Trent - Game World History, Current Cities last update: 10/7/2002 ************************************************************************************** Trent World History - Common Knowledge Trent is a game world separate from the tradional AD&D world, but uses the core rules with some exceptions. Trent is the name of the planet, and also the name of the largest continent. There are only 3 Gods worshiped on Trent, the Lawful Good Paladin, the Chaotic Evil Tiamat, and the Neutral Earth-Mother Trent. Magic on Trent is tied to the phases of the moons, particularly the Great Moon. (There are 5 moons in total, but only the Great Moon has any notable effects). On the night of the full moon all saves vs magic are reduced by one. The opposite effects are in place on the night of a new moon. Naturally, on nights when moons align, even more powerful magic effects can be felt. 0 EK Empire of Kings formed, when King Thomas defeats King Frederic in a jousting match, ending the War of the Setting Sun and uniting the human empires of central Trent. This connects the great eastern sea to the southern desert. King Thomas declares that the king of the new empire will be chosen every 10 years in a jousting tournament. (He wins the next 3 tournaments). Marks start of new calender (Empire of Kings). 200 EK Golden age of the Empire begins, Tiamat's temples destroyed in major cities by decree of King Jorge. 378 EK Dwarven Kingdom joins the Empire, forms the first non-human standing military in the Empire, the Red Wings. 512 EK Elvin Kingdom joins Empire, forms Green Wings 518 EK King Kavel becomes the first Dwarf to win the joust, & the first non-human King to sit on the throne. 519 EK The Elvin Kindgom seperates itself from the Empire as a sign of disatisfaction with King Kavel's leadership, sparking the Red-Green War 534 EK End of the Red-Green War. After 15 years of stalemate, Kavel offers to step down as king in exchage for the re-unification of the kingdom. 550 EK In order to help better consolidate the Empire, King Noles II creates four standing armies. The Blue Wings (West, Capitol), the Gold Wings (South, Desert), the Green Wings (East, Elvin Lands), and the Red Wings (North, Dwarven Lands). Citizens from each region are required to serve in the army for at least one year. This generates much infighting between the upstart Human Red Wing divisions & the long-stading Dwarven Red Wings. Noles II decrees that all divisions must be desegregated, and the Dwarven Kingdom revolts. Start of the Red Wings War 552 EK The Dwarven empire is swiftly crushed under the Blue, Green, and Gold Wings. Much to everyone's suprise, the mixing of the human & demi-humans in these Wings not only made the armies stronger, it also helps to unite the different races together as part of the Empire. (Yay happy diversity crap) 555 EK The newly reformed Red Wings enter back into the Empire, this time mixing Humans and Dwarves together in each unit. Skirmishes and infighting continue between the two races, although it is kept hidden from the rest of the world. The continued 'secret' infighting becomes the foundation for some of the Red Wings most famous traditions, particually the right to challenge superiors to single combat for their position. 650 EK The Empire begins to fall apart. Although the Kings are all great swordsmen, they are not diplomats & are unable to keep the different regions from quarling with one another. 741 EK Drow invade the Elvinlands, Begining the War of Bitterness. The Green Wings refuse assistance from the other Wings. 827 EK Castle Vermilion falls, the last stronghold of the Green Wings, marking the end of the War of Bitterness. Surviving Elves scatter to the other regions of the empire, with most of them settling in the desert lands to the south. The Drow negotitate a tentative peace with the rest of the Empire, and take up residence in the forest. 840 EK Swarms of Undead descend from the North upon the Dwarven Homelands. With much support from Blue and Gold Wings, the Dwarves manage to reclaim their homes. King Samuel is insistent that the three wings pull together to crush this new enemy, less they suffer the same fate as the Green Wings. 841 EK Early that spring, the 3 wings converge on Castle Blackstone, the 0 BS source of the undead. As his last resort, Vlan sacrifices himself and his followers to Tiamat, in exchange for the destruction of his enemies. A dark fog spews forth, killing all three Wings and ecompasing all in its path. The fog does not stop there, however. Instead it is carried south on the northern winds, until it covers nearly all of Trent. Fortunately for the citizens of Trent, the fog is much thinner than what killed off the knights at Castle Blackstone. However, it is still quite toxic, and thousands of elders & children die from the sickness it causes. The fog hovers over the continent for nearly 6 months before it finally begins to disipate that winter. This marks the begining of the new calander. (BlackStone or BlackStorm). 