Arakano
2005-07-28, 02:35 PM
Nocera Hatra
(NOTE FOR DMs: This entry contains two races specific to my own campaign, halfgnomes and Arxalintar. The later are a race that arose out of a mating of blue dragons and humans. They have LA +1, Str +2, Int +2 Cha +2, some other abilities, and are generally evil. You may, however, easily adapt this city to your campaign by replacing halfgnomes with gnomes and Arxalintar with Yuan-Ti, although you should then reduce the numbers given below, because Yuan-Ti are far more powerful than an average Arxalintar)
Introduction: For travelers coming from the eastern direction, the mainland, there are two different modes of travel: on a river-boat floating swiftly along with the current, or along the dusty yet smooth road that follows the bends of the river on the southern bank, shaded by countless evergreen trees. With the pleasant climate, both ways are equally pleasant most of the year, the former being easier yet also a bit boring. During the summer months, however, the travel becomes strenuous, as neither the shadows of the trees nor the cool water of the river are really able to balance out the intense heat. Naturally, during the weeks immediately before and after the summer time, the roads are packed and the boats booked up with travelers who want to spend the hot time at the coast.
Travelers from the northern or southern coastal regions or from across the western sea will arrive in Nocera Hatra by ship. The coastal region has some rough waters from time to time and place to place, but nearly all seafaring people whose ships anchor in Nocera Hatras harbour employ experienced captains and able crews, so tragedies at sea are rare.
As you finally come within eyesight of Nocera Hatra, you are more than relieved. Your journey has been delightful – during large parts at least – and also quite educational, but now all you desire is a good inn with an even better wine cellar. And who could forget about the praise that the fine wines of the noceran region receive from all connoisseurs near and far?
The white brick walls of Nocera Hatra seem to glow from within, as the burning sunlight reflects from them. For a moment, you have to avert your eyes, until they adjust to the brightness. You see the many small boats that dart around on the river, which broadens considerably before it flows into the sea, providing Nocera Hatra with an excellent if simple natural harbour. Some masts of large, oceangoing vessels tower even about the citywalls.
South of the city, soft hills cover the land, doted with small villages between groves of olive trees and vineyards. At the northern bank of the river, mostly hidden by the city, the flat land stretches as far as you can see, bordered in the east by the looming Coldwater Mountains. Fields of wheat and other agricultural crops give the landscape the look of an overdimensional chessboard.
While you take it all in, enjoying the bright colours of white, blue and green, smelling the sea and the herbs and plants of the land, listening to the cries of the seagulls and the bustling of the citizens, you finally enter the city itself. While the northwestern portion of the city is as white as the city walls, the larger part, especially the hilly southeastern region, is truly marvellous in its colourful diversity: Every house is painted in a different colour, and each sparkling in the sun, making every rainbow seem dull in comparison.
A gnom with a well-trimmed beard, clad in a simple white tunic, appears out of the crowds around you and bows deep to the ground. “It seems like you are strangers to our beautiful city. Are you interested in a guide to show you the best places? I know all the theatres, bathing houses, taverns – and the brothels, of course”, he adds with a wink.
Stats: Conventional; AL NG; 40,000 gp limit; Assets 30,000,000 gp; Population 14,238; Mixed (gnomes 68%, humans 20%, hobgoblins 6%, halfgnomes 3%, Lizardfolk 2%, Draconians 1%, halflings 0,5%, others 0,5%)
Background Information:
History: Like all gnomish cities at the coast, Nocera Hatra was founded as a colonie by one of the inland cities of the gnomish “Federation of the Free Places” (Acceran Ilara Usan-liv), an alliance of twelve cities. This colonisation solved the overpopulation problem of the Federation. The gnomes prospered, reaching unparalleled heights of culture and living standard. The only fields in which they showed lack of superiority were political unity and military strength. Sadly, at least military strength was something their human neighbours excelled in, and when they were united under one crown by Dulanin the Conquerer, the end of the Federation was at hand.
When the cities of the Federation were sacked and later conquered by the human mountain tribes, the coastal cities founded an Federation of their own, as a preemptive move against the growing threat in the east and also as an sign of independence from their mother cities. The still expanding trade along the coast and the many fugitives from the east lead to a prosperity that might have even surpassed that of the old Federation.
