Kingdom of Nod (Campaign Seed)
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The Cities Of Nod[edit]
- The Favored House Of Harbringer
Set up by the three houses of the kingdom near a thousand years ago. It's in the middle of a tundra and that makes it very cold. It still, as capitol city is one of the most populated cities in all the and. The old capitol's castle location is long forgotten. The creek to the west of town is only there during the summer, when there is a partial thaw further north.
- Duvek's Pass
Duvek's pass has always been a small little mining town. When a local orc problem summoned the help of the group of adventurers known as McHatin Brood to the town not much changed. However the orc run in caused the Brood to gain the unwanted eye and spite of the orc's patron deity, Gruumsh. The town, also in the spite of Grrumsh is now often raided by orcs. Most people agree that due to it's low numbers and lack of value it would be easier if the people were to move to the far more populated and defended capitol than risk a full orc/human war.The people of Duvek's Pass disagree, being as the town has been in the mountains for years, and that the small silver mine that supports the town still has a century or more of silver left in it. But still the number of the common everyday people who do not live in or care about the pass far out number the people who do, eiter way action is soon to be taken, for the pass cannot much longer survive the orcs and people are frustrated.
- Ashbee
The desert city of Ashbee is a haven for all sorts of thieves and rogues. There is the only place where you can find an openly operating thieves guild. The only guards here are employed by city officials to make sure trade is kept orderly, otherwise things could get sticky for those who need supplies brought in (every one... it's a desert, one can't really farm too easily). The traders are left alone by the rogues, who need the supplies as much as anyone else and it is commonly known that people who are extorted every time they come to a town to sell goods come less or even not at all. In return for agreeing not to attack vendors the thieves are given sanctuary from other law enforcement and extradition. Because of this the town is a beacon for all those on the run. The city is not all that safe though. Traders are left alone, but the average man better carry a dagger and know how to use it, or else.
- The Village Poesson
What was once a bustling sea-port fell to ruin when an adventuring party known as the McHatin Brood allied with local pirates and sacked the city, killing the local noble wizard, who had kept the town in order through torture, murder , and disappearances of town folk. As such he was able to manipulate the town to his needs. When the McHatiin Brood was not payed in full for services rendered to the wizard and town they sought help. The pirates had long wanted to sack the city, but had feared the wizard. The adventurers promised to del with him and split the hoard with the pirates. Thus the city fell. And because it is ruin I had felt no need for a map.
The History of Nod[edit]
- The Kings Of Nod
The story of the Kingdom of Nod cannot e told without the story of it's kings. Long ago, when man first entered the domain of the Kingdom of Nod, the land was held by the ruthless orc hordes. Man fought long against the orcs with little effect. Then one day the first of the Nods begged the gods of law for help. They replied, "To these who seek this land you shall always rally behind Nod. And So long as you follow these instructions you shall live in prosperity and the orcs shall be cast from your lands. We shall leave you signs in the heavens, there you shall find your kings. We will give you a council and you must find the leader, in the council. Three tests shall prove his might, mind, and courage. He shall be Nod and all the council shall be his advisers. The Name Nod must be held." The message was clear, the people put Nod in charge as king. Then as his time was about to end they searched the stars for signs and they appeared. 14 adolescents were found and they were trained to be king. Then as they reached adulthood they were tested and he who past all the tests was next to be king. He went and trained under the king and the others continued training, but as advisers. Then, when the king died the one who past the tests took the name Nod II and took the throne, so on ans so forth until...
- Harbringer, The Forsooker of the Name Nod
It was a long thousand years for Gruumsh. His orcs were forced out of the land which he had promised them, and orcs complain when they don't get what they want, especially to their patron deity, Gruumsh. He was scorn by the Gods of Law, and was looking for a way to seek revenge. And it came to him in the package of a rowdy young man, who's true name is scorn by the scholars of Nod, who was part of the council. He was bright and strong, but he was not so much as to pass all the tests. He was put as the head adviser to the soon t be new Nod. He knew his place, but had aspirations for more. He grew jealous. Gruumsh saw his opportunity and crept in the dreams of the boy. He filled his head with dreams of murder and power. The boy awoke and went to the apprentice Nod's room. There he slipped poison into his sleeping mouth and killed the Nod.
He was now next in line, but, again, Gruumsh entered his head, and, again, he filled it with dreams of power and murder. The boy went to take the throne, as had happened to hundreds of boys for a thousand years before. Th priest asked him his new name. He replied; "Harbringer," and slew the priest. He had executed all his council except for his friends, Zim and Grandfield. They became the new rulers of Nod.
- The New Capitol
The young men decided that the old castle would not protect enough from an onslaught of peasants, as people would be unhappy with the forsaking of old tradition. They moved the capitol deep into the tundra, north west of the mountains. There they built a city, and for a short time, for the rulers, times were good.
- Gruumsh's Vengeance
With the name of Nod gone Gruumsh ordered his orcs into the kingdom to again try to take back their promised lands. This action, naturally, resulted in a lot of cities being burned. People began to group together, forming the major cities that are now present to this day.