1 BS "Night of Darkness" On the one year aniversary of the destruction of Blackstone Tower, undead begin awakening from all across Trent. Cities are caught unprepared, and most of them are wiped away by the undead armies in a single night. The cities that do survive become stand alone fortresses, as communication with other cities is cut off. From this date on, anyone who dies rises back up as undead within a week. Of particular note is the revival of the Green Wings, now an undead army, who have renewed their assault on the Drow. 40 BS Present PRESENT: Several people have fled to the southern desert, where the undead presence is felt the least. The southern portion of the empire is still largely intact, with the Gold Wing army rebuilt, under the leadership of the self-proclaimed King Rathgar. The remains of the other three regions of the Empire are mostly devestated. The Western forest is controled by the army of undead Green Wings, who have forced the Drow back underground. There are pockets of the empire still around in the North & Eastern lands, but communication between the cities is limited at best. Although trade between the cities is almost completely dead, there are two important commodities that are valued more than gold, Food (particually beef) and steel. With the destruction of most of the populace, came the destruction of the food production. Now there is a scarcity of food like has never been seen before, and unlike in times past, there is virtually nothing alive in the wilderness, leaving the only edible meat on the few surviving farms that managed to move inside the protective city walls. Many a poor farmer has become a noble overnight from the profits of his herd. The other trade, naturally is weapons, which the Dwarven mines to the north can provide in ample quantity. This is of particually importance to the southern desert nation, who has no iron deposits of its own. Travel by sea is even more dangerous than traveling over the land of Trent. Brimming with whirlpools, tempests, and all manner of giant beasts, both alive and undead, the oceans are wild with magic gone awry. Only the bravest (or dumbest) sailors dare attempt to sail today, and those wealthy enough to own a ship must go to great lengths to secure a crew. Most cities have taken to allowing temples to Tiamat again. Several scholars propose that the Blackstone fog was in fact Tiamat seeking revenge against the empire that destroyed her temples and worshipers (back at the birth of empire). Naturally, there are few open worshipers of Tiamat, although several have come to pray/plead to her at least once in their lives. Many once devout followers of Paladin have desserted him, as they feel he has abandoned them. Each city is ruled by a duke/baron/noble who has complete ownership of the city, and is in charge of the local army. Typicial cities require everyone who lives in there to serve in the army for at least 2 years upon reaching maturity, with 4 years being the standard length of service. The general populace are an exceptionaly talented and hardy crowd, as they needed to be to survive the horrors of the last 40 years. 90% of the populace are 'adventurers' by D&D standards, with the majority of them being low level fighters. Death is all too frequent in this world, and anyone who dies will have their body burned that day, and their bones ground to powder, to ensure they do not re-awaken as undead. ************************************************************************************** CITIES EAST Capitol City(LG) - Capital of the Empire, Capitol city was home to many Paladins & Cavaliers. The city walls were erected at the start of the empire as a show of strength to neighboring kingdoms. These same walls still stand today, and are used more than ever by the town guards. King Jordan still manages to maintain a sizeable army of horsemen to defend the plains. The city was originally built on the ruins of another great castle, and manages to boast one of the few working sewers in the realm. However, the maze of sewers below the city is intermixed with the ruins of the long forgotten castle, making them nearly impossible to navigate. They also serve as a breeding ground and an entryway into the city for errant undead, which emerge nightly from beneath the city. Capital City is most famous for it's harvest fesitval. There, every year at the end of autumn, the mage guild will enchant every weapon brought to them with fire, electricity, or cold elemental powers. They do this for free for the town guards, and 100gp to all others. (They do this to reduce their taxes for the year) This adds 1d6 elemental damage to the weapon, depending on the owner's choice. This enchantment lasts for 1 year and 1 day, at which point it disipates without harming the weapon. (The disipation will not harm the weapon, however the base enchantment can. It would be very unwise to add a fire enchantment to a wooden weapon!) There are other elements and forces available throughout the realm as well, with Holy energy being very popular given the recent events. Also Home to: King Jordan, Cavalier, Silverskin Wand of Absorption, owned by the High Court of Magic Rotterdam(LN) - NE Dwarven/Human Port city. Gateway to