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BOOK 1:

THE WORLD OF
SYMBAROUM
14
WELCOME TO SYMBAROUM 2

Welcome to
Symbaroum!
Or, to be precise, welcome to the region that in ancient times was ruled by the
civilization of Symbaroum an empire that by all accounts was advanced in the
areas of architecture, spirituality, magical schooling and the arts; a culture that
without doubt suffered a both rapid and brutal downfall.

This section of the book contains an overview of This opening chapter covers the history, geog-
the region where the roleplaying game Symbaroum raphy and population of the setting, while Chapter
is set, a region including the kingdom of Ambria, 2 presents its most powerful factions. After that
the vast forest of Davokar, the naked lowlands west comes a chapter that introduces what arguably
of the woods and the mountain ranges marking can be described as the heart of the game world,
its southern and eastern borders. What may be the forest of Davokar, followed by three chapters
found outside this region will become the topic of describing its most important population centers:
future modules, although some information has the town of Thistle Hold, Ambrias capital Yndaros
been included here not least about Alberetor, the and the forest plateau Karvosti where the High
land south of the Titans which the Ambrian people Chieftain of the barbarian clans reside. Thistle
have been forced to abandon. Hold is the main base of Ambrias explorers and
The reason for zooming in on a limited geograph- fortune-hunters and is given a more detailed
ical area is that we are aiming for a presentation account, while the latter are portrayed in broader
which is comprehensive rather than shallow, strokes pending more exhaustive presentations in
nuanced rather than sweeping. That being said, upcoming books.
you will still find blanks and gaps in the text, topics With the texts, images and maps of this section
we have been forced to exclude because of space we hope that you will feel welcomed to the setting
limitations. But we hope and trust that the included of Symbaroum. We would also like to invite you to
material will prove to be enough for you to fill in contribute to its expansion. It is when this book
the blanks yourself. reaches its readers that Ambria and Davokar truly

15
begin to live and breathe, and we hope that you are
willing to share your ideas, thoughts and creations
with the Symbaroum community. If you do, the
improvement and development of the setting will
become our joint venture!

The Return of the Queen


The Great War, the hungry hordes of the Dark
Lords a nightmare that lasted for two decades
and which left little to hearten the ones who finally
woke up. Instead they had all the reasons to grieve:
tens of thousands had died; the maimed and broken
were beyond count; the land was ravaged by death
magic; there was famine and infertility. And even
though the young Queen had been rescued from the
claws of the enemy, she had returned a shadow of
her former self, with a lifeless mask covering her
once radiant sunshine smile.
Twenty-one years have passed since the Dark
Lords were vanquished and the Queen realized
that her realm was dying. She was forced to lead
her people to safer grounds, that much was evident.
And before long she was able to identify where to
start anew. North of the mountain range called
the Titans lay the fertile soils which according to
legend were the ancestral home of her people. The
time had come for Korinthia to claim her birthright.
During the past couple of centuries the region up
north had been controlled by warring, barbarian
clans and before that by the prosperous city-state well-organized capital was to be named Yndaros
of Lindaros. According to legend, Lindaros suf- in honor of Korinthias father, the hero king Ynedar.
fered the wrath of celestial powers, causing a most Three years later the Queens armies also managed
infectious bleeders disease to wipe out its entire to overwhelm the barbarian warlord Haloban and
population. That occurred about two hundred years his clan warriors a triumph giving Korinthia and
ago, after which it took more than a century before her people the opportunity to start exploring and THUS SPOKE AROALETA
the nomadic clans of the region dared approach the harvesting the ample riches of Davokar Forest.
contaminated ruins. Much has happened over a short period of
... and the day
No more than a couple of months after the time, so there has been no room for subtleties. dawned, when the
decisive battle against the Dark Lords, Korinthias Disobedient barbarians have been killed, banished spawn of the Serpent
troops reached the region in the north. At Lindaros or imprisoned by Korinthias experienced and took to arms, when
they encountered a small barbarian settlement, well-equipped soldiers; the obedient ones have the crimes of countless
established by the clan Kadiz that had been evicted been used for labor under slave-like conditions. days must be counted
from its territory in Davokar fifty years earlier. The latter also holds true for many of Korinthias
and atoned for, horn
After a siege that only lasted for three days the own subjects, namely all those who came from
by horn, fang by fang.
barbarian chieftain bowed before the superior the south without personal riches or sought-after
power and the work of rebuilding Lindaros could skills. If anyone bothered to keep count of how And the sinners wept
commence a task that mainly was carried out by many people have died in the process of building with blinded eyes, they
thousands of prisoners of war and as many so-called Ambria the final score would be by the thousands. moaned with severed
volunteers, men and women who were on the run But no one does. For those who are alive nothing throats, they fled on
from already dead regions in old Alberetor. counts but the remarkable result. Although the fractured limbs. And
The Queen did not join the refugees until restoration of Yndaros is far from finished the city Symbaroum fell, into
seven years after the wars end. When she did, has grown to enormous proportions, and at the
dreamless sleep ...
she declared that her new realm would be called same time Korinthias knights have conquered all
Ambria, the shining, and the increasingly land between the mountains in the south and the

