The Republic of Danaan
Pantheon: Xellenism
Ruler: Philosopher-King Dameon Treiorcheis
Capital: Afiny (Population 120,000)
Other Cities: Korinthakos (75,000) Tyropolis (50,00) Kroei (5,000), Asimenio (1,000) seaside village, Alygyrous (500) near Hill Giant, Mareb
Language: Xellnic, Trade Prythax
Flag/Emblem: Two leaping, silver dolphins, on a blue field.
Coinage: Gold Drachmas, Electrum Minas, Silver Dolphinos, Copper Drachem, Lead Lentos (quarter penny)
Important Personas: Governors of Afiny, Korinthakos, and Tryopolis. High Priestess Lorigaard Mooska,
Alliances: Marakeikos, Preferred trade status with Almond Coast/Illyria
Hostilities: Trade disputes with Barthey, sometimes Marakeikos regarding Stronghome and the Gnomish City-States
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Sea skirmishes with Ispatlia.
Intrigues: Plot to send troops into Milosic. Funneling gold from the looting of Myridius City-States.
Demi-Humans: Gnome Titans enclaves in Eastern Danaan, Dwarves (Trollchopper Clan) based out of Marebe, small elves, half-elves, half-orcs
Magickal Devices: Lofo Fonios (shortsword +1, +4 versus giant-kind), Sistrum of Mount Limpo, Trident of the Three Tritons.
Mountains: Mount Limpo outside of Afiny
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If the Royal Republic of Argivia digs up their past, Danaan has never buried theirs, living amongst the ruins and traditions which have been proven obsolete, only to come into fashion again, then disappear. The writer is not the only believer of this concept. It has been documented repeatedly:
"Entering into Danaan, I could immediately see the difference just in the architecture. While Argivia has built their nation atop the ruins of an ancient civilization, Danaan still lives within those buildings. They are bold, tall designs with gigantic columns for support, and to let in air and sun from the ideal climate."
"As a former scribe, I may barely speak conversational version of this dialect of Argivian, I barely comprehend their strange, almost dwarven runic alphabet, but I appreciate their love for libraries and correspondence and accumulating knowledge. Where Argivia is accumulating someone else's knowledge when they unearth treasures, Danaan has successful stored and maintained not only their own knowledge, but the knowledge of civilizations across the world."
"As a former scribe, I may barely speak conversational version of this dialect of Argivian, I barely comprehend their strange, almost dwarven runic alphabet, but I appreciate their love for libraries and correspondence and accumulating knowledge. Where Argivia is accumulating someone else's knowledge when they unearth treasures, Danaan has successful stored and maintained not only their own knowledge, but the knowledge of civilizations across the world."
- Baron Elsderth Greyhawk - Dispatches to the Viscount of Verbobonc, 5 DecDec 1023
Amongst the stacks of tablets and scrolls, hiding between the ruins, is a wealth of knowledge, In a world where the Feraseans, Senzar, or Khemet take credit for nearly every facet of human (and sometimes demi-human) civilization, Danaan is regarding for considerable contributions to art, architecture, drama, literature, philosophy, mathematics, and their favorite practice which they certainly have not perfected, democracy.
The save the declining gnome titan population and enclaves of dwarves near Argivia, the Danaanian culture is intact and its citizens want to keep it that way.
Most of the population are farmers, herders, with many other in trades to support agriculture. Coastal town boats a significant fishing commerce.
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| Afiny, Capital of Danaan |
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| The seaside resort of Asimenio |
Government: At one time, Danaan was a true democracy... and citizen landowners. Through the centuries it has evolved more to a representative form of government, with a large swath of the population eligible to vote. The number of Senators has varied wildly over the years. 100 years ago, it was over 800... now it just shy of 60. Granted with the honorific of Philosopher Kings, they orate far more than they govern. The Boule is a part (committee) within the Senate. The Presidium is a bureau/cabinet/department under the direction of a Boule.
Multiple committees (Boule) dominant the actual work of the Senate. The Presidium of State appoints Governors to the regions. Due to the slow, developing nature of the Senators, most appointments are considered lifetime unless something beyond egregious occurs.
Dominant Regions of Danaan
- 1 Akro- home of the hill giants Dispatches #48
- 2 Affiny - home of the capital
- 3 Korinthakos - home of trade
- 4 Tyrol - home of military might
- 5 Kroei - poorer northwest territory bordering Argivia.
Religion: Xellnic pantheon only. All other faiths must not be in public. Enforcement can radically change from town to town, and by the day of the month.
Unlike the Ferasean gods, which Akana sits supreme, the Xelleistic gods are plentiful, quite elaborate, and while Zeus, the God of Thunder is atop all of the gods, rumored to live on nearby Mount Limpo all of the gods play a role in day to day living in Danaan.
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| The Temple of Zeus in Afiny |
The exception to this draconian rule is a small cult of Echelon, lead by a powerful High Priestess Lorigaard. Echelon is a god of the sea and seagulls, which appears to run against/and alongside Poseidon. Thus far, no significant uprising or crackdowns have taken place, but Lorigaard's trident-armed minions are a sight to behold.
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| Lorigaard Mooska, High Priestess of Echelon |
Places of Note:
- Ancient Houses of the Gnome Titan: Many are no more than museums to the prior glory, with all the trappings of a tourist destination
- The Ruins of Evarhold - Former Steading of the Hill Giant Chieftain, killed by the Buring Trogs
- Afiny - Every square inch of the capital is a sight to behold, and every building a font of knowledge for those who come seeking it.
- The Well of the Death in Tryopolis
- Mount Limpo - Shared with Argivia, Danaan is the center of the Xellnic mythos, hence Danaan claimes a larger portion of the mountain for religious work, tourism, and strategic means.
WARNING!: Slavery is still considered legal, and is used as a punishment for a varied and inconsistent set of crimes.
WARNING!: The islands off the coast of Danaan are plentiful and beautiful, but use a paid, trusted guide if you intend to visit. Some villages are very accommodating to outsiders, while others may have violent or brutish reactions to visitors.
Mentions of Danaan in the Blogs:
The Burning Trogs Rule! #23 - A portion of the route from Marakeikos to the Dwarven City of Jerred and Barthey runs
The Burning Trogs Rule! #42 - The Burning Trogs, as diplomats, encounter the mind-numbingly slow wheel of government, and that, unlike Argivia, bribes are appreciated.
The Burning Trogs Rule! #47 - The Burning Trogs sneak into Evarhold
The Burning Trogs Rule! #48 - General Fonzie Schlepprock investigating Evarhold
The Burning Trogs Rule! #49 - The death of Chief Evar
The Burning Trogs Rule! #52 - Mention of strengthened political and economic ties with Marakeikos and Stronghome.
Lost Dispatches of Feraso #47 - Sir Elsderth Greyhawk describes Danaan in his correspondence
Lost Dispatches of Feraso #48 - Sir Elsderth has a run-in with Evar, and a subsequent vacation.
The Burning Trogs Redux #2 - Early reference to High Priestess Lorigaard Mooska
The Burning Trogs Redux #6 - Lorigaard Mooska returns to Danaan, for good
GM Notes:
From Lost Dispatches #45:
Argivia is taken directly from Magic: The Gathering. I never knew exactly where this adventure took place in Georic, but with the Lost Dispatches storyline progressing as it is, and Danaan being our last destination, Argivia is a logical spot. Danaan is more the classic Greece you come to expect from Greek Mythology and Philosophy. Argivia, like the land in Magic, is a nation built atop a much earlier and more advanced civilization and they are trying to take advantage of everything they can find.
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