Step 1: Choose a Kingdom
Theme: Political Factions
Rethem is a fractious feudal kingdom on the western coast of Hârn. The kingdom’s politics are dominated by the “black-souled and evil” churches of Agrik and Morgath. The threat of warfare between religious orders compounds the danger posed by rivalries between feudal lords. The political situation is far from settled and the threat of civil war looms over the kingdom.
Theme: Wizards
Melderyn, Hârn’s oldest kingdom, is named for the island off the southeast coast of Hârn on which it was founded. The many strange goings-on and mystical persons attributed to the island, which is commonly called “The Wizards’ Isle”, have given the realm a reputation as a place of mystery and enchantment.
Theme: Classic Medieval
Kaldor is a land-locked feudal kingdom in eastern Hârn. Since its founding more than 500 years ago, external threats have been minimal but internal strife has been common. The current dynasty, Clan Elendsa, has sought to uphold the traditional principles of feudalism, chivalry, and royal justice. King Miginath Elendsa is popular with the common people because he has kept the kingdom prosperous and at peace.
Theme: City and Merchant Intrigue
The Thardic Republic is a large, prosperous nation in western Hârn. Unique among the Hârnic realms, it is neither a feudal nor tributary monarchy but a plutocratic state governed by a republican senate. It is seen by many as a descendent of the mighty Corani Empire. The Republic is dominated by a few dozen clans who have parlayed agricultural and commercial wealth into status and position.
Theme: Major Wars
Kanday is a feudal kingdom in southwestern Hârn. Founded after the collapse of the despotic Theocracy of Tekhos, Kanday now stands as a realm committed to peace and prosperity. The kingdom is ruled by King Andasin IV of Clan Kand from his seat at Dyrisa. Aleath, a chartered freetown, is the largest settlement.
Theme: Succession Wars
Chybisa is Hârn smallest realm but is rich in both history and natural resources. The kingdom sits in the fertile valley of the Ulmerien River, where a succession of cultures across two millennia have woven a complex cultural tapestry. The kingdom’s story is one of ebbs and flows, with intrepid settlers, lands lost to barbarians, invasion and assimilation, secession and intrigue. Surrounding the kingdom are the ranges of three barbarian nations.
Theme: Rebellion
Orbaal, a fractious kingdom in Hârn’s wild north, is a land of mountains and fjords. A land where the rebellious Jarin, beaten but not broken, chafe under the rule of Ivinian viking conquerors. Around 8,000 Ivinian conquerors hold almost all of the kingdom’s fortresses and rule over 65,000 Jarin. A major rebellion erupted less than 20 years ago and considerable tension still smolders between the two cultures, encouraged by an active but disorganized Jarin resistance.