Rh'lor Ashbringer

Yes I burn people. I burn enemies of Kossuth. Are you an enemy of Kossuth? 

Rh'lor Ashbringer, year 5843, Belcoast.

While the old highpriest with the flaming hair says some outrageous things at times, he is still well liked and well respected in Belcoast. Along with Mother and Jasper Ladjeer, he runs Belcoast, if not in name, then in action. He is also widely considered one of the most powerful priests in the Cursed Lands, a fact he never fails to mention nor to display. For example, in 5846, he resurrected a priest that had been dead more than 150 years just to prove a point.

Marcus Twayn

Marcus is a menace to all organized religion. It is a wonder that he hasn't been killed yet.

Marcus Twayn is a famous bard, storyteller and writer, who lived in the Cursed Lands from 5613 to 5682. He travelled a lot and told many stories, but what made him famous was his criticism of the different religions and gods. For years he studied the many different faiths, and in 5665 he wrote a book called: The Illusion of Faith, in which he dismantled every single faith on Gemnos and claimed to know what the faiths were really about. Greed, power and murder.

Obviously, in a world where just about everyone belong to a faith, this was not popular. But it did start some debate on the position and influence of the many churches of Gemnos.

Archibald the Wizard

I can guarantee you, that a magical missile can not find it's way around a Wall of Force formed as a wall. The fact that the missile can not see the wall does not mean it will ignore it. You have completely misunderstood how these spells work, young man. Now go to your chamber and reread Magical Spell Theories Volume 2 and 6 again, and do not present yourself before me or any of your piers, until they are understood.

 Archibald, to a student, year 5809

While Marlin runs the Academy, Archibald is by far considered the best teacher of the wizards present there. It is said that he knows more about the theories of magic than any other alive in the Seven Army Nation. That is of course a hard thing to refute or prove, but none the less, that is the claim.

Archibald is an aging human, who has spent the last 50 years teaching at the Arcane Academy. Although he is quickly approaching 90 years of age, he doesn't seem a day over 70, and when talk turns to magic and how spells are structured, he could easily pass for a young man of 30.

These days he doesn't teach so much, but rather serves as a consultant to those especially gifted.

The Brave Wyverns

I swear to the gods, I was dead. Or so I thought. I had gotten lost from my unit exploring the ruins of Re'tabar, when round the corner came a dozen demons. They surged forwards, claws and fangs bared, ready to rip me to pieces. As they closed in and jumped towards my throat, I saw 4 humans turn the corner further down the street. I closed my eyes and braced for impact, but it never came. Seconds later the demons were dead, and Esteban was creating a portal so I could return to my unit. I didn't have a scratch, nor had I heard a sound. But Karan's sword and Red Jack's dagger were bloody with green ichor.

Yurik, Soldier in the Fallen Empire's army, year 5697

Karan Demonslayer, Red Jack, Arthuro the Pure and Esteban Timebender. Legendary names embodying courage, determination and a little bit of insanity.

In 5698, what has later come to be called the Second Demon War, had been going on for 20 years. The People of the Cursed lands had fled south and north, and only soldiers and the bravest of souls were left on the continent. 

For twenty years, the four friends fought and bled, first to preserve the Fallen Empire, then get it back from the demons. 

Karan Demonslayer. According to the stories, 7 feet tall, wielding his magical greatsword Raknaaroak in one hand, capable of splitting a demon in one stroke, yet gentle and a consummate story-teller. In battle, he was the leader of the Brave Wyverns. 

Red jack, named as such for his dark past. The assassin that saved the world. The most wanted criminal in the empire turned himself in, volunteering his services to the Emperor. What a story. 

Arthuro the Pure. A priest of Pelor that would not budge in his faith. Captured and tortured for more than a year by the demons, Arthuro's faith kept him alive where lesser man would have abandoned all hope and broken. Finally ripped to pieces by the Red Triad before returning as an angel and helping the other Brave Wyverns close the portal.

