Mordon is an old Kingdom, with some within it claiming it actually runs back to the days of the great Elven kingdom. There are even some who claim Mordon is the very first human kingdom in the history of the world, though with records back that far sketchy at best, there is not much basis to verify such claims.
One claim that can be verified is the continuity of the Mordon ruling family. As far back as can be known, the King has been a member of the ruling Mordor family, with an unbroken line of succession. Though the Mordors might attribute this to divine right or shrewdness, more objective observers would call it a combination of shrewdness and keeping a low profile. As a small nation bordering on the mountains before the Desert of Tranquility, Mordon has easy borders to defend and not much to offer in the way of plunder. Mordon merchants do profit from trade flowing through them from the desert and back to Malai. They also find modest profits from mines within the mountains.
Mild mannered, fair minded, and polite, Mordon aristocrats make excellent diplomats, and are often called in as neutral third parties to settle disputes between other governments, and even wealthy individuals.
Mordon lives in nearly total peace and harmony with the nation of Malai, which both dwarfs it and also neatly surrounds it from its northwest link to the mountains to its southwest link to the sea. Other nations also have favorable relations with Mordon, though the Jorians are somewhat cool in their reception. The Mordons, for their part, do not return the coolness, and seek to improve relations with militant Jor - this despite the relatively recent invasion of Mordon territory by fringe elements of the Jorian and humanoid armies.
Calais – Capital of Mordon
Large Metropolis – Population 70,000 – 5,000 Troops
Calais is the capitol of the Kingdom of Mordon. Sitting on the westernmost edge of Lake Kurnow, it is a major center for trade between all of the remaining mining operations in Mordon and the rest of the region.
Brandonford
Large Town – Population 4,807 – 100 troops
Cournir
Large City – Population 14,000 – 1,000 troops
Kerala
Large City – Population 18,000 – 1,000 troops
Leena’s Crossing
Large Town – Population 2,571 – 100 troops
Leena’s Crossing is run by the Countess Francesca in a fair, but firm manner. She is a courtly lady who has found herself very far from the court of Mordon. The town used to be a major trade crossroads, but has since turned into a backwater. Only the oldest living humans have even the faintest memory of the town as a small city, and none alive remember its glory days as a major trading center.
The only remnant of that former importance is the extensive library and Young Mages’ College.
The college, while not as full as in its glory days, still attracts mages from across the kingdom, and has a total faculty and student body of approximately fifty individuals at any given time. Those seeking more advanced training still seek out apprenticeships of high wizards, Drena University, or the Mystic College, but those who seek to study the lower arts of magic find their way here. The school is run by an elf named Dexter.
Various small farms dot the foot hills near the town. There is plenty of forest mixed in with the farms that are on terrain that is far from ideal. The farmers face many setbacks due to the terrain and weather and so tend to be very superstitious. They tend to be avid worshipers of Gathika, goddess of weather and wind. The temple to Gathika in town is well frequented, and its head cleric Niles is often kept very busy.
Soutek
Small City – Population 11,500 – 500 troops
Sydney’s Bluff
Small City – Population 10,001 – AL: LN (G) – 15,000gp limit – 500 troops
One of the larger settlements within the Kingdom, Sydney’s Bluff is run by a council of nobles, led by the Duke of Cantor, currently Wilhelm Roth IX. The Duke is cousin to the King and is reasonably close in line to the throne, though not close enough to make scheming in that direction worth his while. His son, Wilhelm Roth X is only 10 years old and is already being groomed as a noble leader, often sitting in on council meetings.
The rest of the council is made up of the four merchant guild masters (farmers, fishers, metalworkers and textile workers), the leader of the mage’s guild, and a cleric of Jeone, counselor to Sydney’s Bluff, James Fitzpatrick.
While the council rules, the Sunblades of Moira also give input into the city’s affairs. While they have no official power, they have influence with the populace and some of the council members. They sometimes conflict with the council, but always within the law.
