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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Alfarinn
| Gender | Hero Status | Allegiance | Role | Apparent Age | Year of Birth (Age) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | Hero (Demi-god) | Independent / Skyss | Nomadic Matriarch | Mid-thirties | 231 (543) |
Alfarinn is one of the most ancient and powerful Heroes documented in the Book of Heroes. Possessing a 58% divinity rating, she is reckoned practically a demi-god, descended from children of both Jorunn and Fafnir. She's reputed to also be descended from the Elves of the deciduous forests of Grunwald. Born in 231, she is a granddaughter of both Jorunn (God of Mischief and the Lost) and Fafnir (God of Justice).
Alfarinn travels around, rarely settling anywhere for long. She's fond of nature and often winters in a forest in the southern lands where it is warmer. When the time comes for her to want another child she returns to civilisation and seeks out a deserving man to be the father of her next child. Once she's pregnant she returns to her nomadic ways with her daughters.
Description
In her true form, Alfarinn is a slightly built woman standing just over five feet tall. Her most striking features are her sparkling green eyes, which reflect the mischievous nature of her grandfather Jorunn, and long waves of burning orange hair. Despite her five centuries of life, her appearance remains that of a woman in her mid-thirties due to her exceptional divine concentration. Her body is hard and well-defined, showing the results of centuries of nomadic life and physical exercise. When she manifests her power, her eyes are known to glow, and rogue black hairs float around her head as if charged with static energy.
Personal Life
The Era of Unaging Immortality (231–c.431)
For the first two centuries of her life, Alfarinn lived as a traditional hero, completing quests and attempting to make the world more just. During this period, she stood aloof from mortals, viewing the “little people” with a degree of divine detachment.
The Nomadic Awakening (c.431–749)
Mid-way through her third century, Alfarinn experienced a spiritual awakening—attributed by some to a geas laid by the Mother of All. She transitioned into a nomadic existence, selecting mortal men of integrity and playfulness to sire her children. She is the mother of many children, but famously only of daughters. She is usually found in a group of women, with one female child. The daughters usually stay with their mother, although most will spend a decade or so exploring the world. A number of them have settled down in places with partners and raised their own families. Often though they end up back with Alfarinn.
She established a biological rhythm of bearing a daughter approximately every twenty-five years. Her documented children and grandchildren include:
- amma - Born 500. Daughter of an unknown dark-skinned sailor from the Southern Isles. A Board of Trade agent, killed in mysterious circumstances in 612. Mother of Abayomi
- Abayomi grandson of Alfarinn, a Board of Trade agent from 611 until his death in 738
- Inibrakemi daughter of Abayomi and Funere, born in the Southern Isles but grew up in Kronstadt. A Board of Trade Agent known for taking the form of a large seabird.
- Alwilda - Born 550. She spent a couple of decades exploring the world before settling in the Cloud Islands with Tana Otago. Together they had four daughters and established a dynasty that rules the island they settled on. Alwilda still lives, revered as 'The Mother', amongst the people of the Cloud Islands.
- Birgitta_Alwildasdotir b.609, died 744.
- Blodwen_Alwildasdotir b.617, died 707.
- Bjork_Alwidasdotir b.629, died 713.
- Barljota_Alwidasdotir b.641, died 749
- Aljota b.575 in the Temple of Clewg at Estreham, near minhaton in the cobre_mountains. Her father was one of the last initiates in the secret order of Clewg. She has three daughters, Carljota (b.671), Carla (b.689) and Clarinna (b.703). They all live in Estreham, not far from the temple.
- Adalaug b.600. Lives nomadically with Alfarinn, like her mother she chooses worthy men to father her daughters. All four have fathers from different parts of the world, mostly merchants, apart from the eldest where Adalaug travelled to the Sunward Continent and took a local shaman as her lover while she learnt their secrets.
- Dagmar_Adalaugsdotir b.671 in the Sunward Continent, returning to follow her grandmother's perambulations when she was five years old. Fluent in several languages.
