The Fall of Khaiden-Sharnogg!

[SHARK]

Greetings!

The storm of fire swept over thousands of screaming men, leaving huge piles of ash and great swaths of the slaughtered on the field of battle. Thousands moaned and wailed in searing agony as the magical fires swept over them, in wave after wave, again and again. It was the final stroke for the Sharnu wizards, as the Vallorean cavalry rode them down and finally crushed them, churning their shattered bodies into the rich black soil of the earth. The final battle had been won, and the Vallorean Legions were victorious! A brutal assault by the Company of the Silver Dragon, led by the commanding general, Aldred Vallion, along with a finely-timed attack by 10,000 elite Vallorean knights had caught the Sharnu king offguard, and brought disaster and ruin to the Sharnu forces. With Bal-Hadran, the Sharnu king fallen in battle, the Sharnu army began to panic, and soon disintegrated into a scattering horde that was rode down and crushed by fast moving columns of Vallorean cavalry, loping regiments of savage Urrgan tearing into the Sharnu, and crushed packs of Sharnu soldiers decimated under clouds of deadly arrows. The tide had turned in the harsh, gruelling campaign that had endured over the last year, as the Vallorean army plunged into the unknown lands of the Sharnu, fighting the Sharnu king's armies every step of the way. Swiftly, Aldred Vallion and the Company of the Silver Dragon led a spearhead assault deep into the Sharnu lands, chasing the panicked, retreating remnants all the way to the gates of Khaiden-Sharnogg.

After the group defeated the Sharnu King, Bal-Hadran, and pursued the shattered remnants to the gates of Khaiden-Sharnogg, the Vallorean forces made a surprise assault and managed to storm the ancient city while the defenses were weak, and the leadership was confused and indecisive in responding to the news of Bal-Hadran's shocking defeat.

Now, suddenly--the group finds themselves in command of the great and ancient city of Khaiden-Sharnogg. The group has many challenges facing them in proceeding with organizing and ruling the city, and conscious of the rest of the kingdom--that remains unconquered. In the wake of the stunning disaster of the king being defeated and killed, and his main, Royal Army destroyed or scattered, remaining noble lords of the kingdom have been in shock, and also rumoured to be dealing with other problems facing the kingdom at the same time as news reaches them of the king's defeat. The situation politically, and militarily, seems unpredictable and precarious on several levels.

How would you handle the situation and the uncertain challenges of conquering and ruling the new land?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[SHARK]

Vallorean Forces

Greetings!

Detailed here are brief summary of the group; as well as the Vallorean forces involved in the campaign into Sharnogg.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Company of the Silver Dragon

Aldred Vallion
(M) Tethorna Vallorean
Paladin 30
Description: Aldred is 7'0" tall, and has a awesome, powerful physique. He has short, coal-black hair, pale grey-blue eyes, pale skin, and is clean-shaven.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Background:
Personality: Aldred is bold, daring, and disciplined. Aldred is philosophical and curious, and enjoys reading and scholarship on a broad range of subjects.

Valthor Harik
(M) Dwarf/Ghandar (Earth)
Fighter 30
Description: Valthor is 4'6", and broad shouldered, thick and strong. He as coal-black hair, a thick, full beard, and pale grey eyes. His skin is a dark granite-grey in colour.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Background:
Personality: Valthor is loyal, stubborn, materialistic, generous, opinionated, and generally conservative, traditional, and uncompromising.

Saraina/Saranda Dranu
(F) Human/Half-Giant (Ettin)
Barbarian 30
Description: Saraina/Saranda are just over 8' tall, and broad, thick, and muscular. She has dark, walnut-brown skin, long, thick black hair, and dark brown eyes that are slanted. Saraina and Saranda are identical twins, as they have two heads on one body, like an Ettin.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background:
Personality: Saraina and Saranda are bold, aggressive, and competitive. While somewhat naive, and trusting, they are friendly and curious.

