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Nyrond Government

Lynwerd and his ancestors have always held the power to strip nobles of their landholdings and grant them to others to be administered. Historically, this has been justified by the claim that the king must have this power to ensure that common people could not be ruled by greedy nobility who would overtax them. While Nyrond's kings have not used their power corruptly, they have used their power to keep lesser nobility firmly in their place.

Nyrond's kings set maximum levels of taxes and tithes throughout the whole kingdom, and nobles were not permitted to exceed the given figures. Most of the administration of the lands was done by the appointees of the king's powerful bailiff-general, whose men collected all taxes and tithes including those imposed by local landholders. Again, this was done to avoid any possibility of people being overtaxed, and had the effect of making sure the king got every last copper owed to him.

The balance of political power in Nyrond is very different today. While some taxes are still required from all citizens and visitors, the rebuilding effort of the knigdom is primarily funded through the collection of tarriffs, road tolls, and city entrance fees.

Crime and Punishment

Criminal offenses are divided into Grievous Crimes (such as murder, sedition, and treason), Injurious Crimes (such as serious assault, tomb robbing, major destruction of property, rioting, magical misconduct and the like), and Crimes of Disrepute (small-beer infringements such as minor assault, bootlegging, coin clipping, minor fraud, and bribery of minor officials). Minor offenses are regarded as more serious if they result in impairment of rebuilding and defense work.

Trials for criminal offenses are presided over by magistrates as above, save for Grievous Crimes, which are investigated by a three-member panel of judges, higher-ranking priests of suitable deities. Magical interrogations are standard practice in cases of alleged Grievous Crimes, but not in lesser cases.

Sentences handed down to those found guilty vary somewhat from province to province, but Grievous Crimes usually merit death or banishment usually accompanied by the severance of a limb or the placing of a curse or geas on the criminal. With other crimes, judges levy heavy fines. Some opt for forced conscription into levies. Others prefer imprisonment or banishment. It is possible to say that heavy fines are now preferred to imprisonment for all but the very worst offenses, however, death is always an option. Corruption has also infested the legal system in many places, so that crimes can be overlooked in return for a bribe. Generally, law in Nyrond outside the big cities and Central Provinces is administered as local rulers see fit. Most are good and lawful men, but these are hard times, and some seek to counter public rebellions and riots with harsh, repressive penalties.

Courts

There is a policy of dual Courts of Justice, Local and Royal. The maintaining of the law the Kingdom is under the jurisdiction of the Barons, Dukes and the other rulers of the Provinces. These Lords are charged with appointing and maintaining local law enforcement and Local Courts. So, much of the crime inforcement is under the jurisdictionm of the local appointed representives

As a rule most Crimes of Dispute are handles by Local Courts as well as Injurious Crimes and but the most serious Grievous Crimes. Local officials handle most local murders.

In the Royal Provinces only the most serious of the Grievous Crimes (treason against the crown and sedition) are automatically handled Royal Courts. Though in some cases Royal Courts may preside over Crimes of Dispute and Injury. All cases heard in Justcrown (the King's Lands) are heard by Royal Courts.

For most people in Nyrond asking for Royal Justice rather than Local is not an easy thing. The accused or their representatives must show that there is compelling reason to change the venue and must convice a Representative of the King's High Marshall to handle the case. It must be shown that there is an overriding reason that the Royal Courts must hear the case. This reason may include local prejudice, conflict of interest, gross violations of procedures, or that the local power does not have jurisdiction over the case.

Licensed Adventurers of the Kingdom can automatically ask for Royal Justice do to their special status given by the King.

Adjucating Player Character Crimes

In a Living Greyhawk Nyrond Game, in which a Player Character commits a crime and is arrested for that crime (that is not a part of the module), the Player Character will have their cases handled after the game is over by the Judge and Triad representative. Sentencing will be done in accordance with the crime commited. The following prison terms are mandatory sentences for the given crimes, the TU number is the amount of time units the character must spend out of action (recorded on the log sheet).

