Khp023 Atlantis - The Second Age - Geographica.pdf 4415b

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Mestea Contents Mnesea What is this book about? Movement in the world The Obelisks

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The Atlantean Calendar 10 Calendar

Alba and Iber Aboric Arden Avalon Cymbri Havar Skara Skye Starr Iber Uallach

Alba & Iberian Flora Alba And Iber Location Adventure Seeds

Anostos Anostos

Anostos Location Adventure Seeds

Antilla

Antilla Sargasso Sea Canyon of Neptune Neptus Sahuga Sargo

Antillan Flora Location Adventure Seeds

Atlantis

Atlantis History

The Iron Age The Golden Age The Dark Age The Modern Age

Atlantis

Amphisea Autochthea Azae Diaprepea Elassippea Eudea Gadirea

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11

18 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 23 24 25

26 28 28

30 31

34 34

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37 37 38 38 38 38

39 41

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43 43 44 45

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54 54 55 56 56 57 57

Olokunia

The City Of Atlantis Atlantean Flora Atlantis Map Location Key

Elysium Sea

Elysium Manua Munark Ogata Tora The Black island of Avaiki

Elysium Ocean Flora Location Adventure Seeds

Eria

Akela Akwatuk Aquaga Aztlan Gava The Hordelands Of Beezh-Yeel Kulugmiut Tamarac

58 59 59

60 63 66

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71 71 72 72 73 73

74 76

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79 80 81 82 83 84 84 85

Erian Flora

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Location Adventure Seeds

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The Tamarac Sea

Europa

Aragana The Black Forest Broceliande Draconea Galecea Hellas Ku Minoa Oggia Otesium Saturnia Scythia Tharshesh Vir Ys The Sea Peoples

Europan Flora Location Adventure Seeds

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92 93 94 96 98 98 99 100 101 102 102 103 103 105 110 111 111

112 116

Gondwana

Awalawa Dabba Dar Dardanus Empi Gorgos Joktan Khemit Kush Magan Marhashi Massawa Nubia Okalo Ophir Pemba Punt Samu Sheba Turan Yalak The Wilderness Of Zin

Location Adventure Seeds Gondwanan Flora

Hesperia

Government Religion Gender Relations Marriage Dueling Hesperian Colonies Asterea (ah-STER-ee-AH) Celaenea (sel-AY-nee-AH) Electa (ee-LEK-tah) Halcya (HAL-see-ah) Heran (hehr-AHN) Maia (MY-ah) Tangea (tan-GEE-ah)

Location Adventure Seeds

Jambu

Baluchis Damalawa Dravidia Himvati Khitai Kota Meluha Molodo Mongala Sala Sarawa Tamala Taproban Island Vedda

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119 120 121 122 122 123 124 124 126 127 131 132 133 134 136 137 138 139 140 143 146 147

GEOGRAPHICA Zemlazelan

Jambuan Flora Location Adventure Seeds

Lemuria

Golian Desert The Golian Mountains Koror Ngani Swamp Sangir The Sarakan Jungle Tarakan Mountains

LemuriaN Flora Location Adventure Seeds

Mu

Curracurrang The Kanawalla Desert The Tara Mountain Range Yallock The Isle Of Dreams

Muan Flora 151 Location Adventure Seeds 154

Sea 156 North Aurora

157 The Borean Forest 157 Cimmeria 158 Haloga 158 Hyperborea 158 Jotunland 158 The Utgard Forest 159 The Seidhr Mountains 159 The Frost Plains 159 Ogygia 159 The Rhiphaen Mountains 159 Thule 159 160 The North Sea Islands Flora

162 Location Adventure Seeds

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177 180

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183 183 184 184 185 186 186

187 190

192

Tamoanchan Aconcagua Aigua Aricagua Awok Birama Ecua Gualaguala Huac Mana Nazca Ogalapago Oguanabara Paragua Quechua Taracua Ulloa

The Acuan Sea

193 The Isles Of Tirakamba 194 The Ocaraba Sea 194 The Nether Realms 195 The Isle Of Dread 196

197 Tamaonchan Flora 200 Location Adventure Seeds

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225 225 226 226 227 228 229 229 230 231 232 232 232 233 234 235

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236 236

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240 242

202 203 203 203 204 205 206 207 207 207 208 208 209

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and Seas214 164 Oceans The Atlantean Ocean 215 165 The Atlantydes 166 Cabbalusa 166 Sea Of Baku 166 The Erythraean Sea 168 The Isles Of Ozar 171 The Sea of the Dead 172 The Forgotten Sea 173 Stygian Sea 173 The Nether Isles 174 The Satyrydes 174 Taenerus 175 175 Location Adventure Seeds 175

215 216 216 217 217 218 218 219 219 219 220

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

What is this book about?

The ATLANTIS: Geographica is the first supplement for the ATLANTIS: The Second Age roleplaying game. It details the antediluvian world, its peoples, and its flora.

Do I need any other books? To get the full value of this book it’s suggested you also have the ATLANTIS: The Second Age core book. Within the core book you will find much of the history of the people of the game world and the machinations and themes that shaped the world.

How do I use this book? Players and Game Masters alike have the same question when playing a role-playing game: “What’s over there?” The ATLANTIS: Geographica attempts to answer that question by giving a broad overview of the game world. This book can be used as a tool for a number of applications. ►► Detailed character creation: If a Hero is from the barren hills of Hyperborea there is now a resource to expand on those lands. Also included for each land described in the book are suggested names for that region. ►► As a GM reference: If an adventure takes place in the dark forests of Vir the Game Master knows where that is and what encounters the heroes will most likely face ►► As a plot resource: included in the Geographica are over 100 plot hooks to help jump start the imagination.

Can I use this book with other game s or game systems? Yes you can; there is enough system free information in this book to use with a number of other fantasy games. You can also eat cereal with water instead of milk but we all know which is better. Now let’s get going!

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GEOGRAPHICA Movement and travel in the Antediluvian world Travel Rates All distances listed here represent the average rate of movement in kilometers per day (assuming 10 hours of travel time, not including rest periods or stopovers) or, in some cases, kilometers per hour (KPH). The Game Master may modify these numbers as necessary, according to game circumstances. Overland Travel Method

Distance

KPH

Walking

32 kilometers

3.2

March, militia

37 kilometers

3.7

March, trained soldiers

45 kilometers

4.5

Mounted, riding horse

45 kilometers

4.5

Mounted, elephant

32 kilometers

3.2

Caravan

18 kilometers

1.8

Roads, especially the many surviving First Age highways, increase movement by up to 10% and negate the penalty due to inclement weather such as rain. Roads have no effect on extreme weather or snow and ice. The bonus for road movement somewhat negates the penalty for bad terrain. Rugged terrain includes hills, light woodlands, broken terrain, etc., and reduces movement by up to 25%. Movement speed while mounted or with wagons is limited to 50%. Very rugged terrain includes mountains, swamps, deserts, etc., and reduces movement by up to 75%; movement in such terrain while mounted or with wagons is generally impossible, though mounts may be led at the walking speed. Inclement weather conditions may reduce rates by 50% or more in addition to the above terrain restrictions. Waterborne Travel Vehicle

Distance

KPH

Dragonship

314 kilometers

26

Galley

232 kilometers

19

Aquanos

175 kilometers

15

Longboat

310 kilometers

26

Halve listed distances for unfavorable winds/currents, navigational hazards, etc. Crafts without oars have an effective speed of ‘0’ if the weather is becalmed. Crafts with oars will normally move at 25% of their speed when under oar. A Dragonship or an Aquanos requires neither oar nor wind for propulsion and always travels at full speed unless there is a problem with its crystal matrix. Airborne Travel Airborne travel rates can be figured by the hour. Use the ship’s SPD rating and listed KPH total in favorable conditions. In unfavorable conditions (high winds, storms, etc.), reduce the number by 50% or more, depending on the severity of the prevailing conditions.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

Lore (Survival ) Skill (specific)

What if the group doesn’t have the Lore (survival) Skill?

Get a guide to lead you through the land. This is a tried and true method of safely traveling through unfamiliar territory and it’s very easy to find and enterprising young man or woman that will lead a group.

The Lore (survival) Skill is a very important proficiency to have in the antediluvian world. Many intrepid Heroes have set forth on a great quest only to find that living off the land is a lot tougher than the stories made it out to be. Without the basic survival skills a group may not survive a week away from the civilized lands of the known world. To simulate this when traveling the GM should request a Lore (survival) Skill roll to be made for the specific area that the heroes are traveling through. The most common topographies are listed below ►► Rainforest/Jungle At the end of every week of travel through an area the ►► Savannah/Grassland/Plain GM should call for a Lore (survival) Skill roll modified by ►► Forest factors such as the weather and travel speed. ►► Desert The Lore (survival) Skill roll will determine if the ►► Sea/Ocean Heroes have enough food, water, and/or shelter, as well as ►► Tundra their ability to move at a normal rate. ►► Mountain

Survival Roll Modifiers The GM determines the DoD of the roll by consulting the chart below. A Hero can make Lore (survival) Skill roll that takes care of herself and a number of others equal to her INT+1 (minimum of one other). A single Hero can increase the number of others covered by her Lore (survival) Skill roll above this limit, but each additional person modifies the DoD by a cumulative -3. Travel Rate

Base DoD

Weather Conditions

Mod.

Normal pace

-5

Clear and calm

-0

Double pace

-10

Raining/ Snowing

-3

Triple pace

-15

Stormy/Blizzard

-7

Moving at half pave

+0

The Survival Roll Critical Failure:

The Heroes cannot make any headway and cannot find food or supplies. The Heroes do not move, losing a weeks worth of movement and suffer 15 Hit Points of damage because of lack of food, water, and shelter.

Failure:

The Heroes cannot make any headway and cannot find food or supplies. The Heroes do not move, losing a weeks worth of movement and suffer 10 Hit Points of damage because of lack of food, water, and shelter.

Partial Success:

The Heroes encounter unforeseen troubles and move only half their normal movement for the week and suffer 5 Hit Points of damage because of lack of food, shelter or other hazards.

Full Success:

The Heroes move their allotted movement and have no trouble finding food, water and shelter.

Critical Success:

The Heroes move twice as far and make good time towards their destination. The Heroes move twice as far as they would normally that week because of favorable conditions.

Example: Donobey and Dayn are traveling through a southern Jambu jungle. Donobey has the Lore (Survival) (rainforest) Skill at +12. It is during the rainy season and they are trying to push their pace moving twice as fast. After a week of travel a Lore (survival) Skill roll is made with a DoD-13 (-10 for double pace, -3 for rain) yielding a Partial Success. Because of the weather conditions it was very difficult to get a fire started and keep it going the entire week. Shelter was difficult to find leaving the two adventurers sleeping under palm leaves most nights as the rain beat down. After a week both are exhausted and hungry, losing 5 Hit Points each.

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GEOGRAPHICA

The Obelisks

Scattered throughout the world are artifacts more ancient than the remembrance of even the most ancient beings: the obelisks. These three-meter high glass and silver pyramidal structures are scattered all over the world and are said to be the tears of a dreaming Elder God. Some scholars of the arcane believe them to be extensions of natural Vril, manifestations of the Ātman soul of world itself. The obelisks appear and disappear without any reason and may sit in one location for a few seconds or a few hundred years. When an obelisk first appears, it sends a minor ripple through the local Vril lines, momentarily flooding them with energy. A season of unexpectedly healthy crops, sudden migrations of animals, or the crystals of a temple flaring with light are often signs that an obelisk has appeared somewhere nearby. An obelisk will remain in place until it has been entered by at least one person though some histories mention obelisks remaining and allowing a second or even third individual to enter. After someone has visited an obelisk, the construction vanishes just as instantly as it came. Some obelisks may thus remain in an isolated location for many years. The walls of an obelisk are as permeable as water and any who enter find themselves in a room without form or shape, surrounded by stars as if they are standing in the heavens, although a triangular doorway is always behind them allowing a way out. Those foolish enough to walk further into the star-studded expanse are never heard from again. In front of anyone who enters is a small pedestal with colored shards of crystal. The shards may be moved (but not removed) into different configurations on the pedestal. Altering the positions of the crystals sends shafts of colored light playing upward from the pedestal. Though the patterns are strange, some of them create feelings of harmony or violence or revulsion (and so forth) in the visitor; these feelings mirror both the Ātman that the obelisk is attuned to as well as the strongest Ātman of the visitor. The Obelisk’s Function The obelisk is a mercurial piece of dream made solid by the perceptions of the mortal minds. The first person to look upon the obelisk determines the obelisk’s function. Almost all obelisks are attuned to a certain aspect of the mortal soul represented by the six Ātman and take on physicals aspects of the element to which it is attuned. A Fire obelisk may sit at the center of a charred circle, be warm to the touch, or rest upon a cooled magma formation. Water obelisks may be found behind a waterfall, a Void obelisk in a cave, or at the bottom of a lake. The GM may choose to which Ātman an obelisk is attuned or roll randomly on the included table. 1D20 Roll

Ātman

1D20 Roll

Ātman

1-3

Air

11-13

Earth

4-7

Water

14-16

Fire

8-10

Void

17-19

Empyrean

20

No attunement

Example: The GM rolls 1D20 and gets a result of 16. The obelisk is attuned to the Ātman of Fire. To determine the obelisk function the GM rolls 1D20 + the attuned Ātman of the person who first gazes upon it and consults the included table. Once the function is determined it is set for the remainder of the obelisk’s life

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age 1D20 Roll

1 2 3 4 5 6

7

8

9

10

11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

21+

Obelisk Function Insinuates dire thoughts of the into the minds and dreams of the world. Lose Renown equal to 10x the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 10). A black crystal cyst appears on the Hero’s throat that emits black smoke when an enemy is near. Switches the ’s races randomly to another root race. This change is permanent. Boils the ’s blood causing 10x the ’s attuned Ātman in damage Rearranges the ’s attributes randomly adding the ’s attuned Ātman to the attribute points. The change is permanent Ages the 5x the ’s attuned Ātman in years Allows the to strike and automatically hit a single foe at a range in kilometers equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 kilometer) doing DR equal to 5x the ’s Fire Ātman (minimum DR 5). After the initial assault, the target may evade further assaults (Attacker's CR + Fire Atman vs. DoD (DEX + Evade)). The first time this ability is used by each new , one of the ’s arms blisters and turns black. The skin will flake like ash for a year and a day. Teleports a target chosen by the from anywhere on Earth to anywhere within 10 kilometers per point of the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 10 kilometers). The target may resist with a WIL roll versus a DoD-13. For a year the ’s reflection weeps when he sees it. Teleports the to anywhere she chooses within 100 kilometers per point of the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 100 kilometers). The ’s teeth and gums turn black for a number of months equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 month). Allows the to change places with an item within a number of kilometers equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 kilometer). Within several days the item animates and comes looking for the in the hopes of eating his soul and taking his place in reality. Allows the see into the secret heart of someone within 100 kilometers per point of the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 100 kilometers). The knows the desires and sorrows of the targeted person. When that secret knowledge is used for the ’s benefit in any way, the heart of someone the knows will stop. Grows third eye in the center of the ’s forehead that allows him to see the exact configuration of another’s Ātman. This change is permanent. The also grows a vestigial tail that seems to have a mind of its own, becoming a nuisance to him and those around him. The tail affliction lasts a number of weeks equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 week). Heals any harm, affliction, or disease the may have and makes them whole and complete. A black gem pushes up from the center of the ’s head and is stuck there. It can be removed with a loss of one point of INT. Allows communication with a chosen person telepathically over any distance for 1 hour per point of the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 hour). Clothes now deteriorate and become tattered rags within weeks when worn. To mitigate this effect, the must bathe every day in milk. Regresses the ’s physiological age back in time a number of years equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 year). The stolen year(s) are taken from the first person the sees after regressing, who effectively increases in age an equal amount. Expands the ’s lifespan by a number of decades equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 year). The ’s lips turn indigo blue and glow in the moonlight. Finds the location of a treasure worth a number of Treasure Points equal to 3x the ’s attuned Ātman. When the treasure is found and taken, somewhere in the world, a family is ruined financially and sold into slavery. (They know the cause of their misery) Adds a number of points equal to the ’s attuned Ātman to the ’s attribute aligned with the attuned Ātman. Air=INT, Earth=CON, Water=CHA, Fire=SPD, Empyrean = PER, Void= DEX. With this increase, the also loses all the hair on his body permanently. Insinuates great thoughts of the into the minds and dreams of the world. Gain Renown equal to 10x the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 10). A small golden flame appears above the ’s head when his name is spoken. Gives a permanent increase to the ’s attuned Ātman equal to double the ’s CHA. The ’s skin color changes with his mood. The affliction last for a number of weeks equal to the ’s attuned Ātman (minimum of 1 week). Allows reincarnation; when the dies there is a chance that an aspect of his soul will find a likely host and imbue some of its essence into them. This allows the player to add 50 Renown to a new Hero once the current one dies. The new Hero has all the memories of the last one. Those that look deeply into the eyes of the Hero and know who he truly is. The Hero is burned upon his face with the mark of a god, blinding his right eye to the mundane world. He may now see the flow of elemental energy of the Earth, adding +5 to MR + Investigate/Search Skill rolls when looking for ley lines or other places of power. Example: The first person in the adventuring group to see the Fire obelisk is Donobey, who has a Fire Ātman of 4. The GM secretly rolls 1D20 and gets a result of 2; he then adds +4 to the roll for Donobey’s Fire Ātman and gets a final result of 6. Comparing this result to the table, the obelisk allows the to strike at a foe.

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GEOGRAPHICA NOTE: Obelisks entered in the month of Wayeb have double the effect. Uses All obelisks have a number of uses before they can no longer be entered and operated. Once used up the obelisk collapses into a pool of quicksilver that vanishes within minutes. Each obelisk is different and attuned to a different Ātman aspect. The obelisk has a number of uses equal to the ’s WIL+5 (minimum of 1 use). Additional uses may be gained by spending a permanent point of the ’s Ātman to which the obelisk is attuned. Example: The obelisk which Donobey sees has a total base number of uses equal to 5 (Donobey has a WIL of 0) before the obelisk vanishes back into unreality. Operation A may discern what the pattern of crystals inside an obelisk does before using it with an attuned Ātman + Investigate/ Search Skill roll versus a DoD-13. If he is successful he knows exactly what the obelisk does before using it. If the roll is a Partial Success, he has a vague understanding and no idea what it will do on a failure. A Critical Failure gives him erroneous information on the device and a Critical Success allows for one free use of the device which does not use up any of its uses. Example: Donobey has an Investigate/ Search Skill of +3 and a Fire Ātman of 6. To discern what the obelisk does, he must beat a DoD-13 with an Investigate/Search Skill roll total of +9. Rolling, he gets a Partial Success and ascertains that the obelisk may do harm in some way to those it focuses upon. Example: Donobey focuses the device on a Nethermen chieftain that he has been tracking for the past month and finds him within 4 kilometers and targets him using the obelisk. He manipulates the crystals and fires a burst of unrefined reality at the chieftain hitting him automatically for 20 Hit Points of damage. As he does so, Donobey is alarmed as his arm blackens and begins to slough charred skin. The Netherman staggers and looks around and Donobey fires again but this time the chieftain dodges to the side and the bolt misses him. Dayn, Donobey’s traveling companion, watches in amazement and decided that he wants to use the device too and uses the device to search out a foe in Tharsheesh, some 800 kilometers away and much farther than the range of 2 kilometers within which Dayn can target based on his Fire Ātman of 2. He fires the device but the foe is out of range and the burst of unrefined reality fizzles out well short of the target; Dayn’s arm, too, then blackens and begins to slough charred skin. So far the Heroes have used 3 of the obelisk’s 5 total charges.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Atlantean Calendar

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Calendar

GEOGRAPHICA

The Atlantean calendar is divided into 13 months; 12 months with 30 days each and a final month with only 5 days. Each month is subdivided into 5 weeks of 6 days. The months begin at the first visibility of the New Moon and are identified by the day number followed by the name of the month. At the end of the year, there are the 5 evil days. On these days it is said that the boundaries between the spirit world and our own are blurred, allowing things from beyond to slip into our reality. It is customary on these days to paint one’s face or dress as an undead or demonic entity to fool the spirits. Holy Days Holy days are recognized on the 1st, 7th, and 15th of each month. All devotees spend the day paying tribute. In some regions all conflicts stop with both sides taking respite in recognition of the gods. Feast Days Every month has two feast days; one on the 15th and one on the 30th. The feast days are usually family gatherings, where the extended family can meet and talk about the happenings of the month

Magic and the time of year Different magic s work differently depending on the season or month. The differences depend on the month or season, and are explained below, but all work the same way. A Hero using their traditions will automatically gain a bonus to their spell casting equal to twice the Hero’s CHA score. To activate this benefit, the Hero must spend 1 Hero Point. Example: A Hero with a CHA +3 and Attack Mode of +10 is trying to cast a spell with a DoD18. Normally the hero would have a -8 to his roll but during the dark month he may add +6 to his roll if he spends 1 Hero Point. The Solstices & Equinoxes During the solstices and equinoxes, magics performed in the Witchcraft and Animism Traditions have increased potency and brim with extra power. The month of Wayeb During this wicked month, the forces of darkness are set upon the earth, enhancing and helping their mortal allies with the Dark Arts. Sorcery and the Months of the Year The Atlantean sorcerers are some of the most potent practitioners of magic on the planet. As a benefit, the player may pick 4 months where they receive a bonus to their magic. Lunar Eclipse When the moon es into the shadow of the earth and the sun, earth, and moon align, powerful forces affect the world. All traditions (except the Dark Arts) gain a bonus to all spell casting equal to 5x their CHA. Conversely, the Elder Gods sleep soundly in the darkness created by the Earth’s shadow and the world is safe for a time. Dark Arts practitioners receive a penalty equal to twice their WIL to all spells cast during this time. To activate this benefit or negate the disadvantage the Hero must spend 1 Hero Point.

Empyrean and the 13 months

There is no month associated with the element of Empyrean as all months have the potential for some sort of inspiration. Instead, each month (except for Weyeb) has a day associated with the element as noted on the calendars. The day usually falls on the 13th of every month but some months vary

Solar Eclipse During these inauspicious (for most) occasions, the dark powers of the world gather in strength and the Elder Gods dream more potent horrors. All who practice the Dark Arts tradition double their magical effects (a level 5 spell is now a level 10). To activate this benefit, the Hero must spend 1 Hero Point. The Great Conjunction Every 500 years, the Great Conjunction happens. All six planets and the moon gather imperfect alignment with the sun. When this occurs, great and powerful magic can be worked. Geomantic upheavals occur and the Vril in ley lines and Circles double. Those with an MR rating of at least +2 or higher have prophetic visions, see the spirit world, and double the potency of any spell cast (a level 6 spell works as if it’s a level 12 spell). The next conjunction will happen soon….

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Nisanu

The beginning of the new year. Month of resting

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

15

16

17

18

22

23

24

29

30

Holiday: Olódùmarè’s First Breath

7 Holiday: Fool’s Day

13

14

Feast day: Feast of Orunmila’s Words Holiday: Night of Wisdom Dance

19

20

21

Holiday: The Hour of the Dragon

25

26

27

28

Feast: Ochosi’s Words

Ayaru Month of the Forthcoming of Water

1

2

3

4

5

6

9

10

11

12

16

17

18

Holiday: Olódùmarè Awakes!

7

8

Holiday: Moon’s Graceful age

13

Holiday: The Feast of Souls

14

15 Feast day: Feast of Oshún’s pleasure Holiday: Reflected Visage

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30 Feast: Iemanja’s Bounty

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GEOGRAPHICA

Simanu Month of Happiness

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

14

15

16

17

18

21

22

23

24

27

28

29

30

Holiday: Olódùmarè Stands

7 Holiday: Founding of the First Kingdom

13

Feast day: Deserts of the Ibeji Holiday: Coming of the Lawgiver

19

20 Equinox

25

26

Feast: Feast of the Orixa

Du’uzu Month of Love

1

2

Holiday: Olódùmarè walks!

7

3

4

5

6

Holiday: Dawn of the Six Arcana

8

9

10

11

12

14

15

16

17

18

Holiday: The Extant of Tol

13

Feast day: Oba’s Delights Holiday: Maidens Walk

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30 Feast: Oya’s Due

13

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Abu

Month of building

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Holiday: Olódùmarè speaks!

Holiday: Day of the Great Temple

Holiday: Paths of Eternity

Feast day: The night of Ogou’s Labor Holiday: The Day of the Dead

30 Feast: Anansi’s Night of Tales

Ululu Month of sprinkling seed

1

2

3

8

9

4

5

6

10

11

12

16

17

18

22

23

24

28

29

30

Holiday: Olódùmarè sows!

7 Holiday: Birth of Ragesh

13

Holiday: The Blessing of Smoke

14

15 Holiday: Eve of Prophecy Feast: The Last Drink of Light

19

20

21 Summer Solstice

25

26

27

Feast: Remembrance of the Day of Scars

14

GEOGRAPHICA

Tashritu Month of awakening of buried seed

1

2

3

4

Holiday: Olódùmarè claps!

7

5

6

Holiday: Rising of the Tides

8

9

10

11

12

14

15

16

17

18

Holiday: Festival of the Long Knives

13

Feast day: The Dance of Ocumare Holiday: Olukun’s Regatta

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30 Feast: Shango’s Red Feast

Arakhsamna Month of ripening fruit

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

14

15

16

17

18

Holiday: Olódùmarè laughs!

7 Holiday: The Centurions Stand

13

Feast day: Offerings to Exú Holiday: Moon Night

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Holiday: Crowning of Stars

Feast: abalu Aye Claims His Due

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Kislimu

Month of conceiving

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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Holiday: Olódùmarè creates the two! Holiday: Orichalcum Glow

Feast day: The coronation of Obatala Holiday: The Conjugal Feast

Equinox

Feast: Erinle’s Joy

Tebetu Month of harvesting

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Holiday: Olodumare Watches

Holiday: The Long Wait

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Holiday: The Serpent Festival

Feast day: Glory to Ozain Holiday: Weeping for Autochthonia

Feast: Cotillion Dreams

GEOGRAPHICA

Shabatu Month of giving

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Holiday: Olodumare Sings

Holiday: Carrion Roast

Feast day: Oba’s Glory Holiday: Day of Reckoning

Feast: Aganju’s Wealth

Adaru Month of flooding

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Holiday: Olodumare Weeps

Holiday: Death of Amanhene

Feast day: Bounty of Olukun Holiday: Antilla Falls Winter Solstice

Holiday: Nightensoul

Feast Day: The fattening before the famine.

Wayeb Month of terror

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The day of the unclean thought

The day of insatiable lus

The day of the beautiful deception

The day of foul betrayal

The day of blood soaked madness

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Alba and Iber

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­­­­­Alba (AL-bah) Alba is a rich and verdant land with terrain ranging from dense forests to rolling plains to bleak moors. Alba teems with natural life and, due to numerous invasions and migrations, is possessed of a host of varying cultures and peoples. Ogres and giants are particularly common in Alba. The territories staked out by these creatures, called Ogremoors, are home only to stunted and diseased plants and animals as the very presence of these monsters fouls the air for kilometers around. Though Alba is not a large island, it is subdivided into a number of separate regions. These include Aboric (A-bor-ik), Arden (AR-den), Avalon (AV-a-lon), Cymbri (SIM-bree), Havar (haVAR), Skara (SKA-ra), Skye (SKY) and Starr (STAR). Each of these regions is described in more detail in the individual sections that follow.

Aboric

(A-bor-ik)

Aboric is populated by the pale-skinned and dark-haired Abor tribes. Legend says the Abor were driven from Iber in ancient times by a demonic force that almost destroyed them. The Abor are a hostile people, without friends among any other human tribes. They harbor Nethermen among their tribes and have been known to interbreed with them. The more civilized humans of Alba find the Abor to be a filthy, crude, and slovenly folk. “Son o` an Abor”, “Manners o` an Abor”, and similar remarks are considered dire insults in most of Alba. These barbarians worship dark deities and believe that Ogres are their favored servants. The Abor regularly offer human sacrifices to nearby Ogres — young virgins at each new moon, children at the solstices and equinoxes, and captive strangers whenever they are available. In return, the Ogres generally leave the Abor alone. The Abor domesticate wild dogs, which they employ on the hunt and in combat. Their warriors wield stone-headed clubs, spears, and slings as weapons and wear “armor” of wolf or bear hide. The Abor lack the secret of metalworking and their reputation for sacrificing traders to nearby Ogres means that they are unlikely to get it by neighborly exchange. Most of the Abor population is scattered throughout Aboric in small bands, though they have one large settlement, called Ugmur (UG-moor). This settlement consists of a series of interconnected caves with entrances located throughout the surrounding countryside. The Abor often hide in these entrances and spring forth to capture unwary strangers. Ugmur is ruled by Queen Vorgel, an ancient hag steeped in the blood of a thousand sacrifices and rumored to be a powerful witch. Vorgel has great plans to unite the Abor tribes; plans that the rest of Alba would do well to worry about. Vorgel’s minions excavate new tunnels based on visions granted to the hag-queen by her dark masters; what they hope to find buried in the darkness is a mystery.

Arden

(AR-den)

The Forest of Arden is the homeland of the xenophobic race of humans called the Sidhe. Legend says that the Sidhe practice an extreme form of witchcraft, though the truth of the matter is unknown, since they tend to execute those tresing on their lands. The Sidhe do not mate outside of their community and have slowly become degenerate and touched by insanity. All Sidhe wear eerily beautiful masks of bone, clay, or metal to disguise their degenerate features. Some can be quite violent in expressing their hostility and harbor a long-standing hatred of those who have forced them to give up so much of what they once held. The tragedy is that the Sidhe once ruled all of Alba, Iber and Ys, and ranged freely throughout Europa, Atlantis, Turan, and even Gondwana. Over time the Dadorcha (as they call all non-Sidhe) have forced them to give up almost all of what they once held. Only in Alba are the Sidhe still populous, and only in Arden do they still prosper. As a result, few Dadorcha dare venture into, or even near, the Forest of Arden. Sidhe seeking vengeance or a chance to reclaim lost lands sometimes roam far outside their homeland, giving the race a reputation for dark deeds. Arden’s Sidhe have withstood invasions by everything from giants to Nethermen. Even the mighty Atlanteans lost the legions they sent into Arden’s dark boughs,

Alba’s Ogres

Hulking, grey-skinned brutes that tower over fully grown oak trees, Alba’s Ogres are cunning creatures that use their size to bully anything smaller than them. Alba’s Ogres are foul-tempered without exception and lazy beyond belief. These creatures emit a foul miasma that drives away animals and kills plant life. Luckily, there are probably less than two dozen Ogres in all of Alba; gender is evenly divided between males and females. The Ogre called Emperor Muld claims to be the ruler of his people but in truth the creatures live so far apart that this means little. Muld does have an impressive castle built by human slaves which overlooks a bleak marshland. The bards claim that the Ogres were born following the massacre of a Lemurian colony. It is said that the land itself wept for the deaths of the gentle Ape-men and when these tears touched the dead Lemurians they rose again as Ogres.

The Lady in Green

The Lady in Green isn’t a Sidhe at all; in fact, she is the source of their degenerate nature and the reason they hide behind masks. The queen is an ancient and powerful Ophidian who took refuge in Alba during the war with Lemuria. The Lady in Green, a skilled alchemist, has spent centuries refining an elixir to turn humans into Ophidians and so regenerate her race. The reason for the Sidhe’s retreat into Arden isn’t because they were driven back, but is instead a carefully calculated move by the queen, intended to disguise the final stages of her work.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Lost Legion

The Atlantean Legion once lost in Arden carried with it a legion standard topped with an orichalcum bull. The Lost Bull has long since been a legend that crops up from time to time. Allegedly it was originally enchanted to bestow some benefit to those who marched beneath it, but those stories are as contradictory and inconstant as the winds.

The Hunger Fleet

There are rumors of a group of pirates who raze and plunder the surrounding areas, not for riches and wealth but for blood and flesh. Survivors who have seen the fleet describe it as a small group of three to five ships of various sizes and cultural origins, much like the pirates of the Cymbri, but proceeded by a cold mist and unearthly howls. The crew that issue forth ravages unsuspecting villages, eating their victims where they fall. So insatiable is their hunger that nothing, man nor animal, is ever found alive. Villages and derelict ships found later contain nothing but piles of broken bones with the marrow sucked out.

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swallowed up in the green. It is said that Arden has been ruled from the earliest ages by an absolute monarch known only as the Lady in Green (no one is sure of her true name or even of her exact race). She has ruled Arden for a thousand generations of men, or so say the legends. Her rule is tempered by the strong force of tradition, the philosophy of the Sidhe supposedly evolving around the phrase: “Things shall be as they ever have been.” All of Arden’s Sidhe acknowledge the Lady in Green as absolute ruler, though some are less enthusiastic than others. The Sidhe have their share of internal squabbles, particularly between those who want peace and solitude and those who live only for vengeance against the Dadorcha.

Avalon

(AV-a-lon)

Avalon is a small land, in reality little more than an island-city, with Havar and Arden furnishing the landward boundaries. The mighty, white-marble city rests on an island in the River Usk, surrounded by farmlands, rolling plains, and forest. The farmers who tend these lands trade with the city and grow rich from their dealings, though they do not identify themselves as “of Avalon”. The entire population of Avalon (all of Atlantean blood) resides within the city, which grew steadily from its founding during the late Golden Age until the Cataclysm. Avalon’s people have a strange reputation and while they trade readily with outsiders, they rarely leave the city for more than a day at a time. Likewise, visitors, while encouraged to stay overnight, are not welcome for more than a few days at most. A noticeable oddity are the city’s impressive docks and the small fleet of warships residing there that never seem to leave port. Avalon is built around one of the largest Vril pyramids outside of Atlantis. The pyramid powers much of the wonders that Avalon is famed for, but it also sustained damage during the Cataclysm. This damage causes the island of Avalon to vanish into mist from mid-Autumn until mid-Spring each year, prompting the locals to call it “the summer kingdom”. The population is tight-lipped about what happens during this time, and it is widely believed that the island simply ceases to exist. Avalon is wholly located on an islet, connected by bridge to the mainland fields and forests. The royal palace is built directly on the Vril pyramid. Some say that the constant flow of arcane energy is slowly twisting and mutating the royal family. Avalon is looked towards with greedy eyes by its neighbors. The Havari and Cymbri would dearly love to learn the secrets of working iron, and the gold stored in the city alone would be worth a fortune to them. Though no formal attack has been launched, it is only a matter of time before a Cymbrian pirate decides to try his luck.

Where does Avalon Go?

Avalon doesn’t just vanish into nothingness, nor does it visit Hell, or sink into the lands of the dead. The entire island shifts a few hundred kilometers out into the sea where it is known as the island of Ys. Avalon’s people are reluctant to discuss the shifting for a number of reasons, not least of which is because none of them have aged a day since the Cataclysm. A city that makes its people immortal would soon outgrow its boundaries. Even after centuries of study the people can’t figure out exactly what is happening or why; all they know is that if they leave the city for more than a day or so, time catches up with them and they die of extreme old age. Another cause for concern is that in the last few decades some people have failed to reappear after the shift. These people have simply vanished, never to be seen again. At first only one or two people were affected but the numbers are increasing and people are getting very scared. King Haeseus is deeply concerned about the disappearances and has taken the rather drastic step of consulting a demon called Trumakhanis on the matter. The demon claims to be an expert on Vril technology and has promised Haeseus that it can restore Avalon permanently to the real world. What Trumakhanis is really up to is anyone’s guess.

Cymbri

GEOGRAPHICA

(SIM-bree)

Cymbri is not a true country, but a single, large settlement situated on the rockbound western coast of Havar. Its exact location, once a closely guarded secret, is common knowledge in Havar, though no realm has the sea-power to deal with the nascent nation. The original settlers of Cymbri were a mixture of Sheban slaves from the early days of the Sheban trading empire. While en route to Tartessos in a fleet of slave galleys, the thralls revolted and used the ships to flee westward, eventually finding refuge in Alba. Here they established a stronghold, naming it Cymbri, after a hero of the revolt. To themselves, and as a measure of vengeance for their ill treatment at the hands of their former masters, the Cymbrians turned to piracy as a way of life. Since that time, several hundred years ago, the Cymbrians have increased both in number and in strength. The crude-walled enclosure that once served as their base of operations is said to have grown into a ramshackle town of clashing architectural styles. The Cymbrian population has also continued to grow, augmented by the constant influx of captives, escaped slaves, and disaffected individuals from all over the known world. The Cymbrian fleet has swollen to become a threat to even the mighty Atlantean war machine. Cymbrian culture is incredibly diverse, with almost every religious belief and custom represented. The few traditions native to Cymbri primarily reflect the legacy left by their slave ancestors. As Sheban slaves were made to shave their heads, so too do most Cymbrian corsairs (both male and female), though many retain a top-knot or narrow crest of hair as a symbolic show of defiance to the old ways. Clothing and jewelry varies wildly in style and frequently clash; “vibrant” is the best way to describe Cymbrian fashion. Though Cymbrians have an inherent dislike of authority, a council of captains serves to govern the city’s interests and settle disputes. The council is elected by the captains of the pirate vessels and serves until deposed or killed. Among other duties, the council decides whether or not any newcomer is to be granted Cymbrian citizenship. Almost anyone can apply for citizenship in Cymbri. It is customary for such applicants to offer the council a goodly sum of treasure or a gift of great value as an “application fee” of sorts. Those accepted are required to swear an oath of loyalty to the city. Cymbri is a walled port city of formidable construction, well-guarded by hardened corsairs. Most Cymbrians converse in a twisted version of the Atlantean tongue called “Cymbish.” This dialect is practically incomprehensible even to those who speak Atlantean, and qualifies as a distinct language all its own. Cymbri’s primary source of income is piracy though it trades a little when necessary or desirable. There are no laws in Cymbri but the locals adhere rigidly to a pirate code of honor with violent punishments for those that break it. There are those who say that Cymbri is paid a substantial sum of gold and silver each year by Tharshesh in return for leaving their merchant ships alone. Some even believe Tharshesh encourages raids against its rivals by these Cymbrian corsairs, though to date there has been no proof offered that such a conspiracy truly exists.

Havar

(ha-VAR)

Havar is the most populous region of Alba and consists of gently rolling plains and dense forests. Atlantean Golden Age ruins are common but shunned by the locals who believe them cursed. The people of Havar are fair-skinned, usually with brown hair. Their society is druidic and the High Druid of Havar is both the spiritual and political leader of Havar, the Guardian of History, the Teacher, and the Keeper of Stonehenge. The druidic religion survived the Atlantean occupation of Havar as a secret cult, and when the “iron faces” left, the Druids were the first to organize formal settlements. Stonehenge is a non-functioning Vril Circle from the Golden Age that the Havari adopted as an observatory and temple to their gods. This great circle of standing stones fulfills both religious and calendric function, marking the age of days, months, seasons, and years by tracking the rising and setting of the sun and moon over various stones. Havar has a large population of Andaman, mostly Asena. The Andaman and Havari are in a constant state of low-level warfare since the Druids regard the beastmen as abominations and have

Endendracgorne

On the isolated western shores of Alba, atop the dark mountain of Mornmorrall, stands a lonely pinnacle of night-black rock. If a man were to stand on that pinnacle, he might see the long, deep of Endendracgorne, gripped tight in the mountains that divide Skye and Cymbri. Such a should by rights echo with the creak of wagons or the clink of armored men, but this is not the fate of Endendracgorne. Remote and desolate, Endendracgorne is a hidden and unwanted place, full of thick mists and lingering shadows; a corner of Alba that shuns sunlight and grasps tight to a lasting chill. Those few that dare to intrude, speak of their time there only in hushed tones, comparing the valley to a grave, roughhewn from the earth by the hands of some mournful god. The few that choose to speak of their experiences warn of the dangers of stepping from what they call “the path”. Even individuals known for their malicious nature give earnest warnings laced with levels of manic concern to anyone seeking guidance or information about a valley crossing. The path lacks markings or gravel, timbers or markers, and is best described as a following of signs or omens. Even those that adhere to the path and heed all warnings sometimes vanish into the mists. Something malicious in the valley awaits its master’s to return, tricking those who tres into an early grave. Ancient Jinn scripts refer to Endendracgorne as the destination of all material journeys.

-Contributed by Jeremy Kear

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

This is one of the most stable regions in all of Alba and a fine place to visit - if you happen to be human. I was almost executed and only managed to escape by diving overboard while crossing a river. I don’t enjoy being called an abomination by people whose idea of technical sophistication is bashing each other over the head with rocks. That may not be a fair estimation but I’d wager that they can’t tell a Lemurian from an Andaman. Consider yourself warned. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress.

The High Druid

The current High Druid, Alcuin of Nol, has held the position for seven years following his predecessor’s death at the hands of a rogue Andaman. The murder reignited the conflict between the Andaman and Havari, a conflict that the previous High Druid had been trying to end diplomatically when he was slain. Alcuin, a zealot, has used his predecessor’s death as a rallying call and now the Andaman are on the brink of extinction in Havar. Alcuin has commissioned the creation a new monument close to the Stonehenge circle. This vast monument consists of dozens of freestanding wooden pillars that store the power of sacrifices, allowing the High Druid to tap into this energy. Most of the sacrifices are animal in origin but Alcuin and a cabal of his closest followers have secretly sacrificed Andaman prisoners in an attempt to boost the power of the site.

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ordered their destruction. For their part, the Havari see the Andaman as minions of the dreaded Atlanteans and treat them accordingly. The people of Havar do not wear furs or hides, and consider those who do to be barbaric at best. They subsist primarily on fruits, vegetables, and herbs, eating game only when absolutely necessary for their diet. Some portion of any kill must be sacrificed to Cernunnosa as a token of respect and gratitude. Despite these limitations, the Havari are skilled hunters and trackers, employing the short bow, dagger and spear. The Havari possess a runic alphabet (taught by the Druids) and place much emphasis on performance skills and natural magic. The settlements are clean and well-ordered; they have domesticated animals and ed much of agriculture from their time under Atlantean rule. The Havari make most implements from wood and stone. Some tribes have learned to work the copper and tin that are common to the south of their lands, but bronze and iron are unknown to them. Politically, the Druids exercise complete control over the land. Havar is divided into four regions: Ashara (ash-AR-a), Aw (AW), Awtam (AW-tam), and Havoc (HAV-oc). Each is governed by an Elder Druid, who ranks above the Druid chieftains of the region’s settlements. The High Druid rules over all, an absolute monarch who makes all laws and is the ultimate arbiter of all disputes. The Elder Druids, however, control the selection of the High Druid’s successor, and will combine to depose a High Druid whose actions threaten Havar’s peace and order. This binding of church and state prevents the power struggles between priests and lords common in other regions. The settlements of Havar are all large communal shelters. They are circular, in homage to their moon goddess, and are constructed of fine-crafted, sturdy oak. The largest settlement-house, some 40 meters in diameter, is called Hwarrum (haWAR-rum). It is 3 meters high around the perimeter, rising to a center 10 meters above ground level. A second floor is located at the 3 meter level, and a small third floor 6 meters off the ground occupies the center of the large building. A central shaft 3 meters in diameter connects the three floors from roof to lowest floor, providing ventilation. Within this single structure is an entire village, with shops, residences, and even a small tavern. Of the four districts, Aw is the most prestigious, as Hwarrum and Stonehenge are located here. Awtam is the southwestern coastal region, through which trade es to southern lands. Ashara is an eastern district, separating Awtam and Aw from neighboring Arden. A strip of the Arden border also runs along the boundary of Havoc, a contested region that arcs from northeast to southwest and is surrounded by Cymbri and Skye as well as Arden. Havar is by no means a peaceful realm, even ignoring the Andaman conflict. The Cymbrians and bands of Ska frequently raid the borderlands, and Havar retaliates in kind. Havoc is thus a dangerous land, plagued by battles between warriors of all three nations. Further, the Sidhe who dwell in the Forest of Arden are none too fond of their neighbors, often interfering in their affairs. Cymbrian ships harass the entire Havari coastline, and warriors from the pirate nation often tres into Havar’s territory. The Ska of Skye rarely raid Havar by sea, but do mount guerilla attacks through the landward marches. Havar’s only close ties are with Avalon and Ys, both of them major trading partners. Havar is unaware that Ys and Avalon are one in the same.

Skara

(SKA-ra)

The windswept, rock-strewn terrain of Skara occupies the northern portion of Alba. In this bleak land of rugged hills and lonely moors live the Skara; light-skinned, dark-haired, and of average build and height. Once closely related to the Ska of Skye, the Skara and Ska feuded generations ago and have since been separated politically and culturally. The Skara are shepherds and hunters, but unlike their cousins from Skye, they do not much like the sea. What fishing they do is done from the shore, and they have no skill in building ships. They understand many advanced concepts of agriculture, but the harsh climate of the region favors only the hardiest crops. Scarcity of food and raids from Skye, Aboric, and Cymbri has thus far conspired to keep the Skara population rather small. Skilled in crafting blocks of slate, the Skara have built small but impressive settlements with semi-paved streets and basic sewer systems (an idea liberated from the abandoned Atlantean villas that dot the landscape). Much of their furniture is likewise fashioned from cut and polished slate. As hardwoods are extremely scarce in Skara, almost all implements must be made from slate,

GEOGRAPHICA flint, or sheepskin. In working these materials, the Skara are largely unequalled. Scholars believe that the Skara were influenced by Atlanteans in their development of cities. The Skara themselves, however, retain no history of such outside influences. Their settlements are old, and the origins lost in antiquity. The most prominent are Orka (OR-ka) and Phadrig (FADrig). Each is ruled by a Druid, with the High Druid living in Orka. Initiates preside over smaller settlements. The religion of Skara focuses on Cernunnosa, of the Europan gods, with the Morrigan also holding some prominence. Non-functioning Vril circles, much like Stonehenge, are found in several places in Skara. The Skara are not a meek people. They organize raids into Skye and Aboric, and have even ventured into the territories of neighboring Starr. Unlike the Ska, Skara raids are usually mounted to steal food and animals, not to extend their territory or take captives (Skara is too poor to slaves, so prisoners are impractical, at best). Hit-and-run raids are the rule, with little time wasted on unnecessary combat or killing. In battle the Skara use stone maces, flint daggers, and slings as weapons and wear sheep- or bearskin armor. Skara slingers are feared throughout Alba for their uncanny accuracy. Metal weapons captured from foreigners are highly prized, and considered a mark of esteem amongst the Skara. Fua-thwl

Skara is plagued by spirits of the earth disturbed by the deep quarries dug during the Golden Age. The stone circles common here were an attempt by the Atlanteans to bind the Fua-thwl to the earth using geomancy. The Cataclysm and resulting Vril surge trapped many of the deep spirits in the Vril circle’s stones. Now, when the Vril levels rise, the stones uproot themselves and wander the country looking for vengeance on the “quick ones”, as they call humans.

Skye

I’ve only set foot once in Alba. It was during the time my companions and I delivered a blind prince to his one true love. It rained almost every day in that dreary land and the sky was thick as cold oatmeal. The food, if you can call it that, was boiled to remove any flavor it may have had. I did manage to snag a ring of tablets written in the language of the Havar people. I figured it was some sort of magical tome I could sell later. It turned out to be a book of laws and philosophies on governance used by the Druids. Not worth the paper it was printed on if you ask me. Donobey of Nubia

(SKY)

The people of Skye are of the same race as those in Skara, having once all been part of the same nation following the Atlantean occupation. Differences arose between the two groups, and Skye broke off to pursue its own course. Skye occupies Alba’s northwest coast. Those who live here call themselves the Ska. Unlike Skara, Skye has fairly extensive woodlands and thus the advantage of using wood as a building material. The Ska build ships and are very much at home on the water. The Ska began as hunter-gatherers, but long ago adopted the concept of seaborne piracy from the Cymbrians. Their corsairs bring in extra food and many luxuries, including metal implements looted from the vessels and coastal settlements they plunder. Most Ska have various metal weapons or eclectic pieces of armor, either taken in battle or handed down from a successful ancestor. They favor longbows and battleaxes in combat and, when they cannot get metal weapons, use polished stone ones instead. The Ska have laid claim to several islands off the coast, though Cymbrian corsairs dispute this claim and the rivalry often ends in bloodshed. The main settlements of Skye are Uig (u-IG) and Oa (O-ah). Uig is the largest and residence of the Corsair Chief of Skye. A 30 meter high natural pillar of solid stone stands on a cliff above Uig, a colossal monument to the New Gods. The monolith is avoided by the Ska, who shun religious practices of any sort. Some claim that a Black Druidic cult lives there and uses the totem in its dark rituals.

Starr

(STAR)

This region lies on the eastern coast of Alba. A very small tribe of hunter-gatherers lives here; semi-nomadic barbarians who migrate from upland pastures in the summer to southern woodlands near the fringes of Arden in the winter. They are tall, with brown skin and light hair, and dress in long, flowing garments. The Starrians follow herds of Red Deer which live in the region. They use no metal, only stone, wood, bone, antler, and leather. Not particularly noted for their craftsmanship, they produce adequate tools and implements. They do not generally engage in trade, and shun with all

Lurking Horrors

One of the islands held by the Ska holds the remains of a hidden Golden Age Atlantean laboratory. The sorcerers who worked here were drowned by a tidal wave during the Cataclysm but their work remains untouched and sealed away in the hidden complex. The sorcerer-scientists were engaged in creating a new form of sea-borne Andaman. The results of their experiment may still lie below, trapped in a semi-flooded complex waiting to be set free.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Too good to be true?

The Starrians are pacifists in a world of violence and hatred. How do they survive with their peaceful ways intact and why have they not cast off this attitude to defend themselves? The answer is simple enough; they are being poisoned. Arden’s Lady in Green is a master alchemist and long ago decided that in order for her people to conquer the world she would have to render the humans into a more manageable state. The Lady in Green found a human tribe near Arden and began her experimentations, offering food laced with an aggression-inhibiting toxin to them. The Starrians were pacified almost overnight and within a generation they had adopted new tribal customs to suit their modified viewpoint.

The Fir Bolg The Lemurians, me included, deeply regret the damage and destruction that the Fir Bolg have wrought upon Iber. Several of my kin endeavor in secret to thwart the Fir Bolg by shifting the Vril lines in and around the nation. Others of my kin believe this to be too dangerous a course of action and seek to instead halt Fir Bolg aggression through overt warfare and political blockades. Alas, I fear we all shall all be too inadequate to our chosen tasks. Caerwyn Ironjaw,

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but the Sidhe of Arden with whom they have a silent understanding. They are pacifists by nature, following the tenets of an age-old mystic cult that revolves around the worship of the Europan gods. Unlike most of their neighbors, the people of Starr covet neither power nor wealth. Consequently, gold and other precious substances have little value amongst these peoples. The Starrians are good hunters, but poor warriors. They lead a hard life threatened by neighboring tribes, and they are few in number. A peaceful people, they prefer seclusion over interaction when they have a choice. Oddly, the Sidhe of Arden are not hostile to the Starrians, regularly trading food and medicines in exchange for Starrian deer pelts.

Iber

(I-ber)

Iber was a land of mystery even during the Golden Age. The Atlantean legions that landed here either vanished or died in horrible, bloody ways. A famous expedition lead by Hardalis of Autochton ended before it even set foot on the island as the rocky coastline “came to life” and devoured eleven of his twelve ships. Today, a few lonely settlements cling to the craggy coastline (mostly the descendants of shipwrecked sailors) but no foreigner dares penetrate into the oak forests that cover Iber like a mantle. A few brave souls from Alba make a very good living collecting rare roots and herbs from the woodlands, but it is not uncommon for these people to vanish without warning. Uallach’s skalds claim that the land itself is hungry and what is not provided by sacrifice is taken by force. Visitors are looked upon as potential sacrifices by the Picts, and blood-stained oak groves haunted by the spirits of the damned can be a grisly find. The handful of expeditions that have managed to slip unnoticed into the forests have brought back tales of ley-lines blazing with power, ancient terrors that stalk the trees, and dark birthing pools that spawn strange and twisted creatures. The Jinn who call Iber home are broken roughly into two groups, the Danu and the Fir Bolg. The Danu are the most amenable to outsiders and mix freely with both Picts and Uallach. The Danu have strongholds of their own along the southern and eastern coastlines and while they travel the interior, they do not settle there. The Danu are locked in constant low-level warfare with another tribe of Jinn called the Fir Bolg. The Fir Bolg were once a peaceful people who controlled the western coastline of Iber. The Cataclysm changed this as a tidal wave of raw Vril energy burned and warped the Fir Bolg’s malleable forms. The Fir Bolg lost their ability to shift form that day and it drove them mad. Now the Fir Bolg, trapped in all manner of warped forms, plot vengeance on Atlantis. Wielding magics taught to them by the Lemurians in the murky mists of time, the Fir Bolg are attempting to turn Iber into a single massive Vril-channeling device, capable of scouring all life from Atlantis. The Fir Bolg’s tampering with nature has turned the western forests into a very dark place indeed, with demonic entities corrupting once-sacred groves.

Pictland The island’s human inhabitants are the greatest source of danger for visitors outside of the Fir Bolg. The interior of Iber is dominated by the Picts, a race of barbaric nomads so ferocious and savage that the Jinn call them “wood demons”. A tall, strongly built people with light skin and dark hair, the Picts are distinctive in appearance. They stain their skins blue with woad (a natural pigment) and tattoo spiral designs on their bodies. They are utterly without mercy, fiercely independent, and jealous of their land and their freedom. Roaming the land in nomadic bands, the Picts are not particularly advanced in either technology or social structure. They use stone, bone, antlers, tusks, and wood to make tools, utensils, and (most often) weapons. Spirals and Ouroboros motifs are incised on most possessions, but this is the only adornment found on Pictish implements. Rank and position in Pictish society is entirely based on prowess in battle and on the hunt. The

GEOGRAPHICA Warchief, the most skilled of the warriors, reigns supreme in each individual band. When Warchiefs deal with one another, they revert to trials of strength to settle such disputes as may arise between them. The Picts fight among themselves more as a ritual than out of aggression, saving their warlike attentions for their neighbors. Non-Pictish settlements on Iber, especially Tara, are in constant danger. The Picts worship bloody (and possibly demonic) gods that demand constant sacrifice; this alone is enough to drive the Picts to attack and capture others. The lands the Picts claim are some of the most dangerous on Iber, filled with giant bears the size of elephants, wolves the size of horses, and where even the most common bestial prey, the giant elk, has antlers over 6 meters wide. Snakes are common here, with some massive specimens growing to lengths of 30 meters or more. Beyond the natural creatures there are a vast number of supernatural things dwelling beneath the black boughs. Though rarely seen, these creatures are cruel and capricious, often toying with humans for sport.

Tara

Tharshesh’s colony at Tara is an affront to the Picts, who regard the site as holy ground, where their chieftains are crowned and buried. The colony endures almost constant attacks, and dark creatures from the forests carry off colonists on a regular basis. Were it not for the abundant mineral resources, Tharshesh would have abandoned the site long ago.

Uallach

The Aesir’s Causeway

(oo-WA-lok)

This strange formation of hexagonal stones vanishes beneath the sea along the north coast of Iber. It is said that once upon a time the Danu had a colony in far-off Hyperborea. Some say that anyone sleeping on the causeway’s smooth stones will awaken in that lost colony. The mists that gather on these stones are infused with potent and strange Vril.

Uallach lies in the north of Iber, a remnant of pre-Pictish habitation of the island. The people of this nation are most closely akin to the light-skinned, dark-haired Abor of Alba. The Uallach are a loose confederation of tribes who share a common cultural heritage and morality. The tribes here follow a variant of the druidic religion of Havar and hold their own against the Picts by clever use of magic and bronze weapons purchased with gold extracted from the ore-laden rivers. The Uallach are master animal trainers and use wolfhounds and kestrels when hunting. The Uallach use atlatls with bronze-tipped javelins to terrible effect against their foes. The southern boundary of Uallach is marked by the Worm’s Wall. This raised earthen rampart runs east to west and reaches a height of about 3 meters. The wall is one of the few safe ages through Iber’s interior, though the earth churns from time to time, throwing off a layer of topsoil. Legend says that one of Set’s limbs lays beneath the earth here, thrashing and trying to return to its master. Whatever the truth, the wall seems to have some supernatural power as the serpents common to Pictland do not travel north of it. Names

Names

Names

Aboric, Arden, Avalon, Cymbri, and Havar

Iber, Aboric, Pictland, Uallach

Skara, Skye, Starr

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Arawn

Argona

Airril

Brianag

Aed

Affraic

Arthur

Angharad

Artair

Caitir

Algune

Bethac

Bedwyr

Arianrhod

Brandubh

Ceana

Arcill

Cairistiona

Beli

Blodeuwedd

Cailean

Eithne

Broccin

Caitrina

Bran

Branwen

Carmag

Grainne

Cathal

Dearbhail

Cai

Ceridwen

Drostan

Malamhin

Cennedig

Deirdre

Culhwch

Elaine

Eachann

Meadhbh

Cuilen

Eithne

Dylan

Enid

Finnean

Muireall

Domnall

Ete

Gahariet

Gwenhwyfar

Gabhran

Oighrig

Feradac

Iosobal

Llyr

Igraine

Lachlainn

Searlaid

Lulach

Mairghread

Myrddin

Luned

Muireach

Sidheag

Matne

Muirgheal

Nudd

Lunete

Oisean

Slainte

Morgant

Raghnailt

Pryderi

Morgaine

Osgar

Sorcha

Raudri

Seonaid

Urien

Nimue

Sionn

Tearlag

Sithech

Sitheag

Yvain

Rhiannon

Torradan

Una

Uilliam

Tira

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Alba & Iberian Flora Stag Horns This diminutive plant is most easily found after the first snowfall, but grows throughout the year everywhere in the forests if one searches carefully. Most frequently appreciated by herbivores such as deer or elk once other foods have long since vanished, these nonflowering plants have a long prostrate creeping stem than can be up to 20 meters in length. At regular intervals, the stem branches into an erect green stalk that looks similar to a deer’s or elk’s antler, hence the name. The plant has been used medicinally by several of the more primitive tribes to make a tea that is effective against infections and various poisons from animal bites and stings. As a powder, the plant is readily ignitable, creating a fast intense flash of light; it has been used as an assault weapon to blind and confuse targets before attacking. Effect: Against infections and poisons, can be brewed as an alchemical potion, DoD -10, that cures up to 10 HP. As a flash bang, the alchemical powder, DoD -12, blinds victims momentarily, causing confusion; all sight-based Perception rolls have a DoD-10 for 6 rounds, CON roll, DoD -10, to reduce duration entirely (Critical), by 5 rounds (Success), by 3 rounds (Partial), or not at all (Failure). Jinnweed Sometimes known as ‘Jinn’s Trumpets’ or ‘Deadly Spirits,’ these large leafy annuals erupt in white or yellow trumpet-like blooms followed by large seedpods that rattle once dried. Found mostly in glens and open areas within and surrounding the forests, the plant is deadly poisonous for most mortal beings. The Jinn, however, are known to use the plant to make an elixir that opens the mind to the spiritual world, allowing them to communicate with deities and spirits. It is said the Jinn have ways of making a variety of this potion that mortals may consume without fatality, but this may just be a rumour. Effect: Against most humanoids, STR8 poison. Jinn elixir, DoD -25: Grants Sensory mode at level 15 + PER for 3 hours. s enter the dream-worlds to find their target and have the opportunity to talk with them. The must make a WIL roll versus a DoD-8 or else lose control and consciousness. Beardtongue These tube-shaped, two-lipped flowers cover the mountains and coastal cliffs with a blanket of purples and reds. While their roots are often used by locals as both a painkiller and sedative, the aerial parts can be dangerous to unwary ers-by. The tubes of these plants contain a pollen that can effectively knock out someone who runs through a field of the blooms. The tranquilizing effect lasts about an hour after being inhaled. The danger is usually due to the plants’ habit of growing near cliffs and ledges among the rocks, making it more likely the forward momentum of the victim will pitch him skyward. The local healers keep secret that they only approach the plants once the blooms have finished for the season; as a result, the medicine they obtain from the plants is effective and valuable. Effect: Beardroot tea reduces pain and causes unconsciousness; DoD +2 to resist. In nature, pollen causes stupor (-3 to all actions) for half a day; DoD -2 to resist. Pollen can be concentrated as an alchemical powder, DoD -6, for use as a knock-out weapon; CON, DoD +5, to resist; if unsuccessful the victim suffers -3 to all actions for 4 rounds. Hart’s Bloom The hart’s bloom is a small attractive perennial that blossoms from a long stem in early spring, followed by hand-like leaves and a small red fruit in the summer. Most notably, the blossoms’ scent is irresistible to most animals, attracting them from near and far. This scent affects Andamen of all types as well, and was once used by the older races to control the hybrids in past ages. The blossoms and fruit can be used to make fermented cordials that will intoxicate any animal breed or hybrid, and can cause addiction, though the sensation is purely psychological and will not produce any lasting side effects. Humans and other non-bestial entities smell nothing. Effects: For all animals and Andamen, when brewed into an alchemical poison, DoD -6, functions as a strength 5 poison. As an alchemical powder, DoD -7, and inhaled, the blossoms produce feelings of euphoria; penalty to WIL equal to 5-CON for one hour. Thundering Tree One of the largest trees found anywhere in the Known World, the Thundering Trees have accumulated so many legends that there are primitive tribes who worship them as living gods. At first glance these trees appear as giant evergreens, but their needles are subtly different, fanning out at the ends so they are wider than they are long. The fruit is also not a cone, but a four-chambered pod, about the size of a man’s hand, containing two large seeds. The main difference between this and other trees is that any investigation of this tree can lead to possible death—these trees attract Vril energy and discharge it as a physical explosion when anything sensitive to Vril touches any part of the tree. This includes nearly all living things bigger than one of its own seedpods. Each pod contains a small amount of the Vril energy and can be collected once they fall away from the tree. Effects: Discharge is emitted as electricity and has a DR of 30. Each pod holds 2 Hero Points of power as stored vril.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Alba And Iber Location Adventure Seeds 1. The River King’s Throne Hidden along the banks of the Sparflank River in the far west of Iber lies the throne of the River King. This half-submerged throne was built for a being of titanic stature and it is said that the one that sits in it can control every waterway in Iber. Between malicious river spirits and the warring Jinn factions nobody has been able to get near the throne to test the legend. One old stone tablet uncovered by Tharshi diggers in Tara claims that the throne is a gateway to some other world. 2. The Wise Men of Athery In the dark woods of central Iber stands a grisly grove of ancient oaks. Here the severed heads of a hundred dead magicians serve their descendants after death. The heads, each sitting in its own nook, are fed regularly with blood and dispense wisdom and prophecy to the native tribesmen. The heads speak in one voice and are said to emit a terrible scream capable of shattering bone to protect themselves. The wise men know many terrible secrets and sometimes whisper one to a good man in order to twist his mind. 3. Jachk’s Crossroads Old women of the native tribes of Iber tell tales of Jachk, the prideful and arrogant man who spat in the face of the New Gods and was cursed for it. Jachk was once a good man, a warrior and hunter, whose wife grew deathly ill. Jachk begged the New Gods for help but none came and his wife died. Angry with the gods, Jachk strode out into the fog-choked night and, finding the priests asleep, slit their throats. The New Gods were angry and cursed Jachk as he walked home through the fog and dark. Jachk came to a crossroads, a crossroads from which he’s never been able to find his way home. To this day Jachk’s spirit waits at his crossroads on dark foggy nights, slaying those with no belief in the New Gods in the hope that the ancient ones will one day forgive him for his slight. 4. The Living Valley Iber fairly strains with living energy; Vril pools exist in every hollow and living things are found in every nook and cranny. Small wonder then that Iber is home to things that should not be able to draw breath, as well as objects and places that ordinarily lack will or make any sense. The stories say that in the far north there lies a place called “An Taraghai Mor”, a valley of suring beauty, bursting with life. The valley is said to be ruled over by druid who welcomes all travelers. The druid is said to have animated trees and living sculptures as servants. What the stories leave out is that the druid is no druid at all, but a crazed Lemurian scientist, determined to give life to that which has none; of course, to do so he needs the souls of the living.

of would-be treasure hunters have met their deaths falling from the fortresses’ rain-slick stones. 6. The Spineweft At the border between Haver and the Forest of Arden lies a sliver of land known as the Spineweft. The place is a wasteland of creeping death whose power grows with each ing year. The Spineweft started life as a ritual gravesite called the Spine, a ravine where the people of Haver would deposit those that they felt were unworthy of proper burial: criminals, taboo-breakers, monsters, and foreigners. This site’s reputation grew darker with undead creatures held back by only by carefully maintained wards. The queen of Arden finally grew annoyed by this dark place on her border and sent a mercenary army out to destroy the nearby Haver tribes to prevent them from using it. The Haver clashed with the mercenary army and the mercenaries were wiped out. The Haver threw the bodies into the ravine; a mistake, for this tipped the balance against the wards and the undead were able to break free. Now a powerful lich-lord controls this undead force from the ravine-palace of Spineweft. It is said that the undead toil to dig ages beneath the earth, allowing them to travel vast distances without the pain of the sun. 7. The Dragon-arch Draigoch, as it is known to the inhabitants of southern Cymbri, is a huge arch of crystal and stone, shot through with veins of red and orange. The arch is said to have been created during the First Age, but no one knows by whom. The locals use the end of the arch that plummets into the sea as a mooring point for small fishing vessels. The stone base which stands upon the shore is pitted by age and the sea air. Cymbri youth are known to sometimes attempt to scale the arch, for it is said that it is possible to see great distances from the peak. 8. The Glass Garden A large untended garden sits nestled in eastern Havar. This garden is comprised of a number of flowering plants such as roses, lilies, and thistle; however, all of the plants seem to be comprised of ornately carved crystal and glass. The thorns as well as the edges of the leaves and petals are all razor-sharp and seem to have a yearning taste for hot blood. It is possible to move through the Glass Garden if one is nimble or extremely careful and some of the blossoms and fruit picked from the garden have been sold for small fortunes.

9. The Stone Shore The northern coast of Star consists of a series of rocky cliffs and promontories, but nestled among these is said to be a grey beach whose ‘sand’ is little more than gravel and shattered pieces of rusting iron. A series of caves nests above the Stone Shore, but the local 5. Dun Calliach Starrans claim them to be the haunted tombs of monsters and do A cliff-top fortress on the west cost of Alba, Dun Calliach is not willingly venture close. sometimes called “the lost king” as it is carved from the cliff-face into the shape of a kneeling giant. The fortress’ origins are unknown and it lacks easily accessible entrances or windows. More than one group

28

GEOGRAPHICA

29

Anostos

30

Anostos Anostos (Uh-NOS-Tos) Anostos is a poisonous, demon-haunted isle where even the air is toxic. The island is almost impossible to spot from a distance, as a combination of active volcanoes and undersea fissures conspire to boil the ocean around it, making it steam and fill the skies with heavy clouds of ash. High cliffs and hull-shredding rocks keep all but the most suicidal crews from landing here. Though covered with ice and snow across the northern peaks, the interior region of Anostos is surprisingly temperate and even tropical in places. This is due in large part to the numerous hot springs found throughout these parts and the massive amount of volcanic activity. The perpetual ash cloud that shrouds the central region acts as a blanket keeping the heat in. The terrain of Anostos is highly distinctive, ranging from ravaged wastes to tropical waters and thick woodland. The Taquii Mountains form a natural barrier, separating the outer fells from the inner lands.

The Fomorians The dominant species on Anostos are the Fomorians, a race of foul and depraved giants. Long a threat to ships traversing the northern seas, the Fomorians have a well-earned reputation as pirates and slavers of the worst sort. The Fomorians live in walled villages of crudely worked bloodwood that cling to inlets of the sea or perch high on coastal cliffs. Several thousand Fomorians are believed to live on the continent, though they are by no means a unified force. Over a hundred different clans exist, each numbering from 30 to 300 individuals. Squabbling amongst the clans is common, and often leads to violence. The Fomorians maintain a rather grisly tradition of impaling their own dead on bloodwood stakes along the coastline. The bodies are treated with bloodwood sap beforehand to preserve them somewhat. Fomorian witches enchant some of these corpses, allowing them to see through their dead eyes. Life within a Fomorian village is brutal and monotonous. Females, children, and slaves perform the labor. Those who are too old or feeble to work are either slain out of hand or banished to the Fells. When not at sea, the adult males spend much of their time lolling about, arguing over stolen booty, or drinking great quantities of the intoxicating beverage known as fomor. The more aggressive males sometimes venture forth into the interior, either to hunt for food or to gather the ingredients necessary for the making of their potent brews. If a clan has captured many slaves, its chieftain may elect to dispatch a logging or mining expedition to the interior. Such expeditions usually consist of at least twenty individuals (one Fomorian guard for every four slave laborers), and may last as long as six months. The primary occupation of Fomorian males is piracy. The ships used for this purpose are appropriately massive in size (up to 60m long), and can hold twice as much cargo as an average large merchant vessel. Most are centuries old, having been constructed from the long-since-depleted coastal Bloodwood forests (now known as the Fells). Despite their ponderous bulk, the Fomorians’ vessels are surprisingly swift, and can easily outdistance most merchant ships. Each single-masted ship is equipped with oars, a single heavy catapult, an iron prow (for ramming), and grappling poles. Built to Fomorian specifications, these ships are impossible for non-giants to handle. Maximum crew capacity is 60 Fomorians, or about three times as many human-sized individuals. In battle, the Fomorians are both fierce and tenacious. They relentlessly pursue any but the most insignificant-seeming craft. Fomorians waylay victims, whenever possible, so that they may be taken alive. Able-bodied captives are kept as slaves; less-promising physical specimens are usually tortured to death, boiled in a large cauldron and eaten; if they are lucky, in that order.

The Fells Beyond the mist-enshrouded coastline, the land rises and falls in great convolutions of earth and stone. Known as the Fells, this barren wasteland is home to so many volcanic fissures that the air itself is mildly acidic. This acid, combined with generations of Fomorian logging, have long since defoliated this once verdant area. A reddish cloud of dust, smoke, and fine sooty haze hangs over the Fells that, while not directly harmful, limits visibility.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age A large bronze face (10m in diameter) has been uncovered by erosion in this area. The face is twisted in agony and is said to shift with the island’s many volcanic eruptions. Though occasionally frequented by predatory animals, most of the fauna of Anostos tends to avoid this barren stretch of land. Travel over land is slow and sometimes treacherous; rock slides, dust storms, undermined areas, and deep ravines are fairly common features of this area. The Fells ring the entire island and only by ing through them can the interior of Anostos be reached. The shallow seabed around Anostos bleeds metals. Expeditions there by my people used to return with countless riches until the Fomorians realized what was happening and set traps for us. I lost a cousin to one of their barbed nets. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

The Taquii Mountains The Taquii Mountains are a volcanic range that enclose and separate the Blydwueld from the Fells. The range is highly volcanic with lightning strikes and lava flows being common. The non-volcanic mountains bear massive scars from Fomorian mining operations where the foul creatures tear iron and gemstones from the earth. The mountains are home to several tribes of Nethermen. Most of these warlike bands are reputed to be hostile to humans, and even the Fomorians prefer to give them a wide berth. As the Nethermen tribes generally restrict their activities to the mountains, they are seldom encountered in the forests or along the coastal areas.

The Blydwueld

The Fomorians are excellent sailors and terrible in battle, so we discovered while rescuing my inquisitive companion, Caerwyn, who found herself captured because curiosity got the better of her. There were three Fomorians in the camp the night we attacked and, of the four of us, Pogo and Kanga died with heavy axes in their chests. I managed to drive my spear through one, pinning him to a tree. Caerwyn and myself escaped as the giant pulled himself free of the spear and bounded after us. If not for the magics of our sorceress, we would have all died in that terrible forest. Donobey of Nubia

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Beyond the Taquii Mountains one can find the Blydwueld, a primeval woodland broken by sulfurous fissures and lava flows from the nearby mountains. The Blydwueld lacks traditional animals and birds; the air is instead filled with the buzzing and chirping of a thousand different types of insects. Dog-sized spiders and carriage-sized centipedes hunt through the undergrowth, while piranha-like flying insects swarm through the skies. Many different species of rare herbs and plants grow amidst the tangled underbrush. A tribe of twisted beings call the Blydwueld home. These creatures call themselves the Uln (a word that means “unclean” in the Atlantean language) and may have started as humans but their forms are so twisted that it is hard to tell. The Uln worship the dark being Ba’al and have been known to summon demons to do their bidding. The tribesmen wield weapons and armor made from insect chitin, and use dark magic. The Uln hunt Fomorians, slaying the giants and using their slaves as sacrifices to their dark god. The Uln reside in treetop villages where they use a strange smoking weed to keep the insects at bay. Through this woodland realm flows an unnamed river, whose hazy, black waters are said to be the tears of the forgotten goddess. The steam that rise from the river where it encounters hot springs causes those who inhale it to become stricken with sorrow (CON roll or experience severe depression for 2–24 hours). The giant Fomorians rarely venture into the Blydwueld, logging its edges for timber for a day or two before retreating into the mountains. The Blydwueld contain the ruins of a Golden Age Atlantean fortress built to house a garrison meant to prevent the demons from escaping the Tower of Brass. The inhabitants vanished some time before the Cataclysm and the fortress was never repopulated. The ruins still stand today but the alchemical cannons that ringed the fortress were removed by enterprising Fomorians centuries ago and are mounted on their warships. Some of these cannons are still functional to this day and replace the catapults on the ships to which they are affixed. In the north, the Blydwueld gives away to dense jungle so thick and poison-filled that not even the Uln would attempt to traverse it. Legends say that this region is home to a lost Lemurian colony or a portal to an underground realm blessed with a sub-terran sun. Both ideas are highly fanciful and the truth is more likely to be that the area simply contains even more horrible monsters. Bloodwood

Bloodwood trees are massive specimens originally created by the Lemurians after centuries of careful cross-breeding. Atlantean alchemists perfected the design and at one time the trees themselves only grew on Atlantis. A Golden Age Atlantean outpost brought samples of the trees with them and to the Atlantean’s surprise they flourished on Anostos. The timber from bloodwood trees petrifies when properly cured, becoming hard as stone while still retaining its flexibility and light weight. Atlanteans use the wood in warships as well as their sarcophagi. Fomorian vessels are all made of this material, making them both fast and very hard to damage. Sap from the bloodwood tree is a deep-red color, giving the tree its name, and is known to be a good preservative.

GEOGRAPHICA

Vannonde Lake

In the center of the Blydwueld lies Vannonde Lake, a vast (100km across, 300km long),fetid body of water which is home to unseen monsters. Ancient ruins predating Atlantis poke up from the waters. These structures are alien in design and their otherworldly geometry warps the mind and soul. The waters of the lake range from warm to boiling, continually heated from below by volcanic vents. A single massive tower of brass juts at an angle from the center of the lake, surrounded by cyclopean ruins that form a horrifying island of sorts. The Uln call this place the “mouth of Ba’al” and send sacrifices across the lake hoping to earn his gratitude. Terrible screams of agony constantly issue forth from the tower as if a thousand souls were in perpetual anguish.

The Ziggurat of Madness

The Northern Blydwueld his home to a strange and alien power. A dark stone ziggurat huddles in the steaming jungle depths; covered in obscene carvings of some lost age. No mortal, animal, or plant has touched the pyramid in the last three ages. Just standing in its mind-blasting presence without going insane or being horribly mutated requires staggering willpower and no little sorcerous protection. Nobody has ever been inside the ziggurat and lived to tell the tale. The ziggurats terrible power warps reality all over the entire Northern Blydwueld; rain falls up, time es oddly, and living things are hideously mutated. Expeditions rarely get far into the dense jungle and those that do report ancient monsters from bygone ages, preserved corpses of humans in strange garb, and all manner of oddities. Legend says that an old Atlantean expedition once took something from these lands, a marvel of engineering now lost, but said once to have graced the court of sunken Autochthea. A few scholars point to the Northern Blydwueld and wonder if it has any connection to the strange Island of Empi in Godwanna.

-Contributed by Andy Kitkowski

The Uln Reportedly the Uln share several characteristics reminiscent of early Lemurian culture, such as their treetop dwellings and the use of nature-based weaponry. Lemurian records do show that there was once a research station on Anostos, but the many centuries since have degraded those records. It is possible that the varieties of rare herbs and the diversity of insects are indications that there was indeed an early research laboratory built there. What may have happened to it, or to the scientists and guards who once dwelt there, is unknown. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Anostos Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Star Circle Deep in the Blydwueld sits an ancient stone circle, perhaps one of the only active Vril collectors in this desolate place. The Uln frequent this area by the light of the full moon to enact ancient rituals and pledge their continuing loyalty to Ba’al. Ancient texts claim that the Star Circle allows for travel to other stone circles along Vril lines. While such tales may be exaggerations, Uln have been known to appear as far away as Europa’s Dark Forest.

3. The Bay of Sorrow The river which feeds this bay originates in Vannonde Lake and though much of the bay remains frozen or choked with ice throughout much of the year, there is always an active flow of warmer water that comes from the interior. The bottom of the Bay of Sorrow is littered with stone cairns, crude mausoleums, and even scattered sarcophagi. Many of these interred dead seem to be from different cultures and periods of history but none can explain why.

2. Isle of the Demons This blasted and haunted island is scorned by most sane beings, though the scattered ruins across the spine of mountains that run along it are testament that perhaps it was not always so. Now, demons and worse scour the rocky cliffs and mist-shrouded forests. The ruins are said to places of refuge, ancient fortresses whose inhabitants vanished long ago.

4. The Fogs of Kyor Al-Hrad Throughout this region of southern Anostos are numerous pools of water that steam and bubble and roil. These pools are heated by some unknown and arcane means and when the steam that rises from them meets the chill northern air, the skies for miles around are blanketed in fog filled with strange, fanciful constructions of fragile ice. These sculptures can predict a man’s death, but finding the one that predicts a specific death is almost impossible.

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GEOGRAPHICA

35

Antilla

36

Antilla Region Antilla

(an-TEE-ya)

East of Atlantis, a sunken land rests beneath the waves. In ages past, a sprawling island rested here, home first to the Anunnaki and their Saurian slaves, and later to the Atlanteans. During the last days of the Golden Age, however, the entire island was torn asunder by earthquakes and then inundated by the surrounding sea. Now it forms a great plateau under the waves and its ruins pose a danger to sea vessels. Submerged to a depth of around six meters, much of the plateau and its ruins are easily accessible by divers. The ocean floor around the sunken island of Antilla is deep. The sides of the ‘island’ are little more than precipitous cliffs, dropping three to five kilometers suddenly. These undersea walls hold a variety of coral reefs, which in turn a variety of aquatic life. Underwater swaths of kelp and coral form forests and jungles; some grow to immense heights to reach above the surface of the sea. A grove of such plants can create a convincing illusion of land to weary sailors. In fact, there are places where individuals can stand or walk about on the twisted and tangled clumps of these plants. Such false islands are treacherous, however, requiring great agility to avoid falling through the gaps between them. These small “islands” are also known to suddenly give way if too much weight is placed upon them, plunging everything they bear into the sea. Small island outcroppings still rise above the surface of the sea in places, remnants of hills or mountains. Furthermore, there are regions where ancient ruins thrust upwards through the surf. Across this aquatic land, bands of Tritons make their homes. Impromptu nations of former slaves, the Tritons primarily live across the Antilla plateau, but many of them make use of the various locales above the waves for other purposes. Three great tribes of Tritons dwell in different regions of Antilla. Along with pods of dolphins and bands of sea serpents, the Tritons patrol and defend their lands vigorously.

Ruins Once, Antilla was an important outpost colonized by Atlantis. Now, it is covered with ruins dating back to at least the Golden Age. The earthquakes and floods that drove Antilla beneath the waves also damaged most of the buildings. In the centuries since, the rubble-choked streets and buildings became overgrown with kelp and coral. In the aftermath of the destruction, vats of toxic alchemical material, raw Vril expelled from damaged collectors, and other oddities washed across the region both below the waves and above. While time has erased some evidence of the destruction, there are still many dangers in the sunken ruins. Despite the perils, Tritons, treasure hunters, greedy sailors, and daring scholars still search the outskirts of the Antillan plateau for riches amidst the ruins. The three great Triton tribes normally require that explorers pay a fee to wander their lands, and even then they rarely allow them to venture far inward from the edge of the plateau. The interior is guarded by Tritons, jealous of the homeland they have claimed and protective of their young. Although little remains intact, expeditions continue to make discoveries, ranging from small trinkets of jewelry and minor enchanted items, to air-tight rooms which still hold books and artifacts of the past, and even the rare crystal matrix. As there is currently only one working Vril Pyramid still in the region, notes or knowledge that would allow the Tritons to repair the ruined stone circles or dormant pyramids are highly prized.

Sargasso Sea (SAR-gas-so)

Atlanteans who claim we are grave robbing would do well to that it was they who destroyed the island in the first place. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

The Manatee Accord Aquatic Andamen approached the Lemurians in recent years seeking their expertise in matters of Vril energy and Vril collectors. The Tritons offered access to several aquatic and undersea laboratories across Antilla in exchange for the Lemurians’ assistance in restarting several stone circles and minor pyramids on the lost island. Though the Lemurians balked at the dangers of operating so close to what the Atlanteans still see as their territory, the Tritons offered increasing leeway for Lemurian concessions to trade routes, military , and the like. The first Lemurian outpost on Antilla is soon to be constructed. What the Lemurians will be able to accomplish there remains to be seen. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

A region filled with thick stands of kelp that reach from the sea floor to the surface. The vines of kelp choke out the sunlight and pose a hazard to ships ing through the area. Amidst the dark and shadowy sea, entangled in the kelp, it is possible to find skeletal remains of sea serpents, moldering corpses of men lost at sea, and the shattered hulls of ships. Giant eels, sea serpents, and huge, vile kraken prowl the lower depths, always hungry. Too, amidst the kelp, dwell the sinister Makara. The Makara are an ancient, aquatic branch of the Anunnaki. In ages past, these “sea devils”, as

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age they are sometimes known, are said to have been coastal dwellers but they gave over the souls of their entire race and all their descendants to either Set or Ba’al in order to conquer the seas. As a result, they became aquatic creatures. Found now around the world, they are especially numerous in the Sargasso Sea. Historically, they are foes of any who sail upon the seas or dwell along the coasts. As such, the Atlanteans and their Triton creations have been hated foes for many generations. Several species of sharks, octopi, and squid have all been domesticated by the Makara and are used as everything from beasts of burden, to trackers, to war steeds. It is said that the scent of blood drives the Makara into a killing frenzy, much like the sharks they swim alongside. At the center of the Sargasso Sea is a solitary, small island upon which rises an ancient stone tower of Saurian design. The tower climbs high into the sky; it is for this reason that it is known to exist. The waters around the tower’s base are surrounded by banks of fog and mist in addition to the choking strands of kelp and patrols of Makara. Many Atlantean sailors claim to have been aboard ships whose masters, equipped with spyglasses, have spied a glint of light in the tower’s heights. It is possible that the tower guards the fabled Eye of Set, a red jewel of prodigious size that went missing from the Ophidian Empire in Gondwana in ages past.

Two things to watch for when travelling this region: firstly the blue barnacles you find attached to the kelp, because their crushed shells make up a powerful healing tonic. Secondly, the Makara “flesh hooks”, curved spears used to drag down human and Triton anyon of eptune alike. The Makara are experts in (NEP-toon) using the hooks to penetrate flesh from ambush. I still have the scars The southern end of Antilla is divided by a huge chasm that plunges deep underwater. The on my stomach from this horrible currents here are cold, fast, and dangerous, and even the Tritons deem them treacherous. The weapon. Tritons claim that the bleak depths of this undersea canyon are cursed, haunted by the uneasy Thalmia, Triton Sorceress dreams of some Elder God that slumbers in the depths. Some Tritons claim that this Elder God is trapped in the crushing black and have occasionally attempted to reach it somehow. Others claim that the ancient thing chose this spot for its rest and that it should not be disturbed.

C

N

Neptus

(NEP-tus)

Inhabiting the southeast of Antilla is a great tribe of Tritons who call themselves the Neptus. The Makara raid here infrequently and as a result, the Neptus have developed a community that is more welcoming of outsiders. There are still some close ties between the Neptus and the Atlantean Empire, with Neptus Tritons even serving aboard Atlantean ships. However, the Neptus are seemingly superstitious, finding mirrors and other reflective surfaces to be hauntingly disturbing, a fact that does not endear them to their occasional Atlantean masters.

Sahuga

(sa-HOO-gah)

The most religiously inclined of the Antillan Tritons are the shamanistic Sahuga that dominate the western, sunken slopes. They are seen as a mysterious people, their religious and shamanistic practices having developed in secret while they were Atlantean slaves. Many amongst their number are capable of rudimentary shamanistic practices. Faced with almost unceasing warfare against the Makara who plague the flooded depths off of the Antillan western seas, the most powerful Sahugan shamans employ dolphins and crustaceans, examples of their totemic spirits, in defense of their homes.

Sargo

(SAR-go)

The densely foliated seascape of Sargo lies adjacent to the Sargasso Sea in eastern Antilla. The Sargo Tritons are renowned horticulturalists, farming and harvesting the kelp for all manner of uses from baskets to nets. The Sargo have a very martial tradition based on transplanted and interpreted Atlantean ideals of honor, bravery, and death in battle.

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GEOGRAPHICA The blasted ruins of the Atlantean city of Arintichlan (AHR-in-tick-lan) are in this region. Where the city used to be there is now a twisted plain of sea-worn glass. Destroyed at the end of the Atlantean Golden Age, there are still smaller ruins on the outskirts of the Arintichlan plain. Among them is the sole functioning Vril pyramid in Antilla, a structure that the Sargons guard jealously. Some Atlanteans speculate that the exotic Sargasso kelp is somehow altered by emanations from If you ever find yourself in the pyramid. At night, ethereal lights sometimes play through the waters surrounding the site of the pyramid, occasionally drawing in unwary sailors to a bloody end at the hands of the territorial the region, try a dish called Salmagondis. It was sold to us Sargo. as we made our way along an Antilla Names Atlantean trade route through the Use the Atlantean naming convention. area. Many tritons sell items along the way and on one dreary day, we encountered a hunchbacked triton named Fernal. I know for a fact there was fish in it, but Red Masses beyond that I’m not entirely Red masses are mats of straw-like algae that usually never get over a few meters in diameter, sure. It was spicy beyond belief but occasionally will collect together and create giant clouds of the plant that can cover the whole and made you sweat as if you of Antilla. This is a very dangerous plant for the Tritons because it makes the surrounding sea held the sun in your mouth, but unbreathable for living underwater creatures. The dead then float up into the red mass, creating a by Shango it was incredible! The rich, corpse-filled environment to help it grow even larger. Flocks of birds herald the arrival of these old Triton made the dish aboard plants as they perch above and feed from the free meals just below the surface. The best way to deal our vessel with whatever was with these masses is to flee the area and provide nothing for the plants to eat for a season. available, along with a few fish he brought with him and a small Effect: A sea creature using gills can normally “hold its breath” for up to one minute plus 1 bag of spice he kept guarded round for each point of CON, or minus 1 round for each negative point of CON. When the around his neck. I hate sea travel character succumbs and starts to drown, he takes 2 DR per round. but I would gladly make the trip for more of that stew. Sea Roses Donobey of Nubia These amazing flowers are a remnant of Atlantean breeding and a testament to their skills. These violet flowers grow from a garden 30 meters underwater and survive the salty depths as if born of the sea. The thorns and stems of these plants are as strong as iron and are capable of piercing thick leather hides. Those Tritons brave enough to swim through a veritable forest of thorns use the roses to express their truest feelings for one another, and refuse to trade with those above for any price. Effect: None. Used as treasure only. Thorns are DR 4 and armor-piercing.

Antillan Flora

Tubal Ivy Tubal Ivy is a form of bladder seaweed that has long stretches of green tubing broken up by intervals of branching flattened air sacs. The single tube is often salvaged and used by the Tritons and sailors that reside in these parts. Air-dried, the tubes harden into whatever shape they have been molded to after they are pulled from the water and so become waterproof and durable, unable to be reconstituted into their former state by any means. They are often used for construction and repairs, as straws or conduits for various fluids, and as protective sleeves for medicines, documents, and secrets. One tribe of Tritons uses the tubes to make blowguns and poison arrow shafts. While Outsiders tend to forget that the wet the plant is a delicacy but it hardens quickly into inedible wood; thus, it has also been used as Sargo are farmers and craftsmen a timer of sorts, to know when a food is past its prime or the deadline has arrived on some secretive first and warriors second. Most dealing. Tritons grow up in the ruins of a Effect: Food or tool use. When formed into a stave or club, DR 4. civilization ripped apart by lust for power and war. We cannot Gorshen but learn the value of peace. What little exposed land exists in this region is from where flotsam and jetsam collected at Thalmia, Triton Sorceress hilltops or the tips of building spires to create new swampy islands of debris. Gorshen, a goldcolored vine, wraps itself around many of floating islands to

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

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Antilla

GEOGRAPHICA

Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Sargasso Pirates A small flotilla of ships makes up the nation of the Sargasso pirates. While many of the ships are little more than barges that sail within sight of each other on a circuit above Antilla, there are other vessels which bravely range out into the open sea to raid the occasional merchant ship off the coast of Atlantis or pillage the coasts of Eria. They do not take so much as to invite reprisal from Atlantis’ navy, but they are an annual bane to small shipping concerns.

3. The Vault of ArcKombe Before Antilla’s destruction the nation’s aquatic armory was stored in a massive vault hidden just off the coast. The exact location of the vault wasn’t marked on any map and Triton explorers have never been able to locate it. In recent months an undersea vessel of unknown design has attacked ships ing close to Antilla. Some believe that this vessel comes from the lost vault.

2. The Last Golden House Rising above the waves at one end of a huge forest of kelp are a series of bronze covered walls. Wooden docks have been hung over these to provide safe mooring, and above them rises a fortified structure that looks more like an Atlantean noble’s manor than anything else. Within this structure exists a small society that serves as a gambling hall, brothel, and haven against the strictures of Atlantean law.

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Atlantis

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Atlantis History Physically, the islands of Atlantis stretch across part of the northern hemisphere, resulting in disparate climates from one end of the great island-continent to the other. Mountains, plains, and woodlands are spread across her, with the cold island-kingdom of Mestea in the north and the almost tropical island-kingdoms of Azae and Diaprepea in the south. Winding across the continent, father to the smaller islands off of Atlantis’s coasts, is a mountainous divide. The greatest of these peaks is Mount Atlas, which towers over the kingdom of Olokunia. Stretching out to the southwest from the foothills of the mountain chain is the Plain of Obatala (Oh-bah-TAH-lah) — a fertile, rolling tableland that once served as the source of a great deal of Atlantean farming. These plains are outlined in parts by large, cut-stone irrigation canals. Some of these are still lined with copper, but many of them have fallen into disrepair, some choked by weeds, others dry and nearly filled with dirt, others hidden as channels beneath swift rivers. There are several large forestlands across Atlantis, though each is distinct with differing local vegetation. The jungles of Eseasar stretch across the southern kingdom of Amphisea, while thick stands of deciduous trees cover the hills of Eudea, and the dark evergreen forests of Kalpataru blanket parts of northern Elassippea. Atlanteans divide their culture’s history into four distinct periods: the Age of Iron when they still dwelled in Gondwana and began to forge an empire; the Golden Age when they settled the islands of Atlantis and their Empire rose to prominence in the world; the Dark Age following the Great Cataclysm when their colonies were lost, their cities in ruin, and then rebuilding their Empire from the ashes; and finally, the Modern Age.

The Iron Age

The years of Atlantean growth in Gondwana are largely lost to history. Many of the earliest histories have been lost to time, ed down instead as legends and lore. Sometimes, this age is known to Atlantean historians as the Age of Serpents in recognition of their ancestors’ continued battles with the serpentine races of the Anunnaki. The Atlanteans were some of the first on Gondwana to produce iron in great quantities, and the use of iron weapons and armor made their troops the terror of the battlefield. The Age of Iron came to a close as the Atlantean alchemists discovered the secrets of how to forge orichalcum. In time, this shining metal came to replace both bronze and iron in the belongings and gear of Atlantean heroes, particularly those who sailed from Gondwana’s shores to explore the distant world. Past the Hesperian islands, the early Atlantean explorers found the islands of Atlantis. Colonies were established, and eventually, the First Kingdoms arose on the island. Ruled by Atlanteans, many humans came with the ships from Gondwana and made up a second class of slaves, servants, and freed men in the Atlantean kingdoms.

The Golden Age

The Golden Age of Atlantis, sometimes known as the First Age, in deference to the First Kingdoms, was a time of Atlantean glory, expansion, and domination. Unfortunately, the descendents of the First Kings of Atlantis grew to believe that their great power meant that they could twist and mold nature in any way they wished, without thought of fear or consequences. Their increasing power and majesty also bred many vices, including a lust for greater and greater power. From time to time, they fell to fighting amongst themselves as one scheme or another came to light. In their efforts to prove the nearly endless reaches of their power, Atlantean sorcerers and alchemists transformed and bred animals into new and terrible forms. When war came to the shores of Atlantis, the savant-adepts created armies, first of the foul Nethermen and later the bestial Andamen, to fight the serpentine Anunnaki. Even during times of peace, the Atlanteans treated others living on their shores as little more than chattel-slaves. Worse still, the savantadepts frequently ordered many non-Atlanteans to become the subjects of their various vile and blasphemous experiments, twisting them, still living, into new and horrendous forms. The worst of these horrors preceded the time of the Great Cataclysm. Though the cause of the Great Cataclysm remains largely unknown to the inhabitants of the Modern Age, some claim that Olokun, angered at the degeneracy of his mortal charges, caused the seas to rise up and drown the land. Others claim that the Atlanteans brought about their own destruction through the misuse of

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

While the Atlanteans this time with horror, we Tritons see things just a little differently. For us, the fall of Atlantis heralded the age of freedom. Prince Quetzlan was our savior. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

magical forces beyond the ability of mortals to control. Perhaps it is most accurate to place the blame for the Great Cataclysm lies with the savant-adepts working for Prince Quetzlan of Elassippea. Ordered to create a weapon of power, the savant-adepts attempted to focus the entire power of Elassippea’s Vril-collectors into a single devastating weapon. Prince Quetzlan turned the weapon upon what he deemed a rebellious and recalcitrant city in Antilla whose Prince had slighted him at a banquet the previous year. However, when the weapon was turned upon the city of Arintichlan, the entire island sank beneath the waves, shattered by an earthquake and inundated by the sea. The earthquakes were echoed amongst the Vril-collectors that powered the weapon, sending surges of power along the ley-lines. The other Atlantean rulers were shocked, afraid, and jealous. They demanded that the Kingdom of Elassippea turn over the knowledge and the weapon, but Prince Quetzlan worried that he might become the target of a similar attack. After ordering his cadre of savant-adepts slain, it is said he turned the weapon upon the Atlantean armies massing in Autochthea. The result, some historians claim, was the Cataclysm. Again, earthquakes and floods shattered the lands of Atlantis, and Autochthea sank beneath the waves just as Antilla had done before. The capital city of Attalus was destroyed in an instant, her walls tumbled, the sea flooding the streets. The echoing of Vril energy back along the ley-lines also caused massive earthquakes in Diaprepea, though that land was spared the devastating flooding of the sea. The raw Vril rippled outwards, and in moments the magics that had sustained the Empire’s military might were destroyed as crystal matrices overloaded and began to explode. With the destruction of Attalus as well as the ruling nobility of many of the Empire’s kingdoms, the Empire itself was no more. Whatever the cause may have been, the suddenly unpredictable nature of the Vril network in the cities of Atlantis, and ultimately around the globe, were an almost insurmountable disaster as great as the sinking of both Antilla and Autochthea. All over the Empire, from its cities to its colonies, servants and slaves took advantage of the chaos, rose up, and slaughtered their masters. Blood literally ran in the streets, and across colonies many symbols of Atlantean power were pulled down and destroyed. Armies of Nethermen, tribes of Andamen, as well as scores of twisted creatures of Atlantean creation fled their powerless overseers and walked away from civilization.

