance is a greater shield than our forces. Were it not for the Celestine Empire, we'd have likely been subjugated already.
~Academic: The people of the Amalgamation are book burners. They destroy what they can not understand, and considering that most of their population is illiterate, that's saying quite a bit.
~Mercantile: Fortunately we have very few dealings with the Amalgamation, business or otherwise.
Celestial
~Upper Class: Celestials once roamed all over these lands. Now their broken relics are considered treasures to be coveted. A pity they're mostly gone.
~Lower Class: Aint never seen one, don't care to. Sure they're pretty, but who cares when there's work to do?
~Military: Celestials are beautiful, but deadly. We know well the stories of Celestials raining down fire from the heavens. Fortunately they're mostly gone.
~Academic: There are a lot of holes in our research about these creatures, but they are inherently little different than their demonic cousins. I'd love a chance to study them.
~Mercantile: Celestial blood is worth a pretty penny on the black markets, but even still, we stay far away from that sort of trade. Instead, a celestial relic would fetch an inordinate sum. Archeological digs can prove a wealthy endeavor.
Celestine Empire
~Upper Class: Our noble protectors. They have been nothing but just and fair with our dealings with them. We just wish we didn't owe them so many favors.
~Lower Class: They're ruled by a beautiful queen. If I didn't know better, I'd bet that she came from the heavens too.
~Military: The Celestine Empire help us a lot more than simply being a wall against the Amalgamation. They fight the Gael too, which takes a lot of strain off of us. I only wish we could do more to help.
~Academic: Having a philosophical debate with a Celestine is a true pleasure. They respect philosophy and knowledge. We even have many joint archeological endeavors recovering and restoring lost artifacts.
~Mercantile: We trade with the Celestine Empire for just about everything we need. Without them, we'd be a much poorer nation. The Celestine Empire also purchases many of our scrolls, which we offer at a slight discount.
Cestral
~Upper Class: They seem to be good genuine people. Well educated too. I hear Alexander is a good school, though truly, who is to say that it is any better than some of ours?
~Lower Class: Eh? I hear they have good horses. Not sure what else they do.
~Military: Cestral poses no threat to us. From the way I hear it, they have their own problems.
~Academic: Even a few of our own have trained at their school in Alexander. What is amazing about that place is that Nobles and the well educated from all over will travel there to learn. In no other place will you see such a convergence of culture.
~Mercantile: Trade with Cestral? Heh, the cost to even sail that far is enormous, not to mention how poor of a selection they have in terms of goods to sell. Unless you need a well trained animal, its best to just trade with Dace.
Coatl
~Upper Class: An artless people bent on slaughter. The Coatl's one redeeming factor is that they keep the Amalgamation focused on them rather than those of us to the west.
~Lower Class: Aint no problem with them, cause they can't get to us. Would have to fight through both the Amalgamation and the Celestine Empire, and that ain't never gonna happen.
~Military: They say that the Coatl once practiced Demon magic that caused all sorts of destruction. Fortunately that magic has been lost to them. As a result, they're no threat to anyone.
~Academic: A fascinating people steeped in superstition. They have strict rules and customs, and outsiders are frequently killed. I'd love to learn more about them, but I'm not foolish enough to visit.
~Mercantile: Even considering to trade with them would hurt other business deals. That coupled with logistic problems, there is no reason to even think about them in terms of trade.
Cole
~Upper Class: They seem friendly, but every time I play them at cards, I lose all my money.
~Lower Class: They be swindlers and liars! I lost my goat dealing with them! They said these were magic beans!
~Military: If a Citizen of Cole comes to Ad Decimum, you'd better be sure that we're going to watch them closely. Too many rogues, and con-men for my liking.
~Academic: They have no respect for knowledge, nor the people who wield it! Plus they make fun of us! I don't like going there.
~Mercantile: Well.... Cole is a good place to go for business, but you have to do your research ahead of time. You can get some great deals, but if you let your guard down, you'll be taken for everything you're worth.
Dace
~Upper Class: The nobles of Dace are beyond wealthy and can make for some excellent allies. Unfortunately, they have so many rules of etiquette, which aren't written down, that it's almost impossible to keep up. I actually wonder if that's the idea.
~Lower Class: I love when the Dacian's visit. it seems like you get rich just standing near them.
