Khaenan, Bridge to the South

Species: Pech (Quick-Fingered Folk; Dominant), Human (Knights, Priests, Merchants), Bugbear, LamiaEra: Ancient

Paths: Sahaaba(Wilderness), Amenthes, Arridea (Desert), Sea of Nodos, Sea of Anguilla

Contacts: Lataine, Ossitan (Allies), Sahaaba (Trade)

Enemies: Arridea (War), Amenthes (Ancient Enemies)

Government: Theocratic Oligarchy, Iscah the Keeper

Capital: Holy City of Tarutarham

Origin Languages: Gnomish

Typical Encounters: Apothecary, Apprentice, Attendant, Devotee, Entertainer, Guide, Knight, Man-at-Arms, Mercenary, Outrider, Scholar, Servant, Worshiper; Angels, animated objects, Basilisk, Bear, Brain Fiend, Bugbear, Camel, Temptress Demon, Riding Dog, Storm Dragon, Clay Golem, Homunculus, Imp, Lamia, Oxen, Elk, Manticore, Mimic, Fire Beetle, Salamander, Sea Devil, Brown Stalker, Troglodyte, Giant Turtle, Water Serpent

Keyword Qualities: Gnomish Homeland, The Great Fortress of Meggedonar, keepers of the book, the invaders are our defenders, great southern bridge

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The gnomish inhabitants of Khaenan first appear in the Talisman Cycle as the 'Nomen', a small folk skilled in crafting and husbandry.

After a long captivity by Haridin ruler Sarugon, they are led out of bondage under the leadership of Sammish the Green and his companions.

Pursued out of what is now Arridea, Sammish led his band to Khaenan to the south, where his companion Sackfill Dook split with a smaller band headed north to confuse their pursuers. As a sign of their enduring friendship they broke a ringed stone in two, each taking one half with them on their separate paths. The northern band founded modern Saka, whereas the children of Sammish settled the bugbear-infested Khaenan after a 40 year struggle. During this time Sammish writes the first four great Gnomish books which become the basis for knowledge, law and learning among his people.

To protect their newly formed kingdom from incursions from the north, the gnomes build the great fortress of Meggedonar (Meghan's Hill-Fort), whilst fostering trade with the emerging nation of Sahaaba to the south. This begins a gnomish golden age, and under the wise ruler-ship of the Samanid kings they build a kingdom to rival any in wisdom, wealth, and governance,

But this was not to last. As the last of the Samanid rulers falls to the incursion of the expanding power of Amenthes, the former kingdom is transformed into a battleground in a series of struggles between the ancient Amenthian Asars and the new power of the Pernians to the north and the merciless slavers of Qardith to the east. When Amenthes itself falls under the grip of the even more new might of Sallust, the former Kingdom of Khaenan is reduced to but another province of the expanding Sullustrian Empire.

The Sullustrian Imperium itself now a shattered memory of past glories, Khaenan now depends upon the help of the Sallustrian successor states of Lataine and Ossitan for her defense. The Hethaders of Lataine and Ossitan now man the fortress of Meggadonar and people the eastern port of Aka - acting all the while as if they own the land itself.

But after their long and varied history the gnomes of Khaenan know how to bear hardship with a degree of cheer- and with the knowledge that this cycle, like all things, must one day pass to another.

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Having lost their kings, the preservation of Gnomish tradition, wisdom and secrets has passed to her keepers, sages and priests. Together they form the remaining ruling class of Khaenan, and all decisions of legal matters is decided by these learned few: usually in small councils for local concerns, and large ones for regional and national interests.

The Gnomes worship no god or gods; instead they believe that since all life stems from the Anapsis this force is the only force to be respected above all others. Gods, after all, come and go with the cycles. But the force that brings life is eternal, no matter how fragile life itself might at times seem.