The Dark Age

I heard that the Amazon Queen reached forth what she called the hand of friendship to the Tritons living near Hesperia, hoping they would fight for her. She lost a dozen ships and twice as many diplomats before she got the message. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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The period following the collapse of the Atlantean Empire and the Great Cataclysm was one of chaos across the Atlantean world. Known to some scholars as the Age of Sorrow, it was during this time that many of the survivors fell to warring among themselves, struggling to survive with the barest scraps of what had once been so readily available. The knowledge and culture of the First Golden Age of Atlantis were spurned, and in some places forgotten, as what had once been subject populations turned back to their native customs. Atlantean colonies struggled to remake themselves in the absence of power. In time, larger tribes began to settle again along coastal regions long thought haunted by the specters of past Atlantean conquests. Client-states which once paid tribute to the great Empire suffered from the collapse of trade and the rise of lawlessness. For many, after a time, the Atlantean Empire became a nightmarish memory that only lived on in the tales of their storytellers and elders. But the marks of Atlantis remained on many cultures which evolved into modern day powers. From Khemit to Hellas, from Tamoanchan’s coasts to Europa’s seas, the legacies of the Atlantean Golden Age lived on, halfed, filtering into architecture, culture, and language. Into the vacuum of power left behind by the Cataclysm, the Amazons of Hesperia soon rose to superiority in northern Gondwana. Retaining more fragments of magical knowledge than other nations in the region, the sorcerous prowess and fierce militaristic spirit drove the Hesperians to expand. Within the span of a few decades, the Hesperians conquered and colonized much of the northwest of Gondwana. Khemit and Ophir resisted the Amazons, bringing their expansion to a standstill. The Hesperians turned their eyes towards Atlantis. Their own histories contained stories of how a Hesperian queen of old had once aided a colony of Atlanteans. Furthermore, there had been centuries of trade during the Atlantean Golden Age. The lack of Atlantean warships in the seas combined with the history of recent successful campaigns led the Amazonian military to turn its eyes towards Atlantis. The once-mighty Atlanteans, still struggling to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, proved no match for the Amazons. Coming up from the south, Amazon forces advanced, repulsing the now-weaker Atlantean army at every turn, coming almost to the walls of the new capital, Atlantis, in Olokunia.

GEOGRAPHICA However, just when it seemed that victory would go to the Amazons, the Hesperian Empire was weakening from within. Internal squabbles with the Gorgons, a sect of snake-worshipping cultists, and a declining ability to maintain order in their Gondwanan colonies stretched and drained Hesperia’s resources. The Atlantean Campaign had over-extended the reach of the Amazons. Sensing weakness, Ophir and Khemit launched strikes against the Hesperia’s easternmost colonies. As a result, a civil war erupted within the Hesperian Empire and, for a time, all of her troops were recalled to quell the rebellion. As the war raged on, Hesperia lost control of many of its conquered lands and ports, trade collapsed, and Hesperia’s own golden age came to an end. Though it was brief, less than a century, the Hesperians had managed to bring a portion of the world back into , forcing many of them to relearn the arts of diplomacy, warfare, and at times, magic. After its own internal war with the Gorgons, the rulers of Hesperia turned their focus as much inward as they did outward. While Hesperia kept several of its Gondwanan colonies, it lost everything it had held in Atlantis as well as a large part of northern Gondwana and ports near to Europa.

The Modern Age

The fall of the Hesperian Empire signaled a second era of Atlantean growth. Known as the Modern Age to Atlantean scholars, many Atlantean emissaries call it the Second Age, hinting (and hoping) that a new Golden Age is dawning. The invasion of their island home by the Amazon armies caused many of the Kingdoms to set aside differences which had grown during the Dark Ages, banding them together and rousing the Kingdoms from their post-Cataclysm torpor. The past centuries have seen the fleets of the Kingdoms sailing out on the open seas once more, striking deals and alliances, opening trade and imposing Atlantean power and rule with the rest of the world. Unlike Atlantis’s Golden Age, however, there are now new powers in the world to rival her greatness: Hesperia, Ophir, Tharshesh, Khemit, Sheba, and Khitai have all established themselves as imperial forces and major powers. Ruins of the Golden Age left by Atlantean colonists are said to exist in many wilderness regions throughout the world. Some have been found to hold wondrous treasures and artifacts; others have yielded nothing, their contents long since ransacked by thieves and adventurers. Of the abominations created by past Atlantean savant-adepts, few such creatures are believed to still exist. However, the same cannot be said for the Nethermen and Andamen races, many of whom survived the Great Cataclysm and the Dark Ages that followed. Though less numerous than other races, tribes and villages of both are still found throughout the world. Even in the lands now lost to them, the marks of Atlantean culture still peek through the histories and civilizations of modern day powers. Less noticeable, perhaps, is a more subtle legacy of superstition and fear. Many savage tribes dwelled in lands conquered by the Atlanteans. In such places, the Atlanteans were seen as devils, wearing hideous masks of iron, bronze, gold, and orichalcum, speaking in incomprehensible tongues, slaying all who opposed them. Stories of these powerful invaders, twisted over the course of countless retellings and centuries of fading memories, have themselves becomes part of the folklore and mythology of many lands who view the distant horizon of the sea with trepidation and strangers with fear.

Atlantis

Fear of the Iron Mask It is indeed true that many in foreign lands feel strongly about the Atlanteans and their empire. The most recent empire to spread its influence across much of the globe, and the attendant wars that accompanied it, affected many of the indigenous peoples around the world. Those same people now greet the Atlanteans, or indeed any who seem to bear imperial designs, with fear and loathing or with hope and iration, depending on how their ancestors were themselves treated. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian Scholar

World View Atlanteans today see the world through their own storied history. The glories of the past are all around them and evidence of their empire stretches across the horizons. Even after the Great Cataclysm, evidence of tribute from the four corners of the Earth were still visible around them. Boats straining under the weight of gold and iron, slaves and jewels, fabulous beasts and fierce monstrosities, and rare plants and herbs all reached Atlantean ports. Little was forbidden to the Atlanteans, and their desires and whims were sated by servant nations, armies of slaves, and chests of gold. Each Atlantean was treated with respect and adoration or fear and terror, but they were obeyed. They still are. Atlanteans tend to view other races and nations as subservient to their own needs and desires. Rarely are things asked; are instead couched as demands. Some see the Atlanteans as arrogant

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age in this age, when so much has been lost. But the Atlanteans view the Cataclysm as a setback and are ready to stride the world from horizon to horizon once more. Atlanteans raised far from their island homes tend to be more pragmatic, working with those around them rather than simply demanding that their will be done. Nonetheless, Atlanteans are born with an innate sense of their own superiority and cannot help but indulge it. Atlanteans in the World

There are, of course, Atlanteans who do not live within the bounds of the Empire, surrounded by the races that their peers so despise. The Satrap of Olokunia has said that such scions are welcome at home, but many of these individuals are more than happy where they are. The Satrap of Azae has derided these scions as the “petty little emperors of a thousand far-flung nations,” a sentiment shared by many of the Empire’s traditionalists.

Ambassadorial Duties

Of course, there are things that even Ambassadors in the most cosmopolitan city in the world can not easily get access to nor publicly do. Always capable of finding a niche, human merchants and rogues, and those with professions less easy to pin down, have slipped into society to take care of such needs. One day, they may be finding a new source of narcotics; the next, they might be tasked with finding a very specific slave in the employ of an Atlantean noble.

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The Root Races The Atlanteans see themselves as the culmination of centuries of trial and error by the world and its gods. The other races, they believe, are failed dreams of what the Atlanteans are; pale shadows, anemic reflections, and childish shapings of the great stature the Atlanteans would exhibit. The Jinn are viewed with curiosity and respect, but their capricious nature is seen as their undoing. The Jinn never managed to unite to build an empire, at least not in recent memory. The Ophidian races are loathed for their crudeness. Though they built empires, they did not rule beyond the fist and club. The Lemurians are respected as mere intelligent beasts that are able to plan beyond rutting and hunger, but are looked down upon for their animalistic form. The Andamen and Nethermen are seen as pets no longer wanted and thus no longer loved. And finally, the recent humans are seen as a degeneration of what the Atlanteans truly are. They are considered as little more than a failing scion of the Atlantean race.

Foreigners In Atlantis Living in the largest city of the world, no matter how cosmopolitan, most Olokunians are unwilling to consider that other cultures might be, in any way, superior to their own. Prejudice against the other races is exceptionally common. Many Atlanteans consider foreigners to be little more than savages who should be grateful that they were not simply killed and who should be pleased with their rightful lot of servitude. When faced with powerful, eloquent, and wealthy of other races, few Atlanteans feel any kinship with them, but most will at least grudgingly it to a modicum of respect and occasionally envy the physical prowess others possess. NonAtlanteans who have grown up in the Empire are afforded a bit more respect and tolerated just a bit more, as long as they are loyal in their service to the state and its masters. Ambassadors and other important dignitaries are treated extremely well by everyone of importance, but comments, jokes, rumors, and insults commonly follow them in private. Amongst the non-noble Olokunians, reactions to outsiders such as Andamen and Lemurians are a mixture of curiosity, distrust, and bigotry. The only non-Atlanteans who are sheltered in any way from such prejudices are the Tritons. Atlantean sailors consider all Tritons to be good-luck charms and are willing to share drinks with them, as well as rough up anyone who speaks ill of, insults, or harms a Triton in their presence. This closeness has given rise to a tradition of dockside bars in Atlantis known locally as “wet and drys” owing to their accommodation of both human sailors and Tritons. Built right up against the docks, some as far as a block from the harbor, and situated above tunnels or narrow canals that end in small, narrow pools inside the taverns, these establishments are one of the places where it is possible to find of several races, even several nations, all ed in conviviality. Still, it is worth noting that many True Atlanteans consider the Tritons to be little more than intelligent lapdogs, well-trained aquatic animals who serve an important function to the Empire. Olokunians make little distinction between foreign races and foreign cultures. A human from Khemit, a Jinn from Ys, or an Nemean from Hyperborea: they are all odd-looking foreigners with strange, exotic, and barbaric customs. During the Golden Age, Atlantean scholars, explorers, and priests carried civilization to what they saw as the far reaches of the globe. After the Great Cataclysm, Atlantean refugees left behind in these lands were eventually absorbed by the native populations. Thus, many people have borrowed Atlantean myths and legends, customs and mannerisms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, modern Atlanteans consider such cases as lesser and highly derivative versions of their own past glories and are often subtly, sometimes openly, patronizing to such people. Those people from regions that were never conquered nor colonized by the Atlanteans are often considered to be little more than savages who lack all traces of proper civilization. Many Olokunians are knowledgeable about the history of their land and regularly talk as if the Golden Age never truly ended. Foreigners must learn to ignore the subtle common prejudices; those who do not frequently gain a reputation for being uncivilized or at least ungrateful for the all the wonders that Atlantis has bestowed upon the world.

GEOGRAPHICA Not all Olokunians, nor even all Atlanteans, are necessarily so closed-minded. There are many who are deeply interested in foreign cultures and all that they offer: foreign dress, religions, exotic foods. From rebellious youths to erudite scholars, there are always a few Atlanteans who have a deep respect for foreign customs, but even they put such mores second to those of their home.

Sea Trade And Travel While it once boasted a vast fleet and is now much reduced in these latter days, Atlantis remains the preeminent ocean-going power. Atlanteans still speak of their nation ruling the oceans, but even at their height, their control was not absolute. The numerous lands whose waters border those of the Atlantean Empire – Europa, Gondwana, Anostos, Eria, and Tamoanchan – all existed under Atlantean influence of some degree. The further shores of Jambu, Mu, and Lemuria are almost legendary places, stories of which are filled with as many genuinely told lies and exaggerations as they are solid truths. Nevertheless, Atlantis remains an important sea-power, even if her great fleets and ports are much diminished. Atlantean crystal matrices still fuel some vessels and Atlantean technology and knowledge serve her other ships nearly as well. During the Great Cataclysm, over half of the Atlantean ports were destroyed and much of her fleets sunk or lost at sea, but Atlantean sailors maintain the traditions of their past proudly and are still some of the greatest sailors in the world. Their ships carry goods around the globe. Shrewd Atlantean traders sell complex clockwork toys, printed books, and other wonders in exchange for cloth, medicinal herbs, exotic pets, unique foodstuffs, and other foreign goods to adorn the tables and homes of all Atlanteans, rich and poor alike. While great fortunes are occasionally made and sometimes lost in the buying and selling of goods such as furs, gemstones, gold, silver, and spices, the vast bulk of the Empire’s vessels carries far more mundane goods such as ingots of bronze or iron, timber, grain, and pottery.

I once had my head patted when visiting Olokunia…I’m now barred from entering the city again. The Olokunian Tritons are a very tolerant lot. My people provide the Atlantean navy with an edge that no other group outside of the Makara can match. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

The Economics Of Trade While expensive commodities like spices are often the province of individual ship captains making deals with wealthy merchants and nobles in Europa, Gondwana, and Tamoanchan, the bulk trade of timber, foodstuffs, ores, furs, and other common commodities that make up the majority of shipped goods involve government-controlled monopolies granted to individual shipping companies. Many of these deals go back centuries, traditions held by various noble houses and families. As a reward for services performed or in return for bribes that would beggar some nations, the Empire occasionally gives out the exclusive right to trade in a single commodity coming from a single nation. Enforcement of such traditions is largely more a matter of societal pressure than government intervention. Too, companies that fail to deliver the expected amounts of these goods for the hungry markets of Atlantis can find their monopolies revoked or handed off to rivals. Similar to trade monopolies, the government regulates the number of active ship matrices sailing from its ports. The matrices are all under governmental control; Olokunian marines can frequently be seen in the various harbors of the city of Atlantis, inspecting ships to ensure that they are being maintained. Tavern tales even claim that the Olokunian marines have ventured as far as eastern Gondwana to retrieve a missing ship and its Vril matrix. There are a few dozen independent ship captains who have earned the right to use a ship matrix either in their own ship or in one leased from the crown. Such individuals are often at odds with the larger merchant families who own the vast majority of such ships. The independent captains often resent the power and wealth of the large trading fleets, while the merchant-princes consider the independent captains to be dangerously reckless swashbucklers and pirates. Tensions between the two groups often reach a peak before the yearly Festival of Olokun on Sea Day, when the Lord of All Seas reviews the Great Roster and assigns ships and matrices. Grants to the various ships and their linked matrices are given to those who have performed some exemplary service to the Sea Lord and the Empire. In the case of such heroes, grants are made for life unless the matrix is captured or destroyed. Half of the existing roster is always reserved for the Atlantean navy, and what remains after heroes and the military have been rewarded is divided amongst the merchant families. Merchant companies that are selected must still pay for the use of the Empire’s technology and largess. Some captains who work for the merchant families are offended that there are adventurers who need not pay for their ships who receive their grants for life. Though it has rarely been proven,

Law of the Sea

Whether from Atlantean navies, fishermen from far Jambu, merchant-seamen from Tamaochan, or Antillan pirates, there is one constant amongst those who spend their lives upon the waves of the Atlantean world – leave no man to face the open sea alone. Some say it is simply mercy against the endless waves and ship-shattering storms. Others relate stories of the Makara, of devil-sharks, of sea serpents; the pious claim that it is the will of the gods of sea and storm, of life and death upon the waves. Whatever the reason, it is custom among those who sail the waves to rescue those stranded upon the sea, even in times of war.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age there have been cases before the Atlantean courts accusing merchant captains of hiring mercenaries and pirates to seize ship-matrices in foreign ports and returning them to Olokunia to increase the listings on the Great Roster.

Politics And Government The Atlanteans reserve the title Merchant Prince for those who can afford to control monopolies. There are several of these men and woman in each kingdom and the power they wield is almost unimaginable. They also have the nicest toys, if you are feeling a little larcenous. One of them, Prince Naha Sabor of Amphisea, is a known er of the Arcanum. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

The Politics of Trade With fortunes and lives hinging on getting goods to market in a timely manner, the yearly lottery for Vril matrix-equipped ships, as well as the more mundane threats of storms, sea monsters, and foreign politics, the machinations and maneuverings of the Atlantean merchant-princes are as cutthroat and complicated as any others in the world. Sometimes it is a wonder to me that they were able to supplant us so thoroughly. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian Scholar

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The Empire of Atlantis is controlled from Olokunia. It is here that the Lord of All Seas, advised and assisted by a Royal Council, governs. The Royal Council consists of Satraps from all of the Atlantean kingdoms. Each of these Satraps is appointed by the ruler of their respective kingdom, under the direction and authority of the Lord of All Seas. While they serve their individual kingdoms in Olokunia, they are also in turn courted by various merchant houses, mercenary captains, seers, sages, and priests in an attempt to sway their opinion or earn their good favor. While the Lord of All Seas has vast power, if two-thirds of his council goes against his wishes, they can overrule his edicts and decisions. If the Royal Council unites, together they can unanimously depose any of the Atlantean monarchs, including the Lord of All Seas. Historically, this has only occurred once with the execution of Toltan II, known as Toltan the Mad. The first Lord of All Seas after the Hesperian War, Toltan II gradually went mad, becoming increasingly harsh in his interpretations of law and tradition. After decades of executions and imprisonments, widespread corruption, and royal excess, the Council unanimously voted to remove Toltan from power by any means necessary. His subsequent assassination was eventually widely celebrated and remains a dark bit of political history debated still by scholars and priests. The Lord of All Seas personally appoints the Satrap of Olokunia, and can traditionally depose a single Satrap per year without question. A further change to the Royal Council requires at least some evidence that the Satraps are deliberately betraying Atlantis or working against the Empire’s interests. Armed with such evidence, the Sea Lord can dismiss the Satraps and demand a new council be formed. Rulership of the Empire, and therefore also of Olokunia, es through the female line. The Lord of All Seas chooses his or her successor from among their children if female, or the children of their sisters if male. Tradition holds that the child should be at least thirteen years of age so that their true character can be known. Once the heir has been chosen, he or she is brought before the Royal Council for approval. If the Lord of All Seas dies before selecting a successor, the existing Royal Council selects the new heir. If the heir is not yet an adult, the Royal Council rules both Olokunia and the Empire as t regents until the heir reaches maturity.

Daily Life In Atlantis Life in the city of Atlantis can vary greatly depending on one’s wealth and status. Land near the city is extensively used for farmland and vineyards. Manor houses dot the nearby hills and slaves work in relative security. Further from the capital, however, the land is untamed and overgrown. Herdsmen and foresters, hunters and bandits are more common in these areas. The ley-line roads ensure some measure of protection from the elements, but not from outlaws and opportunistic bandits. Within the city, a similar dichotomy exists splitting along lines of race and class. Atlanteans and wealthy foreigners are largely immune to hardships, while the lower classes, slaves, and the destitute find daily life to sometimes be a struggle even in the world’s largest city. There are few gardens, and so all food must be imported either from the farms outside the city or from distant nations. Thus, many of the lower classes spend a sizable portion of their earnings on food and drink, and food shortages can devastate the poor.

Wilderness Areas As in other Atlantean kingdoms, the wilderness areas beyond the city of Atlantis in Olokunia are largely untamed. An area around each city, particularly cities with an active VVril pyramid and stone circles, is tamed and heavily farmed in order to feed the inhabitants of the cities, but during the Dark Ages the once-populous kingdoms all diminished. With no one to oversee the countryside, much of it has been reclaimed by nature. Criminals attempting to avoid capture or detection sometimes flee the Empire by ship, but all too often they simply vanish into the wilds between the cities. On occasion, abandoned manor houses, sorcerer’s towers, or even entire villages can be found hidden in valleys or on hillsides far

GEOGRAPHICA from the active ley-line roads. Stories of bandit-kings or strange monsters surround such places, but most of these are simply legends or exaggerations clinging to the ruins like overgrown vines. Olokunia does not lack for such stories despite being the shining crown of the Empire, though such tales are more often scoffed at in the city of Atlantis than taken as truth.

Travel Through The Wilderness Most Atlantean cities are either located on the coast, on the banks of rivers, lakes, or canals, or connected to one another by means of ley-line roads. It is due to this fact that much of the wilderness remains untamed during this Modern Age as the Atlanteans would rather avoid the dangers and privation of the wilderness for the safety, speed, and comfort of traditional means of transport. Travel by sea from one city to another is relatively inexpensive, if occasionally slow. The ley-line roads predate the Cataclysm, but their Vril-glass construction is seemingly immune to wear. Modern Atlanteans have repaired some of the damaged roads along the coasts. as the most skilled or wealthy have created a few extensions of their own, largely by recycling Vril-glass from roads that no longer lead to inhabited locations. Wealthy Atlanteans travel in Vril-powered chariots along the ley-line roads, speeding their journey as much as possible. Others utilize carriages, horses, or carts, and travel in well-armed caravans to dissuade attacks from bandits. Across the skies, hot air balloons occasionally drift slowly from place to place, but they are generally seen as unreliable or the purveyance of the exceedingly wealthy or the ostentatiously insane. Windships, held aloft by magical means and powered by crystal matrices are not unheard of, but are rare enough to cause comment when they do appear. After the Cataclysm, thousands of Andamen and Nethermen escaped into the wilderness as did beasts bred for war or crafted for ancient gladiatorial games. Alchemical and magical workshops, hidden away by distrustful masters, were wrecked or breached. Ley-lines were tangled, stone circles toppled, and magical energies ran rampant while earthquakes and floods washed across the land. During the Dark Ages, those tainted magical emanations mixed with alchemical waste fouled the land and the escaped brutes that lived upon it. Today, tribes of Nethermen and Andamen inhabit the remote reaches, exotic and deadly creatures lurk in the forests, and blasted ruins exist behind the hills. Most civilized Atlanteans, particularly those in Olokunia, regard these wild tribes as little more than savage beasts at worst and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of slaves or indentured servants at best. Atlantean slave-takers from Olokunia regularly capture individuals or small groups and ship them to the city of Atlantis to be displayed in the arena or sold off as slaves. Such slavetakers regularly listen for reports of caravan attacks, striking off to mete out justice, capturing the bandits and forcing them into indentured servitude in order to make restitution for their crimes.

The Atlanteans enjoy a much reduced rate of taxation, making it easy for them to live well while the other races labor under rates of tax that range from draconian to merely harsh. Then again, the running water, brightly lit streets, and sanitation make up for this in most respects. Wealthy Atlanteans often sponsor public works; they see it as a point of pride. Personally I don’t see the attraction of having a sewer named after you. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Life In The Wilderness Although life in the wilderness can be dangerous, there are civilized Atlanteans as well as others who do live away from the cities. Miners, trappers, and herb collectors that sell gems, metals, furs, and rare plants to wandering merchants and farmers who cannot afford the taxes imposed near the Vril pyramids all live in small villages and towns. Some of these are surrounded by walls to provide protection from bandits and wild beasts, but most simply make do with what they have. Citizens in the city of Atlantis mostly consider such rustics to be desperate individuals who live in constant danger, and there is some small truth to that belief. Furthermore, most Atlanteans find life away from civilization of their cities to be a poor shadow; their vices seldom allow for such rustic and rural banalities. As a result, most of those living in the wilderness tend to be humans, Andamen, and Nethermen. By being willing to deal with one another, most of these far-flung villages have loose alliances with the other settlements near them. Though they can call on their Atlantean Kings and Satraps for aid, medicine, tools, and the like, on occasion it is easier to simply deal with issues on a local level rather than wait for that may not come.

Ancient Ruins Ruins from ages past continue to fascinate scholars and sorcerers, and the ones as yet unfound naturally all exist in the wilds. On occasion, an Atlantean family will awaken one of their slumbering True Atlantean ancestors and sometimes learn of family holdings long forgotten. Expeditions to such ruins are intermittently sponsored by the Lord of All Seas, an Atlantean king, or one of the

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

I took part in an expedition in Amphisea that used underground rivers to gain age into a hidden valley deep in the jungle. I barely got out with my life. The underground waterways of Atlantis are to be avoided at all costs: there are things lurking there that have not felt the light of the sun since the Jinn first walked the Earth. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Satraps, but such official sponsorship is generally only granted to the wisest scholars, most powerful sorcerers, or most popular heroes. Other explorers may find funding from one of the universities, wealthy merchants, or on occasion the scions of an Atlantean family. While some such journeys are intent on re-discovering a scrap of lost knowledge of the past, or at least finding magical artifacts that can be studied, recreated, or at least put to good use, such rewards are difficult to come by. Scholars who achieve even some moderate success still gain substantial wealth and acclaim. Even managing to uncover some ancient cache of spare windship parts, Vril weapons, or crystal matrices can bring of an expedition wealth to live well for a year or more. As a result, despite the dangers involved, such expeditions are popular with daring laborers, impoverished scholars, and bored Atlanteans. Unfortunately, the risks involved in such journeys can indeed be quite high. In addition to the physical dangers of traveling the untamed wilderness, wandering around unstable ruins, and exploring buildings that could collapse at any moment, the lost cities of the Atlantean past sometimes contain more active and serious threats. The savant-adepts of the Golden Age knew countless methods of drawing on the vast power of the telluric currents, and some experimented wildly with storing and channeling Vril. Sometimes devices are discovered that still command significant powers such as magical constructs and augmented golems that defend sanctums and streets from intruders, searing flesh and blasting the minds of unwary explorers. Also, there are some devices that may have originally been harmless, but upon which centuries of wear have altered their fragile and delicate alignment of their crystals and the structure of their orichalcum settings. Some of these may explode the instant they are jostled, whereas others may perform dangerously twisted versions of their original functions, such as medical crystals that now bond living flesh to anything it touches instead of merely closing wounds.

True Atlanteans

Treasures of the Past Made New Inevitably, some adventureseeking charlatan finds one of the old ruins yet unbreached, makes their way through whatever security system may have survived, and emerges with a treasure of magical significance, tomes of ancient secrets, or the like. Some of these individuals will attempt to of their finds as their own creations whereas others will simply attempt to sell them to the highest bidder. More fools, they, who accept such devices of unscrupulous origin. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian Scholar

A subject of great consternation and embarrassment amongst the Atlantean population is that of the purity of the Atlantean bloodlines. Many of them have grown weak or polluted, some claim, over the course of this great people’s history. During the Dark Ages, some Atlanteans took human wives. Others were savages and did all manner of despicable things during those chaotic years. In any case, most Atlanteans agree that what is considered Atlantean today is not what the once glorious race was in antiquity. Most do not talk about the subject, but many parents closely monitor whom their sons and daughters marry in an effort to keep their bloodlines from becoming baser and baser. At one time, the Atlanteans reportedly boasted lifespans of centuries with the oldest recorded Atlantean being 978 years old. No one knows why the Atlanteans grow older quicker in these much diminished days, nor why their once potent blood is now less substantial. But it is known that the decline started even before the Great Cataclysm and the Dark Ages. Efforts to counter this aging resulted in the creation of an alchemical potion called Ilmarinen that allowed them to age very slowly. Ilmarinen was successful in halting the aging process; however, the side effect of this was a constant slumber from which it was immanently difficult to awaken them. So while the Atlanteans could arrest aging, many of their brightest minds began to slumber through the decades and centuries. Like the Elder Gods, the old Atlanteans now sleep for scores upon scores of years before awakening. The older one becomes, the more Ilmarinen is needed, and the longer the postponement between waking. Some Atlanteans hold centuries of knowledge but unfortunately cannot be roused to speak of it. When they are awakened, they often speak in cryptic prophesies, mumble curses, or scream magical incantations that blast or vaporize those gathered to listen to them and welcome them back. Atlanteans lucky enough to have sleeping ancestors still accessible to them after the Dark Ages built great mausoleums and necropolises for the ancient ones to rest in, complete with powerful magical wards to keep out looters and kidnappers. Those slumbering Atlanteans have the purest blood, many believe, unpolluted by interbreeding with humans. Considered the ‘True Atlanteans’ by those modern Atlanteans descended from them, they are storehouses of lore and wisdom of ages past.

Culture In Atlantis

The island nations of Atlantis are vast and sprawling. They are not a single monolithic and homogenous culture, but rather a group of nations bound by a common past, blood, and strife. Though each Atlantean kingdom differs from its neighbors, all Atlanteans share the following commonalities.

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Language

GEOGRAPHICA

The language of the Atlanteans is taken very seriously and its most formal versions are never spoken in the manner of the other races. There is very little slang or colloquialism in the Atlanteans’ native language. It is a direct and subtle lexicon of words that build upon one another in complex grammatical constructions. Other races that have learned the Atlantean tongue sometimes make the mistake of thinking that since they speak the language of their masters, such skill is appreciated. However, many Atlanteans would rather speak in the tongues of savages and barbarians instead of hearing their native words butchered by the swollen tongues of slaves. When speaking to those of a higher station, most Atlanteans will use the High Atlantean tongue and when speaking to equals, the common version. Non-native speakers (those with the Atlantean Language skill at 9 or less) will be looked down upon and suffer a -3 to all social interaction rolls with Atlanteans. The highest compliment that can be paid to an Atlantean by a foreigner is to speak the language of the Sea Kings as if they are native-born. Similarly, to be addressed in High Atlantean is a great honor afforded to few foreigners.

The noble Atlantean houses have a dirty little secret: they use their True Atlantean ancestors to improve the purity of their bloodlines. Ritual orgies are a common part of the awakening ritual for male Ancients. These events can go on for days with rival houses often attempting to use this time to make off with a Birth And Funerary Rites ‘sample’. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress At birth, all Atlanteans are presented with the seed of a great blackwood tree. These trees live for over a thousand years and grow to immense size. Upon the child’s first birthday, their seed is planted in the city of their birth, in a great plaza or in groves within the city’s walls. As the child ages, so does their tree. Some Atlanteans reserve great pride for the tree that bears their name, seeing its life and health as a signifier of their own achievements. Upon death, Atlanteans are buried in ornate sarcophagi made from the wood of their birth tree.

Art Atlantean homes of any merit all contain painted murals, either fresco or secco, in a style known as adrar. This style always uses the same three colors: a stark harsh black, a golden and ochreinfluenced orange, and a vibrant blue reminiscent of the sea or sky. Usually depicted are stories and scenes of the household’s ancestors. The depictions are usually simple, showing dynamically drawn figures in profile with borders of repetitive keys surrounding the work. Atlantean homes that can afford it have walls carved with relief sculptures and then painted in the adrar style. Some sculptures are also gilded with orichalcum and encrusted with lapis or obsidian for a greater effect. The Atlanteans are great appreciators of poetry and song. Most homes have at least an instrument or two for entertaining both household and guests. All children are taught to sing as part of their schooling, and the arts are held in high regard. Even art produced by the lesser races are held up as examples of what others can accomplish. Operas in particular are important to the Atlanteans, and there are two long running and constantly evolving operas — “The House of Atreyu” and “Klytus the Fool” — that have been performed nightly for the past five decades. Those who miss an evening’s operatic performance rarely have to worry, for the events are retold and embellished by criers in the plazas of major cities the next day, and sometimes for weeks after. It is not uncommon to find a pair of Atlantean men debating the finer points and minutiae of their favorite works. In the Great Library in Atlantis, there is an ever-expanding volume of examples of the latest operas as well as critiques to accompany them. While any of the learned may borrow them for reading, there is currently an extensive waiting list.

Schooling All Atlanteans who can afford it are allowed to attend public universities. From the age of reasoning, around 5 years old, any Atlanteans without criminal record or extensive debt may learn and are given access to the great libraries and Atlantean masters that teach there. This privilege is only provided to Atlanteans, and in some areas it is considered a crime to allow non-Atlanteans to learn at one of these centers of knowledge. However, given that many Atlanteans bring slaves with them, it is hard to say how much knowledge is the preserve of Atlanteans alone.

The Cataclysm Groves When the Cataclysm struck, and on occasion during the Dark Ages, there were simply not enough morticians and cerements to perform all of the necessary burials. As such, there are large groves of blackwood trees dotting the islands of Atlantis and occasionally in lands where the Atlanteans once ruled. Some say that these ancient groves are haunted by the shades of Atlanteans angry at never having received the proper rites.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Gladiatorial Games

The Symbol of Atlantis It is known far and wide that the great black bull with the sun blazing between its large upturned horns represent Atlantis. The bull is known as Osorapis and represents the virile and strong island nation of Atlantis while the sun disk represents the power and might of Olódùmarè residing overhead. When the sun shines on the great obsidian mirrors, every aspect of Olódùmarè can be seen in the Orixa’s light that is reflected.

Many an adventurer has made his name providing a rare or unusual delicacy to an Atlantean lord. There are treasures other than gold and good steel. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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Although there are successful free men and women who become gladiators for the chance at wealth and fame, the vast majority of gladiators in Atlantis are indentured servants and slaves. There are a few who remain gladiators after their term of indenture is over, but most gladiators rarely emerge unscathed from the sands of battle. Nethermen and Andamen make up the majority of gladiatorial slaves, but gladiators can be of any race and from nearly any nation, although Atlanteans and Jinn are exceedingly rare. A few critics decry the games as cruel, but the vast majority of Atlanteans find them both exciting and trendy, occasionally exceeding chariot races and opera in popularity. Some events even combine these other pastimes, featuring combats on the sands of the arena while singers perform on raised stages above the fray. Most games ostensibly involve two or more individuals fighting to the death, but in practice the games are far less lethal. Gladiators are taught to avoid killing blows and will give quarter to a fallen gladiator, allowing all to live to fight another day. Truly lethal games do occur with some frequency as convicted criminals, slaves taken in battle, or those who have amassed massive debts each gamble their lives on a shot at the freedom of a one-way age from the shores of the Empire. The ostensible winners of such blood sports, scarred and wounded, are allowed age to some foreign port, though they are usually chained for the duration.

Slavery Slavery is a part of the natural order of the world as far as the Atlanteans view it. Those that are born to serve or who allow themselves to serve should be provided a place to work in the manner that the world intended. Why should an Atlantean do the work that a beast can do? If that beast happens to be an Andaman or a Human, then so be it. The Atlanteans do not consider themselves to be cruel with their slaves, and most grow fond of a long-serving slave or three that are treated as part of the family, in the same way that others would consider a beloved pet as being part of the household. Slaves can be freed if they serve their house well, and some are awarded with some amounts of wealth on their own. It is not uncommon for an Atlantean approaching death to free a favored slave. There are tales that one of the Atlantean kings of the Golden Age gave an entire island kingdom in Elysium to a favored slave. Slaves in Atlantis are given rights under Atlantean law and masters who treat their slaves with cruelty are frowned upon. A slave may be beaten for a transgression, but never in excess. Killing a slave is only justifiable if the slave committed egregious acts against his master or his kingdom, or if an Atlantean child was harmed. Many Atlanteans who sire children with slaves my claim the children as their own or allow them to be raised by their non-Atlantean parent. Slave children are never considered True Atlanteans because Atlantean law states that it is illegal for Atlanteans to be slaves. In any case, most of these children more closely resemble their non-Atlantean parent. Indentured servitude also exists in the city of Atlantis. In order to pay off debts, to gain a moderate sum of money, or as punishment for certain crimes, citizens of Olokunia can temporarily place themselves into indentured servitude for a period of up to seven years. For the duration of this time, the individual can be bought and sold as freely as slaves are in other parts of the world. However, since tradition prevents Atlanteans from being slaves and many view indentured servitude as little more than legal slavery, the majority of indentured servants are criminals, impoverished crafters, or former soldiers seeking a way back out of poverty.

Marriage Most Atlantean marriages are arranged by the heads of the family to ensure that the bloodlines stay true. Family names and lineage are important to the Atlanteans, and some among them claim that they can trace their lines back to the shores of Gondwana. Many Atlanteans take a husband or wife, but then also indulge in many affairs on the side. A blind eye is turned to this practice as long as the unions do not sire non-Atlantean children that dilute the bloodline or endanger inheritance. All wealth and inheritances are ed on to the firstborn Atlantean child no matter the gender. In the case of twins, common for Atlantean births, the one with the brightest eyes inherits the bulk of the family fortune. Most marriages try to produce as many children as possible, and a large family is looked upon with great esteem. If for some reason one of the of the marriage cannot produce children, a divorce is frequently granted. Otherwise, Atlantean marriages are forever. Those children who do not immediately inherit are encouraged to make their own fortune. The world is wide and there is nothing that the Atlanteans cannot build from it.

Religion

GEOGRAPHICA

The Orixa are seen as the only thing greater than the Atlanteans, and are paid their due in tribute in the great dark temples built to house their mirrors. Every home has a small shrine to the gods, usually with a particular Orixa given a place of prominence as a household patron. Mirrors are ubiquitous in an Atlantean home and usually the gilded obsidian mirrors are in every room. Most foreigners who do not worship or understand the Orixa believe the Atlanteans are just vain because of the number of mirrors in their home. Atlantean Slavery All of the gods are given a place of honor at their table, and in religious homes a portion of every Slavery in the Atlantean meal is given to the gods as a votive. On holy days, the entire country pays homage to the Orixa Kingdoms may be traditional, with great public offerings of animal sacrifices. and the Atlanteans may speak with fondness of specific slaves, Food but the life of a slave for many is Atlanteans love a variety of foods, and are very cosmopolitan in their eating habits. Having once no life at all. There are horrors in ruled the world, and still enjoying trade with ports across the seas, the Atlanteans have imported the Atlantean slave pens that are many exotic dishes from distant lands. All Atlantean food tends to be spicy, hot, and full of potent rarely spoken of by light of day, flavors. An Atlantean diet mostly consists of different types of seafood, spiced with powerful herbs and many Atlantean criminals are and salts. Many types of beans and lentils are often eaten along with several exotic pastries flavored only called such because escaping with chocolates, honey, and spices. to freedom is a crime against the Honey steeped in water is the preferred drink of the island, sometimes augmented with other state. spices or teas. Atlanteans prefer wines, shunning meads and beer as drinks for lesser races. Atlantean Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian wines are often sweet, sometimes tart, with most made from the large red cranberries found on the Scholar northern part of the island.

Fashion For the Atlantean, cloth and clothing is an important indicator of wealth and status. Most Atlantean clothes are made from cotton or silks, and make use of muted colors with white, paleblue, and faint-orange dominating the color palate. At least one garment of any ensemble will have an intricate pattern unique to the family upon it. This pattern is woven with orange thread, or actual gold or orichalcum thread if the family is wealthy. Most clothes consist of long, layered robes, divided at the waist with a large embroidered belt, and a light shawl that can be worn as a cloak. Women dress simply, but do not wear the belt as it is considered masculine. Footwear usually consists of simple sandals or slippers made from leather or hemp, tied with leather or hemp laces.

Jewelry All Atlanteans, no matter their status or wealth, wear earrings. These tend to be gold, but wooden or obsidian jewelry is not unheard of. Glass and pearl beads are commonly woven into the hair along with brightly colored wooden loops. Women adorn their heads with strings of gold or amber beads infused with bright colors. These beads hang from the tops of their heads, dangling in the center of the forehead usually with a large jewel. Nose rings, hoops, and lip piercings are also commonly seen. Atlanteans adorn their fingers with as many rings as possible, some even topping their fingertips with golden caps. Many of these rings carry some significance to their owners, purchased or given after notable successes or victories. The only metal that an Atlantean will never wear is silver, as it was the metal most closely worn and associated with the reptilian races. While it is used as wealth, it is never used for adornment.

There’s a lot more than songbooks in the Great Library. The deep vault, situated half a mile beneath the library, contains books of lore the ancient Atlanteans considered too dangerous to use but too important to simply discard. Grostanian, the chief librarian, is extremely paranoid and more Cosmetics Male and female Atlanteans wear cosmetics, primarily around their eyes. The palette is typically than a little mad. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress black, blue, or orange with metallic flakes of gold or orichalcum worn by the wealthy. The eyes are heavily adorned with the colors, painted mask-like around the eyes with a single stripe running down their noses. Arms, hands, and feet are frequently decorated with henna in dots and swirling lines reminiscent of ocean waves.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Amphisea

(Am-Fih-SEE-A) The jungle kingdom of Amphisea lies on the most southerly point of Atlantis proper. Amphisea’s steaming jungles teem with life but are ravaged by regular earthquakes and ferocious thunderstorms. The sky here is marred by ash clouds thrown up by the chain of volcanoes that dots the central mountain range. Shiploads of wild animals depart daily from the capital city of Ampator, destined for amphitheaters and menageries all across Atlantis. The people here are skilled animal handlers, training all manner of beasts as pets and guardians. The inhabitants even train baboons to pick fruit. The Amphisian jungle hides the ruins of several Golden Age cities. Only the foolish or desperate seek to plunder them as these ruins harbor monstrous beings born of sorcery and unquiet spirits seeking vengeance on the living. The ley-line roads that once led to these ancient ruins are now little more than animal trails and assorted rubble. Human, Andamen, and Nethermen tribes prey on unwary jungle travelers and more than one tribe has cannibalistic tendencies. Because of the constant heat and humidity, Amphiseans wear little clothing and almost all of it is made from the lightest linen. Those from colder climes may find themselves embarrassed by the Amphiseans’ lack of modesty. Jewelry signals status to the Amphiseans, so much so that there are a series of popular jokes surrounding the amount worn by their high-ranking nobles. Civilization clings to the coastline where the temperature and humidity are more bearable. Ley-line roads link together the port cities of Caprar (KA-prahr), Likong (LEE-kong), Marena (ma-REE-na), with the capital, Ampator (AM-pa-tor), home of the prince of Amphisea. A number of small resort towns capitalize on the hot springs common to the land.

The Vril lines no longer run to the ancient workshops and laboratories in central Amphisea, for those places once birthed horrors that were used against the enemies of the Atlanteans. Though the Atlanteans do not yet know it, the Vril lines in Amphisea have been shifted on purpose. There is some concern about the devastation these changes may wreak on the inhabitants of the island, but at least there may be Ampator, The Living City fewer monstrosities born there. The massive port city Ampator is the capital of Amphisea. The city gained its nickname because Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian of the vines that coat every building and form a canopy over many of the streets. Scholar The entire city gives the impression that it is part of the jungle. The vines are not natural but instead are carefully planted and tended for their insect-repelling properties. The Palace of Emulsive Delights serves as the prince’s seat of power and consists of hundreds of rooms, each with its own special bathing area. Even the corridors and service rooms have pools of various temperatures with different combinations of bath salts and other soaks. Twenty years ago the city was struck by a plague brought in by sailors from Diaprepea. Since then, the city has some of the strictest customs inspections in Atlantis; they go so far as requiring health checks for the crews. The harbor has two Vril cannons that have been used more than once to destroy vessels suspected of trying to land while bearing plague.

Autochthea

(aw-tow-CHEE-a) (The Sea Of Lost Souls) Though it is still listed in the rolls of the Atlantean kingdoms, the land of Autochthea, home to the Golden Age capital of Attalus, was destroyed during the Cataclysm. The remnants of this once fabulous kingdom now lie at the bottom of the Sea of Lost Souls. In its day, Autochthea was renowned as the most important trading center in the world. Into its ports came ships laden with the spoils of the Golden Age Atlantean conquerors. The coffers of its cities overflowed with such incredible riches that many of its buildings were plated with precious metals. When Prince Quetzlan’s weapon struck Autochthea, the Barrier Ridge that guarded the low-lying valley kingdom crumbled and the waters of the Atlantean Ocean rushed through the gap to drown the unfortunate land. What the weapon didn’t annihilate, the ocean drank up and hid from the sight of mortal men. The Sea of Lost Souls is now a cauldron of terrible, necromantic energies tainted by the deaths of millions of men, women, and children. Those that die on or near the Sea are destined to rise up again to haunt the living. The sky above the sea is permanently shrouded in dark clouds and strange lights are seen over and around the black waters. Sailors from Eudea and Elassippea, who sometimes dredge the shallow sea in the hopes of finding lost treasures, speak of a ship made of seaweed and crewed by ghosts that protects these waters.

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GEOGRAPHICA Attalus’ three great Vril pyramids survived the cataclysm, but were terribly damaged. They now spew raw Vril from cracks in their stonework. The Vril energy flows upwards, boiling the sea around the pyramids, and forming Vril-infused water spouts that have unpredictable effects on anything they encounter. The Atlantean government pays a fortune to Triton tribes to scavenge the lesser cities surrounding Attalus for lost lore and other treasures. Originally, the Tritons were paid to loot Attalus itself but none of their expeditions returned and now they simply guard the city gates, turning away those foolish or evil enough to want to enter. The last expedition to enter the city was lead by the legendary Jinn sorceress Mei-ha-tari; the party consisted of dozens of powerful Triton warriors and a number of their shaman. Mei-ha-tari returned alone to the waiting ship almost insane with terror, whispered to the captain that “the beginning all things” lived in the city, and then transformed into water, never to reappear. The restless dead are common around the Sea of Souls, but once a year, on Wayeb, the situation becomes much worse. For five days the ocean level dips by about three to five meters and the dead rise up to plague the land. Some of these hapless creatures are little more than figments of memory given form, still trying to escape the disaster that killed them centuries ago. Others are much more dangerous, wrathful and filled with malicious intent; these wraiths seek fresh victims to add to their ever-growing army of the undead. Olokunia, Elassippea, and Eudea station troops at their borders at this time though the situation is getting worse by the year and the farmland around the borderlands is showing signs of a strange rotting disease.

The Tritons that guard the gates of Attalus are a dour breed, volunteers that serve so that their families can gain the rich rewards offered by the Atlanteans. The duty is considered a suicide mission, with most of the guards simply vanishing, either wandering off in madness or dragged down by the ghosts that haunt this region. Their tribes are well compensated by the Atlanteans but the loss of life is staggering. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Azae

(A-ZAY) Directly south of the main Atlantean continent is the island of Azae. Similar in climate and terrain to Hesperia, Azae is the most active of the satellite island kingdoms of Atlantis. Due to the convergence of winds and currents, it is easier for sailors from Tamoanchan and the southern reaches of Gondwana to sail to Azae than other Atlantean ports. Because Diaprepea to the south is so sparsely populated, Azae is the southernmost center of Atlantean power and one of its largest naval centers. Its naturally deep harbors teem with ships, including permanent squadrons from Atlantis charged with guarding merchant traffic on the various surrounding sea lanes. All of this makes Azae an important economic center. Most Azaeans work closely with the sea. Professions such as dock workers, merchants, fishermen, and service in the Atlantean navies are all commonplace. Four port cities dot the Azaean coastline: Gaharba (ga-HAR-ba), Korva (kor-VA), Mamura (ma-MU-ra), and Karkanna (kar-KAN-na). Warehouses, shops, inns, and taverns do brisk business in these cities. Both Mamura and Karkanna have dock areas that are actually larger than their respective cities and rival some of the major seaports of Olokunia. Because of the near-constant ship traffic, which has almost reached a level equal to the Golden Age, non-Atlanteans make up the bulk of the population of Azae. Taxes on these “foreigners” go to fill the Azaean Queen’s coffers. Traditionally, True Atlanteans pay no taxes in Azae, but instead must serve in the kingdom’s navy for five years or pay for a mercenary substitute. Other revenues are generated through port fees and tariffs. Most merchants tolerate these fees, which can sometimes be exorbitant in comparison to other lands, because of the reputation the kingdom enjoys when it comes to the safety and security of its sea routes. Citizens proudly boast that no corsair has ever successfully penetrated the net of Azaean warships patrolling the nearby seas. In truth, however, the Azaean monarchy issues letters of mark to enterprising captains and their vessels. As long as they ply their illicit trade far from Azaean waters, they can sell off loot and have their vessels serviced in Azaean ports. Because of this, organized crime and petty theft are exceedingly common in the four Azaean port cities. Unlike the other four cities, the capital of Azae, Surkan (sur-KAN) is located inland. It is less commercialized than the ports with smaller populations, but it does contain a pair of Vril circles in the nearby countryside. Surkan also hosts a small naval garrison in the large lake neighboring the city. These vessels patrol the wide river that descends to the coast and frequently serve to display the monarchy’s might.

Unseen Cargos Azae’s military governors and tax collectors frequently take their coin directly from ships that enter the harbor and occasionally from those who are leaving. Since crews change frequently, they are seldom noticed, and thus it is possible for enterprising individuals to find age into and out of Azaean ports without being seen simply by being out in the open. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian Scholar

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Diaprepea

Kadesh produces good warriors that some say rival the fighting men and women of my beloved homeland. All lies! It’s more Atlantean propaganda to shore up the egos of a declining people. I would pit my sword arm against Atlantean-bred warriors any day. Donobey of Nubia

The Arcanum

Starting originally as a cabal of scholars hoping to find lost Golden Age artifacts and lore, the Arcanum has become much more. In the year 10 M.K. the Arcanum’s mandate was to find the eldritch knowledge lost in the cataclysm and to restore the island nation to its former stature. Some of that found knowledge shocked and disturbed the scholars, who quickly recognized that what was let loose upon the world was far darker than they had imagined. The wars of the Atlanteans inadvertently stirred the dreaming gods who will soon awake and cleanse the world of their errant dreams. It was evident that it had already started with the new supernatural threats that seem to spring whole and complete into the world. Many new

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(dee-ah-PREP-ee-ah) Diaprepea is one of Atlantis’s satellite island kingdoms. Immediately south of Azae, it is a relatively poor kingdom. Much of its arable land and several Golden Age cities were lost in the deluge of the Great Cataclysm. Only one notable city remains, spared due to its location on the island’s highlands. Mehedra (meh-HED-ra) sits atop a ridge overlooking the southeastern seas, with steep cliffs dropping away from the city’s walls to prevent attack on three sides. Mehedra’s sole Vril pyramid was damaged in some way during the Dark Ages. Ever since, it has been sporadically failing, but it does illuminate some of the night sky with a brilliant jet of emerald flame that reaches high into the air above the city. The Diaprepeans are renowned for their martial prowess, a tradition dating back to the Golden Age, and one that the citizens are very proud of. While few merchant ships visit this small island, military vessels can frequently be found in its waters patrolling, escorting Gondwanan merchantmen, or hiring marines and other troops. Tradition holds that the Diaprepean monarch must have served in the Atlantean military (army or navy) for at least a decade. Like in Olokunia, Eudea, and Azae, both men and women serve in the military and treat one another as equals. Elite units of the Diaprepean infantry often serve as of the Royal Guard in the capital city of Atlantis. A large military academy is based in Mehedra, but conducts classes across the entirety of the island. Currently run by a former Diaprepean monarch and his Nemean captain, the Academy of Kadesh (kah-DESH) is open to anyone willing to serve. Kadesh squadrons are renowned for being some of the finest mercenaries in the region, and its commanders are sought after for military advice around the world. A second Diaprepean academy, the Academy of Halule (ha-LOOL) lies lost somewhere in the heavy jungles of the island’s interior. Legend has it that Halule was working on a third great warrior race for the Atlanteans to replace the failures of the Nethermen and Andamen, but the work was interrupted by the Great Cataclysm. Stories claim that the ruins of Halule are a veritable tomb of horrors from whence all sorts of monstrosities occasionally still emerge. There are several bands of Nethermen in the jungle interior, sometimes ed by cast-offs or failures of Kadesh, that will band together to launch raids against Mehedra or one of the minor ports. Infrequently such raids are accompanied by monsters, possibly from Halule, but the Diaprepeans have, thankfully, always repelled such attacks. The island holds several Golden Age ruins. The majority of these are actually situated off the Diaprepean coast in open waters, their tops breaching the waves and coral formations now guarding their submerged entrances. The infamous City of the Drowned, Domanu (doh-MAN-oo) rests off the island’s southernmost point. Despite stories that the towers of Domanu are dry and secure beneath the waves, the emanations of its half-submerged pyramid have also drawn a colony of Makara who fiercely guard the sunken city as if it were their own.

Elassippea

(el-ah-SIP-pee-ah) The rolling hills of Elassippea were a great center of Atlantean culture during the Golden Age. A pastoral countryside dotted with several large and important cities, Elassippea was a center of trade, horse-breeding, ship-building, and agriculture. However, when the Cataclysm swept over these lands, it took with it all the best that the Elassippeans had built. The Dark Ages hit the kingdom harshly, leaving much of the land undeveloped and under-populated. Much of the region today is divided between herders, nomadic hunters, and the occasional farmstead. The original royal family, the Line of Elassippus, who traced their lineage back to Gondwana, perished long before the end of the Golden Age. Legends dating back to that time claim that a rebelling band of nobles assassinated the royal family because of their infamous excesses. As a result, there is a tradition amongst the nobles of Elassippea of struggle against tyranny and authoritarianism. The irony that the Atlantean nobles themselves are seen as tyrants by some of their subjects is frequently lost or ignored. Servants who speak out are quickly silenced. Wooly mammoths roam the hills of Elassippea today. While there are always wild herds, most of these majestic beasts are bred to be used as beasts of burden; turning waterwheels, dragging immense plows, and the like. Contingents of them have also been trained to serve the Elassippean military as beasts of war. The capital of Elassippea is Zarzis (ZAR-zis), a port on the Sea of Lost Souls. Still a center of trade and commerce, it boasts a handful of Vril circles dotting the neighboring farmlands. The royal

GEOGRAPHICA palace in Zarzis sits unoccupied. Built by the original royal family, tradition in Elassippea since their fall has been that while the reigning monarch now rules from the buildings of state in Zarzis, they live in their own manor, wherever that may be. Stories that the ghosts and shades of the assassinated family still haunt the royal palace are not dismissed, but only spoken of in nervous whispers. Five other notable locales exist in Elassippea; all of them build upon the sites of older Golden Age cities. Two of these, Chaha (CHA-ha) and Suso (SU-soh), sit upon the western shore amidst the cleared rubble of ancient cities. Collapsed Vril pyramids mark the shallow harbors where merchants and traders come to meet with nomads and shepherds. Two other locations, Paria (pah-REE-ah) and Motua (mo-TOO-ah), are focal points for ranchers and huntsmen. Built directly upon the ruins of the past, these two cities bear pyramids which were ruined during the Cataclysm. They occasionally emit strange noises and disturbing lights that cause fear among the natural creatures of the area. Paria is also notable for its population. Comprised mostly of Andamen who have carved out an existence relatively free from direct Atlantean rule, the Parians have begun to push for recognition as a separate and legitimate kingdom, or at least city-state, of their own. The fifth site, Helioselen (HEE-lee-OH-see-len), is the largest and most intact of Elassippea’s ruins. However, it is infamous as a hideout for brigands, where bandits ally themselves with monsters and worse.

Eudea

(YOO-dee-ah) Situated on a peninsula that juts out toward the Sargasso Sea, Eudea is one of the smaller Atlantean kingdoms. The kingdom suffered great losses during the Dark Ages, including its only active pyramid, but has recovered economically due to a series of calculated decisions by its monarchs. Terraced gardens and vineyards provide a scenic backdrop for the wealthy capital city of Goldar (GOL-dar), renowned in modern days for being a supplier of a variety of herbs and plants, many of which are useful in the preparation of alchemical mixtures. The fabled Marble Towers of Goldar are also home to a number of renowned sorcerers, tolerated by the populace and welcomed by the traditions of the monarchy. Due to the collection of magical knowledge that resides here, alchemical and magical materials tend to be sold at a lower cost than elsewhere, a fact that only serves to draw others interested in the arcane arts. Since the end of the Dark Ages, the Prince of Eudea has traditionally been at least a novice when it comes to alchemy so that they might understand the benefits and dangers of such merchandise. Eudea’s only other major city is Valum Chivum (VAL-uhm CHEE-vuhm), a trading port that is frequented by vessels heading to and from Eria, Tamoanchan, and Antilla. Atlantean warships pay visits to the port, but few remain for long for the port is well-fortified against sea attack. Bands of Makara sea-devils instead attack homesteads along the coast, while bands of Tritons visit the port to trade with merchants. Navigators, seamen, cartographers, and mercenary guards are all sought after in Valum Chivum because of the number of expeditionary forces that periodically depart for the lands of the far west. Eudea offers contracts to such individuals trading outfitting gear in exchange for first purchase rights to the wonders successful explorers bring back: maps, trade goods, exotic plants, and especially artifacts from the Golden Age. All of this results in merchants from Valum Chivum to Goldar, supplying a great deal of rare and exotic merchandise from alchemical products to Vril-powered items to purported maps of First Age cities lost in the Cataclysm.

Gadirea

(ga-DEER-ee-a) The mountain realm of Gadirea is second only to Olokunia in strength and stability, having retained much of its Golden Age power and prosperity. The kingdom’s western border is the line of the Atlas Mountains, which largely isolate it from the rest of Atlantis. The kingdom is famed for its mineral resources. This vast wealth, mined from the eastern banks of the mountain range, has made Gadirea one of the most powerful kingdoms in the empire. The Cataclysm was a double-edged sword to the Gadireans, as the heaving mountains exposed new mineral veins while simultaneously destroying most of the existing mining operations. Gadirea has the second largest population of the Ten Kingdoms. The largest city is Kabir (kaBEER), the capital. Kabir is an inland city that dominates the major junction of ley-line roads. The

creatures crept from the wilderness and unspeakable power became available to necromancers from dark, halfdreamt voices. Compounded with the machinations of both Ba’al and Set, the world would be consumed from both ends by cosmic horrors with agendas that could only spell doom for the unsuspecting races of the world. At first they tried warn the populace of the impending dooms they had discovered but those warnings fell on deaf ears. The cold truth was that what they knew to be true, no one would believe. The scholars set in motion a plan to save the world from itself by recruiting from the varied peoples of the world— the best and brightest, not just scholars but warriors and sorcerers. Realizing that the task of finding and obtaining the lost lore, physical or otherwise, was one better suited for more rugged and adventurous sorts, the Arcanum gave way to what it is today. This secret army operates in the open under the disguise of a university looking to restore the grandeur of the Atlantean people, but its real agenda is to find the evil that stirs in the shadows and root it out. The Elder Gods could never, must never, wake.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

Valum Chivum is one of the few air-breather cities in which I feel comfortable walking around. Tritons are very common here and nobody gives us a second glance. The Merchant Princes of Eudea have a generous standing offer to any Triton tribe that wants to set up a colony, but my people are aware that this is simply a ploy: they hope that we will fight the Makara for them. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

second major city, and Gadirea’s only port, is Cardigiawn (kar-DIG-e-awn), located on the Bay of Dyved (di-VED). Because of the multitude of rocky shoals near this harbor, landing at Cardigiawn is exceedingly dangerous when the winter winds set in. As a result, much of Gadirea’s trade is carried south along the ley-line roads, to the port of Atlantis. The foreign population in Gadirea is large and diverse, making the food here some of the most interesting in Atlantis. The climate in the Gadirean Mountains is cold and harsh, and clothing tends to be heavier. Furs are common, with bear, deer, ram, and griffon being popular. Long, heavy linen tunics are worn by most, and thick cotton robes are also considered fashionable. Gadireans tend to be wary and don’t give their friendship easily; once you win one over, however, you can expect them to give their life for you. Numerous tales are told of Gadirea’s mountains, from stories of lost mines, chilling s of cannibal ghosts, and rumors of hidden cities with walls of gold. Prospectors speak of finding a hidden valley where hundreds of giant humanoid statues stand in rows, each one with a massive hole in their chests over the heart. One of the greatest mysteries surrounds Mount Hazred, the tallest peak in the Atlas Mountains. This lonely mountain stands apart from its fellows and is permanently shrouded in thick fog banks. Unearthly screeching noises regularly echo through the mists. Numerous mining expeditions have failed to return from Mount Hazred and it is widely regarded as cursed.

Mestea

(mess-TEE-ah) The island kingdom of Mestea is the northernmost point of the Atlantean Empire. Few Mesteans travel the interior of the rocky and forested island, instead keeping to the ley-line road that circles the coast from the fishing port of Promeus (pro-ME-us) in the north to the capital city of Klymeus (kli-ME-us) on the southern coast. Promeus is primarily inhabited by fishermen who ply the seas nearby, amber-miners who dredge the local marshes and swamps, and woodsmen who bring in fallen timber, furs, and hides, as well as the merchants who trade in all their wares. A disreputable city, known as something of a last stand for fugitives from Atlantean justice, smugglers of contraband and stolen merchandise, corsairs, and pirates frequently pay visits to the port. The few Atlantean warships that travel this far north would rather be somewhere else and rarely stay any longer than it takes to make a show of force and reestablish Atlantean superiority. In contrast, Klymeus is an active city situated on a hill, overlooking a large port. The Saros observatory, renowned since the Golden Age, perches atop the highest peak in the city. This ancient facility survived the Cataclysm, but sat largely dormant during the Dark Ages. During the early years of the Dark Age, extensive repairs and additions were conducted at the Saros Observatory. It now boasts a pair of large telescopes with polished orichalcum mirrors and crystal lenses, as well as a variety of other astronomical instruments. All of these find frequent use as astrologers( and the occasional magician) from various lands come here to study the movements of the stars and planets in the heavens, in the hopes of predicting the course of future events. Foreign dignitaries, nobles, and other notables often visit Klymeus seeking the advice and counsel of its sages regarding events in both the past and future. Scribes, chart-makers, and scholars all live and work in the village in hopes of one day working in Saros. The astrologer-priests who maintain the Observatory are said to have found evidence of past battles in the scars and craters of the moon, but whispers in the ports claim that the holy seers have spotted something dangerous looming in the future. A ruined Golden Age city, Minoeus (min-OH-ee-us), sits deep inland. Destroyed before the Cataclysm, Minoeus was never repaired. Stories hold that the ruins are now overgrown and crumbling. Nonetheless, the towers and mines below the ruined city are called home by a large group of diseased and afflicted humanoids. Many of these lepers are simply ill, but an increasing number of them bear the marks of alchemical mishaps and sorcerous mistakes. Tales from Promeus claim that there are even a number of unconventional individuals who have chosen to dwell in Minoeus so that they can conduct unorthodox experiments undisturbed.

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Mnesea

GEOGRAPHICA

(ne-SEE-ah) Opposite Gadirea in the Atlas Mountains, Mnesea is a land of mines. Iron, tin, gold, silver, and copper are all commonly found in Mnesea and much of the local economy is based on mining and metalworking. Most of these raw materials and worked ores are used within the Atlantean kingdoms instead of being shipped abroad. Mnesea’s coasts boast no large bays or harbors, and few settlements. The coast is largely choked by the Sargasso Sea or filled with treacherous reefs and shoals. The local trading fleets are smaller than other Atlantean kingdoms because this land possesses no Vril circles or pyramids. The only sizable city in the kingdom is the port of Mneseopolis (ne-SEE-ah-PO-lis). The remaining settlements are mining and agricultural towns spread throughout the mountains and valleys, linked by a tenuous network of fading roads. A single ley-line road connects Mneseopolis with Kabir across the mountains and Chaha further down the coast. All Atlantean Mneseans serve in the kingdom’s military for a period of no less than five years. During the Dark Ages, the monarchy forbade the use of hired mercenaries in place of noble service, and since then the Mnesean military has risen in prominence. Mnesean mountaineers served notably in both of the Amazon Wars, both against the Amazonian empire, and later against the Gorgos. Now that there is little need for an active military in Mnesea; the government and monarchy uses her troops as mercenary soldiers throughout the hemisphere. Mnesean military units tend to serve together. Military rank is a source of pride and prestige among Mnesean Atlanteans, even after active duty is completed, and a significant portion of the citizenry make a lifelong career out of military service. As many of its citizens spend a great deal of time in pursuit of martial prowess, the kingdom relies heavily upon a human merchant class and a numerous slave population. Andamen slaves toil in the mines, and are occasionally preyed upon in the dark depths by unseen things. Escaped Nethermen form tribes and bandit circles in the mountain es, at least until they are cleared away by Mnesean infantry patrols. Uprisings and revolts amongst the slaves in various mines are a periodic occurrence, and one that is a continual worry to the other Atlantean kingdoms who rely heavily upon the substantial mineral resources of Mnesea. The mountain peak known as Lascia (la-SEE-ah) once produced a great deal of ore during the Golden Age. As its veins, tunnels and excavations yielded less and less ore, it was gradually turned into an improvised prison. Criminal refuse of the empire was sent to toil in Lascia, locked away and forced to toil unceasingly. A guarded tunnel at the base of Lascia winds over a kilometer into the mountain and ends at a great bronze door fifteen meters tall and ten meters wide. Generations of slaves, criminals, and failed experiments have ed through those doors, forgotten by the Empire, never to be seen again.

Olokunia

(OL-O-kun-E-ah) Traditionally regarded as the most prestigious of the Atlantean kingdoms, Olokunia is considered a great and powerful nation in its own right, that it is also the center of the Atlantean Empire is a jewel in its crown. In many ways it is the heart of the Empire, a center of trade, culture, and learning with traditions echoing back to past ages. The Plain of Obatala remains the heartland of Atlantean farming. Plantations owned by nobles and small farming villages populated by slaves dot fertile valleys across the plain; though large areas have now reverted to wilderness, grazed by herds of wild animals and haunted by outcasts and bandits.

I’ve heard rumors that a new power has arisen in Lascia. This power is alternatively described as a brutal Netherman imprisoned for mass murder, a necromancer whose undead minions tunneled into the prison, or a dark spirit of despair that arose from the amalgamation of a thousand damned souls. I hope that bronze door is very thick. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

It is so very easy for a Triton to travel around Olokunia — the vast network of irrigation canals, plentiful rivers, and deep lakes make this place a haven on land. It’s also really easy to make your escape after a second-story job…if you take my meaning. The wilderness areas are no less plentiful or deadly than any other kingdom, however, and you should swim with care. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Four great cities circle Lake Kivu (kee-VU), built on and from the ruins of Golden Age cities. Findias (FIN-dee-ahs), Gorias (GORE-ee-ahs), Murias (MOO-ree-ahs), and Falias (FAL-ee-ahs) have been largely rebuilt to their Golden Age splendor, each replete with plazas, gardens, monuments, and amphitheatres built in Atlantean architectural styles. Many of these recent constructions have reused the very stones of the past, salvaging marble and granite, obsidian, and iron where they can. Largely reduced in population from their height in past ages, each of these cities tolerates piles of rubble and ruins either nearby or sometimes within the very heart of their boundaries. These ruins occasionally shelter runaway slaves or host illicit meetings. Greater than all of these cities is the city of Atlantis (at-LAN-tis), capitol of the kingdom as

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Osorapeans (The Black Guard, the Osors, the Dark Sons)

The capital city of Atlantis is guarded by an elite guard known as the Osorapeans. Dressed in steel and black leather with the symbol of Osorapis on their helmets, the Osorapeans are the best trained, best equipped fighting force in the city. Above all, the Black Guard’s mission is to see to the well-being of all Atlanteans in the city, and to keep the peace. They are given wide latitudes when pursuing these goals and covert operations are not unheard of when dealing with some of the less savory characters dwelling in the jewel of the Atlantean Empire. No one dares to make a stand or even confront the Black Guard and it is best to leave the city if one harms or actually kills one of their . Before one can wear the helm of an Osorapean, they must train on the island of Diaprepea at the academy there for two years. Once the training is done, the man or woman is considered near-nobility and may along some of the benefits to their firstborn child. All Osorapeans are considered equal, and this is one of the only ways nonAtlanteans can achieve some sort of status in the city. Housing is provided in a district close to the harbors for the Black Guard and their families, and they are well protected and looked after. Some fear that the Guard are amassing too much political power and will and are looking into ways of bringing down the force. Those caught in the middle should beware.

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well as capitol of the Empire. Described as the foremost wonder of the world at its height, Atlantis still clings to prominence, holding tight to its traditions while spreading its influence far and wide. The regent of Olokunia traditionally resides in a prodigious tower of black stone, Vril-glass, and orichalcum built during the height of the Golden Age. This same sovereign is also the ruler of the Atlantean Empire and in that capacity is known formally as the Lord of All Seas. Olokunia is the most populous of all the Atlantean kingdoms, and home to the largest foreign population as well.

The City Of Atlantis Despite the widespread devastation caused during the Great Cataclysm, the city of Atlantis managed to survive, though it was not unscathed. In the ages since, some locations have been rebuilt or restored, while other parts of the city seem to be in a state of arrested decay. Sprawling and massive, the city remains one of the largest in the world and it frequently inspires awe in visitors who see it for the first time. Atlantis boasts a sizable port district that is, in turn, ed by a wonder of the past: the vast Canal of Olokun. Many hundreds of kilometers long, still lined in places with polished marble, the Canal of Olokun was originally constructed to allow the age of ships from the ocean to Atlantis and further inland to Lake Kivu, as well as provide additional irrigation to the surrounding countryside. Dotted with locks along its length, the flow of the canal controls the age of freshwater out toward the sea as well as allowing ships powered by either oars or crystal matrices to travel in either direction. Many of the ancient city’s major structures are built of finely hewn blocks of stone. The circular walls surrounding the city, and important islands within it, are all plated with various metals: brass, tin, copper, and orichalcum. The walls of the more important government buildings are plated with the same materials, but are also etched with whisping, geometric designs that appear to scintillate when the sun hits them from the correct angle. Newer structures tend to mimic the older ones in architectural style, and the wealthiest Atlanteans build in traditional materials, but constructions of wood and clay can be found away from the main thoroughfares. Spread over several islands, connected by the waterways of the Canal of Olokun, Atlantis has several notable districts. Wealthy Atlanteans travel in stately fashion through the city aboard boats powered by Vril or poled by servants. The poorer citizens of the city may hire such craft on occasion, but, like slaves in the city, they travel by foot around and across the veritable maze of bridges, streets, and alleyways. Dominating the city’s skyline is the Hill of the Orixa (uh-REE-shuh). The primary and most sacred site in the city, the pinnacle of this mount s a large Vril pyramid. Built of polished white marble and inlaid with patterns of orichalcum, the pyramid is visible from a great distance by day and is lit by Vril-light and torches by night. The entire hill is surrounded by a high wall, guarded to prevent ittance to any but the extensive royal family, and the priests and nacaals who perform sacred ceremonies. During festival days, the gates to the temple grounds are open and the populace is free to pay their respects to the Orixa in the grandest temples upon the globe. The inner harbor or “Royal Harbor” is situated in the center of the Royal District where the Tower of the Sea Lord overlooks much of the city. In addition, palaces for each of the other kingdoms house the extended families of the nobility of the Empire. Elaborate gardens, the dwellings of nacaals and high priests, and the more modest homes of lesser nobles fill the remainder of the island’s space. Only authorized visitors are allowed into this district, which tends to be heavily patrolled by honor guards from each kingdom. Frequent ornate balls, exclusive operatic performances, and fanciful dinner parties are held here, and on such occasions both the canals and bridges into the district are filled with the riches of the Empire. Heroes of the Empire are also allowed residence, particularly during the most important festival of Olokun, Sea Day. The Royal District is said to have suffered the least since the Golden Age and it is a constant source of pride for all Atlanteans. Another notable harbor is the Heroes Harbor. This anchorage is surrounded by the Garden District. An ancient Atlantean university occupies a significant portion of the land here. Parts of it were destroyed after the Cataclysm, and in the Modern Age many of its buildings have been appropriated for other uses, such as art galleries and foreign embassies. Still, its tradition and prestige are strong enough that young priests, wizards, alchemists, and scholars continue to come here to be trained in the knowledge of the world. Anyone may visit here during daylight hours, but guardsmen patrol by night to ensure the safety of the treasures kept here. Tavern tales say that there are locked rooms in the University that hide forgotten laboratories and alchemical workshops.

GEOGRAPHICA

Though such tales may be little more than fanciful rumor, the waters around Heroes Harbor are a constant source of pollution for nearby waterways as the effluvia of alchemical work unceasingly seeps into the canals. The Great Harbor is the largest public harbor in the city of Atlantis. Wealthy merchants and heroes from around the seas come here to unload their wealth and wonders. Vril-lights shine here day and night, both above and below the water. Warehouses and port facilities, fishermen and shipwrights, all make this area home. Ading the Great Harbor are sections of the city containing hostels, inns, tenements, and apartments for the poor and working class visitors, sailors, itinerant peddlers, and journeymen crafters. This Wharf District is poorly maintained and little of the Empire’s wealth has been spent to make any repairs here. Buried inside the Wharf District are large portions of the old city, half-submerged from the time of the Cataclysm. Amongst the rotting and slowly sinking buildings are a number of infamous gambling dens, saloons, drug dens, and ale houses. Petty crime tends to be rampant here and the city guard rarely investigates the thefts, burglaries, and muggings that occur unless an Atlantean is victimized. Stories of travelers, vagrants, and others who will not be missed vanishing from their beds or being abducted off of the nighttime streets and alleyways to be sold off as rowers or slaves in foreign lands are commonplace. A large ley-line concourse curves around one end of the Wharf District linking the Great Harbor at one end to the Garden District at the other. Known formally as the Boulevard of Dreams, the strip of businesses and manors along this Vril-glass road are called the Silver Ring. Merchantprinces, minor nobles whose fortunes are in decline, foreign princes whose status is on the rise: all of these and more live along the Silver Ring. Trapped between the opulence of the Garden District and the desperation of the Wharf, a ruthless and competitive spirit fills these courtiers and merchants, and rumors of their complex betrayals, trade wars, and the occasional murder plot fill every tavern. Near the external wall of the city is a district known as the Foreigner’s Quarter. The majority of foreigners and non-humans who are neither slaves nor gladiators live in this section of the city. Though there are no laws that forbid foreigners from living elsewhere, anyone who does not hold to Olokunian customs and styles of dress finds it difficult at best to rent or purchase housing anywhere else in the city. Within the Foreigner’s Quarter is a second neighborhood. called the Haunted Ward. Comprised mainly of ruins, unrepaired since the Cataclysm, as well as countless years of refuse and rubbish, the Haunted Ward is shunned by the sane and healthy. Eerie noises and strange lights occasionally emanate from the area at night, and during the day it is unnaturally silent.

I’ve traveled to the city of Atlantis several times during my journeys and each visit makes me hate the city and those that live there more and more. If not for my companions prying my fingers from around his neck, I would have killed the condescending merchant who scoffed at selling “a foreign brute a sword made of Atlantean steel”. Donobey of Nubia

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Names

Names

Atlanteans and Hesperan

Atlanteans and Hesperan

Male

Female

Male

Female

Abidemi

Abeni

Olamilekan

Lelia

Abiodun

Abimbola

Olanrewaju

Lenore

Abioye

Adebowale

Olufemi

Ligia

Adegoke

Adetokunbo

Olufunmilayo

Lycoris

Adisa

Alaba

Olujimi

Lydia

Afolabi

Anthea

Olukayode

Mojisola

Agesilaus

Aspasia

Olumide

Monifa

Agis

Asta

Oluwaseun

Myra

Amadi

Ayo

Opeyemi

Nerissa

Antiochus

Ayomide

Peder

Olamide

Antipater

Bolanle

Qualyn

Olayinka

Ayodele

Cybele

Thamyris

Olubunmi

Ayokunle

Dada

Thanos

Olufunke

Ayotunde

Dayo

Theodosios

Olufunmilola

Babajide

Delbin

Theophile

Oluwasegun

Babatunde

Delphoine

Thespis

Omolara

Bamidele

Demeter

Titos

Oni

Borchuka

Eniola

Todor

Pelagia

Bosede

Eudosia

Uranus

Phaedra

Busiris

Eugenie

Vasilis

Simisola

Callimachus

Evadne

Wymaz

Temitope

Cassander

Folami

Xenophanes

Titilayo

Cheech

Gaea

Xenophon

Yejide

Cimon

Galatea

Yolo

Yewande

Darmanu

Gbemisola

Zephyrus

Yewande

Demosthenes

Grette

Zotikos

Zari

Ekundayo

Helen

Enitan

Helia

Euthydemus

Hera

Femi

Hesper

Halyu

Ife

Idowu

Ige

Ikantha

Jacinthe

Jeru

Jocasta

Kayin

Kaia

Kayode

Kairos

Lanre

Kalcya

Lekan

Kalonice

Metnu

Kama

Naul

Lalage

Olabode

LanaLeda

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Atlantean Flora

GEOGRAPHICA

NOTE: Flora found on Atlantis is also found on Hesperia Eglen These evergreen spruce trees dot the mountains and highlands of the northern Atlantean islands. They grow to prodigious heights and help to fuel the Atlantean timber industry. Eglen that grow near the sea are sometimes known as Gilvinas. The salt-water somehow affects the trees, causing them to appear to weep salt tears through the winter months. Eglen are used for a wide variety of products and reasons, from the medicinal to construction to ornamental needs. Gilvinas bark can be brewed to produce a poison that affects only reptiles, including it is said, the Annunaki. Effect: Gilvinas poison is an alchemical concoction, DoD -12, that is a strength 8 poison to reptiles, including the Ahl-at-Rab. Acheroipa A species of white poplar that is common through Olokunia, Elassippea, and Eudea, the Acheroipa is said to be sacred to a number of the Orixa. Atlantean war-heroes commonly do not acknowledge their military successes until they both return to Atlantis and wear a crown of woven Acheroipa. The trees grow well along the shores and rivers of the central Atlantean region and many Atlantean nobles once planted them alongside their own hereditary blackwood trees. Acheroipa also attract many species of butterflies which make their groves a favored spot for young lovers. Effect: Ornamental and sometimes considered sacred. Onnin A native species of ash tree, Onnin are favored by the Atlanteans for a many varieties of construction. Sometimes called “endless end” for the heartwood of an onnin tree is inimical to the Jinn in much the same way that iron is, but only if it is prepared properly. Unfortunately, the dried bark of the Onnin is highly flammable and as such it must be transported carefully after being felled. Effect: Onnin heartwood can be alchemically treated, DoD -25, through rarely known First Age alchemical science to have the same effect as iron to Jinn. Onnin bark is more likely to catch fire, and can be substituted for rose petals when crafting Iosis. Yugandacae This species of walnut grows across the central to southern Atlantean regions. Young versions of this tree are indistinguishable from other variety of walnut, but as the tree ages, it draws in flows of local vril to grow much taller than other varieties. The great shells from the nuts of a mature adult Yugandacae can be used as a single person coracle, capable of navigating not only the rivers of Atlantis, but in skilled hands can even be used to venture out upon the seas. Effect: Giant nuts can be crafted into one-man watercraft. Bazil Kapok A species of ceiba tree that grows throughout Amphisea’s tropical Eseasar jungle, the Bazil Kapok grows to prodigious sizes. Local woodcutters do not fell these trees for fear of setting free demons, Jinn, or all manner of other dangerous creatures that are believed to reside inside the great trunks. The seed pods of the tree produce fine down that can be spun into cloth and fallen trees are used for all manner of construction by the Atlanteans. Effect: Timber and cloth production.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Atlantis Map Location Key The locations presented below are bare bones’ descriptions to use as plot hooks for GMs. These locations can be as involved as the GM wants and are listed to add a little flavor to an existing game. 1: Pool of the Sky Mammoths

10: The City of Bones

Built around and on the remains of the petrified bones of the last true giant is the City of Bones. Founded by a Tauran after the First Beast War, the skeleton now houses over a hundred stone buildings carved out of the cyclopean remains scattered over a 10km range. Fifty years ago the entire community died of a virulent plague in a single night. 11: Bosedes’ Gullet A small network of caves at the base of the Nujomo Mountain A great underground river that spills into the Sea of Lost Souls. Range in Amphisea. Sitting in the roughhewn alcoves of the cave are the mummified heads of a First Age order of sorcerers. The heads are For years pirates have made the Gullet their haven and used it to attack settlements and villages further inland where the river opens. said to speak to only the most worthy of souls. In recent years the authorities have tried to patrol the underground 3:Tower of the Necromancer The twisted black tower sits in the blasted and crumbling river but have encountered resistance in the form of subterranean courtyard of Mal’Sorkumar the Necromancer. The land and the Nethermen tribes. 12: Ochosi’s Rock crumbling ruins are patrolled heavily and considered forbidden In the rolling hills of Mnesea lies a large cave complex holding a large pool of water. The pool is used by the Atlantean mammoths as they migrate south during the rainy seasons. Andamen shamans believe a great moth spirit resides at the lake and imparts wisdom to those that listen. 2: Cave of the Talking Heads

A large obsidian stone near the Zarzis in Elassippea. Those ground to any but those given permission by the ruling body of Atlantis. Strange lights dance at the top of the tower when the moon wronged and seeking justice leave offerings here for the god of justice to take up their cause. is obscured. 13: The Bloody Coast 4: Hill of the Howler Site of an ancient First Age battle, the hill can be seen for miles on the plains of Eudea. A lone ancient spear juts from the hill, covered in tatters of banners and keepsakes of the fallen. The lone spear belongs to a forgotten warrior and legends say that he was the last of his regiment, and with his trusted hound held the hill for three days against a legion of opponents before he fell, his spear the only remaining artifact of his ing. Warriors that are dying ask that their bodies and belonging be buried on the hill with the forgotten warrior. Grave robbers and some unfortunates who stray too close to the hill hear the guttural wail of the howler, a spectral beast that protects those interred there. 5: Valley of the Ibeji

So named for the red sands and coral that mark this southern stretch of Atlantean coastline, the Bloody Coast also serves as a tribute of sorts to those citizens of Autochthea lost during the Cataclysm. Some carry vials of the red sand when traveling far from home as a reminder of past loss, while others claim that the vials serve as a means to ward off spirits. 14: The Impossible Academy

This school for magicians clings to Jaddress Island, a tiny rock spur in the River Olukun. The master of Jaddress is a fearsome individual by the name of A-Thuk Dwar. Master Dwar is said to be half-demon and drinks the blood of a fallen god to keep young. The price for attending the academy is ten slaves a year; these slaves are The valley lies deep in the Garderian mountain range and sits brought to the great vault beneath the island, never to be seen again. between two small mountains known as the twin Ibeji. At the very 15: Resurrection Rock center of the valley is a small ancient well with cool dark waters at In the Mount Hazred mountain range is a rock formation said the bottom. to be stained with the blood of Olódùmarè. Legends say that the 6: The Road of Kings righteous dead can be laid to rest on the red peak and be restored Once the Vril road touched every city on Atlantis but now the to life within nine days. Those deemed not worthy roam the broken green-and-gold road stretches only 20 miles from Atlantis surrounding area as revenants hungry for the souls of the living. and winds north. 16: Ba’al’s Throat 7: The Temple of the Nameless One Used by a secret sect of religious assassins following twisted Two hundred years ago, escaped slaves from Gondwanna built precepts of the demon Ba’al. This unmarked cave system begins a crude temple to a forgotten wilderness god in the jungles of Azae. with a lengthy descending tunnel that opens into a massive cavity of Atlanteans sent to retrieve the slaves laid siege to the temple for deadly hot pools of sulfur water and magma, deafened by continuous 100 days before finally breaking in and slaughtering everyone. The roaring from the depths of the planet. The abundant Vril-infused magma is used to make all the assassins’ masterwork weapons, which temple was torn down but the ruins still hold many secrets. are regarded as some of the finest in the land. A second tunnel ascends 8: Salt Marshes of Erinle A dangerous salt marsh off the western coast of Eudea. The wild into an enclosed meadow of unparalleled beauty. The forefathers of roots and plants that grow here are eagerly sought after by alchemists. the assassins’ guild developed the meadow into a garden of paradise. At the center of the marsh are the petrified remains of a behemoth. They use the cave system to initiate potential students, drugging them with hallucinogens and taking them to witness the promised Its bones rise above the marsh, forming an unnatural island. rewards of a “heavenly repose.” Those who fail or betray the guild 9: Black Cage Canyon (or accidentally stumble upon this secret place) are cast into “the fire The site of the first Nethermen rebellion and home to several and flame of hell.” Nethermen tribes. The Nethermen here belong to some of the first ever created and they take pride in the fact.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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Elysium Sea

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Elysium Sea Region The Elysium Sea lies between Tamoanchan and Eria in the east and Jambu, Mu and Lemuria in the west. Dotted with small islands, the region is home to many diverse peoples. A dark-skinned race of humans, the Manuans, is a powerful force in these waters, as are the tall, green-skinned Tritons of the ocean shallows. During the time of the Anunnaki, the islands were under the total thrall of the Ophidians, but upon the advent of Atlantis, the humans who settled here pushed the snakemen away. The strong-willed humans here have successfully destroyed every aspect of the Anunnaki presence on the islands. Though no word of it exists in Atlantean history books, early on they even managed to shrug off the yoke of their Atlantean masters. The proud people of the Elysium Sea cannot ever having outside masters and have lived in relative peace for centuries. Once, three centuries ago, the only real distinction that could be made concerning political affiliations was a very basic one between sea-people and island-people. Each island was an entity unto itself, with little and no reason to unite. The rise of the warrior tribes of Manua, however, changed this. Many islands found it necessary to band together into loose confederations to resist Manuan domination. Today, there are fierce nations in these waters: Manua, Ogata, Tora, Elysium and Munark. The warrior tribes of Manua rule the islands of Nonamato (no-na-MA-to), Manawak (MAH-na-wak), Manuk (MA-nuk), Melekuala (me-le-KWA-la) and Samai (sa-MY). They have subjugated the peoples of these islands, and rule through military force. The nation of Ogata was formed to resist the early expansionism of Manua. It includes the islands of Ogaramango (o-ga-ra-MAN-go), Temuah (te-MU-ah) and Salawati (sa-la-WA-te). Each is ruled independently by an indigenous tribe, but they have agreed to cooperate at the first sign of aggression from the Manuans. Temuah and Salawati are the only islands in this ocean where landbased agriculture is practiced. The people are dark-skinned and of medium height and build. They know nothing of metalworking and use only stone implements. Tora is a confederation whose denizens consist of people exiled from other realms who have banded together to cooperate against their common enemies. Each of the four islands was settled from a different area: Rapa Nui (RA-pa-NU-ee) from Ogaramango, Matui (ma-TU-ee) from Khitai, Orongo (o-RON-go) from Samal and Tamaka (ta-MA-ka) from Salawati. They are each independently ruled, coming together only for a common defense. The island of Moto Nui (MOto-nu-ee), part of the same island group, is said to be home to a struggling tribe of Owlmen whose numbers were drastically reduced by warfare and magical plagues over the last two centuries. Now numbering only a few dozen, they seek isolation and are believed to shun with other races. The Tritons of these waters rule the nation of Elysium. That is to say, all the waters of the Elysium Sea and the sacred island of Elysium itself. These Tritons are nomadic, roaming the ocean in extended family groups or other bands, including merchants, adventurers, corsairs and even ruffians and bandits. The Tritons tolerate others in their seas, but impose a death penalty against any who set foot upon the island of Elysium, which they consider a holy place. The sea-traveling nomad tribes, which hold no permanent territory, represent a significant population, in of both number and power. Though completely independent of each other, some are allied through various trade agreements or defense purposes. They consider the islands of Manocnac (ma-NOK-nak), Temareta (te-ma-RA-ta) and Nakua (na-KU-a) as their home territories, though no tribe stays more than a season or so upon any one island each year. The three islands, and all of the tribes, are known by the collective name of Munark. They are tall, primitive and highly superstitious. Other islands of note include Kusa (KU-sa), Pulo (PU-lo), Oguamana (oh-gwa-MAHN-a), Tarawa (ta-RA-wa), Maninoa (man-i-NO-a), Jokaz (JO-kaz), Vanua (van-OW) and Managuak (man-OG-wok). Kusa is said to be haunted by an assortment of spirits, minor demons and devils. No native of this region will dare set foot on the isle, despite the rumors that Kusa’s jungles contain treasure buried here long ago by Sheban corsairs.

There is much debate about whether the island of Vanua is indeed cursed or, if it is, what the nature of that curse may in fact be. Does the curse only affect items taken from the island or do the people who take things wind up cursed? There are a small, vanishing number of people willing to test the curses of the gods or of ancient powers. The Nethermen of Vanua, distorted over the centuries by inbreeding and what seems to be exposure to tainted Vril, claim that the reach of their jealous and greedy gods is long. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

The Lonely Islands

Isolated islands in the Elysium Sea often tiny communities of less than two dozen people. These clans are usually horribly inbred and take on repulsive practices such as incest and cannibalism. Some of these clans worship dark powers. Something stirs in the Elysium Sea, actively seeking out these communities for their worship.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Tagaloa Stones

The islands of the Elysium Sea are littered with what the indigenous people call the Tagaloa (TAH-gah-LOW-ah) Stones. These cyclopean, rough-hewn rocks stand over 12 meters high and 5 meters wide and are said to have been dropped from the heavens by the god Tagaloa himself. The stones are Vril markers and represent places of great power. Each stone is guarded by a ring of wooden tikis all facing outward. The tikis are maintained by local shamans and are freshly painted each year at the end of the month of Adaru.

The Triton tribes here often suffer from a strange affliction called the Great Thirst. This illness of the mind causes tribesmen to seek out the deepsea trench known as Y’layr’s Deep. Whatever the cause of this malady, those that go to Y’layr’s Deep never return. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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Pulo is home to a tribe of huge, black-skinned Ogres who hold a small human population in slavery. No one visits this island unless shipwrecked or ignorant of the situation. There are rumors of a great gold mine on the island, worked by the slaves and somehow accessible from the sea, but no one has ever substantiated these stories. Oguamana is a young island, formed by recent volcanic activity. The volcano is still erupting regularly and the island is believed to be uninhabited. Tarawa is an island about which little is known. Jagged rocks and perilous currents surround this isle, making it inaccessible by ship. Certain local tribesmen come here nevertheless, as the waters around the isle are said to be rich in pearl-bearing mollusks. Maninoa is another island of mystery and is generally avoided. It is believed to be the home of an old and powerful wizard, who is said to have a number of fiendish, inhuman companions. Many wild rumors circulate about Maninoa and its strange inhabitants, but no one knows for certain the happenings on this island. The island of Vanou is a blasted crater of an island littered with the bleached bones of a lost people. Scattered around the craggy lifeless island are strange and dangerous artifacts of a bygone era. A lone red monolith with a carved face is the only standing artifact among the many ruins. Some speculate that the monolith is a twisted and perverted Tagaloa stone experimented on by the Anunnaki when they ruled the island. An aggressive tribe of Nethermen protects the island from outsiders, killing and eating any who set foot of the barren rock. Trinkets and items taken from the island are said to be cursed and always compel the taker to bring the item home or suffer terrible fates. It is rumored that a great treasure sits in a tomb of the monolith waiting for the island’s curse to be broken. The isle of Jokaz is another island steeped in legend and is supposedly home to a fierce and intelligent turtle. Known far and wide as an oracle of great prescience, the turtle is of great age, tremendous size and awesome power. Wizards and heroes have been known to go on quests to seek her advice and wisdom. As the turtle values her privacy — and treasure — she is said to have constructed ingenious obstacles to protect the island from all but the most dedicated and skilled seekers. Managuak is an idyllic island paradise without a native population. It is not far from the forbidden Triton island of Elysium and there are many who believe it to be another Triton sacred place. It is, however, frequently visited by various nomadic sea tribes as a source of supplies and it is often a haven from storms; no grief has ever come to these visitors. The candlenut trees here provide the best and most potent pigments for the sacred tattoos worn by the people of the region. The Elysium Sea teems with life, as do many of the islands themselves. Enriched by a climate made ideal by favorable water and air currents, the region is alive with plants and animals of every size and description. Most of the islands are rich in tropical vegetation, just as the seas abound in undersea plant life. There are few mammals on any of the islands, but birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles are all common. A few remnants of the great dinosaurs still survive on some of the larger islands, but these are rare. The most frequently used materials for tools, utensils, weapons and other implements are shells, bamboo and stone. The only metals that are worked by any of the Elysium Sea tribes are gold, silver and copper; these are used only for jewelry and decorations. Some metal items do find their way to tribal chiefs and heroes on the islands as a result of trade with Jambu and Tamoanchan, but such items are rarities. Because mammals are scarce, leather is a rare commodity. Durable goods are made either of reptile or shark hides (or, on some occasions, from human skins). By the same token, bows are a badge of the veteran warrior because the tendons used in bowstrings traditionally come from vanquished foes. The most common weaponry usually consists of shark-tooth clubs, conch (used as clubs) and barbed spears. Most tribes of the region depend upon the sea for sustenance and ; only the tribe on Salawati uses land resources more than those of the ocean for food and other essentials. There are many small islands dotting the Elysium Sea that are not shown on any of the maps in this book, and are not described here. Such islands may be quite ordinary, though a few may be as strange and mysterious as any discussed here.

Elysium

GEOGRAPHICA

(el-EE-zee-um)

The aquatic Triton nation of Elysium claims all of the waters, the sea bottoms below them and the sacred island of Elysium itself, from Tamoanchan and Eria to the coasts of Mu, Lemuria and Khitai. None may tread upon the sacred isle, but the waters are made free to any who wish to travel them. These waters are home to the Triton people, who range far and wide upon their marvelous Hippocampus steeds. The nation of Elysium is made up of many small, interrelated tribes of Tritons, though some have given up the traditional familial tribal groups to other bands formed around particular occupations or goals. Tribes are generally nomadic in nature, following the migrations of fish or other schools of marine wildlife. Some, however, settle in coastal shallows to work small sea farms, while various groups range from one end of the ocean to the other, engaged in trade with the land folk on the shores of the great sea. A very few are known to act as corsairs, raiding ships and coastal settlements without warning. There is little in the way of overall unity to the nation. Each tribe has its own chief and follows customs and traditions that may vary considerably from other groups. Once every year, the tribes assemble off the island of Elysium for a series of festivals. Intertribal problems are settled, marriages are solemnized and trade is carried out among the tribes. The sacred isle is vital to the cultural and ritualistic lives of all Tritons. The island plays a major part in many traditional elements of the culture, from acting as the traditional spawning ground to being a favored place for burial. Though most land-based races may not set foot upon Elysium, the isle is not uninhabited. Nymphs, nature spirits and magical animals and plants live here under the protection of the Tritons. The land is lush and rich, with abundant food and water and hospitable weather year-round. It is also reputed to be rich in gems and precious stones.

My people do not “spawn”. Traditionally, the Elysian Tritons do gather at the sacred island to pair their unmarried young who’ve turned “of age” that year. If this is “spawning” then so, too, is every Atlantean debutant ball. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Manua

(ma-NU-a)

The most coherent multi-island nation in the Elysium Sea, Manua is a land of short, darkskinned sea-warriors. Originally from Nonamato and Kusa, the Manuans have conquered the human tribes on Nonamato, Manawak, Manuk, Melekuala, and Samai, and are believed to be interested in further expansion. The realm is not now at war with any nation, but is hostile towards both Ogata and Tora. The Manuans are fierce fighters who prefer death to retreat or surrender. They wear crude but effective armor constructed of various materials, including bone lamellar, shark’s hide and the spiked skin of a particular species of blowfish native to this region. Shark-toothed clubs, barbed spears and crude short bows are their favorite weapons. Excellent seamen, the Manuans employ outrigger canoes (up to 20 meters long) in their raids. They will attack other craft on sight in most cases and have been known to engage in battle with the giant Kraken and Leviathans that roam the waters of the Elysium Sea. The Manuan capital of Nan Matal (NAN MAH-tal) is the closest thing to an actual city in this region. It consists of over one hundred thatch huts of various sizes, all erected on sturdy bamboo stilts. Travel between huts is by canoe; each family owns at least one small craft used exclusively for this purpose. The Manuans worship a nameless sea god, whom they depict as a serpent of great size and power. Consequently, they will not harm or threaten any of the sea serpents found in their territorial waters, believing these creatures to be the representatives of their fearful patron deity. Their priests wear elaborate dragon masks and are said to be able to communicate with all types of dragons. The island of Nonamato (no-na-MA-to) is rich and diverse. Lofty mountains separate the lush and fertile western region from an inhospitable eastern shore, and human tribes (fisher-gatherer, extended-family groups) roam the land and the island’s offshore waters. The only settlement of note is Nan Matal, the capital of the realm. The remaining Manuan islands of Manawak, Manuk, Melekuala and Samai are also inhabited primarily by semi-nomadic human fisher-gatherers. Each island has an individual tribe with unique customs and traditions, but overall they are very similar. The Manuan overlords have stationed contingents of warriors on each to control the local population. There are a number of smaller islands within the waters claimed by Manua, but these are mostly uninhabited, isolated and generally devoid of any redeeming qualities.

The waters around Elysium are littered with wrecks. The Triton tribes typically swim under intruding vessels and drill holes in their hulls until they sink. Face-toface combat is rarely required. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Painted People

Many of the people of the Elysium region are tattooed in some way. The tattoos are always done by a shaman and are said to infuse the person’s genealogy, family legends and personal history along with powerful magic into the very soul of the wearer. The designs denote station, wealth and vocation in the society and are easily read by others. A girl’s right hand is tattooed by the age of twelve. Only after that are they allowed to prepare the meals and to participate in the rubbing of dead bodies with coconut oil. The tattoos of women are less extensive than the tattoos seen on men, generally being limited to the hand, arms, feet, ears and lips. Women of rank or wealth may have their legs tattooed as well. These designs are said to also be ancient pacts made with all the sea creatures of the Elysium, protecting them from harm while in the waters. Other decorations supposedly give prowess in battle or special protection from enemies.

