The Chronicles of Sigurd

THE KINGDOM OF TRAFALGIS, ca 2744 YE

Symbol: Black Raven on Gold Field.
Population: 820,000+ Capital: Sarukar City, pop. 23,000.
Main deities: Odin, Thor.
Ruler: King Sigurd Ravneskjold, Ftr/BBn/Wld 18
Overking's Ambassador: Umayth of the Blue Light (Wiz 10)

Though the climate is miserable and the soil poor, Trafalgis is a wealthy province. Its mines produce much iron, copper, gold and silver, it is a hungry market for the Heartland's grain. Furthermore, it was the land in which the Red Wizard's elite Hel-Legions met defeat at the black basalt walls of the Sarukar Fortress, the springboard from which the Albine-Thrinian alliance conquered their Empire. Although in the Old Empire lands to the south, admiration for Trafalgis is tempered by the lands' historical reputation as the home of reavers and freebooters.

Races: There are elves and hill dwarves in Trafalgis, and a race of semi- civilised goblins called the Trollkin, who are usually grudgingly tolerated. There are not thought to be any native gnome or halfling settlements.

Geography: Trafalgis lies on the northeastern coast of the Continent of the Old Empire, bordered by a vast orc-infested mountain range - the Grand Yuron Mts - to the south, by the vastness of the Cold Ocean to north and east. To the west, beyond the Giant-roamed Wildlands, lie the plains of Settlers' Country, which has fallen under the domination of the Mongali Empire following the slaughter of the Battle of Settler's Town, said to have left over 150,000 men dead. To the south, across the mountains, is Imgart Province. In the sea east of Trafalgis lies the Isle of the Red Wizards, their base for perhaps a thousand years, but finally devastated by the Albines some years ago - a victory which in retrospect marked the highwater mark of Albine power. Although occupied by an order of Paladins dedicated to the Albine deity Girru, much evil doubtless lurks there still. The location of the Red Wizards' new lair is believed to be Skullhold, a pirate fortress thousands of miles to the west.

There are around 60 Jarldoms, with an average population of 12,000. The 39 eastern jarldoms have a population of 670,000, the largest being Sarukar with 150,000. Trafalgis' ruling classes have been devastated by the Imgart invasion, occupation, and the liberation struggle - most of the old Jarls either died in battle, were executed or exiled after the invasion in 2729. Those who became quislings mostly were either killed or killed themselves after the Overkingdom and Trafalgan rebels drove out the Imgart occupiers in 2738. Jarl Sigurd of the Ravenmark was crowned the new King of Trafalgis in 2739 YE.

Some surviving Trafalgic NPCs include:
Senior eastern Jarls & Leaders:
1. Sokki Hardhammer, Jarl of the Hill Dwarves
2. Thorkheld Hardhand, Jarl of the Vestmark, 2iC the 6,00-strong Royal Army of Trafalgis
3. Ered, Jarl of Juleb
4. Gloriand Halfelven, Jarl of Suddermark, former deputy cmdr of King Gustav's Royal Bodyguard
Wizards 5. Vorin Larthinin the Alfjarl, a powerful wizard
6. Hulok the Trollkin, former court wizard to King Gustav, Sigurd's magist
Renowned Priests 7. Aith, Jarl of Deggar, Priest of Vidar,
8. Cau, Jarl of Wigar, Priest of Uller
9.. Fawen, Jarla of Koogen, High Priestess of Forseti
10. Boelle, Priestess-Agent of Forseti, Clr 16
Others 11. Vandrad Geirson - headed King Gustav's spy network, now heads Sigurd's.
12. Fuwan the Black, illegitimate half-brother of Jarla Fawen
13. Uloethiel, priestess of Avanthe, leader of a powerful group of adventurers,
14. Galima, adventuress
15. Trerrarid, High Priest of Hela
16. Borealis, Druid-Priest of Frey