Esteban Mindbender. Said to be so powerful he could bend time with his will. While Karan was the leader in battle, Esteban was definitely the brains before and after the battles. A once-in-a-millenium mind coupled with powerful divinations, Esteban usually had contingencies built upon contingencies layered over more contingencies. He analyzed and prepared for every eventuality, and is more than anyone else credited with turning the tide against the demons, closing the portal and saving millions of lives during the war.

Marquan the sage

Marquan the Sage - what a pretentious title! But I must admit that the man knows what he is talking about. But if you want him to talk, you better bring a cartful of gold or a book he has never read, otherwise you will never even get to ask the answer you badly want an answer for. I do however wonder at times, if he really gets his information just from his books. They must be some books...

-Jack 

Rumors about the old man abound. Some say he struck a deal with a devil, in order to get access to all the knowledge of Hell, while others claim that he is kept prisoner by warlord Grik Clogmark, ordered to research how to make Eletha fall inlove with the gnomish warlord.

But fact is that Marquan the Sage is famous all over the Seven Army Nations and in the days of yore, he was often consulted by men of power, both warlords, high priests and adventurers but these days, only the warlord of Rosewall, where Marquan resides, seem to have access to the aging man and his rooms filled with ancient books and scrolls.

Ashfield

Inhabitants: 6104

Industry: fishing, lumber and mining - from open-pit mining with deep shafts. Most surplus is exported towards Ironville.

General: Ashfield is located (mostly) on the south side of the Yokar River, which is at that point is about 700 meter wide. Lots of small boats ferry people at all times of the day to north side, which holds about 500 of the inhabitants in their own pseudo-town, even though it is Ashfield, and otherwise some farms and a trail to Manhurst departing from the north gate.

From the east gate a trail heads east around Trollwood and south towards Questown. Out of the west gate a trail goes along the river to Ringborg.

There is a bias against halflings in Ashfield, they are seen as untrustworthy. Probably because Ringborg has a larger than normal population of halflings, or perhaps due to the influence of the Church of Bane.

Conflicts: Ashfielders really do not like Ringborgians. Ringborg is slightly larger than Ashfield and has a better military. Therefore Ringborg and it's inhabitants are seen as dangerous.

"Never trust a Ringborgian, all he wants is our city, our lumber and our copper. And when he has taken that, he will take our wives."

NPC's of note:

Michael Delacroix (Lord of Ashfield)

Markos (council-member)

Erika (council-member)

Jaren Sunwell (council-member)

James (captain of the guard)

Charming Charlie (enchanter)

Elias (Priest of the Twins)

Zimena Fartree (high-end courtesan)

Valin Barhold (Emissary from Hillstown)

Colonel Zanderoo (Emissary from Ironville)

Drogan Hammerholt (exceptional smith)

Seven Army Nation? What a joke. Who in their right mind would seriously think such a thing would last. It is doomed to fail, and I for one do not intend to lose everything when it does.

- Warlord Jasper Ladjeer, Belcoast, Year 5837

Warlord Jasper Ladjeer

Of all the warlords, Ladjeer has the most contact with other nations. He also rules the biggest city of the Seven Army Nation. Due to the location of Belcoast, a big part of the trade with the outside world goes through it. Especially trade with the Kyzian Empire to the south.

Patryk Vazzir? Well, I could tell you some stories about him, but discretion demands that I divulge nothing of my clients. But you might ask Jack, he ought to know...

- Natalia Blackhorn

Warlord Patryk Vazzir

Vazzir is quickly approaching 70 years, so he was already old, when he led the revolution in 5845 that pulled Laketower from the clutches of Starkhold and made him the 9th warlord, shortly after Eric Bane became the 8th. After liberating Laketower, he has been exactly the opposite of what he was during the revolution. Passive, composed and alliance-seeking.

Elisabeth is a beaut' no doubt about it, but if you think she does her thinking on her own, you need a reality check or a visit to the clerics. So if you want to know what she is up to, you need to figure out who pulls the strings, otherwise you will never know.

