RUNE QUEST
THE WORLD OF ALISTARR

CULTURAL INFORMATION

To better help in character creation, each continent can be related to a specific culture 
with regards to Names, Clothing, Armor, Weapons & Lifestyle

THORVAS & DRAGONS TOOTH GLACIER
This land has a Viking & Saxon culture.
Their clothing is furs, robes and heavy materials such as leather.
Their Armor will be Cloths, Leather, Furs, Ring Mail, Studded Mail and for those that are 
wealthy perhaps chain mail. Helmets will be leather or metal, generally open faced. Shields 
will be multiple layers of leather or hides, or wood banded in metal. A very wealthy lord 
may perhaps have a metal shield. Weapons will be Axes, swords, Maces, and Bows, crossbows 
would be rare because of their expense. Warriors of this culture will be both skilled in 
both hand weapons and the Bow.

SAVA
This land has a Japanese & Chinese culture.
Their clothing will be cloths, usually with extensive patterns and color.
Their Armor will be Cloths, Leather, Woven fiber laced with Bamboo, Metal bands or studs. 
More wealthy persons may have Lamellar Mail. Helmets will only be worn by wealthy warriors 
or lords and will be of metal, possibly with ornate designs and either open or closed face.
Shields bigger than a Buckler are rare and in some sects of this warrior society considered 
dishonorable. Weapons will be mostly Swords, some Axes. Crushing weapons are used, but not 
overly common. Long Bows are very common and Crossbows are extremely rare.
Warriors of this culture are skilled in both the use of hand weapons and the Longbow.

SHONTAR 
At one time this was a single culture, but over the last thousand years it has split into 
two close, but different cultures.
THROYOS
This land has a Persian Culture.
Their cloths will be flowing robes, billowing shirts and pants or gowns, sometimes with 
ornate patterns and bright colors. Their armor will be Cloth, Leather, Ring Mail, Bar Mail, 
Studded Mail, Banded Metal or Lamellar mail. Helmets will be of leather or thick cloths, or 
mixed metal armors, such as Metal cap with mail draping.
Weapons will be Swords, Axes and some crushing weapons. Longbows will be available, but 
short bows will be more common, as they can be used more easily from horseback.
Shields will be small so that they can also be used from horseback. Warriors of this culture 
will be skilled in both hand weapons and the bow.

COSZA
This land has an Indian Culture.
Their clothes will be along the same lines as Throyos.
Their Armor will be along the same lines as Throyos, but metal plates will be more common. 
Helmets will be along the same lines as Throyos, as will shields & weapons.
Crossbows may be encountered by static guards, such as Royal or Palace guards. Warriors of 
this culture will be skilled in both hand weapons and the bow.

KORADOS
This land has a predominantly Roman culture.
Their cloths will be robes, gowns, skirts, etc. Made from light materials, either white or 
solid colors. Their Armor will be cloth, leather, metal plates. Ringmail & Chainmail type 
armors are extremely uncommon. Helmets will be of metal, usually closed face often with 
ornate head dress. Shields will be large and usually made of metal. Weapons will be mostly 
swords and thrusting type weapons such as spears and javelins. Longbows are common and 
crossbows are not.
Warriors of this society will be skilled in either hand weapons or bows, but generally not both.

ARNATH
This land has a Roman Culture. It is like Korados in nearly all respects.

CYMILLIAS
This land has a British culture.
Clothes will be standard cloths, some leather, and heavy woven fiber materials such as 
canvas. Their Armor will be mostly mails of some sort, either Ring/Chainmail, Studded mail 
and Plate Mails of various types. Shields will be either of wood or metal and generally of 
the Target type, often baring the crest of the warrior. Helmets will be plate mail, usually 
closed face with movable visor, it may also be decorated with ribbons, feathers or other type 
of ornamentation. Lesser warriors will have open faced helmets. Weapons will be Swords, 
Axes, Maces or weapons that can be used from Horseback, such as the Lance. Common soldiers 
will use crossbows, specially trained archers or squires will use longbows. Knights will not 
use a bow for anything other than hunting.

FARLANTH
This land has a mixture of European cultures (German, French & Spanish)
Clothes will be standard cloths, some leathers and heavier woven fiber materials.
Their Armor will be mails of all types, studded leathers and Platemail of all types.
Shields will be of wood or metal also in the Target tradition, it may or may not bare the 
crest of the warrior. Helmets will be closed face with movable visor and may or may not be 
ornate or decorated. Lesser warriors will have open faced helmets.
Weapons will be Swords, Axes, Maces and Lances. Lesser warriors will use Bows, both longbow 
or crossbow, as will squires. Knights will only use the bow for hunting.

In all of the above listed cultures, all species on those continents will share this culture, 
but bent slightly to their species variations. Elves will be much more vibrant and ornate, 
Dwarven will be more dark, but no less ornate.
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