Moai Stone Giants

Monolithic human figures carved in stone by the Rapa Nui people are erected over ley lines that encircle the island. The Moai (mo-EYE) are said to house the souls of their ancestors and protect the island from the rising of Avaiki every thirteen years. One out of every ten Moai is a powerful Vril collector, much like a Vril circle. The power collected is channeled to a great Moai on a hill at the center of the island. When activated, the great Moai calls forth the ancestor spirits of the Rapa Nui people to defend the island. In the last hundred years, the activation of the great monolith has sometimes caused massive earthquakes that shake the entire Elysium region, causing untold destruction.

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Munark

(MU-nark)

Though Munark seems at first glance to be the least cohesive of all the nations of the Elysium Sea, in many respects it is far stronger than any of its neighbors. Whereas most of the tribes of these seas have banded into nations for temporary purposes of material self-interest, the Great Tribe of Munark is a long-standing entity to which each of the individual tribes that comprise it gives their loyalty. Munark’s culture is in many ways similar to that of the Elysium Tritons. Individual tribes of nomadic extended-family groups roam the waters of the ocean constantly. Each tribe is free to make its own way in the world, but all are bound by complex intertribal treaties to form the Great Tribe. Each tribe of nomads is part of the Great Tribe. Each year, they gather at Manocnac to settle disputes and on information in council meetings held among all the chiefs of the individual tribes; the rest of the year, each chief leads his tribe as he sees fit. Though similar in appearance (dark-skinned, tall, broad of build), each tribe has its own distinct facial markings (paint, tattoo, etc.) and colorful mode of dress. On the whole, Munark is neutral towards Manua, Ogata, and Tora. The nomads are looked upon as a source of trade goods and information and so are generally free to stop at any island to hunt, gather supplies, make repairs and otherwise make use of safe havens. Toward the Tritons,they are peaceful and often allied, and their attitude is returned in kind. Munark holds the Tritons in special regard and they are treated as of the Great Tribe; the nomads are favored in turn by the Triton nation. Munark claims three islands as homelands for the Great Tribe: Manocnac, Temareta, and Nakua. These islands serve as meeting places, safe havens and bases, but the tribes actually travel the length and breadth of the Elysium Sea, and sometimes beyond, with no real home beyond the sea, the sky and the rafts beneath their feet.

Ogata

(o-GA-ta)

The nation of Ogata is a loose alliance of island tribes formed to counter possible aggression from Manua. The alliance is tenuous at best and would quickly disintegrate in the absence of the Manuan threat. The three main islands of Ogata are Ogaramango, Temuah, and Salawati, each inhabited by a culturally distinct human tribe. Ogata also includes a large number of smaller islands in and among these major isles and lays claim to all the offshore waters as well. Elysium Tritons, however, use the shallows and the deserted islands are frequently used as stopover points by sea-nomads and other travelers. The people of Ogaramango are the fiercest, most determined adversaries of the Manuans. Competitive in nature, this tribe stresses physical development and military prowess. A splinter group of the tribe, forced out of Ogaramango after a brief civil war, settled the island of Rapa Nui. A peaceful fisher-gatherer culture inhabits the island of Temuah. They are content with their

Hine-nui-te-po, the Goddess of Darkness

No one knows the origin of the woman Hine-nui-te-po (HI-ne-NOO-ee-tay-po) or if she is even human, but she roams the seas in a vessel made from the shell of a large turtle and the bones of Leviathans. The tall, dark woman weeps black tears and a remorseful moan heralds her eminent arrival. She is surrounded by ever-shifting shadows and accompanied by the animated corpses of recently dead heroes from nearby islands. The boat carries thousands of corpses stacked head to toe and is propelled by skeletal oarsmen. She often arrives at an island and goes inland to gather the bodies of the dead and sometimes aids those in need. At other times she has been known to leave pestilence and disease in her wake when she gathers the dead, killing nearby villagers. Where she goes and when she arrives is anyone’s guess as she travels with no rhyme or reason. Depending on her mood, Hine-nui-te-po may invite a traveler to dine with her or offer a favor. At other times, she will take a liking to a hero and demand that he her crew and roam the Elysium until the stars die.

GEOGRAPHICA island and their simple lives and have a strong interest in natural lore and the magic of the physical world. A strong shamanistic undercurrent influences the whole of everyday life, from the most common everyday rituals to intricate aspects of philosophy and religion. They are primarily fishermen, but also have the beginnings of agriculture on their small island. True agriculture, however, is mastered in the Elysium Sea only by the people of the Salawati tribe. They have established two small centers of population, Yuku (YU-ku) and Kiowa (kee-O-wa), and have cultivated much of the land between them. They herd boars in addition to raising yams, My brother answered the call banana, plantains, sugar cane and breadfruit. The Kiowans are also adept in the crafts of the sea, to action and sailed to defend the including boatbuilding and navigation, and often travel as far as the coasts of Lemuria and Mu. islanders against the rising of the Black Isle. I was just a boy when he left and a year later; when he ora returned he was no longer my (TOR-a) brother. The once proud and This is a confederation of four islands, each autonomous and distinct in culture and background, robust man that I looked up to but strongly united against any and all outside threats. The four islands are principally inhabited by was a broken husk of a thing with exiled tribes of other regions who have made a new home for themselves. All are slightly xenophobic, deep hollow eyes and trembling distrusting the intentions of outsiders. This melting pot of peoples lays claim to the islands and hands. He spoke one night of the waters of Rapa Nui, Matua, Tamaka and Orongo. Each island is populated by a distinct cultural gouts of horrors the island spat at the defenders, the terrors he and ethnic group. The people of Rapa Nui came originally from Ogaramango, but were forced into exile after endured and the carnage heaped losing an intertribal power struggle. They are proud warriors and outstanding athletes, just as their upon him and his companions. cousins in Ogato are. They have retained their fishing-gathering culture and have prospered enough When he was done, he broke down and wept wretchedly for to establish a thriving settlement called Roa (RO-a). several hours. The next morning Matua’s tribe came originally from the great city of Tang in Khitai. Initially, this group of exiles he was found dead in his bed. I was a single extended family and their retainers which were forced to leave Khitai after a failed hope whatever reward he went political coup. On Matua, they built a small settlement called Peng Lai (peng-LIE). It is one of the to, Exú delivered him safely. few agricultural areas of the Elysium Sea, with goat herding a major part of their economy. Many Donobey of Nubia. of the old Khitan customs and traditions have been preserved here.

T

The island of Tamaka was settled by dissidents from Salawati, people who resisted the development of settled agriculture on their home island. Seeking to retain the semi-nomadic ways of their forefathers, they unsuccessfully attempted to fight the introduction of farms and fencedin lands on Salawati and were ejected. They fled to Tamaka, where they have put their ideas into regular practice. There are no communities or permanent settlements on the island, only thatched cottages constructed as their owners’ desire and then abandoned as they fall into disrepair. Names Orongo’s people are similar in many ways to Tamaka in lifestyle, but come originally from the island of Samal Female after being forced out as the result of a great feud. Male Unusually adept at shamanistic magic, these people all Akamu Apikalia have some skill in the art and each generation sees a Anakoni Elikapeka handful of truly powerful shaman emerge. Haukea Located virtually in the center of Tora is the island of Ekewaka Moto Nui, which is not a part of the confederation. The Iakopa Hokulani island is the refuge of a tribe of warlike Uluka Andamen Iokua Iekika who, it is said, are cannibalistic in nature. Several ancient Iolana stone barrows and obelisks are found here, all of unknown Kaimana origin. Some claim they are the work of an ancient and Kaleo Kai long-lost civilization; others say the Uluka have erected Kapena Kekepania them at the behest of some demonic entity. Keoni Kiana

The Black island of Avaiki

(Ahv-ah-ick-ee) Every thirteen years, starting on the first day of Wayeb, an island rises from the sea floor, exposing an ancient and terrible city. The black spires of the city are twisted and horrible to behold. The island is said to be a tomb for an ancient evil released accidently onto our

Kimo

Kilikina

Konani

Leilani

Makaio

Mele

Maleko

Noelani

Peni

Wikolia

Pika

Zukola

A great many terrors lurk in the crystal waters of the Elysium Sea, more than have any right to. Strangely absent are the Makara; maybe the sea devils fear something here? Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age world by Anunnaki sorcerers in a forgotten time. The island is a penitentiary, sunk to the depth of the sea by the Ophidians, to seal in the monstrosity and its offspring; but every thirteen years the entity musters enough power to raise its prison for five days and tries to escape. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the entity’s children escape from the island and maraud across the Elysium region, snatching the living and taking them back to the island for sacrificial power to raise their horrible master. During these five days, most residents hide in their homes or make pilgrimages further north to escape the terrors. The Manuk and Triton tribes form what they call the Great Sea Wall to protect their peoples from the raids and have even sent expeditions to the Black Island to destroy the eldritch terror once and for all. So far the expeditions have met with failure, but many of their shamans are working on powerful tattoos and weapons that will give them victory when the island next rises.

Elysium Ocean Flora Spice Trees Several islands in this region are home to highly aromatic trees that are fast becoming a lucrative crop worth its weight in gold. The tiny fruits of these trees are collected, dried, and crushed to a powder to be used in food and as a panacea for nearly every ailment found in the Known World. The natives have tried to keep the trees a secret, but it has become a race between the other sea-faring nations to determine the source of the spice and gain control of them. The local peoples have taken to throwing as many rumors and distracting stories as they can regarding the plant—from its source being the lair of the local sea monsters to the plants existing in the clouds above the island. Sooner or later, someone will discover the real source of this plant, but the indigenous tribes hope to amass enough wealth to be able to raise an army against intruders before then. Effect: Restores 10 HP per alchemically created dose, DoD -15. Gives the imbiber a single new resistance roll against disease with a bonus +10 to the roll. Maknel This plant is a variety of palm with a single stalk that can grow to be between five and seven meters in height. The trunk can be about a half-meter in diameter and its scale-like bark exudes a type of sap that is highly corrosive. Standing beneath the tree in a rain will cause blistering of the skin. Often used as a form of punishment or to gain confessions, criminals are tied to the tree overnight as torture—more than one night will cause a slow and painful death as the flesh is eaten completely away. Burned, the smoke can cause blindness. The local tribes will use the leaves to poison each other’s water supplies during border wars. Effect: Victims encountering the sap against bare skin suffer (10-CON) DR. Victims who lose half of their HP and fail a CON+Resolve roll, DoD -10, suffer a permanent -1 CHA due to scarring if they survive. Smoke from the sap can cause blindness for up to an hour if a CON roll, DoD -2, is failed. Queenflower The queenflower is an ironic name for one of the world’s largest carnivorous plants. The humongous brown-and-green leaves will open and lie prostrate on the ground, each hinge of the trap consists of nearly a meter and a half of small spikes camouflaged as grass. The tensile strength of the hinge is usually capable of taking out small animals or a larger animal’s bottom half. The barbs are effective in keeping a creature from escaping by any means other than destroying the hinge, which cannot be fast enough when the pressure is slowly killing the victim. The plant maintains separate stems for the small pretty blooms that create pretty bushes of fragrant flowers to attract animals and curious ers-by. Effect: DR6 initial hit, chance of stabbing with barb. Pressure continues to crush for 5 rounds, CON-5 DR each round if part of body is caught. Demongrass Demongrass tends to grow in the flatlands between the coasts and jungle interiors of these islands. Resembling most other common forms of long-bladed grasses, the edges of the blades are so thin as to be nearly monomolecular, and cut deep into flesh and other materials that attempt to move past the fields. The bones of victims litter the sands and even whales and other sea monsters that come too close during floods can find themselves devastatingly injured by the demongrass. It is believed that this is one of the few ways the plant gains nutrients in the deprived environment. Once leaves are cut and dried, the edged blunt and are rendered harmless, making these leaves useful in construction and for making various weavings as mats and baskets. Effect: Slicing damage, DR20, to skin and cloth when moving quickly. Dex+Athletics, DoD-10, to move through grass carefully to avoid being sliced. Alimenada The locals named this fungus, but the translation is more accurate: Horrific Liar. This is because the bulbous mushroom looks like an appealing ripe fruit dropped from a nearby tree or bush, with a shiny red surface and delicious smell. Picking up or moving the fruiting body triggers an explosion of tentacle-like appendages from the ball, each flinging thousands of spores everywhere. Although not poisonous, the spores can cause blindness and can start growing on anything; care must be taken to wash them off every surface (eyes too) or they will start to sprout red fruiting bodies wherever they’ve landed. Saltwater is very effective against the spores. No one has ever been killed by these fungi, but there have been cases of suicide and horror-driven plunges off cliffs or into the sea that have proved fatal. Effect: Penalty of 5-CON to sight-based PER rolls if it gets in eyes. Growth causes minimal damage, DR2, but can impede movement. Penalty to DEX, PER, CON (if grows in mouth or nasal ages, etc.) can be resisted with a CON roll, DoD -5. WIL roll, DoD -10, to resist a temporary fit of madness from with the sports

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Elysium Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Dragon’s Graveyard Tended by priests of the Manuan dragon-god, primarily a mix of AhlAt-Rab and humans, this valley is littered with huge skeletons of various monstrous creatures. The priests claim that every great dragon comes here to die, and that they are tasked with bringing home the bones of those unable to make the journey. They dislike interlopers after having endured several visitations of foreigners seeking to disturb the bones searching for treasure.

2. The Nakuan Screaming Trees Though the Munark use the island of Nakua for a safe haven, rarely do the sea nomads venture very far inland. The dense jungles which stretch along the interior of the island are filled every night with unearthly screeches and screams. The Munark claim that they can recognize the voices of the recently dead among the wails. No large beasts have ever been seen, and the locals believe that the trees contain the spirits of their ancestors.

3. The Beacon Rising from the sea not far from where the Black Island of Avaiki appears every 13 years, is a huge and monolithic tower of stone, coral, and crystal. Meant to serve as a watchtower over the seas above Avaiki, the tower was likely constructed by the Ophidians in ages past for it is filled with ramps, ample balconies for sunning, and decorated in strange and curling patterns of stone. No one knows how far down the tower reaches for the lower ages are blocked by sea water as well as great stone doors above which is inscribed the word “Maka.”

4. The A’Va’Thi Trench Deep beneath the surface this wondrous place lies a few days due south from Pulo. The A’Va’Thi Trench is littered with thousands of glowing crystals which act as natural Vril pyramids. Triton legend states that the crystals are part of a giant brain and can communicate with those sleeping here. What knowledge this ancient relic might have is left to the imagination.

of the Elysium travel to the hungry vortex to swim and withstand the pull of the sea. Those that survive are said to gain the favor of the gods.

9. The Golden Eel of Nakua In a freshwater pool on the island of Nakua lives an eel made of pure gold with eyes of sapphires. The large 5 meter eel will sometimes speak to those who come and bring it treats. It speaks with a musical mechanical voice in Ænochian showing favor to humans and Atlanteans but never acknowledging Andamen.

10. Steps to the Inner World In the caldera of an extinct volcano are a set of ancient steps that lead deep into the earth. Those that walk the full length of the steps are said to enter a different world full of ancient wonders and delights. At the center of this new world rest two elder gods, lovers who sleep embraced. Their warmth warms the world and from their heads pours liquid gold that makes any who drink it immortal. The lovers are guarded by a host of creatures sprung from their dreams and made immortal by the golden elixir.

11. The Sun Stone On the highest peak of Samai is a stone that the sun shines on with its full intensity once a year. The sunlight is so strong that any who can withstand it are imbued with super-human power for a year. Those that fail are burned and left scarred losing most of their mortal vigor. To gain access to the stone, a great competition is held every year with the five remaining victors allowed to climb the peak.

12. The Pillars of the Sea

Standing upon the waves of the Forgotten Sea is a series of thirteen giant iron pillars. They seem to have once been part of some Atlantean construction, but the secrets of such have long been lost. There is nothing beneath the pillars but open sea; they seem to float upright in the waves, linked to one another by vast brass chains. The pillars themselves are pitted and twisted by the wind and elements. Ænochian runes of inlaid orichalcum 5. The Burning Man of Managuak Recent visitors to the island of Managuak claim to have seen a man are carved into them and spell out the names of a number of demonic on fire running screaming through the trees here. Some believe that the entities. man broke some unknown taboo and was cursed for his actions. Nothing quenches his flames; neither sea water nor sorcery has been able to stop the 13. The Black Swells man’s horrific burning or silence his terrible screams. For some reason, in this region of the Stygian Sea, the water and waves turn as black as pitch. Dead fish occasionally float to the surface, bloated and warped by whatever lies beneath. Even the bravest sailors give this area of 6. The Great Mother of Salawati The people of Salawati were taught agriculture by a being they call the the sea a wide berth out of superstitious fear and nameless dread. The empty Great Mother. No outsider has ever seen the Mother but it is claimed that hulks of ancient vessels that were caught in the Black Swells can be seen she dwells beneath the earth of a sacred grove, whispering instructions to floating amidst the dark waves. those who place their ears to the ground. Some of the Salawati have begun to worship her and carry out her wishes both on and off the island. 14. The Lost Beacon Moving in a slow cycle from the Tora Islands to Elysium Island is a strange sub-oceanic phenomenon. The local Tritons call this glowing orb the 7. Hall of Champions A large wooden hall sits on the beach of the island guarded by two large Lost Beacon for the seas above the light tend to collect all manner of detritus birds. The birds allow any hero with a true heart to enter, but kill any with and debris from many leagues around. evil intentions that they see. Inside the hall sit the ghosts of ancient heroes who will freely give knowledge to those who seek it. There are tales that 15. The Sunken Flames of Andragor some of the ghosts seek a means to leave the Hall of Champions that they In the uncharted waters south-east of the Munark Islands, lies a might work good in the world once more. submerged wreck that burns continuously under the sea. Beached upon a reef some 20 meters under the waves, thick smoke and flashes of light can be seen inside the wreck. Triton tribesmen say that the vessel was crewed by 8. Taniwha Maelstrom North of the island of Nonamato in the deep ocean is the hungry strange Ophidians and that several corpses still remain within the broken whirlpool known as the Taniwha Maelstrom. The maelstrom appears during hull. the two equinoxes and lasts for four days. Brave warriors from every island

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GEOGRAPHICA

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Eria

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Eria Region The continent of Eria (AIR-ee-ah) is a land rich in resources. It is also said to be completely wild and untamed. Inhabited by tribes of humans whose ways are not entirely understood by outsiders, much of what is known of Eria is often exaggerated or purely mythical. Though some traders from other continents do visit here, the interior is largely unknown to foreigners. In old legends, Eria is mentioned as the ancestral homeland of the first humans. Scholars are divided upon this issue, however, citing a lack of evidence or artifacts from advanced civilizations of the region. Discussions on how early humans could have spread from Eria around the globe are contentious at best. There is evidence of the Ophidians having visited Eria in the distant past when their empire was growing and expanding, but the Erians seem to have stopped their advance at some point. The Erian continent features a wide diversity of terrain. The far north is cold and icy and its near barren tundra is home to vast herds of wooly mammoths. The western lands are rugged and mountainous, the foothills filled with rich forests. Birds of prey of fantastic size, called rocs, circle high above, always watching for prey. Sweeping plains and sparsely wooded hills roll across the central region, home to vast herds of bison and horses. The east is lined on one side by stony hills and dense forests that give way to swampland and marshes in the south. Two dangers, seemingly native to Eria, which plague the peoples of this continent: wendigo (WIN-dee-go) and the naaldlooshi (NAH-ahld-LOO-osh-ee). The cannibalistic wendigos are said Eria is home to a staggering to be like giants, and though many associate them with the colder, northern reaches, they are number of giant-sized creatures. reported to strike even in the far south of the continent. The naaldlooshi, or skinwalkers, move in Sloths the size of carts, giant bears packs and infiltrate clans by masquerading as tribe- before slaughtering and devouring that rear to three times the height entire bands. of a man, uncanny big cats that resemble the lions of Gondwana, predatory birds that can carry away children with ease and kela beavers bigger than armored (A-Kay-La) men. I have the greatest respect Characterized by a large expanse of grasslands bordered at its edges with thick woodlands, a for the tribes who walk among confederation of five great tribes holds sway in Akela. United under a common symbol of veneration, these colossi. the Eagle, the shamanistic Akela are noted for their stature and noble bearing. Furthermore, all of Thalmia, Triton Sorceress the Akela sport long hair, restrained in braids or ponytails. No Akela will willingly cut their hair, except in times of mourning. The Akela are a nomadic people, roaming the plains and following vast herds of bison. Having domesticated a species of wild horse, the Akela are considered superb riders and are highly skilled at hunting from horseback. Trained from the time of childhood in tracking and horse archery, the Akela hunt the seemingly endless bison that are an integral part of tribal life. From the bison, the Akela derive much of their food in addition to materials for clothing, shelter, ornamentation and trade. Besides the Akela, huge saber-toothed cats also stalk the herds of bison that roam the plains. It is said that there are Balam and Asena amongst the prides of cats, but the Akela have never been able to catch them. Too, large rocs soar overhead, ing above from nests in the west. The giant birds have been known to snatch up full grown bison. The Akela see the rocs as fearsome, but also as tied to the Great Spirit. They believe that the “thunderbirds”, as they name them, only carry off those who are not pure of heart and spirit. Unlike some of the other Erian peoples, the tribes which make up the Akela confederacy rarely bicker among themselves. While they do conduct raids against the neighboring Kutchin and Tamarac tribes, a popular practice is that of “counting coup”, wherein a warrior, in the heat of

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While the Akela do use a great deal of the bison that they hunt, they also make use of most of the things that they hunt, with two exceptions: Smilodons, or saber-toothed cats, and other races. The Akela see the bodies of men as sacred and do not use them, removing their own people to be buried or foes to be scavenged. From the great cats of the plains, they only take the teeth. The bodies of these great hunters are left behind for the rocs and birds of the plains. The spirit progenitor of the great cats and the Great Eagle who lives on Sky Mountain are mortal enemies. Thus, the saber-toothed cats and the Akela are mortal enemies; all fallen foes garner the same bad end: to be left for scavengers.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Riders in the Sky

Some of the Owlmen who act as shamans and wisdom-holders for the Akela actually ride the great rocs. They do not control the thunderbirds, only gently guide them. But from the backs of these huge birds, they not only see a great distance, but also carry news and messages far quicker than the fastest horse. Their roles as messengers make the Akelan Owlmen somewhat sacred. As a result, the Akela do not use owl feathers as decoration of any kind since they equate the owls with the spirits of deceased Owlmen.

“Roc” is an easy-to-pronounce term brought over in the First Age by Atlantean colonists. The term seems to have lingered for centuries due to the fact that each tribe has its own sacred name for the giant creatures which they keep secret from all outsiders. -Caerwyn Ironjaw

battle, will lightly touch an opponent with an ornate wooden club. This blow, delivered to a vital area, but never intended to cause harm, is considered to show the warrior’s courage, skill and his favor with the Great Spirit. The religion of the Akela clans stresses courage in battle and duty to family. Worshipping the Great Spirit, which manifests itself in various forms but is symbolized by an eagle, the Akela award warriors the honor of carrying eagle feathers for glorious deeds. Seen as a measure of a warrior’s skill and his favor with the Great Spirit, the feathers belong to the tribe as a whole and are only loaned out to warriors. It is both a great crime and a sin to lose even a single one of these feathers, and only the very great may carry more than two or three at a single time. Owlmen move amongst the tribes and clans, serving as emissaries, priests, shamans and sacred wisemen.

Akwatuk

(Ahk-Wah-Took)

The northwestern region of Eria is a mountainous region covered in deep forests. Two tribes of humans dwell in this sparsely populated area: the Kutchin (KU-chin) and the Nayiq (NAH-yeek). The northwest of Eria is cold for much of the year and so its people primarily rely upon hunting in order to feed themselves. The Kutchin The Kutchin are a nomadic people of average height and build. Like most of the other humans of Eria, they have reddish-brown skin and straight black hair. The Kutchin mainly follow caribou herds across Akwatuk. They are superb hunters, noted for their tracking skills. For generations, they have been enemies of the Akela to the south, but the Kutchin are far fewer in number. As a result, Kutchin warfare tends to consist of ambushes, swift counterstrikes and other covert tactics. The Kutchin are known to excel at this close-quarters combat and tend to be formidable opponents. Religion seems to not be of great import to the Kutchin who live lives seemingly devoid of ceremony and festivity. Kutchin shamans are mainly healers and historians who live apart from their people. Consequently, interaction between the shamans and the tribe is rare and usually only I spent a short time among the occurs when the shaman’s services are needed. Akela people and found them According to explorers and travelers, the Kutchin are extreme isolationists. They do not engage to be both charming and most sensible. They do tend towards being very tactile so expect the Voices in the Dark children and even some adults to Kutchin shamans were once masters of the spirit worlds, commanding vast powers. poke, pat and pull you if you’re Such practices did take their toll upon them. Stories persist in Kutchin memory-verses something they’ve not seen about shamans whose bodies grew so warped by power that the shamans left them behind before. Don’t worry; they’re just to live on in the spirit world. Kutchin warriors say that such shamans did not leave but still making sure that you’re not some stalk the ice and walk upon the wind. kind of demon or bad spirit. The Wind Singers Thalmia, Triton Sorceress In a past age, a legion of Asena found its way into the lands of the Kutchin. Slowly, the wolf-men became a part of the Kutchin, living alongside them and eventually with them. Some outsiders believe that Kutchin culture has been shaped as much by the stories of the Atlanteans that the Asena brought with them as by the land they live upon. Kutchin isolationist belief posits that the Kutchin are the sole remaining bastion of purity in a world of monstrous things. Outsiders are shunned as being tainted, monsters, phantasms or temptations meant to ruin all that is left of good in the world.

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GEOGRAPHICA in trade with others and are suspicious of outsiders at best and hostile at worst. Only essential crafts are practiced. A single chieftain rules each tribe without the benefit of council. His word is considered law, though his right to rule may be challenged by any male member of the tribe. Matters of tradition take precedence over a chieftain’s word, which is one of the cases in which a shaman might be sought out. The Nayiq Seal-hunters Found primarily on the island of Iyata (EE-ah-tah) and along the northern coasts of Akwatuk, the Nayiq are a peaceful folk who love music, dance and art. They dwell in caves or underground sod dwellings and dress in the skins and hides of the animals they hunt: seal, walrus, bear and mammoth. Skilled with both harpoon and spear, the Nayiq are known to occasionally use poisons as well. Nayiq often paint the interiors of their dwellings to be colorful and their villages are often filled with singing and music played on sealskin drums, walrus-tusk flutes and other exotic instruments. The religion of the seal-hunters is based upon the tribes’ reverence for the sea. Ceremonial observances are held at the equinoxes when all the of tribe return home from their hunts. A week or more of revelry follows during which the seal-hunters undertake no other activities. Seal-hunter villages are fairly well organized and run efficiently by a council comprised of the eldest of the tribe. They trade with outsiders, usually the Kulugmiut (Kuh-LoogMe-Yute) to the north, but occasionally with foreigners as well. The Nayiq place a great deal of importance on family and kinship and on rare occasion will adopt an outsider into one of their families to provide care and . Newborn children are named after the last villager to have died, thus preserving the people’s history.

Aquaga

(Ah-Kwa-Gah)

The coastal northeast of Eria is known as Aquaga and is home to a number of different tribes who share a common language and religious practice. These tribes — the Axte (AX-tay), Eque (EK-way), Shepaug (SHEH-pog) and Quinetu (kwih-NEH-too) — rarely squabble with one another, but can be belligerent with outsiders or strangers. In particular, the coastal Eque are known to have a long-standing suspicion of any strangers in their lands. Tall and stately, with coppery skin and straight black hair, the Aquagan people are seminomadic, moving from place to place according to the availability of game. Mastodon, bear and deer are dried and used as additions to a primary diet of fish, shellfish and gathered fruits and nuts. The Quinetu do have a limited form of agriculture, a practice that may spread to the other tribes over time. The Aquagans maintain some stationary villages that they return to as well as sites used on yearly basis for hunting and fishing, but many of the structures in these villages have to be repaired or completely rebuilt on an annual basis. Religion amongst the Aquagan tribes mingles shamanistic adoration of nature spirits, each family or clan having its own patron totem, with the forces of nature and the Orixa earth mother, Nokomis (noh-KOH-miss). Each village has at least one shaman who, alongside a council of elders, plays an important part in the social life of the tribe. Aquagan lands are noted for the “serpent mounds” scattered about the region. These large earthworks resemble small hills or even earthen dunes, but many of them form unusual or unnatural shapes. The local shamans in particular watch over these serpent mounds and tribal warriors keep outsiders away from them when they can. Scouts, hunters and guides can be found in any Aquagan village, provided traders and explorers can find them sociable enough to entertain. Such individuals tend to be exceptionally skilled and can be hired relatively cheaply. The Aquagan are, however, caught between varying opposing forces. Wendigos roam the northern reaches of the Aquagan lands, snatching away small hunting parties or village scouts, Meanwhile, in the south, a warband of Nethermen, led by a hulk known only as Croatoan, destroys entire villages and enslaves whole families. The coasts, which the Aquagan depend on for a great deal of their food and trade, are occasionally subject to raids by Makara sea-devils.

A Monstrous Brotherhood

A small tribe of secretive Lemurians dwell in the dense forest at the center of Iyata. The Lemurians have a sacred bond with one another, but have become insular and guarded over the generations they have been hidden away here. Most of them are stark white and have become somewhat cannibalistic, preying on the Nayiq or on outsiders who blunder about in the woods. The Nayiq are relatively ignorant of the Lemurians lurking within their borders. They call the Ape-men “Sasquatch” and believe that there is but a single individual creature, or perhaps a small family, that haunts the peak of the island and sometimes steals drying fish or seal from the edges of the village. The Sasquatch Brotherhood, as they have come to refer to themselves, sees Northern Eria as its protectorate. Though its are few, they have been subtly shaping and altering the ley lines of the continent for their own purposes. They occasionally journey many hundreds of kilometers as far off as the jungles around Aztlan or the distant Aquagan Mountains, either singly, in pairs or in small bands to make some small adjustment or alteration in secret before returning to their island home.

Brothers of Monsters

A small group of Jinn Jars were unearthed by Nayiq hunters several generations ago. The Jinn were unprepared for the cold, at first, and so they were welcomed in by the Nayiq. Now, the Jinn have taken on positions of historians, artists and shamans for the sealhunters. The ever-changing Jinn are amused by their dual-role as being caretakers and wards of the Nayiq. They are less amused by the presence of wendigos who seem to scour the region frequently. The Jinn seem to instinctively recognize these monsters and often sadly speak of them as “lost brothers,” a fact that disturbs the Nayiq.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Serpent Mounds

The Aquagan serpent mounds function as stone circles do in other regions – focusing Vril energy, directing it and harnessing it for other purposes. Though the Aquagan do not have Vril pyramids in their lands, the serpent mounds are jealously guarded. Aquagan shamans claim that the serpent mounds are home to numerous spirits and totemic forces and are necessary for the health of the land. They also claim that the serpent mounds keep monsters away, but if this second claim is true then the effects do not extend far past the mounds themselves.

Aztlan

(Az-Tlan)

In southwest Eria remains the one Atlantean city on the continent. A colony established by the Atlanteans during the Golden Age, Aztlan was once much larger than its remains suggest. Perhaps half of the city now lies in ruin with the inhabitants regularly cannibalizing nearby-abandoned buildings to repair or build new structures in the city’s center. As a result, there are several small knots of ruins in the forests and jungles near the city. The Aztek, as the folk of this city and the state around it are known, are divided into multiple classes. About half of the population works the land, farming maize, wheat, varieties of fruit and legumes or hunting and fishing. A quarter of the population is artisans and laborers, while the remaining population makes up the nobles who are also the bulk of the elite military. Many Aztek know some small bit of magic, for the land is rich in mineral wealth — copper, tin, lead, iron, silver, gold and platinum — and overflows with Vril energy, which is said to infuse even the blood of the Aztek people. All with Atlantis was lost shortly before the Great Cataclysm and Aztlan underwent a rapid decline in the centuries afterwards. At the nadir of their fall, a warlike tribe known as the Comanch (KO-mantch) conquered the city. Since that time, four centuries ago, the cultures of the Comanch, the Atlanteans and several other smaller, native tribes have fused into a new culture. Though they do trade with the Akela and Kawanna, the Aztek are known to be warlike, concerned with conquering nearby territory and holding it. Several traditions are notably inspired by old Atlantean culture, such as the keeping of slaves, the reverence of the Orixa and the use of mirrors; however, the Aztek commonly use polished gold in place of obsidian mirrors. The Aztek also make use of a complicated calendar system, recorded on great stone wheels in Aztlan, as well as in several smaller temples and towns across the region. Each calendar is actually several wheels, all interlocking with one another, recording days, weeks, growing seasons, months and years. Furthermore, there is a rotating period of a four-year span, each year within it dedicated to one of the elemental forces.

A Comanch king rules over Aztlan in an unbroken lineage that dates back to the conquest. It is rumored that one of the Though the Aztek have been in a state of relative peace for decades, King Montehman (MON-taythree dragons lives in these parts. I had hoped to see evidence of Coyolxuahqui’s Bell it on my travels through those The last Atlantean ruler of Aztlan was Coyolxuahqui (KO-HOL-shaw-KE), a great queen lands but, alas, I was unlucky. I both beautiful to behold and highly skilled in sorcery. As the Comanch invaded her city, she retreated to the Vril pyramid that lies in the center of Aztlan to oversee the city’s defense did see many menhir carved with and to harness the Vril that the pyramid stored. When it became apparent that the city would serpent motifs. I was concerned fall, it is said that Coyolxuahqui summoned forth four hundred elementals, one hundred of that we were traveling into lands each elemental type, bound all of them to her, and commanded them to each defend the controls by Naga but found city for the next year. later that the people of this land When the Comanch chieftain stormed the grounds of the pyramid he was stopped worship snakes. by Coyolxuahqui’s beauty. But when she would speak nothing to him but gibberish and The people were, in general, madness, he struck off her head. Since that time, the Vril pyramid of Aztlan has not pleasant and curious. Evidently functioned properly. For most of the year, it sits dormant and still. But every full moon, a great bell chimes and the pyramid crackles with life and energy. Shamans and witches from most had never seen a Nubian around the nation congregate in Aztlan during this time to take advantage of this event. and rubbed at my skin, believing me to be painted. A Wiseman offered me one his daughters believing our offspring would hold great magic. She was The Last Sorcerer comely but I have no appetite Atlantean sorcery died out in Aztlan long ago, but there are still Atlantean lineages in the for women and politely declined. city. Many of the Atlanteans are nobles and serve in the Aztlan military, but a few of them Donobey of Nubia are magicians, serving mostly as tacticians. There are several dozen familial lines, all said to be descended from Coyolxuahqui. When Old Aztlan fell, many of the old families died out as well. Others have intermingled their blood with humans’. Aztek legends say that one Atlantean, a master of sorcery, alchemy and dark magics, foresaw the collapse of the Erian colony and took his household along with legions of Nethermen and Andamen in flight towards the north. Somewhere, they say, he may still slumber protected by what remains of his forces.

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GEOGRAPHICA man) has been sending explorers and military squads across the Sound into Hoac in Tamoanchan. Between the Aztlan farms and plantations, beyond the Aztlan jungles, a group of giants known as the Chaveyo (CHA-veh-yo) roam the wilderness. The Chaveyo children ride bison and the adults roam alongside on foot. Stories amongst the Akela and Tamarac claim that the Chaveyo are cannibals, while the Nethermen of the Hordelands see the Chaveyo as occasional allies. How the Chaveyo manage to protect themselves from the skin-walkers who roam the same regions is unknown. The Heart of the Earth

Rumor has it that King Montehman has forsaken the Orixa and has taken to worshipping a goddess he calls Toci, a deity he claims represents the fertility of his lands and the strength of his warriors. The cult of Toci is gaining power in the upper echelons of Aztlan society though its final goals are unclear.

Gava

I confess that the Aesir are a guilty pleasure of mine. Their menfolk are pleasing in form and nature. Now if only I could stop the women from calling me “Nykk” — their word for a malicious water spirit — then I could die happy. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

(Gah-Vah)

Off the northeast coast of Eria rests the island of Gava, called “The Land of the Giants” by the mainland tribes. A tribe known as the Aesir dwells on this island. They are quite tall by Erian standards, often reaching heights of 2 to 2.5 meters. Most are bronze-skinned with brown hair. A convoluted set of tales surround this tribe, tying them to distant Anostos, Atlantis or even Europa, while several of the Aquaga tribes claim that the Aesir are their ancestors. The island of Gava is ringed by mountains and spends much of the year covered in ice and snow, except along its western coast. Favorable winds and temperate currents in the shallow sea that separates Gava from the Aquagan shores have a warming effect; as a result, most of the Aesir settlements are along this western shore. The waters here are bountiful while inland wolves, elk, caribou and musk oxen are commonly found. The Aesir are an aggressive and highly emotional people who revel in battle, song and drink. They often sail the seas in great wooden ships looking for battle. Typically, they sail north and encounter the Fomorians of Anostos or the Cimmerians or Vanir in Hyperborea. Though the Aesir seemingly have no desire for conquest, and in fact will almost never attack weaker opponents, they instead are simply enamored of conflict. As result, their numbers have been slowly shrinking over the past centuries and in the decades to come they will likely die out. Except for this concern, life in Gava is relatively pleasant. Each extended family lives in great wooden lodges and there is a large meeting hall at the center of each walled village where everything from festivals, to drinking bouts to war councils are held. Aesir culture is rich in legends, tales and songs of glorious battles, vicious betrayals and doomed heroes. Some of these tales accurately depict ancient battles in Hyperborea, Jotunland and Europa, and seem to also reference the Atlanteans as well — sometimes as Aesir masters and sometimes as hated foes. Artisans craft in wood, stone and bone, but songs and stories are the heart of Aesir culture and they are eager to hear new tales of adventurer and travel from other lands. Aesir shamans are treated with great respect by their people, serving as warriors, healers and keepers of history. The interior of Gava is largely unexplored and serves as a mysterious location in many Aesir tales and stories. An Atlantean sea captain, upon hearing some of these, has suggested that a Golden Age laboratory may be the source of some of the strange monsters that march down out of the icy peaks to plague the Aesir, but no such site has ever been found.

The Shallow Sea

The waters between Gava and Eria are sheltered from the worst storms of the Atlantean Ocean, so it is little surprise that a colony of Tritons makes their home in these waters. Though they are relatively few in number, they are quite capricious in their dealings with outsiders. On some occasions, they are gracious and helpful, assisting traders and merchants between the Aquaga and the Aesir. At other times, they are perhaps worse than the worst storm at sea, attacking seemingly without provocation, sinking ships and seizing sailors.

The Aesir are savages, and I will die a happy man if I never see one again. I lost my left ring finger to an Aesir during a wrestling match. He bit it off, turned to the cheering crowd and held it up. The savage wanted to keep it as a trophy to wear and couldn’t understand my anger at the mutilation. When I brained him the crowd cheered even greater and when I killed him by strangulation the crowd became ecstatic. These people are brutes of a quality that make Nethermen look like saints. I hate them. Donobey of Nubia

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Black Well

To the west of the Hordelands lies a small, littleknown valley. At the center of this valley, hidden under the branches of large twisted trees among gargantuan stone menhir, lives a group of stunted and degenerate humans governed by three wise women. At the center of the copse of trees is a well that makes some wishes come true. At the bottom of this well, some scholars suggest, is the sleeping eye of an Elder God. To make a wish the wisher holds a pebble under her tongue, whispers the request, makes a blood offering and then spits the pebble into the well. Most wishes are never granted, but those that are have a hidden and terrible cost. Many have come to the valley hoping to use the well only to find themselves being used as the blood offering used to fuel one of the crones’ wishes.

The Winds of Change

Tunit shamans have, for decades, claimed that the spirit world in the Kulugmiut is growing crowded with strange spirits who speak with foreign words. As best they can tell, there is some kind of massive spirit war taking place in the world that may one day reach even the Kulugmiut. The cannibalistic wendigos, these shamans claim, are a result of this storm of spirits washing over the cold waters, ice and snow of the Kulugmiut. As the spirits are pushed into the area, they are sometimes preyed upon by the indigenous spirits. But sometimes, something goes wrong and a wendigo is created instead. If the Tunit are right, the wendigos may grow more and more numerous in years to come.

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The Hordelands Of Beezh-Yeel (Hord-Lands, Buh-Ezh-Yee-Uhl)

Fully a third of Eria is covered by towering, rocky mountains. Much of this western region is snow-peaked, inhospitable and difficult to traverse. Known to the Erian tribesmen as BeezhYeel, or Knife-Pack, the entire region is home to a huge population of Nethermen and Andamen. These bands frequently form large hordes which then strike out into the neighboring lands of the Akwatuk, the Akela and the Aztek to kill, enslave, and destroy. The Beezh-Yeel are not all Nethermen and Andamen, however. Their numbers are also bolstered by humans, some former slaves and others who are fugitives from tribal justice. On rare occasion, there have been Jinn amongst the tribes. The cold of the peaks keeps most Ahl-At-Rab from remaining long in the Hordelands, but occasionally bands of them do arrive to visit the Ophidian ruins for unknown purposes. The Akela claim that this region, which is rich in mineral wealth, was once home to a lost band of Ophidians who carved great cities into the very stone of the mountains. The Aztek of Aztlan claim that an Atlantean alchemist-sorcerer renowned for advances in hybridization once built huge laboratories in these peaks. The Kutchin tribes of Akwatuk know that skin-walkers, or naaldlooshi, were born in the Hordelands. Whatever the case, all of the neighboring tribes remain constantly vigilant toward the mountain lands, wary of the humanoids and creatures that come from the cold peaks.

Kulugmiut

(Kuh-Loog-Me-Yute)

North of Eria is a series of islands known as the Kulugmiut. The snowy islands are devoid of sizable vegetation and are inhospitable to travelers. Though early Atlanteans are said to have made tentative explorations of the Kulugmiut, reliable maps of the region probably do not exist. Furthermore, the occasional presence of ice floes presents considerable hazard to large ships. This region is inhabited by several tribes of men known as the Tunit (TOO-nit). They are unlike most of the Erian peoples, shorter and more heavily built and of a sallow complexion. The various tribes of the Tunit each take on a patron spirit animal, after which the clan takes its name. Thus there are Bear people, Otter people, Seal people, Wolf people, Caribou people, Whale people and Raven people. Rumors habitually circulate amongst the Kutchin and the Nayiq of cannibalistic tribes of Tunit who follow wendigo as a totem. The Tunit tribes are excellent craftsmen, fashioning things from the limited tools and resources they have available in what is considered a barren region. Barbed harpoons and arrows, sled runners and even spiked-soled boots fashioned from carved bone or ivory are all common. Waterproof clothing, tarps and kayaks fashioned from walrus gut and hides are traditional items. The homes of the Tunit are communal, fashioned from blocks of ice or packed snow; their arched domes and sunken floors can hold as many as fifty people at a time. The ceilings are occasionally equipped with “skylights” covered in stretched walrus gut to it light. The Tunit know how to use fire, fashioning small lamps of shell, twisted moss-fiber wicks and seal oil. However, they eat all of their meat raw. The shamans of the Tunit teach that all things possess a living spirit. Largely superstitious, each Tunit tribe preserves a variety of taboos and beliefs, with the shamans playing important roles by interpreting omens and signs and intervening on behalf of tribesmen with the spirit world. Both shamans and warriors dress in the skin, claws and teeth of the tribe’s totemic animal. Female shamans are commonplace and all shamans, regardless of gender, use intricately carved walrus tusks as scrolls or magical tomes.

Tamarac

GEOGRAPHICA

(Tam-Er-Ak)

Central and southeastern Eria are inhabited by groups of tribes known informally as the Mound-Builders or, more formally, as the Tamarac. A highly organized people with reddish-brown skin and straight, black hair, the Tamarac tribes cultivate plants and are knowledgeable in herb lore. Weaving and pottery are traditional crafts, as is extensive use of copper metalwork to make armbands, bracelets and other similar items. Both the men and women dress in deerskins, with the men wearing leggings, loincloths and moccasins while the women wear simple dresses. The Mound-Builders are also known for their tiered, earthen ceremonial platforms, domeshaped houses and the large burial mounds they construct. Honored dead are buried inside these mounds with all of their earthly possessions. The Tamarac believe that this ensures the comfort and happiness of the spirits of their kinfolk. Further honor is offered in the form of sacrifices of food and drink each year. The mounds themselves are considered sacred and are tended by the tribes’ shamans. Many such mounds also function as stone circles, directing the natural flow of Vril in Tamarac lands, providing fertile soil and raw energy for the shamans to work with. As such, tampering with these mounds is considered a sacrilege and often punishable by death. Most Tamarac villages are also home to the wolf-like Andamen who act as warriors or scouts for the tribe, while Owlmen occasionally visit to lend aid to shamans. Tribal stories describe how Sasquatch, or Erian Lemurians, taught the Tamarac tribes how to construct and care for the mounds, but few Lemurians are seen in Tamarac lands any longer. Many Tamarac warriors paint their faces and torsos prior to battle with red and white pigments. They also wear elaborate headdresses made from deer hide, topped with sharpened antlers, teeth and claws. The Tamarac prefer hand-to-hand combat when given a choice, but will use hunting spears and short bows when pressed. In southeastern Tamarac are several tribes of hunter-gatherers known collectively as the Kawanna (ka-WAHN-na). A generally reclusive people, the Kawanna live in villages of thatched huts, often enclosed by high wooden walls. In addition to game and edible plants taken from the surrounding forests and swamps, the Kawanna fish the surrounding waters, including the Awa (AH-wa) River. Using bark-wood canoes, they sail the coasts of their lands, sometimes trading with neighbors. Kawanna jewelry of quartz, mica and seashells can be found in many places throughout Eria. Though similar to the Tamarac tribes, the Kawanna view themselves as superior. Their warriors wear necklaces of bear claws, paint their faces with black and white paint and shave their heads, keeping only a small lock of hair at the center of the scalp that is decorated with bone ornaments, tufts of deer hair and feathers. The lands of the Kawanna are almost always in a state of war. A great lodge rests in the southeastern swamps, just off the coast. Home to a growing tribe of Ahl-At-Rab, this huge structure is thought to be an ancient Ophidian vessel. The Ahl-At-Rab who live in the area have used the tools and lore taken from the lodge to establish themselves as a preeminent force in the region, calling themselves the Timuacua (TIM-oo-ahk-oo-ah). The various tribes of the Kawanna are alternately at peace or open war with the Timuacua. The Timuacua have no love for the Makara and a state of constant animosity exists which often breaks out into scattered raids and open warfare. The Timuacuan hatred for the Makara goes back centuries and might be connected to the Ophidian vessel shipwrecked on the Erian shore. The Timuacua are loosely united under the despotic rule of a Naga. This Naga has frequently made peace with Kawanna tribes, but always with conditions. As a result, there are frequent Kawanna raids against the Tamarac and Akela with the apparent goal of destroying the neighboring tribes completely. The Timuacua Ahl-At-Rab have few magicians among their number, but shamans who tame the various snakes and alligators of the swamps dwell in secluded lairs throughout the region.

The Lost Tribe

Roaming across the Tamarac lands, reaching as far west as the Akela tribes, is a strange band of nomads. This large tribe lives aboard a giant Atlantean ship that has been modified to travel atop a set of massive wheels. The Atlantean that once brought his ship, slaves and possessions to the Erian shores of the Tamarac Sea may have died long ago. His body rests within an amber and bronze casket located deep within the ship. In the meantime, his slaves and assistants search ceaselessly, as they have for the past three generations, to find a final resting place for the ship that will become the Atlantean’s tomb and treasure. The tribe are a strange and motley assortment, having taken on guides and outcasts from the lands they have visited in their somber and morbid journey.

The Croatoan

Compounding the tension along Eria’s eastern coast from the swamps of the Timuacua, through the Kawanna tribe lands and even into the forested hills of Aquaga are the depredations of the Croatoan, a band of marauders. Comprised mainly of Nethermen, the ravagers are led by a demon named Croatoan, from whom the group derives its name. The band has been able to push into many coastal areas, killing all before them and taking what they need to survive, before vanishing into the surrounding countryside. Some of the Aquagan tribesmen believe that the Croatoan receive aid from the Makara of the Atlantean Ocean, a claim given some credence by the strange fogs that roll in before or after Croatoan raids.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Worm City

The Tamarac Tritons recently discovered the ruins of a vast underwater city. The buildings within the city are all carved from solid stone, polished smooth and riddled with glassy tunnels. There are no rooms within the “buildings” but the tunnels bulge in places enough to accommodate a small group. The Tritons believed that the city was the remains of a vast colony of worms until highly polished and intricate stone tools began showing up in the silt. The city is a mystery but this hasn’t stopped the Tritons co-opting it for their own purposes.

The Tamarac Sea

The Tamarac Sea is a shallow body of water separating the northern peninsula of Tamoanchan from the Erian continent. The bottom of the Tamarac Sea has a fairly uniform depth that slants gradually downwards until it meets the Elysium Ocean in the west and the Atlantean Ocean in the east. The Tamarac Sea is a warm body of water with many exotic, colorful fish and numerous species of turtles. Awashata Bay (a-wah-SHA-ta), on the Erian coast, is a notably rich area for marine life. Giant sea snakes living in the tangled masses of kelp and the submerged hillocks that are home to giant snapping turtles make this region dangerous to travelers. Shark-riding Makara from the Sargasso and Ocaraba Seas further increase the need for caution. There are some scattered groups of Tritons who keep up a tenuous with Antilla, but the dangers of the waters between the two peoples make this a difficult venture at the best of times. Only the Tamarac and the Kawanna tribes regularly brave the waters of the Tamarac Sea, but even they stick close to the coast for fishing and travel.

Erian Flora Vril Peach Groves Deep within the eastern mountains of Eria are uncared-for groves of fruit trees left to the wilds of time. One large orchard is dedicated to a type of peach tree capable of storing Vril energy, thanks to some cross-breeding with native specimens that naturally harness the power. Those who lived here in bygone eras must have been plant specialists and this grove was a scientific experiment left behind. Despite the mysterious loss of the entire scientific community in this area, the peach trees matured and produce crop after crop of Vril-filled fruit. Unfortunately these particular hills are overrun with overly large carnivorous cats, making the fruit difficult to obtain. Effect: Provide up to 5 Hero Points through vril per fruit. Ghost Fungus This fungus is most often found on the rotting corpses of trees and creates eerie white fans two to three meters wide that appear like robes flowing in the breeze. If this was not enough cause for its moniker, then the attraction for spirits would. Although it is not clear why, the fungus seems to attract spirits of all sorts. If there is a ghost fungus in the area, it is common that other sightings in local villages increase. Natives will wander through the forest until they find the ghost fungus to rid themselves of the haunting. The poisonous mushroom is not fatal but will cause severe cramping and vomiting. Effect: CON roll to resist becoming ill. Summons spirits. Greybeard This is a low creeping plant that grows in the branches of the trees in swamps and low-lying areas, and seemingly never touches the ground. Its massive mat of tiny grey branches looks like hair and covers whole sections of the forest with its canopy. Despite its strange appearance and apparent invasiveness, it is a welcome sight to locals who use parts of the plant for everything— bandages, preservatives, packing material, roof thatching, and tinder. Many local peoples wonder at the strange plant that never touches the ground and they have many superstitions regarding their seemingly rootless origins. Visitors who disrespect the holy plant can likely be sentenced to severe punishments, such as beatings, for letting the plant touch the earth. Effect: Many mundane uses; some consider the plant holy. Burrsap Burrsaps have been the bane of many visitors to the continent, although natives have become determined to make the best of the stubborn weed. The plant rises like grass regardless of whether soil is cultivated or in the deepest swamps. Its seed pods bristle with fine barbed hairs that catch on every material from fur to leather. Once the burr finds something to latch on, it swells as it attempts to root into the ground, impeding movement and forcing the victim to trip. The pods can get up to a half-meter in size and weigh heavily, making even the most stubborn of animals stumble. The unripe swollen seedpods are soft and edible on the inside, making for pleasant revenge. Some villagers will activate the pods to make them swell, then open them for eating.

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GEOGRAPHICA Effect: Movement while encumbered by a swelling pod starts at DoD -5 and increases to DoD14 at its largest. Once the pod has finished swelling, the victim can rip away from it. Strongroot This diminutive plant can be found at the edges of swamps and lowlands. The small leaves and tiny flowers make it hard to spot along the forest floor. Once found, the plant is dug up, providing seekers with a root of at least 30 centimeters in length and as thick as a man’s wrist. When dried, powdered, it can then be alchemically treated and turned into an amazing medicine that actually makes one stronger, up to three times stronger than they were previously. It also boosts endurance and is often used for horses as well as people. There have been reports of addiction and overdosing, which causes a sudden loss of energy and paralysis in the extremities for upward of two weeks. Effect: A single alchemical dose, DoD -5, causes a +3 increase to STR for three hours. Doubling the dose in a 24 hour span runs the risk of paralysis (-5 to STR) for a duration of 10 days, CON roll, DoD -3 to resist. Triple the dose in 24 hour period increases the danger; CON roll, DoD -9.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Names

Names

Akwatuk, Aztlan, The Hordelands Of Beezh-Yeel

Gava

Male

Female

Male

Female

Ahote

Catori

Alberic

Angqua

Alo

Cha’Risa

Donar

Brunhild

Chochmo

Chu’Si

Etzel

Grimhilt

Chu’a

Hehewuti

Gundahar

Hilda

Honani

Honovi

Ing

Java

Istaqa

Kachina

Joyan

Kathru

Kachada

Kaya

Kulwif

Kriemhild

Kotori

Lenmana

Lounar

Lavode

Kwahu

Mansi

Marq

Lorelei

Lansa

Pakwa

Siegfried

Milva

Makya

Pamuya

Weland

Nerthus

Moki

Takala

Wieland

Sethra

Qochata

Tiva

Varg

Sieglinde

Sikyatavo

Tuwa

Wodan

Vix

Tocho

Una

Ziehl

Xana

Names Akela, Tamarac

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Names Aquaga, Kulugmiut

Male

Female

Male

Female

Adahy

Adsila

Apanuugak

Aariak

Degataga

Ama

Bravuk

Caedmon

Galegenoh

Awenasa

Opwamu

Estuuya

Mohe

Ayita

Eeyeekalduk

Innugati

Sequoyah

Ahyoka

Igaluk

Kanguq

Waya

Salali

Ignirtoq

Luava

Atsadi

Tayanita

Kigatilik

Naaqtuuq

Atohi

Galilani

Nirliq

Opik

Gawonii

Tsula

Nuniq

Pinga

Kanuna

Hiawassee

Petuwaq

Qaaynak

Tsiyi

Immokalee

Qannik

Suqi

Kanagagota

Inola

Sighna

Tobanga

Koatohee

Tsistunagiska

Waxlumee

Uki

Oconostota

Nanye-hi

Tulugaak

Wentshukumishiteu

Yonaguska

Ninovan

Ukiuk

Yakone

GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Eria Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Palace of Dawn The Palace of Dawn is said to be one of the eleven ancient cities of the Jinn. Little remains of the city except a series of strange towers made of crystal and glass. The towers seem to sing when the wind or light hits them and those who sleep within any of the towers experience strange and unsettling dreams.

2. The Slumbering Coast

his shoulder into the darkest part of the forest. The bear spirit searches for her claws to this day and offers a great boon to any who can find them for her. Being powerful magic, the claws likely have a new owner.

9. Nayiq’s Dread One of the Nayiq tribes became uncharacteristically aggressive after a recent, brutal winter. The tribe has been attacking other Nayiq tribesmen, raiding neighboring nations, and wielding dark magic against their foes. The tribe takes numerous slaves back to their cave home on the island of Iriq, but scouts have found no sign of these slaves. It is only a matter of time before this aggression spills over into outright war.

Off the north-east coast of Eria it is possible to see what might be a city submerged in the deep waters off the continental shelf. Jealously guarded by Makara and worse, the “ruins,” if that is indeed what they are, beckon nearby travelers. Unwary travelers are often taken away by the Makara for untold purposes, but some Animists and Dark Arts practitioners claim 10. Council Hold waters taken from the Slumbering Coast are invaluable aids for reaching out Deep in Gava’s interior lies a forest-choked valley known to the Aesir as to spirits and the dead. Council Hold. The natives refuse to enter the valley claiming that the very air there can kill. What lies beyond the valley’s orichalcum-lined entrance is anyone’s guess but an old Aesir song speaks of a fire in the sky and demons 3. The Peaks of the Rotting King Deep in the mountains of south-west Eria is a small kingdom ruled with iron faces. and comprised of the undead. Allegedly founded by a dying sorcerer, the kingdom has grown and occasionally threatens the Aztlan to the south. 11. The Blight Living men are used as slaves or sacrifices to the gods. An area of land covered with white spores that choke and petrify the surrounding vegetation, the Blight has grown in recent years. Living creatures caught in the Blight slowly succumb to a fits of coughing and 4. The Leaping Fountains of Ahtdo An ancient Jinn once spent a lifetime gathering the brass jars of his finally suffocation as the spores take root in the lungs. Fire or water seems people, then another lifetime building a huge plaza with fountains and gems the only way to keep the Blight from spreading. At the center of the Blight is and gold to house them, and a final lifetime crafting powerful magics and rumored to be the source, but few tales agree on what that source might be. twisting the local flows of Vril so that the fountains would last forever but also remain hidden for just as long. Seekers after knowledge and wisdom 12. The Screaming Giant still seek the Leaping Fountains in south-eastern Tamarac, hoping to find At the center of a boiling lake atop a geyser is a giant wolf chained with the elder Jinn. orichalcum for some transgression committed in the distant past. When the geysers erupt underneath the giant, it howls in pain and anger. It will speak to any who approach with a kind word or large amount of fresh meat. Local 5. The Great Serpent of the Peaks High in the peaks of the rocky mountains of Beezh-yeel reportedly tribesmen claim that much of what it speaks is lies. dwells a great serpent whose name is Hunger and whose frigid breath gives birth to monsters. The inhabitants of the region often leave sacrifices when 13. The Snake Road attempting to cross the mountains while others actively seek out the great A series of large, round 3 meter diameter tunnels run under the serpent in hopes of finding the remains of all the expeditions that have failed mountains from Akwatuk to the Hordeland wastelands. The tunnels belong through the centuries. to a nameless snake god. Rumor has it that the shredded skin of the snake god will make impenetrable armor. However, those who brave the tunnel risk being consumed by the snake god or poisoned by the numerous other 6. The Broken One In times of war the Akela place the bodies of enemy dead up on wooden snakes that dwell in the nooks and crannies. frames as a warning to those who would defile their lands. Legend has it that one of these corpses, the body of a Netherman shaman, tore itself free 14. Cave of the Bear from its frame and now wanders the plains, seeking vengeance. This undead In a cave full of stars captured from the night sky sleeps a great black horror stakes out anyone who crosses his path, spending hours and days bear on a throne of polished mahogany. At his feet sit ten stone statues of nibbling at their skulls and brains before letting them die in horror. heroic chiefs of ages past. The bear, adorned with bone and silver jewelry, awakens during the weeks before Wayeb when it roams the nearby lands to slay any evil that it finds. Sometimes, the bear will take those who are in 7. The Hungry Nest This rock pillar stands vigil above the forests of Akwatuk. Kutchin his cave when he awakens with him on this holy mission with promises of storytellers say that once upon a time this spur held the nest of a great eagle future reward. spirit but greedy tribesmen kept stealing the spirit’s eggs, which granted long life and health. The eagle spirit cursed the stone of the pillar so that any man 15. The Woodman’s Axe touching it is cursed to die horribly. Nobody knows if the nest still lies atop Stuck in an ancient sequoia tree at a height of 25 meters is an axe twice the pillar and few are willing to risk what is an almost impossible climb even the size of any axe a man can lift. Those who have tried to remove the axe without the curse. could not and both it and the tree are invulnerable to any attack used to destroy it. The axe does not move even though the tree still grows. It is said that if the axe is ever removed the Hordelands would increase in size tenfold 8. Bear’s Lost Claws A powerful bear spirit once lost her claws in a bet with a coyote. When and that it is the only thing keeping the evil and blight there from spreading. confronted with evidence that he cheated, the coyote threw the claws over

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GEOGRAPHICA

91

Europa

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Europa Region (yer-o-PAH) The continent of Europa contains a great range of terrains, climates, and peoples, from the great steppes of Scythia to the forested river valleys of Vir, the rugged hills and wooded groves of Hellas and Saturnia, and the great plateau of Galecea. It is a land of wilderness and, for the most part, of barbarism; only at the fringes of the continent, such as in Hellas, Tharshesh, and on the islands of Minoa and Ys, are sophisticated cultures found. The rest of the continent is home to primitive tribes and dangerous creatures. Most regions of Europa scattered human habitation, but there are few heavily populated areas. It is difficult to divide Europa into broad geographic divisions. The vast region of Scythia, a land of rolling grassland plains, is sometimes considered a second geographical area all its own, as is the Galecean peninsula to the west. Between Galecea and Scythia, the continent is often divided into two climatic/geographic zones, the Mediterranean region and the Northern region. The grasslands of Scythia are bleak and desolate, but fertile enough to herds of wild animals and a sizable human population. The Northern region is much the same, but the plains give way to some more rugged lands, and a few extensively forested stretches. The Mediterranean region consists of those lands that border directly on the Mediterranean Sea. Here the sea moderates the climate, creating a warm, pleasant, fertile region of mountains surrounding numerous settled valleys and narrow coastal strips. The last area, the Galecean Peninsula, is drier and harsher than the ading regions. The coasts of the peninsula extensive habitation, but the inland plateau is cool, dry, and far less hospitable. In of natural resources, Europa is not a very rich land. Tin, copper, gold, and silver are found in limited quantities in some areas, along with iron and a few other valuable metals and gemstones. For the most part, though, the continent has nothing to compare with the wealth of Gondwana or some of the other rich continents elsewhere in the world. It may be that the scarcity of resources in Europa reflects a lack of exploration and exploitation, rather than an actual dearth of such valuable materials. Given the fact that Europa’s inhabitants, with only a few exceptions, are still somewhat primitive, this is a distinct possibility.

Aragana

(air-a-GON-a)

The Aragan (AIR-a-gon) Mountains are home to a fierce hunter-gatherer tribe, which has resisted all outside domination since the days of the Atlantean Golden Age. These people, the Aragani, generally have jet-black hair, brown eyes, and olive-skinned complexions. They are barbaric by most standards: simple hunters, warriors, or druids. Only a very few have any knowledge of witchcraft or magic. A superstitious folk, the Aragani have a great terror of the evil eye. Otherwise they are utterly fearless; a warrior people equally as determined and ferocious as Hesperian Amazons. The Aragani wear crude clothing of animal skins, with crude cloth leggings. In battle they wear headbands of cloth or leather (dyed bright red), as well as additional furs that serve as primitive armor. Their favored weapons are spears, clubs, staves, and the sling, which is a weapon that has become a great specialty of their people. All their weapons are of good quality, though mostly made of stone interspersed with the occasional, prized bronze weapon. The Aragani live in small, nomadic family groups. They build no permanent settlements, and only gather in large numbers during wars or for religious holy days. They worship no gods, but instead regard the local spirits as sacred beings. The cave bear, a common animal in Aragana, is likewise held as sacred by the Aragani and a powerful cave bear spirit forms the center of their worship. The Aragani druids perform sacred rituals within a circle of cave bear skulls surrounding a monolith carved to resemble a standing bear. These holy days are followed by week-long festivals, and are attended by most of the Aragani people. The people are led by tribal chieftains, who in turn acknowledge the supremacy of the high druid, the leader of the Aragani religion. These simple hunters desire no one’s land but their own, but are fiercely independent and resent any intrusion upon their soil. They are xenophobic, distrusting all foreigners. An old Atlantean proverb speaks of the Aragani as being “as rugged and immovable as their mountain homes”. One group on friendly with the Aragani, largely because they have no interest in their

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Spirits of Aragana

The mountains of Aragana are home to a dazzling array of spirit forms. The ancient trees here have never known the bite of a woodsman’s axe and resent human intruders. Likewise, the mountains themselves teem with spirits of rock and stone. Toward the end of the Golden Age, the famous Atlantean Lotus Legion vanished in these mountains when it tried to take a short cut through them in order to put down a provincial rebellion. Rumor has it that the ghostly legionnaires still roam these hills looking for rebels. Of course, with Atlantis a shadow of its former self, nearly everyone is a “rebel”.

Lost Namt

The island kingdom of Namt (the Namtu’s original home) lies, presumably, somewhere in the ocean between Europa and Atlantis. The Namtu recall little of their home, only that it was overrun with “demonfaced” invaders and that the entire island was one massive mountain. The location of the island remains a mystery to this day, as does the identity of their attackers.

The Growing Darkness

The Black Forest is growing slowly, year after year; sometimes a nearby village will awaken to find themselves surrounded by darkened boughs. The forest is filled with the ruins of towers and castles, whose foundations were shattered by gnarled roots. The Erlking’s followers believe he controls the forest’s growth but there is no proof that this is true.

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lands, is a tribe living in the Citadel of Namtu (NAM-tu), which is built deep within one of the highest mountains in Aragana. The citadel is named for the king who led his people to these mountains ages ago, fleeing the destruction of their kingdom. The men of Namtu mine metals, rare earths, and minerals from the depths beneath their small, well-constructed fortress-town. Trade between the Aragani and the men of Namtu has never been very enthusiastic, for the food and herbs the Aragani can offer are hardly worth the exchange of bronze weapons and implements they desire. Even so, the two groups are on good , and are pledged to mutual protection.

The Black Forest

The Black Forest is an extensive wilderness area located along the northern coast of Europa. It is a strange and hostile region, populated by wandering tribes of Nethermen, packs of Andamen, and primordial terrors from bygone ages. The true power in this region, however, is held by the Nethermen hordes and their dreaded ruler, The Erlking. Though known and feared throughout Europa, The Erlking remains a figure shrouded in mystery and superstition. That he is the absolute ruler of Europa’s Nethermen population is certain; less certain is the exact nature of The Erlking himself. Some claim he is a demon, sent to Earth to cause woe among mankind. The druids believe The Erlking to be a warlock of unsured power. The Atlanteans say that The Erlking is merely a hideous magician, whose life span has been extended by the use of black magic. Whatever his true nature, The Erlking is a force to be reckoned with. From Darkhold, his dark fortress located in some unknown part of the Black Forest, he commands nearly the entire continent’s scattered Nethermen tribes. Boar riders and other fell creatures convey his dictates to the tribes as they are decreed. Fearing the wrath of The Erlking’s own army — said to number into the thousands — the Nethermen bands obey without question. It is said that The Erlking’s influence extends beyond the tribes of Nethermen, to the Ogres of the forest and even humans, all of whom pay tribute to the Nethermen lord in return for his protection. Wagons laden with the spoils of Ogre and Nethermen raids are regularly sent to The Erlking’s fortress by his “loyal” subjects; failure to pay such tribute (for whatever reason) brings the swift and certain wrath of The Erlking and his minions. Nor does his power end at the forest’s edge; Nethermen raiding parties spread terror in his name throughout the whole of Europa. Due to the obvious dangers inherent in this region, few travelers dare enter the Black Forest. Although the gypsies of Oggia sometimes toe the edge of the wood in search of certain magical herbs, none will spend so much as a single night in this place. Others who occasionally frequent the region (most notably bandits and black druid cultists) do so either under the auspices of The Erlking, or at dire risk. The Black Forest itself is choked with thick undergrowth, making traversing it all but impossible, unless one follows the paths and game trails regularly patrolled by The Erlking’s thugs. The trees that grow here exhibit an unhealthy, twisted appearance, and poisonous blooms and putrid fungus dog travelers’ every step.

Darkhold The Erlking holds court in the grim fortress of Darkhold. From here he rules his subjects and allies with an iron hand. It is said that many thousands of Nethermen and other creatures are under his command, and that other tribes of Nethermen obey his will through fear of this great army. Ogres, were-creatures, boar-riders, and even a few tribes of humans dwelling near the borders of the Black Forest are similarly forced to submit to his will, and pay large amounts of tribute in exchange for his forbearance and protection. Failure to pay this tribute is certain to bring down his wrath. The Black Forest is a gloomy place, shrouded forever in shadow, with choking undergrowth and copses of ancient, tangled trees. The paths that run through the Black Forest are no safer than the threatening wood, such trails having been made by the fell denizens of the forest, and serving as highways by which they travel. Though the gypsies sometimes traverse these winding trails to find their magic herbs, they will not venture far beneath the trees, and none will spend so much as a single night within the confines of The Erlking’s dark woodland realm. Others who travel the Black Forest paths from the outside world — usually bandits, witches, or initiates of the Black Druid cults — do so either as servants of The Erlking, or at dire risk to their lives. Most s relating to Darkhold describe it as a labyrinthine citadel, carved into a great

GEOGRAPHICA mound of volcanic rock in a large clearing amid the forest. At least three trails lead to Darkhold from various directions, dirt tracks on which travel the wagons bearing tribute and slaves for The Erlking. Each is said to be watched by unseen guardians, Nethermen and other minions of Darkhold who ensure that none approach the fortress save by leave of their dark master. Stories say that the Erlking’s hold can first be spotted by the columns of black smoke that coil upwards from the mound, pouring forth from deep underground. But as there are many places in the Black Forest from which smoke might rise (tribal camps, Nethermen outposts and the deadly clearings where the Black Druids hold sacrifice, to name but a few), this alone offers no sure guide to the discovery of Darkhold. Any who chance to come upon the citadel of The Erlking, however, will recognize it easily enough. The conical, slate-grey mound rises over 30 meters above the level of the ground, and the main entrance, about three-quarters of the way to the top, has been carved to resemble the head of a dragon or a similar loathsome, fanged beast. The full extent of the labyrinth centered under Darkhold is not known. There are those who claim that dozens of major tunnels open to different parts of the Black Forest, some large enough to gigantic siege engines, others barely large enough for a single man to squeeze through. Through these tunnels, they say, The Erlking can set up ambushes or surprise attacks far from Darkhold without being detected, while the smaller ages are for the use of solitary messengers and spies. One report claims that The Erlking maintains one secret way known only to himself, through which he is accustomed to slip out in the night to go about his own affairs without being seen.

The Erlking As for The Erlking himself, the stories invariably describe him as being robed all in black, his face concealed by a black hood. Tall as a man, he is said to stand, but bent with age, or perhaps some sort of deformity. His voice is that of a child, and some claim that he is fluent in many tongues. The Erlking’s Chief Minister, if legend is to be believed, is The Erlking’s mother and a personage of exceptionally long life and great magical power. Most s agree that this Chief Minister is a Human, or bears a human woman’s shape, at least. To the Nethermen, this person is known only as The Erlking’s Voice, for it is her duty to convey all decrees made by the dark lord. By day, The Erlking and his advisers hold court. Chieftains of subject and allied peoples come before the court to seek audience, asking aid or protection, or offering gifts to appease their fearsome overlord. Nethermen guards wielding whips oversee the slaves who serve The Erlking, his court, and his guests. All around are lesser of the court — soldiers, officers, ministers, minor functionaries, shaman-priests of the Nethermen cult, and creatures of the night. Justice within Darkhold is meted out by The Erlking, and disputes both within the citadel and among subject-allies are settled by his will. Most often, The Erlking himself says no word, indicating his decisions by gestures or signs. The Erlking’s Voice, or some other underling, will generally pronounce The Erlking’s command. Only in matters of the greatest import will the dread ruler of Darkhold speak, but all know that it is his rule, and no other’s, that dominates Darkhold’s halls. The judgments of The Erlking are said to be swift and merciless. Those who have proven cowardly, incompetent, or treasonous, and those who violate any of The Erlking’s laws, are almost invariably sentenced to death. Some are slain on the spot; others are condemned to the torture chamber. Those who might be of value are sometimes confined in the dungeons, pending the receipt of a ransom or other exchange. The Erlking’s influence is said to extend from the cannibalistic nomads of the Scythian Plains to the dread fanatics of the Sons of Ba’al in Atlantis, and even to the trolls who delve beneath the Hyperborean Mountains, and the witch-queens of Gorgos. His Nethermen bands range the wilds of the Black Forest, Draconea, and beyond, raiding, exacting tribute, and taking spoils and captives as they go. “In the court of The Erlking”, so it is said, “madness reigns”. Here, the Lord of the Black Forest holds sway, amidst an atmosphere of debauchery and wild revelry. Grisly feasts are prepared, to be set forth for The Erlking and his minions. Nethermen drums echo throughout the darkened halls, and a procession of slaves, prisoners, and grotesques are made to put on spectacles to amuse the Nethermen lords. Those who fail to satisfy their masters are put to death, usually in some way that will amuse The Erlking and his followers. A favorite method of execution is to throw the offending individual into a deep pit, into which is then released some sort of menace; hunger-maddened ghouls, hordes

The battle in the Black Woods was fought over the course of three days. The Naga sorcerer and his allied Nethermen, gifted by The Erlking, hounded us as we tried to make our escape with the Head of Unluat, the Troll Lord. Rogo, Kell, and I were rear guard as Petranova, Caerwyn, Wago, and Druna escaped across the river to the land of the Hellenes. We steeled ourselves and awaited the squeal of the boars heralding the Nethermen… what we saw was much worse. The sorcerer Kaliya rode on the back of a steed stitched together from the parts of men, beasts, and insects, laughing as his demon hurled gouts of plague at us. We killed wave after wave of Nethermen and their bodies formed a barricade at our feet that helped shield us from the Naga’s dark sorceries. If not for the quick prayers of Kell and his foreign god I would have lost my life. Rogo paid the ultimate price, stopping the battle by grappling the Naga and holding him as Kell and I escaped. The damned fool of a boy, Rogo; I heard his soul being ripped apart by the Naga’s dark powers. Donobey of Nubia

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age of vermin, and caustic alchemical agents are said to be quite popular with The Erlking’s torturers. Sometimes the victim is given a weapon with which to fight; other times the hapless individual may be bound, chained to the side of the pit, or blindfolded. The revelers often enjoy wagering on these events, when they are not too drunk or drugged to notice.

Inside Darkhold I spent time as a slave on the Atlantean Islands as a youth. That experience left me bitter and always wanting more from life. I fear that a slave in the pens of Darkhold must suffer tenfold. Had I the resources — power, wealth, an army — I fear I would be hard-pressed to not march on the Dread Wood and free as many as I could whilst fate and the gods allowed. There are tales, rare and hard to , of individuals or small bands stealing into Darkhold to rescue one or two such slaves or prisoners. Such tales give even me hope. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

The citadel of Darkhold shows nothing of workmanship or skilled planning, and digging by Nethermen is swift and haphazard. Chambers are hewn out crudely, with uneven walls and irregular shapes. Even The Erlking’s throne room is thus, resembling a cave more suited to a wild beast than to a mighty ruler. Tunnels and ages within the citadel tend to be narrow and twisting and well-suited to defense. Access between levels is mostly by way of steep, narrow stairs. Many of the deep tunnels that lead to the outside are wider, and use ramps instead of steps, so that heavy siege equipment and dire wolf cavalry can move easily to and from the secret entranceways. Lighting throughout the subterranean fortress is generally poor. Nethermen of this realm can see quite well in the dark, and so have little need for bright lighting. For the most part, a few feeble torches, mounted in crude brackets on the wall, provide all the illumination they need or want. Slaves and prisoners of The Erlking must often grope blindly through these darkened corridors, wary lest they fall into a pit or open stairwell. None can mistake the martial nature of Darkhold, for Ogre and Nethermen troops are seen patrolling the halls at all times of the day and night. Sentries are posted throughout Darkhold, guarding doors of most important rooms or chambers, or stationed in the widened grottos that appear in strategic places along the major tunnels and stairways. Most guard posts are manned by two sentries, and generally some kind of wild animal is kept nearby. These beasts are either kept chained to the wall or penned in small caves or crude metal cages. The guards are able to release them quickly, should the need arise, to savage an intruder or an escaping slave or prisoner. The animals are rotated to and from the cages that surround the dungeons every day on the same schedule as the changing of the guards. Darkhold’s complex of underground caverns and tunnels is vast and intricate, and is believed to radiate outward many kilometers in every direction from the citadel itself. Although many of these tunnels were built for the specific purpose of providing access to distant parts of the Black Forest, others are natural caverns, discovered by Nethermen delvers and their slaves. Almost directly under Darkhold, for instance, lies a natural cave system holding a vast underground lake. Slave-operated pumps allow water to be forced upwards from these subterranean pools to the rest of the citadel. Many strange and ancient things are said to inhabit the Lake Cavern, which the Nethermen fear. They will not willingly the heavy iron doors that have been installed to block the tunnels leading there, and an assignment to repair or maintain the pipes that make up the pumping system is a duty every Nethermen fears to draw. A few slaves have escaped into these caves, and through them into other tunnels and caverns that ultimately led to freedom. Those who have done so have reported that the way is long and fraught with difficulties. Even so, it is whispered in the slave pens that this is the safest means of escape from Darkhold, for only a very valuable prisoner or slave would be worth pursuing into this place which the Nethermen fear so much.

Broceliande

(bro-sel-ee-ON-de)

Broceliande is a small forest kingdom on the southern coast

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GEOGRAPHICA of Europa, in the very heart of Draconea but not too distant from forbidding Aragana. Unlike the rest of Draconea, it is a land of order and relative peace. In reality Broceliande is little more than a single city, Celanus, and its surrounding forest settlements. The story of Broceliande is the story of that city; a place that has been the site of countless settlements over the past ages. The City of Celanus (SELL-ahn-oos) Celanus was originally settled by a now-extinct race countless eons ago; the ruins they left behind were discovered by Lemurian explorers who used them as a basis for a research outpost. It was these gentle beings that gave Broceliande’s plant life its almost supernatural health and vitality. The flora that grows here today is some of the hardiest and most resistant to corruption in the world. The Ophidians destroyed the Lemurian settlement during the early years of their war with Lemuria, burning the heart of the forest to the ground. The Anunnaki built a laboratory here a few centuries later to study human physiology. Terrible acts of torture and horror were committed in Celanus for over a century until an Atlantean strike destroyed the Ophidian settlement. The serpents, distracted by other events in the war, never returned. In the early years of the Golden Age, a powerful necromancer built a fortress here, feeding on the vengeful spirits of the Ophidian victims. The necromancer was cast down from the Aragan Mountains by tribes who had grown sick of his predations. The battle decimated the tribes and they never regained their former strength. A few decades later the Atlanteans founded a small town here that grew to be a hub for their colonies to the north and south. The city of Celanus became known as the only safe haven in Draconea and trade blossomed. The city even sported a Vril pyramid and a rare Vril gate. The Cataclysm hit Celanus hard; trade dried up overnight, the city suffered from multiple slave revolts, and the Vril gate’s malfunctioning state wasn’t realized until nearly all the Atlantean population had used it to flee home to Atlantis. Celanus’ human population persevered through plague and strife, relying on the city walls and plentiful forest foods to provide for them. The Lemurian alternations to the forests meant that the Celanean people had a plentiful food supply, something that made them a target during the early years of the Dark Ages. The city became something akin to a fortified camp with the captain of the city guard taking over as de-facto ruler. To this day Celanus is ruled by a “Captain” rather than a king. The years of isolation have made the Celanean people more than a little xenophobic and while they trade with other nations they will strike against perceived enemies with alarming swiftness. Celanus retains much of its Atlantean architecture (though it is often repurposed) and the craftsmen there retain the knowledge of ironworking, though their steel is of only average quality compared to Atlantean or Cimmerian blades. A visitor will notice the Celanean hatred of magic. This hatred is all-consuming and they freely torture and execute magicians of all kinds. Some whisper that the ghosts of those murdered by the necromancer have tainted the Celaneans against sorcery, while others simply point to the terrible damage done by magicians following the Cataclysm when magic went awry for a time. The Celanean army patrols the forests of Broceliande. The army is broken down into two broad orders: the Leaf Guard is responsible for patrolling the woodland surrounding the city and destroying threats there while the Stone Guard defends the city proper from attack. The Leaf Guard is made up of small units of trained woodsmen who specialize in hit-and-run tactics. These men are lightly armored, trained in camouflage techniques, and carry their signature short bows and shortswords with pride. The Stone Guard wear chain or plate armor and carry long bows and spears. To be a member of either of these organizations is a matter of some pride and rivalries between the two groups do get out of hand from time to time. Much of the city’s politicians come from the Stone Guard and so it receives much better equipment than the Leaf Guard. The Vril Gate

Celanus was one of the few cities outside of Atlantis to have a Vril gate. These highly sensitive marvels could send objects and people through space and time to another gate. The transport took days but it was still faster and safer than a sea voyage. The gate in Celanus malfunctioned during the Cataclysm and now it hurls those stepping through it through space and time to some unknown destination. Efforts to repair the gate failed and now the city uses it to dispose of waste and the occasional criminal. The people of Celanus are blissfully unaware of the dangers of using a Vril gate and should they find a way to repair the gate they might start using it for its intended purpose once again.

The Gatherers

Celanus has a rather small population for a city but it should not be able to sustain its population based on a huntergatherer society without importing massive amounts of food. However, the city has one massive advantage in this regard: the Lemurian-bred plants in the forest provide a plentiful bounty far beyond what any natural plants should be capable of. Gatherers from the city can pluck a fruit bush or nut plant clean and find it full of fruit again in a week. What few are aware of is that the production from plants is starting to slow and the city has been forced to send hunting parties out into Draconea as well as increasing trade with other nations. Should the general population of Celanus find out about their food woes, bloodshed and panic are likely to follow.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Draconea

(dra-KO-nee-a)

The Truth of Tok

No mortal fortress could survive in Draconea without Croidubh’s permission. The Citadel of Tok is an elaborate lie, intended to draw humans away from the sites of Ophidian power in Draconea. The fortress is actually built around Croidubh’s sleeping head, the twelve towers behind his crown of horns, and the Masters of Tok are in actuality little more than solid projections of Croidubh’s waking dream.

Draconea (the Land of Dragons) is the name given to the vague and ill-defined lands of central and western Europa. Formerly, most of the continent was known by this name, but human expansion and encroachment have impinged upon Draconea’s boundaries in recent centuries. Today the region extends from the Europan coasts to the Atlantean Ocean, and dominates the interior of western Europa. Draconea is not inhabited by humans, save for a few wandering nomads or foolhardy adventurers. Nethermen, Ogres, and all their cousins are fairly common, and the Draconean forests are reputed to be infested by great serpents, venomous snakes of incredible toxicity, and the famous “speaking snakes” that mimic human voices and lure travelers to their doom. The volcanoes around Broceliande and Aragana are believed to shelter drakes and dragons. Less spectacular, but no less dangerous, are the mastodons, lions, and Europan tigers of the land. Draconea is a wild land, untamed and without any dominant culture, political system, or benevolent civilization. Only those who actively seek danger or adventure come here. Once, Atlanteans hunted along these shores in search of trophies, but few of these hunters proved equal to the perils of the land, and the practice stopped after many failed to return. Shipwrecks along the Draconean coasts are also common, primarily because of the region’s unpredictable weather, especially on the northern coasts. Survivors of such shipwrecks often find in Draconea a more terrible death than anything the sea could offer. Within the borders of Draconea are hidden the last vestiges of the Anunnaki rule of the continent. Vast, monster-infested ruins conceal outposts where the twisted Ophidians plot and scheme to retake the rest of Europa. The Ophidians here have some with the Lady in Green in Alba and sometimes make the dangerous trip to Arden to trade knowledge with her. The Ophidians here are ruled by a single being, a terrible creature made of rage and spite given physical form: the dragon, Croidubh (KREE-duv) the Deathless. This ancient entity is one of only a handful of true dragons that yet live on Earth. Croidubh is said to issue orders by dream from his citadel of Crioch-Scath (KREE-ok-skaaw) where he sleeps in immortal slumber. The fortress lies in the heart of a volcano, floating in the depths of a pool of molten magma and is therefore all but impregnable to mortal man. One human-dominated location lies within the borders of Draconea: the Citadel of Tok (TAHK). Legends say that Tok is dominated by a secret brotherhood of sorcerers, twelve in number, who are masters of magic. Their twelve-towered citadel, constructed of rough-hewn stone blocks, is reputed to be a storehouse of fabulous magical items and arcane knowledge. It is supposed to be ringed round with circular stone huts filled with human slaves, who maintain and defend the citadel. Armed only with slings and clubs, and unarmored, these slaves are only the outer defense; the real protection of the citadel lies in the power of the Twelve Masters.

Galecea

(ga-LEE-see-a)

The region that gives its name to the Galecean Peninsula is a large, roughly circular territory bounded to the north by Aragana, to the south and east by the Tharshi domains, and due west by the River Oceanus. The region is subdivided into two distinct areas (sometimes considered individual regions in their own right), the coastal strip of Ugala (UH-ga-la) and the great plateau region of Alamanazor (a-la-MAN-a-zor). The plateau reaches almost to the coast; the high cliffs block the progress of moisture-bearing clouds inland, so that only Ugala receives very much rainfall. Alamanazor is a very dry plateau, mostly covered with scrub and sparse, but hardy, vegetation. Galecea, like Aragan, is a land where spirits walk aplenty. Fire spirits dance in the volcanoes that ring the Galecean Plateau, while sylphs range about the upland heights. The plateau itself is reputed to be frequently traversed by entities of rock and earth. Only water spirits are rare in this arid land. Galecea is also the home of a variety of rare and monstrous creatures. Manticores, chimeras, and tribes of strange, intelligent spiders are said to dwell on the plateau. Ogres, cave trolls, and similar fell beasts haunt the ruins of past cultures, which are pervasive in Galecea. None are particularly common, dwelling in scattered lairs or bands across the face of the great plateau region. Less fearsome wild animals, including giant boars, aurochs, and the ibex, also roam these arid lands.

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GEOGRAPHICA Small groups of barbaric humans, Nethermen, and other groups also make their homes here, and it is a place of refuge for various brigands, fugitives, hermits, outcasts, misfits, and certain disreputable spell-casters. There are no large communities and no dominant cultures. There are, however, signs of ancient habitation. Galecea is dotted with windswept ruins, primarily of Atlantean and Hesperian origin, but in some cases left from lost, mysterious civilizations. These ruins are said to have both ancient treasures and secrets of great magical power hidden in their crumbling halls, and attract fortune-seekers and treasure hunters from Tharshesh, Atlantis, and even Hesperia.

Hellas

(hel-AS)

Hellas is the smallest of several peninsulas which thrust southwards, out of Europa into the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded on three sides by the sea, with the regions of Oggia and Vir bordering it to the north. It is a sparsely-inhabited land, largely forested, and rather rugged. There are also many savage and dangerous beasts that make life precarious for the humans who live along the coasts and throughout the bulk of the Pellopenesian peninsula. The people who inhabit Hellas are olive-skinned, dark-haired individuals who tend towards average height and build. Women generally wear their hair long, while men wear short-cropped beards and hair. Both sexes wear flowing robes and togas, usually of white cotton or linen. The inhabitants of Hellas divide their region into several territories on the basis of traditional tribal holdings. In the current age, these territories are divided into a number of independent, and often competing, city-states. The largest and most prosperous of these is the city of Athens in the territory known as Achaea. Other city-states include: Corinthea (KOR-in-thee-ah), Argosea (AR-go-see-ah), and Spartas (SPAR-tas) in the Pellopenesus, with Megara (MEH-ga-ra), Chalcis (kayl-SIS), Thebos (the-BOS), Acanthus (ah-CAN-thoos), and Potidaea (po-TEE-da-ee-ah) in the north of the region. The many islands that dot the Aegean Sea between Hellas and Yalak are largely settled by the Hellenes (as the people of Hellas are known) although ownership of many of these islands is in dispute with the island nation of Minoa to the south. Arcadea (ar-KAY-dee-ah), at the far north of Hellas, is the most peaceful and pastoral region of Hellas. Although humans do live here, they are few in number and tend to be almost as shy and reclusive as the spirits who frequent these same woodlands. Argosea (AR-go-see-ah) includes several swampy areas, especially the great Lerhan Marsh. Hydras breed in these swamps, and are something of a problem, but are not so numerous as to pose any major threat. They are a dangerous nuisance to travelers all the same. Perhaps the most feared district in all Hellas is Nemea (ne-ME-ah) to the north and east, home of the creature known as the Nemean Lion. While these frightening beasts are found in many parts of Hellas, Oggia, Vir, and Saturnia, nowhere are they so common as in the Nemean Vale. The Hellenes are by and large a pastoral people, herding goats and some cattle for food and other products, but their urban classes dominate society, with philosophers, poets, and great warriors being held in great esteem. The Hellenes live simply, eating lamb and goat, cheeses made from goat’s milk, olives and grapes, and occasionally adding wild game to their diets by hunting. Their governments range the gamut from a pure democracy in Athens to the military dictatorship of Spartas and the monarchies of Corinthea and Argosea. Most Hellenic rulers make great claims to descend from one god or another, although it is generally acknowledged that these claims are pure fantasy. The Hellenes revel in battle, a trait they most often use amongst themselves much to the relief of their neighbors. The Hellenic city-states have been in a constant struggle for dominance of the region since the early days of the Second Age with the top position changing hands frequently. Of late, the city-state of Athens has maintained a position of dominance, thanks in large part to its impressive naval power. Athens has brought many smaller cities and Aegean islands under its sway and war with the other city-states appears inevitable. Other nations such as Khemit, Minoa, and even Atlantis and Hesperia keep a close eye on Hellenic activities, as they fear a successful bid by Athens in a series of civil wars could see the ambitions of this city-state expand beyond the borders of Hellas itself.

The Arac

Tales of these tribes of intelligent spiders are enough to terrify most people away from the ruins of ancient Galecea. They are, however, not entirely true. There are a number of tribes here who worship a spider-like deity that is a reflection of the Orixa Anansi. The Arac are in fact human, though they wear clothing and masks that make them appear spiderlike. They claim that Anansi tasked them with protecting the ancient ruins in exchange for some undisclosed favor. The Arac use dual-pronged punching daggers coated in venom and web-like nets as their primary weapons. They spread their web-nets around their campsites to keep out wild animals. If this has the added benefit of perpetuating the exaggerated spider tales, so be it.

The Orixa and the Hellenes

The Orixa have a strong connection to the Hellenes and many of their heroes have been inspired by the gods themselves. Demigod children of the Orixa are relatively common in Hellas, making the land all the more dangerous as one never knows if they are starting a barroom brawl with the son of a god.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age True Seeker

The amber trade in Ku is decentralized with individual merchants working together only when they have to. However, nearly every merchant has with an Ahl-At-Rab trader called Kaw operating out of Bisku. This stoic old lizard is one of the few of his kind in Ku and offers top prices for certain prized pieces of amber. Nobody is really sure what he is looking for but nearly every trader in Ku shows him their wares because the prices he pays for what he wants are far above the market value.

Darkness Looming

The Ku have blissfully ignored the threats sitting on their doorstep. The monsters of Draconea and the Nethermen of the Black Forest all watch with greedy eyes as the “soft” towns of Ku grow rich and fat. While the druids of Ku seem outwardly to do nothing they are engaged in a quiet war with the powers of the Black Forest though it is a conflict they are losing. A number of the druids have been secretly corrupted by agents of Draconea and all of Ku could soon become a battleground between the Nethermen and the Ophidians.

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Ku

Ku lies on the northern coast of the Europan continent, along the shores of the Hyperborean Sea, and wedged between the desolation of Draconea and the constantly encroaching Black Forest. It is a nation inhabited by human fishers and farmers, a loose association of settlements that cooperate with each other but are not actually unified. The people are light-skinned, with blonde or brown hair. They closely resemble the Vanir of Hyperborea, to whom they may be related. They wear cloth tunics, belted at the waist, with tall boots and furs worn in the winter. A fairly primitive culture, the Ku know practically nothing of science. They mine lead, silver, and tin from three small mines in this interior wilderness, but they are not skilled metal smiths; wood is their favored medium. Flint and other kinds of smooth-polished stone are the most sophisticated materials for locally made implements, though these are beginning to be replaced by bronze imports. Pottery is well-developed and widespread, but strictly utilitarian in nature. Though they are not advanced, the people of Ku are gaining an increasing degree of exposure and sophistication in the ways of foreign cultures. They have extensive trade s with the outside world, though they primarily act as middlemen, rather than providing any important resources of their own. Amber is the key to Ku’s trade position. There is a great demand for amber in Atlantis, Tharshesh, Ophir, and other southern realms. Though Ku has no native amber, they obtain it through trade with the Vanir in Hyperborea. Usually a warlike people who distrust outsiders, the Vanir allow Ku ships to freely through their territorial waters. They trade amber for herbs, cloth, wood items, and occasional luxury goods obtained by the Ku from other realms. Both groups benefit from this trade, and it may be that the theoretical blood-relationship between the two peoples has helped keep this link strong. Merchants operating from Atlantis or Tharshesh’s far-ranging traders stop in Ku’s port to trade metal implements, fine products from Ys and Broceliande, and similar merchandise for the amber acquired from Hyperborea. Other exports include tin and jewelry. An overland trade route skirting the Black Forest and Draconea also carries amber south through central Europa, although this route is frequently raided. Relations with Ys are excellent, as are those with the Ogi of Oggia. There is little with the people of Alba; only limited relations have been established. Mostly, though, Ku gets along well with other peoples, and is rapidly assimilating the traits of higher cultures. Many of these have been rather haphazardly absorbed, often with contradictory results. The population of Ku resides mostly in small stone-wall enclosed oak and pine villages along the coast. These include Bisku (BIS-ku), Krem (KREM), and Gelen (GE-len). Bisku is the largest, and the titular capital of the nation. It is located entirely on a small island just 130 meters offshore, entirely encoming the five acres of the tiny islet. A wooden causeway leads from Bisku to the coast, where there is a small foreigner’s ghetto. The other settlements are all much smaller. The nation of Ku is a loose confederation of these village settlements. Each is governed by a sixman council. Periodically, all of the councils gather together in Bisku to discuss common problems, adjudicate disputes between villages, formulate policy, and so forth. Prices are established for trade goods, wages are standardized, and the flow of goods is thus regulated. There is no further attempt at unified government. There is, however, a ceremonial King of Ku, Once each year, at the Summer Fish Festival, a fishing contest is held. The man who can catch the largest haul is proclaimed King of Ku, a title held for all of 24 hours. During this time, the man is treated royally, and any reasonable request he makes will be honored enthusiastically. A king who behaves in an arbitrary or cruel fashion, however, will be pulled down from his mock throne by the people, scourged, and escorted to the edge of the Black Forest. The people of Ku are excellent crafters of wood, and still make many utensils out of this medium. Though almost equally talented in weaving and in the art of making sails and nets, it is in wood that the craftsmen of Ku have earned the greatest reputation. Oak and pine are favorite materials, especially for buildings. The Ku even pave their village streets with wooden billets. All villages are built and laid out in the same fashion, with an oval stone wall surrounding ed rectangular buildings in east-west rows. Some joke that the Black Forest doesn’t encroach further into Ku because it is scared of being turned into boats and toothpicks. The Ku build squat, wide-bodied ships and boats to ply the sea-lanes for fishing or to trade with Hyperborea. Their ships are constructed of animal skins stretched over wooden frames, a design many non-Ku find impossible to accept as seaworthy vessels. The flexible, treated leather hull is very resilient, and rough seas are weathered easily without smashing the framework. These ships

GEOGRAPHICA leak almost continuously, but the leaks are slow enough to allow them to be bailed out before the water becomes a real hazard. With an ever-shifting hull and a framework held together by ropes alone (a design that causes foreign shipbuilders to curse, laugh hysterically, or shake their heads with disbelief ), the footing in these vessels is uncertain at best. Most non-Ku who try to take age in these odd little craft spend much of the voyage hanging on for dear life. The Ku are expert cod-fishers, using lines and nets strung between fishing craft. Large supplies of fish keep all the villages fed year round, supplemented by shellfish and mollusks gathered along the coast and simple but effective agricultural techniques. Hunting is sometimes attempted, though the Ku are not particularly adept at this skill; their favored weapons include bows, spears, harpoons, axes, and hammers. Despite many changes in culture, the Ku retain their druidic cults, with a pantheon headed by Kernunnos and The Morrigan. These two deities are worshipped primarily as the Sun and the Moon respectively. As a result, the Ku reckon day and night as separate time periods, and have both a solar and a lunar calendar. The people cremate their dead, following an age-old tradition. The ashes are placed, with much ceremony, within truncated, cone-shaped burial urns. These are buried during the twilight on the night of the full moon, when the moon shows her full face and is rising as the sun sets to westward. The Ku believe that the “Stairway to Heaven” stretches to the Earth on this one night of the month, allowing the wandering souls of the dead to gain entrance to heaven. The druids of Ku are an elitist group separated from the rest of society. They live in sacred groves along the inland boundary with Oggia. They are prominent figures in society, for they are believed to intercede with the gods for the rest of the population. The Ku supply all the needs of the druids freely, but the druids take little active interest in the society or politics of the nation.

