Nevna

Nevna is primarily a coastal nation, as inland of its major cities there is nothing but rocky desert that has proven to yield little in the way of food or minerals. The temperate coasts yield some basic agriculture to supplement the Nevnan diet that is primarily fish and other seafood.

Over the centuries, Nevnan seafarers became more daring and greedy, plundering other ships and bringing the loot back to the mainland. Nevna’s rulers at the time denounced such actions, and those rulers were promptly deposed. Nevna is now respected and feared as a formidable pirate nation ruled by the wealthiest and most feared among the pirates: Jaken the Bronze, a trollkin mighty in both physique and influence.

While Nevna will occasionally engage in fair maritime trade with the coastal nations, most Nevnans prefer piracy, and their only real ally is the city-state of Vel.

Academic.

Nevna places little value in scholasticism. A person’s capability aboard a ship or in the barren foothills should be all that you need to determine someone’s worth.

Aristocracy.

Although once a monarchy, Nevna no longer places any stock in royal blood.

Mercantile.

Nevna exports fine goods of many varieties. Virtually all of the finished goods that they sell are plundered from other merchant ships, so aside from the inherent danger involved it is a massively profitable market as long as they can find people to buy their wares.

Militant.

Most Nevnan sailors are also capable fighters. Nevna has a huge navy, but a very small standing guard force in each of its coastal towns. Because of the vast and harsh desert isolating them from the rest of the world, they do not feel the need to have a large land army.

Political.

Nobody in Nevna tries to maintain pretenses. Nevna is a criminal nation, run by criminals. Jaken the Bronze and other formidable pirate lords serve as the totalitarian rulers of their favorite port cities, and when a matter of national significance rises, these pirate lords will parley to discuss what needs done.

Religious.

There are a handful of temples to sea gods throughout Nevna, but heartfelt worship is uncommon. Most Nevnan sailors respect the sea, but do not deify it, and think that the most valuable asset they have is not faith, but their own two hands.

Social.

Nevna can be a rough place to live. Few people spare a second glance for the man getting mugged in the alley. In a cutthroat culture, one needs only look after themself.

Ashori

Ashori, the capital of Nevna, is Jaken the Bronze’s personal lair. A ramshackle city built of limestone, mud huts, and driftwood shanties, Ashori doesn’t look like much. Even so, its markets have many fine goods from throughout Gathandia’s east coast. Skilled labor and exquisite crafts exist in abundance, but con artists and opportunists will prey on any who look foolish enough to fall for their wiles.

Points of Interest

The Glass Sea. About half a day’s sail east of Nevna’s northern coast, the ocean undergoes a strange phenomenon. While most of the ocean acts as one would expect, with bobbing waves and occasional small whitecaps, the Glass Sea is a stretch of ocean that is perfectly smooth. Ripples in the wake of a vessel vanish almost as soon as they form. Although the water looks smooth enough to walk on, sailors who have attempted this have all come back wet. The ocean doesn’t appear any shallower here than elsewhere, so the reason for this supernatural tranquility is still a mystery.

Quest Ideas

• One pirate lord has stolen from another pirate lord, so the first pirate hires the heroes to steal the treasure back.

• Kendaria or another worried nation hires the heroes to infiltrate and destabilize Ashori, or at least to scout it out and report back.

• Rumor has it that Jaken the Bronze has found a map to powerful ancient treasure in a shipwreck somewhere in the Glass Sea.