The sea breeze as it blows across you face in the early morning is one of the most amazing things I have ever felt, better even that the touch of an Adurian slave girl. Many pleasures I have sought in my life, but always I return to the sea for none can replace my watery mistress. The sea will feed you, guide you and should you fall it will catch and hold you as you die.

From the popular book: A Seaman's Life, published 2431 AR.

TBA

Most of the lands that make up Bir-Warqu are ruled by the pirate king Jarlam Goldoot, from his coastal fortress. In some of the northern provinces however the people look more to the temple of Azrai for leadership than the king.

Bir-Warqu is made up of nine provinces, ranging from the desolate northern province of Babane and Toriapre to southern coastal province of Coguno.

The far north-western province is a deserted barren landscape. The only reason this province is claimed by Bir-Warqu is because it has historically been part of the kingdom and the King does not wish to give up control of any more land. The Suakien Temple of Azrai has a small base here, near one of the ancient ruined cities. The priests are currently searching the ruins for magic and wealth to assist their cause.

This province, on the northern border with Suakien is another barren wasteland. Little grows here and it could almost be considered a rocky desert. A few small fresh water springs prevent this province from being totally abandoned though. The STA has a small shrine and there are two inns on the road north to Qabbii province in Suakien.

Although as barren as the other two northern provinces this province borders on the coast and is home to several fishing villages and one large town, all along the coastline. In the southern part of the province the barren rocky landscape clears to become grassland and farmers herd large numbers of cattle and other animals. Once again the STA has a stranglehold on the law in the province, with the King having little control here at all.

This is the most central of the northern provinces. It is north of Pandan and situated between the large eastern province of Inhanbane, and the similarly sized western province of Babane. A road runs north from here, through Toriapre and into Suakien. The south of this province is becoming heavily populated as the grasslands are slowly turned into farms and vineyards. Although it gets little water the Bir-Warquan people have discovered that grapes grow especially well here and Kokstad supports several large vineyards. Much of the wine produced is of poor quality though and it does not sell for the prices that the Suakien wines fetch.

The most western of the central provinces, Maritz is a rough hilly land. Bordering on the Adurian Wastes it is sparsely populated with perhaps only as many as five or six hundred people living there. Most of these people are members of Yani the bandit's band. The bandit has a hideout hidden deep in the hills where he stores his plunder and wealth. Several times a month his men head east into the richer provinces to raid farms and towns for food and gold. The Bir-Warquan army has tried several times in the past to stop him but they are never quick enough to reach the sites of his raids and unable to track the cunning bandits they inevitably give up their pursuit empty-handed and return to the capital. Several local authorities have since reached an agreement with Yani to hand over a portion of their income to the bandit in return for protection from his raiders.

This central province is one of the most fertile in all of Bir-Warqu. A small river running from Maritz in the west to the sea provides plenty of water for irrigation and it is put to good use. Most of the province is dedicated to farming. The small town of Pandan is built near the ruins of the old Adurian city of the same name and many tales speak of vast treasures and danger that is said to await any who would venture into the ruins. A road runs north from here to Kokstad, and turns east heading to the capital.

To the east of Pandan is the capital province, which holds the coastal city of Bir-Warqu, which the kingdom is named after. The Pandan river reaches the sea where the city lies and the province supports both farming and a large fishing fleet. The city itself is built on a cliff overlooking the river, and the harbor. All of the important buildings are constructed on the higher ground, while the poorer people live on the river banks and shoreline below. The harbor is the base of the Bir-Warquan navy and the shipyards which produce the modified vessels that serves as the mainstay of the navy. Bir-Warqu is a rough town with many taverns similar buildings to cater to the large numbers of sailors who live there.

The most western of the two southern province, Fontein is a lightly populated farming province. Apart from the occasional raids by the Maritz bandits little of interest occurs here.

The last of Bir-Warqu's province this coastal land lies east of Fontein and south of the capital. A road runs south from Bir-Warqu and through Coguno to Lindos. Farming and fishing are the most common occupations of the people of this province. A small port in the south of the province acts as a safe harbor and supply base for the Bir-Warquan fleet should the main port in the capital fall to enemies. Fifty soldiers from the army are stationed here at all times.

Bir-Warqu was once part of the Adurian empire. Two thousand years ago when Aduria conquered these lands, and took them from the Vos and Andu tribes the land was fertile grassland. The Adurians claimed many of the cities once controlled by the fleeing tribes and formed the eighth and Ninth regions of Aduria. Bir-Warqu was the ninth, the most northern of the Adurian empires expansion. In those days the imperial governor ruled the region from the city of Pandan, in the province of the same name.

In those days Bir-Warqu was a prosperous land and many Adurians moved there over the years. The lands under the governors control stretched from the small northern village of Suakien to the city of Lindos in the south. For many years life here was good and the region grew wealthy and populous, and this continued for several hundred years.

Then came the Skissshar invasion which swept east from the mountain known as the Spire. The armies stationed in Pandan and the rest of Bir-Warqu were quickly swept away by the invading Snakemen and soon all of Bir-Warqu was under their control. The Skissshar were harsh rulers and many of the great Adurian cities were destroyed, even now, many centuries after, old ruins still dot the landscape. Almost half of the population of the Bir-Warqu region was slaughtered by the invaders, and most of the rest fled to Aduria and the other lands to the south. By the time Aduria reclaimed these lands they were almost empty of people. The long war had also done great damage to the land itself and the once fertile plains were now barren and lifeless. The Adurian army soon abandoned this land and returned home leaving the ruined land behind them.

