Hârn HârnWorld Cultures
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Contents
Cultures
Hârn is a rough, hazy, forested island about 100 miles off the northwest coast of the continent of Lythia on the edge of the Haonic Ocean. It is a wild, dangerous land, where pockets of civilization are surrounded by large tracts of wilderness. It is a land of feudal kingdoms, religious turmoil, savage monsters, noble knights, beleaguered peasants, industrious craftsmen, barbaric tribesmen, and secretive wizards.
Hârnic Cultures
While Hârn contains unique cultures and creatures, its closest historical equivalent is 9th to 14th century Britain. Elements from this entire period may be found and, with the exception of the unique elements described, the GM may use this historical era as a model.
Kingdoms
There are seven civilized human states on Hârn. Five of them are feudal, one is pre-feudal (Orbaal), and the last is a plutocratic republic (Tharda). Two demi-human states exist: Azadmere, kingdom of the Khuzdul (dwarves), and Evael, kingdom of the Sindarin (elves). Both prefer to maintain their distance from the human nations and each other.
Barbarian Nations
The wilderness of Hârn is home to 18 tribal nations with a total population exceeding 100,000. There is almost constant conflict between tribes and their civilized neighbors but some are more warlike than others.
Gargun Nations
Hârnic orcs, or gargun, are sometimes called Foulspawn. Five species of these creatures live in Hârn’s mountains, either in cave complexes or as wandering nomadic bands. Hârn may have as many as 50,000 gargun.
Unique Cultures
Two unique "cultures" exist on Hârn: the Ivashu of Misyn, a diverse group of creatures spawned by the god Ilvir; and the Ilme of Ilmen Marsh, a race of intelligent mere-dragons.
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Geography
Hârn’s center is dominated by Lake Benath, a freshwater lake drained by the Thard River. The longest river is the Kald (375 miles), which drains the eastern interior. Much of Hârn is hilly. There are four mountain ranges of note: the Felshas, running north-south in central Hârn; the Rayeshas, running east-west along the top of Lake Benath; the Sorkins, running northsouth along the east coast; and the Jahls in the extreme north.
Weather and Climate
Hârn’s climate is basically maritimetemperate (cool summers, mild winters, and damp). Some say that Hârn has no climate, just weather. The prevailing southwesterly winds off the Haonic Ocean are moist. Fog, drizzle, and overcast skies are common. The island receives ample precipitation all year round. This falls mostly as rain, although winter snow and sleet occur, especially in the north and at high elevations. The seas around Hârn are notoriously rough; calm waters, which are rare, can build swiftly into terrible storms.
Vegetation
The moist climate promotes a luxurious vegetation, mostly summergreen deciduous forest and woodland. Needleleaf forests, alpine tundras, and permanent snowcaps are found at higher elevations. Heathlands are common along western margins.
Communications
A lack of good roads and rough terrain combine to make travel difficult, especially in winter. The island is regarded with disdain by continental Lythians and is generally avoided. Tales of wild men and fearsome beasts have served to daunt visitors from abroad. Despite the unpredictable seas, a few adventurous seamen ply their trade between Hârn and Lythia. The Hârnic guilds maintain good contact with their foreign colleagues.
Calendar
The Hârnic calender, called Tuzyn Reckoning (TR), has a lunar year of 12 months, each with 30 days:
Spring: Nuzyael, Peonu, Kelen
Summer: Nolus, Larane, Agrazhar
Autumn: Azura, Halane, Savor
Winter: Ilvin, Navek, Morgat
The game year is 720 TR.
Hârn Cultural/Political Map
Ázadmêre
Azadmere is the kingdom of the Khuzdul in Hârn’s Sorkin Mountains. Ruled by King Hazmadul III of Clan Tarazakh, the kingdom is centered on the city of the same name but includes most of the mountains surrounding Lake Arain. It was founded more than 7,000 years ago and is the last settlement of Khuzdul on Hârn.
The kingdom is a unique hybrid culture of dwarves and humans. Of the 11,000 total population, 6,200 are human descendants of a few hundred trusted Jarin who were given refuge after the Atani Wars. Most of the humans live around the settlement of Habe, the main source of food for the kingdom. They owe allegiance to Hazmadul’s chief human vassal, Baron Kophar, who rules his barony with little interference from the king. Most other humans live in the city of Azadmere, as do almost all of the Khuzdul.
The city of Azadmere is an impressive walled settlement, with a moat, stout double walls, and prominent round towers. It is really two cities, the Outer City and Inner City. The Outer City lies between Lake Arain and Mount Zaduryn, at the foot of a megalithic cliff with large granite outcrops at its summit known as "the Knives." It is devoted primarily to human residences and various trades and crafts. The Inner City features extensive chambers and passages carved into the living rock of the mountain. It contains the mines and residences for the Khuzdul, most of whom work in the Outer City. Very few humans are permitted access to the Inner City, notably Baron Kophar, his closest lieutenants, and some local officials.