16
WELCOME TO SYMBAROUM 2

woods in the north. Now the nobles of Ambria are gravely ill Abesina, mother of Queen Korinthia. It was not much chief-
starting to plan for new conquests, in the north Ever since then, the walled settlement of Mayor tain Haloban of the
and in the west. Nightpitch has acted as a safe haven for Ambrians Jezites and his clan
Seven years ago the uncrowned king of Ambrias exploring Davokar, a forest full of natural resources warriors could do
treasure-hunters, Lasifor Nightpitch, established and rich remnants of long lost civilizations; also a when Korinthia sent
the town of Thistle Hold. The construction was to forest full of rampant abominations, dark-minded her battle-hardened
a large part financed by the reward Lasifor had creatures of unworldly origins and a band of war- army to crush them.
received for an armful of dried Twilight-Thistle a dens most unwilling to welcome the damages done
rare herb, allegedly powerful enough to aid the by human explorers.

The Promised Land


The region Korinthia is determined to conquer ruled by the Church of Prios, the Sun God and the
is dominated by Davokar, a forest that in itself is as Giver of Laws. The Grand Duchy of Korinthia is by
varied as a continent. Traversing the woods from far the largest, just as the capital city of Yndaros
Thistle Hold to its northern edge would take weeks, is larger than Thistle Hold, Ravenia and the high
if not months, and on the way one would have to seat of the Sun Church, Templewall.
face beasts as well as hostile elves, blight-stricken The region is framed by towering mountains
beasts and treacherous nature. on two sides the wild and majestic Titans to the
South of Davokar a rolling landscape of fertile south; in the east the Ravens that grow taller and
plains stretches out. Where they are not plowed by steeper the further south one travels. Aside from
Ambrian farmers they are covered by pale green some mining colonies and the monastery of the
grass or small groves where the birds and beasts of Twilight Friars south of Yndaros, the Ambrians are
the lowlands find shelter. This is Ambria, a kingdom yet to establish any noteworthy settlements in the
divided into seven duchies encircling a domain mountains. Instead they have become a refuge for

