Ahn Ruun

The Book of Lore
A treatise on the lands of Ahn Ruun

Foreward
Welcome traveler to the Kingdom of Ahn Ruun! This concise pocket-edition of the Book of Lore was made with the world-traveler in mind. Here you will find information on the geography and settlements as well as important information about magic and exotic items which you may not be familiar with. It is my sincerest hope that this book will help you better enjoy your stay in the exciting lands of Ahn Ruun.

Long Live the King!
-Scribe Meadows

Geography
Ahn Ruun is located far to the west of the Forgotten Realms, thousands of miles across the Trackless Sea. Most traveling in Ahn Ruun is by foot or by ship. There are ferry boats constantly traveling between Fairmere and the two nearest islands, Hiltopp and Tharsys.

Settlements
The major settlements of Ahn Ruun.

Fairmere
The bustling city of Fairmere is the capital of Ahn Ruun. It is the largest city in the kingdom with a very diverse population of some 20,000 humans, elves, dwarves, half-orcs, and kobolds. It is a port city that lies at the mouth of the Tarandir River, where it flows into the Anduin Sea. Here all manner of goods and supplies can be found. King Gregor rules over all Ahn Ruun from Castle Fairmere in the heart of the city. When visiting the castle, be sure to stop by the library who's curator, Scribe Meadows, has collected many books on the legends of the realm.

Trellik
On the Isle of Tharsys is the frontier town of Trellik which some consider nothing more than a prison colony. The Radganian wolf pelt trade is brisk, and keeps the money flowing into this town.

Hiltopp
North of the Isle of Tharsys is a small chain of islands inhabited by the halfling folk. Most notable of these is the closest isle, Hiltopp, which has very good trade relations with Ahn-Ruun. The halflings are well known for their fine crops of tobacco and particular brand of wine.

Places Of Note
There are many unusual locations to be found in the lands. These are some of the most notable.

Tharak Nor
Below the Arendeep mountains is the kingdom of the dwarves, the ancient Halls of Tharak Nor. The people of Ahn Ruun see the dwarves of Tharak Nor as a rather untrusting and xenophobic lot, but the dwarven folk of the Arendeep have suffered many trials and tribulations which helps explain their disposition.

Glade of the Sauku
The wild elves of Tharsys, called the Sauku, live in a glade deep in the forests of Tharsys. They are a solitary folk not fond at all of outsiders.

The Oracle of Tharsys
According to legend, on the highest peak of the great central mountain of Tharsys is the home of the Oracle, a being of immense power.

People & Politics
Forthwith are discussed the notable people and politics of the principal cities and towns of Ahn Ruun.

Fairmere

Court of Castle Fairmere - The seat of power for all of Ahn Ruun, here the wise King Gregor with the help of his trusted advisors rule the Kingdom. The brewing war with the Sorcerer Kingdom has for many months now been the key topic of discussion.

King Gregor – Ruler of the human kingdom of Ahn Ruun. King Gregor is a wise and just ruler. He is an open minded man, who has seen fit to give citizenship to certain half-orcs and kobolds. His progressive policies have been met with general approval from his subjects, but it has gained him powerful enemies as well.

Grand Vizier Lucien – Head advisor to King Gregor. Lucien was originally from the Sorcerer Kingdom, a savage and evil place to the far east. He came to Ahn Ruun seeking asylum. King Gregor granted him protection, and within a very short time Lucien gained great favor in the Royal Court and was recently bestowed the title Grand Vizier. Though he has claimed time and again that he has cut all ties to the Sorcerer Kingdom, there are many who suspect he has dark designs in store for Ahn Ruun.

Elf Ambassador – Diplomat from the elven Kingdom of Yarundir. He has come to seek aid from a mysterious force that is taking elves from Yarundir’s frontier lands.

Varush – Chief of the Venchu Tribe. The half-orcs of the Venchu Tribe were originally called Turok-Fei, or “Torment by blood”. They accompanied Lucien and were also given asylum in the Kingdom of Ahn Ruun.

Duke of Delagos – A noble of distant relation to King Gregor. He aspires to be the next King of Ahn Ruun and his unscrupulous character suggests he would step over anyone to fulfill his ambitions to wear the crown.

High Priest Wilhelm Dinfadell – High Priest of Nacissa. Once the King’s most trusted advisor, he has fallen from favor of late and many think he holds a grudge against the Grand Vizier for his loss of status in the court.

Master Dargas – Recruiter of mercenaries in Fairmere. Master Dargas is the training instructor for new soldiers of Fairmere. With the army gone to the Elven Frontier, Master Dargas has been instructed by the Grand Vizier to hire mercenaries to deal with local problems that the city or castle guard cannot handle. He can be found in the Royal Barracks.
Mezel – A kobold fledgling magician. Once a servant to Razeem “The Wild”, Mezel has come to Fairmere to make a new life after his former master perished in a bizarre alchemy experiment involving spoons, pickles, and pigeons. (It seems he wanted a flying pickle that could stir his tea.) Though he practices hard, he has yet to learn the finer points of spell crafting.

