The World of Novannis AGE

[Kenneth New]

The world of Novannis is a somewhat generic fantasy setting with all the typical fantasy races in the Fantasy AGE 2e rulebook.

Freeport lies in the Serpent's Teeth, a small archipelago in the Shallow Sea, a region of ocean lying between the four major continents. Major Trade Routes pass through this archipelago between the eastern hemisphere and the western hemisphere. Most characters will come from the eastern hemisphere where the Tolkienesque fantasy races and humans come from.

Religion

Here ae the major Temples found in the setting.

Temple of Knowledge

Dedicated to the twin gods Astreon and Asteria, the gods of knowledge, this temple focuses on recording events, uncovering lost knowledge, teaching and uncovering new knowledge. Libraries, colleges and magicians are often connected with this Temple.

Common Arcana for mage-priests: Divination, Mind

Temple of the Sea

Dedicated to Thalas, the Lord of the Deep. He is the god of sailors, fishermen and ocean storms. He is the god who restrains the ancients powers of the deep.

Common Arcana for mage-priests: Beast, Water

Temple of the Moon

Dedicated to Selene, goddess of the moon, tides, time, natural cycles, healing, childbirth, seasons and agriculture.

Common Arcana for mage-priests: Healing, Fate

Temple of Light

Dedicated to Phanos, the lord of light and civilization. Phanos is also a god of music, art and justice.

Common Arcana for mage-priests: Heroic, Protection

Temple of the Pirate Queen

This Temple is dedicated to the trickster god/goddess Rhivan. In freeport this trickster god/goddess is worshipped as a pirate.

Common Arcana for mage-priests: Illusion, Shadow


Priest

Most priests are not mages, but you can find mages in every faith. Priests serve their temple in many capacities, with most being administrators that keep the temple running.

Character Classes and the Temples

• Envoys are the leaders and preachers of the temple.
• Mages are the spell casters of the temple.
• Warriors are the protectors and enforcers of the temple.
• Rogues are the special agents of the temple.

[Kenneth New]

Where do you go for....

This is a list that may be useful for Player Characters in the setting.

Healing

Some priests (especially at the Temple of Selene) may be healers, but most people go to one of the mage-healers in town.

A Drink or Food

• The Black Gull on the Docks. This establishment serves only drinks.
• The Rusty Hook on the Docks.
• The Broken Mug on the Docks.
• The Diving Fin on the Docks.
• The Indecipherable Scroll in Drac's End.
• Maurice's in the Merchant Quarter.
• The Last Port in the Merchant Quarter.
• Marquis Moon in the Old City.
• Krom's Throat in Scurvy Town.
• The Dead Pelican in Scurvy Town.
• The Chum House in Scurvy Town.

A Place to Rent a Room

• The Rusty Hook on the Docks.
• The Broken Mug on the Docks.
• The Last Resort in the Merchant District.
• The Marquis Moon in the Old City.
• The Hammocks in the Warehouse District.
• The Scholar's Quill in Drac's End is a boarding house, not an inn.

[Kenneth New]

City of Freeport

Freeport is a city-state lying on the major east-west trade route between Ezcal and Drakalis to the west and Castria, Atrya, Rhodasha, Markesh and Vengana. It also lies at the easternmost edge of the Great Archipelago and the southernmost edge of the Shallow Sea, making it only a few days west of the major north south shipping lanes from Castria to Markesh to Vengana.

Population

The permanent population of Freeport is about 10,000 people, but a further transient population of 2000-5000 makes a complete accounting very difficult.

• Humans make up about 6000 of the city's population. They are not only the most numerous; they are also the most powerful and influential. They are the descendants of settlers from all over the eastern hemisphere. However, about 2000 of them come from the Tanea people who are native to the Great Archipelago. The latter tend to compete with goblins for the most menial labor in the city.
• Goblins make up about 1500 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the less affluent occupations and neighborhoods.
• Halflings make up about 1000 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the service industry.
• Dwarves make up about 600 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the artisan, craft and construction occupations.
• Orcs make up about 400 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the poorer sections of town. Many serve as sailors or day laborers.
• Gnomes make up about 300 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the artisan, artifice and craft occupations.
• Elves make up about 100 of the city's population. They are concentrated in the artisan, mage and shipping occupations.
• Everything else is a catch all term for draak, catfolk, and everything else you can imagine. They make up 200 of the city's population.