• Minor Infractions -- a fine ranging from 5-100 nobles, based on the crime (DM's judgement).
• Stealing (amounts less than 100 gold) -- 1 month (4 TU's), and restitution equal to three times the amount stolen.
• Stealing (amounts greater than 100 gold) -- 2 months (8 TU's), a fine equal to three times the amount stolen, plus the possible loss of a hand if the grievous enough. This crime requires that notes must be taken detailing the specifics of the situation, and the contact information for the player involved. These notes should be turned over to the convention coordinator who will discuss it with the regional triad.
• Assault and Battery -- 1 month (4 TU's), and a fine of 100 nobles (100 gp). If the PC cannot or chooses not to pay, the prison time is doubled.
• Murder -- Life in prison or death by hanging, in either event, remove the character from play. The character and all associated certs should be turned in with the judging packet. This result must also be brought to the convention coordinator, or preferrably the Nyrond Triad, as shown above.
• Treason -- Life in prison or death by hanging. Same result as for murder above, with the same requirements for the DM and coordinator, or preferrably the Nyrond Triad.

Nyrond Military

Nyrond Military History

The provincial lords gained control of their own armies when Nyrond separated from the Great Kingdom. The remaining Great Kingdom Legions in Nyrond were divided and allocated to each of the provinces. Over time the Legions were disassembled and became common militias, with the only semblance of the original Great Kingdom roots remaining in the Justcrown province Legion. The Royal Army was created later, in order to provide a common military force among all the provinces.

During times of crisis and war the Royal Army could call up the Provincial Armies as necessary. In this case, the Royal Army also gained command of the Provincial Army, but because of the confusing bureaucratic structure which had evolved over the ages this was a tenuous situation at best.

Prince Lynwerd found himself intrigued by the bizarre structure of the Armies of Nyrond, and studied both the original Great Kingdom army structure and its notable battles as well as the teaching of the Furyondan College of War. He soon decided that Nyrond's military was cumbersome, bureaucratic and highly ineffective. To Lynwerd, this seemed to be epitomized by Royal General Basmajenn. The General obsessed with pomp and ceremony, but was lax on military discipline and training.

Before Nyrond entered the Greyhawk Wars, Prince Lynwerd convinced his father to appoint himself as Militant Commander of the Justcrown Legion. This was an old position from the Great Kingdom that Lynwerd had learned of. In modern Nyrond most people didn't know what to think of it, and much to General Basmajenn's chagrin, gave Lynwerd as much leeway as he was willing to take, which was given more because he was Prince than because he was Militant Commander.

During the wars Prince Lynwerd used his position to temper the potential military disasters being planned by the General. He spread the more loyal officer corps of the Justcrown Legion throughout the rest of the army, increasing training and discipline. The chain of command did become more confusing during this time, but not much more than it was before hand. People tended to follow the orders of those who knew what they were talking about and able to make payroll (something Lynwerd guaranteed, at least for those troops under the command of the Legion). General Basmajenn was not happy with this usurping of his command, but there was little he could do, as the troops liked the Prince.

As the wars were wrapping up, Lynwerd found himself on the field in northern Nyrond when he learned of his brother's treason. He broke camp and with the bolstered Justcrown Legion and hurried back to Rel Mord, only to find his brother had fled the city.

While Archbold recovered, Lynwerd had some time to consider the military structure of Nyrond. After he was crowned in 586 CY he restructured the military along with the provinces. Much of the lesser trained troops of the Army, composed of the provincial militias, were dismissed. The remaining Royal and Provincial Armies were then divided into seven Legions, each commanded by its own Royal General, with names and heraldry based on the original Great Kingdom legions of the Viceroyalty of Nyrond. Lynwerd was careful to divide out the loyal officers from the original Justcrown Legion between all of the new legions. Royal General Basmajenn was given command of the Fourth Legion, and the other Field Generals were granted the rank of Royal General in other legions. The original Justcrown Legion became the Ninth Legion. Provincial lords are allowed to maintain their own militias, but the number of people allowed is directly related to the area's population, they cannot be trained in heavy warcraft, and the chain of command is clearly defined into the Legions if called up.

Royal General Basmajenn's first order as Imperator of the Fourth Legion was to reclaim and secure the Almorian protectorate in concert with the First and Third Legions. Lynwerd gave him the temporary title of Consul for the three Legions, even though they were not acting in the same immediate vicinity. The General had immediate and surprising success and within months had pressed to Bloodcrystal, Duke Szeffrin's old capital. The Fourth legion later pressed south to Onyxgate. Upon arriving at the keep they found it empty; and inhabited the place. The General had plans of waiting out the winter and commanding the reclamation of Almor as Consul in relative comfort. However, when spring arrived, the entire Fourth Legion was missing. Searches revealed no evidence of foul play, but strange occurrences were noted at the castle and those who searched its depths never returned.