~Military: Whats there to say? They're so burdened by luxury, they can't even run let alone fight. I just wish that they couldn't bribe our own garrison to turn against us if they so decided.
~Academic: They understand beauty and the arts, but Dacians place less of an emphasis on learning than I feel they ought. This isn't to say that they are poorly educated, far from it, but they care more about what party they are going to be attending than the contents of a good book.
~Mercantile: Dacians have everything. Unfortunately, it's difficult getting to trade with them. I wish their island was a bit closer.
Demon
~Upper Class: They are vile creatures that pollute our lands. They are the very reason why there is so much distrust in the world.
~Lower Class: Hey, Hey! Not so loud. If you even mention one of their names they can hear you. Those are topics best left untouched.
~Military: We are once again fortunate to have Castle Thorn to the south defending the Expanse against their kind. Compared to other citystates, Ad Decimum is less threatened by demon kin, but that is solely due to our abundance of wizards.
~Academic: I may know a bit more about their kind than most would prefer.... But knowledge is important! We must study and learn, and only in learning shall we ever hope to transcend our differences!
~Mercantile: You know, hate to say it, but I wish we did have a good trade relationship with Breach. There are some potent artifacts all around Breach. The Demons have them, and we could make a fortune off of any one of them. Unfortunately, every time we've tried to do business, our merchant hasn't come back.
Draconic
~Upper Class: I once patroned an archeological expedition to uncover one of their bodies. Unfortunately it turned out to be a waste of time and money.
~Lower Class: I grew up on those tales. Knights in shining armor, slaying dragons, rescuing maidens. By the tales of it, I'm glad that the Dragons are all extinct.
~Military: I prefer to spend my time thinking of actual threats.
~Academic: They were an amazing race of beautiful creatures. Unfortunately virtually no texts exist from a date when Dragons actually lived. Even finding the bones of a Dragon is considered a remarkable find.
~Mercantile: There are merchants out there who will claim that any old bone is a Dragon's bone. You have to be careful. You can tell though, simply by the strength of the thing. It can hold up to damn near anything.
Effendal
~Upper Class: They were a misunderstood race of beautiful and elegant people. It's a pity what happened during the purification. The modern world could stand to learn a thing to two from their sort.
~Lower Class: I've been picked on in the past, and it isn't much fun, I can tell you. From the way we've heard it, the elf types were just defending themselves, but that's all in the past. Ain't no one alive for a long time who was ever involved in any of that.
~Military: The effendal were driven out a long time ago. Unless they ever come back to the expanse, we have little to fear.
~Academic: Those Effendal who have survived must have a wealth of knowledge. That coupled with their extended lifespan makes each and every one of them their own fount of knowledge, makes potentially any conversation with them an incredible opportunity.
~Mercantile: We remain optimistic that we could make contact with the Effendal, and perhaps trade in both knowledge and trade goods, but the odds of that actually happening are quite dim.
Fae
~Upper Class: When I was a child I thought a Faery prince would come and rescue me from my dull family. Now I realize that those were just foolish dreams.
~Lower Class: I heard that those nasty creatures would come in the night and steal children! Glad they're gone!
~Military: People like to use the fae as excuses for why things don't get done, or why they've misplaced something. Don't believe any of it. If someone claims a fae stole their child; they probably weren't watching the kid and he wandered off. The kid will show up sooner or later.
~Academic: The fae are a remarkable yet paradoxical type of creature. They exist both everywhere and nowhere. Some say they're dead, others say that they never can die. Some say they're in hiding. Who is to know for certain?
~Mercantile: Fae goods are a scam. Some merchant puts a shell on a stick and claims that it's a faery wand. Don't trust it.
Gael
~Upper Class: They are witless barbarians who smell as badly as they speak.
~Lower Class: I'm more afraid of the Gael than I am of Demons. Hell, I use them as the stories I tell to frighten my children.
~Military: It is because of the Gael that our walls exist. We've had more than a couple incidents with them over the years, and lost some good men.
~Academic: The Gael are superstitious and follow a mostly oral tradition. They are broken into tribes, but each of those tribes are brutal and thirst for blood.
~Mercantile: There is no dealing with the Gael.
Drir
~Upper Class: If you go west, and see a string of isles, don't go further. There lies death.
~Lower Class: They do curses and hexes. Best not to let any of your possessions go unattended if passing through their waters. One missing hair could be your undoing.
