The entire nation  is in one big valley. Between the mountain peaks old hanging bridges connect to form a mandala web with arcane properties. It collects emanations of patriotism, trust and belief from the citizens below. every seven years a new batch of young men dares to climb the mountains, step onto the bridges and make their way towards an arena suspended above the very centre of the valley by hundreds of ropes from all the highest mountain peaks. The winner of the non-lethal fights becomes a semi-divine hero, representative of the state in all outward affairs and unsurpassed warrior of the land. He is the only one who is allowed to call for a new voting to determine the parliament. He is also allowed to participate again during the next battle although his powers will automatically be suppressed for as long as he fights there. This battle must be absolutely fair, and so the ancient mages that put the mandala in place added such a security measure. Votes are accepted from all free  citizens with the votes of women counting half and the votes of the truly rich counting double.

 

The culture of Aíl Mor is centered heavily around honor. Insults are not taken lightly, often leading to long feuds, sometimes ending in violence. Insults are taken very seriously, and one’s honor is not insulted lightly. Thus, Aílians seem very polite to outsiders. This image, however, changes very quickly when a drunkard in a tavern mutters choice words about an Aílian’s mother.

 

The main cattle of Aíl Mor is the frost-proof mountain goat and the groaning sheeps that have been bred for their fine wool and supple meat. Many fruits with thick cores grow in the valley along with resilient grains and barley. Mines in the mountains provide lots of metals and rare substances such as sulphur and quartz. The weather is generally cold and windy but usually very tolerably so. When the sun shines the valley glows like a diamond with its little streams, golden crops and polished roofs. The architectural style of Aíl Mor is very romantic. The abundance of different stones in the mountains offers the basis for neat, cheap stonework, as it never has to be transported too far.

 

Baile is the capital of the country with more than 20,000 citizens living within its walls. Unlike the smaller cities and towns that are ruled by representatives chosen by sub-councils created by the parliament this one is ruled by the parliament directly. Offset from the centre of the city where a massive fortress forms the politic central of the land there is the arena suspended above a small, shady park. Common sounds of the city are of course the loud advertising of goods and services as well as the clinking and clanking from forges and stonework ateliers. In the city specifically a minor bakery subculture exists and from their workshops come many strange and enticing smells such as cinnamon, cocoa and even rarer herbs.

 

Trouble rears its head in the forest behind the mountains and within the valley. A tribe of Salizare allied with giant spiders of nearly equal intelligence have braved the mountains and entered the country. Their original home forest is a web-riddled dead zone where no more game can be found. Spiders and Salizare together have eradicated all greater life there. Now they travel into the valley and pose a great danger. For one they are ruining the ecosystem there just as much as they did outside and secondly they also pose a great risk to cattle, travellers and citizens alike. The co-operation between Salizare and the spiders was inevitable according to researchers that had ventured outside. The spider broods were just as brutal and cannibalistic as the Salizare. No-one really knows who is giving commands although the human-centric view suggests that it is the Salizare as they are the more humanoid race. Researchers have their doubts. The spiders are all segregated into different castes called broods. Fenos are small and have venomous fangs, Janpers are rideable and can jump rather high and Rostrik can create the most intricate, stickiest webs. The Fenos in turn can be sorted by their venoms. Some cause paralysis, others constrict bloodvessels and yet others destroy the brain. The latter ones cause strong hallucination in small doses. This substance is used as an illegal and dangerous drug called Crowl by the lower ranks of Aílan society. These Salizare that are allied with the broods are often seen wearing armor made from spider silk and riding Janpers into battle. It is rumored that deep within the forests of Aíl Mor  lies a major nest that hasn’t been found yet. Monster hunters speculate that, perhaps, it is more mobile than a normal nest. This casts a lot of doubt on any member of the Church of the Black Feather found within the woods. The citizens suspect that these figures could be assisting the invasion.