Commander Zalla - Head of the Royal Guard. Commander Zalla is a stern but fair leader to his men. Zalla believes the Grand Vizier is behind the plot to put the King asleep, and has vowed that he will not get fealty, if the Grand Vizier becomes the de facto ruler of Ahn Ruun.

Sgt. Percy - Head of the City Guard. Sgt. Percy's leadership differs from Zalla’s in that though he is fair, he is far from stern. Sgt. Percy doesn’t care who is King, as long as he can continue doing what he does best – protecting the city of Fairmere .

Castle Guard – Only the best and the brightest are allowed in the Castle Guard, and they had better keep their skills and their armor polished if they expect to stay.

City Guard – A motley collection of ruffians and roustabouts who patrol the rather unsafe streets of Fairmere. They love Sgt. Percy, and are absolutely loyal to him.

Hiltopp

Mayor Jingo – The mayor of Hiltopp Isle. Jingo Hiltopp has asked for assistance against pirate raids on his fellow halflings. No one has answered his pleas for aid, except for a halfling named Farlo Thiggens.

Farlo Thiggens – Once a delegate to Fairmere, Farlo resigned his post and headed home to help his people. Farlo lost his left arm during a voyage to meet with the Amazonian Queen. He was with Prince Joland Fairmere when their ship was battered and eventually capsized by a terrible storm just off the coast of the Amazonian Isles. Farlo was one of the few survivors to make it to shore. The Prince was never found, and is now presumed dead.

Skee and Shelk – Ballads have sprung up across the various taverns and plazas about a strange yet wonderful friendship between a halfling named Skee and an aquatic elf named Shelk (Though the songs in the taverns are a little more bawdy than the ones sung in the plazas). The Legend of Skee and Shelk has become an inspiration to the cooperation between the races all across Ahn Ruun, and King Gregor has it played quite often during festivals in Fairmere.

Trellik

Justice Wallomer – The Chief Justice and sheriff of Trellik. Wallomer keeps strict order in Trellik. His punishments are fair and swift. No transportee has ever committed a crime or escaped during Wallomer’s tour as sheriff.

Transportees – Criminals sent from Fairmere to work for the farmers in Trellik. A transportee is someone who committed petty crimes but has been considered non violent to society. Fairmere decided to kill two birds with one stone. Farmers in Trellik needed labor for their plantations, and Fairmere could rid itself of petty criminals. Each transportee bears an enchanted tattoo that reveals his location at any time. Once a transportee’s sentence has been served, he can opt to either return to Fairmere as a free citizen, or be given a parcel of land in Trellik to farm for his own.

Father Jonas – The community healer. Father Jonas stays at the Dorogaya Taneel Inn. He is available to all who seek his aid in healing.

Madame Rusacarter - Formerly from Fairmere, Rusacarter took a chance and set up shop in Trellik. She quickly began to see huge profits as she wisely stocked up on items that insulated the wearer from electricity (See Radganian Wolf). She also designed the tattoos that each transportee must wear. Rusacarter has become a very powerful figure in Trellik, and none would dare cross her.

Communication
Some of the denizens of these lands have a great deal of information they will be willing to share, if they are asked the right questions. When questioning someone, it is important to keep these tips in mind:

Note the subjects of interest that is mentioned. Be sure to ask about the people, places or things that they seem to know about.
Be specific with your questions. Avoid personal pronouns such as "he", "she", or "it".
Note that in addition to asking "Who ..?" or "What ..?" you can also ask "Where ..?" On occasion, you can ask other questions as well.

Exotic Arms
It is assumed the reader is familiar with typical weapons. Here are described some of the lesser known ones.
Flask of Oil - Can be prepared with a fuse and hurled at enemies.
Holy Water - Damages undead and evil outsiders almost as if it were acid.
Thunder stones - When these stones strike a hard surface, they create a deafening bang.
Tanglefoot Bags - A round leather bag full of alchemical goo which bursts out on impact, entangling the target.
Alchemist's Fire - A sticky, adhesive substance that ignites when exposed to air.
Acid Flasks - Bursts on impact with a target, burning them with acid.

Creatures
There are many strange beasts that inhabit the lands of Ahn Ruun and beyond, and this list covers just the more well known creatures of the realm.

Dire Wolves

The Steel Woods are teeming with Dire Wolves, preventing travel by all but the largest caravans.

Slaad

Perhaps the most dangerous creatures in all of Ahn Ruun, the Slaad have been seen only recently in Tharsys. It is not known from whence they came.

Radganian Wolves

These extraordinary beasts are quite vicious, and their very breath is like lightening. Luckily, they only reside on the Isle of Tharsys where they are hunted for their valuable pelts. Goblins

Few goblins remain in the lands of Ahn Ruun, but do still inhabit the desolate Gulan Foothills.

Rock Guardians

On the great central mountain of Tharsys, where few dare venture, there are creatures of origin unknown made of rock and fire.

Trolls

These malignant beasts are known to inhabit the dank tunnels that permeate the Arendeep mountains.