- Jack

Warlord Elisabeth Grimflower

Holding the eastern flank of the Seven Army Nation, Grimflower has been in charge of Highdale for more than two decades. For years now, she has been trying to convince the other warlords to form a new nation, led by a council, composed of the nine warlords.

If there is one almost honest man amongst all the warlords, it's the thrice-damned José Stark. He even does his own beheadings, for crying out loud.

- Jack

Warlord José Stark

Shrew, crafty and somewhat honorable, José sees himself as the only possibility amongst the warlords as a future king, or at least as the father of the next king. He is a proud man, and claims his bloodline goes more than 10.000 years back, to the first men of Gemnos, but no one alive can disprove that claim, so it might be a cheap one. It is however common knowledge that his family is old and that Starkhold is named after his family, as they were nobles back when it was founded, many years before the Demon Wars.

Stark is generally liked by the populace he rules over, but at the end of the day, he is still a dictator.

It's weird. Nobody speaks ill of Sophie Ran. Not out of fear, and not out of love. The people of Ironville seem fairly content, without being ecstatic about her leadership. Her soldiers see her as a good leader, without her impressing. She seems to have neither allies nor enemies. And that my lords, scares me more than anything else. No one becomes warlord without either.

- Warlord Patryk Vazzir, Laketower, Year 5847

Warlord Sophie Ran

For more than 10 years, Sophie Ran has been in charge of Ironville Crossing. When the former warlord died, she emerged from the pack of contenders and took the mantle of warlord without even shedding a single drop of blood. Since then, Ironville has been running smoothly and increasing it's influence, both in other cities and in the surrounding towns.

Warlord Grik Clogmark

I wonder how the history will remember me? The first gnome warlord? A strategic genius? The one that brought the gnome race to the center stage. Or perhaps as a monster that exterminated everyone that stood between himself and the power he wanted. Only time will tell, but I think, I know - Muhahahaha...

- Grik Clogmark, in a rare moment of honesty, Rosewall, Year 5778

Warlord Grik Clogmark

The only of the original warlords left, Grik is also the only non-human warlord. Ruling in Rosewall for a bit more than 100 years, things are exactly how he wants them to be. Most of the other warlords fear him, but none have dared attack him for decades, as the history books clearly show that doing so is inviting doom.

Unlike Warlord Tyril Kayzar, who keeps his obsession with Eletha a secret, Grik never hid the fact that he wants the elf for himself. Although depending on his mood, you might be tempted to think that he wants to own or even eat her.

Warlord Tyril Kayzar

To say the Warlord is obsessed with Eletha is an understatement. His private room, which no one but him and his servants see, is full of statues and paintings in her likeliness. He has even spent years and thousands of gold pieces not only learning perfectly inflected elven, but also collecting elven artifacts and learning everything about elven history.
- Former servant of Tyril Kayzar, Highmeadow, the day before he disappeared, Year 5838

Warlord Tyril Kayzar
Ruling Highmeadow for more than two decades, Tyril Kayzar has his aging eyes set on several things. Aside from the alleged obsession with Eletha, the Elven Queen, Kayzar has wanted to take over Lockhurst and especially the Dragonlake, with the Arcane Academy for many years. He sees the magic university as the key for a bid to rule all of the Seven Army Nation.

For too long my people have been forced to live in exile in the mountains. For too long my proud brothers have been forced to live in caves instead of palaces. For too long have we been considered monsters and killed on sight. Make me your chieftain and it will stop. I will unite all tribes and march on the humans. I will crush their armies and force them to acknowledge the Kingdom of Orcs, side by side with the human kingdoms. This I swear, by Orcus.

- Xuk the Destroyer, somewhere in the Dragon Mountains, Year 5838

Xuk the Destroyer

West of the Seven Army Nation lies mountains and hills filled with orcs. The most known of those are chieftain Xuk, called the Destroyer. The orcs believe he is destined to lead them down the mountains and into human lands.

