DM: Tim Emrick
The "Secrets of Freeport" campaign is loosely based on the "Dreamlands" stories of H.P. Lovecraft, and The Complete Dreamlands supplement to the Call of Cthulhu game. If players wish to read (or reread) some of Lovecraft's tales in order to get a better feel for this setting, the best plan would be to start with the short stories "The Cats of Ulthar," "The Quest of Iranon" and "The Doom That Came to Sarnath," and then read the novel The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath.
Separate pages: A Portion of the Dreamlands [at DeviantArt] | Gods of the Dreamlands | Overview of Freeport [see "Winds of Freeport"]
The Six Kingdoms are the least isolated and remote parts of the Dreamlands, and their cities are populated primarily by humans. Ooth-Nargai and Ilek-Vad are located to the east of the Cerenarian Sea (see map). The Skai, Oukranos, Cuppar-Nombo and Kled are located to the west of this body of water.
The Kingdom of the Skai: This kingdom is composed of several smallish farming communities along the River Skai, including Ulthar (site of the single major temple, and famous for its numerous cats), Hatheg, and Nir. Each town is ruled by a burgomaster; the King is chosen from the burgomasters and serves for life. (This kingdom does not include Dylath-Leen.)
The Kingdom of Ilek-Vad: Most of this rich and powerful coastal city-state is located inside its famous hollow cliffs of glass. Although separated from Ooth-Nargai by sea and the Forbidden Lands (see The East, below), Ilek-Vad's king, Carter, is a close friend and ally to Kuranes. One of the largest known colonies of merfolk (called "gnorri" here) can be found just off Ilek-Vad's coast, and dwarves live in the deepest cliff-caves.
The Kingdom of Ooth-Nargai and Serranian: Ooth-Nargai is a fantastic land ruled by King Kuranes, who divides his time between the capital city of Celephais and the flying city of Serranian. Ooth-Nargai is defined by the valley of the Naraxa River, which flows out of the Tanarian Hills. These hills are home to many fantastic beasts, and rumors abound of strange magical gates deep within them.
The entire Naraxa valley is timeless. Processes requiring the passage of time (aging, decay, fermentation, natural healing, birth, farming, etc.) cannot take place here, though certain actions (building houses, cooking food, killing enemies, etc.) can occur normally. Children must be born and raised outside of the valley (typically in the Tanarian Hills).
Celephais is located at the mouth of the Naraxa. This gorgeous city has streets of onyx, and buildings of whitewashed clay with metal-roofed minarets. Towering over all are the turquoise temple of Nath-Horthath (the city's patron god) and the rose-crystal spires of the Palace of Seventy Delights. Serranian floats above the Cerenarian Sea, a short distance from Celephais.
The Kingdom of Oukranos: The Oukranos River is the mightiest in the Dreamlands. Due to the efforts of the river's god, this valley is an earthly paradise, with both rich farms and wild natural beauty. The kingdom runs the length of the river, excepting only the port of Hlanith at its mouth.
The Khalifate of Cuppar-Nombo: The city-state of Cuppar-Nombo lies within a desert west of the Skai, and depends on the nomads and the caravans for its prosperity. It was founded by the dusky-skinned survivors of the ruined city of Golthoth. (A related group, the gypsy-like Dark Wanderers, travel the western lands in their wagons, and are sometimes seen in other lands.)
The Principalities of Kled: Kled is a jungle realm with no single ruler. Instead, each of the black tribes has its own prince. Some of these tribes (the pygmies in particular) are rumored to be cannibals. Natives and caravans alike avoid the deserted ivory cities in the jungle's interior.
Amarantos: The forest kingdom of Amarantos is the homeland of the elves. Few elves travel far from this realm, but enough adventurers have done so to make half-elves a common sight in most ports of the Cerenarian and Southern Seas. The elves jealously guard all knowledge of what lies east of their shores.
The Forbidden Lands: This hellish wasteland of volcanoes and fire lies beyond the Tanarian Hills to the northeast. Entering the wastes has been known to drive men insane, so King Kuranes has forbidden these lands to humankind (and other sentients). Anyone caught trying to enter them is imprisoned. Dwarves live in the hills and mountains east of this zone, and have been known to prospect the borders of the wastelands.
Gak: Gak is famous for its spices, some of which are said to have magical properties. The two main spice routes are west by river through the Shadow Fens and Weeping Wood to Hazuth-Kleg and Rinar, and north overland to Zulan-Thek (now an empty ruin) and then by river to Ilek-Vad. Halflings are native to the area, and make up much of the caravan and river traffic. Gak also has one of the largest populations of "civilized" half-orcs.
The Orc Wastes: This desert is only slightly more hospitable than the Forbidden Lands. The Orc Wastes were once fertile and heavily populated, but mysterious disasters have left its cities in ruins. Now only orcs (and worse monsters) live here. The more hospitable land towards the coast of the Southern Sea is disputed between gnoll and barbarian human tribes. All three races come into frequent conflict with the elves to the southeast, and provide many sailors for pirate ships operating on the Southern Sea.
Rinar: This independent port-city is located a short distance south of Ooth-Nargai. It is famous for its shipyards and sailors (and has a far better reputation than Freeport to the south).
The Serpent's Teeth: This island chain south of Rinar is home to the city of Freeport, a former pirate haven that is now an important, legitimate trading port. Merfolk, locathah, and sahaugin can be found in the nearby waters.
The Shadow Fens and Weeping Wood: This swamp and forest lie between Ooth-Nargai and the city of Gak. Gnomes live in the Weeping Wood and the Tanarian Hills to the west, though they have to regularly fight the kobolds who also claim the wood. Lizardfolk populate the swamp.
Across the Cerenarian Sea to the north are many cold lands little known to the nations to the south. These include two human lands rarely visuted by outsiders, but whose trading ships are seen in the south: Inquanok, famous for its onyx quarries, and Leng, whose merchants buy slaves with rubies.
South from Parg, the coast goes due south for a week's sail or more, then bends sharply west. These "Fantastic Lands" are little known, because many of them are dangerous--many who land on their shores are never seen again. Some sailors claim that the edge of the world lies beyond the most western of these realms.
The Southern Sea is home to many exotic subtropical and tropical islands. The largest of these, Oriab, is located a couple week's sail due south from Thorabon. Its chief port is Baharna, on the northern shore. The islanders gather and carve lava from the lower slopes of Mt. Ngranek, but consider the volcano's heights to be taboo.
Dylath-Leen: This city, located at the mouth of the Skai, is largely built of basalt, and is gloomy and smoggy even at the best of times. It is one of the greatest port in the Dreamlands, visited by all nations of the world (and perhaps other worlds?). The city traffics in goods of all types, including slaves from Parg. The prince's enforcers only investigate crimes affecting important persons.
The Enchanted Wood: This forest lies between the Rivers Oukranos and Skai, and filled with ancient trees, gigantic fungi, and stones with strange markings. Creatures dwelling here often acquire strange mutations. The wood is home to zoogs: stealthy rodent-like creatures known to hunt and eat travelers. Goblinoids are scattered throughout the wood, as well as the hills and mountains just outside it. Dragons are frequently sighted flying above these mountains.
The Forest of Parg: This jungle is home to tribes of ebony-skinned savages, as well as monsters such as fireworms, giant vermin, and dire bats.
Mnar: West of Cuppar-Nombo and Oukranos lie several other human lands, including Mnar, the most ancient surviving human realm. Since the destruction of Sarnath millenia ago, the neighboring city of Ilarnek has spread the worship of Bokrug, the god who Sarnath angered. Another city-state, Kadatheron, is renowned for its library and school of magic.