Gnoglin (Nog-Lyn)

Capital: N/A
Languages: Grollgh, Alavin, Marathi, Sylvan
For centuries Gnoglin served as the prosperous homeland for the gnomish people, and was appreciated as a land of accomplishment and invention. When travelers from nameless lands traveled across the seas of the world and appeared on the shores of Gnoglin the land was transformed and a nation eradicated. To the north the Kitsune Navy arrived and disembarked on the shores of Gnoglin, and carried with them gifts and offers of friendship and tranquility. To the south the Grippli warships arrived, bombarding the shores and touching down with great force and swift action, conquering villages and towns as their forces pressed onward.
The people of Gnoglin looked to the Kitsune with requests for aid against the Grippli to which the Kitsune agreed to provide aid. It was when the Kitsune had gained the trust of the gnomish people that the Kitsune showed their true intentions. Through cruel and swift diplomatic negotiations the Kitsune rapidly took control of northern Gnoglin without shedding a single drop of blood. With the land handed over the Kitsune marched their forces to the south to engage the Grippli forces that were pressing north. Lengthy battles would rage between the Grippli and Kitsune over several years which resulted in much destruction of the land and the leveling of several Gnomish cities.
Since the arrival of the Kitsune and Grippli the nation of Gnoglin has been split into two regions with neither group having properly established a foothold in the conflict. The gnomish capital city of Talik marked the center point of the divisive boarders and also stands as a reminder of the toll of war. As the gnomes fled Gnoglin and scattered their people to the winds the city collapsed, leaving behind the rubble that now hides the history of the gnomish people. In the void left the Kitsune and Grippli laid claim to the land and formed nations of their own. The the north the nation of Orone with the town of Kurotari serving as the capital. In the sound the nation of Inont was formed by the Grippli with Varsta set as the acting capital.
Over the past ten years the battles have quieted as the war has transitioned to a cold war between the Kitsune of Orone and the Grippli of Inont. Skirmishes breakout along the established borders of the two fledgling nations as the Kitsune and Grippli continue to squabble over the land. A handful of gnomish people remained behind on Gnoglin as freedom fighters who strike back against the Kitsune and Grippli. This small band has not found much success in taking back the land that they lost, but have managed to scavenge the rubble of the gnomish civilization and recovered artifacts thought lost to the world.
In the face of the constant tensions and border skirmishes the Kitsune and Grippli have managed to thrive on Gnoglin. From Varsta and Kurotari the nations have been able to establish trade routes with the small communities of the Dragon Wastes as well as Cultrius. There have been talks as well between these nations and the people of Niagassal and Jyn Urndlikr but nothing has been establishe to date.

Demography and Population

Population: 225,000 (45% Gripplis, 45% Kitsune, 10% Gnome)
Life on the island nation of Gnoglin is hard for all those that survive there.  While the island can be viewed as a paradise with consistent temperatures, modest rainfall year round, and short winters, the battles of the invading forces are the cause of most of the issues.  Due to the constant fighting between the Kitsune and Grippli it has been difficult for the nations of Inont and Orone to establish proper cities and relations with other nations.  This strife has also prevented much mingling of other races among the populations of Inont or Orone, leaving the two nations unintentionally segregated.
Though the war between the Kitsune and Grippli has gone cold it has not changed the day to day life of people within the two nations.  Males of each nation are conscripted into their respective militaries shortly after completing schooling.  These conscripted individuals spend much of their days drilling and practicing combat maneuvers as well as training with a variety of weapons.  There is a chance for change, however, as the leaders of Inont and Orone have been discussing peace and the end of the war between the two fledgling nations.
For the gnomes that remain on Gnoglin life is a different story entirely.  Those that remained on the island spend there days hunted by the Orone and Inont as the two nations look to remove the gnomish presence entirely.  It is because of the danger that the gnomes find themselves in at all times they have gone about building an extensive network of tunnesl that weave their way across Gnoglin.  It is here that the gnomes live their lives and launching their strikes against the Kitsune and Grippli people.

