The Principality of Tarbul
In the days of old it is said that an ancient race lived in these lands. Ten feet tall, with hair the colour of sand, and eyes like diamonds they drove off all who would challenge them. Then came the Adurians, thousands of soldiers all lined up in their little formations and the ancients of this land sailed off across the ocean, leaving the land rather than face Aduria. Where they went is not recorded, but over the years many have seen them sailing before the great storms that come in for the endless ocean. Perhaps if you are very lucky one day perhaps you will see one, off a sailing on the Sea of Storms.
An modern Tarbul tale of the Rjurik
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Status: Recommended
Provinces/Holdings: Tarbul is the second oldest of the Northern Neha Principalities. It, like Aral is widely known as a source of fine timber and mineral ores and even the hilly provinces in the east of the principality are well populated by those who seek to exploit the wealth of the land. Because of this many guilds make their homes in Tarbul, most exporting either timber from its forests or minerals from its mines in the foothills of the Azure Peaks.
Province: | Law: | Temples: | Guilds: | Sources: |
Malu (4/1) | PI (2) | TCB (3) | TTC (2)* | SP (0) |
- | - | NF (2)* | - | |
Gharra (3/4) | PI (1) | RFW (3) | NF (3)* | SP (0) |
Tarbul (6/1) | PI (6) | TCB (4) | TTC (3)* | SP (0) |
- | RFW (2) | NF (2)* | EH (1) | |
- | DTA (0) | DM (0) | - | |
Saraas (3/4) | PI (1) | RFW (1) | NF (3)* | SP (0) |
Khashm (4/1) | PI (2) | TCB (3) | TTC (4)* | - |
- | DTA (1) | - | - | |
Gharandal (3/4) | PI (0) | RFW (2) | TTC (3)* | SP (0) |
- | DTA (0) | DM (0) | - |
* indicates a fortified holdings.
Abbreviations: PI = Princess Istella (Tarbul); TCB = True Church of Brenna (Untrini the wise); TTC = Tarbul Trading Consortium (Serra Talat); SP = Silver Princess (Halwan); NF = Northern Foresters Guild (Pinter Ollinie); RFW = Reynir's Forest Wardens (Harri the Druid); DTA = Dara Temple of Azari (Suris Hormien); DM = Dara Mining (Olli Brarc); EH = Erl Halwa
Regency Generate/Accumulated: 4/9
As a bard Princess Istella gains little in the way of regency. Most of what she does gain
is used to attract more people to her realm and increase the population. So far she has
worried little about the law holdings in her provinces, and as a result maintains little
control over her people.
Treasury: 13 GB
Most of the money taken in by Tarbul is quickly spent of elaborate building project to
expand the palace or on parties for the princess and her friends, little is returned to
the people in the form of new roads or other important structures. The guilds however have
spent much of their own income on this infrastructure, setting up a good road network and
expanding on the port at Talat.
Army/Navy: Tarbul support only 2 units of infantry, both based in the capital city, Talat. However both of the guilds also support soldiers of their own. The Tarbul Trading Consortium has 3 units of archers, and 2 infantry, while the Northern Foresters control 6 infantry units. These troops are spread throughout Tarbul guarding the various merchant houses and trade routes. Also on top of this force each guild owns a single war galley, as well as a large number of heavy transport vessels to carry their goods to the southern empires.
Regents: Princess Istella Cordel (FNe; B2; Unblooded; Age 24) never wanted to rule Tarbul. Her father was an important general in the Nehalim army and for his bravery and skill was given the position of Prince of Tarbul. He was a strong ruler and cared about his people, making many of the improvements that make Tarbul what it is today. When he died it was expected that Istella's brother Garmin would take over his father's title, but Garmin choose instead to join the army and fight in the war with Aduria, leaving his younger sister Istella in charge. The young princess reluctantly took the throne, but knowing little about how to run a large kingdom quickly passed on control to her advisers. Unfortunately for her most of the advisors were bribed by the guilds into giving them more and more power until things quickly got out of hand and the guilds were fighting each other on the streets. Not knowing what to do Istella hid in the capital until the fighting had died down and she has remained their ever since attempting to drown out the real situation in her lands by holding an endless series of parties and celebrations. Secretly she is hoping that her brother, now a general commanding several thousand soldiers, will return and take over for her, but this may be a long way off. The princess does not want the responsibility of ruling and now wishes only to give up her power and return to her former life of a bard. The only reason she has not done this so far is that she fears what the guilds will do if they gain control over the provinces as well.