- Dagfinna_Adalaugsdotir b.689 in the Temple of Clewg at Estreham. Her father was a miner in the Cobre mountains who had come from the Eastern shores of the Inland Sea. She left to explore the world and hasn't been heard from in a couple of decades.
- Dalbjork_Adalaugsdotir b.703 still part of the extended family group.
- Danhildr_Adalaugsdotir b.721, working with the Board of Trade.
- Alfrida b.625
- Alfor b.650
- Alfauda b.675
- Alfbjorg b.700
- Alfinna b.725 an artist, master crafter and shapeshifter.
- Noren b.750
The Breach of Protocol (749–750)
While living near the palace in Kronstadt, Alfarinn was approached by Rojden, a grandson of Meniaxter. On the recommendation of Old Bjorn, Alfarinn relaxed her guard. Rojden sired a son when Alfarinn had been expecting to have another daughter. She viewed this as a huge breach of the trust by both Bjorn and Rojden.
In 750, Alfarinn gave birth to Noren, her only recorded son. Upon learning of Rojden’s various murders of other heroes, Alfarinn’s fury was legendary. Her daughters delivered the infant Noren to Old Bjorn via a priestess of Fafnir to ensure his safety. Alfarinn then retreated into absolute isolation, refusing to allow any man into her presence. She used the mysteries of Jorunn to become “lost” to the world, eventually settling at the cursed temple of Estreham in Cottalem where men couldn't go.
Relationships
People
Other than her children and grandchildren listed above, these are some people that have been relevant in her life recently.
- Noren: Her only son; an exception to her lineage of daughters.
- Rojden: The father of Noren; the target of her righteous vengeance.
- Old Bjorn: A contemporary and former friend who gave her the ill-fated advice to trust Rojden.
- Yngvild the Fierce: Referred to as “Sister” by Alfarinn; the bringer of justice who broke Noren's geas.
Places
Bjarte the Burner
| Gender | Hero | Allegiance | Role | Apparent Age | Year of Birth (Age) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | Yes | Yngvild | Guard / Warder | Mature | Unknown (~40) |
Stories/Function
Bjarte serves as the defensive magical specialist and warder for Yngvild’s specialised hunting party. Her primary narrative function is to provide an absolute counter to magical surveillance, using her expertise in anti-scrying to hide the party as they seek the hidden Chestnut Lodge. She represents the high-stakes consequences of the Great Schism, embodying the trauma and paranoia of a veteran operative whose past “messy” magic has made her a fugitive.
Description
Bjarte is defined by an all-encompassing, obsessive paranoia that is, in reality, a collection of necessary precautions. Because she is hunted by factions still seeking retribution for her actions during the Great Schism, she is intensely reclusive. During her time as escort for Yngvild for the Skyssian Board of Trade, she remained confined almost exclusively to her cabin.
Her moniker, “The Burner,” refers to her mastery of destructive fire and transmutation magic. While she was once a highly aggressive offensive combatant, she now applies these talents toward defensive concealment. Her arcane repertoire includes:
- Warding: The ability to seal physical locations against entry or detection; notably, she warded the party's cabin during their voyage to Dry Hook.
- Amulet Communication: Use of a magical amulet that facilitates telepathic communication between party members.
Personal Life
The Great Schism and the Godbloods
Bjarte’s history is inextricably linked to the Great Schism, the violent internal conflict between factions of Skyssian heroes. During this era, Bjarte was a prominent operative involved in the suppression of the Godbloods, a faction whose goals clashed with her own. It was during these dark days that she committed the series of killings that earned her the “Burner” title and forced her into a life of permanent fugitive status.
The Purge of the Silent Convent (762)
During the height of the religious upheavals, Bjarte and her long-term partner Alfinna were contracted to eliminate Skyssian sleeper agents hidden within a convent in the Grand Duchy of Dalreoch. While Alfinna located the targets in a hidden sub-basement, Bjarte used a messy fire transmutation that incinerated the entire wing. The unique thermal signature of her magic was documented by academics at the University of Dalreoch, marking her as a target for future investigation.