The high altitude and poor soils are not suitable for growing wheat so the kingdom relies on imported grain from Kaldor to supplement its own crops. In return, Azadmere exports weapons and armour, gems and jewelry, and gold and silver artifacts. The mines of Azadmere produce iron, silver, and gems, and are the major active source of gold on Hârn. The Khuzdul have no formal guild system but various clans have economic rights that amount to monopolies in their chosen crafts.
The Khuzdul have a strong enmity for the gargun that infest the surrounding mountains. In addition to the city’s fortifications, the kingdom includes the formidable fortress of Zerhun. Built into the rugged cliffs overlooking the Silver Way, Zerhun is strategically placed to guard the approaches to Azadmere.
Although a few adventurous or outlawed Khuzdul may be found anywhere on Hârn, the Kingdom of Azadmere has minimal contact with outsiders other than the limited trade with Kaldor. It is deemed a great honor for an outsider to be permitted entry to the kingdom.
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Location: Eastern Hârn
Atlas Maps: L4
Government: Monarchy
King: Hazmadul III, Clan Tarazakh
Culture: Khuzdul
Population: 4,800 Khuzdul, 6,200 Human
Royal Seat: Azadmere
Largest Town: Azadmere (pop. 4,100 Khuzdul, 1,800 Human)
Exports: Weapons and armour, gems and jewelry, gold and silver products
Religion: Khuzdul worship Siem; Jarin worship Peoni, Siem, or Ilvir.
Related Products
- Azadmere Kingdom Module (COL #5004). Includes Azadmere, Khuzdul, Habe, and Zerhun.
- Sorkin Mountains (COL #5890)
- Silver Way (COL #5895)
- Kiraz (COL #5016)
- Nasty, Brutish, and Short: The Orcs of Hârn (COL #5071)
Chybísa
Chybisa is Hârn’s smallest state, a tiny kingdom in southeastern Hârn. The kingdom is centered on Burzyn Castle in the Ulmerien River valley. It is bounded to the north by the region of Upper Osel, to the east by the Anadel highlands, to the south by the plains of Horadir, and to the west by Setha Heath. The natural vegetation is mostly mixed woodland with tracts of cropland and pasture. The Ulmerien valley includes some of the most fertile land on Hârn.
Chybisa was founded in 160 TR by adventurous Melderyni settlers led by a knight errant named Shobald, who carved out a realm from the petty Jarin tribes and declared himself king. At first vibrant and growing, Chybisa suffered great losses to rampaging Pagaelin and Hodiri tribesmen during the Migration Wars that began soon after the kingdom’s founding.
Chybisa’s relations with the kingdoms of Kaldor and Melderyn are peaceful but somewhat strained. Both have a claim to the kingdom and while neither seems presently inclined to press their case, the situation worries the current monarch, Verlid VII of Clan Geledoth. At the moment, trade flows freely through Burzyn and there are frequent visitors from Kaldor and Melderyn.
Verlid VII succeeded his father at age 17 and has proven himself a competent if somewhat nervous monarch. His father ran up huge debts, as yet unpaid, with usurers in Thay. These debts and his concerns over the claims to his throne by Melderyn and Kaldor have not helped his congenitally weak heart. To add to Verlid’s worries, he gets on poorly with his only surviving son, who appears to be undergoing the early stages of syphilis.
The lands surrounding the kingdom are home to three tribal nations. Although the Bujoc to the east are shy and few in number, the Hodiri to the south and Pagaelin in the north are among the most populous tribes on Hârn. Fortunately for the Chybisans, neither nation is now particularly hostile, although the past is another tale. Both nations trade with the kingdom. Hodiri tribesmen can be found in Burzyn and other settlements and the Pagaelin are common visitors to the villages north of the Ulmerien.
Chybisa controls the only bridge across the Ulmerien and draws considerable revenue from caravan traffic using the Genin Trail between Tashal and Thay. Extensive mining in the Anadel hills also swells the treasury. It has been whispered that gold has been found on one of the tributary streams of the Ulmerien in the Anadel highlands but there has been no reliable confirmation.
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Location: Southeastern Hârn
Atlas Maps: K7, L7
Government: Monarchy
King: Verlid VII (Clan Geledoth)
Culture: Feudal
Population: 8,000
Royal Seat: Burzyn
Largest Town: Burzyn (pop. 510)
Exports: Grain
Religion: Churches of Larani (nobility) and Peoni (commoners) dominate.
Related Products
- Kingdom of Chybisa (COL #5007) Includes Chybisa, Burzyn, and Hârnic Law.
- Onden Keep (COL #5602)
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
Eváel
Evael is the last remnant of the Sindarin kingdom that once covered all of Hârn. Unable to stem the tide of human immigration, the Sindarin renounced claim to Hârnic sovereignty some 14 centuries ago and withdrew to the Shava Forest. Evael is now more of a sanctuary for Hârn’s 5,000 Sindarin than a kingdom in the human sense. Evael’s borders are the Farin River in the west, the Wend in the north, and the Kald in the east. The islands of Yaelin and Keboth are loosely controlled parts of the kingdom.