Important NPC's: Serra Talat (FNe; T8; Unblooded; Age 45) is the head of the noble Talat family, former rulers of Tarbul. She despises the current princess and would like nothing more to take control and rule openly. She is opposed however the the Northern Foresters who currently control a larger army than hers so she has so far not risked a attempt on the throne. The Talat family is one of the oldest noble families in the north. They came north with the original settlers and ruled Tarbul for nearly a hundred years. Then one of the family was unlucky enough to be involved in a plot against the Nehalim Emperor and was executed for his crimes. The Nehalim army arrested and killed most of the family and gave control of the land to a young general, Harnim Cordel. Serra has watched for nearly her whole life as the realm that should have belonged to her family was ruled by another and has built up a lot of hatred for the Cordel's. She is a very ruthless woman and will do anything possible to regain power. At the moment though she is locked in a struggle with the Northern Foresters for control of the principalities guilds, a struggle that she has carried north into Aral, building up a small empire there as well. At the moment the battle between the two guilds is quiet as they are both busy building up their forces for another strike.
General Koras (MNe; F5; Unblooded; Age 76) leads the official Tarbul army. As most of the best soldiers and generals have been hired by one or the other of the guilds Koras is the only one left who still supports the Princess. Once a strong warrior and tactician his body is now old and withered, but his mind is still as sharp as ever. Some say that it is Toras's skill that keeps the principality under the control of its regent rather than allow one of the guilds to take over. He has only two units of infantry to work with so he has placed them both in the capital preferring to protect that rather than risk defeat on the battlefield elsewhere in the principality. He wishes that he could convince the princess to give him more money as he know that with a few more units he could win back control and drive out the guild armies. So far he has failed to get the funding he need, but he keeps trying ever hoping for Istella to come to her senses and start acting like a princess instead of the scared child she is at the moment.
Horaum Gersious (MNe; T4; Unblooded; Age 56) is Istella's chief advisor. He is paid by the Tarbul trading consortium to influence the princess into making decisions that will assist them, rather than the Northern Foresters. He is know for always wearing dark coloured clothing when meeting with the princess, and carrying a large sword. He has a threatening manner and most of the time the princess follows his advise out of fear more than anything. Horaum has a hatred of General Koras and would like nothing more that the crafty old soldier to suffer and unfortunate accident. So far though, no matter how hard he has tried, he has been unable to arrange this.
Yelia Talat (FNe; T6; Unblooded; Age 27) is the princesses second advisor. She tries to move the princesses support more towards her sister and the Tarbul Trading Consortium rather than the Northern Forester. She has been successful so far mainly because she is the princesses friend, or at least is pretending to be her friend. She also organises most of the parties that the princess holds and tries to act as nice as she can around Istella and the other members of the court. Inside though she is very similar to he sister and has wants to see Istella dead as soon as possible. The princess is well protected though and so far she has been unable to get close enough. Yelia also dislikes Horaum Gersious, General Koras, Lord Erl, and most of the other people in the court and has even poisoned several servants because they displeased her.
Lord Erl Halwa (MNe; W4; Vo, minor, 21; Age 28) a close relative of the Erhshegh known as the Silver Princess is currently the Halwan ambassador to the court of Tarbul. The young lord is infatuated with princess Istella and has been attempting to aid her in any way possible, foiling two attempts on her life by her friend Yelia. Istella does not trust Erl though, knowing that he is a wizard, and therefore not to be trusted. Erl hopes to win her over in time though and until then does what he can to assist, casting spells to spy on Istella's advisors and informing the palace guards when ever an attempt on the Princess's life is about to be made. He has even gained control of a source holding in Talat that he hopes to be able to use in the future, despite knowing little of the secrets of realm magic.
Descriptions: One of the northern Neha Principalities that were settled over a three century period up until the current day. Tarbul was the second of these realms to be settled, a hundred and fifty years ago after rich deposits of iron ore were discovered. It has always been a society that depended on the wealth from the mines and lumber camps, but this has become even more so in the past five years since the Princess has taken control. With little law in the land as it was, and advisors who worked for the two main guilds she had little chance of ruling in her own right and now spends most of the time in the capital partying with friends while in the lands outside the capital the guilds gain more and more power. The only reason they have not already seized control of the provinces themselves is that they fear the reaction of the Neha Emperor. None of the Neha lands have even been ruled by merchants, with former generals and relatives of the Emperor being the most common rulers. Throughout the empire rule of most provinces and principalities is a right given by the Emperor and the gods he represents. For this reason Princess Istella still holds onto power, although for how much longer remains to be seen.
Allies: As a principality of Neha Tarbul has the support of the Emperor in all military matters, it does not have many close allies in the region, although Halwan sees it as a possible area of expansion in the region should things turn really bad and the Empire not assist. The other principalities see Tarbul as a weak nation and not worthy of their notice.
Enemies: The main enemy of Tarbul is its princess. She is too weak willed to rule the lands properly and this has led to the guilds taking too much power and virtually running the lands. The Dara temple of Azari could also be considered an enemy, but they are everyone foe at the moment.
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