Elthenar Finnlor
(M) Marlenya
Ranger 30
Description: Elthenar is tall, and athletic. He has pale, silver-green eyes, and shoulder-length raven-black hair.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background:
Personality: Elthenar is generous, gregarious, proud, stubborn, and daring.

Malaril Kethaina
(F) Marlenya/Ghandar (Air)
Cleric 30
Description: Malaril is 6' tall, and has a regal bearing. She has milk-white skin, and long, dark blue hair. Malaril has pale, silver-blue eyes, and a muscular, athletic physique.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background:
Personality: Malaril is cheerful, friendly, and gregarious. She is a flirtatious, sensual hedonist. Malaril loves singing and dancing, as well as playing the flute, lyre, and harp.

Rhulanna Halareth
(F) Marlenya
Wizard 30
Description: Rhulanna is 5'10", with a curvy, voluptuous pysique. She has dark brown eyes, and long, platinum-blonde hair. Her skin is smooth, and a rich bronze.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background:
Personality: Rhulanna is friendly, gregarious, and curious. She loves to sing and dance, and regularly practices dancing, as well as meditation, stretching, and athletic exercises.


The Company of the Silver Dragon, led by Aldred Vallion--have been given the task to lead a Vallorean army into the lands to the north of Galleran. The Vallorean army under the group's command is well-trained, finely-equipped, and composed of elite, veteran troops, as well as many great knights and heroes as well. The Vallorean forces are composed of the following troops:

Total Forces: 200,000 troops.

(12) Vallorean Legions

(8) Auxilliary Legions

Legions are made up of approximately 10,000 soldiers each. Vallorean Legions have higher ratios of Tethorna Valloreans, as well as Vallorean Ogres, Half-Ogres, and Half-Giants. Auxilliary Legions are also made up of approximately 10,000 troops, though the forces involved are somewhat different, and some are distinctly unusual. Auxilliary Legions are composed of barbarian Urrgan, ferocious Harthak warriors, cohorts of Valbar and Berak Dwarves, as well as elite cohorts of Marlenya Elves. Some Auxilliary forces also have other kinds of barbarian warriors, from Valdar barbarians from the northern frontiers of the Vallorean Empire, to Narmedian warriors from the distant lands to the far south, riding armoured war elephants into battle.

 

[SHARK]

The fall of khaiden-sharnogg

Greetings!

Here are some brief notes of the campaign environment and the various forces involved in the region.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Fall of Khaiden-Sharnogg

Khaiden-Sharnogg is a huge city of granite and marble, guarded by vast walls reaching to over 160' high, and mighty towers armed with great ballistas and catapults. The city has four tiers; and huge gates, fortified with lion-headed doors of shimmering gold. Khaiden-Sharnogg is graced with broad boulevards paved with smooth, pale white stone, and lined along the sides with towering Alarri palm trees. The great city has many grand courtyards, elegant pools of sparkling water, finely sculpted fountains, wondrous parks and gardens throughout the city's broad tiers and districts. Throughout the ancient city are fortified towers with spiralling roofs of shining copper, great domed roofs of gold and jade, and balconies, patios and walkways of smooth white and green stone, as well as glass, and luminous crystal. The ancient city is home to over 1,200,000 people.

The great city of Khaiden-Sharnogg rests at the base of the southern reaches of the Tamar Mountains, and meets the vast Sea of Haldar to the east. The Ardann River flows into the great city from the heights of the Tamar Mountains to the north. Near Khaiden-Sharnogg, the Doren River flows from the west, fed by the headwaters and springs of the vales in the upper Oggran Mountains, and empties into the Sea of Haldar.

