What follows is a general introduction to the campaign, with notes on what beginning (but reasonably knowledgeable) player characters might know or have heard of. It is focused to a certain degree on the western Hornlands, near the Moravian Empire, since that is where the campaign opens. Some of it is deliberately vague, because it is meant to represent tales and legends about the world outside a character's village or town or kingdom; therefore, much of it could be distortions, or even outright falsehood....
The general climate is cool temperate, much like northwest Europe. There are no great mountain ranges within the Hornlands proper, though several do lie on its edges and a number of lesser ranges criss-cross the region. Much of the Hornlands is mixed woodland, greater or lesser densities of forest mingled with farmland. Other terrain includes swamps and fens, heath and moor, and open grassland. The trees are a mix of deciduous and evergreen, with the latter predominating at higher altitudes. Most of the well-known animals are of the familiar quasi-European variety (sheep, cattle, foxes, wolves, bears, horse, hawks, goats, rats, boars, etc.), though there are quite a few other ``normal'' but non-European animals (including a number of large cats, and large reptiles as well -- some of the latter are even used as beasts of burden and transport). There are, of course, stranger beasts, many known chiefly through rumor and story -- e.g., dragons, trolls, wyverns, griffons, nightstalkers, basilisks, gnolls, sea serpents, and many others. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that most of the ``monsters'' appropriate to European legendry show up in one story or another. Whether they actually exist is another question altogether....
Although the predominant cultures are human, descendants in one form or another of older societies which once existed and warred over the area, other races do exist. The great Elven realm of Kyrielu lies in the northwest, between the Dragon Mountains in the far west and a large lake or inland sea (Lake Magairn) to its east, which separates it from the human kingdom of Rhulmere. To the south of Kyrielu lie the so-called Elven Borderlands, where the campaign starts. Numerous smaller groups of Elves live in remoter woods here and there, and some are found in human cities. Some Dwarves are also found in human towns, but most stick to traditional mountain and subterranean strongholds, such as in the Darkazh Mountains of Armishan. Other races live more intermingled with humans: Gnomes and Halflings often have small villages of their own in human kingdoms, but just as often live in human villages or towns; Goblins are found almost exclusively in the villages and towns of other folk, or else wandering the roads as merchants and gypsies (and, some would say, thieves). Also found wandering through the Hornlands, noted for their musical and theatrical performances, are the mysterious, nomadic Magyeshi, seemingly related to both humans and Elves. Among the rarest of all -- legendary to most -- are Reptile Men, seen only in the largest cities and said to have come from lands further south.
Other, less ``civilized'' races are known, Orcs and Hobgoblins chief among them. Orcs are the most steadfastly feared, with reputations for organized ferocity and invasions. Fortunately, they tend to exist only in small bands within the Hornlands proper, while larger tribes are mostly confined to mountainous areas on the edges. Hobgoblins seem less ambitious (or perhaps less capable); they are usually found on the fringes of settled areas, making desultory raids and ambushes, but not considered the threat that Orcish tribes are. Lesser-known races may exist; many stories speak of ``trolls'' and ``giants'' and ``ogres'' and ``gnolls,'' but few have seen them, and tales often treat them rather interchangeably. Other rumored races include centaurs (said to inhabit the wilderlands) and mermen.
It should also be mentioned that various magical or supernatural creatures haunt the Hornlands. Chief among these are demons, which are generally held to be from other worlds or planes of existence entirely. Their forms and powers vary wildly (perhaps even more in stories than in reality), ranging from weak but troublesome to extremely powerful, intelligent, and dangerous. Demons apparently enter this world either through their own efforts or through summonings by necromancers and other evil (or at least foolish!) sorcerers. Since the Moravian Empire has plenty of those, many people believe that demons outside the Empire are either remnants of Moravian activity from when the Empire still ruled the Hornlands, or else the result of current Moravian magic -- perhaps part of an Imperial plot against the Hornlands!
The Kingdom of Ishlene: One of the stranger places in the Hornlands, not the least for having its own distinct language (Eshendi). Ishlene is the center of the Eshkian religion, and the Eshkian Church is said to have a dominant influence in the life of the kingdom; the Church is sometimes suspected of having undue influence over Eshkians in other kingdoms as well. Ishlene is well known as a place inimical to mages, for the Eshkian Church considers the practice of magic to be evil. Although originally a central province of the Moravian Empire, the emerging cult of Eshkianism organized a successful rebellion (or perhaps just profited from the chaos of imperial collapse), and Salestin I DevMordys was crowned king more than four centuries ago. The same Salestin is also famous for defeating a great Orcish invasion out of the northeast. The current ruler is King Salestin VII DevMordys, a somewhat colorless man in his forties, but renowned as a tough warrior.
