Kharndam Guide: Tsarnus
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Tsarnus
Once called “Kharndam’s Katar” due to its pointed shape, the Lartharn Peninsula was home to very few crowns until Tsarn the Patient took control of the land from Naak-Ost-Chyl-Nyit the “Sablewyrm” in 89 OD. Tsarnus became a state in 93 OD, and it took over a century before Tsarnus became the ruling authority for the whole peninsula. The lands were part of Kharndam and the Pegasus Sovereignty for more than five centuries but became their own country again when Lluranal fell to the Imperam in 805 OD. For 85 decades, Tsarnus has used its geography and its people’s tenacity to remain free from Impral control, much to the irritation of countless Impralnors of Lluranal and their Imprators. However, many natives attribute their monotheistic religion-the Eagle’s Path-and its importance all across Tsarniot society as the reason for their apparent imperviousness.
The trades and goods that make Tsarnus one of the richest lands on Rokhal are their ships, their pearls, and their wine. Nowhere on Dharual can one find better-crafted ships than in Covar, a truth held for more than a millenary now (though the Shokunate shows promise in their newest designs, despite Tsarniot attempts to sabotage their development). The multitudinous bays and ports along the peninsular coasts allow easy fishing and pearl diving, both trades jealously guarded from raiders and spies. The wines come from the many varieties of grapes grown on the hills and mountains in the south. The many lands bordering the Straits of Chamuk welcome Tsarniot goods and ships, though they are rarest in far-away Lammok.
The people of Tsarnus, like Lluranal, are almost exclusively Kharndamite humans (tanned skin, dark hair). There are rhamathi populations up in the Drass Highlands and their own villages, but very few venture downslope among the human towns and rarer still to the cities save in the southlands. Rumors place a small giant population somewhere among the Hriak Peaks, though the everpresent goblins in that region prevent any expeditions from finding out the truth. Not unexpectedly, the more cosmopolitan populations and the widest range of races can be found on the eastern side of the peninsula and often comprise escaped Impral slaves.
- Official Name: The Divine Commonwealth of Tsarnus; the Prinicipality of Tsarnus (Kharndam); “the Eaglelands” (colloquial).
- Flag/Mark: Red field with a gold eagle displayed (current Tsarniot flag); black triangle (point up) atop a red field with blue base (original flag).
- Geography/Location: Tsarnus lies on the Lartharn Peninsula (the westernmost explored and settled stretch of land on the continent of Rokhal). The peninsula defines its major borders and the country’s eastern reach extends only to the mouth of the River Elting. (It cedes control of the river to Drakesfall and supplements that city militarily to help keep it free of Impral control.) The northernmost Tsarniot territories are the Grynall Skerries more than 30 miles beyond the peninsula’s northern shores. The southern reaches of the Tsarniot crown are the Xral Archipelago 25 miles due west of Huntersrise and the Aronan Shoals on the Straits of Chamuk 29 miles south of the town of Plaevcrag.
- Territories: The whole of the Lartharn Peninsula and the coastal island chains to its north, south, and west (at least those within 40 miles) are the entirety of lands claimed by this state. Tsarniot ships ply the waters across the globe, but their navy only officially patrols and protects the waters within 20 miles of any claimed territories. Their iron-clad control of the Knife’s Edge fjord that borders Lluranal and Xhonoril has kept Tsarnus free of Impral clutches for centuries.
- Ethnic Divisions: Humans (89%), Rhamathi (6%), Goblins (4%), Other races (less than 1%)
© 2009 by Steven E. Schend. All rights reserved.