"May the light of the Chaddamar burn away the
darkness."
- Chaddamarian Blessing
"Six languages just to do business with them....
would that I could earn six times the profit..."
Hoakris Warg, Aukarian Fartrader
| Ruler | Her Eminence, Queen Tavania Sadeish |
| Population | 286,500 |
| Demographics | Human 82%, Saridian 8%, Vaullian 8%, Other 2% |
| Languages | Chaddi 90%, Other 10% |
| Nationality | Chaddamar Theocracy |
| National Colors | Black, grey and green |
| Year Founded | 1307 CY |
| Currency | Chaddamarian |
| Natural Resources and Manufactured Goods | Rice, cotton, lumber, fish, seafood, mutton, potatoes, marble, silver, horses, iron ore, precious stones, wine |
| Wealth | Very Wealthy |
| Government Type | Theocracy |
| Government Stability | Very Stable |
| Allies | Sarid, Vaul |
| Enemies | Trossoli |
| Walled | Yes. Stone curtain wall. |
| Crime Level | Low |
| Technology Level | Middle Ages (Pre-Industrial in some limited areas and certain technologies) |
| Primary Religion | Chaddamar |
| Other Religion | All other religions outlawed. |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Terrain | Coastal grasslands, hills, forest, mountains |
Illhekar is a tremendous architectural achievement. Built with the blood and sweat of millions of faithful follows, this city was crafted over 700 years from the stone of local quarries and lumber from local forests.
It is a crowded, bustling, noisy city with beautiful temples and public buildings. The wealthy dwell in huge palatial estates with central courtyards and immaculate gardens. The poor live in crowded apartment buildings and "common halls". The middle class typically dwell in rooms above or behind their shops.
The people of Chaddamar are both blessed and cursed. Chaddamar is an organized, clean and wealthy nation with an excellent system of roads, a strong government and a powerful military. The people enjoy relative peace, safe travel, abundant food and a great deal of leisure time. However, the price they pay is steep. The citizens of Chaddamar must deal with an oppressive Church which controls all business, monitors daily life, demands tithes, taxes them heavily and rules with a ruthless legal system where adherence to religious dogma outweighs justice.
Torture is strictly outlawed. To inflict harm upon a body intentionally in such a manner is as bad as using magic to heal a body. It is violating the natural state and grace of Nature. It is to intrude on the function of the gods. However, fines and imprisonment are common for lawbreakers. Executions are carried out by the Church, but only for the most serious transgressions - usually for crimes which are deemed heresy against the Church.
Typical dress is loose fitting, white cotton tunics in the summer and thick, heavy wool tunics in the winter. Bathing is an important Chaddamarian custom. The Chaddamarians use communal baths which are quite common and can be found scattered about the major cities and towns. Men and women use separate bath halls.
Holy festivals are common and invigorate the city. Such festivals include parades, religious plays, jugglers, minstrels and other entertainers. Birthdays are a major cause for celebration. Friends and family unite to celebrate one's birthday as a small festival. Most family households and shops have a patron deity. This deity looks over the house. A small shrine and statuette is put up in a corner of the shop.
Musical composition is considered the province of the church. Priestesses are said to be "inspired" by the Chaddamar and only then put pen to paper. While this has produced many recognizable religious themes, it has also produced some very bad music. In any case, all "official" musical compositions are created by the church. Music created by the citizenry is banned from public performance.
A hole has been discovered in the Wall and despite assurances from the local temple in Soleth, the military is not going to be able to rebuild that section of the Wall in time. Dozens of villages are at risk from the Horde.
The local thieves guild in Soleth is rumored to have a tunnel under the Wall. For a price, they can smuggle anyone into the Desolation.
The Queen is secretly building an army of armor clad priestesses whose sole function is to invade the Desolation, wipe out the Horde once and for all and reclaim the lands beyond the Wall. This project has been running for years and is nearing completion.
Illhekar has seven city districts. One devoted to each god and one central district which unites them. Each district has the main temple to its god at the center of the district. The city guard of Illhekar maintains a single, central garrison at the center of each district. The six districts radiate out from the center in a hexagonal design.
The War District
The War District houses the armies, soldiers, barracks, war academies, fighters’ guild hall,
sword smiths and armorers of the city. The War District also houses the main
city garrison, a massive fortress of brick and mortar which houses some 2000
soldiers and guards. The patron diety of the War District is Choel.
The Law District
The Law District houses the courts, prisons, judges and tribunals. Ysranna is
the patron deity of the Law District.
The Artists District
The Artists District holds an array of terraced gardens, public parks and
amphitheatres. Sennai is the patron deity here.
