The Viridians are an ancient race, said to be the children
of the gods (specifically
Armadad Bog) and the Merfolk of
the Trident Gulf. They are also said to be descended (perhaps in contradiction
to the above) from a great race of
wizards and clerics who came from the far east after destroying
their first empire in a terrible magical conflagration. In any event they
founded Viridistan, the City of Spices, on the shores of the Trident
Gulf at least four thousand years ago and conquered a new empire.
They have protected their realm by a combination of sorcery and superior strategy but
their empire has been in decline for many years. One of the problems of their race
has been the bloodletting that accompanies each new attempt on the Imperial Throne.
Although naturally very long-lived few Green Emperors have survived to old age.
Today there are only two known True Viridians, the God-Emperor of Viridistan
and his wife, the Empress. These have striking jade green skin and blue-green hair.
The common populace of Viridistan known as Common Viridians have extensively interbred with
men and only rarely have a greenish tinge to their skin. They also only rarely exhibit another
Viridian characteristic which is the ability to breath underwater.