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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brimshack" data-source="post: 3565895" data-attributes="member: 34694">This is the Island of Kaenesdovl in the Kingdom of  Mogendrid. It is approximately 220 miles East to West by 350 miles North to South. A road travels from the Northeast coast to the South coast, connecting the two main ports, Gnagen Delinroth (South Coast) and Pforlendritter Kanacht (West Coast). The island owes its allegiance to the King of Mogendrid, who resides to the North on a different isle. The total human population of the isle is best reckoned at 8,000, with roughly comparable numbers of elves and half that number of dwarves, Halflings and a smattering of other assorted races. Its Orcs, goblinoids, and giants are uncounted.    The Kingdom of Mogendrid is part of the Uritopean Confederacy, a collection of nations loosely united 3-4 human generations past. The Kingdom of Mogendrid occupies the coastlines of several islands in the Uritopian Archipelago. Its leadership has worked very hard with the school of Arcane magic to develop the sciences of shipping and navigation, and over several generations, Mogendrid has built up the most powerful navy in the known world. Lacking substantial land holdings, Mogendrid generally relies on mercenaries for its armies. It has also developed lasting ties with a nation of elves and another nation of dwarves, both of which supply large quantities of troops for the armies of Mogendrid, which in turn is careful to keep its mercenary legions apart so as to minimize the potential for conflict between them.    The Kingdom of Mogendrid is largely responsible for producing the major fleets of the confederacy, and for supplying the navigators, ship’s captains, and other key sources of maritime leadership. It has accordingly secured for itself a great deal of influence over the exploration and colonization of foreign lands. So long as people are discussing matters of seacraft and sea travel, Mogendrid has a great advantage over the other kingdoms of the Confederacy. But Mogendrid’s emissaries seldom become involved in extensive ventures within the interior of any nation or colony.     Back to the Island of Kaenesdovl, which is a minor holding in the Kingdom of Mogendrid. There are 3 competing legal systems in Kaenesdovl; a common law tradition stemming from local human customs as well as some cultural borrowings from elves; an ecclesiastical tradition stemming from the religion of the Hellion, a God of tyranny; and a growing trend towards observance of Royal decree. The common law tradition had been weakened by the Church of the Hellion for 4 generations, but the church has lost the bulk of its authority in the last 2 generations (since the monarchy rejected its faith in favor of the religion of Eleenian, Goddess of Faith). It’s following is sparse. Although the church itself contains powerful leadership and its emissaries are greatly feared, its views are not widely accepted among the populace. Once repressed churches now flourish in the region, and the decrees of the priest’s of the Hellion are granted no moral authority in most circles. They are enforced at times, but only when the church invests considerable effort in doing so. The king sends emissaries seeking to enforce royal decree, and their power has been just sufficient to displace that of the church. Local nobility and popular sentiment have taken advantage of the power struggle to reassert the authority of custom.    The cult of Eleenian is still small in the region. In part because the followers of Eleenian are prone to respect (and even to some degree support) the faithful of other churches, especially those of good deities, the church has done little to establish its authority. Its benign followers are well loved, but they have made little headway in changing the views of the population at large.    An undeclared naval war has been fought for a generation on the seas around Kaenesdovl. As a member of the Confederacy, the Kingdom of Mogendrid must enjoy peaceful relations with its neighbors. This does not prevent it from engaging in a low key war with the nearby kingdom of Argensloft. The warfare consists mainly of unofficial support for piracy between the rival nations. Each nation uses acts of piracy to gain leverage in trade relations, and each is careful to keep its involvement from becoming public knowledge. At such times as the low grade naval war becomes too prominent, each nation will normally act to rein in its own belligerents and re-establish the appearance of order.    The city of Gnagen enjoys a population of about 2,000 permanent residents with anywhere between 250 and 2,000 visitors, depending on the season and the fortunes of the merchant traders. It is under the rulership of Lord Klanen, an aristocrat tracing his lineage back to the formation of the kingdom. Gnagen is known for 2 things: 1) a strong trade in elite high quality weaponry, and 2) importation of ivory from exotic ports. The weaponry trade is a longstanding tradition within the port. The business supports an elite set of craftsmen, and it serves as the steady source of income for the port. The ivory trade is relatively new, oweing to strategic placement along merchant lanes coming back from the colonies. Ivory is not available continuously, though its presence generates real boom periods for Gnagen. It does have a tendency to create inflationary pressures which hurt the poor in off periods. The weaponry trade usually provides just enough business to keep the core merchant class out of trouble. They have thus far supported Lord Klanen against any popular unrest. They are, however, resentful that he has forbidden slavery in his fiefdom, preventing slave ships from even dropping anchor in his port. The same boats bringing ivory also carry slaves. This often necessitates subterfuge on the part of both merchant mariners and local merchants seeking to hide the presence of slaves while trading ivory. More importantly, it has cost real opportunities, as the potential profits from the slave trade would fairly dwarf the existing economy of the port city. Some have argued that Lord Klanen prevents this as a means of keeping control over the merchant classes; others see him as a genuinely decent person who has taken a moral stand against an evil practice.    