in Southeastern Middle-Earth - Fan Modules - Free

niali, city of grey walls
in Southeastern Middle-Earth
Note:
The following file is the work of amateurs, intended to be an amusement for themselves, and hopefully, an aid to other
roleplayers and gamemasters. It is conceived to be a non-official module for MERP/Rolemaster, set in Middle Earth.
All the references to these roleplaying systems, and to Tolkien’s Middle Earth are copyright of Iron Crown Enterprises,
Decipher, Tolkien Enterprises or whatever other that could be. All the other stuff is invented by the authors, and
therefore cannot be published or used for moneymaking without the authors’ permission. This work is exclusively
intended to be used as a play-aid for role-players in their games, and it would not exist without the support and feedback
that the Fanmodules yahoo group contributed with.
DRAFT
JMME

CITY OF GREY WALLS
JMME
NIALI
1.0 INTRODUCTION & SOURCES ............................................................................................4
1.1 NOTES ON THIS REVISION, COMPARED TO THE LAST ONE:............................................................ 5
2.0 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................5
3.0 Background ..............................................................................................................................6
4.0 History......................................................................................................................................7
5.0 Timeline .................................................................................................................................18
6.0 The Land ................................................................................................................................20
7.0 Geography..............................................................................................................................20
7.1 The monkh..................................................................................................................................................... 22
8.0 Climate...................................................................................................................................22
8.1 Waters............................................................................................................................................................ 22
8.2 Temperatures and Rainfall............................................................................................................................. 22
8.3 Atmosferic General Circulation..................................................................................................................... 22
9.0 Flora And Fauna ....................................................................................................................23
9.1 FAUNA ......................................................................................................................................................... 23
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9.2 FLORA.......................................................................................................................................................... 24
9.3 OTHER CREATURES.................................................................................................................................. 24
10.0 The People..............................................................................................................................24
10.1 RACIAL GROUPS........................................................................................................................................ 24
10.1.1 The Rúakasi ......................................................................................................................................... 24
10.1.2 The Shay .............................................................................................................................................. 25
10.1.3 The Awartasi (5) .................................................................................................................................... 29
10.1.4 The Jaekgârayi ..................................................................................................................................... 31
10.1.5 The Gonnid (5) ....................................................................................................................................... 32
10.2 NOTABLE PEOPLE..................................................................................................................................... 33
11.0 Economy ................................................................................................................................33
12.0 NIALI: THE CITY.................................................................................................................34
12.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 34
12.2 Background.................................................................................................................................................... 34
12.3 Population...................................................................................................................................................... 34

12.4 Political structure ...........................................................................................................................................35
12.5 Military structure ...........................................................................................................................................35
12.5.1 City guard.............................................................................................................................................36
12.6 Worship..........................................................................................................................................................36
12.7 Factions & Intrigues.......................................................................................................................................37
12.8 Townlife & Trade ..........................................................................................................................................38
12.8.1 Festivities .............................................................................................................................................38
12.8.2 Nialian Habits.......................................................................................................................................39
12.8.3 Notable people......................................................................................................................................40
12.9 Economy: Currency, Trade Routes and major markets .................................................................................41
12.10 Sites of Note...................................................................................................................................................41
12.10.1 NORTHERN DISTRICT .....................................................................................................................41
12.10.2 WESTERN DISTRICT ........................................................................................................................44
12.10.3 CENTRAL DISTRICT.........................................................................................................................45
12.10.4 EASTERN DISTRICT .........................................................................................................................46
12.10.5 SOUTHERN DISTRICT......................................................................................................................47
12.10.6 MARINE DISTRICT ...........................................................................................................................47
12.10.7 EKKAR ISLAND.................................................................................................................................48
12.11 Shadow-holds.................................................................................................................................................48
12.12 Niali At Other Times .....................................................................................................................................48
12.13 Adventures In Niali........................................................................................................................................49
13.0 Tables .....................................................................................................................................50
13.1 Herbs Table....................................................................................................................................................50
DRAFT
13.2 Master Beasts Table.......................................................................................................................................50
13.3 Master NPCs Table........................................................................................................................................51
13.4 Master Military Table ....................................................................................................................................52
13.5 Encounter Table.............................................................................................................................................54
13.6 Adolescence Skill Table.................................................................................................................................55
14.0 Shayan Glossary.....................................................................................................................57
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4 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
1.0 INTRODUCTION & SOURCES
Thanks to ICE, which made Endor what it is. Some of the names and illustrations here mentioned or
contained are copyrighted; some other not.
Many thanks to Eric Dubourg, as he helped me with the sources, contributed with some data and is
the moderator of the group, and to Gabriele Quaglia, who shared with me his data about Tana,
defined the Ibavin regions and cultures and kept feedbacking. And more thanks to all the people
that, like me, is working in development of the unknown lands of Endor, as this work would not be
the same without their researching.
The following references are noted by a small blue number between parenthesis:
JMME
1. Lords of Middle Earth, vol. II (ICE Enterprises):
When this book is compared with the ICE map, there is an important contradiction: the land
known as “Shay” is too southern to match with the facts it describes. The land named
“Shay”, according to the data in the book, should be Lurs Vorganis in the ICE map. I infere
that naming “Shay” to people inhabiting the land actually named as “Shay” is more correct
than doing to people inhabiting Lurs Vorganis. That is the reason why Khamul The
Easterling does not appear in the Shay history I develop down later. Khamul was never in
Lochas Drus, as this land was under the influence of Dwar of Waw, the Dog Lord.
2. Eastern Coasts : Eastern Gazetteer, Womaw timeline, Blue Wizards (Joe Mandala,
Susan/Cory Rushton)
Some of the information from these sources has been revised, in order to ignore some
contradictions that could mislead the reader of this amateur work. There were not the Shay
who destroyed Zhuting, the Womaw’s capital city, but the Talatherim from Lurs Vorganis.
Shayan fleet was never so powerful.
DRAFT
3. Chyan Empire (Eric Dubourg)
An impressive work. More than 300 pages, unfortunately not ended. Some vocabulary and
tables are molded from here.
4. Sakal an-Khar (Eric Dubourg)
Shayan history is related here to that of Harfalas, Waw and Lochas Drus in the third
millenium of the Second Age. The Wôlim, Númenórean and Ojhanî influences in Shay are
defined and strengthen. Almost the whole history of Númenórean dominion is extracted
from this work.
5. Ibav (Cory Rushton, Gabriele Quaglia)
Awartasi, Gonnid and some beasts present in Shay are extracted from this work. The
Imaldawath forest prevented Ibavin and Shasindi people from meet each other . The map of
Shasindi is made in the same fashion that Gabriele made his one, with some minor addenda.
6. Hildor classification (unknown author)
This draft establishes a racial classification for men out of the well-known northwest. It is a
quite useful stuff in order to set the evolution of the diverse civilizations in these areas and
the influence of migratory activities in native population wherever they settle.
7. A Campaign Adventure Guidebook for Middle-Earth (ICE 1989):

This was the original work that guided me. In the original Endor ICE map, Shay had a
greater influence in commerce, routes and politics than in the Morwinsky’s one, but I like
the last (it is bigger). For this reason, Shay is not what I decided it to be at first.
8. History of the Utter East (ICE staff):
A bizarre PDF document, not signed, intended to be published in 1996 as part of an ICE
official module named “The Eastern Middle-earth Gazeteer”; I am still wondering how did I
get my hands on it, possibly from The Guild Companion, but don’t remember. One of the
things it states is that the womawas themselves were mostly HALF-ELVES.
1.1 NOTES ON THIS REVISION, COMPARED TO THE LAST ONE:
Like most of works in the Fanmodules group, this one is continually evolving and not finished, as
long as new people bring us their points of view and knowledge about the facts here described.
I know it is rather unpleasant to reread all what was written in a work, in order to find what the
author has added with every new revision. From this one on, I will explain what I have added, so
those of you that want to contribute, can go directly to what is new.
2.0 OVERVIEW
When a caravan reach for the first time the Goldroin, coming from Ralian, having left the Horl,
their first thought is: “I wish there were any kind of civilizated people on the other side, and I hope
there were OTHER side at this wood.” But they know there are friendly guards and guides waiting
for them in order to safely cross the grim forest, whose bright coloured clothes make a high contrast
against the dark tree’s trunks. This guide introduces himself as belonging to the “Water Buffalo”
transport company.
The path is four journeys long, but easy to follow with a guide’s help; they only feel a worrying
calm, as if there were no life inside the dark wood. Some of them feel watched. In the distance, the
DRAFT
roar of any fearsome beasts breaks sometimes the silence, while one of the frequents Autumn
drizzles moistens the tree’s tops, expelling aromes of cinnamon and clove into the air. The guide
calm them: “no problem if you keep next to me”. But the stakes crowned with animal skulls which
can be often glanced aside the path do not contribute at all.
Finally, the Goldroin is left behind. Rice fields under low white clouds fulfill the landscape as the
caravan see the light again. The morning mist has not completely left the ground yet, but lots of
tanned, blue eyed women are stooped over the watered land, harvesting the white grains. The
narrow path windes thorugh the rice marshes. Workers look at them with unhidding curiosity, their
wide white smiles greeting them: “friendly people”, merchants tell each other, “and pretty
maidens”.
After one hour of uncomfortable trip, they enter the grassy meadows of Unvirnay. The northern
wind carries clouds to the south, allowing the blue sky above to be sighted, and sunlight bathes the
green ground. To the southeast, a huge range of snow caped mountains, where black low clouds
await their bursting over the green streaks that tea fields conform on the foothills: “the Orosúlo”,
they think, “what an impressive vision”; to the west, the wood seems neverending, an eternal living
darkness: “only death can inhabit them”, they believe, but they ignore the secrets of the land they
are visiting for first time.
There are no path across these lands, but it does not matter. Landscape is flat. From the top of a
smooth elevation, they can even scrutinize some far-off towns, to the south. “The biggest one
among those you can see”, tells the guide, “is named Kohbehto. From now until you get there,
there will pass one week. I must leave in the next farm, where my family dwells”. A few time after,
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6 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
they see a two plants building, made of wood and bricks, with a two slope roof, surrounded by
lettucces, potatoes and carrots crops, with and adjacent pen where a dozen of sheeps loudly bleat.
The guide say goodbye gladly: “as you already know, the guide job near the Goldroin is a well
paid one. Be Txila’s luck with you, strangers”.
As the guide had said, seven journeys passed until they arrived at Kohbehto. Over the green
meadows, only dark eagles watched from the warm air, more interested in little birds and mouses
which were hiding in their holes than in fatigued travellers. The caravan only stopped in order to
drink some fresh water from the lagoons and streams they found, shared with the small swift wild
horses that ran freely all over the land.
Kohbehto was a big town, but not as big as the cities the merchants had visited years ago in the far
north, among the Womaw; in comparison with them, this one was no more than a village, without
even a wall to protect the dwellers. They sold some goods to the natives and, after a two nights
resting, they took the road which went towards south, through some barley fields, reaching the
capital city of Shasindi, Agurisgen, in four days time.
But this had not to happen. As they were warned about in Kohbehto, the third day’s night a band of
savages, more similar to orks than to human beings, dressed with hides and armed with clubs and
spears, attacked the caravan. The caravan lost a fourth of their mules and goods, stolen by the
savages and driven into the hills at the west, but the rest succeeded in fleeing eastwards. Travellers
decided to avoid the rest of the dangerous road to Agurisgen, and to hire a guide in order to follow a
safe route to their final destination: Niali, the city of grey walls. Going round Agurisgen through
cotton fields, leaving the high walls and coloured domes of the towers in the city to their right, the
caravan entered the Shay land.
From the capital city of Shasindi take eight journeys to reach Niali, except if one avoids the road,
when it could be ten days long. As the caravan leaded southwards, ground turned not as green as in
the north, but there was more diversity of landscape. They had to take back the road, as the saffron
and opium fields were too difficult to pass through. Flocks and pig herds could be seen as they
approached any of the scattered farms, surrounded by wheat and cotton fields. Meadows horse is
not so frequent here, in the south, but they sometimes heard neighing, or saw some groups of them
running over uncultivated, dried grass fields.
There are some towns near the road, but the caravan rather spend nighttime in the post buildings
which flank it, that works as “official” taverns too, a very good income source for the Shayan
government (be the central or the monkh one), and a quite safe place to stay. Here, in the south,
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DRAFT
they met lots of people who travel from the southern monkh to Agurisgen and back, as well as the
courier horsemen. “One message from Niali to Agurisgen takes less than two days”. Before
reaching Niali, Deánin at the east still keeps Niali out of sight. As the road borders the Quiet Forest,
at the right side one can see vast wheat, corn fields and a higher concentration of farms. “Niali may
really be a very rich city” is the thought of the caravan’s men.
From now on, their travel will be very quiet, and military presence is continous near the road. They
wish the city were as hospitable as the countryside.
3.0 BACKGROUND
Shay and Unvirnay are like islands among the variety of cultures and states that surround them. The
Nenyurrist at the west, the Orosúlo at the east and the enemy states of Tana and Ruuriik in the north
are unsurpassable barriers which have preserved the Shasindi (as the Lochaw named them) land and
independence along the ages. Geographic limits are important, but Shasindi mood is the final filter
in order to accept any foreign influence. Shasindi respect courage, sensibility and command ability
over all; they are not impressed by displays of power and brute force. Although they have once
joined the Lochaw empire, the only strong influences have been the ones stemed from the long stay
of Númenórean and Vulmaw in the coastal areas, and the final subduing by the Shadow.
Nevertheless, in the southern monkh, mainly oriented to seafaring, the diversity of foreign