The majority of humans who live in Evael are descendants of the Jarin who accompanied the Sindarin during their withdrawal into the Shava Forest after the Atani Wars. Others are descended from "newbloods" who were allowed to settle in Evael to prevent inbreeding. Human residents are full citizens of the kingdom. The rare humans who are invited to live in Evael, most often to apprentice under a Sindarin artisan, are residents only at their master’s pleasure. When training is complete, they are expected to depart the kingdom within a year. Hasty marriages to Jarin residents to avoid deportation are not uncommon.
The economy of Evael is based on barter. The kingdom does not mint coins and foreign coinage is rare. Transactions between Sindarin are always bartered or gifted. To outsiders, the system is a confused and inefficient tangle of favors and exchanges but the Sindarin value the close relationships that develop. The system of mutual trust, honor, and generosity works because transactions are few. Jarin craftsmen accept coinage from visitors.
Elshavel, or Tarminas as it is known to the Sindarin, is the capital and largest settlement; it is the most beautiful city in all of Hârn. Its inhabitants enjoy the highest standard of living and the entire community reflects the Sindarin eye for aesthetics and function. Businesses, fortifications, and residences blend with the sylvan setting for an effect that is unearthly to the eyes of men. Elshavel is a place visitors regard with awe.
Ulfshafen, or Nimfalas, is the major port and trade center. It is located on the mouth of the Enorien and controls maritime traffic in the Kald River estuary. Although beautiful and exotic, Ulfshafen’s lack of raucous pleasures and its almost invisible civic authority can be unsettling to human visitors.
The Chelni, Pagaelin, and Tulwyn tribal nations surround Evael. All have legends about the inhabitants of the Shava Forest. The Chelni fought against the Sindarin in the Battle of Sorrows and have since viewed them with respect and awe. The Pagaelin consider them to be "devils of the forest" and keep their distance. The Tulwyn will not cross the Farin River after a disastrous attempt to invade Evael around 150.
The Sindarin are largely self-sufficient and Evael has minimal contact with other civilized nations. Almost all imports and exports are handled by the Jarin, who act as intermediaries. Some trade is conducted through the port at Ulfshafen or overland through Trobridge Inn. Generally, the Sindarin kingdom pursues a neutral policy towards the rest of Hârn. Kaldor and the Thardic Republic both claim lands right up to the borders of Evael. These claims are only nominal and neither state has the strength to extend its power into the region. The Sindarin and Khuzdul, once great allies, have ignored each other for 14 centuries. Evael’s isolation from the rest of Hârn lends it an aura of mystery and a reputation that all manner of enchantments will befall the unwary. Visitors are few.
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Location: Southern Hârn
Atlas Maps: H6–8, I6–8, J6–7
Government: Monarch and advisory council
King: Aranath Halirien
Culture: Sindarin
Population: 5,100 Sindarin, 500 Human
Royal Seat: Elshavel
Largest Town: Elshavel (pop. 600 Sindarin, 200 Humans)
Exports: Glasswares, musical instruments, jewelry
Religion: Sindarin and some Jarin worship Siem; other Jarin worship Peoni or Ilvir.
Related Products
- Kingdom of Evael (COL #5081) Includes Evael, Elshavel Castle, Ulfshafen Castle, Bejist Earthmaster Site, Pesino Earthmaster Site, and an adventure scenario.
- Trobridge Inn (COL #5072) Includes "Pepper and Spice" adventure scenario.
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
Káldôr
Located in the eastern interior of Hârn, Kaldor is a feudal realm ruled by King Miginath from his royal castle in the city of Tashal. Founded more than five centuries ago (188), external threats to Kaldor have been minimal but internal strife has been common, notably the Kaldoric Civil War (362–377) and Baronial Revolt (599–603). Both conflicts were the result of a tendency for kings to draw too much power into their own hands at the expense of the barons. The current dynasty, Clan Elendsa, was founded in 603 and has encouraged a return to traditional principles of feudalism and chivalry while maintaining royal justice.
The present monarch, King Miginath Elendsa, was 41 when he succeeded his father (Torastra) in 693. He has always been sickly and there are yearly predictions of his imminent death from any of numerous ailments. After 27 years, the aged king continues to baffle his subjects simply by getting up each morning. He has never married, leaving the succession a matter of contention between three bastard sons and a score of nieces and nephews. During his reign, Miginath has substantially increased the royal bureaucracy, handing out new offices in exchange for concessions from individual nobles and their clans. He is popular with the common people because he has kept the kingdom prosperous and at peace.
Many of the lands claimed by Kaldor are controlled by tribal nations. In the western Chelmarch, the Salt Route crosses Chelni and Kath lands. Kaldor has a token presence at Trobridge Inn but only because the Chelni allow it to survive. The southern Oselmarch lies within Pagaelin territory, a region crossed by the Genin Trail and subject to raids. Beyond the Pagaelin territory lies small but rich Chybisa, a kingdom to which Kaldor occasionally asserts a claim.
