Table of Contents
Welcome to James Kemp's Wiki
This is a collaborative web platform that allows people to edit1) the web pages to provide additional content for some of the stories I have written and the roleplaying games that I am involved in, whether as a player or GM.
There are several namespaces operating slightly different wiki subjects. These are, in no particular order:
- Skyss - Story Background - a fantasy novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2016.
- Perfects - background for the near future story and some police roleplaying that I ran in that universe
- Theocracy of Daprav - A D&D campaign that I ran with Glasgow University Games Society around 2002-3.
- Jim Wallman's Universe - a roleplaying by e-mail campaign that I play in, this is an unofficial wiki and none of it is canon unless Jim says it is.
- Interstellar Freelance Unlimited - subset of the Universe pages covering the activities of a mercenary company that we are currently roleplaying every Full Moon.
- Earth Imperium pages. These cover the activities of the Government of the Solar republic (aka Earth Empire) in Jim's Humanity Will Prevail campaign, including the Earth Imperium News Items.
- Free Worlds Alliance - covering the activities of another emerging polity in the Humanity Will Prevail campaign. Mostly contributed by Eric Moroney.
- Universe Background - page collecting the various bits of background info that have come up in various e-mail discussions for the campaigns set in Jim Wallman's Universe.
- Master map of the Universe (6Mb PDF, as at 3212).
- Delta Green - some roleplaying campaigns about horror and conspiracy. The main one was set in Berlin in 1953.
- Free games rules - a collection of free rules for wargames and other sorts of face to face games that I have designed or run.
- Wargames rules - I'm not just a player of games, I also do rules for them from time to time as well as one-off games. A primary outlet for this is through Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Other free rules - at the moment just those for the 1689 (Orange or Lemon? and Bonnie Dundee, respectively about the debates in the Scots Parliament and then the military campaign of Viscount Dundee during 1689) and The Other Side of the COIN (about what makes people become insurgents). All games that I have have produced for Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Background for a near future universe where I have written some fiction and also run some roleplaying games in.
Comments and complaints to me at webmaster@full-moon.info please.
James Kemp
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Arald
| Gender | Hero status | Allegiance | Role | Apparent Age | Year of Birth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | No | Kingdom of Cottalem | Spy / Agent of Rojden | Adult | [TBD] |
Stories/Function
Arald functions as a central antagonist and deep-cover operative within the narrative of 774 AM. His professional service involves gathering intelligence for the Cottalemnese expansion and acting as a local informant to identify Skyssian interests. He is a catalyst for multiple security crises, most notably triggering a violent ambush in the streets of the capital city. His ability to survive capture and reappear in high-ranking positions highlights the efficacy and ruthlessness of the intelligence network overseen by the renegade Rojden.
Description
Arald has dark hair and weather-beaten skin, possessing cold blue eyes that suggest high intelligence and constant appraisal of his surroundings. Physically, he is described as being slightly shorter than Noren, though still tall enough to require him to duck under standard door lintels. He typically presents a wealthy appearance, wearing rich, loom-woven wool clothing that is twice or thrice dyed and decorated with ribbons, silver buttons, and rings.
Temperamentally, Arald is secretive and deceptive. He possesses an artistic talent, which he uses as a cover for his reconnaissance work, often seen sketching rough impressions of landscapes while questioning locals. When speaking the Skyssian tongue, he is noted for an accent that sounds as if he has a heavy head cold, a trait that identifies him as a foreigner to the northern islands.
Personal Life
Arald first appears in the narrative of Fierce infiltrating the island of Straven, having arrived on the Mangandlese ship Chantara. He spent several days on the island questioning Yngvild the Fierce about the local geography and the origins of her name. After Old Bjorn received word from the King that Arald was not to be trusted, he was arrested and held in a secure building near the jetty.
He was subsequently transported to Kronstadt aboard the King's Ship Seagull for formal inquiry. During his escort to the House of Justice, his allies launched a coordinated ambush, using rubbish carts and shield walls to trap his captors. Although he was successfully delivered to the facility, his death was later faked using a dose of angelfish egg poison, which induced a death-like state. This deception allowed his network to extract him from custody. He eventually reappeared in the Kingdom of Salicia, serving openly as a guard and advisor to Rojden within the Citadel.
Relationships
People
- Rojden: His commander and the beneficiary of his espionage.
- Yngvild the Fierce: The hero who first identified his presence on Straven and later captured him.
- Old Bjorn: The veteran hero who managed his arrest and initial interrogation.