individuals and groups have changed greatly their minds, and have made them more receptive to
different points of view, sometimes turned to light (Niali), others to darkness (Zelón). Shasindi
people is very open minded, but without the resoluted guide of the Shay tribe, the Shasindi kingdom
should not exist at all.
4.0 HISTORY
The Area on its origins: Liserin
(First Age)
The regions known as Shay and Unvirnay were originally deep jungles inhabited by some scattered
Gonnid tribes, coming from Ralian in the late First Age, and some Avari villages, who were here
already. Intense volcanic activity in Orosulo and earthquakes during the last years of First and
early Second Age brought about uncontrolled arsons that deforested the area and pushed Gonnid
and Avari westwards. These facts helped some primitive, nomadic and aggressive tribes of
horsemen, called “Rúakasi” (Aw. “Wild Flame People”) by the elves of Immaldawath, to
subsequently penetrate the area, coming from the Horl, Ruuriik and Ralian, as jungles left room for
the pastures they needed for their mounts. “Liserin” (Aw. “Forest of Ashes”) was the name the
Awartasi gave to this area. It was almost completely devastated by fire in two centuries, and the
nouxious clouds could be seen from far lands.
First Vulmaw contacts
(340 - 350 SA)
The Surk Vulmaw, a branch of Womaw, arrive for the first time to Liserin coast from Wôl.
Northern winds bring smoke clouds from the burning jungles to the coast, making almost
impossible to breathe a clean air and keeping the inland out of sight. Nevertheless, Vulmaw patrols
begin to confront the Rúakasi tribes that raid near the coast and the Gonnid from the forest, pushing
them inland. The reason why Vulmaw decided to stay was the discovering of some important
mineral beds in the Orosulo surrounding Déanxeh, easily accessible from Liserin coast, and a
plentiful good quality wood supply near the beach, that they could use in order to repair their ships
and even make some more. The presence of terrible marine crocodiles at the cliffs of Jaektrae was a
big problem for them, and the principal ground why they did not begin intensive mining until they
managed to find a way to keep them far from their cargo ships.
DRAFT
The First Village
(511 SA)
The village of Ekkarniali arised on the Ekkar island, founded by Lochaw (that were by that time
ruled by the Vulmaw dynasty of Dral) in order to support their mining activities. Ekkarniali was the
core of the future Niali, and the first organized settlement in Liserin, the future Shasindi kingdom.
The population of this island, 0,5 km from the coast, 2.900 Ha. of extension, grew up as quickly as
new miners were needed from 500 to 1200 people, soon stretching to the nearest beach. So were the
first walls of Ekkarniali built. They tried to found new settlements, but it was a hard task to work
and live in the manglars that were Liserin coasts, so they only achieved a partial success, building a
few strongpoints. Ekkarniali, as a flourishing miner colony far enough from a strict legal control,
was early chosen by speculators, raiders and other Lochaw criminals as a good shelter, so it was
converted in a pirate’s paradise.
Vulmaw also sailed southwards, reaching the Jôpi coast in Sunum and building Yulcaavi, the Jewel
City, in SA 680. Two centuries later, they arrive in the Bay of Ormal (Vulm Shryac, Codya).
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8 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
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Arrival of Talatherim tribes
(1.100 SA)
About 1100 SA, some Talatherim (plainsmen) tribes from Lurs Vorganis and Mornerin from Rûbor
and Kûbor Sed had emigrated southwards, joining the army of Múar the Balrog as he tries to
conquest Ruuriik. These Talatherim played a major role in the submission of the Fale tribes of
Ralian, in 1143, and Horl, and stayed there in order to keep them under Múar’s control. After 1160,
as Ruuriik was completely subdued, six of these tribes were ordered to hunt those dwarves that had
fleed south and westwards from the slaughter, in order to avoid a future attempt of dwarf
reorganization in Horl or Ralian. These splited tribes from the bulk of Múar’s army were: the
Ch’iang and Hsien-pi from Helcarth, closely related to Womaw nobility; the aggressive Sëd, that
had divided in two factions, one of them partisan of travelling back Kûbor Sed after the war, the
other one of travelling south; the Ti tribe from Rûbor, and the Shay and Unvirnay from Lurs
Vorganis, that would eventually lead the other four. They obeyed Múar’s orders, and on their swift
horses’s back, massacred most of those who had fleed. After that, they were sent more southwards
in order to explore those lands, as Múar pretended to expand towards them.
Their travel across Liserin was very hard, forced to face the hostile Rúakasi tribes as they were
heading south. They finally confronted Lochaw coastal settlements, that opposed to these barbarian
Talatherim and drove them away from the coast.
Shayan started establishing in the mid planes and hills of Liserin, the Unvirnayrit and adjacent
territory, giving the name of their two foremost tribes to the northern and southern regions:
Unvirnay and Shay. The campsite they named Agurisgen, future capital city of Shasindi, was their
foremost settlement. Múar let them be, as he had to postpone his conquest plans, but kept reported
by some agents.
Triumph of Shay
(1. 200-1.400 SA)
DRAFT
As this Talatherim group were not a big army (less than 5.000 reached the Liserin coast, including
women and children) and this land was entirely unknown for them, they were forced to keep away
from the Lochaw coastal colonies, founding a permanent settlement in the campsite of Agurisgen.
At the same time they slowly fighted Rúakasi away north and east. Lochaw colonies’ growth had
stagnated in Liserin, due to internal struggles for power and corruption, and chaos started to
undermine their confidence. By 1200, most of them had accepted the Talatherim pacific presence in
their towns, as they were bravely fighting Rúakasi, and Shayan were able to occupy some important
posts in the Lochaw garrisons in Liserin. Quite early, the six tribes attained to get the highest ranks
among the biggest of the Lochaw colonies in Liserin in a short time, by self submitting to Lochaw
rules.
On summer of 1236, a Shayan expedition explored Sûlannon, and they were successful on reaching
the Brodim side of the pass.
Even though the territories named Unvirnay fell again under the pressure of the Rúakasi hordes
about 1280, these Talatherim succeed in fixing a territory of their own in Shay, by 1400 SA, under
the Lochaw rule. Unvirnay tribe kept fighting for the next decades against Rúakasi, holding them
away from Shay. The Dragon-King of Lochas Drus concedes the status of “associated kingdom” to
Shasindi, the former Liserin, in return for the profitable service Shayan had rendered to the empire
of Lochas Drus, encouraging them in order to go on with the conquest of Unvirnay.

Birth of Shayan Confederation
(1.563 SA)
Not all of the Shayan towns and villages of Shasindi were glad with their submission to Lochaw,
and served to Múar, who still held one communication way and some agents among Shayan. As
news arrived to Shasindi about Númenórean sailing to the East, these discontent towns were
impelled to plot their independence from Lochas Drus. Lochaw were not fully abreast of the real
purpose of these people, and when revolt began, Lochaw garrisons in Shasindi were easily
surrendered, without violence in most of cases, and Shayan leaders proclaimed their right to rule
their people by their own and by the Shayan tradition. Some of the Shayan noblemen assumed the
leadership of these towns and strongpoints, in seeing so a great opportunity to acquire more power.
After some weeks, Lochaw governor in Shasindi agreed to come to terms with the strongest of the
towns, accepting a treaty, known as the ‘Agurisgen Agreement’ (1563 SA). These terms established
some important points: monkh would remain independent, without paying any tribute, and the tribes
which claimed them would take a more outstanding role in the politics of the area. They would have
the obligation of helping Shay in defending against any enemy, but Lochaw would be treated as
allied. The Dragon-King of Lochas Drus was too busy in the southern lands of Jelhan, and Shasindi
kept as allied anyway, so he focused on their affairs in the south of the empire.
The five leaders of the rebel Shayan tribes were: Sûldûr Ti, a half-elf distantly related to the original
Rúakasi, from the monkh of Zeln, had the territories near to the mouth of the river Nenyurrist,
including the upper westernmost half of the Sittain wood. Sui Ch’iang, a noble married into
Lochaw, from the monkh of Pänjo, received the lower half of the Sittain wood; Hwo Hsien-pi,
another noble married into Lochaw, from Saragisha, the upper easternmost half of the Sittain wood;
Urgul Sëd had Ekkarniali, near to the foothills of the Orósulo mountains, and the lands in the
nearby. The tribes of Shay, ruled by Dabu Shay, and Unvirnay, ruled by Anglak Unvirnay, had the
rest of the lands, both fixing their capital town in Agurisgen, southeast of the Unvirnayrit. The
many strongpoints along the coast and the few fortresses inland were distributed among them.
Seven Years War
(1.700-1.786 SA)
DRAFT
During the next century, monkh enjoyed a great growth, specially Pänjo and Saragisha, but this was
not to last. The Dragon-King decided to recover his control over Shasindi, and started a war against
them. Lochaw forces recovered Pänjo and Saragisha with minor losses in 1710 and 1712, but Zeln,
Ekkarniali and Agurisgen endured fiercely until the coming of the Seven Years war between
Lochaw and Númenórean, in 1715. The war forced the Dragon-King to slow his conquest of
Shasindi for some decades, but the following conflicts drove the region down. The main body of the
Númenórean fleet had reached Shay about 1769 SA, and the monkh of Zeln and Niali welcame
them as allies against Lochaw. A few years after the arrival, the Dragon-King, with the support of
the monkh of Pänjo and Saragisha, launched a violent assault against Zeln and Ekkarniali, that
supported the Númenórean newcomers, and both monkh were almost completely destroyed in 1780
and 1785. The First Trade Agreement between Lochaw and Númenóreans came in 1786 SA, that
put the end to the war.
Númenórean Victory
(1.786 SA)
War destroyed Zeln (1780) and Ekkarniali (1785); when finished, Númenóreans began their
reconstruction, renamed as Zelón and Niali, under the Númenórean rule. Reconstruction was fast,
about five years long, but their recovery would last for centuries. These monkh were considered by
Númenórean as strategic strongpoints in order to control Lochaw activities, as well as a very active
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10 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
mining area. Pänjo and Saragisha continued under Lochaw influence, and the fortresses along the
coast were distributed among these three factions: Lochaw, Númenórean and Shayan.
As their monkh had wrecked, tribes of Ti and Sëd were driven north from their former territories,
rejoining the Shay ranks as they managed to recover from the war. Piracy was refrained by
Númenóreans, by pursuing and killing or by secretly using them as corsairs to fight Lochaw Empire
- ruled by the Dral dynasty -, along the nearest coasts, specially in Jojojopo and Sunum.
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Expansion to Unvirnay
(1.787-1.900 SA)
Shay tribe, now reinforced with the remnants of Ti and Sëd, started its expansion north and
eastwards, rejoining the scattered Unvirnayan in the wild territories of Unvirnay, partially
reconquering the lands they visited 500 years before. Northeastern Unvirnay was, since 1846, part
of the Tanim Kingdom, and Tanim warlords were strong enough to prevent Shayan from expanding
farther into the Northeast. Meanwhile, Pänjo and Saragisha, even though under the Lochaw rule,
were fonder of Shayan than of the weakened Lochaw, and they proclaimed their rejoining to the
Shasindi Confederation in 1883, supported by the other Shasindi tribes and the Númenórean plots in
order to weaken Lochaw power in the nearby. Nevertheless, Pänjo and Saragisha held their ties to
Vulmaw culture.
Wôlim Arrival
(1.900-2.000 SA)
After the wars leaded by the Dragon King Vo-Dral, Lochas Drus had fell into an important civil
war, which ended with the division into five different realms : Wôl, Brôd, Ka’ish, Arg-Sîmorig and
V’Shrang. Waw was considered as a Ka’ish dominion (1965), until the crowning of Dwar of Waw
as the Dog Lord in 1980, who would later become the Third Ringwraith. Dwar, with a Wôlim host,
liberated his native island from the K’prur domination (1982), and then launched a great war in
order to constitute his own Empire. Wôl was submitted with very few resistance in 1985. Between
1985 and 1998, the Dog warlord launched several raids against the coastal towns of Brôd and
Ka’ish. These two lands fall in 1998, and V’Shrang followed.
Númenórean fleet in Shay had departed south in 1812, having left behind only a small number of
ships, intended to defend their forts from pirate raids, so they could not put Wôlim expansion up.
The Trade Agreement they achieved with Lochaw granted a peaceful coexistence with them, at
least in Shay, so they did not needed a big army, and took up on reinforcing and growing their new
possessions, while some of the ones who stayed in Shayan coasts merged with the remnants of
native population, Shayan and Lochaw.The matter is they were not prepared to stop the sudden
increase in pirate activity that followed.
Wôlim pirates and raiders had always been common in Shayan coast, attacking from time to time
the weakest forts. In the latter XX SA century, their number increased and started to attack even
stronger points much more often. Trade routes in Shayan waters became seriously threaten in a
short time, as Dwar expected, because this was his goal in order to weaken alliances in Shay and
attain to control trade in the area. Vulmaw, that had great vested interests in Shay and Lochas Drus,
soon gave up resistance and pacted with Dwar some concessions, like lower commercial duties for
their merchants in the nearest Vulmaw seaports (Pänjo and Saragisha included) and some other
privileges. This was perceived by Númenórean of Shasindi as a treason.
DRAFT
Dwar’s Victory in Shasindi
(2.000-2.083 SA)
Númenórean, that possessed Zelón and Niali, confronted Wôlim pressure in the hope they would be
sent reinforcement from their brothers in Harfalas. Time would eventually prove this hope as vain,

