Central Characters of Shendenflar

Name:  Colin Winterblade           

Age: 57

Birthplace: Unknown (presumably The Free city of Greyhawk)

Title: Lord Counselor

Biography: Colin Winterblade is one of Simeon Baras' oldest friends. They met during the king's adventuring days and have remained close ever since. Cunning and intelligent,Winterblade holds an unique position in the court of King Simeon, he can act as the "Kings' Voice" meaning that official orders and decrees may be given by him in the name of the king. He takes this responsibility very seriously. Although not a native of Shendenflar he is respected and listened to. He does however have a secret: He is a thief. This is of course not known to anyone save the king. Simeon has been aware of this for years as that is how the two met. A younger Simeon Baras was recruiting a party of adventurers and one of those recruited was Colin Winterblade a wiry charming man of great dexterity. Over the next few years the two shared many adventures and saved each others life countless times. Finally after a long night of celebratory drinking, Winterblade confessed his true profession to Simeon. It was of no great surprise to the future king as Winterblade's unique skills had not gone unnoticed. For his part Simeon merely requested that Colin not steal from him and went on to continue being his friend. Although it has been years since Colin has been an active thief he can still be found in the city most nights walking and observing his skill at noticing the unnoticed is uncanny and serves him well with his current post. He is acquainted with most of the more powerful thieves of the city as well as most of the fences and brothel owners. To say he has his "ear to the ground" would be an understatement as very little goes on in Shendenflar (or outside it) that he doesn't know. He also has extensive contacts in The Free City of Greyhawk, where it is rumored that he is a Oligarch. These rumors cannot be substantiated however. Colin Winterblade is a charming man of average height with no extra girth to slow him down. His long hair is usually pulled back into a pony tail and is just starting to turn gray. He is usually dressed in shades of black with trousers and tabard being his favorite attire he carries two plain silver daggers that he is never seen without. He is witty and engaging and after a conversation with him one often feels as if he has said almost nothing. He is very well suited for his role as Lord Counselor and enjoys it very much.

A Historical Time Line Of Shendenflar

The Kingdom of Shendenflar is an old land. One formed during the first round of the great break up of the Great Kingdom. Ferrond (now Furyondy) Keoland, Veluna, and Shendenflar were formed in quick succession. beginning in the year CY (common year) 100

CY 50- The land that will eventually become Shendenflar is granted by the Overking to the Baras family for deeds performed in the service of the king. The entire area was used as a hunting preserve for the Baras family and the overking.

CY 64- The Baras family begins to move family members and staff to the newly named Shendenflar region. This is the precursor to the total exodus of the Baras family away from the Raxues area and the Overking.

CY 68- Riverhewn long a settlement built on the banks of the Fler river and the shores of Lake Quag is named the capital of the region of Shendenflar. Construction of a large governmental complex is started as the population increases.

CY 100- The Viceroyalty of Ferrond claims independence from the great kingdom renames itself The Kingdom Of Furyondy. The Baras family now lives totally within the region of Shendenflar and meetings between King Thrommel of Furyondy and Talin Baras are commonplace.

CY 100-125 Veluna, Keoland, and Perrenland all claim independence from the great kingdom. The Baras family is instrumental in brokering the terms of these successions. The fire of independence is burning in Shendenflar.

CY 125-144 The Shendenflar region is now fully autonomus. Kadre Baras rules as "Governor" although it has been years since any tax or tribute has been paid to the Great Kingdom. An alliance of sorts has grown up between the "Northern Kingdoms" of Furyondy, Veluna, Perrenland and Shendenflar. It is at a confrence of delegates from these lands in CY 143 that Kadre Baras announces his decision to succeed from the Great Kingdom.

CY 144- Kadre Baras announces the formation of the Kingdom of Shendenflar and the installation of himself as her first king. The rulers of all the northern kingdom alliance are in attendence.

CY 147- King Kadre the firsts reign is cut short after he is found dead in his chambers. An investigation reveals that he was assassinated by means of poison. The Scarlet Brotherhood is suspected as is the Overking. In a somber ceremony in the rainy fall of 147 15 year old Soros Baras is coronated in Riverhewn.

CY 148- The teenage king of Shendenflar is tested as Scarlet Brotherhood agents acting under orders from the overking attempt to assassinate him 4 times over the year. after the last failed attempt young king Soros becomes so enraged that he orders every suspected member of the Brotherhood in Shendenflar captured and hung. while a great many of the red robed monks did die within Shendenflar's borders a unfortunate amount of innocents also perished due to Soros's rage.

CY 150- The Overking tries in vain to recover his lost lands in the North with a multi faceted attack on Furyondy, Shendenflar and Veluna at the same time. Although the Overkings force is mighty the combined forces of the three new kingdoms managed to drive back the invasions. King Soros of Shendenflar suggested a counterattack on the Great Kingdom which was immediately put down.