Nyrond Military Organization and Composition

Each legionnaire carries all their necessary supplies. In addition the troopers carry supplies necessary to erect a nightly camp with full palisade. Experts in military discipline and maneuvers, each legion can perform numerous formations ranging from the tank like turtle formation to a skirmish line.

The active military count is:

Legions	52,121 legionnaires
Cavalry	3,312 equestrians
Militia	17,549
Navy	8,934 sailors (243 functional river and sea craft; 61% of 396 total)

Nyrond's Military forces were heavily hit during the Greyhawk wars, losing approximately 70,000 men. In the intervening years some changes have occurred in the military, but they have by and large retained their post-war numbers. Many of the Militia were also put into inactive duty after the wars. Before the war Nyrond had approximately:

Legions	75,000 legionnaires
Cavalry	15,000 equestrians
Militia	60,000
Navy	26,000 sailors (379 functional river and seacraft; 58% of the 654 available)

Immediately after the war (approximately 587CY) the troop counts where:

Legions	42,000 legionnaires
Cavalry	3,000 equestrians
Militia	35,000
Navy	13,000 sailors (59 functional river and sea craft; 13% of the 432 available)

Upper Military Chain of Command

King	All military units ultimately are responsible to the crown
Militant Commander	Head of all Military units, Adviser to the King
*Grand Consul	temporary rank assigned in times of emergency
Consul	Field Marshals, commanding multiple Legions
*Proconsul	Rank assigned to military governors of occupied territories or areas under martial law.

These ranks can be filled by either nobles or people from other branches of the Military (Consuls have commonly been Generals, Admirals and nobles). These ranks are only given by appointment from the King.

As of Patchwall 592CY, the following notable officers hold their given ranks in the Nyrond Military:

Militant Commander – Vacant (dismissed when Lynwerd was crowned)
Grand Consul – none
Consul of the Almorian Campaign, Duke Younard
Consul of the Fleet, Royal Admiral Ramol Hugarnd (M, Navy Fleet III)
Consul of the Northern March, Royal General Lie Myariken (M, Legion VII, Midmeadow)
Royal Admiral Toran Anhur (M, Navy Fleet II)
Royal Admiral Gassondian Mantus (M, Navy Fleet I)
Royal General Tival Nyrson (M, Legion I, Almor/Mithat)
Royal General Lahrage Osmeran (M, Legion II, Womtham)
Royal General Dairo Hanshal (M, Legion III, Almor/Narsel Mendred)
Royal General Haninys Voresaul (F, Legion V, Korenflass)
Royal General Nora Zamdronha (F, Legion IX, Justcrown)

Consular Armies

The Legions of Nyrond

There are six primary Legions and two special Legions known as the Legio Arcanus and the Legio Divinus (or the Arcane Legion and the Divine Legion). These additional legions do not operate independently, and instead their members are interspersed throughout the primary legions, providing Arcane and Divine support as Magisters and Chaplains. Members of Legio Arcanus and Legio Divinus all have a commissioned-officer rank, and can be called upon in the line of command in crisis situations.

Before the wars there were ten primary legions in operation. After Lynwerd was crowned he reorganized much of the military and disbanded four of the primary legions, either because their numbers were too few after the wars or due to sedition in the ranks.

Legion Chain of Command

General	Royal General for Imperator of a Legion
Praetor	Praetor Magnus for Imperator of a Division
Major
Captain	Captain Magnus for Imperator of a Company
Tribune
Major Serjeant
Serjeant
Corporal
Legionnaire

Legion Deployment

Legion	Headquarters
Legion I (Kingfisher)	Almor (Mithat)
Legion II (Drake)	Womtham (along the Bone March Border and the Duchy of the Flint Hills)
Legion III (Lion)	Almor (along the Allyssa border)
Legion V (Serpent)	Korenflass
Legion VII (Bloodhound)	Midmeadow (Northern and Western Border and the Gamboge)
Legion IX (Eagle)	Justcrown (spread througout remaining counties)

The Cavalry of Nyrond

The ruinous effect of the wars upon the noble class has created the most room for upward mobility and elevation to the peerage that has ever existed in the history of the Kingdom. However, it will take years to reconstitute the Cavalry to its pre-war strength.

Ranks within the Cavalry follow the lines of nobility. This can often be confusing and contradictory, especially when working alongside the rigid command structure of the Legion.

