CY596
Erik's Duchy of Urnst
Posted by Iquander@AOL.COM to GreyTalk 02/26/97 11:27:10 AM.
What follows is a summary of "common knowledge" about the Duchy of Urnst of CY 568. Prospective players should feel free to use the following information to shape the backgrounds of their characters.
These are only the very basic essentials--the kind of information a farmer might know. Educated characters, particularly those who have studied history, are likely to know much more, and will be briefed accordingly.
For the most part, players should feel free to consult both the original World of Greyhawk boxed set and From the Ashes for details, but note that Forging the Balance predates even the former by a number of years, and will not necessarily be held to the same timeline and events.
HISTORY
The history of Urnst is long in the telling. In fact, a Suel civilization was founded in these lands well before the Oeridian migrants reached the western coast of Oerik, before the seeds of the Aerdy Empire were planted in the fertile soils of the Flannae natives.
Before and during the Great War between the Suel and Bakluni Empires, nearly a millennia ago, Suel refugees fleeing that conflict reached the Lortmil Mountains. Some split off there, in the valley of the River Sheldomar, and founded what would become Keoland. Others continued ever eastward, seeking out a new land.
Avoiding a great empire of evil Flannae to the north of the Nyr Dyv, The Lake of Unknown Depths, these Suel travelers came to rest in the south-central Flanaess. Here, three branches of a minor family, known collectively as the Maure, decided to stay, and eke out a living for themselves. Thus, they settled the Maure Lands, and traded with the Mountain Dwarves of the Abbor-Alz and the reluctant human hillmen in the low regions of that same range. The discovery of a vast gem mine in the Delagos Caverns, a year to the day of the Twin Cataclysms that destroyed both warring empires, settled the fact. A successful nation had been born.
Over the nearly 1000 years since, the government has shifted, and countless rulers have lived and died. For a time all but absorbed by the expanding Empire of Aerdy, the so-called Great Kingdom, the Duchy of Urnst is now largely autonomous, and enjoys its current status as one of the rising nations of the Flanaess.
GOVERNMENT
In theory, The Duchy of Urnst is a palatinate of the Great Kingdom, with a certain percentage of its earnings filtering back to Rauxes. In reality, all such arrangements ended with the secession of Nyrond from Aerdy c. 350 CY.
Since then, even the most greedy of the Aerdi know that holding Urnst accountable for royal tithes is an exercise in futility. The Dukes, however, have chosen to retain Urnst's status as a palatinate, not in small part to spite Nyrond, with whom relations have never been warm.
When that nation declared its independence, it marched armies into County Urnst, and threatened to cross the Nesser River and lay siege to Leukish. Though relations between the nations have cooled since then, few of the largely Suel population of Urnst trust their eastern neighbors. Not that the west has much more to offer in the way of stability. Few trust the expansionist oligarchs of the Free City of Greyhawk, and in fact much of Urnst's sizable army stands guard in the Abbor-Alz and Cairn Hills, both protecting from western treasure seekers, and from things that might crawl out from long forgotten holes and passages. The hills that surround Urnst are its main source of income, as the gems that are mined there are known for quality across the Flanaess. The Nyr Dyv allows easy transport and trade with other nations, and Urnst is therefore a wealthy nation.
The ruler of the nation is the Palatine Duke, currently Dellin Lorinar (q.v.). He is assisted by a large cadre of chancellors known as the Honorable Chamber, though the appellation has been more and less true during Urnst's long history. The Chamber is made up of nobility (those who can trace their lineage back to the original Suel settlers of the Maure Lands) and, very rarely, landed aristocracy. Those nobles not among the Chamber or the royal family (currently House Lorinar) enjoy few of the privileges afforded the nobility of other lands. They are acknowledged as lords, and most of them have land holdings and a good deal of personal wealth, but the laws give them little edge over the commoners. They start out with an advantage, it is said, but must learn to use it in order to make anything of their situation. Of course, this means that many of them jockey for a position among the Chamber, and the politics can get rather complicated.
The Royal House of Lorinar is split into two branches. The first, and most powerful, is the Ducal Thread, the senior line of house Lorinar directly descended from Taergin, the first Lorinar Duke (r. 497-518). Taergin bore three sons, Dellin (the current Duke), Trogal and Balian. Trogal was called Earl of Celedon (a title that passed to his son, Folvar, upon his death) and Balian was known as Baron Leukish. When Balian died four years ago (having no heir, his title was not passed on), the dual lines of house Lorinar were cemented.
THE CURRENT NOBILITY
Dellin Lorinar, Duke of Urnst: When Taergin "The Pupil" died in 518 CY, his eldest son, Dellin, was but ten years of age. Until 526, the rule of the nation was the business of Esedrian, a Chancellor in Seltaren's Honorable Chamber. The young duke cared little for government, and in 530, met Palanine, a commoner in the city of Leukish who would one day become his wife. The two were married the following year, and the duke became highly interested in the government that had once bored him. With Palanine at his side, he purged the thieves guild from Urnst's capitol, and initiated a series of reforms that greatly benefited the nation's growing merchant class.
Dellin and Palanine had six children in the years 533-543 (detailed below). Sadly, the Duchess passed away from an incurable disease in 559. The Duke is now some 60 years old, and it is said that he has not been whole since the death of his wife. He loves his children very much, and is well respected by his subjects.
Rabella and Sardra Lorinar, Ladies of Urnst: 35 and 30, respectively, both of Dellin's daughters have refused to marry, and have generous land holdings in northern Urnst.
Faesel Lorinar, Lord of Urnst: Groomed for the Ducal seat since his birth in 536, Faesel is much loved by the common folk, who see him as a swashbuckling hero (due to his three tours of service in Urnst's army and his--albeit minor--role in one of the few victories during the Great Kingdom's troubles in the Bone March some five years ago). Faesel is an intelligent man, and many feel that the Duchy will be in good hands when Dellin passes.
