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THE PROTECTORATE
Introduction & Geography
The
nation known as The Protectorate of Moredon is unique in both its history
and make up. A true Theocracy,
The Protectorate is ruled by a heretical priest caste under the direction
of the man called “The New Prophet”. The
ruling religion is the Varanasi, a bizarre heresy spawned from the most
militant aspects of the Caldensian Church. The
realm encompasses all of what once was the High Empire's Moredon March,
and expands both north and westward into the S’Kree Steppes. Over
the last thirty years, the Varanasi has threatened the Imperial frontier
outpost of Greenchip and the Grovnan settlements of Waldegir and Joselheim. In
just ten years they have gained complete control of Gallon Bay, now renamed
the Gulf of Grace, isolating Greenchip and spreading their influence on
the High Empire's side of the water.
The
land of Moredon is a long peninsula guarded by the Mighty’s Mountains,
the Hands of Grace, and the Divine Consciousness. The
landscape is a blend of grasslands and the low deciduous forest of the
Ceoltric coast. Much
of the coastline is either rocky and barren or thick coastal marshes, making
the need for Port Assumption more vital.
The
flora and fauna are those found in a wet wet/cool temperate region. The
seasons are more varied than those across the Ceoltric Sea in Llynern,
if less rain.
General History
The
land mass known as Moredon was created by the cataclysmic destruction following
the Galdoran Act of Desecration, which split it from the realm of Galdor
with the rising of the Ceoltric Sea. Before
the Great War it was part of the western reaches of the Realm of Galdor
under the Eldar Prince Gaelendil. It
was from here that the Eldar recruited their Dunden and Hohemanni Allies. It
also suffered greatly in the Great War from the Dominion state of Kasee
Ardub that lay to the west. No
traces of the Eldar period remain.
The Pre-Allemanni Period
After
the Act of Desecration broke the geography of the world, the region like
most of the world descended into a period of darkness. The
realms that fought in the Great War were shattered, the Age of Legends
ended. What followed was a
time of darkness, and an age that left few markers or monuments for the
Historian. As the Golden Age
of Man approached with the rising Allemanni Empire, the region we know
as Moredon was the invaded by barbarians from the east. These
were a part of the great Llynerian migration, that settled the along the
shores of the Ceoltric Sea. While
the southern branch established Kingdoms on the former sites of Galdor,
the northern branch settle the rocky coast at the northern end of the sea. With
the Dwarves having left the area with the hiding of Wot Karach, the region
was open for settlement. Two
of the tribes that traveled all the way down the western coast were the
Sudd and the Kelma. Both were
very warlike, but only the Kelma adopted the use of the Short Horse from
the S’Kree plains men.
The Allemanni Empire and
the Divisions
The
above barbarians entered the region at about the same time that the Allemanni
were expanding eastward. Leaving
behind the city-states of their homes, the Allemanni pushed the Empire's
borders east beyond the Ceoltric as far as the Nor Reach River in the Outlands. But
the lands to the northeast above the Gallon Bay remained loosely under
Allemanni rule, and their culture never really took. The
outpost fortifications of Nov Kathira, Jeldanon, and Gathway suffered constant
attacks from the wild tribes of the region. It
was at Gathway & Nov Kathira that the Ninth Legion was stationed, before
they marched north under orders, disappearing into the mist of time.
Partition
of the Empire resulted in the region being forgotten. Few
in the cities cared about the outposts, and as the rest of the Empire fell
under the sway of powerful nobles, politics became more and more local. The
Ninth Legion was never replaced, and the local garrison fell prey to the
barbarians from the north and the newer invaders from the northwest. While
most of these people settled Newark and the Adwicks, one tribe the Lorie
pushed east until they reached the beaches. It
was this later tribe that wiped out Allemanni influence in the region that
was not to return until the Caldensian expansion of the High Empire.
The Abomination from Tartarus
Into
this void the black figure of Nakor arose. Known
to the world of today as the Abomination, he built his own empire of darkness
over an eighty year period. The
fact that he lived so long was the result of his practice of the Necromantic
arts, which he brought with him from the cults of Golgotha in Sabrynne.
Nakor
quickly made use of the bloodthirsty nature of the tribal people in the
region, especially the Lorie, who were said to show the mercy of a shark
to anyone they met. With the
Lorie he was able to subjugate all east of Setford and south of the Plains
of Culdi. They were his enforcers
and through them he forced the Kelmi and Sudd into hid ranks. But
even these three large nations were not enough, and this is when he turned
to bringing Dark spawn out of the Iron Mountains. With
a growing army he threatened the King of Adwick and the King of the Benatti
from the region around Rel Alla. The
constant wars decimated the land, leaving it sucked dry of not only people
but also life. For as the wars
dragged on so did the need for new troops, a need Nakor was able to meet
by raising forth legions of dead to fight in his ranks. He
also attracted dark and foul creatures tainted by hell itself.