Worth noting is the largest city of Ishlene, and indeed the largest city in the Hornlands: Shalitzar. Shalitzar is generally thought to be incredibly ancient -- built on the ruins of an Elven city, some say -- and has been the major port for the Hornlands since at least the time of the Moravian Empire's dominion. Despite the dominant influence of the Eshkian Church elsewhere in Ishlene, Shalitzar has a reputation as a wildly cosmopolitan, secular, and decadent place; orthodox Eshkians refer to it as the ``Queen of Sin.'' It boasts the greatest concentration of wizards in the Hornlands (a claim sometimes disputed by partisans of Rhulmere's capital, Ishkir), and the largest Elven quarter of any human city. Ships and people (and stranger creatures) from distant, legendary lands like Lakas, Ilshizan, and the Quraysh are common in Shalitzar, which some argue is really an independent city-state, going its own in despite of the rest of Ishlene.
Ishlene is also noteworthy as the producer of most the finest wines in the Hornlands.
The Kingdom of Rhulmere: Rhulmere lies in the northwest of the Hornlands, across Lake Magairn from the Elven realm of Kyrielu. It is a rival of both Ishlene and the Moravian Empire, and fabled as a center of learning and culture, as well as strange and somewhat sinister innovations and plots. It is also the great wool-producer of the Hornlands. Occasional, on-and-off wars are fought with the Horn River cities to the south, who are Rhulmere's main rivals in both economics and culture; a resident of those cities would view Rhulmere with a mixture of grudging admiration and deep suspicion (or alarm). Its eastern borders are in the wilderlands of what was once Annúminas, and said to be a dangerous frontier. The capital and largest city is Ishkir, which lies on the eastern shore of Lake Magairn and is a center for trade with Kyrielu. Ishkir is also renowned as a center of magical study, invention, culture, and fashion.
The Rhulmerish royalty claim descent -- as do the rulers of any number of smaller states in the Hornlands -- from the royalty of Annúminas; they have in addition the advantage of ruling what was once a genuine part of Annúminas, and apparently possess some of the relics of its royal house. To a certain degree they can claim to carry on Annúminas's tradition of close ties with the Elves of Kyrielu. The current ruler is Queen Charissa TavChandis, a shrewd and ambitious woman in her thirties.
The Horn River Cities: The main mercantile centers of the Hornlands, linking trade from Rhulmere, the Empire, Ishlene, and states further east, and source of much of the best cloth, clothing, and tapestries. Despite their apparent vulnerability to larger states like Rhulmere, Ishlene, and the Empire, they have a reputation for canny politics and unity in defense, though they engage in internecine plotting and warfare at other times. Some of the cities are quite large and influential, and they are some of the chief cultural centers of the Hornlands. Courts in Ishlene, Armishan, and smaller states look to these cities, as well as to Rhulmere, for the latest fashions. Perhaps in consequence, the cities have a reputation for breeding fops who couldn't possibly survive in more dangerous lands.
Some prominent Horn River cities include: Uln Morir, New Ravkis, Vleysar-Gazhd (a unique Human-Dwarven alliance), Uljesar (recently almost destroyed by a dragon), and Goblin-dominated Charn.
One other city-state of note is Ashtayn, which occupies a favorable position at the southwest end of Lake Magairn, where it captures a sizable portion of trade from both Kyrielu and Rhulmere. A surprisingly large part of the population is either Elven or Half-Elven, including its young ruler, Duchess Ariella. Because of its location, it is sometimes considered part of the Elven Borderlands.
Kyrielu: The great Elven realm of the Hornlands, between Lake Magairn and the Dragon Mountains. Although many Elves live outside its boundaries, it is the heart and guardian of traditional Elven culture. It is said that in the distant past, Kyrielu was closely allied with the lost realm of Annúminas; now, however, Kyrielu prefers to keep others at arm's length, and outsiders are seldom allowed to enter. Consequently, it remains quite mysterious, and little definite is known about it. The main contact with humans is via trade on Lake Magairn, conducted mostly with Rhulmere on the opposite shore. To the south of Kyrielu are the sparsely populated Elven Borderlands.
