Læa (Laea, pronounced Lay-ee-ah) (l) is the ancient term for the “whole world”. It probably derives from some Elven word co-opted by the Southern Kingdoms where you live. Much of the lore about the origins of the language of the Southern Kingdoms, usually referred to as “common” is lost to history, perhaps only know by the sages of the Ancient University.
You are from the city of Caitha, in the heart of King’s Reach (the current empire that unites the Southern Kingdoms). Caitha is an ancient city formed at the crossing of the Gamboling and the Greath Southern Road. It has always been a city of commerce, whether handing mineral wealth from the foothills of the Xankul’s Spine range to the north, river-borne goods brought from Kings bay up the Gamboling or King’s Coast trade itself. As a person born in Caitha, you, therefore, know something of the world, its creatures, religions, peoples and ways.
Caitha is a large city with upwards of a quarter-million inhabitants. Most of the inhabitants are human and hobbit, but there are many races present in the city in lower numbers. Most Elven children are the offspring of High-Elven emissaries or ambassadors from other lands as few elves care for an urban life. Half-orcs can occasionally be found among the criminal classes, often acting as brawlers, bouncers, thugs and the like. Dwarves are uncommon but some of the major mines have trading offices in Caitha. Gnomes are highly represented in such occupations as artificers, bankers, and gem merchants.
Fighters are usually trained by the Caitha Guard, as there is only a small contingent of the King’s Army stationed in the city. Monks, while very common in far-off lands, are extremely rare in most of the King’s Reach cities. They are often members of human ethnic minorities and keep to small, secluded communities shrouded in secrecy. Clerics are common, as in all cities, although most clerics serve human gods as there are not enough non-human to support large temples. Given the amount of money that trades hands in Caitha, it is not surprising that several thieves guilds, and a substantial black market, has insinuated itself in to the city landscape. The Mayor of Caitha uses most of his Guard force to protect trade as best he can. People claiming to be magic users are most often charlatans. Some proficient magic users can be found among the artificers and sages, but high-level magic mentor-ship requires travel to distant lands. Bards are welcome and do a good business in the city; good gossip is paid for well. Some of the largest churches can afford to train a paladin or two, but they too must travel abroad for advanced training. There is no significant royal court presence in Caitha other than the wealth merchants who surround the local governor. Rangers and druids are rare in this urban environment, but wild lands can be found in a days travel to the north. A few druids are highly venerated (and feared) by the surrounding agricultural community.
Next, the gods of the King’s Reach.