Languages

Many languages are heard in the streets of Freeport, although the most common is Etralian, also known as the northern trade tongue. Venga, the southern trade language is also common, as in Taneko, the language of the natives of the Great Archipelago. Murghez, the goblin language is also common.

[Kenneth New]

The Great Archipelago

Stretching from the Serpent's Teeth in the east to the Island of Ximac in the west, the Great Archipelago defines the southern boundary of the Shallow Sea. It stretches almost 800 miles with a break of several hundred miles between it and the Markesh coast in the east and Ezcal in the west.

The Serpent's Teeth

Aval, Windward, Leeward and T'Wik are the four rocky islands that are claimed by Freeport.

Aval is the largest of the islands. It looks somewhat like the number 8. It stretches 20 miles from the north to south and varies from 10 miles to 1 mile in width. This island is dominated by Mount Aval (the Mountain of Fire) in the north and by Freeport in the south. The southern half of the island is hilly with a few narrow areas that are flatter, while the northern area is mountainous. Aside from the area around Breakwater Bay, the island is covered by jungle. Many ruined structures of prehuman origin can be found hidden beneath those jungles.

Leeward is the second largest of the islands. It's about 15 miles long and three miles wide. It lies just east of Aval and is mostly jungle. It has been periodically the site of a community called Libertyville which has been established and destroyed several times over the years. An enterprising group of farmers have established farmsteads on this island and have begun to raise pigs and vegetables. Their farms are located out of sight of the coast so that they avoid the notice of the sea devils who inhabit the region. A ship from Freeport visits the island once a month to trade with the locals.

Windward is the third largest of the islands. Its about 10 miles long and 1 mile wide. Due to a break in the barrier reef surrounding the serpent's teeth, this island is battered by ocean waves on the west coast.

Twik is the smallest of the islands. It's a small, baren and rocky island about 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. It is the location of the Lighthouse.

West of the Serpent's Teeth

Several islands stretch across 800 miles of sea. Most of the islands are sparsely inhabited because of their rocky geography, but the Tanea (humans) and Urhag (orcs) compete for living space and fishing rights. Lately, several small colonies have been established in this archipelago, barely more than trade posts with a few farms attached to the them.

The sugar plantation on Sangrinal is the most successful, and the Destang family who own it supply much of the sugar and rum for Freeport. They are not citizens of Freeport, but they are closely connected to some of the families in town.

The Kingdom of Tanuval is a collection of small islands controlled a coalition of Tanean tribes. It lies several days west of Sangrinal.

[John Niska]

Could we get some additional information about the area outside of Freeport?

From the Freeport game you ran for me and the kids, I remember Castria and Atrya but I don't know if they are different in this go around.

[Kenneth New]

Work in Progress

Nations east of the Great Archipelago

Here are some of the lands to the east of the Great Archipelago. Freeport and the Serpent's teeth are at the far eastern end of the archipelago. In addition to the lands below, there is the Etralian Coast (the old heartland of the empire) comprising dozens of city states. Some of the best known are Lavinia (The Old Imperial Capital), Triviana (City at the Crossroads), Lumaria (City of Mages), Pavinella (City of Canals), Paldana (City in the Swamp) and Mariana (Silver City).

Atrya

The nation of Atrya is one of the successor states to the old Etralian Empire. It is landlocked for much of the year since the northern reaches of Atrya Bay are frozen in winter. It is a nation with vast tracks of wilderness (mostly taiga and mountains). The nation is ruled by powerful warlords and warlocks, and it has an expansionist policy that puts it at odds with many of its neighbors. A portal called the Sea Gate allows the Atryans to move ships from Atrya Bay to Devil's Rock, an island they control off the coast of Markesh. They have been engaged in a hot and cold war with Castria since the fall of the Etralian empire. Currently there is peace.

Atrya is famous around Freeport for having tried to conquer the nation of Ezcal on the western continent, only to be violently rebuffed. Atrya controls one island near Ezcal, Atryona, which they use as a trade outpost. The nation practices slavery and the official religion is the Church of the Nine Citadels (followers of the Arch-Devils).