The land of Sharnogg has been ruled for many centuries by the Sharnu--a strong, ruthless and highly disciplined tribe of humans. The Sharnu forged their kingdom over the years, as they grew more advanced and stronger with each passing century. The Sharnu people are of average height, with a strong, muscular build, black hair, and dark brown eyes. Sharnu have smooth, pale skin, and tend to be agile and graceful. The Sharnu males traditionally wear full beards, while Sharnu women wear their hair long and straight, or often curled. The Sharnu have always been devoted to their own pantheon of often stern, violent and capricious gods. The Sharnu Kingdom has remained stable, wealthy, and powerful, despite the fact that the kingdom has traditionally been composed of more or less independent city-states; the Sharnu city-states have been ruled by hereditary nobles, led by a Royal Satrap. The Royal Satrap is a powerful member of the ruling noble house, that has been selected and appointed to rule by the Sharnu King.

The northern borders of the land of Sharnogg are to the north in the Narzan Mountains, and along the Galandil River, in the Drakhari Highlands to the north-east. Along the foothills of the Narzan Mountains and the Drahkari Highlands is the fortress-city of Paledon. South of Paledon, though north of the Tamar Mountains, is the city of Khorzan.

Challenges in the North

Paledon
Paledon is ruled by a powerful Royal Satrap, feared as a mighty warrior and great general. The Royal Satrap of Paledon commands a large, powerful army of some 80,000 troops, composed of the following: 25,000 Medium Infantry; 20,000 Light Infantry; 5,000 Medium Cavalry, armed with composite bows, scimitars, and light lances; 10,000 Archers; 20,000 Berezan Dwarves, serving the Royal Satrap as Heavy Infantry.

Narzan Mountains
The Kingdom of Valnar: The Kingdom of Valnar is a ancient kingdom of Berazan Dwarves. The Berezan Dwarves are devoted to dark and evil gods, and they themselves exalt in ruthless cruelty, slavery, and implacable conquest and subjugation of other races. The Berezan Dwarves have long intermixed with earth and fire elementals. Long centuries of exposure to strange magical energies in the deeps of the earth have also produced sub-clans of gold and silver Berezan Dwarves, with some persistent legends maintaining that there are also clans of Mithril Berezan Dwarves. Various scholars and adventurers alike claim that these metallic clans of Berezan Dwarves may be skinned, and the dwarves' harvested for bullion of gold, silver, or mithril.

Drahkari Highlands
The Hadrim Tribes: The Hadrim are tribes of barbarian humans. The Hadrim Tribes are large and powerful, and have ferociously maintained their independence through the centuries, and make frequent raids into the lands of the Sharnu to the south, and have periodically launched large-scale invasions throughout the border territories, raping, pillaging, and burning entire communities. The Hadrim barbarians have carried off whole communities of Sharnu into slavery.

Khorzan
The city of Khorzan is ruled by a Royal Satrap, a great noblewoman who is a powerful wizard. The Royal Satrap of Khorzan commands a strong army of some 60,000 troops, composed of the following: 10,000 heavily-armed Minotaur warriors, serving the Royal Satrap as Heavy Infantry; 20,000 Medium Infantry; 15,000 Archers; 20,000 Light Infantry; and 5,000 Light Cavalry, armed with composite bows, scimitars and lances.

Tamar Mountains
The Jhandar Tribes: The Jhandar are tribes of barbarian humans. The Northern Jhandar have intermixed with an ancient clan of silver dragons; the Southern Jhandar have intermixed with an ancient clan of red dragons. The Jhandar tribes have fought numerous wars against each other throughout the years.

The southern borders of the land of Sharnogg are in the Haeden Forest, to the south. In the south, along the broad banks of the Berik River is the rich mercantile city of Rhynnu. North-east of Rhynnu, along the coast is the port-city of Mallagar.

Challenges in the South

The Khyber Plains
In the rolling grassy Khyber Plains dwell roving, nomadic tribes of ferocious Rhynogg. The Rhynogg are a race of savage centaur-like creatures, with dark blue coloured skin, and blending the top half of an ogre with the main body of a rhinocerous. The Rhynogg have fought savagely to maintain their cherished independence and autonomy. Some tribes of Rhynogg have served the Sharnu as mercenaries throughout the years.