In
a final act of desperation, the Abomination was met by the combined armies
of the Kings of the South and the newly arrived remnants of the Ninth Legion. While
the forces faced unholy terrors on the field, a small group entered the
city of Tartarus, and the very palace of the Abomination where he power
was broken, thus ending the war. Afterwards
Nakor’s allies were hunted down when ever possible. Little
dark spawn survived, and the Lorie were reduced to the barest survival. Only
the distance from the future High Empire saved the Kelma and Sudd the same
fate.
The High Empire
As
the Empire expanded out of Rel Alla, the far eastern reaches of the continent
came under control. Still the
area was isolated and foreign to the heirs of the Allemanni. Llynerian
and S’Kree migrations had so changed the population that Allemanni culture
had vanished completely. The
ravages of Nakor’s rule had not helped. Most
of the Empire's interest followed the coast, and Moredon and Greenchip
were just areas patrolled for defense. As
long the High Emperor had someone to watch over the peninsula, then the
east, as in Setford and the Adwicks was safe.
Since
there were no forts or towns beyond the rough settlements that acted as
trading centers for the various tribesmen, the High Empire embarked on
the construction of Castle Vendik on the northern shore of the Bay. These
stronghold later was renamed Port Assumption and has become a den for pirates
of all kinds.
The New Prophet
The
last Marshal of Moredon for the High Empire was Marshal Gerring
Hass, a distinguished officer who had risen through the ranks of the Order
of Caldes Fire as well as had commanded the legendary Iron Legion, made
up of primarily Hohemanni. None
were more suited to venture into the wilds of the northeast to brave the
barbarians and the isolation. So
in 257 AF the Hass at the age of 36 became the youngest Marshal of Moredon. The
first few years were what could be expected, punishing attacks on the Sudd
deeper into the Peninsula as well as raids along the Ceoltric against Skyan
and Llynerian settlements. But
this changed in the winter of 266 AF.
Marshal
Hass as intrigued by a relic said to be worshipped by the local pagans,
and set out to destroy it for the greater glory of his faith. It
should be mentioned that Sir Hass was a well known crusader; his years
in the Order of Caldes Fire had strengthened his fanaticism. After
traveling to a place known at the time as Finpill Dale, now called “The
Crèche” he came face to face with a force recognized by Hass as
“The Creator of the Light”. Like
Caldes before him, the Eastern Marshal was touched by divinity and became
a prophet. Building on the
belief system of Caldes, Hass named himself “The New Prophet”. His
new religion quickly swallowed up his garrison, as well as many of the
locals. The ranks of Priest
appear to have co from many other faiths. Some
say Hass left Finpill with an army of priest, who were their awaiting him. It
is clear, that in the next couple of years the faith became a major force. And
unlike the Church of the Empire, the Varanasi embraced the twin goals of
the mission and the crusade.
The
New Prophet was told to build the City of Light on the Moredon Plains away
from the coast. Here was established Divinity. Shortly
after, Hass took on the faceless lieutenants called the “Four Voices”. These
men became his voice to the faithful. Traveling
across the Protectorate and to cells of believers throughout the Dunrach,
the Voices instilled order and discipline to the “missionaries”
In
an early attempt to put a stop to the Varanasi, the High Emperor sent an
expedition force under the joint command of the Marshal of Greenchip and
the Lord of Eltz. The large
Imperial army met at Greenchip, arriving by both sea and overland through
Setford. On 13 Herbfest 280
AF they were met by a mighty horde from Divinity at the Battle of Hulden
Rise, called by the Varanasi “The Smite of Perdition”. The
Prophet Hass had put together a force made up of fanatical followers, deadly
priest, and wild men from both the Sudd, and some Joderi Horsemen. It
was also mentioned that creatures refereed by the few who saw them as “White
Stalkers”, ravaged the flanking troops of the Lord of Eltz.
Political Structure
The
Protectorate is ruled by the Religious hierarchy, either through dictates
or the bureaucratic caste of priest.
The Theocracy
The
Protectorate is a unique realm on Kemen. The
State and the church are one and the same. All
civil offices are held by the clergy, with the exception of the town council
of burghers in Port Assumption. The
Temple Governor oversees that town. Because
of these duties, the Varanasi Church has three distinct orders: the Cobari
or Temple Officers, the Galeen or Temple Priest, and the Augari or “Missionaries”. The
Augari are the ones who work to bring about Paradise on earth by cleansing
the world of the corrupted. What
their definition of corrupted is has remained unclear. Their
method of assassination is well known, but the reasons why a whore in one
town is slain and a cleric across the sea follows has defied those who
try to combat the heresy.