The commercial life of Kaldor and its merchant class peaks at the great Tashal Summer Fair. Caravans converge on this economic hub city from all corners of Hârn: from Orbaal down the Fur Road, from Azadmere along the Silver Way, from Thay and the Lythian continent via the Genin Trail, and from western Hârn by the Salt Route. Mercantylers trade through much of the summer before returning home with wagons laden with goods.
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Location: Eastern Hârn
Atlas Maps: J4–6, K4–6
Government: Monarchy
King: Miginath, Clan Elendsa
Culture: Feudal
Population: 105,000
Royal Seat: Olokand
Largest Town: Tashal (pop. 11,400)
Exports: Grain, vellum, wool
Religion: Churches of Larani (nobility) and Peoni (commoners) dominate.
Related Products
- Kingdom of Kaldor (COL #5610)
- City of Tashal (COL #5611)
- Gardiren Castle (COL #5623)
- Kiban Castle (COL #5628)
- Minarsas Castle (COL #5634)
- Olokand Castle (COL #5651)
- Qualdris Castle (COL #5638)
- Heru Keep (COL #5639)
- Oselbridge (COL #5651)
- Silver Way (COL #5895)
- Tontury Lake (COL #5893)
- Field of Daisies (COL #5951)
- 100 Bushels of Rye (COL #5051)
- Trobridge Inn (COL #5072)
- Tournaments (COL #4721)
- HârnManor (COL #4751)
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
Kingdom of Kandáy COL5660
Kanday is a feudal kingdom in southwestern Hârn. Created in 589 after the collapse of the despotic Theocracy of Tekhos, Kanday now stands as a realm committed to peace and prosperity. Despite its tradition of enlightened and peaceful government, the kingdom has seen three major wars over the past 60 years, mainly because its policies are in direct conflict with those of its neighbors, Rethem and Tharda.
King Andasin IV is unmarried and there is some pressure on him to provide an heir. Negotiations are underway for him to marry the daughter of Earl Cassean of Heroth. Andasin is privately reluctant, as Dorthea Cassean is well known for her shrewish temper and plain appearance.
Some lords are troubled by the power of the king’s father, the Earl of Sarkum, who has considerable influence over Andasin IV. The king’s younger brother, Prince Anaflas, is widely seen as the more pragmatic and energetic of the two. Many would prefer his leadership should war break out.
Relations between Kanday and its neighbors are peaceful but tense. Although the Agrikan Order of Copper Hook and the Laranian Order of the Checkered Shield have frequently skirmished across the Rethem-Kanday border since the end of Ezar’s War, neither monarch officially recognizes the conflict nor supports the combatants. Both claim it is a religious dispute; should either order make substantive gains it is likely that the secular governments would become involved. The Rethemi Earl of Tormau, who detests King Chafin III, has been covertly giving aid to both orders to keep the conflict simmering. He has also approached Anaflas through intermediaries to explore alternatives should war break out between Kanday and Rethem.
Kanday recently suffered defeat at the hands of the Thardic Republic during the Kuseme War (712–713). King Andasin fears the martial skills and expansionist designs of Marshal Kronas Elernin. The problem is made greater by the erratic (from Andasin’s point of view) policies of the Thardic Senate. Andasin fears that the pro-Kronas and Imperial factions will gain dominance. His greatest worry is an alliance of his northern neighbors against him. Kanday and Tharda are also at odds over the range of the Gozyda tribesmen. King Andasin I swore an oath that his kingdom would always defend the Gozyda. The Republic claims most of the Gozyda lands and occasionally captures the tribesmen as slaves.
Note: ADD Kuseme War (712–713) needs expanding, could be a pending flare-up, especially considering the "always defend the Gozyda" promise.
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Location: Southwestern Hârn
Atlas Maps: [D7]–[D8]-[D9], [E7]–[E8]-[E9], [F7]–[F8]-[F9]
Government: Monarchy
King: Andasin IV (Clan Kand)
Culture: Feudal
Population: 96,000
Royal Seat: Dyrisa
Largest Town: ALEATH (pop. 5800)
Exports: Linen, vellum, wool
Religion: Churches of Larani (nobility) and Peoni (commoners) dominate.
Related Products
Note: ADD ALL links to relavent material. Highlight those I have, and create pagelinks to ADD them all.
Note: ADD proper SETTLMENT names from Settlment Index & Subinfeudation.
