Umbaron

The Kingdom of Alandor in northern Umbaron, established by King Sorin Tarnhem several centuries ago, has now seen 750 years come and go. Humans are thriving in the capital Vilamond alongside several other races such as elves and dwarves, but also more exotic beings like tieflings and dragonborns.   The latest big event in the kingdom was the war between the loyalists of King Hadran Tarnhem and the rebel forces of Bardagar von Armstat. The experts like to name several details which could have led up to this flashpoint, but the glaringly obvious one was that Bardagar, who was completely invested in receiving the throne after Hadran's death, had it ripped from his grasp when Queen Eleanor gave birth to Vizirond. Hadran was at this time 49 years old, and everyone was sure that the Tarnhem dynasty would end with him. The rebels call themselves The Brothers of Bardagar, and there is still a small movement in Alandor. Rumor even has it that Bardagar himself, contrary to the common belief, never got killed in the war.   To the south of Alandor lies the Lily Vale, a protectorate state that existed before the kingdom. Elven druids reside here. Not very interested in the royal politics, they cherish their holy forest which lie wedged between the high mountain ridges. Visitors are somewhat unwelcome, but the elves are nonetheless hospitable. The forest however, is not hospitable, and few explorers that dare venture beyond the elven settlements return.   Standing on the piers of the Vilamond harbor looking east, all you see beyond the merchant ships is water, stretching beyond the horizon. If you decide to sail north or south along the coastline from here, you can relax in your cot, listen to the wind and the waves, and be sure to arrive safely at your destination.   If you however decide to sail eastwards, you best be sure to have an experienced crew, for the Alandor sea is treacherous. There are foul beasts and roving corsairs that may get you, if you manage to avoid the sudden and powerful storms that is a trademark of the region. These storms have given name to the Storm Islands. An archipelago surrounding a main island on which the Storm Islanders live. They are a rugged and traditional people with a long history of seafaring, and they are among the few who enjoy sailing these waters. In spite of their isolationist and marauding ancient history, the last several centuries have been characterized by international outreach and cooperation. Their ruggedness may deceive you, because they are a wise and sophisticated people, and they wouldn't let a good trade deal slip through their fingers. They are considered a vassal to the kingdom, and played a large part in supporting the kingdom during Bardagars uprising.   Sailing north from the Storm Island, you find the Wild Islands. These Islands are home to brutish and savage people. It is said that the further north you go, the more the people resemble giants, and that this savagery comes from their giant blood. There are few natural resources here and the climate is very harsh, so not even the storm islanders care to attempt taming these lands. The people here respect strength above all else.   The Kingdom itself is ruled by King Vizirond III Tarnhem and his royal council which consist of experts in different areas of statecraft, and vassal liasons. One of the more controversial council members is the Master of Internal Affairs, who often prefer to stand in the shadows both literally and metaphorically. Rumor has it that he is working with the underground crime groups in Vilamond to keep the city in check.   Speaking of the crime groups, the most prominent one is called Three Daggers. They perform sabotage, espionage, theft, and assassinations for any client who's got a good amount of gold. They do have a certain kind of honor in that they try to reduce collateral damage, but in the end this is solely because they know they receive less heat from the king this way. They organize in small cells that work autonomously and with several layers between the leaders and the grunts, and the city guard has had a hard time pinning them down.   Crime outside Vilamond's walls consists mainly of highway robbery, high-sea piracy, and smuggling.   Magic exists in the kingdom in several forms, some of which their practicioners would not call "magic". Deities are relied upon by some to bring good fortune, riches, harvests, and the like. Some well-read individuals have learned through arduous study how to manipulate the fabric of reality, and some special strong-willed few can just will reality to play by their rules. Then we of course have the elven druids who are in touch with the fey world, and have learned the secrets of nature to a degree that some people view it as magic.   Magic is not illegal in itself in Alandor, but owners of establishments are free to ban it if they don't like it, and breaking a magic ban can lead to harsh punishment. Assault, theft, fraud and such is of course illegal no matter if it is done by magic or not.   This has been an introduction to the Kingdom of Alandor. What you don't know, and what only a very select few knows, is that a certain tiefling, inticed by the voices in his head, managed to release a powerful abyssal fiend from a soul prison. This happened on a cold and dark night, in an Alandor forest, not many days ago.