The Guild District
The Guild District is the business center of the city. It is crowded with shops,
taverns, trading posts, warehouses and guilds. Banidor rules here.
The Sun District
Most of the common citizenry and huddle
masses live here. This district houses a number of large public parks, several
monuments. This is the largest district in the city. Arradan is the patron diety
of the Sun District.
The Moon District
The patron god of the Moon District is Kreshari, the Lord of the Night. This
district houses the funeral halls, the undertakers, the Wizards Guild Hall. This
is the smallest district in the city. Kreshari rules the Moon District.
The Central District
At the center of the city
is a seventh district which holds the main palace and certain government and
religious buildings. The layout of the city has the six
other districts radiating outward from the central
district.
Street Lights
Enchanted street lanterns that are symbolically tied to Arradan -
god of light. The priestesses of Chaddamar control the enchanted lanterns with
spells.
The Palace of Chaddamar
The palace of Chaddamar is a sprawling complex of
buildings which fill the Central District. The palace contains 3,512 rooms and
occupies 47 acres. The Queen and her family reside her along with several dozen
of the highest ranking Church officials, their families, some 700 security
guards and a veritable army of servants.
The Gatherings
Illhekar has several dozen marketplaces known as
Gatherings. Each gathering is much more than a marketplace... it is where the
citizens of Illhekar come to do their shopping, banking, trading, selling
and socializing. There is always something going on at a gathering. Prayer
circles, musicians and theatre troupes keep a gathering filled with music,
chatter and laughter.
The University of Chaddamar
A large school of divinity. Run by Chaddamar
priestesses.
Conservatory of Spell
Binding
The Chaddamarian Conservatory of Spellbinding is the only
official school of magic in the entire nation. The Church of Chaddamar keeps
strict control over the use of magic since, according to their religion, magic
can so easily be abused. The Church of the Chaddamar does not generally trust
pagan magic or the wizards who use it. Therefore, there is some friction between
this school and the Church. This institution resides in the capital city of
Illhekar. It has a staff of 45 and teaches about 200 students, graduating about
15 each year. The ruler of the Conservatory is Tomag Kedarran.
The city guard of Illhekar patrols the streets in large groups. A standard team consists of six town guards, one officer and a low ranking priestess (typically a neophyte in training) that serves as a representative of the Church. The officer usually has a trained war dog as well which is used to chase down criminals.
Town guards use buckler gauntlets on one hand. These are large, armored gauntlets with built in bucklers. Excellent for blocking sword blows, catching blades, punching through doors, etc. Covers hand to above elbow. It is a badge of office. The primary weapon of a town guard is the heavy hammer. They also carry a pair of smaller balanced throwing hammers and a large, serrated knife.
Several "criminal" organizations have evolved amidst the repressive religious world of Chaddamar.
The Six Lies
Major Thieves Guild. Broken up into local guilds - one in each town and city.
The Soleth chapter of this group operates a secret tunnel which goes under the
Wall and allows them to smuggle people into and out of the Desolation, for a
price.
The Seekers of Shidar
This large and powerful group has over 2000 members. The Resistance opposes the
Church, their control of the nation and their dogma. The goals of the Resistance
include overthrowing the Church, opening up the Desolation to exploration and
reshaping the nation into a Republic.
The Tithers
Whispered about in dark corners of smoky taverns, this group is known only as
"They Who Collect the Tithes". In casual conversation, they are sometimes called
the Tithers.
The second largest criminal guild in Chaddamar. It has spies and agents
scattered throughout the nation. This is a secretive society. Its members work in cells of
seven members and identify each other with hand signals and code words. This group
does a black market fencing, smuggling, extortion and other scams. They take
advantage of loopholes in the law, corrupt government officials, etc. Mainly
motivated by profit. There is some competition with the Six Lies.
The Coffer Kings
A smaller thieves guild which operates solely in the capital city. Known for
daring robberies and flaunting with danger. They operate directly under the nose
of the Church. Suspected to have less than 200 members. Very secretive. Little
known about them. Each member carries a small silver leaf as a token of
membership. This may not always be a physical object. It could be a tattoo or it
might be embroidered into clothing. But always, somewhere on them, will be a
silver leaf.
The Temple of the Chaddamar
The main temple of the city is in the Central
District.
The Six Greater
Temples
Each district has the main temple for its patron deity. Special ceremonies, admin offices.
The wealthy attend mass here once each day.
The Lesser
Temples
Dozens of them in each city district. Convenient places to tend to the
masses, to keep from having to make a long journey. Daily prayers..