~Military: The Drir only come to the expanse if they need something. When that happens, it never ends well. Aside from that, they keep to their islands.
~Academic: The Drir are descendants of necromancers, demon worshipers, and blood mages. They hold powerful and forbidden knowledge, yet they lack control and the ability to use their power wisely.
~Mercantile: Ships that sail through their waters rarely return. They say even the dead protect their islands.
Mandala
~Upper Class: They take themselves very seriously, and have more pride than they deserve. In time they will be set in their place, but we are not the ones to do it.
~Lower Class: They're um... not the nicest of people. They seem to not think much of us either, though I'm not sure what we ever did to them.
~Military: We have a loose alliance with Mandala, but that doesn't mean we're friends. I feel like they'd just assume help us in combat as drink tea over our bodies.
~Academic: Were we ever invited to their parties, we might feel less distain for these elegant yet pretentious people.
~Mercantile: There are some good trade opportunities in Mandala, most people just don't see it. Believe it or not, but there are quite a few circles among them who thirst for magic.
Nadine Empire
~Upper Class: They terrify me in an exciting way. You have to admire their confidence, and for once its deserved. I may not agree with how they treat their underlings, but they certainly get results.
~Lower Class: I once saw an imperial. I had nightmares for a week. Seriously. A week.
~Military: Forget the distance, if they wanted us dead we would be. Its that simple.
~Academic: Even the history of the Nadine Empire is frightening, and scholars who delve too deep are eliminated. Some topics are best left untouched.
~Mercantile: We do business with them on occasion, but since their nation is so far away, opportunities to do so are rare.
Saek
~Upper Class: I've heard they exist but little more than that. Savages I believe.
~Lower Class: The what?
~Military: Some legends say that they are fierce warriors capable of bringing down even the strongest of demons. Personally, I think those are just legends.
~Academic: The Saek are a tragic people, and I certainly admire their determination to stay in their homeland and fight for what they believe in.
~Mercantile: First you'd have to get to breach. Then find a group of Saek. Then convince them to trade with you. Then see if they even have anything you want. It's not a promising expedition.
Castle Thorn
~Upper Class: They are a people who live in a brutal world. As such, Some of their demeanor can be excused. Just remember they are warriors first and foremost.
~Lower Class: They're the best! Strong willed, proud, and disciplined! They keep the demons at bay, and for that, all the expanse can never repay.
~Military: We owe them a debt, as do all the citystates. They safeguard the western expanse from the demonic forces of breach. Without them, the demons would swarm in and overwhelm us all.
~Academic: The men and women who fight at Castle Thorn are descended from the very men and women who fought in the crusades. They have the same personality and outlook, and genuinely see dark forces as a threat. Unlike the Amalgamation, they don't let politics get in the way of that.
~Mercantile: Castle Thorn can't exist by itself. As such, we do our part, and Ad Decimum sends a small, but steady supply of scrolls their way to keep their wizards well equipped. Its a charity, but it helps us too.
Vein
~Upper Class: They seem like a Gael warrior dressed in the trappings of a Knight. Like a wolf in the skin of a sheep.
~Lower Class: Stout fellows. Giants in my eyes. I hear that they're the strongest warriors out there!
~Military: The Vein are stuck in the past. They scorn anything different, and that inability to change ultimately brought their downfall.
~Academic: The Vein scorn magic, and though exceptions exist, they execute any mage found within their lands... Well... They did anyway. The Amalgamation conquered them, so now its like having a rabid wolf on a chain. When it breaks loose, it'll bite.
~Mercantile: What would a nation that specializes in magic have to trade with a nation which ignores it? The Vein are too ignorant to even understand what I sell, let alone buy any of it.
Vicaul
~Upper Class: They're just a cruder kind of pirate. They feel as though they can take whatever they want. Fortunately they are far from us.
~Lower Class: Going where they want, doing what they want. In some ways I like them, but on the whole, they seem like bullies.
~Military: The Vicaul do what they have to in order to survive. I don't fault them for that.
~Academic: When the Vicaul raid they simply burn and pillage. Books are never taken nor preserved, so when they do this, that knowledge is lost. They are not a culture we respect.
~Mercantile: Fortunately for us, Vicaul raids don't involve the people we do most of our trading with, so if anything, they help us by eliminating some competition.