Some of my favorites:
City-State of the Invincible Overlord
It is generally accepted that The City-State of the Invincible Overlord was founded on the ruins of the ancient capital city of the Orichalan Dragon Empire in 3075 BCCC.
City State of TarantisThe City-State of Tarantis was founded in 1792 BCCC (2,541 years ago) by two nomadic tribes the Gishmesh, and the Paldorian Clan. Originally only a cluster of dwellings and a few mercantile and craft establishments protected by earthworks, the growing city found an increased need of protection after several raids by the Karzulun between 1882 and 1886 BCCC. Atar the Lion has ruled Tarantis for 48 years. he employs all alignment types within his government in order to keep a firm base of power. His reign, although marked by much violence and tyranny and marred by political squabbles, payoffs, and scandals has resulted in a more ordered life amongst the people of Tarantis and in the provinces. The City-State of Tarantis is ruled by Atar the Lion, the hereditary monarch, and his cabinet. The two provinces are ruled by the human kings known as Sultans.
The Province of Jarmeer lies North of the river Astorin, South of the river Eidhraun, and west of the Azurian River. The present Sultan, Adbar Olana attained his position in 4313 after the former Sultan was convicted of conspiracy to murder Atar the Lion. The other Province of Tarantis is Ganzir-Galad, located directly east of Tarantis. This small province was formed as a protection against the wandering bands of raiding nomads that are plaguing the Ebony Coast. The Present Sultan of Ganzir-Galad, Oldibruch Agnot, has reined for only two years.
GameDaddy's Note: As you can plainly see here, Bob still retained a fondness for Tolkienesque style names in naming this lesser province of Tarantis, even as he was creating his own campaign setting. In an interview in 2004 Bob told me of the great campaign of 1975-1976 where he played as the Emperor of Kelnore (Tarantis) with Gary Gygax (Viridian Emperor, commander of the Vasthosts, and ruler of the City-State of the World Overlord) and Dave Arneson (The Orichalan Dragon Emperor from Blackmoor, and the Valley of the Ancients). Bob was rather proud of the fact that he had successfully defended Tarantis from the combined armies of Gary and Dave, and had beaten Dave in a Naval Engagement along the Ebony Coast in the Winedark Sea (Forever bloodstained by this war, you see?), and broken the siege of Tarantis in the time when it was part of the Empire of Kelnore. There is more lore on this actual campaign in the Necromancer Games Player's Guide to the Wilderlands, starting on page nine.
Modron City of the River GoddessFive centuries ago, Modron was a thriving port city whose inhabitants worshipped Modron, the Goddess of Rivers and Proteus, the Shepherd of Neptune. Legends tell of the huge merchant vessels from far off Karakan and the incredible wealth brought by traders from the Isle of the Blest for pearls and dwarven artifacts. The mermen of Crespar stopped trading sponges and pearls, yet the port's wealth increased. Then, a huge migration of Orcs stopped the flow of dwarven merchandise and the far travelers no longer docked at Modron. In less than 50 years, the once flourishing area lost most of its population and the followers of the god and goddess blamed each-other's deity for the loss. Civil strife erupted and the temple of Proteus was submerged in the holocaust. The death blow was delivered by raiders in longships which carried off the few women and men into slavery. The survivors fled when or& scavengers moved into the ruins for a final pillage, hefting tons of marble. The Temple of Modron, being underground, was left unscathed and the Mermen renewed their vows to the Goddess of the Rivers.
With funds from the City State, a new town was founded on the ruins of the old, to protect the Overlord's merchant ships fro- river pirates. 'Maelstron', a giant sea snake, with an allegiance to the City State, protected the builders. The original name was retained because it equated with magnificent warships and high-wizards in songs of the bards...
GameDaddy's Modron Notes: Modron was the main port city and departure point of the armies of the Dragon Emperor (Dave Arneson) who along with the Vasthosts of the City-State of the World Emperor (Gary) led the invasion of Tarantis (which was successfully defended by Bob Bledsaw in an extended series of battles and sieges) in their late 1975-early 1977 campaign game that they played together.