The Southope Infiltration (768)
While Queen Caoimhe was living at Southope, Bjarte and Alfinna wer part of a death squad that targetted the Berenician King Edmund. During a hunting party, Alfinna caused the King's horse to fatally throw him off, while Bjarte used lethal magic to facilitate their escape after they'd killed the King. The incident left multiple Berenician Yeomen dead with “fatal burns inside their armour” despite their outer clothing remaining untouched, a signature later associated with other political assassinations by Skyssians.
The Incident of the Unbroken Mirror
Bjarte’s paranoia became obsessive following a mission to retrieve a stolen ledger from a Zushonian estate. Despite successfully recovering the item, the party was observed via a rare scrying mirror. Bjarte unleashed a firestorm to destroy the evidence, but realised too late that the mirror remained unbroken amidst the flames. Through the glass, she felt the cold, calculating gaze of the Earl of Stylhet. Since then, she has lived in fear that the world's premier spymaster knows her face and can track the signature of her fire magic.
The Ambush off Dry Hook (774)
During the pre-dawn capture of their ship by Fearchar Murchadh, Bjarte’s survival instincts took over. She slipped out of a cabin window to avoid the pirates, an act that broke her protective ward and allowed the Murchadh raiders to find and steal the sentient sword Jafnadr. She stayed in the water to keep the critically wounded Gudrun afloat until they were rescued by a pilot boat and brought into the Board of Trade office in Dry Hook.
Relationships
People
- Yngvild: Her current ward and the primary focus of her anti-scrying protections.
- Alfinna: Her previous partner during the Great Schism, with whom she shared many high stakes clandestine operations.
- Gudrun: Her current partner, a seeker with whom she has shared several clandestine operations.
- Jerre: A companion she helps hide from surveillance; currently a prisoner of the pirates.
- Earl of Stylhet: The master spymaster who represents her greatest fear and the primary reason for her reclusive lifestyle.
- Fearchar Murchadh: The pirate captain who broke her ward and stole Jafnadr.
Places
- University of Dalreoch: The academic institution that monitors the messy and dangerous fire transmutation magic she specialises in.
- Dry Hook: The site of her recent rescue and the current base for the survivors.
- Chestnut Lodge: The hidden objective she is currently attempting to locate.
- Dael Riata: The kingdom where many of her early purges took place.
Straven
Straven is a tiny settlement on an island about three or four square miles located off the west coast of Heimdal (Skyss). Only a little of the island is cultivated, most of it is woodland or rough grazing for the sheep that the community keeps for their wool and milk. Characterised by its extreme northern latitude of 63.5 N, the community is defined by its isolation, self-sufficiency, and adherence to the traditional ways of the North. It serves as the childhood home of Yngvild the Fierce and Noren before their departure for Kronstadt.
Community
There are about 60 people living on Straven, from newborn to Old Bjorn. Old Bjorn is the leader of the community, with Arne the Slow as the second. They have a single fishing boat with almost enough people to crew a second. Most of their living is from fishing in the seas to the West of the Island, and they are part of the fishing communities of the islands. As their boat captain Old Bjorn is one of the electors of the Lord of the Isles.
As well as fishing there are as many sheep as people on the island, they roam over the island and eat the grass and heather. The wool and milk form a major part of keeping Straven self-sufficient. There's also meat from the spare sheep, most of the male lambs being used for various sacrifices, and mutton forms part of the winter diet when the weather is too bad for fishing.
The fish are mostly smoked, there are three smokehouses downwind of the main halls that the community lives in. These run most of the summer to ensure that there are enough fish to keep the community going all winter. Fresh fish are eaten when the boats come in too. Surplus is sold through the market at Portree, which is the major port for the Isles. It is within line of sight from Lookout Hill on Straven, and is about four hours away by boat (depending on the weather & tides).
