NOWAM
By Drac
A real that borders to the great lakes with it's capital located at the stormy coast close to the old Saralian Capital. It is a rough and unfriendly country tormented by the hard winds blowing in from Lake Kerísh.
The old Capital Turak, has since long been in ruins but evil rumors still wander the land that the ruins are haunted by the undead. In center of the old city is the palace, now in ruins but still a magnificent building. Once the royal family of Saralis lived there. (See description of Turak.)
Geography
Nowam has a harsh coastal climate, located next to the stormy lake Kerísh, towards the lake there is only sharp cliffs and an occasional fishing village. Inland from the coast the great moors begin and to far in the south a swamp. Due to the landscape Nowam has never been a horse people as their neighbors in west (Karima). The only larger city is Cerrmor, there cities are widely spersed and not very large. there are also lots of solitary farms and fishing villages.
Capital
Cerrmor, 16.000 inh. An old city that is located of the cost of lake Kerísh, only a couple of miles from the old capital of Turak. It was build millennia's ago and has both a very majestic and worn appearance, the harsh winds from the lake sees to that. All buildings in the city except from a very few new ones are made of rock, taken from the coast around the capital. While Turak still was inhabited Cerrmor was a toll station for the traders going to the capital, but after the fall of the old capitol the survivors moved to Cerrmor and it became quickly a capital for the duchy of Nowam.
After the visit from the Demon Queen (se Legacy of the Wyvern) the city has become a hide for scum from all over the country, the morale has dropped to a extreme low and violence and crimes become more then the city militia could handle and with a bulk of the army sent to Elkas to aid in the battle there the city is left to it's own.
After the city capitulate to the Dragon, crime is dealt with fast and violently and even though the city streets are patrolled by Lugrôki for several weeks the result is appreciated by most in the city. The city is still a violent place after this and the old rumors about it keeps drawing criminals and their like to Cerrmor.
Regent
Duke Mael Rowdry, a man of 25 years, has ruled the country for only two years (50-52), he took over after his brother that was murdered an autumn day in 6.050. For a while after the murder he was suspected but since the months passed people noticed he was a very good ruler, better then his brother and the investigation was closed. He is a very pleasant ruler, very popular with the people in the country, loved for his youthful ways that still lets him rule with wisdom.
After the visit by the demon in the city he starts to change with the city, he becomes much more withdrawn, troubled, lost more and more in his own thoughts, not getting back as he was before the country is violently thrown into war, attacked from the north by the forces of the dragon, lead by Anmurdio. He lost the war even though valiant resistance and instead of putting his people exposed to the terror to an prolonged war he surrenders his forces to Anmurdio. After a few weeks after the surrender he is given back the crown and given the power to rule in Anmurdio's place. For his people he accepts even though he would prefer to flee his defeat. After a few months he has started to accept the new occupation force and against his own will more or less become a quite good friend to Anmurdio and a very good friend to his consort Ghaiya.
Army
Nowam has before it's fall a military might of almost 10.000 men, mainly infantry with a fairly large part heavy. Commander over the armed forces is Luco Dovra, a Jameri of 39 years, he is a skillful commander but not very popular with the people. He is slain by Anmurdio himself in one of the early battles. Most of the armed forces are disarmed after the surrender but all cities gets to keep their militia and some smaller military forces.
The navy, not so large, but very skillful, and very seaworthy ships is lead by Duergar Kenora. Most of the navy stays clear of the battles that occurs only on land, sill under Duergar's command it defects and joins the rebels in the Winthmoor march.
Other City's
Eday, 2000 inh. a small city north of Cerrmor, mostly known for the mercenaries that are trained there.
Winthmoor, 3400 inh. The southernmost city in Nowam, placed next to the great swamp with the same name, the swamp is an important part in the city's economy, and it is also a trade center for the merchants from Kaman in the south.
After the country surrenders to the forces of the Dragon, the city becomes a rebel stronghold.
Timeline
37/4-52 The Wyverncrown is taken from Turak and given to Duke Mael Rowdry.
26/5-52 The Demon queen Alazina comes to Cerrmor, not knowing she starts the downfall of the city, chaos rules the streets, murder and rape every night.
38/3-53 Councilor Artus flees the city with the Wyverncrown to prevent it from falling into the hands of Unlife.
51/4-53 Mael Rowdry surrenders to Anmurdio's forces.
52/1-54 An invisible demon comes to Cerrmor to spy on the Dragons forces (the Spy).
66/1-54 Naithel, sent by Tob, comes to Cerrmor to track down and kill the demon.
01/2-54 Wedding between Anmurdio T'Aclatan and the Elf
Ghaiya from Remiraith, they are web by the magician Heres Antogio at the
royal palace.
It's a small wedding but lots of important people are there... The dragon
lord, the duke and some more.
The Spy kills for the first time, a courtesan close to the dock's.
38/2-54 The Spy kills again, this time a young girl (11yrs), early evening.