The Places Between

Minoans do not use corridors or hallways in their buildings. Every room in a Minoan home, be it hovel or palace has a function. This architectural oddity results in their larger buildings being maze-like and difficult to navigate for foreigners. The reason behind this strange construction is simple, though few alive today know it; the island is plagued by a dark spirit that is trapped between dimensions. The spirit can only seem to pierce its dimensional prison through “functionless” constructions, making hallways and corridors pathways to freedom.

Minoa

(min-Oh-a)

The island nation of Minoa, like Tharshesh, is a Golden Age Atlantean colony. Unlike Tharshesh, however, Minoa never fell to barbarian invaders following the Great Cataclysm, although its civilization did slide for a time. Second Age Minoa is a rich trading nation with a merchant navy rivaling that of Atlantis itself. The military side of its navy however is lacking, a fact that seems to be looming larger as the power of Athens, to the north, increases. The Minoans are settled in a series of palace-fortresses along the coasts with scattered villages, raising goats and sheep and harvesting olives, figs, and grapes in the interior of the island. Each palace-fortress is ruled by a king who governs locally, and a council of kings making decisions that affect the island nation as a whole. Located at a major intersection of ley lines, Minoa is one of the last places in the world where such wonders as glowing roads, levitating carts, and similar Golden Age Atlantean devices still function. There are two functioning Vril pyramids under Minoan control: one at Knossos and one on the island of Thera, a Minoan colony in the Aegean Sea. The religious life of Minoans largely follows the Atlantean style, although a fertility cult centered on the Bull has been growing for several generations. It is widely accepted that Golden Age Minoans are responsible for the creation of the Bull-Man Andamen known as Taurans to most but as Minotaurs in Minoa. Even now in the Second Age, Minotaurs are fairly common on Minoa and many are used in the massively popular gladiatorial events held in all of the palacefortresses. Rumors have been circulating lately that have attracted the attention of no small number of Atlantean alchemists, scholars, and sorcerers that a Minoan magi by the name of Minosos has found a way to breed Taurans true. That is to say, he has discovered a method whereby all Tauran offspring are born at normal rates rather than at the usual low birthrate of Andamen. If this is in fact true, many scholars will be very interested in this method as it may unlock further keys to Golden Age Atlantean hybridization techniques.

If the Minoans can breed Taurans rapidly, it may spell the beginnings of a new Beast War, with Minoan Tauran heavy infantry troops being hired as mercenary bands. If the Minoan navy is developed in tandem, the surrounding nations could be in danger. It is unlikely, however, that Khem or Athens would allow things to progress so far. Travelers should be wary of becoming tangled in the politics between rising Minoa and its neighbors unless they enjoy the dangers of an exciting life. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Oggia

(O-jee-a)

Ogi Magic

The Ogi believe that magic is a very personal thing and not to be toyed with. Ogi witches rarely use their power unless the matter is very serious indeed. Defense and rightful vengeance are the only times when Ogi witches believe magic is always the answer. Ogi will give advice to others in ridding themselves of evil magic but usually refuse to directly aid since they believe that evil acts attract evil magic and the cursed must atone for whatever wickedness led to their misfortune.

The forest lands of Oggia are located in the central region of Europa, and border the neighboring territories of the Black Forest, Scythia, Vir, and Saturnia. Unlike the dark and tangled expanses of the Black Forest, the woods of Oggia are mostly pleasant. Here the forest floor is carpeted with sweet-smelling herbs and mosses, the verdant glades interspersed with sunny patches of meadow grass and copses of flowering shrubs. Game is plentiful; pheasant, partridge, and deer roam the woodlands, and the streams and brooks are teeming with fish. The primary occupants of this wooded domain are the colorful folk known as the Ogi, a wandering tribe of nomads. Originally from Turan or Mohenjo-Daro (s differ on this point), the Ogi are believed to have settled in Oggia sometime around the beginning of the Golden Age. They are a dark-skinned, black-haired people, fond of brightly colored clothes and all manner of jewelry and baubles. The Ogi travel throughout Oggia and the rest of Europa in painted wagons, drawn by teams of horses or mules. Though they range widely, the Ogi always return to Oggia at least once every couple of years. Much of their time is spent in gaiety; songs and dances are most popular amongst the Ogi, as are acrobatics and a wide range of entertaining skills. The Ogi also have a great fascination for magic, and many seem to possess some little talent in this field, usually following the Witchcraft tradition. By profession, most Ogi claim to be performers, fortunetellers, herbalists, or artisans (Ogi silver and goldsmiths are respected throughout much of Europa). Indeed, their caravans resemble nothing so much as traveling circuses, ambling from village to town, selling their trinkets, baubles, and elixirs, and performing at local fairs and festivals. They are generally regarded by most Europans as simple but harmless vagabonds; eccentric, perhaps, for they never seem to remain in one place for any length of time. In point of fact, the Ogi are a sly folk who possess a most unique outlook on life. Stated simply, the Ogi believe that the gods have bestowed upon them the right to pilfer as they wish. Though the Ogi are honor-bound not to steal from each other, anyone or anything else is considered fair game. As a result, most Ogi are adept at one or more thieving skills, such as picking pockets, conning, tailing, forgery, lock-picking, scaling walls, and so on. Many are accomplished rogues, harlequins, or charlatans. Though the Ogi love nothing more than a clever scam or an easy heist, they do not condone violent or cruel behavior of any sort. Ogi who engage in such behavior are expelled from the tribe, often after being branded as an outcast. An inverted pentagram is the most common mark, applied either to the forehead or chest. As the Ogi are by nature a secretive folk, little is known of their religion, culture, and traditions. Because they are such a colorful race, if not always well-loved, there has been much speculation concerning Ogi customs and mores. Many consider the Ogi to be promiscuous and while this is untrue, their easy manner and lack of personal space tends to fuel this lie. Some say the Ogi are in league with demons, or that they have Jinn blood running through their veins; though again, this is a lie perpetuated by those who’ve suffered at their hands. A more common, and perhaps less farfetched, belief is that the Ogi are ruled by a king. According to some tales, the king of the Ogi reigns from an oaken throne located in an obscure clearing in the Oggian woods. His subjects come to him to settle disputes of all sorts, which, it is said, he does with uncommon wisdom. If the Ogi king has any duties other than this, they are currently known only to the Ogi themselves.

Otesium

(o-TES-ee-um)

The valley of the River Eridanus (air-ih-DAN-us) is home to a primitive hunter-gatherer folk. Their territory is poorly defined at best, but touches on Saturnia, Aragana, and Draconea, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. The Otesi tribe is fair-haired and fair of skin. Their outlook on life is more like that of the Lemurians than most humans, for they are content to live in harmony with nature. They gather figs, olives, grapes, and berries of all kinds, and hunt for food. They roam the valley in extended family groups, without permanent dwelling-places. Each group is independent of the others, though most are interrelated. Family groups are ruled by the oldest surviving family member; age is respected above all other things in Otesi society, and

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GEOGRAPHICA the tribe as a whole listens with respect to the eldest of all their people. The Otesi are very longlived, and elders over a hundred years old are not uncommon. They age slowly, but are neither immortal nor perpetually young. The Otesi use implements of stone, wood, and bone, fashioning clothing and tents from furs and skins. They use spears on the hunt, and are aided by thickset, wire-haired dogs in tracking and pursuing prey. In their very infrequent battles (usually against marauders from the Black Forest or Draconea) they use spears, stone maces, and thrown rocks, and have trained their dogs to fight alongside them. They have never developed the sling or bow, apparently from pride in their skill with the spear. Otesium is rarely visited by foreigners. Traders from Tharshesh approached the Otesi generations ago, but found nothing worth trading in their simple land and quickly departed. Now, though Otesium is close to the trade lanes, it is rarely visited by foreigners. From time to time, tribesmen from Aragana will visit Otesium, usually on adventures, but this is usually the extent of outside with the land.

Saturnia

(sa-TUR-nee-a)

Saturnia is another of Europa’s southward-jutting peninsulas. To the northwest, Targrim, Otesium, and Draconea border the region. The rest of Saturnia is surrounded by parts of the Mediterranean Sea with the Tharshi colony of Taranta to the south. The human inhabitants of Saturnia are few in number, and are virtually identical in appearance and culture to those who dwell in Hellas. They are concentrated, for the most part, in the fertile valley of the Ponus River. Tharshesh has established a few trading outposts along the coasts of the peninsula to exploit the local timber resources and to serve as havens for ships engaged in trade with Yalak and Khemit. But most of Saturnia is still untouched by man and remains a realm populated mainly by primordial terrors. The druids of Saturnia guard their woodland domain jealously against intrusion. They hate and fear the traders of Tharshesh, who despoil their forests and actively seek the expulsion of these and all humans who have encroached on their land, except for those of Otesium. The humans of this small territory, who are said to have a fair share of Atlantean blood themselves, are on good with neighbors, but there is still very little interaction save on an individual basis. The most sacred spot in Saturnia is the Vale of Avernus (A-ver-nus). The River Alphaeus (alFAY-us) has its source here, and plunges deep into the earth, ultimately emerging (so it is said) in the fabled subterranean paradise. Avernus is widely referred to in legends as the gateway to the Underworld. Travelers have also reported the presence of early Atlantean ruins along the western shores of Saturnia. The druids claim that any who visit these ruined Golden Age cities will awaken a terrible curse from the ancient past. They will do anything they can to prevent adventurers from reaching these lost cities.

The Wellspring of Youth

The Otesi’s longevity has long been a source of interest to alchemists from Tharshesh and other nations. As far as the scholars can tell, something in the Otesi diet or in the soil of the land gives them long life. The Golden Age Atlantean scholar, Enchephitus, noted that the Eridanus river valley was of a very different shape to that of a traditional valley and the river took unexpected paths through the stone. His much-mocked theory was that the valley was formed by a falling star.

The Druids of Saturnia

The Druids of Saturnia are a bloodthirsty lot, more concerned with their dark rites and appeasing their demonic masters than offering spiritual guidance to their people. A goodly proportion of the druids are masters of the Dark Arts or priests of Ba’al. Though the Otesi don’t realize it, they are being groomed for a mass sacrifice that the druids hope will bring Ba’al back into the world.

Scythia

(SITH-ee-a)

The largest single region on the Europan continent, Scythia is a land of rolling plains and harsh steppes, with large ranges of hills and low mountains in places. The Black Forest and Oggia all lie to the west, while Vir and Hellas border southern Scythia. Physically, the Kurgan, as the Scythians call themselves, are of short to average height and of wiry build. Their skin is olive-brown and they shave their heads, leaving only a scalp-lock and, for the males, bedraggled beards. They hardly ever wash themselves, and sophisticated foreigners remark wryly that their horses smell better than they do. They wear clothing made of skin and hide, with breeches, hair shirts, and round, furred caps. Ornaments made of horn adorn men and women alike. The horse-nomads of Scythia are almost constantly on the move. They are rarely in one place for more than a week before moving on. A Kurgan band on the move is like a huge mobile city, led by warriors and other men on horseback. More horses pull the village yurts, conical tent-huts built of felt, reeds, and a framework of poles and set on wheels (women and children ride in these). Other

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Kurgan Scalp Lock

The Kurgan believe that their scalp lock is the channel through which illness leaves their bodies. Cutting off a Kurgan’s scalp lock is not only a dire insult, but is treated as murder. When the Atlanteans first arrived in Scythia they earned themselves the eternal enmity of the Kurgan people by shaving the heads of the slaves they took. Kurgan don’t take scalps from each other, believing that the scalp-lock from a fallen Kurgan takes on the pain of his death, and is therefore a dangerous thing to carry around.

The Kurgan, by and large, care little for the ruins that dot their lands. However, they are very possessive and territorial. As a result, expeditions seeking to catalogue or plunder the ancient ruins are only rarely successful, with many of them running afoul of some Kurgan custom or another. Usually one or two survivors of such expeditions make it back, telling of the horrors of the Kurgan hordes and evermore fearful of the sound of pounding hooves. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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horses follow without riders, herded along with the flocks of goats and sheep that provide most of the food, clothing, and other necessities for the band. Other warriors herd these animals in the wake of the moving community. The Kurgan consider themselves to all be of a single tribe, but they roam the country in hundreds of smaller bands. The of these groups may shift from one band to another as they wish, with complete freedom to come and go as desired. Kurgan philosophy holds that the group exists solely for the benefit of the free-riding individual, not the other way around. The Kurgan are barbarians, pure and simple. They herd animals for food, but also hunt. As a traveler once observed, “The Scythians hunt as if they were at war, and wage war as if it were a grand hunt”. The Kurgan hunt with large numbers of warriors, coordinated by horn signals and banners, spread out to flush out game and drive it ahead of them. Favored game includes the Europan mastodon (nearly extinct outside Scythia and Draconea), dire wolves, cave bears, giant boars, giant elk, and Nethermen — the latter considered animals by the Kurgan nomads. In both hunting and warfare, the Kurgans are superbly talented horse-archers. They fire tripleedged arrows with deadly accuracy, and are expert riders and horse trainers. A Kurgan rider learns early on to control his horse in complex maneuvers, using only the pressure of his legs against his mount’s sides, so that the hands can be left free to handle a bow. Their leaders are crafty tacticians and very proficient in guerrilla and hit-and-run strategies. Perhaps the most important aspect of Kurgan warfare is mobility, coupled with their complete mercilessness. At the conclusion of any victorious combat, dead foes are beheaded and skinned by those who have killed them. The top halves of enemy skulls are fashioned into drinking cups, while scalps are used as ornamental trophies. A warrior earns status by the number of scalps he can display on the bridle of his horse, or from his belt, cloak, or other clothes. These are considered marks of great distinction. The Kurgans are also known to drink the blood of those they have slain (whether in battle or after a duel or minor fight), and cannibalism is also sometimes practiced. Scythian religion is equally bloodthirsty, a fanatical shamanistic cult of gods, with Kernunnos slightly more prominent than the others. They view killing and war as great and god-like actions, and thus rationalize the of Kernunnos as their patron deity. The Kurgan shamans also dabble in necromantic rituals and magic as part of the cult. Kurgan burial customs show something of the influence of necromancy in their religion. Dead warriors are gutted and embalmed with aromatic substances, including galingale, parsley seeds, and anise, then sewn up and covered with wax. Spells are cast over the bodies with each step. The body is then placed in a reinforced yurt, which is covered over by a pile of corpses, including the warrior’s horses, wives, slaves, and fallen enemies. Horses, wives, and slaves may be mummified in the same manner as the warrior. Personal possessions are buried in the yurt along with the warrior, and a burial mound is raised over this grisly tomb. As it is believed that the warrior’s yurt must be completely covered over by other bodies, the relatives of the deceased may mount raids to obtain additional victims for this purpose. The slain who surround the yurt are supposed to act as immortal guardians to the tomb. Some claim that the shamans actually place necromantic curses over the burial mound to bring back the guardian bodies as undead warriors to protect the possessions and the honor of the Kurgan people forever after. Kurgan society is very simple. There are four classes: warriors, shamans, artisans, and slaves. Warriors are the most esteemed of all. The number of scalps and skull-cups in a warrior’s possession is undeniable proof of status, with other possessions — especially wives, slaves, and gold — further confirming rank and position. The warriors with the most scalps are the most respected in the group, and the single warrior with the most trophies is the leader of any given band. Shamans and dark magicians receive nearly as much respect as warriors, and serve as advisors to warrior chieftains. A few small Kurgan bands, made up exclusively of shamans, are said to roam independently, spreading and maintaining necro-shamanistic magic and religion, mingling freely with the other bands, and dispensing advice, aid in battle, and other assistance as they see the need. Like warriors, they collect scalps, but the strength of their magic is the sole determinant of power and rank. A third class of Kurgan society is made up of artisans. Most scholars believe that the Kurgan artisans are largely made up of individuals of mixed Kurgan and slave blood, devoted not to war but to the creation of various implements and tools. They are extremely skilled at metal-working, making beautiful ritual masks and ornaments of gold, and also superbly made shortbows of horn. No one is sure if the view of the artisans as a sort of superior slave caste is accurate, since few details of Scythian life are known. Certainly most of the tribesmen with foreign-seeming features in the Kurgan tribe seem to be artisans, rather than warriors or shamans.

GEOGRAPHICA The slave class includes all Kurgan females (warriors, shamans, and artisans are all males), plus any prisoners of war taken by the band. Females usually outnumber the prisoners; male captives are not commonly taken, except after a victory so devastating that there were more than enough casualties to satisfy the needs of all the rituals and ceremonies that follow a battle. The Kurgan have an enormous capacity for celebration. Among their less bloody entertainments, they enjoy strong wine, hashish, and opium. Lotus powder is also highly favored, but is obtained only on rare occasions, after raids, and even then it is scarce. Amongst most Kurgan tribes, the quantity of intoxicants which a warrior can handle is considered a measure of his manliness. The horse-nomads of Scythia raid far and wide into ading lands. Hellas, Vir, Oggia, the Black Forest, and even Yalak have all trembled under the pounding hooves of Kurgan war parties. The Kurgans are bitter enemies of the Vanir of Hyperborea, who frequently raid their lands in search of plunder. Much of Scythia is dotted by old ruins. Though the Kurgan hordes have looted many, treasures There’s a saying that the thieves are said to still be present in many of these ancient places. There is a very persistent old story are the only honest men in concerning the region known as Eridan, which is said to be the site of an underground city Tharshesh. It’s true; at least they abandoned by the Atlanteans for reasons unknown early in the Golden Age. This city, lost in all but are honest about their intentions, legend since long before the Kurgan came, is said to hold unimaginable treasures. unlike the guards, bankers, merchants, and politicians. I really don’t like this place. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress harshesh (tar-SHESH)

T

Located south of Galecea, Tharshesh is among the most advanced and sophisticated regions of Europa. Like Minoa and Broceliande, Tharshesh was originally the site of a major Atlantean colony. The colony, now known as Tartessos (tar-TESS-ohs), was established during the high point of the Golden Age as a haven for Mediterranean Sea trade and a port to provide access to the silver mines of the southern highlands. The colony dwindled after the Great Cataclysm, and the region was overrun by the barbaric Tharshi (tar-SHY), an olive-skinned, black-haired nomadic people from the interior of the region. These aggressive barbarians conquered the remnants of the Atlantean colony, absorbing the survivors and eventually coming to settle in the abandoned city. Reopening the silver mines, the Tharshi prospered, and soon built ships to reestablish some of the old Atlantean trade routes. Tharshesh is not a large realm, but its coastline is a long one. Tartessos is the oldest city, and capital of the realm. It is also the most crowded, decadent, corrupt, and best-known city in Tharshesh. The city of Cadaza (ka-DA-za) is the second largest of the Tharshi cities, only about half the size of Tartessos itself. The others are little more than towns: Garanada (ga-ra-NA-da); Sagura (sa-GUR-a), Ebro (AB-ro), and Albaran (al-ba-RON). All these settlements are on the coast, and serve as important trading posts. Outside the cities and towns, the population of Tharshesh lives in relative poverty. Most inhabitants are poor fishermen, goat-herders, and so forth. It is common for the country people to seek their fortunes in the cities as mercenaries, guards, merchant crewmen, and the like. Away from the coast, much of Tharshesh is wilderness. Forests teem with wild game, including a rare species of Europan ape. Human barbarians live in these regions, uncivilized relatives of the Tharshi who never adopted city ways. There are also Nethermen, and even some Andamen from Gondwana. Roads are poor where they exist at all, and travel is difficult and often fraught with danger. As much as two-thirds of the population of Tharshesh is made up of people from other countries, most of them concentrated in the cities and towns. Tharshesh is often referred to as the “melting pot of nations”, with a wide variety of peoples and cultures residing on a more-or-less permanent basis. Both Tartessos and Cadaza have ghetto areas where Shebans, Turanians, Kushites, Ogi, Ophiri, Nubians, and many others live. The streets throng with a colorful mix of people, in costumes of all nationalities and speaking in a hundred diverse dialects and tongues. Because Tharshesh has few laws and little concern for the legal workings of other lands, fugitives, outcasts, and undesirables of all sorts come here to escape persecution or imprisonment in their homelands. Crime is rampant in the streets; a proverb claims that the pickpockets and petty thieves of Tartessos can strip a man naked between the docks and the palace. Wealthy visitors often find it expedient to surround themselves and their possessions with guards. In Tartessos, it is possible to hire such services as needed. The diversity of Tharshesh also shows in its attitude towards religion. The Tharshi themselves

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Every delight and depravity can be found in Tartessos and I believe I’ve tried them all at least twice. There is much work to be found in the city and gold flows freely to anyone willing to do the ugly business of the local merchants and guild leaders. Beware the gangs of children that roam the street at night; they are more dangerous than a Spartan hoplite or a Cimmerian berserker. I’ve seen a child as young as eight years of age help take down a Tauran and pick his corpse clean of any valuables. It was like watching a swarm of ants kill a beetle and pick its carapace clean. Donobey of Nubia

have no hard and fast religious views (another proverb claims that their highest deity is the God of Currency). Foreigners living in Tharshesh are free to indulge in whatever worship they choose, and most religions and cults have some adherents in the cities and towns of the realm. There is no real concept of distinct social classes in Tharshesh. The native Tharshi consider themselves superior to foreign-born residents, but money is the only real token of position. The person who has money can often do anything he or she desires with little fear of outside restraints. The government of Tharshesh is a reflection of this amoral society. It is totally corrupt, with money being the only sure way to garner favor and influence. Minor government functionaries, even freedmen clerks, can retire with more money than many an Atlantean aristocrat from the bribes, kickbacks, and gratuities they collect. Aside from this unofficial corruption, the government itself receives kickbacks from officially sanctioned houses of ill-repute, taverns, gambling dens, and almost anything else it can get a piece of. Some people claim the government gets more money from these sources than it brings in from the exorbitant tariffs charged for the use of Tharshi ports and trade facilities. All crimes in Tharshesh are punishable by fines rather than imprisonment; though failing to pay a fine can lead to execution. Tharshesh is headed by a mercantile governor, known as The Prefect, who is elected to his position every ten years by the great mercantile houses of the realm. He rules over the realm, ed by six regents (one based in Cadaza, the others heading each of five overseas colonies). The Prefect himself governs Tartessos directly, while all the other towns and settlements of Tharshesh answer to the regent in Cadaza. Each regent (and the Prefect himself ) is assisted by seven viceregents, who function as tax/tariff/duty collectors, and as judges. Each vice-regent is in turn served by seven vicegerents. All are reputedly corrupt, and can be bought for a price. Tharshesh has a fair-sized army and a large and powerful navy, both of which are comprised almost entirely of mercenary troops from foreign countries. Both Tartessos and Cadaza have large military barracks, housing such diverse troop types as Kurgan horse archers, Turanian light cavalry, Nubian war elephants, Kushite bowmen, and so forth. The navy is made up of equally varied elements, from Cymbrian and Ska corsairs to Shebans, Ophirians, Nubians, and many others. The government (and many independent trading houses), hire on Free Companies of mercenaries or ship-captains (with their own ships and crews) on a regular basis. Though the pay is good (two to five times the standard rates for such work), corruption is rampant and morale is rarely very high. Prospective mercenaries can hire on for one- to four-year hitches, or for a specific voyage or mission. Ships may be hired simply to escort a trading vessel to a given destination, or may be made a part of a standing naval squadron. Tharshesh has a virtual monopoly on trade in the Mediterranean Sea, and has sured Atlantis as the number-one trading power in the region. Their ships range as far as Khemit, Ophir and Marhashi, Ys/Avalon, and even Hyperborea. The wealth of Tharshesh is often used to purchase the allegiance of such hostile powers as the Gorgons and the Cymbri, who are paid to leave Tharshi shipping alone. Some people claim that Tharshesh pays these allies to actively harass the ships of their competitors, especially those of Sheba and Atlantis; it is also believed that the war chests of the Gorgons are kept filled by Tharshi silver to keep the Hesperians from growing too strong. Although Tharshesh has long-standing trade pacts with many nations, it is debatable whether any such countries can truly be considered as allies. Tharshesh maintains five major overseas colonies, outposts of trade in distant lands. These include Taranta (Tar-AN-ta), Tarxian (TARK-se-an), Tartuk (TAR-tuk), Targrim (TAR-grim), and Tara (TAR-a). Each colony is answerable to Tharshesh, and supplies taxes to the capital in the form of large quantities of trade goods and raw materials.

THE COLONIES OF THARSHESH

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Tharshesh has five overseas colonies; most of them maintained as focal points for trade and the exploitation of worthwhile resources. These outposts of the mercantile empire of Tharshesh, unlike the colonial lands of Hesperia, are generally established in uninhabited lands. Conquest and subjugation of foreigners is not the purpose of the Tharshi traders; they seek resources, not land. Each colony consists of a large walled fortress-city, which houses the military force, the istrative personnel, and the laborers who extract the desired resource from the land nearby. Some have small Tharshi civilian populations, but for the most part people live in the colonies only if they can make money there, and hardly ever by choice. The colonies are seldom fully self-sufficient. They are starkly utilitarian and rather grim, built for efficiency rather than aesthetic purposes. Supplies are shipped in by the vessels that call to pick up local resources. The colony ports also serve as stops for trading vessels.

GEOGRAPHICA Tara (TAR-a) Tara is the only colony located outside the Mediterranean Sea. It is a grim fortress on the southwestern coast of Iber, established to exploit deposits of copper, gold, and iron ore found on the Iber coast. A large workforce of slaves mines these metals, which are shipped out every other month back to Tharshesh. Tara is also a stopover for merchant ships plying northern waters, but has little hope of replacing Ys as the major trade port of northern Europa. Tara is a dangerous place, and is the least esteemed of Tharshesh’s colonies. The Picts who roam Iber’s interior raid Tara frequently and corsairs from Cymbri and Skye ply the sea lanes, making the colony sometimes seem like a city under siege. Tara is one of the most heavily fortified of the overseas colonies of Tharshesh. The walls of the fortress are massive, and a force of 100 men is kept constantly on duty (out of a total garrison of about 600 mercenary troops). There is also a strong naval contingent of 6 to10 ships stationed in Tara at all times. There are four outlying border towers to protect the lands around it — the fields that provide some of the city’s food, and the mines themselves. Each of these forts holds a contingent of about 50 men from the city garrison. A low wall was built to connect the towers and keep out the Picts entirely, but it has been of only limited effectiveness. The Picts are a constant menace, though they are less active in winter than in summer. Mercenary warriors and ship-captains are always in demand at Tara, as the turnover in manpower is understandably high. Wages offered are 5 to 10 times the standard rate of mercenary payment, due to the hazardous nature of duty here. Taranta (tar-AN-ta) Located on the southeast of Saturnia, Taranta is one of the most pleasant colonies of Tharshesh. The climate is lovely, and the terrain around it a scenic combination of rolling hills, open meadows, and distant mountains. It is a popular post, coveted by regents who want to settle down in luxury and comfort. Taranta exports locally grown produce, such as grapes, olives, and various vegetables, plus grains such as millet and oats. A fair-sized slave workforce tends the fields, harvests the crops, and packages the produce in wooden crates. But the primary product of Taranta is wine. Slaves harvest and press the grapes, while Tharshi vintners control all aspects of production. The wine is kept in huge oaken casks inside the fortress. Tarantan wines command high prices worldwide. Ships call at Taranta on a weekly basis, carrying supplies and picking up goods. Other vessels commonly stop here en route to Hellas, Khemit, Zin, and other eastern Europan ports. The colony consists of the usual walled fortress, with two outlying border towers to guard the approaches to the fields and vineyards. Inside the fortress is a luxurious mansion, called Sybaris (siBAR-iss), which is the regent’s personal dwelling. It is widely known for the splendor and comfort it offers. The regent entertains travelers and adventurers of note, as well as Tharshi merchants and officials who visit the colony on business (or on vacations). Only a small military force is deemed necessary for the protection of Taranta. There are no more than 200 troops and three ships kept here at any one time, plus an elite force of about 50 Nubian mercenaries of exceptional stature and skill (who serve as the personal bodyguard to the regent). None of these troops have very strenuous duties, most being employed for such simple tasks as standing guard over the regent’s large harem of courtesan-slaves. The demand for mercenaries in Taranta is consequently small, since this assignment is much sought after. The druids and other inhabitants of Saturnia resent the presence of the colony at Taranta, but have taken no active measures against it. Taranta grants “gifts” to the blood-crazed druids to keep them away from the colony and so far this has worked. However, no Tarantan is crazy enough to stray out of the fields and into the unsettled woods or groves, where vengeful denizens of the wilderness have been known to play cruel tricks on unwelcome intruders. Targrim (tar-GRIM) Like Tara, Targrim is a dangerous place in which to serve. It is located on the Mediterranean coast of Draconea, which is home to many dreadful beasts. Though incidents are rare, Targrim has

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Outposts Of Tharshesh

Besides the colonies, Tharshi interests control several parcels of land that are used strictly as trading posts. These outposts are almost completely dependent on Tharshi trade ships for all supplies. The outposts trade with the people native to the land, usually obtaining items such as opium, hashish, lotus, salt, rare herbs, oils, uncut gemstones, raw ores, slaves, and animal hides. The Tharshi pay silver for such goods, and seldom ask questions. The major outposts are listed in descending order below. Others pop up and disappear again all over the Europan coasts. Most are constructed in the fashion of small forts, usually of wood and/or loose stone.

The major outposts are: Tarsharon (tar-SHAR-on) Outside of Joppa in Zin. Tarmel (tar-MEL) On the west coast of Melos Isle. Tarrak (TAR-ak) On the coast south of Huyuk in Yalak. Tarrus (TAR-us) On the south coast of Ogyrus Isle. Tarbadar (TAR-ba-dor) On the coast of Dabba. Tarroy (tar-OY) On the coast of Yalak north of Lesbos.

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been attacked more than once by rogue drakes. The worst attack in recent memory was the vengeful descent of a mated pair of vile drakes on the fortress, following the slaying of one of their offspring. Though both serpents were ultimately killed, they exacted a terrible toll first. Targrim’s primary resource is tin, mined by the largest slave force in the colonies. In addition, there is some interest in expanding Tharshi dominion beyond Targrim and along the Draconean and Araganan coasts to link up with Tharshesh proper, so that a whole string of havens might be built to aid the age of trade through the western Mediterranean. The mines at Targrim yield a great deal of tin, which is shipped out on a monthly basis back to Tharshesh. The dangers inherent in the operation of the mines are great; cave-ins are a periodic problem, as are encounters with giant snakes and subterranean monsters. High casualty rates among the slaves have led to a great demand for extra workers, and Targrim’s Regent will purchase slaves from anyone with no questions asked. It is not unusual for unscrupulous ship-owners to sell engers into slavery at Targrim to turn an extra profit. Targrim has a strong mercenary army, numbering about 500 troops, and a naval force of five ships. Four guard towers, erected at intervals of one kilometer, surround the edge of the Draconean wilderness. Mercenaries are always much in demand, and the pay, at five times standard rates, is good. Even more than troops, Targrim is always interested in hiring adventurers willing to explore the Draconean wilderness to discover possible sites for expansion or exploitation. Tartuk (tar-TOOK) Tartuk is located on the isle of Atuk in the Europan Sea. The primary resources of the island are its agate mines, from which large numbers of stones of exceptional quality are taken, with cork, hides, and olive oil being of lesser importance. Slaves are employed in the mines, and also in the cork and olive groves. Tharshi hunters kill aurochs (wild bulls native to the region) for their hides, which are tanned prior to shipment. Ships visit the island irregularly. Mercenaries are very much in demand, receiving five to seven times the standard pay rates for service here. The walled fortress of Tartuk is garrisoned by a large military force of up to 500 troops. There are also more than two dozen watchtowers radiating outward from the fortress along the coast. These are lightly garrisoned, but are located in sight of one another for purposes of semaphore signaling. Ostensibly, the large military force is required to protect the agate shipments from raids by corsairs who have not been bought off by Tharshesh. Each of the mines is heavily guarded, as are the overland shipments to the fortress where agates are stored until they can be shipped out. The signal towers serve to give early warning of corsair attacks. It is believed, however, that this is only part of the story. Narcotic substances — lotus powder, opium from Yalak, and Turanian hashish — all through Tartuk. Some think that this may be the real reason for the inordinately tight security at Tartuk. Tarxian (TARK-zee-an) Tarxian is the most enigmatic of the colonies of Tharshesh. Located on a small island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, the colony has nothing to do with the exploitation of resources — there is nothing on this island to exploit. Tarxian is a military base, and is off-limits to all outsiders. Even ordinary trading vessels from Tharshesh are forbidden to stop here. All supplies for the garrison arrive at a single fortress-port, and no one from the supply ships is permitted to go ashore on pain of death. It is known that at least a thousand elite mercenary troops are maintained here, along with a dozen or more large warships. Some claim that there are actually several thousand troops on the island, housed in hidden cave/barracks in the hills along the coasts. Others think additional ships may be concealed in sheltered coves and lagoons. Certainly there are extensive facilities for building The Secret of Tarxian

Tarxian has more than one secret. The Tharshesh are excavating something here, digging out the mountain core of the island to extract some unknown object. In addition, the island lies at a confluence of over a dozen ley lines; if this has some significance it is, as yet, unknown.

GEOGRAPHICA and repairing ships. A work force of undetermined size is quartered on the island, and a slave labor force may be present as well. Whatever the true nature of the island may be, there is absolutely no demand for mercenaries at Tarxian. Only elite warriors may apply for this duty, which is said to pay extremely well. It is believed that duty on Tarxian, once undertaken, is for life, due to the obsessive concern for security. The strategic location and unknown purpose of Tarxian make it a place that attracts considerable attention from the various rivals of Tharshesh. Ys, Atlantis, Hesperia, and even Khemit are all known to be very interested in learning the island colony’s secrets.

THE CITY OF TARTESSOS Tartessos is the capital of Tharshesh, and one of the largest cities in the western hemisphere. Once an important colony of the Golden Age Atlantean Empire, Tartessos was partially destroyed by the Great Cataclysm, but was later rebuilt during the Second Age. Since that time, Tartessos has gained eminence as an important center of trade. It has also gained a well-deserved reputation as the most corrupt city in the civilized world. It is often said of Tartessos that the only thing holding up the city are its ancient Atlantean foundations. In many respects, this is quite true; though aged and weathered, the few Atlantean structures that have survived to the present day appear in much better condition than the flimsy buildings later erected by the Tharshi themselves. In some sections of the city, it is not uncommon to find structures whose roofs seem on the verge of collapse, or whose walls lean inwards or outwards in a most precarious fashion. Overcrowding is likewise a problem, especially in the ghettos. Though the city’s primitive sewage system is hopelessly overburdened and outdated, the corrupt mercantile government does nothing to rectify this perennial problem, As a result, much of Tartessos exudes an abominable stench, and the streets and gutters are choked with piles of accumulated filth and refuse. Taxes in the city are higher than almost anywhere else in the world, Residents are required to pay from 20 to 40 percent of their earned incomes, or face enslavement or execution. Imprisonment is rare since it costs money the government isn’t willing to spend. Tariffs on both import and export goods are similarly high, ranging from 15 to 40 percent on most items, Though there are no tariffs on liquor of any sort, a 10 percent tax is payable on all other goods bought or sold in the city proper. Despite all this, Tartessos is perhaps the most active trading port in the world, suring even the city of Atlantis in gross revenues. Sailors and merchants of many nations come here by the thousands, and there is a constant demand for housing and short-term accommodations. The reason for Tartessos’ uncommon popularity is simple, and is adequately expressed by a phrase popular to the local citizenry: “Anything can be bought, provided that one is prepared to pay the price”. Most would hasten to add that this is the only law never broken in this infamous port city. In practice, this single axiom is applied in a number of ways, such as bribing magistrates in order to obtain falsified foreign residency papers, paying dock-masters to shipments of contraband, and so on. Although the city’s sentinels are paid to keep civil disturbances to a minimum, most can be persuaded to look the other way for the right price. It is even said that Tartessos’ mercantile governor pays certain corsair captains to steer clear of his private trading vessels. Those who cannot afford to pay graft must abide by the laws or suffer the consequences. As the going rate for such payment is usually high, there are few poor thieves operating in the city at any given time. The results of Tartessos’ widespread system of corruption are many fold. Illegal substances of all sorts are readily obtainable here, as are forged documents, rare artifacts, slaves, and all manner of stolen goods. It is believed, in fact, that traffic in contraband is Tartessos’ leading source of revenue.

The Thieves Guild

There is no formal criminal organization or guild in Tartessos; any organization that grows too large is eliminated almost immediately by the city or falls apart due to internal fighting. Smaller groups and gangs are quite common, though many of these “go legit” after a few years, becoming small mercenary groups and the like.

LAWS and CUSTOMS The following is a brief listing of some of the more notable laws and customs of the City of Tartessos: Civil disturbances (fights, loud arguments, etc.) usually result in the appearance of a band of sentinels, who arrive on the scene quickly unless a local contingent has been paid to ignore such a situation prior to its occurrence. Tharshi sentinels wear painted armor, carry flails, and are known for their quick tempers. Captured offenders are manacled and taken to the nearest guard post where they can expect to pay handsomely, depending on the seriousness of the crime. It may, however,

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

Masters of Vir

Someone has been building citadels on the mountaintops and crags surrounding Vir. The mysterious builders are never seen, with construction happening seemingly overnight. The masters of these castles and their purpose are a mystery.

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be possible to bribe the sentinels en route to the guardhouse, and so obtain one’s release. Once in the guardhouse, a bribe may still be employed to effect early release, but at this point an overnight lock-up can seldom be avoided. Murder and assault with intent to kill are punishable by fine with failure to pay resulting in hanging or enslavement depending on the victim. The victim’s friends or family may very well pay off a vicegerent in order to ensure that the offender is slain or enslaved. In this case, the best the offender can expect after a hefty bribe is to be imprisoned or enslaved until such time as the heat dies down. If the victim was an important mercantile official, even this recourse may not be open to the offender. Trial for such offenses consists of a private meeting with one of the city’s vicegerents; if a bribe is to be attempted, it must be made here (a single offer is allowed in most cases). Gambling, prostitution, and the use of narcotics or other intoxicants are perfectly legal, and in many cases are sanctioned by the city. There are no laws restricting the individual’s religious preferences. Ghettoes are allowed to retain ethnic customs and laws as long as they do not conflict with Tharshi law.

Vir

(veer)

The forested river country of Vir borders on Scythia’s rolling plains lie to the west and north, with Hellas on the southern border. Vir is dominated by the river valley of the Vardar and its tributaries, which empties into the Lake Vir and then into the Sea of Baku. Vir is a nation of warlike barbarian peoples, light-skinned, dark-haired, and almost always tall and strong in build. They dress in crude fur cloaks, loincloths, and boots. Their warriors wear wolf-skin caps, made from the head and skull of the animal. These partially cover the faces of the warriors, giving them a fierce and fearsome appearance. The Vir are static hunter-gatherers, living in permanent riverside villages. They have some highly limited knowledge of agriculture, but are mostly hunters and warriors. Each settlement and tribe is an independent entity, though there is some trade between them (fighting, however, is much more common). River fishing and the hunting of auroch, deer, and small animals and birds supply the bulk of the food supply. Edible fruits, seeds, and roots are gathered to balance the diet. The people of Vir have become adept at transplanting and propagating food plants from the wilderness to plots around their settlements. This primitive form of agriculture serves to suffice, as the Vir have no concept of seed-farming and must gather their plants fresh from the wild at the start of each growing season. Vir is a somewhat isolated area, and the tribes are rarely in with other regions. They are still a stoneage culture, with no knowledge of how to work metals. Some of the tribes, however, are known to trade with Hellenes, Kurgan, or even Tharshi. Furs of various types are traded by way of Oggia, in order to obtain amber from Ku. Amber and furs are traded in turn to Tharshesh in exchange for metal weapons and utensils, clothing, copper jewelry, and similar items. The tribes of Vir share a common religion, though there is some variation from one group to another. They are animists whose shamans worship animal gods represented by the wolf (warrior/hunter), the stag (chief/procreator), and the fish (bringer of water). The focal deity of the cult is called Tama. This Earth Goddess is worshipped as the provider of food and shelter and the sustainer of all life. The social system of Vir is quite straightforward; he who is the strongest and the smartest rules. The leader obtains his position by

GEOGRAPHICA besting the previous leader in combat, through the ritual of a challenge and duel. The people are hunters and warriors, with most magic concentrated in the hands of the shamans. Tribesmen make use of spears, slings, clubs, maces, daggers, and staves in battle and on the hunt. Wolf-like dogs are used to great advantage to track; corner, and kill prey. The whole of Vir is surrounded by forests and mountains. Within the region, the humans share their lands with a wide variety of creatures and beasts of all descriptions, both good and evil. Bands of Nethermen, Ogres, and Trolls roam the woods, as do primordial forest spirits. The superstitious tribesmen of Vir avoid such beings when they can, but will always fight when necessary. The Village of Stars The village of Stars sits on the border of Vir and Scythia. One of the oldest settlements in the area, Stars was built in ages past. Perhaps to avoid the wars between the older races, the Vir near what is now Stars found a deep ravine that held a small river at the bottom. Climbing down, they started to carve out the caves at the bottom of this fissure, building back further and further into the hillsides. Now, the village seems but a few stone and mud facades along the excavated channel of the river. This portico of the village is so far from the top of the ravine that little sunlight reaches down and that only at midday. At other times, it is possible to stand outside of the village on the banks of the river and look up the shadowed cliffs to see stars above. The Vir in Stars occasionally trade gemstones, crude metal, and mushrooms with neighboring villages. Many of their neighbors, however, find the villagers of Stars to be slightly disturbing. Fireside stories of the villagers finding horrors back in their caves and mines are common; less common are tales that the villagers conceal a great library and ancient captive Jinn, or that the villagers themselves are nothing but the all-too-solid shades of Vir buried centuries past.

I found the man I love, Rogo, among the Sea People. I never knew if Rogo was his real name since most of these vagabonds take different names to forget or hide from their past; frankly, I didn’t care. When I met him he was barely a man but wise beyond his years. Like most Sea People he wore a hodgepodge of clothing from a score of different countries and spoke with their odd accent. He was the bounty the sea gave to me and for this I will always show the Sea People kindness. Donobey of Nubia

Ys

(Ees)

For more information on Ys, see the entry for Avalon in Alba. This small kingdom does not appear in the exact same place so maps are always incorrect and mark the island as much larger than it really is. Ys is known as a safe port and a good place to trade raw materials and food for finely worked items.

The Sea Peoples

The Sea Peoples are a loose confederation of seafaring nomadic tribes whose ships roam the waterways and coastal regions around Europa and northern Gondwana. Their origins are, at best, inexact: some claim descent from the Atlantean colonists of the fabled Golden Age, while others profess to be the last survivors of an ancient civilization destroyed in the Great Cataclysm. While Second Age scholars have tended to dismiss such claims, it is true that the Sea Peoples appear to be of mixed blood. Like the First Atlanteans, most of these folk are tall and dark-skinned. The Sea Peoples have long sought a permanent homeland to settle in, and have long been denied this simple desire. The Tharshi forbid them access to their territories as do the Hesperians and the Atlanteans. The Ska of Alba and the Vanir of Hyperborea often attack their ships on sight, primarily to make off with their womenfolk who are deemed to be most attractive. Only the Corsairs of Cymbri have ever offered aid to the Sea Peoples, and this only in exchange for their allegiance. The Sea Peoples have thus far declined to accept this offer. The Sea Peoples are widely believed to be cursed by some oceanic power for some terrible deed they committed in the past; this is one reason no sane seafaring nation will give them a home. Over the years, the Sea Peoples have been ed by people of almost every race and culture, from Nubians, Andamen, Jinn, Lemurians, Ogi, to a band of Ahl-At-Rab. This mixture of races has only served to increase their reputation as a band of misfits. Because they have no true homeland, the Sea Peoples will sometimes hire out as mercenary soldiers or seamen. Their warriors are well-regarded, and skilled in the use of the short bow, javelin, or spear. Most wear leather armor. Though the Sea Peoples have many ships (mostly small- to medium-sized sailing craft), they will not use their own vessels for mercenary purposes. Sea People tribes of 50 to 300 individuals may be encountered anywhere in the Europan region. As many as fifty different tribes are believed to exist, though it is rare for more than a dozen such groups to congregate together at one time except in times of trouble or need.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Europan Flora Imarelle This small bright-blue mushroom is often found growing in rings along the foothills of the mountains throughout the region. It is usually avoided by the common man for causing cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. However, in the hands of a skilled apothecary or shaman, the imarelle can be transformed into an amazing potion that makes warriors fiercer in battle. The Kurgan of Scythia have the best access to this concoction and use it to not only become stronger and faster, but to turn into cold, calculating killers who revel in the glory of death. The transformation is called the Imaraina in their language and the warriors are known as Imara. Effect: Consumed raw treat as strength 5 Poison. Alchemical dose is DoD -20 to create and grants +4 to STR, CON, and DEX for 24-hour period. Gladwin Iris Each spring this plant shoots up from a large bulb and produces some of the most amazing blooms the world has ever seen. These flowers are as large as dinner plates and come in a wide variety of bright purples, blues, and reds, sometimes all in the same flower. Found mainly in the softs sands along waterways in the interior, the Gladwin iris received its name from the Gladwin clan of Oggia. The Gladwin family claims the plant saved their lives during a war with invaders from the sea, by marking where the enemy was hiding. Since then the Gladwins have adopted this particular hybrid of iris as their family crest. The plant can be used as a medicine for infections and as a starching agent for clothing, but the Gladwins have taken the flower to be a lucky sign and this superstition has spread to other families. Effect: Use grants +3 to Medicine rolls to treat wounds. Saturnus Herb The annual herb is delicate and airy with feathery leaves, long thin stems and small yellow flowers. The whole plant can be used to stop bleeding with a speed considered almost miraculous. The plant is sacred to several cities of the Hellenes, Saturnus being a tribal hero-turned-spiritual hero figure. Legends tell of a young boy that defeated an evil demon in the area and died soon after; it was said his spirit dissipated into a field of the herb, empowering it. Saturnus herb is believed harmful to anything evil and mothers will often tie a bit of the herb to their children’s clothes to prevent them from being snatched away by demons. Effect: Use grants +8 to Medicine rolls. Alchemical poison, DoD -8, derived from plant can be treated as Lvl 10 poison to demonic creatures. Naked Ladies It is believed the tall plant with its multiple oddly shaped pink blooms was created by the sorcerers of a war long since lost. The plant smells of urine and the bulbous blooms are almost obscene in nature, but the tuberous root can be ground into a powder that, when blown into the face of an opponent, makes the victim pliable, ready and willing to devote everything to any person. The intoxication lasts anywhere from a half-hour to three, and much damage can be done in that short amount of time. Suicide or murder often follows as the victim realizes what they’ve given up in the throes of ion. Effect: Alchemical powder derived from the plant, DoD -15, causes victim to suffer -5 to WIL rolls when resisting suggestion.

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GEOGRAPHICA Carwyn These thin-trunked trees have numerous long weeping branches with thin leaves. The specimen is short-lived, maybe a couple of decades at most but they are prolific and can take over the countryside like a weed. This tree is the workhorse of most mortals living on Europa, used to make everything from houses, canoes, carts, tools, and anything else that a person can think of creating. The leaves and catkins can even be brewed into a fine ale that has found some export to other lands. The bark is used as a painkilling tea that’s good for injuries as well as arthritis in older tribesmen. The appreciation for carwyn led to several immortalizing songs and folktales about the tree, and many creation stories use carwyn as the first tree that ever came to be. Effect: Grants +3 to Medicine rolls.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Names Broceliande , Ku

Names Black Forest

Names Oggia, Scythia

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Agmund

Brita

Adalberht

Adela

Aurel

Alena

Einar

Aina

Adelmar

Amalasuintha

Bohdan

Alzbeta

Jakob

Gunnhild

Berengar

Chlotichilda

Bozidar

Drahomira

Bjarne

Chatrine

Egilhard

Ermen

Havel

Eliska

Guttorm

Anja

Emmerich

Frida

Jarek

Ilona

Haakon

Hildur

Fulco

Gerhild

Ladislav

Jarmila

Ludvig

Edmr

Gerulf

Gisila

Marek

Katerina

Didrik

Hulda

Hartmut

Hailwic

Oldrich

Libena

Magnus

Frida

Kuno

Ida

Ondrej

Milenka

Ragnar

Gerda

Lanzo

Inge

Petr

Radka

Mikkel

Lisebet

Leuthar

Ishild

Radik

Sabina

Tormod

Kariane

Meginfrid

Oda

Slavomir

Svetlana

Sigurd

Mathilda

Othmar

Raganhildis

Teodor

Varvara

Ulf

Leviken

Reinald

Saxa

Veceslav

Veronika

Sven

Nathalie

Sigivald

Sigihild

Vilem

Zora

Names Vir

Names Argana, Galecia, Tharshesh

Male

Female

Male

Female

Anatol

Adela

Alekjo

Adorinda

Belobog

Bohuslava

Aleksandro

Brava

Belun

Brana

Antono

Dezirinda

Bolek

Chessa

Johano

Fiera

Ceslav

Dannica

Jozefo

Gaja

Ctik

Demetrjusz

Koralo

Glorinda

Dalibor

Draza

Luchjo

Juvela

Jaromil

Iskra

Ludoviko

Kandaja

Javor

Kasmira

Mihaelo

Karesinda

Kazimeriz

Lubomila

Mikelo

Mirinda

Ladislas

Miriana

Nichjo

Orabela

Mieczyslaw

Radoslawa

Nikolao

Rozabela

Stanislas

Slawomira

Pailo

Stelara

Vaclav

Vesna

petro

Valora

Vladislav

Wlodzimiera

Vilhelmo

Vespera

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Names Hellas, Minoa, Otesium, and Saturnia Male

Female

Achillios

Alethea

Boreas

Calypso

Cleon

Dionna

Demosthenes

Electra

Eneas

Galatea

Hesperos

Ionia

Kyrillos

Kolete

Lysander

Metea

Menelaeus

Nike

Nestor

Odele

Orestes

Phoebe

Pindar

Sappho

Stamatios

Thetis

Telephus

Xenia

Vasileios

Zoe

GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Europa Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Market of the Horse-lords

able to animate; opening a door from another place and allowing age The Market of the Horse-lords is held at this site every three years. Clans back and forward. from all across Scythia as well as intrepid merchants from foreign nations come to buy, sell, and trade horses. A great race across the plains of Scythia 9. The Palace of Tuminos is held, lasting sometimes up to two weeks. Every Market with riders sets out Tuminos was a powerful Tharshi lord who, greedy in the extreme, on the first day; when the third surviving rider returns, the Market is ended. decided to take all his wealth with him when he died. To that end Tuminous had a palace-tomb built to protect his body and wealth in the afterlife. The tomb took 20 years to complete and was filled with the finest traps and 2. The Forgotten Library of Sid’il Somewhere on the Plains of Alamanazor rests the Forgotten Library of magical protections that money could buy. In addition to this, the tomb was Sid’il. Traveler’s tales speak of a great library containing hundreds of scrolls, hidden from prying eyes in a secret location in the hills outside of Tartessos. kept safe against decay in this arid land. What protects the library itself Expeditions leave Tartessos every few years trying to plunder the tomb but is unknown. The library holds innumerable tomes and scrolls from the none have returned. First Age. Somewhere in the depths of the library is said to be a crystal jar containing the memories of a god. 10. City of Rains In the distant past a group of Lemurians built a city in a deep, steepsided crater in central Hellas. The crater was fed its water by a massive 3. The Crucible Amidst the trees of Ku, a spectral battle between a legion of Lemurians waterfall that created a constant dull roar and filled the crater with mist. and a horde of Annunaki rages every solstice. Historians claim that this The Lemurians died of plague a long time ago, and the city was taken over has been going on for centuries, but only recently has it been noted that by humans. Things did not go well, the constant damp and noise made the spectral individuals whose deaths are witnessed do not reappear at the humans very sick and they either died or fled. Now the city stands subsequent solstices, leading some to speculate that the battle is not truly abandoned, filled only with the ghosts of its former occupants. spectral, but instead somehow disted from time itself.

4. The Cave of Sighs

The Cave of Sighs is the resting place of an ancient, and reputedly beautiful, princess who slumbers for eternity. Lovers often vow a pilgrimage to journey to her secluded tomb in order to pledge their love to one another and seek the blessings of the gods of love and devotion.

5. The Sunken City of Ellipin

Buried beneath the eastern plains of Scythia lies a ruined city. Whether it is the fabled lost Annunaki temple of Kaoton or the mythical Lemurian colony of Injanjana or something else entirely, no one is certain. It is known that the Sunken City is not entirely ruined and that bandits sometimes live amongst the ghosts of the past.

6. The Orrery of the Gods

High atop the Aragan Mountains stands the Orrery of the Gods. This massive building has no discernible origin, neither Lemurian, Atlantean, nor even Ophidian, although it appears in the records of all three races. The building is made of some unknown material that is bitterly cold to the touch and causes headaches in those who look upon it for too long. Atop this strangely amorphous building sits an orrery that tracks the movements of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. The orrery is home to Nenjaksis, an Anubim sorcerer of great power that warns off all others. Nenjaksis believes that the orrery holds the key to travel to worlds beyond this one.

7. The Sentinels of Lost Narr

The coastal region of Galecea is home to an unknown number of these giant animated stone statues that move about seemingly without reason. The statues occasionally move objects or work to clear sections of landscape. More than once, ancient roadways or ruins have been uncovered by the sentinels. The origin and function of these statues is lost to history and their features are so worn from the elements that all that can be made out is a vague humanoid shape.

11. Coven of the Yaggas

Deep in the forest lands of Oggia lies a village of powerful witches known as the Yagga. The demon-possessed women frequently raid the surrounding areas for human flesh to eat and young girls to indoctrinate into their blasphemous coven. At the center of their hidden village is a large black hut built on the bones of their many victims and belonging to their leader, a powerful witch known only as Grandmother.

12. The Hydra Swamps

A sulfurous swampy lake near the city of Lerna is home to a group of hydras ruled by an Atlantean necromancer named Typhon. At the center of the lake is a large earthen mound and below that a sprawling citadel. At the center of the labyrinth is an ancient Jinn encased in amber that bleeds from a terrible head wound. The blood from this wound is said to create foul monsters like those that inhabited the Earth when the Elder Gods were roused and active.

13. The Crystal Spike of Methode

It is said that deep in the forest is a shard of the purest crystal standing over 3 meters tall. The shard is said to be driven through the great dragon’s tail and as long as it stands the dragon will remain within Draconea. Nothing with evil intent is able to come within sight of the shard and it has been a refuge for wanderers over the years. Unfortunately the shard is so pure that any mortal that stands in its presence for more than a few days begins to burn as the impurities in their souls are washed away.

14. River of Fire

In the days leading up to the month of Wayeb, the river Rusalka bursts into flames. It is believed that anyone that swims from one bank to the other will be cleansed of their sins and be protected in the dark month. As a result, there are yearly pilgrimages to the River of Fire from nearby settlements.

15. The Dark Cauldron

At the center of an abandoned village in hilly valley is a burnished iron cauldron blackened over the years by fire and soot; the fire underneath never This massive figure dominates the hillside in Ku into which it is carved. goes out and the stew cooking inside bubbles with an eerie glow. From time The carving, sliced through the soil into the bedrock, is over 100 meters in to time travelers come and offer up treasures and blasphemous sacrifices in height and depicts a man holding open a doorway. The figure is said to be return for gifts bestowed by dark gods.

8. The Guardian at the Gate

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GEOGRAPHICA

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Gondwana

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Gondwana (GOND-wah-nah) The continent of Gondwana has been referred to by historians and geographers as the Dark Continent. Modern geographers claim that this name is derived from the wild and untamed lands of the interior where seemingly impenetrable jungles and soaring mountains prevent easy travel and hide secrets from most mortal men. However, historians known that Gondwana earned the name the Dark Continent from centuries of strife, struggle, and bitter warfare. Geographically, there are several distinct regions of Gondwana. The interior is wild, thought to be uncultivated, and filled with dangerous wildlife. Vast swaths of dark jungle blanket the interior and in some cases extend all the way to the western coasts, particularly along the great river basins. Few humans live in the interior due to the number of predatory beasts, but there are scattered villages, protected by shamans, who eke out an existence below the dark canopies of the jungle trees. A second region exists around the great circle of the Sahara Sea and the lands forming its shores. Blessed with warm temperatures and fertile soil, many compare the Sahara region to a sacred garden. Perhaps because of this, the Saharan region has been the site of numerous wars, and its fertile fields and dotted woodlands occasionally cover ancient battlefields. The eastern coasts and southlands form another region dominated by savannahs and grasslands. Several civilizations have risen and fallen in these lands. Unlike the western coasts, the eastern shores saw fewer incursions from the Atlanteans, but did see conflict between the Ophidians and Lemurians in ages long past. Ophidian ruins still dot the area in some places. The Turanian subcontinent is almost an entirely separate region on its own. Mostly desert except for a thin and populated strip along the coast, the “sea of sands” that dominates Turan and Zin is largely regarded as inhospitable due to both the arid climate, the roaming bands of Ahl-AtRab, and isolated tribes of Jinn.

Awalawa

(ah-wah-LAH-wah)

The interior region of Gondwana is known as Awalawa. It is a hilly land of thick jungles and steep mountains, impenetrable to most. Outsiders believe that only the most desperate and lawless make their homes within the old dark heart of the jungle and few enter under the shade of its outlying edges without due caution. Within the jungle lurk dangerous predators as well as animals rarely, if ever, seen elsewhere in the world. The boundaries of this land are indistinct and uncertain. Borders drawn on maps by men mark only the zones where villagers’ settlements and fields end. The locals who live along the borders of the forest know better than to wander far from their fields, but there remain exiles, bandits, hermits, and others who, for one reason or another, choose to dare the perils of the region. Awalawa, the name of the fastness of the jungles, is said to be derived from a prayer to the goddess, Hawwa, one of the New Gods who provides protection from the dark forces of the jungle. Natives forced to venture into the dark paths of the jungle can often be heard whispering or chanting Hawwa’s name desperately. There are still riches lost within the jungle; from tales that diamonds litter the slopes of the twin mountains, Ogili and Ollock, to rumors of ancient ruins covered in vines and the gnarled roots of ancient trees. Rumors persist that Hawwa has granted her protection to some few explorers who enter the jungle’s depths and emerge again alive with unbelievable tales and uncountable treasures. Others remain there, bones bleached beneath a merciless sun, a mute warning to those who would brave the forbidden heart of the Dark Continent. Somewhere in the jungle there are indeed ruins that dating back to past ages, when the Lemurians held the center of Gondwana against the Ophidians. The Lemurians twisted the ley lines through the region, focusing and funneling power and energy through the trees and rivers, damming it with hills and mountains, and creating bastions of strength in times of trouble. What remains of the ruins of the Lemurians, places of incredible power, is largely unknown.

The lost cities of the Gondwanan interior are the subject of many poems and songs by the Lemurians who lament the lost paradise they built there. Many believe that the Great Plague which destroyed much of Lemurian civilization began its spread from a trio of cities now lost in the Awalawan jungle. The Anunnaki are thought to be responsible for the crime, but any evidence is now lost to time, hidden in memory. The Great Green of Awalawa still beckons to the Lemurians, however. Many Lemurian explorers have sought to establish new kingdoms in the Green, but such expeditions are frequently lost and none have yet come to fruition. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age In truth, the Lotus Cult is devoted to the worship of Ba’al. The cult harnesses the destructive powers of ecstasy — lust, greed, gluttony — to destroy, to maim, to ruin, and to kill. They kidnap those they find valuable, enslave those who cannot pay their debts, lure in the powerful and the just with promises of easy living, fast wealth, and all the pleasures of the flesh.

The streets of Cyrene the wicked are horribly narrow and obviously were not constructed with Lemurians in mind. As a result, I spent more time on rooftops and in the fields outside of the city than in the taverns and streets within. Perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

When you eat in Dabba, be prepared to eat, drink, and smell the sweet scent of the lotus. It is in everything and purveyors there will swear it fixes everything from failing virility to toothaches. All it did for me was…. You know, I can’t really what it did for me but I’m sure it was a good time. Donobey of Nubia

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Dabba

(DAB-bah)

The nation of Dabba consists largely of a long, narrow peninsula forming the northern edge of Gondwana, separating the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Saharan Sea to the south. The nation is arid and rocky, despite the moist breezes competing from the neighboring seas. There is a small and scattered populace here, known scornfully to outsiders as the Lotus-Eaters. Light-brown skin, Europan features, and kinky brown hair mark the inhabitants of Dabba and neighboring Dar. Strikingly, most of the inhabitants bear a perpetual expression of euphoria and mindless docility, the result of longstanding addiction to the narcotic powder derived from lotus leaves. Dabba is a complicated land. The docile and weak-willed often fall prey to the lotus, or so outsiders believe. In truth, all of Dabba is under the sway of the one mystery cult or another. The Lotus Cult is one such cult, holding tight to its secrets and rituals, keeping them separate from outsiders. Scholars believe that this cult worships an earth goddess called Oba and sees themselves all as her children. From this belief, they derive the name of their nation. Oba is a goddess of sensation and sensuality. Sexuality and sensation are her sacred provinces, and her worshippers give themselves over, body and soul, in ecstatic revelries that encom sex, music, and drugs. There are several cults for the worship of Ba’al, or to one of his demonic children. The Ba’alites are quite wealthy and control many of the nation’s ports and have influence over the pirates and smugglers who sail from them. Nationally, the state religion is devoted to the worship of the Goddess Tanit, a spider goddess who is said to control chance, fertility, sexuality, and war, depending on the aspect venerated. Locals with a high will and tolerance for lotus ister the cities and ports, turning over some jobs to outsiders. While a great deal of the population seen in the port towns, locals and foreigners, do seem to be addicted to lotus, there is an equal proportion of the population involved in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of lotus, as well as in the games, gambling halls, markets, shops, and inns. The cities and villages of Dabba beckon to everyone around the Mediterranean Sea. Every sort of vice can be found in Dabba. Riches and wealth abound, pouring in and out of Dabba’s ports like the tides, or so it seems. There are stories around the great Mediterranean that say some people go to Dabba never to return, living on there in bliss, or using riches won by luck to travel the world. The City of Cyrene The largest city in Dabba is the capital, Cyrene (SIGH-ri-ni). Known to outsiders as the City of Spiders, the capital is known for its colorfully painted buildings. At night, the city is lit with lanterns that either burn blue or red; these strange colors give the city an almost dream-like feel after sunset. Every building in the city is covered externally in relief carvings that seem to depict every type of debauchery imaginable. Most of the buildings consist of a single story, though some do reach a height of ten meters. The streets of the city are very narrow. In fact, in some places you can take a single step from one doorway completely across the street and into the doorway of another building. Cyrene is constructed much like the wheel of a great wagon. In the center of the city there is a large, broad three-story high building made of white stone. No windows or carvings mar its surface, and its corners are all slightly rounded. On even the hottest days, the stone is cool to the touch. From the roof, a tower of ivory and bone reaches skyward, rising another 33 meters above the city. A great bronze brazier atop of this tower constantly burns lotus and the smoke wafts down and across the city as the wind from the seas wills it. Around this building is Cyrene’s largest market, and four great avenues radiate away from it towards the city’s outer wall. Brothels, taverns, gambling halls, drug dens, public baths, and markets all line the streets, and small shrines to Tanit, Ba’al, or Oba dot the street-corners and intersections; the city seems built to make anyone’s dream come true and money flows into the city from around the Mediterranean freely and easily. At night, great parades begin at sunset and travel each of the four large and broad radial streets. It is customary for any and all on the streets to wear masks. These masks give people the freedom and anonymity to do what they please. The city and kingdom are protected by a legion of leather-armored eunuchs in faceless leather masks. Known as the Gallu (GAHL-LOO), these guardians do not openly speak and seem to only answer the priests of Tanit in low and gurgling whispers. They are never seen without their harnesses or armor. The queen of Dabba is also known as Tanit, though whether she is the high priestess, merely takes the name, or is in fact the goddess herself is known only to the inner circle of priests.

GEOGRAPHICA Large plantations of lotus exist away from the coast, each protected by mercenary forces hired by the state. Primarily made up of either Ahl-At-Rab or native Gallu, these mercenaries are given money and slaves as long they do not partake in the lotus. The priesthood of Tanit rules the land. They appoint the various s, governors, satraps, and seneschals that manage the lotus plantations, oversee distribution, security, and the myriad other jobs that are involved in running a government, a religious cult, and an organized criminal operation. The Children of Ba’al aid from the shadows, feeding off of the depravity. The priests and priestesses refine lotus into black lotus, using that drug’s prophetic powers to avoid the snares and pitfalls of those who would destroy the cult. A great mountain cliff rises over the capital of Cyrene and in ages past it was carved to resemble a beautiful woman. One face looks north over the Mediterranean, while the other looks south towards the Saharan Sea. The eyes of this great statue are in actuality a series of large caves within which are said to be continuously burning flames. Whether or not this is true, the great smoldering gaze is a landmark for any traveling in this part of the world. Dabba has been conquered frequently, but outside dominion rarely lasts long. The Lotus Eaters take little notice of outsiders, driven only to work or other activities by the most extreme measures. The expenditure in manpower to ister this territory is rarely worth the effort, especially as entire garrisons and s succumb to the pleasures of the cult. As a result, most of the neighboring nations have given up attempts to conquer Dabba, and many restrict travel to and from the nation, fearing the powerful compulsions that the pleasure-centered Lotus Cult exudes. from outside: the Gorgons, the Khemites, and the Corsairs of the Mediterranean. The Gorgons often raid the Dabban shore, taking prisoners for use as sacrificial victims. Some Dabbans are employed as slaves, but usually only as concubines. Prior addiction and ties to the Lotus Cult tend to make such sensual if menial work their only usefulness. Khem has coveted the Dabban peninsula for ages, primarily for its excellent ports and bays along the Mediterranean. But, fear of the Lotus Cult and its influence keeps their expansion on hold. The corsairs raid the land’s northern ports, but instead of slaves, they seek the refined lotus powder itself that commands a high price in other territories around the Mediterranean.

Dar

The western end of the Dabban peninsula is given over to the agricultural lands of Dar. The Darians resemble the Dabbans who dwell to the east. The Darians are by and large made up of human settlements, the inhabitants generally peace-loving and non-violent. Sheltered by the sorcerers and guardsmen of neighboring Dandarus, the Darian people are largely content with their simple lives and rarely venture far from home. Much of Dar is given over to farming, the Darians having considerable skill in simple agricultural techniques. The domesticated auroch is common in these lands, used as a beast of burden as well as a source of leather, bone implements, animal fat, and so forth. The Darians also have a long tradition of pottery-making, which has excelled into an art-form. Darian pottery is known throughout the surrounding regions for its quality. The various villages, farmsteads, and townships scattered across Dar are simple affairs which handle their own governance. There is no central government, but bands of wandering traders and merchants serve as an unofficial source of gossip and trade with the outside world. While the wandering traders bring news, the Darians depend upon the sorcerers and scholars of Dandarus for protection and guidance. A significant portion of the grain and livestock raised in Dar goes to the grey island. Culturally, however, all of Dar is unified in the veneration of the earth goddess, Oko. A conservative branch of the Lotus Cult holds sway and is seen by outsiders as being rather dour and lacking in the more sensual nature of the Lotus Eater cult in neighboring Dabba. The Darians in turn see the Dabbans as being possessed by minor demons, and have a resulting hatred for everything related to the Lotus Cult. The grey-cloaked forms of the scholars of Dardanus are given space when they move through the lands of Dar. The people avert their eyes if they can to avoid any entrance by the wandering spirits that the scholars hunt. The sorcerer-scholars of Dardanus not only protect and patrol the lands of Dar, but they also settle disputes and dispatch the wandering monsters that seasonally appear. In truth, many of the monsters that tear up fields, eat livestock, and occasionally haunt the villages of Dar are cast-off experiments, aurochs tainted by alchemical toxins and by-products, and on occasion, failed students of the Institute of Dardanus.

The Truth Behind Dabba Almost half of the travelers, merchants and seamen who come to Dabba never leave. The ones who remain are chosen by the priesthood during the many parties, fairs, and parades that occur in Cyrene. Those chosen are given over to the demon Tanit as sacrifices. She, in turn, uses their obliterated souls to keep the weather nice and the country protected from its enemies. The Gallu are warrior eunuchs taken from amongst the chosen if they seem fit and whole enough to undergo the magical transformation into a mindless servant. Capable of killing without remorse, the Gallu are kept in line by the priesthood and frequent istration of a drink made from black lotus. All of the temples and shrines in Dabba are actually dedicated to Ba’al. The demonic Children of Ba’al walk the streets freely at night, their appearance hidden by the ubiquitous masks that all the revelers wear. They feed on the blood and souls and emotions of the revelers by night and are sent to their demonic prisons in the underworld during the day. The lotus fields, guarded and considered the most fertile lands in the region, are predominately a sham. The real lotuses are grown inside the fiery mountain in a shallow, underground lake. Those too weak to become Gallu are sacrificed here and their bloated corpses float and bob in the shallow lake to fertilize and sweeten the lotus. Along with magics and rituals conducted by the priests of Tanit and the Children of Ba’al, a very potent and addictive crop of lotus is produced on a regular basis.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Dardanus

(dar-DAN-us)

This place is one of horrors where magicians bend their forms and minds until they become alien creatures bearing no semblance of mortal life. The masters here occasionally send student expeditions out to uncover lost lore; these students seldom fail in their tasks, driven by fear of what will happen to them if they do. I saw a student gnaw off his own thumb to squeeze his hand into a narrow opening to retrieve some trinket for his master. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

When travelling south from Punt on a trading vessel the crew hauled up the corpse of some strange insect creature the size of a man. The crew demanded to know what it was, turning to me since I was the “Gillman”. On the captain’s advice, I told them it was an exotic breed of lobster; I don’t think they believed me, but it mollified them somewhat. Luckily, the seaweed hid the ring on its “finger” and the loincloth it wore. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

A small island located off the coast of Dar, this seemingly insignificant island is actually the site of one of the most mysterious places in the region: The Institute of Dardanus. The institute itself is a sizable complex built upon, through, and under the highest peak of the island and surrounded by a towering wall of stone. Both the exterior walls and the stone facings of the buildings within are constructed of white marble obviously transported from elsewhere, perhaps Atlantis itself. This supposition is partially ed by the orichalcum-coated brass gates that secure the wall. Dardanus is said to have been established centuries past by a legendary group known as the Grey Council, an occult order mentioned in Atlantean histories as dedicated to the preservation of magical sciences and noted for a code of strict neutrality. Though the original council have long since ed on, subsequent generations of instructors and students still cling to the air of mystique and secrecy once perpetrated by the Grey Council and thus travel about cloaked in grey robes. In truth, the institute is a fanatical cult of religious scholars devoted to the practice of magic and the lore and knowledge of Olódùmarè. The inner council of the institute is comprised of a number of very power and very learned sorcerer-scholars whose focus is to continue what they see as Olódùmarè’s work: completely catag the world and, by so doing, imposing order and transforming it. Every morning, initiates are brought before a great statue of Olódùmarè to worship and begin their daily lessons. United in their devotion to Olódùmarè, their studies of alchemy, sorcery, and science, the Disciples of Dardanus are also slowly being transformed themselves. The inner councilors are one and all hairless, sexless, albino eunuchs. Initiates are at various stages of transformation to such a state; the price they pay for their devotion and puissance. While the institute accepts outsiders into the ranks of the scholars and initiates, there is a rigorous initiation that outsiders must go through. Every decade, the institute takes a dozen boys and girls from neighboring Dar. These children are adopted into the cult, indoctrinated, and given a place in the society as apprentices to the various magi. In return, Dar enjoys the protection of the institute against Gorgons and others who would seek to conquer the peaceful and pastoral land. Some former students, half-transformed or disfigured by failures, live in Dar. Most attempt to help where they can, aiding the farmers and herdsmen who the institute, living alongside them and attempting a simple life. But a few of them, now understandably wary and mistrustful of magic warn away all they can from the dangers of magic and the pursuits of power. The magical and alchemical facilities at Dardanus are said to be unequaled in the entire known world. Scholars from many lands reside in a small city outside the institute, studying alongside the sorcerer-scholars, serving as curators for Dardanus’ extensive museum and library complexes. Through extensive bribes, tributes, and the sale of alchemicals, the Institute of Dardanus is able to fund expeditions for magical research, exploration, and experimentation, which provide a regular infusion of knowledge and arcane lore. Despite its reputation amongst the learned and magically adept, it remains a place of mystery and fear to others. The institute’s inner council still goes by the name the Grey Council and they go to great lengths to maintain and ensure the security and secrecy of the institute. There is a small port where shipments from Dar are allowed to land, as well as those with official business. Outsiders, curiosity-seekers, and mendicants are turned away through intimidation, physical prowess, and magical might. Spell-casters, scholars, and explorers who wish entrance to Dardanus must apply at an establishment the institute maintains in the city of Acheron in Khemit. A sizable donation (WR DoD -5) is required of all such applicants, whether they wish to enroll, to simply use the research facilities, or seek patronage for an expedition. A lengthy waiting period of up to two months is not uncommon.

Empi

(EM-pi)

The island of Empi lies untouched by man, surrounded by windless waters that becalm ships and occasionally drag vessels down to the depths for no apparent reason. Golden Age Atlantean

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GEOGRAPHICA

sailors avoided Empi after countless disastrous naval expeditions. Attempts to chart the island by flying over it likewise ended in death by insanity for all involved. How long Empi has been this way is unclear, but stone cartouches discovered in ancient Ophidian ruins call the place, “the island that ate the world”. The demented ramblings of those who have returned from Empi claim that the place is somehow far larger than it should be, based on its actual circumference. These same unfortunates speak of a vast land of a hundred changing climates only a few steps from one another, of soaring cities, vast plains, and dense jungles. An Atlantean sage once speculated that Empi is a gateway between our world and that of the dream world or some other place that has been somehow compressed impossibly. Beachcombers from surrounding nations sometimes make large sums from selling Empi’s bile, their name for the strange flotsam and occasional badly decomposed bodies that wash up on the shorelines.

Gorgos

(GOR-gOs)

The islands of Gorgos lie within the Saharan Sea. There are four major islands, and a number of smaller islands and rocky islets scattered among these major land masses. These isles are jungle-clad, tropical paradises as lovely as Hesperia itself. Nonetheless, the name of Gorgos is a synonym for fear. These islands are dominated by one of the most dread cultures in the world today. The Gorgons, named for the island group they inhabit, were originally an Amazon splintergroup who rebelled against the Queen of Hesperia long ago. In a terrible civil war, the Gorgons brought down the entire Hesperian Empire. At its height, the Gorgon domain included much of northern Gondwana and parts of Europa, but further wars with Hesperia gradually eroded its holding down to its island core. Now they control only the isles that dot the Saharan Sea, but constantly threaten to expand again. The Gorgons are a civilized race, amply ed by the abundant resources of their tropical islands. Their culture has turned away from old Hesperian ideals by embracing a decadent religion, the practice of black magic, and an aggressive warrior culture that far exceeds anything the Amazons have ever practiced in of cruelty and violence. The active and overt worship of Set is at the heart of Gorgon culture. The Cult of Set tore apart the Hesperian Empire, as the original Gorgons sought to impose their perverted religion on the rest of the Amazons. Over the centuries since the original civil war, Hesperia and Gorgos have fought almost constantly. Their hatred of one another is legendary, and goes far beyond rational bounds. The Gorgons are known to covet the lands of Dar, Dabba, Khemit, and parts of southern Europa, along with Hesperia and its colonies. The elite ruling class of warrior-priestesses that governs Gorgos with an iron hand believes itself to be quite capable of carrying out these plans. A tall, dark-skinned, black-haired race, the Gorgons have a ruthless militaristic culture in which the females dominate and the males are kept as slaves. Men are treated far more harshly in Gorgos than in Hesperia, and are often used as human sacrifices. Gorgons love to kill and conquer; individuals are indoctrinated from birth in this approach to life. Any who dissent are swiftly killed in a fiery sacrifice to the snake god. Set’s worship centers around a rare species of giant, hooded cobra found in any sort of quantity only on the Gorgos islands. This snake can attain lengths of up to 6 meters (most reach only 3 meters), and its poison is both lethal and very fast-acting. The Gorgons are the only people who have ever been known to tame these snakes. Gorgon alchemists make a potent serum from their venom that enhances the prowess of the warrior on the island. All Gorgon warriors carry a vial of this substance around their neck. Set is considered the husband of all Gorgons, whom they marry in a blasphemous mating ceremony. This ritual involves the taking of vast quantities of drugs and the application of dark sorcery. The occasional products of these unions are considered great blessings. Children are given the mark of Set by the priests at a young age. This mark consists of splitting the tongue and permanently dying it black. Most Gorgons are warriors, dark magicians, or warrior-priestesses. Magic and religion are integrated closely with their military organization, making the Gorgons a powerful foe. The snake cult gives them an even fiercer aspect, for trained cobras accompany Gorgon warriors into combat and strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. The Gorgons give no quarter, and expect none in return. One historian referred to them, with some truth, as the “Makara of the land”.

Apep

The Gorgon queen keeps a massive example of a hooded cobra in her palace. The snake is said to be over 70 years old and over 50 meters long. Some say the snake is the progeny of her ritual union with Set. The snake is called Apep and is allowed to roam the city every full moon and all five days of Wayeb. Those with the mark of Set (the forked black tongue) are safe; slaves (and everyone else) are free game for its feeding. Rumor says that the creature has its own malign intellect and the ability to speak.

The Ophidians and Ahl-At-Rab

Gorgos is home to at least three tribes of Ahl-At-Rab that mostly avoid with the Gorgons, whom they regard as dangerously insane. For their part, the Gorgons, who could wipe out the Ahl-At-Rab if they wished, leave the Sand Devils alone, regarding them with a somewhat religious reverence. The port city of Ogara is built on the largest Ophidian ruin on the islands. The town has a massive undercity whose labyrinthine depths have never been plumbed. Rumor says that the queen has ordered expeditions into the undercity, seeking perhaps to awaken some dark power.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

In a strange sort of way I find the Gorgons easier to deal with than their amazon sisters. There is no pretense with the Gorgons; what you see is what you get. I appreciate the unadulterated anger in their eyes. It’s the honesty of what they are I find refreshing in the so called “civilized” world. They are what they are. Now saying that, I would never turn my back on one… because those women are crazy. Donobey of Nubia

I found Joktan’s people most warm and welcoming. They have a strong tradition of hospitality and every home I entered made a great show of offering me food and drink. They mostly drink Cacamillish, a sweet local drink that nobody would tell me the recipe for. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Gorgon warriors wear bronze helms, breastplates, and greaves decorated with a snake motif. They favor the following weapons: swords, javelins, spears, and bows. Snakeskin cloaks, scabbards, and other such items are also common, and most of their warriors wear tattoos of snakes on their legs or arms. The largest settlements are the ports of Ogara (o-GAR-a) on Bogador (bo-GA-door), the main isle, and Abalessa (a-ba-LESS-a) on Mogador (mo-GA-door). The last two isles, Lypisha (LIP-ishah) and the Black isle are mostly uninhabited, settled only by exiled lepers and insane criminals. Ancient Ophidian ruins litter the countryside and serve as shrines or places of pilgrimage for the population. Minor towns are scattered throughout the islands, mostly centered on salt and gold mining operations or the slave estates. The ruins are also a strong influence on Gorgon architecture and Ophidian imagery is common throughout the modern cities and towns. Each city has a Vril circle, consisting of black, carved obelisks that date back to the early Ophidian Empire. The tip of each obelisk is able to spit a beam of Vril fire capable of reducing an attacking fleet to cinders. Powering the obelisks takes a combination of Vril and human sacrifice. The Gorgons wreak havoc against Atlantean and Hesperian ships when they can, but rarely molest those of Tharshesh. The Gorgons have also raided Dar, Dabba, Khemit, and the Hesperian territories for slaves, who are worked to death, sacrificed, or sold to Tharshesh.

Joktan

(JOK-tan)

Joktan is a study in contrasts with extensive coastal mud-flats, barren central plains, fertile northern mountains, and a burning eastern desert. Its people are tall and fair to behold, with lightbrown skin and straight, black hair. The region was first settled by Atlantean colonists in the Golden Age. At that time, Joktan and Sheba were united as part of a single, broad coastal province of the Atlantean Empire. Following the end of the Golden Age, the colonies collapsed into barbarism. Joktan’s kings had only been reigning for a couple of centuries when Hesperia’s Amazons swept the subcontinent. Joktan was a source of constant trouble for the Amazons as the locals violently resisted the loss of their culture. The Joktan are a proud people and their constant, bloody rebellions cost them deeply. Part of the friction between the Amazons and the Joktan was their polarized view on gender. In Joktan, men may not become priests, whereas women may not hold high military or political positions. In all other areas the genders remain equal. Joktan is ruled by a hereditary king whose power and authority are absolute. The king chooses his own successor and his say in the matter is considered final. Joktan’s king handles all aspects of government from his throne at Sabba (sab-BA). The present king has appointed a number of priestesses and scholars to permanent advisory positions, a practice common among many previous rulers. Though Joktan is a relatively small nation, it has a sizable population. There is one true city, the capital of Sabba; the rest of the nation is given over mostly to small family-owned farms that provide much of the food that s the Sabites. Sabba itself is impressive, though laid out simply and mostly constructed of sturdy Joktan brick. Important buildings are adorned with realistic sculptures, especially carvings of the Royal Symbol of Joktan, the Winged Horse. The current king, only five years on the throne, believes strongly in expanding his territory. The king has increased the size of his army and plans to march on Turan to capture the lands along their coastline, and possibly the fabled treasures hidden within their desert capital. The king hopes to use the Dushara (doo-SHAR-ah), a brotherhood of holy warriors who protect the northern borders of Joktan, as scouts and advisors during his war of conquest. The Dushara know the Turanian nomads better than anyone and are at home fighting in the desert. The Dushara for their part want nothing to do with the king’s plans and this has led to friction between the brotherhood and the king.

Khemit

(KEM-eht)

Located in northeastern Gondwana, Khemit is a nation heavily influenced by Atlantean traditions. Mostly humans with reddish-brown skin, black hair, and dark eyes, the Khem seem to emulate much of the architecture and customs of Atlantis. The city-dwellers tend to dress in fine apparel, both men and women using facial and eye cosmetics. The priests remove all body hair and

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GEOGRAPHICA dress in long robes. The common folk and slaves dress in light cloaks, short tunics, and sandals. Khemit is a rich country, ruled from its capital, the well-known trading port of Acheron (AKuh-ron). Acheron sits at the Mediterranean entrance to the Great Canal of Kha-Em. Named after an Atlantean Pharaoh who once ruled over Khem and originally designed the plans, the Great Canal took three human generations to complete, long after the death of Kha-Em Heru. The Great Canal is the source of much of the nation’s wealth, as tolls and taxes are levied on every foreign ship that es through it. Although Khem fishermen and small craft use the Great Canal for free, all other ships must pay a price depending on the size of the vessel and the goods it carries. The northern end of the Great Canal, near Acheron, is heavily guarded and fortified. Khem troops and engineers supervise labor and repairs, constantly monitoring the scores of slaves purchased from Sheba or captured from Zin that toil at maintaining the canal. The capital city of Acheron is known for the vast diversity of goods available in its markets as well as for its unique blend of architecture. Food production, along the fertile Nahl Iteru (NAHhul IH-te-roo) is limited and thus a great deal of food is imported. The artisans and craftsmen of Khemit are well-respected; gold, mirrors, and finely crafted glass are exported in great quantities. Built over the ruins of an older Ophidian city, it is known around the Mediterranean as the City of Statues — its streets and plazas are filled with them, representing every Pharaoh and god among them. While most are out in the open, some are secreted away in alleyways and cul-de-sacs, known solely to the locals, forgotten by time and history. The people of Khemit worship the Orixa, but claim to know the true names of the gods and goddesses. Acheron is also the home of the Great Acheron Library, one of the largest repositories of knowledge in this region of the world. Acheron is also the home of the Great Acheron Library, one of the largest repositories of knowledge in this region of the world. Another city lies not far from Acheron, the holy center of Hāru-Seti (HAY-roo set-EYE), where the Pharaoh and the high priesthood of Khemit live, ed by vast retinues and an army of slaves. It is full of beautifully constructed pyramids and gardens. The center of Hāru-Seti contains a colonnade surrounding a small, lush forest that holds three hidden temples. Two of these are quite small, dedicated to Aset and Asari. The third, larger and more lavish, is dedicated to the god, Khepri. The belief in Khepri is the cornerstone of the state religion, enforcing worship of the god in his heavenly and earthly manifestations. There are numerous sub-cults, each worshipping the various deities and demigods of the Khemit pantheon. Though many of these cults have some basis in certain necromantic rituals such as mummification, most are not evil in nature. There are, however, necromantic cults feared by the populace whose hidden temples are spread across Khemit. The Cult of Set is one of the more powerful of these secret cults allegedly boasting numerous AhlAt-Rab and Anubim . Khemit has long been at war with neighboring Turan and the nomadic Zin tribes. The Khem have long considered the people of the Turan to be barbaric, referring to them as “the wretched ones”. Stories and legends amongst the Khem dating back to the period of Atlantean rule make many mentions of the horrors and brutality of the Turani and the Jinn that used to lead their war bands. An uneasy truce holds sway with Hesperia to the west; both nations fear the aggression of the Gorgos, but Khemit has not forgotten Hesperia’s own expansionist wars. To the south, Kush and Nubia depend on Kehmit’s wealth. Kush depends on a great deal of the merchant trade coming through the Great Canal and Nubian mercenaries are used as infantry against the Turani. The rest of the Khemit military is made of several different branches. In addition to a welltrained infantry force, Khemit also maintains a small cavalry force and a large number of war chariots. Khemit also employs war elephants, brought up through Nubia from Magan and Massawa. The country is home to great number of Andamen, particularly Anubim, Nemeans, and Taurans, many of whom serve in the military. Together, these units make up a powerful war machine that keeps the borders of Khemit secure and has frustrated invaders for the past three centuries. In recent years, however, there have been a number of strange plagues and illnesses among the troops. Border patrols have thinned and, as a result, raids across the deserts and wastelands have increased in number. The king of Khemit is known locally as the Pharaoh and is the absolute ruler as well as the most important symbol of Khem culture. Considered to be the physical incarnation and manifestation of the god, Khepri, he is to be considered perfection in mortal form. He is the central figure of the state religion and must therefore prove his divinity at various festivals where tests of strength and endurance are performed before the populace. Many of these tests have become ritualized, but some still retain their legitimacy such as one test of virility in which the Pharaoh must kill a full-grown

Mud, Blood, and Money

The coastal mud flats produce rich clay that, when treated with a special alchemical mixture and fired in a kiln, produces an incredibly durable and light ceramic. Joktan uses this clay to produce everything from bricks, crockery, javelin heads, and even sling ammunition. The Joktan army wears a kind of lightweight lamellar armor that utilizes plates made of this ceramic. Joktan trades clay bricks with Kush in exchange for bronze tools and weapons. Joktan has increased the size of its army threefold in the last 10 years and Kush is having a hard time keeping up with shipments of weapons. The alchemical formula for making Joktan ceramic is a closely guarded secret known only to a dozen or so trusted alchemists. If this secret were to get out the mud flats would become highly contested territory.

Joktan’s Horses

The horses of Joktan are wondrous creatures, descended from Atlantean white breeding stock left behind when the Empire collapsed. The Atlantean horses were bred with normal horses to produce beasts that, while not as sturdy as Atlantean horses, were fast, highly intelligent, and able to survive on the minimal water and food found on the Joktan plains. The Joktan themselves regard horses with almost religious reverence and it is a mark of a great man to train and breed his own horses. Most adult males own a horse, and extensive breeding records, going all the way back to the Golden Age, are kept in Sabba’s temples. The greatest gift one can give in Joktan is a fine thoroughbred horse.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age bull with his bare hands. The past three Pharaohs have funneled a great deal of wealth into the construction of towers, obelisks, and pyramids. No one outside of the Pharaoh’s court and the high priests knows the reason, but many rumors and tales emerge from Acheron as slaves, marble, and orichalcum continue to pour in. More than a few of Acheron’s statues were re-carved from their original Ophidian forms. Some of them still bear strange glyphs or odd shapes that don’t look quite human. A local guide, doubtless seeking a better tip, once told me that some of the statues are only the tips of much larger sculptures, now hidden by the sands. I came to wonder if some of those praying piously at statues were actually worshipping the original darker powers. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Kush

(Kush)

Kush is an ancient land that has been compared to a wealthy old man: rich and decadent but dried out and dreaming of past glories. Most of Kush is made up of plateaus, scrub plains, and highlands, with tropical forest to the south, and desert to the east. Climate varies wildly but can broadly be said to be dry and tropical. The Kush are famous as merchants, a situation born of necessity due to the lack of decent food sources in this arid land. The western mountain range is a source for several minor rivers that combine to form a tributary, which s the River Nahl Iteru in Khemit. A dam built here supplies the capital city of Okartum (oh-KAR-tum) with water. Irrigation projects have been attempted in many parts of the realm, with limited success. Kush remains a poor land, with scarce food supplies (except for figs, dates, and similar produce) and a rather small population. The people are related both to the Turanian tribes from the other side of the Red Sea and to the Khem. Men and women dress almost alike, wearing long, flowing headdresses, loose tunics, breeches, and simple sandals. Their environment has not been conducive to the development of the arts or the sciences, and they are often looked upon as semi-barbarians by more civilized neighbors. Kush has a large Andamen population, one in five of the population being Animal Men. Anubim and Asena are the most common types. A number of Uluka have been spotted in recent years flying high above the plateaus, but why is anyone’s guess. Tribes of Ahl-At-Rab wander the land and while they occasionally clash with small bands of humans, the natives have learned to give the lizard-folk a wide berth. Kush is ruled by a hereditary matriarch, called The Candace. The title es to the eldest female of the royal line. When there are no females of royal lineage available, a king may come to the throne, but the succession reverts to the female line as soon as a female heir is available. Salawa (SHAL-ah-wa), the main port, is an important stop on the Sheban trade routes, and is the Kushite town most commonly visited by foreigners. Salawa’s market is one of the largest in Gondwana and is famous for the quality of its wares. Almost anything can be bought here and the lack of tax on sales makes the prices very tempting.

I spent a great deal of time in Khemit and greatly love the people and culture. However, the Cult of Set is strong there and the accepted presence of numerous Ahl-At-Rab made the place inhospitable to me in the long term. I blame the Cult for the occasional ill-repute that Khemit suffers in other lands, for I found it a place of beauty. Past Glories But that beauty masks a great A great valley runs through much of Kush and legend states that this was the site where deal of mystery as well. There are Olódùmarè’s heart first struck the earth. Legend also holds that this was the birthplace ruins, half-buried in the distant of humanity, though the truth of the matter is lost to the mists of prehistory. Legend also hills beyond the river valleys, for states that splinters of Olódùmarè’s heart lie undiscovered at the bottoms of lakes within which no one knows a name. the valley. There are lines of Vril that course Kush shows signs of a having once been a very different land. Barely visible ruins of along the rivers and valleys, ancient cities dot the landscape and the outlines of vast farmland can be seen beneath the circling the hills, for which no dusty plains. The oldest Atlantean histories imply that Kush was once a verdant land before some dark force — possibly the Anunnaki — rendered it almost uninhabitable. map exists in sorcerous texts. The lands of the Khem are blessed by those who live there, but the dark and baleful attention of evil gods Kush is rich in copper and there is enough to supply all of the local demand, with a small seems to lurk in the shadows. surplus exported in the form of jewelry and utensils. Tin is also mined here; a valuable commodity Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian that is scarce in Gondwana and Europa. The Kushites do not export raw tin, using it instead to produce bronze items for export. The very wealthy in Kush even display the great extravagance of pure tin utensils and implements. Sapphires and many other semi-precious stones are also common in Kush. Silver and gold are found, though not in great quantities. These metals and stones, worked by skilled native craftsmen into a variety of luxury products, are much in demand in other nations. They serve as the basis for trade, which keeps Kush strong despite the poverty of agricultural land. Food is an extremely vital import, and is necessary to supplement Kushite produce and herd animals. Without such imports, even the relatively small population of Kush would suffer widespread famine.

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GEOGRAPHICA Kush has cordial relations with Joktan, just across the Red Sea, and is strongly allied with Sheba. The Sheban trade is crucial to the survival of the Kushite state, and the alliance is taken very seriously. Kush is also pledged to come to the aid of Sheba in the event of an attack on the trading realm, and especially on the island of Raamah. Khemit, on the other hand, is viewed with suspicion. Trade with Khemit is important enough to keep relations friendly, but both nations maintain strong border outposts for surveillance and possible response to threats from each other. Relations with both Massawa and Nubia are poor at best. Kush covets the good agricultural land of each of these neighbors, while the Nubians in turn covet the tin mines and other resources of Kush. Skirmishes between Nubia and Kush on the western borders are common, though seldom prolonged. Massawa, on the other hand, is viewed as a more serious threat. The port of Salawa, which is separated from Massawa by a range of mountains, is known to be a coveted target of Massawan expansionism. Forts and observation posts are thus maintained to keep close watch over the approaches to the port town, in case the Massawans should ever launch an attack. Internally, Kush enjoys a fairly unified culture. Their religion is built around the cult of Ahura, the official government religion that, like the military, is headed in title but not in fact by The Candace. Priestesses of Ahura maintain temples in Okartum, Salawa, and the larger settlements. The rival Cult of Ba’al is outlawed in Kush, but there are covert groups of these demon-worshippers who have been known to cause considerable trouble for the civil religious authorities in the name of their religion. The Cauldron of Spirits

A massive glass urn lies inside a stone circle, at a convergence of ley lines on the border between Kush and Nubia. The urn is pocked with age but glows with a hellish green light that burns the skin and can be seen for kilometers in every direction. The Kush call this object the Cauldron of Spirits and claim that a kingdom of evil men who came before the Kush were trapped within the cauldron by a great hero. The Nubians call this Agabesagata’s Egg (a-GA-beh-sa-GA-ta), and believe that it is the cradle of an as-yet-unborn god. Nubians regularly cross the border into Kush to leave offerings around the Cauldron of Spirits. This practice has led to bloody massacres in the past, with a Kush tribe that has sworn to protect it.

Magan

(ma-GAHN)

Lying just across the narrow straits from Punt is Magan, a nation that has evolved a hybrid civilization based on borrowings from all of its neighbors. Magan’s terrain consists of broad savannah bordered by hills and mountain ranges. The human tribesmen who dwell here (known as the Magani) are tall and ebony-skinned. They shave their heads, paint their faces with white pigments, and wear elaborate headdresses of cowrie shells and lions’ manes. They are said to treat strangers with hospitality. Magan is rich in mineral wealth — gold, diamonds, and copper being its most valuable commodities. Magan’s abundance of copper makes the metal extremely common as a material from which implements are constructed, or sometimes plated. There are fine coppersmiths and goldsmiths in Magan, and their best work decorates the king’s palace in the mighty city of Zimba (ZIM-ba). Despite its reputation, however, Magan is not really as far advanced as Zimba’s impressive appearance suggests. The backbone of the Magan culture still comes from the country people, the herdsmen, hunters, and farmers who keep the populace supplied with food, leather goods, and similar necessities. Because of this, the wealth of Magan’s precious metals can be used to buy luxury items and, more importantly, knowledge and service from other nations. Lying on one of Sheba’s chief trade routes, Magan has flourished from the exchange of knowledge and ideas that accompanies the trade ships. Magan has a large population of Nemeans who mingle freely with the human population. Jinn are rare but regarded in a very positive light by the local population, who call them Malaika (MAla-IH-ka) and see them as creatures of good fortune. Tribes of Ahl-At-Rab occasionally wander into the savannah but are mostly unknown. The area has had a history of repeated foreign domination and local resistance. Magan was placed under the Atlantean yoke during the Golden Age. The Magani eventually drove the Atlanteans out. The process was repeated when the Hesperian Empire controlled the region. When Hesperia

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GEOGRAPHICA The heartless men of Okartum

Okartum is “blessed” with a group of eerie defenders called the heartless men. These humanoids figures are encased in identical bronze armor, each with a hole straight through the chest where the heart should be. The heartless men are believed to be some kind of automaton and the only way to tell them apart is by the complex engraving on their armor. The heartless men keep peace within the city walls and defend the city from outside attack. The laws the heartless men enforce seem to change based on the time of year and the city employs a number of criers to inform and remind people of the rules. The heartless men vanish into the crypts beneath the city for three hours every night only to appear at dawn. Thieves call these hours the “reaping time” and, during this time, it is very dangerous for law-abiding citizens to be out on the streets. Legend says that the heartless men were built by one of the ancient races, perhaps the early Atlanteans or the Ophidians.

