Iscagna

Iscagna, the Theocracy of the Sword, is a small state that lies west of the Free Kingdoms, beyond an impressive mountain range called the Stone Teeth (see below). If not for the barrier they create, Iscagna would share a border with the Heartlands and the Dales. The men of Iscagna live here, and despite their reputations and rakish and swaggering, their homeland is run by the stringent Theocracy of the Sword, a militant government dedicated to the doctrine of the Lawcrafter.

Lay of the Land

• Balmy Coastline: The Iscagnan lands are far from difficult to travel in, and warm and dry almost year-round. It is small enough kingdom that one is never more than two days' travel from the sea.

• The Stone Teeth: This massive range of mountains, jagged and sheer, bisects Iscagna from the rest of the Free Kingdoms. Passing them on horseback is impossible, and extremely dangerous by foot, so must Iscagnans travel by boat to Narrowmouth or Ralindor. Their geographic isolation is the main reason for the importance of sailing to the local cultre.

• Word of the Lawcrafter: The priests of the Lawcrafter are the rulers of Iscagna, following a brutal civil war against the old monarchy. They are generally fair and just, but beware their righteous anger and close-mindedness.

• Doom of Giants: In times before even the Age of Mythrendian, the lands now-called Iscagna were home to a kingdom of the cyclopses. What curse befell them, not only to destroy their home, but reduce them to dim-witted savages, is unknown.

Dangers to Dare

• One-Eyed Brutes: Cyclops raiders dominate the southern half of the Stone Teeth. Perhaps they still remember their old kingdom? Perhaps they still hold a grudge against man... The cyclops are renowned for their intense hatred of religion and the gods, making them tenacious foes of the Theocracy. Some speculate that this is a primitive vestige of a once-secular culture of wise philosophers, due to findings of the remnants of a runic text called The Cyclopean Ethics, found beneath their ruins.

• Fire and Brimstone: The judgment of the clergy has been clouded by fear and zeal. They see heresy everywhere, and are quick to punish perceived wrongdoings, and can whip the common folk into fits of frenzy. The most dangerous are the hooded Red Knights, who have been known to burn folk at the stake for supposed blasphemies or conspiracy against the church.

• Treachery Upon the High Seas: Sailing from Iscagna to Ralindor can be dangerous on its own, but the port-cities of Iscagna are rife with dubious freebooters, smugglers, and pirates. Press-ganging is a notorious issue.

Folk & Friendship

• The Goliath: The honorable, tattooed giant-kin are the denizens of the Stone Teeth, but occasionally venture down from the mountains to make-good with the men of Iscagna. They are earthen creatures, well-suited to living in the mountains, and are the only people who capable of crossing it on-foot.

• Alonzo the Good: This knight-errant wanders the Iscagnan countryside, undertaking noble quests. He has a temper, and is a touch irrational (even a bit mad), but his courage, honor, and devotion to goodness are legendary.

Dungeons to Delve

• Cyclopean Ruins: The cyclopses built gargantuan temples, tombs, and palaces with beautiful marble architecture, stuffed with their ancient treasures.

• Shrines of the Rune-Carver: Caves, tunnels, and temples dedicated to Anam litter the peaks of the Stone Teeth, although most are guarded fiercely by goliath warriors.

Alternative Name(s)

The Theocracy of the Sword, the Theocracy of Iscagna

Type

Peninsula

Related Ethnicities

• Iscagnans

Legends and Lore: The Goliath and the Runes of Anam : The only god respected amongst the giants is Anam, a creator-god who allegedly carved great shrines into mountains. Adorned on their walls are runes which dictate the giants’ place in the universe and the laws of their society. Included within is the mandate that the goliath must serve as the shrines’ custodians for all time. They take enormous pride in this responsibility. Goliath culture is semi-nomadic and centered on their religion and sense of duty, although they famously appreciate strength, courage, and a love of adventure. The goliath are much smaller than giants (~7’), and could be played by PCs.