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Timeline 1000 (approximately)
The civilization of
robbers, free-thinkers and rebellious barbarians.
And as for the dwarven realm of Kam Zamok,
500 (approximately) Symbaroum crumbles its inhabitants appear to be totally indifferent to
The clans of Davokar into oblivion humans, with the exception of the few families
unite under a high chief- that, for reasons unknown but wildly debated, have
tain to battle the Spider 200 (approximately) settled down in Yndaros.
King. The city-state of The population of The climate is colder and more humid compared
Lindaros is founded Lindaros is wiped out by to what the Ambrians are used to. Damp winds
an infectious bleeders from the southern oceans climb over the Titans
21 disease and are not the least embarrassed to drown Ambria
The Dark Lords conquer in heavy rains, especially during the autumn. The
the border city of 19 winters are cold, with snow covering the streets of
Berendoria Alberetor strikes back Yndaros for a month or two, or even longer during
against the Dark Lords the winters that the barbarians call Istaros, when
10 and the Great War starts arctic winds sweep down from the north, so cold
 King Ynedar is killed; that hearths which are allowed to go out barely
Korinthia is crowned the 5 can be brought back to life and the blood freezes in
Queen of Alberetor The sun god Prios is anyone who dares venture outside for longer than
declared to be the One it takes to collect more firewood.
and the provider of Albe-
2
The Ways of Life
retors laws
Korinthia is taken captive
by the Dark Lords
0 (winter) Since long before the arrival of Korinthia and her
The Queen is rescued, subjects the land north of the Titans was home to
0 (autumn)
the stronghold of the Dark a motley array of creatures, with diverse customs
The barbarian settlement
Lords is stormed and the and often with a complicated relationship to one
of Kadizar surrenders and
war is over another. The presence of the Ambrians has affected
becomes Korinthias foot-
hold in the new land
5 the people of the region in different ways in part
The duchies of the new as a result of adaption, in part as an effect of defi-
7 realm are established, from ance or at least a need to demonstrate some kind
The Queen arrives, the Ravens in the east to of uniqueness relative to the new lords of the land.
Ambria as well as the the river Eblis in the west This section offers a portrayal of the more or
capital city get their less cultivated creatures living in the woods and
names 8 on the plains. The depiction is brief and therefore
The Cathedral of Martyrs simplistic in actuality there are lots of exceptions
10 in Yndaros is inaugurated from what is said below. But if you keep that in mind
The clan Jezora is the text should provide a relatively fair account
slaughtered and its chief- of the people, culture, traditions and conflicts of
tain Haloban executed on 11 the region.
the Triumph Plaza The eighth duchy is
established and its main People
13 town of Sevona founded In broad terms Davokar and its surroundings
Thistle Hold is built are inhabited by three distinct groups of people
Ambrians, barbarians and the Elder Folks (for
15 instance elves, goblins and ogres). If you were to
16 First Father Jeseebegai ask any single representative of one of those groups
The battle of Karvosti ascends to the High Seat about such a classification he would probably not
results in an agreement of the Sun Church feel very comfortable, being lumped and bundled
according to which the with individuals that for him appear as more or
Sun Church is allowed to less strange. But that does not alter the fact that
restore the temple ruin on there are some shared characteristics within those
the plateau 19 groups which make the categories justifiable.
The Queen dictates that The Ambrians all stem from the dead realm
21 all craftsmen must get Alberetor south of the Titans. The Great War has
Present day organized in guilds made them tough but also forced them to become