The Western Realms ca 2744 YE

Settlers' Country

Capital: Settlers' Town, pop. 15,000
Symbol: Crossed gold Spear & Hammer on green field
Ruler: elected High Jarl, currently Thorin Bringistar, vassal to High King Sigurd (age 62 in 2744)
Area: 180,000 m2
Population: ca. 1 million, was 1.6 million in 2725 YE
Notables: Jarrett Eyebiter (Thorin's Magist); Skapti the Skald, Astrid the Old (Wise-Woman), Olaf Halderskopf (High Priest of Thor), Hemund the Arbiter (High Priest of Forseti), Jarl Magnar of Vane, High Templar Targhan of Thrin.
Settlers' Country was conquered by the Mongali Horde under Kadai Khan in 2725 YE. Hundreds of thousands perished or were taken south into slavery before an invading army under King Sigurd of Trafalgis liberated Settlers' Country in 2741 YE, joining with a small force of rebels under Thorin Bringistar who had resisted the Mongali in the Sanctuary Hills in the far north-east. The Jarls asked Sigurd to remain as their King.

(ages for 2743 YE)

Kingdom of Caerns

Capital: High Lygol, pop. 18,000
Symbol: Sword & Acorn
Ruler: King Osric (age 70, strong build, 6', white beard, widower)
Area: 38,000 m2
Population: ca. 650,000
Notables: Princess Sylvana, Queen-Consort of Trafalgis (age 18, pretty, dark-haired, 5'4", heir, wife of High King Sigurd of Trafalgis), Court Magist Dreghan.

King Osric of Caerns

Sylvana the Fair, wife to High King Sigurd

Kingdom of Korrath

Capital: Karrn, pop. 14,000
Symbol: Red Lion Rampant
Ruler: King Vangard (age 61, slim, greying beard, 5'7")
Area: 40,000 m2
Population: ca. 700,000
Notables: Vangard's wife Queen Toskia (40), Advisor - old Vanlac (84), Prince Malin (age 16, heir), Baron Hathar.
Karrn is notable for its gleaming white granite stonework and white ships.

King Vangard of Korrath

Kingdom of Adrani (inc Bereduth)

Capital: Bereduth, pop. 12,500
Symbol: Oak Tree
Ruler: Queen Ahlegard (age 36, attractive, shapely, auburn hair, 5'5")
Area: 115,200 m2
Population: ca. 2.2 million
Notables: Prince-Consort Varr (40), Ahlegard's consort, formerly a great general of the kingdom. Prince Trask (age 16, heir).

Westerlands Kingdom (fmr Lands of the Priest-Kings, conquered 2743 YE)

Capital: Jrebb, pop. 60,000
Symbol (Larius): Gladius, Raven & Wheatsheaf
Ruler: King Larius, vassal to High King Sigurd of Trafalgis
Area: 124,800 m2
Population: ca. 2.5 million
The Westerlands were conquered by an army of some 30,000 Norsemen under Sigurd in 2743 YE. Sigurd appointed his lieutenant, Larius of Gaxmoor, as the new King. Sigurd took the title High King of the Norselands.

Kingdom of Tantok

Capital: Citadel of Tantok, pop. 90,000
Symbol: Golden Lotus Flower
Ruler: Queen Khashtri T'ang (age 23, beautiful Tantoki brunette, blue eyes)
Area: 100,000 m2
Population: ca. 4,460,000 (inc loss of 20,000 at Panyong 2744)
Notables: Queen-Mother Wutani T'ang, Lord-General Hergamu, Grand Master Matu Chai of the Orange Simca, High Priest Mutui En-Lai, Albine Colonel Lancia Henriksdottir, Albine Captain-Emissary Targek.
M7 2744 YE with the Norse warfleet at the harbour of Tantok, Queen Khastri agreed to pay High King Sigurd a tribute of 800,000gp and an annual tribute of 100,000gp.

Mutui En-Lai, High Priest of the Million Spirits

The Annals Of High King Sigurd of the Norse Kingdom, on the Great exploits of the Western Expedition and the many strange Creatures, Monsters and Gods of Westerland

Spring, 2743 YE, Sarukar City

A year after Settler’s Country fell an elder and grey man came into my court and fell on his knees, “King Sigurd,” he said, “Most noble and enlightened ruler, I beseech you, listen to the words I have to say.” I bade him spoke and thus he told of the lands in the West, the lush and rich lands of the Priest Kings and the Kingdoms of Korrath and Caerns and many more whose cities and temples held great riches. “An evil has befallen me and my daughter; she has been kidnapped by the High Priestess”. For the love of Odin, I thought, another adventure, will it ever end. But when the old man had finished he had promised land and his daughter’s hand where I had only wanted gold. I could not refuse such a proposal and so I ordered plans for a great expedition be made.