as Harfalas was already involved in a fierce war against the Idurâk tribes, and some decades later on
a civil war. After some violent conflicts, Númenórean colonists in Shay were forced to come to
terms with Dwar in 2050 SA, the Second Trade Agreement, that guaranteed those a quite low risk
of being plundered by Wôlim raiders, and a safe stay in all Lochaw harbours as needed; Wôlim
gained a percentage of the merchandises carried by Númenórean ships, and the possibility to
stabilize Dwar’s power all over the former Lochas Drus Empire without the risk of an always
threatening Númenórean military intervention. In the following years, Wôlim commercial and
militar presence in Shayan coast notably increased, under Númenórean’s very nose.
Also, Dwar used that treaty to further harass the Shasindi Unvirnay and Arg-Simorîg, while Tana
realm (including Tanim Unvirnay) remained off limits. He accused the Unvirnay tribe of giving
support to the rebels in Tana and Brôd, as an excuse to invade the Unvirnayan land. After several
successives conflicts, in 2.083 SA, Unvirnay and Arg-Simorîg people were forced to surrender:
they had to give 100 young men and women as slaves in honor of the Dog Lord and mercenaries for
Wôlim armies. This was a real tragedy for Unvirnay tribe, as they become almost extinguised after
the war, and now lost one hundred strong arms. The remnants of the tribe asked Shay for support,
but Shay were barely able to keep themselves out from Wolim or Númenórean dominion, so they
could only offer their own land to Unvirnayan in order to make a living, but no more. For about 50
years Dwar stabilized his own power on the lands of Lochas Drus, by manipulating the line of heirs
in his empire and by pursuing continual campaigns of plunder and conquest. He suppressed every
attempts of revolts, led mainly by the Dral, in position of power in Horl and Unvirnay.
Dral Plots
(2.130-2.212 SA)
Since Lochaw submission to Waw, the heirs of Dral dynasty had spread to the nearest lands,
looking for a place where they could take refuge. At first, their principals fleed to Tana, as a
mountainous inland place, difficult to reach and far from Dwar’s oppression. They asked Tanim
King for asylum, and he agreed with support of his warlords in Horl, but most of the Tanim
foremost chieftains, those in Unvirnay and the mountains, were opposed to this, in fear of later
reprisals from Waw (as they had started to raid Tanim Unvirnay in 2133, this fear proved real) or
future submission to Lochaw. This situation soon resulted in dissension among Tanim forces, what
led to the loss of Horl by hand of Múar in 2176, the Tanim Unvirnay by hand of Dwar in 2207, and
DRAFT
the partition of the Tanim Kingdom in small feuds after a short series of successive rebellions about
2212 SA.
Those Dral principals who had fled to Shay were welcome, and their pieces of advise soon had
driven coastal inhabitants of Shay to rebellion against Wôlim dominion. Rebellions were quickly
smothered by Wôlim garrisons in the coast, but started to spread to Shayan strongpoints inland.
This fact seriously threatened stability of Wôlim presence, until in 2150, when a new revolt took
place in Shay, Dwar decided it would be the last one. The brutal repression that followed, enslaving
the most of small villages around Agurisgen and even threatening with the destruction of the
Shayan capital, drove Shayan leaders to turn a deaf ear to future Dral advices.
End of Wôlim Power
(2.207-2.254 SA)
It was time, as requested by the King of Numenor Tar-Ancalimon, to end with the shame of the
Second Trade Agreement in Shasindi and Lochas Drus, and reestablish the trade road towards the
East. A huge fleet launched by Harfalas in Cirvegil towards the Wôlim lands in 2247, joined by
another Ohjanî fleet in Thurbiandê, and Idurâk and Tarlai mercenaries, leaded to the conquest of
Waw this very year.
In the North of Lochas Drus, the power of Dwar was also challenged, thanks to the successful
rebellion of the Argâw of Arg-Simorîg and to the non support of many Wôlim in V’Shrang and
11
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12 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
Ka’ish to the cause of Dwar. After many hesitations, most Wôlim chose to support the Argâw
rebellion, which hastened the final victory of the Argâw. In 2247, they were joined by the Tanîm
warlords and by the Vulmaw, the former masters of Lochas Drus under the rule of the Dral dynasty.
Encouraged by these revolts, Shasindi also revolted in 2248, leaded by Pänjo monkh. Wôlim forces,
garrisoned mainly in Zelón and Niali, obeyed fanatically to the orders of Dwar, and started
massacring people. Shayan were utterly defeated, and survivors were forced to flee inland or look
for shelter in Pänjo and Saragisha, were Vulmaw had always wielded a concealed control. Zelón,
were Dwar’s influence had been stronger, turned to a hell of blood, screams and fire, where
thousands of Shayan people, mainly from the Sëd tribe, were atrociously tormented and
slaughtered. Several important quarters of Niali were burnt. Pänjo, the monkh which instigated
rebellion, was entirely burnt, together with its inhabitants, that same year, and survivors were forced
to flee inland. Saragisha should have suffered the same fate, if it were not for a bigger threat for
Dwar, coming from the the Bay of the Coral Reefs.
Several rumours told of the secret presence of the Dog Lord in Shay or Unvirnay, and from the
mayhem seen in Shay, it was probable that Dwar were there, trying to reconstitute his own empire.
The greatest part of the southern Númenórean fleet, leaded by Orodvellon Admiral, took the
direction of Shay, towards the cities of Zelón and Niali, in the hope to recover their former power in
the area by crushing the Wôlim garrisons. The rest of the fleet, leaded by Sirdor, headed to Lochas
Drus, in order to submit the remaining forces loyal to Dwar. After several raids against the Wôlim
forces, Orodvellon managed, with great losses, to break the siege of Saragisha, in 2249.
Perhaps because of the Wôlim engagement in Shay, Lochan kingdoms easily surrendered to the
Númenórean forces of Sirdor. But some deadly rumours arrived in Brôd. It was told that Saragisha
monkh was entirely burnt by Wôlim raiders, and that Orodvellon, the Númenórean Admiral, was
betrayed and sent to Dwar in Zelón, who tortured the infortunate Númenórean Lord.
The rumour was false. But it hastened the arrival of the Númenórean fleet commanded by Sirdor. In
2249, near the city of Zelón, took place a great battle, where both Númenórean admirals Orodvellon
and Sirdor died, though they managed to win the assault after one season. Wôlim were so forced to
retreat to Shasindi inland. Two seasons later, they were able, thanks to the authority of both
Aerothir (the second son of Sirdor) and King Haeron II of Ohjanî, to free the cities of Zelón and
Niali. However, many allied forces were killed in the process, and Shasindi suffered too much more
casualties than they could stand. Four more years were needed to entirely pacify Shasindi from the
Wôlim fanatics and Orcs of Dwar, and from the Rúakasi raiders, who searched to regain their lost
JMME
DRAFT
influence in Unvirnay. With the final victory achieved in Agurisgen (the site of the last
Númenórean-Shasindi battle against Wôlim, Orcs and Rúakasi) in 2254, the corpse of Dwar was
found nowhere. This time, peace was firmly established in all the Lochan peninsula.
The Brôd Agreement
(2.249 SA)
In respect of the First Trade Agreement, they proposed a new pact. This was the Third Trade
Agreement (“Brôd Agreement”), signed in Brôd in 2249, for wich Lochas Drus was returned to the
Vulmaw on five conditions: Númenórean quarters had to be built in the most important Lochan
cities; the defeated Wôlim had to be considered as third class citizens, after the Númenórean and the
Lochan; Wôlim had to furnish to the allies warships, weapons and gold, in order to pay the effort of
war in Shasindi; Vulmaw had to recognize the island of Waw as a Númenórean territory of
Harfalas. And last, the city of Brôd had to be recognized as a city belonging to the Ohjanî Empire,
as their forces only contributed to the freedom of that city. As an extension of the Third Trade
Agreement, Shasindi had also to accept, by way of protection and trade, Númenórean and Ohjanî
presence in their cities, mainly Númenórean in Zelón and Niali, and Ohjanî in Pänjo (that should be
reconstructed by Shasindi people with the help of Ohjanî) and Saragisha. Númenórean, on seeing
several resemblances between Tarlai and Shayan (though they were remotely related), soon
established an important Tarlai garrison in those monkh.