The League of Uhuru

A group of like-minded beings who have banded together to stamp tyranny in the Kush region, the league protects the weak and dispossessed, and actively fights against the many serpent cults that have recently expanded into the region. The League of Uhuru works closely with the Arcanum in the area and shares resources and information with anyone willing to fight the dark forces that besiege their verdant land.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Vault of Pabuuti

Hidden deep inside a secret temple in the mountains of Anwari, the Vault of Pabuuti (pa-BOO-o-tee) is a cave whose “hungry rocks” feast on magic. The vault is a prison for evil witches, spirits, and demons that shamans and witch-doctors across Gondwana have been unable to kill or who are deemed too dangerous to kill. The caves form a seemingly endless labyrinth littered with the semi-living bodies of the black magicians and evil creatures imprisoned here. The vault’s rough stone walls drain magical energy from any being cast into them, leaving the prisoners powerless. The vaults do however have an unknown side effect; they transform mortals dying here into undead mockeries.

Sun Birds

The Sun Birds of Magan are legendary creatures, held up as symbols of purity and life. Sun Birds have bright yellow and orange plumage and during the hours of darkness illuminate the area around them in bright golden sunlight. It is said that no evil creature can approach a Sun Bird. Though now protected by Magan law, these birds were nearly hunted to extinction by the Atlanteans centuries ago. Now, only small isolated groups exist, and hunting them is a high crime punishable by the most terrible tortures imaginable.

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fell into civil war, the Magani were quick to take advantage and rise against the arrogant warriorwomen. In both cases the people of Magan learned much from their conquerors. Since that time, Magan has had close ties only to the nation of Sheba. The Shebans prize not only the copper, gold, and diamonds produced by Magan, but also ivory, and the skins of various animals (especially leopard and zebra). Rhino horns are also valuable trade items. All these things are common in Magan; skins are used locally for clothes, and rhino horns are prized for their reputedly magical properties, or as material for carved works of art. In the back country, along the borders of Samu and Awalawa, live more dangerous beasts, including large lizards and insects. The wilderness is to be feared, both because of the predators and monsters, and because of Nethermen bandits who lurk in some remote regions. Along the Samu border there is sporadic danger from the powerful evil Tikoloshe (sTIK-ol-osh-ee)who dominate that unhappy land. The cities and villages of Magan are small and widely scattered, for the country is still primarily a land of herding and farming. Zimba is the only city that even approaches the size of the great cities of more sophisticated lands, with Nachikupu (na-CHIK-oo-poo)being far smaller. Though small, Zimba is colorful and varied. This city, with impressive stone towers, walls, and buildings, makes extensive use of the Atlantean custom of plating stone walls with copper. The result is impressive, and Zimba is widely known as a city far in advance of most of southern and eastern Gondwana’s other civilized areas. A luxurious stone palace built for the king and his harem is one of the city’s most famous landmarks, along with the great public circle lined with shops and taverns of every description. The city has enclosed walls, but buildings have gone up outside these as well, and there talk of enclosing this “New City”. Other settlements of noteworthy size include: Zambezi (zam-BE-zee), Buzi (BU-zee), Dondo (DON-do), Gwa (GWA), and Umtala (oom-TAla). Zambezi is the principal port of Magan. Magan is ruled by a king or queen who combines training as a warrior-chief with experience in the magical arts. There is an extended royal family, consisting of all living relatives of the current ruler, by blood or by marriage/association. Thus, even a king’s concubines or a queen’s consorts, and all of their relatives, are considered part of the royal family. Upon death of a reigning monarch, the new monarch is drawn from this extended family, regardless of sex. Those eligible for succession to the throne demonstrate proficiency in both military and magical prowess in a three-day petition. The applicant judged to be the most skillful is crowned as new ruler. The monarch does not have absolute power, but comes close enough to govern almost unchecked. The Magani king also functions as “high priest” of the state religion, whose practices most closely resemble witchcraft. Recently, in a rare display of intolerance, of non-native religions attempting to proselytize were slain out of hand. The Magani army consists mostly of lightly armored infantry with the elite Zebra Riders (light cavalry armed with long spears and elliptical animal hide shields) being the highest-regarded units. of the upper classes are expected to provide warriors and equipment for the army. The Magani keep slaves but never enslave their own people. Magic in Magan

Magic is an everyday part of life in Magan and everyone knows at least one witch. Minor spirits (good and evil) are also more common here than almost anywhere else in Gondwana. The ubiquity of magic has a downside, as some people employ minor spells and evil spirits against their enemies or out of spite. This is the reason that village witches are so common; it is part of their job to deal with the misuse of magic and to drive off evil spirits. Sometimes these witches turn to dark magic, a situation requiring strong arms and magic to deal with.

Zimba - the City of Ivory and Horn There is a city in southern Gondwana that is little more than legend in other parts of the world. A city built in and around and from the bones of colossal beasts of the past. Situated in at the center of a large and barren plain, the city of Zimba is indeed constructed from the bones of great beasts. None quite know precisely where these bones came from — some believe that the Plain of Zimba was once a watering hole for local dinosaurs while others posit that a great battle between dragons once took place in the skies above Punt and the slain fell to earth where Zimba now stands. In either case, the fact remains that Zimba is built from the bone, ivory, and horn of countless great beasts, decorated with copper, diamonds, and gold. The poorest of Zimba’s citizens live in simple shacks built of the bones of lesser animals, reinforced with wood and mud, while the palace of the king is

GEOGRAPHICA decorated with a façade of huge specimens. Those who reside in Zimba experience heightened dreams several times a year wherein they stride across the land, sky, or sea as some giant predatory beast. While the general subject of these dreams remains the same, the exact details vary from person to person. The Magani of Zimba claim that these dreams are prophetic, and signal what the next season of a person’s life might be like.

Marhashi

(mar-HA-shee)

Southernmost of the nations of the continent of Gondwana is Marhashi, a rich realm growing in power and prestige. As is typical of the southlands, Marhashi contains a mix of veldt and rugged uplands. Like its neighbors, diamonds and gold are common in Marhashi, along with copper and other precious metals. Besides these resources, Marhashi is rich in cattle and ivory. In Marhashi, wealth means little when it comes to power or respect. Even the slaves have possessions that aristocrats in other countries might envy. The only real source of power in Marhashi is magic, for the land is ruled by powerful witches. All government positions are held by witches of one kind or another. Those with the greatest mastery of magic have superior positions in the government, and hence more say in running the country. Anyone who does not possess knowledge of magical practices is considered a second-class citizen. Marhashi has but three social classes: witch, citizen, and slave. The witch class contains many ranks. Standing is based on the level of magic mastered and experience in previous governmental positions. The art of Witchcraft is favored, but no form of magic is excluded from the class or discriminated against in any way; even Black Magic is accepted. All practitioners are given the title “witch”, even if they don’t practice Witchcraft. Witches are exempt from many laws and can literally get away with murder in most cases. In fact, most laws are mutable and subject to the whim of local witches. The head of the state is known as the Grand Witch of Marhashi. The position is filled, usually for life, by the most politically and magically powerful witch in the realm. Theoretically open to any native witch, the position, in reality, tends to fall to of a handful of select families. These families have intermarried extensively, strengthening the bloodlines and consolidating power. The Grand Witch is empowered to rule as he or she pleases, a situation that has caused much strife amongst the lower classes, and even among the witches themselves. The citizen class is the largest in Marhashi, made up of all those who are neither witches nor slaves. They have very little in the way of influence or authority, and are treated strictly as a secondrate class. Slaves are an important part of the Marhashi economy, and a major import. Their numbers are further augmented by the Marhashi judicial system; most non-treasonous crimes carry slavery, either for a specific term of years or for life, as a penalty. Any children born to a slave, even those serving out a term of a few years, are themselves slaves for life. The state religion is controlled by the witch class, and is a largely ceremonial institution, intended to reinforce the social order. Other cults exist, but are considered illegal under the law. In fact, a number of minor cults were founded by the witches with the intention of watching for rebellion. A witch cult worshipping Ba’al has risen up in recent years, with snaking their way into major government positions. Strangers in Marhashi are often surprised by the wealth to be found wherever they look. Copper and even gold utensils are used by many, while the witches ostentatiously display plates of precious metal affixed in the Atlantean style to the stone walls of their homes. Fountains built of copper and decorated with gold, ivory, and gemstones grace the homes of the wealthy, and the markets are filled with imported luxuries ranging from myrrh, frankincense, and herbal oils to wines, exotic foods, and even silk robes from distant lands to the east. To a Marhashi, true wealth is represented by the ownership of silver, tin, iron, amber, or gemstones other than diamonds, for these must be imported. As few craftsmen in Marhashi can work these substances, finished products are usually brought in as well. Ownership of iron weapons is restricted to important warriors; iron implements of any other kind may only be owned by a witch. Physically, the Marhashi people are tall and lean, with shiny black skin and coarse black hair. Citizens wear starched white robes and caps. Marhashi warriors normally wear only loincloths, animal skin cloaks, and headdresses made of red ostrich plumes (many also carry shields of rattan or animal hide). Most colorful are the witches of Marhashi, who dress in rich robes and wear masks

Outsiders

The Marhashi are uneasy around magicians from other nations, and accidents tend to befall those openly professing magical knowledge. Traders and adventurers are best advised to hide any magical talents they possess while in this strange land. Travel outside of the major settlements is heavily restricted and those disobeying the law quickly find themselves in chains. Outsiders sometimes wonder why the people don’t rebel against their witch masters but they fail to realize that the witches have spent hundreds of years impressing on their people that the outside world is a terrible place and even their religion is geared towards keeping the status quo.

The Nemeans

Nemeans are very common in Marhashi, making up as much as 5% of the population. Nemeans are so well-regarded that it is forbidden to kill a lion in Marhashi without the express permission of a Nemean witch. This is one of the few ways that a Marhashi witch can end up in trouble with the law.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Witch Estates

Each witch in Marhashi owns an estate where his principal business interests lie. These mini-settlements usually consist of a main house, a slave dwelling, outbuildings, and vast tracts of farmland or a resource mine. The Grand Witch grants these estates to adult witches on their coming of age if their own family cannot provide one. These granted estates tend to be in the borderlands and require more work to tame and maintain. The estate populations vary in size and consist of the witch, his close family, and between 10 and 100 slaves. A few citizens may also be employed as foremen or enforcers. Most witch estates feature a “circle of the dead gods”. The origin of these circles of 10 man-shaped wooden carvings is unknown but some of the older ones function as Vril circles. The newer ones tend to serve as places of punishment and religious devotion.

The Monsters of Daraka

The dangerous Daraka Mountains are a refuge for several species of monstrous reptiles, remnants of an earlier age. Brave witches sometimes venture forth into the mountains seeking monstrous mounts or creatures to battle in the arenas.

Tummangat Lake and the Starlight Pillars

Tummangat Lake is surrounded by vast arrangements of basalt pillars that the natives claim were used by their ancestors to channel “star energy” into the lake for some unknown purpose. Tummangat Lake is known for the thick mists that rise from it every morning and it is said that these mists have healing properties.

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of carved and painted ebony wood (typically fashioned in the likenesses of some demon or devil). Wrist and ankle bracelets are popular among all the classes. A particularly striking element of Marhashian fashion is the use of the iridescent-hued feathers of the Marhashi Blue Fowl to make magnificently plumed headgear. Feathers imported from other lands — Puntian ostrich plumes, Magani peacock feathers, Atlantean flamingo plumes, and so forth — are used to equally vivid effect by the feathersmiths of Marhashi. Witches and foreign visitors lavish much business on the feathersmiths. The settlements of Marhashi display similar diversity. Even though all consist of neat houses, market circles, cropland, and pastures, the layout of each settlement is extremely individualistic and reflects the surrounding terrain, blending into the landscape rather than overshadowing it. The major population center and capital of Marhashi is Kuru (koo-ROO), a rocky coastal city that sprawls along the banks of the River Grut (groot). The inland areas contain the witch estates, and the coastal districts abound in markets, shops, storage sheds, and wharfs. Kuru is the only settlement that has a sizeable foreign population. Other coastal trade settlements include, in descending order of size: Swazi (SWA-zee) and Umzinto (oom-ZIN-toh) in the east and Zaldana (zal-DA-na) in the west. Inland herd settlement and mining camps include Zabazimbe (ZA-ba-ZIM-bay), Kompa (KOM-pa), and Daraka (DARa-ka).

Massawa

(ma-SA-wa)

Massawa is a nation of contrasts, from the steaming jungle of the western expanse to the high mountains of the interior to the warm and wet eastern coastline. The snow-capped mountain of Kirinyaga (ki-RHIN-yag-ah) is one of the highest in Gondwana. The nation is split in two by the great Awaash (a-WA-ash) Valley that cuts from south to north across the region before ing into Kush. The people of Massawa are tall, black-skinned humans. They prefer bright, single-colored cotton robes worn over one shoulder, and wear their hair in long, elaborate braids. Their culture is primitive in magic and science, but they claim that their ancestors built the ruined cities of Kush before being driven back to Massawa by a great plague of insects that lasted a hundred years. A hidden enclave of Lemurians lies within Massawa’s western jungle and the gentle Ape-men have an uneasy peace with the humans. Bands of Ahl-At-Rab roam the area, occasionally making war on the Lemurians in an almost half-hearted fashion. Most of the population is concentrated along the Awaash River, and on the long Massawan coastline. The river is dotted with numerous small herding villages from the coast almost all the way to the river’s source at Tummangat Lake (toom-MAN-gat). At the mouth of the Awaash is Massawa’s capital, Adaama (a-DA-ma). This large city of clay buildings and tall stone stelae (giant, elaborately carved wood or stone burial markers) is a thriving port with a large foreign population, for Massawa has frequent with neighboring cultures and traders from distant realms alike. In addition to the villages of the Awaash Valley and the Massawan coasts, there are military training camps all along the inland borders of Magan, Samu, Nubia, and Kush. Ostensibly, the camps are for defense, though they could as easily be used as bases for expansion into neighboring nations. Those promoting war with other nations point to ancient tablets discovered deep underground that point to a Massawan Empire covering the entire eastern coast of Gondwana. Travelers are welcome within the realm, and there are large foreign populations not only in Adaama but also in many of the smaller villages. Sheban traders call regularly all along the coast, with Adaama one of their major ports of call on the southwestern trade route to Magan, Punt, and Marhashi. People from Magan and Kush are also quite common, drawn not only by trade but also by the lure of adventure; the interior of Massawa is renowned as a region of danger and of potential riches. The land is rich with many edible plants to both the human population and their large herds. Gather-farming is widespread, though true agriculture is virtually unknown. Massive migrating wildebeest herds numbering in the millions provide much of the food and materials for hunter-gatherer tribes. Hunting provides diversity in the people’s diet, but it is cattle-herding that is the true foundation of Massawan life. The government of Massawa is under the complete domination of the military, which is under

GEOGRAPHICA the direct command of the king of Massawa. National security and integrity are most important The Makara and to Massawa’s citizenry, and the military is regarded as the most important institution of the land. the Ahl-At-Rab Most Massawans serve in the military at one time or another, and warriors are the most common To the natives of Massawa, class among the population. The Massawans hone their fighting skills on the Ahl-At-Rab bands that these twin menaces are a fact roam the country and on the Makara that frequently menace the coastline and settlements along of life and a threat they have the Awaash River. been dealing with for centuries. Magic is mostly confined to the priesthood of Massawa’s shamanistic religious cult. Although Unbeknownst to the Massawa, state and religion are separate entities, and religious leaders officially have no political power, there however, the two groups have recently begun working with is close cooperation between the military leadership and the religious hierarchy. Only the upper each other; the Ahl-At-Rab have echelons of each group know the extent of cooperation that takes place in shaping policy and public called upon the Makara for help opinion; the common citizen has no inkling of this alliance. in investigating an Ophidian Social rank is directly based on past or present military rank. The army is very large, and ruin under one of the region’s primarily consists of infantry; a small navy operates along the river and up and down the coast. lakes. If this arrangement goes The navy consists mostly of fast troop transports and has little capability when it comes to fighting well, the Massawa may find other ships. Both services make frequent use of archery — the Massawan archer is well-known themselves under concerted throughout Gondwana and even beyond — with war clubs, javelins, and spears being the other attack from two fronts. favored weapons of most warriors. As the Massawans have little knowledge of metallurgy, most such articles are made of wood, stone, and bone. Those not currently serving in the army are mostly cattle herders or gather-farmers. Others are involved in crafts, or in occupations that provide for the distribution of goods and for the comfort of citizens and travelers alike. Massawa is a realm of plenty, and would be almost idyllic if it were not for the imposition of heavy taxes and the growing sense of impending warfare. Massawa is not particularly rich in natural resources. Their chief exports are ivory, animal skins, and semi-precious stones. Gold, silver, and copper are scarce, and hence quite valuable. Adventurers are drawn to Massawa by the promise of wealth reputed to be lost in the uncharted interior of the realm. Hoards of plundered treasure are believed to exist in the serpent caves under Mount The land of my father, the land Kirinyaga. Another lure is the lost city of Melka Kontaurea (MEL-ka kon-TO-ooree-a), an ancient Ophidian ruin said to lie beyond the caves in a hidden valley somewhere in the mountains. It is of my mother, and the land of my said to be home to vast treasures and malevolent wraiths, though despite local legends, no one in birth. No fruit tastes as sweet as Nubian fruit, no meat as savory, the realm is actually known to have ever visited the ruined city. and no savannah as majestic. This is the land the Orixa set aside to create warriors. I may have gone ubia beyond its borders, but I carry Nubia in my heart. (NU-bee-a) Donobey of Nubia The landlocked nation of Nubia is a land of jungles and savannahs, combining aspects of the

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central and eastern regions of Gondwana. It is bordered by Khemit to the north, Kush to the northeast, Massawa to the southeast, Samu in the south, and the ill-defined reaches of Awalawa in the west. Nubia is home to a variety of beasts: wild herd animals that roam the wide savannahs, giant crocodiles along the banks of the River Nahl Iteru, and large herds in the forests and jungles. Physically, the Nubian people are very impressive. They are tall (rarely less than 1.8 meters in height and often as much as 2.2 meters tall), with ebony skin and close-cropped, kinky black hair. Their clothing is distinguished by the common use of necklaces of hammered copper plates or disks and colorful silk or dyed cotton headdresses copied from the Khem style. They also wear loin cloths and loose robes or tunics, depending upon their immediate needs. The Nubians are not very advanced in any of the arts or sciences, being simple hunter-gatherers who roam the land in small bands. They are not a violent or aggressive people, yet nonetheless have a deservedly fearsome reputation as warriors. Their skill in the use of spear, javelin, and bow is legendary, and Nubian mercenaries are in demand throughout much of the civilized world. The Nemean King

Nemeans regard Nubia as their home and are more plentiful here than anywhere else on the planet. The Lion Legion brought a massive number of Nemeans back with them from Atlantis and so the population has managed to stay stable here unlike many other regions where it has declined. Several past great chieftains have been Nemeans and it is traditional for Nubian chieftains to take at least one Nemean wife. Other Andamen have been drawn to Nubia throughout the Dark Ages and it now possesses the largest Andamen population outside of Atlantis.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Queen Nyavinghi Nubia is home to a powerful mercenary queen without a home. Nyavinghi (NEE-ah-vin-ghee) was once a Hesperian noble woman who cast her status, titles, and fortunes aside for the love of a Nubian general. When he was assassinated by rivals in Khemit’s army, she took control of his men and marched them deep into the wilderness to train for 30 years as she mourned the death of her beloved. A generation has ed and the children of the mercenaries now compose most of her army as they march towards Khemit and its Pharaoh to take her revenge.

Agabesagata’s Egg Just over the border in Kush lies the strange object known to the Nubians as Agabesagata’s Egg. The Andamen of Nubia believe that a child conceived in the light of this object will be blessed with fertility and give birth to true Andamen. Many tribes migrate to area surrounding the egg each year for mating purposes. This has led to clashes with cults from Kush which believe that the egg is dangerous and should be avoided.

The sole stone circle in Nubia lies near the peak of Mount Jebel Barkol (JEHbeh BAHR-kohl). An emerald mist coils at the center of the circle that is so infused with power that anyone touching it vanishes instantly. What happens to these people nobody knows but a great oracle once proclaimed that they go to Olódùmarè’s house. What this means is unclear but many dying men and woman make the pilgrimage to the mountain each year in the hope of some kind of miracle. The mountain is guarded by 77 Anubim arcanists and is rumored to be the site on which the Orixa were born.

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The Beasts of Nubia Nubia is home to a number of remarkable creatures, massive oversized animals worthy of legend. A breed of giant hyena roams the savannahs, as do prides of massive sabertoothed cats. These huge beasts feed on equally gigantic breeds of herd animals, such as wild hogs that stand 2 meters at the shoulder. The creatures’ massive sizes means that Nubian hunters tend to choose smaller targets and leave the rest alone.

Just before the Cataclysm each of the Atlantean kingdoms sponsored a legion of Nubian mercenaries, each with an animal totem. When the Cataclysm struck, three of these legions were destroyed outright in the chaos and the remainder either set sail for Nubia or got absorbed into the Atlantean armies. It is a tribute to the Nubian warriors that none of them engaged in looting or attempted a coup. Of the ten legions, only three survive today (the Hawk, Bull, and Lion legions) and make up most of the mercenaries provided by Nubia to other realms. The great chieftain of Nubia, to whom the lesser chiefs pledge allegiance, negotiates with foreign powers and groups to provide mercenary soldiers (who are then recruited on a voluntary basis) in return for a variety of trade goods. In this way, Nubia can procure metal products not available in the land, where only copper is commonly mined and worked. The sale of war-skilled manpower permits them to obtain the finest weapons and armor in the world. Even Atlantean steel and iron products have become almost commonplace in Nubia, thanks to numerous generations of professional mercenaries. Khemit is Nubia’s main customer for mercenaries, and most of the Hawk legion is stationed there. Sheba and Tharshesh also use Nubians frequently, commonly posting at least one squad of mercenary soldiers on any trade ship that bears especially costly cargo. But foreign nations do not have a monopoly on mercenary use; private interests make up a significant portion of the list of Nubian customers. Due to their reputation, Nubian mercenaries command at least 25% more than the standard rates. The price includes the re-outfitting of the mercenaries with the best available weapons and armor. Employers are also expected to provide food and shelter for the troops for the entire period of their employment, from recruitment in Nubia to their return to that nation. Nubian military units include infantry armed with spears and short swords, archers, trained war elephants with highly skilled mahouts, and onager-drawn chariot forces (using wood-framed, two-wheeled chariots plated with copper). Nubia’s other exportable resources include animal skins and furs, copper jewelry, and sculptures of wood and ivory. Ebony and ivory statuettes are prized by collectors as far away as Sheba and Atlantis, where they are far from common and command an extremely high price. Nubian religion revolves around Khem pantheon, but each band worships in its own, highly personalized way. Most of the other cults that do flourish are shamanistic, with some based in Witchcraft. The Nubians tend to be very tolerant of other religious beliefs, and expect the same of others. They are very hostile to any religion that practices forcible conversion, intolerance, or aggressive missionary tactics, and have been known to refuse, or even to turn against, employers who exhibit such beliefs.

Okalo

(oh-KAH-low)

Okalo was once part of the Hesperian Empire and fought in the insurrections and revolutions that won the nation its freedom. But, like Pemba, that freedom also brought on a rapid decline. Okalo is part of Gondwana’s southlands, filled with broad savannahs leading from the coast up to the rugged, volcanic highlands. The terrain has allowed the Okalo to develop into herdsmen and simple people of agriculture. Craftsmen are also developing their own style, with a variety of goods woven from the long-stalked grasses of the savannah, simple metalworking and, recently, gem-cutting. The rediscovery of diamond deposits in the interior has added both wealth and a growth of settlements in Okalo. Diamonds and livestock are traded to other lands, particularly Tharshesh, in exchange for metal weapons and tools. Some of these are also given to the Okwilu (OCK-wee-loo) in tribute to keep them in their jungles. The Okwilu used to raid Okalo for cattle, crops, and slaves

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but metal tools and weapons from Okalo traders allow them to fight their rivals. Though raids across the border still occur, there is an uneasy peace between the two lands that is tenuous at best. Except for a few mining villages in the highlands, most of the Okalan population is largely distributed between small herding villages and growing cities dotting the savannahs and coast. The largest of these is the port city of Kaguata (kah-GWA-tah), the nation’s capital. Kaguata is the center of foreign trade and has a large concentration of craftsmen and merchants. It is also the seat of what es for a local government as well as the local army of the realm. Other cities include Kaloa (kahLOW-ah), Ondanagua (ohn-dah-NAH-gwa), Usako (yew-SAH-ko), and Obis (oh-BIS). Okalo is not particularly unified. It is more a hegemony of villages and towns banded together for trade and defense. Each village is usually ruled by a shaman. The hereditary shaman-chief of Kaguata is acknowledged as the nation’s High Chief. He is ed by a council of elders, many of whom are former village rulers. Thus, the entire nation is represented to the High Chief. Individual bands of warriors from each village form what es for an Okalan army. The shamans who rule the villages and nation are seen as intermediaries between the land, the people, and the gods. The village shamans also tend to be craftsmen. They are renowned throughout Gondwana and in parts of the rest of the world for the trinkets and talismans they create. Each charm is dedicated to a different minor god or goddess, and intended to provide aid for anything and everything, ranging from cooking to lovemaking and from battle to craftsmanship. The Okalans are of an average height, lean, agile, and adorn themselves with lion-claw jewelry and colorful wrap-around robes. Occasionally, they use body paint over their walnut-brown skin or in their jet-black hair. There are few Andamen in the nation, but a number of Jinn have appeared in the larger cities, working alongside craftsmen or advising the shamans.

Mount Tama Deep in the Okalan highlands rests Mount Tama, which was the site of a citadel built during years when the Hesperian Empire ruled over these lands. Constructed near several rich diamond mines that the Hesperians depended on to finance their wars of expansion, Mount Tama is said to hold an untold fortune of wealth. However, no Okalan has ever been successful in retrieving so much as a single gem from within the walls. Stories say that the ghosts of the last legion stationed at Tama still remain and will not leave until a queen of Hesperia arrives to relieve them of their command. In truth, the fortress and the mines beneath are still the homes of a band of Amazons left behind in Okalo. Known as the Tamara, they preserve what they see as the warrior-hunter traditions of their native land with rule by a matrilineal society. They have a large population of male slaves who till the steep cliff-side farms on the mountain below the citadel and work in the mines within the mountain. The Tamarans are much like contemporary Hesperians except that one and all they are devoted to a small cult dedicated to a jungle goddess. Originally, some of the Amazon legions who were sent to Okalo had been influenced by the Lotus Cult of Dabba. However, after the Hesperian Empire began to lose control, the Tamaran legion could no longer get a reliable supply of lotus powder. Over time, the adoration of the Lotus Cult morphed into something else. The Tamarans decorate their shields with flowers, and have a shrine within their citadel filled with flowers harvested from the highland jungles. This reverence to flowers has become part of an internal cult of Witchcraft in Tama that the average Amazon of Hesperia would consider “unwomanly”.

The Land of the Basilisks Along Okalo’s coast is a small desert region known as the Land of the Basilisks. Populated by large, vile lizards that roam the area freely, most people avoid this area. A small and savage cult that worships the beasts lives here, surviving by fishing and hunting. Calling themselves the Namaba (nah-MAH-bah), the people here are tall, long-limbed, and ebony-skinned. They are largely nocturnal to avoid the heat of the desert days. They do not wear much in the way of clothing, nor do they make much in the way of tools. There are several Ahl-AtRab who live amongst the Namaba, some acting as tribal shamans. The entire tribe is cannibalistic with regards to outsiders and dead Namabi. The heart of the Namabi shamanistic basilisk cult is an ancient Atlantean who slumbers within a large carved casket of amber. She sends the shamans dreams, wisdom, and directions to be carried out. No one knows what her agendas or motivations are, but there is a sinister color to all she does.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Great Jungle of Ophir

Deep in the heart of the ancient jungles of Ophir are said to be places where the trees march in rigid lines or stand like columns around mist-shrouded clearings. There are dangerous creatures in the jungle, however, that take the forms of things from out of nightmares and myths. Furthermore, the Lemurians who dwell down in Khaffir regard the heart of the jungle with something akin to dread and fear, and will only say that their own ancestors long ago learned that there were some seeds that should not be planted.

The city is what I believe Atlantis aspires to be. I know most see it the other way around but the cities of Ophir are grand without the contempt shown to visitors. The cities and villages are always filled with the laughter of children and the wisdom of wise men and women who will take the time to help a traveler. Donobey of Nubia

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Ophir

(oh-FEER)

The nation of Ophir lies along Gondwana’s western shore between the Hesperian colony of Maia and the Pemba tribelands. The north of Ophir is a mountainous region, while the east and southern interior are largely untamed jungle. A few humans live in these remote regions in small knots, living off the land, and occasionally venturing down to the coast to trade. The great sandstone cliffs that tower over the jungles a number of various cave settlements, none large enough to even be considered a village. Occasionally, bands of Nethermen or Andamen will make one or more of these into temporary lairs, but few remain for any great length of time. It is along the coast of the Atlantean Ocean that most of the civilized centers of population remain. The human inhabitants of Ophir are a black-skinned people, nearly as tall as Nubians. They wear loose-fitting white kaftans and elaborate burnooses. Most citizens wear a great deal of jewelry, especially gold and copper, on their arms, ankles, and necks. Those who cannot afford precious metals wear similar decorations carved instead from wood or ivory. Trade with such nations as Atlantis, Okalo, and Marhashi ensure a variety of ideas and cultural exchanges as well. A number of Atlanteans maintain manors and estates in the Ophir countryside, and it is not uncommon to find other races visiting the cities of Ophir for a variety of reasons. The people of Ophir are well-educated, with most of the citizenry being schooled from a young age. In exchange, the king of Ophir requires that all citizens who do receive an education also serve in the military for a total of twelve years. Military service does not have to be completed all at once, but it must be completed before an Ophirian’s sixtieth birthday. Ophirians are very religious and devotion to the Orixa is almost universal amongst the population. The government of Ophir is a monarchy that boasts an unbroken line of kings stretching back to the days before the Hesperian Empire was overthrown. The government is fair when compared to other monarchies, and enjoys the and trust of its populace. Each village and town is run by a council of elders, made up of respected shamans, hunters, warriors, and merchants. In turn, a similar council advises the king in Khaffir (ka-FEER). The ports of Ophir make it a fabulously wealthy land. Mines in the north produce gold, diamonds, and lead in vast quantities, enough to make Ophir a leading exporter in all three goods. Silver, copper, and quartz are also extensively mined, as well as far smaller amounts of tin and iron. Trade brings in large quantities of Atlantean iron and Hyperborean steel, which are used primarily to outfit the Ophiran military. In recent decades, another aspect of Ophir’s growing power has been the development of alchemical studies. Perhaps spurred by ties with Atlantis, Ophir’s capital has an established university that enjoys the respect of sages and alchemists from Atlantis to Sheba. The university is very expensive and requires its students to pay every two months (WP DoD -3). In exchange, however, the school provides all the needed materials and access to several Lemurian alchemist-sages who act as instructors and artisans. The Lemurian teachers have strongly influenced the university and, as result, Ophiran alchemists are highly sought after as healers and masters of medicine. The university, and indeed much of the capital city of Khaffir, contains many beautiful examples of architecture, with the more prominent buildings gilded in bronze, ivory, and precious stones. Trained peacocks stroll through the streets and are seen as an emblem of the city; it is forbidden to harm or molest them. Many of the wealthy keep gardens hospitable to the birds and the birds’ sometimes raucous calls echo through the streets during the day. In addition to Khaffir and its university, the coastal city of Ogbu (OHG-boo) also enjoys wide renown. Like Khaffir, it is thought that Ogbu was one of the original settlements of the early Atlanteans before they left the continent of Gondwana. Three great mirrors that date back to the “Day of Shattering” are kept in the holy city of Ogbu, and it is from this city that some of the greatest priests and godspeakers the world has ever known have come. Religion in Ophir is almost shamanistic, carrying the polytheistic worship of the Orixa to great extremes. Honor is paid to many Ophiran deities and it is believed that those deities in return shower the Orixa’s blessings of wealth, knowledge, and health upon the nation. Like Khaffir, Ogbu too has a symbolic animal. In Ogbu, trained apes work alongside men and are viewed somewhat as younger siblings in many households, enjoying the care and attention of families and providing security and strength in return. The other coastal towns of Kintampo (kin-TAM-po), Anokchatt (ah-noc-CHAT), and Tema (TEH-mah) serve as minor trade centers. Additionally, there are two settlements in the mountains, Adaamaawa (AH-day-MAY-wa) and Ogwaashe-Uk (ohg-WAY-she-UHK), which are built around

GEOGRAPHICA the nation’s mining interests. None of these, however, are as elaborate or extravagant as Khaffir. The entertainment districts in Khaffir and Ogbu are said to be second only to those of Tharshesh in of the variety of diversions available. Many taverns host extravagant shows and pageants for their patrons. There is a great stadium where athletic events, gladiatorial contests, wild beast shows, and other attractions are staged. In recent years, even operas and plays imported from Atlantis have been performed in Khaffir. Additionally, throughout the nation, each full moon is observed with a great festival, sometimes lasting as long as a week, which caters to citizens, slaves, and foreigners alike, paying honor to the Orixa and reveling the joys of life. In contrast, the cities also attract an unpleasant element. The festivals, with their rich foreigners coupled with the wealth of the trade ships coming and going from her ports, mean that thieves, extortionists, and other criminals in great numbers also come to Ophir to seek their fortunes. Although Ophir is possessed of a large and powerful army, the military is generally too occupied with guarding the nation’s wild frontiers to deal with domestic policing. Protecting the southern border with Pemba is difficult at best. The unpredictable Avakuli (ahVAH-koo-lee) tribes often venture across the border to raid and loot nearby towns or merchant trains, and it falls to frontier garrisons to respond to threats in time. Trade agreements, even with the Pembans, demand a rapid response to bandit raids. The eastern border of Ophir recedes into the encroaching canopy of Awalawa, and at times dangerous creatures cross the border to terrorize southeastern Ophir.

The River of Dreams

An Asena from the Avakuli who calls herself River has begun to raise a band of other warriors to drive out Okwilu and Kota raiders from northern Pemba. Though she claims not to be a shaman, she has had several prophetic dreams that have led her small band to a number of startling successes. Her band of warriors calls itself the Stormborn, after the group’s preference for fierce sudden attacks and a fondness for bows.

Pemba

(PEM-bah) The nation known as Pemba is actually a holdover from when this region was dominated by the Amazons of Hesperia. Though it was one of the first nations to break away from Hesperia centuries ago, outsiders still refer to it by its Amazonian name. In truth, Pemba is a divided land. Considered part of the interior of Gondwana, dominated by tropical jungle and the vast Dkawala (DUH-kahwah-LAH) River, the land is frequented by dangerous animals, giant reptiles, and animals thought extinct elsewhere. The inhabitants of the region are seen as primitive and warlike, a product of their brutal environment. Three separate groups reside within Pemba: the Avakuli, the Okwilu, and the Kota (KOH-tah). Primarily living in the northern half of Pemba north of Dkawala, the Avakuli have chocolatebrown skin and kinky black hair, usually dyed in several colors. They wear little if any clothing, decorating themselves with brightly colored body paint and the occasional piece of jewelry. They are a migratory people, following small herds of cattle or game. Based on dimly ed oral histories of the age of Amazons, the Avakuli have a femaledominated warrior culture. Men gather vegetables, prepare meals, and raise children while the women serve as hunters and fighters. The Avakuli worship the Orixa in their many forms and have several shamans in each roaming band. Though primitive, the Avakuli conduct extensive trade with Ophir, exporting ivory, furs, and rare plants and animals from Pemba’s jungles in exchange for metal weapons and tools from Ophir. There are many bands of Avakuli, though every year they all gather together for a week to trade knowledge, tribe , goods, and slaves amongst the tribes. Like the Avakuli, the Okwilu are a hunter-gatherer society, but the Okwilu are a male-dominated society south of the Dkawala. They too the time of the Amazons, but Okwilu stories recall them as fierce monsters and enemies. The Okwilu were the first people to rise up against the Hesperian Empire as its internal strife started to erode its control. They succeeded and that achievement has translated into a prideful culture completely reversed from that of the Avakuli despite their common ethnic origin. Bitter rivalries exist between the two groups. The Okwilu roam across the southern half of Pemba, paying homage to the Old God Og at various sacred sites marked by large stone dolmens that jut upwards from the fertile soil of the grasslands. The Okwilu occasionally trade with the Okala to the south, but when trade goods are scarce, they instead turn to raiding their neighbors for what they need. The enmity between the Avakuli and the Okwilu is fierce, each tribe loathing the other, seeing the other as a wretched distortion of what it best in life. Yet, both tribes fear the dreaded Kota. The Kota are cannibalistic bands of Nethermen who traverse both banks of the river, stalking its shores by night and slumbering under the canopies of trees by day. In the past, the Hesperian Amazons kept the Nethermen at bay by force of arms, or bribed them to venture further inland up the river. In the centuries since the Hesperian left Pemba, the Kota have been destroying the forts and abandoned strongholds of the Amazons one by one. Now that only one of these remains near on a small island in the delta where the Dkawala meets the Atlantean sea, it seems that the Kota have become a force to be reckoned with.

The Thousand Spears

A single great Nethermen shaman-chieftain is organizing the scattered bands of Kota and turning them into one great tribe. This shaman has spread the worship of Ba’al amongst the cannibals, and they have taken stores of abandoned weapons from hidden Amazonian caches left behind. If they side with either the Avakuli or the Okwilu, the other tribe will surely fall. If the Pembans, however, can be united against the Kota, then the fierce jungle tribes, tribes not even the Amazons could extinguish, might be dealt with once and for all.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Puntian Liquid Stone

The formula for this rare alchemical creation is known only to the alchemists of Punt and they are sworn never to share it with the outside world. The formula turns sand and water gathered from the coastline into a muddy substance that dries in a few days to become as solid as rock. The alchemists also have a brew that can dissolve the solidified rock back into its constituent components.

I laughed when I first saw a Puntian soldier on one of these ridiculous-looking mounts. A few days later I saw one of these beasts throw off its rider and disembowel at least three people before being subdued. Never laugh at what you don’t understand. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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Punt

(punt)

The island of Punt is generally considered a part of Gondwana, though in fact it lies between the continents of Gondwana and Mu, and guards the two ages between the Erythraean Sea and the Forgotten Sea in the south. Punt enjoys a tropical climate and while most of the island enjoys a lot of rainfall, it does have an arid region near the southern tip. Terrain on the island is mostly tropical forest with central forested highlands and a ring of mangrove swamps surrounding the coastline. Punt is the setting for many exotic and outlandish stories. When an Atlantean or Tamoanchanian wishes to refer to the strange or the mysterious, the land of Punt is one of the first places that comes to mind. The island is famed for an abundance of myrrh trees, which produce an aromatic scent unlike any other in the world. It is said that a sailor can navigate to and from the shores of Punt merely by following the smell of myrrh wafted on the sea breezes. The island is rich in precious stones as well, mostly sapphires. One common saying is that a spade of earth from Punt can keep a man in style for a year, so common are the valuable gems buried there. The rugged land holds a variety of wildlife, too; ostriches and baboons are especially notable because of their domestication by the island’s inhabitants. Punt is often called land of the small giants, inhabited by a race of pygmies. Skin color is dark brown and the people of Punt have lean athletic builds. Facial hair is virtually non-existent, but the black, kinky hair on their heads is worn long and in a variety of intricate dreadlock styles. Such personal ornamentation is used to suggest social standing and occupation. The Puntians have a flourishing, civilized culture. They build aboveground using a pouredstone process known only to their artisans. Buildings are small and sturdy, and are created with an individual artistry symbolic of Puntian character. Even the Royal Citadel is not a large, imposing structure, but rather a collection of smaller buildings set seemingly at random in the enclosure of the park-like Royal Preserve. The most elaborate structures on Punt are the labyrinthine mines, each representing many centuries of toil by generations of miners. Culturally, the Puntians have a complex social structure that gives almost equal importance to several different abilities and talents. The upper classes of society are warriors, alchemists, and sorcerers, with warriors being the least important of the three. The alchemists of Punt, in particular, are held in high esteem by their countrymen. Little magic is practiced on Punt, though there are at least two royal families who specialize in a local variant of Atlantean High Sorcery. Punt is ruled by a monarch of one of the three upper classes (warriors, alchemists, and sorcerers). The reigning monarch selects his successor from among any of the several “Royal Families” of Punt prior to death. Should he die without making a choice, the throne goes to the nearest male relative of the King, with a vote of the King’s Council settling any disputes or problems as they occur. This council consists of a host of advisors appointed entirely by the king. He delegates such power as he wishes to of the council, having the right of complete control over the composition, duties, and privileges accorded to these advisors. The king is an absolute monarch: head of the realm, the council, and all three of the top social classes. Generally, though, the king makes little use of these powers. For the most part, the kings of Punt have allowed their subjects great individual freedom; while they remain in solitude and contemplation in the Royal Citadel atop Mount Amadagascara (AHM-ahd-ahg-as-cya-ra). They are content to set general policies, steering the realm along a particular path, but intervening only as the need arises. The people of Punt are renowned for their skill in cutting gems. Even their ordinary jewelry is superb in quality and craftsmanship. Sorcerers and alchemists frequently work with jewelers to construct truly marvelous magical amulets, and many pieces of jewelry in the land are endowed with magical properties in ways that cannot be duplicated beyond the shores of Punt. The Puntians are possessive of these artifacts, and rarely part with them willingly. Merchants and craftsmen belong to the same respected class. Puntian merchants have established relations with other seafaring nations, especially Sheba far to the north. Punt’s exports include ebony, ivory, perfumes, incense, myrrh, frankincense, valuable woods, resin, antimony, jewels of all kinds (and some jewelry), trained baboons, and giant ostrich feathers. In return for these items, they import a variety of metals and luxury goods. Merchants usually use large outrigger canoes or multi-hulled catamarans to trade with other groups. Punt’s warrior class is powerful, even if it is eclipsed by the sorcerers and alchemists. They are charged with the defense of the realm, and are ultimately answerable only to the king. Punt has a very unusual cavalry branch to their army. The Puntians have bred a strain of giant ostriches (which

GEOGRAPHICA reach about 3 meters in height) that can carry the weight of armed Puntians on their backs, and trained them to fight in battle themselves with slashing, brass-shod talons. Baboons have also been domesticated and trained by the Puntians, and are used as “watchdogs”, attack animals, and for some simple, menial labor. Both ostriches and baboons are kept as pets by the wealthy; ostriches, in addition, are raised for their feathers (for apparel and for export to other lands), and as a source of meat and eggs. Once, early in the island’s history, Punt was as rich in workable metals as it still is in gemstones. Long ago, however, the best veins of ore were all thoroughly exploited; while some mines still produce metal, it is of decidedly inferior grade. The extensive mines of the old days remain vast labyrinthine structures that delve far below ground. Most have not been used in generations, and it is probable that no living person knows the full extent of the tunnels today. The tunnels are ed by spans of liquid rock, allowing them to be dug far deeper than normal without the risk of collapse. It is believed that some of the mines have tapped into a subterranean world unknown to the surface dwellers, for several have reportedly become underground havens for mysterious creatures of unknown origin. As with most such tales, the true facts are unknown.

Like Nowhere on Earth

Nearly every species of plant and animal on Punt is unique, with such marvels as pygmy hippopotami, giant lemurs, and cat-like predators called fossa that grow to the size of lions. The plants found here are sources of native medicines that can work miracles in the hands of a trained healer.

Aftoki Physiology

Samu

(sa-MU)

Samu, like Awalawa and Pemba, is considered a part of the interior of Gondwana. The region is blanketed by thick rainforests, broken only by lakes, rivers, and occasional volcanoes. Samu has the dubious distinction of having the highest rainfall of all of Gondwana and suffers from almost daily thunderstorms. Samu is rich in all manner of life, but only a single human tribe inhabits, or even chooses to venture into, the region. The reason for this sparse habitation stems from the presence of a small group of surprisingly cunning and malicious Nethermen called the Aftoki (AHF-tok-ee). These Nethermen are a particularly ancient version of the breed, corrupted by their use of dark magic so that they seek only power and the misery of others. The Aftoki have divided the land amongst themselves, and prey upon anything living, both within the region and in neighboring territories as well. The power of the Aftoki sorcerers is great, and they are much feared for their cannibalistic ways. Under Okioga Lake (OHK-ee-oh-ga) lives the Aftoki’s de-facto ruler. He claims the title of “Master”, and his fellow sorcerers acknowledge his right to this claim, though there is no true hierarchy or cooperation among this evil clan. Such is the Master’s power, however, that some lesser Aftoki come to him from time to time to adjudicate disputes (which are few, as individual Aftoki generally avoid other of their own kind). The Master must be paid for this service, the currency of which is in human victims. The number of sacrifices required depends upon the nature and complexity of the problem to be solved. With so powerful a force of evil in the land, it is surprising to find any humans living in Samu, but the Acholi (ah-COHL-ee) tribe of Samu’s Achwa (ah-KHWA) district does so. They are primitive folk with unusual ways, and though they fear the Aftoki they will not leave Samu. The Acholi are a highly superstitious people. They worship a pantheon of gods similar to the Orixa, and revere many hundreds of lesser forces — animals, spirits, familiars, even the Aftoki themselves. Their religion binds them to the land; they believe that leaving their hunting grounds of the Achwa would bring certain disaster upon all their people. Another belief is a tribal taboo that forbids any adult Acholi from using any tool, implement, or resource of the land that he or she does not make or obtain personally. After a rite of age into adulthood, no Acholi will accept a gift, or make use of anything not made or obtained by his or her own hands. Thus, trade with the Acholi is impossible even if outsiders wished to dare the hazards of Samu for such a purpose. The only thing the Acholi trade for is slaves (as sacrifices to keep the Aftoki at bay) but would-be traders have found that the tribesmen are happy to take them as slaves too and so tend to avoid dealings with the Acholi. Each person hunts and gathers food individually, sharing it only with children who have not ed into adulthood. The Aftoki are believed to be gods, and are greatly feared. The Acholi practice many forms of superstitious magic to protect themselves against the shaman-ghouls. They wear necklaces and belts made of the claws and teeth of animals they kill, one claw and one fang being removed from every kill made. These are blessed by their tribal shaman, and are supposed to protect the individual from the power of the Aftoki as long as they are worn, or as long as no more potent taboo is broken. There is no gender-based bias in Acholi society. Men and women are completely equal, and

The Aftoki number only a few, perhaps less than a hundred survive from the massive Nethermen tribe that arrived in Samu early in the Golden Age. The remaining Aftoki are all masters of the Dark Arts and have suffered massively for it. The hulking forms so common to Nethermen are gone, replaced by rotting skin and weak, atrophied limbs. Their hunger for human flesh is great and they can keep a victim alive for weeks, nibbling away at extremities and fat until there is nothing left; little surprise that the Aftoki are known as “ghouls” to those who have seen them.

Mother Ngunda-Wae The Acholi have legends of a great mother goddess called Mother Ngunda-Wae (GUNda WAY-ee) who dwells within the waterways of Samu. The goddess takes the form of a giant water snake with rainbow scales that devours the sick and elderly, only to regurgitate them as newborn babies on the banks of the rivers she calls home. It is not uncommon for old and sick of the Acholi to throw themselves into the rivers smeared with blood in the hope that the goddess will grant them release and rebirth. “Children of NgundaWae” found on riverbanks are therefore welcomed into the Acholi as if they were old friends or family .

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Acholi and the Outsiders

The Acholi have a very poor reputation outside of Samu as slavers and fiends. This is mostly due to the Aftoki. The Aftoki sometimes make demands of Acholi, ordering them to provide victims in exchange for the Aftoki’s “protection”. Villages that don’t provide the required tribute find themselves losing wives, husbands, sons, and daughters to the Aftoki’s endless appetites. For this reason, the Acholi sometimes stage raids into surrounding regions to capture slaves.

The first battle I ever fought was in Samu. I shaking very badly until my father put his hand on my shoulder to reassure me. I am told the Aftoki and their human slaves came at us in two waves, dragging demons with them to bolster their ranks. All I is a whirlwind of chaos. When all was done I was finally blooded and took many trophies that day. Donobey of Nubia

are each expected to live completely independent of all aid. Those strangers who adopt the Acholi way of life, and who break none of the taboos, will be tolerated by the tribe, but an offense against the taboos usually results in the sacrifice of the perpetrator to the Aftoki. It is common practice for such offenders to be bound, gagged, and left in the vicinity of an Aftoki hut. In fact, this is the punishment for all crimes in Acholi society. Physically, the Acholi are short and slender, averaging 1.6 meters and 55 kilograms. Their skin is an olive brown, but is usually covered with grey mud (an effective deterrent against biting insects). They wear only a strip of leather as a loincloth and adorn their stiff, straight, black hair with colorful bird feathers. Their weapons are crude, the most popular being a sharpened variety of throwing stick.

Sheba

(SHE-ba)

Sheba is the foremost power of the Turanian subcontinent, a nation of traders that has extended its s from Gondwana and even Atlantis to the distant shores of Jambu. The region is located on the northeastern and eastern shores of the subcontinent, surrounded for the most part by water (the Sea of Baku and the Erythraean Sea). The Shebans are a tall, black-skinned folk believed to be descended from the Nubians of Gondwana. Most wear colorful, loose-fitting kaftans, sandals, and long flowing capes. Necklaces of gold or silver are quite popular amongst the wealthy, though the lower classes can scarcely afford such accoutrements. Sheba is divided into two distinct regions, each further subdivided. All these divisions are purely geographical, with the two primary areas of the realm being the mainland and the Sheban Islands. The islands are of greater importance, while the mainland, with a somewhat bleaker climate, is decidedly less interesting. Most of the islands are set aside to hold estates where of Sheba’s upper classes live. They are mostly small and scattered, each with room for only a handful of estates. A few are larger, and two are exceptional in size and importance. These two islands, Bathsheba (bath-SHE-ba) and Raamah (RA-mah), not only estates but also sizable cities. On Bathsheba lies the city of Bersheba (ber-SHE-ba), the capital of the realm. Its location protects this most important city of the realm from the incursions of Turanian tribes of the mainland, who have insufficient knowledge of seamanship to mount an expedition out to Bathsheba Island. A fascinating place, the whole city seems like a bazaar, filled with shops displaying the finest products imported from distant lands. Even Atlantean goods, imported via Tharshesh and Khemit are fairly common in Bersheba’s fabulous markets. It is a beautiful city as well, with luxuriant parks and tree-lined promenades. Most impressive of all is the queen’s palace, with its Atlantean columns, fountains, pools, and gardens. The palace is filled with the fragrance of myrrh trees from far-off Punt. Rare plants and birds are common on the Palace grounds, giving it an exotic and almost pastoral atmosphere. Bersheba’s Vril Pyramid

The Vril pyramid in Bersheba suffers from a miscalibration that causes a number of minor effects. Firstly, the canal that surrounds the city, originally intended to be warmed by Vril to serve as a public bath, boils every few hours. This has the effects of keeping the city shrouded in steamy mist. In addition to this, the pyramid occasionally sends out a pulse that causes all animals and insects to flee. This means that Bersheba is probably the only rat-free city in the world. This also means that the keeping of animals on the island of Bathsheba is pointless since they run into the sea and drown. The natives eat a lot of poultry.

Other important and impressive buildings around Bersheba include the Library of Bersheba, the College of All Sciences, the Sheban Astrological Observatory, the Temple of Ishtar, and the Royal Museum; each lies outside the city proper surrounded by garden parks. The queen of Sheba has complete control of the military, and is the ultimate authority in the realm. Through the generations, the queens of Sheba have commonly delegated much of the actual management of the nation to others. Her primary assistants in government are the princesses of Sheba (the title is conferred upon every female member of the royal family). However, the queen can also select other people of merit, whether male, female, royal, or common to function as vice-regal authorities.

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GEOGRAPHICA Ultimately all are answerable to the queen, functioning to relieve her from the tedious aspects of maintaining a cohesive and powerful nation on a day-to-day basis. The queen may take as many husbands as she desires, but her principle male companion holds the position of chief advisor to the queen. As such, his powers are fewer than those accorded to the Princesses, but he holds more rank than any of the other individuals granted vice regal-powers. The position, like all grants of power in Sheba, is given entirely at the discretion of the queen; there need be no chief advisor at all. The current queen has not appointed a chief advisor. Male of the royal families, including any of the queen’s consorts other than the chief advisor, hold the title of prince. A prince has no official authority, but has the status of a high Did you know they have a citizen, and is thus accorded respect and privileges of various kinds. But though they have no cheese here that is infused with official powers, males have been known from time to time to exercise considerable influence over honey and soft enough to spread the queen, or over various Princesses or other important leaders. Manipulation of Sheba’s female on bread? It’s delicious! rulers by ambitious males is not at all uncommon. Donobey of Nubia The Queen The current queen, Zerelle, is rumored to keep 75 husbands in a harem with at least one representative from each of the known races. She is reported to be highly intelligent, insatiable, and a breathtaking beauty. The queen has ruled for the past 87 years, taking the throne from her mother when she was 24. Zerelle has barely aged a day since and there are all manner of rumors about this, from baths in the blood of innocents to a yearly expedition to a fountain of immortality to a previously unknown property of Bathsheba’s Vril pyramid that allows her to drain the life-force from her subjects. One concern for the future is the fact that Queen Zerelle has no clear successor — she has no children and four distant cousins all have equal claim on the throne.

The people of Sheba are divided into four basic social classes. High citizens are people of wealth and property, including the royal families. Common citizens are the bulk of the populace, while low citizens are people without work or without a proper home. Slaves may be born into their class, or slavery may be imposed as a sentence by queen-appointed criminal judges. Most slaves are slaves for life, though indentured servitude for a set term of years is also possible. Life-slaves can be given manumission by their owners or by direct decree from the queen. Raamah is nearly half the size of Bathsheba and includes a major city. This is the seaport of Aram (AR-am), a haven for Sheban trading vessels and an outpost for the realm’s army and navy. It is small, but crowded, with numerous shops and taverns. There is a heavy flavor of magic and intrigue throughout this seaport; where the military, merchants, citizens, and foreigners mingle and meet in a confused hodgepodge of cultures and peoples. Only a quarter of the island of Raamah is set aside for the seaport and the military fortifications that protect it. The rest is reserved for the use of the high citizen class of Sheba, though most of the island is still wild and untraveled. Only a handful of estates have been granted; the rest of Raamah is largely a wilderness, where bandits and other unsavory types find refuge. There are also griffons and other dangerous animals in the central part of the island. Most important of these creatures is a nearly extinct species of lion that still roams the interior. Smaller than the familiar Veldt Lion, and with a golden-red tint to its fur and mane, the Sheban Lion is a solitary creature. It is the official symbol of Sheba, depicted in art and architecture of all sorts. The queen of Sheba keeps trained Sheban Lions in her palace, and is always accompanied by a brace of them anywhere she goes. They are also crucial to many of the rituals and ceremonies held on festival days throughout the year. Mainland Sheba is less fertile than the islands. There are few estates here, and the land is mostly given over to herders, hunters, and farmers. Most are of Sheba’s common class, though other classes are represented to a lesser extent. Small settlements dot the coast, primarily inhabited by extended family groups. They are not always permanently settled in a given place, for most mainlanders cling to the old semi-nomadic existence of herding and hunting. Their place in society is important, for they the island populations and the cities and villages of Sheba. There are also larger, more permanent settlements, hamlets, and villages along the coast. These are primarily stop-overs for trading vessels working along the coast. Many include naval detachments — a single ship with sailors and marines — stationed for a long period in the same port. The two largest havens, Sabalah (sa-BA-lah) and Kemul (ke-MUL), are mostly devoted to the trade fleets, with many shops and taverns but a small resident population. Inland along the rough terrain bordering the Great Desert of Turan are small military settlements designed to defend Sheba from tribal raids out of the interior. These fortified outposts would be of little value against a concerted attack, but the proverbial impatience and disunion of Turanian

The Sheban Fleet

The Shebans grow wood for their vessels on their island estates; if there was ever a change of climate here, their shipbuilding economy would be severely damaged. Unknown to most, the Shebans maintain a small number of Golden Age Atlantean ships with navigation equipment and magically treated hulls. These warships were found floating and abandoned centuries ago. The method of their finding has left them with the nickname “the ghost fleet” and indeed, Sheba takes great pains to hide their existence.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age tribesmen makes such a cohesive effort out of the question. They draw the attention of raiders away from the coastal regions, but are well enough defended to hold against the typical hit-and-run attacks of the Turanian nomads. Sheba owes its existence to the Atlanteans, who settled the region in the First Age. Many Atlantean traditions were preserved after the fall of the Empire and these concepts shaped later Sheban society. The descendents of Sheba’s Atlantean colonists were later overrun by Amazons from Hesperia. From these conquerors, the Shebans came to embrace the concept of female domination in society, which continued even after Hesperia withdrew to deal with local problems. Isolated after the Amazons were gone, the Sheban people emerged with a unique hybrid culture, one that has made them one of the world’s leading economic powers. Sheban culture combines many interesting facets of its two great predecessors. From the Atlanteans, they have borrowed architectural inspiration and a deep love for magic and the sciences (the Shebans have six functional Vril circles and one Vril pyramid in Bathsheba). The Amazons contributed the female-dominant social structure, the rigid authoritarianism of Hesperia’s Empire, and coordinated mind-body superiority as an ideal to be achieved and maintained. But the Shebans have replaced militarism with an Atlantean-derived quest for magical knowledge, and with the desire to extend and dominate their trading empire. Sheban ideals are not those of either Atlantis or Hesperia — they are purely Sheban interpretations of previous concepts. The people of Sheba live to accumulate wealth. To this end, they have built their trading empire until it now embraces the shores of the Sea of Baku, the Erythraean Sea, and the Red Sea. Their ships ply these waters to the exclusion of virtually all other merchants, and travel far beyond, as well. The resulting maritime trade empire has kept lines of communication open among all the major nations of the hemisphere. Within their sphere of influence, Sheba is the richest, and also the most powerful, of nations. Their trade alliances have forged them a power base as effective in some ways as a true colonial empire. Their trade partners, and particularly Kush, Joktan, Magan, Marhashi, Massawa, Meluhha, Punt, and Khemit are pledged to Sheba from outside aggression. This solidarity is the basis for Sheba’s survival; the realm’s actual military resources are slim, and each other nation is individually rather weak (there are those who would say that even the combined force of these allied realms is of questionable value). For their part, the Shebans are content to entrust their survival to their allies, their small but effective navy, a simple militia army, and mercenary soldiers hired with Sheban gold. Only the Turanian tribes (including those of the Wilderness of Zin) currently pose any threat to Sheba, but despite an almost continuous state of war, the fragmented tribes have been easily contained by militia and mercenaries along the frontier. Border skirmishes, raids, and retaliations have been frequent, though generally inconsequential. Hence, the Shebans see no real need to mobilize any full-scale attack against Turan. The high citizens, safe on their island fortresses, feel quite secure. Sheban trader-captains bring more than material goods across the eastern oceans. They spread new ideas and information, linking far-off lands and cultures and promoting an end to isolation and fear. Though their s with nations other than Sheba’s routine trade partners are irregular, their very existence has helped bring about change and growth in many remote regions. There are several families in Sheba who own and operate major trade companies, including the queen herself, who controls the largest mercantile concern of all. These great trading houses are made up of high citizens; content to sit back and reap the profits of their companies, spending what they earn on enlarging their companies, their estates, and their personal possessions. Common Citizens of Sheba manage, captain, and crew the ships and warehouses of these large companies. There are many small trading establishments as well, some consisting of no more than a single ship. These independent traders seek out profitable ports and routes not already dominated by larger companies, serving to spread Sheban culture even further afield. The merchant network trades less in Sheban products than in goods exchanged among distant nations. Tin is Sheba’s only abundant natural resource, mined around Kemul. The metal is carried on some merchant ships, but more often cargos consist strictly of rare products from all over the hemisphere, from distant lands most realms wouldn’t even know of if not for Sheban traders. This is the real importance of Sheba: not natural resources, but trade, the spread of news and ideas, and the linking of far-flung realms. Sheba’s shipbuilders are among the most knowledgeable in the world, and are fine craftsmen. Their trade ships are based on an old Atlantean design; large-hulled for carrying large cargos, and extremely seaworthy and deadly. Ships are built and repaired at Bersheba and Aram, with additional

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GEOGRAPHICA repair facilities at Sabalah and Kemul. The trade empire of Sheba maintains links with the other major trading power of the world today, Tharshesh. One point of is distant Marhashi, in southern Gondwana, the southernmost realm of both trading realms’ regular trade voyages. But it is the powerful nation of Khemit that serves as the main point of between the two trading empires. A narrow land bridge and canal controlled by Khemit divides the Red Sea from the Turan; caravans and ships transport goods between ports on each sea, allowing the Shebans in the Red Sea to exchange goods (to the profit of Khemit). Had Khemit not risen to its present strength fairly quickly, either Sheba or Tharshesh would probably have seized the region long ago. Both covet the isthmus, but neither is willing to imperil their trade link by alienating Khemit. Religion in Sheba A powerful death cult with fiercely necromantic overtones once flourished in Sheba. The cult had a large following that formerly included several queens from past eras. One of these queens allotted the northern half of the island of Bathsheba to the cult for the construction of barrows (burial mounds). Within these barrows, the newly dead were transformed into undead beings. These vile creatures guarded their earthly possessions within the mound, and served the high necromancer and the patron deity, Ba’al, as powerful slave-followers. The greatest lures of this ancient cult were said to be the promise of undead immortality, and certain decadent, self-gratifying rituals (similar to those observed by the Cults of Ba’al and the Gorgons). Outlawed long ago, the cult holds no influence in modern Sheba, though some claim that it still has a few followers in certain isolated regions. The northern part of Bathsheba is full of barrows (now sealed and kept under guard), the last visible remnants of this once-powerful cult. Most of the current population of Sheba now worships the goddess Ishtar. A cult of pleasure and sensuality, this religion has been gaining converts steadily over the past century. Though many minor gods have significant cults of their own, none is particularly strong. Astrology and Sorcery are the two fields most commonly associated with Sheba, with many adherents. Both have been declining somewhat of late, but they are still associated, in the minds of most foreigners at least, with the Sheban realm.

Turan

(tur-AN)

The name “Turan” is derived from an ancient, now-dead, language. Its closest translation is “endless desert.” The term has long been applied to the Great Desert of Turan and today, Turan is the name given specifically to that desert region not claimed by any of the surrounding nations. Turan is a desolate land of dry sand and harsh temperatures, and those who can survive in the deep desert are hardy people indeed. The Turanians are slim, dark-skinned, and black-haired humans related to the neighboring peoples of Zin. They differ considerably from the Sheban and Joktani peoples, who have Atlantean and Hesperian blood not common to the Turanian people. These desert nomads usually wear turbans and loose, layered clothing. They are adept in handling camels and traveling the deserts between oases with small flocks, pitching brightly colored tents every few days before moving on. The Turanians are an aggressive, independent, hot-tempered people, who generally resent outsiders and attack them on the slightest provocation. Joktan, Sheba, Khemit, and the tribes of Zin all feel the explosive violence of the Turanian nomads at frequent intervals, though the Turanians fight among themselves almost as much as they do with their enemies. It sometimes seems that Turanian tempers flare in direct proportion to the number of people gathered in one spot, and thus there has never been much success in uniting the various bands for a common purpose. Scholars have speculated that the Turanian nomads, if ever united by some overriding cause — such as a fanatic warrior faith — would be virtually unstoppable. There are scores of individual nomad bands, each led by a chieftain or sheik. The bands wander where they will, on rare occasions ing together for some exploit requiring common effort, but later falling out and quarrelling or splitting apart. There are many long-standing feuds among these bands, some pursued with a single-minded ruthlessness that might seem appalling to outsiders. The nomad bands acknowledge higher authority only grudgingly, but each band does belong to one of the Seven Tribes of Turan. These tribes are traditional groupings, supposedly descended from seven great Founders who originated the Turanian nation. Each tribe is led by a caliph, who is

Madaan and the Ifrit

The Turanians dug their burial chambers deep into the rock face at Madaan… too deep. The Turanians uncovered a horde of mirrorlike glass jars deep in the earth here and used these beautiful objects to inter their lords. The jars were Jinn prisons, where the prehistoric Jinn placed those regarded as too insane and dangerous to be allowed to walk the earth. The Jinn named these prisoners “Ifrit” (IH-freet). Opening the jars broke the prison seals, but it wasn’t until the Cataclysm that sufficient Vril energy coursed through the area to awaken the Ifrit within. The Vril surge locked the Ifrit into forms of ash and fire, but this didn’t stop them from ri and wreaking havoc on the surrounding lands. A group of Turanian sorcerers and holy men managed to trap the Ifrit in their prisons and buried them once again in secret locations throughout Turan. The greatest tragedy of the Amazon invasion was the deaths of so many Turanian sorcerers and the resulting loss of knowledge surrounding the Ifrit. The Ifrit have slipped into legend and it is only a matter of time before they are set free again by some hapless soul. Who knows, perhaps some of them are free already, having learned subtlety during their second imprisonment; the Jinn are nothing if not adaptable.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

Shadows of the Past

Deep in the Turan Desert can be found the sand-choked ruins of cyclopean cities. The Turanians consider these places to be haunted and go to extraordinary lengths to avoid them. They are not wrong. Wandering the city streets by day one might find no cause for alarm but once night falls, things skitter in the shadows and a malevolent wind carries the stench of timeless rot. Ancient things that may once have lived stir in the depths and fix their will on calling hapless mortals into their existencerending presence. The wise heed the advice of the natives; the foolish are never heard from again.

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acknowledged as the direct descendent of the tribe’s Founder. The caliphs are considered to possess exceptional wisdom and prestige, and are often consulted to settle problems within the tribe — but always on a voluntary basis; no Turanian nomad would readily accept authority imposed from above, and caliphs have been killed for attempting such a thing many times through Turan’s volatile history. The caliphs are in turn ruled over by the sultan, the hereditary monarch of Turan. He is said to have descended from a great Turanian hero who brought together the Seven Tribes to resist the Women of the West (probably Hesperia’s Amazons) — the only time, even in legend, that the tribes are mentioned as cooperating. The sultan is always the eldest surviving male in direct line of descent from the First Sultan. The sultan dwells in the city of Ispahan (is-pa-HAHN), which is located in a large oasis deep in the heart of the Turanian desert. Ispahan contains only a handful of permanent buildings, most importantly the massive stone palace, with its soaring, minaret-capped towers. The palace is surrounded by a sea of tent buildings set amidst the date palms and water pools of the oasis. It is said that the First Sultan summoned several elementals to construct the palace at Ispahan to serve as a constant reminder of the victory of the tribes over those who sought to enslave them. Actually, Hesperian records leave the impression that Turan was conquered, but proved too hard to hold on to because of the harsh climate and barren terrain. Within the palace walls are said to be vast stores of treasure, accumulated over the generations by many former sultans. Traditionally, a seventh part of all goods acquired by the tribes from their raids must be given to the sultan, and the sultan also imposes a tax on tribes that seek his aid. As the caliphs deal with disputes within the tribe, the sultan is often consulted in matters affecting two or more tribes. The sultan or one of his trusted wazirs (advisors) grants public audience once each day, to decide on cases brought before him. Judgments submitted to him on the first six days of the week are pronounced on the seventh day. All judgments are final, and it is deemed unwise to waste the sultan’s time with trivial problems. Both the sultan and the wazirs are expected to treat caliphs and sheiks as equals, not as subjects, and are supposed to be completely unbiased in their judgments. Should a decision meet with the disapproval of six of the seven caliphs, they can overturn it. This is the only way to appeal an edict of the sultan. From time to time, disgruntled tribesmen have murdered sultans or wazirs who pronounced judgments against them, but usually the prestige attached to the hereditary monarch protects the sultan from such attempts. Caliphs and sultans have done much to temper the fury of some of the sheik feuds through the judgments they hand down. Each tribe has a territory over which its bands range, though some bands cross the territorial boundaries from time to time. These territories are Tamayah (ta-ma-YAH), Jabal (ja-BAL), Sasan (SA-san), Ibrah (IB-rah), Suti (SU-tee), Arawan (a-RA-wan), and Shamar (sha-MAR). In addition, the territory around Ispahan, Arabea (a-RAY-be-a), is considered to belong to all tribes equally and is treated as a separate area of Turan. The tribes are named for the particular territory that they occupy. Though by and large a nomadic people, the Turanians do have a few semi-permanent settlements, which dot the desert oases and serve as places where tribes can meet and trade. Ispahan is the largest, and the only one with permanent stone buildings. In addition to the Sultan’s Palace, Ispahan boasts the Public Bath and the Temple of Eloah; all three are splendidly furnished and have gilded ornaments on the walls and minarets. Other settlements consist of small encampments, permanent in the sense that there are always people there; but with a constant population turnover as some Turanians drift away, to be replaced by others. Here Turanians fresh from raids turn over plundered properties, slaves, and other possessions. There are also regular caravans bringing goods from further away. Slave merchants are common, selling foreign captives to the highest bidder in feverish, chaotic auctions. The Turanians take great pride in the ownership of foreign slaves, and are always eager to acquire such symbols of superiority and wealth. The oasis villages include Madaan (ma-DA-an), Sabaan (sa-BA-an), Tamaan (ta-MA-an), Salaan (sa-LA-an) and Nebetaan (ne-be-TA-an). The tents that make up these villages come in all sizes and shapes, always brightly colored with family patterns and designs. At Madaan lies the sacred burial place of all Turanian sultans, caliphs, and great heroes, carved out of solid rock in an impressive cliff face. Golden statues and ornaments are found throughout the tomb chambers and ages. When a respected leader or hero dies, the pilgrimage to the burial chambers follows immediately after a funeral ceremony in which the body is burnt and the

GEOGRAPHICA ashes collected in a golden burial urn. Ordinary tribesmen are not interred in urns; their ashes are scattered over the sands they roamed in life. The people of Turan are proud, powerful warriors. They are skilled in the handling of horses and camels. Like the Scythians, the Turanians are awesome fighters and extremely warlike, but the Turanians are somewhat more civilized (there is no blood-drinking, scalping, or skinning of enemies in Turanian conflicts, nor are their funeral traditions so murderous). They pose a constant threat to caravans ing in proximity of their territories. The Turanians believe that they gain merit in the afterlife by killing enemies and taking the possessions of those they slay — especially women, children, livestock, and prized personal objects. Women and children of the slain become part of the victor’s family. Blood ties, however, lead to feuds, and he who slays another Turanian may expect vengeance from the dead man’s kin. No Turanian nomad will refuse a fight, and indeed they are always eager for such encounters. Their military organization, however, is poor, being limited to small groups of 20 to 200 warriors in all but the most exceptional circumstances. The nomads almost always fight mounted, riding camels or horses into combat. They are superb mounted archers, but are not noted for being able to coordinate their attacks. The battle lust tends to make them hard to control; some may spur straight into battle, while others might stop in the midst of a fight to despoil the bodies of the slain, or to loot an enemy camp. Though they will sometimes hire out as inexpensive mercenaries when a good fight is in the offing, they are not greatly sought after by other nations, and generally are used only when nothing better is available. Although bloodthirsty and quarrelsome, Turanian nomads are completely trustworthy once they have sworn an oath. Oaths are sacred, and not given lightly. Once given, they are honored until death or fulfillment releases the oath taker from his obligations. In the absence of an oath, no treachery is out of the question, if a nomad thinks he might gain from it. Nomad society is very simply organized. At the top of the social scale is the royal class, which consists of sultans, caliphs, and sheiks and their families, plus a few exceptional warriors given this honor by decree of the sultan. Ranking within the class is according to these same divisions — sultans, caliphs, sheiks, and heroes. All other Turanian males are part of the warrior class, except for those who enter the elitist religious community of Turan. The class has no true division, but prestige is based on the number of enemies slain in battle. In addition to being warriors, the nomads are also herdsmen, merchants, and the like — basically, every member of the band must be skilled in every other important job necessary for individual and group survival. Next lowest in Turanian society are all women, with the exception of those females born of a royal family. Royal females are still of less importance than their male relatives, though a few gain some influence by learning magic. By and large, though, women are considered to be decidedly inferior, and are expected to be completely subservient to men. Males may keep as many wives as they can provide for, and those of the royal class often keep a host of concubines in a large harem. Women not born to royal families rarely receive education beyond the absolute essentials of cooking, cleaning, and serving, though now and then an exceptional man will see to it that his wives are educated. At the bottom of the social structure are slaves, foreign captives acquired in raids or purchased from caravan slave-traders. Most slaves are treated very harshly, and are often brutally punished for the most trivial offenses. There are two other groupings that have more recently emerged as distinct separate social classes, though they are somewhat less formally structured: scholars and priests. Turanian scholars are a rare breed, usually serving as wazirs to the sultan or a caliph. Scholars in the service of the sultan or caliphs are accorded respect nearly equal to that given to their masters. Those who have no royal employer are treated as if they were warriors of many kills. Wizards of all types are considered to be scholars in Turan, as are individuals who (by superior knowledge or skill) gain an exceptional reputation for wisdom or arcane powers. Finally, the priests of Turan stand separate and apart from all other classes. The religion of the nomads is a cult of desert gods, with Eloah dominant. All priests are males; these clerics carry the title of Mufti (MOOF-tee), and are given the same respect as sheiks. Those who seek their intercession with Eloah and the other Old Gods must grant offerings to the Mufti in proportion to the benefits they seek. Many become very rich from such offerings, and enjoy both respect and a great deal of power among the individual bands. There is little higher religious organization, however, for as in all other things, the Turanians do not believe in a complicated hierarchy of distant, isolated superiors.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Necropolises

Three cities are all that remain of the great Atlantean utopia, but there were originally five other cities in the region. Two were destroyed by volcanic/tectonic activity, while the remaining three were devoured from within by inbreeding, plague, and necromancy. These dark Necropolises still exist, controlled by dread powers, and crawling with the restless dead.

The Honored Dead

Yalaku consider their dead to be part of their family and after a “sky burial”, where the remains of a dead loved one are left on a rooftop to be eaten by scavengers, the bones are placed in a basket and interred inside the walls or floors of the family home. Those of the sage class have their skulls removed, decorated with gems and other valuable materials, and placed together with other sages in special houses where living sages can go to meditate and receive information from the dead.

Undercities

In Yalaku cities, new houses are built upon the ruins of the old. This successive layering of buildings over hundreds of years has resulted in massive mounds of rubble and partially intact structures under the Yalaku cities. Entrances to these ruins are sealed but occasionally something breaks through from underneath. Rumor has it that the three cities are linked by an underground canal built by the first Atlantean sages; if this is true it would explain the excellent clean water available to the cities and would also raise the question if the three living cities are also connected to the dead cities.

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Yalak

The peninsula of Yalak is surrounded on three sides by the sea. It is a rugged land, less arid than other regions of Turan, dotted with volcanoes and broken by mountain ranges and other natural obstacles. Despite the harsh terrain, the region is blessed with a warm temperate climate. The region s few inhabitants, save for the reclusive humans known as the Yalaku (ya-la-KU). The Yalaku are brown-skinned and black-haired, slender in build, and of average height. They wear simple robes, brown or green being the favored colors. Little is known about the Yalaku, because they avoid with outsiders as much as possible. Surrounded by fierce tribes bent on domination, most Yalaku have turned their backs on the outside world, and have very little interest in dealing with outsiders on any level. Among themselves the Yalaku are friendly and open, much interested in artistic pursuits such as music, painting, storytelling, and philosophy. Entirely self-sufficient, they have no need to trade with others. Some lower-class Yalaku are willing to trade opium and hashish (both common in Yalak) for iron, bronze, gold, and silver. Traders from Tharshesh have a monopoly on this trade, and find the Yalaku narcotics very much in demand in their distant markets. But even this trade is very limited, dependent strictly upon the whim of those Yalaku who choose to acknowledge the existence of the outside world. According to legend, Yalak began as a refuge for a band of discontented Atlantean scholars near the end of the Golden Age. These, the First Sages, sought to put into practice in Yalak their views of an ideal society, a place where the pursuit of knowledge and culture would be paramount, and never again subject to the vagaries of economics and politics. They brought knowledge of agriculture, animal husbandry, arts and sciences, philosophy, and metalworking to Yalak, and convinced a number of barbaric nomads to become the citizens of their ideal state. As their realm began to develop, a new culture emerged and became increasingly estranged from the rest of the world. The First Sages seem not to have foreseen that these isolated Yalaku settlements would stagnate in many areas as a result of their lack of with other cultures. Indeed, knowledge of the outside world has practically vanished amongst the Yalaku, with ancient stories and ignorant speculation now dominating their beliefs. Travelers’ tales and epic poems and songs are the basis for much of this “knowledge,” leaving the Yalaku convinced that the outside world is populated strictly by demons, fantastic creatures, and savage barbarians. When exposed to the arts, sciences, or accomplishments of other cultures, they tend to dismiss these as being of no value, especially if they are at odds with Yalaku tradition or belief. So total is their retreat from the world that the Yalaku now live in large, enclosed, “gateless cities”. Constructed of mud-brick, stone, and wood, these sprawling “beehive settlements” are great, single structures that house an entire community, with all the dwellings and other buildings interconnected. They have no streets, and the only way in or out is through rooftop hatchways and ladders that can then be lowered to the ground. The walls are high and broad, defying all entrance by would-be attackers; light is let in by small windows and skylights high on the walls or on the roofs themselves. Thus far, neither the Tribes of Zin nor any of the occasional roving Scythian bands have ever made a serious effort to attack Yalaku settlements. There are, in all, three settlements in Yalak: Huyuk (HU-yok), Kaymakl (kay-ma-KEL), and Xanthus (ZAN-thoos). Farmers and herders tend crops and animals on the plains surrounding each settlement, but only rarely venture further afield. Indeed, the whole social structure of Yalak is built around a basic principle that equates social standing with the amount of time spent within the settlements. Those who need never venture beyond the protection of the walls are at the top of the social scale, and the more time someone must spend outside, the lower the position accorded to that individual. Yalaku society is divided into many social classes. Of these, the sages are by far the most powerful and respected, and serve as the keepers of Yalaku’s traditional beliefs. Each settlement is governed by a council of sages, presided over by the oldest of their number (known as the council elder). The primary concern of each of the councils is to maintain the sanctity of the Yalaku culture. Once each year (or as circumstances dictate) the council elders will call a high council, where matters concerning the Yalaku people as a whole may be discussed. The other classes, in order of importance, are the citizens (craftsmen, laborers, etc.), farmers, herders, hunters, and outcasts. Only herders and hunters are permitted to venture any distance from the settlement. Hunters are also responsible for gathering raw materials such as obsidian and timber. Those Yalaku who, in word or deed, have failed to adhere to the traditional beliefs, are branded as outcasts. As punishment for their crimes, outcasts are forbidden to enter the settlements, and most fend for themselves in the outside world. They are considered insane by the Yalaku, and

GEOGRAPHICA are avoided at all costs. Conversely, outcasts are the most commonly encountered Yalaku where foreigners are concerned, and dominate the trade in hashish and opium. Conspicuous by their absence are any sort of warriors. The philosophy of the Yalaku is to retreat within the safety of the community in the face of danger and attack with ranged weapons from the walls. They have some weapons adapted for indoor fighting, but these are hardly ever handled even in practice. Theoretically, everyone would play an equal share in the defense of a settlement, though hunters, with the most experience in handling ranged weapons and dealing with crises, would form the core of any city fighting that might occur. Within the community, everything is shared equally, even to the point of group marriages. These marriages are completely open; no one is bound for life to any mate or set of mates, and there is no set number or proportion of to any of these informal groups. Essentially, each settlement is one great family, with periodic rearrangements in the groupings of mates. The children are raised in a communal fashion without fathers or mothers, but with a host of uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters. The Yalaku are skilled in crafting flint, obsidian, horn, bone, copper, lead, and leather. Their work in these mediums is generally excellent, and is especially coveted by traders. Similarly, their mastery of the arts and sciences is impressive, though they know virtually nothing of any area outside of their own narrowly defined fields. Yalaku religion is an amalgamation of the Old Atlantean religion and the cults of the barbarous tribes that ed the First Sages. Primarily, it is a clerical cult of Atlas, personified by the largest of Yalaku’s volcanoes, Mount Attala (at-TA-la) in the Tauru (ta-U-ru) Mountains. The Yalaku see themselves as the new chosen people of Atlas, a superior race of mankind. The fierce tribes that border on Yalak sometimes raid the land, but have long since learned that the communities themselves are practically impervious to attack. They content themselves with killing, enslaving, or harassing Yalaku outcasts, burning or carrying off crops, and ravaging the countryside before moving on. Once the raids are over, the lower-class Yalaku go outside to set things in order once more.

The Wilderness Of Zin

Actually an extension of Turan proper, the Wilderness of Zin is not so much a separate political entity as it is a region where terrain and climate are slightly different from that of Turan’s Great Desert. The Wilderness s a larger number of people than does the rest of Turan, and has several reasonably fertile areas where settlements have sprung up. Within the land are many small tribes of nomad herders, a sprinkling of settled villages, and many strange and magical beasts and monsters. The Tribes of Zin are all related peoples, but few are friendly to each other or outsiders. Most are constantly engaged in feuds with rival tribes. The natives are swarthy of complexion, dark-haired, and of average height and build. The men are nearly always bearded, and carry long, curved daggers of excellent quality. Turbans, cloaks, and other apparel best suited for the desert are most popular. Tauran Andamen are common here and, while they tend to live apart from the tribes, are generally made welcome whenever they cross paths with the humans. Jinn are regarded with a wary eye and Atlanteans are regarded as demons to be slain with little or no provocation. All the Tribes of Zin are rather primitive, having little or no knowledge of metal-working. They do make use of metal implements obtained from Tharshesh and Sheba, but they generally cannot repair or create metal objects of any kind. They are skilled in stonecraft, and have mastered other simple crafts and skills, as well. The settlement tribes, for instance, create fine pottery, and have learned to work with the sun-dried brick to construct small buildings of basic design. All the settlements have developed incipient agricultural techniques. Though farming provides much of their diet, they are still far from proficient in this area. The nomads, on the other hand, have concentrated on the development of weaving, animal husbandry, and basket-making. All these are highly advanced skills among the nomads, and their baskets and cloth are in some demand in foreign lands. Traders from Sheba and Tharshesh sometimes visit Zin in search of these products, despite the hazards of the region. The Zin are a superstitious people, inclined to view magic as sacred, and hence as the power of the Olódùmarè. Tribal magicians usually function as priests and wise men, and a magician of sufficient power could conceivably live as a “little god” among the Zin. Likewise, great warriorheroes are idolized by the Zin, but only if they are born to, or adopted by, the tribe in question. This illustrates the one constant fact about the Tribes of Zin and Turan: none can agree on anything but

Lost Lore

The original sages brought with them much lore from Atlantis, including works explaining Vril technology and other knowledge now lost to the world. These works were too complex for later sages to understand and in their frustration they declared them to be heretical lies. These “evil” tomes were scattered and locked away in the most secret levels of the fortress-cities and promptly forgotten about by the larger population. Recovering and distributing this knowledge could spark a second Golden Age, if one were able to find it.

The Burning Pit

In the center of the Zin plains lies a vast dark hole which the locals call the “Burning Pit”. The pit is over 300 meters wide and vanishes down into the darkness. Occasional clouds of poisonous gas make their way from the pit, mutating everything they touch into strange, alien forms. The pit appears to be manmade and has a rough stairs carved into its side. The steps have strange writing on them that no tribesman has been able to read.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age the fact that they are never in agreement.

The Tribes of Zin

The word “Zin” and the lands associated with it make my heart heavy. I jokingly promised Rogo I would bury him in his homeland before the Battle of Widows Lament near the Black Forest. It was the last time we would ever laugh together. What was left of his body I had frozen with magics, and made my way to this bleak land. For twenty days I rode, until I found his tribe, the Dananites, and gave his body over to his two younger brothers. His real name was given to me along with all his belongings. I will never know him by that name, and will always Rogo as the only man I ever truly loved. Donobey of Nubia

Olódùmarè and the Little Gods

The tribes of Zin consider Olódùmarè as the only true god and place all other deities below him. In fact, most gods are regarded in the same way as magicians: a being to be revered but only because of their closeness to Olódùmarè. Magicians who try to “push” their godhood find themselves buried alive as demons. Priests who try to force their faith on others suffer a similar fate.

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The nomadic tribes of Zin include Anshar (AHN-shar), Ashkenaz (AH-shken-AHZ, Elishah (ee-LIE-sha), Danan (DAN-ahn), Javan (JAH-van), Japheth (JAY-feth), Kittim (KIT-tim), Madai (MAH-da-ee), Magog (may-GOG), Meshech (may-SHEX), Riphath (riff-AHTH), Shagar (shayGAR), Tiras (TIH-ras), Togarmah (TOH-gar-mah), and Tubal (TOO-ball). None of these tribes is very large (200 to 800 individuals is the norm), and increase in numbers slowly due to fights, raids, and feuds. All the tribes are herdsmen first and foremost. Hunting, gathering, and raiding against or trading with the settlement communities supplement the cattle and goats that are the core of the tribal economy. For the most part, the tribes are virtually identical, save for minor differences of religion or size. A few individual tribes of special note are discussed below; those not mentioned can be assumed to have little in the way of unusual features about them. The Tribe of Elishah is led by a mystic who preaches peace and non-violence. It is the most peaceful of the tribes, and will never start a feud. It deals with foreigners more freely than most, though the people remain wary. The Elishah are said to hold a box that contains the most powerful item in the world. The holy box acts as a portable Vril circle and is heavily guarded by the priesthood. Inside the box is said to be the head of Olódùmarè, who speaks great wisdom and knowledge to the faithful. The Tribe of Shagar consists of shamanistic wise men. No other form of magic is respected save Witchcraft. The tribe is the keeper of all knowledge and records of the people of Zin. They carry their scrolls in a large caravan pulled by six gigantic oxen. Those who wish to obtain knowledge or teaching must find this tribe to do so. The Shagar are friendly to Sheban merchants, doing frequent business with them. The Tribe of Magog is a fanatical, shamanistic society which worships a nameless black god. This outcast tribe is feared and reviled throughout the lands of Zin and are never welcome in the surrounding countries. Blood sacrifices and ritual cannibalism are central to this worship. The Dananites are led by a warrior-hero who has ambitions of conquering Yalak. The tribe is even more prone to fight any who cross its path than is usually true of these nomad tribes. They occasionally trade with merchants from Tharshesh for metal weapons, offering opium and slaves in exchange for iron broadswords, spears, and helmets, The Tribe of Tubal is warlike, seeking to expand and dominate its neighbors. To this end, they seek metal weapons and implements, and, even more, they seek the secrets of metalworking. It is said that they would sell their own chief into slavery for a chance to learn these secrets. The tribe is poor, and, though it trades with Tharshesh for iron weapons and utensils, it generally receives very little of what it wants. The Zin and the First City

The Zin believe that they all came from a place called the “First City” and that they were exiled from the city (known as Araboth (air-AH-bohth)) for some great, unspecified sin and doomed to wander the Earth until they could locate it once again. According to Zin legends, Araboth is in constant motion, carried on the backs of four giant bulls with the faces of men. The monsters that plague their land are believed to erupt from the feces of the giant bulls. With that in mind, warriors often seek out the lairs of these monsters in the hope of gaining clues to the whereabouts of Araboth.

The Nameless Wanderer

A wizened old man wanders the lonely trails of Zin. This old man has no name and uses potent magic to punish or reward the actions of those he meets along his travels. Some say that this withered ancient is the one who committed the sin that caused the exile of the Zin; others say that he is Olódùmarè in disguise, rewarding the faithful and punishing the wicked.

GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Eastern Gondwana

Western Gondwana

South Gondwana

Kush, Nubia, Massawa, and Samu

Awalawa, Ophir, Pemba

Okala, magan, Mahashi, and Punt

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Chiumbo

Akinyi

Anan

Abena

Andile

Dikeledi

Desta

Asha

Awotwi

Akosua

Boipelo

Dumisani

Faraji

Awiti

Baako

Akua

Boitumelo

Hlengiwe

Gwandoya

Babirye

Berko

Ama

Bongani

Kagiso

Imamu

Chausiku

Dubaku

Awotwi

Chaka

Lesedi

Jelani

Desta

Enu

Baako

Dumisani

Lindiwe

Jengo

Eshe

Kobina

Dubaku

Itumeleng

Masego

Kato

Furaha

Kofi

Efua

Katlego

Mbali

Khamisi

Imani

Kojo

Ekua

Kgosi

Nosipho

Kirabo

Kamaria

Kwabena

Esi

Refilwe

Ntombi

Masamba

Makena

Kwadwo

Kunto

Tau

Sethunya

Mosi

Mirembe

Kwaku

Kwinta

Thabo

Sithembile

Otieno

Nakato

Kwame

Lukwua

Themba

Themba

Sefu

Nia

Kwasi

Matari

Thulani

Thulile

Simba

Nyah

Kweku

Nsia

Xolani

Zola

Tafari

Sauda

Kwesi

Nsonowa

Tendaji

Subira

Nkruma

Pokili

Wekesa

Zuri

Nsia

Thema

Nsonowa

Yaa

Yaw

Zanxoa

Zuberi

Northern Gondwana Dar, Dabba, Gorgos Male

Female

Northern Gondwana

Akuchi

Adaeze

Khemi

Amadi

Adannaya

Male

Female

Azubuike

Amara

Ahmose

Bastet

Chibueze

Añuli

Amenemhet

Berner-Ib

Chibuzo

Chiamaka

Anapa

Gequit

Chidike

Chika

Asari

Heqt

Chiemeka

Chikelu

Aten

Het-Heru

Chike

Chizoba

Djehuti

Iset

Chima

Chukwu

Djehutimose

Katsiu

Chinwendu

Ebele

Heru

Nayahau

Ekene

Funanya

Iah

Nefertari

Ekwueme

Ndidi

Imhotep

Neith

Ikenna

Nkechi

Menes

Nephthys

Ngozi

Nkiru

Ptah

Nit

Nkemdilim

Obaya

Ramessu

Sbeqt

Nnamdi

Onyeka

Seti

Tuaitthesit

Nneka

Pnami

Sutekh

Uakht

Obi

Risha

Thutmose

Udo

Vanna

Yamanu

Uzochi

Uzoma

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GEOGRAPHICA Turan Subcontinent

Turan Subcontinent

Zin, Yalak, Turan, and Joktan

Shaba

Male

Female

Male

Female

Achiel

Achava

Abd-Al-Aziz

Aliyyah

Baram

Barbara

Abdullah

Amira

Chananel

Celine

Dawud

Basira

Daniel

Dafna

Farid

Fatimah

Efraim

Edna

Gafar

Ghada

Gavriel

Galina

Hakeem

Jameela

Idan

Ilanit

Ilham

Khatijah

Machol

Karin

Iskandar

Latifah

Nadav

Magal

Kamal

Malika

Paltiel

Naama

Mostafa

Nasim

Raday

Rachel

Nizar

Nasira

Sahar

Sa-El

Omar

Rashida

Tahel

Tali

Riad

Shakira

Uzziel

Uma

Sharif

Suraya

Yaakov

Vered

Talib

Thana

Usama

Uzma

Yushua

Wahida

Zulfaqar

Yasmin

Gondwana Location Adventure Seeds 1. The City of Silken Tears Somewhere deep in central Awalawa rests the City of Silken Tears. Once the Lemurian citadel-city of Caerostris, it was abandoned after the Great Plague and has since become the abode of spiders of prodigious size and ferocity. The spiders frequently raid villages on the edges of the jungle and drag back captives, books, and orichalcum to the lost city.

seized by a local tribe who haul it from place to place by tethering it to a huge team made up of horses, elephants, and slaves. The Broken City’s inhabitants trade with those they come across, but its rulers live high in the towers above the plains and dream of future conquests. 4. Esperon Isle – The Island of Beckoning Palms At dawn and dusk, beautiful women clad only in palm leaves beckon to any sailors who venture near this island. The corpses of those who dare to land upon the island’s shores are often found floating at sea, completely drained of all bodily fluids. While the sun is the sky, the island seems uninhabited. Sunken wrecks lie in the depths near the island, mute testament to the dangers of those who heed the sirens’ calls.

2. The City of Glass The City of Glass sits at the foot of the mountains in northern Turan. Blasted and destroyed, allegedly by a dragon, no one now speaks the name of this place, calling it only the City of Glass. The desert sands around the city have all been blasted into crystalline glass but it is thought that some of the city’s stone buildings and basements may have survived. None of the Turani willingly venture close to the city, however, believing it to be cursed by the gods. The 5. The Blood Golem city’s old inhabitants, scions, and descendants have scattered to A gigantic golem rests here, buried up to its chest in the rock the corners of the Earth fearing the wrath of the dragon and some and soil. Vines cover its arms, binding it to the ground. If its face is cryptic pronouncement it made before destroying the city. smeared with fresh blood, the golem awakens and is able to answer several questions about ancient history in the Saurian tongue before it falls silent once more. 3. The Broken City of Ankat An Atlantean First Age sky-city travels this area, though it can no longer fly higher than 10 meters off the ground. The city has been 6. The Face of Dar’Kath

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Face of Dar’Kath is a massive volcano in central Gondwana. Part of the cone has eroded away leaving what looks like a twisted visage. At night this face is lit up by the lava from inside the volcano. The local tribes say that the face changes expressions over time and believe that some demon or godling is trapped within the mountain. A local tribe has taken to worshipping the creature, flinging objects and sometimes people into the volcano as offerings.

life upon any who bath in them. The women who guard the pool are said to be stunningly beautiful as well as cannibals.

8. Slave Pits of Rak-Mar Rak-Mar is a fortress south of the capital. The fortress is infamous as a place for the purchase and sale of slaves. Slave traders from all over the world bring their wares, assured of a quick and profitable sale. Those seeking the return of their loved ones had best beware; Sheban sorcerers use demons to tend their slaves. Demons don’t feel pity or remorse and so make the perfect guards, and if one or two slaves go missing it’s a price the Shebans are willing to pay.

15. The Citadel of the Black Circle In the forbidden jungles of Awalawa lies the sinister black citadel of the ancient dark necromancers of the Black Circle. Now vacant after the Black Circle conflict and guarded by Nubian mercenaries, the Citadel and the Bone Tower at its center still hold many ancient and dark secrets. The lands around the Citadel still bear the marks and wounds of the works of the necromancers.

13. The Den of the Snake Women A Gorgos pirate village where any and everything can be had for a price is actually a fleet of dilapidated boats and rafts lashed together that floats up and down the Khemit coast selling forbidden wears to those with gold or plunder. The ruling council of the flotilla 7. The Singing Plain is a group of Set-worshiping Gorgons who send a portion of their Hundreds of 20 meter tall columns rise out of this otherwise plunder into the seas as offerings to their dark and consuming god. unremarkable plain. The columns are made of a resin-like material and have proven very resilient to harm. During the winter seasons 14. Statue of the Golden Lion when the wind comes down from the north it creates eerie songs A large 15 meter tall lion carved from a single stone stares north as it blows through the flute-like columns. The columns were built over the Erythraean Sea towards the island of Bathsheba. It is said by giant insect creatures that dwell beneath the plain and serve as that the 50 meter sheer cliffs under the lion hold the treasure of the entrances to their subterranean realm. Nobody entering these hives queen of Sheba and the secret of her power. Sheban soldiers and ships has ever been seen again. patrol the area as well as pirates and a small cult of lion worshippers.

