Oceansend (Kingdom of)
Location: Norwold, continent of Brun, north of Landfall, on the coasts of the New Alphatian Sea.
Area: 9,977 sq. mi. (25,840 sq. km.).
Population: 42,000, including 3,500 halflings, 500 dwarves, and 200 elves.
Languages: Thyatian, Heldannic, Alphatian, Dwarvish (Kildorkak dialect), Halfling (Lalor dialect), Elvish (Shiye-Lawr dialect).
Coinage: Heart (gp), blade (sp), wall (cp). Heldannic coins will not be accepted by any locals.
Taxes: 20% income tax, 5% sales tax.
Government Type: Independent monarchy.
Industries: Agriculture (grows just enough for its own use), trade (by sea), fishing, mining, and trapping.
Important Figures: Olaf Yarrvikson (King, human, male, F10), Hermann Adalard (Former Heldannic Governor-General, now prisoner, human, male, Pa9 of Vanya), Shebb Woolsey (Baron, human, male, T17), Knolimer Knolin (Magist, human, male, M17).
Flora and Fauna: Many evergreen trees (especially pines and firs) to the north, west and south. Farmlands extend along the coast and in the heartlands. Wildlife includes packs of wolves, wild dogs and boars, with monstrous denizens limited to flying threats such as wyverns, manticores, griffons and the occasional roc from the Final Range. There are also several goblinoids in the Final Range that sometimes raze the western border.
Further Reading: CM 1 Test of the Warlords, Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, previous almanacs.
Description by Synthala of Aasla.
As I approached Oceansend, the City of the Sea, I could feel the excitement in the air. The locals have just recently won their freedom from the Heldannic Knights, breaking their slavery.
The Land
Oceansend is rather large, with sturdy walls surrounding the entire city. It is situated along a beautiful deep-water beach into the Alphatian Sea, making it an ideal port. Oceansend is the largest and best-equipped port of all of Norwold. The water is remarkably clear for a seaport, and many of the locals make a profitable living fishing its bounties.
When compared to Alpha, there are no fancy buildings or statues or such boasting the wealth of the city. Instead, King Yarrvikson prefers for his residence to be a functional fortress rather than a palace. Like many other cities here in the wildlands of Norwold, Oceansend is well fortified. Siege weapons can be seen along the walls and various towers. The wall guards have also earned a well-deserved reputation with the crossbow, which they've no doubtfully shown the Heldannic Knights during their revolution.
The fields around Oceansend are dotted with farms and small villages. The are blessed by Zirchev with fertile crops and plenty of game animals to hunt. Some of the best inns and taverns "in town" are actually found in these surrounding villages, and many an Oceansender travels outside the city walls to find his entertainment.
A day's walk from the capital, going eastwards toward the southern fringes of the Tranquil Swamp, lies a small fortified city that is home to a vassal of King Yarrvikson. Shebb Woolsey is baron here, and the small dominion-no more than 20 miles across-pays homage and tributes to Oceansend. When the knights conquered the city in AY 2012 [AC 1012. Ed.], they didn't extend their grip on this small settlement as well, contenting to keep it permanently under siege. For this reason it is now in good shape and it's helping Oceansend in its rebuilding by sending harvests and conscripts to the king. Rumours want that its baron, and his magist, an odd fellow named Knolimer Knolin, may have had a big role in freeing the city in AY 2015 [AC 1015. Ed.], probably helping the Dark Masks thieves' guild.
The People
The people of Oceansend now live with joy and happiness, still celebrating the overthrow of the priests of Vanya. Everywhere one goes, you can easily see the black lion banners being desecrated and vandalised. In fact, it's probably the only reason they are still here, otherwise, I'm sure the king would have had them all burned.
Except for this, the people are proud of their small little kingdom. They are starting to become renowned sea merchants in the area, although I suspect it will be some time before they can rival the merchant princes of Minrothad.
Now, the Oceansenders are content with trying to make their city the greatest in Norwold. And they are intent on remaining completely independent; the citizens have voted a forced conscription of all men and women. Many voluntarily go to the military training lessons given by the king's men. Their goal is to have everyone in Oceansend be able to fight in case of another invasion. I believe this is still the after-effects of the Heldannic occupation, and this spur to action will probably die down with time.
There were more dwarves and elves in the past, but nowadays, with the Heldannic Knights so near the kingdom's borders, these demihumans preferred to retire to safer areas. The dwarves went to the stronghold of Kildorkak, which has always been in good ties with Oceansend, while the Shiye sought refuge in the free forests outside Oceansend.
On a final note about the people, it seems that Yarrvikson has released all thieves from the city dungeons. This was the king's reward to the Dark Masks, the local thieves' guild, for their help in the defeat of the Heldannic Knights. Most commoners viewed this reward with mixed blessings; they are indeed grateful of the thieves' help, but also fearful that, now free, their houses will be robbed. It seems that the local guards are also somewhat more lenient toward members of the Dark Masks that they apprehend.
Recent History
Oceansend has always been an independent kingdom since it left the Thyatian fold. Around AY 1990 [AC 990. Ed.], King Ericall of Alpha claimed all of Norwold, including Oceansend, but the Oceansenders simply ignored this. Ericall never sent any military forces to conquer the city, instead opting to peacefully convince them to join his kingdom. During the Great War of AY 2005-2009 [AC 1005-1009. Ed.], a civil war bloomed in the nation of Alpha, and most of Ericall's lords claimed independence, leading to the anarchy we find in Norwold today. Oceansend simply kept on living as usual since they have always considered themselves independent. On the downside, with all the other nearby cities warring among themselves, Oceansend suffered problems with their trade industry.
However, it all changed with the arrival of the Heldannic Knights in AY 2011 [AC 1011. Ed.]. Unlike Ericall, the priests of Vanya conquered the city by force in AY 2012 [AC 1012. Ed.], and so it remained until late of AY 2015 [AC 1015. Ed.], when King Yarrvikson organized a coup backed by the Kildorkak dwarves, the thieves of the Dark Masks and the nearby Baron of Shebb and overthrew the knights' yoke, also taking advantage of the internal riots the knights were experiencing in that year. Now Oceansend is once more trying to regain its glory and trade of a decade ago, but the Heldannic threat is not yet forgotten.
Don't Miss
Oceansend's docks and wharves are filled with sailors that come from many lands both from the Old World and the eastern countries beyond the Alphatian Sea. It is a veritable source of information and a possible starting point for many would-be adventurers, since the Oceansend sailors are quite famous for their tales of sunken treasures and prized artifacts lost under the waves. Be sure to check by if you're looking for a job, there's always one for those who can dare and for the hardened sea-wolves types.
Another wonderful site to behold are the forests surrounding the heartlands of Oceansend, primeval examples of how Norwold was before the coming of civilisation. Sometimes trappers and hunters find strange and exotic artifacts or centuries-old ruins in these woods, and they are still a mystery to many sages. So there's plenty of things to discover yet for those who're looking for fame and treasures.
Do Miss
Some of the old ruins which predates the settlement
of Oceansend are eerie places with strange architectural features
that seem totally out of place in these northern lands. Some
legends tell of undead guardians that rise to protect whatever is
hidden in these ancient chambers, and many treasure hunters have
disappeared lately in the woods of Oceansend.