In
the Protectorate of Moredon, slaves do almost all labor, and the Church
in turn only holds them. This
means that since the Church and State are one, they control great agricultural
efforts as well as mining, shipbuilding, and other forms of light industry. The
Galeen are those who must work with the slaves. But
eventually all children of the slaves are taken from them where they are
raised by the clergy to give rise to a new generation of fanatics.
Peoples and Cultures
The
Allemanni, the Sudd, (the Kubora), the Kelmi (Chelni), the Boggs, the Fellmen.
The
native peoples in the region are the Sudd and Kelma, tribes that migrated
west during the early period of Llynerian movement around the Ceoltric
Sea. Both tribes were a part
of the northern branch and as such are closer to the Low Llynerian clans
of Dunmore and Fraoch than the Ekanni and Ragmar of the southern branch.
While
the Sudd is the most numerous, their semi-independent clan structure means
that some clans are a part of the Protectorate while others are unaffected. Those
in Moredon have given up much of their nomadic ways, but as the land suffers
from the drain of the New Prophet's cities and war machine, many are returning
to following the game in the woods and plains.
The
Kelma, having adopted the horse culture of their steppe neighbors, still
live as nomads. The travels
have actually taken most of the Kelma from Moredon itself, and they are
now applying pressure as far west as Setford and Bellham. Many
in the High Empire fear a new wave of migrations will be the start of a
new war centered arising out of the Protectorate.
(GM
Note: Until noted use the Harn entries for Kubora for the Sudd and Chelni
for the Kelma)
The
few Allemanni who live in the region arrived from the High Empire in the
company of the Marshal Hass. Some
adventurers and heretics have arrived since then, but the suspicious nature
of the Varanasi keeps outside contacts limited. Most
people from the High Empire actually arrived in Moredon as slaves either
bought from the pirates or captured from raids along the coast or even
from the Green March.
The
Lorie live south of Gallon Bay and make up the principle inhabitants of
High Empire state of Raglar. A
new crusade against the Lorie to address the “problem” once and for all
it being pushed by many in Setford. If
so, it will ride out from the High Empire stronghold in Starklar.
Another
people encountered in the area are the Bogg clans that use the route through
the Marches and the Lake Kingdoms in order to travel to the High Empire. This
is necessary now that both Kingdoms of Adwick have recently reintroduced
their proscriptions against the Balagoth and their allies the Dwarves.
The Towns of Moredon
Divinity
The
capital of the realm, Divinity raises from the surrounding plains a muddle
of low buildings. The place
has grown dramatically. Before
the coming of the New Prophet, this region was the homeland of the southern
clans of the Sudd people. After
the First Temple was constructed in 269 AF, the place became a center for
the fanatics that followed Marshal Gerring Hass. The
defeat of the High Empire's army did not stop attempts to eradicate the
Varanasi. A daring attack on
the Temple itself in 275 AF destroyed the building. But
the place was rebuilt the following year with slaves captured from Raglar.
Holiness
The
second city of Moredon, Holiness lies east of Divinity near the mines of
Hofggry. Like the capital,
more people live here than in the fields beyond the shacks that line the
streets. It is also on the
road to “The Crèche” a popular pilgrimage for all Varanasi. Especially
those priest who leave as missionaries.
Port Assumption
The
former seat of the Marshal of Moredon has become a festering den of thieves
and cutthroats. Lately it has
fallen under the shared control of the Varanasi Clergy and the leaders
of the Red Skull Pirates. The
pirates have found a safe haven from their pursuers, and in exchange they
bring in needed supplies for the straining urban populace of Divinity as
well as smuggle the Augari missionaries through out the world. Even
though it no longer is a recognizable bastion of Caldensian light in the
east, it still remains more a part of that world than what is emerging
inland. The original fort still
watches over the small harbor, and the few merchants in Moredon operate
here. The town has several inns that cater to the few
merchants who trade here. The town center is home to the daily market.
On the outskirts of town is the Cobari School, that houses and educates
the children of the faithfull. Port Assumption has been the
headquarters for one of the Cardinals, most recently the Yellow Voice.
The Creche
The
most holy site in Moredon and for the Vanasari faithfull, the Creche is
the valley where The New Prophet was "touched by the Light". Afterwards
he was exposed to the truth and began his faith. The location
of the Creche is not really known to outsiders. On maps, the
site is assumed to be located at the end of the Vale Road.
A Augar Mission and temple complex is said to lie in the area.
Gallon’s Wharf (Sacrament)
A
need for a second outlet to the sea has led to the building of small harbor
in this quiet fishing town. While few ships visit this eastern
port, it is beginning to expand. It has recently been fortified
in defense against the Skyan vikings who sail down from Grovna.
They prey upon the eastern shores of the Protectorate.
The viking raids have increased in retaliation to the attacks from the
Sudd clansmen under the control of Moredon on Grovna's southern frontiers.