Rúakasi Confinment
(2.254-2.466 SA)
About 2300, Númenórean forces in Shay were uncontested. The Númenórean empire of Harfalas
was the actual commander of Lochas Drus, despite of the reestablishment of the Dral dynasty. Niali
and Zelón soon became Númenórean protectorates, and the Númenórean garrisons protected the
locals against the occasional Wôlim raiders, claiming the soon return of their Dog Lord, or the
Rúakasi tribes. Following the visit of Númenórean King Telemmaitë, these two monkh became
outposts of Sakal an-Khâr in 2443, and in 2448 all their dwellers, whether Númenóreans or Shayan,
were submitted to the Númenórean law. There were some rebellions among some Lochaw cities,
but revolts were easily dismantled, as the Third Trade Agreement was still in vigour and the Lochan
Empire had still all power in their lands.
By this time, the future capital Agurisgen had grown to become a city, where Shayan leaders ruled
their territory from. Rúakasi were severely weakened after the fight against Númenórean and
Shayan alliance, their tribes diminished and surrounded by enemies. On a final effort, their
remnants reunited in the plains and for the first time pacted the invasion of Agurisgen in a
combined attack. In a clear morning on the springtime of 2466, the Rúakasi as a whole attacked
Agurisgen, were crushed by the skilled Shayan chivalry, composed of all the warriors from
Unvirnay, Shay, Ti and Sëd tribes, and Rúakasi survivors, men and women, escaped to the near
hills of Unvirnayrit, a rocky place where Shayan horsemen could not hunt them. Since then, and
for so, so long, Rúakasi disappeared from Shay, hiding in Unvirnayrit caves and tunnels, until the
coming of Pac-Eschlank, seldom attacking merchants in the route from Agurisgen to Kohbehto.
Sakal an-Khânim Rule
(2.466-2.887 SA)
With the submission of Rúakasi and the agreements with Lochaw, Sëd and Ti tribes return to Niali
and Zelón, accepting the Númenórean rule until they could regain their former influence in the
monkh. In 2544, Pänjo and Saragisha, same as the rest of the Ohjanî empire, turned to vassals of
Khanim, loosing this way their former preeminence among Shayan monkh. Ohjanî would
eventually loose its influence in Shasindi.
DRAFT
Malenhîr began his rule as governor of Sakal an-Khâr by ordering to build the Golden Palace in the
cities of Nimir Kadar and Khârutarîk, where all the governors of Sakal an-Khâr and some Kings of
Numenor were represented. The Palace was achieved twenty years later, in Urui 2609, the occasion
for Sakal an-Khâr to organize a fastuous ceremony. Among the invited people, Meneldor, third son
of the Númenórean King Tar-Anducal, Anorvegil, the acting governor of Anarikê and Balkulôni,
and Hirvîr (the representant of Sakal an-Khâr in Waw) were the most honoured. There were also
representants of Shasindi, like Hwo Hsien-pi III from Saragisha.
Meneldor stayed several months in Sakal an-Khâr. Malenhîr reaffirmed the loyalty of the colony,
with the integration of every private armies in the official Sakal an-Khâr army, one and only
(Ivanneth 2589). Any other uniform or war emblem than the Sakal an-Khanim is forbidden in
Shasindi; this decree becomes rather unpopular among the traditional mercenary companies in
Shasindi, even the Tarlai companies, where it was called “the whim demand”, in reference to the
gifts that women demanded from the soldiers as they returned from a distant land, gifts that were
usually small jewels and pretty clothes, same as Khânim soldiers showed off their garments. These
fusions of separate mercenaries armies had the goal of avoid a rebellion against the main authority
of Sakal an-Khâr, but among Shasindi mercenaries this created a very bad mood, and prevented
them from actively helping in smothing those same rebellions.
Meneldor had a private meeting with Anorvegil about the danger of the Sakal an-Khâr colony. He
was convinced by Anorvegil of the necessity to create an independant Númenórean colony in
Lochas Drus. Meneldor reported to his father, the aging Tar-Anducal, who made an edict on
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14 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
colonies, in Hithui 2594. Sakal an-Khâr sphere of influence was limited to the Bay of the Coral
Reefs, and a new colony had to be created in Lochas Drus, centering around the four Shayan coastal
monkh and Waw. As Hirvîr of Waw was related to the Sakal an-Khâr governor’s family, a member
of a moderate faction, Menelvegil became the first governor of the new Númenórean colony, named
“Azrathâni” (Ad. “The Sea Lands”).
JMME
Shasindi Diplomatic Maneuvers
(2.600-2.887 SA)
Because of the important trade with the East, the influence of Sakal an-Khâr remained in Azrathâni
for a time, contraventing the King’s orders. For about three decades, it was like Hirvîr was still in
command of the colony. Shasindi kingdom was aware of the Khanim weakness, and began to make
some diplomatic maneuvers, in order to recover its coastal monkh from Númenórean. Menelvegil,
convinced by Shay tribe, Tarlai mercenaries and some Númenórean notable families, gave more
rights to Shasindi, because Númenórean were too few in numbers in order to prevent subsequent
revolts against the oppressive rule of Sakal an-Khâr.
Shay tribe’s goal was neither end nor to prolong Khanim dominion over Shasindi, but to achieve
more influence in Menelvegil policies. Tarlai, on the other hand, wanted to get free from Khanim
and Númenórean yoke, but their frequently violent confrontation to local Númenórean nobility
forced these last to support Shayan in order to keep their status, as Tarlai hatred proved rather
dangerous for those of Númenórean blood.
Tana joined the Lochaw Empire in 2603 SA, as part of an assimilation proccess masterly developed
by Dral. The Lochaw rule proved to be very beneficial for Tanim infrastructure development, taking
them out from isolationism by means of new roads. This fact gave Shasindi the chance to influence
the Tanim policy about commerce, in order to obtain some advantages for its merchants and support
for their goal of recovering their former control over their land.
The crowning of Fulla VII King of Ruuriik, on Yule of S.A. 2742, one year after Múar’s death,
impeled Shayan to try to make bonds with their dwarven neighbours, offering their help in order to
recover their former prosperity, but dwarven still had a grudge against those who helped ruining
their land and hunted their people, so they refused in bitter terms. Múar’s agents had left Shasindi
with the coming of Dwar, and never returned.
In 2804 SA, in order to strengthen their influence in the Lochan empire, Shayan propose a secret
treaty to Tanim, whose warlords did not expected Shasindi tribes to be a serious threat for their
interests and future expansion to Horl. They persuaded the King of Tâna to refuse a direct alliance,
other than the one that Lochaw had with Shayan. The secret treaty contemplated an agreement for
economic advantageous to Shay and an obligation for political support to Shasindi requests to
Lochan emperor after the forthcoming independence from Sakal an-Khar.
DRAFT
Independence from Khanim Rule
(2.887 SA)
When Menelvegil died in Hithui 2887, Azrathâni was entirely independant from Sakal an-Khâr,
with only a few minor revolts, mainly by hands of Tarlai mercenaries. Even if Tar-Anducal and his
son Tar-Alcarin tried to keep control on all colonies, the 2594 edict on colonies incitated Khanîm to
maneuver with much more subtlety and secrecy in Azrathâni and the Bay of Ormal. As Niali and
Zelón had become independent again, both monkh tried to stand out in order to attain a privilege
status among the Shayan tribes, a fact used by Khanim agents to sow dissension among their
leaders. Envy, conspiracies and a masterly sense of opportunity were their arms.

The Age of Dissension
(2.890-3.052 SA)
The open conflict between Niali and Zelón sow unstability among the Shasindi tribes. It would have
exploded in a violent war if were not the Shay tribe and local Númenórean nobility mediated in
order to keep peace, in 2894.
After monkh return to Shasindi confederation, Shay leaders saw a very good oportunity to achieve a
new goal, one they had sometimes thought of, but never decided to develop in practice: their
expansion to Horl and Jojojopo. Although Shayan diplomatic maneuvers had fallen through, the
many years of peace under Menelvegil government brought prosperity and a sustained population
growth, specially among the Shay tribe, who had suffered in a minor degree with Wolim spoiling
five hundred years before and Khanim one after this. Now, in the spring of 2897, Shasindi forces
were strong enough to try the expansion, and had Númenórean engineered ships in order to sail the
seas. It was summoned a council with the goal of planning strategy, but things did not happened the
way they wanted: Saragisha, even though not opposed to this, was rather uncertain about the real
reason for the expansion to Jojojopo, under Lochaw control, and perceived some kind of Khanim
manipulation under it, that would pretend unstabilization of Lochaw power. Zelón, influenced by
some Khanim agents concerned to Dark Ordainers, demanded to receive the supreme command on
the fleet, in doing so controlling maritime trade in the Lochaw area (good for Sakal an Kar), but
Niali opposed to, as it also pretended the same and was afraid of the subsequent preeminence of
Zelón among the Shasindi confederation. Unvirnay tribe depended on Shay one, and voted for the
expansion. Pänjo had started to suffer a strange pest the last year, still not being completely
recovered from Wolim genocide, that drove Ch’iang tribe to a critical underpopulation level, so it
could not support such a war effort, voted against it. This way was the expansion aborted.
In the next century, Shasindi directed their objectives in order to strengthen their bonds with
Lochaw, with the final goal of openning a trade route to Womawas Drus, where Shasindi
commercial interests had been formerly neglected, until now they had the sailing ability that
Númenórean taught them. From now on, Shasindi gems, clothes and spices will have a continuous
presence in Womaw royal court, being directly supplied by Shasindi traders themselves.
DRAFT
Eratanth Bridge is Built
(3.052 SA)
With the politic approaching of Shasindi to Lochaw and the new commercial expansion, a route
west and northwards by land was intensively pursued. This eventually lead to a pact with the
Awartasi, in 3050, in order to trade goods with the elves of Imaldawath, something that could only
be achieved by means of a bridge over the Nenyurrist. Lochaw engineers were sent to the
Unvirnayan campsite of Kohbehto, together with some learned Awartasi, with the goal of design
and define the project. It was a hard task, but even harder was its construction, that took more than
two years and a lot of Unvirnayan workers lives. Lochaw engineer’s families established in
Kohbehto, that grew until it was a big town.
Another trade route was opened through the Goldroin, but this one got only passable with the help
of guides who knew the paths in the wood: Unvirnayan did not want Horl invaders to seize their
lands. This fact made this route rather dangerous for anyone who tried to find it without an expert
scout, and so became not much used.
Indepencence of Unvirnay
(3.100 SA – 1.153 TA)
That same year, the Unvirnay tribe take advantage of the weakness of Shay and, helped by Lochaw
troops, become independent from them in 3441. The Lochaw, in order to secure the Unvirnay
15
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16 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
southern border, had built fortresses all along the route from Brôd to the Eratanth bridge. The
Unvirnayan accepted to join the Lochaw Empire. The Third Age had begun.
In 27 TA, when Oervik Dral, the Lochaw Hionvar, committed suicide, the Shayan were not still
recovered, but the Unvirnayan, still afraid of the Shayan revenge, fortified their foremost town,
Kohbehto, and made their capital city of it. By those time, the Shayan were fully abreast of events
which were taking place in the Lochas Drus. In order to promote the Lochaw unstability, avoiding
this way a short term reorganization in the Empire, they had sent spies who contributed to the chaos
created after the death of Oervik.
Nevertheless, Shayan were also divided. While the monkh of Pänjo, Saragisha and Agurisgen were
making a great effort in order to recuperate their former power, Zelón and Niali were involved in a
secret struggle that eventually drove them into stagnation and exhaustion.
JMME
Birth of Shasindi Nation
(1.153 TA)
When, in 1148 TA, Demik Dral and Vrak Tanuk restore Dral rule in Lochas Drus, ending this way
the existent chaos, the Lochaw army was ready to restore their former empire, and neither Unvirnay
nor Shay were strong enough to oppose them. Almost immediately, the Unvirnay accepted the
Lochaw ruling again. The Unvirnay, loyal to both Lochaw and Shay, convinced Shayan to join the
Lochaw empire, in order to avoid a conquering war leaded by Lochaw, which would have proved
devastating for the weakened Shayan tribes. The Lochaw-ascendant population in Shay (in the
monkh of Niali and Saragisha above all) was strong enough to press in favour of the union. This
way, in 1153, the Shayan confederation signed the “Sôgôl Agreement” and joined the Lochaw
empire. This agreement stated that the Shayan confederation (traditionally named “Shasindi” by the
Lochaw) was under the Lochaw rule, but the military presence of Lochaw was small and limited to
monkh.
The Lochaw domination signified great prosperity for the Shasindi. When Lochaw began to
administrate their new tributary people, they realized the Shasindi had much to offer to the empire,
not only goods, but organization types, culture and stability. For these reasons, Shasindi would be
the most influential state of the Lochaw confederation until 1794.
DRAFT
Independence of Waw
(1.617 TA)
Until 1617 TA, Lochaw remained untouched, even expanding their dominions. Then Waw declared
itself independent. This was not an unexpected event, but the violent actions that Wôlim undertook,
helped by treachery, killing the most of the inhabitants of Niali by means of lethal diseases and
cursing the Ekkar island, forced Shasindi to operate despite of the Lochaw orders, in order to defend
themselves. The legend of the demon Shaka-ahar, a memory of Dwar of Waw in Shasindi legend,
was born.
In 1658, Shasindi were almost completely recovered, and Captain Dehra Wug Ch’iang was chosen
as Admiral of the Shasindi fleet in order to push Wawim out of the Jaekgâra. He designed the
“Hakkris”, Shasindi Admiral Ship sheltered in Niali. On board of it, he was successful in 1665. The
good unfolding of events made Shay to advise Oervik-dem Hionvar to invade the secedding region
of Ka’ish. But Dwar was ahead of these plans. He prepared the Wôlim treachery, which would
eventually mean the death of the Hionvar next year. With his death, the dimished Lochaw empire
lost the ability to keep their territories under its rule.