The Militia of Nyrond

There is also a large faction of Reservists within the Militia. These are soldiers who have been trained to serve in the Militia, but who are on standby and are not on active duty. Reservists are not counted as part of the total number of Militia.

Militia usually report to their local Liege lord. However, any Legion Imperator can call up a Militia unit and place it under their command (even going so far as to activate Reservists).

After the Greyhawk wars many Militia were released from service. Others were offered ranks within the Legions.

Militia Chain of Command

Local Lord
Captain
Lieutenant
Serjeant
Soldier

Other than the local Lord, all ranks of Militia fall underneath the command of an Imperator. Depending upon the level of local Lord, a Praetor Magnus or Royal General can command them.

Navy

The Navy is divided into three fleets. The First Fleet is stationed out of Nessermouth, and is tasked with patrolling and guarding Nyrond's rivers (including the Harp river). The Second fleet is stationed out of Oldred, and is tasked with patrolling and guarding Nyrond's shores, sharing duties with the Third Fleet in patrolling Rel Mor bay. The Third fleet has traditionally been stationed out of Oldred, but for political reasons has recently moved its official headquarters to Mithat. The Third Fleet is tasked with deep sea and all other naval coverage. Oldred is still the home to the largest shipyards, and the Third Fleet still maintains a large base there as well.

The ships of the First Fleet are mostly composed of smaller galleys, barges and other river-capable craft including sloops and cutters. The ships of the Second Fleet are mostly cutters, triremes, and larger galleys. The Third Fleet has some galleys as well as deep sea-worthy ships including cutters, sloops and galleons. Due to funding and personell problems, many of the ships have fallen into disrepair or simply have been mothballed until they are needed again. These craft are stored in the shipyards of Oldred and Mithat. Approximately only 50% of Nyrond's Navy is active at any given time.

Of unique note is a project begun by the Third Fleet in 582CY to build a special "Grand Ship" designed by a team of Gnome engineers as a massive flagship which could hold four hundred men, with multiple ballistae and catapults. Construction of this massive four-decked galleas with a 200 foot keel has been considered outrageous by its critics, and was eventually put on hold during the Greyhawk wars due to the lack of funding and personell. It remains to this day partially completed in the shipyards of Oldred. Despite the perceived failings of the design, recent efforts have begun to find new funding and start construction again.

Navy Chain of Command

Admiral

Commander

Lieutenant

Ensign

Chief Petty Officer

Petty Officer

Seaman 1st class

Seaman 2nd class

Seaman 3rd class

Fleet Deployment

Fleet	Headquarters	Patrol Area
Fleet I (Crossed Scimitars)	Nessermouth	Riverways
Fleet II (A Breaking Wave)	Oldred	Costal
Fleet III (Trident)	Mithat	Deep Water

Citizenship

Playing a Nyrondese Citizen It is important to again note that everybody in Nyrond was adversely affected by the war. As such, most have taken to treating outsides rather gruffly and at arms length. This goes doubly for half orcs and barbarians. These are just reminders of the war and invoke hostility and prejudice. If a PC chooses to be a half-orc or a Barbarian (or both) they can expect to be treated with disdain and hatred.

Once a person befriends a PC, they will be a stanch supporter of him or her. This obviously will take time and effort and isn't likely to occur in a single scenario. Influence points really carry some weight in Nyrond and shouldn't be treated lightly.

Traitorous Resistance

Gnome King

Witches of the Bright

Very little is known about the so-called Witches of the Bright (also known as the Witches of the Sand). The first reports of them occurred not long after Archbold III abdicated his throne. They were a new coven of witches operating out of the Gnatmarsh, and many of the County of Brackenmoor locals took to calling them the Gnatmarsh Coven. Nevertheless, there is no known connection between the Witches of the Bright and the Weird of the Gnatmarsh.

The Witches of the Bright are typically Flan in appearance, and they are most often trained as adepts. They often have shocker lizards as pets or familiars. Reports only mention female witches, and it is not known whether there are any males associated with the coven.

Spells of Divination have added little to the knowledge of the Witches of the Bright other than to reveal their name for themselves and that they migrated into the Gnatmarsh from the Bright Desert in the middle of the last decade.

There is significant evidence that the Witches of the Bright are working with Prince Sewarndt to remove King Lynwerd from the throne. Although nothing is known of their motivations for the alliance, widely-held speculation is that the traitor prince has promised them the County of Brackenmoor in exchange for their assistance.