The houses are two parallel tenements running inland from the jetty. The boat shed on one side with a ramp into the beach. There's a barn at the back with a fenced paddock for when the sheep are brought in.
The total population of Straven is approximately fifty individuals. The social structure is led by Old Bjorn, the boat captain and community leader, with Arne serving as his second.
Security and Raids
Due to the seasonal threat of Daelian Raiders, the adults of Straven maintain a rigorous military readiness. Standardised drills are practiced regularly, where adults take up arms—including bows and woven shields—to hold the jetty whilst non-combatants evacuate to Lookout Hill.
Theology
The community observes the transition of the seasons with communal rituals. The most significant is the celebration of the return of the night, where the people make homage to Malfin, the Lady of Darkness. These gatherings are held around central fires as the sun touches the horizon, marking the beginning of the winter preparations.
Geography and Infrastructure
The island covers approximately three to four square miles of territory. Much of the land is uncultivated, consisting of dense woodland and rough grazing used for livestock. Key geographical landmarks include:
- Lookout Hill: The highest point on the island, used as a primary observation post and a retreat point for non-combatants during maritime threats.
- Sickle Hill: A secondary elevation located on the southern portion of the island.
- The Beach: Two distinct sandy areas suitable for landing small craft, though the primary maritime interface is the stone and timber jetty.
The settlement's infrastructure is concentrated near the rocky outcrop on the western coast. The buildings are constructed based on traditional timber-frame designs with overlapping upper storeys to protect against the harsh maritime climate.
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| Main Hall | The primary communal living and dining space for the adult population. |
| Old Hall | The original hall, now utilised as the living and eating area for the children. |
| The Barn | A multi-purpose facility for storing cheese and skyr barrels, as well as providing winter shelter for sheep. |
| Smokehouses | Three dedicated buildings positioned downwind to process the seasonal fish catch. |
| Workshops | A cluster of industrial buildings including a forge and a boat shed for vessel maintenance. |
Economy and Labour
The economy of Straven is almost entirely maritime and pastoral. The community operates a single fishing boat that exploits the rich waters to the west. A high degree of literacy exists on the island, largely due to the influence of Old Bjorn, who has prioritised knowledge as a tool for survival.
Primary Industries
- Fishing: The central pillar of the island's subsistence. Fish are salted or smoked throughout the summer to provide a stable food supply for the “dark time” of winter.
- Sheep Farming: The island maintains a sheep population roughly equal to the human population. These animals provide wool for home-woven clothing, as well as milk and meat.
- Trade: Surplus smoked fish and wool are transported to the market at Portree, which is located roughly four hours away by boat. These exports fund the purchase of essential ironwork, herbs, and spices.
Relationships
People
- Old Bjorn: Community leader and boat captain.
- Yngvild Helgasdottir: Protagonist and former resident.
- Noren: Protagonist and former resident.
- Helga the Red: A prominent hero and former resident.
- Arne the Slow - the steersman on the boat, de facto second in command to Old Bjorn
- Alwilda - Arne's partner
- olaf - one of the boat crew
- Helga the Red - Old Bjorn's partner
- Leif - another member of the boat crew
- Birgitta - member of the boat crew
- Gunnar - also on the boat crew
- Erik the Dark - member of the boat crew
Places
Concepts
- Daelian Raiders: The primary external threat to island security.
- Heroes: Several residents possess divine blood, though this was largely kept secret until the arrival of the *Seagull*.
Helga Trollslayer
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Hero Status | Hero (46% Divinity) |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Skyss |
| Role | Second Sea Lord / Future First Sea Lord |
| Apparent Age | 23 |
| Year of Birth | 634 AM (140 at 774 AM) |
Stories/Function
Helga Trollslayer is a pivotal figure within the Skyssian naval and administrative hierarchy, serving as a bridge between the kingdom's divine heritage and its modern maritime dominance. As the biological mother of Yngvild the Fierce, her narrative function involves the management of high-level state intelligence and the strategic preparation of Skyss for the inevitable confrontation with the renegade hero Rojden. Helga is currently central to a long-running contingency plan orchestrated by Old Bjorn to secure her ascension to the position of First Sea Lord, thereby centralising heroic power within the Council of Electors.