Independence of Shasindi State
(1.794 TA)
In 1794, as the lord of Ka'ish, Zemkar Sul, laid claim to the Lochan throne, Shasindi decided to
separate from the Lochaw. It was a pacific proccess, as Lochaw could not prevent it by military
means. Unvirnayan had lost most of their forces in the Ka’ish invasion, so they asked for Shasindi’s
helping. Shasindi offered their protection, and so Unvirnay became part of the Shasindi
confederation again.
Since 1617, Shasindi were more and more influenced by the Shadow, brought to them by Shakaahar,
Wôlim spies and dark sects. Although the five tribes remained united, Shasindi were already
corrupted. For that reason, Waw did not leaded a war against them, as they did against Ka’ish, when
they got independence.
The following three centuries, Shasindi rulers, controlled by dark priests and corrupted advisors,
started to fear their own people, as the words they were paying ears were the ones wich spoke of
treachery, plotting and death. In order to protect themselves, they established the martial law over
the Shasindi territories, including Unvirnay. Shasindi people starved, were enslaved by their own
masters or sentenced to die in a cruel manner. Everybody was a conspirator. Mercenary companies
and corsairs, traditionally in good relationships with Shasindi, were ejected from the kingdom or
hunted as traitors, forced to flee out, while they were gradually replaced by Peryrch troops, offered
as a peace gesture by the Wôlim, that raided the Shasindi kingdom massacring people with consent
of the rulers. Massive levies were organized in order to fight rioting areas. Shasindi people were
driving a war against themselves.
Arrival of Pac-Eschlank
(2.090 TA)
In 2090 TA, when Sauron arrived to Zelón under the name of Pac-Eschlank, he was seen as a
saviour. He spreaded his promises of order and prosperity with the help of their servants, and he
was heard. The traditional Zelonist dark theocracy imposed its rules all over the Shasindi kingdom,
and became the capital city of Shasindi state, displacing the almost ruined Agurisgen. Chaos
dissapeared, replaced by Shadow’s iron fist, and it seemed Shasindi were even to try its first
conquering campaign to the north and east, but it was a mirage.
DRAFT
At first, there was a great recovery, but as Zelón’s power grew up more and more, situation turned
to worse. By the time the whole Shasindi kingdom was under the Shadow (c. 2200 TA), all of it
was almost a wrecking desert, where only havoc, death and suffering prevailed. Due to massive
deportations, in order to support Sauron’s armies abroad, the smallest towns almost dissapeared,
and the other five monkh were abandoned, converted in orcish tumbledowned buildings. Only
small resistance groups kept the hope yet, sheltering in Jaekgâra, among the former Címoníemorin
military Peredhil. From there, these rebel groups travel all over Lochas Drus, Jojojopo and Sunum
in order to fight the Shadow. Some refugees from Címoníemor and other lands join the Resistance.
Rúakasi began to spread again across the Shasindi kingdom, in doing so fulfilling the hollow the
Shay had left as they were driven away from their land. They shared it with Peryrch and the grim
men the Shadow brought with it.
This situation lasted for the next millenium, until the first century of the Fourth Age, when Sauron’s
power started to vanish in the area. Ekkar island, in Niali, sinks under the sea in 88 FA, and
Shasindi land begins its recovery.
17
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18 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
5.0 TIMELINE
FIRST AGE
Late F.A. Jungles of Liserin (latter Shay and Unvirnay) get inhabited by Gonnid tribes,
sharing territories with the Avari. Soon after them, Rúakasi come from Horl, taking
advantaje of the recent arsons that pushed Gonnid and Avari westwards.
SECOND AGE
340-350 Surk Vulmaw arrive to Liserin coast from Wôl and confront some Rúakasi and
Gonnid tribes, pushing them from coastal land.
511 Ekkarniali built by Lochaw. They also travel southwards.
700 Foundation of the Dwarven kingdom of Ruuriik (Tumunamahal).
989-1.287 The Wan-Dral Dynasty of Lochas Drus.
1.100 Talatherim join Múar’s army in order to conquer Ruuriik, departing from Lurs
Vorganis.
1.157 The Balrog Múar conquers all Ruuriik except for the hold of Barin’s folk at
Khazad-madûr. Some Shayan tribes, originating from Lurs Vorganis and Rûbor,
split from his army following his orders.
1.200-1.400 Six Shayan tribes, leaded by the Shay and Unvirnay, move southwards, from
Ruuriik through Horl, starting the conquest of Liserin. They found the Kingdom of
Shasindi in 1.400, with the licence of their lord Múar and the Dragon-King of
Lochas Drus, but Unvirnay remains unconquered.
1563 “Agurisgen Agreement” between the Shayan tribes and Lochaw. The age of monkh
start with it.
1700-1786 Seven Years War in southern Endor between Vulmaw and Númenórean, followed
by other conflicts all along the east and southern coasts. Zeln and Ekkarniali are
destroyed by Lochaw forces. With the First Trade Agreement, the war ends.
JMME
DRAFT
1769 After some minor expeditions, the main body of the Númenórean fleet reaches
Shay, and the war worses in the zone. Zeln and Ekkarniali are destroyed by
confrontation.
1786 First Trade Agreement between Lochaw and Númenóreans. As a result of the
Agreement, Númenóreans gain control of two of the monkh in Shay. For the next
two centuries, Niali and Zelón boost their economies, population and urbanism,
growing as a reflection of any other Númenórean cities.
1787-1900 Tribes of Shay, Unvirnay, Ti and Sëd begin the conquest of Unvirnay. Their
expansion is stopped by Tanim, that had conquered northeastern Unvirnay in 1846.
Pänjo and Saragisha proclaim their submission to Shasindi Confederation.
1900-2000 Lochas Drus disintegrates in a chaos of civil wars. Dwar of Waw start the conquest
of the Wôlim empire, taking advantage of the Lochaw division. He uses raiders in
order to weaken Vulmaw and Númenórean influences in the nearby.
1998 Dwar of Waw accepts one of the Nine Rings.
2050 Second Trade Agreement. Wôlim presence in Shasindi coast is reluctantly accepted.
2083 Dwar conquers the Shasindi Unvirnay, as a reprisal for a ficticious support that
Unvirnay tribe gave to Brodim and Tanim. In 2133, Dwar begins to attack Tanim
Unvirnay.
2130-2212 Presence of Dral heirs in Tana lead to dissension among Tanim forces. In 2176,
Horl is conquered by Múar the Balrog and Tanim Unvirnay by Dwar the Ringwraith

in 2207. The rest of Tana disintegrates in small feuds in 2212. Rebelions in
Shasindi, promoted by Dral heirs, were brutally repressed by the Dog Lord.
2247 The King of Númenor, Tar-Ancalimon, launches a huge fleet toward the Wôlim
lands, conquering Waw. Wôlim empire starts to split due to internal revolts.
2248 Resurgence of the Dral Dynasty in Lochas Drus. Shasindi revolts against Wôlim.
Pänjo is destroyed and Niali suffer massive deportation and burning of some
quarters. Númenórean intervention saves Saragisha and the whole Shasindi from a
cruel fate.
2249 “Brôd Agreement”, the Third Trade Agreement between Númenórean and Vulmaw.
Lochas Drus is returned to Vulmaw on five conditions. Númenórean power in
coastal Shasindi increases. Pänjo begins its reconstruction.
2254 Battle of Agurisgen, where a Númenórean-Shasindi army defeates a Wôlim-Orc-
Rúakasi one, in doing so ejecting Dwar forces off Unvirnay.
2443 Zelón and Niali become outposts of Sakal an-Khâr. In five years, all their dwellers
are submitted to the Númenórean law, with an special status.
2466 Shayan finally defeat Rúakasi in Agurisgen, rejoining the scattered Unvirnay tribe
and their territory. After that, Sëd and Ti tribes return to their monkh, temporary
accepting the Númenórean government.
2589 Malenhîr of Sakal an-Khâr integrates all of the private and mercenary armies in the
official one. Any other uniform or war emblem than the Sakal an-Kharim is
forbidden in Shasindi. This step is rather unpopular to the mercenary tradition in
Shasindi.
2594 Tar-Anducal’s “Edict on Colonies”, for a new colony is created in Lochas Drus,
centering around the Shasindi coastal monkh and Waw. Menelvegil is the first and
last governor of the new colony, named Azrathâni.
2603 Tana joins the Lochaw empire, and gets out from its isolation by means of a new
web of roads.
2741 Death of Múar the Balrog; Ruuriik freed. King Fulla VII of Ruuriik officially
declares enmity on Shasindi, but not war.
2804 Shay tribe proposes a secret treaty to Tana, but is rejected in offensive terms.
2887 With Menelvegil’s death, Shay monkh become independent again. Ti and Sëd tribes
struggle for power leads to a serious threat to Shasindi stability, with the help of
Khanim agents.
DRAFT
2894 Shay tribe and local Númenórean nobility prevent Zelón and Niali from starting a
war.
2897 A council is summoned in order to discuss the expansion of Shasindi. It is refused,
so efforts are directed to open new trade routes north and westwards.
3052 Building of Eratanth bridge.
3441 Unvirnay join the Lochaw Empire and defeat the weakened Shayan confederation.
They fix the southern border along the road from Sôgôl to Eratanth. Oervik Dral
becomes Hionvor of Lochas Drus.
THIRD AGE
27 The Dral, under Oervik Dral, lose control of the Lochan Empire. Rising of the
Unvirnayan monkh of Kohbehto, future capital city of Unvirnay.
287 Unification of the north Womaw (Lochas Drus remains separate).
c. 1050 Dwar returns and unites Waw and Wôl against the Lochaw rule.
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20 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
1107 Demik Dral I is born in Tana.
1148 Demik Dral and Vrak Tanuk restore Dral rule in Lochas Drus. Demik Dral claims power
and becomes Hionvor of the Lochas drus. The Ryc at Pyri (Guild of Light, founded by
Womaw to help the Light vs. the Shadow) is restablished in Tarsa by Vrak Tanûk.
1153 By the “Sôgôl Agreement”, Shay joined the Lochaw empire.
1507 Settlers from Waw seize Címoníemor.
1617 The Dral hold in Lochas Drús wanes with the renewal of Wôlim power to the south. The
Dog-lord’s ships began assailing the Lochan coasts, raiding deep into Wôl and Brôd, and
attacking Shasindi. Waw declares himself independent form Lochas Drus. Dendra Dwar
II crowns himself King of Waw. Dwar progressively recreates his former empire. The
Shadow returns to Lochas Drus. Ekkar island is cursed, and strange and lethal epidemics
spread all over the Shayan kingdom..
1659 Unvirnayan troops help the Lochan against the Ka’ish, but they are crushed. Oervik-dem
Dral, the last Lochaw Hionvar, dies during the battle, due to the Wôlim act of treachery.
1794 Final division of the Lochan Empire and birth of the Shasindi state. From now on, the
appellative “Shay” will refer to the Vorganim branch of Shayan.
c. 2090 Sauron visit Zelón and spread his word all over the Shasindi kingdom. Zelón becomes the
new capital city, with the name of Taxila, and Shasindi kingdom start its deceptive
reconstruction.
2200 Shasindi is wrecked by the Shadow. Resistance groups, supported from Jaekgâra, fight all
over the surroundings. Rúakasi reborn and recover their former domains.
FOURTH AGE
c. 100 The sauronic influence starts to vanish in the region. Ekkar island sinks.
6.0 THE LAND
JMME
DRAFT
The massive Imaldawath (Aw.“Under the Shade of the Trees”) forest to the west and the Orosúlo
(S. “Mountains of the Wind”) to the east can be sighted from the whole country, so it is rather
difficult to get lost. There are some little lagoon spreading the ground, but they are useful only to
locals. Unvirnay, better watered, is not much different. Herds of Ruaprat runs the meadows, while
the Ruakrana patrol the skies in order to find the little rodents which cave tunnels under them. The
dark forests are avoided by anyone who do not wants to risk to dissappear, and only miners and
some greedy traders dare to cross the Orosúlo. The monkh on the coast open their arms to the sea,
where sails fill the horizon and Bortpokhûn stalks its prey. Small boats do not get too close to
Jaektrae, but corsair and trading naves travel far away the Jaekgâra, watched from the shadows by
the Jaekgârayi.
7.0 GEOGRAPHY
MIRA CÓMO INCLUIR INTENSA ACTIVIDAD VOLCÁNICA Y TERREMOTOS,
POSIBLEMENTE DESDE OROSULO, DURANTE LA PRIMERA EDAD
The Shay land is an arid plain, full of short dry grass pastures, regularly sufferring burns that are
quickly controlled by the natives. Near the few villages and towns, the cereal fields prevail over any
other landscape.