9. The Tree City of Alados Alados is a sight to behold, a wondrous settlement (though not truly large enough to be called a city) built in the boughs of giant trees. A nomadic tribe of Uluka discovered these mighty trees a hundred years ago and, finding that they bore strange and nourishing fruits, settled here. Inspired by the weaver birds the Uluka constructed their settlement as a series of hanging nests. Those wishing to trade with the Uluka must climb the “greeting tree” and do business there; the Owl-men tolerate no outsiders in their settlement. The Uluka are remarkably fecund and the some believe that the strange fruits they eat have something to do with this. 10. Rukuk’Ahl, City of Silken Scales The city of Rukuk’Ahl sits on the border of Awalawa and stands as one of the largest Ahl-At-Rab settlements in existence. The city is an odd combination of Ophidian and Lemurian design though the Lemurian carvings are unmistakably older. Over five thousand AhlAt-Rab call this city home, along with a scattering of other races, and a large transient population of Ahl-At-Rab who make pilgrimages to the city from time to time. The Ahl-At-Rab who live here are noticeably less violent than their wandering cousins and worship an aspect of Set as father of their race rather than deceiver and destroyer. Of course, this may all just be some kind of ruse. 11. Kingdom of the Elephant Men A small band of trolls that wear the colorfully ornamented skulls of elephants live in the mountains of Massawa. The kingdom is little more than a small group of nomadic trolls that roam the foothills. They all pray to the skull of a large mammoth they call Yag-Kosha. During the solstice the skull is worn by their shaman and through it the commands of their god are spoken. 12. The Azure Leopard Pool It is said that resting at the center of the small jungle pool is a piece of the sky that fell to earth. The glowing blue pool is protected by a group of women who transform into leopards. The waters of the pool glow when the stars shine and are said to bestow everlasting

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16. Flashfire Veldt The region of southern Magan is a normally fertile plain of grass, dotted with small copses of trees. In recent decades, however, the incidence of flash fires, whether started by Vril backlashes, lightning, or careless tribesmen, has been increasing. Wild beasts flee these disasters, increasing the tension for local herdsmen. 17. Ague Coast A small stretch of coastline where the jungles of Awalawa reach nearly to the sea is known as the Malarial Coast to Gondwanan sailors. Few will risk putting their ships in near this coast for fear of horrible diseases, attacks by blood-sucking fiends from the forest, or worse. 18. Knifetooth Peaks The high peaks in central Nubia are said to be imable and certainly there are a great number of bodies that litter the slopes at higher altitudes. Nethermen who eke out an existence in the mountains claim that the highest peaks are the domains of dragons and wield wickedly carved bone daggers as proof. 19. Oracle Sands Along Jotan’s western coast is an area of desert sands reported to grant prophetic dreams when mixed in with certain local wines. Allegedly the result of a once-powerful Jinn whose brass jar is buried in a tomb beneath the sands, the people of Jotan nevertheless brave the dangers to retrieve a handful of sand said to be worth its weight in gold in certain markets. Many folk who have taken the sands claim that in addition to minor prophetic dreams, they also have horrific nightmares of unending drought and fire falling from the skies.

GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Gondwanan Flora Honeyvine The honeyvine industry is the one of the most lucrative in Gondwana. These annual vines produce yellow spherical fruit that are the tartly sweet and popular as a dessert and drink-producing fruit. Since the vines are useless at the end of the growing season, they are pulled up and the fibers are processed to form a material that can be woven into textiles or pressed to produce paper. As such, this plant is now grown and processed in much of civilized Gondwana, and is a major export to the rest of the world. Effect: Food and fiber plant. Umdhlebi Deep in the jungles grows this highly poisonous tree with large fragile green leaves and a thick stout trunk. The large branches droop and create a dome around the central trunk, which is thought to have two layers of bark—the outside dead bark hanging off of it and a new living layer underneath. The fruit is said to be red and black, tasting like roasted flesh, and hangs off the branches like poles. Truthfully, no one has likely seen the fruit and lived. The bark gives off a corrosive gas that collects inside the dome, causing creatures underneath it to die and feed the root system. Legend speaks of a great royal treasure that was dragged inside one of the tree-dome by thieves who then succumbed to the poison gas. Effect: Gas hits for 10 DR when inhaled. Exposure causes 5 DR to skin and eyes every round. Gas rises and dissipates in open air. Milkberry This is a shrubby plant with short thorns and pink flowers that swell into white fruit with thin red spidery lines across the surface of the berry. The plants are considered rare in that they are usually found away from civilizations in the darkest parts of the jungle. It is highly sought after as an antidote to many magical spells and curses, even those wrought by immortals such as demons and gods. It takes several hundred berries to make enough drink to sufficiently reverse effects from the most powerful spells, but for many it is worth scouring the jungle floors for these bushes, especially when twisted or deformed by some horrific curse. It is believed that the juice from the berries has the ability to dissipate vril energy. Effect: Potion brewed from milkberries, DoD -25, can negate spells of less than level 20. Giant Bugles These are low, prostrate plants with many giant, spiky, sword-like leaves, used by some civilizations to make an incredibly potent intoxicating gel. The gooey substance is applied to the body while wet and slowly dries to a skin-smoothing sheen. Entire festivals have been created in celebration of this unique high, resulting in entire villages dissolving into orgies as the intoxicant is massaged all around. The plant gets its name from its rare flower, which is produce once every five to ten years on a single, thick, three-meter tall stalk. The flower is red, yellow, and orange, shaped like a large bell or horn’s mouth. The small red fruit explode into hundreds of brown seeds soon after. Effect: Alchemical narcotic gel, DoD -10, is an intoxicant, reducing PER, INT, and WIL by -2 for two hours. It is also addictive; roll CON -6 per use. If failed, still gets the effects, but also suffers as if the substance was a strength 10 poison. Robgrass Robgrass is a major problem in Gondwana, creating hazards for man and beast. The grass has long blades covered with tiny barbs that catch and hold anything that brushes against it. The leaves themselves are incredibly strong and can stop a running horse in its tracks, pulling its legs out from underneath it and causing the horse to crash headlong into the ground. The robgrass has stolen numerous horses and cattle by breaking their legs. A humanoid being can also find their legs bound up and their body pitching forward when walking in this hazardous sea of green. They seed prolifically and can spread across several kilometers in a year. Local farmers and herdsmen spend much of their time beating the grass back from their borders, trying to stave off the weed from croplands and kingdom lawns. Effect: Grapple has DoD of -8.

154

GEOGRAPHICA

155

Hesperia

156

Hesperia (he-SPER-ee-ah) The island of Hesperia rests in a channel between the continents of Gondwana and Atlantis. It is a land of temperate climate, fertile fields, and largely peaceful shorelines. It is also the homeland of the Amazons, a matriarchal society that is similar in many ways to that of the Atlantean Empire. In Hesperia, tradition elevates women to the heights of society. Only women may become warriors, own property, or aspire to positions of power or importance. Males are considered to lack both the wisdom necessary to be either leaders or scholars and the dedication necessary to become warriors. Many stories repeated by outsiders describe Hesperia as a deceptively beguiling land where fierce women enslave all men. This is partially true: Hesperian men largely work as laborers, crafters, farmers, scribes, and very occasionally as personnel for the Amazon armies. The Hesperians are by and large a handsome people, tall and brown-skinned with long, dark hair traditionally worn in braids. Women customarily decorate their bodies with elaborately painted geometric patterns and designs of white, red, and black. Similarities between Hesperian and Atlantean fashion exist, but Hesperian clothing tends to be more austere. The Hesperians own legends tell of a time in their past when the Atlanteans came to their island from Gondwana. At that point, the Hesperian matriarchy was largely peaceful and benevolent, welcoming the strangers to their shores and sheltering them from Ophidian pursuers. Over time, the Amazon queen was wooed by one of the Atlantean princes. Ultimately, she refused to be wedded to the stranger – some s claim that the Amazons found the Atlanteans to be a bit too barbaric, others claim that she wished to remain faithful to her dead consort – and as a result the Amazons cast the Atlanteans from the shores of Hesperia. However, the Hesperians did keep remnants of Atlantean culture, language, and technology. The Amazons once ruled a mighty empire. While their reach was once extensive, wars against both external foes such as the Ophidians and Atlanteans as well as internal rebellions from the Gorgons and the Cult of Set have whittled away at Amazonian power. In the aftermath of a brutal civil war, the Amazons elevated Oshún to equal status with their divine patron Oya and now honor wisdom as devoutly as warfare. In modern times, they are widely regarded as hot-headed warriors as well as clever-tongued diplomats and wise peace-makers. The Amazonian military tradition permeates many aspects of Hesperian life. Her navy is a significant power in the nearby seas and conducts all of the nation’s foreign commerce. Amazonian soldiers are considered terrors of battlefields across Europa and Gondwana. Due to a past war with Khemit, there are few places in the Gondwanan East that look favorably upon Amazonian soldiers. In addition, the Gorgons of the Saharan Sea split off from Hesperia during the civil war that ended the Hesperian Empire. Open hostilities exist between the two nations, each regarding the other as deluded children at best, traitors at worst. As a result, the shores of the Saharan Sea occasionally see open conflict between Amazonian, Gorgon, and Khemite ships and forces.

Government

Hesperia is ruled by both a Senate and a Queen. The free women of Hesperia elect Senators, each representing a province or colony. The Senators work closely with the Queen. As in Atlantis, the Queen chooses a successor. In wartime or during serious threats to Hesperia, the Queen can act without the authority of the Senate. At other times, the Senators each rule over the territory they represent, with the Queen being a final arbiter in case of disputes between them. The capital of Hesperia, Chersonopolis (CHER-son-AH-po-lis), has a vril pyramid that serves to power a number of vril-powered military devices and weapons that ensure Amazonian martial power.

Traveling through the lands of the “Master Women” is a challenge for me. Most customs that I take for granted are turned on their head in Amazonian lands. Choice foods were first given to the matriarch of the house we staying in and once the meal was done I had to leave the room to sit with the other men while the women talked business. My strong opinions were tolerated because I was a foreign guest but I could see terror I eyes of my local companions. Donobey of Nubia

Religion

The Hesperians worship the goddess-warrior Oya, and revere her as the mother of their nation. Small statues of her adorn the homes of nearly every Amazon, and her temples are rich and lavish. After their civil war, the Hesperians began to also worship Oshún. Seen as a wise warrior and just councilor, the worship of Oshún is one of the reasons for continuing strife between Gorgos and Hesperia. Every full moon, the Hesperians hold festivals and celebrations for both Oya and Oshún.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Gender Relations

The Paragona

(pair-ah-GON-ah) Every ten years the Amazons invite each of their colony to send a female citizen in good standings to the Paragona games. A 10 day event that test the physical, mental, and spiritual prowess of each contestant. At the end of the grueling event the last woman standing is given the honor of being the Paragona and representing Hesperia to the outside world. The Paragona is the champion, protector and loyal right hand to the Queen of Hesperia but is free to roam the world espousing the beliefs and virtues of the Amazon people. Other Amazons differ to her prowess and even high ranking nobles give her difference in all maters civil and military. As a gift the Paragona is given a suite of First Age armor that has been past down from the first Paragona 500 years ago. When the previous Paragona dies the armor vanishes and appears in the temple of Oshun ready to be used by the new Paragona.

As in other matriarchal societies, in Hesperia the women rule and men follow and serve. Hesperian men can own neither land nor business, they have no voice in the government, and are forbidden from learning magic or from taking up arms. Many therefore work as servants, housekeepers, laborers, and the like. The more intelligent among them may become physicians or scholars, but these compete with their female counterparts who are generally considered wiser or more skilled. In Hesperia, women can never become slaves, only men. Male criminals who are not condemned to death instead labor in mines or are banished from Hesperian lands. War captives are occasionally kept as trophy slaves, or condemned to fight in gladiatorial battles.

Marriage

There are differing traditional paths to marriage in Hesperia. The most common is known as a ‘shield marriage’ wherein a woman chooses a man to wed. Less common are ‘bow marriages’ in which an Amazonian chooses another woman as her bride, and between them they may or may not share a man whose status is somewhere between that of a concubine and a slave. Both of these types of marriage are normally between Hesperians. Hesperian men have the right to accept a proposal, but refusal requires the permission of a man’s sister or mother. A third type of marriage, ‘axe marriages,’ is less common. These marriages occur when an Amazonian captures a man in warfare and brings him home. Such men are seen in society as little more than favored slaves and are typically derided socially.

Dueling

A common facet of Amazonian society is the duel. Duels over matters of honor are not uncommon and can result from everything from social slights to verbal insults. Most duels are fought until someone yields and are performed by wrestling or with wooden weapons. It is a rare duel that involves lethal weapons, but even these are only performed until blood is drawn. Duels to the death are forbidden by law. Instead, duels by proxy in the arena take place. These fights to the death tend to be somber and silent affairs. While duels are an important part of Hesperian society, there are many who do not participate. Such women wear black sashes or headscarves to openly indicate that they are not participating in duels. Usually, Amazonian women do so for a variety of reasons: age, pregnancy, military service, injuries, or political duty. As a result, while all Hesperians may know someone who has been in a duel, there are always those who have never been in one.

Hesperian Colonies

Hesperia has several colonies in Gondwana, on or near the shores of the Saharan Sea. All of these colonies are under military rule, and there are strict distinctions both socially and legally between the Hesperian rulers and the local native populations. The locals are given no official say in their governance. Though they are treated better than slaves, socially the Amazonians who live in each colony are clearly the elite. Each colony is ruled by a military governor – an active Amazonian military officer who answers to a civilian Senator. The governor generally commands a local fort or series of forts as well as the military troops within. This fort serves as the local capital. Each colony supplies goods and resources to the Amazonians stationed there. Excess supplies and trade goods are shipped back to Hesperia. A series of ley-line roads once connected many of the cities. The roads suffered heavily during the Great Cataclysm as well as during the wars of conquest that ed back and forth across the area. Some of these roads lie buried under shifting sands or concealed by heavy jungle. The various Amazonian military legions are not numerous enough to clear them and hold the population in check; therefore, the Hesperians prefer to send cargo to between the colonies and their homeland via ship. Two of Hesperia’s colonies are not in Gondwana. Celaenea is a source of shame, and Heran, a source of pride.

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Asterea (ah-STER-ee-AH)

GEOGRAPHICA

A jungle covered strip of coastline on the Saharan Sea, Asterea borders the dreaded Jungles of Awalawa. Under constant threat of revolt, Asterea nonetheless sends back hardwoods, furs, and ivory to Hesperia. The capital city of Aster (as-TER) rules with an iron fist as many of the natives have fled into the fringes of the Awalawa, preferring the dangers of freedom to a secure servitude.

Celaenea (sel-AY-nee-AH)

Poor and desperate, Celaenea is more of a captive population than a colony. Situated on a small patch of the Olokunian coast, Celaenea is inhabited by those Hesperians captured by Atlanteans during several wars. Ostensibly free, such freedom exists in word only. The Amazonians of Celaenea live in the ruins of an old port city, Merina (muh-RIN-ah). Walls surround the city and checkpoints, alternately manned by Atlantean and Hesperian soldiers, prevent the easy age of the population. Although social and commercial mingling is permitted, it is discouraged by both Empires. The Atlanteans see the Hesperians as little more than a curiosity, while the Hesperians in turn see their Atlantean neighbors as harsh and haughty. Nonetheless, trade officially es from the Atlantean Empire to Hesperia through this port, though it is heavily monitored and taxed.

Electa (ee-LEK-tah)

Guarding the Sahara Straits, Electa is the oldest Hesperian colony and one of the most strategic. After more than two centuries of Hesperian rule, the local population has all but forgotten its previous culture. Its men have adapted to matriarchal rule, and its women enjoy the societal benefits common to all Hesperians. The port city of Ea (EE-ah) is home to a large contingent of the Amazonian navy. Here, ships patrol in the hopes of preventing the Gorgon raids of Oceanus and Europan sea lanes. A large vril pyramid sits off shore near Ea. Before the Cataclysm, it was the center of the city. Now it serves as both a lighthouse and a beacon for Amazonian ships.

Halcya (HAL-see-ah)

Largely ed as the place where Khem stopped the Amazonian conquest, this remnant of the Hesperian Civil War is primarily a military outpost associated with disgrace and failure. Trade and diplomatic envoys to and from Khemit through the capital Halcyon (HAL-see-ahn) as does a significant amount of narcotics.

Heran (hehr-AHN)

Unlike her other colonies, the island of Heran is populated solely by Hesperians. The entire island is traditionally viewed as being sacred to Oya. The grand temple complex here is immense, and many Hesperian nobles come to Heran to worship Oya. Amazonian soldiers on leave or retiring often spend time on Heran.

Maia (MY-ah)

A large Hesperian colony that has been at peace for more than a century, the region is largely uninhabited owing to the fact that much of the interior is desert known only for a few ruins that date back to the Ophidian Empire. Primarily a center of trade with Ophir, Tharshesh, and Atlantis, the capital of Mani (ma-NEE) is a bustling port. The majority of the slaves here were brought in from Taygea and Electa. A transient population of foreigners work with the traders and merchants or run caravans across the desert to distant lands. The neighboring city of Manani (ma-NAH-nee) sits atop some of the ancient Ophidian ruins. Carved from black basalt, the walls of the city bear evidence of the mysterious serpentine people who once lived here.

Cults and Criminals

Lotus is one of the narcotics commonly moved through Halcyon and the military governor has stated on more than one occasion that she fears a Lotus Cult has begun to blossom. Unbeknownst to her, however, the Senator for the colony is a lotus-addict and unwilling to jeopardize her supply. Unfortunately, a cell of the Cult of Set is hidden somewhere near the garrison and is more responsible for missing soldiers than drug addiction.

Oya’s Faithful

There are periodic rumors amongst the Atlanteans that Heran actually houses a training center for elite Amazonian warriors, but since non-Amazons are barred from setting foot on the island, such reports are unconfirmed.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Tangea (tan-GEE-ah)

Formed from lands once part of Electa, Tangea is primarily a military staging post overlooking the Saharan Sea. The capital city, Tay (TAY) serves as a fallback position for troops in both Ea and Aster, and as such little trade runs through the garrison town. The native population is comparatively small, and since the Amazonians do not like to conscript them, by and large they are disregarded, treated more as curiosities and occasional hired help rather than slaves. Ruins that predate the Great Cataclysm lie in the deserts of Tangea. Known as Karthak to the local populations, the ruins have become a haven of sorts for escaped slaves, free natives, and those fleeing Amazonian law.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Hesperia Location Adventure Seeds 1. Tower of the Iron Serpent

On the grassy plains where no animal dares go is a toppled black tower forged of brass and steel. The tower now lies on its side with a gaping snake head at what was once the top. The base of the tower is a black obsidian pedestal pierced by a gaping hole that leads down into oblivion. Surrounding the ancient tower are the ancient remains of thousands of Naga and Ahl-AtRab.

Food and drink are left by wealthy of the community and less well-off visitors are encouraged to take this food as a gift from Oya. Males are not permitted in Oya’s houses. Vandalism or theft from these houses is unthinkable and punishment is likely to be severe.

7. The Grove of the Wailing Prince

During the Great Cataclysm a dark prince set foot upon Hesperian shores and wooed Kybele, the queen of the Amazons. He promised her wealth, glory and power beyond her dreams and asked for an undisclosed 2. Wastelands of Chuldath This region of dead grey sand in the center of Hesperia is home to swarms promise in the future. During the queen’s reign Hesperia became the most of giant flies the size of a man’s fist. The whole land stinks of rotting meat powerful nation on earth but soon the day came when the dark prince asked and legend says that the flies grow large feasting on the carcass of a fallen for his reward. The queen balked at his price and she tricked him into a titan that lies just beneath the shifting sands. Those foolish or desperate grove on the palace ground. Once inside he was imprisoned there. The grove enough to enter the wastelands rarely return, and most that do only speak to is a copse of trees 100 meters in diameter. The walls around the grove are obsidian stone, reinforced with brass, standing 30 meters high. There is no mutter the name Chuldath over and over again. visible entrance to the grove. Every day at sunset, the prince lets out one harrowing wail, calling the queen’s name.

3. Chersonopolis’ Undercity

Chersonopolis was built on an ancient dead city; one that acts as sewers, catacombs, and cellars to the living city above. The Undercity allows fast and hidden transport to those who choose to dwell there. Strange green lights wander aimlessly through the sunken shops and temples, attracted to living beings but repelled by sunlight. Treasure hunters frequent the Undercity, seeking riches they are sure lie just around the next corner. Occasionally things from the Undercity come up to wander the streets of Chersonopolis at night, but most are quickly destroyed. Some of those seem to be the bodies of treasure hunters, warped and distorted by unknown magics.

4. Iron Circles

These large round buildings play host to the Amazonian dueling houses. Dueling houses are places where Amazons can go to train and practice their combat skills. They also serve as places to relax and talk politics. Men are strictly forbidden from entering these houses and those found tresing are often forced into duel after duel until they die of their wounds. Three famous Iron Circles are prized by famous dueling houses and also function as if they were stone circles for Vril collection.

8. The Execution Canyons

North of the southern shores is a large boxed canyon of long grass inhabited by a pride of lions. These lions are unique in that they are led by a single female among a pack of strong male lions. Criminals in Hesperia may choose to be sent to the canyon instead of execution hoping to outwit the lions there. To this day none have ever made it out the pit alive. The queen’s personal guards are trained in the canyon among the lion pride, and many wear lion-mane cloaks as a badge of honor and station.

9. The Lighthouse

On the northern tip of Hesperia is a lighthouse that shows brightly for many kilometers out at sea. It is said that the light can be seen as far away as the shores of Tharshesh on clear nights. The lighthouse in owned by a reclusive sorceress and the light at the top is said to either be an imprisoned Jinn from the time of Unreasoned Sleep or the Eye of Olódùmarè.

10. The Shore of the First Woman

The black shores are holy to the Amazons and it is said that the First Woman opened her eyes and took her first breath here. The shore and the When the Atlanteans were trying to woo the Hesperian queen they gave surrounding area are rich in a black clay called ‘Oya’s Heart.’ The clay is used her all manner of gifts. One such gift was a Vril-powered mining device: a in pottery, medicinal, and magical pursuits, and items or concoctions made magical, mechanical wonder that could dig faster than a hundred men. The from it are highly prized. The First Woman is said to still walk the shores of device malfunctioned and dug under the city of T’lak, opening rents in the the island seeking a mate who is her opposite and equal. Said to be over 2 earth that spewed hot ash and lava. Today T’lak is a ghost town, standing meters tall and black as jet; she is the primordial mother of the human race. in a plain dotted with lava pits and constantly rained on by hot ash. Figures are seen from time to time wandering through the ash; who or what these 11. Oshun’s Temple beings are is as yet unknown. Off the eastern coast of Hesperia is a large submerged temple complex believed to be the home of the goddess Oshun. The temple once rested on an island but during the Cataclysm it sank beneath the waves. The waters above 6. Oya’s Houses The Amazons are not ones for ornate temples. Their places of worship the temple are slick and inky with oil that obfuscates the temple and keeps often resemble forts or barracks. However, nearly every settlement contains direct sunlight from ever touching the temple floor. Tritons who venture a house that “belongs” to Oya. This home is cared for by the community there give equal tales of actually meeting the goddess or horrible monsters. and appears like any other house. Amazons visit these houses frequently, At the heart of the temple is a great, gold-gilded obsidian mirror that has speaking to Oya as if she were there and thanking her for her hospitality. sat untouched for hundreds of years and is said to be the sea goddess’s heart.

5. The Flame Pits of T’lak

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GEOGRAPHICA

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Jambu

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Jambu Region (JAM-bOO) The continent of Jambu is a vast land mass whose northern coast reaches into the frozen expanses of the North Sea, while its southern and eastern shores are graced by the warm waters of the Erythraean and Elysium Seas. As such, the geography of Jambu is diverse, as it ranges from the towering Kaila Mountains of Himvati (him-VAH-tee) to the seemingly endless sands of the Tuholo (too-HO-low) Desert, from the steamy jungles of Kota (KOH-TAH) to the icy tundra of Tamala (TA-MA-LA). Though there are great and fabled civilizations here, such as Khitai or Mohenjo-Daro (MOHhen-joh DAH-roh), there are also sizable regions that remain unmapped, shrouded in mystery and legend, and considered untouched by many modern scholars. In the distant past, the Ophidians once held much of Jambu in their grasp. Giant snakes and dragons continue to mark the territory where the Ophidian kingdoms, empires, and theocracies once ruled. In time, the Lemurians subtly altered Jambu to their own goals, seizing it from the Ophidians by guile as much as by force. Many Lemurians still dwell in Jambu, though few welcome strangers. Despite the fact that there are humans spread across the surface of Jambu, the Atlanteans never held much of the land for any length of time, but their presence is felt along several Jamban coasts.

Baluchis

(ba-LOO-kiss)

A mountainous region on the western coast of Jambu, Baluchis is a sparsely populated region, well-known for being the home of a warlike race of nomads known as the Aryans (air-EE-ans). This light-skinned, dark-haired people are fierce, and known for attacking strangers on sight. They honor bravery in battle above all else, believing that only those strong enough to take what they need are worthy of life. As such, many of the Aryan tribes fight amongst one another, raiding neighboring villages and lands. Among the Aryans, cowardice is a crime punishable by death and those who flee battle can wind up facing death if they return to their villages. Conversely, the Aryans respect courageous foes and will sometimes spare enemies who exhibit great bravery in combat. The Ahl-At-Rab are seen as worthy foes, and some uneasy truces exist between Aryan tribes and Baluchian (ba-LOO-kee-an)bands of the lizard-men who come to these parts to excavate ancient Ophidian ruins buried long ago. The Aryans live in small villages comprised of felt and wood-frame huts called yurts. Aryan yurts are often mounted on ox-carts, allowing the tribes to move swiftly from one place to another. Domesticated goats, yak, wild horses, and wooly camels are all common in and around these villages and Aryan herdsman on horseback patrol the steppe pastures where their livestock graze. The Aryans have little metal-work, using crude spears, clubs, and horn short bows in battle. The Aryans are Animists, believing that all creatures have a spirit. Many shamans and witches dwell among them, as well as those who delve into black magic. The fear commonly felt around magic-s is often used by Aryan spell-casters to intimidate their way into grudging acceptance among the tribes.

What Comes Before

There are scattered Ophidian ruins in Baluchis; many of them half-buried beneath rock slides. The Ahl-At-Rab who travel here must be in possession of ancient maps, for they seem to unerringly know where the ruins are located. Some of the Aryans believe that the Ahl-At-Rab are searching the ruins for something valuable, but have never learned what it may be. So, instead, they watch the lizard-men and plan for the day when they might attack and take it from them.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Damalawa

Life of the Sea

The Damalawans know of the Tritons and the Makara, and they revere both of them. The Tritons are seen as emblematic of the life-giving sea, the Mother of Waves, and are welcomed as honored guests in Damalawan homes. The Makara, conversely, are thought of as avatars of the ferocity of the sea, the Father of Storms. The Damalawans throw sacrifices into the sea for both groups. Loempang remains one of the few places where Tritons and Makara are both treated with respect, and the two peoples view the island as neutral ground.

(dah-mah-LAH-wah)

A confederacy of small islands situated between Lemuria and Jambu, Damalawa is an important factor in sea trade in this part of the world due to its position in the trade lanes between each side of the Jambu and transit to Lemuria. Damalawans are somewhat short in stature with dark-brown skin and black hair. Despite their small size, they are considered quite fierce and are known to engage in the torture and mutilation of captured foes. The Damalawans engage in the practice of chewing betel nuts that stain and blacken their teeth. In fact, a Damalawan saying is that “black teeth are what distinguish man from beast”. The Damalawans know little of metal-working, but are very skilled at woodcraft, particularly the building of small sailing craft. Even their homes, constructed of wood and thatch and elevated on poles, are built to resemble boats with an entryway always facing towards the east. The Damalawans worship the sea and all creatures that dwell within it. They subsist mainly on fish and make frequent sacrifices to appease the hundreds of gods whom they revere. Shamans and witches are held in high esteem by their people, both for their ability to communicate with the sea gods and for their skill in concocting herbal remedies and mixtures. The two most important islands of Damalawa are Dongkala (dong-KAH-lah) and Loempang (lo-uhm-PAHNG). Dongkala is home to the great chieftain of the boat people, a hereditary monarch who keeps many wives. It is through him that all agreements to use the waters of Damalawa must . Loempang is the largest island in the chain and the place to which the tolls levied on ships must be paid. The Damalawans do not value gold or gemstones, accepting only bartered goods such as metal tools, weapons, silks, and spices. Refusal to pay the tributes and tolls that the Damalawans demand is considered both an insult and a crime by the tribesmen, and ships will be sent after those who do not stop to observe custom. The aggressive nature of the Damalawans has cowed even the powerful Khitans into paying the tribesmen tariffs in order to avoid trouble. Damalawan warriors use no armor or shields, trusting instead to charms and fetishes made by their shamans from woven plants and grasses to avoid injury. Their favorite weapons are war clubs, throwing sticks, spears, and bows, often used with poisoned or flaming arrows.

Dravidia

(dra-VID-ee-ah)

There is a very old standing stone in Damalawa that has three sides. On one side it shows a Triton, on another a Makara, but the third side is damaged and unrecognizable. The Damalawans claim it represents them but I wonder if there wasn’t a third group. After all, the Lemurians fought the Anunnaki for centuries, how did they manage that without aquatic troops to deal with the Makara? Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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A land of dense jungle located in western Jambu, this northeastern region of the Salwah (SAHLwah) sub-continent is said to be fraught with many dangers. The name itself is very old and many scholars use the name Dravidia to describe all of southwestern Jambu. The Dravidians are a dark-skinned people whose villages are hidden amongst the trees to provide some defense against intruders; the ground beneath is littered with camouflaged pits and snares. Travelers in the region report that the Dravidians will frequently attack, seemingly without provocation, using blowguns, spears, and clubs, and will even track and pursue those who flee from these ambushes. The Dravidians are said to be very superstitious, putting great store in the charms, fetishes, and talismans fashioned from human teeth and bones by village witches. The herb lore and primitive magics of village witches are heavily relied upon, even though the witches themselves are viewed with some suspicion.

Himvati

(him-VAH-tee)

Considered by many to be the “Roof of the World”, the mountainous region of Himvati is a land of mystery and mysticism. The towering Kaila (kah-EE-lah) Mountains that stretch across much of central Jambu are a barrier that divides the continent, and its snow-covered mountains, wind-blown plateaus, and hidden valleys are home to three distinctly different cultures: the Xinjiang (ZIN-jee-ahng), the Kazak (KAH-tsaks), and the Himvati. All three of the Himvati peoples bear some resemblance to the Khitans, whose empire lies to the east. The Xinjiang live northeast of the Kaila where they herd sheep, goats, yak, and occasionally gazelle. During the short summer months, they manage to grow small amounts of rice or cotton

GEOGRAPHICA The Black Jungle

Whether due to superstition or some certain knowledge, no Dravidian will willingly set foot into the region known as the Black Jungle. Here the trees grow so close together that their canopies blot out all sunlight from reaching the jungle floor far below. It is said that fell and dangerous creatures of the night such as rakshasa (shape-changing cannibals), pisacas (vampires), and hantu (fierce demons) all roam the region of the Black Jungle, and the Dravidians’ name for the place translates to “Most Evil Place on Earth”. Deep within the Black Jungle, there is a small Cult of Ba’al made up of a motley assortment of criminals and the insane from the surrounding lands. The cult is led by a demented family of Ahl-At-Rab who practice cannibalism and necromancy.

on terraced plateaus above the northern steppe. Known to trade wool and hides for metal tools and other foodstuffs, the Xinjiang are largely a reclusive folk. They do have a cultural practice of singing or chanting long poems and songs that detail the history of their people, the life of the high steppes, and the age of the stars above. The Xinjiang share some of the language and culture of distant Khitai and some scholars there think that the Xinjiang may be a lost colony that once fled the empire. There is some debate as to whether to annex the Xinjiang lands in order to bring the herdsmen back into the empire’s protection. The Kazak live along the southern borders of the Tuholo Desert, amid the steppes and plateaus of the northwestern Kaila peaks. They are skilled horsemen who are fond of strong drink, wrestling, and games of chance. Their culture is similar to the Mongalan horse-lords, though the Kazaks tend to be more aggressive. Neighboring peoples fear Kazak raids for their brutality and destruction. The Kazak spend much of their life on horseback, moving their yurts from place to place in large carts, following herds of horse, yak, and goats across the desert hills and mountain plateaus. The third racial group in the Kaila Mountains is the most numerous. The Himvati typically live along the foothills, but they preserve knowledge of all of the es across the mountains, keeping records of when certain es are open and watching for the coming of ice and snow. The Himvati see themselves as a noble people with ancient traditions. While many of them regard the Xinjiang as rural peasants, the Kazaks as murderous barbarians, and the Khitans as hedonistic children, as a culture they feel an imperative to enlighten others and guide them towards the truths the Himvati have learned about the gods over the centuries. The Great Horde

The Kazak place a great deal of significance on familial history, and Kazak men can recite their lineage back several generations. They train their youth to shoot and fight through a series of ritualized “dances” often performed with bared blades or solid punches. The Kazak recall the times when the Ophidians ruled as well as when the Lemurians drove the serpents out. During such times, the various families, clans, and factions of the Kazak, normally splintered and separated by vows of anger and retribution, bonded together to keep their ancestral lands free. When all of the tribes ride together, the Kazak call it the Great Horde. Such an event has rarely happened; in the five centuries since the Great Cataclysm, there has only been one Great Horde, when the Kazak united to drive a vast band of Nethermen from the steppes and into the Mongalan-held deserts.

The city of Bhadgoan (bod-GO-an) is their capital, known for its numerous monasteries, temples, and shrines. Some of these mystic cults are closed to outsiders, while in others the monks freely allow visitors to enter and to worship. The official religion of the Himvati is a mystical one that embraces the principles of reincarnation and the spirit realms. The ruler of the Himvati, known as the Da’al (da-AHL), is considered a god incarnate. The Da’al presides over a body of monks and mystics who carry out his edicts as divine law and act as a governing body amongst the people. There is a great deal of secrecy and mystery associated with the Da’al and his followers; while no Himvati would dare to question what goes on in the meetings between the Da’al and his monks, they are otherwise free to worship as they each see fit. The Himvati treat strangers in a friendly and hospitable fashion, greeting visitors graciously and with a protruding tongue, which they intend as a sign of friendship. Nonetheless, they are secretive about their individual personal beliefs and do not discuss them with outsiders. The Himvati are all religious to some degree, and see omens and portents all around them in their daily lives.

The Monkey King enjoys a reputation that stretches far beyond the bounds of the lands he rules. Some believe that Ana’Mandi would rule much more of Jambu were it not for the foes he faces within the Black Jungle. Emissaries that speak in his name travel much of Jambu, seeking , warning of the dangers of the Black Jungle, and countering the advances of the Anunnaki and the Sons of Ba’al. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

The Kazaks are a good people; abrasive, and prone to taking offense to the slightest misstep, but good none the less. When I was there on Arcanum business I saw the children of the tribe we were escorted by play a game called “Catch the Girl”. A single girl would ride out ahead of a group of boys upon the fastest horse and the boys would pursue. If a boy caught the girl he could steal a kiss and then ride back with the girl chasing him. If she caught him she could whip him mercilessly with a yak hair whip. This sport went on for hours and it was enjoyable to see these young people so adept at riding. Donobey of Nubia

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Undying Da’al

Some have speculated that the Da’al is actually an Atlantean prince who spends much of his time in an enchanted slumber, waking only to issue edicts, and unaware of his empire’s collapse. The truth of the matter is something far stranger. The Da’al is currently a Jinn of incredible age. Witness to much of history, the old Jinn wishes to along the mantle of the Da’al to a worthy soul, but has had trouble finding someone who he deems laudable and beloved of the gods enough to do so. Recently he has had a series of what he believes to be prophetic dreams that hint that upon his death, his soul will be reborn again. He has already sent out several cadres of monks to be alert and watchful for a child born with the eyes of a Jinn.

The Secret Army

Many scholars and explorers have reported many stories about Shamballa in their tales of Jambu, but few have ever truly visited this fabled city. Ruled by a group of Jinn priests who call their fellowship the Kalacakra (KAHL-ahca-kra), or “Siblings on the Time Wheel,” the temples and grounds of Shamballa are designed to observe the heavens in the hopes of divining what the gods intend for life on Earth. The Kalacakra have one overarching prophesy: that when the world “declines into war and greed and all is lost, the Kala king will usher forth from Shamballa with a huge army to vanquish the darkness.” However, the Kalacakra and their disciples in Shamballa are few in number, so where this army might come from is unknown.

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The Himvati have stories of a hidden city known as Shamballa (shahm-bah-LAH) secreted in a mountain valley somewhere in the Kaila Mountains. Said to be built in the shape of an eight-petal lotus, each petal representing a separate principal and school of metaphysical thought, the city is reported to be filled with enchanted gardens, magical fountains, and glorious shrines, all of which are tended by priests and monks of the highest regard. Encircling this city and keeping it hidden from outsiders are a set of towering peaks known as the Mountains of the Moon. The Himvati claim that Shamballa is an earthly paradise and that only the good of heart can find this hidden land on their own, but its monks sometimes bring in those who have lost their way in the mountains nearby, and are in danger of perishing.

Khitai

(kih-TIE)

Khitai is the largest and most powerful nation on the continent of Jambu. Composed of five separate provinces, Khitai is rich in mineral wealth, population, and sheer size. It has a long history and is now a rising power in the world. Believed to have once been covered in a vast jungle, the land was originally tamed and named the Land of the Yellow Earth by the Ophidians. Stories of how they tamed the land, drove out the beasts and monsters who dwelled upon it, and established each of the provinces still circulate. From these stories, the Ophidians have come to be known as the Dragon Gods. The Lemurians would later prove to be fierce rivals in Khitai and the battles between the Lemurians and the Ophidians left deep scars in both the land and the culture. Later still, the Atlanteans would come to Khitai. They conquered much of the coastal areas, turning Khitai into one of their far-flung colonies, but after the Great Cataclysm, they fell from power. Humans culled what they could from the Atlanteans and mingled it with lore of the Dragon Gods while rebuilding Khitai society. Now, the present culture has begun to flourish. Based to a great extent on agriculture, it is as advanced in the arts and sciences as any other land, said to even rival Hesperia and Atlantis. The Khitai military is highly regarded, immense, and well-equipped. Khitai today is a new empire. The five provinces are united by a common language and a shared history, and ruled by a new emperor who claims descent from the Dragon Gods of old. Among the Khitian, he is considered a demi-god. Society in Khitai is stratified into seven classes: the emperor, the mandarins, the military, the scholars, the bonzes, the merchants, and the laborers. The emperor and his extended family are feared and respected. Below them, the mandarins are the nobility and ruling class of Khitai. Generally, one must be born into the ranks of the mandarins and thus most of them are Ahl-At-Rab. However, on occasion, a truly exceptional warrior or scholar may achieve this status through service to the empire. In theory, all military warriors are officially accorded status just below that of the mandarins; but in practice, only great commanders or heroes are truly held in high esteem. The scholars of Khitai are made up of alchemists, astrologers, engineers, and, it is said, a few powerful sorcerers. Their knowledge and wisdom affords them a fair degree of status. All of the upper class wear elaborate dragon-masks when in public, often adorned with precious metals, chips of jade, or gemstones. Below the scholars come the three lower classes. The first of these are the bonzes, or holy men. Made up of mystics and priests who are the leaders of the various religious sects and cults of Khitai, the bonzes are a fractious lot, often bickering with one another over interpretations of dogma, ancient script, or the dispositions of the Heavenly Dragons. Unrestricted for ages by the Khitian government, some sects and cults have amassed great fortunes, and elaborate shrines and temples can be found in many cities. The merchant class is also notable for its ostentatious wealth and opulence. Culturally, they try to compensate for their relatively low status by providing elaborate displays of personal wealth that typically impoverish them in the long run. Finally, the laborers make up the bulk of Khitain society, and most are quite poor. Though many who live in the countryside own their own land, they work long and hard to provide food both for themselves and for the empire as a whole. While many of these classes cannot afford dragon-masks like the upper classes, they do decorate their faces with paint and cosmetics. Those who have the time decorate with a stylized scale motif, while others simply paint their entire face green before leaving home to start their day. Khitian justice is fair, but harsh. Individuals accused of a crime are held in confinement, but not otherwise mistreated. A jury of officials, appointed by the local mandarins, presides over trials. If found innocent, an accused individual may seek recompense through the courts, but those found

GEOGRAPHICA guilty face strict punishments. Many of the guilty can face beatings, performed with a bamboo stick. Thieves are often made to wear a heavy wooden yoke for as long as three months. Murderers are sentenced to death via strangulation, or in the case of heinous crimes or military desertion, decapitation. Those guilty of crimes against the state or offense against the emperor are often tortured before death in a manner deemed poetic and related to their offense. Khitai has a powerful military. Though their navy may be questionable on the open sea, their ability to patrol the coasts of their home is not. Khitai’s army is perhaps unrivaled in the world, with divisions of heavy infantry, elite heavy cavalry, archers, artillerists, elephant cavalry, light cavalry, and light infantry. All Khitian officers and many of their best units wear hideous leather or iron masks. Lemurian artifacts such as Lawgivers have been preserved and are used by high ranking Khitian military officials.

THE PROVINCES OF KHITAI The provinces of Khitai are unified in culture but little else. Over the centuries, each of the provinces has at one time ruled over the others. Now, united in peace under a single emperor, the mandarins of the provinces plot and scheme against one another, jockeying for position. T’SIN PROVINCE (t-SING) T’sin Province is an agricultural powerhouse that produces much of Khitai’s rice, millet, and wheat. The city of Chu Tang (ku TANG) in the north receives and processes iron, copper, gold, and jade from mines north of Baykul (by KOOL) Lake. Said to be bottomless, Baykul Lake is remarkably clear and a prominent source of fresh water for the province. The deep Chu Tang Gorges run north from the lake up into the adjacent mountains. A great shrine sits in Chu Tang and the Vril from it powers barges that run up and down the Chu Tang Gorges. The forests of this area produce ginseng root, gathered by spice traders who come here despite the dangers posed by bandits and the wild Jinn who call the mountains home. Mandarins from the southern provinces also come here occasionally to hunt pheasant, wildcats, and the fierce snow leopards of the mountains. Further south, on the coast of the Hwang (hoo-WANG) Sea is the city of Hwang Do (hoo-WANG doh), a major trade port with a deep, natural harbor. Many foreigners come to Hwang Do to trade in spices, metals, and precious gems, while the province ships much of the grain it produces out through this port to rest of Khitai.

Dragon Lines, Spirit Gates, and Towering Shrines

The culture in Khitai has been shaped by its past, by both the Ophidian Empires and the Lemurian protectors. The Vril lines that fuel energy around the region are known as Dragon Lines by the people of Khitai and are thought to be the blood, breath, and power of a great dragon who slumbers below the earth. Instead of stone circles to channel Vril, the Khitai have modified a practice of the Lemurians. They create wooden arches or vertical, circular doorways of stone in order to channel and store Vril, much like the great stone dolmens do in the far west. Additionally, the multitiered and stepped roofs of the nation’s shrines function much like the Vril pyramids common in Gondwana. Atlantean visitors to this realm always claim that these structures were, of course, inspired by Atlantean technology and knowledge, but to the Khitai, these are national treasures and they resent the notion that such ideas came from lands or histories not their own.

The Kappa

In the rivers of the Chu Tang Gorges and the deep dark waters of Baykul Lake dwell a group of Makara who call themselves the Kappa (cap PAH). Utilizing stolen Triton technology from the Atlanteans in ages past, the Makara occasionally leave the deep waters to prey upon miners, spice merchants, and huntsmen. It is said that somewhere deep below the waters of Baykul, the Makara have carved out a city of their own, hidden in the darkness.

Personal pride and honor is very important to these people and a public shame is like driving a dagger through their heart. I made this mistake when questioning a street philosopher; my public inquiries for further information shamed the man because it made it seem like he OKAMCHAK PROVINCE wasn’t explaining things well (ahk-ahm-CHAK) enough. I had to spend the next Okamchak is the ruling province of Khitai, site of the capital city of Tang (TANG). Much of the day publically praising him to empire’s military power is centered here, along with many of Khitai’s wealthiest mandarin families. undo the damage. Copper and some iron are mined close to the town of Dao Sung (tao SUNG), which also Thalmia, Triton Sorceress houses a large military training center. The southern city of P’ong Yan (pyong YAN) is a wellknown fishing and trading port, exporting taro root and ginseng to ports south. Tea is grown here, and fine cloth and paper produced for use by the empire. Heavily armed caravans make their way overland to other cities of the empire, carrying letters and instructions to distant mandarins. Numerous spirit gates dot the hills and even the gardens of many mandarins in Okamchak, leftover remnants of the times when the Lemurians controlled these lands.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Lake Sung

In the northern reaches of Okamchak lies deep Lake Sung (SOONG). Atlantean records from centuries past make note that the level of Lake Sung rises and falls in pace with the level of Baykul Lake in ading T’sin Province. Atlantean alchemist-sages thought that perhaps the two great lakes were somehow linked. Several expeditions of Tritons were sent into Sung Lake, but none returned. The Atlanteans were unable to continue their investigations when the Great Cataclysm struck.

The Imperial Gardens

The Gardens of Wa are renowned throughout Khitai and many wealthy mandarins benefit from the various herbal remedies and alchemical creations that come from them. In truth, however, the original knowledge for the horticulture of Wa comes from recovered texts left behind by the Lemurians, refined with Ophidian alchemy, and improved upon with Atlantean science.

Spirit Weapons

The weaponsmiths of Okuk work with enchanters to entice spirits into their weapons. These spirit weapons require regular appeasing or else they abandon the weapon. Spirit weapons have small shrines carved into their hilts and their owners regularly leave offerings of spices, rice, wine, or other materials near the hilt at night so that the spirit can enjoy them.

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OKUK PROVINCE (ohk AHK) Okuk Province consists of the southern end of the Goryeon (gore-EE-on) Peninsula and the Islands of Wa (WAH). The people of Okuk are renowned as superior craftsmen, hardworking fishermen, and fierce warriors. Many small towns and villages lie along the coast, for the interior is still largely wilderness and the mountains are said to be inhabited by wild tribes of men who never came under the dominion of the Dragon Gods. Two large cities dominate the Islands of Wa: Nyoki (nee-YO-kee) and Kyushi (kee-YU-she). Both of these port cities produce silks, teas, and incense that are exported to other provinces and lands beyond. Money and wealth flow back into the Wa Islands allowing its scholars to develop phenomenal skills in horticulture as well as unique flower and fruit tree gardens. The northernmost of the Wa Islands is known as Hsuan (SWAN) Island. Legends say that plants of pure gold and herbs made of jade grow here in hidden gardens watched over by the Jinn. The Khitian also claim that a magical herb grows on the island that, when istered in an elixir, can even bring the dead back to life. However, the Lemurians who live here, and claim the island as their own, have little tolerance for outsiders or the servants of the empire. On the southern Goryeon peninsula sits the city of Fuzhou (FU-show), famous throughout the lands for its excellent armorers, metalsmiths, and craftsmen. Some of the finest swords in the empire are produced here by families who have maintained a tradition of weaponcraft for generations. Outside of Fuzhou, however, much of the southern end of the peninsula is covered in dense jungle where rare and colorful species of parrots, songbirds, and peafowl live as well as several species of giant serpents. CHU L’ANG PROVINCE (CHEW luh-ahng) The southernmost of the Khitain provinces is Chu L’ang, which does a hefty trade in gold and silk from its coastal capital of Ch’ung (chuh-UHNG). Seen as a gateway into Khitai from the barbarian west, the mandarins of Ch’ung do a brisk business in official documents, ports, and letters of introduction. Off the southern coast of Chu L’ang is Hoi Naam (ho-ee NA-AM) Island. At one end of Hoi Naam is the Citadel of Fu Zhin (FOO tshin). Since before the Atlanteans came to Jambu, Hoi Naam has been considered a cursed land. Every year, for up to two months, dense fogs blanket the entire island, hiding it from view from the sea and obstructing vision for everyone on land. The fogs are so thick that it is said that the walls of buildings weep constantly during these times. The island is primarily used to house convicts, prisoners, or captives taken during war. The Citadel of Fu Zhin, a massive stone structure that dates back to the days of the Dragon Gods, houses a contingent of military troops who ensure that the residents of the island never leave, nor have any with outsiders. The shores of the island are rocky, though there is a harbor below Fu Zhin where supplies are brought in and information sent out. PAN P’O PROVINCE (PAHN puh-OH) Centrally located in Khitai is Pan P’o Province, which includes the land on both sides of the Chan Jiang (chan JEE-ahng) River and the no-man’s land near the Tashu (TA-shoo) Mountains. Farms dot the lowlands between the Chan Jiang and Xun Xi (zhun ZHEE) Rivers. The coastal city of Nanki (nan-KEE) is an active fishing and trading port, receiving goods and tribute and funneling them to cities in the north. Wu Han (woo HAN) is an important river port where tin and lead from the mountains makes its way to the cities of the empire. The capital of Pan P’o is the coastal city of Sin Tao (seen DAO) whose great fleet of ships sails the waters of the Hwang Sea. HWANG SEA (hoo-WANG) The waters of the Hwang Sea connect the provinces of Khitai. Patrolled regularly by Khitian naval vessels, sailed by merchants’ ships, and fished by smaller boats, the waters of the Hwang Sea are home to great sea serpents, sharks, and Makara tribes. There are islands scattered among the Hwang Sea that are dotted with estates and mansions of the wealthy as well as numerous ruins of Ophidian, Lemurian, and Atlantean origin.

GEOGRAPHICA Daging, the City of Flesh

(DAH-ging)

On Khitai’s southernmost border sits a coastal port of ill-repute. Once a renowned hub of commerce for the Anunnaki, the Lemurian wars diminished shipping in the region for ages. The rise of the Atlanteans brought life and trade back after centuries, and as the gold flowed back into Daging, so too did the Anunnaki. Loathe to sell the riches of Jambu to outsiders, the Ahl-At-Rab city instead became a bustling slave-market, trading with others from around the continent and enterprising ship captains. The more ships that put in to port at Daging, the more the city needed to entice and keep them spending. In time, brothels propagated near the slave markets. Bands of slavers and bandits down on their luck also sell their services as mercenary crews and guards. Now, Daging is a thriving commercial center once more, but its main commodity is flesh.

Kota

(KOH-tah)

Kota is a nation of four distinct peoples: the Shan (SHAHN) of the northwest, the Muong (MONG) of the northeast, the Isam (ee-SAHM) of central Kota, and the Khamar (ka-MAR) of the south. All are of average height, have dark-brown skin, black hair, and almond-shaped eyes. The Kotans are generally quite religious and most believe in a multitude of gods and spirits. Magicians of various sorts are slightly more common, and they are expected to appease the beneficent spirits and frighten off those of evil intent. The Isam are seen as the ruling class and control much of the wealth of the country. They display signs of Khitian, Veddan, and Meluhan influence, reflected in their customs, art, and architecture. The Khamar are the fishers and farmers of the lowlands. Generally poor, many of them are skilled in the use of small, single-masted sailing craft, and are adept at weaving and net-making. The Muong live in the upland valleys, herding goats and working in simple mines. Many of the Muong wear black clothing, and have their own separate religious practices from the other Kotans. The Shan live in the hill country where they produce fine pottery, metal implements, and wood carvings. The men of the Shan wear turbans and decorate their bodies with elaborate tattoos. Kota has a small army, comprised mainly of Muong infantry and Shan archers. They currently enjoy good relations with the Damalawans who control the waterways between the two nations. Relations with Khitai are not quite so amicable. The Shan claim that the periodic raids from Chu L’ang Province are expansionist in nature despite reassurances from the emperor’s court. Too, the Kotans fear the tribes of Nethermen, savage Andamen and fierce Tampan (TAHM-pan) mountain folk who live in the Tashu Mountains to the north. Kotao, the city of small gods (KO-DoW) The Kotan capital of Kotao is an extension of the people’s religious beliefs. The city is dotted by hundreds, if not thousands, of small shrines; each one honors a particular house, political building, feast day, crossroads, family, trade, or anything else a political official or priest had ever thought to bless. There are even shrines within shrines here and it is said that if a pious man were to visit a shrine a day for his entire life he would be long dead before he finished the task. Maintaining a shrine is seen as a noble thing, and everyone in the city tries to do a little to help upkeep the shrines. Every night at midnight the spirits and gods of the shrines awaken and walk the city. Most locals keep indoors at this time, out of respect for the small gods. The spirits seek out those with good and evil in their hearts and punish or reward them as appropriate. These boons or banes are often very subtle, such as a kind fisherman having a week of good catches, or a greedy merchant losing his favorite ring. As a consequence of the spirit’s actions, there are no laws in Kotao and those new to the city often make the mistake of robbing something they shouldn’t.

The Scholars of Hoi Naam

Though the prisoners brought to Hoi Naam arrived with little but the clothes on their back, they still managed to bring a great deal of knowledge with them. Over time and with the arrival of more and more prisoners, the captives have developed their own small society hidden from the patrols of Fu Zhin. Occasionally the captives will barter with the military guards, offering primitive looking books filled with philosophical wisdom, alchemical formulae, and religious insights in exchange for better food or equipment. The Warlord of Fu Zhin, a wizened and ancient AhlAt-Rab allows this illicit trade to continue as long as the prisoners do not seem to be developing anything that will allow them to neither leave the island nor threaten the empire. Furthermore, he takes a small cut of the profits of selling the wealth of the prisoners’ work to the occasional merchant vessel that stops off at Fu Zhin on the way to or from Khitai.

Coral Fastness

In addition to the ruins on the islands in the Hwang Sea, there are also numerous submerged ruins. Some of these are obviously Makaran in origin and others are clearly identifiable as coastal towns that either fell into ruin or were submerged by the Great Cataclysm. However, there are also great coral reefs that appear like walls and submerged constructions, where the coral and stones of the sea floor seem to have the shape of sunken cities, but the architecture of these places does not conform to any known civilization.

171

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Meluha

(meh-LOO-ah)

Kota Polyandry

A unique feature of Kotan society is enforced fraternal polyandry. A woman marrying a man is also expected to have conjugal relationship with all his brothers, although children born out of this relationship are strictly considered to be her husband’s. In some instances, conjugal relationships can be extended to parallel cousins as well, who are then considered brothers and sisters. A man marrying a woman is also expected to have conjugal rights over the woman’s sisters but it is seldom enforced as sisters are usually married across different villages. Brothers sharing a wife or wives are expected to contribute to the welfare of the family in equal share. Polygamy is also practiced by Kotan men when affordable. Kotans also have a specialized group tasked with custodianship of their native deities. These priestly groups do not participate in the polyandrous relationship and are strictly monogamous.

South of the Kaila Mountains and the inhospitable Industan (in-DOO-stan) Desert, north of the sweltering coastal jungles, sits the mysterious country of Meluha. The population is sparse and concentrated in the Akhan (AH-khan) River valley where the capital, Mohenjo-Daro, is found. A sprawling city of mud-brick buildings, Mohenjo-Daro is an important trade link where merchants from an astounding variety of lands, by both sea and overland caravan, sell silks, spices, ingots of copper, iron, silver and gold, precious stones, rare herbs, slaves, and more; all are all traded in their season. Trade is so vital to Mohenjo-Daro that it has become known as the “Open City”, for its gates never close. Along the Akhan River, strung out like beads on a necklace, are other, smaller settlements. Closer to the coast is Amri (AHM-ree), where goods are taken off larger vessels for delivery upriver. Channu-Daro (KAH-noo DAH-roo) is the next stop beyond Mohenjo-Daro, and is known for its colorful festivals, bazaars, and night life. Further still upriver are Harad (HAH-rad) and Rangpur (RANG-per), two settlements that handle both overland trade as well as military training for the Meluhan divisions of war elephants, light cavalry, and infantry men. While the Meluhan nomads of the north who roam the edges of the Industan Desert more strongly resemble the people of Molodo (MO-LO-DO), most Meluhans are below average height, with deep-brown skin, dark eyes, and black hair. While the poor, who make up the majority of Meluha’s population, dress in little more than loincloths or saris of poor cotton gauze, the wealthy dress in colorful robes, turbans, and capes of silk and velvet, and adorn themselves with gold and silver, costly perfumes, and scented oils. Meluha is a monarchy, with the sultan and his royal family dwelling in Mohenjo-Daro. A rigid caste system extends below the monarchs: the priestly caste, the warrior caste, merchants, farmer-laborers, and the dasa, or peasant-slaves. Only in Mohenjo-Daro are the merchants wealthy enough to be afforded a greater degree of respect, and are sometimes even able to influence the government. In contrast, many of the dasa must rely upon their masters, beg, or even steal in order to survive. Meluhan culture is similarly rigid in its laws and beliefs. Individuals may not rise in caste, regardless of what they might accomplish. Women always appear veiled in public. Criminals are treated harshly, and those imprisoned are lucky to see the sun again. There is another city in Meluha, but its name has been lost to time and removed from all official records in the nation. The former city lies somewhere in the Industan Desert, surrounded by high walls and field of bleached white bones. The great wall surrounding it seemingly has no entrances, and where gates once stood, brick and mortar has sealed the age. Rumor states that a single, immortal king remains within the city, living alone, sleeping in a high tower, and waiting for a death that will never come to him. The rest of the city is peopled by the dead, slain by some horrific plague that struck them all down at once. Some of their bodies remain, littering the streets; some at work and some at play, but all stopped dead in the poses they held while alive. Further, it is said, when the sun falls below the horizon, the ghosts of the dead rise up and return. They populate the city, going about their business as if nothing had happened, unless disturbed by the living. When they are disturbed, or so it is said, the entire city turns against the intruder, haunting their steps nightly, until eventually their bones are deposited outside the city to serve as warning against further tres. The Cabal of Dashkuda

In Mohenjo-Daro are a group of beings claiming to be gods. This group, known as the Cabal of Dashkuda (DAS-KOO-dah), consists of tall, physically intimidating humanoids whose heads are completely hidden behind vibrant, golden flames. They do not rule the city, and do not interfere with its politics or policies. They all reside at a large and expensive manse in the center of the city and all of their needs are taken care of through donations and tribute given to them by those who worship them. While most people in the city do give the Dashkuda a wide berth, there are those who seek them out. The Dashkuda are known to occasionally dole out miracles — elaborate and amazing gifts, great and powerful magics, intercessions with other gods — but at other times they demand and enact mortal sacrifice. In recent years, they have become more and more violent, meting out death more often and with horrific methods. It is said that when they do so, they also consume the souls of those they kill within the city. Secretly, some of the Meluhans have sent word out into the world that a hero is needed to free the city from the terror of the Dashkuda.

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Molodo

GEOGRAPHICA

(mo-LO-do)

A mountainous country on Jambu’s western coast, Molodo is nestled between Baluchis and Meluha. The mountains that ring the small nation are rugged and difficult to traverse, but between the arms of the mountains sits a region of plains where the Molodons make a living herding goats and sheep or by meager farming on the lowland coastal areas. The Molodons are of average height, with brown skin and coarse, black hair. They dress in rough-spun wool garments, layered for protection against the harshness of the upper altitudes when they must travel there. Most of their smaller settlements are tucked away in mountain valleys or along the coast, but they do have three large settlements: Karak (kah-RACK), Kandar (kanDAHR), and Herat (hair-OT). The larger settlements are typically sparsely inhabited. Aside from a small group of local villagers and herdsmen stopping over as they roam from place to place with their flocks, the cities of wood and thatch huts sit nearly empty except for a few weeks during the year. In Karak, small groups of elders from all the tribes and villages gather to reaffirm old agreements, to settle disputes among the clans, and to make new treaties. Tribal representatives also meet at Kandar once a year, bringing with them trade goods such as bales of fleece, wool blankets, small copper or iron ingots, and clay urns filled with mountain herbs. Sometimes surplus grain may be sold, as well as intoxicants such as hashish. At these yearly meetings, prices are set and agreed upon for the following season’s trade with Meluha. The Kandar meeting is usually accompanied by a great deal of singing, feasting, dancing, and celebration. The third settlement, Herat, has a much grimmer purpose. Herat is occupied by the various Molodon war chiefs whenever threat or danger seems imminent. Though the Molodon tribes are not particularly warlike, they will band together to avenge or repulse attacks by their foes, the horse nomads of Baluchis or the Makara of the Baku (bah-KOO) Sea.

The first thing that hits you when you arrive in a Mongalan camp is the stench, These people burn dried dung for fuel, spend 10 hours a day in the saddle, and water is too rare to waste on washing. That said, they have a marvelous board game call Menshu (men-SHOO); one player controls multiple fastmoving but weak pieces called riders against a second player with slow-moving but powerful pieces called monsters. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Mongala

(mon-GA-la)

A barbarous land in the north of Jambu, Mongala consists of the Tu-HoloDesert as well as the Kunlun (KUN-loon), Altai (AHL-tie), Hanga (HAN-ga), and Khinghan (KIN-gahn) mountain ranges. Filled with dangers from the harsh climate and reputedly horrible monsters left behind since the time of the Ophidian Empires, the only folk who live here currently are the Mongalans, a sallow-skinned group of human nomadic hunters and herdsmen. Skilled at tracking and the use of the short bow from horseback, the Mongalans are fierce fighters who have a reputation as the finest riders and horse archers on the continent. Tribes keep moving year round to find grazing land for their herds of goats, yak, and wild horses. During the winter months, they move into the foothills of the mountains to hunt game or, if game is scarce, they may even raid the neighboring lands of Himvati or Khitai. The desert of the Tu-Holo is also home to vast bands of Nethermen called the Tu-Holons. Led by scattered knots of Andamen, the Tu-Holons subsist on hunting or raiding the Mongalans for captives. The Mongalans claim that the Tu-Holons are cannibals and mourn for any captives as if they were dead. The Tu-Holons are thought by some to be escaped remnants of an Atlantean slave army that fled Khitai after the Great Cataclysm. If that is true, they may have a cache of powerful weapons hidden away somewhere, waiting for the time to use them. THE NORTHLANDS A vast and unclaimed wilderness region stretches along the northern coast of Jambu. This area is largely uninhabited, except for herds of musk deer, caribou, wooly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, and packs of large wolves. By and large, these unforgiving areas are devoid of people, but a large group of Lemurians who call themselves the Yeti (ye-ti) do lead a nomadic life across the tundra. The Mongalans occasionally claim that the Yeti ride domesticated mammoth into battle; this is partially true, for the Yeti do domesticate mammoths, and they once used them in battle against Khitai, but they do not ride the great beasts. Isolated from their kin since the time of the Great Plague, the Yeti of the Northlands are a secretive and almost primitive group. According to the Mongalan and Khitian traders, it is possible to dissuade the Yeti tribes from attacking if a few trinkets are given as a token of friendship, after which the Yeti are more open to discussing offers of trade for musk, sable, horn, and hides.

173

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Sala

(SA-la)

I sometimes question tales of the Yeti. This secretive band of my kin allegedly roam nomadically around northern Jambu, occasionally trading with merchants when offered trinkets, but have never in all these centuries attempted to re their kin or their homeland in the south? It all seems too far-fetched. I suspect that the merchants’ tales of the Yeti are just some way to cover up illicit trade or hide favored trade routes from adversaries. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

A nation comprised of various tribes, loosely organized into a confederation and governed by tribal elders, the villages of Sala dot the southern stretches of coastline and the grasslands of the interior. The Salans do not live in the jungle regions in the north of their nation, citing ancient stories of fearsome creatures that dwell in their depths. The capital of Sala is the large and sprawling village of Vishaka (vee-SHA-ka), near which several mines yield numerous precious stones. The Salans trade these gems to the Meluha in exchange for copper and brass items. Traders say that the Salans are a shy and secretive folk. Little is known about their religious beliefs, which are thought to be shamanistic in nature. Large, carved, wooden images, often over three meters in height, are placed outside of Salan villages. Some traders claim that the coiled serpents depicted in various postures in these carvings are meant to represent various forces of nature, but Ahl-At-Rab who are shown the graven idols claim that hidden amongst the carved scales are fragments of Ancient Ophidian script. Off the western coast of Sala stretches an island chain known as the Chana (KA-na) Islands. These islands seem to have once been an important port facility of some sort. Pitted stone and rotting wooden moorings dot the islands along with the remains of a small walled fortress on the largest island. Wealthy Meluhans and Veddans occasionally come here to hunt wild game such as lion, wild dog, and various species of fowl. Those who do so consider the ruined fortress haunted, and remain in the southern, coastal areas in an effort to avoid it. Most only stay on the island during daylight hours.

Sarawa

The sea here smells funny and is home to heavily mutated Makara. I will not return without a really good reason. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

174

(sa-RA-wa) A largely undeveloped country in south-central Jambu, Sarawa is a relatively poor nation comprised of four different tribes, each with their own customs and beliefs. Most live in small villages in homes constructed of woven grasses or reeds over wooden frames. The name Sarawa is one that seemingly predates the human tribes; the Ophidians called the region extending from the mountains to the southern seas Sarawa in ages past, and the name remains. The largest settlement in Sarawa is Pandah (pan-DAH), which is a conglomeration of four smaller villages in very close proximity to one another. Pandah is a major center for trade amongst the different Sarawan peoples and is home to the monarch of Sarawa. The most populous of the tribes are the Kane (KAH-nay) who occupy much of the southern coast. Primarily fishermen, they trade not only with the other Sarawans but with the Damalawans as well. The chief of the Kane is considered the monarch of Sarawa and his warriors are responsible for securing the coast against foreign powers. The monarch is seen as the absolute ruler of his own tribe, but is considered something of a respected servant by the other Sarawan peoples. This is partially due to an ancient tradition that prohibits the monarch from ever leaving the confines of Pandah. It is believed that if he should do so, a curse would fall upon all of the Sarawans, changing them into hideous, inhuman monsters. As such, the other tribes all supply a contingent of guardsmen to watch over the monarch, but they are as much wardens as they are guards. The Akh (OK) people of central Sarawa are farmers who grow large quantities of rice. Akh villages are guarded by large, oaken gates, covered with strange glyphs and symbols that the Akh believe keep out demons and evil spirits. Akh women always dress in colorful and elaborate headdresses that contrast greatly with the relatively plain garments that Akh men wear. The Lahtu (LAH-too) live in the mountains to the northeast. The Lahtu grow maize and rice, and herd goats. They also utilize a primitive bows armed with poisoned bolts, perhaps a remnant from Atlantean expeditions into the Sarawan Mountains in ages past. In the northwestern mountains dwell the Lishun (lih-SHOON). Like the Lahtu, the Lishun are hunters, herders, and farmers. They wear large, turban-like headdresses, and adorn themselves, their weapons, their homes, and even their goats with heavy silver bangles. Most Lishun are also addicted to the mountain poppy, used extensively in certain religious rituals when not sold in Pandah for export to other countries. Lishun holy men generally know some small magical tricks, though a secret cult of necromancers is said to exist in this region. Wild animals, including giant serpents and lizards, are common through the land, and ruins of ancient origin exist in the unpopulated regions of the north. The Sarawans refuse to enter these places or even go near them, so little is known about them in the outside world.

Tamala

GEOGRAPHICA

(ta-MA-la)

Off of Jambu’s northeastern coast is an island of ice-covered mountains and frozen tundra. In this vast expanse of snow live the rugged Tamalan tribes. The origin of the Tamalans is unknown. Some believe that they are humans descended from a small band of colonists from Atlantis; others claim they are a lost tribe of Hyperboreans. Tamalan legends shed little light on the mystery, stating only that their people migrated to Tamala from a “distant and hostile land”. Whatever their origins, the Tamalans have a culture unique to Jambu. Surrounded by ice and snow, the Tamalans worship fire. The largest Tamalan settlement, Saba (SA-ba), is the focal center of their religion. It is here, in a protected shrine, that the “sacred fire stick”, an artifact of reputedly great power, is kept. Tamalans travel to Saba each year, bringing with them a whale oil lamp. Tamala’s religious leader, a shaman known as “The Keeper of the Flame”, lights each lamp with the sacred fire stick and thus every Tamalan family is provided with fire from the “one true flame”. The Tamalans live in family clans of 20 to 200 individuals. Hunters of whale, seal, and caribou, they live in tent-houses of hides stretched over whalebone frames. They dress in layers of hide and fur, and all their tools and weapons are made from bone and horn. During the worst winters, many tribes are forced to hunt farther and farther south. Driven by hunger, some cross the freezing seas in their kayaks to raid small villages on the coast of Jambu for any such food they can obtain.

Taproban Island (TAP-ro-bahn)

These people undertake a terrifying form of sea fishing. Every year, during the days of Wayeb, the tide goes out so far that the Tamalans can hack through the ice up to 100 meters away from the shore and gather shellfish under the meter-thick ice in the space normally occupied by sea water. The sea returns to its normal level in less than an hour and more than a few lives are lost each year trying this. I declined to try…swimming under ice terrifies me. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Southwest of Vedda is the island of Taproban, an uninhabited region covered in dense jungle. Several strange creatures, such as the two-headed, serpentine amphisbaena (am-FEES-bay-na) and the gold-and-silver-eating alicanto (ah-LEE-can-TO) dwell here, along with many species of tropical birds and snakes. Though Taproban is said to be rich in precious stones and metals, few people come to this wilderness isle due to the fierce reputation of its wildlife. The Lemurians claim that during their wars with the Ophidians, an alchemical laboratory dealing with dragon-breeding experiments was built on Taproban. The Ahl-At-Rab and Naga of Jambu claim that if any such place did exist, it was lost long ago. But strange lights are sometimes still seen in the skies above the island and the Veddans have long feared the place.

Vedda

(VAY-dah)

Vedda is a small country occupying the southern tip of the Salwah peninsula. A single-city, Veddashud (VAY-dah-SHOOD) and its immediate environs are the only settled areas of the region, the rest of the country being made up of deep jungles and swamplands. Veddashud serves as the capital and is known for its elaborate temples and shrines. The Veddans resemble the Meluhans, but Vedda’s hot and sweltering climate makes the local mode of dress much different. Many Veddans wear only the lightest of garments possible, as well as staining most of their exposed skin with henna, which results in tones of deep reds, oranges, and browns. The Veddans are ruled by a monarch known as the raja (Ra-Jah) who lives in a great palace within the city. Below the raja, society is divided into a strict caste system. The ribhus (REE-bus) caste is the royal family in all of its branchings and inter-marriages. The rudras (ROOD-ras) are the state’s military warriors and commanders who work to protect the people. The vayu (VAHyoo) and sadyhas (SAH-dee-as) are mystics and priests who intercede with the gods on the people’s behalf. The visua (VEE-soo-ah) are the nobility, charged with preserving the traditions and laws of the land. The maruts (MAHR-oots) are magicians, shamans, sorcerers, and the like who deal with the unseen world. Gandars (GAHND-ars) are musicians and artists, afforded respect and honor for preserving the traditional arts of the nation. The merchants, vasu (VAH-soo), and craftsmen, tattva (TAHT-tvah), learn trades and the local economy. The lowest caste are comprised of the peasants and beggars, ahribu (AH-ree-BOO), and slaves, aja (AH-jah), who work and toil in the dust and mud of the earth. Much of the Veddan economy derives from trade with Mohenjo-Daro, though some ships do sail east to Khitai or west to Gondwana’s eastern ports. The plentiful supplies of gold, precious

Kaliya made a slippery escape yet again when we tracked him to a ruined temple of Set among the island chain of Chana. The Naga enthralled the local shaman and perverted their abilities to summon a primordial earth serpent that lay asleep in the verdant soil. We managed to kill the damned thing but Kaliya slipped away again. We had to bury Wago and his sister Druna. This broke Petranova, who retreated deeper into her lotus pipe. I want to help this girl, but she is so morose these days. Donobey of Nubia

175

ATLANTIS: The Second Age

One of the hidden inlets conceals a seasonal Triton village. The clan stays here during the summer to work metal and enjoy the hunting. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

stones, ivory, rare woods, and resins are highly sought after in other lands. Veddan craftsmen keep the best of these raw materials to turn into useful and ornamental goods of all sorts. So fine and renowned is their craftsmanship, that high-quality goods from Vedda can bring five to ten times the prices of similar, good quality items from other lands. The money that flows into Veddashud from its trade is such that the royalty and upper classes are among the wealthiest people in the known world, rivaling even Atlantean princes. Most have their every need attended to by servants or slaves imported from Mohenjo-Daro. Unfortunately, most of this wealth is concentrated in the hands of the upper castes, and the vast majority of the Veddans are poor and underfed. Discontent amongst these neglected people runs high and civil disturbances are not uncommon. The Veddan military is small, but highly regarded in Jambu. Heavy war elephant units equipped with four- to six-man war towers, and cavalry mounted on elephants and carrying four- to fivemeter long lances are considered superior to many other regional military units. It is said in Meluhan that the Veddan royal guard even have a small number of rhinoceros units, but this is a disputed claim. There are a number of respected Andamen in the Veddan military; bull-men, jaguar-men, and lion-men are all fairly common. Their expertise is credited with establishing Veddashud and holding it against the Ophidians in ages past. There is also a small Veddan navy, but it mainly exists for trade purposes. The Veddans worship a multitude of the Orixa, with temples found throughout the city, lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and frescoes. Some shrines are hidden away in alleys, or seemingly abandoned buildings; these more private shrines are used by the poorest or those who practice rites outlawed by the government. There are Veddans who do not live in Veddashun. The folk of the jungles, of Camphor (CAM-fore) Island, and the village of Shiri Nahar (SHEER-ee NA-har) tend to be more shamanistic in their religious practices, revering the first significant thing they see each day as a divine sign. The Stranglers of Veddashun

A secret cult devoted to Ba’al exists within the teeming metropolis of Veddashun. Adherents believe that by killing others ritually, sacrificing to their dark god, they can earn his favor and perhaps stave off their own eventual demise. Due to Veddan traditions against bloodshed, however, these cultists instead focus on strangulation, using knotted cloth that can easily be hidden or disguised for some other purpose. The cult is small, but growing, and is responsible for a large number of deaths and disappearances in Vedda each year.

Two warring clans prepare for battle over the Veddan throne: The five Pandavan princes and their 100 cousins, the Kauravan Rebellion! princes. of the Veddan lower classes have banded together to form a group known The Pandavan and Kauravan as the Ktaj (kuh-TAJH). The Ktaj are a mixture of cult and rebel group, combining worship of a goddess called Ktaji-Nev (kuh-TAJ-hee NEHV) with their political agenda. The Ktaj clans each say their line has take it upon themselves to bring justice and equality to Vedda; they murder of legitimate claim to the throne and the upper classes, disrupt trade, and sabotage government buildings. In recent years, they none are willing to give ground. have taken to killing anyone they see as “collaborating” with the upper classes and people Each is amassing large armies all are terrified of them. The group makes their home in a ruined temple, hidden in the deep over the Vedda and neighboring jungle that they have rebuilt into a fortress. The Ktaj and the Stranglers of Veddashun don’t countries fear the escalation and get along, and their bloody clashes are the stuff of horror stories. future conflict will spill over into their lands. Be aware of what part of emlazelan the country you’re in and who (TSEM-la-TSAY-lan) controls it. Don’t speak favorable Situated between Jambu and Jotunland in the North Sea, the isolated and seemingly uninhabited of the Pandavans in the Kauravan- island of Zemlazelan is a rocky, cliff-cut island. No settlement of any sort has lasted for more than a controlled regions or vice versa. generation or two in the history of the island. Not only are the climate and terrain both harsh and Donobey of Nubia unrelenting, but the native life on Zemlazelan makes it a dangerous place to visit, much less live. Much of the animal life found on the island tends towards the fierce and predatory. Dire wolves, cave bears, great mountain cats, and giant rams all live in the Saragava (sa-ra-GA-va) mountain chain that forms the spine of the island. This jagged crest is also the home of varieties of wolverines, immense rocs, and giant lizards. The southern regions of the Karmakula (car-ma-COO-la) Hills are almost perpetually foggy. These rolling grasslands are home to herds of wooly mammoths and a few scattered wooly rhinoceros. Both of these behemoth species have long, coarse, snow-white fur that darkens to a spotted brown during the brief Zemlazelanian summers. Their massive tusks and horns are highly prized by traders who have been known to pay exorbitant prices for such items. Some believe that the ground-up ivory of these beasts has magical properties.

Z

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Jambuan Flora

GEOGRAPHICA

Vulgar Tree Vulgar trees grow along the central ridges up near the alpine edges of the mountains. Old ancient trees are warped and stunted, with twisting trunks and branches. The leaves are small, and the roots spread over rock and ridge, anchoring the tree against the winds that come storming down the mountains. The branches are so contorted against the trunks that they create spaces that the winds blow through, creating moaning sounds. When winds are high, the groaning and moaning sounds like a mob muttering and sharing in some sort of painful experience. Some have likened the noise to a torture chamber… or a crowded bedchamber. It is rumored that one can use vril to transform the groaning into words that foretell the future. Effect: Can be used to aid Sensory Mode attempts, granting a +2 bonus. For witchcraft practitioners or if the trees are altered by Lemurian botanical skills, this bonus increases to a +6. Mountain Nests Above the tree lines, but before the permafrost and snow prevent all flora, are a series of small shrub-like plants that have branching tentacles of wiry stems covered with small green leaves. These mosses create perfectly formed spheres of green with an opening in the top much like a nest. With very little root system, the nests can be pulled up whole from the alpine meadows. The soft plants are often used in folk medicine by mountain dwellers and often flavors breads, soups, and porridges. When dried mountain nests create brittle balls that readily crackle when brushed against. They can be hung as alarms to alert locals when someone is coming too near. Effect: Food item. When trying to avoid dried nests, an Evade or Athletics roll, DoD -8, is required. Horsepine Horsepines are large short-needled pines found throughout the bases of the mountains cutting Jambu in two. The trees used to cover much more of the flatlands on either side of the range but various civilizations have removed much of the timber over the centuries. The high-quality wood is used as whole trunks for masts of sailing ships, and as boards for flooring and walls of buildings. Pine bark bread is made and fed to livestock, hence its name. The pine tar has been used to rid the body of parasites of all types as well as to make turpentine and preservatives. It is believed that stands of horsepines are the dwellings of the gods. Effect: Wood, food staple. Grants a +3 bonus to Medicine rolls. Candlestaffs These plants begin their first year with a large rosette of leaves followed by a tall central stalk the second year covered with bright orange flowers. The prostrate rosette of soft leaves can be up to a meter across and the central stalk will grow for several months, getting to four meters in height over time. The plants have been linked to witches, who are said to cast spells over the plants to make torches or indicators that will droop in the direction of whatever the witch desires. It is said that the plant can bespelled to create a makeshift staff against evil or curses, banishing them. The flowers create yellow and orange dyes, and the seeds are poisonous to fish and amphibians, but not humanoids, therefore making it an effective hunting tool. Effect: Grants a +2 bonus to Sensory Scrying attempts. Seeds can are a strength 4 poison to fish, amphibians, and Triton Andamen. Cuallaso These subtropical plants have light-green leaves and dull red or orange flowers. The plant’s root is harvested for its antispasmodic properties and is often used to combat one of the major symptoms of a local feverish condition called mumsy. In high doses it is known to cause hallucinations and inhibit memories. While on occasion youngsters are known to try the plant in a recreational fashion, the effects are incredibly unpleasant and even dangerous. Some civilizations’ militaries have been known to use the plants as an interrogation device to gain confessions. Criminals have often used Cuallaso as a suggestion drug and to aid in robbery. Effect: Grants +4 bonus to Medicine rolls. Alchemical poison, Dod -8, reduces WIL by -4 when interrogated or when being influenced.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age NAMES Baluchis, Zemlazelan Male

Female

Akhgar

Afsaneh

Arsalan

Bahameen

Borna

Darya

Cirrus

Elnaz

Danush

Fereshteh

Farid

Gelareh

Hami

Khatereh

Iraj

Mahasti

Javeed

Nasreen

Kaveh

Orkideh

Kiarash

Sarvenaz

Namvar

Shahla

Omeed

Tarsa

Parizad

Yasaman

Sanjar

Zoya

NAMES Damalawa, Dravidia, Meluha, Molodo, Sarawa, Taproban Island, Vedda Male

Female

Adikavi

Aadrika

Bhadrak

Bhagwanti

Chatur

Chapala

Devdan

Daksha

Ekaaksh

Elakshi

Ganaka

Harita

Gopi

Kalinda

Himadri

Kumuda

Jai

Leela

Kanak

Nalini

Manoj

Pa

Naval

Rohana

Param

Sanya

Rajiv

Tanirika

Surya

Usha

NAMES Khitai, Kota

NAMES Mongala, Tamala

Male

Female

Male

Female

Bo

An

Arslan

Altantsetseg

Chao

Bai

Bataar

Bayarmaa

Cheng

Bao

Bayan

Bolormaa

Gang

Chun

Chuluun

Enkhtuyaa

Heng

Fen

Enebish

Khenbish

Huang

Hai

Ganbaatar

Khongordzol

Hui

Hua

Gansukh

Narantuyaa

Jian

Jiang

Kadan

Nekhii

Kun

Mei

Muunokhoi

Oyunbileg

Lin

Ping

Monkhbat

Sarangerel

Ru

Qing

Naranbaatar

Sarantsatsral

Shui

Xiang

Otgonbayar

Suren

Wei

Xue

Sukh

Tolui

Wu

Yu

Temur

Tsetsegmaa

Yong

Zhou

Tomorbaatar

Uranchimeg

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NAMES Himvati Male

Female

Anil

Amrita

Cetan

Chesa

Gephel

Dohna

Gyaltso

Ekadzati

Jalus

Gokarmo

Kalden

Hariti

Lobsang

Kamala

Mingma

Lasya

Norbu

Namkha

Rinzen

Opame

Senge

Sangmu

Tenzin

Torma

Thokmay

Yongten

Yeshe

Zigsa

Zenji

Zopa

GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Jambu Location Adventure Seeds 1. Serpent’s Kiss

A great stone statue of a dragon lies half-buried in the rubble and rocks of an ancient landslide. Though a few broken plinths are nearby, there is little else to suggest a city or settlement once stood here. Nonetheless, many make pilgrimages here to “kiss the serpent.” They stick their heads inside the stone serpent’s mouth and whisper their deepest desires into the pit beyond. Some claim that the worthy have their wishes granted within a year. The scattering of cairns nearby are mute evidence that not all pull their heads from the seemingly lifeless stone.

The home of the regional governor of Okamchak contains a spirit gate of ancient manufacture. The spirit gate stands alone, guarded by a hundred of the best soldiers in the province. The reason for this guard is simple; every so often the gate heaves with Vril energy and tears open space and time to disgorge strange people or monsters. Anyone stepping through the gate is summarily executed by order of the governor who believes that the gate is the work of demons.

9. The Mountains of the Dead

A number of Molodo’s mountains are not what they first appear to be. A goodly number of the mountains are in fact unspeakably ancient cities, Near the edge of the Black Jungle, there is a huge pit lined with stone. each one identifiable by barely visible roads, walls, and carvings. The conical Niches carved in the walls of the pit hold bodies twisted by all manner of cities have each been sealed by stone and spell, making them nigh-on unknown calamity as well as their grave goods. Only fear of the Black Jungle impregnable, though the few that have been penetrated seem to consist of keeps these treasures safe and only ancient duty compels the Dravidians to naught but mile upon mile of empty, dust choked corridors. bury their most honored dead in this place.

2. The Graves of Night’s Embrace

3. The Emperor’s Tomb

The tomb of one of the ancient Annunaki is buried in T’sin Province. Above ground, a huge and sprawling city complex has developed around the temple grounds and the shrine dedicated to this ancient serpent-lord. Though no one has ever ventured below the shrine, legends tell that rivers of poison, the blades and spirits of a thousand slain soldiers, and the immortal and entombed sorcerers sworn to service still wait in the darkness.

4. The Ice Caves of Yeth

High in the mountains of the Northlands are said to be a series of caves that bore down through the ice. Venture deep enough within, claim travelers, and the air begins to warm once more. Further still, past fierce Yeti, chained barbarians, and enchanted pools, one might find a hidden settlement buried in the heart of the mountains from which piles of gold, gems, and ancient scrolls sometimes emerge in the hands of the brave.

10. The Whispering Walls

The mines of Sala could be much richer still were the locals to dig deeper within the earth. Miners who dig deep hear voices speaking in a strange language, as if a bustling city lay just beneath their feet. As they dig down these voices grow in volume, eventually becoming so loud that the miner’s ears bleed and some even go insane. The local mine owners would pay a great deal to find out the source of these voices.

11. The Divine Ladder

In a humble mountain valley lies the mountain known as Pilgrim’s Paradise. The mountain’s top is always shrouded in heavy white clouds and on the eastern face is a sturdy wooden ladder that ascends to the very top or beyond.

12. Dragon Mountain

In the Northern Waste is a single black mountain where the ancient Naga practiced their Dark Arts. Long ago the mountain’s inhabitants all died in a great explosion that burned the mountain black and ripped the souls from 5. The Watery Isles of the Dead Submerged off the northeast coast of Jambu is an ancient temple the living. The hungry ghosts of the inhabitants now roam the mountain complex where the ancient Annunaki once interred the remains of their searching for their bodies or anything living to reside in. Surrounding the honored dead. In ages past, Vril was channeled to the temples to maintain lonely mountain are iron poles decorated with wind chimes and streamers ever-burning fires dedicated to gods. During the wars with the Lemurians, of brightly colored silk to keep the ghosts at bay. those lines of Vril were severed, turned back on themselves, and diverted. The great Mausoleum Temple of Loong Nogo vanished beneath the hungry 13. The Caravan of the Dead sea along with its secrets and its dead. Along the Silk Road from Khitai to Mohenjo-Daro is what remains of an ancient merchant caravan train. No one knows what killed the caravan that consisted of over one hundred large wagons loaded with many exotic 6. The Great Chain The fastest way through Damalawa is the shipping lane known as items. The bodies of the caravan merchants and guards still sit in their seats the Sh’esh Way. The lane es between the island of Loempang and the or upon their skeletal steeds. When the moon is full the caravan moves a smaller island of Umapang to avoid the extensive reefs in the area. The single kilometer closer to the sea to the west and any who try and take their great chieftain of the boat people recently placed a massive chain across this cargo are dealt with harshly. age to stop travelers avoiding his tolls. The chain has caused a great deal of consternation amongst the great trading nations and rumor has it that 14. The Puzzle Town of Kaz Tharshesh is planning a coup to deal with the chieftain. In the mountains of Sarawa is a small town built of brass and stone with streets that run in concentric circles. At the center of the town is a tall broken tower. The buildings shift on tracks creating a maze that keeps 7. Xinjiang Star Singers The Xinjiang are often overlooked and dismissed as just another intruders out, or perhaps something more sinister in. lost colony but early Atlantean scholars pointed out that elements of the Xinjiang language and culture were like nothing found on this Earth. The 15. Temple of the Horse God most ancient Xinjiang poems claim that their people came from the stars On a windswept plain sits an unassuming stone hall. Inside is the grand on ships of silver. One fragmented translation of an early song sent scholars palace of the horse god. The palace is populated by a peaceful Mongalan from Atlantis scurrying across the world in search of one of these “silver tribe that lives to serve and welcome any traveler into the enigmatic horse ships”. god’s home. At the center of the palace is a golden pool that endows any horse or riding beast with supreme speed and stamina for the span of three moons. 8. The Six Demon Gate

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GEOGRAPHICA

181

Lemuria

182

Lemuria Region (Le-MOOR-EE-aH) Lemuria is an immense continent of primeval jungles, darkened swamps, and towering mountain ranges. Though charted to some extent by Atlantean explorers during the Golden Age, few such maps have survived to the present day. As such, detailed charts of the Lemurian interior are much-prized by certain scholars, and can sometimes be sold for surprisingly high prices. As might be expected from its position on the world map, tropical conditions prevail in Lemuria. Heavy rains are common, occasionally accompanied by hurricane-force winds. The hot and steamy climate affords an ideal medium for plants of all sorts, and swatches of dense vegetation can literally spring up overnight. The profusion of plant life in turn s an astounding variety of animals and wild beasts, many of which can now be found only on Lemuria. The black rhino was a common sight in Lemuria centuries ago and to this day the Lemurians themselves use the great beasts as mounts. The rhino population has fallen greatly in the last few centuries but the Lemurians seem unconcerned. Though Lemuria is essentially an uncharted and untamed wilderness, its wealth of untapped natural resources has always been a lure to certain daring adventurers and opportunists. Some have made their fortunes in this strange land; others who ventured into Lemuria’s jungles have simply never returned. Natives are rare, with the Lemurians being the obvious exception. Small Andamen and Nethermen tribes make the interior their home, leftovers from Golden Age expeditions. A scattering of human tribes inhabit Lemuria’s coastline, and it is these peoples who have the most with outsiders. Ahl-At-Rab are almost unheard of in Lemuria, being the one race the Lemurians kill on sight.

Golian Desert (GO-Li-aHn)

This expansive desert lies amidst the Golian mountain range. The sand here is laced with tiny crystals and the desert becomes a sea of glittering lights during sunlight hours. This effect may sound pleasant but it is anything but; the beams of light dazzle and may blind anyone traversing the land. This is one reason that the desert is avoided; the other is that the entire place is devoid of any form of life, except a tiny maggot that gorges itself upon organic matter. This maggot, called a crystal worm by the Lemurians, eats relentlessly until all food in the area is gone; it then cocoons itself inside a small crystal where it transforms into hundreds of tiny maggots, awaiting the scent of organic life to begin the cycle again. Little wonder that the Lemurians call the place “Deathsand”. The desert is a massive ecological disaster waiting to happen; only the high walls of the valley it rests within prevent the maggots from spreading further. A few giant specimens of crystal worm grow so huge that they can devour a horse whole; the cocoons they produce are the size of wagons and would be highly valued if they were transported outside of the desert.

The Golian Mountains

Stretching along the southeastern coast and into the interior of Lemuria, the Golian Mountains form what is perhaps the world’s largest mountain range. Several peaks in this range (most notably Mount Sarak (SAH-rack) and Mount Nawa (NAH-wah)) are among the highest in the world. East of the Sarakan Jungle is the aptly named Golian Wall, whose palisades explorers have called the steepest and most treacherous cliffs in the known world. Where the Golian Mountains reach the coast is the small settlement of Pahn (PAHN). Unlike other Lemurian cities, Pahn is all that is left of a port city built by the Atlanteans. In the ruins and rubble of ancient architecture it is possible to see where the Atlanteans attempted to create a city based on older Lemurian sensibilities. Towers lean towards one another, forming pyramids whose tops branch with walkways and balconies. However, many of these towers have long since fallen or remain empty. Though the harbor and the buildings closest to it are kept clear, those structures farther from the shore have been abandoned to the encroaching jungle or destroyed by giants.

Lemurian Settlements

Lemurian settlements are based around Nogitah (nohGEE-tah) trees, a massive species of tree with a unique multi-trunk nature. A Nogitah tree might look like a mass of thick interwoven individual vines to an outsider, but in reality, they are all a single entity. The nature of the vinetrunks means that the center of the tree is a mass of small nooks and tunnels. It is in these areas that the Lemurian natives make their homes. The tree reaches about 250 meters wide on average and commonly grows in small copses of ten or so. The Nogitah tree achieves its great size from a constant influx of Vril energy it draws from its surroundings. The Lemurians use their knowledge of Vril flows to channel the mystic energy into the trees, so that each Lemurian settlement has vast stores of power to draw upon. Typically, a single Nogitah tree is home to a clan of 10 to 30 Lemurians. The Lemurians have five massive cities remaining in Lemuria, each one consisting of hundreds of Nogitah trees. The Vril energy these cities can bring to bear when needed is staggering.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The White City

Close to the center of the Golian Desert lies the fabled White City. Only reachable by air, the city is a small outpost of less than ten alien-minded sorcerers. The walls of the city, built in the Golden Age, were equipped with Vril lattices to repel the crystal worms. The enclave was entrusted with studying and finding a way to mute the crystal worm’s voracious appetites. The Cataclysm put this on hold as the lattices shattered and the Vril pyramid inside blew up. The detonation had a strange effect on the Atlantean sorcerers stationed here, bonding their bodies to nearby crystal worms. This bonding was a terrible shock and the Atlantean minds shattered; the Crystal-Atlanteans turned on their assistants and slaves, devouring them before cocooning themselves when the food supply ran out. The Crystal-Atlanteans wait in stasis for the proximity of a new food source to awaken them.

The Black Heart of Mu

Lemurians avoid the Golian Mountains and say that the plague that wiped out so many of them in the prehistoric era originated as an infection spread by the flying snakes of Mu. So much of the early lore has been lost that it’s impossible to tell if this is true or not. The Lemurians did fight a mighty battle on the slopes of Mount Nawa in the closing days of the war so there may be some truth to the matter. Darker Lemurian legends speak of a “heart of darkness” that beats unseen within the Golian Mountains, a foul object that can turn even the purest creature into a corrupted monstrosity.

184

The Golian Mountains are home to a host of hostile creatures. Along the northern edge of the Golian Wall, the most common predators are pterosaurs and pterodactyls, which make their nests high atop the sheerest rock faces. The coastal ridges to the south are visited by great flying snakes that migrate north from the nearby continent of Mu. Tribes of giants dot the mountains, occasionally raiding the surrounding lands for slaves and treasure. Small tribes of Nethermen, Andamen, and humans also dwell in the mountainous heights, but their scattered communities rarely number more than a few dozen who eke out an existence between the predators and the giants. The region’s flora, while sparse at best, is notable for its hardiness and variety. The mountains are also blessed with a vast array of gemstones. The draw of rare herbs and jewels tempts many treasure hunters to their deaths each year. Local human tribes have learned that some valuable stones can be found lying in areas where rain cascades down the mountainside and gathers in pools or natural basins. Of course, these areas are often watched by giants or worse.

Koror

(KO-roar)

Surrounded almost entirely by the towering peaks of the Golian and Tarakan (tar-AHK-ahn) mountain ranges, the Koror Valley is one of the last surviving habitats for the great beasts known as dinosaurs. Although the vast majority of the colossal beasts are now extinct, several varieties can still be found in Koror, most being of the small to middling variety. Scholars and adventurers came to Koror to study or capture these great reptiles in the past, usually with fatal results, as the creatures are not hospitable to intruders upon their prehistoric home. The Lemurians who dwell here are quick to dissuade outsiders, using poison-tipped darts and misdirection to drive off or confuse tresers. The Lemurian city of Pongini (POHN-gen-eye) is situated deep in the Koror. Surrounded by walls of thorny vines and thick hedges, the Pongin work to preserve what they can of the ancient forest valley and its reptilian inhabitants. Small bands of humans and Andamen work for the Pongin by patrolling the borders and steep foothills; many of them fear the dinosaurs as much as they do the Lemurian poisons. The Lawgivers’ Temple

During his time on Earth, the Lawgiver engraved his infinite wisdom on the skin of a small seed and buried it deep within the earth. Seven days later the seed grew into the first Nogitah tree, the largest that will ever be. The Nogitah had a great hollow in the center of its trunk inside which, inscribed on the walls, were his teachings. The ever-living tree holds all the wisdom and knowledge given by the Lawgiver to his children. Those that wish may come and make etchings of the words written there and none are barred from receiving this treasure. The tree sits at the center of the Pongini and is guarded by 108 battle-ready scholars who study every word looking for additional meaning in the scriptures and text. Those that study for a day inside the temple receive a bonus of +5 to any single INT roll.

Ngani Swamp (NA-Gah-NI)

Along the southern coast and adjacent inland areas lies the sunken expanse known as the Ngani Swamp. Here the plants and trees grow in the most hideously gnarled shapes, and the air reeks of the fetid stench of rotting vegetation. Giant leeches ply the brackish waters, many attaining a length of 1.2 meters or more. Ghouls haunt this foul swampland, transformed from the bodies of dead Nethermen or Lemurians. Obscured by clouds of noxious vapor, demonic servants of Ba’al eagerly await their next victims. And yet, with all its horrors, the Ngani Swamp is the most traveled region in Lemuria. There are two reasons for this seeming contradiction: black pearls and the black lotus. Ngani black pearls are among the most precious baubles in the civilized world. Only in this region can the peculiar species of shellfish that create Ngani black pearls be found. Some Salawati island tribesmen come here, risking life and limb in order to obtain these glistening, obsidian gems. Here, a lucky diver can make a small fortune in short time, if one can avoid falling prey to the

GEOGRAPHICA Greed Run Wild

One might wonder what happened to make a single swamp such a hotbed of greed. One might start by looking at the strange black substance leaking from the riverbeds that dot the region. This black oily substance is the blood of something timeless that sleeps beneath the Ngani swampland. One long-dead Atlantean scholar postulated that this substance is the blood of Ba’al or Set. This is not the case; the creature that lies beneath Ngani is much older, though it is Ba’al that has twisted the creature’s blood to his own end, using it to inspire greed, murder, and to corrupt humans and Atlanteans both.

swamp’s predatory beasts. The native humans sometimes ambush would-be divers, finding more profit with less risk that way. The narcotic pollen of the black lotus is also to be found here, growing amidst the tangled roots of certain swamp trees. For years, the wealthiest Turanian and Sheban merchants have sent ships of mercenary adventurers to this swamp, in hopes of acquiring a few ounces of the infamous “Ngani black”. The Nethermen, Andamen, and humans who live here are outcasts and fugitives, forced from the other lands of Lemuria. It is rumored that the tribesmen gather pearls and lotus for some dread master in the swamp and that they have a secret fortress of bone deep within filled with all manner of riches.