18
Gaoia
WELCOME TO SYMBAROUM
Map covering the known parts of N
2
Ambria & Davokar

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T I T A N S 19
disciplined and organized, in terms of military have much in common. What they share is probably
and bureaucracy as well as regarding trade and best symbolized by the witches, the spiritual leaders
divisions of labor. In short: the war has civilized of the clans and advisors to the chieftains. Under the
the Ambrians as a people, even though it may have guidance of the witches, the barbarians are fully
brutalized many of its individuals. aware that they are living in and consequently are
The Ambrians are capable and experienced depending on nature for their safety and survival.
when it comes to waging wars, but they are also And they have all borne witness to what happens
characterized by a profound spirituality and an when one does not respect the taboos dictated by the
aptitude for refined skills and nuanced knowledge. Huldra, the head of all witches who lives on Karvosti
Other than that you will find a common quality in alongside the High Chieftain.
their ambitions: they are a people bent on conquest Finally there is the vague category called the
and ownership; they always strive for more and Elder Folks, including elves, dwarves, goblins,
better, whatever it concerns. Nature is regarded as trolls, ogres, changelings and others. A majority
a resource, filled with supplies which can make life of the individuals sorted under this label tend to
more comfortable, or in any case more tolerable, and see themselves as natures children, rather than its
many Ambrians would willingly risk life and limb owners or rulers. There are of course exceptions,
in the hope of finding treasure, knowledge or rare not least among the goblins who have gotten a taste
goods which could secure them a comfortable future. of Ambrian abundance and even more evident
When it comes to the barbarian clans they actu- among the dwarven families living in Yndaros.
ally live in greater harmony since the arrival of the But by and large, the Ambrians and the Elder Folks
Ambrians. It is commonly accepted that the clan are very dissimilar in this respect.
folks are descendants of Symbaroum, the civilization The disagreement, not to say animosity, is most
that ruled the region up until a millennia ago. There apparent in the conflicts between Korinthias sub-
are of course huge differences between the clans in jects and the elves of Davokar. With reference to a
terms of lifestyle and customs, but in the end they treaty that supposedly was signed by many human
lords around the time of Symbaroums fall, the war-
dens of the forest demand that all Ambrians stay
clear of the forest. They even claim that an ancient
alliance called the Iron Pact gives them the right to
Colonists and Free Settlers slay any human who violates the terms of the treaty
Of all Ambrians it is the colonists who have most contact with barbarians a claim that Korinthia and her knights scoff at and
and the Elder Folks. Today all land between the Titans in the south and which no serious treasure-hunter takes seriously.
Davokar in the north, between the Ravens to the east and the river Eblis
to the west is considered to be colonized by Ambria. But Korinthias ambi- Spirituality
tions are greater than that. Indeed, a dozen new settlements have been Much changed in the wake of the Great War. The
established in places still ruled by other powers. A majority of these can be most radical change was when the sun god Prios
found up to a days travel past the tree-line of Davokar, for instance on the went from being one of many accepted deities to
southern shore of Lake Volgoma or on the route between Thistle Hold and being recognized as the One. Where the Dark Lords
Karvosti. Others are located to the mountains and at the forest edge west of represented darkness and death, Prios came to
River Doudram. symbolize the light of Alberetor and the life giving
Another group of southern origin that lives near the elves and barbarians power of the sun. Or as Jeseebegai, the current First
are the Free Settlers: refugees from Alberetor who have taken the oppor- Father of the Sun Church, has expressed it: In the
tunity to break free and form societies of their own. These settlements are abyss, in absolute darkness, was the spark which gave
typically made up of ten to thirty families that for some reason have chosen hope to the world, the spark which in the care of we
to stick together in most cases because they profess their loyalty to some Ambrians will make Prios blaze as never before.
other deity than Prios. Today Prios is recognized as the Giver of Laws
In the early days of Ambria the Free Settlers had no trouble finding some or as the One, and almost all Ambrians adhere to
corner of the Promised Land they could claim as their own. But with time His commandments, as conveyed by the priests
many have found themselves repressed by the expanding kingdom and and theurgs of the Sun Church. Prios is said to be
some have even been forced to move deeper into Davokar. Freedom from everywhere beneath the heavens and humans are
oppression comes at a considerable cost, a cost that gets higher and higher tasked with cultivating His creation. Sadly, man has
the further Korinthias domain extends. Even so, there are still about twenty neglected this duty for a long time, which in turn
free settlements in forests and mountains that refuse to submit. means that Prios has lost much of His strength,
so much in fact that He is dying. But according to
the sermons there is still hope. If humans strive to

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WELCOME TO SYMBAROUM 2

The Hordes of Darkness


Despite the fact that more than two that the Queens soldiers were often of ravings caused by nightmares or
decades have passed since the victory, forced to kill the same enemies again too much to drink, the Ambrians never
the Dark Lords and the Great War is ever and again; enemies that, in addition, had talk about the fear and the horrors. No,
present in the lives of the Ambrians. been their brothers and sisters until they Korinthias subjects try their very best
Usually people only talk about the fell victim to the murderous magic of the to look ahead, no matter how difficult life
triumphs, about the heroic deeds of the Dark Lords. may seem. They are determined to grow
lightbringers, about how the armies of The ones who were there remember. so strong that no one dares attack them
Korinthia massacred hordes of undead Those who have nothing but stories to ever again.
creatures. All else is repressed not least go on fantasize. But with the exception

