Iznogdazokim

Iznogdazokim, also known as The Province of Black Ore, is a realm within the Darklands, mostly known for its city-fortress of Aarnak, the third largest city-fortress in the Darklands. The realm is responsible for mining the ore that makes its way to the furnaces of Helgedad and Kaag, and also operates one of two ports in Aarnak (the other being Argazad).

Etymology

Iznogdazokim's name, in English, may be translated as iznog ("dry") + dagzok ("land") + im (plural).

In the Expanded Giak to English word list, dagzok is the term for "land", but the term in the country is dazok.

History

Main article: Aarnak: History

Iznogdazokim's history is largely tied in with Aarnak's.

Geography

Main article: Aarnak: Geography

Iznogdazokim is a massive realm, second only to Yr-Naoga in size. It is located to the northeast of the Darklands, on the northern coast. By far the largest settlement in Iznogdazokim is Aarnak, with several other settlements not even on the size of a small town only serving as supply stations and slave housing.

Politics

Main article: Aarnak: Politics

Iznogdazokim has been ruled by multiple Darklords over the years.

List of rulers of Iznogdazokim

• Darklord Haakon (during MS 5000–5055)
• Darklord Unc (MS 5055–5058)
• Darklord Gnaag (MS 5058)
• Darklord Zhanshal (MS 5058–5070)

In the gamebooks

Iznogdazokim is visited in The Masters of Darkness, as the player, as Lone Wolf, seeks an audience with the Slavemaster, an agent of the Elder Magi. However, most of this part of the adventure is spent in Aarnak.

Design

In the first edition of The Darklands, Iznogdazokim was called Orlo Taanak. This was retconned in the second edition, with the domain renamed "Iznogdazokim", with most of the characteristics kept intact. One notable difference is that Orlo Tanaak was covered in an Aura of Helplessness, which helped keep slaves pliable. This Aura does not appear in Iznogdazokim.