Monmurg

The Confederated States:

Monmurg
Wavestone
Toli
New Veluna
Westkeep

Monmurg is the supposed to be the crowning jewel of the Hold of the Sea Princes, as it is the capital, but most would say it is just a rough cut agate set in a clapboard hat. It is a large city, but it is a mere pile of bricks next to such great cities as Rauxes, Niole Dra, Dyvers, and Greyhawk. What makes Monmurg so fantastically different is its diversity. If you have money or goods to trade, you are welcome in Monmurg. The only reason there are guards at the gate to the city is to collect entrance taxes to all who come. The nature of one's business does not matter as long as it doesn't make a loud noise and stir up a mess. So it is not uncommon to do business with orcs and goblins, rub shoulders with ogres, play cards with hobgoblins and gnolls, all along with dwarves, elves, gnomes, halflings and the majority of the population as human. What elf would deal with an orc? What gnome could eat with a kobold? Basically most of the peoples here are disaffected and anti-cultured. Most of these individuals are so far removed from their cultural predispositions; the melting pot has dissolved almost every shred of cultural identity from the people who live and work here as they all struggle through the skirmish that is commerce.

It came from the desperate relationship that the founders of The Hold started with as bandits on the high seas depending on one another despite all factors but two...survival and profit. Monmurg's development has exemplified this ideal like no other in The Hold. The first Tarrick was a bold, charismatic adventurer equal in battle as he was in discussion. He had the kind of personality that could make anyone amiable and so he was able to bring many greedy, disparate warlords together under one flag in order to protect their freebooting lifestyle from the assaults of Keoland. Together they formed a confederacy of scoundrels to preserve their predations from the scourge of common law. When it came time to divy up land for the generation of more permanent nation-states, Tarrick merely stayed where he was camped and, happily, nobody contested his choice of the best land available in the region.

Monmurg is primarily considered the thin peninsula jutting into the sea just south of the Hool Marsh, though, the actual land that is governed by the Prince of Monmurg extends south half-way down the coast and a bit inland where most of Monmurg's arable fields and groves are tended. Of all of the Hold its most northerly coastal location makes for the finest in weather and those upon the peninsula itself experience coastal breezes nearly constantly which keeps the air from becoming calm and stale. As a consequence, Monmurg is not known for its archers. The peninsula is bordered upon the north by unassailable sea cliffs and rolling hills deeply gouged by small streams and rivers to the very tip which loses its elevation where the city is built and its port extends out to meet tradeships. Along the southern coast of the peninsula are beautiful white sand beaches fringed with palm trees and rushes wherein the sand plovers make their nests. The interior of the peninsula is generally low rolling terrain covered with moderate forests of small sand-borne trees to at best large hearty hickories where the peninsula commences from the mainland.

The history of the Monmurg region is long but mostly forgotten. During the "classical" period of the Flanaess before the Twin Cataclysms a warrior led a people to the peninsula and set up a fine city along the northern shore. Tragedy passed the land into the hands of elves who lived here for many years until the elves were scattered and destroyed by an uprising of orcs from the Hool. The orcs were wiped out by plague and shortly thereafter Tarrick took the land as his own. Remnants of the prior civilizations are almost entirely gone except for the lack of old growth forest, a stone road occasionally peeking through the sand, and a citadel standing mute watch over the northern sea. Details of the events are described in the Histories.

Prince Jeon Tarrick is considered head of the council and generally president of the confederated states. He is primary executive in making foreign policy, organizes defenses if the Hold is attacked, and keeps the squabbling Princes from each others' throats. He dwells in the capital of The Hold which is Monmurg city. The sea lion is commonly attributed to him in art. Tarrick is the son of the first Tarrick who first staked a claim to Monmurg. He does not have his father's vibrant diplomatic skills, however, it has been said that his intuitive nature and wisdom is much greater than his father's. He does not rule with an iron fist, which means meetings of the Princes' Council usually get out of hand, but outside of council chambers Tarrick takes care of the issues that sparked controversy. One issue, however, has him forced into a defensive posture as it has illicited passionate interest from all quarters. One of the greatest sources of revenue for the entire Hold is the trade in Olman slaves. Most of the Princes regard the practice of slaveholding as a national institution and a sovereign right granted to them by their confederated position as autonomous states. Despite two Princes', Chalm and Morgen, vehement opposition to the practice, despite diplomatic threats by Keoland and The Yeomanry, and thereby through association Geoff, Sterich, the Gran March and Bissel, despite his own feelings on the matter; he will not threaten the other Princes' rights to rule. It is also evident that his pragmatism in this matter supercedes his personal discretion as slavery is still allowed even in his own state.

Jeon II is the Prince's son. He is a fiery youth in his early twenties with all of his grandfather's charisma and charm yet none of his abilities. He does not know magic, does not profess a faith, and is not at all handy with a weapon. A majority of his time is spent in expensive drinking establishments with his cadre of youthful male chums thinking of grand events and spectacles for Monmurg to host. The astonishing thing about him is that most of his ideas are put into action as he calls upon friends and friends of friends to get things done. His most recent project was the beautification of the city's entry roads. Strategically placed stone benches overlooking the seaside cliffs adorn the north road and a corridor of precisely placed palm trees greets travelers on the southern road. His father is actually quite impressed with his son's vigor and supports his whims without seeming alarmed by his son's total lack of skills or is general disinterest in women. His only concern is whether his son will be able to control the seething opportunism of the other Princes' when it comes his time to lead the council. Jeon II has already demonstrated quality leadership ability amongst the children of the other Princes at various social gatherings, but he would most likely be over-ruled by a more experienced older Prince unwilling to be instructed by a weak pansy boy. For this reason Jeon is most concerned by Javid, Plar of the Hool, as he is a dwarf with many years left in him. Noticing the boy grow to adulthood, the other Princes have yet to decide what they think of his eventual rise to leadership. Some eagerly await a new Tarrick with the energy and motivation to bring the Sea Princes into the global community as significant world power while others grimly await being led by a boy who will weaken them politically and drag their economy into the mire.