Pomarj, The

The Pomarj is a lawless land of warring humanoid tribes and ruthless warlords, once a prosperous human realm but now ruled by orcs, goblins, and their ilk. Once part of Ulek, it fell after the Hateful Wars, and its riches now fuel raids, slavery, and bloodshed across the Wild Coast and beyond.

---

History

Originally a collection of petty states under the Principality of Ulek, the Pomarj was a region of independent nobles much like the Wild Coast. However, when Ulek declared independence from Keoland, the human nobles of the Pomarj forsook their oaths, expelled the garrisons, and seized the castles for themselves. For several decades, the Pomarj prospered in this newfound freedom, its wealth built on the mines of the Drachensgrab Mountains and lucrative sea trade.

This golden era came to a brutal end in the wake of the Hateful Wars (498-510 CY). The combined forces of Celene, the Ulek states, Veluna, and the Kron Hills' dwarves and gnomes shattered the power of the orc and goblin hordes infesting the Lortmil Mountains, driving them from their ancient strongholds. While some of these defeated humanoids fled north to the Yatil Mountains, the majority moved southeast, through the Suss Forest, and into the Pomarj. There, they found a population complacent, weakened by greed and luxury, and struck with merciless efficiency.

The castles fell, the towns were sacked, and the people were enslaved by their new humanoid overlords. Orcs, goblins, gnolls, and hobgoblins established dominance, their rule aided by human renegades and mercenaries, many lured by the wealth of the Pomarj's mines. A relief force of Ulek dwarves and men attempted to reclaim the land, but they were crushed in a bloody battle below the Hilly Pastures. Since then, multiple attempts to retake the Pomarj have met with failure, leaving the land a lawless dominion of warring factions and slavers.

Politics and Society

The Pomarj is rich in mineral wealth, but unlike its past as a free land of trade, its resources are now extracted through slave labor. There is no central authority; instead, petty warlords, humanoid chieftains, and cutthroat mercenary leaders rule over fragmented territories. The region is a hub for slavers, raiders, and pirates, with the infamous pirate king Blidg Fanger based in Blue.

While the humanoid warbands rarely challenge Ulek, they frequently raid deep into the Wild Coast, using the Suss Forest as a hidden highway despite the resistance of Celene’s elves and local woodsmen.

The Pomarj’s humanoid population is divided among powerful warbands and tribes, including:

Prominent Humanoid Tribes

• Gnolls: Black Tongue (600), Bleeding Moon (850), Bloody Axe (700), Blue Eye (900), Red Nails (800), Vile Epithet (650).
• Hobgoblins: Bluebottle (500), Dripping Eye (700), Meat Eater (550), Purple Squid (700), Puss Dripper (750), Rotting Kraken (700).
• Orcs: Cracked Skull (800), Crooked Claw (700), Flaming Skull (900), Jagged Blade (750), Red Fang (950), Saltburner (500), Shadowdoom (250).
• Kobolds: Dead Rat (650), Fell Ichor (800), Green Meat (350), Ochre Tooth (600).
• Goblins: Hill Beater (850), Wicked Eye (400), Wolfbrother (700), Wormridden Tree (600).
• Flinds: Victorious (800).

The original Flan-Suel inhabitants of the Pomarj were largely enslaved or exterminated, though some renegade humans still thrive in the lawless society. Over the generations, many inhabitants have mixed with the orc and goblin populations, forming half-breed lineages that now hold positions of power.

Religion

The Pomarj is a stronghold of Gruumsh, the god of orcs, but many other dark powers hold sway. Demons, evil deities, and unspeakable cults flourish in the chaos, with many seeking dominion over the lawless land.

Military

There is no single organized military in the Pomarj. Instead, each warlord and tribe maintains its own force, with clashing allegiances and ever-shifting alliances. Equipment varies wildly—some humanoids wield scavenged arms, while others use finely crafted weapons plundered from Ulek, Celene, and the Wild Coast. Though undisciplined, their vast numbers and savage brutality make them a serious threat to any who would challenge them.

Notable Locations

Many sites within the Pomarj are infamous for their role in slavery and war:

• Highport: Once a thriving port, now a lawless city ruled by humanoids and slavers. The Slave Pits of the Undercity are said to lie beneath it.
• The Drachensgrab Mountains: A cursed range of peaks believed to hold terrifying secrets. Rumors persist of ancient, sleeping evils buried deep within.
• Suderham: A hidden city deep in the Pomarj, home to the Slave Lords, an infamous network of slavers controlling much of the region’s human trafficking.
• The Suss Forest: A dark and dangerous woodland, providing cover for raiders and bandits. Whispers speak of eldritch horrors lurking among the trees.
• The Terrorforge: Deep within the fiery heart of the Drachensgrab Mountains lies the Terrorforge, an ancient dwarven citadel now twisted into a domain of tyranny and industry under the rule of the red dragon Cigas, the Fire Lord. The Order of the Fire Rose, a fanatical group of knights and warriors, has sworn fealty to Cigas.

The Pomarj remains a land of blood, treachery, and lost glory—a festering wound on the Flanaess where only the strong and ruthless survive.

---

Proper Name: The Pomarj

Ruler: None

Government: Rival human, orc, goblin, and other humanoid rulers

Major Settlements: No capital; Blue, Highport, Stoneheim

Resources: Silver, electrum, gold, gems (I-II)

Population: Orc, Goblin, Human, Hobgoblin

Law: CE

Allies: None

Enemies: Celene, Greyhawk, Principality of Ulek, Wild Coast fiefdoms

---