Summer, 2743, Day 45 of the Expedition

As the ink dries on the parchment I have already set out with a great fleet.

With promise for loot and plunder, thousands of troops assembled under me in the harbour of Sarukar. The strength of my hird had doubled and many jarls, soldiers and mercenaries, having heard the news of the King’s expedition, had left their wives and children behind to fend for their homes. All together, I had summoned the strongest flotilla ever known in the history of Trafalgaris, under me, I commanded no less than 46 ships, and six fold that number with the boats of my jarls. Standing at the stern of my flagship, the Black Wyrm I sailed out of Sarukar and left for Settler’s Country and from there west to the vast expanse of wilderness known as the Taiga, where wild tribesmen hunt deer and trade pelts.

The settlements along the coast fell one by one, with only token resistance upon sight of my fleet and my blood-thirsty men. We had been over thirty days at sea, and the land of the priest kings were still far away, it was whispered the was where the world ended, where the seas fell into the Abyss, and pirates and sea drakes fell sailors. However, after much waiting, we were in battle, not with pirates or sea drakes but with trolls that climbed out of the seas one night and ate our oars and boats. I had myself to dispatch of two of these monsters who nearly wrecked my Black Wyrm, while the great sorcerer Xyzzy, with using spells of fire, not only dispatched of several trolls but a whole longboat in the process. Alas, the battle was short but brutal, by the night I had lost several ships and many good men.

Bad fortune seldom walks alone, and five days upon that event, we came to a big bay, where a mighty wind began to blow. It was only bliss and sheer fortune that I had the foresight to take our boats to land and wait the storm out. Rain fell and lightning blared over the horizon and I am still watching it rage from the safety of my camp.

Late Summer, 2743, Day 67 of the Expedition

A sunny day in the late summer we saw the beginning of the straights that led to the lands of the Priest Kings, a great cheer rose and we knew we were not far away. Off the coast of the Island of Xir, a great unnatural cloud came among us and out of it came creature seldom seen in the East, the roc, which flew over our fleet and nested itself on the beach of an island. That bird has a beak that can carry a whale, and a wing span manifold that can carry the Black Wyrm three times along the side of its back. Upon that roc was a creature as mighty and noble as anyone can ever see a mighty storm giant. I had myself rowed ashore upon which I calmly represented my name and mission. The giant, Alkagar was of friendly nature, and told me that he was a King among giants, and thus the greatest of all kings. I humbly took an oath before him that I would seek and slay a white dragon he had had caused him troubles for many years, if he would give the bliss and good fortune of the weather and the winds.

My fleet made good speed along the northern coast of that great island and finally my men could lay their eyes upon strange cities and boats, men and women whose complexion were brown and foreign. We passed through the second straight and came to the coast of the Kingdom of Korath. I met with their ships and was given a rather cordial welcome to their wondrous and rich capitol. The men here were obviously frightened by the entirety of my fleet at their gates and a lowly captain outrageously demanded my sword at the King’s gates. I refused him and was finally greeted by King Vangard, a wizened and old man, whose eyes darted nervously about the room. I bespoke of my intentions, but he demanded privacy and under four eyes, he explained to me that eyes and ears of the Priest Kings were everywhere and they would no doubt already be informed of my arrival. He too, it seemed, was no great supporter of these priests, as they had captured his son the prince and held him hostage in the great city of Jrebb. It seems all lands had been peaceful under the reign of the ancient Albines, but since their leaving, the Priest Kings had viciously taken power, by using the foul magic that came from their Gods.

After our meeting, sixty of my ships came into the harbour to re supply and with my men, I marched down to the black temple in the harbour to destroy it and kill all the priests there. That was when I heard a great chanting and saw those black robed fiends awaiting my arrival. Suddenly I was not in this world, and I stood in a great red cloud and before me stood a mighty, terrible monster with a great sword. It named itself Hate and I could understand its hate was flowing at me. I charged and plunged Frostbite into its flesh with little effect. The monster’s sword fell upon me and I was badly wounded. Upon attempting to escape with magic, I found it only shifted my position to another white, eerie place. A tall elf there promised me innumerable riches and Kas’s sword and what not, but being in a wounded and shocked state I refused all its offers – hence I was promptly teleported back to the Black Wyrm in the harbour, barely alive.

Xyzzy could only offer the explanation that it as the foul magic of the priests in works, and that they were already trying to dispense with me, angered by this I summoned one of the goblin wizards who placed protective wards upon me, so I would not be trapped in another world again. I promptly set out of the city with all my strength to strike at Jrebb, so the priest kings could give me no more grief.

My fleet came over several merchant ships the next few days, and they gave us the news that the Priest Kings were assembling their fleet in the fjord of Jrebb, no doubt to fight me and deny me entry to their harbour.

The Assault on Jrebb, Day 70 of the Expedition

I sailed with good winds and weather, and arriving in the bay my eyes confirmed the news, when I saw that several hundred of those great white boats, whose sails sailed without wind and oars without drift, were facing us. On that day, I recalled the favour of the storm giant and when I saw several dark clouds in the southern horizon, I ordered my men to fake a retreat and row the ships out at sea. Only but a few hours I could see the outline of a storm shaping over the bay, and thus heard thunder and saw the great waves crush the white timbers of their fleet; by nightfall the waters were stilled my fleet was intact and their was gone, I had the survivors taken prisoner, and I fell upon the harbour of Jrebb with great fury, the onslaught raged the entire night and I lost many thousand men, but the defendants were soundly beaten and fell back into the black citadel.

By morning, I besieged the citadel, the rocks from my catapults would not bite their walls, so I ordered floating siege towers be made over the next few days and I brought them up to their walls. I lead the assault personally, and the battle was vicious, as the priest kings employed all kinds of tricks against me, and their resistance was stiff necked. Me, Captain Larius and Xyzzy, extricating great slaughter corridor after corridor, came to a great cavern, lit by eerie magic light, it held a fortress within the fortress we assaulted; a great medusa head turned many of my men into stone whilst I resisted. Inside we found a room with our prisoners, princess Sylvana and the two younger princes, but also seven great statues – upon closer inspection I was again promptly teleported and chained to a wall where one of their terrible gods, Vengeance, loomed over me. Saying it would do onto me what I did onto him, I refused to give him harm and he thus released me from my bond, where I once again had to confront the monster of my worst nightmare, Hate. This time I refused to fight him and he thus vanished, leaving me in face to face with the High Priest, their terrible king, hovering over us. He was old and gnarled but his power was ancient and innumerable. He could cast spells that would extinguish all life and resisted all magic cast upon him but not the sword, and thus I lifted Frostbite and made his journey to hell even shorter, as his head came of his body and his power was forever shattered.

Autumn, 2743 YE

None the sooner we had slain the High Priest we heard the country was revolting; I wasted no time and mounted a campaign to the north. Hearing news of the great slaughter in Jrebb, the cities surrendered, one by one. I thus gave the official decrees that my own trusted compatriot, Captain Larius, was to have the crown over these lands, as now to be named the Westerlands, and that my own position be elevated into that of High King of the Norse Kingdom, and made King Vangard of Korath, the Queen Alalgard of Adrani and King Osric of Caerns pay me tribute and recognise my power, in return for that the hostages were freed.

Winter, 2743 YE

As I write this, I have spent the entirety of the winter in Jrebb, awaiting spring and the good tide to bring me back to Ravengard. I have spent much time consolidating my power in these rich, sun-dried, lands, but it occurs to me now the peasant does not care who or the other rules which way or the other as long as there is peace and stability. Peace and stability – that all I can give them. I have studied many of the annals and maps of the Albines, that which survived the plunder, and realised how vast and wondrous this world was under their rule – I feel tempted to go even further West, to Tantok, and beyond, to see if the world really ends!

The news of my conquests have spread – and I have made sure that already by spring the first merchant ships will arrive and bring about a prosperity between the East and the West, one that which was not possible before with the Mongali and the Priest Kings. I take Princess Sylvana’s hand and bring her back with me to Ravengard; no doubt, she will be shocked and offended by the habits of my countrymen. I can only hope that both the people that I have laid under my rule with the sword, will someday come together as one in peace.

2744 YE

M3 - After wintering in Jrebb, Sigurd marries Princess Sylvana Osricsdottir of Caerns in a spring ceremony at High Lygol, capital of the Kingdom of Caerns. Among the guests at the ceremony is the mage Elaith, brought by Xyzzy, and the Storm Giant King Alkegarr, who along with his family and cloud giant guards arrived via Alkegarr's flying cloud island. The next morning, Sigurd, Elaith Xyzzy and a cadre of Norsemen join Alkegarr in his castle atop the cloud and travel south-east with the giants on the cloud island to fulfil Sigurd's pledge to the Storm Giant King, for which Alkegarr destroyed the warfleet of the Priest-Kings at Jrebb. High in the mountains north-east of Mt Starfall they attack the cave lair of Alkegarr's enemy, the white dragon Queen Krikk. In a mighty battle they defeat Krikk and her companion, the awakened dire bear Maximus, at the cost of several Norsemen, then gather their loot and return magically to High Lygol.

The Expedition Against Tantok

2744 – Jrebb City, Spring

I stand overlooking the glorious harbour of Jrebb. The yellow beaked seagulls play daringly in the air above the towers, screaming and rejoicing in the sun and the summer that is to come. The sun burnt brown-red metropolis stretches far beyond eyesight – and this rich vast country even further. Imarrian and Trafalgaric merchants clot the harbour in their colourful garbs, bringing spices, jewellery and silver back home. I drink the wine of vineyards miles away, and every night my men feast with meat and drink. My family, my brothers, my men, we are all provided for, more than enough, but we are all getting fat and lame. Not for long, though. As I am writing this plans for my campaign against Tantok is already underway – a fertile land to the far west of here, supposedly stretched with green golden rice fields and a meek populace. The maps left behind by the priest kings suggest very little – it seems the two nations were enemies both in war and spirit.

Elaith the Archmage, now part of the Blue Way but as ever jestful, has returned to me with news from Imarr. Overking Tharkane is having a son and is organizing a tournament in this honour. I don’t like the fashion by which these tournaments are conducted, but suppose I will have to take a regal blow at the Imperial Champion. Not only does Eliath want me to come but he needs support of his invasion of some Mongali held forest in the darkest reaches of the east I don’t know much about. In return I have asked for his magical expertise in the upcoming campaign.

Jrebb City, Spring

I quickly left the tournament when I decided the tricky and intricate affairs and plot making had gone on for far enough. From where he overlooked the whole tournament from his Imperial terrace the Overking seemed meek and powerless, obviously at his last straw against and old ally and now enemy, Archduke Ulfius. How long has this conflict to go on? How dare they ask me to take sides against him? He who stood side by side with me in combat and helped our group? Instead of coming face to face they had gone through Elaith and offered me a meagre one hundred thousand gold so I should cheat and use magic and kill Ulfius in this tournament like some simple assassin. This event has only increased my resentment for the ageing Tharkane even more, and for the supporters of his decadent regime. This supposed emperor stares down from his terrace, a shadow even unsure of the succession of his own baby son? Who deserves ruler ship better, this feeble man or the noble archduke? During our joust I told Ulfius what stirred in the Imperial court, and in my quiet privacy I swear I know now whom I would prefer to have on that throne.

My thoughts rage hot at this moment, I must cool down with a glass of wine.

Somewhere on the Ocean, Later Spring

First things first, a very strange incident occurred on the night before we left Jrebb. A fleet of red vessels converged in a half circle outside the harbour and between them there seemed to be a mystical force. From the masts of each ship a red beam struck the night sky, and in the centre they all met in a large, glowing sphere. Before I could order the catapults to launch missiles, there came a Red Dragon out of the sphere, with an old wizard seated atop. He seemed very old, more than unusual, as if his skin had been stretched dry over his skull, and he barely seem to breathe or move there he sat on the back of the dragon. I am destined to be the King of the World, he said. I asked by what god does he draw such a prophecy, and Elaith nudged me and said that Hel was behind them. I couldn’t believe it when he said he was a spokesperson for the Red Wizards and wanted to forge an alliance. Forge an alliance in the harbour at midnight with me in my nightgowns, barely awake and all? These wizards have little notion of civilized negotiation skills. As a result I told them to get back to me later. They sailed off after raising an army of undead from the wrecked ships of the priest kings. Their magic is twisted and evil, but undeniably powerful and a lot of trouble to their enemies.