Sangir

(SAN-GEER)

The northern and northwestern coastal areas of Lemuria — called Sangir by the Shebans — consist entirely of dense jungle. This area is inhabited by a number of wild beasts, many of whom are dangerous to man. Poisonous and constricting snakes are also common, and are the bane of unwary travelers in this realm. Sangir is home to the second-largest Lemurian settlements on the continent. Two massive cities lie here in the jungle-clad foothills of the Tarakan Mountains. Trusted outsiders are welcome here but earning that trust can be the work of a lifetime. The Lemurians have little interest in trade with others, though they occasionally exchange alchemical creations or enchanted objects for knowledge in the form of books, tablets, and scrolls. The cities of Sangir, like all Lemurian settlements, lack a king or formal ruler. The cities are ruled by councils chosen from the ranks of the wise. This system works well for the ive Lemurians, as those that actively seek power are immediately forbidden from taking office. Near the coast, Sahel (sa-HELL) is a settlement open to outsiders. Though the majority of the city is situated in Nogitah trees, there are small primitive huts and a few stone buildings scattered on the ground and hillsides. A large delta reaches the sea near Sahel and allows traders in small, shallow river craft to reach the city. Further inland sits the city of Orrori (oar-ROAR-ee). Here, multiple copses of Nogitah were encouraged to grow atop several ading hilltops. The result over centuries of careful encouragement is the sprawling city of Orrori. Below the city, nestled between the hills, is a hidden pool that the Lemurians regard with almost sacred awe. Though a few outsiders may visit here, the Orrorin insist all foreigners depart on the nights during and surrounding a new moon. Traders who have journeyed to Sangir report an abundance of many useful varieties of herbs and plants; draconium, lotus, tamarisk, and jasmine are said to be especially common. Hemp, jute, and asarabaca are also native to Sangir, and can be obtained in large quantities. Would-be herbalists would do well to be on their guard, however, as Lemurians regard the removal of such items as theft.

The stories I heard as a boy of the grandeurs found in the “city of trees” did nothing to prepare me for what I saw. Our travels finally brought us to the birth place of the Ape-men and I’m sorry that I did not take advantage of the wonders found there. So consumed was I with vengeance on the Naga Kaliya that I overlooked the kindness and serenity of this land. I’m especially ashamed at how I treated Caerwyn here, when she wanted to take time to visit the great temple of the Lawgiver. I know that day I lost her as a friend. Caerwyn gathered supplies that included alchemical potions of restoration made from several rare plants only grown on the island, and then we were off again south to the land of snakes and the Screaming City. Donobey of Nubia

185

ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Sangir Sphinxes

It is said that some longdead race made their home in the Sangir jungle before the time of the Lemurians. No evidence of the existence of this race has ever come to light beyond Lemurian folk tales and the strange Sangir Sphinxes. These twin sphinxes, each over 50 meters tall, are made of mahogany wood and lack facial features, as if they were never finished. The sphinxes seem to vanish and reappear all over Sangir, sometimes alone, sometimes together. If a lone sphinx is encountered the victim can expect to be battered with questions on seemingly random topics until it disappears a short time later. If the person knowingly lies in his answers the sphinx curses him so that natural predators from kilometers around will seek him out to attack for the rest of his life. If two sphinxes are encountered together, they will answer any one question put to them before vanishing.

NAMES Lemurian Male

Female

Adi

Batari

Agung

Bulan

Bima

Cahaya

Dwi

Citra

Eka

Dwi

Harta

Eko

Iskandar

Indah

Kusuma

Kasih

Purnama

Lestari

Surya

Mawar

Susila

Nirmala

Tirta

Putri

Wahyu

Sari

Wibawa

Utari

Yuda

Wulan

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The Sarakan Jungle

Amidst the western and central regions of Lemuria lies the Sarakan Jungle. Located north of the Ngani Swamp and west of the Golian Mountains, the Sarakan Jungle is easily the wildest and most inhospitable region of Lemuria. Explorers in this realm have understandably been few, given the relative inaccessibility of this almost hidden land. Here dwell monstrosities that defy the imagination: giant lizards over 30 meters long, batwinged reptiles that make their nests amongst the nearby cliffs, and serpents the thickness of a horse’s torso. Even the very plants and trees grow as if unrestrained by natural law, with both wondrous and horrific results; a single fruit is large enough to sustain seven men, a hedgerow of thorns becomes a barrier of spikes, a plant whose normal counterpart might feed on insects is large enough to snap men up like flies. It is in this strange region that the Lemurians have their heartland and most of their cities. All is not well with the Lemurians, however; the Sarakan Lemurians have begun to suffer a plague eerily similar to the one that killed so many of their kind during the Ophidian War. The Sarakan High Council believes that the plague was carried into their lands by humans, and currently a major debate rages over what they should do about this. A sizable faction hold that the Lemurians should rise as one and wipe out the infestation of outsiders from their lands; the other group holds that they should try to make with other races in order to find a cure. Few humans have ever made it out of the Sarakan Jungle alive; without the Lemurians’ specialized knowledge of the area, the place is a death trap. Something in the soil fouls up comes, the jungle makes visual navigation almost impossible, and the undergrowth is so voracious that it swallows up trails in hours. The water here teams with life, while the air is filled with spores, and insects that bite and sting. Sarakan is home to the Living Lake, a vine-choked stretch of open water hundreds of kilometers across. The lake is a kind of inland Sargasso, filled with plants that cover the water almost completely. The plant cover varies in thickness, from three centimeters to a few meters, and beneath it, the lake stretches down for what might be kilometers. The Lemurians use dugout canoes to traverse the lake but are careful to avoid certain stretches; something dwells beneath the lake and it is partial to meat. Explorers have reported strange lights beneath the lake’s surface at night but nobody has been brave or foolhardy enough to venture into the murky depths. On one shore of the lake is the city Nakali (nah-KAH-lee). The Nakal are adept craftsmen and woodworkers. Tales abound in other lands of great Nakal wood-singers who are able to coax wood into the shape they desire with long and moving songs. In truth, the Nakal are adept at poetry and song and some of them are also shamans who claim that the native spirits of Lemuria prefer the epic and sorrowful songs of woe. The city of Ladoog (la-DOO-ohg) is deeper in the Sarakan Jungle; The Ladoogans are reclusive and cling to the older traditions. Some of the oldest lineages of the Lemurians can be traced in the families of Ladoog, and some say that it is here that the Lawgiver first walked upon the world.

Tarakan Mountains

The Tarakan Mountains are an imposing range of mountains that form the northern border of the great valley of Koror. Largely unexplored, the Tarakan Mountains are believed by many to be imable. At the very least, age through this area would seem to be both time-consuming and dangerous. Those few who claim to have traveled through parts of these mountains, report perils sufficient to deter all but the most courageous adventurers; gaping chasms, sheer cliffs, and crumbling rock bar the way at every turn. Swirling winds and unpredictable drafts pose hazards to even the most skillful climbers, and peaks are capped with ice. Worse still are the predatory creatures which populate the mountain. Along the northern face of the Tarakan Mountains live the impossibly huge rocs, pterodactyls, and other vicious beasts. The southern cliffs are no less dangerous, rumored to be home to a city of evil giants.

LemuriaN Flora

GEOGRAPHICA

Lightning Moss This plant is not a moss, but a carpeting succulent that covers the jungle floors in an ocean of green near the overgrown Lemurian cities. The lightning moss is a reminder of the greatness of the Lemurian civilization, being engineered to emit a soft bluish glow as it is walked on. Close examination reveals that the individual plants give off miniscule electric shocks that are too minor to cause pain or damage, but can cause the floor to glow with vibration. During one of the downpouring rainstorms, the fields can discharge all of their energy in beautiful patterns summoned by nature. There are a few regions around the largest abandoned cities where the lightning moss was specifically planted in certain patterns; a bust of wind or other source of vibration created will find markers like arrows or other symbols in the field, directing seekers to hidden secrets. Effect: Soft illumination when vibrated. Monster Blossom The monster blossom is a tropical parasitic plant that lives on the decaying trunks of fallen rainforest trees. Its single, annual, bloody-red and dingy-brown bloom can grow to be nearly a meter across and smells of a cross between death and vomit. Anyone seeking this rare flower may find themselves in a world of trouble: the scent tends to attract the worst type of carnivorous and carrion-eating creatures. Legends say that this strange plant has an even scarcer relative that looks the same but smells of honey and ambrosia. It is believed that this particular bloom will create nectar that can attract any god to do one’s bidding. Effect: Scent draws predatory carnivores; WIL-3 to resist. Grants a bonus of +2 to Animal Handling or other appropriate rolls. Iophorus This is a black fungus that grows in water-bound caves and near pools of collected water in the swamps of Lemuria. The fan-shaped, ebony-fruiting bodies are not large, but the fungus colony can cover a cave wall or entire grottoes, creating a pitch-black darkness within the swamps due to its strange light-absorbing properties. The inky black fungi are collected for its strange powers of invisibility; when the fruiting bodies are dried and turned into a powder that, when dusted on a person or object seems to make it un-viewable by sentient beings. The Iophorus dust is hard to come by and sells for high prices when someone does come across it. Effect: Alchemical powder, DoD -15, can be used to hide objects or people; -10 to DoD on attempts to spot dusted item or individual. Black Udders A common poisonous plant that grows throughout the lands of Lemuria, it would seem that this is the only export of note on the continent. The plant is prolific in the tropical rainforests and wetlands, with pointed leaves along a long stem and yellow conical flowers decorating their aerial parts. The fruit are elongated cylindrical black fruit with bulbous tips, much like a cow’s udders. The fruit are the least noxious portion of the plant and some people have been known to make a jam or juice from the large berries. The green parts of the plants can kill within a half-hour, the poison causing violent spasms and swelling throughout the body with death resulting from asphyxiation due to the throat closing. Effect: Consumption of green parts causes swelling, treat asphyxiation is like choking; the victim can normally hold his breath for up to one minute plus 1 round for each point of CON, or minus 1 round for each negative point of CON. When the character succumbs and starts to choke, he takes 2 DR per round. Lungnut The lungnut trees create large stands along the swamps and their root systems climb throughout the water, forming bridges and underwater tangles that many animals utilize for shelter and transportation. The processed nuts have a beneficial effect on the health of most animals, boosting health to combat illnesses, poisons, and wounds. The window for collecting these nuts is limited, about two weeks in late fall, and then they fall and rot in the swamps. Many collectors will risk the jungles and swamps to obtain a few bucketfuls of these nuts and still more will wait along the coasts to relieve the collectors of their burden. Effect: Alchemical potion made from nuts, DoD -6, restores 6 HP to the imbiber immediately and can provide a second roll to resist disease or poison.

The Green Spirits

There are many powerful spirits living in the revered forest of the Lemurians. Most go unseen and move in accordance with the ebb and flow of the seasons. There is one group of powerful spirits living in the Sarakan that tolerate no intrusion except for the Lemurians, whom they considered brothers. The forest spirits appear as 4 meter tall humanoidshaped trees with a Lemurian face carved into the center. When standing still, the Green Spirits are difficult to tell from an ordinary tree, but if cut, will bleed as a mortal does. The spirits live in tribes deep in the rain forest and are very territorial, attacking any interloper that approaches. They have terrific control of all vegetation and attack using handheld weapons or by manipulating the foliage in the area. Some believe that the creatures are actually the reincarnated Lemurian spirits come back to earth to act as custodians of the green world.

Tarakan’s Wealth

It is said that, in the early days of the world, a species of rock-men lived in the Tarakan Mountains, using all manner of precious stones to decorate the walls of the canyons they called home. A scroll recently found on the skeletal remains of an early Atlantean explorer claims that he discovered these canyons and copies of the scroll have become popular reading at Atlantean parties. Those selling copies of the scroll neglect to mention the writer’s fate or if he actually carried proof of his findings.

187

ATLANTIS: The Second Age

188

GEOGRAPHICA

189

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Lemuria Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Floating Port of the Ape-men

As part of an ancient experiment, the Lemurians bred giant baobab and crossed them with thick sargassum kelp and Nogitah trees. The resulting hybrids were set adrift on the seas off the Lemurian coasts and turned into prisons for those individuals deemed unfit to live amongst a lawful society. Today, only one such floating prison-city still exists, trapped in currents that carry it endlessly around Lemuria.

2. The Iron Tower of Yimmithir

Rising even above the highest peaks, the Iron Tower remains a place of sacred wisdom in the lore of the Lemurians. Found intact by the Lawgiver himself, it was from this high peak that the progenitor of the Lemurians learned to read the stars and movements of the heavens. The Iron Tower has reportedly been locked for centuries, but recent travelers report seeing lights from the heights of the Golian Wall.

3. The Dreaming Trees

8. Blackwater Pirates

The Ngani Swamp is home to a cruel band of vicious pirates known as the Blackwater Pirates. These savage individuals are said to breed with demons and possess all manner of strange mutations and powers. They continually prowl the swamps in search of victims, offerings to their patrons, and some lost treasure.

9. The Root People

A sprawling network of secret tunnels lies under the Sarakan Jungle. These tunnels are home to the “Root People”, a secretive race of pale humans that dwell hidden from the eyes of Lemurians and spirits alike. The Root People have access to strange Vril technology and speak a strange language consisting of clicks and whistles.

10. The Giant’s Graveyard

In a valley deep in the heart of the Tarakan Mountains lies the graveyard of giants. This boneyard is filled with all manner of tombs and burials, including crystal coffins, vast mausoleums, and even sky burials. Several fortunes lie scattered about the valley, though the greatest treasure is the Book of Ur-Alb, a massive tablet said to contain the words used by Olódùmarè to force order upon creation. What a sorcerer could do with such knowledge is terrifying.

Deep in the Koror Valley is a grove of trees, the fruits of which reportedly give prophetic dreams. Since these trees flower but once a year, the Lemurians guard them closely so that their fruits are not recklessly picked, instead allowing visitors to brew tea from the trees’ fallen leaves which have a lesser degree of efficacy. The past three years, however, dreams granted by the fruits have seemed to portend disastrous droughts and earthquakes, and the trees seem to be sickening. 11. Kumari Kandam A lost temple and burial complex said to be the size of a small city 4. Mutjinga’s Gourd lies hidden in the Sarakan Jungles. The complex is the burial site of ten In Lemurian history, Mutjinga was a wise woman who carried a sweet ancient leaders of the Lemurian people and holds fabulous wealth and gourd that constantly regrew and from which she fed the hungry and the potent artifacts used in the Naga Wars. It is said that hidden deep in the infirm. During the Ophidian wars, Mutjinga was killed and her gourd taken underground complex is the World Seed, an item created with Lemurian by the Ahl-At-Rab. They broke the gourd open only to find it filled with alchemy and designed to be used as a final weapon in the ancient wars. From writhing maggots. The Ahl-At-Rab who ate from the gourd also fell sick, it, it is said, a new world would grow. but they did not die. To this day, bands of diseased Ahl-At-Rab roam the valleys of the Tarakan Mountains seeking the seeds of that ancient gourd in 12. The Great Root hopes of a cure. The Great Root is a large black root that arcs into the sky for 30 meters before burying itself back into the Ngani Swamp. The root is said to belong 5. The Murrinhgarri to the world itself and pulses with life that can be seen as a faint blue glow Along the Lemurian coast are a set of singularly unique ruins. Half- at night. The sap from the root is infused with Vril energy and an unknown submerged in the sea and stretching over five miles into the jungle itself, the substance that completely heals any wound, even growing back lost limbs. stone walls and ceilings of these buildings are completely covered in carvings Legends say that those lucky enough to find and imbibe the root’s bounty and frescos that seem to depict some race of half-men, half-insects involved are forever tied to it and the Earth. in all manner of activities. Whether these carvings were meant to be myths and legends or if they are the last memorial of a long vanished race, none 13. The Painted Wall now know. Deep in the desert is the remaining wall of a grand marble building. On the wall are paintings and scribbles left by pilgrims that by. Legends 6. The Old Man of Golian say that the wishes instilled into the artwork create reality and if a studious Those risking age across the Golian Desert sometimes tell tales of person looks closely, they can see the untold history of the world. meeting a ragged hunched figure who approached their campsite by night. The figure begged for some food or water and in exchange offered strange 14. The Mirror of Olódùmarè tales of the time before the land was a desert. When asked his name, the man In the Golian Desert is a ruined tower guarded by three giant, stone ape replied “to my sorrow it is Golian” before vanishing. automatons. At the top of the tower is a mirror with a 5 meter radius. Those that stand on the mirror when the sun is directly overhead are said to travel 7. The Shadows of Pahn to Olódùmarè’s soul where they can communicate with the shattered god. The port of Pahn is a tempting target to treasure hunters and local tribes Other stories say that those standing on the mirror are simply immolated. alike but those exploring the ruins rarely spend more than a few hours there. The shadows in Pahn are all wrong; they fall at wrong angles, appear when 15. The Lawgiver’s Lunchbox they shouldn’t, and sometimes vanish altogether. Some would-be treasure Just outside the city of Pongini is a small home in an ancient tree. Inside hunters have left the city without their shadows. Those that do invariably the main room is a simple table, a simple writing quill, parchment and ink return, seeking their lost shadows, only to never been seen again. bowl. Beside this is a small box with a half-eaten apple still inside. This is said to be the final place the Lawgiver visited, and the apple was his final meal before moving on.

190

GEOGRAPHICA

191

Mu

192

Mu Region (mOO) Lying to the south of Lemuria is the continent of Mu, a land of volcanic mountains, white deserts, and tropical forests. Like its neighbor to the north, Mu is a largely uncivilized continent, and travelers to this far-off land have never been great in number. Mu’s climate is variable; the eastern rain forests are hot and extremely humid by day, but pleasantly cool in the evenings, when sea breezes blow inland off the water. In the eastern desert region, the heat is stifling, and the air is practically devoid of moisture. Along the volcanic ridges the temperature fluctuates, alternately becoming moderately warm or very hot according to the prevailing volcanic activity. The air in these mountainous regions reeks of sulfur and other noxious substances, and is at times unsafe to breathe. Scholars speculate that Mu’s exceptionally volatile substratum presages disaster for the continent at some time in the future. Earthquakes of medium to heavy intensity have long been reported by nearby Elysium islanders, who fear that an earthquake or volcanic activity could force them to evacuate their homelands. Ancient tales say that Mu sank and rose from the waves at least once in times past. Unknown to most living outside of Mu, the continent is the birthplace of the Ophidian race, also called the Annunaki. To this day the Ophidians dominate massive swathes of this land, ruling from the corrupted ruins of their former capitals. Some say the Ophidian Empire is only slumbering, regaining its strength before making yet another attempt to dominate the world.

Curracurrang (CUR-A-CUR-ANG)

Bordering the tropical forests of Yallock (YAHL-lock) to the south is the mountainous region known as Curracurrang. Like Lemuria’s Golian Mountains, the Curracurrang mountain range is notable for its craggy peaks and sheer cliffs. Along the eastern coast the bluffs drop off sharply, forming an almost vertical wall against the sea. Hidden amidst the western cliffs are the eyries of the winged Andamen, called the Uluka (Owlmen). This area represents the only large Uluka settlement outside of their flying city. The Andamen are a peaceful lot and are markedly sensitive to the needs of the very young, old, and infirm. The Uluka operate a hunter-gatherer existence and are very careful in managing their food supply and population. Each of the Uluka has his or her own talent. Some are musicians who spend their time playing and singing the most melodious tunes. Some are skilled in the weaving of baskets, clothes, and other useful items. Others are warriors, whose responsibility it is to protect the eyries against attack, and to escort those who gather food from the forest. Despite their slender physiques, the Uluka are fine fighters, and are most skilled with the bow and javelin. The Uluka’s nest-like eyries typically hang from the sides of cliffs and only the most brave or insane would attempt to climb to reach them. The Uluka of Mu regard intelligent creatures born without wings with no small degree of pity. There are only two creatures that the Uluka have no mercy for: their former Atlantean masters and the evil Ophidians. The Uluka are menaced constantly by flying serpents the size of horses that gather in nests and swarm across eyries, slaughtering all in their path.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Kanawalla Desert (KAHN-A-WAHL-UH)

This place is hell on Earth, the vile sputum of some dark power spat out of a churning gulf of pure evil. The air claws at your lungs, the rain burns, and the plants slice and poison. I’m pretty sure that the Annunaki have slain or corrupted every wholesome thing on this continent. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

The Kanawalla Desert (also known as The White Desert) is a trackless wasteland that occupies much of the central region of the continent of Mu. The barren land is easily the largest desert in the known world. The Kanawalla’s sands are like drifted snow, and stretch endlessly for as far as the eye can see. The soil contains a high percentage of salt; explaining the almost total lack of vegetation in this area, and gives credence to the theory that much of the continent of Mu was once under water. If true, there may be some veracity to the Uluka legends, which state that half-sunken sea vessels have been found in this arid domain. The desert seems nearly bereft of life, with the exception of sand fleas, spiders, and a particularly dangerous species of scorpion. Deathly white in color, these arachnids are practically impossible to spot against the similarly hued surroundings. The scorpion’s venom is one of the most deadly in the world, capable of slaying a man in seconds. During the day the heat is such that a man requires two quarts of water per day to avoid dehydration. Equally dangerous is the intense brightness of the sun, which, reflecting off the white sand, is sufficient to cause a type of “snow blindness”. Unless one takes pains to shield the eyes with a hood or wide-brimmed hat, this condition can easily occur. Travelers in the White Desert would also do well to arm themselves with stout bows; this area is occasionally visited by the dreaded flying serpents of Mu. The Ahl-At-Rab are more common here than any other place on Earth; many thousands of them make their homes in the shining sands. Great crystal pillars, incised with countless glyphs, lie scattered across the desert. Their purpose seems indiscernible but they are in fact used for navigation and a form of artistic communication by Ahl-At-Rab scouts and scholars.

The Tara Mountain Range (TA-RA)

Too Quiet…

Tara is an untapped resource as far as the rest of the world is concerned; a few explorers have stumbled across the land and carried back tales of fortunes to be found lying on the ground but this is far from the whole truth. The Ophidians have been mining Tara for centuries and using dark magic on the volcanoes there to turn them into breeding pits and nests for their eggs. A new breed of fire-resistant Ophidian soldier is soon to be born from the volcanic pits of Tara, a soldier that will burn its enemies with flaming poison and laugh as their own blood sears enemies who dare to cut their flesh.

194

The Tara mountain range winds across the interior of Mu. With the exception of certain small species of rock-climbing lizards, the only creatures known to inhabit the volcanic hills and peaks of Tara are flying serpents, firedrakes, and wyrms. Explorers in this region report that the physical obstacles to travel are substantial, but not insurmountable. Intermittent eruptions can be a hazard, but only to parties incapable of swift movement. The smoky and acrid air, while most unpleasant, does not usually pose a threat to life. For the most part, avoiding the largest and most active volcanoes will prevent exposure to the more toxic (and sometimes super-heated) vapors that occasionally spew forth from the roiling subterranean depths. Rivulets of lava and slow-moving masses of red-hot magma are generally perilous only to the incautious. Those who succeed in overcoming these obstacles can expect to enjoy the fruits of their labors, for the Tara Mountains are known to be a rich source of geodes. These globular chunks of rock are expelled in semi-molten form from the volcanic hills and mountains of this region. When cooled, they resemble ordinary, roundish rocks; if broken open, however, it may be seen that each geode is filled with a dazzling array of crystals.

Yallock

GEOGRAPHICA

(YAHL-lock))

Sprawling across the eastern half of the continent is the great tropical forest known as the Yallock. Here, under towering eucalyptus trees, grows an incredible profusion of plant life: giant ferns, graceful palms, copses of bamboo, mango, and betel-nut, bitter orange, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Three rivers: the Onala (OH-na-la), the Fromm (FROMH), and (farthest to the south) the Currang (COOR-rang) flow through the forest, which s an equally wide variety of animal life, such as parrots in all hues of the rainbow, gibbons, orangutans, and vine snakes in the trees and pythons, komodo dragons, wild boars, and dholes (fierce, wild dogs) along the forest floor. Yallock is also home to more poison-bearing creatures per square kilometer than any other place on the face of the planet. The masters of Yallock are not beasts or even men, but the vile creatures known as the Ophidians. Followers of the snake god, Set, the Ophidians are an ancient and evil race steeped in the practices of black magic. They despise all warm-blooded creatures (whom they consider their inferiors), and possess the ability to communicate with and influence all species of reptiles. Though legends abound of the Ophidians and their rulers, the dreaded Nagaraja (nah-GAH-rah-JAH), solid information is rare and no expedition to Yallock has ever returned whole or unchanged to tell the tale. The Ophidians dwell in half-ruined stone cities that lie hidden in the Yallock interior. The Uluka and Ophidians are mortal foes; the serpent men set traps for them in the treetops, or use nets to try to ensnare them when they alight. The few Uluka who have managed to escape from the Ophidians describe their captors as being both sinister and bestial. They subsist on the blood of mammalian creatures, which they drink from cups of hammered gold. Captives are sacrificed to Set or kept as slaves. Using their lord Set as an example, the Ophidians have chosen to meddle with life itself, reworking animals and slaves to create new and more terrifying forms. The Ophidian cities are labyrinthine in appearance, with winding streets and many multi-story buildings. The giant stones are covered with carvings in incredible antiquity, some layered on top of each other where the stoneworker carved over older sculptures. A close examination shows just how far the Ophidians have fallen, and a closer look still might cause the viewer to wonder if the snake-men simply took over the cities from an even more ancient and unknown race. Regardless of the general state of their cities the Ophidians still possess incredible magical might, most of it learned from the dark god Set himself. The Ophidians are likewise masters of metalworking and jewelry-making, creating masterworks in gold and jewels. Silk is common in Yallock and the snake-men drape themselves in all manner of scented robes. The Ophidians keep countless slaves, bound with dark magic and addicted to potent drugs so that leaving their masters is unthinkable, even in the face of a thousand abuses and debasements. Ahl-At-Rab are everywhere in Yallock’s cities, serving as guards to their Ophidian masters. While some might take the Ophidian’s lack of recent action as a sign that they have been consigned to history, nothing could be further from the truth. The Ophidian Nagaraja learned from the past: their once vast armies availed them nothing against the might of the Lemurians and Atlanteans. The Lemurians were brought low by disease and the Atlanteans lost their empire due to infighting. Taking these lessons to heart, the Ophidians have recruited agents amongst the “lesser races” with the express purpose of destabilizing, corrupting, and destroying nascent world powers. The fall of the Amazons, for example, can be directly attributed to Ophidian agents and priests of Set.

I’ve been to Yallock, but I can tell you less than is written here. Ophidian experiments and torture robbed me of my memories and very nearly my sanity. I feel blessed that I can’t most of my time here, what I can wakes me screaming every night. I can’t escaping from Yallock, only waking one morning drifting in the Elysium Sea. I sometimes wonder if I really escaped at all or if this life is just a cruel Annunaki trick. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

Ruins without Ruin

Yallock has never faced a direct assault; it has never been sacked, blasted by alien powers, or suffered a cataclysm like Atlantis. So why are the Ophidian cities in a disused state? Even at the height of the Ophidian Empire most of the cities still stood at least partly in ruin, partially consumed by jungle, or simply left to rot. The Ophidians don’t care about maintaining buildings; if they need one, they simply clear out and rebuild a disused ruin, and it seems that new construction never even occurs to them. So, who built the original buildings? Nobody alive today seems to be willing to venture a guess.

195

ATLANTIS: The Second Age NAMES

(VRIN-DA-VAHN)

Mu Male

Female

Allunga

Akala

Burril

Bakana

Cooba

Corowa

Dilgon

Darri

Eehu

Ekala

Goolcoola

Ghera

Inkata

Hanya

Jago

Iluka

Kadumba

Jannali

Maloo

Kamballa

Namur

Leewana

Otayba

Pengana

Patonga

Ulla

Ranwul

Wyuna

Turaku

Yooralla

NAMES Annunaki Names (Males add Yog in front of their names females add Yig) Airavata

Mag-Lohita

Aswatara

Maquilla

Bhaga

Matimat

Chitra

Mushikada

Dhananjaya

Mushikada

Dhritarashtra

Pa

Dhritarashtra

Panimat

Janamejaya

Prahlada

Janamejaya

Prahlada

Kaliya

Takshaka

Kamvala

Takshaka

Karkotaka

Valahaka

Karkotaka

Vashku

Kundadhara

Vasuki

Kundaka

Ya

Lohita

Zahulak

196

Vrindavan The Screaming City

The city sitting at the center of Yallock is known as the Screaming City because of the twisted and horrific black statues that line the streets and the detailed sculptures carved into every wall. The green quartz city is an oppressive labyrinth of low circular buildings rising from a slow-moving poisonous swamp. Winding stone bridges connect the uneven jumble of chaotic city blocks. The city smells of rot and decay and is always shrouded in an odorous yellow vapor that rises from the underlying swamp. Every surface in the city is intricately carved with anguished faces of Ophidians, Jinni, and Lemurians. Over time, if watched long enough, the faces seem to move in a cycle of terrible voiceless screams. With the exception of the Annunaki races, any who gaze upon the city feel as if something was stolen from their soul. At night the city is lit by a thousand naphtha lamps that make the green quartz scintillate with sinister musings. The city of the Naga is home to what remains of the Annunaki Empire and its servant race, the Ahl-At-Rab. Thousands of humans toil and suffer for the delight of their serpent masters in the city of horrors. Slaves that are broken or become tiresome to their masters are thrown into the hungry swamp below. The grand avenue of the city is lined with the tortured corpses of humans, Ulaka, and the most prized; captured Lemurians and Atlanteans. The city delights in the moral deprivation and torture of the non-reptilian races, and their broken and raspy screams are amplified through horns cleverly hidden in the walls of the great temple to Set. Dark emissaries (of all the known races) from around the world come to convene with the Annunaki, bringing news of Set’s machinations from far-off lands. Although they are treated with disdain and an utter lack of respect, these Settites, as they are called, are rewarded handsomely by their Naga benefactors. Some of the emissaries are taught dark eldritch lore and others are given magical weapons and tools to further Set’s ambitions. Garrisoned in the city are legions of battle-hungry troops preparing ceaselessly for a coming battle promised to return the Annunaki to greatness.

The Isle Of Dreams

Located off the southeastern coast of Mu, the Isle of Dreams is one of the strangest places in the known world. By all appearances the island seems a veritable paradise; fields of many-colored blossoms sway at the touch of gentle breezes. Groves of fruiting trees lie nestled amidst hillocks of cool, green grass, and crystal springs and waterfalls dot the landscape. Here one need only walk a short distance to find all manner of succulents, berries, and herbs, each possessed of the most subtle and distinctive flavors. For all its splendor, however, the Isle of Dreams remains a place of mystery. Though the island is not known to harbor dangerous creatures of any sort, the natives of the neighboring islands consider the place taboo, and will not set foot upon it. The Uluka of Mu are loathe to even fly above the island, claiming that it is haunted by deranged spirits. According to Khitan legend, the isle does not truly exist, but is an illusion created by a wise and powerful dragon to lure foolish mortals to their doom. Whatever the source of the wonders here, the island is, at its core, deadly for mere mortals. The Atlantean scholar Anestis once suggested that it may harbor a portal to the dream world and it is this intersection of planes that causes any who walk here for a time to go irrevocably insane.

The Dreaming World

The Isle of Dreams is indeed that: a location where dreams — and nightmares — become reality. The source of this constant flood of dream-stuff is none other than a fissure in the skin of a primordial being sleeping below the ocean here. If someone were brave enough to overcome the walking dream that is the island, they might find this fissure and perhaps manage to seal it. Should evil forces find out about this, they would doubtless seek to use the dream-stuff for some nefarious purpose.

Muan

Flora

GEOGRAPHICA

Gravedigger Death comes readily to those who visit Mu but just because the body dies doesn’t mean the torture is over. This strange plant comes from spores that are ubiquitous in Mu. When the spores find a dead animal or human, they quickly grow on and surround the corpse, becoming like a tree complete with branches and leaves. Then it uses the energy from the corpse and ambient vril to animate the corpse. Spirits tend to become trapped in these corpse-like plants and are carried for the ride as the tree walks across the landscape until it finds the ideal place to pollinate and spread more of its spores throughout the lands. After expulsion of its reproductive organism, the tree-like gravedigger sets itself down onto the soil and hardens, becoming a fallen wooden shell with the face of a corpse. Sensitive to seawater, the spores thankfully do not survive outside of Mu, although the gods themselves would be concerned if this plague should come to another land to spawn. Effect: Treat as wooden zombie, DR 15 to attacks. Spores can be removed from living tissue with immersion in salt water. Witchgourd The witchgourd is highly prized by those involved in the dark arts. Located along the fringes of the desert, the large fan-shaped leaves protect the blue-green flower from baking in the dry heat while the root system digs down deep beneath the soil for aquifers. The length of the root system must help the plant collect more than water—when the fruit ripens, it is already filled with magic potential that unleashes vril with a powerful ejective force when opened. Often this power produces a large amount of energy as well as some potential side effects, physical and mental. For those practiced in sorcery, the risk is well worth the gain. Effect: 10 Hero Points worth of vril stored within. Roll on Price of Power Magic Chart in Core Rulebook. Deathbane The deathbane is a small plant that does the unthinkable, the impossible: it stops death and returns life to those who have ed on. All that is needs is a mouth to place the plant in and the elixir created from the crushed parts of this amazing plant. Getting to the plant is difficult at best. It only grows by a small acidic lake at the center of the volcanic region. If one survives the journey through Mu to get to the volcanic lands, one must survive a water-filled death trap of geysers and super-heated steam vents as well. The plant has reddish purple daisy-like blooms and small heartshaped leaves. Its root is a strange shade of purple and pulses visibly. Stories say that only one deathbane matures each year and that the root does not keep for long once picked. Effect: Primary ingredient in an alchemical elixir, DoD -50, that can resurrect any recently dead body that still has a mouth, even if the head is all that is left. Target is resurrected but has only 1 HP and the Internal Flaw: Nightmares of the Underworld. Throgwort Rumored to be the “remnants of piss’n guts of monstrous gods walkin’ the lands,” this plant is dangerously volatile and thankfully found only on the continent of Mu. The throgwort looks like a round green mushroom swelling from the jungle floor. It isn’t a mushroom, however for it has a long creeping root stem that burrows for miles and produces this balloon-shaped appendage every few hundred feet. It is believed that the origins of the plant are deep below the surface in a cave where a demon or god sleeps. Anyone who tries to handle the throgwort risks it bursting, which will result in a sudden expulsion of vril energy that transforms the victim into some sort of crawling creature—amphibian, lizard, giant centipede, spider—these transformations reverse on their own after 18 hours, but are terrifying to say the least. Effect: Causes transformation into an animal complete with animal stats in a manner similar to a Jinn’s transformative abilities or a high level Manipulation spell; can be resisted with a CON + Resolve roll, DoD -35. Clothes are left behind. Panther Eyes Along the coastal jungles, these strangely shaped plants grow with little vegetation and many white stems, causing it to stand out amongst the lush green growth of the surrounding environment. During the late growing season, this plant produces several hundred fragrant white blossoms that produce similarly colored berries. Although generally considered poisonous, with cyanotic properties, the berries can be cooked down to produce nonpoisonous eyewash that provides s with improved eyesight. Not only will it heal damaged or weak eyes, but will supply enhanced vision for those who need to see at night. The eyewash is valuable but the process requires the fresh berries to work correctly, making it necessary to produce the eyewash on Mu and use it within 10 hours before it becomes impotent. The night vision lasts for several months and damage is repaired permanently. Several traders keep someone permanently on the shore during the harvest months to produce these treatments for those willing to pay. Effect: Alchemical potion, DoD -8, grants +5 to sight-based PER rolls and +2 to related Medicine rolls. Ingestion of raw plant is STR 20 poison.

We found Kaliya in the swamps of Yallock aboard his private boats. We all left any hope of survival behind in the camp and waded into the black waters to finish our grisly work. Kaliya would pay for atrocities he committed against others, and doubly so for Rogo. The first kill was mine as I crawled out of the primordial mire with a blade in my teeth and mong in my hand. The battle was swift and savage and none of the dark asura Kaliya called upon to aid him prevailed that night. The three boats were broken and listing at the end of the battle, gutted by fire cast by Petronova’s spells and Kaliya’s demonic servants. I lay slumped at the head of the boat beside the Naga magi’s decapitated body, satisfied in my work. I resigned myself to die that night in the company of my friends, all succumbing to grievous wounds from the melee. I could hear the moans of Petronova as she whimpered for the elemental lords to deliver her from the pain. Chanda’s incinerated corpse, the last of Kaliya’s handiwork, lay at my feet. At the rear of the boat I could hear the low gurgling of Caerwyn as she drowned in blood-filled lungs. We had hounded Kaliya across the known world to deliver this reward and the sweetness of my revenge sat warmly in my belly. Through bloody split lips I thanked Shango, my god, and closed my eyes awaiting Esu and the long walk. I felt a lightness of my body as I seemed to float into the heavens in the death god’s embrace. When I opened my eyes I saw the face of Mishok, the Uluka who guided us through the desert. He and his companions had changed their minds about helping us in Yallock and came to our rescue. We spent several weeks in the Uluka village convalescing and mourning Chanda’s death. Donobey of Nubia

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

King of the Skies

Every ten years the Uluka hold a competition to determine who will rule them for the next decade. This competition is open to all Uluka, and requires them to prove themselves with three great acts: an act of wisdom, an act of bravery, and an act of comion. The rules are very flexible and the hopefuls can submit well-known deeds that they have already completed. The elders of each Uluka clan decide on the results. The last winner scouted the jungles of Yallock for his bravery act, wrote a scroll condensing part of the Uluka’s oral history for his deed of wisdom, and crafted a pair of enchanted wings to allow those that can’t fly to soar for his act of comion.

The Undersea

Uluka legend says that a shallow ocean lies beneath the lands of Kanawalla. Furthermore, legend claims that this Undersea is home to all manner of ancient sea life no longer found in the oceans. While the great megalodon is now a rarity in the seas of the antedeluvian world, it is said to still roam free in the dark ocean. The deadly Makara are rumored to have a kingdom of sorts in the dark depths. Occasional sinkholes open in the desert, swallowing whole parties and sending them plummeting into the ocean depths.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Mu Location Adventure Seeds 1. Makar, The City of Bronze Scales

Off the northern coast of Mu is a half-sunken city. Built upon a foundation of coral and ri above the crashing waves of the sea in a series of thick and multi-colored towers, Makar is a settlement that serves as a trading port. Bands of Makara trade Triton slaves or meet with airbreathing outsiders to this domain. Some sea captains regularly put in at Makar in order to barter safe age in the surrounding seas.

It is said that once every decade the Ophidians hold a grand competition where they capture dozens of champions from around the world and set them the task of figuring their way through a maze filled with traps, monsters, and puzzles. The winners are said to be clothed in gold and sent on their way. The truth of this is unknown.

10. Ussin’Yr

This foul and putrid village serves as the Ophidians prime laboratory for the creation of pestilence and poison. Horribly mutated creatures wander Built upon the bones of some gigantic sea serpent, then crowned by a the streets and a constant stream of slaves arrives, only to be infected with huge latticed dome of bronze, brass, and stone, the settlement of Imoogi curls the latest contagion devised by the Ophidian sorcerer-scientists. sinuously along a mountain ridge. The Ahl-At-Rab mine the surrounding mountains and delve down beneath them. A number of renowned craftsmen 11. Port Serpentslice have come from here and it is in the Imoogi forges that a number of fabled This fortified port serves as the sole human settlement on Mu. The port weapons have been produced. An ancient Naga maintains an iron grip on enjoys a brisk trade with what are supposedly tribes of escaped slaves. The production, but is subject to flattery and bribes. local merchants exchange gold, gems, spices, and silks for all manner of goods from around the world. While the port can be rough, the cheap prices keep merchants coming back year after year. 3. The Bakunawa Cabal A circle of necromancers, priests of Set, and the innumerable servants and obsequious favor-seekers dwell in a jumble of ruins along the edge of the 12. The Sky Temple Altjira Yallock Forest. The lower classes of Bakunawa are charged with constantly A lonely temple hovers above the southern shore of Mu engulfed in singing Set’s praise. It is said that the clamor from the city has driven away a swirling nimbus of clouds and Vril sparks. The temple roams a circuit all natural life around the city, but that could also be a result of the city’s around Mu, making a full orbit every 90 days coinciding with the solstice headhunters who constantly patrol the surrounding jungle for sacrifices and equinoxes. A tribe of Uluka migrates along with the temple, maintaining worthy of their dark god. the grounds and upkeep of the temple, but never entering into the sacred halls of the interior.

2. The Bronze Dome of Imoogi

4. The Cauldron of Soot

A great volcanic caldera bubbles and froths at the edge of the mountains. However, the molten rock here is cool enough to scoop out with iron implements. Ophidian heroes used to come here to test their resolve by thrusting their hands into the steaming lava. Even today, there are rumors that a band of sworn mercenaries venture here every five years to renew their pledges to one another by means of ancient rites.

5. The Pits of Haal

13. The Death City of Akurra

The greatest of all Naga and their first king is buried in a large necropolis underground. King Akurra lies at the center of a great pyramidal burial mound the size of a small mountain and the city underneath is a miniature replica of Vrindavan with waterways replaced by quicksilver and the night sky painted in deep indigo, with diamonds and other precious gems replacing stars. The heart of Akurra is said to be the first drop of blood spilled by Set when he was banished under the earth.

A series of pits and sinkholes that are all connected via tunnels, the Pits of Haal are inhabited by a fierce breed of giant spiders that prey upon one 14. Mangar-kunjer-kunja Halls another as well as any who dare venture through this area. However, their A great cavern in the western mountain range overlooking the desert is silk is renowned for its strength and beauty and as such many come here in said to be the birthplace of the first human. Created by the great alchemist the attempt to gather old silk from abandoned, empty tunnels. Mangar-kunjer-kunja using Lemurian prisoner labor, the ancient hall is now infested with other failed experiments. Deep within the caverns is a small fortress and the workshop of the alchemist that contains scrolls pertaining 6. The Tree of Life In the most remote swampland in Mu a tree grows whose fruit grants to his works. immortality. The tree is surrounded by crystal statues of incredible beauty. A deadly and intelligent scorpion lives in the tree and sometimes hides in 15. Forest of the Malingee the branches to sting those who seek immortality for selfish reasons. The A host of malignant spirits and savage Jinn guard a hidden conduit that scorpion is said to be able to sing in all the voices known to men. infuses the world with Vril energy. Some say the conduit is a magical pool, others say that it is a black obelisk, while still others say it’s a blind child; no one knows for sure. The Malingee spirits guard the secret and many Naga 7. Mount Skardor This small peak in the Curracurrang Mountains is formed completely of expeditions into the scarred forest have never been seen again. an unknown metal. From time to time strange monsters made of the same metal plague the local Uluka population. Legend says that great treasures lie 16. The First City buried inside the mountain but its blade-like protrusions prevent any but Legend says that this is the first city created by mortal beings in this the most determined from entering. cycle and was built at the command of Set for his children. The city lies in the desert wastelands and is a large stony area of twisted rock formations that stretch for miles in all directions blasted smooth and shiny by years of 8. The Skartorius A vast spectral ship sails the sands of the Kanawalla Desert, crewed by erosion. The area is littered with the bones of indescribable creatures ranging strange ghosts who seem unaware of their condition. Some say that they from snakes and Naga to other unholy things that time has forgotten. Many search for the wreck of their vessel, which lies half-submerged in the desert broken brass Jinn jars are also found heaped in mounds throughout the area somewhere; others say they hunt for souls to appease some demon god they suggesting the Jinn also inhabited the area. History says that the city was laid to waste by the Demiurge with a sweep of his angry eyes. Other stories serve even in death. say the area is nothing but an ancient grave yard for the honored dead. Whatever the case, the area is haunted by many ghosts that hunger for the 9. The Death Maze of Yallock souls of the living.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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North Sea

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North Sea Islands Region The icy boundaries of the North Sea include Anostos in the north, Jambu to the south, and Jotunland and Zemlazelan to the west and southwest, respectively, while the Erian Ocean lies to the east. Actually, the North Sea and the Erian Ocean are a single body of water, but are distinguished geographically by their relationship to specific land areas. The Erian Ocean is held to be that portion of this body of water that lies north of Eria, while the North Sea is the western side of the same ocean, north of Jambu. It is a cold mass of ice and water, chilled by an arctic current that es through the Erian Ocean, the North Sea, and the Sea of the Dead to circumnavigate the globe. This current is strong, and carries icebergs on a relentless westward course. Icy death frequently finds those who sail these merciless waters towards Jotunland and Anostos.

Aurora

(uh-ROR-a)

Aurora is described as an island surrounded by floating ice mountains. Its existence is corroborated by a single reference in an ancient tome describing the many voyages of Golden Age Atlantean explorers and conquerors. The sky above the region is said to radiate colors of fabulous hue, especially during the winter and summer solstices. Little else is known of this place, though certain legends claim it to be inhabited by a rare species of ice nymph.

Frozen Death

Something roams the hoary Northern Oceans, something with a cold heart and a dread touch. From time to time ships are found drifting, completely encased in ice, but with the crew at their stations as if nothing were out of place. These tomb-ships come in all shapes and forms, some of them from cultures or times that have been long forgotten. Whatever is doing this is still out there, wandering the frigid seas and slaying any that stand in its path.

The Borean Forest (BOR-ee-an)

The Borean Forest lies to the south of the Rhiphaen (RIFF-ee-in) Mountains and stretches along the southern coast of Hyperborea. It is a dense and tangled woodland, difficult to traverse except along the main trails worn into the earth by the region’s wild boar population. Like most of Hyperborea, the terrain is rugged and hilly. The Borean Forest is also a dangerous place. Once connected to Europa by a land bridge (since submerged beneath the sea), the area is home to a variety of frightening creatures. Cimmerian (KIM-mair-ee-an) hunters, who sometimes come to the edge of the Borean Forest, claim that a fierce tribe of Nethermen lives here, and that ogres and Andamen hunt along the trails. Others depict the area as being populated by wyverns, and large multi-legged, man-eating worms. Despite the dangers inherent in traveling through this region, certain traders and adventurous individuals are known to come here, drawn by the lure of amber. This precious, golden substance is said to be most readily found in certain streams and ponds throughout the forest, and in some of the lower-lying regions as well. Entrepreneurs are advised, however, to exercise caution in these parts, for it is not only men who appreciate the beauty and value of this golden substance.

Cimmeria

(KIM-mair-ee-ah)

Cimmeria is a hilly region that extends from the western coast of Hyperborea inland to the Rhiphaen mountain range. It is primarily forest land, though in the spring the lower-lying regions usually become flooded, creating marsh-like conditions. The human tribes who dwell here, known collectively as the Cimmerians, are a rugged, darkhaired people. They know little of agriculture, but are skilled hunters and trappers. Like some of the northern Europans (from whom it is believed they are descended), the Cimmerians have domesticated both the wild dog and the goat. The Cimmerians generally live in small communal bands of 10 to 40 individuals. Their villages are simple, each family having a single hut constructed of wood and roofed with green hides or thatch. Most often, the village will be enclosed in a stockade-type fence made of heavy, wooden posts. Some will also have goat pens and sheds for the drying and curing of hides. Though they are a fairly primitive folk, the Cimmerians know how to work iron into steel, which they use for tools, axe-heads, arrow-heads, and swords. They jealously guard their secrets

I once hired a vessel to take me as close to Aurora as possible. The captain would sail within sight of the distant shore, but would go no closer —he claimed his superstitious sailors would likely mutiny if forced any further. Paying him an additional fee, I was allowed to take a small skiff and attempted to row to the island under my own power, assured that the captain would wait for me. Yet before I had travelled half the distance to shore, the vessel raised sail and soon vanished over the horizon. I never did quite make it to Aurora. I being overcome with drowsiness and falling asleep in the bottom of my hired skiff. When I awoke, I was bobbing against a harbor mooring in Aesgard. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Riddle of Steel

The Borean Forest is home to a few scattered copses of Bloodwood trees (See Anostos for more information about these incredible trees). The Cimmerians have learned to use the sap from these trees when forging steel so that the raw iron becomes flexible and resistant to breaking. Given the red color of the sap, foreigners often believe that the Cimmerians are adding their own flesh and blood to the mixture.

The Iron People

Many evil men have come to Cimmeria with the intention of enslaving or driving off the Cimmerians. This has always proved fatal to those involved as the nature of the Cimmerian is to live strong and free. No Cimmerian, woman or man, has ever bended knee to a conqueror unless it was to cut his throat. Strength and honor are at the core of every Cimmerian’s being.

Phralls and Slavery

The Vanir keep phralls rather than traditional slaves. Phralls are considered the property of their masters, but live apart from them. While they farm their master’s land and act as unpaid labor, phralls have more rights and freedom than slaves in other lands. A phrall can buy his or her freedom at any time regardless of his master’s wishes and have the right to take revenge, though this revenge must be taken immediately and is subject to intense scrutiny when it does take place.

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of forging iron and refer to the “riddle of steel” in order to confuse those that would steal their knowledge. The Cimmerians rarely fight amongst themselves. They have no love for the haughty Vanir, however, and will band together to defend against their raiding parties. A particularly savage or damaging attack will sometimes motivate a large band of Cimmerians to launch a counterstrike against a Vanir settlement. As Cimmerian warriors are often somewhat poorly equipped (leather or furs, shields, bows, swords, or axes) such attacks usually take the form of ambushes, night raids, and similar covert actions. In this type of fighting, the forest-bred Cimmerians generally excel. Not an especially religious folk, the Cimmerians revere Ogou, whom they call Karnon (KAHMohn) the Hunter, and whom they believe is too preoccupied to listen to mere mortals. Some tribes have a shaman or druidic healer, but these individuals hold no influence; in fact, most Cimmerians are skeptical (or even fearful) of anything that smacks of magic. Unlike the Vanir, the Cimmerians are independent by nature, and have no official chieftains or leaders. In times of trouble, a skillful warrior will usually provide leadership, but otherwise each band governs itself by council.

Haloga

(HA-LOH-Ga)

Haloga is a rich land of sloping hills, deep vales, and snowy peaks. Situated to the south and east of the Rhiphaen Mountains, this region is notable for its rocky coastland and twisting fjords, and is home of the seafaring Vanir peoples. The Vanir are a fair-skinned race, most having blond or reddish hair. Both the men and women wear their hair long, usually done up in a single braid bound with strips of leather. All the adult males wear beards, of which they are quite proud; in fact, a clean-shaven face is deemed a mark of femininity (or at best immaturity) by these folk. The Vanir value cleanliness, however; they take regular baths and groom themselves on a daily basis, a rarity in these savage regions. The Vanir live almost exclusively along the eastern coasts, in clans of 100 to 600 individuals led by a single warrior chief. Each settlement is surrounded by a wall of earth and stone, and is more or less square or rectangular in layout. Within the walls each family has its own lodge, built of stone, wood, and thatch. The Vanir often divert streams into channels beneath their homes, giving them

GEOGRAPHICA access to running water without leaving their abodes. A communal lodge, often over 30 meters in length, functions as a meeting place for the clan’s male warriors. Located some distance from the lodges are pens for the clan’s goats and oxen, communally run forges, smokehouses, and sheds for the drying of lumber and the curing of hides. Though the Vanir are primarily hunter-gatherers, they cultivate certain crops, such as hops, barley, and millet. The females tend the clan’s fields, which are almost always located outside of the settlement walls. The Vanir are accomplished shipbuilders and skilled seamen. Their vessels — modeled after the Jotun’s dragon ships — are swift and sturdy, and can hold as many as 100 men. A clan will generally have from one to three such ships, each with both oars and sail. The larger ships will sometimes be outfitted with a light catapult, which may be used to hurl flaming missiles or stones. An aggressive and warlike people, the Vanir revel in battle. They often set sail in their warships in order to raid the coastal villages of Cimmeria, northern Europa, and even Iber and Alba. Such raids are usually swift and savage in nature; the Vanir often put villages to the torch, slay all male occupants, and carry off the women (whom they use as slaves). Despite the tales told by sailors from the southern regions, the Vanir rarely engage in piracy. They will, however, attack Jotun or Fomorian vessels on sight, and have long enjoyed success against the larger ships of these antagonists. As corsair vessels seldom venture into the northern waters, the Vanir are inclined to ignore such ships on the rare occasions that they do encounter them. The armament of a typical Vanir warrior consists of a leather or hide vest (sometimes studded with iron rings or bosses), an iron-bound, wooden shield, and an iron helm (usually decorated with horns or “wings” of bronze or iron). Throwing axes and spears are most often favored, though some individuals disdain the use of a shield in favor of such two-handed weapons as the battle axe, war hammer, or pole axe. The Vanir are also known to employ the long bow, but this is not normally a popular weapon amongst these folk, who tend to prefer fighting at close range. Though the Vanir do not often engage in trade with other peoples, some of the southernmost settlements are known to deal in amber. This hard, gleaming resin is found in abundance along the coasts of Haloga and in the estuaries of the rivers Kven (kuh-VEN) and Cimer (KIM-air). Many of the larger clans employ slaves to dredge these waters for amber, which is used as a type of currency amongst the Vanir, and as fine ornamentation; it is sometimes melted down and cast into rings, necklaces, and pendants. The biggest dealer in amber is Aesgard (EYES-gard), a large (population 2000+) settlement on the southeastern coast. Ships from such distant lands as Sheba, Tharshesh, and Ku are known to come here in order to obtain this precious substance, which in some places is worth its weight (or more) in gold. Despite their warlike nature, the Vanir rarely engage in raids against neighboring settlements. In fact, warrior chiefs from rival clans sometimes meet in order to discuss subjects of mutual interest: trade, boundary disputes, raids, etc. As the Vanir hate the Rock Trolls, the clans will sometimes band together to repulse troll war-parties. The Vanir also have a long-standing dislike of the Cimmerian peoples, whom they deem their inferiors in all respects. For this reason, Cimmerian slaves are always in demand, and raids against Cimmerian villages are common. The Vanir are not overtly religious, but nevertheless pay homage to the true elementals of wind and sea. Their “priests” are druids, who erect dolmens (large stone monuments) to the most powerful of these demi-gods and conduct certain, seasonal rituals.

Revenge and the Law

The Vanir have almost no laws or law enforcement. This makes visitors more than a little nervous. However, the Vanir do believe in vengeance and any affront or crime against them is guaranteed to be avenged. The Vanir also believe in taking their time with vengeance so a Vanir warrior might slay a man over a slight believed to be long forgotten. Given the threat of bloody vengeance the Vanir are very respectful of those they regard as their equals and personal honor is held in very high regard.

Hyperborea

(hy-per-BORE-ee-a)

Hyperborea is a cold and windswept isle situated between Alba and Jotunland. It is a land of rugged mountain ranges, rolling hills, and deep forests teeming with wildlife; red foxes, moose, red deer, wild boars, brown bears, and lynx to name but a few. Here the climate is harsh, save for a brief period in late spring and summer when the air is less chill. At such times the two Hyperborean Rivers (the Kven and the Cimer) flow swiftly to the sea, swelled with melting ice and snow from the mountains. During the rest of the year, the rivers are usually covered with a thick sheet of ice, and can be traversed on foot or by sled. Once home only to the brutish Rock Trolls, Hyperborea is now populated by two human tribes, the Cimmerians and the Vanir. As certain parts of Hyperborea are rich in amber, this region is not unknown to traders. Many come from as far away as Sheba, Tartessos, and Turan in order to obtain this valuable, crystalline substance.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Jotunland

(YO-TUN-Land)

The Free Beasts

After the fall of Atlantis, a squadron ships carrying a legion of Andamen were driven aground by a storm on the Jotunland coast. The Andamen, mostly Garou, were set upon by the giants but received unlikely aid from the Nethermen tribes. To this day Jotunland contains sizable tribes of Garou, who often run with the dire wolf packs and still have a firm alliance with the Nethermen. The original ships they came on were salvaged by the Jotun, who kept them as prizes and hung them in their cavernous halls.

Snow Devils

The Seidhr Mountains are home to a small tribe of Lemurians, adapted to the snow with thick white pelts. The Lemurians are responsible for the magic in these mountains, as they have spent centuries arranging the geomantic lines so that Vril power flows into the mountain’s heart. The Jotun have learned not to venture too close to the Lemurian caves; the Ape-men don’t take kindly to intruders and have wiped out whole expeditions with well-timed avalanches. What exactly the Lemurians need all this power for is anyone’s guess.

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Jotunland (or Jotunheim) is a wild and savage land located in the furthest reaches of the North Sea. Home of the terrible race of frost giants called the Jotun, very little is known of this region. What is known of Jotunland stems from the legends of the Vanir and the tales told by the barbaric peoples of nearby Hyperborea. According to the s of these folk, Jotunland is, for the most part, a vast and frigid wasteland. Here, they say, the sun seldom shines, and the skies darken with storm clouds. Untold centuries of freezing winds and snows have transformed Jotunland’s interior into a nightmarish landscape of glacial peaks, convoluted spires, and crystalline plains. Seven great rivers of ice twist and creak their way slowly to the sea: the Aurboda (AW-ur-bo-da), the Rokkr (ROHKkur), the Hoder (HO-dur), the Mimir (MIM-ear), the Gulveig (GULL-veyk, the Larnvid (LARNvit), and the Hag (HAYHG). Dire wolves, snow leopards, and other, more monstrous creatures stalk the frozen wastes in search of prey. Only along the southern coast can one find some refuge from the elements, amongst the coniferous forest known as the Utgard (OOT-gard). The Jotun are a fierce and warlike race of beings that dwell along the southern coasts and amidst the bleak interior of Jotunland. According to Vanir legend, the blue-skinned Jotun are the ancestors of all the other giant races, including the Fomorians, Aegir, and (some say) the Cyclopses. The Vanir go so far as to include ogres and trolls among the list of the Jotun’s descendants, though this theory is generally given little credence by the scholars and historians of more civilized lands. As for themselves, the Jotun consider their race to be akin to the gods. There are said to be two distinctly different cultures amongst the Jotun: those who dwell along the coasts and those who roam the inland areas. The coastal tribes possess a more advanced civilization, and are skilled in rudimentary metalworking, and the building of great castles and fortifications (many constructed solely of immense blocks of ice). The art of shipbuilding they know well, and they are known to construct great wooden vessels built in the shape of dragons. The Vanir of Hyperborea have long imitated the Jotun with respect to the style of their own longships. For centuries these Jotun tribes have ranged the North Sea in search of plunder, from the coasts of Hyperborea to the northernmost shores of Europa, Alba, Iber, and even Jambu. In days past, their raiding vessels were seen as far west as Gava and Anostos, but bitter clashes with both the Fomorians and the Aesir have since discouraged Jotun excursions into these territories. Though the coastal Jotun tribes have, from time to time, shown an interest in acquiring other territories, they do not possess the organization necessary for such complex military endeavors. Neither can the Jotun tolerate any but the most frigid climes except for short periods of time. Despite such limitations, many of the coastal Jotun have amassed considerable fortunes by raiding their northern neighbors. Some of the greater war chieftains are said to live much in the manner of kings, surrounded by stolen riches and attended to by slaves of many different races. The Jotun who dwell amidst the bleak expanses of the interior regions are, on the other hand, far more bestial in nature. Unlike their more civilized brothers, these Jotun know nothing of ships, fortifications, or metalworking. Instead, they live in caves, dress in rude furs, and use weapons fashioned from bone, rock, and animal sinew. Often they keep wolves or bears as pets. As fire is unknown to these Jotun, they eat only the raw flesh of such creatures as they can kill. Though the Vanir and Aesir claim that these giants often resort to cannibalism when food is scarce, there is no evidence to such lurid tales. Even so, the Jotun who populate the inland areas are deemed to be both exceptionally cruel and utterly fearless in battle.

The Utgard Forest

GEOGRAPHICA

(OOT-GARD)

The Utgard Forest stretches along much of the southernmost coast of Jotunland. It is the only known woodland area in Jotunland, and as such is the sole source of timber for the giant raiding vessels of the coastal Jotun tribes. Unlike the depleted fells of Anostos, the Utgard is reputedly a thriving forestland. Within its great, snowy expanses can be found a variety of conifers, from low-lying junipers to towering firs. The needle-like foliage of Utgard’s trees and shrubs is said to be white, rather than green, in color; the Vanir claim that this anomaly is due to the lack of sunlight in this land of slate-grey skies. Like the interior regions, the Utgard Forest is home to such predators as dire wolves, snow leopards, and polar bears. Less dangerous creatures, such as snow hares, sables, reindeer, and muskoxen, are also said to reside here. Along the coastal areas, fur seals and walruses have often been spotted, though they are probably less common in the south than in the northern areas. Vanir and Aesir warriors who have escaped from Jotun slave crews say that at least two tribes of Nethermen also live in this area. Neither, they claim, is friendly to the Jotun, who hunt them for food. At least one of these tribes has, on occasion, offered aid to escaped captives of the Jotun. Even if such stories are to be believed, it is quite certain that the Utgard Forest is not a place to be ventured into with impunity.

The Seidhr Mountains (SAY-der)

The icy peaks of the Seidhr mountain range extend throughout the interior of Jotunland, and towards both the northern and southern areas. Whipped by frigid winds and driving snows, the area is most inhospitable, and age through the mountains is believed to be impossible. Nevertheless, the howling of wolves and the occasional, inhuman shrieks of monstrous beings give testimony to the fact that this is hardly an uninhabited region. The coastal Jotun tribes believe that the mountains are magical in nature (hence the name “Seidhr”, which, roughly translated, means “magic”), and so come here to mine for the metals used in their weapons and armor. Whenever possible, slaves are used to augment these mining expeditions, which involve the excavation of immense quantities of ice and snow. The raw ore (often still imbedded in chunks of ice) is transported down the frozen rivers on great wooden “sleds”, equipped with single-masted sails. The Jotun claim that ore derived from the Seidhr Mountains is magical and this may be true; though generally somewhat crude in of workmanship, Jotun weapons and armor are notable for their extreme durability. Upon examination by qualified individuals, captured Jotun weaponry has occasionally proved to emanate a faint magical dweomer, with certain pieces exhibiting even more profound magical properties.

The Frost Plains

Beyond the Seidhr mountain range, stretching almost to the northern coasts of Jotunland, lies the region known as the Frost Plains. It is utterly flat expanses of hard-packed snow, unbroken save for the appearance of an occasional icy ridge or chasm. The Jotun call this place the Fylgjir (FILLgee-ear) (“ghost”) Plains, and will, under no circumstances, ever set foot in this part of Jotunheim. According to the Jotun, this area is haunted by spirits, a claim borne out, at least in part, by the Aesir belief that the plains were once an ancient burial ground of some sort. If true, it is conceivable that artifacts dating back to the fabled ages may lie hidden beneath the snow. If the tales of the sea-faring Vanir are to be believed, however, the Frost Plains may conceal more than ancient relics. Here, it is said, are found earth-bound demons or terrible frost serpents. Nor do these evil creatures roam the plains without purpose, for they are said to serve the monstrous entity known as Jormungandr (YOUR-mun-GAHN-dur) who dwells deep beneath the surface of the icy plains. The exact nature of Jormungandr is not known. In Vanir legends, the beast is alternately described as a gigantic serpent of indeterminate length, an ancient great dragon, a wizard transformed by magic into a hideous demon, and even an ice golem. If the creature exists at all it may well be immortal (as some claim), with power approaching that of a demi-god’s.

Serpents in the Ice

Beneath the ice of Fylgjir Plains, buried for all time, lies a city dating back to before the last great cycle of time. What horrors or wonders lie buried here? The Ophidians attempted to excavate the city millennia ago and were entombed in the ice for their trouble. The Atlanteans tried to bore down into the depths below but failed, their expedition simply vanishing from the face of the planet. Fragments of scrolls found indicate that Jormungandr may be some kind of guardian or watchman, set in place to prevent the city from being uncovered.

Calypso’s Daughter

Centuries ago, Calypso fell in love with a dark sorcerer called Nestros and gave birth to a child. Ba’al, not willing to share Calypso, murdered Nestros and gave his severed head to Calypso as a focus for her magic. Ba’al took the child down to the pit with him and the broken-hearted Calypso never saw her again. If some brave adventurers were willing to brave the horrors of the City of Brass and retrieve the child, Calypso would be willing to do almost anything for them, maybe even give up her evil ways….

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Ogygia

(oh-GEE-jee-a)

The Origin of the Rock Trolls

The creatures known as Rock Trolls started as an Atlantean experiment in enhancing their Nethermen troops. The Nethermen they created bred with a startling fecundity though they required vast amounts of iron in their diet to survive. When eating the flesh of fallen foes wasn’t enough, these Nethermen turned to iron fillings. When the project was abandoned, the Nethermen found the richest source of iron they could and began mining. Sadly for the Svarten Vanir, this was in the Rhiphaen Mountains. The Rock Troll’s “boney” protrusions are actually almost pure iron and Rock Trolls often use them as both weapons and emergency food supplies.

The island of Ogygia lies in the southern reaches of the Sea of the Dead. Despite its relative proximity to Alba and Iber, few dare to come here due to the sinister reputation accorded to the surrounding waters. Consequently, knowledge of Ogygia is limited to the often exaggerated s of sailors and adventurers. While there are many such tales, the most popular is the legend of Calypso (KA-lip-so), queen of the Nereids (Sea Nymphs) (NAIR-ree-ids). As the story goes, the Isle of Ogygia is a veritable paradise of lush vegetation, warm springs, and cool grottos. In the most beautiful of these grottos dwells Calypso, an enchantress of suring loveliness. She is attended by a host of nymphs, each more lovely than the last. From the shores they call to ing ships, singing of the beauty and peace which are to be found on Ogygia. It is said that men of good heart are welcome to stay on the island, for Ogygia is a haven for the weary. Those who would stay for more than a single evening, however, will wish to remain forever; such is the way of Calypso and her subjects, whose charms are beyond the power of mortals to resist. The truth is a little harsher. Calypso is real, as are her nymphs, but the island is not a place of beauty, nor are the nymph’s attentions as pleasant as the stories claim. Calypso and her brood are human women that have given themselves wholly to the worship of Ba’al. These demonic witches use sorcery and guile to lure sailors to their deaths on the island. Calypso must provide a hundred souls to Ba’al each year as part of a deal to make her immortal; those she cannot purchase from the slaver-giants of Anostos she and her nymphs lure to the island where they are devoured in a cannibalistic ritual. Occasionally Calypso will lavish a crew with all manner of wonderful attentions, ordering her nymphs to cater to their every whim. The crew is then sent on their way to spread the word about the island. Woe-betide the foolish men who visit a second time, however, as they are usually devoured on sight.

The Rhiphaen Mountains (RIF-ee-en)

The Rhiphaen mountain range runs roughly from the southwest to northeast of Hyperborea. Long a source of contention among the Rock Trolls and the Vanir, the Rhiphaen Mountains are rich in iron, tin, copper, and gold ore. At the lower altitudes, the Rhiphaen Mountains are covered with trees and shrubs; beyond the tree line only mosses and bracken grow. Both the southern and central ranges are home to a number of strange and dangerous creatures, especially hippogriffs, which are quite common in these areas. Even so, the two most dominant species in this region dwell not amidst the wooded foothills or the rocky slopes, but beneath the mountains themselves. The Rock Trolls and the Svarten Vanir (sVARten VAH-neer) use this mountain as their battleground. An ancient, vile, and brutish folk, the Rock Trolls have long battled with their hated rivals, the Svarten Vanir, for possession of the Rhiphaen Mountains. In recent years the fortunes of war have not favored the Rock Trolls, and they have been forced to withdraw deeper and deeper into the depths of the mountains. The Svarten Vanir are far less numerous than the Rock Trolls and while they hold the upper hand today, their future is not at all certain. Despite their setbacks, the Rock Trolls are known to still covet the rich veins of ore that run like still rivers through the upper levels of the mountains. Though their armies have long been inactive, small bands of Rock Trolls continue to harass Svarten Vanir mining operations, slaying work crews, causing cave-ins, and undermining Svarten Vanir installations with crisscrossing networks of tunnels. The Svarten Vanir, named for their town of Svartenheim, can do little to stop this undermining. The Rock Trolls sometimes employ their larger cousins, the Mountain Trolls, or the bestial, sightless monsters known as Cave Trolls when attacking the Vanir mines. The Rock Trolls are similar to Nethermen, but average about 2.2 meters tall with jagged horny protrusions all over their bodies. While much of the Rock Trolls’ culture remains a mystery, rumors and legends abound. For instance, it is said that the Rock Trolls have a single king who rules from deep within the bowels of the mountain. He is supposedly huge and powerful, and sits on a throne carved from a single

208

GEOGRAPHICA block of obsidian. His palace is located in a gigantic cavern that lies at the nexus of a vast network of underground ageways, some leading beneath the ocean floor and exiting in faraway lands. Amongst the lower levels of the palace are other caverns, some filled with stolen treasures, some housing the giant forges used to smelt metals for the Rock Trolls’ siege engines. Armies of wretched slave laborers toil in the labyrinthine mines found at these depths, driven mercilessly by their Rock Troll masters. As no human has ever seen the palace of the Troll King, such stories may be greatly exaggerated, We traveled to a cave near if they are true at all. The Vanir, however, have long held such tales to be authentic, and believe that the Troll King will one day send forth his minions in an attempt to recapture the upper levels. the center of the island known as Manala. We killed so many of those Scritifi savages along the way that my spear arm grew hule numb. Kell knew the location (TU-lEE) and said that his gods sent him a Thule is an island in the far north between Anostos and Jotunland in the Sea of Dead. Very little vision of where we could find the is actually known about this island but what is told and mentioned by sailors and adventurers, and true name of the Naga sorcerer we were hunting. The Andamen what can be gathered from various legends of the Ska peoples. Thule is said to be a large island with coastal soil that is totally infertile. The air surrounding the Wago and Druna didn’t want to island is thick with moisture and steam, making it almost impossible to breathe easily and sailors go into the cave but with some have reported a sensation of drowning. Each year at the summer solstice the sun rises. It never sets, persuasion from Petranova they but stays in the sky until the winter solstice, after which Thule is enveloped in pitch darkness for relented. The cave was huge and it seemed like we climbed down two months. for a day. At the bottom stood A tribe of savage humans called the Scritifi (skri-TEE-fi) eke an existence from the sparse forests an old blind woman…Atlantean in the center of the island. They wear crude animal skins and feed their babes not with mother’s perhaps. Frozen up to her neck milk, but with the bone marrow of wild beasts. The Scritifi are primitive and worship dark gods in hoarfrost, she spoke through that may be demons. They offer human sacrifices by impaling their victims on sharp sticks and then split, frostbitten lips the name throwing the bodies into a deep crevasse. This crevasse lies at the center of the island and is said to “Kaliya”. be so deep that it reaches the Underworld itself. Donobey of Nubia A second group of humans with strong Atlantean blood, called the Aryu, inhabit a massive fortress of melted stone overlooking the island’s central crevasse. The fortress, called the Aithusa (EYE-too-sah), was created by a breakaway group of early Atlanteans as an academy for dark sorcery. The Aithusa houses but a handful of dark magicians these days as corruption and power-plays have eaten away at their numbers. Newcomers are looked upon as resources to be used in the seemingly endless political power games, and new apprentices rarely live long enough to learn much.

T

The North Sea Islands Flora Snowweed In the brief wet summers of the region, the fields of the islands explode in a carpet of flowers, which attracts insects and birds from miles around. One of the most prolific and useful types of flowers this far north is the snowweed. The bright purple blossoms are used for everything from making cloth to healing wounds and infections, while the roots are a major food staple throughout this region. The local northern tribes that survive here look to snowweed as a sign they are not forgotten by the gods and the plant is revered, with many legends about its creation. Effect: Grants +5 to Medicine rolls. Elkgrass The elkgrass is found sparsely through the most northern of the islands during the first part of the winter. Once the ice bridges form ing the islands, the elk will move from place to place devouring this long grass wherever they can find it. Those tribes that follow the elk will also make use of this grass for tinder, baskets, mats, snowshoes, and boats to sail between the islands. Some of the tribes use this grass to create doll-like “poppets” useful for calling for the spirits to either heal of harm specific people of the tribes. The effigies can be burned, drowned, or treated with magical smoke and words to create effects in whoever the effigies represent. The seedheads are prolific in dispersing new plants, but even so elkgrass is hard to find by the end of every winter. Effect: Tools. Poppets add +5 to curses cast by Dark Arts and Witchcraft practitioners.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Oanhelfar The word loosely translates to “calming wind” and this strange fungus seems to cure even the most severe of rages. The bulbous yellow mushrooms have a red frill around the stem, which differentiates it from the deadlier varieties of yellow mushrooms in the same area. A meal of these mushrooms raw or cooked will make even the most savage of tempers calm and demure. They are first found in spring and gathered from all but the coldest of islands. They are most often dried by the local shamans who then keep them for when they are needed. The drying process is a tradition carefully preserved in families, and an error can result in death. Correctly preserved, Oanhelfar can keep for decades. Effect: Sedative calms anger and rage; WIL DoD +5 to resist sedative. Wrongly preserved becomes a strength 10 poison. Summerheath Summerheath is a blue-flowered, spiky plant that comes and goes as quickly as the season, but while the pink-leaved plants are at the peak of their blooms, they are harvested to make a heady drink popular among the island tribes. Most non-natives that attempt to down glassfuls of this potion find themselves poisoned by summerheath ale, but the locals have slowly adapted to the brew, and this drink in such high amounts over the summer tends to cause regular drinkers to be immune to its toxic effects. The plant can also be used as an insect and fungal repellent. Effect: Non-North Sea natives treat as strength 8 poison. Icetree Icetrees are small, stunted, tree-like plants that seem to collect the unadulterated vril that vibrates so close to the polar region. These ice plants are somewhat blue in leaf and trunk, and ice-cold to the touch as if frozen. However, this is just the vril energy circulating through the roots and emitting from the branch tips; with these tips causes ice to form on the unfortunate victim that receives this discharge which can cover a target as big as a medium-sized dog. Children are especially vulnerable. Extremities have minutes before taking on frostbite. The small seed pods tend to store this magic capability, expelling the cold when split, making for some interesting sling weapons when the tribes need to fight off attackers. Effect: or split pods result in ice forming over area the size of medium-size dog (50 lbs’ worth). Failure of CON resistance roll, DoD -5, results in DR3 damage per round for 3 rounds until it starts melting.

NAMES

NAMES

NAMES

Aurora, Hyperborea, Ogygia, Thule

Cimmeria

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Agmund

Brita

Esa

Aamu

Agni

Angrbotha

Einar

Aina

Fridrick

Aili

Arnlaugr

Aslaug

Jakob

Gunnhild

Hannu

Annikki

Baldr

Bergdis

Bjarne

Chatrine

Hjalmar

Helvi

Einarr

Brynhildr

Guttorm

Anja

Jari

Ilta

Fenris

Eir

Haakon

Hildur

Mauno

Jaana

Guthbrandr

Dagrun

Ludvig

Edmr

Pekka

Lyyli

Gunnarr

Ingrith

Didrik

Hulda

Seppo

Pirjo

Heinrikr

Kenna

Magnus

Frida

Teemu

Paiva

Hrolfr

Lifa

Ragnar

Gerda

Uljas

Riikka

Kolr

Signe

Mikkel

Lisebet

Ulrik

Ritva

Ormarr

Siv

Tormod

Kariane

Urho

Satu

Ranulfr

Svanhildr

Sigurd

Mathilda

Veli

Sirja

Sigmundr

Tofa

Ulf

Leviken

Vihtori

Sisko

Skari

Tyra

Sven

Nathalie

Vaino

Taina

Snorri

Ynghildr

210

Haloga, Jotunland

GEOGRAPHICA

211

ATLANTIS: The Second Age North Sea region Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Phantom Vessel

Off the coast of Thule lies a half-sunken ship. Encased in ice and locked in the rocky embrace of some misshapen coral formation, the ship is unlike any other that presently sails the seas. Some think it is possibly an ancient Ophidian craft or some cast-off nightmare of the gods. Strange demonic entities and the ghosts of drowned sailors are also frozen in the ice here, which makes travel to the ship treacherous.

2. Blood Crystal Shore

On the northern shores of Hyperborea sits a giant crystal outcropping. The local Svarten Vanir and Rock Trolls frequently battle on the rocky shores near the great crystal and the seas nearby occasionally seem stained with red. Sailors watch for the crystal for it not only serves as a warning of the rocky shoals off the Hyperborean coast during the day, but also glows brightly at night and serves as a beacon to help them find their way.

3. The Castle Resplendent in Ice and Light

The Castle Resplendent in Ice and Light was an Atlantean fortress established on the coast of Jotunland during the height of the Atlantean Empire. No one knows the fate of its inhabitants for these days the fortress is almost continually locked in ice. Occasionally flashes of raw Vril energy erupt from within, breaking it free of the encroaching glaciation and painting the skies above with a panoply of colors.

4. The Frozen Shore of Fritya

The Frozen Shore is a strange anomaly in the southern Sea of the Dead where the chill arctic flows of the North Sea swirl and clash. A small island made entirely of ice, little larger on the sea’s surface than the deck of ship, floats here. Waves wash across it, pouring down a pit at its center. The pit swirls and spirals down through the sea. Lined with ice, it is difficult to climb. Many have been lost down its depths and a piteous moaning and howling rises from within it with every new moon. During Wayeb, the ghosts of all who have been lost down this pit are set free to roam the nearby seas in phantom ships.

5. The Witch-light Sea

9. The Seidhr Runewitches

The Runewitches of Seidhr are an order of female magicians that claim all the mountains for their own, though they are few in number and practically can’t patrol it all; hence, the Jotun are able to mine as long as they don’t return too often to the same place. The Runewitches use a great metal scrying mirror to find children with magical potential; they kidnap these children and return with them to Runeholdt, their hidden fortress, where the children are brought up as Runewitches. The Runewitches are marked by the magic metal armor in which they encase their bodies.

10. The Jotunwall

Along the northern coast of Jotunland stands a massive wall of boulders and cut stone. The wall is over 20 meters high and runs for well over 160 thousand kilometers in length before disappearing into the ocean. Nobody knows who built the wall or why, but sometimes, in the darkest depths of winter, alien-looking ghosts walk the walls as sentries.

11. Temple of the Ice Dogs

In the long abandoned Lemurian outpost and university dedicated to the Lawgiver lives a group of Nethermen. The sub-human inhabitants have converted the university into a temple to their nameless demonic dog-god and their shamans have gleaned enough of the Lemurian knowledge on the walls to create an unstable but powerful ley line nexus that allows demonic beings egress into our world.

12. The Infernal Hearth of Uljas

It is said that a master craftsman named Uljas made a deal with the demon lord Ba’al that allowed him to make the most potent weapons of destruction. No one knows if the legend is true but the ancient Atlantean blacksmith is known far and wide as the preeminent maker of tools for murder. His hearth sits on top of a volcanic fissure that bellows gouts of flame and caustic smoke that (if legends are true) issue from the nose of Ba’al himself. The old blacksmith works with several Tauran apprentices to make weapons if the price is right. When not working on commissions, he constantly labors to forge great links of iron and brass chains that are dropped into the fissure.

This section of the North Sea is famed for the myriad sparkling lights that shine beneath its surface. These lights resemble an innumerable quantity 13. Vault of the Hoar Frost Giants of lanterns, floating in the dark, icy sea. Tritons who have visited the area Carved from the side of a mountain is the last stronghold of the last true will say nothing of what these lights may be, but will say that the lights are giants. At the center of their great hall is a stone cube 500 meters wide and false lures and belong to the dead. high, carved from the living mountain and fixed with a large iron door: the Vault of Giants. Inside are said to be secrets from the Time Before stolen from dreams of the Elder Gods. The giants will occasionally gamble with 6. The Sea of Children The waters surrounding the island of Aurora hold many strange things, outsiders to allow a single individual access to the vault. The scant few who not the least of which are the eggs that sometimes bob to the surface. These win never emerge unscathed. strange, multi-colored orbs are twice the size of a man’s head and, it is said, 14. The Igdresil Forest if treated correctly hatch into all manner of wonders and horrors. Hidden deep in the Utgard Forest is a copse of ashwood trees known as the Igdresil. The trees form the largest and most powerful Vril circle known 7. The Sleeping Wood This large woodland, which stretches along the east cost of Jotunland, is on the planet and legends say that standing at the center allows anyone to unseasonably temperate, at least for half of the year. On the first of Wayeb travel virtually instantaneously through the conduits of geomantic energy to each year the land and all within it is instantly flash-frozen, only to thaw out any other powerful Vril source. At the center of the 30-60 meter copes is the unharmed half way through the year. Emberwyrms, drakes with breath like a tree known as Mimameior with branches that rise into ever-present clouds blast furnace, hunt the woods during the frozen times, blasting and thawing 500 meters above. The sap from the tree is said to give those who taste it their helpless prey. Walking through the woods during the frozen periods is godlike powers. an eerie experience with all the wildlife rooted in place and unmoving.

15. The Cave of Mimis

8. The Shrine of the Lurker Below

Something lives in the Rhiphaen Mountains, something dark, old, and powerful beyond belief. The stories say that deep within the caverns one can find a dread shrine filled with obscure icons and ancient magic. Anyone praying for power at this shrine is said to receive it, though the nature of this power isn’t specified.

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At the southern base of the Rhiphaen Mountains lies a cave that blows a steady blast of cold air from some dark nether realm. In the belly of this icy cave is a well of sparkling silver water. The well’s waters are said to be the coalesced imaginings of sleeping gods and those that imbibe the waters will think and dream as they do. The well is guarded by an ancient being of ice and shadow who will allow any to drink if they pay it a price.

GEOGRAPHICA

213

Oceans and Seas

214

Oceans and Seas The Atlantean Ocean

The open waters of the Atlantean Ocean are vast and largely uncharted. Where once Atlantean ships plied the sea lanes during the daring days of the First Age, today the old trade routes are hardly ever traveled. A few ships from Atlantis, and an occasional adventurous crew from Tharshesh, can sometimes be found in the northern waters of the ocean; once in a long while, a ship from Tarucua in Tamoanchan crosses over to Atlantis or Gondwana. On the whole, though, the far reaches of the Atlantean Ocean remain untraveled and unexplored in this age of fear and superstition. Though there are many islands in the South Atlantean Ocean, as can be found from study of ancient maps, these are not found on modern charts. For generations, seamen have regarded the existence of any land in the heart of the ocean as completely legendary, convinced that the whole area between Tamoanchan, Atlantis, Gondwana, and the Nether Realm is completely bereft of land of any kind. This widespread belief has made many sailors refuse to sail out of sight of the continental coasts, for fear that they might be lost in unknown waters without hope of a successful landfall. Though humans and other land-dwellers seldom sail the Atlantean Ocean, the Tritons of Antilla routinely visit these waters. They revel in the absence of land-folk, and in the abundance of sea creatures and unspoiled nature. The Tritons know of the southern islands, though they have not explored them; they are adamant about preserving these regions as they are, and so have never revealed what they know to non-Tritons. Considering the Atlantean Ocean as a last refuge for their tribe against encroachment by outsiders, they do not even let it be known that they travel the deep waters of the central and south Atlantean Ocean. These waters are far from calm. Ocean currents here are unrelenting, and the weather is violent and stormy more often than not. The eastern ocean floor is sometimes wracked by earthquakes, causing tidal waves, surging currents, and other hazardous conditions. Maelstroms appear intermittently throughout the ocean, and two are permanent features. The whirlpool at Maelstrom Bay off eastern Atlantis is the only one that appears on human maps, the other being in the central ocean. The largest of these — indeed, the largest maelstrom in the world — is called the Maw by the Tritons. Its effects reach across nearly a third of the Atlantean Ocean, but it is only a subtle undertow over most of this area. As the traveler approaches the center of the Maw, this current becomes swifter, eventually evolving into an irresistible pull that swirls the water and everything in it in ever-decreasing circles over an area hundreds of kilometers across. At its center is the enormous whirlpool of the Maw. It is said that no mortal human, Triton, or otherwise, has ever been into the Maw and returned to tell of it. It is the one place in the Atlantean Ocean where the Tritons of Antilla never come.

The Island Beast

An island-sized creature wanders this ocean. The monster’s back is covered in plants, earth, and even some wildlife so it resembles nothing more than a tropical island paradise. Woe betide anyone who sets foot on the island however as the tempting pool at the center of the island is filled with digestive fluid and can strip a man to bones in an instant.

The Atlantydes (at-LAN-ti-dees)

Ancient human maps bear this name to mark a group of five large islands, plus a scattering of smaller ones, deep in the heart of the Atlantean Ocean. The southernmost of the main islands is on the arbitrary boundary between the Atlantean Ocean and the Forgotten Sea. These islands have long been lost to human history, for men travel these waters no longer. The Antillan Tritons call them the Islands of Solitude. There are ancient s of these islands in the libraries of Atlantis, though most modern scholars dismiss them as seafarers’ legends from the First Age. The weather is said to be pleasant on the northernmost of the islands, getting colder and harsh as one travels south. All are said to be uninhabited save by birds and a few small animals. One tale, said to be based on a sailor’s eyewitness after he was rescued by the Tritons from a small boat in the middle of the ocean, is especially mysterious. This sailor, a common seaman named Glaucus, journeyed with an archaeological expedition that sailed to the Atlantydes in the waning days of the Golden Age. Megalithic ruins, mostly toppled, overgrown, and buried, were discovered on most of the islands. The southernmost island was found to hold an immense pyramidal structure of unknown origin on a cliff towering over the southernmost promontory.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Glaucus claimed that his ship anchored in a harbor below the pyramid, christened Haven Bay, and the expedition set out to explore it. At this point his becomes confused, but it would seem that none in the party actually entered the pyramid. The sailors and scholars began fighting one another for no apparent reason, and seem to have killed one another until only Glaucus was left. He took a boat and fled the island in terror, though of what, nothing is said. When found and aided by friendly Tritons, he was on the brink of death from thirst and exposure, and quite insane. Scholars dismiss the story as a legend, or the ravings of a man, but the ancient s speculate that some pre-human mystery awaits rediscovery in the Pyramid of the Atlantydes.

Cabbalusa

(kah-ba-LU-sa) The sailors are right to fear the ocean, some of my more Stories of Cabbalusa are common among seafarers, who claim that it is an isolated island located aggressive brethren have been somewhere in the southern reaches of the Atlantean Ocean. Once it may have been meant to be a known to sink vessels that they serious of a distant land, but today even the sailors who repeat these stories don’t believe felt were intruding too far. in them. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress By all reports, it is a veritable paradise, often sounding like a second Ogygia. Scenic cliffs rise high out of the sea, giving way to grassy meadows where flowing streams and crystal pools offer an idyllic retreat for weary sailors. Sea birds, small animals, and gentle breezes are described as adding to the serenity of this quiet land. The legends also say that Cabbalusa is populated by a race of human-like females, extraordinarily beautiful in all respects, save for their lower legs, which resemble a goat’s (shaggy and ending in cloven hooves). These women are supposed to seduce any sailor who lands on their islands with their physical charms and their beautiful, haunting songs. They can supposedly so mesmerize a man that he will not even notice their goat-like extremities. The story also claims that the man who gives in to the seduction of one of these raven-haired temptresses will become her slave for life. The tales claim that many unfortunate seafarers live out their lives as mindless thralls to the Cabbalusan women, besotted with love. There are those who say these women are witches who serve a terrible Empusa, one of the Greater Demons. Each month, it is said, one of the hapless males is sacrificed to this Empusa; in return, favors are granted to the witches. These typically take the form of deliverance of new males to the island. Sailors claim that storms, navigational errors, and other mishaps to ships at sea (skirting the Gondwanan coasts, for instance) are caused by these witches or their demonic patron. Now and again, half-mad derelicts in waterfront taverns will claim to have escaped from Cabbalusa, but few believe their stories of pleasure and horror.

Sea Of Baku (ba-KU)

The Sea of Baku connects with the Erythraean Sea through the straits between Turan and Jambu. Turan and Scythia lie to the west, Jambu to the east, while an arc formed by Hyperborea and Zemlazelan separates the northern stretch of the Sea of Baku from the icy North Sea. From the isle of Bathsheba to uninhabited Zemlazelan, it is a shallow sea, especially near the coasts. The tides can create or inundate hundreds of tiny islands. (None lie more than a few feet above or below the water at any given time.) The constant flux between salt water and open air makes them inhospitable to marine life and surface life alike, leaving the islands barren and rocky. There are permanent islands dotting the Sea of Baku as well. The larger, more accessible ones are generally dominated by Sheba; those which are too hard to reach, or too small to be of use, are usually uninhabited. A few are occupied by exiles, outcasts, hermits, and similar people. These isles are known collectively as the Isles of Zora (ZOR-a; “The Dawn”). Even more dangerous to seafarers than the shallow water is a terrifying natural phenomenon that gives the Sea of Baku its more colorful name: Sea of Fire. The central region of the sea is a constantly billowing mass of flame and choking smoke. Oil and natural gas springs on the shallow seafloor spew their flammable liquids unceasingly to the surface. How the fire started no one knows, though certain religions make reference to this phenomenon. No one can guess how long the Fires will last, but some claim that their end will herald a world-wide cataclysm. Besides providing inspiration for storytellers, the Fires of Baku effectively deter travel between

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GEOGRAPHICA north and south across the sea. The Shebans, those ubiquitous seafarers, skirt the southern sea but hardly ever venture past the Fires into the northern waters. Only Hyperborean amber serves as a lure strong enough to encourage a Sheban merchant to brave the dangers of such a voyage, and all but the most courageous avoid the journey, even so. Even if the Fires are ed successfully, the hostility of the Hyperboreans and the perils of the return trip are generally felt to be risks that outweigh the potential profits. Some sailors claim that the Fires can be skirted by hugging the coasts, through the Strait of Wolves (on the Neurian coast of Scythia) or the Samara (sa-MAR-a) Straits on the Molodo coastline. These straits are dangerously shallow; a large ship can cross only at high tide, and still runs a considerable risk of disaster. The Straits of Samara lead into the Bay of Samara. The waters of this bay, which lies between the Fires of Baku and the Argan peninsula on the coast of Jambu, are warmed by a favorable current out of the Fires. The shallow waters a mass of vegetation reminiscent of the Sargasso Sea, but rooted to the bottom. It is said that these waters are the feeding grounds of such monstrous creatures as kraken, leviathans, sea dragons, and plesiosaurs. The Gulf of Zahran (ZAH-ran) is also rather shallow, but the Shebans have mapped safe ages through these waters. Ships without Sheban pilots are likely to be in as much danger as in the ages around the Fires. The gulf is dotted with small islands, most of them claimed as estate lands by Sheban nobles. Between Hyperborean Cimmeria and Eridan in Scythia is a deep sea basin, the Eridan Straits. Also located in the straits is the Well of Awatan (a-wa-TAN), which causes strange tides and currents during storms or under the full moon. Local legends tell of sea monsters and sea devils living deep within the Well, but these are probably much exaggerated. Sightings of such creatures are few and far between, though some sailors with a flair for mystery claim that this is because those who face the true horror of the Well of Awatan do not escape to tell the tale.

The Erythraean Sea (air-ITH-ree-en)

Sometimes referred to as “The Sea of Sheba” or “The Queen Sea” — both in reference to the Sheban seafarers who have made this sea their own — the Erythraean Sea is a fairly calm body of water crisscrossed by the heavily traveled sea-lanes of the Sheban trade. The borders of this sea run along the continent of Gondwana, Turan, across the strait between Turan and Jambu, which connects this sea to the Sea of Baku, down the coast of Jambu to Lemuria, and then back along the uneven line of the Isles of Ozar and the land of Punt. In the east, the Erythraean Sea gives way to the Bay of Ishnu between Lemuria and the Veddan subcontinent on the south coast of Jambu. Where the sea borders on Lemuria there is little waterborne traffic. Ancient tradition has named this region the “Forbidden Waters”; though none now know the derivation of the name, it has an evil reputation among sailors. Only the most foolhardy would even consider sailing the Forbidden Waters. The name appears even on the most ancient of maps, and has sufficed to keep countless generations from venturing into the area. The Erythraean Sea is known for its abundance of aquatic life. Its calm coastal waters are usually crowded with small fishing boats. The Forbidden Waters are said to be subject to fierce seasonal storms, as are the southern straits around the Isles of Ozar. Here, at the Fangs of Lemuria, the weather is harsh and the sea treacherous.

Kaliya’s ship was pulled by a team of serpents and was faster than the decrepit Sheban vessels we were using. Repeated calls for good weather went unheard by Kell’s useless Cimmerian gods. We decided upon a desperate plan to cut through the Sea of Fire and surprise the Naga sorcerer. The area was nothing like what I expected. It was calm and balmy, but not like the stories I heard of a hell on Earth; that all changed at sunset. In the distance a water spout shot into the sky and ignited, and the tip like a watery candle. The fire quickly raced down the spout and ignited rivers of oil all around us. In front of our vessel the sea bulged and a great bubble of gas pushed to the surface and exploded into blue flames, knocking our mast down. The captain screamed for his oarsmen to double their pace and we made our escape from the churning conflagration of hellwater. Donobey of Nubia

The Isles Of Ozar (O-zar)

Strung in a ragged chain from the great island of Punt to the coast of Lemuria, the Isles of Ozar form an arbitrary boundary between the Erythraean Sea and the Forgotten Sea. In ages past, they were known as the Fangs of Lemuria, a name derived from the treacherous line of low-lying islets, rocky spires, and underwater reefs that comprise the chain. Running roughly east-northeast from Punt, the undersea ridge forming these islands is a hazard to any vessel that dares to sail these waters. Besides the constant threat of tearing the ship’s bottom out on a reef, the currents that swirl through the island chair can play havoc with navigation, especially at night. Storms are common as well, and more than one ship is believed to have felt the bite of the Fangs in days gone by.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

In old Lemurian tales, the regions known as the Forbidden Waters are called in our native tongue the “Storm-tossed Seas”. Linguistically, the name is similar in pronunciation to Forbidden Waters in High Atlantean, which could for the origin. The seasonal storms here are very fierce, yet Lemurians have sailed these waters for centuries. One must be able to read wind and wave in order to safely navigate. My suspicion is that others blame their poor skill on the waters and so have named them cursed. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

I spoke to a Triton who claims to have ventured close to these islands. He told me that he saw a colossal stone statue wandering from island to island. It was so massive that the water only came up to its waist at the deepest points in the ocean. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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The largest island is said to have been the home of the Archmage Ozar, a powerful and eccentric wizard who claimed sovereignty over all these isles over a hundred years ago. Legend has it that Ozar populated all but the most insignificant of these isles with a bizarre menagerie of exotic beasts collected from over the entire globe, and even from other planes and dimensions. He is also supposed to have kidnapped beautiful human women, spirits, and other such females. No one knows what his purpose may have been, though the topic has been the subject for much conjecture and fanciful storytelling. Sailors generally avoid these waters, and not entirely because of the navigational hazards of the isles. It is said that all who approach the island have heard noises unlike any they have heard before — the calls of wild beasts, and weird roars from monsters and other strange creatures. No one has claimed to have landed here since the coming of Ozar.

The Sea of the Dead

Far to the north of Atlantis lies the Sea of the Dead, a cold, dark sea loosely bounded by Anostos, Jotunland, Hyperborea, Europa, and Atlantis itself. It is a strange and mysterious sea, known for its sea-dragons and great icebergs, summers of unending day, and winters of the darkest night. The islands that dot the sea range from sinister realms of evil beasts to the lovely garden isle of Ogygia. Those who sail these waters may expect to find adventure, for both wonders and perils are to be found in this region.

