Dragons of Tirenia: The White Mountains and the White Dragons

At the north of Tirenia is an extensive mountain chain: the White Mountains. A series of valleys in the mountains allow for travel through to the lands beyond. The largest of these, such as the Salassi Valley in the north-west, serve as major trade routes. Others are more isolated, such as Zigura, a plateau in the north. It is home to one of the largest gnomish settlements in the world, with a unique culture. The area is renowned for its mercenaries, who are some of the best trained soldiers in the world.

The White Mountains are ruled over by the white dragons. They were driven north from Mezilano by the silver dragons, and settled in the mountains. They settled throughout the region, with little organisation between them. Most of the dragons are indifferent lords as well: Ghiaccolo, lord of the Salassi Valley, shows up to collect 'taxes' (tribute), and then leaves the people alone. Anything from months to decades may pass between his visits, and so the Salassi Valley is fairly autonomous, with its own elected Sindaco (mayor).This also means that they are at threat from the bronze dragons of Staglia, who may decide to expand northwards at any time.

The valley of Zigura have a secret, however, that they are hiding from the rest of the world. Guglielmo Dire, the gnomish traveller, raconteur, and crossbow expert, has slain the greatest of the white dragons, Quarza. The valley of Zigura is now free, but, far from rejoicing, the gnomes and humans are trying to keep this a secret for as long as possible. Should the truth come out, they are afraid that other white dragons will try to seize control of them, or that they will be attacked to serve as an example of what happens to those who dare stand up to dragons.

Related image
Art: 'An Avalanche in the Alps'. Philip James De Loutherbourg, 1803.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Ruins of Auromia - Session Two: The Song of the Harpy Queen

Image
Valentino returned to Accluso, Dova, Ilaria and Noke later that afternoon, with a sack containing the few Auromian artifacts that he had available. He showed them to an interested Dova: there was an ancient scroll that looked about ready to fall apart at a moment's notice; a small decorated jar and a curved wooden stick that the scholar recognised as an oil jar and strigil; a good luck amulet in the shape of a flying phallus; a repaired Auromian centurion's helmet with an impressive golden horsehair plume; a small collection of antique coins. After some haggling, Accluso and Dova bought burial insurance, Dova bought the scroll without being able to ascertain its contents, and Noke bought the phallic amulet and the strigil. As they left the Cigno , the group were accosted by a number of rough-looking men. Accluso and Noke were ready for violence, but the leader of the ruffians held out his open hands to show that he came in peace. He was from Vittoria, the bandit chieftain wh...
Read more

The Pirates of Panormo, Session Two: The Villa Salamandre

Image
 The crew of the Brazen Nudibranch fled the city of Staglia as quickly as they could. They decided to head inland to Trion, the home of the quicksilver dragons. They hoped that they could learn more about the ritual that had brought the marble and gold dragon to life. It was slow going, however, because very quickly they found themselves pursued by soldiers hunting for them. People said that spies from Staglia, with the help of a traitor (Scelto), had infiltrated the city and attacked a gathering of dragons with black magic. The group posed as itinerant monks to avoid being discovered. Soon they reached the shining Fulgente River, in whose silvery waters an angel was said to have once died. Evangelia grew nostagic as they beheld the glimmering water, for her home city, Medilano, was located downstream on the same river, and the Fulgente was sacred to the silver dragons. Avoiding a boat, because of the soldiers checking passengers, they made their way along its banks until they reac...
Read more

Mercury Dragons and the Magic of Trion

Image
Trion is a city of about 30,000 people situated in the foothills of the White Mountains, about 200 miles north-west of Staglia. It was founded by the Auromian Empire after an important victory against the orcs in the mountains. Since then, it has had many rulers: it was part of Carlo d'Orso's empire, was ruled by the Ordinarch-Princes of the church, was conquered by mercury dragons and finally annexed by the bronze dragons of Staglia, who still rule it. All of Tirenia is highly magical, due to the convergence of ley lines there, but Trion is particularly magical. The ruling mercury dragons princes have many magical advisors, and have created palaces attuned to the five elements - earth, fire, water, air and aether. There are rumours that some great alchemical secret is buried in caves under the city, but no one knows what. Certainly, the aetheric currents in the city means that it is closer to Heaven and Hell than usual. It is rumoured that the lost caves may lead to the Unde...
Read more