Near the Orosúlo, the land turn steeper in a few kilometres, making extremely difficult to pass the
mountains. The ground here is very fertile, making orchards, tea fields and rice terraces a common
vision, with the exception of the Deánin, a forest which clings on the southern foothills, which is
said to be haunted.
There is a pass through the Orosúlo, the Sûlannon (S. “Wind Gate”) which connects Kohbehto with
Sôgôl, the principal Brôdim city, but it is a dangerous route, specially on Winter, when avalanches
threaten the travellers. The most of the year, the Sûlannon is closed, due to landslides or snow. The
Orosúlo is an unsurpassable barrier, even as it reaches the Jaektrae peninsula, where its height
decreases. Shayan miners work in the shores of the Deánxeh, transporting the minerals rather by
ship than by land, and live near the mines, in campments, relaying every season. Unvirnayan
Orosúlo is home for the hostile Tânim, so the Unvirnayan miners work near the Sûlannon.
On the Orosúlo heights, very few people venture to enter. Its only inhabitants are a branch of
Gonnid who were pushed upwards as the forests were burnt in early Second Age. They are even
more reclusive than their relatives from the woods, and are told as a legend to the Shayan children.
They are adapted to the extreme cold and the lack of oxygene.
Near the Nenyurrist (Aw. “Waters Running in the Cleft”), the ground is poor, rocky and stale, as it
turns into the ravine which conforms the riverbed. Only near the mouth, it becomes fertile and
swampy.
On the south, many Shayan legends tell of Sittain as once settled by the same “spirits” which now
inhabit the Deánin, but nothing, except some ruins inside the woods, have been discovered. There
are few streams, that take their sources on the highest areas of the wood, where the Borgruxeh can
be found. As it approaches the coast, jungle turns into manglar gradually, making difficult and
dangerous the land traffic along the coast, despite the Shayan deforested the land they needed in
order to set their farms and crops. Coastal waters are completely sandbanked near the Nenyurrist
and the Deánxeh, being necessary the help of a local pilot if one pretends to reach the coast by ship.
The rest of the coast is scattered with reefs, but it is not a big problem to navigation. The
Goldrogâra is difficult to sail, due to the strong gusts of wind.
On the north, the Unvirnayrit are the only height which breaks the landscape monotony. It is shelter
for the last of the Rúakasi people which inhabited the whole region in the early Second Age. It is a
wild and rough place, hard and dangerous to cross without a guide, full of caves and tunnels. The
route from Niali to Eratanth (Aw. “Lonely Bridge”), reaches the lower hills, and is frequently
skirmished by Rúakasi bandits.
DRAFT
The Eratanth is a wooden bridge lacquered with bright purples, azures and yellows, and it is the
only way that connects the realm of Imaldawath with Unvirnay. The bridge is 100 m. long, and
hangs over a 200 m deep ravine, where the river Nenyurrist loudly flows. In this point of the river,
the sides of the canyon are nearly vertical. Since 3000 SA, the Eratanth has been the place of
meeting, only once a year, on the spring equinox, between the Awartasi and the peoples of
Unvirnay. Here they trade the goods from the forest with the Eastern ones. The rest of the year, it is
closed by a wooden gate, in the shape of twisted roots and branches. It is guarded night and day by
Awartasi sentinels, hidden in the trees. (3)
The Unvirnay is a plain of long green grass, well watered and plenty of fertile soil, most of it set to
serve as pasture for the meadow horses. The Goldroin, a warm wood rather than a jungle, is not
much exploited, as the Gonnid protect it, and at its edges, the Unvirnayan labour rice fields. The
only way to cross this forest in a secure manner is a hidden pass, known to some local guides and,
of course, to the Gonnid, who watch it. The forest is full of dangers, like hidden ravines and big
spiders. Shayan people watch with distrust this border.
The Jaektrae peninsula is a group of peaks, divided by little rivers, whose deep valleys shelter some
Gonnid tribes, hunter campments and miner colonies. The eastern slope endes in short black sands
beaches, surrounded by cliffs, and jungles which turn to manglar as they reach the sea. The western
side is full of high cliffs and fiords, whose marine caves are the shelter for pirates and marine
crocodiles. The southern area, near the Jaekgâra, less rough than the northern one, is inhabited by a
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22 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
bizarre peredhil tribe, which cares for being no one’s domain. There are very strong winds that
border the peninsula, coming from the north and turning east as they get out from the Shay sea.
According to Thomas Morwinsky’s map of Endor, Shasindi land, including Shay, Unvirnay and
Jaektrae, is comprised between 20 and 30º N, 136 and 141º E (if Carnen is supposed to be 0º). In
the real world, this is an area in the Pacific Ocean, south of Japan.
JMME
7.1 The monkh
There are six principal cities in Shasindi.
Agurisgen, the Shayan capital. Agriculture and herding. Shay tribe.
Kohbehto, almost deserted. Mining and agriculture. Unvirnay tribe.
Niali, corrupted by wealth. Rich mining and commerce. Sëd tribe.
Zelón, the dark theocracy. Timber, fishing and commerce. Ti tribe.
Pänjo, bad luck. Fishing, timber and commerce. Ch’iang tribe.
Saragisha, Lochaw turned. Commerce. Hsien-pi tribe.
8.0 CLIMATE
REVISA ESTO Y HAZLO COHERENTE
The warm northern winds temperate the region, keeping temperatures around a comfortable 21-26
ºC, and bring the rain clouds from Ralian (200-400 cm rainfall). After some downpour over
Goldroin and Unvirnay, clouds hold up in the Orosúlo foothills and the Sittain, where they burst.
This fact makes temperatures lower in these areas. The sea influence is only notorious near the
southern Sittain and the Jaekgâra.
The cold winds coming down from Orosúlo, specially on Spring and Autumn, spread some rainfall
over the arid Shay region.
8.1 Waters
DRAFT
Rivers and streams have a quite regular regime: like in humid tropical regions, low water level
corresponds to winter, while high water level does to summer. Most common kinds of ground are
red clays, impoverished on their surface due to washing, rather unsuitable to cultivate.
8.2 Temperatures and Rainfall
It has a mild climate, of warm winter. This is a kind of transition from rainy tropical to mild
continental climate: warm and humid summer (tropical), mild and rainy winter (mediterranean), not
monsoony.
Continental influence is revealed by a very long and hot summer. On winter, brutal cold waves
come from continental anti-cyclones, reaching Shasindi area and devastating plantations. Annual
thermic amplitude is quite strong.
8.3 Atmosferic General Circulation
On Summer, high subtropical pressures shift northwards, preventing polar storms from passing
south. As a consequence, a very hot weather predominates. On continent inland, a low thermal
establishes, that leads to depressions and causes summer rains in continental climates.

On Winter, high subtropical pressures lead southwards, but in the continental inland sets a thermic
anti-cyclone that brings about a cold and dry weather and is able to extend its action to coastal
zones, preventing frontal storms from entering the continent.
Coldest month between 0 and 18º. Hottest month, more than 22ºC. There is rain the whole year.
9.0 FLORA AND FAUNA
9.1 FAUNA
Ruaprat: a little horse, very tough and swift, that runs in herds all over the Shay and Unvirnay
plains. Is the basis of the Shayan army, and everybody needs official permission to hunt them. They
were brought by the Rúakasi in the early Second Age, and crossed with the ones that brought the
Shayan.
Bypano: some time ago, the water buffalo could be found in the Sittain, but they have been
intensively hunted, so now, only a few of them inhabit the Sittain, and some others are safely
guarded by the marine crocodiles in the Eastern coasts of Jaektrae.
Goats: in the hills and mountains, but Shayan people only appreciate the cheese made from its milk
and its fur, not its meat.
Calam: a native medium sized dog. Although the original hill dog was little sized, it has been
mixed with the big war dogs that Vulmaw brought to the region and used during the conflicts after
the Seven Years War against Númenóreans. It inhabits mainly the Unvirnayrit and the Orosúlo
foothills, feeding in goats, weakened meadows horses and little mammals. Their packs (5-20
members) are very dangerous when raiding the plains.
DRAFT
Bortpokhûn: this marine crocodile, about 10 m. length, two of them in tail, means death to
anything lesser than itself. All along the Shayan coast, but they breed at the fiords and cliffs of the
Jaektrae, where a slight underground volcanic activity allows them to find the temperatures and
safety their eggs need in order to mature. A local legend tells about a giant specimen which inhabits
the Deánxeh (if anyone has seen it, has not returned to tell). Strong and quick, in the water and in
the land, they are capable of long sea journeys, even weeks. Their diet includes big sea fishes, cattle
and other reptiles. They are lone hunters, and male crocodiles prevent this species from growing in
number.
Erinkar (Aw. “Leopard”): a feline that can reach the
lenght of 1,50 m, plus a long 50 cm tail. Its hide is
golden with large brown spots, circled in white. The
leopards usually feed on birds, small mammals, and
sometimes deers, but rarely attack people; they can run
very fast through the woods, and can move as well on
the tall branches of the trees. Their hide is very prized,
and it is almost extinguished in the Sittain and Deánin.
Drierinkar: a typical tiger, the Shayan consider it sacred, and only hunt them when the beast enter
the urban perimeter. Otherwise, the Drierinkar can be found near the Sittain, even on the crops.
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24 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
Celaewa (Aw. “Coloured Bird”): A large pheasant with a coloured plumage, very prized by
hunters. Its meat is not particularly tasty, but the feathers are highly decorative.
Eagles: There are two kinds of eagle in Shay: the one which inhabits the Orosúlo, bigger and lighter
in colour, and the one which flies over the meadows, smaller, darker and much more aggressive.
First of them, the Ubûlkrana, is rarely seen, as it never leaves the highest peaks of the mountains,
where snow is always present, feeding on Gonnid and big hairy beasts. The Ruakrana usually feeds
on carrion, but it has no problem in hunting little mammals, birds and cattle. The Ruakrana is often
captured and trained in order to serve Shayan as they practice one of their favourite sports: the
hunting.
Monkey, boar and a huge diversity of fauna can be found in the kingdom.
JMME
9.2 FLORA
Bamboo, palmtrees, trees and bushes similar to laurel (magnolias, camellias, teabush) mix with
decidous ones (oaks, beechs, chestnut) and conifers (pines, firs, piceas) from mild zones.This kind
of mixed wood with dense sotobosque is rather vigorous, because it does not suffer a long dry
season.
Tea: wood and leaves, in the Orosúlo foothills and near Nenyurrist.
Opium: lilac, white, purple flower. Shay plains.
Saffron: violet, blue, yellow or white flower. Shay plains.
Aniseed: herb. Whole kingdom.
Cinnamon: 12 m. tree. Goldroin and Deánin
Clove: small or medium sized tree. Goldroin and Deánin.
Nutmeg: wood and spice. 15 m. height tree. Sittain.
Pepper: climbing plant, in the Sittain.
9.3 OTHER CREATURES
DRAFT
Cospej: it is not an animal, nor a plant; it is a kind of fungus. Shayan use it for clothing, medicine
and rope making. It is only detectable for its greenish toadstool, which can be found on autumn on
the grassy plains. These toadstools are greatly poisonous, but, dessecated and in low concentrations,
they can be used as a stimulant. The fibres of the fungus, when properly handled and mixed with
cobwebs, turn into a very strong, waterproof and longlasting thread (Shayan silk) , which is used by
Shayans to make flexible armours and light ropes. As it is not possible neither store nor cultivate
the fungus (it requires very special conditions, maybe connected to meadows horse and plains),
Shayan are forced to work it as soon as it is harvested.
10.0 THE PEOPLE
10.1 RACIAL GROUPS
10.1.1 The Rúakasi
The Rúakasi (Aw. “Wild Flame People”) were a group of tribes which inhabited the plains of Shay
and Unvirnay during the early half of the Second Age. They came from the Horl at the end of the
First Age, displacing the Gonnid as they burnt the jungle. They were a threat to any other people
that tried to cross these lands. Their lifestyle involved riding, hunting and herding, with no farming