Court of Castle Fairmere - The seat of power for all of Ahn Ruun, here the wise King Gregor with the help of his trusted advisors rule the Kingdom. The brewing war with the Sorcerer Kingdom has for many months now been the key topic of discussion.
King Gregor – Ruler of the human kingdom of Ahn Ruun. King Gregor is a wise and just ruler. He is an open minded man, who has seen fit to give citizenship to certain half-orcs and kobolds. His progressive policies have been met with general approval from his subjects, but it has gained him powerful enemies as well.	Grand Vizier Lucien – Head advisor to King Gregor. Lucien was originally from the Sorcerer Kingdom, a savage and evil place to the far east. He came to Ahn Ruun seeking asylum. King Gregor granted him protection, and within a very short time Lucien gained great favor in the Royal Court and was recently bestowed the title Grand Vizier. Though he has claimed time and again that he has cut all ties to the Sorcerer Kingdom, there are many who suspect he has dark designs in store for Ahn Ruun.
Elf Ambassador – Diplomat from the elven Kingdom of Yarundir. He has come to seek aid from a mysterious force that is taking elves from Yarundir’s frontier lands.	Varush – Chief of the Venchu Tribe. The half-orcs of the Venchu Tribe were originally called Turok-Fei, or “Torment by blood”. They accompanied Lucien and were also given asylum in the Kingdom of Ahn Ruun.
Duke of Delagos – A noble of distant relation to King Gregor. He aspires to be the next King of Ahn Ruun and his unscrupulous character suggests he would step over anyone to fulfill his ambitions to wear the crown.	High Priest Wilhelm Dinfadell – High Priest of Nacissa. Once the King’s most trusted advisor, he has fallen from favor of late and many think he holds a grudge against the Grand Vizier for his loss of status in the court.
Master Dargas – Recruiter of mercenaries in Fairmere. Master Dargas is the training instructor for new soldiers of Fairmere. With the army gone to the Elven Frontier, Master Dargas has been instructed by the Grand Vizier to hire mercenaries to deal with local problems that the city or castle guard cannot handle. He can be found in the Royal Barracks.	Mezel – A kobold fledgling magician. Once a servant to Razeem “The Wild”, Mezel has come to Fairmere to make a new life after his former master perished in a bizarre alchemy experiment involving spoons, pickles, and pigeons. (It seems he wanted a flying pickle that could stir his tea.) Though he practices hard, he has yet to learn the finer points of spell crafting.
Commander Zalla - Head of the Royal Guard. Commander Zalla is a stern but fair leader to his men. Zalla believes the Grand Vizier is behind the plot to put the King asleep, and has vowed that he will not get fealty, if the Grand Vizier becomes the de facto ruler of Ahn Ruun.	Sgt. Percy - Head of the City Guard. Sgt. Percy's leadership differs from Zalla’s in that though he is fair, he is far from stern. Sgt. Percy doesn’t care who is King, as long as he can continue doing what he does best – protecting the city of Fairmere .
Castle Guard – Only the best and the brightest are allowed in the Castle Guard, and they had better keep their skills and their armor polished if they expect to stay.	City Guard – A motley collection of ruffians and roustabouts who patrol the rather unsafe streets of Fairmere. They love Sgt. Percy, and are absolutely loyal to him.

Justice Wallomer – The Chief Justice and sheriff of Trellik. Wallomer keeps strict order in Trellik. His punishments are fair and swift. No transportee has ever committed a crime or escaped during Wallomer’s tour as sheriff.	Transportees – Criminals sent from Fairmere to work for the farmers in Trellik. A transportee is someone who committed petty crimes but has been considered non violent to society. Fairmere decided to kill two birds with one stone. Farmers in Trellik needed labor for their plantations, and Fairmere could rid itself of petty criminals. Each transportee bears an enchanted tattoo that reveals his location at any time. Once a transportee’s sentence has been served, he can opt to either return to Fairmere as a free citizen, or be given a parcel of land in Trellik to farm for his own.
Father Jonas – The community healer. Father Jonas stays at the Dorogaya Taneel Inn. He is available to all who seek his aid in healing.
Madame Rusacarter - Formerly from Fairmere, Rusacarter took a chance and set up shop in Trellik. She quickly began to see huge profits as she wisely stocked up on items that insulated the wearer from electricity (See Radganian Wolf). She also designed the tattoos that each transportee must wear. Rusacarter has become a very powerful figure in Trellik, and none would dare cross her.

Dire Wolves The Steel Woods are teeming with Dire Wolves, preventing travel by all but the largest caravans.	Slaad Perhaps the most dangerous creatures in all of Ahn Ruun, the Slaad have been seen only recently in Tharsys. It is not known from whence they came.
Radganian Wolves These extraordinary beasts are quite vicious, and their very breath is like lightening. Luckily, they only reside on the Isle of Tharsys where they are hunted for their valuable pelts.	Goblins Few goblins remain in the lands of Ahn Ruun, but do still inhabit the desolate Gulan Foothills.
Rock Guardians On the great central mountain of Tharsys, where few dare venture, there are creatures of origin unknown made of rock and fire.	Trolls These malignant beasts are known to inhabit the dank tunnels that permeate the Arendeep mountains.