The Three

I am not sure the Three have ever existed. They are like a boogeyman, a scary story you tell kids, so that they do not do wrong. "Go to bed, or the Three will send someone to take you away from your mother" - pfft. I mean, one thing is that the idea that a green, a black and a blue dragon might have been hiding in Oakwood for hundreds of years, without ever being seen, is not just silly, but downright ludicrous. But the idea that they have been working together, plotting and scheming just shows that you either aren't terrible bright, or you know nothing about dragons.

- Marquan the sage, Rosewall, Year 5832

More bad things get attributed to the Three than to anything. They (assuming they exist) have become the scapegoat of almost any unexplained occurrence in the central part of the Seven Amy Nation, especially near Oakwood.

Virgins. Nothing tastes better than a virgin bathed in the sweat of fear. Aside from a righteous paladin cooked in his plate armor. Mmmm. Just speaking of them make me hungry. Maybe it is time for a little afternoon snack. Any volunteers?

- Balerion, Year 5709

Balerion the Red Menace

As soon as the Second Demon War ended, Balerion moved in and took over a large area east of the Dragon Mountains. The humanoid tribes who arrived later were quickly subdued and forced into worship of the great red dragon. For a century, Balerion terrorized the area and was like a god for the tribes who lived there. The Seven Army Nation had to halt their progress eastward out of fear of the dragon. Now, it's been 77 years since anyone has seen the red master.

At the age of 14, Natalia decided to kickstart her demonic powers. She dragged her own little-sister Angelica to an altar she had built in the forest, and sacrificed her there. She cut out her own sister's heart and ate it! Can you imagine just how sick in your mind and soul, you would have to be to do something like that? Oh how I failed, Lathander, please forgive me, for I could not know.

- Amina, mother of Angelica and Natalia, near Oakwood, Year 5730

Natalia Blackhorn

Ever since coming into her power, Natalia has been obsessed about one thing and one thing only. Starting the Third Demon War. Or at least, that is what the stories will have you believe. Even though perceived as evil, many men and women of power hire her to summon and question creatures from Hell in order to get the upper hand against whomever they compete against.

The Dragon Mother... What a scary name for such a little girl. I mean, what is up with that? And does she have everyone over at that damn church enspelled or what? She shows out of the blue, a street-kid of 17 years, and 2 years later, she is behaving like the queen of all worshippers.

- Warlord Jasper Ladjeer, Belcoast, Year 5845

The Dragon Mother

Called Mother most of the time, the high priestess of the Twins might look like a young girl and a pretty face, but the moment you see her eyes, you no longer have doubts. The black-haired, pretty-faced girl with the teasing mouth sitting in front of you might look like an adolescent's wet dream, but she runs the biggest church within 2000 miles with an iron fist and shrewdness normally attributed to those much older than her.

The Arcane Academy shall be a place of acceptance, where anyone with the aptitude can find solace and peace and avoid being hunted by ignorance and fear. No one shall ever be turned away. Instead we shall strive to teach the right moral and ethics to those of power.

- Archmage Marlin, at the opening of the Arcane Academy, Year 5789

Marlin the Archmage

Marlin has been advising the Lockhurst warlords for more than 90 years, yet he is still by all accounts a young man. Some call him the power behind the throne, others call him a madman, but he is definitely the man who convinced the seven warlords to make a permanent alliance. Nowadays he spends most of his time as leading the Arcane Academy, which he founded himself. The Academy is located on an alleged magical island in the middle of Dragon Lake.

One day I will rule the world. I will raise armies of undead and they will sweep across the land, sack the cities of the living and replenish my armies. And because I have been here, I will save this place for last, but in the end, you will all bow before me and call me: Master.

- 11 year old Krakas on his first and last day at the Arcane Academy, Year 5811

Krakas the Dark

For many years, Krakas has operated out of Highmeadow, where he helps Warlord Tyril Kayzar rule. He is a necromancer of exceptional skills, and uses them to bolster the army of Highmeadow. The undead scare the common people, but most soldiers have gotten used to them by now. Those that can not, usually never last long.