However, this golden age was shortlived. Dulanins heirs, after consolidating their power, lusted for new conquests. Darmakir the Rash, the fifth king of the new realm, finally lead his army against Nocera Hatra, shortly after his capture of the twin city of Veit-Halgar further up the river. He layed siege to Nocera Hatra, and finally took it by storm, attacking from the land and from the river at once. The last stand of the gnomish defenders was valiant, but they were outnumbered and not used to wielding shield and sword, having more experience with lute and harp. The sounds of the sad yet defiant battle-songs of the last gnomish soldiers as they were encircled in the market square must have been so impressive that even the chronicler of king Darmakir mentioned it in his work as an outstanding and touching experience.
After the massacre, the city was sacked. Many of its inhabitants died in these terrible days. The survivors became subjects of the human realm of Dulana.
Following the conquest of Nocera Hatra, the other gnomish cities of the coastal federation acknowledged the supremacy of Dulana. There were some more sieges and battles in the next decades, but none as bloody or decisive as the fall of Nocera Hatra.
While the demanded tributes were high, the gnomes of the coast lived their live mostly as they had always done. Only Nocera Hatra was directly and sternly ruled by a human governor. It was also the only city with a significant human population, as many old soldiers and bold merchants moved into the abandoned quarters of the city, rebuilding the burned down houses.
Soon, a new plague hit the poor gnomes: pirates! Hobgoblins sailed on fast ship across the western sea and plundered and pillaged the coast in countless raids. The gnomes turned to their human overlords for protection, but Dulana had always been an landbound power and was unable to put an end to the pirate incursions. Finally, the problem solved itself when a civil war in the land of the hobgoblins had the Shikasta-Clan fleeing, taking most of the hobgoblin fleet and its best crews with them.
Still, the gnomes were embittered. Why had they given up their freedom and paid high taxes when their ruler was not able or willing to protect them? Time was ripe for an rebellion.
But how should it be accomplished? The human armies had softened over time, having no real enemies to fight, but they were still vastly superior to anything the gnomes could muster. They might overwhelm the small garisions in some of their cities, but Dulanas revenge would be swift and deadly.
It was a young gnomish merchant who finally found the solution. The gnomes had paid the humans to protect them, and they had proved unable to do so. Maybe it was time to hire someone who could fulfill the promises he made. And so, the new warlord of the hobgoblin clans was surprised by a gnomish delegation that proposed to hire as many warriors as the hobgoblins could spare as mercenaries.
It was a desperate move, but unknown to the gnomes, the hobgoblins had already begun to serve as mercenaries on the other side of the great sea, and therefore the gnomish proposal was not meet with laughter but with haggling…
Soon enough, a large gnomish fleet sailed west and returned with thousands of hobgoblin warriors. The human garisons along the coast were surprised and slaughtered, and in all the gnomish lands, bards raised their voices in songs of freedom and defiance.
The first real battle was the Second Siege of Nocera Hatra. This time, the humans were the defenders. They had the majority of the inhabitants behind them, but the sympathy of the gnomish minority was clearly with the attackers. The heavily armed yet lightfooted hobgoblins climbed the walls of the city while the gnomish fleet forced it way up the river. Soon, Nocera Hatra was conquered a second time. But even though the bloodthirsty hobgoblins demanded a bloody sacking, they were stopped by their gnomish employers. “We are all that the humans are not, and we won´t change.”, explained a gnomish leader stoically.
Realising that their freedom was still endangered, the gnomes decided to take the initiative and attack the enemy while he still gathered his forces. While their fleet could not get past the city Veit-Halgar, the hobgoblins had experience in forced marches. They hastened toward the capital of Dulana, which lay further up the river. Surprising the human main host assembled before the city, the hobgoblins annihilated the army of Dulana in mere hours. Then they stormed the capital, this time unbridled. When the next evening came, every house was burned and every inhabitant had died or fled. The hobgoblin host returned with the heads of Durmir Lastking and his sons to their gnomish employers.
When the vassals of King Durmir arrived at the side of his demise, they quickly turned on each other, claiming the now vacant throne of Dulanan. Soon, the realm broke apart in bloody inner struggles. From its ashes arose the four human kingdoms of today.
The gnomish people of the coast have kept their independence since then, protected by their grim mercenaries. They are organised in two federations, one of the northern coast and one of the southern region. Nocera Hatra lies south of the great river of Kinel that forms the border between the two alliances.
Even after their victory over their former oppressors, the gnomes were not vengeful. The allowed every human who wanted to do so to stay in Nocera Hatra. Therefore, it has the highest percentage of human inhabitants among all the coastal cities.