We left Jrebb since 12 days, headed west along the coast and made good progress. The prospect of loot and plunder has attracted knights and mercenaries from all over the Western Lands, and they have added to the ranks of my battle-hardened men. My expeditionary force numbers around 23.000 men including my highly professional personal guard and the welcome addition the Raven Knights, under command of my slow-witted but good hearted brother Tyrn Ravenskjold. My other brother Olaf has organized the journey, the weather is clear and once again our destiny lie like an open road ahead of our kindred spirits.

Panyong Harbour, Day 24 of the Campaign

The Tantokian fleet came suddenly upon us in open waters as we crossed the coast of Panyong, a large city with stone basalt walls. Though the ships numbered nearly as many as us, their fleet was mostly comprised of their slow, square, merchant ships with lightly armoured peasants levies and my men, impatient after many days at sea for blood and loot, jumped on their prows and made very short work of them. Elaith’s magic was spectacular, as huge water elementals appeared and smashed with their fists through the prow of their ships! The rest of the fleet fled for the safety of the harbour but I urged our ships on in hot pursuit and very shortly we would find ourselves fighting on land and chasing the mariners out through the streets of the city. My men naturally started to loot and burn so it took a while to get my army back under control.

I later found the governor had been captured while trying to flee the city. My sly spymaster tried to ‘convince’ him to continue the rule of the city in my name. The ex-governor surprised me when he bared his neck and asked his death be swift. I sent him sobbing to the dungeon. It’s so hard to find reasonable men in this part of the world!

Tantok Harbour, Day 45 of the Campaign

Leaving behind my wounded and a garrison under command of the old Jarl Harald Ulvson of Sudvik, I set out for Tantok. The rather uneventful journey came to an end when we met the large harbour of the capitol, stretched for several miles but blocked by the narrow gap which was chained up. I was about to set my engineers to work when I heard that a boat was headed up from the city with a white flag of truce. I was happy to discuss terms – that city seemed to be a very tough nut to crack and the needless loss of my fine warriors’ lives. Through an Albine Captain I staked out the terms of our peace treaty – the Queen would have to recognise my lordship and pay me an annual tax and I would keep a garrison in Panyong. I would also have my army bolstered by another 3000 Tantok soldiers; they will never be professionals like my housekarls but could serve well as skirmishers and light infantrymen.

Tantok, Summer

The men cheered when I returned from City Tantok with good news as the Queen had accepted my terms. Wagons and chests with the promised eight hundred thousand gold kept rolling into our camp. We could now all stop eating this foul rice they were giving us, go back home and have a good time with the money and loot we had taken. Half of my gold was distributed among my chief vassals, as is expected in war. Everyone seemed content apart from Elaith. The elf had been unusually quiet lately. Larius shrugged it off saying it was just elvish meekness. I believe more now it was because he hated to see blood shed, that he wasn’t fit for campaigning and that he didn’t know the ugly face of war and politics yet. He returned the hundred thousand I had generously offered him and was gone in thin air.

Jrebb, Late Summer

The night passes. I should lie next to Sylvana, content in my slumber. My expansion into these lands here in the West seems complete. Yet I spend each night awake, restless. The Red Wizards appear in my thoughts over and over. I have ordered the creation of several items that should ward me against magic, including a mantle made out of magic garbs so fine it will take 150 days and thousands of gold pieces to make. I realize I am doing all this because I fear their magic more than anything else. My mind wanders over their true intentions. Surely we could benefit from one another. There are rumours of ever rich lands in the south I could go and take. I don’t want to ‘liberate’ them unless I have a sizable army and magic backing. And I don’t want to befriend the Red Wizards unless I have a reason. Odin, give me that reason.

Ea Home Page
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The Necropolis Campaign Page 2739 YE

Swords of Imarr PBEM 2736 YE+

Ea: Time of Chaos PBEM 2735 YE

Twilight of the Empire PBEM 2728 YE. My very first PBEM, set in Trafalgis & Imgart before the Albine withdrawal.

Ea Prestige Classes & Fighting Styles Changes to D&D PHB spells on Ea circa 28th century YE.