Rhynnu
Rhynnu is a large, wealthy mercantile city governed by a cabal of Sharnu wizards, all of which are members of ancient noble houses. The Royal Satrap is also the High Wizard, and commands a large army of 80,000 troops, composed of the following: 30,000 Light Infantry; 20,000 Medium Infantry; 20,000 Archers; 5,000 Light Cavalry; 3,000 Medium Cavalry; 2,000 Heavy Cavalry, mounted on armoured war-elephants.

Mallagar
The city of Mallagar is a wealthy port-city, ruled by a Royal Satrap. The Royal Satrap commands a disciplined army of some 40,000 troops, composed of the following: 10,000 Medium Infantry; 10,000 Archers; 12,000 Light Infantry; 5,000 Light Cavalry; 3,000 elite Marine troops. The city of Mallagar also hosts a large fleet of warships, with excellent sailors and amphibious forces.

The Haeden Forest

The Eastern Haeden:
The eastern reaches of the Haeden Forest are shrouded in icy cold mists, and dotted with ancient fortresses and towers ruled by vampire lords, and vast hordes of wraiths and other undead. The eastern Haeden Forest teems with all manner of dark creatures, from packs of savage shadow wolves and horrifying spiders--to tribes of bloodthirsty werewolves.

The Western Haeden:
The western Haeden Forest is a mysterious bastion of ancient wilderness that has been ruthlessly savage and implaccable to anything that has entered the dark vales and eerily-calm sylvan meadows: Everything seeking to enter these ancient woods have been swiftly and entirely annihilated.

The eastern borders of Sharnogg are along the shores of the Sea of Haldar. In the Sea of Haldar, are several islands of note, in particular the large Isle of Marghan, and further to the north-east, the mist-shrouded Nythar Isles.

Challenges in the East

The Sea of Haldar
The Sea of Haldar is a vast, inland sea, streching hundreds of miles. The Sea of Haldar is full of ancient sea monsters of awesome power, from packs of strange, mutated marine reptiles, to ancient monsters from the shrouded deeps, to fleets of warships full of bloodthristy marauders and savage barbarians. The Sea of Haldar is infamous for sudden, terrible storms that change and mutate everything caught within them into horrific, gibbering beasts, or transformed into mysterious, dread creatures with terrible and awesome powers. At strange, unfathomable times, dark clouds raining sheets of vibrant, shimmering colours may sweep through an area, causing any creatures caught within to simply vanish into some eldritch void, never to be seen again.

The Isle of Marghan
The Isle of Marghan is a huge island, with parts of the mountainous island rising thousands of feet with sheer seaside cliffs. High in the majestic, ice-capped mountains of the island is a vast fortress-city of white marble, mithril, and glass, ruled by a kingdom of ancient and powerful giants. Legends say that the kingdom of giants are led by an elder giant king of vast power.

The Nythar Isles
The Nythar Isles are shrouded in mist, and covered with great, enchanted forests. The Nythar Isles are home to the Kingdom of Nythar, a powerful realm of elves. The Nythar elves have defeated every attempt of the Sharnu to subdue them throughout the years.

The western borders of Sharnogg wander through the ancient Malaryn Forest reaching the foothills of the Oggran Mountains. The Berik River branches from the great Doren River, and flows south-east into the Haeden Forest. At the junction of the two great rivers, is the city of Dhoranna. Far to the north of Dhoranna, in the foothills of the Oggrans, is the city of Ahsarnu.

Challenges in the West

The Malaryn Forest
The Zhargoth Confederation: The Zhargoth are a confederation of several huge tribes of savage beastmen. The Zhargoth tribes have embraced various relationships with the Sharnu through the years--usually, the Zhargoth have been at war with the Sharnu, though at various times treaties have been agreed and brought brief years of peace and trade.

The Oggran Mountains
The Kingdom of Arzogg: The Arzogg are a kingdom of savage orcs, ruled by King Garthu, *Ruler of the Seven Deeps*; The Arzogg hordes have long since annihilated the dwarven kingdom of Braemen in the depths and valleys of the Oggran mountains, and subjugated vast layers and networks of caverns through ruthless fire and steel, slaughtering and enslaving everything that stood against them.

