#nacrp

King Odder (sometimes called “King Odor,” “King Otter,” or “Prince Peasant”). A prophecy was foretold upon his birth that if he was raised by nobility, he would be an insufferable nerd by the age of sixteen. Aghast, his parents sent him to be raised by commoners. Unfortunately—but perhaps unsurprisingly—they lost track of him. King Odder might be the actual prince, or he might be some lucky shepherd chosen at random for the sake of a cover up. Either way he isn’t very popular and most people would like a new king, preferably one who knows how government works.

The Great and Powerful Tim. This wizard lives in the Northern Mountains and his power is unparalleled. Rumors of his terrifying spellwork and villainy abound; it is said he has an army of carnivorous snails at his disposal. Information about him can be neither confirmed nor denied, since no one has ever actually met him, but there are those who believe he knows more about magic than anyone else.

Old Lady Ysabel. This witch lives deep in the heart of the Western Wood. Some say she abandoned society because she scorned its failures; others say she never wanted to show her face in public again after a burning-at-the-stake-gone-wrong left her with a perpetually bad hair day. Others still uphold she wanted to grow vegetables and raise cats unbothered by the burden social interaction. Who can blame her? Old Lady Ysabel is heralded as a great healer who can treat any ailment.

Nasira, Duchess of Futures. Nasira may not actually be a duchess, but she is a giant drama queen. The fact that she only seems to have visions when surrounded by others, and immediately needs them all to shut up and pay attention to her, does make her seem like a bit of a diva. Regardless of her showmanship and inflated sense of self-importance, Nasira’s predictions are generally accurate.

Things aren’t as hunky-dory as King Odder would like to believe. In the seven years of his reign, King Odder has made life worse for everyone—well, everyone except for the nobility, who seem content to let things go on as long as they aren’t affected. Goofy, inept, and more devoted to his image than his people, King Odder has made a farce of diplomatic relations with other countries, raised taxes improbably high, and blamed religions other than his own for every problem Aarne is facing. Tensions are rising, and naps haven’t been invented yet, so you can’t just go to sleep until this blows over. Did we mention dragons are also a problem? Good luck!

While we advertise as medieval, you may find a couple things that don’t quite fit that time period. Here at Not Another Crown, we are all about anachronisms and inaccuracies for the sake of humor. A little bending of the assigned time period is perfectly fine by us; we find that keeping things rigid can limit growth. That being said, there is still a defined setting and a world we’ve built.

The kingdom of Aarne rests on a peninsula that juts out into the Daleko Sea. Aarne’s placement and position have made it a midway point between several large continents to the south, west, and east. Discovered about 500 years ago, Aarne is still a fairly young country. As a piece of land with no native inhabitants, Aarne became a melting pot of different cultures as people from other countries settled in here. This is reflected in the different names of the cities and in the makeup of the population, which is racially and ethnically diverse, from the common folk all the way up through the nobility.

Aarne has diverse topography and ecosystems: great forests, mountain ridges, prairies, and swampland, with rivers and lakes to boot. As a peninsula, Aarne has shoreline across its western, southern, and eastern borders, so go get that beachfront property.

The map below pinpoints major cities, roads, and geographical structures. Please note that there are plenty of small villages not listed here, and you are free to create them. You are also free to create smaller woods, lakes, etc. Beneath the map will be a small explanation of each major city to give you an idea of what life is like there. 

Silsila Islands. The Silsila Islands are rugged and craggy in their topography, with some wooded areas. All the islands are inhabitable. Nasira, Duchess of Futures, lives in the city of Khayt.

Bandari. Bandari is the second largest city in Aarne, outnumbered only by the capital Argent. Although there are many ports and harbors along the coast, Bandari is the main one, attributing to its growth. Because he worries so much about making a good impression, King Odder has slowly turned Bandari into one of the strictest cities in the country, and infused it with glitz, glam, and superfluous attractions.

Argent. The largest city in Aarne and its capital, Argent is the home of King Odder, the royal family, nobility, and common folk. The city is accented with silver doorways, arches, columns, and gates. The castle is located at the heart of Argent, and the closer one gets to the castle, the more ostentatious the displays of wealth and status become. 

Boli. A large farming village in the east. This is where King Odder was raised and found as an adult. King Odder always comes back here for his birthday party, even though the people generally wish he wouldn’t. 

Port Lahar. King Odder doesn’t pay much attention to the cities north of the capital, so this port city is nearly lawless. It is the complete opposite of Bandari. Anything goes here. Pirates buy off the city guards and sign autographs for their adoring fans; it’s a good day when a famous thief decides to pick your pocket. Crime is often overlooked and unreported. 

Roble. They claim that Old Lady Ysabel visits occasionally, which makes little sense, since this is where they tried to burn her. Roble isn’t particularly friendly to magic, so you won’t see many famous wizards with their origins here. Roble is, in fact, best known for producing knights and dragon slayers.