Darren Goodheart, a paladin of Moria, leads the Sunblades in the city. In all, there are thirty-one paladins in Sydney’s Bluff under his charge, along with five clerics of Moria and fifty-five support personnel.
Notable locations within the city include the Golden Tabbard Inn and Tavern, run by Milo, human proprietor; a human Smith known only as Smith, leaving much speculation as to whether it is really his name or just a title; a herbalist named Ryan Jazzad, and a Mage shop run by a wizard named Rolo.
Verlak
Small City – Population 10,800 – 500 troops
Kingdom of Mordon Border Strongholds
Sir Dyne
Stronghold – Large City – Population 15,000 (7,500 Troops; 7,500 Support)
Sir Mikel
Stronghold – Large City – Population 22,000 (10,000 Troops; 12,000 Support)
Sir Roberts
Stronghold – Large City – Population 21,000 (10,000 Troops; 11,000 Support)
One claim that can be verified is the continuity of the Mordon ruling family. As far back as can be known, the King has been a member of the ruling Mordor family, with an unbroken line of succession. Though the Mordors might attribute this to divine right or shrewdness, more objective observers would call it a combination of shrewdness and keeping a low profile. As a small nation bordering on the mountains before the Desert of Tranquility, Mordon has easy borders to defend and not much to offer in the way of plunder. Mordon merchants do profit from trade flowing through them from the desert and back to Malai. They also find modest profits from mines within the mountains.
Mild mannered, fair minded, and polite, Mordon aristocrats make excellent diplomats, and are often called in as neutral third parties to settle disputes between other governments, and even wealthy individuals.
Mordon lives in nearly total peace and harmony with the nation of Malai, which both dwarfs it and also neatly surrounds it from its northwest link to the mountains to its southwest link to the sea. Other nations also have favorable relations with Mordon, though the Jorians are somewhat cool in their reception. The Mordons, for their part, do not return the coolness, and seek to improve relations with militant Jor - this despite the relatively recent invasion of Mordon territory by fringe elements of the Jorian and humanoid armies.
Calais – Capital of Mordon
Large Metropolis – Population 70,000 – 5,000 Troops
Calais is the capitol of the Kingdom of Mordon. Sitting on the westernmost edge of Lake Kurnow, it is a major center for trade between all of the remaining mining operations in Mordon and the rest of the region.
Brandonford
Large Town – Population 4,807 – 100 troops
Cournir
Large City – Population 14,000 – 1,000 troops
Kerala
Large City – Population 18,000 – 1,000 troops
Leena’s Crossing
Large Town – Population 2,571 – 100 troops
Leena’s Crossing is run by the Countess Francesca in a fair, but firm manner. She is a courtly lady who has found herself very far from the court of Mordon. The town used to be a major trade crossroads, but has since turned into a backwater. Only the oldest living humans have even the faintest memory of the town as a small city, and none alive remember its glory days as a major trading center.
The only remnant of that former importance is the extensive library and Young Mages’ College.
The college, while not as full as in its glory days, still attracts mages from across the kingdom, and has a total faculty and student body of approximately fifty individuals at any given time. Those seeking more advanced training still seek out apprenticeships of high wizards, Drena University, or the Mystic College, but those who seek to study the lower arts of magic find their way here. The school is run by an elf named Dexter.
Various small farms dot the foot hills near the town. There is plenty of forest mixed in with the farms that are on terrain that is far from ideal. The farmers face many setbacks due to the terrain and weather and so tend to be very superstitious. They tend to be avid worshipers of Gathika, goddess of weather and wind. The temple to Gathika in town is well frequented, and its head cleric Niles is often kept very busy.
Soutek
Small City – Population 11,500 – 500 troops
Sydney’s Bluff
Small City – Population 10,001 – AL: LN (G) – 15,000gp limit – 500 troops
One of the larger settlements within the Kingdom, Sydney’s Bluff is run by a council of nobles, led by the Duke of Cantor, currently Wilhelm Roth IX. The Duke is cousin to the King and is reasonably close in line to the throne, though not close enough to make scheming in that direction worth his while. His son, Wilhelm Roth X is only 10 years old and is already being groomed as a noble leader, often sitting in on council meetings.