The Forgotten Sea

“Steer south from the Fangs of Lemuria”, says the ancient seaman’s tradition, “with the Twisted Cross above your bow. There shall ye find the wonders of the Lost Land”. Few have braved the perils of the vast ocean known as the Forgotten Sea in recent memory. Though most seafarers of the eastern hemisphere are familiar with the location and reputation of the Forgotten Sea, there are only a few obscure stories out of the ancient past to suggest what may lie there. The Lost Land of the old navigator’s instructions probably refers to the continent of Mu. The great, largely desolate land mass is little known outside the isles of the Elysium Sea, and only the most ancient maps show the shape and location of the land with any degree of accuracy. It is a mysterious, sparsely inhabited continent, and most of the reports from travelers who have visited the land have contained as much fancy as fact. The Forgotten Sea includes all the waters south of Punt through the Isles of Ozar, Lemuria, and Mu, all the way to the Isle of Dreams. The Nether Realm forms the other edge of the sea. In the west, it merges imperceptibly with the southern reaches of the Atlantean Ocean; to the east lies the Stygian Sea, which is even more terrifying in reputation than the Forgotten Sea itself. All told, the sea wraps around two thirds of the globe. The southern expanses of the Forgotten Sea are choked with icebergs and ice floes. Many varieties of whales, seals, and sea lions are reported to inhabit these waters, along with large, flightless swimming birds that congregate on the ice to breed. Close to the Nether Realm, it is said, strange elemental and demonic creatures roam the waters, delighting in the destruction of ships and the deaths of sailors. An old tradition claims that there is also a race of friendly spirits living in the far south, a forgotten race of spirits. The Ice Spirits, as they are called, are supposed to inhabit icebergs, floes, and the great ice sheets. Legend says that they are born, age, and die with the mass of ice they are associated with, much like dryads and their trees. Seafarers believe that the Ice Spirits can command the weather in these waters through ancient magic, and will use their power to curse any ship’s crew that causes them harm (by building fires on the ice, for instance), or to aid those who do them a good turn.

GEOGRAPHICA

Stygian Sea (STIJ-ee-an)

These dreaded waters are rarely sailed by men. The few sailors who have been foolhardy enough to explore the sea have returned — sometimes — with stories of fell creatures of unknown origins stalking ships like jungle cats stalking prey. Leviathans and kraken, huge beasts of incredible power, are supposed to dwell in the dark waters, and ordinary sea creatures — whales, squid, octopi, and sharks — are rumored to reach tremendous sizes in this region. But the true danger of the sea is said to be a tribe of demon-worshipping Makara who live deep within the Stygian Basin. Their shamans have brought scores of lesser demons to become permanent denizens of the evil waters. The giant great white sharks are supposed to serve the Makara, as well. Earthquakes wrack the ocean depths, perhaps caused by the closeness of the demonic planes, causing massive tidal waves to radiate outward from the heart of the Stygian Sea.

An old Triton story tells of a giant whale made of orichalcum and glass that wanders these waters. In some stories it’s a Golden Age Atlantean toy, in others a Lemurian who loved technology too much and was cursed by the gods. It’s a fanciful idea and surely not true, but it he ether sles does make for a good tale. Aside from the Satyrides and Taenerus (sa-TEER-id-eez, TAY-en-air-us), next to nothing is Thalmia, Triton Sorceress known for certain about the islands and islets off the coast of the Nether Realm. Only three appear consistently on ancient maps of the region, most of which are considered of dubious origin. Over the ages cartographers have given these isles all manner of names; most are obviously fanciful inventions. Among the more common names the Nether Isles are referred to in this Modern Age are: the Forgotten Isles, the Forsaken Isles, the Cold Isles, and, the Isles of World’s End.

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The Satyrydes

(sa-TEER-id-eez) Stories of the Satyrydes come down from very ancient Atlantean s, supplemented by a few more recent tales by far-ranging seafarers. The Satyrydes are three in number, all very large islands. Two lie within the Forgotten Sea, called Panogwyll (pan-og-WIL) and Panogyr (pan-og-EER). The third, and largest, is Panogea (pan-og-EE-a), and lies near the mouth of the Ice Bay of Garmar (gar-MAR), a perpetually frozen indentation in the coast of the Nether Realm. A few tiny ice-covered rocky islets also dot the waters nearby, but they are not considered part of the Satyrydes. Ancient seafarers tell of the hidden valleys of these three islands, shrouded in mist and heated by hot springs. Three are located on Panogea, two on Panogyr, and a single valley is said to nestle in the rugged mountains of Panogwyll. These valleys are filled with strangely luxuriant vegetation, almost tropical in nature, and a variety of fauna that would hardly be expected in such cold lands. Small colonies of tree spirits and Gwyllion (gWILL-ee-on) live in the valleys, the only intelligent dwellers said to reside on these islands. In the winter, the sea freezes between all three of the Satyrydes and the coast of the Nether Realm. Every eleven years, bands of spirits and Gwyllion are said to make a sacred pilgrimage on foot to the Ice Cove of Panogwa (pan-OG-wa), on the shores of the Nether Realm. It is an arduous trek, and many die, but the strongest reach the Ice Cove despite the hardships of the journey. Once there, they erect an ice monolith of tremendous size within an equally large circle of solid ice; upon completion of this task, they hold an orgiastic fertility ritual lasting eleven days. Then they return once again, losing even more of their number on the return trip. They believe, say the old s, that this ritual ensures the strength and hardiness of the next generation. In the summer, the ice melts, but icebergs and floes continue to clog the coastline and clutter the sea around the islands. It is a dangerous region, with the cold, stormy weather making travel difficult and the danger of drifting ice a constant hazard. Moreover, sea dragons are believed to roam the waters, especially near Panogwyll. A comparatively recent tells of a visit to the Ice Bay of Garmar by a Sheban vessel driven far across the sea by unrelenting storms. Somehow, the Shebans avoided the hazards of the waters and escaped alive, bringing back stories of a small fleet — four fat Atlantean merchant ships, of First Age design — frozen solid within the ice. Even crew were supposed to be visible, still at their posts, staring through tons of ice at a horizon they have never reached through thousands of years. The Sheban story is particularly intriguing because the name of one of the Atlantean ships, Southwind Dayseeker, occurs in an old Atlantean legend of a ship lost before the Cataclysm while carrying a cargo of orichalcum to a distant Atlantean colony.

I once looked into the legends of the Southwind Dayseeker. I found it curious that a quartet of ships bound for an Atlantean colony wound up so far off course and into such hazardous waters. While one could posit some strange eruption of Vril as the cause of the ships’ entrapment in ice, it still does not explain their presence near the Satyrydes. I did find a solitary reference in an old dockworker’s log about a ship noted as the Dayseeker, but it referenced its position in a flotilla of six vessels being outfitted for “alchemical research”. The matter bears more investigation. Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Taenerus

(tay-en-AIR-us)

Once part of the Nether Realm, the island of Taenerus is said to have separated from the mainland due to earthquakes and rising waters. Supposedly the quakes inundated a narrow, lowlying land bridge and set the island adrift to the north. The southern approaches to the island, according to legend, are very hazardous, thanks to this shallow water — the Taenerus Reef. Taenerus lies between the Nether Realm and the twin islands of Aconcagua and Gualaguala, and so guards the age between the Atlantean Ocean and the Stygian Sea. There are numerous ancient legends about Taenerus, most of them patently absurd. But it is always said to have been a source for rich deposits of precious gemstones, and Atlantean ships are known to have visited the forbidding, desolate island regularly in the First Age. It is also said that Atlantean sorcerers performed experiments seeking to produce plants and animals capable of thriving here, with mixed success. Strange monsters are supposed to haunt the rocky island even yet. The inhabitants of Aconcagua and Gualaguala regard Taenerus as a sacred place, where they believe dead heroes journey to live out their afterlives in perpetual triumph over the monsters there. The neanderthaloids are said to quaver at the thought of anyone visiting there, for fear that heroes and monsters alike will be set free to roam the lands of the living. Thus, they will do all in their power to stop strangers who seek to visit the sacred isle. Taenerus is harsh, savage, and dangerous. The summer is dry and bleak, while winter is a time of terrible blizzards and frigid subzero temperatures.

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GEOGRAPHICA

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Ocean and Sea Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Tooth of the Maw Preserved at the edge of the giant maelstrom known as the Maw is a construction of singular design. The centerpiece of this construction was a First Age Atlantean device, towed into place and left to study the deep sea. The Maw, however, has pulled the device away from the Vril-lines that powered it and overtime wrecks and salvage have accreted against the columns that reach down to the sea floor far below. The result is a conglomeration of ships that the surviving sailors have patched together into a makeshift city. One day, the whole thing will likely fall into the Maw, but until then the stranded generations of sailors pray that they might be delivered.

believe that this vessel comes from the lost vault. 7. The Teeth of Thon In the northern expanses of the Euxine Sea lies a series of jutting rock formations with a never ending stream of smoke issuing from the tops. On the side of the largest rock is a great cave with stairs that lead to the underworld. 8. Karybdis On the southwestern coast of Saturnia lies a boiling whirlpool called Karybdis. The swirling waters measure 200 meters across and can swallow ships whole. It is said that ships that ships consumed by Karybdis are vomited upon distant shores.

2. The Isle of Turtles One of the Antlantydes is noted on ancient maps as the Isle of Turtles. The giant turtles which inhabit this distant shore are reputed 9. The Ice Coven’s Fortress to be ancient, wise, and quite verbose. A society of sorts exists among A large iceberg wanders in the Northern Sea following the them, and they are said to argue and debate all manner of things for currents surrounding Anatos. Atop the iceberg sits a great fortress of long hours. ice and stone built by a group of witches called the Ice Coven. The coven is guarded by a tribe of wild Nethermen and Asena Andamen 3. The Burning Bronzes who depend on them for a very potent opiate made from the fabled Off the Neurian Coast of Scythia in the Sea of Baku rise two Ice Lotus that grows only in the ice caverns of the iceberg. At the huge domed towers of bronze. While there are a few openings, all center of the fortress is a frozen drop of the Demiurges blood that is of them are covered with sheets of seemingly unbreakable crystal. sometimes harvested for the coven’s most potent magical rites. No one is ever known to have entered into one of these two towers, nor has anything ever emerged from them. Some Tritons claim that 10. Chalchiuhtlicue Nursery huge ceramic pipes run from the base of the towers where they meet South of Tamarac Sound is the spawning grounds for great sea the sea floor out into the Sea of Fire, but their purpose remains a serpents and a holy site to the Aztlan people. The waters in the area mystery. churn and roil with activity as the large serpents here mate and give birth to their young. The area of the sea is littered with large scales, 4. The Sargasso Pirates broken egg shells and the remains of unlucky visitors. A small flotilla of ships makes up the nation of the Sargasso pirates. While many of the ships are little more than barges that sail within sight of each other on a circuit above Antilla, there are other vessels which bravely range out into the open sea to raid the occasional merchant ship off the coast of Atlantis or pillage the coasts of Eria. They do not take so much as to invite reprisal from Atlantis’ navy, but they are an annual bane to small shipping concerns. 5. The Last Golden House Rising above the waves at one end of a huge forest of kelp are a series of bronze covered walls. Wooden docks have been hung over these to provide safe mooring, and above them rises a fortified structure that looks more like an Atlantean noble’s manor than anything else. Within this structure exists a small society that serves as a gambling hall, brothel, and haven against the strictures of Atlantean law. 6. The Vault of ArcKombe Before Antilla’s destruction the nation’s aquatic armory was stored in a massive vault hidden just off the coast. The exact location of the vault wasn’t marked on any map and Triton explorers have never been able to locate it. In recent months an undersea vessel of unknown design has attacked ships ing close to Antilla. Some

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Tamoanchan

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Tamoanchan Region (tam-oh-ahn-CHAN) Much of the rugged continent of Tamoanchan remains wild and inaccessible, with the population centered on several advanced lowland cultures. The civilizations of Tamoanchan range from primitive cultures of wild tribesmen, to decaying remnants of Ophidian imperial power, to sophisticated neo-Atlantean regimes. From the Nazcan mountain realms to the jungles of Oguanabara, Tamoanchan presents a multitude of cultures over its varied and harsh terrain. Geographers divide Tamoanchan into four separate overarching regions based on terrain and climate. The north of Tamoanchan consists of mountains, deserts, and fertile bands of coastal lowlands. The central region consists of highlands: rugged mountains covered in thick, tropical jungle along their sides and rising to icy, snowcapped peaks. This central region extends much of the length of the continent. The southern region is colder, grimmer, and less populated. It shares some of the mountainous climate of the central region, but lacks the tropical climate. The eastern region is divided into two large peninsulas that extend around the Sea of Acua. Low-lying, tropical, and dominated by jungle, the east was influenced by the Atlanteans more so than the rest of the continent.

Aconcagua

This continent is home to a bewildering array of strange creatures, developing as they did in isolation from the rest of the world. The flightless predatory “terror birds” rule the continent but saber-toothed cats and giant sloths roam the land too. A common target of hunters is the giant armadillo whose shell can be used for shelter or as a small boat.

(ak-on-KA-gwa)

A large island off the southern tip of Tamoanchan, Aconcagua is rugged, desolate, and harsh. A small, semi-nomadic population of primitive hunters armed with stone and bone tools ekes out a living. Though the species of rodents, deer, birds, and sloths are plentiful, they tend to be smaller in comparison to those on the main continent. The main tribes on Aconcagua are a group known as the Chono (SHO-no). Noted for their shamans, the Chono are made up largely of brownish-grey skinned Nethermen who live fairly harmoniously with nature. Clever and talented, the shamans of the Chono create large rock-wall paintings as part of their worship of the New Gods. Occasionally, the Chono defend themselves against invaders from the mainland, but by and large they are not aggressively warlike.

Aigua

(EYE-gwa)

A jungle-covered land jutting out into the Atlantean Ocean, Aigua contains a set of central highlands known as the Urag (oor-AG) Mountains. Colorful birds are plentiful here and hunters from Taracua (tar-ah-Kwa) sometimes venture here to capture parrots. A human tribe known as the Uragua (oor-AG-wa) lives in caves and valleys in the central mountains, where they tend flocks of domesticated rhea. Metalworking is largely unknown to the Uragua, though they do know how to work lead taken from their mountain into primitive shapes, mainly cups, bowls, and simple tools. The Uraguans have very strict codes of conduct regulating gender roles in everyday life. Only males can make or use weapons, whereas women can be exiled for breaking or using one. Conversely, only women can prepare, cook, and serve food with men facing exile for doing so. This leads to occurrences where men may kill an animal during a hunt, but then leave the carcass for the women to retrieve for cooking. The women are also responsible for religious worship. A local cult dedicated to the old gods is based on witchcraft practices, centered on a great stone monolith raised in the center of the Uraguan lands. Female Uraguans who become witches or shamans guard this sacred monument. Uraguan traditional stories claim that they came to this region from elsewhere in Tamoanchan, fleeing from dark-skinned strangers who flew over the seas and fought with bright swords and armored shells. Some scholars postulate that the Uraguans are an offshoot of the Ulloans who did not seek safety below ground, but instead fled into the Urag mountains. Other Uraguan stories mention such figures as the Woman of Stone and the City of Darkness, so such speculation may not be far from the truth.

Nethermen grow more aggressive when living in groups, this is a noted fact. Something in the Chono’s diet must counteract this tendency. If we could learn what this is we might save the world a lot of suffering. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

225

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Aricagua

(air-ih-KA-gwa)

We were set upon by Balam assassins sent by the Naga sorcerer we were hunting. The “Ghost Leopards” stole into the home of the Uraguan we were staying in and poisoned Caerwyn and Kell with their poison-tipped claws. I killed two of the Balam assassins before Petranova implored the Earth Lord’s elemental help to hold them all in place. I quickly slit all but one of their throats and demanded who sent them. Dononbey of Nubia

The Jaguar-People

Many of the Balam Andamen who are Timeri are not wholly Andamen any longer; instead, they have become something else, tainted by Ba’al. There are still some Balam amongst the Timeri who are have not been wholly converted, but many of them still practice the Dark Arts, participate in the rituals of Tehuantl, and look with unabashed desire at the power their kinsmen seem to possess.

A Traveler’s Tale

In Atlantis, it is said that an explorer of great magical prowess once reached Awok and found there a great megalithic circle deep in the jungle. Buried beneath this site, she was reputed to have discovered numerous treasures dating back to the Atlantean Golden Age. However, most folk discount such fanciful tales.

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A transitional area covering an isthmus, this region consists of wild and overgrown jungle rarely visited by men. Makara haunt the waters off of the coastal regions, and the jungles are home to a twisted tribe of Andamen known as the Timeri (tih-MEH-ree). For the most part, the Timeri are Balam Andamen. Known as the “Jaguar-people” to surrounding lands, they are feared not only for their ferocity, but also for the frequent raids on neighboring settlements to steal women and slay warriors. Only the Choma (KO-ma) of Awok (AY-WOK are receptive to the Timeri primarily due to the Choma’s reverence of the jaguar. The Timeri live on the slopes of the Huachamacari (wok-a-ma-KAR-ee) Mountains, but their hunting parties roam far and wide. The Timeri once were highly shamanistic, but sometime in the past four centuries, their cult was taken over by a demonic entity known as Tehuantl (tay-WANtill). Tehuantl slowly perverted the practices of the Timeri shamans to the Dark Arts; now, the Timeri worship Tehuantl as a Jaguar-god. Timeri capture humans, male and female, from surrounding lands. These captives are brought to the slopes of Mount Huila (HWE-la) where the Jaguar-people meet and sacrifice to their god. Around these sacred grounds stand huge, menacing statues. Five to ten meters tall, these carved stones bearing the likenesses of jaguars, humans, and half-transformed Jaguar-people form a semicircle around a cliff face, guarding a series of caves. The Andamen offer up the humans in rituals beneath the moon, usually involving forced mating. As a result, the humans are left little more than scarred shells that become homes for demonic spirits. These demonic spirits give the human bodies the ability to mate with the Andamen and produce demonic, catlike offspring. The Timeri believe that these rituals are necessary to preserve the power and strength of their bloodlines. Those humans who do not survive or are too damaged to serve as hosts are sacrificed to Tehuantl. The caves at Mount Huila also contain a gold mine and several sacrificial pools. Each of these sacrificial pools is surrounded by boulders decorated with gold and carvings of the regular sacrificial victims — reptiles, amphibians, and humans. On most occasions, animals are sacrificed, but when each mating ritual is completed, humans are sacrificed instead. A high priest known only as the Great Jaguar holds sway over these rituals and a small group of acolytes. It is said that the position of Great Jaguar can be gained by any bold enough to challenge the current holder. Such contests are held on the night of the full moon when the entrants engage in a duel to the death consisting of tracking one another over many days and vast tracts of territory before closing in for the kill. Cunning and strategy are more important to victory than mere strength. When a Great Jaguar dies a natural death, or if neither contestant survives, a slightly different version of the same ritual is conducted but with any who wish to become Great Jaguar participating in the hunt until only one remains.

Awok

(AY-wok)

Nearly cut off from the rest of Tamoanchan by dense rain forests, Awok is isolated from the rest of the world. The Makara sea-devils of the Ocaraba Sea (oh-ca-RA-ba) prevent water routes from being anything less than highly dangerous. There are two dark-skinned tribes of humans who inhabit Awok’s jungles: the Choma (KO-ma) and the Timed (TIH-med). These two tribes generally do not come into conflict with one another, but they do occasionally have with the Timeri Jaguar-people and the Oguanabara cannibals. The Choma are a wild, primitive, animistic people who worship animal gods and prowl the jungle in a bestial existence. They live and hunt as the animals that they worship do and shun interaction with other peoples. They often flee initial encounters, only to return later in force to investigate tresers. Many of the Choma are shamans, or exhibit some small ability to speak with the spirit world. Each family worships a particular animal that individuals then adopt as personal gods. During the mating-season of their totemic animal, they seek out others of their tribe to copulate with, and if none can be found they sometimes kidnap others for this purpose. Children are kept with the mother until four or five years of age whereupon they are given to the shaman chiefs. All of the shaman chiefs revere the owl as a totem, who they say symbolizes the magic of the New Gods. The shaman chiefs are responsible for raising and educating the young at a megalithic,

GEOGRAPHICA

communal temple called Oguaana (oh-gwa-AH-na). This temple-village consists of a great stone monolith surrounded by the stone dwellings of the chiefs. Further out, a circle of human rib bones are planted in the ground, dedicated to Hawwa. Further still are totems marking the boundaries of a circle of defensive magic said to destroy any non-Choma that approach with evil in their hearts. The second tribe in the Awok region is the Timed. A slightly more sophisticated people, they live a precarious existence of hard work, using slash-and-burn agriculture to keep back the encroaching jungle and eke out an existence with simple farming, hunting, and fishing. Primarily, the Timed grow manioc, yams, coco, and tobacco. These latter two crops are used as narcotics in rituals and ceremonies. Pit-traps, poison-tipped spears, and blowgun darts supplement agriculture by bringing down such animals as bush pig, sloth, tapir, birds, and monkeys. On rare occasions, giant alligator might be hunted so that fish from inland lakes can be harvested with tridents and large nets. Most of the Timed communities are small and live in single, large, communal buildings. These buildings are often abandoned after a few years when the Timed must move their croplands. Each community tends to be self-sufficient, but mates are taken from outside the community. Timed society is stratified with the women being the hunters and the males the farmers, though every community member will take up arms in self-defense. Timed territories are marked by erecting a single large monolith, with a band’s territory consisting of all land within a day’s journey of that site. The monolith also serves as a center for religious worship, particularly amongst the magic-s of the Timed people. While Timed religion is an off-shoot of shamanistic practices, the Old Gods still dominate, though there are factions that revere the Elemental Chieftains of Air, Earth, Water, and Fire.

Birama

(ber-AHM-ah)

Near the mouth of the Acuan (ah-KWAN) Sea lies a region of rugged land covered in jungle and swamp, and filled with dangerous predators such as jaguars, giant caiman crocodiles, giant boa constrictors, and wild boars. The real danger, however, lies in the strife between three separate tribes of humanoids. The most numerous tribes are the Hoac (HO-ak) who are Nethermen warrior-cannibals responsible for many of the stories that Birama is infested with demons. The Hoac are friends to none, often attacking strangers on sight. Though they do take captives, they also drag off the bodies of those they kill for food. Brown-skinned and short of stature, the Hoac make extensive use of facial and body scarring as ornamentation. Hoac religion is necromantic, focused on the summoning and worship of a variety of demons. While much of the worship is the simple appeasement of demonic forces, Hoacan priests also demand aid from time to time to deal with dangers that threaten the tribe. Such summoning rituals are preceded by great cannibal feasts as well as the offering of captives. Such rituals are held during the dark of the new moon, at a secret clearing somewhere in the heart of Birama. Because of the frequent need for victims, the Hoacans spend a great deal of time raiding the other Biraman tribes for sacrificial victims and prey. They use the bones from victims as weapons, tools, and decoration, while skins are used for a variety of purposes: clothing, tents, water skins, and so forth. They have little of any other sort of crafts, though Huacan shamans occasionally domesticate the poisonous jararaca (ya-ra-RA-ca) snake, which they use in combat to deadly effect. For the most part, the Huacans stick to the Biraman interior. The Acuan Sea is home to numerous Makara that even the Huacans fear. The swamps of northern Birama are home to another dangerous group, the Pachamama (pa-CHA-ma-ma). The Pachamama are a large, matriarchal tribe of Ahl-At-Rab led by a sorceress queen who fights for dominance in the region against the Huacans and the scattered bands of Biraman Andamen. They maintain a standing army consisting mainly of cavalry mounted on giant caiman crocodiles. The queen sells the services of her elite female units as mercenaries to any of the Tamoanchan nations that can meet her prices. Living in a subterranean and half-submerged city at the edge of the northern swamps called Karmaq (KARM-ak), the Pachamama keep many of the old Ophidian beliefs and traditions. Karmaq was once an ancient Ophidian fortress that was abandoned during the Lemurian wars. The inhabitants were left behind to fend for themselves and soon united under the leadership of the only surviving officer, a female Ahl-At-Rab. Since then, an unbroken lineage of rulers has ruled in Birama. The queen carries a twisted, black, iron staff of reportedly great magical power left behind

Drums in the Jungle

A variety of magical practices can be found in Awok, from Shamanism to Witchcraft, and even command of minor elementals as sorcerers do. All of it, however, is accompanied in some way by the beating of drums. Sorcerers beat drums to the rhythms of elemental ley lines, witches pound out pulsating thumps to lull the senses and send messages to the spirit world, while shamans use the staccato hammering to aid their trances. Though few outsiders come to Koma, many in the region fear the sound of drums in the jungle.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age by the Ophidians. Even the Atlantean explorers who came to Tamoanchan during their Golden Age learned to respect the power of the Pachamama, and often paid tribute to the tribe. Remnants of that Atlantean exploration and early struggle against the Pachamama are not only evidenced by the Huacan Nethermen, but also by numerous bands of Andamen who still roam the southeastern coasts of Birama. Mainly made up of Jaguar-, Wolf-, and Owl-men, the Andamen now form small scattered bands that fend for themselves, trying to stay hidden from the larger powers around them. Unending War

The Pachamama have kept many of the Ophidian traditions alive, but in the millenniums since the fall of the Ophidian Empires, they have tired of ceaseless war. Though the Pachamama have no great love for the Lemurians nor the Atlanteans, their primary concern in modern times is preserving their culture, providing for their people, and possibly expanding so that their children have room to grow. The biggest threats to this are the Huacans. The Makara of the Acuan Sea do little to help matters as they constantly seek aid and remind the Pachamamans of their shared past as descendents of the Ophidians.

Perched to Conquer

From their mountain valleys, the Ecuans are ready to plummet down over the neighboring nations and conquer. Perfection, they reason, will ultimately entail spreading themselves across Tamoanchan and from there, perhaps, to the world at large. The Ecuans see the other Tamoanchan nations as little better than slaves, though there are individuals who they accord greater status. The Ecuan army is one of the largest on the continent and they are developing a small naval force off of their western coast.

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Ecua

(EK-wa)

A mountainous land in central Tamoanchan, Ecua s a thriving river-valley culture along the banks of the Caucus (ka-wak-AS) River. The Ecuan civilization is fairly sophisticated, centrally organized, and based around a concept of perfection. The people are short in stature with swarthy skin and straight, black hair. The upper classes wear robes of brightly colored cloth, decorated with geometric designs, whereas the lower classes wear little more than loincloths. Their culture is ed by agriculture and magical knowledge, but hunting is a traditional pastime that displays individual strength, cunning, and prowess. Hunters use bows, dipping arrows in a lethal toxin taken from the secretions of a colorful species of frog native to the jungles of the region. The ruling monarch is known as the Cua (KWA), which is literally translated as the “perfect human”. Perfection, to the Ecuans, is judged by an individual’s strength, intelligence, wealth, and fame. While an individual’s position in Ecuan society is largely hereditary, most Ecuans have some opportunity to rise or fall entirely upon their own merits or flaws. The Cua presides over five councils, each corresponding to one of Ecua’s five citizen classes: the Council of Warriors, the Council of the Highborn, the Council of Scholars, the Council of Craftsmen, and the Council of Ecua. Slaves have no representation in government, but the other councils all serve to advise the Cua on matters relating to their individual areas of authority. Descending from the Cua, the Council of the Highborn is comprised of the nobility who possess great wealth and power. Each of the representatives of the five councils is elevated to this class, meaning that they have standing in two different classes. The Council of Warriors is comprised solely of active duty military and separated further into six additional castes based on military rank. Ecuan warriors wear headdresses and clothing made of animal skins, and carry obsidian daggers at all times. When going into battle, they wield clubs, spears, bows, and occasionally animal hide shields. Before battle, they often prepare themselves by chewing coca leaves or drinking the fermented juices of fruits and berries, elevating themselves to an almost berserk form of battle frenzy. The Council of Scholars is made up of Ecuan men and women who both preserve the culture’s history and esoterica. They spend much of their fortune funding expeditions to find new magical lore and knowledge. The Council of Craftsmen is made up of individuals who have some productive skill; potters, leatherworkers, woodcarvers, stone masons, and hunters all qualify for this class. Skill and wealth determines rank within the class. Gold, silver, copper, turquoise, emeralds, and similar resources are also common. The Council of Ecua are all those who are not of the higher classes. Many of the poor, criminals, and so forth are all a part of this class, as are peasant farmers. Below the Council of Ecua is a vast slave class. Slaves are not considered citizens, have no representation, and no chance of upward mobility. And yet, even slaves have ranks within their classes, the lowest of which are never permitted to remove their chains or bonds and cannot be left without escort or supervision. The highest, however, wear only a symbolic neck-band, sometimes even made of precious metals if their owners are of high status. All slaves in Ecua are foreigners, prisoners of war, criminals, or the children of slaves. The primary city in Ecua stretches over 12 kilometers of both banks of the Caucas River valley. Called Cauc (ka-WOK), the city itself is stratified based on social class, with the slave dormitories built of mud and thatch in the north and the massive stone mansion of the Cua in the south. Other Ecuan settlements — Gualilagua (gwa-li-LA-gwa), Oquayaquila (oh-gwa-ya-KEE-la), Ocatagua (oh-ka-TA-gwa), Sogamo (so-GA-moh), and Atarata (at-ar-AH-ta) — are instead all built on a spiral pattern, with the highest social ranks living in the center and the lowest at the outer end of

GEOGRAPHICA the spiral. Ecua is strong and stable, and has resisted the territorial advances of both the Quecha (KESHwa) and Nazca (NAZ-ka)for centuries. A permanent state of war exists between all three nations and has lasted long enough to become somewhat ritualized. However, the Council of Scholars has uncovered and decoded enough artifacts that it believes it is able to construct a hybrid OphidianAtlantean Vril pyramid. Construction of this wonder has already begun atop a ley-line convergence near Sogamo. Called Inkari (IN-ka-ray), the Cabal of Crystal Skulls meets at this site regularly to monitor the progress of the pyramid, which they claim will be done within the next few years.

Gualaguala

(gwa-la-GWA-la)

Similar to its sister island of Aconcagua, Gualaguala is the southernmost reach of Tamoanchan. Like Aconcagua, it is rugged and poor, but manages to be slightly less barren than its northern neighbor. A greater abundance of wildlife has enabled the Chono (SHO-no) tribesmen to gather into larger groups and establish more permanent dwellings. There is some minor agriculture centered on the village of Tagua (TA-gwa). A circular village of dome-shaped huts of bone and skin, Tagua is home to the high shaman of the Chono. Near the shaman’s house, which sits just outside the village, is a monolith dedicated to the New God Og enclosed in a circle of mastodon bones dedicated to the New Goddess Hawwa. It is said that within this circle, any shaman’s power increases dramatically. Called the Circle of Achacala (ash-ok-AH-la), it is here that the Chono continue worship of the New Gods through rituals and ceremonies. The high shaman reigns supreme at Achacala, though it said that other magic-s can sense the power of the shrine even from the seas nearby. The Chono say that only a shaman of the New Gods can fully grasp the power that courses through Achacala. All Chono shamans who have visit the site are distinctive, their faces unmarred by facial hair but painted with broad stripes of black, white, and grey.

A Magical Coup

A little more than two hundred years ago, a cabal of sorcerers from the east arrived in Ecua, bringing with them a collection of crystal skulls and bound servitor demons. Since that time, they gradually increased their hold and power in Ecua. Eventually they unlocked the power of the crystal skulls, which transformed the cabal. Now, the Cabal of Crystal Skulls appears as normal Ecuans, but with crystal flaming skulls for heads. It is said that these skulls are the focus of their power, and that the power from the skulls was so great that the magic burned their flesh away and transformed their bones into glass. The Cua lives in fear of the cabal but his people are filled with nationalistic pride by the innumerable successes and power the cabal have brought to the Ecuan military.

Huac

(HU-wok)

The peninsula of Huac is the northern extreme of Tamoanchan. It is a varied land containing harsh deserts, rugged mountains, narrow coastal plains, and a few dense jungles. The island of Tamawa (ta-MA-wa) is considered part of Huac as well. The region is wild and uninhabited, save for diverse and often dangerous fauna. Giant snakes, huge tarantulas, large lizards, enormous scorpions, and vultures are common to the deserts along with coyotes and other larger, solitary animals. In the mountains, ocelots, pumas, peccaries, jaguars, and bears all reside; the plains are home to deer, lynx, hare, and armadillo. The jungle wildlife is diverse and abundant, but insects — mosquitos, leeches, and giant-sized versions of each — are especially common. Though uninhabited now, Huac once ed a flourishing civilization that has long since vanished. Historical treatises in Atlantis indicate that this culture was dying out even as the first Atlanteans began to expand beyond the island of Atlantis. The only remnants of this lost civilization are the ruined cities and ceremonial complexes they left behind. Like Ulloa (oo-LOW-ah) in the far south, these silent and mysterious ruins are said to be haunted by strange beings and ancient magic, as well as holding treasures beyond all comprehension. No one knows the fate of the people of Huac, or even who — or what — they were. A few cities have been visited by scholars and treasure-hunters that have unearthed artifacts as well as some evidence regarding the lost culture. They were thought to have been giant humanoids, or at least human in form. They apparently loved beautiful things; sculptures intricately carved from gigantic emeralds, gold, jade, or other materials have all been found. The rose was a common subject, as were jaguars, serpents, and other animals. During their Golden Age, the Atlanteans attempted to settle Huac and had developed extensive plans for their colonization project using Aztlan as a jumping-off point. The region was to be divided into several districts, complete with coastal havens for trade routes, hemp farms, emerald mines, silver mines, and lead mines. Only a few settlements were ever started, however, due to the sudden decline in Atlantean power after the Cataclysm. The districts were named and those names

The Dark Rivers

Huac is riddled by a vast network of underground rivers that range from the mountains to the sea. Giant boreholes, made presumably by the preAtlantean civilization, the rivers to the surface. Early exploration by Atlanteans showed that the rivers were manmade tunnels and not natural. Perhaps the nowvanished culture was actually aquatic in origin?

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age still survive on older Atlantean maps of the area. The districts of Michuacan (mik-WOK-kan), Managua (man-AH-gwa), and Oaxaca (wax-OK-ah) were to be agricultural lands after the jungles were cleared. Tacuba (taKOO-ba), Tenango (te-NAN-go), and Sinaloa (sin-ah-LOW-ah) would have contained various mines for precious metals and stones. Ahuachapan (ah-WOK-ah-pan) and Ocalahuacan (ohk-ah-la-WOK-on) were named, but their purpose undetermined at the time. Ruins exist in most of the districts, but the most extensive ones were in Ahuachapan and Ocalahuacan. These ruins included great step-pyramids, large monoliths, and statues of great size. Long since abandoned to time, they are now all overgrown with vines and choked with creepers and other vegetation. This alone would make them hazardous to explore even ignoring the stories of evil creatures, terrible guardians, and ancient magical curses. The Isle of Tamawa sits between Huac and the southern reaches of the continent of Eria. It is a lonely island best known for a huge cliff of solid serpentine along its western coast, known as the Elysium Palisades. Atlantean explorers found and named it during their Golden Age, but before it could be exploited, internal disputes and problems in Huac led to the abandonment of attempts to develop the region. Most of the knowledge of the island is now buried in obscure books in a few scattered, private libraries. Tamawa’s landscape is mostly desolate and unattractive. Droughts are common, often followed by violent, wind-spread brushfires set off by lightning storms. Usually following the dry season there comes a period of heavy rainfall, bringing flash floods and mudslides. There is still abundant fauna on Tamawa, a fact that sometimes brings The high mountains in the hunters from neighboring lands by way of boats and canoes. Bear, deer, rabbit, Nazcan lands once ed puma, coyote, snakes, and vultures are all common along with less frequent specimens of scorpions, a small colony of Lemurians, or raccoons, skunks, hawks, goats, iguanas, peccaries, and rhea. so the historians tell us. I have traveled to Nazca only once and I saw little to recommend the place to my peers, save for ana the natives’ primitive use of Vril(ma-NA) collectors and ley lines. Situated near the mouth of the Sea of Acua, Mana is a dangerous land covered in tangled jungle Caerwyn Ironjaw, Lemurian and filled with a variety of dangerous creatures. Much of Mana’s flora is also deadly, including plants such as stranglevines, charmplants, and violet creepers. Many of these are found along the coast where the jungle is especially dense. Many dangerous demonic creatures are said to inhabit Mana; most are thought to have migrated across the northern border from Birama. Some of these beings are thought to be responsible for the unusual and dangerous flora. Giant lizards and dinosaurs are common in the jungles here. However, the Andamen of the region are thought to be more dangerous than the plants, the demons, or the giant lizards. The Andamen, primarily Balam, Anubim, and Nemeans, are organized into several tribes Tamawan Jade that roam the jungle lands hunting for food. They erect small temporary shelters to protect from Samples from the huge storms or to take care of the sick and infirm. Occasionally they raid neighboring lands for slaves, deposits of serpentine in sometimes even attacking in savage bloodlust for some perceived slight. They tend to be hostile Tamawan and the surrounding towards Atlanteans, the Biraman, Ahl-At-Rab, and Nethermen. areas were at one time However, they tend to be protective and friendly towards humans, particularly the scattered mistaken for jade. Many tribes of humans who live in the center of Mana around two ruined cities. These humans have merchants in times past lost no culture beyond a very basic hunter-gatherer society and seem to have no social organization fortunes funding expeditions to Tamawan, being closer to the beyond that of the simple family group. As they have little to no with outsiders, there Atlantean islands than other is nothing known about them and, based off of accidental encounters, it is thought that they sources in distant Jambu, in have no tradition, no religion, and little in the way of native language. The two ruined cities that order to retrieve stone from the humans tend to roam between are known to scholars as Tamistitan (tam-ih-STEE-tan) and Eria and Tamoanchan. Achamaho (ahk-a-MA-ho). They are relatively famous amongst historians and adventurers. Large While similar to jade, and imposing, they were rival city-states controlled by the Ophidians and Lemurians more than a serpentine was highly prized millennium ago. Due to the ferocity of the Andamen tribes that now live in Mana, neither city has by the Ophidians, one of the been successfully explored. reasons they coveted these

M

lands in ages past.

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Nazca

GEOGRAPHICA

(NAZ-ka)

One of the most powerful nations in Tamoanchan, the Nazcan lands are extremely mountainous. The chief fertile lands of the region are concentrated in five, low-lying river valleys near the center of the region. In these valleys, the rivers flow year round as opposed to other streams in the mountains that are seasonal, prone to flash floods in the spring and drought in the fall. Besides the Five Valleys, there are also fog oases, or “lomas” (LOW-mas). Lomas are formed when ocean fogs roll into the valleys during the winter, producing rainfall and filling underground pools and streams. As a result, abundant vegetation forms in pockets of an otherwise barren region. Animals flock to these lomas, but outside the conditions are harsh. The land of the Nazca takes its name from a single tribe from the Five Valleys region. Also known as the Falcon People, this tribe subjugated the other tribes of the region into a single nation. Power struggles with Ecua, Quechua, and Paragua have hemmed the Nazca in, while a need for more and more workable land to feed a growing population has pushed Nazca hopes of expansion and conquest. The Falcon People are human, and take their name from their ancestors’ worship of the falcon as a totem deity. of the Nazca distinguish themselves by elaborate facial tattoos resembling falcons, and by wearing falcon-feather capes. They use domesticated falcons for both hunting and in warfare. Falcon motifs decorate homes, pottery, clothing, and jewelry. The Nazcan capital is the city of Cahuachi (ka-HWASH-ee) in the Valley of the Falcon, a fertile fork of land nestled between the Ica (EYE-ka) and Nazca Rivers. Other major cities — Ica, Caango (kay-AN-go), Kotozh (KO-tozsh), Pachacamac (pa-SHAK-ah-mak), Tambo (TAM-bo), and Teote (tay-OH-tee) — are in the same general area of the river valleys. Protected from outside influence by the narrow and easily defended es through the rugged mountains, the Nazca rely on the valleys and lomas for hunting, agriculture, and the herding of domesticated llamas, alpacas, and vicunas. The mountains in the Nazca-controlled lands provide mineral resources that make Nazca one of the richest realms in Tamoanchan. Large deposits of iron as well as zinc, copper, gold, silver, tin, and platinum are all to be found, and there are even small quantities of quicksilver near the Valley of the Falcon. Because of this, the Atlanteans once conquered these lands during their Golden Age. Later, the Hesperian Amazons made overtures of alliance before their own internal civil war demanded attention back in Gondwana. From both of these empires, the Nazca learned a great deal. Many of the local Tamoanchan tribes reverted to their own cultural ways once foreign domination, be it Ophidian, Lemurian, Atlantean, or even Hesperian, abandoned them. The Nazca used the lessons learned from these other empires, both past and present, and folded them into their own cultural mores and goals. Their fierce and well-disciplined warriors overran any local opposition, conquered lands are ruled by Nazca garrisons, similar to the Hesperians, and tribute is frequently demanded from surrounding lands. All Nazcans, whether by birth or by marriage, are automatically of the upper class. Conquered peoples and foreigners can only assume status by marriage to a Nazcan. All Nazcans, even those elevated by marriage, receive the ritual facial tattoo and earn the right to wear a falcon-feather cloak made by the Nazcan’s new family. Each Nazcan must serve at least a year in military service, after which they are accorded societal rank. After their year of service, Nazcans may leave or re as often as they desire. Since one’s military rank determines social ranking, there is a powerful inducement to serve for prolonged periods of time or during times of conquest. Wealth is distributed according to military and social rank. Those of no rank, be they conquered tribes, slaves, or Nazcans who lose status, only receive as much as they need to live a simple life. The upper class, however, receives wealth and luxury according to rank and many choose to intermarry with the subject tribes or from the lower classes. Nazcan warriors are well trained, skilled in wood lore, tracking, and covert fighting techniques, as well as the handling of falcons. The Nazcan military uses specialized units to scout both their own borders as well as spying on neighboring lands. Armor is frequently disdained by the Nazcans, who prefer to enter battle in capes and hoods of falcon-feathers so as to better display their prominent tattoos. Obsidian, bone, bronze, and iron are all used in Nazcan weapons, with some weapons even displaying inlays of gold. Clubs, staves, daggers and short swords, spears, slings, and short bows are all common amongst the Nazcan military. The Nazcan religion once centered on the worship of the falcon, but now it is little more than a national symbol, though there are still some Nazcan shamans who follow the falcon as a totem. Many of the Nazca and their classless subject tribes worship the New God, Hawwa. Some worship of the sun and moon are found in scattered places, but often the image of the Nazca falcon is incorporated into other religious symbols. Only necromancy is strictly outlawed and is greatly feared. Nazcan burial rituals call for family to be interred side by side and personal possessions are often buried with the body. Care is taken to guard the bodies against theft.

The Nazca Pyramids and Falcon-lines

Built by the Atlanteans during their reign, but restored, maintained, and copied by the Nazca in the centuries since, the Nazcan pyramids are focal points for political and military rallies and rituals as well as being places of congregation for Nazcans. They are a prominent part of social life in all of the Nazcan cities. Perhaps the most stunning achievement of the Nazca is the presence of their giant line symbols on the Nazca Plain and upon various mountain sides. Begun as an experimentation in manipulating ley lines in a manner similar to the Lemurians, combined with half-ed examples of Atlantean sorcery and runic magic, each of the huge designs was intended for a separate purpose, from the great Tree of Life overlooking the Bay of Paracas (PA-racas) meant to promote fertility and agriculture to the giant falcon rune on the Nazca Plain designed to provide magical to the Nazcan realm. For the most part, these giant designs interact with the local Vril, funneling power towards the Five Valleys area. Some, however, direct energy to lomas in the mountains, leading some to believe that there are either secret projects or hidden storehouses of power there. Other sets of the designs seem to twist the local Vril and store it in small pools on the Nazca Plain where it eddies out in small pulses. Local Nazcan sorcerers have developed ways to use these pulses to launch themselves into the air, to better emulate the falcon and to observe the patterns below.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Ogalapago

Fear of Death

For a people as enamored with the ions and glory of war, the Nazcan ritualization of the dead and funeral rites may seem extreme to outsiders. However, in the past, the Nazca tribe dealt with multiple invasions of undead things coming over the mountains from the east. As such, there is a deeply held fear of dead bodies prevalent in Nazcan culture as well as a respect for the slain.

(OH-ga-la-pa-GO)

The island of Ogalapago is primarily notable for its active volcanoes, thick jungles around its coast, and the variety of unusual animal specimens that live there. Prominent among these are giant tortoises, strangely colored birds, and bizarre examples of insects. The sea nomads of Munark (MU-nark) occasionally venture this far and will rest and resupply here, and the Nazcans have journeyed here on rare occasion in the past. Tritons find the island unusually unsettling, though the Makara are not particularly present in any large numbers. For the most part, the islands are uninhabited apart from the rare visitor.

Oguanabara

(oh-gwa-na-BAR-ah)

Shrunken Heads

The shrunken heads do in fact have powers of protection and are highly prized. The heads ward against magics, giving the added resistance to various forms of magic. Against the Dark Arts the heads give the a +4 bonus to any applicable resistance rolls; versus Shamanism and Witchcraft the bonus is +2; and finally versus Atlanteanstyle Sorcery the bonus is +1. The head may give this bonus a number of times before it becomes useless and the soul inside is burned out, depending on the Renown of the beheaded person; a Renown of 1–50 has one use, 51–100 two uses, and 100+ four uses.

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A jungle-covered peninsula forming the northern limit of the Acuan Sea, the region of Oguanabara is largely uninhabited. A small tribe of humans known as the Abara (ah-BAR-ah), a tall and dark-skinned race thought to be related to the distant Nazca, live here. Feared for their hostile demeanor and grisly practices, the Abara give the Oguanabara a disquieting reputation. The Abara who range far and wide throughout the region hunting for food are also known to be head-hunters. Any other humans that they encounter are slain without hesitation, their heads taken and subjected to a gruesome process. Captured heads have their eyes and lips sewn shut to prevent the victim’s spirit from escaping, the skull is removed, and the remainder filled with herbs and hot sand. This procedure serves to shrink the head, after which it is hung by the hair and worn as a mark of proficiency in battle. The more heads a warrior possesses, the greater his or her reputation amongst the tribe. Abara shrunken heads are often sought after by traders where they bring a high price as curios in foreign lands, valued and used as fetishes by necromancers and other practitioners of the Dark Arts. The Abara are hesitant to kill Andamen, believing them to be bred from demons. As a result, some Andamen tribes from neighboring regions often come to trade live human victims to the Abara in exchange for Abaran shrunken heads. Those heads are then sold to traders and wind up in such faroff places as Tartessos, Khemit, and Sheba.

Paragua

(pa-RA-gwa)

Mountainous in the west and descending to thick jungles in the east, Paragua is a land virtually untouched for centuries. The Tumucumaaye (tu-muk-oo-MA-ya) Mountains play host to a variety of demonic creatures, and the caves and depths below them are home to such things as carnivorous fungi and other fearful things. Many of the neighboring tribes fear this area, though rumors of lost treasures left behind by cults of Ba’al since the time of Ophidians frequently draw adventurers and explorers to the area. In the tiered canopies of the tropical jungle, however, the real masters of Paragua are the Lemurians. A tribe of Lemurians known as the Uakari (wah-KAH-ree) lives in the treetops. The warriors of this clan shave their heads, and then dye the skin red and black in fearsome visages. Believing that the Great Plague was engineered by the Anunnaki, the Uakari retreated higher and higher above the forest floor. They have adopted a fierce isolationist culture, but rarely do they attack interlopers in their lands immediately. Instead they track the intruders from above, seldom appearing, but tormenting their prey with eerie cries, disturbed sleep, and ambush assaults. There are a few of the Uakari who are not Lemurians — a few humans and Andamen who have been taken in by the tribe over the years — but they too must forsake life on the ground for the safety of the trees.

Quechua

GEOGRAPHICA

(KESH-wa)

Like Nazca to the south, Quechua is an advanced and fairly civilized realm. The land here is rugged and mountainous in the interior whereas the coastal lowlands are fertile and mostly covered with thick jungle. The region is home to a tall, bronze-skinned group of humans and Ahl-At-Rab known as the Quechua. The Quechua claim social and spiritual descent from the Annunaki who ruled much of Tamoanchan in past millennia. The Ahl-At-Rab, largely abandoned by their masters, forged an alliance with a tribe of humans in order to survive and to have numerical superiority over nearby enemies. Over time, these two cultures have merged together until there is little resemblance to the ancient ways of either people. Religion dominates all aspects of Quechuan life. The high priests rule over a religious-military state where the minorities are oppressed for the benefit of the ruling majority. There are three social classes with the priests being the highest class, the warrior-priests coming after, and the low or common class making up the bulk at the bottom. All Quechuan citizens upon reaching puberty are given a series of tests. Those who all of them may become priests, those who only some of them become warrior-priests, and those who do not succeed at any of them become commoners. The priests rule the nation completely. All of them shave themselves bald and have a large red triangle tattooed upon the bridge of their noses. As their rank increases, the size of the triangle is increased as well. Some of the highest ranking priests have then entire top of their heads covered. This triangle represents the three gods of the Quechuan as well as each of the pillars of society. The warrior-priests are responsible for carrying out the will of the priests, enforcing laws, defending the land from foreign dominance, and expanding Quechuan territory for the glory of their gods. Many of them, human and Ahl-At-Rab, paint their faces with colored pigments and wield obsidian-lined clubs. The commoners are the most numerous, and have complex and intricate subdivisions that are indications of popularity and respect. However, only the commoners truly pay any attention to these subclass divisions. The upper classes only pay attention to the commoners when laws are broken. In such cases, sentences are harsh and swift, with enslavement being the most common followed by death by religious sacrifice. There are many tribes in the Quechuan region who are bound to the Quechua. Food and furs are demanded as tribute from these tribes and the Quechuan religious and social control over them is complete. Expansion into Ecua and Nazca has halted in recent decades and expeditions into the jungles of Paragua often fail to return. A trade settlement called Ayamagua (EYE-ah-MA-gwa) sits on the coast of the Sea of Acua. Primarily a link with Taracua, Birama, and other Ophidian-friendly ports, most of the trade here involves the import of iron and gold. Quechua mines produce copper, silver, lead, and tin; the acquisition of iron drives much of foreign policy of the nation. Though commoners craft tools and utensils from bone, pottery, reeds, skin, stone, and some metal, they are not allowed to own metal goods. Quechuan architecture tends towards the immense and impressive. Ceremonial centers dominate the landscape, built from sun-dried brick, carved into solid stone, or built of huge quarried rocks. Many of these are covered in overlays of polished metal; gold, silver, copper, and tin all gleam brilliantly from the walls, columns, and stylized statues. Palaces, shrines, barracks, fortifications, treasuries, and large warehouse-markets, each controlled by of the upper classes, are common sights. Commoners, however, are not allowed to build with stone or brick, and must live in such homes as they can construct from branch and skin and logs. A small floating village of reeds bobs at the edge of Lake Titicaca (TIT-ee-ka-ka) and cliff-dwellings carved into the mountainsides are unique ways that inventive commoners have worked around the law. Quechuan religion is based on the worship of three powerful deities. Though there are scores of lesser godlings worshiped by the commoners, the priests acknowledge three of them above all others. Ekkeko (ECK-eck-oh) is a god of the hearth and wealth. The Quechua make dolls that represent him, sometimes placing a small miniature of something they desire inside the doll. This is believed to represent an offering that will cause the to receive what he or she desires. Kukamama (KOO-ka-ma-ma) is a goddess of health and joy. Her origin stories paint her as a promiscuous woman who was cut in half by her many lovers. From her body grew the first coca plant. The leaves of this plant are used by the priests to make narcotics that are used regularly amongst the Quechua and sometimes sold in foreign lands.

The Uakari

The Uakari might appear barbaric but they, like all Lemurians, are masters of Vril technology. The tribe channels Vril to enhance the strength and height of the trees here, while they breed particular types to have few low-lying branches to make climbing them almost impossible.

Quechuan Politeness

To the Quechuan, rudeness is a sign of weakness. When one has power and dominance over another, it is demonstrated through utmost politeness and civility. This occasionally leads to confusion for foreign visitors in Quechua who see the lower classes acting rude and brash to their superiors who in turn behave with measured and careful politeness in return.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age

The Return of the God

In the ancient myths of TiciViracocha ed down through the Ahl-At-Rab, the bearded god leaves Tamoanchan by walking away over the waters of the Elysium Ocean, though the myths claim that one day he would return. And so he has. A great feathered and bearded serpent has taken up residence in one of the Quechuan worship centers. Calling itself a variety of names including Quetzacohuatl (ket-TZA-ko-ah-tul), ConTici (KAHN-TEE-kee), and Viracocha (WEE-ra-KO-cha), the creature has established itself as dominant over a faction of ruling priests who now worship it as their god incarnated. The feathered serpent encourages this worship and is pushing the priests to expand their rule and the dominion of the Quechuan.

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The primary deity of the Quechua is Tici-Viracocha (TEE-kee-WEE-ra-KO-cha), a ravenous god of the sun and fire. Commonly represented with a moon, sun, or bearded and feathered serpent designs, he demands sacrifices frequently — not of captives or foreigners, but of his own worshippers. To fulfill these sacrifices, appease Tici-Virachoca, and win his continued for the Quechua, the priests have instituted a national lottery. All of the common class are automatically subject to the lottery, whereas only volunteers are taken from among the upper two classes. Those chosen by the lottery are sacrificed to Tici-Viracocha on the next holy day. The number of lotteries in a year and the number of victims chosen varies, but the average is six lotteries a year and a total of thirty-six victims during that span. There are a few small splinter cults within Quechua. These radical and devout factions within the upper classes are weak in of power and hip, but they do know a variety of secret arcane arts. One such cult is said to employ a technique similar to the Abara one for shrinking heads, but that Quechuan cult does it to entire bodies, animating the withered corpse for use as a spy or a familiar.

Taracua

(tar-ah-KOO-ah)

A low-lying and jungle-dominated region on the eastern shore of Tamoanchan, Taracua is the most civilized region of eastern Tamoanchan inhabited by a metalworking, city-based culture that is open to outsiders and engages in regular trade with the outside world. Though other civilizations in Tamoanchan have been influenced by past empires and developed superior military might or sheer architectural scope, Taracua has best preserved its own ideals and philosophies, creating a society of great vigor. Three cities are present on the coast of the Atlantean Ocean and nearly all of Taracua’s population lives in these settled areas. The largest of these is the capital, Vaca (WA-ka); the other two are Buranhaem (BUR-an-hem) and Iberahem (EYE-beer-ah-hem). Merchants from Atlantis and Gondwanan ports visit these cities from time to time, and in turn, on rare occasions, the Taracuans sail eastward in search of trade or on pilgrimages, quests, and so forth. A fourth city, which is more of a port and mining village, called Sarahem (SAR-ah-hem) sits on the Acuan coast and conducts sporadic trade with Quechua. Blessed with fertile land, the Taracuans grow manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkins, coffee, coca, tobacco, and legumes. Hunters bring in tapir, peccary, monkeys, birds, and turtles to sell as food or to animal trainers. Mines bring in raw ore, and the craftsmen of the cities do a brisk trade with both finished goods and ingots of raw metal. Taracua maintains a standing army comprised of both men and women. Many of these forces are arrayed along the borders with Birama and Mana to protect the Taracuans as well as its farmers and huntsmen. Soldiers are also assigned to protect the Taracuan cities, farms, and ships. The nation is ruled by a king and queen who are only occasionally bound by ties of marriage. The two monarchs rule tly, and remain on the throne for life, or until voluntary or forced abdication. New monarchs are chosen by the other elite of Taracua — the Council of Sages and the Council of Landowners. The sages are made up of esteemed astrologers and wise men, and the landowners are formed from the plantation owners, military officers, merchants, and other wealthy citizens. Each of these councils has one vote each and thus must reach some consensus amongst their own ranks, whereas each of the monarchs has two votes a piece. For laws and other measures of national import, four of the six votes must agree. Taracuans love color and artistry. Buildings as well as large stones are covered in brightly colored murals, ranging from surrealistic and geometric shapes to realistic depictions of animals or forest scenes. Body painting is also common, as clothing in this hot, wet land is usually minimal. Tattooing is less commonly practiced, for the Taracuans prefer to change their bodily designs as often as foreigners change their clothing; however, only the very rich can afford the time every day to indulge in extensive body decoration. The love of art in Taracuan culture is elevated with all that they produce. Fine sculptors, they have developed useful pottery sculpture that is an art form with the results being both useful as well as pleasing to the eye. These works, as well as jewelry and metalwork, are valued by foreign merchants and bring up to ten times the standard worth in far-off places such as Tartessos, Atlantis, or Khemit.

The City of Vaca

GEOGRAPHICA

(VAH-KUH) The coastal capital of Vaca is built upon the ruins of an ancient Atlantean port. Though most of the city’s buildings are made of adobe and palm thatch, the most important structures are built of massive stone blocks, many in imitation of the old Atlantean style and some being actual Golden Age structures. Vaca has few individual shops, preferring instead a large public marketplace where hundreds of vendors sell their wares. As a result, prices can fluctuate greatly from day to day or from vendor to vendor. In order to keep the peace, a state-appointed adjudicator sits under a special awning of woven mats to preside over each day’s marketplace. The regents of Taracua reside in Vaca along with many high priests, astrologers, and military elite. A large military contingent led by Taracua’s seven female war-chieftains lead divisions of the city guards. The city is well-patrolled, and criminals are treated harshly. The punishment for theft is slavery; the perpetrator’s face is marked with identifying tattoos or scars. A second offense usually means death. Murder, regardless of intent or circumstance, and adultery are punishable by execution. In all cases, the accused is allowed but a single chance to argue his or her case, after which swift judgment is ed.

Ulloa

The Ghosts of Vaca

For all its civilization and modernity, Vaca is also haunted by strange specters. These shades wail during the dark hours of the night. The sound is both alarming and distressing. Though the wealthy can shut some of this noise out behind their stone walls, the common people are frequently disturbed by the cries. The Taracuans are hesitant to bring in necromancers, especially after numerous schemes and ploys by their enemies over the years. So, many of them prefer to suffer when the cries begin in the dark hours rather than eliminate them.

(oo-LOW-ah)

The inhospitable and mysterious land of Ulloa consists of a long peninsula jutting southwards between the Atlantean Ocean and the great Stygian Sea. Harsh and barren, the land descends from high mountains in the north through tracts of jungle to rocky promontories overlooking the seas. According to ancient Atlantean texts, however, this was not always the case. Ulloa was once home to a thriving civilization with many mountain cities. A series of religious civil wars spurred on by the rise of cults, perhaps spurred on by the Sons of Ba’al, caused the Ulloans to battle one another ruthlessly, turning ever inward as their nation fragmented. Seeking rich copper deposits mentioned by Lemurian stone-talkers and Ahl-At-Rab historians, the Atlanteans once sought to conquer this distant land. The splintered Ulloan civilizations were unable to offer up effective resistance against the invaders and city after city fell. The siege of the final city, Yamquisapa (YAM-kwi-ZAP-ah), is a subject of myth, legend, and song in both Tamoanchan and Atlantean sources. While the facts are disputed, it is known that a powerful shamaness and priestess of the New Gods sought to call upon their power to defeat the Atlanteans. When what has been described by foreign sources as an elaborate, dark ritual reached its climax, the New Gods did indeed intervene. The fabric of the world was weakened around Yamquisapa and fell creatures found their way through. The Atlanteans were daunted by this, turned back, and though they accepted the surrender of the terrified inhabitants and soldiers, they never entered the city to either plunder or occupy it. The ruins are said to lie there still, closed up, feared, and abandoned. In the wake of the Atlantean conquest, however, the entire Ulloan population later rebelled, following a shaman leader who promised a prophesized salvation atop Mount Achane (ah-KA-nee). Groups slipped away into the wilderness by the score, making their way to the sacred mountain and climbing to the summit. There, they found a mysterious Golden Door that legend says revealed a age to a strange and fabulous subterranean world. Eventually, the Atlanteans found themselves masters of a depopulated land. No one knows the true fate of the Ulloans, but some scholars believe that the myths of the Ulloan disappearance are evidence that there are vast caves under the Tamoanchan southern mountains. Soon after the Ulloans vanished, the Atlanteans, too, departed, carrying off the plunder of the region. These days, most of Ulloa is a bleak place, haunted by memories of terror and mystery and home to giant reptiles and dinosaurs.

The Makara do more than visit Acua; they are digging deep channels under the water across the Tirakamba island chain. The channels are getting deeper every year and if they aren’t careful they’ll tap into the lava flows. Thalmia, Triton Sorceress

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age The Acuan Sea (ah-KOO-an) The Sea of Acua nearly splits the eastern portion of Tamoanchan in half. A warm, tropical body of water, it is frequented by the Makara making it extremely difficult for travelers and limiting sea trade to vessels that hug the safety of the coast. One major set of islands sits in the wide, flaring entrance of the sea through the Mana Sound. These islands, known as Tirakamba (teer-ah-KOMba), are mostly uninhabited.

The Isles Of Tirakamba (teer-ah-KOM-ba)

Dozens of small islets form a barrier of sorts between the Atlantean Ocean and the Acuan Sea. Most are small, home to little more than scattered vegetation and small animals. The largest of these islands, Inigre (ee-NEE-gra), is home to an isolated human culture. Inigre is surrounded by megalithic walls of precisely hewn stone. Built in some ancient time by an unknown but obviously advanced culture, these walls augment the island’s natural stone cliffs to present a continuous barrier against the outside world. The native Inigreans call this barrier the “Wall of the World”. Explorers have “discovered” Inigre repeatedly over the ages, but no record exists of any ever having penetrated the outer wall. What is known of the Inigreans is ed down via traditions in Taracua. The Taracuans claim to have received visitors from Inigre centuries ago; those stories paint the Inigreans as isolationists with only scant knowledge of a wider world and little desire to learn more. Inigrean legends, the Taracuans say, seemed to have been based solely on with the savages of Birama, Awok, and Oguanbara, leaving the private island people with little trust or hope for the wider, outside world. The Taracuans say that at the center of Inigre there is a great, colossal stone megalith of the same type of workmanship as the island’s walls. The Inigreans know nothing of its origins, but visit it on their holy days, laying garlands of flowers at its base before departing. The Inigreans refused to discuss further details of their religion with their hosts, however, so the significance of this is unknown. The Inigreans who visited Taracua were familiar with mining and metalworking techniques. Gold, copper, and precious stones are apparently common enough on Inigre that they disdained examples of such in the Taracuan marketplace.

The Ocaraba Sea (oh-ca-RA-ba)

The deep waters of the Ocaraba Sea north of Tamoanchan include the neighboring waters of the Gulf of Tamara (ta-MA-ra), the Gulf of Tacuba (ta-COO-ba), the Gulf of Tamagostad (tama-GOST-ahd), and the Maka Lagoon. Freshwater springs and mountain runoff, the swamps of Aricaqua and Awok all mingle with the saltwater of the Atlantean to form the largest lagoon on earth. The Makara sea-devils find this area intoxicating: the fresh water is something of a narcotic to them, and the low salinity is stimulating. As a result, the Makara are common throughout the Ocaraba and their presence prevents the peoples of Eria from crossing the Tamarac Sea to reach Tamoanchan. Much of the sea is clear and warm. Seaweed, tropical fish, and many species of eel are abundant throughout the region.

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The Nether Realms

GEOGRAPHICA

Far to the south, at what some say is the edge of the world, rests the mysterious region known as the Nether Realms. Bordered by the Stygian and Forgotten Seas, the Nether Realms are largely shunned by sailors throughout the known world. Tales of this strange land abound in both legend and in primitive folklore. The peoples of southern Tamoanchan call this place the Land of the Dead. Here, or so they claim, the spirits of evil men and women are doomed to wander forever as punishment for their earthly sins. They describe the area as being burning hot by day and freezing cold by night. The air is said to be choked with clouds of burning dust that, carried upon the wind, hover over all like freezing specters. The Elysium islanders also have legends of this region, calling it the place from which all dragons hail. According to one such series of stories, dragons are born of fire and emerge from the depths of volcanoes that form the center of the Nether Realm. From there, the mighty serpents bring forth the riches from deep within the earth to spread them far and wide. In these tales, an island warrior travels to these forbidden lands to steal the treasures of the dragons only to be captured and devoured alive for his foolishness. Many such tales exist, and the shallows along the coasts of the region are littered with scores upon scores of shipwrecks from all nations and times. Some of these are from explorers who sought the ancient land of dragons; others are washed here by the seas, thrown up by the oceans to rot beneath the skies. According to ancient Anunnaki texts, there exists somewhere in the Nether Realm an ancient necropolis. Built upon an ancient sacred site in the base of a long-dead volcano, the site of Ningen (NING-in) was used from the earliest times as the place where Anunnaki heroes were interred. Later, prominent slaves of all races were buried there as well, sometimes even bricked up alive with their former masters. Some sailors have claimed to see what they describe as the shape of several pyramids rising in the vicinity where Ningen is rumored to be, but much of the time clouds of fog, ash, or mist hide the place from view. The howling and frigid ghosts of both Naga and men, however, have been seen upon the shores of the Nether Realm, either beckoning or warning off ships depending on the tale. Many more such tales exist, all perhaps of questionable value to the experienced seaman or navigator. Of more practical consideration may be the voluminous tome entitled, THE LOG OF THE MARINER (author unknown), reputedly discovered long ago in the hold of a half-sunken Sheban trading vessel. Though rife with gross overstatements and absurd postulations, the book is uncannily precise in certain aspects, and so is presented here in excerpted form.

The Demi-State of IX

The Demi-State of IX is an accursed place situated in the Nether Realm, south of the island of Taenerus. IX was once, perhaps, a kingdom. Certainly, it existed prior to the expansion of the Annunaki who came to the Nether Realm later to inter their dead. When the Annunaki came, they found the ruins and above them raised a great fortress at the chaotic junction of several mountain ranges. This fortress sits above a nexus of ley lines and Vril energy that resonates throughout the area creating overlapping waves of power that thin the barriers between the world, the underworld, and the spirit realm. A powerful demon, rumored to be the first Jinn turned by Ba’al, now rules in the fortress of IX. He presides over a court of sorts made up of other ancient demons. Due to the factious and impetuous nature of demons, the exact numbers and make-up of the Court of IX changes constantly. Over the centuries the innumerable ruses and chaotic half-formed plans of scores of demons have littered the mountain ranges around IX with populations of monsters and creatures from around the globe. These monsters have bred amongst themselves, been mutated by the strange energies from the Castle of IX, and been corrupted by the power of Ba’al. Each of the mountain ranges that stretch away from the Castle of IX are now claimed by the various descendants of those beasts brought here long ago which remain near the castle to bask in the strange energies that flow from beneath its stones. The restless spirits, nightmares of the Elder Gods, and presence of Demons traveling to and from the Castle make this region dangerously inhospitable. The wrath and power of the ancient prisoned within the Castle’s walls make any attempt to reach the strangely glowing walls of the fortress of IX itself a fate worse than death.

Contributed by John Rudd

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age “Thousands of kilometers had we traveled, through hazards beyond mortal endurance, when at last we approached within sight of our fearful goal: the terrible place known as The Nether Realm. From our distant vantage point we could make out what appeared to be the bluish outlines of a vast and mountainous region, stretching east and west as far as the eye could see.” “Ignoring the superstitious lamentations of our crew, I bade the helmsman to approach. As we did so the landscape ahead of us began more and more to resemble the icy peaks of Jotunheim, of which I have written elsewhere in this work. The air, however, was uncannily warm, and seemed in conflict with the landscape which lay ahead of us.” “Approaching to within a kilometer or so of the shore, we detected the presence of what appeared to be a series of inlets or channels, leading inland. The closer we came, the more numerous did these waterways appear to be. On my command, the helmsman made for one of the wider channels, which measured perhaps four hundred meters across. This action brought forth the most profound wailing from the crew, who began at once to invoke the name of every beneficent deity known to man.” “Even so, we continued on. Entering the channel, those few of us who had not prostrated ourselves upon the deck now marveled at the mountains of ice which loomed ominously to either side of our vessel. Through the twisting inlet we sailed, until, of a sudden, we came upon an intersection of sorts. Here three other rivulets converged upon the main channel at odd angles. Choosing the age most consistent with our previous course, we proceeded further ahead. In short time we came upon another intersection, followed in succession by other, ading waterways.” “Upon meeting with this selfsame occurrence at every turn, the true configuration of the land began to become apparent. Rather than being a solid mass, the region instead seems to consist of numerous islands of ice, connected by a labyrinthine network of natural canals. The size of these ‘islands’ varies considerably, though the smallest might well be compared to a medium-sized mountain.” “As for the flora and fauna, to be frank, I have seen nothing to indicate that the region s either plant or animal life of any sort. Certain suggestive incidents — strange sounds being borne on the winds, mysterious ripples breaking the surface of the water, and so on — have been reported by of the crew, but further investigation seems out of the question, at least for the moment. My suggestion that we put ashore and explore one of the icy ‘islands’ was met with a mutinous verbal assault upon my person, of such intensity that I had to seek refuge in my cabin. Were it not a certainty that the men ire and respect me, I might have cause to fear some physical harm as well.”

The Isle Of Dread

Situated in the southern Atlantean Ocean is a large, irregularly shaped island created around a chain of volcanoes that spew ash and lava on a regular basis. On the isle itself, ash accumulates in drifts up to eight meters deep and the waters surrounding it are murky grey with the debris. Where ash does not accumulate, lakes and rivers of lava make travel nearly impossible. Most beings cannot survive here long without some sort of magical aid or blessings from the gods. No sailors willingly set food on the Isle of Dread, but the legendary horrors of the island are recounted again and again with relish in many taverns and waterfront inns even in modern days. The island, or so it is said, was discovered by the Atlanteans late during their Golden Age when those people were seized by decadence and corruption. Beneath the ash and amongst the steaming and smoking lava pools, the stories say, laid innumerable gems of incredible size and beauty. Among these were the rare black diamonds. Those stories and legends say that an explorer came to this isle, though they differ on whether it was a cunning thief, a powerful mage, a pious priest, or a hardened slayer. This brave soul came with a workforce of creatures able to survive the harshness of the island; the stories conflict on whether this force consisted of undead or demons or clockwork creations. These inhuman servants were set to toiling, burrowing into the island to dredge up the valuables buried beneath. The explorer’s greed was to be his undoing for he perished in a volcanic eruption. His servants however survived, some say, and still toil beneath the Isle of Dread to this day.

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GEOGRAPHICA NAMES Aconcagua, Aigua, Birama, Gualaguala, Mana, Ogalapago, Oguanabara, Paragua, Taracua Male

Female

Achuchi

Boro

Ake

Enawene Nawe

Awe

Kaba

Iawi

Kachiri

Jabuti

Mandu

Maoira

Matcha

Mapi

Nakwatcha

Moie

Pankararu

Pacon

Potichauna

Qircamo

Pucu

Quando

Samampo

Rapau

Tatuie

Tari

Tuia

Trumak

Wapixana

Uluiru

Wauja

NAMES

NAMES

Aricagua, Awok, Huac

Ecua, Nazca, Quechua, Ulloa

Male

Female

Male

Female

Ah Kinchil

Akhushtal

Acahuana

Anahuarque

Ah Puch

Chalchiuhtlicue

Apotequil

Axomamma

Ahmakiq

Eme

Ataguchu

Bachue

Chac

Ichika

Catequil

Caillaca

Ekahau

Inka

Coniraya

Chasca

Gukumatz

Ixtab

Epunamun

Copacati

Huehuetlotl

Izta

Guachimines

Huitaca

Ichik

Mahaway

Guamansuri

Cocha

Ikan

Nai

Huanca

Ilyapa

Iztali

Naylay

Inti

Quilla

Kisin

Nimah

Khuno

Nayra

Kukulcan

Noonsa

Maita

Pachama

Muluc

Oyama

Supay

Qullana

Ometecuhtli

Raxka

Thonapa

Urpihua-Chac

Yochi

Yudelle

Vichama

Zaramama

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age Tamaonchan Flora Falconbane On several of the interior mountains are small fields of small white and red flowers that most birds and birdlike creatures are sensitive to. The upright plant causes most avian variants of animals to fall into uncontrolled spasms, which in certain species can actually cause eventual injury and death. The aerial parts have been dried into a powder to use as a way to hunt birds, or get rid of feathered Andamen. Most other races believe the plant smells acrid and unpleasant, but have no symptoms from the plant. In fact, the root is often included in stews and meat dishes among the local tribes. Effect: Can be used in an alchemical powder, DoD -12. Powder is toxic to birds and avian relatives; CON to resist, failure results in massive spasms resulting in -3 to SPD and -5 to rolls involving movement like Athletics or combat rolls. Seapods Seapods are from palm-like trees that grow along the coastlines of this continent. The fruit drop when ripe throughout the year and roll down the beach toward the oceans. Most natives know that the fruit is sweet and capable of being eaten raw or cooked, and is particularly good for helping convalescents regain strength and healing weak limbs or constitutions. They are gathered and have a high market price—so long as the pod does not interact with saltwater. Once the Seapod rolls into the saltwater, the salt does something to the outer shell to make it receptive as a host for microscopic sea worms, which then feed on the healing inner core and grow to prodigious size. Inside the pods, they become dangerous writhing masses of half-meter long annelids with knife-like mouthpieces that burst forth from the seapod and attempt to burrow into nearby soil or flesh. Experienced buyers put an ear to the outside and listen for the sound of worm bodies moving against one another, which sounds like chirping. Effect: Uninfected pods can be turned into an alchemical elixir which restores 5 HP or restores vigor from illness. Infected Seapods result in an attack of d20 worms, each of which burrows 3 to 6 centimeters into flesh on expulsion. Each worm does DR 1, armor piercing. March Fungus The March Fungus grows where the jungles begin to climb into the foothills of the mountains. This bright orange fungus is deadly to the touch; the wet spores can enter the bloodstream and cause a type of waking death. The fungus causes the victim to walk and not stop until the victim dies of exhaustion, dehydration, or unfortunate accident, thus allowing the fungus to plant spores as far as possible. The victim will not purposely walk into a volcano or the ocean, but likely will not notice dangerous situations that risk life and limb. The fungus’ symptoms can be cured with a powerful antifungal. Effect: Victims can roll WIL against DoD -10 to resist walking, with another roll every hour. Success results in the victim having -4 SPD, but able to call for help. Deadly Oak The deadly oak is a tree deep in the jungles with a similar appearance in leaf and bark to standard oaks, but far more dangerous. The false oak’s aerial parts are highly irritating to the skin of most mammals, causing blisters and open sores on any exposed skin that can eat away to the bone if left untreated. The irony is that the fruit, which looks nothing like acorns and are therefore clues as to the tree’s true identity, are delicious, nourishing, and a cure for most skin irritations and injuries. The gel just inside the pod can cure the most horrific of burns or cuts, and the flesh around the pit makes an excellent dessert. Effect: Plant’s trunk and leaves cause DR 5 corrosive damage to skin; fruit can be turned into an alchemical paste that restores 5 HP.

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Toriten The legends say that the plant called Toriten was created by ancient gods so that they would have an easy way of communicating with their followers. Deep in the jungles, near some of the oldest ruins, there exists a ghostly white plant with long waving stamens that wave like tentacles. The entire flower looks like some bizarre sea creature trapped on land by a long stem. The plant must be dug up carefully to not damage any of its parts, exposing a blood-red taproot with black veining. The entire plant must be thrown in the fire of an enclosed space so the smoke cannot escape. After several minutes of inhalation, the imbiber will find out what the gods have in store for him. Effect: Smoke inhalation allows imbiber to walk in dreamlands of the gods to communicate with them. Grants a +20 to Sensory Scrying attempts of Animists and Witchcraft practitioners. When used in rituals, counts as level 7 AL sacrifice.

GEOGRAPHICA

241

ATLANTIS: The Second Age Tamoachan Location Adventure Seeds 1. The Forgetful Sages High in the hills are a group of ancient wise men, servants of a forgotten older god. For a small price, the sages can be given a bit of knowledge. They write these things on small wooden tablets of bark that are placed in a sacred cave whereupon knowledge of the secret fades entirely from the world for as long as the bark tablet remains in the dark of the cave. It is said that the only stone tablet in the cave contains the name of the god they worship as well as their own.

world. The creature possesses an intelligence that is completely alien to the world; its goals are obscure, but foul nonetheless. The Crocodile King seeks regeneration for its fallen race and seeks the perfect avatars for his people’s rebirth.

9. The Temple of Perfection Unbound Perched atop Ecua’s tallest mountain the Temple of Perfection Unbound is home to holy men who practice a strange form of internally focused magic. This cabal strives for perfection and are encouraged to take 2. The New House magic into themselves. The holy men accept 100 new acolytes every year, A disgraced Atlantean noble has erected a manor on the island and turning down hundreds more. Said to be able to work miracles or great and has been directing his few trusted servants to gather slaves from the native potent magics, the holy men of the temple are left alone by other nations for population. Despite the power of the New Gods and the Circle of Achacala, fear that they might turn their magics towards conquest. the Atlantean has been able to hold on to power and his manor. The cliffs under his manor are littered with the corpses of slaves who have disobeyed 10. The Followers of An’Toll or triggered something of the Atlantean’s paranoia. A century ago a crazed Lemurian called An’Toll claimed that he had a vision of a great race war where all the races would do battle until only one 3. The Dark Temple of Archillo remained. An’Toll believed that the Lemurians would lose this war unless Nearly buried by the encroaching jungle, there exists an ancient temple they prepared for it. The Lemurian gathered his closest allies and founded a in Tamoanchan where giant scorpions prowl the halls and guard prehistoric laboratory under a former Lemurian outpost in Ecua. Since then the cabal shrines. These giant scorpions seem to be intelligent as evidenced by the of scientists have produced hundreds of types of flora and fauna, all built to traps maintained in the temple. Some explorers even claim that the scorpions maim the other races. keep captive populations of spiders, snakes, and smaller scorpions that are trained to track and attack interlopers. 11. The Cave of Mirrors A large cave sits hidden in the deep jungles of Aricagua and is guarded 4. Blood Pirate Bay by a nameless tribe of savage Anubim. The cave is a temple carved from pure Along the coast of Tamoanchan there are any number of bays and inlets obsidian, hewn in the Atlantean style of architecture. Every surface in the where a ship might safely ride out a storm or put in to look for supplies. temple casts a prefect reflection of those inside. Deep in the temple it is said One such infamous anchorage is known as Blood Pirate Bay. An ancient there is a path to the underworld where the living may speak to the dead. Atlantean warship, beached and partially wrecked, forms what es for a small makeshift fortress-town. Sailors, pirates, and treasure-seekers are 12. The Mountain of Skulls known to stop off to sell off goods, find local maps, or beg for cures from In a hidden valley is a towering mound of skulls (human and otherwise), the innumerable local diseases and poisons. 30 meters wide at its base and rising 10 meters high. No one knows who constructed the mound and the locals shun the area as haunted and cursed. 5. The Stone Faces In the month of Wayeb it is said the skulls rise and fly forth looking for other Carved into the mountains overlooking the Stygian Sea are a series of heads to add to the mountain. faces that resemble everything from demons to elementals to each of the Root races. Behind some of these stone facades are reputed to be the ancient 13. The House of Gualichu tombs of the Ulloan civilization but many of them are now the nests of On a quiet and grassy plain sits a stone building of white limestone predatory creatures instead. stained red with the blood of many sacrifices. The 20 meter wide by 50 meter long building has a single low opening facing west, and inside can be 6. The Ship Graveyard seen hundreds of brass jugs sealed with red wax. It is said that the jars hold Ships are regularly found adrift off the coast of Aconcagua. The crews every wish and regret known to exist. The price of a blood sacrifice must be are invariably found to be mindless, shambling undead. Traveler’s tales paid to enter and open a jar. blame everything from Makara necromancers to a deadly mist that rises without warning from the shoreline. Occasionally a wreck will drift back out 14. The Mohan Expanse to sea or further down the coast. These ships are often cleared of the undead The Mohan Expanse is a twisted and gnarled 5 square kilometer area of and either burned or taken by pirates. petrified rainforest where nothing grows or lives. In the cursed area nothing can live for very long and nothing living can nourish itself while in the area; 7. The River of Life only the dead thrive here. At the center of the forest is a single 5 meter tall A river runs through the highlands of Aigua which occasionally bestows spike that is driven through a now-petrified giant. The giant wears around what the locals call “blessings” on those that drink from it, be they humanoid, its neck a locket with a single profound truth written inside. It is said the plant, or animal. These blessings come in the form of strange mutations that truth could save the world. may or may not be beneficial and can be ed down to descendants. The river’s source has never been located, mostly due to the monsters that appear 15. The Dome of the Yara with growing frequency the closer to the mountains one goes. At the center of a great river is a crystal dome that houses the Yara witches, a group of Triton sorceress. The Yara will help those in need and are 8. The Crocodile King willing to give advice to anyone seeking knowledge. In return for their help, While the Hoac and Pachamama war with each other and fight endless the Yara ask for a single precious memory that will be taken in a night of skirmishes, another power waits unseen in the darkest parts of the swamps. restless sleep under the dome. A mammoth creature of raw physical power, the Crocodile King is a thing left over from an earlier Age, a member of a race long since lost to the

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GEOGRAPHICA

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GEOGRAPHICA

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Based on the works of Stephan Michael Sechi, Vernie Taylor, and Ed Mortimer Written by

Thanks to the following

Doug Bramlett, Kieran Turley, and Jerry D. Grayson.

Doug Bramlett My wife for putting up with me, Jerry for the opportunity to write for Atlantis, SMS for his original work, and RPG.net for occasional inspiration.

Editing Jennifer Seiden Proof Reading Jeff Scifert Art Nate Marcel, Yoann Boissonnet, Nathan Rosario, Samuel Kambey, Andrew Ryan, Desi Conrad, Chris Swall, Renee Grayson, Jerry D. Grayson, Wouter Florusse Cover art by Andrew Ryan, Yoann Boissonnet. Layout and design by Jerry D. Grayson Logo Design & layout Jerry D. Grayson Contributions and Playtesting Jeff Scifert, Aakin Patel, Tony Robertson, Janet Nelson, Eric Durcan, Colin Chapman, Dave Thrush, Loretta Thrush, Craig Sisco, Gabriel Grayson, Reggie Sanders, Josh Johnson, Aislinn Bramlett, Desi Conrad , Renee Grayson, Clea Grayson, Matthew Bottiglieri, Dirk Cjelli, Stephan Delear, Judd M. Goswick , and Matthew Slepin

250

Kieran Turley My wife and kids (Ruth, Mia, and Chloe) for putting up with the crazy. Jerry D. Grayson Me ISBN XXXX Check us out on the web WWW.ATLANTISRPG.COM The contents are TM and © 2014 Khepera Publishing. The Khepera Scarab and the Atlantis logo are ® Khepera publishing. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without written consent from the publisher, except for review purposes. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental or used for the expressed purpose of parody. “Omega System” and the Omega System logo are Trademarks owned Khepera Publishing.

Thank you. You’re helping the world. “I want to help change the world” I thought one day. I don’t have any awesome skills like engineering or medical training so for a while I was lost. Then it occurred to me that I write RPGs and through that maybe I could do my part to help make the world a better place. I’ll never get rich from doing these little niche hobby books but I can put some of this effort to good use. If I could produce something of merit that you enjoy and are willing to pay for I could translate that into my Good Work. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family and a decent quality of life. I’m not rich by any stretch but I consider myself very fortunate. What’s a Good Work? It’s something we should all be doing. Something that helps makes society better. A good Work could be as grand as finding a cure to a terrible disease or as subtle (but equally important) as raising comionate children that are tolerant of others and seek to help where they can. My Good Work is to help at least one person have a better quality of life, to touch someone in a meaningful way and leave the world a little better than I found it. Along with my personal donations a portion all profits from the Atlantis line is donated to the charities below. This is something important to me and I hope you find value in it too. You’ve helped by buying this book but if you want to take an extra step check out the sites below. One person can make a difference. Jerry D. Grayson

GiveWell www.givewell.org GiveWell is a nonprofit dedicated to finding outstanding giving opportunities and publishing the full details of our analysis to help donors decide where to give.

Against Malaria Foundation www.againstmalaria.com AMF provides long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (for protection against malaria) in bulk to other organizations, which then distribute them in developing countries.

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Index

A Aboric Abu Acuan Sea Adaru Akela Akwatuk Alba Ampator, The Living City Amphisea Anostos Antilla Aquaga Aragana Arakhsamna Arcanum Arden Aricagua Asterea Atlantean Ocean Atlantis Atlantis, City Of Atlantis History Atlantis Map Aurora Autochthea Avaiki Avalon Awalawa Awok Ayaru Azae Aztlan

B Baluchis Birama Black Forest Black Island Of Avaiki Black Jungle Bloodwood Blydwueld Blydwueld Forest Borean Forest Broceliande

Curracurrang Cymbri

D Dabba Daging, The City Of Flesh Damalawa Dar Dardanus Darkhold Diaprepea Draconea Dravidia Dreaming World Druid Du’uzu

19 14 236 17 79 80 19 54 54 31 37 81 E 93 Eclipse 15 Ecua 56 Elassippea 19 Electa 226 Elysium (Islands) 159 Elysium Sea 215 Empi 43, 45 Equinoxes 60 Eria 43 Erlking 66 Erythraean Sea 203 Eudea 54 Europa 73 20 F 119 226 Feast Days 12 Fomorian 55 Fomorians 82 Forgotten Sea Frost Plains

C Cabbalusa Calendar Calypso’s Daughter Canyon Of Neptune Celaenea Chu L’ang Province Cimmeria City Of Atlantis City Of Celanus City Of Cyrene City Of Tartessos City Of Vaca Colonies Of Tharshesh

216 H 11 207 Halcya 38 Haloga 159 Havar 170 Hellas 203 Heran 60 Hesperia 97 Himvati 120 Holy Days 109 Hordelands Of Beezh-Yeel 235 Huac 106

Hwang Sea Hyperborea

170 205

I 120 171 166 121 122 94 56 98 166 196 21 13

11 228 56 159 71 69 122 11 79 95 217 57 93

11 31 31 218 207

G

165 227 Gadirea 94 Galecea 73 Gava 167 Gladiatorial Games 32 Golian Desert 32 Golian Mountains 32 Gondwana 203 Gorgons 96 Gorgos Great Conjunction Gualaguala

252

193 21

57 98 83 52 183 183 119 123 123 11 229

159 204 21 99 159 157 166 11 84 229

Iber Isle Of Dreams Isles Of Ozar Isles Of Tirakamba

18, 24 196 217 236

J Jambu Joktan Jotun Jotunland

165 124 206 206

K Kanawalla Desert Khemit Khitai Kislimu Koror Kota Kotao Ku Kulugmiut Kurgan Kush Kutchin

194 124 168 16 184 171 171 100 84 104 126 80

L Lemuria Lore (Survival ) Lunar Eclipse

183 6 11

M Magan Maia Mana Manua Marhashi Massawa Matua Meluha Mestea Minoa Mnesea Molodo Mongala Mount Tama Movement Mu Munark

127 159 230 71 131 132 73 172 58 101 59 173 173 135 5 193 72

N Naga Nazca Neptus Nether Isles Nether Realms Ngani Swamp Nisanu Northlands Nubia

195 231 38 219 237 184 12 173 133

O Obelisks Ocaraba Sea Ogalapago Ogata Oggia Oguanabara Ogygia Okalo Okamchak Province Okuk Province Olokunia Ophir Otesium

T 7 236 232 72 102 232 208 134 169 170 59 136 102

P Pan P’o Province Paragua Pemba Pictland Provinces Of Khitai Punt

170 232 137 24 169 138

Q Quechua

233

R Rapa Nui Rhiphaen Mountains Rom

73 208 102

S Sahuga Sala Samu Sangir Sarakan Jungle Sarawa Sargasso Sea Sargo Saturnia Satyrydes Scythia Sea Of Baku Sea Of Baku Sea Of The Dead Sea Peoples Seidhr Mountains Serpent Mounds Shabatu Shallow Sea Sheba Simanu Skara Skye Slavery Snow Devils Solar Eclipse Solstices Starr Stygian Sea

38 174 139 185 186 174 37 38 103 219 103 216 216 218 111 207 82 17 83 140 13 22 23 52 206 11 11 23 219

Taenerus Tamala Tamarac Tamarac Sea Tamawan Jade Tangea Taproban Island Taquii Mountains Tara Taracua Tarakan Mountains Tara Mountain Range Taranta Targrim Tartessos, City Of Tartuk Tashritu Tebetu Tharshesh The Isle Of Dread Thule Tora Travel Travel Rates Tritons T’sin Province Turan

GEOGRAPHICA 220 175 85 86 230 160 175 32 107 234 186 194 107 107 109 108 15 16 105 238 209 73 5 5 69 169 143

U Uallach Ulloa Ululu Undersea Utgard Forest

25 235 14 198 207

V Vaca Vanir Vannonde Lake Vedda Vir Vrindavan The Screaming City

235 205 33 175 110 196

W Wayeb White City Wilderness Of Zin

11, 17 184 147

Y Yalak Yallock Ys Ys, City Of

146 195 111 111

Z Zemlazelan Zimba Zin Zin, Tribes Of Zin, Wilderness Of

176 130 147 148 147

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age ATLANTIS: The Second Age Core book

MSRP: $49.99 Product number KHP022 ISBN 0-984-2500-9-3 368 pages Hard Cover full color (8.5”x11”) Atlantis is a sword and sorcery game inspired by the works of Fritz Lieber, Michael Moorcock, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith. Atlantis; a strange, wondrous and sometimes horrific antediluvian age where heroes survive by their wits, courage, and strong sword arms. Based on the classic Atlantean Trilogy by Bard Games

►► Atlantis: The Second Age expands greatly on this already detailed world including detailed rules on alchemy, a dynamic magic system, and exotic technomantic magical creations. ►► Play as a twisted Netherman cannibal, a haughty Atlantean sorcerer, a bestial Anadaman thief, or a Mercurial Jinn warrior. ►► Face the horrors of the dark isle of Anostos, brave the fighting-pits of Atlantis, and battle Makara on the high seas. ►► Uncover ancient conspiracies, cleave demented cultists, and conquer lands unseen by civilized man in a thousand years. ►► Rebuild the might of shattered Atlantis, or wipe clean the past and create your own empire from the dust and blood of the lost age. Will you be kingmaker, tyrant, thief, scholar, or slayer?

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HELLAS Core Books HELLAS: Worlds of Sun and Stone Second Edition revised and expanded.

MSRP: $49.99 Product number KHP020 ISBN 0-9842500-7-7 340 pages Hard Cover full color (8”x11”) In ancient times, the spacefaring Hellenes and their Gods defeated an empire that threatened the entire galaxy. Now, after centuries of darkness, their enemies have returned for a final reckoning, and only a chosen few -- wielding the power of the Gods -- stand between them and certain destruction. Hellas is an exciting fusion of high drama, action-adventure, romance, mythology-infused space opera and science fiction that features: BB Extensive history and character background set in the world of Hellas BB A style sheet for life in the galaxy of the Hellenes BB Over 30 pre-constructed star ships BB Seven thoroughly explored factions and alien races: Amazorans, Goregons, Hellenes, Nephelai, Nymphas, Kyklopes, and Zintar BB Awesome Godly Powers and Feats befitting a champion of the galaxy BB

Clear and concise rules for the gift of the Gods of legendary power.

HELLAS: Princes of the Universe MSRP: $30.95 Product number KHP012 ISBN 0-9842500-0-X 160 pages Hard Cover full color (8”x11”) The first followup to the original HELLAS Core Rules is coming soon! The blood of kings and gods runs through your veins! Now strike a blow for the future of your world!

HELLAS: Wine Dark Void MSRP: $30.95 Product number KHP018 ISBN 0-9842500-5-0 144 pages Hard Cover full color (8”x11”) The second major supplement to the original HELLAS Core Rules! With this expansion to the HELLAS Core Rules, you will at last be able to sail the cosmic all sea in search of adventure and glory. Will you be immortalized among the stars?

HELLAS: Swords and Sandals MSRP: $30.95 Product number KHP019 ISBN 0-9842500-6-9 144 pages Hard Cover full color (8”x11”) The third major supplement to the original HELLAS Core Rules! With this expansion to the HELLAS Core Rules, you will at last be able to experience the largest and most famous retail cata the Known Worlds. The Biggest Equipment Cata the Universe! The Empori Piraeus has been shipping equipment to intrepid heroes for over 150 years. From all corners of the Known Worlds, the Empori provides you with the mundane to exotic, always of the highest quality.

GEOGRAPHICA HELLAS Adventures Books HELLAS: Fire in the Blood Adventure Supplement MSRP: $8.95 Product number KHP011 ISBN 0-9842500-6-9 45 pages Black and white (5.5”x8.5”) "Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a brave Hellenic explorer named Telemikus unlocked one of the secrets of the universe with the aid of his Machina servants. Mistrustful of his assistants, he locked the secrets away in a hidden archive, and buried the key where none would find it for thousands of years." Fire in the Blood is the first of five adventures in the Legacy of the First Age series. It contains an exciting and mysterious 4-Act storyline, new creatures and enemies, and five pregenerated characters to get started right away. This scenario can be run either as a stand-alone adventure, or as just the first step on an epic adventure across the Worlds of Sun and Stone.

HELLAS: Shades of Aegis Adventure Supplement MSRP: $8.95 Product number KHP013 ISBN 0-9842500-0-X 45 pages Black and white (5.5”x8.5”) HELLAS: Shades of Aegis is the second of five adventures in the Legacy of the First Age series.

HELLAS: Frozen twilight Adventure Supplement MSRP: $8.95 Product number KHP014 ISBN 0-9842500-1-8 45 pages Black and white (5.5”x8.5”) HELLAS: In Frozen Twilight is the third of five adventures in the Legacy of the First Age series.

HELLAS: Threads of Fate Adventure Supplement MSRP: $8.95 Product number KHP015 ISBN 0-9842500-2-6 45 pages Black and white (5.5”x8.5”) HELLAS: Threads of Fate is the fourth of five adventures in the Legacy of the First Age series.

HELLAS: Immortal Memory Adventure Supplement MSRP: $8.95 Product number KHP016 ISBN 0-9842500-3-4 45 pages Black and white (5.5”x8.5”) HELLAS: Immortal Memory is the fifth and final adventure in the Legacy of the First Age series.

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ATLANTIS: The Second Age THANK YOU

Many thanks to the Kickstarter backers. Their generosity is much appreciated. Aaron J. Schrader Aaron Wong Agent Chaffer Andrew Walker Anonymous Contributor #2,446 Bam Bam Bastian Flinspach Ben P. Balestra Benoit Devost Brad Everman Brant Clabaugh Bruce Novakowski Chris Allison Chris Edwards Chris Fazio Chris Perkins Chris Snyder Chris W. Harvey Christopher Gunning Corey Elliott David Donohoo Douglas Bramlett Drew (Andrew) South E. Carletti E. Michael Rupert Ed Kowalczewski Erik De Graaf Felix Girke Francis Helie Frank Rafaelsen Frédéri "Volk Kommissar Friedrich" Pochard Gauthier Descamps Gavin Kenny Graeme Rigg Greg Maroda Guillaume Bernard Ian "Budfannan" Howard Isaac Carr J. Quincy Sperber Jackson Starky James Van Horn Jan M Novak Jason "Hierax" Verbitsky Jason Blalock Jason Childs Jason Italiano Jeff Scifert Jeremy Kear Jim Low Jimmie Rush Jr John "Johnkzin" Rudd John Fiala

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John Lambert John M. Kahane Jon Whitney Jordi Rabionet Josema "Yrdin" Romeo Joshua Ramsey Judd M. Goswick Ken "Professor" Thronberry Kurt Mcmahon Kurt Nellis Lee Dowd Lee J. Rice Lester Ward Lindsey Wilson Luke And Sam Walker Magnus Gillberg Mario Dongu Mark Leymaster Of Grammarye Martin Greening Martin Legg Matthew Dun Max Kaehn Mendel Schmiedekamp Michael Baumann Michael D. Blanchard Michael Feldhusen Michael G. Michael Hill Michael Macaulay Morgan Weeks MTG Nathan Turner Neal Dalton Pablo Palacios Patrice Mermoud Peter Engebos Phillip Bailey Qali Va'Shen Raf Blutaxt Ralph Mazza Renato Retz Richard Percy Rick Hull Rob Schubert Robert Slaughter Russell Street S D Stutzel S J Jennings Sam Stoute Scott Kehl Scott M Scott Micheel Silvio Herrera Gea

Sophia Brandt Stacie Winters Stephane L Stephanie Wagner Stephen Esdale Steve Dodge Steve Lord Steven Ross Stuart Ellis Theo Thierry De Gagne Thomas H Zunder Thor Olavsrud Tim Bogosh Tim Elrod Tim Rudolpj Todd S. Tuttle Vaughan Cockell Vicente Cartas Espinel William Miller William Tinnin-Timm Yann Abaziou