at all. As they needed more territory in order to herd, they had burnt a lot of jungle, turning them
into plains. Their skill with horses and short bow made them a formidable combat force, but the
lack of a strong leadership kept them from union. When Shay came to their dominions, in the mid
Second Age, exploited their disunion to confront each other, to the point they were finally thrown
off their land and confined to the Unvirnayrit, almost dissappearing, about 2466 SA. As a result of
the coming of the Shadow, during the last TA millenium, they recovered some of their former
status, by mixing with the orcs and grim men who came with the Darkness. They were strongly
influenced by Shadow, and they inherited Shasindi in the Fourth Age, but they had already went
civilized as this occurred.
Political Structure
They are divided in tribes, where the strongest is the leader.
Social Structure
Lineage is matrilineal, and poliandry is allowed. The oldest woman in a tribe is the one who advises
the leader. The shaman is always a man.
Military Structure
No military organization. Run and beat. If you feel bad, flee. They use rough bows, clubs and
spears, but only a few can use a sword or a dagger. Light leather armours, only the leaders.
Currency
Barter. Coins are pretty, but useless.
Appearance
Short and light (160 cm, 65 kg males; 145 cm, 50 kg females), dark skinned (not black) and slanted
black eyes, black hair. They wear furs and animal hides, and do not know weaving.
Housing
Small tents or caves.
DRAFT
Diet
Cereals, meat and roots, almost raw (their cooking abilities are not good). They herd pigs, goats and
sheeps, given that Shayan seized their horses.
Worship
Terrible gods who punish them with atrocious events. They live in fear. And they fear all they
ignore, that is too much.
10.1.2 The Shay
The Shayan racial group is derived, same as Chyan and Tarlai group, from the Talatherim and
Mornerin people inhabiting the plains just west of the Orocarni, from Kûbor Sed to Jendiar: the
Talatherim, easterlings from Lurs Vorganis, and Mornerin, north-easterlings from Rûbor and Kûbor
Sed. It is divided in some different tribes like A’za, Sha-t’o, Jurkhaen, Sëd or Valair, that have
always been involved in the struggle for power in the nearby. Other tribes, like Shay, Unvirnay, Ti,
Ch’iang, some of the Sëd and the Hsien-pi, joined the army of Múar the Balrog as he went towards
the invasion of Ruuriik. They did not played a major role in the conquest, but rather made their way
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26 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
to lands south of the Horl and established there, displacing the native tribes and avoiding any kind
of racial mixture with them. Shayan took up farming and trading better than riding and fighting,
though they preserved their identity and traditions. They speak Shayan, an evolved form of
Vorganim - their mother language -, strongly influenced by Vulman and Adûnaic.
Political Structure
It is a confederation of monkh (a monkh was the same as a city-state in ancient Greece, called
“polis”), each one controlling the adjacent territories and leaded by their own tribal leaders. Shayan
tribes (Shay, Unvirnay, Ti, Ch’iang, Hsien-pi and Sëd) have seldom tried to impose their inner
tribal rules each other, mostly tributes sometimes. Nevertheless, at the end of Third Age,
desperation changed things.
The Shay tribe, original from Lurs Vorganis, as the one which led the southwards migration in the
middle Second Age, has been the most respected among them, and the others have observed their
suggestions when possible. Each one has its proper government method, which has changed as they
were influenced by other cultures, mostly Vulmaw and Númenórean. They have a common rule: the
foremost posts are occupied by members of the tribe, not foreigners; these foreigners are allowed to
associate and join groups, and sometimes are heeded, but they have no recognized power.
Shay tribe is ruled by a tribal leader, assisted by a council, composed of the oldest members of the
tribe. Whenever an action which has an effect on any other tribe must be taken, some representative
members of them are called and heeded in an official meeting.
Unvirnay tribe, likewise original from Lurs Vorganis, did not have any political structure until they
joined the Lochaw empire. Before that time, the scattered Unvirnayan familiar groups took
decisions by themselves, asking for help to Shayan if it was required.
Ti tribe, the third one in importance, original from Rûbor, always was a theocratic one. At first, it
was a “good” one, paying homage to good natural spirits; when they founded the monkh of Zeln
(currently, Zelón), they turned gradually to dark gods, not always from nature, and they eventually
got caught by the Shadow, under the name of the demon Eschlank. The highest priests and
priestesses, who rule the tribe, as well as monks, were always members of the tribe, though
foreigners were allowed to assist some religious services as it were necessary.
Sëd tribe, original from Kûbor Sed, is the one most deeply related to the ones who stayed in the
north. They were the most warlike of Shayan, so they appropiated the land they wanted and almost
forgot their brothers, except when they were needed, turning to sea in order to gain wealth. They
formerly had the same political system as Shay, but they were corrupted by money, and tribal ties
were weakened, replaced by economical ones. Their political system is based in a council of elected
ministers and senators, with a president as final ruler. They helped Shayan in order to protect
themselves, better than their brotherhood.
Ch’iang and Hsien-pi, original from Helcarth, the ones most influenced by Womaw and Vulmaw,
were more closely related. They were monarchies, in the style of Womaw one, where the tribal king
possessed the absolute power, and he (always a male) chose their closest collaborators, among his
family an relatives, with the goal of govern their territories. They always think about the Sëd as a
military threat, and the Ti as spiritually corrupted, so they rely on Shay in order to keep unity
without any kind of oppression. They were the more solid supporters of Shayan tribal brotherhood.
JMME
DRAFT
Social Structure
Lineage has been always patrilineal, and male members are the ones who decide the actions to carry
out. The role of female members is passive, taking care of children (until they can ride a horse),
milling, weaving and similar works. This rule is never broken, and Shayan maiden who do not want
such a life are punished and ejected, if they not come to terms, from the tribe. When somebody
break the laws, the oldest among them form a court in order to apply justice. Death was a frequent
punishment, as sacrifices to some deities. As they became sedentary, things changed, becoming

more tolerant. They have been traditionally polygamistic, but tribes that got sedentary (the four
monkh) practise monogamy by need, even though polygamy is allowed.
Military Structure
They have developed a refined astuteness and a great sense of diplomacy; when war is
unavoidable, they prefer using mercenaries or political manipulation in order to reach victory. Only
in extreme cases or as a result of deceiving had they employed their own people in combat.
In times of peace, each tribe or monkh has its own military structure. In times of war, the Shay tribe
organize the whole militar activity and units as it is needed, normally based in mounted archers and
cavalry battalions, swift and deadly, supporting the mercenaries companies which constitute the
crashing forces. Every time a naval war action is required, Shay delegate command in the tribe they
estimate is more qualified.
Their favourite weapons are the bola, the lasso and the net, which they use skillfully in order to
capture their prized meadows horses, but they are very good archers and javelin throwers too.
Hand-to-hand fighting habilities are only common among corsairs and some elite horsemen.
Currency
Shayan legal tender is the Yuan, made of a silver-mercury alloy, wich was introduced by Vulmaw
in the later Second Age. Different values are obtained by making it in several shapes, sizes and
weights, but always from silver. They are referred to with various names in order to be
distinguished. Each coin is underwritten by the Shay confederation with a piece of ground or horse,
of a higher worth than the weight of silver employed in their manufacturing. The name the coins are
given are, due to this reason, parts of the body of a horse. The reverse of any coin must be always
the same: an indecipherable pattern of geometric and alphabetic symbols, where anybody can guess
the names of the six tribes and their tribal badges. The face must verse about the monkh which have
minted it and the coin’s weight and size. Each monkh mints its own currency, whose quality is
checked by specialized individuals who only account to the Shayan Teskalt in Agurisgen. Each
monkh is free to mint any quantity of coins, but inspectors must ensure their quality is similar to the
ones existent in the other Shayan monkh. They have memorized the secret lookup tables with the
values the coins must fulfill, and they are not allowed to move away from the metal mold used in
the minting proccess. If any coin is counterfeited, and it is known by the Teskalt, the responsible
inspector in the affected monkh will be executed. This is the main reason why these inspectors
restless prosecute swindles.
These demanding proccesses make from Shayan currency one of the most trustworthy values for
any trader, and so it has been employed in the whole Lochas Drus and even Jojojopo and Sunum,
but Shayan have protected themselves from strange “economical maneuvers”, preventing coinage
hoarding: though the Shayan confederation underwrites its currency, you simply cannot go to the
Teskalt and say: “I have got one million Yuan cash. It is the same as 200 horses, so give them to me
now”. And there is another reason to not hoard coins: the complex reverse pattern is easily worn
away by continous use and rusting, so any coin has an average lifetime of about two years. Useless
coins are bought by weight by any of the monkh, at the tenth part of their mint value, so material
can be used in manufacturing new coins and makes inflation decrease (this effect is not noticed by
them, of course).
The normal rate of minting is any time that a new leader comes to government in Agurisgen, but
depends on the quantity of lands and horses the confederation holds at a given time.
DRAFT
Appearance
Shayan and Unvirnayan people, as derived from the Vorganim ones, have preserved the typical
mid-easterling look: small heighted (160 cm males, 155 females), stout complexion (70 kg males,
50 kg females), dark-yellowish skin and dark haired, with slightly slanted (not as much as the
easternmost people) brown eyes. Hsien-pi and Ch’iang have a more Vulmaw look (lighter skin,
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minor stature and lighter complexion). Ti are taller (175 cm) and slim (70 kg), have yellowish skin,
black hair and often slanted green eyes, a mix that reveals their elvish heritage. Sëd are tall (180
cm), strong (90 kg), have white skin and slightly slanted blue or brown eyes. These differences are
not obvious inland far from the coast, were most of them have a Shay look.
Their clothes are very colouring and hard-wearing, made for long riding and harsh climate. In the
coastal monkh there is an endless diversity of clothing, showing the turning to a sedentary life. Each
tribe is influenced by its own tradition: for example, Hsien-pi and Ch’iang wear clothing that could
be defined as “Womaw fashion style”, while Ti prefer the Avari sober clothing. All of them have a
traditional common feature: medium heighted leather boots and hardy tight-fitting pants, better for
riding.
Housing
Traditional Shayan dwelling is the yugtayi, a huge circular-plant tent made of leather, of about 10
m. diameter, where entire families lodged. As Shayan turned to sedentarism, yugtayi proved
uncomfortable and became obsolete, with the exception of shepherds and circus people, who still
live a nomadic life, carrying their families with them.
Diet
Cereals, liquors, dairy products and meat (lamb and horse) are the basis of their diet. In the cities,
diet is rather more diverse, including fish and imported foods. Hunting provides a considerable food
quantity near the Orosúlo and the forests, where trappers and hunters make a living.
Worship
Shayan worship many gods and demons that represent natural concepts, like fertility, night and day,
death, disease and so, but their religion evolved as they had met different cultures, joining more
diverse topics. Specially in monkh, cults grew up diverse. They distrust of magic displays, and
wizards who are not quiet enough will be probably punished.
They still perform human sacrifices, as their ancestors had done, but nowadays the victim is usually
a criminal, when the sacrifice is dedicated to a god, or a mental sick, when dedicated to a demon.
Demons and gods are not considered good or evil: there are good demons and evil gods. They are
ranged in terms of human proximity. For example, fertility is played by a demon, as well as death,
diseases, courage and so; night, day, sky, rain … are played by gods.
Demons must possess bodies, be human or not, alive or dead, and inanimate objects in order to take
actions directly by their own, and there are a lot of different demons, from the most powerful to
those who have a handful of minor abilities. Gods cannot use possession, but they interact by means
of an Avatar, a kind of human-shaped emissaries that sometimes meet mortal people in order to
transmit their god’s will, for good, evil or neither; this Avatar is the real god incarnated in a new
body made of brute energy, so it is very dangerous even to get close to those most powerful,
because of the energy they give off. Their appearance depends on the god’s mood. Of course,
Avatars have a life of a few minutes, enough to tell or do what they want. Sometimes, a demon
could serve to a god as a mean in order to perform something in Arda, but the god should give the
demon something else in exchange.
In that sense, demons are dearer than gods to Shayan, because of their proximity. When a demon is
in possession of a living human body, it becomes impregnated of that body’s normal emotions and
reactions, though it is controlled by the demon, and it has the same necessities and limitations than a
human being. The demon can “speak” with the owner of the body, if it will. The only difference one
can notice is that the behaviour and knowledge of the victim are different than normal, and that it
uses its body in an optimal way (strength and reflexes have grown up, it is very skilled in almost
everything it does). The demon can harm the body if this upgraded abilities are used without
restraints, and it can even die or be seriously damaged as the demon leaves it. But the demon feels
the pain (or the pleasure) too, though is able to ignore it. Anyway, demons get often imprisoned in
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DRAFT