Dhoranna
The city of Dhoranna is ruled by a Royal Satrap, and has a large, powerful army of some 100,000 troops, composed of the following: 30,000 Light Infantry; 10,000 Skirmishers; 15,000 Archers; 10,000 Medium Infantry; 10,000 Light Cavalry; 5,000 Elite Medium Cavalry, 15,000 Minotaurs, serving the Royal Satrap as Heavy Infantry; 5,000 Elite Half-Fiend Warriors, also serving as Heavy Infantry. The forces of Dhoranna are well-supported by the priests and priestesses of the Great Temple of Bhrakku.

Ahsarnu
The city of Ahsarnu is ruled by a Royal Satrap, and has a powerful army of some 75,000 troops, composed of the following: 30,000 Light Infantry; 10,000 Medium Infantry; 10,000 Skirmishers; 20,000 Archers; 5,000 Light Cavalry; The Ahsarnu forces are all well-equipped, and highly skilled in fighting in the great mountains and forests. The city is fortified with strong walls of dark green stone, as well as two fortified moats.

 

[Dragonblade]

Nice! Its good to see the Vallorean empire back on EN World! I think they still have the How to Defend a Mountain Fortress post in the EN World archives.

 

[SHARK]

Nice! Its good to see the Vallorean empire back on EN World! I think they still have the How to Defend a Mountain Fortress post in the EN World archives.

Greetings!

Hey there my friend! Cool, cool. I'm glad you like it. I have had some opportunities to play with some of te gang here on occasion. They like epic tromping about in Thandor! Great stuff though. I think it's always good for high-level characters to grow and have to deal with other stuff, too, besides just always more *dungeon crawls*. I love those too, of course, but adding wars, politics, dynastic struggles, founding new colonies, and all that larger kingdom-like level stuff adds a new dimension to the game--one that the players don't really get to experience when they are low level.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Ydars]

Hi SHARK!

A number of things immediately spring to mind from your campaign description.

The first problem/adventure/challenge is how to feed and keep together such a huge army without having any serious objective. How do Aldred and his companions keep the army from becoming a serious nuisance to their rule, starting fights etc because 200,000 fighting men with nothing to do is a serious problem? How do they deploy them; split them up and they become a tempting target for one of the Royal Satraps to attack but keep them together and they could lay waste the land and cause famine.

Next I would have some religious movement appear amongst the Sharnu; a sort of return to the old times. Perhaps, once the Sharnu worshipped a nastier and more powerful god but this worship was later outlawed and the capitol city left to fall into ruins and moved to the present place (like happened in the reign of Ahkenarten, father of Tutenkhamon in Egypt). Now, huge numbers begin making pilgrimages to the old capitol in hope of bringing back the old order, lead by a mysterious "prophet" who whips up anti-Vallorean sentiment and yet who cannot be killed without causing an outright rebellion.

Finally, the remaining Royal Satraps will not just accept the rule of these foreigners, yet openly opposing them would be foolish, and so they try to form alliances with each other, with the Giants of Marghan and perhaps the dwarves as well. The PCs must stop and divide them before they form a force powerful enough to undo the occupation.

 

[Eridanis]

Indeed we do - as well as Part II of the same discussion!

 

[SHARK]

Indeed we do - as well as Part II of the same discussion!

Greetings!

*smiles* Great stuff, there Eridanis!

That action is taking place, hmmm....south of Sharnogg.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Kishin]

Your last two posts about your game have really made me wish I was a player in it, Shark.

It sounds as if it deserves its own epic orchestral score, with heavy emphasis on the brass.

 

[SHARK]

Your last two posts about your game have really made me wish I was a player in it, Shark.

It sounds as if it deserves its own epic orchestral score, with heavy emphasis on the brass.

Greetings!

Thanks, Kishin! What interests you in particular about the campaign?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK