Estimated Population:     Dwarves:     Elves:     Gnomes:     Half-Elves:     Halflings:     Humans:     Humanoids:     Non-Humans: Capitol: Orec Major Settlements:     Orec     Badrock     Bloodfield     Visira  Showcased!     Bettinlae     Gorthond     South Cairn     Raider's Horn 132,000 6 % 1 % 4 % 3 % 4 % 58 % 16 % 8 % pop. 11,700 pop. 11,700 pop.   7,200 pop.   5,900 pop.   4,400 pop.   4,100 pop.   3,600 pop.   3,300 pop.   2,800 Major Fortifications:     Anguish Pale Tower     Craghorn Castle     Gorthond Keep     Kunkarrow Keep     Palun's Rune Tower     Ravens' Boon Keep     Visira Keep     Zethnaye Castle

Heraldry of the Nation of Blacksword

Map of Blacksword : Clicking this opens a second browser page displaying The Map of Blacksword. This second browser page allows for viewing of the country map with the country description still available. When done with either browser window, simply close it (don't exit, or both browser windows will close).

Nations of Kaladia  |  Human Countries | Barbarian Lands | Humanoid Domains | Lost Realms Country Information Topics: General Description | Terrain | Climate | Populace | Languages | Culture | Religion | Government Important Citizens | History | State of Affairs | Commerce | Resources | Vegetation | Wildlife Description: Blacksword was originally settled by Tulmarian extremists. The evil land, as it is known, is a nation which has strong ties with the non-human populations of the Silverpeak Mountains. The entire nation of Blacksword lies in the heart of the northern steppes. As a result, it is a rough land of dry, scorched plains, poor in natural resources and inhospitable to travellers. Human, humanoid and non-human tribes roam Blacksword, and at times raid neighboring countries. Country Topics Terrain: Most of Blacksword is characterized by barren, gray soil and rolling hills of dull orange-red clay. There are very few forests, and only near the coast of the Tylyryn Sea or at the banks of the Tultoran River do the dry plains succumb to green meadows. The Great Lake Saleust gives little to the nation, for though it is fed by fresh water rivers emerging from the Silverpeaks, the lake itself is stagnant and extremely saline. Country Topics Climate: Blacksword is a hot, dry land which receives little rainfall. Even with what irrigation is possible, few crops can be coaxed to grow in its scorched hills and plains. The farms which do persist are scattered along the Tultoran River and the Tylyryn Sea. Blacksword is situated on the southeastern corner of the northern steppes. It rarely rains during the spring and summer months, and temperatures range from warm to hot. Blacksword's winters are relatively mild, but do provide some rainfall. Average Temperatures:     northern steppes     southern foothills winter: low: 10° low: 20° high: 75° high: 75° summer low: 55° low: 60° high: 105° high: 110° Country Topics Populace: The humans of Blacksword are predominately of Dumaran and Lulmari Tulmarian descent, though they have long since forsaken their ancient culture. There is also a strong strain of the Rututhan clan of Aututhans, as the original Tulmarians have heavily interbred with the northern barbarians. Non-humans thrive in the Blacksword populace, as evidenced by the high number of human and non-human mixed offspring. Country Topics Languages: Kaladish is the most widely spoken tongue in the lands of Blacksword. Second in use to Kaladish is the Dumaran dialect of ancient Tulmarian. The Ruthatu dialect of the Aututha tongue is also frequently spoken, and is a traditional language for many human and non-human breeds in the Silverpeaks. There are many non-human languages spoken throughout Blacksword, and they are used by humans and non-humans alike. Country Topics Culture: Most Blackswordians, whether human or not, are an untrustworthy people. They are suspicious and scheming, and are prone to constructing diabolical plots against each other. As a whole, they despise laws and organized government, and respect only the powerful. The lords of Blacksword are the epitome of the populace of this evil land. Each lord seeks only to further his own power, and abides by the word of the high priest of Blacksword out of fear of the sovereign. The lords rarely work together, and do so only if there is benefit for all involved. Blackswordians delight in reaping the rewards of other people's efforts. They are a lazy and repugnant people who employ slave labor whenever possible. Slaves can be seen throughout the evil land, performing almost every conceivable task from plowing fields to hauling granite from the quarries of the Silverpeaks to the ever-rebuilding, massive citadels of Blacksword's warlords. Country Topics Religion: Eteris the Horrid is the most prominent deity of the land of Blacksword, though Sethanit the Lord of Evil, Kaichea the Loner, Isbri the Air Goddess, Gadaru the Jester, and Alchenda the Unseen are widely worshiped. Additionally, temples to Naultan the Furious are not uncommon in settlements along the Tylyryn Sea and the banks of the Tultoran River. Motara the Warrior and Huthunic the Accursed were heavily worshipped in Blacksword prior to the War of the Cloth, though now temples to the two deities are very rare. Country Topics Government: The lands of Blacksword are divided into small strongholds ruled by ignoble lords. These self-proclaimed monarchs strain their relationships with one another by engaging in bickering and petty arguments. The city of Orec is the capitol of Blacksword for one very important reason: It is the location of the main temple of Eteris. The Sovereign High Priest of Eteris is the undisputed ruler of Blacksword. He is pleased that his people fight amongst themselves, since this serves to both weed out the weak and prevent the strong from becoming too powerful. He also advocates the raids of his subjects into neighboring countries, as he and the temple are both paid a high tribute after a successful plunder. Country Topics Important Citizens: The Sovereign High Priest of Eteris and Most Wise Master of the Realms of the Black Sword, Kaynith Urzad. He is an ancient and evil little man who has ruthlessly ruled for decades. Country Topics History: Blacksword was originally founded by Tulmarians nearly two hundred years before the War of the Winds. These Tulmarians were insurgents who sought to further their own ends, and were unwilling to conform to the feudal laws being imposed upon the Kaladian colonies by the newly-forming Ruthanic Imperium of Tulmaria. Choosing instead to ally themselves with the savages and non-humans who then controlled the lands of the Northern Reaches, these radicals forged alliances and treaties, and began to form their own nation. Through the years, the powers of Blacksword always allied with the non-humans of the Silverpeaks against the more goodly nations forming in the Northern Reaches. The price has often been dear, their loss of their finest army in the final years of what has become known as the Non-Human Wars nearly cost them their nation. Years later, they saw a new ally gained from the loss as their lost army emerged as a new nation, the Eastwind Alliance. Early in the New Age, Blacksword joined forces with the Eastwind Alliance to unsuccessfully attack the wealthy Silver League. Later, during the Dark Wars, Eastwind and Blacksword reunited to overwhelm the League. But the victories were short-lived. Blacksword's growing internal problems eventually led to sects of Eteris warring against the orders of Motara and Huthunic. This became known as the War of the Cloth, and ended only after the lawful factions in Blacksword split into their own nation, the Vicounty of Pejduhl. Country Topics State of Affairs: Blacksword suffers good relations with no one. Though the neighboring Vicounty of Pejduhl severed itself from Blacksword to become an independent nation over a century ago, it is still viewed with hostility by the High Priest of Eteris. Blacksword is very careful to maintain neutral alliances with the northern barbarians, seeing them as valuable allies in times of war, but otherwise regarding them as insolent and of little worth. The Eastwind Alliance is its sole true confederate in the Northern Reaches, and together they have conspired the defeat of the Silver League on many occasions. Fortunately for the League, the two evil lands are separated by considerable expanses of land and sea. Country Topics Commerce: Blacksword's one legitimate export is adobe pottery though some slave trade is negotiated with the Raven Lands. Blacksword has negotiated with Eastwind for cedar and fir with which to construct warships. Country Topics Resources: Animal: No exceptional species. Mineral: Most buildings in the evil land are constructed of adobe brick, and adobe pottery is used extensively. Vegetable: No exceptional species. Country Topics Vegetation: Drought-resistant scrub brush and prairie grass survive in the barren steppes. Along the coastline of the Tylyryn Sea and the banks of the Tultoran River are small copses and occasional bogs and marshes. Country Topics Wildlife: The steppes are the home of various snakes, lizards, and other small reptiles. Herds of wild horses and pronghorns are very common. Mountain goats roam the Silverpeaks, but are mercilessly hunted by non-humans. Country Topics Top of Page Home | Gallery | Introduction | World of Roil | Kaladia | Deities | Legends | Saga | Guestbook | Links The Maelstrom Fantasy Campaign Setting is Copyright © 1998 by Brian K. Moseley. All rights reserved. This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page