CY 172- After 25 years of rulership King Soros Baras is killed in a hunting accident at the age of 40. His rule although tumultuous saw Shendenflar grow powerful and prosperous. His body lay in state for 5 days while a seemingly endless procession of mourners passed by. His eldest son Kadre the second was coronated King after his fathers funeral.

CY 173-580- The Baras family continued to lead the Kingdom Of Shendenflar wisely throughout the last 4 centuries. The current sovereign is King Simeon Baras the 8th member of the Baras family to carry that name. Simeon took the throne at age 35 after the death of his uncle Gired the 4th. Simeon's father had been killed by a freak earthquake that struck Shendenflar. Simeon unlike most of his ancestors was a adventurous sort wandering the continent for nearly 20 years before returning home to assume the throne. Over these years he made extensive connections across the Flanaess. These connections would serve him well as the continent lunged towards war in the years 580-585. The Northern Alliance stood together to fight off the evil demi-god Iuz. Although Shendenflar was not directly attacked by the evil one her armies served valiantly in Furyondy and the Vesve forest. King Simeon became a trusted ally and good freind to King Belvor of Furyondy and the two met often during the war. It was with Shendenflar's help that Belvor's armies were able to break the siege of Chendl, Furyondy's capital city. and in fact there are still Shendenflarian soldiers serving in foreign lands that are threatend by the evil Iuz.

Central Characters of Shendenflar

The First installment:


Name: Simeon Baras
Age: 55
Birthplace: City Of Riverhewn Shendenflar
Title: His Most Royal Majesty King Of Shendenflar
Biography: Simeon Baras is the eighth king of Shendenflar to hold that name. He took the  throne later in life than most Shendenflarian kings as he was an adventurer in his youth. Being the second son of his father,he had no  direct line to the throne and was allowed to go out and make a name for himself in other pursuits. His adventuring career led him from one end of the Flanaess to the other along the way he made several life-long friendships that would serve him well after taking the throne. Simeon is a large man like most of his ancestors. Also like the other Baras men he loves the outdoors and the hunt. He is also very proud of the fact that his bloodline can be traced back all the way to Shendenflar's very beginning. He is thoughtful and fair although not sentimental or swayed by emotion. He believes  kings must make the hard choices to secure the future of their kingdoms. His time as an adventurer has tempered his hereditary zeal for justice. Not that he doesn't believe in justice he just doesn't mete it out himself as much as previous kings have done. Under his rule Shendenflar has developed a very good court system and Simeon is happy to let that system handle crime and punishment in the kingdom. Only the most heinous of crimes are seen by the king now. His adventuring life has also given Simeon a taste for luxury something the previous Baras kings had no use for. No dandy he is but his quarters show his years of spoils and are comfortable and elegant as is his throne room. Like most of his ancestors Simeon does not rely heavily on advisers for his decisions. There is a small group of trusted friends that he will talk with when a difficult decision must be made, but for the most part he relies on and trusts his ability to make decisions well and justly. He is also more of a "man of the people" than his predecessors, as he often can be seen walking through the streets of the capital city of Riverhewn, talking with citizens. This draws the displeasure of his Guards-Captain who is tasked with the kings protection but Simeon pays him little heed. Overall Simeon Baras is an excellent king and has brought Shendenflar through an extremely difficult time relatively unharmed. He is in excellent health and will continue to rule the kingdom wisely for years to come.

Darchome: The Capital Of The Abyssal Plane OF Despair

This is another in the Plane Of Despair Series which will eventually end up as an adventure/supplement. This map was done in GIMP with the generous assistance of the members of the Cartographers Guild.

The Abyssal Plane Of Despair: The Realm Of The Dragonqueen

This map will be used in an upcoming adventure I plan to write.

This map was made with GIMP along with generous assistance of the members of the Cartographers Guild

The Wings Of Mystery A Plane Ship

The Wings of Mystery is a ship capable of both Magical and mundane travel. Outfitted with masts,sails, and planar engines, she can travel both the seas and the skies. Thanks to her massive dragon-like wings that unfold during planar travel she can also take advantage of the energies found in the Astral Sea as well as the Elemental Chaos. Her master Damon Rell uses this ship to ferry passengers from Oerth to various layers of the Elemental Chaos.

This map was made in GIMP with generous assistance from the members of the Cartographers Guild.

The Caverns Of The Dragonqueen

From time to time I will post other types of maps here as I also plan to use this blog as a "portfolio" of my work. This map and the accompanying "Wings Of Mystery" Map are part of of an upcoming adventure that I plan to write. This map was created in GIMP with the Generous assistance of the Cartographers Guild.