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<quote>“Bar your door, and do not open it before sunrise.”</quote>
<quote>“Bar your door, and do not open it before sunrise.”</quote>
Varushka is a land of dark magics and dark tales. [[Varushkan Monsters|Monsters]] lurk in the sunless spaces of the forests that lie across the broken hills like a blanket woven from shadows. Those who keep to the [[Varushkan Roads|roads]] and keep to the rules can travel safely. Those who choose their own path find that the rulers of Varushka do not tolerate a challenge to their authority.
Power comes in many forms in Varushka, sometimes brutal and uncompromising, sometimes subtle and unnoticed. Boyars guard their dominions; their Schlacta, their iron fist, enforce their will. Wise ones instruct their people, keep them safe by ensuring they know how to follow the rules. Itinerant wizards, the Volhov, keep dangerous company and make everyone’s business their own.


The people of Varushka make hard decisions and compromises to prosper in this difficult land. Their toil has seen them grow rich from the wealth to be had here, and their caution has seem them grow wise to the dangers that lie out beyond the reach of human habitat. They enjoy celebration as much as any folk in the Empire - but they make sure their door is secured first - and whatever happens the wise do not open for the door for anyone before sunrise.
The people of Varushka make hard decisions and compromises to prosper in this difficult land. Their toil has seen them grow rich from the wealth to be had here, and their caution has seen them grow wise to the dangers that lie in wait. Dour by day, they celebrate by night - but only the foolish unbar their doors before dawn.


Varushka is a land of dark magics and dark tales. [[Varushkan Monsters|Monsters]] lurk in the sunless spaces of the forests that spread from one horizon to the next. The roads are warded to keep travellers safe, best you take that to heart, keep to your business and keep to the path.
They are the iron in the Empire’s laws; unyielding, uncompromising, they do what must be done to keep the Empire strong. They are the Empire’s bones, who endure all and still prosper.


Authority comes in many forms in Varushka, sometimes brutal and uncompromising, sometimes subtle and unnoticed. Boyars guard their dominions, their Schlacta, their iron fist enforce their will. Wise ones nurture their people, teach them right from wrong and help them fend off the terrors of the night. Itinerant wizards, the Volhov, make everyone’s business their own.
==Five things about Varushka==
 
They are the iron in the Empire’s laws, unyielding, uncompromising, they do what must be done to keep our land strong. They are the Empire’s bones, who endure all and still prosper.
 
===Five things about Varushka===
*'''Do not let your eyes fool you.''' Appearances are deceptive, take nothing for granted.
*'''Do not let your eyes fool you.''' Appearances are deceptive, take nothing for granted.
*'''Respect your elders.''' The old possess wisdom that you will need to survive here.
*'''Respect your elders.''' The old possess wisdom that you will need to survive here.
*'''Do not leave the road.''' Only the human habitants of this land wish you well.
*'''Do not leave the road.''' Only the human habitants of this place wish you well. Breaking the rules can have terrible consequences.
*'''Prepare for difficult choices.''' Often the only choice is the lesser of two evils.
*'''Prepare for difficult choices.''' Often the only choice is the lesser of two evils.
*'''Do not idle between dawn and dusk.''' We work hard and do not tolerate wastrels.
*'''Do not tolerate fools or wastrels.''' Tolerance builds complacency and invites disaster.


== What the Varushkans are not ==
== What the Varushkans are not ==
*'''Stereotypical vodka-drinkers.''' While the inspiration draws from Eastern Europe and Russia, they are not comedy cossacks.
*'''Evil.''' The Varushkans can be authoritarian, uncompromising and intolerant but they are law-abiding, not sadistic, bloodthirsty or needlessly cruel. Their rule is hard but the real monsters lie outside their walls.
*'''A divided nation.''' While there might have been two people here once upon a time, the Vard and the Ushka are gone and only the Varushkans remain.
*'''Cossacks.''' Varushka draws on Eastern Europe and Russia but it is also inspired by Germany, dark fantasy and the Brothers Grimm. The Cossacks and the stereotypes that accompany them are not part of the setting.
 
{{CaptionedImage|file=Varushkan Band.jpg|align=right|width=600}}
==The Nation==
{{Varushka Links}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Varushkaboyar.jpeg|align=right|width=300}}
=== Core Brief ===
* [[Varushka People|The People]]
* [[Varushka Culture and Customs|Culture and Customs]]
* [[Varushka Look and Feel|Look and Feel]]
 
=== Further Reading ===
* [[Varushka History|History]]
* [[Varushka Leadership|Leadership]]
* [[Varushka Military Concerns|Military Concerns]]
* [[Varushka Economic Interests|Economic Interests]]
* [[Varushka Religious Beliefs|Religious Beliefs]]
* [[Varushka Magical Traditions|Magical Traditions]]
* [[Varushka Hearth Magic|Hearth Magic]]
* [[Varushka Lineage and Species Attitudes|Lineage and Species Attitudes]]
* [[Varushka Territories|Territories]]
* [[Varushka Children|Children]]
* [[Varushka Music|Music]]
* [[Varushka Costumes|Costumes]]
 
[[Category:Varushka]]
[[Category:Nations]]
 
 
{{pdf}}
{{pdf}}


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Latest revision as of 13:28, 14 June 2023

CM-140525-7600.jpg

“Bar your door, and do not open it before sunrise.”

Varushka is a land of dark magics and dark tales. Monsters lurk in the sunless spaces of the forests that lie across the broken hills like a blanket woven from shadows. Those who keep to the roads and keep to the rules can travel safely. Those who choose their own path find that the rulers of Varushka do not tolerate a challenge to their authority. Power comes in many forms in Varushka, sometimes brutal and uncompromising, sometimes subtle and unnoticed. Boyars guard their dominions; their Schlacta, their iron fist, enforce their will. Wise ones instruct their people, keep them safe by ensuring they know how to follow the rules. Itinerant wizards, the Volhov, keep dangerous company and make everyone’s business their own.

The people of Varushka make hard decisions and compromises to prosper in this difficult land. Their toil has seen them grow rich from the wealth to be had here, and their caution has seen them grow wise to the dangers that lie in wait. Dour by day, they celebrate by night - but only the foolish unbar their doors before dawn.

They are the iron in the Empire’s laws; unyielding, uncompromising, they do what must be done to keep the Empire strong. They are the Empire’s bones, who endure all and still prosper.

Five things about Varushka

  • Do not let your eyes fool you. Appearances are deceptive, take nothing for granted.
  • Respect your elders. The old possess wisdom that you will need to survive here.
  • Do not leave the road. Only the human habitants of this place wish you well. Breaking the rules can have terrible consequences.
  • Prepare for difficult choices. Often the only choice is the lesser of two evils.
  • Do not tolerate fools or wastrels. Tolerance builds complacency and invites disaster.

What the Varushkans are not

  • Evil. The Varushkans can be authoritarian, uncompromising and intolerant but they are law-abiding, not sadistic, bloodthirsty or needlessly cruel. Their rule is hard but the real monsters lie outside their walls.
  • Cossacks. Varushka draws on Eastern Europe and Russia but it is also inspired by Germany, dark fantasy and the Brothers Grimm. The Cossacks and the stereotypes that accompany them are not part of the setting.
Varushkan Band.jpg

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information

This selection of articles can be downloaded as a PDF book (or as html only)