Some people did survive however, living from the sea or on the few fertile patches of land left. Over the centuries the land has recovered and now most of the coastline is capable of once again supporting life. Like Suakien to the north and Lindos to the south the population of Bir-Warqu has also recovered. Although nothing like what it once was the kingdom does currently support a population of around sixty thousand.

Because of their reliance on fish for food in the years after the defeat of the Skissshar the people of Bir-Warqu make great sailors. In all of Aduria only perhaps the eastern empire of Subriya and the tiny realm of Halwan to the west can match them on the water. Unfortunately rather than become traders like the Subriyans the sailors of Bir-Warqu have chosen to become pirates and raiders. They are now renowned as the scourges of the northern coast of the Adurian Empire and often hunted by the Adurian navy. Bir-Warquan ships are much faster than their Adurian counterparts, and equipped with large triangular sails which give them a definite speed advantage over the Adurian vessels, which rely on rowers and only use their sails to assist the rowers.

Even the fast Bir-Warquan raiders can not run forever though and ten years ago a fleet of thirty Adurian war galleys caught up with them, with the help of several magicians, and almost the entire Bir-Warquan navy was destroyed before they could flee back north.

Despite their pirating lifestyle the people of Bir-Warqu are not generally evil or criminal. Most are kind and hard working, running small farms and vineyards on the plains to the west of the coastline. Poor in minerals and other natural resources Bir-Warqu must import wood and stone from Suakien to the north. The eastern provinces of the Kingdom are good for farming and keeping animals though and the export of agricultural produce makes up much of Bir-Warqu's income. The rest comes from pirating, but this is by no means a major part.

TBA

Regent: The current king of Bir-Warqu is Jarlam Goldoot (MAd; F7; Unblooded; Age 47). He is an old warrior who took over the kingdom from his father only recently and has quickly turned it into something of a power in northern Aduria. He has rebuilt the shattered Bir-Warqu fleet, which was destroyed in an attack by the Adurian Empire, and led his new vessels on several successful raids along the rich northern coastline of the Adurian Empire. With the money taken in these raids he has rebuilt the old towns and cities along the coast of Bir-Warqu and for the first time in two centuries the kingdom is actually growing once more, instead of suffering the slow reduction in population that had been occurring.

The King is a harsh ruler like his ancestors, but he has learned that spending money on the people is a good way to make them happy. With the rebuilding of the Kingdom's pirate fleet, gold is now flooding into the King's coffers, although eventually Aduria will tire of his constant raids and once more send a fleet north to attack Bir-Warqu again. The King hopes to have a strong enough naval force ready by then to drive off the Adurians.

Lieutenants: The King has three lieutenants, his general, the kingdom's administrator, and a court magician.

Harinn Kasilix (MAd; F14; Unblooded; Age 65) is the old general of Bir-Warqu. He looks after the kingdom's tiny army, while the King runs the navy. An old man now, he was once a great soldier, who has served the last two kings. He spends most of his time these days sitting in his favorite chair at the barracks and watching his soldiers drill. He is still a superb master of strategy and if war broke out he would be ready to fight.

Aleera Goren (FAd; 0-Level; Unblooded; Age 39) is Bir-Warqu's administrator. It is her task to watch over the treasury and handle all the taxation of the people and payment of the soldiers and sailors. She does not really enjoy her work and is currently embezzling large sums of gold to buy a villa in Aduria and live in luxury away from this primitive kingdom.

Jareen (MNe; M7; Unblooded; Age 54) is the court magician. He is the son of a Nehalim noble, but was exiled for various crime and now lives here in Bir-Warqu. He is a fairly incompetent magician and work more with tricks than any real magic. He hopes one day to return to his homeland, but until then lives here, charging the Kingdom highly for his services. Jareen owns a large villa outside the capital and spends most of his time there. When the King is in port, and not off on some raid he can usually be found in the city however.

Important NPCs: Apart from those mentioned above there are few important personalities in Bir-Warqu. Indeed the only other person of note is the bandit Yani (MJh; F4; Az, minor, 3; Age 24), who controls a force of nearly three hundred bandits in Maritz province. The hilly land of that province hides his troops well and he is able to raid into Pandan, Kokstad, and Fontein provinces without any danger to either him or his men. King Jarlam knows of his existence but is not willing to risk his few soldiers seeking the bandits in the rough hills of Maritz. Instead the King ignores his raids, as they do little damage to the King's finances, only those of his people.

TBA

• Law: Both the King and the High Priest of the Suakien Temple of Azrai control law holdings in Bir-Warqu. There is no current conflict between the too, but trouble may develop in the future if the STA continues to expand.
• Temples: The northern provinces look to the STA for their religious guidance, while the rest of the kingdom follows the Northern Temple of Brenna, which is based in Lindos to the south.
• Guilds: The king controls most of the trading in the kingdom, although Gael Somellin from the Suakien Outfitters owns a small guild.
• Sources: No wizards currently live in the kingdom, or claim its sources.

Categories: Atlas | World:Aebrynis | Continent:Aduria