(NOTE FOR DMs: This entry contains two races specific to my own campaign, halfgnomes and Arxalintar. The later are a race that arose out of a mating of blue dragons and humans. They have LA +1, Str +2, Int +2 Cha +2, some other abilities, and are generally evil. You may, however, easily adapt this city to your campaign by replacing halfgnomes with gnomes and Arxalintar with Yuan-Ti, although you should then reduce the numbers given below, because Yuan-Ti are far more powerful than an average Arxalintar)
Introduction: For travelers coming from the eastern direction, the mainland, there are two different modes of travel: on a river-boat floating swiftly along with the current, or along the dusty yet smooth road that follows the bends of the river on the southern bank, shaded by countless evergreen trees. With the pleasant climate, both ways are equally pleasant most of the year, the former being easier yet also a bit boring. During the summer months, however, the travel becomes strenuous, as neither the shadows of the trees nor the cool water of the river are really able to balance out the intense heat. Naturally, during the weeks immediately before and after the summer time, the roads are packed and the boats booked up with travelers who want to spend the hot time at the coast.
Travelers from the northern or southern coastal regions or from across the western sea will arrive in Nocera Hatra by ship. The coastal region has some rough waters from time to time and place to place, but nearly all seafaring people whose ships anchor in Nocera Hatras harbour employ experienced captains and able crews, so tragedies at sea are rare.
As you finally come within eyesight of Nocera Hatra, you are more than relieved. Your journey has been delightful – during large parts at least – and also quite educational, but now all you desire is a good inn with an even better wine cellar. And who could forget about the praise that the fine wines of the noceran region receive from all connoisseurs near and far?
The white brick walls of Nocera Hatra seem to glow from within, as the burning sunlight reflects from them. For a moment, you have to avert your eyes, until they adjust to the brightness. You see the many small boats that dart around on the river, which broadens considerably before it flows into the sea, providing Nocera Hatra with an excellent if simple natural harbour. Some masts of large, oceangoing vessels tower even about the citywalls.
South of the city, soft hills cover the land, doted with small villages between groves of olive trees and vineyards. At the northern bank of the river, mostly hidden by the city, the flat land stretches as far as you can see, bordered in the east by the looming Coldwater Mountains. Fields of wheat and other agricultural crops give the landscape the look of an overdimensional chessboard.
While you take it all in, enjoying the bright colours of white, blue and green, smelling the sea and the herbs and plants of the land, listening to the cries of the seagulls and the bustling of the citizens, you finally enter the city itself. While the northwestern portion of the city is as white as the city walls, the larger part, especially the hilly southeastern region, is truly marvellous in its colourful diversity: Every house is painted in a different colour, and each sparkling in the sun, making every rainbow seem dull in comparison.
A gnom with a well-trimmed beard, clad in a simple white tunic, appears out of the crowds around you and bows deep to the ground. “It seems like you are strangers to our beautiful city. Are you interested in a guide to show you the best places? I know all the theatres, bathing houses, taverns – and the brothels, of course”, he adds with a wink.
Stats: Conventional; AL NG; 40,000 gp limit; Assets 30,000,000 gp; Population 14,238; Mixed (gnomes 68%, humans 20%, hobgoblins 6%, halfgnomes 3%, Lizardfolk 2%, Draconians 1%, halflings 0,5%, others 0,5%)
Background Information:
History: Like all gnomish cities at the coast, Nocera Hatra was founded as a colonie by one of the inland cities of the gnomish “Federation of the Free Places” (Acceran Ilara Usan-liv), an alliance of twelve cities. This colonisation solved the overpopulation problem of the Federation. The gnomes prospered, reaching unparalleled heights of culture and living standard. The only fields in which they showed lack of superiority were political unity and military strength. Sadly, at least military strength was something their human neighbours excelled in, and when they were united under one crown by Dulanin the Conquerer, the end of the Federation was at hand.
When the cities of the Federation were sacked and later conquered by the human mountain tribes, the coastal cities founded an Federation of their own, as a preemptive move against the growing threat in the east and also as an sign of independence from their mother cities. The still expanding trade along the coast and the many fugitives from the east lead to a prosperity that might have even surpassed that of the old Federation.
