The people are called Irmensi (er-MEN-see). There is no government of Irmensul (ER-men-sool) beyond village chiefs, who can be male or female, but are usually male. Teachers are as highly respected as the chief of a village is. The chief of a village is often its oldest teacher, supported by a council of elders.

Irmensul was once part of the Empire of the Mages. When the dragons destroyed Brokk, many Archmages fled to Irmensul. Some of them are still here. People wanting to learn exotic spells often come here, requesting tutoring. The younger Archmages sometimes agree to do this, in return for suitable services: often the recovery of a potent magic item lost in the ruins scattered over Brokk.

There are also villages of civil, educated and peaceful peasants. The coast is on the Inner Sea.

The Archmages insist that all children be given a basic education, including the ability to read and write. Some of the children belong to the Archmages, who tend to take a proprietary interest in their offspring.

The songs of Irmensul are full of folk-tales of a lucky villager who attracts the attention of an Archmage, and is taken to live in the Archmage’s palace. Then either there is a tragic misunderstanding and the villager is ejected or killed, or else the villager becomes in turn a powerful Archmage, maybe eventually turning on their lover, maybe remaining friends. In real life, this is an uncommon but not totally impossible dream.

Archmages fear to allow other Archmages close to them: safer to be friends with mortals, who can be controlled. And there is something very appealing to a centuries-old Archmage about the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a young lover or friend.

A peasant with a talent is encouraged by nearby Archmages to develop that talent. If it necessary for the peasant to go abroad to learn, they can usually find an Archmage willing to fund them. Most pupils eventually return and settle down in their home village. So although Irmensi seem primitive, with the small villages and simple farms, they are very knowledgeable about the world, and have a wide variety of skills, some quite exotic.

Anyone who feels they have been badly treated can appeal to one of the Archmages. The Archmages are extremely powerful, and normally ignore the mortals around them, but even they still enjoy some civilized interaction with normal humans, and some can be made angry enough at an injustice to right it. Especially if the client asking for help is either attractive or can make them laugh. This has bred the ordinary Irmensi into a polite and caring people.

A few of the peasants have very high weapon skills, and delight in showing them off in contests at the frequent festivals.

Sheltered from the north wind by the highlands of Brokk, Irmensul is a warm country, where clothes are worn for decoration and delight, rather than from need. The Gods are the same as those of Brokk, but most people save their religious awe for the Archmages, who are offered sacrifices of flowers and beautiful things.

Not all the Archmages are benevolent: some of them prefer more traditional sacrifices.

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