Dominions: Southern Bay Marches

The safe, rich heartland south of the Great Bay, close to the capital, with stable alliances [Alm-SouthBay]. Stat blocks are from the AC 1019 Almanac entries.

Kingdom of Alpha

Almanac AC 1019 · alphapw6.html

See the Kingdom of Alpha for the full narrative; the AC 1019 stat block updates it:

• Location: peninsula on the south shore of the Great Bay.
• Area: 9,478 sq. mi. (24,550 sq. km.).
• Population: 90,000, including 2,000 hin.
• Languages: Alphatian, Elvish (Shiye-Lawr), Lalor, Heldannic, Thyatian.
• Coinage: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp); many foreign coins circulate.
• Taxes: 20% income (servant status and up); import/export duties (2% on magic, 1% on other goods, excepting the Naycese kingdoms, Karameikos, and Thyatis); 10% of revenue to the Naycese treasury and a further 10% to confederation forces.
• Government: independent monarchy; member of Nayce (the New Alphatian Confederated Empire) and the Norwold Confederacy.
• Ruler: King Ericall, Fighter 20 [RC]; Queen Christina Marie Alanira, Mage 13; Madiera, Magist 18 [Alm-Alpha].
• Recent history (AC 1018-1019): Thyatian presence grew and Ericall sought the best relations he could while the regional balance stayed uncertain among Alpha, the Thyatians and their Ostlander allies, the retreating Heldannic Knights (now in civil war), and the petty dominions. Ericall, annoyed with Nayce, leaned toward focusing on the Norwold Confederation. Queen Christina bore Prince Barikan, the heir.
• Further reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords; Dawn of the Emperors; previous almanacs.

County of Free Plains

Almanac AC 1019 · fplains4.html

• Location: Brun, southwest of Alpha, in the western foothills of the Wyrmsteeth.
• Area: 1,496 sq. mi. (3,875 sq. km.).
• Population: 2,800.
• Languages: Alphatian, Heldannic.
• Coinage: crown, mirror, judge; barter common.
• Taxes: 20% income, collected yearly.
• Government: county; member of the Kingdom of Alpha and the Norwold Confederacy.
• Ruler: Countess Allisa Patrician, Fighter 15, Lawful Good, an Ethengar-raised archer [Neri-RBP].
• Flora & fauna: grassland, steppe, and farmland along the cold Dragon River; abundant game; dragons in the Wyrmsteeth; an “otherworldly monstrosity” wandering in from neighboring Redhorn.
• Recent history: none to report.
• Further reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords; previous almanacs.

Duchy of Kameloth

Almanac AC 1019 · kamelot4.html

• Location: Brun, southeast of Leeha, on the small Bay of Kameloth.
• Area: 4,738 sq. mi. (12,270 sq. km.).
• Population: 19,600 (77% human, 17% hin, 6% elf).
• Languages: Alphatian (Alphan), Heldannic, Lalor, Elvish (Shiye-Lawr).
• Coinage: crown, mirror, judge; barter common among elves.
• Taxes: 25% income, collected yearly.
• Government: duchy; member of the Kingdom of Alpha and the Norwold Confederacy.
• Ruler: Duke Shuren (an elf) [Gander-Dom].
• Important figures: Jonas Whiteshore, Seneschal.
• Economy: fishing, agriculture, cattle, mining.
• Flora & fauna: overgrown southern forests, western hills, central grasslands; orc and hill-giant tribes in the western hills; monstrous fish in the bay; Wyrmsteeth dragons raid the cattle.
• Recent history: none to report.
• Further reading: previous almanacs.

Barony of Ossian

Almanac AC 1019 · ossian4.html

• Location: Brun, on the gulf shores south of Alpha.
• Area: 998 sq. mi. (2,585 sq. km.).
• Population: 1,900.
• Languages: Heldannic.
• Coinage: Alphatian Standard (crown, mirror, judge); barter common.
• Taxes: 30% income, collected yearly.
• Government: barony; member of the Kingdom of Alpha and the Norwold Confederacy.
• Ruler: Baron Heinrich Niederhaus, Grand Knight of the Order of the Ash Rod. (Gander’s roster records the holder as the “Black Duke” of a Duchy of Ossian [Gander-Dom]; the AC 1019 Almanac gives Niederhaus a barony.)
• Flora & fauna: a lowland valley between Ossian Bay and the Wyrmsteeth; wild beasts and monsters in the southern foothills, safer farmland and pasture north and central.
• Recent history: none to report.
• Further reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords; previous almanacs.

Chaosarchy of Redhorn

Almanac AC 1019 · redhorn4.html

• Location: Brun, southwest of Alpha, on the southern shore of the Great Bay.
• Area: 498 sq. mi. (1,290 sq. km.).
• Population: about 750: 700 diaboli, 50 humans.
• Languages: Diabol, Alphatian.
• Coinage: gems, gold nuggets, or barter.
• Taxes: none; all belongs to Diablerus I.
• Government: a “chaosarchy,” the diaboli form of government, likened to the formal anarchy of Turmoil in Bellissaria.
• Ruler: Diablerus I, Baron (a diabolus) [Gander-Dom].
• Important figures: Alden, Alphan ambassador.
• Economy: gold mining, goldcraft, fishing.
• Flora & fauna: grassland, farmland, and southern woods that look “warped” at night under red and green glows; native wildlife largely replaced by distorted parodies imported from another dimension; alien monsters in the wilds.
• Recent history: none to report.
• Further reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords.

Khanate of Ublaat-Nor

Almanac AC 1019 · ublaat4.html

• Location: Brun, southeast of Leeha, between Kameloth and the Free Plains; no fixed borders.
• Area: about 998 sq. mi. (2,585 sq. km.).
• Population: about 1,000 in winter, 2,600 the rest of the year (nomadic).
• Languages: Viaskodas, Heldannic.
• Coinage: barter.
• Taxes: a third of each family’s goods yearly to the khan, who gives half the total back to needy families.
• Government: barony; member of the Kingdom of Alpha and the Norwold Confederacy.
• Ruler: Baron (Khan) Brogahn, Fighter 15, Lawful Good, an Ethengarian chief who admires the dwarves [Neri-RBP].
• Important figures: Barkal the Red, Chieftain.
• Economy: horse-herding, hunting, agriculture.
• Flora & fauna: Ethengar-like steppe and rolling hills; spring wildflowers, pine groves; wild and tamed horses; monstrous grab grass and thorn bushes; great cats, hippogriffs, manticores; unicorns pass through regularly.
• Recent history: none to report.
• Further reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords; previous almanacs.