Some quick Blackmoor descriptions
by Mischa E GelmanBlackmoor - A small kingdom that broke away from the Empire of Thonia under the leadership of Uther the Just. A multicultural land featuring dwarves, halflings, elves and humans, they are also large supporters of education. Surrounded on all sides by enemies.
Skandharians - Stereotypical Viking-style raiders. They regularly raid the coasts of Blackmoor, Thonia and the Duchy of Ten and are big on slavery. They are split into the Raiders of the East and Raiders of the West, united under a common ruler.
The Egg of Coot - A strange, twisted creature of great intelligence and power that rules a land called Coot (an island north of Blackmoor). A quarter of its subjects are slaves and I imagine few reside there willingly. A lot is left up to the imagination of the reader.
The Duchy of the Peaks - A libertine land in the mountains NW of Blackmoor and N of the Duchy of Ten. A small country where basically anything goes (heck, the leader is a former exotic dancer).
The Duchy of Ten - A medieval-style country that was defeated by the Afridhi in a prolonged campaign. Under Afridhi rule 1,000 years prior to the cataclysm; some loyalists remain but it is basically the central point for Afridhi military operations.
The Afridhi - A large bunch of barbarians ruled by a matriarchy/theocracy. Very efficient militarily, they are the greatest danger to Blackmoor from the west. They worship Zugzul. A small group of male dissidents exists.
The Froggies - A religious cult that worships frogs and is led by St. Stephen, a former spaceship chief of security. Other aliens occupy key ranks in the Froggie organisation, which is based in the swamps of SW Blackmoor. They have access to quite a good deal of alien technology. Basically destroyed in the course of DA2.
The Horsemen of Peshwah - Nomadic horsemen that live in the unstable (politically) lands between Blackmoor, the Duchy of Ten and Thonia. They are neutral in the conflict, but are steadily being forced back and may ally with one side or another. A loose confederation of tribes from a political standpoint.
Thonia - The large, vast, decadent and decaying empire SE of Blackmoor. Fairly reminiscent of Rome in its decline (at least that's the picture I get). Still the world's greatest power. 1,000 years prior to the end of Blackmoor, it was led by an arrogant, clueless twit who got his position based on family lineage (Bush/Gore jokes omitted).
The Sand Folk - 4-armed desert dwellers. Nomadic folks who follow a code of honour and tradition. They often have dealings with the folks in the City of the Gds.
City of the Gds - The crashed spaceship that is the FSS Beagle. Manned by the surviving crew who didn't desert when St. Stephen did. Run by a paranoid Cpt. Bork Riesling and defended by many robots and humans. A survey ship, they are still doing some research while trying to find a way back home.
Orcs of the Black Hand - Orcs who reside in the mountains of eastern Blackmoor. Often at war with the Blackmoorian dwarves. At the time of DA1, they are currently holding prisoner the Regent of the Mines, the leader of the dwarves of the land. His capture ended a truce between the dwarves and orcs.