Territories

Gnoglin holds a variety of terrain from the humid jungles of the south to the snow covered peaks of the Erachar Mountains in the north. Off the southern shores of the island continent are numerous islands that make up the Isle of the Lost. It is here in the island chain that the people of Inont keep those taken prisoner by the Grippli military. The thick rain forest that grows over the island range creates a harsh environment for the prisoners that are forced to live here. Constant humidity and heat fill the air along with heavy rains and flash flooding during the summer months.
On the northern edge of Gnoglin seemingly endless swaths of grassland and rich soil provide amply farmland to the people of Orone. Rainfall is less frequent than to the southern end of Gnoglin as storms frequently are caught on the peaks of the Erachar Mountains. Of those storms that make their way through to the north coat the mountain range with fresh snow that melts and runs down to the planes below. Another chain of islands along the eastern shore of Gnoglin is coated with thick coral reef which makes passage treacherous for vessels seeking passage to Niagassal.

Military

Gnoglin is a land that is lousy with soldiers from both the nations of Inont and Orone, as well as the hidden gnomish freedom fighters. The training of these soldiers varies based on the traditions of the nations. In Orone training is largely focused on a more brutish and powerful fighting style that relies on the wielding of large swords and hammers to overpower their enemies. To the north in Inont the soldiers train with swift short blades while wearing light armors that allow for ease of movement.
To compliment the soldiers that fight on the front lines each nation trains a contingent of archers and catapult operators. Thanks to the excavations completed by the Kitsune of Inont a small group of the archers have also been trained in firearms. Due to the limited number of weapons available to the Kitsune the riflemen are used sparingly in battle.
Spread throughout the nation gnomish freedom fighters roam through the tunnel network that snakes beneath the mountains. These masters of espionage trained closely with the Niagassal military to develop the skills they frequently employ, such as the use of poisons, explosive ordinance, and firearms.

Religion

Religion is looked at differently in northern Gnoglin as it is in southern Gnoglin. The people of Inont dedicate their lives to the worship of Guerre as war and battle is a significant part of their culture. With the ascension of Orikan the Grippli people adapted their worship to include the vengeful god to their culture. This has led the Grippli people to become more aggressive in their search for land and sparked the recent invasion of western Alivara with the aid of the Gnolls of the Dragon Wastes and Cultrius.
In Orone the Kitsune have crafted temples dedicated to the gods of death, secrets, and vengeance. The reason that the people of Orone dedicated themselves to these gods is unknown though the influence of their worship can be seen in daily life. Insulting ones honor, for example, may result in a duel to the death as would be considered the proper course of action based on the teachings of Arion.
Worship of these gods does not mean that no one within these nations is fair, good, just, or even handed.  The people apply their worship into their laws and traditions as necessary yet understand that bloodshed without purpose is still an action most unnecessary.

Foreign Relations

Falandas is a continent that is no stranger to war and as such the many peoples of the continent have purposely distanced themselves from the Grippli and Kitsune of Gnoglin. This is not to say that these numerous nations are not keeping an eye on the activities of Gnoglin as the land is considered to be of great value. Alivara, Munasarja, and Niagassal interpret this value to be one that can only be unlocked by returning gnomish control over Gnoglin. Others, such as the dwarves of New Jyn Urndlikr, look to Gnoglin as a land that must be conquered so as to harvest the value that is held there.
Decades of war between the Orone and Inont nations has made it difficult for alliances to form. The people of Inont formed an alliance with the Counsel of Wyrms that rules over the Dragon Wastes as the Grippli appealed the dragons desire for revenge on those that put the beasts under a curse that lasted for centuries. Inont has also reached a pact with the people of Cultrius as an agreement for safe passage and open boarders was made in exchange for supplies that will help Cultrius rebuild their land.
Orone has remained largely solitary in their communications with other nations. Of those that the nation has reached agreements with the most significant is the pirates of the Silver Tongue Isles. By supplying the pirates that ravage the southern shores of the Vitalm Ocean the people of Orone are provided with supplies that are confiscated by the pirates. In addition to the pirates the Kitsune of Orone have worked hand in hand with the Knights of the Black Rose in the spread of disease and decent across the land of Falandas. Many speculate over the reason that the Orone people would work hand in hand with the dark order but outside of the Sapphire House there are none that know the true answer to this.

