Thursday, September 28, 2023

The City of Monmurg

 The Capitol City



Momurg is the capital city of the Hold of the Sea Princes and is home to approximately 25,000 citizens. Most are human but there are Elves, Halflings and a few Dwarves. Business ranges from the legitimate to the immoral and money drives most decisions and policies. Bribery is common but when corruption becomes excessive and interferes with trade the authorities will eliminate the interference quickly and quietly. Guild leaders and merchant nobles may arrive on the scene quickly, but they can very easily quietly disappear.... especially when they excede their authority and privledge. People usually do business and associate with others in their social class. The common people frequent Public houses and Ale houses where only beer and ale are available along with soups, stews and cost effective meals. The middle and upper class will frequent Taverns where only wine is sold with proper lunches and dinners fot those with means.

Pirates Landing is where cargo is handled for the export and import activity. The warehouses, Customs house, Merchant Guilds, ship builders, and Harbor  Master are located in theis district where ships are processed day and night. The slave trade is forbidden in the city in an effort to improve relations with neighboring countries. 

Port Master - Hamilcar Drago 



Guild Master - Denari Suenal



Shamble town is home to the fishing fleet and fishery processing.  The farmers makets and fresh catch are located here for sale to the public. Fishing boats are maintained and many of the crews and boat maintenace people live in this section. 

Ale House - The Seasonal Catch - This has many seasonal home brewed beers which are very popular with many citizens, not just the fishermen. Soups, Chowders and stews are made daily.

Tavern -  The Rested Waves - Moderate food with spiced food. Mostly Sea food with occasional beef and lamb dishes. 

There are no inns in this district. 



Noble Garden is the plantation home to the family of Prince Jeon II. It is gated and guarded. 

Portside is the district that is home to several businesses which supports the trades of the city and the High Bazaar where finer goods and crafts are sold. Every manner of workman, shop and craftsman can be found working and living in this ditrict. 

Public House - Parson's Pub, The Godwin Brew Club

Tavern - The Bronze Barrel, The Captain's Keg

Inn - The Tacking Sheets


The Corner Bend District is home to the lower class workers where there are brothels, ale houses, inns and drinking establishments. Anyone walking this area alone at night will be a target of the roving bands of thieves, guttersnipes and predators roaming the dark alleys and streets. 

Ale House - The Dirty Scupper, The Gloomy Broom, Keel Hauled, Hook and Crook

Inn - Helgans Hammock, The Dire Strait, The Stranded Man

Brothels - The Bouncing Bed, The Savory Lady, The Madam's Matter, etc. 



Prince Haven is home the wealthiest merchant families in the city. The embassy of Keoland and the Yeomanry are also located here.  

Tavern - The Regal Eagle - The finest spirits and best delicacy. 



Fort Tavish is home to the Military 

    - A regiment of Marines

    -  Several siege engines and artillerists

    - A contingent of cavalry

    - Engineers




 



Founded by the Keoish Prince Monmurg, in 301 CY to act as the seat of Keoish power in the region and to counter the naval might of Port Toli. By 446 cy Monmurg was finally seized by the Sea Princes, formally ending Keoish rule and by 464 cy. After the Battle of Jetsom, it became the de facto capitol, although Port Toli has always been richer.

Monmurg, with a population around 25,000, is the largest city in the Hold, and the main naval centre . Trading vessels that call this their home port ply the Azure Sea, trading goods, Olman-style golden trinkets, quality treated wood for use in shipping, and food ferries, as far away as City of Greyhawk and the Great Kingdom. Not surprisingly, it is a very metropolitan city where influences from around the entire Flanaess have gained a foothold here. Safe to say that the amount of trade makes the Prince of Monmurg and his council of advisors, most belonging to the great trading families, extremely wealthy. Although the city itself is not walled, the extensive harbour, protected by small islands and spits of land, is too important not to be defended. That is why a large fort with Marives, artillery and cavalry remain vigilant day and night. That is not to say that many buildings, estates and fortifications are not protected. Most are walled themselves.

In the Portside District, can be found the High Bazaar, a massive market of rare woods, exotic spices and goods from the Amedio, and smaller marketplaces selling goods from all over the Flanaess. Together with a myriad of street stalls around the city, the wealth coming into Monmurg anyone has an opportunity to open a business as there is no buisiness license to obtain.

Inns, such as the Tacking Sheets and Helgans Hammock, serve typical food dishes which are very flavourful, either sweet or spicy. Eating is more than mere nourishment here where cooking is seen as an art form, and it is an offence to serve a person bland food.










Tuesday, September 26, 2023

The Hold of the Sea Princes Background

 



In the Common year 581 the Hold of the Sea Princes control all sea trade in Jecklea Bay. 

Ruler: His Royal Highness Prince Jeon II of House Rhola, Ruler of the Azure Sea and Captain of all Fleets. He is not married and has no heirs. His personal ship the Truculent lies in anchor at Monmurg. The main rival to House Rhola is House Toli. 


Government

30 princes rule their territories as they wish and are firce rivals. Prince Jeon is trying to abolish slavery but some of the great houses refuse the requests. The 30 princes and their diplomats meet once a year at a gathering to clear up personal matters or discuss delicate negotiations. This annual meeting is known as the Great Synod and is held in Monmurg at the grand forum Hull Hall. There is a very large navy and each house has a flotilla that comprises the Grand Fleet but they have a modest army. There are several forts, towns and ports along the coast which reach across the Amedio Jungle coast line. 




