So, I can think of only one person who expressed deeper interest in any of the Northwood stuffs (Although his interest was directed at exactly one character). I thought maybe I'd take out a flock of birds with one hand grenade and just answer a whole bunch of stuff about Northwood with one document.

Originally, I had created the Minotaurs merely as test data for a turn-based strategy system using a backend I had developed with a friend (Hehehe... Krylon...). Since merely specifying a race was not enough, I had laid out a series of individual characters using different aspects of the Northwood Minotaur race. And, due to the fact I had a tablet with me and there were breasts involved with cow people, AND a verbally engaged competition with Speedy about who could have more OCs, I had drawn out a few of the characters I laid out.

And minor backstories were laid out, until it hit me that I was going to need to come up with a D&D campaign in a few months from that time because apparently I'm an oft-requested DM. I still haven't gotten around to getting this campaign going due to unrelated issues. Anyhow, the Northwood Minotaurs got worked into the story with some major backstorying. It also gave me good reason to exercise a firearms system I formulated that included recoil and fun stuff like that in a d20 game.

So, without further ado, teh summaries.

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Northwood Territories
Ruled by the Northwood royal family (No last name had been established)

Originally an untamed land, an expedition from a nearby human city to learn about the land should have found the group dead on their arrival. The forests and hills were filled with many wild, and often dangerous beasts. Maintaining a large population in Northwood was a large band of minotaurs. A group large enough to have been able to have wiped out the camps the humans had setup in minutes. It seems they were lucky the humans came, though, as a very large majority of the minotaurs present were suffering from a yet-unknown sickness, and mostly dying out. As the expeditionary force was comprised mostly of scholars, researchers and other academicia, they had seen it fit to take care of these beasts in what most saw as a fit of naivety. However, most of the minotaurs that were saved realized they owed their lives to this group and became more and more used to the way of life brought with the humans. Eventually, a number of them had intermarried producing offspring that mixed the two species together. As the lifestyle of those present in the expedition was based mostly on research and personal interests, the children began to follow in their footsteps, abandoning whatever visions of natural selection the original minotaurs had. The resulting race, referred to as the Northwood Minotaurs, are well-known for their engineering and chemistry breakthroughs. Many say they lack culture, as there are few artists of any kind in the land, but their creativity is shifted towards scientific progress.


Elentaure
Theocracy of Corellon Larethian

The largest remaining Elven organization rests in a region called the Starry Forest. The elves serve their entire life to their deity, granting them what most of the other races view as arrogant, snobby behavior. They view the world is theirs, as granted by Corellon Larethian himself. Their way of life has not changed, even as other races have begun to make more scientific breakthroughs and have lost their dependence on magic, the elves believe their ways of life are the only proper ways and continue to rely not only on magic, but the hard labor of other races to provide them with expensive materials. Recently, the elves have become more aggressive and controlling than normal, considering the Minotaurs they once failed to recognize the existence of as a major threat. They publicly voice against those who have abandoned the use of magic, however, they say they have nothing to do with attacks against those who have renounced its use. And those kinds of attacks are ever rising. Some think that the diminishing power of magic present in all planes may have something to do with them being on edge. Elementals dissipate into puddles, wisps of smoke, piles of rubble. Golems have slowed down, or just stopped working together, and many spells long developed have suddenly began to lose their all-around effectiveness everywhere, even in the elemental planes. The elves have made no comment about these issues affecting their behavior.



Brookhaven Dominion
Republic of Brookhaven

A human country just south of Northwood, Brookhaven finds itself torn. As the country has handled open immigration with no problem, the recent troubles incited, for the most part, by the elves has caused major disturbances as racial fights break out. Most of the human population, and the government, feel they shouldn't get involved, but are pressured by the Elves constantly. More and more humans have stopped using magic, resorting to scientific breakthroughs to take their place. They are often likened to being supporters of the Minotaurs, although the government denies this. Some groups do support the protection of the Minotaurs, most notably the firearms manufacturer Vega, which has often collaborated with Northwood engineers. CEO Lorelei Vega has, on many occasions, publicly stating the Elves must stop their "senseless and arrogant" behavior. It carried quite a message to have come from someone in charge of weapons development plants.



Delbar
Dwarven Kingdom

A kingdom of dwarves which rests on the border of Elentaure. The dwarves which originally considered themselves superior to the Elves decided sometime in history to come into service to them. Some consider it to have been a decision during some time when the nation was collectively plastered. The Dwarves have agreed to honor the beliefs of the Elves, providing their creations and findings to perform whatever Corellon Larethian wills them to. The dwarves tend to keep to themselves, however. Their weapons are rarely sold outside of Delbar. When they are, they're usually contraband. Very little has been written about dwarven history since they partnered with the Elves. Some question if they even still exist.