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| Gazeteer Entries for the Duchy of Urnst |
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| 1979 Gazeteer Entry |
| Ruler: | His Most Lordly Grace, Duke of Urnst, Warden of the Abbor-Alz (Ranger, 12th level) |
| Capital: | Leukish (pop. 20,900) |
| Population: | 200,000+ |
| Demi-humans: | Halflings (5,000), Gnomes (3,000), Dwarves (3,000) |
| Humanoids: | Few |
| Resources: | foodstuffs, silver, electrum, gold, platinum, gems |
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The riches of this area are great indeed,
consisting of most sorts of precious metals, precious stones,
and even the prized corundum gems. Because of this the duchy
has been desired by the kingdoms of Aerdy and Nyrond in that order.
When the Nyrondel won their independence, they took the County of Urnst, and were massing to cross the Nesser, but the first crossings were turned back by galleys, and the campaign sputtered later in the year, never to be restarted. Urnst has plenty of other problems of a continuing nature - its Cairn Hills border with Greyhawk, the Abbor-Alz frontier which has desert nomad raiders, and difficulties with the lakemen of the Nyr Dyv(q.v.). The Duke is not idle during all this, he has develpoed an excellent army of borderers while maintaining a centrally located force of calvary, as he still distrusts Nyrond.
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| 2000 Gazeteer |
| Proper Name: | Duchy Palatine of Urnst |
| Ruler: | His Most Lordly Grace Karll Lorinar, the Duke of Urnst, Warden of the Abbor-Alx (CG male human Rgr13 |
| Government: | Independant feudal monarchy with hereditary rulership, owing fealty (in theory only) to the old Great Kingdom; duke advised in all matters by the Honorable Chamber, a delegation of noble and high-born Suel |
| Capital: | Leukish |
| Major Towns: | Goldplain(pop.6,700), Leukish(pop.22,300), Nellix(pop.13,400),Nyrstran(pop.8,600),Pontyrel(pop.7,550),Seltaren(pop.9,800) |
| Provinces: | Fifteen low counties (each subdivided into various baronies and townships) and four wild marches: Cairn Hills [most of this march was recently given to Greyhawk], Western Abbor-Alz, Eastern Abbor-Alx, and Celadon Forest. |
| Resources: | Foodstuffs, silver, electrum, gold, platinum, gems(I-IV) |
| Coinage: | [Modified Aerdy] sterling duke (pp), gold duke (gp), bright (ep), shield (sp), common(cp) |
| Population: | 751,850 - Human 79%(S), Halfling 9% (lightfoot 80%, tallfellow 20%), Elf 5% (sylvan), Dwarf 3% (hill), Gnome 2%, Half-elf 1%, Half-orc 1% |
| Languages: | Common, Halfling, Elven |
| Alignments: | LG, NG*, N |
| Religions: | St. Cuthbert (among rural folk), Pelor, halfling pantheon, Lydia |
| Allies: | County of Urnst, Greyhawk (distrusted), Nyrond (distrusted), Furyondy |
| Enemies: | Iuz, Bright Lands, Rhenee |
| Overview: | Urnst is blessed with ample access to both the Nyr Dyv and the Nesser River, waterways that provide critical passage for the duchy's legendary mineral wealth and foodstuffs (mostly seasoned sausages and rye).
Likewise gifted with a moderate climate, the farms of Urst produce crops in all but the deepest winter. Summer rains commonly flood the banks of the Nesser well south of the capital; wise farmers construct low stone walls around their fields, building outbuildings on short stilts. The famous rolling foothills of the north prevent serious flooding there, and make for breathtaking landscapes remembered in travelogues read across the Flanaess.
Though Urnst enjoys natural defenses on every border, standing border armies have long augmented the nation's strength. Problems from the old Bandit Kingdoms, Rhenee, desert nomads, primitive hill folk, and the odd band of ravaging nonhumans have found swift solutions under the well trained hooves of the Bar Rampant, Duke Karll's elite cavalry, stationed in Seltaren.
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