Still working on spell balance. After working out a way to quantify the overall strengths of the Swords & Glory / Gardasiyal spells, I've discovered that spells of higher 'phyla' were not necessarily any more powerful. I'm taking a little time to decide what I think about that, because my gut instinct is that they probably should be. They're more expensive and require more magic skill, after all.

I'm also working on the Kokh-lizard drawing; I'll probably finish it sometime this evening.

-Jeff

Our DSL is having problems; they tell me that internet service will be intermittent until Thursday. So if I don't post every day til them, please don't be alarmed.

The spell balance pass is going very well, and I'm almost done with the Mihalli drawing.

-Jeff

Thanks, Talabardio! I agree, of course.

The new Mihalli drawing is on DeviantArt: http://fav.me/d7jtb3a

Next up is the Miku. I finished balancing the Generic-level spells; the Temple spells will take a few more days.

-Jeff

UPDATE: They tell us our internet is all better now. Hooray!

-Jeff

The city of Katalal serves as the starting point for a Bethorm campaign, in the same way that Jakalla was the starting point for Empire of the Petal Throne. This helps put reasonable limits on the amount of source material that Bethorm needs to include.

Today I finalized a list of the most prominent clans in Katalal, including several choices at each status level ranging across all religious affiliations. Here it is!

IMPERIAL (11)
Tlakotáni The clan to which the Tsolyáni royal family belongs; some well-to-do farmers and middle-class urban merchants are members as well; found around Béy Sü, Haumá, and Usenánu. No specific religious affiliation. They have only a smallish estate and villa in Katalál.

VERY HIGH (9)
Golden Bough Traceable to the Engsvanyáli governors of the south; eclectic with no particular religious or professional affiliations; contains many officials and military personnel; powerful all over the Imperium but with main centers in Jakálla, Thráya, and Jaikalór.

Sword of Fire A small and very ancient clan descended from the Dragon Warriors; totally devoted to Vimúhla; aloof and disinterested in politics; centered in Béy Sü but with clanhouses in other cities as well; this clan has many mercantile ventures in the west and in Mu’ugalavyá, and its contacts in the latter country make it suspect in Imperial eyes.

Blade Raised High Descended from the palace guard of the Engsvanyáli Priest Kings; devoted to Karakán and Chegárra; primarily soldiers and military administrators; found throughout the Empire but centered in Katalál and Usenánu.

HIGH (7)
Purple Gem Originally scribes and bookmakers in the Engsvanyáli Empire; many medium- and high-level court officials at Avanthár are members; no religious affiliation; based at Avanthár but has clanhouses throughout the Empire.

Great Stone Originally a northern matrilineal clan based at Khirgár; many followers of Ksárul, Hrü’ü, and their Cohorts, but not exclusively so; members often involved in trade, shipping, caravans, and mercantile ventures, but also contains a number of priests, bureaucrats, and a few soldiers; found largely in the northwest of the Empire but has clanhouses elsewhere also.

Amber Cloak Devoted to Belkhánu, Thúmis, and their Cohorts; composed of priests, scholars, apothecaries, physicians, and professional people; found throughout the Empire.

Standing Stone Comprised of priests and officials, plus many middle-class agriculturalists; no religious affiliation; centered around Úrmish but has clanhouses in most major cities.

Iron Helm The lords of Mekú are hereditary members of this clan; usually devotees of Ksárul and Grugánu, although others are worshipers of Hrü’ü, Wurú, etc.; widespread throughout the Empire.

Staff of Beneficence Mostly wealthy physicians and apothecaries devoted to Thúmis and his Cohort, Keténgku; found throughout the Empire.

Rising Sun-Disk Wealthy landholders and administrators; Devotees of Karakán and Chegárra with a few members worshiping others of the Lords of Stability; found throughout the northwest. General Lord Réru hiSu’únmra of The Forces of Lord Ga’anish of Katalal legion (23rd Imperial Medium Infantry) is a member of this clan.

The Association of Relievers from Life Clanhouses in all of the major cities, and their leaders are respected members of society (and are often prominent contributors to the temples of the Lords of Change – and even to the temple of Karakán and his Cohort, Chegárra), but their inner membership is secret, and they do not intermarry with other clans.

MEDIUM (5)
Green Bough Prosperous agriculturalists; no religious affiliation; found throughout the Empire but has its largest clanhouse at Katalál.

Blue Kirtle Members are devoted to Avánthe and her Cohort, Dilinála; originally potters, winemakers, and builders but now includes medium-level priests and administrators as well; based at Béy Sü but has clanhouses throughout the Empire.

Black Stone Comprised of medium-level bureaucrats, scribes, professional people, and priests in the service of the Lords of Change; found throughout the Empire. General Kakagánu hiBeshúdla of The Slayers of Cities legion (5th Imperial Sappers) is a member of this clan.

Black Monolith Middle-class merchants, artisans, and laborers; most members follow Hrü’ü, Ksárul, Sárku, and their Cohorts; found throughout the Empire. Daséshmu hiMriyatláku, the governor of Katalál, is a member.

Ripened Sheaf A prosperous agriculturalists’ and artisans’ clan; no religious affiliation; centers at Úrmish, Penóm, Katalál, and Jakálla with smaller clanhouses in almost every village in this area.

Green Kirtle An offshoot of the Blue Kirtle clan which turned to the worship of Dlamélish and Hriháyal; follows a variety of middle-class occupations; based in Béy Sü and the west but has clanhouses all across the Empire.

Blue Stream Rural agriculturalists and landowners; devoted to Avánthe and Dilinála with a sprinkling of worshipers of others of the Lords of Stability; found throughout the Empire.

Victorious Globe Makers of paper, inks, paints, and scribal materials; mostly devotees of Thúmis, Hnálla, and their Cohorts; found in every major city of the Empire.

Devisors of Soft-Clinging Beauty This small clan specializes in the production of highest-quality Thésun gauze. They have branches in Katalál, Mekú, and Úrmish in central Tsolyánu.

LOW (3)
Plume of White Scribes, accountants, clerks, and administrators; mostly devoted to the Lords of Stability, although members of other sects are also found; centered at Jakálla but with clanhouses throughout the Empire.

Open Hand Peasants, laborers, and tenant farmers; no religious affiliation; encountered throughout the rural areas of the Empire.

Eye of Flame Originally barbers but now includes many low-level soldiers and hired bodyguards; worshipers of Vimúhla and Chiténg; based at Tumíssa but with clanhouses throughout the west and north.

VERY LOW (2)
Nighted Tower Tomb guards, makers of various chemicals – and often accused of being tomb robbers; followers of all of the Lords of Change except for Vimúhla and his Cohort, Chiténg; based at Púrdimal but found throughout the northwest.

Flat Rock Poor laborers and peasants; no religious affiliation; found throughout the western regions of the Empire.

Scarlet Planet of Knives Butchers, hunters, and lower-class warriors; devoted to Karakán and Chegárra; based at Katalál but encountered in every major city.

Turning Wheel Carters, suttlers, wheelwrights, and transporters of goods; no religious affiliation; encountered all over the Empire.

Standing Reed Mostly N’lüss who settled long ago in the Empire; professional soldiers, gladiators, bodyguards, fletchers, and makers of leather armor; devoted to Vimúhla and Chiténg; based in the rural areas around Khirgár but with clanhouses throughout the Empire.

Eternal Sky Brewers and distillers of cheap liquor; usually devoted to Karakán or Chegárra. They claim to have once been a Kurtani warrior clan; based around the Kurt Hills.

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Next up: the new Nom ilustration!

-Jeff