Dwarven lands & East ocean. Calling Rotterdam a port city isn't quite accurate. Rotterdam was built in the low mountains during a particully cold winter. When the ice thawed that spring, the Dwarves were surprised to see the ocean was only a few miles away. Thinking it merely a novety at the time, Rotterdam continued to grow as most Dwarven cities do, mainly focused on mining the precious ores in the area. As time progressed and human traders began reaching Rotterdam, news of great trade ships, capable of travelling the ocean eventually made their way to the ears of the Dwarves. Never one to ignore a oportunity, the Dwarves dug a giant canal, streching all the way to the ocean, capable of harboring the entire fleet of the Empire. The city sits several hundred feet above the base of the canal, making it naturally defensible to attacks from the sea. All manner of scaffolding, stairways, nets & bridges span their way up & down from the docks to Rotterdam, which typicaly bustle with activity. Massive Dwarven walls protect this city from all who dare attack it. Indeed Rotterdamn has never once fallen, a fact it's citizens are very proud of. Recently however, Rotterdamn has grown disturbingly quiet, as trade has dwindled every year since the assault on Castle Blackstone. Now, Rotterdam stands nearly deserted, with 1/20 it's normal population, and not a sinlge boat in it's harbor. There are a few remaining Barbarian tribes still surviving in the valleys near Rotterdam. These tribes have lived there in relative peace with the empire for generations, and are unwilling to leave their homeland, despite the dangers & shortage of wild game. Rotterdam is also important for one last reason, it was the home of the Red Mages. (All the other Mage Schools were based from that region's respective capital). The school was abaondoned after Blackstone, as all the Red Mages were either slain there or died shortly thereafter from the ensuing fog. Also Home to: Baron Kavel V Siege Crossbow of Speed (Mounted to Main Gate) NORTH Mythril & Garnet(LN) The region capital, and before that, the capital of the Dwarven empire, Mirthil & Garnet are actually two smaller cities which have grown together. Historically, Garnet is the poorer side of town, inhabited by beggars & drifters, while the nobles & rich merchants live in Mythril. Much to every visitor's surprise, Mythril & Garnet (M&G) are not the traditional battle-fortresses that Dwarves are famous for. Set so deep into the mountains, & surrounded by guardian cities, M&G was free to prosper without threat of attack. This allowed M&G to grow in the ways of Dwarven arts & culture, something that many outsiders assumed didn't even exisit in Dwarven society. However, the lack of defenses has also lead to the sack of M&G more than once in it's history, as guardian cities fell to unexpected adversaries. Nearly every Dwarf has lived in M&G for part of their life, so they all feel a sort of kinship to M&G, treating it as their home. With the rise of recent events, M&G has become far more militant & defensible than in the past, with large steel gates errected along every pass, and several passes being closed completely. Also Home to: King Vawlk Last Word Sword, Strakeln Lodrr, Dwarven Red Wing, Protector of the Crown Castle Blackstone - extreme north, past the Dwarven mountains, the land opens up into a wide, ice covered plateaus before finally reaching the sea. Unpassible during most of the year, the castle was built to be a lighthouse, a training ground for would-be knights, & a vacation home for Lord Hawthomn during the summer months. Ironically, it became an escape haven for his unwanted son Thebian, who studied the dark arts of Necromancy from inside it's walls. Several Necromancers have come & gone through it's doors over the years, with the most famous being Vlan the unspeakable, who used it as a staging ground while attempting to conquer the Dwarven lands with his horde of undead monsters. Also known as Blackstone Tower or Blackstone Keep. Currently uninhabited. Also Home to: N/A WEST Pylg (Pill + G)(NG)- NW island city, defended by the Dragon Raz. Pylg isn't really an island, but rather a city built where the White River joins into the Great Rock River, with a 'moat' dug along the back side of the city, to completely isolate the town. For added security, a large stone wall has been errected as well, making Pylg look much like a giant Castle protected by water on all three sides (It's triangular shaped, not square). Pylg is most famous for (aside from being ruled by a dragon) it's fruit trees, which grow inside the city and along all the streets, providing basic food for all it's inhabitants. Raz lives in a large, squat tower near the center of town, and is typically seen walking around town in a quasi-human form while performing his governing duties. Also Home to: Raz, Red/Gold Dragon, Flametounge Flieith (Fly + TH), West, Elven Capitol, Once a great city built in harmony with the forest, now nothing more than ruins. Also Home to: N/A Castle Vermilion W/SW. Originally built as a joint venture between Humans and Elves during King