correct the error of their ways if they work harder, customs as when the members of clan Enoai allow
extract more crops from the soil, harvest more themselves to be bitten by venomous spiders, in
and richer resources from forests and mountains, order to get closer to Oroke.
colonize more of the wilds then Prios will grow The Elder Folks appear to have a more relaxed
strong again. approach to spiritual matters. Instead of worship-
In the quest to honor and strengthen the Sun ping or praying to divine beings they seem content
God, Davokar has a vital role to play. The wild, with showing gratitude towards the spirits which,
unruly forest is considered to be the perfect according to them, inhabit all aspects of nature.
example of what happens when humans refrain They give thanks to the stream for letting them
from doing what they are obliged to do. Davokar traverse the rapid waters unharmed. They offer
must be cleansed, its potency disciplined and its their gratitude to the hazel for letting its nuts fall Taboos of the
resources cultivated. It is to advance that quest to the ground. They whisper thank you to the deer
Baiaga Clan
that the Curia, the high council of the Sun Church, for allowing itself to get trapped. It is said that Elori,
sends missionaries as well as explorers to the deep the elven emissary in Yndaros, was asked about his Avoid the slopes of
of Davokar, and why they already have established beliefs during a visit to Queen Korinthias court. the Crypt Ridge: there
a temple on Karvosti, the age-old Thingstead of the His exact response is obviously only known to those Grabando rests in
barbarian clans. present, but according to rumor he replied with shallow slumber and
In the shadow of Prios the abolished deities live an insult: It is a vain presumption to think that may not be disturbed.
on, gods that actually bear a striking resemblance the world would care about being worshiped or
to the deities of the clans. Concerning the religious that it would listen to prayers; it is a presumption Do not mention the
beliefs of the barbarian folks, many a theurg and which mirrors mans own desire to be worshiped Whitewater Walker by
learned master have tried to describe and categorize and his expectation that he can force his will upon name: for she will heed
the gods, spirits and divine beings worshiped in the world. your calling and respond
Davokar. So far they have not succeeded. Evidently with force.
the clans are very dissimilar when it comes to how Cultural practices
they relate to spiritual powers. As mentioned, some Ambrians as well as barbarians are storytellers. Never devour the spring
worship deities similar to the gods banished by The barbarian folk value a good narrator almost as fruits of the Red Bell:
the Ambrians. For instance, the serpent god Uron highly as a skilled warrior, and the High Chieftain its nectar is tainted, its
revered by the Gaoia clan shares features with the on Karvosti always has one or two select storytellers seeds corrupt.
Ambrian Earthmother; the Baiaga clans bloodwolf living in his fortress. These chroniclers are often
Arex is clearly related to the Ambrian Pathfinder; chosen from among the participants of the annual Never drink of
and the spider Oroke, who is worshiped by many, contest held during the market days at the autumn rainbow-colored water:
has some qualities in common with the Hangman. equinox, and are considered to have a special it aggravates the thirst
But among the clans you will also find worship of responsibility for remembering and recounting and makes it unhealthy.
ancestors, holy grounds, beasts and sheer mon- historical events.
strosities like the bestial Blood-Daughter of the Aside from the telling of stories, the leisurely Do not listen to singing
clan Saar-Kahn. Regarding religious rituals there activities of the clans tend to involve weapon play sprung from unseen
are also great discrepancies between the clans, and rituals paying homage to nature. It would throats: that is a warn-
from collective prayer sessions to downright deadly probably be misguided to describe the clans ing, not a calling.