- Lady Helga Trollslayer: The Second Sea Lord who oversaw his transport and the response to his escape attempt.
- Noren: An associate of his captors whom he attempted to bypass during the Kronstadt ambush.
- Major Duerte: A Cottalemnese officer whose forces Arald coordinated with during the Salician campaign.
Places
- Straven: The site of his initial deep-cover operation.
- Kronstadt: The capital where he was imprisoned and where his death was faked.
- House of Justice: The judicial facility where he was taken for questioning.
- Kingdom of Salicia: The territory where he openly joined the Cottalemnese occupation.
Concepts
- Honour: A social currency Arald lacks, given his reliance on deception and the faking of his own death.
- Board of Trade: The organisation whose intelligence initially identified him as a threat to state security.
House of Justice
Summary
The House of Justice is the central judicial and administrative facility in the capital city of Kronstadt. It serves as the headquarters for the King's Justices and the primary repository for the legal records and archives of the Kingdom of Skyss. Managed by the Keeper of the Rolls, the building is the site where sentencing for piracy and other capital crimes is formalised and where those bound to the King's service are processed.
Description
Location and Surroundings
The House of Justice is situated within the dense urban core of Kronstadt, approximately 100 yards from a prominent sign depicting a “Blue Boat” near the northern docks. Unlike the King's Palace, which is insulated from the city by an expansive park to filter the pervasive smells of waste and industry, the House of Justice is directly adjacent to the city's busy thoroughfares. The immediate area is characterised by overlapping wooden and plaster storeys and narrow alleys that drain refuse and night-soil into the streets.
Security and Entry
The building is guarded by a detachment of the King's Guard wearing blue livery. Access to the interior for authorised personnel involves a specific rhythmic signal beaten upon the heavy wooden doors. This security measure is essential given the building's role in holding high-value prisoners and sensitive legal documents, such as the ledger of outgoing ships.
Judicial Functions
The facility's professional function is the administration of the King's law. This involves several key areas of service:
- Questioning and Interrogation: High-ranking officials, such as Lady Helga Trollslayer, deliver prisoners here for formal inquiry. King's Justices use their unique ability to perceive truth and intent to tell the guilty from the innocent.
- Sentencing: It is the central location for passing judgements on raider captains and their crews. capital crimes often result in the death penalty, processed within these walls.
- Record Keeping: The Keeper of the Rolls maintains the definitive ledger of legal precedents and sentencing histories, providing critical data to the Small Council regarding trends in criminal activity across the Continent of Osnines.
- Crown Service: Convicted individuals who are not sentenced to death are often bound into honourable service through a magical geas administered by the Justices.
Historical Events
In the late summer of 774 AM, the House of Justice was the intended destination for the prisoner Arald, who was being escorted for questioning regarding a southern conspiracy. The party, led by Lady Helga, was ambushed in the streets nearby. The attack was repelled by the sailors of the King's Ship Seagull and the House's own guards, resulting in the captured assailants being handed over to a Justice in person within the facility.
Relationships
People
- Hilda Helgasdottir: The current Keeper of the Rolls and a senior administrative officer.
- King Thirfinn: The elective monarch who oversees the judicial system as the senior arbiter.
- King's Justice: The order of judicial officials who operate from this headquarters.
Places
- Kronstadt: The city housing the building.
- King's Palace: The nearby royal residence and seat of the Council.
Concepts
- Geas: The magical bond used to secure the loyalty of those sentenced to crown service.
- Blood Price: The legal debts resulting from death that are arbitrated or waived by the Justices.
Clerk of the Privy
Summary
The Clerk of the Privy is the senior administrative officer within the Kingdom of Skyss, serving as the chair and secretary of the Small Council (also known as the Keeper's Council). This office is responsible for the systematic coordination of state activities, managing the legislative and logistical agenda of the realm’s highest civil servants. The Clerk acts as the bridge between the elective monarchy of King Thirfinn and the executive departments that manage the kingdom’s resources, intelligence, and judicial records.
Description
Function and State Labour
The primary role of the Clerk of the Privy is to oversee the day-to-day administration of the Skyssian state. While the Council of Electors governs broad constitutional matters, the Clerk manages the “Keepers”, the specialised department heads who maintain the kingdom’s infrastructure. The Clerk’s responsibilities include:
- Agenda Management: Organising the sessions of the Small Council to address immediate crises, such as the Cottalemnese expansionist threat in 774 AM.
- Inter-departmental Coordination: Facilitating the exchange of data between the Board of Trade (regarding international intelligence) and the Keeper of the Rolls (regarding domestic legal trends).