Agriculture & Industry

Presently there are no established industries across Gnoglin as only recently as the war between the nations of Inont and Orone cooled to a Cold War.  During these calmer times Inont has begun to mine the peaks of the Erachar Mountains which are rich with iron ore.  Through the smelting process the Grippli are able to mass produce metals that are used to craft arms and armor as well as construction materials.
Dotting the lands south of the Erachar Mountains are a number of banana plantations and pineapple farms.  All fruits harvested from these fields are exported in trade as the Grippli people do not consume such foods.  The fields are worked by prisoners captured by the Inont military with retired soldiers of the Inont military taking watch over these prisoners.
To the north in Orone a thriving archeological enterprise has developed as the Kitsune send expeditions into the ruins of the gnomish cities buried beneath the Erachar Mountains.  The Kitsune elected to excavate these location as the missions were quick and lucrative in the face of the danger of attempting to mine the unstable tunnels.  Additionally, near the northern base of the mountain range the cotton farms have been established and provide the textiles needed to keep the Orone people clothed.

Interesting Locations:

VARSTA

SETTLEMENT 4

LG

TOWN

Initially a war camp that slowly developed into a proper settlement
Government General Pera (overlord)
Population 2042 (Grippli 1882, Human 40, Halfling 20, Elf 20, Dwarf 20, Gnome 20, Half-Elf 20, Orc 20)
Languages Ajili, Alavin, Marathi

Religions Guerre, Orikan, Nuit
Prohibited Religions Soleil, Monde, Raugh
Threats The Cold War between the kitsune and Grippli continues on and places an ever-present threat to the people of the city.
Shrine to Guerre A ring of black stones have been placed in a circle, the center of which is littered with the broken tips of discarded swords. Clerics of Guerre who cast spells in Varsta gain a +1 bonus to their DC’s and Spell Attack rolls.
Gerotch’s Obelisk An obelisk of rough-hewn stone sits in the center of Varsta. Secretly entombed in this structure is an ancient and powerful demon. Spells cast with the Fire trait gain an additional damage die when cast in Varsta.
Half-Full Flagon A grand timber and brick building with a small walled yard and garden for outdoor dining. This location serves as a front for a collection of freedom fighters. Gather Information checks completed here are always considered to be trained at a minimum.

General Pera (NE female grippli priest of Guerre) Commander of the Grippli military and leader of the Grippli people.
Gitlare Mone (LN female grippli harbormaster) Harbormaster of Varsta and prominent merchant.
Lyre (NG male half-orc barkeep) Bartender at the Half-Full Flagon and leader of the White Hand.

KUROTARI

SETTLEMENT 3

LE

TOWN

Kitsune

Cold

A small town formed by Kitsune soldiers
Government Sapphire House (Court of Aristocrats)
Population 1696 (1238 Kitsune, 288 Halfling, 50 Gnome, 50 Human, 33 Goblinoid, 16 Dragonborn, 16 Other)
Languages Uptali, Alavin, Marathi

Religions Arion, Raugh, Geheimnisse
Prohibited Religions Ilys, Orikan
Threats The Cold War between the kitsune and Grippli continues on and places an ever-present threat to the people of the city.
Huigfera Alley This street is well known to burglers and thieves within Kurotari as it is strewn with the rubble and debris of a collapsed tower. Hiding among these ruins grant a +2 bonus to Stealth rolls.
The Rookery of Idols A block of cramped and densely-set houses, piled several stories. Each house has an idol set within a nice, each of a different deity.
Illent Bladehall The multistory building sits in the center of the town and is the central location for the Sapphire House

Naki Shake (N male kitsune druid) Community leader and trainer of mounts used by the military.
Hiki Yokin (LG female dwarf artist) Hiki Yokin is a dwarven chef of world renown.
Hike Katsa (NG female kitsune wizard) Head of a small group of explorers who enter the Talik mountains in search of artifacts.

Major Exports

Inont: Excavated magical items Orone: Ore, Steel

Legislative Body

As Gnoglin is currently split into the two smaller nations of Inont and Orone there are also currently two independent governmental bodies at work here. The southern nation of Inont is under military rule while the northern nation of Orone is lead by a counsel of aristocrats. In each nation the government operates with impunity a those that question the rulings may suffer a great punishment. It is due to this iron fist that some citizens of each nation have defected and fled the continent of Gnoglin.
What few gnomes that remain on the continent continue to honor the monarchy that had ruled over their people for centuries. The gnomish king, Loranth Tourbeard, now resides with other refugees under halfling protection on the island nation of Niagassal. King Tourbeard works along side of his cousin Deandra Soin to lead the resistance effort against the Kitsune and Grippli, while also fighting in the diplomatic arenas in search of a new place for the gnomish people of Gnoglin to call home.