21
relationship to Davokar in terms of worship, but
under the guidance of the witches all barbarians The Prophesy of Sarkomal
are careful to show gratitude towards the forest According to rumors circling both Yndaros and Thistle Hold, the Sun
that feeds them and teaches them humility. In that, Church has recovered a prophecy from an old temple ruin a couple of days
as in most other cases, the storytellers play a vital walk east of Karvosti. First Father Jeseebegai firmly denies all knowledge
role especially when it comes to cautionary tales of such a find but that has hardly stopped the rumor mill from grinding.
that account for what may happen if one violates Quite the opposite. In a short time numerous versions of the prophecy have
the taboos dictated by the Huldra. appeared, all reflecting the same basic theme Ambria is supposed to gain
Among Ambrians storytelling takes many dif- lordship over all land once ruled by ancient Symbaroum and Queen Korin-
ferent forms. The bards and poets who perform thia will ascend to the throne of the empires last emperors.
in taverns, restaurants and inns are very pop- That basic theme aside, the versions differ greatly from each other.
ular, but the same can be said about prominent When it is supposed to happen, how it will happen and whether or not it will
actors, dancers and artists. Within all these art be to the advantage of the Ambrian people depends on which version you
forms portrayals of the Great War are common. choose to trust. There is really only one strophe which recurs in all versions,
Tales about individuals who have pleased Prios, claimed to be translated by the Curia: where night and day are without
so-called lightbringers or martyrs, is another meaning, where darkness shimmers and light gathers in shadows, there
popular theme. However, in recent years a new- stands the throne that again shall carry a mistress, a regent, a peer of the
comer has appeared on the Ambrian stage: tales divine. But, as previously mentioned, no one has confirmed the authen-
of Davokar of fortune-hunters who have found ticity of that passage, nor of any other. And even if someone had there is
their fortune; of heroic encounters with arch trolls likely room for any number of translations and interpretations, as always
and lindworms; of rich treasure chambers found when prophesies are concerned.
in overgrown ruins. Additionally, the Ambrian
storytellers have made it their business to visit

22
WELCOME TO SYMBAROUM 2
their barbarian colleagues to learn popular stories Areas of Conflict
from them, including the ancient poems attributed Given that the three main populations in the region
to the legendary huldra Aroaleta. have such a disparate relationship to Davokar, you
Aside from the Ambrians making use of more would probably conclude that the Ambrians always
forms of storytelling, there is another significant collide with the Elder Folks, and that the barbarians
difference between the groups: while almost all are caught somewhere in between. Of course it is
barbarians take part in the rites of the witches and not as simple as that. There are lots of individuals
listens to tales told around the fire, the Ambrian who do not fit that mold Ambrians who join the
people are divided into a number of sub-groups. The elves in their ambition to keep Davokar in peace
nobles have their own venues for dance, theatre and as well as single barbarians, elves, changelings
music, and love to cover their walls in grandiose and ogres who have made their homes in Ambria.
tapestries with themes from battles or nature. Nevertheless, the general climate of the region is
Merchants and craftsmen often visit the same one of open conflicts, characterized by the Ambrian
salons, where they place themselves according to ambition to explore and exploit Davokar and the
fortune and stature since the prices vary depending Elder Folks reluctance to let them do so. Presently,
The origin of the hulk- on where you sit. Free, laboring Ambrians listen Queen Korinthias people seem to be the unchal-
ing Colossi is widely to tales told in the taverns while thralls, serfs and lenged rulers of the plains between the mountains
debated. But it is commoners in the countryside have to settle for the and the forest, and it would probably take an all-em-
an awesome sight, tall tales told by their elders as they assemble for bracing pact of barbarians and elves to change that.
when one gets to see the evening meal. Of course there are exceptions, But in the woods the balance of power is more even.
Davokars witches being but the principle can hardly be questioned: the The Queens army has a hard time functioning with
carried by these seem- subjects of Korinthia are undoubtedly stratified full efficiency in the forest, while local knowledge
ingly gentle monsters. in terms of both assets and interests. and experience provide their counterparts with a
great advantage. Furthermore, the Ambrians have
a hard time confronting the horrors of Davokar on
a unified front. Special interests linked to factions,
blood or personal gain are often given priority at
the expense of the common good, not least when it
comes to managing and distributing information,
resources and treasure found in the woods.
The latter also paves way for joint ventures
involving a mixture of Ambrians, barbarians and
others. Instead of contacting factions like Ordo
Magica or the Queens Rangers, many dukes and
barons have initiated collaborations with barbarian
or goblin chieftains. And the wizards, scholars and
Rangers tend to act in a similar fashion better to
pay the locals for help than to divide any profit or
advances with other Ambrians. The only exception
from this is the Sun Church, whose representatives
are unwilling to mix with the creatures of the
night. On the other hand, they engage in missionary
campaigns and can in that way utilize the knowledge
and skills of converted goblins, barbarians and ogres.
In other words, to give a clear cut and straight-
forward account of the relationship between the
peoples of the region is both difficult and fun-
damentally misleading. In order to understand
how collaborations, quarrels and armed conflicts
arise you have to take a large number of factors
into account, not least the factions described in
the upcoming chapter. Moreover, you must under-
stand that in light of the escalating threat from the
corrupt powers of Davokar, basic necessity may
require the most unlikely alliances to be forged.

23
Factions
This chapter offers a brief introduction to the most powerful
factions of Ambria, alongside a similarly short glance at the
barbarian clans and the purported Iron Pact. In general terms
these groupings can hardly be described as harmonious power
struggles are as frequent within as between the factions, and
the goals of individual leaders may both alter with time and be
contested by subordinates. But in the end it is fair to say that
power and influence are linked to the formations described
below, and that one would have to be extremely clever to reach
ones goals without having allies among the prominent members
of at least one of them.

Houses of Nobility
Ambria, as Alberetor before it, is a hierarchal a couple of occasions has appointed counts against Queen Korinthia and an
society, for centuries governed by an assembly the will of the concerned duke and that some of the escort from the Twilight
of noble families, called houses. The families are counts command such authority that the people in Brothers wander through
ranked based on their position in the order of the region show him more respect than they grant Yndaros, towards the
succession, and the rank affects what offices their the official ruler of the duchy. Cathedral of Martyrs and
representatives may hold. Ranked first among the noble families is the a memorial service for
Ambria is divided into seven duchies, in turn royal House of Kohinoor, personified by Korinthia the victorious dead.
divided into smaller domains, called counties or Nightbane and five of Ambrias six dukes, all of
baronies depending on their size. Formally it is them closely related to the Queen. That may sound
the Queen who appoints dukes, who then appoints like a harmonious affair, but according to gossip
counts and barons to manage subjects and land. But and campfire tales there are some circumstances
there have been lots of exceptions from that order of which complicates the situation. That the Queens
things. For instance the Queen may nominate indi- mother married a new husband, bore him the
viduals to the title Prince of the Realm a position daughter Esmerelda and then fell gravely ill is one
which gives its owner a dukes power over a smaller of those; that Korinthias only living uncle is bitter
piece of land. It is also rumored that the Queen on that he missed his chance at the throne is another.

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FAC T IONS 3

Queen Korinthia
Head held high and with unwavering confidence, Queen Korinthia could make them falter. Korinthia was freed from her prison and
carries the hope and sorrow of her people. She was not more than commanded a decimated battalion of Templars in the decisive
twelve years old when King Ynedar died on the battlefield, but assault on the Dark Lords fortress.
she did not hesitate to pick up where he left off. She inherited his The years in captivity and the death of her homeland have not
mount, the legendary Master; she had his broken lance restored; broken Korinthias spirit. Sure, her lacerated face is nowadays
and she led the forces of light on a ten years long counteroffen- covered by a mask of glazed porcelain, but she is still the same: a
sive against the armies of the night. triumphant warrior queen, given the honorary title Nightbane for
Two years before the end of the war, Master died, gravely her victory over the dark.
wounded by a poisoned spearhead, and Korinthia was taken cap- The rumors claiming her to be weak or even dying, or the ones
tive. The enemy celebrated without understanding that he had declaring that she actually died in captivity and that the woman
engineered his own demise. The desire to rescue the captured behind the mask is someone else, are never spoken except in
Queen gave her knights such valor that not even death magic wheezing whispers and in the company of very close friends.

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