The rest of the council is made up of the four merchant guild masters (farmers, fishers, metalworkers and textile workers), the leader of the mage’s guild, and a cleric of Jeone, counselor to Sydney’s Bluff, James Fitzpatrick.
While the council rules, the Sunblades of Moira also give input into the city’s affairs. While they have no official power, they have influence with the populace and some of the council members. They sometimes conflict with the council, but always within the law.
Darren Goodheart, a paladin of Moria, leads the Sunblades in the city. In all, there are thirty-one paladins in Sydney’s Bluff under his charge, along with five clerics of Moria and fifty-five support personnel.
Notable locations within the city include the Golden Tabbard Inn and Tavern, run by Milo, human proprietor; a human Smith known only as Smith, leaving much speculation as to whether it is really his name or just a title; a herbalist named Ryan Jazzad, and a Mage shop run by a wizard named Rolo.
Verlak
Small City – Population 10,800 – 500 troops
Kingdom of Mordon Border Strongholds
Sir Dyne
Stronghold – Large City – Population 15,000 (7,500 Troops; 7,500 Support)
Sir Mikel
Stronghold – Large City – Population 22,000 (10,000 Troops; 12,000 Support)
Sir Roberts
Stronghold – Large City – Population 21,000 (10,000 Troops; 11,000 Support)
Sands of Tranqility Desert
There were no known settlements in the desert until the ancient city of Aelon was rediscovered, uncovered, and resettled.
New Aelon
Large town - Population 3,012
New Aelon is built upon the city-center ruins of the Ancient city of Aelon, one of the thirteen primary cities of the Great Empire. Only small portions of the city remain intact, including the Travel Arch, the Command Tower, a portion of the Temple District, and several buildings in the Musuem Complex.
Uther the Pure, called Uther the Enterprising by some, has set up residence here and from here he directs the traffic through the Travel Arch to Bellai. This trade route has proved quite lucrative and a new community has sprung up around the ruins of the old city.
The original inhabitants, some one thousand descendants of the ancients, live here still, though some have taken the opportunity to explore the world that had for nearly fifteen hundred years been denied to them. Most have learned at least some Common by now and they happily trade with the newcomers, particularly for food. Living on fungus for centuries has left them hungry for variety.
The newcomers (as the ancients call them) have built many new structures, including inns, taverns, warehouses, and residences. They have also begun farming the land around the city, taking advantage of the magical fountains to irrigate what would otherwise be dry desert. Some are concerned that the water usage is straining the available output of the fountains, but thus far, no one has gone thirsty.
There is a boom-town mentality going on surrounding the newfound trade to Bellai, along with some speculation that there may be trade to other locales as well, using the Travel Arch. There is only a rudimentary government in place, which mostly consists of directives carried out by the employees of Uther the Pure. Uther has restricted access to the ruins, both to satisfy the ancients and to preserve any artifacts that might be found. Many would-be treasure hunters have tried to circumvent him, much to their sorrow.
The city is still growing, though it remains doubtful whether it will ever achieve its former glory (or population, which at its peak, numbered around 200,000). The route from New Aelon to the Kingdom of Mordon ends with Sydney’s Bluff. The route is still somewhat dangerous, though at least some of the dangers have been dealt with. The mountain passes are the most treacherous portion of the trail, though the rumor is that the highest portion of the pass will soon be fortified with a keep manned by Paladins of Pelor.
There is still much to explore in the ruins of the old city and probably in the desert beyond, for those brave (or foolish) enough to venture forth. Would-be adventurers would be well served to consult with Uther first, for information and, in some cases, for permission.
There is still much to explore in the ruins of the old city and probably in the desert beyond, for those brave (or foolish) enough to venture forth. Would-be adventurers would be well served to consult with Uther first, for information and, in some cases, for permission.
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