- The Houses, Past
Harbringer, Zim, and Grandfield soon realized their ideas for/of government were very different. They came up with a compromise so to make sure that they all didn't lose power in a war with each other. They took their advisers and like-minded nobility and created three houses, named for those three founding members. The house who could rally the most support was granted power, and given access to the Favored House building, in the middle of the capitol. They named their capitol Favored House. This was good for many generations. There had been no problems for the houses for almost 1000 years. The memory of the Kings of Nod had almost faded out of existence. The houses prospered at the peasants expense. All houses prospered greatly, until recent.
- The Houses, Recent
House Zim was beginning to challenge House Harbringer in all manners. Undoing legislation that had been in place for years. And the permanent of members grew to a point that made it seem as though House Zim would never relinquish power. The one night a great curse fell upon all those in House Zim, for the next morning they were all dead, in their sleep for the lucky or in horrifying and painful accidents for those who were unlucky. This was unexpected and tragic, but it also was just the beginning of the shifts of power. With all of House Zim gone it became a two house system, fearing retaliation for House Harbringer, House Grandfield no longer apposed anything that was proposed. Soon it just became assimilated into House Harbringer, and an unchallenged rule was setup.
- The House, Present
People have been whispering of dark things in Harbringer. Rumors of an old evil being brought to power mix with ideas of a secret shadow government, but no one knows for sure what is going on. Fear grips the land as orcs begin to fill the ranks of the House army. And still ands of deeply religious orcs take stronger hold in the country side, stating that they have their god's mandate that the land is theirs.
- The McHatin Brood
No story of Nod would be complete without mentioning the McHatin Brood. A group of adventurers who could mostly all draw their history at some point or another to Steve McHatin (mostly paternity, but the druid could trace her brother's paternity to him, so... close enough). All except the dwarf.
About Duvek's Pass's only real claim to fame is that this is where the McHatin Brood became a real group. Two McHatin (half)brothers (both fighters [one later becam a full time mage], who had never met before [as Steve's son's rarely do meet]) met there following a lead as to suspicious activity in the mine. The people in the town had not really ever seen an orc before, being as the the town was so far north and in such poor cold terrain that the orcs took a long time getting there. The McHatins were given a corpse and identified it. They went for more info into a bar and ran into a dwarf cleric who had recently left his mountain home in search of something. He didn't really know, but had a good feeling about Duvek's pass and had no real reason to go, but he knew he should. They teamed up and killed an evil orc cleric, which brought the evil eye of Gruumsh to them, and took the town for all it had. Moviing on to the capitol to level up they met a female elf druid (the player was a real female, too!) and her half brother who was a half elf ranger and a McHatin. They adventured for a long while together, then while killing an army of orcs number over 200 with the "assistance" ( if that's what you want to call it) of 20 archers, the mage was carried off. In his absence another brother was sent to them from their father, Steve. The brother, who was an Aasimir spell caster was Steve's pride and joy. He spent almost ten years with this one (granted he still was able to father countless other children in the same area, but...). Later, when destroying a castle the Aasimir died and was reincarnated as a half-orc... this being a great disappointment to himself he opted to stay behind when the castle self-destructed. The rest were saved by the mage brother who popped in in just enough time to save them. Their is no confirmation on the seath of the aasimir/half-orc. He was seen flying hundred of feet into the air from the force of the explosion yelling his rallying cry of "Ha! I'm not dead!!!" When cloud cover broke the sight line people just made assumptions.
That's were we are right now... I was the Aasimir/Half-orc. We swapped DMs for a period... The Mage was the one who took over for a while... Do with our party what you want, but we are/were important to the history. I was planning on incorporating my character again. If you want you can do it, too. He was a spell caster, explosions hardly ever end them. Stats will be given when I can finally get my PCs to let me borrow their sheets.
- The Truth
People's suspicions are correct. There is a secret leader to the government and an ancient evil has already taken power. It is Harbringer himself. He was trained in his times to be a mage of great proportions and through the evil magic became a lich. his phylactery is a ring, which is hidden in an ancient tomb, in a altar to Gruumsh. He is trying to repay his debt to Gruumsh, which he owes him for giving him power. He has begun to use orcs in his army, his body guards are two orcs themselves, name Furmk and Grumnt, who are a fighter and cleric respectively.
He plans to make the land a little more orc friendly, which will spell disaster for all who live in small hamlets and thorpes outside the main cities. Eventually, land hungry orcs would probably wear down the defenses of the main cities, and take the entire kingdom. Harbringer, while still appeasing Gruumsh by giving the orcs something is not too keen in seeing all his land under the control of orcs, even though he would be made their leader. Yet he still must keep on the path of Gruumsh, lest he risk angering the angry and vengeful god. He mayu be a lich, but he is no match for the god, yet. Make no doubt thought that though this process may take a decade or more it will happen, unless stopped.
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