Dwarven Citadel of Thunderhold
The ancient citadel of Thunderhold, now occupied by the dwarves of the Majestic Fastness who were driven by their ancestral home 400 years ago by the great dragon, Analegorn. A staunch ally of the Overlord of the City State, the dwarves of Thunderhold help maintain the Rorystone Road to protect trade between the two cities.
The Rorystone Road Supplement
The accompanying map details an area known as "Rorystone Road" which runs north from the City-State to the Dwarven fortress of Thunderhold. Becuase the area of the City-State is so crucial to most Wilderlands campaigns, The Rorystone Road area is provided here in greater detail than the gazetteer fashion of the rest of this book. This download contains enough information for you to begin a campaign in the core area of the Wilderlands right away!
Geographic features
Conqueror's River
Dearthwood - vast and dense forest North and East of the City-State and home to the Orcs of the Purple Claw.
Ered Cantref - Mountain Range
Howling Hills - Wolves, Werewolves & Trolls
Majestic Fastness - The Majestic Fastness is a vast underground complex, like unto a city, that is the ancestral home of the Dwarves who now occupy Thunderhold. they were drived out 400 years ago.
The Majestic Mountains - home of the Dragon Analegorn
Mermist Marshes - Located South-East of the City-State. There are many rumors of merfolk associated with this swamp.
Moonraker Moorlands - The moors are pocked with craters that resemble the craters of the moon. Home to the Moonraker Moorfolk, a strange blooodline of humans believed to be descended from the Orichalan Dragon Kings.
Nazharrow Woods - A great stand of evergreens north of the river Stillring.
Old South Road - The only safe overland road which runs south of the City-State.
Phantom Peak - A semi-dormant volcano.
River Eorlbane - A branch of the Conqueror River.
River Severn - This wide slow river is one of the deepest in the world.
River Stilling - This river starts on the edge of the Nzharrow Woods.
Sabre Scarpe - Called for the razor like grass growing along the hills.
Thunder Crag - A looming peak that overlooks the Kingdom of the Dwarves.
Troll Fens - Just a nasty marsh.
Twinhorn Pass - Two massive, looming peaks guard what is the only safe passage through the Northen Cloudwalls, The Twinhorn gate, a Citadel, polices the pass and charges a toll for travelers, though providing rest.
GameDaddy's Personal Lore & Notes: Note the Tolkien influence on many of the names and creatures from this region (Bob), Note also Daves' influence... Arneson's Dragon Kings flew from Blackmoor and the Valley of the Ancients, across the Winedark Sea and settled here, attacking and conquering the area where the City-State of the Imperial Overlord was later founded, with the only remains of his Dragonriders remaining being the Moonraker Moorfolk in the Moonraker Moorlands.
Lost Man's TrailLost Man's Trail was Bob Bledsaw's final contribution to the fantasy world he created, known as the Wilderlands, written just months before his passing in 2008. This adventure module runs some 24 pages, with 12 maps covering the areas of encounters, in addition to detailed Campaign Maps for Wilderlands Hexes 3615, 3715, 3815 and 3914 of the Roglaroon and Gasconfold Plains Regions, between Modron and Tegel. The trail east from Modron to the Coast, known as Lost Man's Trail, has been a source of mystery for some time. Adventurers have a habit of disappearing from the trail. Are they lured away by some enticement, or waylayed by the legendary Skandic Raiders? The only safe place to stay, The Fat Deer Inn, offers good ale, soft bedding, and an assortment of characters; each having their own reason for being there. This product was written especially for use with the Judges Guild Universal System, and contains the latest version of charts to date.
Tegel Manor
Wraith Overlord: Terror Beneath the City-StateBeneath the City State of the Invincible Overlord lies a maze of tunnels and sewers populated by criminals, fugitives, and a host of strange creatures. This massive product includes many NPCs, multiple underground areas to be explored, and several new monsters. This set contains a 112-page book and a huge, 22"x34" map.