- Diplomatic Oversight: Ensuring that ceremonial protocols and diplomatic gifts, such as those selected from the King’s Treasures for foreign royal weddings, align with the state’s goals of soft power and standardisation.
- Secretarial Service: Acting as the senior secretary to the council, recording the minutes of meetings held in the presence of the King.
Chamber and Protocol
The office operates from the King's Palace in Kronstadt. Formal council sessions are conducted in the birch-panelled Small Council room, where the Clerk occupies one of the nine ornately carved, high-backed chairs. The Clerk uses his authority to recognise speakers, as demonstrated during the 774 AM briefing where the Secretary of the Board of Trade provided intelligence on the Dael Riatan royal succession, and to ensure that all state business is conducted with appropriate honour and efficiency.
Political Significance
As the chair of the Keeper's Council, the Clerk of the Privy is one of the few individuals with a comprehensive overview of the kingdom's entire administrative apparatus. This office ensures that standardisation is applied not just to industry and naval patterns, but to the very mechanisms of governance. The Clerk must balance the demands of the merchant classes with the strategic needs of the Heroes who serve the Crown, ensuring that neither group destabilises the economic health of the realm.
Current Incumbent
As of the Ripening Moon in 774 AM, the office is held by Harald Bjornson. He is noted for his professional and methodical approach to chairing the council, often using his position to steer deliberations toward practical outcomes for the Crown.
Relationships
People
- Harald Bjornson: The current Clerk of the Privy.
- King Thirfinn: The elective monarch to whom the Clerk reports.
- Olaf Olafsson: The Secretary to the Board of Trade, a primate colleague on the council.
- Ingrid Kemisdottir: The Keeper of the Keys and Principal Secretary to the King.
- Hilda Helgasdottir: The Keeper of the Rolls and senior officer of the House of Justice.
- Captain Freya Ingridsdottir: The Keeper of the Dockyard and senior naval advisor to the council.
Places
- King's Palace: The seat of the Clerk’s administrative honour.
- Kronstadt: The primate city containing the administrative heart of the kingdom.
- House of Justice: The department whose records are monitored by the council under the Clerk’s oversight.
Concepts
- Small Council: The body which the Clerk of the Privy chairs.
Trollheim
Summary
Trollheim is a vast and frigid wilderness occupying the northernmost reaches of the Continent of Osnines. Situated beyond the Aeolfberg volcanic range, it is a territory defined by its extreme climate, subterranean geology, and as the ancestral home of the Skyssian trolls. While it remains largely outside the formal administrative sphere of the Kingdom of Skyss, it has served as a critical theatre for heroic conflicts, most notably during the Great Schism and the subsequent geopolitical machinations of the renegade Rojden.
Description
Geography and Climate
Trollheim is topographically isolated from the settled regions of Heimdal by the massive volcano Aeolfberg. The region is characterised by high-latitude wastes, deep snow, and long periods of darkness. In the depths of winter, the sun barely rises, and the environment is so hostile that movement is restricted to purposeful transit between fortified structures. The architecture in the scattered human settlements of Trollheim is distinct from the white stone of Kronstadt, featuring heavy, functional buildings designed to retain heat and withstand the pressure of arctic storms.
The Trolls of the Far North
The region's eponymous inhabitants are the trolls, a silicon-based life form created by the Mother of All during the first days of the world.
- Physiology: Trolls possess a hide composed of granite-like patches, providing natural armour against both the elements and physical attack.
- Nature: Far from the “man-eaters” described in common folk tales, trolls are often characterised as living rock. They possess a deep affinity for stonecraft and metallurgy, having been the primary force that helped the Goddess Frijdodr shape the foundations of the world.
- Behaviour: Trolls prefer the cold and dark of the far north. In the height of summer, they often build stone bridges over fast-flowing rivers to create shaded, cool environments. Conflict between humans and trolls is rare and usually the result of diplomatic failure or external provocation.
Historical Significance
Trollheim's isolation has historically made it a location for clandestine operations and heroic feuds.
- The Great Schism: During the internal Skyssian conflict, Trollheim was a primary hunting ground for the Silent Service. The hero team of Arinhildr and Eskil operated here extensively, neutralising members of the Godbloods faction. It was during this period that they defeated a troll whose head now serves as the namesake for their inn in Cottalem.