Statues of the Chaddamar
Six immense statues in the Central District. Each is 60 feet tall and
carved of marble blocks.
The Old Wall
A piece of the Old Wall. Greatly damaged. On display at a crossing of two major
roads. As an example of the power of the Horde.
The High Gardens
This architectural wonder is a terraced garden that actually exists on huge
stone levels. They are stacked and staggered in a geometric array.
Her Eminence, Queen Tavania Sadeish
Her Eminence, Queen Tavania Sadeish is the supreme political
and religious leader of Chaddamar. She rules as the mediator between the six
demi-gods of this land and the people. She is the link between the mortal and
spirit realms. Serving her is a staff of thousands.
General Morg Arkus
While the woman rule the church, the men rule the military. Ruling over the
armies and navies of Chaddamar is a highly decorated military officer named
Arkus. This giant of a man stands 7 foot 2 and weighs 300 pounds. Easily
recognized by his steel blue armor chest plate and bear cloak. Fights with a
great spear.
Tomag Kedarran, Chief Magical Authority
Ruler of the Conservatory of Spell Binding. Great strain exists between the Church
and the mages of the land. The mages must constantly walk a fine line and not
cross into "church matters". There are certain types of magic which are
forbidden.
Saramuthak, Greatest Wizard/Necromancer,
Imprisoned
A brilliant mage that served the government/church for years before his
radical ideas eventually labeled him a heretic. Had numerous troubles with the
Church. Was finally accused of necromancy, imprisoned, later escaped and
later imprisoned. He is, without a doubt, the most talented and most famous
wizard in Chaddamar. But now, he is imprisoned, entombed forever in the dungeons
of the town of Soleth. He is often made an example of when the Church speaks of
the dangers of necromancy and dark magic.
Beljarn
Leader of the Seekers of Shidar. A mysterious criminal figure who rules a
portion of the Illhekar underworld. The Church of Chaddamar is constantly
seeking to bring him to justice. He is something a folkhero to the commoners.
| No | Name | Owner/Operator | Description |
| 1 | Tavern by the Glen | Raegus | Tavern - Is located outside of town on the outskirts by the forest. An attractive 30-year old red haired woman and her father Raegus run this place. Tara is the consummate host, constantly gliding between tables to check on her patrons and ensure that everyone has what they need. This level of hospitality and the good food has won her many faithful customers. Tara is a tall woman with a shapely figure, a quiet air of dignity and nobility and grace. She is always composed, cheerful and has a ready smile. She never raises her voice. The Tavern by the Glen serves the best breakfasts to be had - mostly combinations of eggs, potatoes, bacon and pancakes. Blonde sister. Less social, but very cute. |
| 2 | The Inn of Six Blessings | Unaldan | Inn - A huge inn with 150 private rooms and dozens of master suites. The Inn of the Six Blessings caters to the wealthy, government officials, high ranking military officers and the like. The Inn, as it is often called, has private stables, a dozen courtyards and a staff of 200. It has its own security force of 80 well trained and well equipped guardsmen. The Inn of Six Blessings is found in the Sun District. |
| 3 | The Chanting Heretic | Valeli | Smithy - The Chanting Heretic is the name of a large smithy located in the Guild District. It is named after Brohan, a giant of a man with mixed eshtari and aukarian blood. He is a renowned heretic who refuses to bend knee to the Chaddamarian gods. The only reason he is tolerated is that the establishment is run by Valeli, a Chaddamarian woman, at least on paper. And Brohan is one of the best smiths in the city. The smithy is named after Brohan's habit of singing pagan songs while hammering away at his work. Valeli handles the paperwork. |
| 4 | The Painted Face Theatre | Ferrigan | Theatre - Once the grandest theatre in Illhekar, this theatre has suffered decades of financial trouble and is now suffering for it. Cracked stone walls, weeds, musty tapestries and dank carpeting have been the hallmark of this declining playhouse for the past few years. Only recently has it been bought by Ferrigan, a wealthy merchant, who has plans to revitalize it. Despite the poor condition of the theatre and recent change of ownership, the Painted Face Theatre puts on a play three nights a week. |
| 5 | Mygar's Emporium | Trading Store - xxx | |
| 6 | The Six Winds Tavern | Tavern - xxx | |
| 7 | The Emerald Garden | Apothecary - xxx | |
| 8 | The Furled Scroll | Library - xxx | |
| 9 | The Red Board Tavern | Tavern - xxx | |
| 10 | Bent Bow Tavern |
This page last updated Monday, October 08, 2007. Copyright 1990-2008 David M. Roomes.