Noles III's reign (around 560-570 EK), it is the only stone-walled keep in the Elven forest. When Castle Vermilion fell to the Drow, it marked the end of the War of Bitterness. When the Green Wings were reanimated, it was the first place they recaptured. It is believed to be the stronghold which the Green Wings are currently based from, but few have dared to venture there to verify these rumors. Also Home to: Green Wings GreatRock (TN)- SW/Central, city on Great Rock Island, which sits in the middle of the Great Rock River. It was originally built on the shores of the river, just above the waterfall leading to Great Rock Valley. When attacked by Barbarians (over 1000 years ago), it was magically (and accidently) wished onto the island by the power of the Luck Blade. Great Rock Island is a large column of rock, over a mile in diameter & 200 feet tall, which stands level with the two cliff faces that bound the Great Rock River. The city itself is entirely underground, built inside the Great Rock, with the above grounds being tended by Alana, one of the few surviving Druids on Trent. Travel back & forth from the island is extremely difficult for those who don't fly, as there are no connecting bridges or tunnels joining Great Rock to the mainland. Due to it's great inaccessability, Great Rock is one of the few unwalled citties in Trent. Greatrock is also known for it's large Gnomish population. Also Home to: Duke Red Alana, Druid, keeper of the grove above Great Rock SOUTH Sandstone (LN)- SE Named after the principle building blocks for the entire city, Sandstone marks the gateway betwen the Southern & Eastern kingdoms. It is the only desert city not on the Great Rock River. Sandstone (the rock) is one of the few sturdy construction materials available in the desert, making it the brick of choice when building any solid structure. Sandstone (the city) started as a simple a mining town, but the huge size of the quary and the value of the stone eventually created a city unto itself. Sandstone (the city) boasts several amenities, including paved roads, brick homes for all its inhabitants, and running water (provied through a network of magical public fountains). While the demand for sandstone has diminished over the years, generally replaced by magical stonework, the city of Sandstone still remains as a border town between Capital City & Korvan. Sandstone is also known for it's small population of Orcs, who live is reasonable harmony with the native populace. Also Home to: Count Diviroth Max Dantes, Ex-Merc, now Captian of the Guard, Plate Mail of Fire Resist. PickAxe of Blasting+1 - Sandstone Local +7 (Mining Company) Elanaise (Elan + Ace) (CN)- Northernmost desert city, on the Great Rock River. Nearly half the population is comprised of displaced elves from the War of Bitterness. This sudden influx of non-natives has greatly stressed the city's resources, and divided the city into natives & foreigners, with each side naturally blaming the other for the city's problems. Theft, Violence, and Hunger all run rampant in the city, with both sides building local gangs to defend their 'teritory'. Many Elves, seeing that they are unwelcome, venture out into the western desert in small caravans, never to be seen again. While the noble's quarter does have a small wall around it, the rest of the city has grown far too rapidly to have such protection. (Naturally, there is also no money available to fund such a project.) When the city is attacked, both sides fight to defend their own, with little regard for the other. Indeed, several sides have been known to capture these undead creatures, & then release them on the 'other' side of town later. Also Home to: Count Walthar Devis, Elvin Ranger, Bow of Sandstorms Korvan (CG)- extreme S - Capital city, & port city, located at the Southernmost tip of Trent, at the base of the Great Rock River. Ruled by King Rathgar the Unyielding, Korvan is the capital of the self proclaimed southern empire, & home of the Gold Knights. King Rathgar is a hero to the local populace, but an enemy to anyone who dares cross or confront him. While he treats his subjects gently when possible, he is ruthless in his control over the other cities, and is enraged by his subordinates' inability to stop the violence in Elanaise. He is known for his great efforts to provide food, clothing, & shelter for his people in Korvan, creating new tents everyday using his Rod of Splendor, and tearing old ones down to be sewn into clothing. Ironically, there is more food (particually meat) produced in Korvan than any other city in Trent, and yet, most of Korvan is starving, due to the high cost of this food. Fortunately, there are several faithful servants to Paladin in Korvan, who daily create as much food & water as possible. There are no walls around Korvan, as attacking Korvan would require marching an army across the entire Golden Desert, or sailing a navy all the way to the southermost tip of Trent. Also Home to: King Rathgar, ruler of the desert empire, Rod of Splendor **************************************************************************************