- The Betrayal of 749 AM: Trollheim was the site of the assassination of Oddmundr, the bearer of Jafnadr. Rojden lured Oddmundr to a building in the wastes under the guise of preventing a war with the trolls. In reality, Rojden had murdered the hero Magnleif and framed a troll for the deed to initiate a conflict. Oddmundr was poisoned with tainted mulled beer and decapitated while unconscious, a pivotal event that shifted the balance of power among the Heroes of Skyss.
Relationships
People
- Oddmundr: The King's Justice who was betrayed and killed in Trollheim in 749 AM.
- Rojden: The renegade hero who used Trollheim as the setting for his rise to power.
- Eskil: A scout of the Silent Service who conducted numerous operations in the region.
- Arinhildr: A combat specialist who earned her reputation hunting renegades in the northern wastes.
- Magnleif: A hero whose death was used as a casus belli to destabilise northern relations.
Places
- Heimdal (Region): The neighbouring territory to the south.
- Aeolfberg: The landmark volcano that marks the southern border of Trollheim.
- Continent of Osnines: The broader geographical context.
Concepts
- Great Schism: The ideological war that defined much of Trollheim's recent history.
- Jafnadr: The sentient sword whose wielder was lost in the northern wastes.
- Blood Price: The legal debt resulting from the many heroic deaths in this lawless region.
King's Palace
Summary
The King's Palace is the main administrative and ceremonial centre of the Kingdom of Skyss, situated on the eastern bank of the Northern Fjord within the capital city of Kronstadt. It serves as the official residence of King Thirfinn and houses the executive organs of the state, including the Council of Electors and the King's Small Council. The complex is noted for its grand white stone architecture and its situation within a vast, meticulously maintained park designed to insulate the royal household from the pervasive urban odours of the surrounding metropolis.
Geography and Layout
The Royal Park
The palace is topographically isolated from the dense tenements of Kronstadt by an expansive parkland. This green belt is not merely ornamental but serves a critical public health function: the distance and vegetation act as a buffer against the intense smell of rot, sweat, and night-soil characteristic of the city’s industrial sectors. The park features colour-coordinated flower beds and paved stone roads that are kept free of refuse, contrasting sharply with the overlapping upper storeys and filth-strewn alleys of the mercantile districts.
Maritime Access
The palace is serviced by a grand white stone wharf on the Northern Fjord. This facility is separate from the primary mercantile docks and the Board of Trade slipways. It allows for the direct arrival of high-ranking officials and foreign dignitaries, such as those arriving on the King's Ships, who are then escorted through the park to the palace proper.
Architecture and Interior
The Great Hall
The entrance to the palace involves a traversal of a paved diagonal courtyard leading into a polished stone hallway. The Great Hall is accessed through imposing polished wood doors flanked by guards in blue livery, each armed with halberds. The interior is defined by:
- The Celestial Ceiling: A massive overhead mural depicting the summer sky at one end, fading into a winter night at the other, with superimposed images of the Nine Gods of Skyss.
- The Blue Carpet: A ceremonial walkway leading to a central dais and high table.
- Roast Trestles: Large trestles set in front of the table for the presentation of whole roast animals during state banquets.
The Small Council Room
Situated within the administrative wing, this chamber is panelled in birch wood and furnished with nine ornately carved, high-backed chairs. This is the main site for high-level state administration, where the secretary of the Board of Trade, the Keeper of the Keys, and the Keeper of Treasures meet to coordinate national policy and diplomatic gifts.
Official Residences
The wider palace complex includes multiple side buildings that serve as official residences for high-ranking naval and judicial officers. For example, Lady Helga Trollslayer maintains a residence here in her capacity as Second Sea Lord. These buildings are typically three storeys high with wood-panelled internal walls, stone fireplaces, and glazed windows (a significant luxury in the northern latitudes).
Political Function
The palace is the site of the King’s daily administration of justice and the receipt of petitions. While King Thirfinn acts as a senior arbiter, most executive power regarding the collection of taxes and enforcement of the peace is managed by the Electors who convene within these walls. The palace also houses one of the copies of the Book of Heroes, the definitive genealogical record of those carrying divine blood.
Relationships
People
- King Thirfinn: The current occupant and elective monarch.
- Lady Helga Trollslayer: Resident official and future First Sea Lord.
- Council of Electors: The body that meets here to determine the succession.
- King's Justice: High-ranking legal officers who operate from the nearby House of Justice but report to the palace.
Places
- Kronstadt: The primate city containing the palace.
- Board of Trade: The commercial authority whose offices are located near the palace docks.
- House of Justice: The main judicial building located one hundred yards from the palace gates.
