Adventures in Arcadayn
Counties of Visala
By Tim Emrick

Other Cities: N/A.

Geography: The eastern half of Cauldron Isle is composed of rugged central hills and rolling coastal meadows. The majority of this arable eastern land has been claimed by the Kingdom of Visala, and has been named Colony Caldor.

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, citrus, grapes, olives, some rye, some wheat. Resources: fish, gems (obsidian), sulfur.

Nonhumans: Centaurs (immigrants from Anidel Forest; rare).

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

Other Cities: Cuallenu, Kanat, Tath, Riverneck.

Geography: County Dales starts as steep wooded foothills in the northeast, gradually becoming more gentle hills and more open woods, then ends in a band of meadowland in the west, until one reaches the abrupt border of the Blackwood. The county has three primary garrison sites: one at the base of each of the Twin Passes, and the third at the edge of the Blackwood near the Great Sea.

Some of the Dalemen tribes include: Artemas, Diona, Kirak, Penavden. The The current Count of Sivia is a Kirak. Penavden, the current count's kinfolk, is one of the oldest tribes, and has been a dominant force since the Aelfhild.

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, sugar beet, some wheat. Animals: swine, [honey, tallow, wax]. Resources: copper [near Eastpass], gems (smoky quartz), marble, timber, tin [near Westpass].

Nonhumans: Swanmays (wetlands), werebears (forests; very rare), weredeer (forests), [elfkin?].

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

Other Cities: Belt, Estals, Westals.

Population: 210,500 (Kelm Har 99,500; about 13,000 each for three lesser ports; about 63,000 over rest of island).

Geography: Haria is a large rocky island whose population is concentrated around the several excellent harbors on the southern and eastern coasts. The island is highest in the far east, nearest the mainland, where a fortified mountain (Crown-Top) overlooks the island's most defensible harbor, the capital city of Kelm Har. Some parts of the interior are arable, but the island still relies heavily on trade to feed itself. The less useful parts of the island have been set aside as royal parks. Some new mineral resources have been discovered in these reservations, allowing the royal family to sponsor many sciences and arts.

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, some oats, pipeweed, some wheat. Animals: [TBD]. Resources: firerock, fish [& sponges], gems (jet), salt, silver.

Nonhumans: Some elfkin.

Other Special Groups:

Harian Thieves' Guild: Haria has perhaps the most successful and prosperous thieves' guild in the known world, centered in the capital but extending its reach throughout the island and even parts of the mainland. While naturally at odds with the Count's and King's lawmen and with the county's wealthy merchants, the guild has been known to act (covertly, of course) on the realm's behalf when threats present themselves. The Guild's unidentified leaders are ruthless: Any person committing crimes here without the Faceless Ones' sanction will gain a worse enemy in the Guild than in the law.

The Scientists' Guild of Haria: The scholars and engineers of the island of Haria have devoted a large amount of their resources to developing higher levels of technology. The Elminar dynasty become a major patron of these efforts, and a few years before his death, King Elminar V chartered the Scientists' Guild. The Guild now has technology equivalent to TL4, but the costs is still high (at least double normal). Only Guild members and beneficiaries may take the High Technology advantage (+1, for 20 points), which is a prerequisite for TL4 science and craft skills. Much of the Guild's success can be credited to the discovery of "firerock" on Haria and in parts of Sivia a few decades ago.

The Silent Patrol: The Silent Patrol is the King's own security force--both bodyguard and secret police. The Patrol's true size is known only to the King, the Lord Watchman (the head of the Patrol), and some of The King's Eyes (the most senior investigators). This force's emblem is a silver sword on a blue circle, which is displayed on the shield, cloak and breast badges of all on-duty Patrolmen. Officers also wear the emblem on ring, helm and sword pommel. The Patrol is known to use many of the new weapons produced by the Scientists' Guild.

The King's personal guards form a small standing army of about 500 Patrolmen, officially known as the Royal Shieldsmen. They are currently led by Captain Filis Donlan, who was one of the first known masters of the rapier in Arcadayn. (Harian Rapier Fencing resembles Italian Rapier Fencing [pp. MA 84-85], omitting Black Powder Weapons and Enhanced Dodge.)

Kelm Har: Symbol/Arms: Haria's arms with Visala's in canton.

Other Cities: Benntarn.

Geography: Iluar lies north of the Iluar River, between Komar and Eastmarch. This county was ceded to Visala or its aid in the Krithian Civil War. Iluar is one of the few areas of Visala heavily exploited as farmland (besides Sivia and Caldor).

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, kuva, some oats, pipeweed, some potatoes, wheat. Animals: swine. Resources: gems (banded agate).

Nonhumans: Rock gnomes (from Kurbesim.

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

Countess Lusiet Margar is a sorceror of some renown, and a wise and popular ruler.

Other Cities: Forford.

Geography: Komar is almost entirely composed of forested hills. The land is sparsely populated, being known more for its game than its herds or crops.

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, some oats, some potatoes, some spices, sunflowers, wheat. Animals: swine. Resources: gems (star rose quartz).

Nonhumans: [none known].

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

Other Cities: N/A.

Geography: This island is covered by the Phantom Wood. Mysterious cairns dot the island, lending much fuel to rumors of unsavory spirits haunting the county. Most of the inhabitants are more interested in the trade routes of the Great Sea than in developing the island's interior.

Agriculture & Resources: [TBD].

Nonhumans: Elfkin.

Countess Mennefer Hannemil is rumored to be an elfkin witch. Her island fief is haunted by huge ravens (many of them white) as well as by more dangerous monsters.

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

Other Cities: Amarwar, Bronton, Grimulf.

Geography: Sivia is nestled between the Great Sea, the Dales, the Kastir Forest and the foothills of Komar. This county has the richest farmland in Visala (except for perhaps Caldor's?), and the densest population (discounting the royal capital). Most internal trade in mainland Visala goes through Sivia, making this county the richest after Haria.

Agriculture & Resources: Crops: some barley, some oats, some potatoes, wheat. Animals: swine. Resources: some firerock, some timber.

Nonhumans: Centaurs (Longmeadow), elfkin.

Other Special Groups: [TBD].

The Sivian count, Thomas Kirak, is a descendant of (St.) Merlessa of Amarwar and Lord Edar of Tath, famous lovers in the 3rd century VY. Amarwar has a major Quadralunic temple, and is ruled by the Theocrat, high priest of that temple, who is tradtionally a descendent of St. Merlessa.

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This page last updated 11/5/2003 by Timothy E. Emrick. | Copyright 1998-2003 Timothy E. Emrick.