Orlag, the Keeper of Secrets

“So much knowledge has been lost to the ages, it is our job to recover what has been forgotten or die trying.”

—    Professor Agrippo Gorinus Fludinus, high priest of Orlag

Alternate Names: Cyfrin (elf), Eruditio (gnome), Gealdor (halfling), Meduuts (dwarf), Tudok (orc)

Expanded Domains: Air, Artifice, Earth, Exploration, Knowledge, Language, Rune

Portfolio: divination, history, knowledge, language, restoration, ruins, secrets

Knowledge (religion) DC 10:

God of knowledge both known and hidden, Orlag is beseeched by scholars, researchers, and archaeologists alike for blessings and insight. Known as the Keeper of Secrets and Archivist of the Gods, it is said that Orlag knows all that there is to be known and that no secrets can be kept from him.

     Orlag is most often portrayed in art as a weathered human male with a trimmed goatee and mustache in rough clothes suited for long digs. No temples or churches to Orlag exist, but every library, museum, and archaeological dig site has at least one alter for prayers.

NPCs: Ghoran Karzin Zorthak

“If all I was interested in was killing, I would have stayed in the academy as a boy. What motivates me isn’t killing, it’s killing with style.”

— Ghoran Karzin Zorthak to a young hobgoblin boy

Using Ghoran

Above all else, Ghoran is a showman. Everything he does is done with panache and style. He regularly takes insults, verbal jabs, and such with a returning volley of quips intended to mock in such a way that the target is unsure if they have been insulted.

The Coliseum of Zrukal-az Bashzith

Though gladiatorial combat is a staple source of entertainment throughout the hobgoblin empire, the largest and most extravagant arena is easily the Coliseum in the empire’s capital. Construction began five years after the ancient city was conquered by the hobgoblins, and even with slaves working on construction nonstop it still took six years to complete.

Moros, Mother of Blood

Moros, Mother of Blood

“I have heard some refer to war as being similar to the Nine Hells. Having experienced both, I can say that these ignorant souls are so wrong. Only those suited for it go to the Nine Hells, whereas war spares no one.”

—Illuyin Deileddyf, High Archmage of Wainryn

Alternate Names: Byrnwiga (dwarf), Dusnain (halfling), Gwaeful (elf), Pugnatas (gnome), Veru (orc)

Expanded Domains: Chaos, Evil, Glory, Heroism, Liberation, Revolution, Strength, War

Portfolio: battle, combat, free will, glory, revolution, strength, victory, warfare

Recommended Music: Furious Retribution, Massive Assault

The Viridian Mere, Home of Old Black

A massive swamp to the south of the forest that houses the last elven city-states, the Viridian Mere was central in the founding of modern elven society. Today it is home to countless tribes of lizardfolk and hundreds of human villages. The Viridian Mere’s entire history is in the shadow of a great wyrm black dragon named Bastovexigarriv.

Aelma, Lady of Light

"Your heart weeps for your brother, but do not despair. Though he has given to temptation, do not give into fear. Bonds of blood are stronger than many realize.”
  - Aelma to Yacob, the protagonist and title character of the play King of Dawn

Alternate Names: Apria (orc), Brelauhines (elf), Kirapeny (dwarf), Scimeria (halfling), Solnys (gnome)

Expanded Domains: Charm, Family, Good, Knowledge, Light, Love, Lust, Magic, Protection, Sun

Portfolio: diplomacy, family, guardians, light, lore, magic, purity, sex, the sun, wizards

Recommended Music: Into Sunlight

Knowledge (religion) DC 10:

Known as the White Archmage, Mother of the Gods, and Lady of Light, Aelma is the god of light magic and all that it entails. Aelma taught the mortal races all forms of magic that protect, guard, and enchant.

     Aelma is the estranged wife of Erb. When her husband’s cruelty grew too great for her to bear, she cast him away. She teaches her followers to bring light to the dark regions of the world in the hopes that one of her followers may find her estranged husband. Her exact reasons for such are a matter of lively and enthusiastic debate.

     Temples dedicated to Aelma only accept women as acolytes and priestesses. Second only to the churches of Maidanna, the priesthood of Aelma is the most sought after for performing marriages. In art, Aelma is typically depicted as a beautiful woman in a simple white dress with the sun behind her head.

Korrin, the Iconic Psychic

Playing Korrin

     While more intelligent than nearly everyone around you, you don’t rub it into their faces. A life on the streets showed you that people like that didn’t live for very long. Allies are a requirement for survival, but you know that today’s ally could become tomorrow’s enemy.

A Psychic in Argoport

Dark laughter echoed in Korrin’s head as he awoke. Another dream, another nightmare. The least that Nirrok could do was let him have a peaceful sleep every now and then. Still, it was early morning, and a rumbling stomach told him that it was time to scrounge up some breakfast.

     Aethrin should be setting up his market stall, and he had just enough silver pieces to buy a piece of beef that he could trade for some oysters from Paakiga. After he finished breakfast he needed to find some more work, all while avoiding Karn and Varto.

Wainryn, the Elven Port

Wainryn

CN large city

Corruption +4, Crime +1, Economy +4, Law +4, Lore +3, Society +0

Qualities prosperous, racially intolerant (half-elves), strategic location,

Danger 10

Demographics

Government overlord (King Andullyn)

Population 12,504 (6,126 elves; 3,126 humans; 2,501 half-elves; 751 other)

Notable NPCs

Captain Jadryll Wainyll (LN half-elf fighter 4)

Mage-Acolyte Tarn (LE human sorcerer 2/cleric of Erb 2)

Tanlyn of House Taradlym (NG elf swashbuckler 3)

Marketplace

Base Value 11,200 gp; Purchase Limit 75,000 gp; Spellcasting 6th

Minor Items 4d4; Medium Items 3d4; Major Items 2d4

One of the two ancient elven city-states remaining, Wainryn has accepted outside influence far more readily than their trade partner at the opposing end of the river that links them. Serving as one of the major trading ports of the Green Coast, Wainryn sees goods and wealth from all over the known world and beyond.

Slavery in the Green Coast

Most were probably expecting this to be in last week’s post, but its deserving on a post of its own.

The hobgoblins are infamous for their practice of keeping members of other races as slaves. The only races that are not kept as slaves are gnomes and halflings. The noble families amongst the northern gnomes have an agreement with the hobgoblins: the gnomes remain free to conduct their archaeological digs while the hobgoblins get any magical items found after they have been cataloged. Halflings on the other hand are not seen as being worth the expense and are simply killed or fed to the warbeasts.