- Kingdom of Kandáy (COL #5660)
- City of ALEATH (COL #5661)
- Dyrisa Castle (COL #5662)
- Heroth Castle (COL #5675)
- Menekod Castle (COL #5669)
- Minilaous Keep (COL #5670)
- Sarkum Castle (COL #5680)
- Selvos Castle (COL #5684)
- Dunir Keep (COL #5685)
- Larani: Order of the Checkered Shield (COL #4442)
- Larani: Order of Hyvrik (COL #4441)
- Dead of Winter (COL #5041)
- Dead Weight (COL #5952)
- Tesien Earthmaster Site (COL #5688)
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
Mèlderýn
Melderyn, Hârn’s oldest kingdom, is named for the island off the southeast coast of Hârn on which it was founded. The many strange goingson and mystical persons attributed to the island, which is commonly called "The Wizards’ Isle," have given the realm a reputation as a place of mystery and enchantment. To some, Melderyn appears timeless, unaffected by mundane happenings in the rest of Hârn.
In addition to Melderyn Island and the many smaller islands nearby, the kingdom includes considerable holdings on the Hârnic mainland. The kingdom is bounded on the south and east by the Gulf of Ederwyn and the Sea of Ivae, extends to the Onden River in the north, and to the Ulmerien river and the coast of Horadir in the west.
The tiny feudal kingdom of Chybisa, which the Melderyni crown still recognizes as a vassal, lies to the northwest and is the nearest civilized neighbor. The kingdom of Emelrene on the Lythian continent is some 30 leagues southeast across the Melderyni Channel. Melderyn is enriched by its command of trade between the Misty Isles and western Lythia.
Three barbarian tribal nations inhabit lands claimed by Melderyn. The reclusive, matriarchal Bujoc roam the Anadel highlands and prefer little contact with civilization. The horse-breeding Hodiri, the largest tribal group on Hârn, occupy the woodland plains of Horadir. The wild and primitive Solori dwell in the hills of Solora. Nomadic gargun of the Chindra and Moym tribes prowl the northern reaches of the realm. Melderyn is ruled by King Chunel Toron, who is advised by a secret assembly of scholars, wizards, and priests called the Council of Eleven.
Melderyn’s kings have traditionally used diplomacy to achieve their ends; no Melderyni king has fielded an army on Hârn. Melderyn’s history is not without violence, however. Foreigners have occasionally attacked the kingdom, such as the Ivinian vikings who sacked manors along the Horka River just a generation ago. Melderyni knights and adventurers have carved out petty kingdoms and joined causes that stained Hârn with blood, including the crusade currently being waged by the Laranian Order of the Lady of Paladins against the Solori.
SideBar
Location: Southeastern Hârn
Atlas Maps: L7–10, M7–10, N8–10
Government: Monarchy
King: Chunel, Clan Toron
Culture: Feudal
Population: 160,000
Royal Seat: Cherafir
Largest Town: Cherafir (pop. 7,000)
Exports: Pottery, minerals, fish
Religion: Churches of Larani (nobility) and Peoni (commoners) dominate. Church of Save-K’nor influential.
Related Products
- Kingdom of Melderyn (COL #5700)
- City of Cherafir (COL #5701)
- City of Thay (COL #5702)
- Chyrefal Castle (COL #5703)
- Gythrun Castle (COL #5713)
- Harden Castle (COL#5718)
- Karveth Castle (COL #5723)
- Nurisel Castle (COL #5725)
- Glenoth Keep (COL #5726)
- Menio Keep (COL #5715)
- Gelimo Chantry (COL #5731)
- Escorsen’s Hermitage (COL #5733)
- Telumar Earthmaster Site (COL #5889)
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
Orbáal
Orbaal is a pre-feudal state in northeastern Hârn ruled by King Alegar II from Geldeheim. The region was formerly called Jara until the Kingdom of Orbaal was proclaimed in 686 after the Ivinian conquest of the indigenous Jarin. It is a very unstable realm, where less than 8,000 rowdy and ungovernable Ivinians have subjugated about 65,000 rebellious Jarin.
Orbaal is really a host of semi-independent squabbling domains. Small clans pay tribute to more powerful ones who in turn pay it to the king. The clans are constantly fighting among themselves, each going their own way with very little interference from the king, whose only real claim to the crown is that he has the biggest and most powerful domain.
Racial stratification has led to serious tensions in Orbaalese society and several Jarin rebellions have been put down with considerable bloodshed. The few remaining major landholding Jarin lords are a significant divisive faction, with some promoting unrest and plotting the expulsion of the hated "barbarians" from their native soil.
The Ivinians are known for piracy, a tradition that all coastal peoples in northwestern Lythia have come to dread. In hard economic times, various clans take to the sea in their dragonships and go viking, that is, raiding and pillaging coastal villages and towns. The golden age of viking may have passed, but recent attempts to sack the city of Thay were a potent reminder that the mercenary sea power of Ivinian clansmen is still to be feared.
There have been three Orbaalese kings since 686, all members of Clan Taareskeld of Geldeheim. King Alegar II faces considerable problems ruling his fractious realm. Both the Ivinians and Jarin are freedom-loving, rowdy, and rebellious. In addition, the Ivinian kingdoms of Rogna, Menglana, and Seldenbaal all regard Orbaal as a colony and periodically demand tribute, although none has been given for many years.
