New Orkin People’s Republic: area once covered by Keoland,
Celene, Uleks, Veluna, etc. now conquered by the orcs
Dolemar is a human ambassador to the orcs. Beldinath is also one of
their ambassadors and a former member of the party that became the Champions of
Sephora. Orcs have a four
month gestation period and live 20 years.
One orc
mage is known as the Soul-less. He only possesses others; he has no body of his
own. Nikolai Tethlor, cursed for protection from Dark
One, betrays. Dragons are being magically aged by the orbs. The orcs seem to have three of them.
There are 12 orbs of dragonkind. Each holds the souls of a dragon. The ancient
orb, the strongest with power over ancient dragons, makes the volcano breeding
ground and the babies. The swineherd sent by the gods up the mountain of the
dragons dreamt of twelve secrets which gave him power over the dragons. He
learned the secret of flattery and praise and that dragons should protect
creation and have forgotten this. The orbs were hidden to prevent dragons from
keeping the power. Each orb has power over a lesser dragons. Each orb contains
a hostage dragon. He is revolted by worshippers of Tiamat
(Tachesies in Harn, DracoPaladine wars with her in Harn
and has sent several good dragons to Oerth on
missions).
KEOLAND, KINGDOM OF
His Peerless Majesty, the King of Keoland,
Lord of Gran March; Plar
of Sterich;
Protector of the South; etc. (Ranger, 14th level)
|
|
Capital: Niole Dra (pop.
21,600)
Population: 300,000 + (Excluding dependencies)
Demi-humansi Sylvan Elves, Gnomes, Halflings
Humanoids: Doubtful
Resources: foodstuffs, cloth, gold, gems (III)
Keoland was the first major kingdom to be
established in the Flanaess, the Oerdians
and Suloise tribes mingling and joining to build a
tolerant and prosperous realm which nominally included many and varied demi-hurnan groups as well. After several centuries
of benign leadership, a line of monarchs upon the Keoish
Throne became ambitious and embarked upon a policy of conquest. At the peak of
this imperialism, Keoland held sway from the Pornarj to the Crystalmist
Mountains, while her armies pushed into Ket and
threatened Verbobonc and Veluna
City (c. 350-360 CY). The Ketite expedition came to
grief in successive battles (Molvar, Lopolla), while an alliance between Veluna-Furyondy
ended the Keoish threat in that quarter (Short War).
Coincidentally, the Olvenfolk withinthe
boundaries of Keoland objected to the warlike
policies of the King and began expelling royal garrisons in the
King Tavish III was slain in battle against the
Sea Princes (Siege of Westkeep, 453 CY), and his son,
Tavish IV, immediately changed the policies of the kingdomupon ascending to the throne. After protracted
negotiations, the independent state of the Yeomanry was recognized, the Uek states were granted autonomy, and Keoland
returned to its former state of tolerance and prosperity thereafter. The
semi-independent Gran March and Earldom of Sterich are loyal to thecrown and
fumish strong contingents to the royal army. The Keolanders arewell-known for
their light cavalry employing javelins, crossbows, and lances. Thebulk of the army consists of foot armed with pole arms
and long spears, while thenobility comprises the
heavy cavalry portion of the force. There are typicallysmall
companies of elves, gnomes, halflings, and/or dwarves
included in muster. The fleet is batfleworthy but small, and conflict with the Sea Princes
continues toplague the realm.
History
For two centuries the Oerid and Suel battled each other and the fragmenting humanoid hordes
for possession of the central area of the Flanaess,
incidentally engaging the Flannish and demi-humans. In a few places the two racial stocks
intermixed - notably the Sheldomar Valley where,
except for the Hold of the Sea Princes, the peoples of the Kingdom of Keoland, Gran March, and the Ulek States and nearby petty lands are mixed Oerid To the far north, four of the strongest and fiercest
clans managed to retain large stretches of ground as Suloise.
