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04/27/02

TOREN 2002 - Stories
Campaign Background

Characters
Map of the Theocracy of Synrea - C15 (jpeg, 293 kb)

Skyday, the 8th of Khotsar 7407AR
Port City of Mandaria in the Theocracy of Synrea

Mandaria is the capital of the Theocracy of Synrea (pronounced sin-ray). It is a dangerous city where the only law is force and where monsters walk the streets beside ordinary humans. The high priest of Napaktus in Synrea, the Voice of the Deep, Sevrilna Trob, rules the city and deals out a chaotic brand of justice. The seat of government, the Temple of Napaktus, dominates the water's edge.

The lands of Synrea are dominated by powerful Dukes with questionable fealty to the Church of Napaktus. There are anywhere from 5 to 7 Duchies in Synrea at any given time. Each is ruled by a Duke who holds one or more castles and keeps. Below the Dukes are Barons who typically rule a single keep. Wars between these nobles is almost continuous, leading to a large number of mercenaries in Synrea. Amongst these are many from monstrous races such as hobgoblins, bugbears, ogres, and worse. The land is also plagued by many bandits especially near the edges of the Rushing Wood. The Darsin Sea is just as perilous with the titles Duke, Baron, and Pirate being interchangeable.

The road north from Mandaria leads to Blackport. Blackport is a powerful free city which gains its wealth from mines in the Darcliff Mountains and from taxing all merchant traffic through the Sivista Straights between Orlon and Falsar. Beyond Blackport and the Darcliff Mountains is the famed Lost Desert. The desert gains its name not because it is lost itself, but because it hides some ancient lost secret. Some say that it was once a Dwarven kingdom that was destroyed by fell Elven magic.

South from Mandaria the road hugs the rock shores of the Darsin Sea and continues down to the Salbanic Peninsula and the various Kresian City-States.

To the west of Mandaria the land rises quickly into hills covered by the Rushing Wood and then higher into the Spyropik Mountains. Amidst the highest peaks of the Spyropik Mountains is the great temple of the Spyropik Pantheon.

LOCAL HISTORY
7389 AR (18 years ago)
Sevrilna Trob becomes the High Priest of Napaktus. Sevrilna has held the position far longer than most. He is one of the most powerful priests in the entire Spyropik Pantheon.

Last Winter
Baron Nittarl of Mirkinos Keep captured Skopia Castle from his Lord, Duke Herba the Grim. Duke Herba was away at Eptalof Castle at the time. Now he bides his time and waits for revenge.

RUMORS

There is an abandoned dwarven mine in the mountains to the west of Serrai Castle. Obviously there must be great wealth hidden there if it was mined by dwarves, right?
Galath's Roost is an abandoned keep to the south of Atilin Castle. It is haunted by ghosts of long-dead bandits. There is someone raiding the road between Mirkinos and Arro and Baron (Duke) Nittarl has placed a bounty of 100gp alive or 25gp dead for the raiders. The raiders could be hiding at Galath's Roost.
The Sunless Citidel is a famous dungeon in the Rushing Wood. It was an ancient castle that was destroyed when a ravine opened up below it. Some wealth may still be hidden in its dark recesses. It is located somewhere to the west of Mirkinos.
Rappan Athuk is a famous dungeon in Gorost. A cult of a demon god was entombed there. Many an adventurer has traveled there to see what riches they took with them. It is located near the headwaters of the Vardostos River.
The Necropolis is a famous dungeon in Kalpyr. A terrible evil is buried there amongst vast riches. It is located near the town of Khol on the Vyer River.
Demonsbite is a famous dungeon in The Crundoric Empire. The lich Auxthon made it his home after he defeated Ferrus Crostornus Cardius. It is located by the Genbar River on the north edge of the Arvingwood.