Aargataag, dubbed The Province of Stone, is a Darklands realm that sits on the mountainous border between the Darklands and Sommerlund. It is a military outpost, purely geared towards defending the mountain passes from a potential invasion by Sommerlund. Its largest fortress is V'taag, and it is the realm in which the naval port of Argazad is located.
History[]
During the Golden Age of the Shianti, long before the Darklords arrived on Magnamund, the land of Aargataag was populated by the Nebora. They were exterminated in MS 3250 during the War of Desecration, and all that remains of their race is a ruined tower in what later became Aargataag.[1]
When Darklord Zagarna became Archlord, he declared Aargataag to become a military march, and ordered the construction of multiple massive fortresses in the Durncrag Mountains, serving as marshalling posts for Giak armies, as well as agents and spies operating within Sommerlund. He also declared that due to it being the closest realm to Sommerlund, infighting — a common situation within the Darklands — could never happen in Aargataag, on pain of death, due to the importance of its location, between themselves and hated enemy Sommerlund.
Darklord Kraagenskûl wished to turn the port of Argazad into a far larger naval base, with him as its eventual lord, to protect against a hypothetical naval invasion by Sommerlund. However, Zagarna refused to allow this project to go ahead. This project became a reality under the rule of Archlord Gnaag, with the port finally being upgraded in MS 5065. Darklord Kraagenskûl became its Lord, transferring his domain from Helgedad.[2]
It is unknown what became of Aargataag after the demise of the Darklords in MS 5070.
Geography[]
Aargataag is located at the foot of the Durncrag Mountains and is the eastern-most Darklands realm closest to enemy Sommerlund. Maarkaag lies to the west, and to the south lies Lyris, beyond the Southern Durncrag Mountains and the Maakengorge. To the north lies its capital, Argazad, as well as the Gulf of Helenag.
During the time of Archlord Zagarna, it had 3,000 Drakkarim, 5,000 Mountain Giaks, and 5,000 Giak slaves.[1]
Politics[]
Aargataag was ruled as a military domain by the Archlord. During the time of Archlord Zagarna, Darklord Kraagenskûl controlled the new port of Argazad on the Archlord's behalf, and Vorrkar, a Drakkar Gudjagoknar, ran Aargataag on a day-to-day basis.[1]
Design[]
Between the first and second editions of The Darklands, the following changes were made:
- In the first edition, it is Archlord Vashna who threatened death upon infighting parties in Aargataag.[3] In the second edition, it is Archlord Zagarna who does this.[4]
- The second edition talks about the Nebora, exterminated by the Darklords, where a ruin in Aargataag is all that is left of the civilisation.[1]
- The second edition explicitly mentions Argazad being in Aargataag, as well as some background information about its eventual upgrade.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Hahn, August [2004] (2011). "Darklands Geography: Aargataag — The Province of Stone", The Darklands, Dever, Joe, Second Edition, Mongoose Publishing.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [1985–1995] (2015-11-16). "Newsletter #11", Lone Wolf Club Newsletters, Internet Edition, Project Aon, p. 181. “Kraagenskûl was a former Lord of Helgedad until he was put in charge of the construction of Argazad. On its completion he became lord of that stronghold. (The naval base was built from scratch while Lone Wolf was in the Daziarn).”
- ↑ Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, pp. 6–7. “Aargataag is almost unique in the Darklands as it has never been troubled by the infighting that plagues other domains. This is because Archlord Vashna decreed Aargataag immune to such bickering and personally put to death anyone causing trouble there.”
- ↑ Hahn, August [2004] (2011). "Darklands Geography: Aargataag — The Province of Stone", The Darklands, Dever, Joe, Second Edition, Mongoose Publishing. “Aargataag is almost unique in the Darklands as it has never been troubled by the infighting that plagues other domains. This is because Archlord Zagarna decreed Aargataag immune to such bickering and personally put to death anyone causing trouble there.”
| Archlords | Vashna • Zagarna • Haakon • Gnaag |
| Darklords | Chlanzor • Dakushna • Ghanesh • Ghurch • Gnaag • Haakon • Khatellu • Kraagenskûl • Menashga • Mrugor • Nhorg • Shebnar • Slûtar • Taktaal • Tomogh • Unc • Vashna • Xog • Zagarna • Zhanshal |
| Domains (and capitals) within the Darklands | Helgedad • Aargataag (V'taag • Argazad) • Dajaraa • Dajdorza • Ghargon (Gournen) • Gourizaga (Gourzaa) • Hourdast • Iznogdazokim (Aarnak) • Jegdazok (Dugazogak) • Kagzizad (Nadgazad) • Luurvad • Maarkaag (Kaag) • Northern Skaror (Gazad Helkona) • Tar Ogashaar (Ogvast) • Yr-Naoga (Naargarod) • Zutzinozaga (Mozgôar) |
| Media | The Darklands • Terror of the Darklords |