The City of Pforlendritter is known for its flourishing slave trade. Normally subservient to Lord Klanen, this city operates almost entirely independant of him, paying lip service and token tribute where necessary. Although somewhat off the main trade route, it benefits from the stance taken by Lord Klaven, serving as the stop off point for slavers forbidden entrance to Gnagen. The fact that Pforlendritter has not been able to coopt the ivory trade from its neighbor to the East remains a mystery to many. Still, Pforlendritter is enjoying the benefits of a boom economy. The last generation has seen this port spring from a population of 500 to one of 3,000. In peak times, the port enjoys as many as 5,000 visitors which it easily accommodates with its vast quantity of inns and brracks housing. The merchants of Pforlendritter fund and oversee much of the slave trade moving through the region, though few slaves are offloaded on the Isle of Kaenesdovl at all. Pforlendriiter is nominally under the control of Baron Gosthfek, but the aging Baron has lost a great deal of power relative to the wealthier merchants in the town. Most decisions are made by a city council. This is the only portion of the island where a sort of statutory law has any credibility.    The rest of the island is nominally under the control of humans, but that is largely because no-one bothers to prove them incapable of rule in the interior. It is just too obvious to merit outright conflict. The interior just off the Eastern Coast is known for a strong sylvan presence. A major road, the “Weeping Way” connects the two major ports of the island. Orcs and goblinoids dominate the hills southwest of road, with giants ruling the region just South of them. These monsters have been largely at peace with the human population for the last 3 generations. Still, the fairer races of the island (humans, elves, mostly with some assistance from gnomes and Halflings) keep small garrisons along the Weeping Way as a safeguard against potential raiding parties from the southern brutes. To the Northeast lies a forest which holds great terror for the bulk of the human population. Certain portions of the forest are known for the elves which reside in them. Others are sufficiently wild that even the elves do not dare enter. To the North of the forest lies a small cluster of mountains thought to be the home of a great dragon which is sometimes seen to be flying over the forest. It's color is the subject of rumor as witnesses do not seem to agree on what they have seen. It is thought that greater terrors are found within the Mountain, but these have not been seen for many generations.    The Weeping Way itself is a long road which traverses the island as a whole. There are several small settlements along this road, and both the major port cities have been known to send merchants along the Weeping Way. Those living along the road enjoy the benefits of trade from both ports, though they also suffer a trace of nervousness regarding the dangers to both the Northeast and the Southwest. Every 15 miles one can find an inn, which is always coupled with a small garrison of troops. Anywhere from 5-15 troops will be stationed at any one of these garrisons. Each such force is quite insufficient to stop any major invasions from the south. They are there to keep order, and to discourage minor raiding parties. The garrisons enjoy grudging cooperation from most of the major leaders in the orc and goblin communities, none of whom would like to see the Confederacy commit a large force to the island with orders to crush them. It is common practice to notify southern war chiefs in the event of minor outbreaks and occasional raiding parties.    The Weeping Way is rumoured to have been named by a sailor, and its usage is assumed to be ironic. Life along the Weeping Way is anything but sad, though some have suggested that matters may have been different in times past. Rumours of a darker meaning, perhaps one with a trace of prophesy to it have occasionally circulated along the way itself, but few speak of such matters at this point.Others Peoples    A Dwarven cavern is located just off the Southerwestern side of the Northern Mountain Range. This Cavern is connected to Pflorendritter via a well kept road known as the Copper way.    On the Northeastern side of the island, there is a stretch of Sea Giant villages and even what appears to be a city of sorts.     Several miles to the Southeast of Gnagen lies a cluster of small islands that are known as a haven for pirates. The pirate ships are not known to prey on others in local waters, with perhaps a few exceptions. They are wanted throughout the Confedeacy for outrages against the shipping to and from the Kingdom of Argensloft. Many argue that these pirates would be easy to root out of there was sufficient will in Mogendrid. Lord Klanen himself in known to be quite ambivalent about the matter. A dedicated enemy of the kingdom of Argensloft, he is far from sad to see their feet held to the fire. Still, a pirate is a pirate, and he is known to have made strong speeches in favor of ousting them from the island. Attempts to actually mount a campaign have thus far been thwarted by the King of Mogendrid himself.    To the Northeast of Gnagen, lies a Halfling Shire. They are as content to keep to themselves as one would expect of such little creatures.    A village of gnomes occupies the space just East of the elves. They and the elves are quite allied.    A fleet of golden elves has been known to sail the waters in this region. About 2-8 times a year, they will anchor a ship off the Eastern coast for a day or two and trade with merchants from Gnagen and the Sea Giants.  It is said that the goods received from this trade are primarily responsible for drawing the ivory merchants to this particular port. The golden elves have thus far refused to trade with Pflorendritter, or with anyone from the West side of the island. At least one attempt to force them into opening relations with the burgeoning powers on the Western side of the island resulted in a major sea battle, and the death of many a sailor from Pflorendritter.    To the Southeast of Pflorendritter lies a valley rich in farming.       A herd of Centaurs has been known to roam the flatlands of the island. It's location at any given time varies with the whim of its headmen.    To the Northwest of the main island lies another island about 1 mile dameter in size. This is home to a great mage. He has been there for 3 generations, and none have dared to visit. It is said that at least 3 ships have perished upon approaching the island.</blockquote>

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