Population: human 40%, goblin 30%, dwarf 25%, other 5%
Language: Atryan, Etralian
Religion: Church of the Nine Citadels, Etralian Panthen

Castria

The nation of Castria is one of the successor states to the old Etralian Empire. It sits on the western coast of the continent of Dheona and is the major military power of the Central Sea. It is a constitution monarchy. The Prince of Castria reigns, but most of the power is held by the elected Senate. Castria is known for its trade fleet, its navy, its excellent educational system and for being the leader of the Western Alliance. Castria is famous around Freeport for trying to conquer the island 300 years ago, but it's still one of the nation's main trade partners.

Castria, along with the entire Western Alliance outlawed slavery after the fall of the Etralian Empire. There are several colleges of note in Castria, including Mira University, which is known for its Institute for Ophidian Studies.

Population: human 60%, halfling 20%, dwarf 10%, elf 5%, other 5%
Language: Etralian (Castrian dialect)
Religion: Etralian Pantheon (same as Freeport)

Markesh

The nation of Markesh controls the western end of the continent of Zura and the trade roads north into Rhodasha, east into the Great Desert, and south into the Kvanga river. It has a large trade fleet, but its navy has been defeated three times by the Western Alliance. Markesh is ruled by an oligarchy of powerful merchant families.

Markesh is a major source of gold, ivory, spices, and ebon wood. It's also a major trade port. The Markesh slave market is infamous.

Population: human 75%, beastfolk 15%, draak (Zuran Draak) 5%, Other 5%
Language: Sakhel, Etralian, Vhenga
Religion: Markeshite Pantheon (similar to the Etralian Pantheon but with different names, appearance and customs)

Rhodasha

The Etralian successor nation of Rodasha controls the northern coast of the continent of Zura. It has a large trade fleet but relies on the Castria's navy for protection. It's a member of the Western Alliance. Rhodasha is ruled by an oligarchic copuncil of powerful merchants.

Rhodasha is a major source of certain herbas and spices, grain, and coffee. It also controls the Bank of Talos, an international bank that sets the standards for weight, purity, and value of coinage.

Rhodasha outlawed slavery under pressure from other nations in the Western Alliance, but still practices a form of indentured servitude that is very similar to short term slavery.

Population: human 70%, elf 15%, halfling 5%, Dwarf 5%, Other 5%
Language: Etralian (Rhodashan Dialect)
Religion: Etralian Pantheon

Sylaria

The Etralian successor nation of Sylaria controls the middle western coast of the continent of Dheona (the Syla River Valley). It is a farming nation, famous for its wine, its music, and its foodstuffs. It is ruled by a senate elected in the old Etralian fashion. It's a member of the Western Alliance.

Although the plurality of the people are human, most of the aristocrats and the senate are elven. The culture of Sylaria is a blend of Old Etralian and Elven cultures.

Population: human 40%, elf 25%, gnome 20%, Halfling 14%, Other 1%
Language: Etralian (Sylarian Dialect), Elven
Religion: Etralian Pantheon

Vanirheim

The nation of Vanirheim controls the northwestern parts of the continent of Dheona. It has a large trade fleet that doubles as a navy. Vanirheim is a loose collection of kingdoms who swear allegiance to a high king. While not a part of the Western Alliance, they often ally with them when the Alliance goes to war with Atrya because the Atryans are constantly trying to conquer Vanir lands in order to expand their ports outside Atrya Bay.

Vanirheim practices slavery, but it's not widespread.

Vanirheim is a major source of fish, whale oil, and iron. It's also a major trade power.

Population: human 50%, dwarf 30%, elf 15%, Other 5%
Language: Vanir
Religion: Vanir Pantheon (similar to the Etralian Pantheon but with different names, appearance and customs)



Vengana

The nation of Vengana controls the southern fifth of the continent of Zura. It has a large trade fleet and a powerful army. Vengana is actually an empire. It conquered many surrounding nations, such as Sanjo and Nuwanda. It is ruled by a warrior aristocracy under the authority of a King.

Vengana is a major source of gold, cattle, and gems. It's also a major trade power.

Population: human 80%, halflings 10%, beastfolk 5%, Other 5%
Language: Vhenga
Religion: Vengana Pantheon (similar to the Etralian Pantheon but with different names, appearance and customs)