Dorgan Lorinar, Lord of Urnst: Four years younger than Faesel, Dorgan has always competed with his older sibling. The competition has been a friendly one, and the two are great friends and frequent traveling companions. He is married to a striking woman named Antella Taerga, and the two have a three-year-old son, Ellis.
Justinian Lorinar, Lord of Urnst: At 27 years old, Justinian is the "black sheep" of House Lorinar. This isn't to say that he isn't popular--he is--but that certain friends and contacts the young lord picked up during his extensive education in Neliix-Town have raised more than a few eyebrows among the nobility. Specifically, it is rumored that Justinian has friends among The Skeptics, a sacrilegious literary organization of devotees to the philosophers Desenar Braeden and Elbian Hothchilde. Still, Justinian is witty and friendly, and is said to love his family very much.
Karll Lorinar, Lord of Urnst: Karll married at the age of 18 and lives near the Celedon Forest, where he was trained as a ranger at Stalwart Pines. His son, Jolen, was born in 563, the year before Karll, at 21, was named a Runner at the school. In 565, his wife died while giving birth to another son, Broden. Karll has weathered the tragedy well by devoting most of his time to his forest activities, allowing his children to be raised by attendants in Leukish.
CLERGIES OF URNST
Though the Suel pantheon is the "official" religion of Urnst, many of the "common" deities, such as Boccob or St. Cuthbert, are popular as well. Almost without exception, the Oeridian pantheon is seen as weak and, for the most part, self interested. The only Oeridian god to have amassed a sizable following is that of Zilchus, and only then in Leukish, where frequent trade mandates an interest in the affairs of that august being. A selection of the strongest faiths follows:
FORTUBO: The folk who make their livings in the Cairn mines call out to this god of mining and gemwork as they hammer away at the Oerth. In truth, Fortubo enjoys a relatively small organized clergy. More to the point, the people of Urnst acknowledge the large part he plays in the welfare of the nation, and respect him accordingly.
LYDIA: The Suel goddess of music and knowledge is much-loved in Nellix-Town, a location generally considered to be hostile to religious institutions. Lydia's temples are beautifully carved structures of marble and rare stones, said to have been carried on the backs of the Maure slaves as the Suel fled the Invoked Devastation.
OSPREM and XERBO both enjoy large followings in the capitol and in any number of northern coastal villages and fish-towns.
PELOR: Perhaps due to the relative proximity to the Prelacy of Almor, Pelor sponsors what might be considered the most organized of all the major faiths present in Urnst. Large temples exist in both Leukish and Nellix, and an ancient cathedral rests near the heart of Seltaren.
Druidic folk are likely to venerate The Shalm (OBAD-HAI) or EHLONNA (who is venerated within the Celedon).
DIABLERIE: In the decadent streets of Seltaren, ancient rituals to the Lords of the Nine Hells are whispered, and it is said that those personages answer more often than not. Few details known, but what has been uttered is enough to make the common folk fear the work of the devils and, by association, demons as well.
CITIES AND TOWNS OF NOTE
Leukish: The capitol of Urnst, Leukish was built with Aerdy coin in 200 CY to facilitate trade between the Great Kingdom and Ferrond/Furyondy. For a time, the Ducal family lived in the massive Leukish Castle here, but they later moved to the fields of Nesserhead.
Seltaren: The capitol of the Maure Lands in days of antiquity, Seltaren still holds the great Palladium where once met the Senate. Now, Seltaren is largely forgotten--save by the thieves, who fled there after being purged from the capitol. The Wizardholme of Urnst makes its organizational headquarters there, though it also has offices in Leukish.
Nellix-Town: The center of education in the Urnst states. Home of the Society of Sages and Scholars, and several smaller colleges. A large town, second only in size to the capitol and Seltaren. Home to the movement known as the Skeptics. Several learning institutions exist within the walls of Nellix Town, including the prestigious Balasian Institute and the influential Borenden Halls.
Pontyrel: A small town in western Urnst, Pontyrel is integral to the survival of the nation. Given its proximity to the isolationist dwarves of Dumadan, Pontyrel is a healthy trading town. Virtually any gems can be found here, for a price, and the town also acts as a gate to the west.
Kelefane: Just north of the Knife-Edge Pass, Kelefane stands a grim watch. Though major hostilities between Urnst and the dervishes of the Bright Desert have not erupted in centuries, Kelefane is unusually protected for a village of its size. In the past decade, a full troop was stationed here, though they have since been recalled to the capitol. A skeleton watch now guards Urnst's southern passage. Little, if indeed any, traffic flows through the ancient pass just south of Kelefane.
THE PEOPLE OF THE DUCHY
Their skin and hair are light, sometimes verging on the albino. Moreso than any other contemporary nation, the Suel of Urnst have preserved their racial heritage, and it is considered gauche to marry outside one's race. The Suel are proud of their heritage, and as a result tend to look down upon those of other strains--though this is seldom violent or intentionally rude.
Mountain dwarves are common in western Urnst, where the Abbor-Alz become mountains for a short while. Legends tell of Hill Dwarves inhabiting the northern Abbor-Alz, but they have long since faded into history.
Halflings are no more or less common than they are anywhere in the Central Flanaess.
Elves are extremely common in the Celadon Forest, but few venture out to the cities. When they do, they prefer Nellix to the larger locales.
Gnomes virtually infest the Cairn Hills, to the northwest of the Duchy.
The Rhennee bargefolk, as well as their land-roving cousins, the Attloi, are known to travel through the Duchy, though relations are strained, particularly with the former.

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