The Scarlet Brotherhood

The Scarlet Brotherhood has always been a common scape-goat for many troubles, and foiled plots against the king are often claimed to have been from the Scarlet Brotherhood. In reality the depth of the Scarlet Brotherhood infiltration within Nyrond is not known, although the most recent activity from this front has been seen in Oldred.

The Three Families of Oldred

Vardushi Family

The Vardushi Family is one of the most respected families in Oldred, bearing a lesser noble title and a knighthood for Sir Elmain. The family fortune officially comes from shipping and receiving, and they will ship almost anything. Their interests now include ownership of several gaming establishments, an extensive bookmaking operation, management of several "recreational" houses, and of course, "street operation". The Vardushi's are the largest of "The Three Families" and by far the most benign; for the last two generations the family has been moving towards total legitimacy, and toward that end, have cut back street operations, shutdown or sold many of their more extreme gambling and pleasure houses, and have become far more selective of their cargo. Sir Elmain spent time in the Military early in the war, and later was tapped for service in the Royal Intelligence Services, and his son, Margus, has followed suit. Both father and son are absolutely loyal to King Lynwerd. This loyality has not endeared the family to Duke Korenflass, but has helped immensely in their move toward legitimacy.

The primary "illegal" cargos being shipped by the family are weapons to the rebels in Onnwal. King Lynwerd is aware of, and even involved in the efforts to arm the rebels.

Margus is 26 years old, he is starting to receive pressure from both his parents and his uncles to end his dalliances with the employees, and to find a wife. Thus he is now looking for a respectable woman who would be an appropriate mistress of a great house.

Caerizar Family

The Caerizar family claims to be descended from an ancient Sueloise house; the truth of this claim is unknown at the present.

The Caerizar family is the most malicious of "The Three". Almost completely Sueloise, they claim to be descended from an ancient noble house, but there is little evidence of the truth of such a claim. The Caerizar's have avoided political entanglements, in an effort to avoid making enemies. The Caerizar family controls several land-based shipping companies that have regular commerce with the Duchy and County of Urnst; they prefer to deal with Suel families, but are willing to sell and trade with anyone. Despite the profitable nature of their shipping business, most of their money comes from their activities in and around Oldred. The Caerizar family makes most of their money from the protection rackets run by Ardrin Uhase, a young man who walked away from the Scarlet Brotherhood.

The Caerizar's own several small and discrete "houses" that specialize in unique requests (no vanilla here). Mistress Rabbit manages these houses and personally takes care of several of the more important customers.

The Caerizar family is most likely to deal with opposition by means of quiet assassination rather than by direct confrontation. Opponents of the family have been known to either have a night-time meeting with A'mic Tael, the family's head of security, or to be invited to a dinner meeting that has been carefully catered by Lady Athary. Don Kolir Caerizar has fallen into public disfavor, and has started to allow his son, Ivor, to assume much control of the family's affairs and public relations. Iana, who is Ivor's twin sister, became disenchanted with the family and left Oldred at an early age to train at a temple to Lydia in the Duchy. She has recently returned to Oldred as the manager of a small theater and a member of the staff at the Temple to Lydia. The youngest child, a daughter, Salia, has taken to the family busisness and is being trained by their mother, Lady Athary.

The Manilae Shipping Company is a partially owned subsidiary of the Caerizar family, and Obo Toradan, a cousin to the late Lady Amalthea Manilae, the current manager of Manilae Shipping has recently taken over the management of all of the Caerizar's shipping busisness.

Bayfield Family

The Bayfield family, is far more like a guild than an actual family. The Bayfield family has held control of the traditional areas that a guild would run for several generations and Natania and her husband Arton took over from her parents several years ago. Arton took the Bayfield name when he married into the family.

The Bayfield's manage almost all of the street crime in the city. They manage almost all of the vanilla "entertainment" houses in the city, and market some special gnomish liquors. They are the only source of these brews, which have a good distribution and a very loyal customer base.

Despite the large membership and diverse operations of the family, the Bayfields are by far the most vulnerable of the families. Most of their "family members" are not much more than children or entry-level thieves. They have relatively few political ties and no real muscle to defend their turf. The Vardushi family has in the past protected them, but that support has been drying up. Because of the quality of their entertainment establishments, the Royal Navy has also protected them from time-to-time. The Bayfield's maintain clean houses and girls, a fact that is appreciated by senior navy officers.

Valorous League of Blindness

Almor Freedom Movement

Sasrakananakmasha

Quarlanth