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The Bandit Domain of the Hammerlands, commonly referred to as The Hammerlands, is a Drakkarim nation in Northern Magnamund. It was ruled by Baron Shinzar the Ravager for over 400 years, and an enemy of the Freelands since its inception.

History[]

The Drakkarim arrived in Magnamund in MS 2591 via the Shadow Gate of Erkanan, colonising the lands formerly controlled by the Vaderish people. In MS 3150, the Darklords also arrived in Magnamund, and quickly gained mastery over the Drakkarim, who were in awe and fear of their power. In doing so, they stopped worshipping the Warrior-god Zantaz. In exchange, the Darklords granted the Drakkarim a degree of autonomy in their nations of Nyras, Zaldir, Nyvoz, Ghatan and Skaror. Some Drakkarim, however, desired to maintain their culture and worship of Zantaz, and fled to the Hammerlands in defiance of the Darklords. The Darklords, however, chose not to pursue them, as they were few in number, and posed no threat to the Drakkarim status quo.[4]

Lone Wolf: The Roleplaying Game describes a different history. Initially, the Hammerlands were a nation of Hammadath clansmen who worshipped Vashna as the avatar of Destruction, an ancient god they had long-worshipped. Vashna took advantage of this mistaken identity to control the elders, supplanted with blood oaths and black magic. Upon his death, however, the elders' faith was shattered, and the Hammerdath clans fell into chaos and internal fighting. The Drakkarim and Krorn berserkers took advantage of this to slaughter them and replace them. The elders were put to death, obstinately for breaking their faith with Naar, forcing the rest of the tribes in line. From then on, the Hammerlanders worshipped the Darklords, and gradually interbred with the Drakkarim, essentially becoming the same people.[5][note 1]

Around MS 4600, Baron Shinzar the Ravager became ruler of the Hammerlands. He was granted power from Naar himself, allowing him to communicate with Helgedad, and ruled for over four hundred years.[5]

In MS 5060, the Hammerlands invaded the Eruan city of Luomi. They slaughtered all the citizens, and looted and burnt the Temple of Luomi to the ground. The Lorestone of Luomi, stored in the Temple, was taken by Shinzar's forces, and taken to Torgar, along with the two other remaining Lorestones to Torgar. The Eruan defenses were unprepared for the attack, and were forced to retreat, also abandoning the border town of Cetza, thirty miles to the border.[7] In MS 5062, Lencia joined forces with Eru and began to push back Shinzar and his forces. By the start of the events of The Dungeons of Torgar, they had successfully recaptured Luomi and pushed Shinzar back to Cetza, and were preparing one final push to drive them out of Eru once and for all.[7] In the Battle of Cetza, the Hammerlands were defeated and driven back to Blackshroud, and Baron Shinzar was slain by either by Lone Wolf[8] or King Sarnac,[9] depending on the actions of the player in The Dungeons of Torgar.

Eru and Lencia were joined by their Borese allies and continued their counterattack, striking deep into the Hammerlands and taking the fortress of Blackshroud. However, they were unaware that the Darklords now possessed the Tanoz-tukor, allowing them to operate outside of the Darklands, and they were dangerously overextended. Banedon, at the urging of his Borese crew of the Skyrider, rushed to to save them, arriving in time to see them struggling against the Darklands forces. Using a second-level Brotherhood spell, Banedon was able to hold off the Darklord assault, buying time for them to retreat to the mountains of Bor, as Banedon barely escaped himself.[10] In MS 5064, Darklords Tomogh and Dakushna drove the Eru-Lencia forces out of the Hammerlands for good, and invaded the tunnels of Bor to pursue them. The Darklords were only stopped by bo'sun Nolrim and Captain Prarg using Old Kingdom Magic, forcing them to abandon the attack and move towards Western Eru instead. This proved to be a simpler conquest, as their leader Sebb Jarel had died earlier in the war, and Western Eru eventually fell.[11]

Geography[]

The Hammerlands are a large country, bordered by the mountainous kingdom of Bor to the south, Eru to the west, Ghatan to the north, and Skaror and the Danarg to the east. The Moggador Forest and Akamazim Forest reside in the north of the country. The Akamazkim Forest is home to wild dogs, and is named the "Doomwolves Forest" in Giak.[12]

The Hammerlands are home to various species of Agarashi, such as the Krorn.[13] It is also home to a small number of human/Agarashi half-breeds, combining Agarashi brute strength with human nature and intelligence.[14]

Politics[]

The Hammerlands are loosely-ruled by the Baron of Blackshroud.[4] Around MS 4600, this was Baron Shinzar, who ruled for over 400 years until his death in the Battle of Cetza in MS 5062.

Demographics[]

The Hammerlands is a land of bandits, consisting of renegades from western and central Magnamund, as well as the Drakkarim. Some of the largest bandit gangs are located in the Hammerlands.[15]

Its population in MS 5000 was 62,000, consisting of Drakkarim and Krorn.[5]

In the gamebooks[]

The Hammerlands may be visited in The Dungeons of Torgar, if Lone Wolf chooses to reach Torgar via Cetza. Here, Lone Wolf will take part in the Battle of Cetza, possibly slaying Baron Shinzar. He will then make his way to Torgar via the Moggador Forest and possibly the Isle of Ghosts.

Although not in the Hammerlands proper, in Trail of the Wolf, several Hammerlands bandits have joined forces with the Drakkarim and Giaks in Gazad Helkona, and are fought in battle.

Notes[]

  1. In The Dungeons of Torgar, Baron Shinzar's forces are described as "Drakkarim renegades", suggesting that this paragraph is less-canon than the paragraph above.

References[]

Countries of Magnamund
Northern Magnamund AnariBautarBorCaronCasiornChamanCloeasiaDanargDarklandsDeldenDessiDurenorEldenoraEruFiralondGhatanHammerlandsHellswampIxiaKakushKalteLakuri IslesLourdenLyrisMaakenmireMagadorNyrasNyvozOgiaPalmyrionRuelSalonySkarorSloviaSommerlundTadatizagaTalestriaValerionVassagoniaWildlandsZaldir
Southern Magnamund AnduiAzanamBhanarBodenChaiCincoriaFernmostForluHaliaIlionIsle of LornKarnaliKaslandKaumKelderwastesKlarnosKorliLaraLenciaLissanLunarliaMhytanNaarosRezoviaSadi DesertShadakiSiyenStarnSuhnTaklakotTelchosVaduzhan
Other Tay Solobo
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