10/3-54 Another dead, a female storekeeper down at the dock's.
35/3-54 Birthday of Mael Rowdry.
40/3-54 A noblewoman is killed down at the docks, some wonder what she did there in the first place.
??/4-54 A prostitute is murdered down at the dock's, fifth victim at the hands of the demon.
25/5-54 Almost all of the Order of the Dragon leaves Cerrmor, heading to Samâla.
During the following years Saralis falls and the dragon lord takes power there, after a while he gives the regency to Anmurdio T'Aclatan
Other Events
The month's after Nowam's surrender everything quiets down, the population of Cerrmor discovers that they get to keep their duke and that crime drops due to the increased forces of the dragon patrolling the streets. The closer the winter gets more and more Lugrôki gets transferred north, the plan is to remove them completely from Nowam as soon as the summer comes.
Anmurdio discovers during his rule that Karima is no
threat to his forces, when he left them alone they began after a short
while to continue their own internal quarrels, instead he turns his
attention to Saral, the strongest of the Countries in Saralis, he
discovers that their armed forces are in bad shape due to the trade
blockade Lethys has put on the country. He contacts the trade princes in
Lethys, claiming to be a lord Argos of Wulris, he and his bride, Lady
Tanila of Theros (aka. Ghaiya) makes a meeting with them and bribes them
to ease the blockade to Saralis due to the war.
He offers to himself pay a substantial amount of money to the Saral army,
the trade princes will handle the transaction but his name will be
mentioned to Saral's government.
Anmurdio's plan is to reinforce Saral's war machine so they can defend themselves efficiently against the forces of Dorman, and to that get a iron grip on Saral's economy. He knows that money alone cannot change the outcome of the war for Saral but plans when the summer arrives to offer them war material and troops. He has large forces to take from in Wulris, forces that has not been disarmed even though the country has been conquered for a few years, and in the war loving people that lives there he got a never-ending source of mercenaries, who's loyalty he does not have to worry so much about when they are so far away from home.
During the late winter he discovers something that can destroy all his plans for Saral, Dormanian forces has stopped attacking the border cities and instead turned their attention towards the less defended towns and cities further in the land, if they get far enough inland they will reach the city of Samâla, the only city in Saral that can take Anmurdio's attack fleet and his only chance to get a foothold in Saral. His only chance to prevent the enemy to reach and take Samâla is through a massive strike through Arran, something that would expose his plans, so he must figure something else out or be willing to go to full force war against Saral. His only possibility if Saral doesn't alone stop the advance is to make Arran enter the war on Saral's side. He decides to convince Arran to join Saral's struggle, of face the consequences with The Dragons full might going into Arran, a war Arran can't win, and he hopes dare not try.
During the summer the forces of Arran crosses the border and attacks the Dormanian invasion army and manages to occupy them long enough until reinforcements arrive. When they have arrived counterattacks begin and the enemy is slowly driven back up the river.
ADVENTURES
The Demon
A type V singular demon, sent by Unlife to spy on
the Dragons movements, he has been there since the end of winter and knows
most about what is happening in the city. It has localized Anmurdio and
heard most of his plans about Saral.
Now he only waits to be contacted by his own, so he an rapport what he
knows. Meanwhile he remains hidden, listening, only kills what he needs to
survive (usually a female heart every 30-40 days). He knows he is hunted
but don't see them as a threat and wont bother with them unless they
discovers his lair or otherwise confronts him.
He is a terrible opponent, always invisible. Can only be seen by magical sight or as a faint shimmer when he is moving [Per: -6].
It kills by using it's extractable jawed tongue[2D6K-AP] (a bit like Alien's) or by using the razor-sharp long clawed hands [2D6-1K]. It can only be hurt by fire and magical weapons.
[OCV:10, DCV:8 (14 if you don't have magical vision to see invisible), rPD:4, tPD:12, DEX:20, SPD:4, BODY:25, STUN:70]
Persons
Mael Rowdry: Duke of Nowam.
Alazina, aka Yasmeel, Yanamar: Procreator, a powerful demon who has lured a magician to give her permanent residence on Kulthea.
Anmurdio T'Aclatan Aak Saralii: Claw of the Dragon, High commander for the dragons forces in Saralis.
Ghaiya T'Aclatan: Erlini, Bard and wife to Anmurdio.
Duergar Kenora: Admiral in Nowam, has joined Winthmoor.
Alake Kenora: Firemage, daughter to Duergar.
Issaqua: Loar, sorcerer, apprentice to Varch.
Rhys: Jameri, assassin, Issaqua's lover.
Harque: Lugrôki, Issaqua's bodyguard.
Tristan: Zori, Gartylknight.
Tesa Arrakasi: Jameri, Baroness.
Boram: Jameri, Innkeeper at the Sea Lantern.
Laranis: Loari, Lord Magician.
Varch aka. Rowan, Relavân: Jameri, Lord Sorcerer.
This page is a part of
by Jonas 'Drac' Cedher.