The Elven Borderlands: A wild and thinly populated land between Kyrielu to the north and the Moravian Empire to the south; to the east lie the Horn River cities, while to the west are the Dragon Mountains and rugged wilderness beyond, threaded by dangerous but profitable trade routes leading to southern Iskandra. Much of the Borderlands was once part of the Empire and evidently a base for attacks on Kyrielu. Now, it is a combination of wilderness and frontier, where ruined towns, fortresses, and battlefields with unclaimed treasures are said to be easily found, along with Orcs and worse creatures which have crept out of the Dragon Mountains.
The Moravian Empire: The great, sinister power to the south of the Hornlands. Much of what are now independent kingdoms (Ishlene, Armishan) was once part of the Empire, when it covered much more territory and warred with the northern realm of Annúminas; some blame the Empire for the destruction of Annúminas. Centuries ago, shortly after the fall of Annúminas, the Empire began to collapse inward, abandoning its northern provinces. A series of wars with the Elves of Kyrielu and some of the early Horn River cities forced the Empire to withdraw from the Elven Borderlands as well; this conflict was capped by a now-legendary attack on the Empire's capital by Elven skyships. The Empire is now a much-shrunken remnant, but still powerful and capable of influencing events in the Hornlands. In particular, Moravian agents and spies are numerous and crafty, and any number of unfortunate events are laid to their influence. The Empire is known to be a center of ancient schools of wizardry, and many of its Emperors have been wizards. In addition, many strange creatures, such as Reptile Men, are often said to have come from the Empire, and some claim that the Empire actually has legions of Orcs in its armies!
Nonetheless, despite its sometimes sinister reputation, Moravian culture is often studied in the Hornlands, and remains influential. The Eshkian Church uses Moravian as its holy tongue, and much scholarship is conducted in an older form of the language (along with Old Minashtan, the language of Annúminas). Many ruins date from Moravian times, and quite a few imperial structures are still in use. In addition, the major dating system in use in the Hornlands is Moravian, defined as years since the founding of Almorad, the imperial capital. (The current date is 1281.) Trade with the Empire is also quite important, even if some merchants seek and exploit routes around the Empire to reach lands like Ilshizan in the distant south. Imperial magic items -- typically curios and luxury items -- are a frequent export.
Though he is a distant and mostly legendary figure, most knowledgeable Hornlanders know who the ruler of the Empire is, at least in name. His Most Supreme Imperial Majesty, Emperor Kaskias, has reigned for more than half a century, and since it is rumored he is a powerful mage who has made various pacts with demons, he is expected to continue on his throne for quite some time to come.
The Kingdom of Armishan: Much of this kingdom was originally the northern frontier province of the Moravian Empire. Armishan was founded about two centuries ago, by King Arn I TavRanse, who ended centuries of chaos by uniting (or conquering) several smaller states and baronies. The current king is Zandis II, who is rather old and rumored to be ailing. To the north lies a land called the Requaine, source of ``barbarian'' mercenaries, and the Darkazh Mountains, split between Orcish tribes and Dwarven strongholds. To the east is the coastal principality of Rhusk; its exact relationship with Armishan (subordinate or independent?) is unclear. Beyond, somewhere across the Emrys Sea, are the islands of Morwyn and Llyr.
Most of the population still lives in the western heartland, where the capital and largest city, Vlastenol, is. The eastern part of the kingdom is said to be backwards and uncivilized, although that tends to be the general reputation of all Armishanians -- rough and capable, but unsophisticated. The majority of Armishanians follow one or another form of the general Minashtan religion, though there are apparently some Eshkians as well.
Llyr: A somewhat mysterious island lying off the coast of the Hornlands. Its people speak an apparently unique language, and may have their own, mysterious religions as well. It is divided politically among various minor princes and lords, who squabble constantly for power. The island is said to be inhabited by mysterious, eldritch magics and creatures, in addition to its human residents. One thing Llyr is famous for, even far away, is swords: it is often said that the finest swords (other than the best Dwarven and Elven weapons) come from Llyr.
Somewhere near to Llyr is a smaller island called Morwyn, inhabited exclusively by a nation of Elves, who keep very much to themselves and are rumored to kill interloping humans to preserve their privacy.
Last updated 7 May 1998.