Journal: Reavers of Harken (RoH) Ilyana's Plight

The boys come upon Ilyana's farm being attacked by the Iron Circle.  They attack haphazardly and with out a plan, or coordinated efforts.  They die.  The boys are 15,14,12 and 9.  This is no way to get them interested in gaming.

They wake up from their dream, and find themselves in the same place again.  Deja Vu.  Except the DM has lost his mind in the passing time.  He thinks that part of the problem is that they can't visualize the tactical situation.  So he builds the entire scenario out of cardboard bits and pieces.  The house, the walls,  the wagon, the out buildings.  The DM has realized that he does not have enough Iron Circle bandits. There will be perhaps dozens in later scenarios.

So he spends a lot of time looking online for cheap figs, and settles on The Wargamesfactory Saxon-Thegns, are the best bet at 32 figs for $20 USD.  And the DM goes modeling crazy.  These are great figs, but they are parts that need to be glued together and armed and painted.  But they are awesome!

The boys, are now facing the real enemy, humans, not Orcs standing in for the Iron Circle.  They even have black circles painted on their shields.  Granted, the wolves are still played by spectral panthers b/c they were cheap.  But casting and set building has improved. Voice acting is still a bit week.  All of the Iron Circle have Cockney accents.

The DM's wife is amused, and encouraging.

They improve their tactics and get some better rolls and are able to overcome the Iron Circle.  Ilyana sends them to to see the Druid.  John is a druid.  This is a good opportunity to council him.

The boys get the story, this valley of Harkenwold has been overrun by the Iron Circle and they can help save it.  And the Druid sends them off to help Bran Torson and his clan who are being overrun by Bullywogs.  Evil unnatural frog critters....

Fitting the Characters in

One, or more, of the characters is of noble lineage, a fact which has been hidden from them, because it would endanger their life. They, and their friends, are refugees living on the edge of society. They have been raised and trained by the family, not realizing that they are different from the rest. Finally, they come of age and they set out to prove their mettle, unaware of their lineage. At some point they will be tasked with saving someone higher up the tree, and from that experience they will learn a little about their history. Other clues may come along, as they meet older NPC's who knew their parents. Perhaps they do not know their own parents (think Luke Skywalker), and were raised by extended family...

Common History

The Remlian Empire rose after the defeat of the Lotharian (Dark / Evil) Empire, and the Goblin Kingdoms over 500 years ago.

The Empire encompassed The North (Alemoon), The South (Athoria), The East (Chernia), The West (Capital Suyor), The Far West Continent, (Kalia), and the Far South Continent (Maraken)

During the Empire years trade and prosperity ruled the land.

Climate warming (100-200 years earlier) led to population growth among the non humans and barbarians at the edges of the Empire. The population pressed the boundaries, further destabilizing the Empire.

The Empire was collapsed, about 150 years ago, due to corruption, and the financial demands of defense and the inbound populous.

Unable to rule over far flung lands, the Empire splintered into three competing empires East, West and South. (The Terra Cotta Empires).

The North, under the greatest pressure from displaced populous, devolved into several kingdoms, each concerned with the welfare of their own region.

The Far West Continent is nominally loyal to the The Western Empire.

The Far Southern Continent is weak, but is able to manipulate the West versus the South.

In the North, times are getting worse. Those who champion the the Empire fear the long dark that is descending upon them. They are opposed by petty leaders who have gained power themselves over small fiefdoms and wish to make themselves stronger. The Kings are short sighted and see only their own personal gain. In the Terra Cotta empires, it is the same, but on a larger scale.

Heros have the opportunity to shape the destiny of humanity and the civilised races, aiding one faction against another, or in seeing the big picture and bringing the competing (not yet warring) factions together.

Major Cities c. 1700

In geographic order N. to S.

City Population Country
Ilska 22,920 Roekel
Dokker 12,835 Roekel
Garren 24,740 Gokkel
Krum 12,370 Gokkel
Svenk 15,533 Svenhein
Norik 17,433 Liikar
Ekel 27,267 Kellock
Rtter 19,087 Kellock
Asper Bayen 19,300 Asparia
Alsaya 31,500 Galeruk
Ben'Wah 25,200 Galeruk
Sheelee 20,160 Galeruk
Feneeah 21,640 Ind.
Byutus 15,830 Norium Conf.
Doonoe 16,378 Norium Conf.
Milonia 30,730 Nokalia
Poowah 27,936 Nokalia
Mediah / Sobee 14,400 Elven Sun Emp.
Stag Stag
Nalia 15,522 Gr. Remula (Peeone)
Polina 31,044 Gr. Remula (Peeone)
Alia 33,585 Gr. Remula (Alia)
Tira 25,741 Gr. Remula (Remlia)
Remulus 36,773 Gr. Remula (Remlia)
Kartia 28,541 Chernius
Pesha 35,677 Chernius
Transla 25,116 Chernius
Chernia 39,641 Chernius
Venwee 18,600 Free City of Venwee
Riglio 17,200 City State of Riglio
Lonia 21,778 Athorian Federation
Tork 23,200 Athorian Federation
Athorus 22,562 Athorian Federation
Derekus 24,605 Athorian Federation
Thopoly 26,833 Athorian Federation
Kender 65,300 Zellan
Zeleea 65,300 Zellan
Lng. Ferensus 39,180 Zellan
Pi City 32,679 Pi
Linkin 20,421 Uppelsox
Mittlsox 18,400 Muddelsox
Onafachs 12,240 Travalia
Kornach 16,643 Kornwhaluk
Keltus 25,000 Dreedia,

Timeline 4/23/08

Timeline: General
-5000 The Elven Empire
-500 Human Trade, Technology and the evolution of Towns
1 The Elven Civil War
200’s The Athorian and Chernian Empires
333 The Pandorian Meteor
500’s The Rise of Monsters
600’s The Monster Army
666 The Meteor Britannia
700’s The Collapse of the Elven Kingdoms
800’s The Rise of the Lotharian Empire of Darkness
800’s The Kingdom of Remulus and the Remulan Wars Against Lotharia
900’s The Lotharian Conquests
999 ?
1000’s The Lotharian Invasion of Dwarfheim
1000’s The Alliance of Civilization and the Destruction of the Empire of Darkness
1000’s The Siege of Lothar and the Lotharian Plague
1000 - 1300’s The Age of Dark’l
1200 The Goblin Kingdoms and New Lotharia
1300’s The Rise of the Remulan Empire and the conquest of Lotharia
1332 – 1333 ?
1500’s The Warming and the influx of the Ostogians and Monsters
1600’s The Splint’ring: The Fracture of the Remulan Empire
1665 – 1666 ?
1700’s The Age of Kings

A random list of made-up and expropriated names

Falderal
Eruditia
Ellinwood
Olathe
Dulzura
Banning


Gokkel - Northern Alemoon Kingdom
Farhgyl - Tribes of Germanic type peoples of Alemoon.
Roekel - Northern most Alemoon state.
Alemoon - Region North of Suyor
Roh'ek and Goeen'kal - Brothers, of Farhgyl tribe founded Roekel and Gokkel
Ostogians - Several Middle Asian type tribes of Ostogia
Hoekens - Tribe of Norse types

Alemoon Politics

Roekel is aligned with Liikar.
Gokkel is aligned with Sven.
Kellock trades with R/L and G/S and with AB and G.