The majority of the Suelites were pushed to the
extreme south, into the Amedio Jungle, the Tilvanot Peninsula, the Duxchan
Islands, and even as far as across the narrow Tilva
Straight into Hepmonaland. The success of the Oerdian domination of so much of the Flanaess was in part due to their friendliness to- demi-human peoples of the area - dwur,
noniz, hob-niz, olve - and their co-operation greatly strengthened the Oeridians. The willingness of the Flanae
to join forces with the Oeridian armies also proved
to be a considerable factor. Perhaps the biggest asset the Oeridians
had, however, was the vile- of the Suloise - for the
majority lied, stole, slew, and enslaved whenever they had inclination and
opportunity. There were exceptions, of course, such as the Houses of Rhola and Neheli - late migrants
who settled and held the Sheldomar as already
mentioned
Small War
The Littlemark, or March of Bissel,
was the northernmost frontier of the
STERICH (Earldom Of)
His Magnitude, the Earl of Sterich (Fighter/Thief//Bard,
7th //8th /// 9th level)
Capital: Istivin (pop. 5,000)
Population: 35,000+
Demi-humans: Mountain Dwarves (4,000), Gnomes,
Halflings
Humanoids: Some (in mountains)
Resources: silver, electrum, gold, gems (11, 111)
The Earl of Sterich is a nominal vassal of the
King of Keoland, although treated more as a favored
relative than a vassal by the king. The Sterish are
loyal to their Earl and the King of Keoland alike,
and in time of need a large contingent of the renowned light cavalry and
sword-armed light infantry of the earldom are sent to Keoland,
accompanied by companies of stout heavy infantry of dwarves from the CrVstalmists. A good portion of the levies of Sterich must always remain on guard to the
west, however, for many humanoids, giants, and even worse monsters tend
to follow the headwaters of the
His Noble Mercy, the Count Palatine of Ulek
(Druid, 13th level)
Capital: Jurnre (pop. 10,900)
Population: 25,000
Demi-humans: Gnomes (5,000), Halflings (4,000),
others
Humanoids: None
Resources: foodstuffs, copper, silver, gems (1, 11)
Humans
and demi-humans have long sought safety in the lands
in and around the Lortmils. Flan tribes, dwarves,
elves, and so forth settled permanently in the area which has been known as the
Ulek States for centuries. These territories were
under Keoish rule for a short period, but have been
independent for a considerable period since. Although each is separate and
distinct, they have a community of interest which allies them in the face of
outside aggression or time of need. The County Palatine is on good terms with
its neighbors north and south as well as its former suzerain, the I~ingdom of Keoland. Since the
humanoid tribes have been driven out of the Lortmils,
the land has enjoyed considerable prosperity. Its troops are mixed human and demi-human companies. Cavalry is solely human, as are the
heavy infantry. Lighter infantry and missile troops are typically gnome and halfling companies. The county extends between the Kewl and Old Rivers through the Lortmils
to Courwood in the Suss
Forest.
His Noble Radiance, the Duke of Ulek (FighterlMagic- user, 7th/1 1 th
level)
Capital: Tringlee (pop. 13,800)
Population: 15,000
Demi-humans: High Elves (12,000), Sylvan Elves
(4,000), Gnomes
Humanoids: Doubtful
Resources: foodstuffs, cloth, electrum, gems (1, 11)
The
elven realm of Ulek is
ruled by a wise and intelligent Duke of High Elven
race. Many of the human inhabitants of the land are partially elven, and the remainder are well-disposed to demi-humans. After gaining independent status, these
peoples were quick to make treaties of mutual aid with Celene
and the lower Ulek states. While they do not love the
Keoish, they do not bear them enmity, and normal
relations and trade exist between the Duchy and the Gran
March and Keoland. Most traffic, however, passes
through the mountains to Celene and the gnomes of the
Kron Hills. There is a standing force of some 1,000
men and elves serving the Duke. This force consists of a small troop of heavy
cavalry, another of medium, and a body of elvish
light. The balance (60%) consists of crossbowmen, billmen,
and elvish archers. In time of need levies of men,
elves, and gnomes can be raised speedily.
His Serene Highness, the Prince of Ulek, Lord
of the Peaks of Haven (Fighterl
Thief, 9th112th level)
Capital: Gryrax (pop. 17,200)
Population: 30,000+
Demi-humans: Dwarves (18,000), Mountain Dwarves
(9,000),
Gnomes, Halffings
Humanoids: Doubtful
Resources: foodstuffs, silver, gems (II, IV)
Dwarves and other demi-humans are more numerous
than are humans except in the city of
His Most Resolute Magnitude, the Commandant of Gran
March (Fighter, 15th level)
Capital: Hookhill (pop. 4,500)
Population: 40,000 +
Demi-humans: Some
Humanoids: Few
Resources: foodstuffs, cloth, copper, gems (III)
Keoland established the territory of the Gran March during its early stages, basing it upon a
military-religious order of knights. These zealous fighters quickly subdued the
warring inhabitants, established order within the area, and conscripted all fit
males into worker and infantry biftiles
(regimental-like formations). The land between the Lortmils
and