Durenor

Kingdom of Durenor
Capital	Hammerdal
Demonym	Durenese
Government	Kingdom
Ruler	King Danan I
Population	96,000+ (MS 5050)
Currency	Gold Crown
Resources	Iron ore, agriculture, shipbuilding, gold, silver, copper, fish, gems, timber
Relations	Freelands (ally) Sommerlund (ally)

The Kingdom of Durenor is a country in Magnamund, located to the east of Sommerlund. The two nations have historically been close allies, to the point where Sommerlund sent Durenor the Sommerswerd as a symbol of mutual trust. The capital city of Durenor is Hammerdal.

History

Durenor was colonised by the House of Ulnar when they arrived in Magnamund in MS 2829. Durenor found little issue expanding their territory, with the lawless people and Vassagonian refugee-pirates fleeing to Cloeasia and the Lakuri Isles. Around MS 3434, the Durenese encountered the Sommlending, and the two became firm allies based on mutual respect and shared values, an alliance that holds until present-day. As a mark of their alliance, Sommerlund entrusted its greatest weapon, the Sommerswerd, to be kept in Hammerdal, and the Sommlending received the Seal of Hammerdal in return, with the agreement that if the Seal of Hammerdal were ever to be returned to Durenor, it would mean that the Darklords were on the move once again, and the Sommerswerd was needed once more.

Durenor took part in the Battles of Moytura Pass and Maakengorge, together with Sommerlund and Cloeasia, creating what is now known as the Freelands Alliance, with Sommerlund and Durenor as its largest forces. In these battles, Archlord Vashna was slain and cast into the Maakengorge, ushering in a new era of relative peace, with limited Darklands aggression.

In MS 5050, during the events of Flight from the Dark, the traitor Vonotar informed Archlord Zagarna of the Feast of Fehmarn, an event where all the Kai were gathered in one place and not battle-ready. Zagarna attacked the Kai Monastery of Sommerlund during it, in an atrocity known as the Massacre of the Kai. Against all odds, however, one Kai Lord, Silent Wolf, survived, and managed to inform King Ulnar V of Sommerlund. Silent Wolf, now called "Lone Wolf", was ordered to travel to Durenor with the Seal of Hammerdal, and to bring back the Sommerswerd. During the events of Fire on the Water, Lone Wolf travelled to Port Bax then to Hammerdal, encountering many dangers such as Helghast along the way. Returning to Sommerlund on the Durenor ship, Lone Wolf was further attacked by undead, sent by Vonotar, but Lone Wolf prevailed. At Holmgard, Lone Wolf then delivered a concentrated bolt of energy at Zagarna, vaporising him instantly, and sending his troops fleeing.

During the Darklands War, Durenor's location meant it escaped much of the conflict, although it sent aid through the Freelands Alliance. However, with Lone Wolf exiled in the Daziarn, and the Darklords possessing the Tanoz-tukor, the Darklords were unstoppable on the battlefield, and defeat was inevitable. In MS 5064, Darklord Xog invaded Casiorn, limiting Durenor's ability to help its allies. and by MS 5066, Xog had conquered the Wildlands, cutting Durenor off from Sommerlund by land. Sommerlund too faced a force, led by Darklord Slûtar, in Moytura Pass, mimicking the events of Archlord Vashna's fall, but crucially, with Durenor and Cloeasia unable to assist. The Brotherhood of the Crystal Star decided on a last-gasp strategy to recover Loi-Kymar's Guildstaff to teleport allied forces to Sommerlund. The Brotherhood was successful, at the cost of the life of the Guildmaster. Banedon, his most-promising student, summoned reinforcements from Varetta, Durenor, and other allied countries. Darklord Slûtar's forces were defeated against all odds, and for his efforts, Banedon was made the next Guildmaster.

Despite this success, however, it was of limited help to Durenor. By MS 5067, Cloeasia had fallen to Xog too, and Xog turned towards conquering Durenor next. By MS 5069, the Freelands were merely days away from defeat, with each country isolated from each other, and facing a threat they could not defeat. However, against all odds, Lone Wolf returned from the Daziarn, with the Lorestones. During the events of The Masters of Darkness, he slew Archlord Gnaag and destroyed the Transfusor powering the Tanoz-tukor, destroying the Darklords, and ending the War.

In MS 5101, Grand Brumalmarc of the Icelands Tvor'tana unlocked the Vagadyn Gate, a Shadow Gate beneath Ikaya. This brought forth the Ice Demons to Magnamund, and ushered in an unnatural, eternal winter to Sommerlund and Durenor. The Kaltersee froze over, and the forces of Darkness invaded over the sea. Sommerlund, Durenor and the Kai managed to defeat them, at the cost of King Tor IV of Sommerlund.

Geography

Durenor is located on the far north-east of Northern Magnamund. It is bordered to the Wildlands to the west, Cloeasia to the south by land, and the Lakuri Islands to the south by sea. The Gulf of Durenor to the west separates Durenor from Sommerlund, its close ally.

Politics

Durenor is a kingdom, led by a King. Its flag is dark blue.

The House of Ulnar, which sits on the throne of Sommerlund, is descended from Durenor. Prior to becoming King of Sommerlund, Ulnar I was once a Prince of Durenor, who married a Princess of Sommerlund, and began the reign of the House of Ulnar in Sommerlund.

List of known rulers

• Alin II (during MS 5000)
• Alin IV (during MS 5050)
• Danan I (during MS 5101–present)

Economy

Durenor's main exports are iron ore, agriculture, shipbuilding, gold, silver, copper, fish, gems and timber.

Demographics

Durenor's population was about 96,000 in MS 5050, of which the majority live in the capital, Hammerdal. Its native population are the Ulnarian peoples, who arrived on Magnamund in MS 2829.

Notable Durenese

• Viveka
• Axim of Ryme

In the gamebooks

Durenor has been mentioned several times in the books, but only visited once. During the events of Fire on the Water, Lone Wolf travelled there to retrieve the Sommerswerd. A Durenese relief fleet defeated Vonotar's death hulks in the Holmgulf and successfully raised the siege of Holmgard. Later, during the events of The Masters of Darkness, Durenor sent materiel and men to aid its ally Sommerlund, which was again under attack by the Darklords. The Darklords built ironclad warships that they used to blockade the sea, to stop this flow of aid.