Description
Helga is a Hero of high standing, possessing a 46% divine blood quotient. Her lineage is primarily defined by her grandmother, the Goddess Kari, and her great-grandmother, Malfin. Physically, she manifests the glacial ageing typical of high-status heroes; despite being 140 years old, she maintains the athletic physique and appearance of a woman in her mid twenties. She is traditionally characterised by her auburn hair and her preference for sea-green attire, often wearing a tabard embroidered with two blue ships over her iron mail.
Her personal history is defined by her tenure as a senior special agent for the Board of Trade. During this period, she was mentored by the late King's Justice Oddmundr. Together, they formed an “ideal team” for over a decade, utilising Helga’s unique ability to navigate any maritime weather—a direct gift from Kari—to outpace pursuit and achieve rapid littoral deployment. Her moniker “Trollslayer” and her reputation as an elite field agent were earned during these years of covert stabilisation across the continent of Osnines. Following Oddmundr’s murder, she transitioned into senior naval command, becoming the youngest Second Sea Lord in living memory. She currently commands the kingdom’s most magnificent flagship, the Triumph.
Personal Life
Helga’s life is defined by her clandestine partnership with the Hero Oddmundr, with whom she spent nearly ten years solving international crises. Their relationship resulted in the birth of Yngvild in 750 AM, a fact that was kept secret from the broader Skyssian court to ensure the child’s safety. Following Oddmundr’s decapitation in Trollheim, Helga was passed the sentient sword Jafnadr to hold in trust for Yngvild when she came of age, though Helga could not personally wield it.
Skyssian social mores allowed her to maintain her public standing while grieving Oddmundr, but the discovery of her biological daughter remained a point of extreme personal sensitivity. For twenty years, she allowed Yngvild to be raised on the isolated isle of Straven by Old Bjorn and Helga the Red, maintaining a “cover” that prioritised Yngvild's development away from the political volatility of Kronstadt.
Relationships
People
- Daughter: Yngvild the Fierce
- Partner: Oddmundr (deceased)
- Mentor and Ally: Old Bjorn ( Johansson)
- King: King Thirfinn
- Associates: Olaf Ragnarson (Captain of the Seagull)
Places
- Kronstadt (Official residence and palace)
- Straven (Raise-site of her daughter)
- Trollheim (Theatre of her former agent operations)
- Grand Duchy of Dael Riata (Where she conducts diplomatic-naval oversight)
- Estreham (Site of her daughter's ritual development)
Jafnadr the Sword
Jafnadr is a famous sword, blessed by the Goddess Malfin - Goddess of the Darkness. The name, in translation, means both equality and justice. It was made for Jafnadr, the daughter of Malfin - Goddess of the Darkness and Fafnir by Frijdodr.
Appearance
Like a slice of darkness. It is completely black, and the blade absorbs light, apart from a round matt white stone on the pommel. It can also disguise itself when asked to so that people don’t notice it (it still looks like a sword, but not a remarkable one).
Abilities
It is super sharp, and will slice through armour like it isn't there. Also Jafnadr absorbs the memories of its wielder, and those in the close vicinity (albeit more slowly, and it can have difficulty with anyone attempting to resist or with significant divine powers). As a sentient sword it can speak to its wielder via a mental link, but only when the wielder is touching any part of the sword.
Restrictions
Only those descended from the original owner, Jafnadr (a daughter of Malfin and Fafnir) can use it. Additionally it needs to be used without malice.
Other notes
Currently Yngvild Helgasdotir is the wielder of Jafnadr, she inherited it from her father Oddmundr (who she has never met).