However, this golden age was shortlived. Dulanins heirs, after consolidating their power, lusted for new conquests. Darmakir the Rash, the fifth king of the new realm, finally lead his army against Nocera Hatra, shortly after his capture of the twin city of Veit-Halgar further up the river. He layed siege to Nocera Hatra, and finally took it by storm, attacking from the land and from the river at once. The last stand of the gnomish defenders was valiant, but they were outnumbered and not used to wielding shield and sword, having more experience with lute and harp. The sounds of the sad yet defiant battle-songs of the last gnomish soldiers as they were encircled in the market square must have been so impressive that even the chronicler of king Darmakir mentioned it in his work as an outstanding and touching experience.
After the massacre, the city was sacked. Many of its inhabitants died in these terrible days. The survivors became subjects of the human realm of Dulana.
Following the conquest of Nocera Hatra, the other gnomish cities of the coastal federation acknowledged the supremacy of Dulana. There were some more sieges and battles in the next decades, but none as bloody or decisive as the fall of Nocera Hatra.
While the demanded tributes were high, the gnomes of the coast lived their live mostly as they had always done. Only Nocera Hatra was directly and sternly ruled by a human governor. It was also the only city with a significant human population, as many old soldiers and bold merchants moved into the abandoned quarters of the city, rebuilding the burned down houses.
Soon, a new plague hit the poor gnomes: pirates! Hobgoblins sailed on fast ship across the western sea and plundered and pillaged the coast in countless raids. The gnomes turned to their human overlords for protection, but Dulana had always been an landbound power and was unable to put an end to the pirate incursions. Finally, the problem solved itself when a civil war in the land of the hobgoblins had the Shikasta-Clan fleeing, taking most of the hobgoblin fleet and its best crews with them.
Still, the gnomes were embittered. Why had they given up their freedom and paid high taxes when their ruler was not able or willing to protect them? Time was ripe for an rebellion.
But how should it be accomplished? The human armies had softened over time, having no real enemies to fight, but they were still vastly superior to anything the gnomes could muster. They might overwhelm the small garisions in some of their cities, but Dulanas revenge would be swift and deadly.
It was a young gnomish merchant who finally found the solution. The gnomes had paid the humans to protect them, and they had proved unable to do so. Maybe it was time to hire someone who could fulfill the promises he made. And so, the new warlord of the hobgoblin clans was surprised by a gnomish delegation that proposed to hire as many warriors as the hobgoblins could spare as mercenaries.
It was a desperate move, but unknown to the gnomes, the hobgoblins had already begun to serve as mercenaries on the other side of the great sea, and therefore the gnomish proposal was not meet with laughter but with haggling…
Soon enough, a large gnomish fleet sailed west and returned with thousands of hobgoblin warriors. The human garisons along the coast were surprised and slaughtered, and in all the gnomish lands, bards raised their voices in songs of freedom and defiance.
The first real battle was the Second Siege of Nocera Hatra. This time, the humans were the defenders. They had the majority of the inhabitants behind them, but the sympathy of the gnomish minority was clearly with the attackers. The heavily armed yet lightfooted hobgoblins climbed the walls of the city while the gnomish fleet forced it way up the river. Soon, Nocera Hatra was conquered a second time. But even though the bloodthirsty hobgoblins demanded a bloody sacking, they were stopped by their gnomish employers. “We are all that the humans are not, and we won´t change.”, explained a gnomish leader stoically.
Realising that their freedom was still endangered, the gnomes decided to take the initiative and attack the enemy while he still gathered his forces. While their fleet could not get past the city Veit-Halgar, the hobgoblins had experience in forced marches. They hastened toward the capital of Dulana, which lay further up the river. Surprising the human main host assembled before the city, the hobgoblins annihilated the army of Dulana in mere hours. Then they stormed the capital, this time unbridled. When the next evening came, every house was burned and every inhabitant had died or fled. The hobgoblin host returned with the heads of Durmir Lastking and his sons to their gnomish employers.
When the vassals of King Durmir arrived at the side of his demise, they quickly turned on each other, claiming the now vacant throne of Dulanan. Soon, the realm broke apart in bloody inner struggles. From its ashes arose the four human kingdoms of today.
The gnomish people of the coast have kept their independence since then, protected by their grim mercenaries. They are organised in two federations, one of the northern coast and one of the southern region. Nocera Hatra lies south of the great river of Kinel that forms the border between the two alliances.
Even after their victory over their former oppressors, the gnomes were not vengeful. The allowed every human who wanted to do so to stay in Nocera Hatra. Therefore, it has the highest percentage of human inhabitants among all the coastal cities.