Crime and Punishment

Crime is punished when business and trade is interupted. Murdering a beggar or crewman of a rival vessel is a crime, but not as severely punished as when the victim is a merchantwith  connections or ties to a noble family. Theft is always a problem in every city. When goods cannot be bought or sold and taxes paid, then the gallows could be the destiny of the thief or local crime boss, so petty crimes are tolerable but hijacking and large shipments of stolen goods is quickly investigated. The crime can be punished if the perpetrator is caught, but the punishment depends on the victim. 

Capitol City: Monmurg  Population 25,000 mostly human, some elves, Halflings and few Dwarves. 




The People
The Suloise people are fair to tan skinned, brown to blonde hair and have brown to blue eyes.  They are a hard people who have raided and lived violent lives having only recently stopped raiding. They prefer spicy food considering most other foreign cuisine too bland to eat. They tend toward Neutral = Chaotic Neutral beliefs. Neutral Evil = Lawful Evil leanings.
Neighboring Countries. 

Trade: Food stuffs raised by domestic means are exported routinely. Expeditions to the Armedio Jungle yield Ivory, Rare Wood, Gold and slaves.

Religion

There are many great temples and modest shrines devoted toward Suel gods. The gods of the Flan, Oeridian and Baklunish faiths are looked upon in contempt. Any attempt to build a temple to any god not in the Suel Pantheon is met with opposition and will be torn down in religious fervor. 


Procan - the god of oceans, seas and salt is most prominent with great cathedrals existing in the largest cities. The temples are rivaled by those of Xerbo. The followers of Procan may clash with those of Xerbo leading to violence and occasionally murder. The largest temple in the Flanase dedicated to Procan is located in Monmurg. Worshipers are of Neutral and Chaotic Neutral alignment. 

Xerbo - While considered a lesser god Xerbo is held in high esteem. He is the Suel god of the Sea, water travel, money and business. His symbol is a dragon turtle. Worshipers are of Neutral alignment. The followers often clash with the followers of Procan int he streets of most cities and towns. 

Phyton - The god of beauty and nature of  Chaotic Good Alignment. - Small temples and shrines are in cities and towns but more prevelant in the countryside. 

Phaulkon - The god of winds, air and clouds. Chaotic Good in Alignment - Small shrines near the docks are easily accessible. Sailors and passengers can make offerings before travel by sea for fair winds. 

Norebo - The god of luck, gambling and risk. Chaotic Neutral in Alignment - No shrines exist but prayers are made before undertaking a dangerous task. 

Wee Jas - The god of magic and death. Lawful Neutral in alignment - Temples exist near graveyards and burial ships where the dead make their final trip before being cast into the sea. 

Syrul - The god of deceipt, false promises and lies. neutral Evil in Alignment. No temples or shrines are seen by the public. Usually a small statue and personal shrine exist in thieves guilds or assassin covens. Agents working with the Scarlet Brotherhood will also have symbols associated with Syrul in their lodging. 

Allies

None due to piracy and illicit trade orginating from some of the Sea Princes. Diplomatic efforts continue with Keoland and the Yeomanry, but setbacks occur weekly. 

Enemies

Scarlet Brotherhood - This mysterious country sends spies and has clandestine operations throughout the Hold. Many operations include assassination, sabotage, kidnapping, black mail, slavery and theft of government assets. The monks, priests and warriors will make attacks of opportunity against vulnerable targets on the land and sea. 




Keoland - Currently some trade and diplomatic efforts are warming up relations. Their ships are targeted by Hold privateers and the practice of slavery by some Sea Princes have often set back negotiations. 








Yeomanry - There is a neutral relationship which has been in jeopardy from piracy and subtle slave trade involving The Hold. The attention of the Yeomanry is focused on troubles with giants in the northwest mountains which has prevented open conflict. 







Trade and Commerce



The lifes blood of the Hold is commerce. Whether the deals are made at the majestic and opulent trade houses or in the rat infested back alleys of each city is not important. Immoral business among the populace turns a profit as quickly as that of spices and rare wood to countries where law and order prevail ander the watchful eyes of lawful paladins and clerics.  

Points of Interest

Port Toli is home to the rival Toli family which stretches the boundaries of ethical and moral commerce. They lead the opposition to the radical changes proposed by Prince Jeon II. More money flows through this city than all oters due to the highly profitable but immoral trade and practices. 



The Hool Marshes
are created the very slow moving Hool river and is extremely dangerous. Keoland discovered this fact by attempting to invade the Hold through this area over a decade ago. Several units disappeared in the marsh causing the invasion to be halted and bringing an early end to the war. 


Hokar City is seated at the base of the mountain ranges and is known for its mining and indulgence in the slave trade. The city is goverened by the Plar of Hool who has no care for the poor working conditions and delights in the cruelty of others. The citizens take pleasure in the great bazaar which is open to all forms of trade and gambling. Life is cruel but fortunes can be easily made for those with the means to buy access and favor to the Plar's associates. 


Westgate
is on the Great Javan River and has reputation for producing the finest swordsman in the Hold but not much in the way of commerce. The skull of King Tavish III of Keoland is still on dispay from when he was slain at the feet of the walls of the city. The occassional plague breaks out due to the close proximity of the city to the Hool Marsh. The city is a very good base of operations for excursions in to the marsh if you can survive the various outbreaks of plague and disease. 


The Hell Furnaces are a mountain range that is inhospitable to the people. It is a fitting name where Dragons, Fire Giants and lava call it home.  




Ships

Every country has different ship styles. They will fall into general catagories: 








Small Barge 


River Boat


Small Galley


Large Galley



Small Merchant - Caravel - Cog



Large Merchant - Carrack





Warship



Session 2 - Through the Caverns

  Once the creature scurried away into the darkness Rangrim advanced to look at the cavern roof for signs of movement. He could tell that so...