The region is also home to two semi-nomadic nations, the Anoa and the Ymodi, who have withstood the previous Jarin lords and current Ivinian conquerors, frequently bloodying the noses of any would-be overlords.
The rugged Jahl Mountains shelter several tribes of gargun and other dangerous creatures, including yelgri, Ivashu, and even dragons; travel there is hazardous.
SideBar
Location: Northeastern Hârn
Atlas Maps: G1–3, H1–3, I1–3, J1–3, K1–3
Government: Monarchy
King: Alegar II, Clan Taareskeld
Culture: Feudal/Viking
Population: 73,000
Royal Seat: Geldeheim
Largest Town: Keiren (pop. 820)
Exports: Furs/hides, amber, honey, whale and seal products
Religion: Ivinians worship Sarajin; Jarin worship Ilvir or Siem
Related Products
- Kingdom of Orbaal (COL #5800)
- Castles of Orbaal (COL #5022) Includes Arathel, Marby, Pled, and Sherwyn.
- Arathel Castle (COL #5807)
- Geldeheim Castle (COL #5801)
- Zynholm Thran (COL #5806)
- Noron’s Keep (COL #5887)
- Jarin (COL #5849)
- Seals (COL #4623)
- Araka-Kalai (COL #5880)
- Misyn Wilderness Region (COL #5881)
- Ochrynn Abbey (COL #5882)
- HârnMaster Barbarians (COL #4761)
- Nasty, Brutish, and Short: The Orcs of Hârn (COL #5071)
Réthem
Founded in 635, the Kingdom of Rethem is the latest stage in a bloody evolution that started with Corani imperialism and has gone through Morgathian revolt and theocracy, barbarian conquest, Agrikan ascendancy, and a brutal attempt at feudalism by force. The political situation is far from settled and the threat of civil war looms over the kingdom.
Unlike other Hârnic kingdoms, Rethem is dominated by the churches of Agrik and Morgath, giving it a reputation as "the black-souled and evil" kingdom. Religious freedom and tolerance are not a part of Rethemi culture.
Rethem is bounded by the Kingdom of Kanday to the south, the Peran wilderness to the north, and the Thardic Republic to the east. With a long history of violence, a rulership built on cunning and strength, and a shaky political structure, Rethem is viewed warily by its neighbors.
Peran is home to the Kubora, a fierce and numerous tribal nation. Rethem was created by the conquests of a Kuboran chieftain, something that neither the tribesmen nor the Rethemi are likely to forget. The Kuboran influence is still significant in Rethem and most Rethemi nobility are of Kuboran descent, although it is not currently fashionable to admit to it.
Rethem’s northern forests are rich in timber and furs and the abundant minerals of the lowlands have been extensively mined since Corani times. The fertile Thard Valley has long been one of the most densely populated regions of Hârn and boasts the strongest economy in the west.
Rethem’s eighth and current ruler, King Chafin III, is not the product of a long and respected dynasty, his clan having seized the throne a mere 40 years ago. He has constructed a network of allegiances that relies upon the careful placement of kin and the manipulation of competing loyalties that he himself may not fully command. Chafin often uses the threat of invasion from the kingdom’s neighbors to keep his rivals off guard.
Chafin III keeps his seat at Shostim and spends little time at the royal castle in Golotha. He is aware that five of Rethem’s seven monarchs have died violently. Few expect the current uneasy bout of peace in Rethem to last long. If Chafin can live long enough and unite his chronically rebellious kingdom, it is likely he will again attack hated Kanday. Chafin is more secure and shrewd than his predecessors but suspicion of his many rivals may cripple his state-building efforts. It is certain that both internal strife and external wars will reshape the kingdom in the coming years.
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Location: Western Hârn
Atlas Maps: C6, D6–7, E6–7
Government: Monarchy
King: Chafin III, Clan Araku
Culture: Feudal
Population: 95,000
Royal Seat: Shostim
Largest Town: Golotha (pop. 6,200)
Exports: Wild beasts, leatherwares, oils
Religion: Church of Agrik dominates, Morgathians influential in Golotha
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Thârda/Thârdic Republic
The Thardic Republic is a plutocratic state governed by a republican senate. The republic was founded in 674, having evolved from the Thardic League. The capital, Coranan, is Hârn’s largest city. The republic has one other walled city, Shiran, and several large towns.
The supreme governing body of the republic is the Thardic Senate, housed in the Chamber of the Red Domes in Coranan. The Senate is controlled by 66 wealthy families who own 90 percent of the republic’s land. The major responsibilities of the Senate are to levy taxes, conduct foreign affairs, and appoint various key officials. The Senate is often deadlocked because of the rivalry between powerful factions, including an imperialist party that intrigues for a revival of the once-mighty Corani Empire.
