TEXT:  
   
  Pholtus  
  Show us the Path 
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  The Theocracy of the Pale 
   
  The Theocracy of the Pale (often simply referred to 
  as “The Pale”) is a moderately sized country of 
  834,000 human citizens. In this predominantly human 
  nation of Oerdian and Flan ancestry, non-humans are 
  not counted in the census. The Pale’s nine major towns are home to only 20% of the population. 
  The remainder of the Pale’s citizens reside in smaller towns, villages and rural areas. His 
  Worshipful Mercy, Theocrat Ogon Tillet, Supreme Prelate of the Pale serves as the Theocracy’s 
  political, spiritual, and military leader. 
   
  History 
   
  Fleeing religious persecution in 254 CY, worshipers of 
  Pholtus left the Kingdom of Aerdy and moved north, 
  settling in the western valleys of the Rakers. In this harsh 
  land they made a place for themselves, dedicating their 
  newborn nation to Pholtus. The Council of the Nine was 
  formed in 342 CY and the first Theocrat, the representative 
  of Pholtus on Oerth and the leader of the Pale, was chosen. 
   
  In 356 CY, Nyrond too broke away as an independent 
  kingdom, claiming the lands of the Pale and Tenh as its 
  own.  The Pale resisted Nyrond’s claims and fought a short 
  war for independence in which the capital city of 
  Wintershiven was burned to the ground. The Pale would be 
  an occupied subject of Nyrond until its emancipation in 450 
  CY. Wintershiven was rebuilt to the north of its former 
  location and is once again the Pale’s capital. 
   
  In 588 CY, Theocrat Ogon Tillet marched the armies of the 
  Pale across the Yol and Zumker rivers into the Duchy of 
  Tenh, securing the eastern edge of that country for the 
  Theocracy. 
   
  The Church, the Government, and the 
  Military 
   
  The Pale is a Theocracy; its government is run by the 
  Pholtan church. The Theocrat rules from the Throne of the 
  Sun and is Pholtus’ chosen representative on Oerth. 
  Supporting the Theocrat is the Council of the Nine, which 
  includes each of the prelates from the various archdiocese. 
   
  The vast majority of the 
  citizens of the Pale adhere 
  to 
  the 
  state-favored 
  worship 
  of 
  Pholtus. 
  Worship of other dieties is 
  suppressed, taking place 
  only in private. Those citizens and visitors who do not 
  worship Pholtus are at least careful to pay lip service. 
  Mages are distrusted, due in part to their propensity to 
  worship dieties other than Pholtus. 
   
  The armies of the Pale are among the most fervent, well-
  trained and disciplined on all of Oerth, bordering on 
  fanatical in their duty. Templars of the Church Militant 
  serve to back up the standing army and guard the 
  sovereignty of the Church. 
   
  The People 
   
  Predominantly lawful by nature, the population of the Pale 
  is a combination of the original Flan inhabitants  of the 
  region and the descendants of the Aerdi settlers. 
  Intermarriage between the aristocratic Aerdi and the Flan is 
  uncommon. Common and Flan are the primary languages 
  of the Pale. Only humans are counted in the census, though 
  elves, gnomes, dwarves, and halflings can be found in the 
  outlying areas. 
   
  Economy and Resources 
   
  The Pale’s greatest resource is its people, in the form of 
  scholars, artisans, and craftsmen. The land itself is harsh, 
  and natural resources are few. While small tracts of arable 
  farmland in the western region produce meager crops, most 
  food is imported from 
  Urnst and Nyrond. 
   
  Copper and Gem mining 
  provide the bulk of the 
  Pale’s material wealth 
  and resources. 
   
   
  Geography/Weather 
   
  The Pale is divided into nine Archdiocese. These nine are 
  further subdivided into 18 low diocese and nine city wards. 
  Centrally located, the archdiocese of Wintershiven contains 
  the capital city, the theocrat and the Council of the Nine. 
  The Gamboge Forest forms a portion of the Palish border 
  with neighboring Nyrond, though neither nation holds claim 
  to it. Largely unsettled, the Phostwood divides the Pale 
  from both Tenh and the Bandit Kingdoms. It is home to 
  reclusive elves, renegades from the Bandit Kingdom, and 
  refugees from Tenh. The lower edge of the Nutherwood 
  
   
   
  forms the Pale’s southern border, and further divides it from 
  the 
  Bandit Kingdoms. The Troll Fens 
  border the Pale to the north, keeping 
  the many forts of the archdiocese of 
  Hawkburg 
  busy 
  resisting 
  the 
  increasing troll uprisings. The Raker 
  mountains form the eastern border, 
  dividing Palish lands from Ratik and 
  the Bone March. To the far north is 
  Stonefist, across the Griff Mountains. 
   
  Politics 
  and 
  Neighboring 
  Lands 
   
  Fiercely protective of its independence 
  since the emancipation, the Pale 
  remained apart during the Greyhawk 
  Wars, failing to take sides. Treaties are 
  few and always to the theocracy’s 
  advantage. Stonehold and Iuz are 
  sworn enemies of the Pale. Other 
  nations not dedicated to Pholts are 
  viewed as heretics. A century and a 
  half after occupation, distrust of 
  Nyrond still burns in the hearts of 
  some Palish. With the conversion to 
  Pholtus of many of the duchy’s nobles, 
  eastern 
  Tenh 
  benefits 
  from 
  the 
  protection of the Church Militant. 
   
  Notes to Players 
   
  There are several considerations which 
  players should take into account when 
  creating a player character from the 
  Pale. 
   
  ♦ There is a special prestige class 
  available only to characters from the 
  Pale. This prestige class is the Justicar, 
  a Lawful Neutral holy warrior very 
  similar to the Paladin, except that her 
  main focus is fighting chaos rather than  
  evil. 
   
  ♦ Chaotic characters will have a difficult time acquiring 
  divine help (spells, etc.) from the temple of Pholtus. This 
  means that chaotic characters may not be able to have 
  curative spells cast upon them by members of the Church. 
  They may also find it impossible to be raised from the 
  dead by NPCs. 
   
  ♦ There is a certain amount of prejudice against non-
  human people in the Pale. Players of non-human 
  characters may find it difficult to advance to the higher 
  ranks in certain meta-gaming organizations (e.g. the 
  Church Militant, Prelatal Army, City Watch, etc.). 
   
  Contact Information 
   
   Website: 
     http://theocracy.oerth.com 
   
   Triad POC: 
   Jason Singleton:   twoklbs@jps.net 
   
   Triad members: 
   Pete Willis:   
     alsan@cruzio.com 
   Catie Martolin:    catie@brightarrow.reno.nv.us 
  The Theocracy and surrounding area
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Theocracy of the Pale/Area Introduction - The Pale.pdf