The republic is divided into six administrative provinces: Coranan, Eidel, Gerium, Kom, Ramala, and Shiran. Each province has two governors: a civil administrator called a magistrate and a marshal who commands the provincial legion. Each is appointed for a three-year term that may be extended at the pleasure of the Senate. Each governor can veto the other’s decisions; deadlocks are referred back to the Senate. Neither official is paid and corruption is rampant. It has been said that a provincial governor can steal enough money in his first year to pay the bribes that got him the appointment, enough in the second year to bribe the jury that will try him for corruption when he retires, and more than enough in the third year to live in luxury for the rest of his life. It is possible, although rare, for one person to hold both offices, as is currently the case in Eidel Province. Although the city of Coranan lies within Coranan Province, it has its own separate government.
The cohorts and companies of the provincial legions are assigned at the discretion of the Senate. Each legion is responsible for maintaining order within a specific province and for defense against foreign aggression. All Thardic keeps and castles are garrisoned by legion units. It is treason (a capital offense) for any marshal to lead his army outside his province without Senate approval. The Red Guard garrison Coranan and serve as the senatorial bodyguard. Although technically also responsible for policing the city, they have grown so lax in this regard that several religious and mercenary groups have taken over much of that duty.
The Church of Halea is popular among the upper and middle classes in the Republic and many senators are adherents. Arenas in Coranan and Shiran run by the Agrikan church are the site of the popular Pamesani Games, which feature contests between gladiators, combats involving wild beasts, judicial duels, and spectacles of a depraved and perverse nature.
SideBar
Location: Western Hârn
Atlas Maps: E6–7, F6–7, G6–7
Government: Republican Senate; Provincial Marshals and Magistrates
Culture: Republic
Population: 104,000
Royal Seat: Coranan
Largest Town: Coranan (pop. 12,500)
Exports: Salt, metals, dyes, perfumes, slaves, brasswares, pottery, textiles
Religion: All faiths except Naveh are accepted. Halean church most influential.
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Tribal Nations
Hârn contains 18 barbarian nations, whose total population exceeds 100,000. Each of these nations has fairly well-defined homelands in the wilderness areas of Hârn, which are noted on the Cultural-Political map. For the most part, the tribal nations are of the same racial stock as the civilized human cultures but, for one reason or another, have remained barbaric or semi-civilized. They are mostly semi-nomadic, moving from one location to another within their range either seasonally or every few years. Some are hunter-gatherers who do not practice more than rudimentary agriculture. Each tribal nation is divided into several dozen tribes of 30 to 1,200 persons, although few tribes would exceed 200 in size. Each tribal nation is described in Hârndex.
Adaenum
The Adaenum subsist by primitive agriculture and fishing on Anfla Island off the southwest coast of Hârn.
Anoa
These nomadic hunters live in the Anoth River valley in southern Orbaal. Conflict with gargun and the Orbaalese is common.
Bujoc
This nation of shy, superstitious, forest nomads has a strong matrilineal culture. They are sometimes encountered by travelers on the Genin Trail in Melderyn.
Chelni
The Chelni herd cattle and ponies in the Chelna Gap and surrounding hills. They are famed for their mounted warriors and their hostility toward travelers and each other.
Chymak
The sea-folk of Belna Island are renowned fishermen. They range the Gulf of Ederwyn in large sea-going canoes and are valued as seamen on merchant ships.
Equani
The warriors of Equeth are one of the most primitive tribes. They are noted for their elaborate facial scars and tattoos and their merciless treatment of intruders.
Gozyda
These forest tribesmen are skilled guerrilla fighters and control the Mimea Hills in western Hârn. Outlaws from Tharda and Kanday have brought them new blood and technology.
Hodiri
The Hodiri are proud nomadic horsemen and fierce warriors. They are not particularly hostile to their neighbors and frequently travel to Chybisa to trade their horses and cattle for the products of civilization.
Kabloqui
These degenerate cannibals from the north shore of Lake Benath are related to the Equani, who detest them. Their gargun neighbors may destroy them, if their own treachery doesn’t first.
Kamaki
These fisherfolk and herders inhabit the island of Kamace off southwestern Hârn.
Kath
This loose federation of wild and primitive tribes trades with or attacks travelers in the Kathela Hills in eastern Hârn. Kath women are known for their beauty.
Kubora
This powerful warrior nation of Peran once united under Arlun the Barbarian and conquered Rethem. They export wild beasts for the Pamesani Games. Some find employment in the south as gladiators or mercenaries.
Pagaelin
The Pagaelin are violent, brutal, and vicious. They dwell roughly between the Osel River and Setha Heath and are under the influence of a heretical Navehan sect.
Solori
This primitive and wild nation in southeastern Hârn is slowly being exterminated in a genocidal crusade waged by the Laranian Order of the Lady of Paladins.
Taelda
The Taelda are nomadic hunter-gatherers who inhabit the vast forests of southern Nuthela. They are renowned healers and woodsmen. They clash constantly with gargun but bear no malice toward strangers.
Tulwyn
These ruthless barbarians inhabit the wilderness of Athul and are a threat to the Thardic outpost of Fort Taztos and travelers on the Salt Route; some are berserkers. They have a strict code of personal honor.
Urdu
The Urdu are nomadic hunters who inhabit the range between the Chetul and Pemetta rivers in northwestern Hârn. Although they are related to the Kubora and Equani, the tribes frequently raid each other.
Ymodi
These wild, fierce forest tribesmen live in the Himod region of northern Hârn. They are beleaguered by the Equani to the west, Anoa to the east, and gargun to the north and south; they survive because of their impressive skill with the bow and spear.
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Atlas Maps: A
Government: A
King: A
Culture: A
Population: A
Royal Seat: A
Largest Town: A
Exports: A
Religion: A
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Gârgún
The gargun, or Hârnic orcs, are the most aggressive and barbaric of the intelligent, culture-forming Hârnic species. They are also the most alien, being dramatically distinct from all others in their origin, biology, and society. It is rare for a culture to have no redeeming features, but that of the gargun comes close. They are violent and malevolent, with an almost insane hatred for the Khuzdul. They are carnivorous, even cannibalistic.
The ancestral gargun originated beyond Kethira and first appeared on Hârn in Elkall-Anuz around 110. It has been speculated that Lothrim brought them to Hârn by means of great enchantment to serve as warriors for his burgeoning empire. In any event, they outlived their "creator" and by 250 had spread throughout the island.
The gargun have a reproductive system resembling that of some insects. In each tribe there will be, at most, one fertile female (the queen) and generally only one fertile male (the king). Gargun hatch from gelatinous eggs laid by the queen and kept in dark, humid chambers. Newborn gargun have an extensive racial memory that preserves the customs of the gargun from one generation to the next. A crucial element of their racial memory is an instinct to submit to a clearly superior authority. They will accept the authority of a king, provided he shows an ability to eliminate rivals; any sign of weakness brings immediate revolt, which is inevitably fatal to the tyrant.
Overcrowding in a gargun colony will lead to a bloody civil war or a swarm. Civil wars can kill up to 80% of the population in an uncontrollable orgy of bloodletting, perhaps lasting a mere hour. A swarm occurs when a significant number of males, perhaps 40%, seizes the queen or a princess and escapes to establish a new colony. A swarm can be extremely unpleasant for any settlements or wandering parties in its path.
They are divided onto five sub-species which are unable to interbreed. Each has a distinct language. Gargu-araki (Small or Streaked Orc) are the smallest of the gargun and the most comfortable in the outdoors; they are feared nocturnal predators. Gargu-hyeka (Common or Brown Orc) are the most numerous sub-species and are noted for their cave complexes. Gargu-khanu (Great or Black Orc) are the largest, strongest, and most murderous gargun. Gargu-kyani (White Orc) are the second smallest and the least prone to violence; they live mostly in cave complexes in alpine regions. Gargu-viasal (Red Orc) are similar to the Common Orc but are larger, live in smaller communities, and swarm less frequently.
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Gargun Nations
Note: ADD Proper links, alphabetical order, etc.
Nomadic Tribes
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| Nomadic Tribes | |||
| Chindra | Moym | Pryeh | Toset |
| Diaffa | Nuthuk | Ruthuba | Wurokin |
Colonies
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| Colonies | |||
| Amekt | Gedyf | Korego | Qustup |
| Bwaft | Gifuso | Lucrain | Sokus |
| Carcust | Huxuth | Nizus | Ushet |
| Ejatus | Jobasa | Pazel | Yzug |
| Fana | Jufyx | Pujet | Zedabir |
| Felgoth | Jusiku | Pyxyn | Zhakom |
Ilme
The Ilme are a strange race of intelligent mere-dragons. They bear some likeness to their great dragon cousins and many reported tales of dragonkind are almost certainly really an Ilme encounter. Ilme are reptilian like dragons but have no wings. They commonly attain a height of 12’ and a weight of two tons. The two sexes live apart except when mating. Despite their undisputed strength, male Ilme are somewhat cowardly and are frequently bullied and robbed by gargun bands. They prefer to hunt from ambush or eat carrion. They will rarely attack intruders but will fight with desperation when cornered if negotiations fail. Female Ilme will attack and fight intruders with limb-tearing ferocity, especially to protect their young. The Ilme do not breathe fire although their breath is far from sweet.
Ivashu
Ivashu are creatures created by the god Ilvir, who enjoys creating strange life forms. The Ivashu are totally sexless and cannot breed. When they die, their auras return to Ilvir’s tower at Araka-Kalai, where they are reincarnated in a new body. After spending some time in attendance at Ilvir’s court, they are sent into the world. Most are slain quite quickly and others are taken captive for shipment to Tharda and Rethem to appear in the Pamesani arenas. A few Ivashu get past these obstacles and may be found in any part of Hârn. The Ivashu make up for their sterility by possessing strange powers. Some are intelligent and speak their own Ivashi language; others are semi-intelligent, speaking not at all and operating mostly on instinct. Almost any conceivable type of creature may be produced in small numbers by Ilvir, but a few varieties are most common. These are described in Hârndex.
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