odies, caught by a strong emotion they are impelled to fulfill before leaving; this matter force them
to carefully choose the body they will use. In order to avoid risks, they tend to possess recently dead
bodies or animals. Or course, when possessing an object they cannot communicate unless this
object has any kind of inherent communication ability (for example: a calendar where the user
should make questions about dates would show the requested date as changing its color or texture).
On the other side, Avatars are able to do almost anything they will, though they never use their
body, but the energy that compose it; the harder the task, the less their last. An Avatar is able to
divide itself in some others, each one with a fraction of the whole power.
As Shayan deeply respect their deities, noone of them would invoke gods or demons for nonsenses.
They could be quite unfair. Most of Shayan have never seen any true kind of divine display, be that
of god or demon, but it is quite common among them to suppose that demons are lurking
everywhere, for good or not.
Calendar
Shayan divide the whole year into four seasons, each one named like their gods of vegetal life, sky,
rainwater and night, who are the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter seasons.
The four year seasons have the same structure: 13 weeks of 7 days each, make a total of 91 days a
season, 364 days a year, in an exact correspondence with the seasons. The first day of Spring is the
first of the year (compared to our real calendar, it would be 21 of March, spring equinox). In order
to adjust the year to 365 solar days, Shayan add the Kohêvrol, a day when there are huge festivals
all over the kingdom (Asimovian calendar). Leap years have a 92nd day at the end of Summer, the
Marnyêkhleb, a day for festivals too. This day is a “magic moment”, when they think the time
stops. Each tribe has also its own festivities.
10.1.3 The Awartasi (5)
The Awartasi are a branch of Avari, that live in the deep forests on the opposite side of the
Nenyurrist. Being touched by Morgoth’s Evil at their origins, they have an hostile attitude towards
every outsider, and isolate in their kingdom to avoid being threatened by the outside world. The
Forsaken Ones are not interested in anything that lies outside their kingdom. But, as the Shayan
tribes established on the other side of the Nenyurrist, they started some kind of openness, mainly
economical, in order to obtain some coveted goods from the East.
DRAFT
Political Structure
The king holds the absolute power. It is a rigid monarchy.
Social Structure
Awartasi society is rigid and divided in castes. The King is the head of all his people, the only
leader who retains all powers. Of the common people, the most honourable are those who study and
have intellectual activity, that is scholars, magicians, seers, and artists. Then the warriors, the few
Elves that compose the regular army and watch over the borders. The rest of common Elves are
mere “workers”, without distinction. The lowest class are the slaves, actually very few, who retain
no rights and in theory can be disposed of by their masters, as objects. The class is determined by
birth: so, the son of a herder will be a herder.
The practice is quite different, and in the last centuries a little social mobility has developed, so that,
for example, a tall and strong son of a worker may become a warrior, or a talented child can be
accepted to study with a master, even if his father is a warrior. Moreover, slaves came to be treated
better, and some may obtain freedom by their masters after some centuries of service.
Female Elves are property of their fathers, and then of their husbands, who pay a ransom to her
family for the marriage. Only with the (exceedingly uncommon) death of father and husband can a
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woman become free. Poligamy is quite common: slaves cannot marry, and warriors and intellectual
may have more than one wife, if they are able to pay a ransom for them.
Few laws exist in Imaldawath, mainly concerning penances for terrible crimes. Everyday disputes
are resolved by the intervention of a patron agreed by both parts, this usually being a scholar. Other
crimes are judged by the King, and punished with corporal penances, enslavement or humiliation.
In fact, there are always few occasions to apply these penances, due to the respect of tradition of the
Awartasi.
Military Structure
Awartasi warriors are exceptionally fierce and skilled fighters. They don’t have to work, so that
they can train with every known weapon and armor. Although they live in forests, they respect the
ancient tradition of heavy weapons and armor. They despise the guerrilla tactics used by the other
Wood Elves, preferring close combat: when at war they wear bronze or iron scale mails, and full
helms. Favoured weapons are: a long and broad sabre that they call anbrathi, used with two hands;
the partisan or the brathisphi, a sabre pointed halberd; and the ancathi, a straight and narrow bladed
two handed sword. At distance, they favour long bows of the best quality.
In times of need, every Elf can take arms, and so the Awartasi can gather up forces that equal their
enemies. No one, though, dares to challenge these fierce warriors, and their borders remain secure.
Currency
Coins are rare in Imaldawath, and are considered a relatively new invention, introduced in the last
millennia by foreign Avari. Only the King have the right to mint, but he orders only few coins every
sixty years. Every coin is handmade, and bears resemblance of Sarthang’s profile on one face, and
his device on the other. Coins are made of copper, bronze, silver, gold and jade. Their valour is
high, usually twice normal coins of the same material, but they are priceless for a collectionist.
Awartasi, for everyday trade, use barter, and coins are used only for the occasional trade.
Appearance
Awartasi are, as Avari Elves, 1.70-1,80 tall and of slender built. They have fair skin, dark hair, and
dark, blue or green eyes. They are beautiful and graceful as any other Elves.
For clothing, they like cotton or silk robes, long and dyed with dark colors, usually red, blue or
violet. For more practical use, they use woolen tunics and, in winter, trousers. At their feet they
wear leather shoes, sandals in summer and boots in winter.
The Awartasi use to grow their hair long, and they like jewels, especially silver and dark gems.
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DRAFT
Housing
The Elves build wooden huts, with round or square base and pointed roof. Stocks and other big
buildings lie at terrain level, while houses are built on trees, an habit taken by the Fuinar.
Stone palaces from past ages remain, usually at the centre of settlements, and they are occupied by
rich individuals from the higher classes. These palaces are usually square structures, with two or
three floors, flat roof, and a high wall that circles a private garden. In times of war, the villagers can
be hosted here, and the warriors will defend the small fortress.
Diet
Most Awartasi food comes from the forest: they herd goats and pigs, and gather honey, mushrooms
and wild vegetables. Warriors love hunting, thus contributing to the feeding of the kingdom. Some
fish is provided by the Nenyurrist (Aw. “Waters running in the cleft”) river. Some intellectuals
mantain orchards, that provide fruit and vegetables.

In the last centuries, visitors have also brought vines, which are grown in the southern hills.
Awartasi wine is red and dry, with a low alcoholic grade. This is a precious beverage, abundant
only for the rich, who love to flavour it with spices from the forest.
Worship
The Awartasi believe that, for some unknown sin, maybe weakness, they have been abandoned by
Ardutor, the Master of the World, who had taught them all their knowledge. Having lost his favour,
they also lost his protection, and were defeated by the Gorodi.
They have nearly abandoned any manifest form of worship, falling in a state of contemplation of
ancient glory and traditional virtues of strenght, courage, and despise towards the weak.
A small part of them, though, is listening to the words of the Ardutorini, and some have even joined
the priests and left Imaldawath to fight the forces of Light.
Even so, tradition is still the most important thing for most Awartasi, as they believe it to be what
disticts them, the Chosen by Ardutor, by all other beings of Middle-Earth.
10.1.4 The Jaekgârayi
The Jaekgârayi is a bizarre group of about 200 Peredhil, independent, originated from the Elvish
kingdom of Címoníemor. They were sent to Jaekgâra as an elite black operations force, in order to
spying and sabotaging the threatening Wâwim fleet, but, in time, as they were not noticed, they
became quietless, and made their home in the southern Jaektrae. In 1507 TA, when Címoníemor
fell under Waw, they lost their boundaries with their mother land, and only revenge kept them
fighting the Shadow in the nearby. They have pervived from then until now, fighting the Shadow
with their “ ethically doubtful” methods. They had a decisive role after 2200 TA, as they were the
basis in order to throw away the Shadow from these lands.
Political Structure
They are ruled by a militar leader, the higher in rank among them. Althoug they are independent,
they respect the Címoníemorin government, and await orders from the Elven kingdom. When
Címoníemor fell, they resolved to continue the fight, by ruling by themselves.
DRAFT
Social Structure
They are a military group, so they only have military structure. Men and women have the same
consideration.
Military Structure
They have a rigid hierarchy: the commander is the leader. Below him/her are two captains, four
lieutenants and twenty sergeants, each of them commands a platoon of ten Peredhil. The number of
commands depends on the size of the group. Each one of these platoons is named like a part of any
weapon; when they must get together, they are grouped by the name of the whole weapon. Male
and female are trained in guerrilla and black ops warfare. When a child is born, it is sent back to
Címoníemor. When there are casualties, reinforcements are sent from the island, and the more
experienced of the group are promoted, if it is necessary. The commander is always one of them,
never a newcomer. After the falling of Címoníemor, they cared for their casualties and children in
the mountains, sometimes with the help of some exiled people from the oppressed kingdoms.
Currency
As they serve to Címoníemor, the Elven kingdom secures they have all they need, by means of
traders and sailors. After the falling of Címoníemor, they used mainly Shayan currency.
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Appearance
They are half-elves, result of a mixture between all the nations that once ruled the nearby. Due to
this reason, they have not an homogeneous look. As they often are involved in any black operation,
do not use distinctive garments other than the Címoníemorin military uniform, when they must
celebrate any special event.
Housing
Any they can find, but prefer caves, in order to not be noted. In time, they had built a huge fortress
of tunnels and caves, which prevented them sometimes from being discovered.
Diet
They eat a huge diversity of meals. In shortage time, they can easily find roots, fishes and meat in
the surroundings.
Worship
Eru is the only god. They do not have organized religious rituals. They rather meditation.
10.1.5 The Gonnid (5)
Secluded and isolationist, the Gonnid are a strange race that is avoided by all their neighbours. Few
know anything about them, as there never have been relationships with any stranger.
The Gonnid are a Drùadan group, which entered Shasindi in the early First Age, coming from
Ralian. Fearing the powerful and cruel Elves (the same elves that became Awartasi), they avoided
their kingdom, finally settling in the jungles near the sea. Those of them who traveled southwest, to
the jungles of Waarwugan, were named “Yarulma” by Ibavin. As the jungle dissapeared, turned
into plains, they had kept in the actual forests (Goldroin, Sittain and Deánin), but they were pushed
out from Sittain and Deánin as Shayan started to build their fleets (c. 3300 SA), moving to
Waarwugan and the scattered jungles of Jaektrae. They are hostile, and only the ones who they
consider as friends can safely walk through their territory.
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DRAFT
Political Structure
The Stone People have no common political organization. They are divided into tribes, which
usually ignore one another. As they are now scattered over Shay and the adjacent territories, they
have no territorial disputes among them.
A tribe is ruled by a shamaness.
Social Structure
Parentage is matrilineal, but the base social structure is the tribe. The Stone People practice
poligamy and poliandry, so that marriages form nets. It is usual for brothers to share the same
wives, and these can share their husbands. Children are raised in common by the wives of a house.
Military Structure
Defense is provided by all adult males, who employ hunter’s tools such as short bows and slings,
and occasionally blowpipes. The command is usually given by the shamaness to the best hunter of
the village. The Stone People don’t use open tactics, preferring to ambush the trespassers in their
territory.

Currency
No currency does exist. The Stone People are amused by shining things, but don’t give them a high
value. Barter is the only way of trading with them.
Appearance
Gonnid are 1,20-1,50 tall, of strong build, and ruddy complexion. They have flat noses and deeply
inset black eyes, few hair which they gather in thin braids. The males with the gift of a short beard
like to braid and dye it with coloured earth.
The Gonnid wear little clothing, but like body decorations: females like to tatoo or have ritual scars
on their limbs.
Housing
The Stone People live in large bamboo huts, shared with the wives and the husbands of the family,
and their children.
Diet
The Gonnid are mainly gatherers and hunters, and feed on the forest’s bounty. They don’t know
anything of agriculture or fishing.
Worship
The Stone People worship totemic spirits in the shape of animals, protectors of villages and tribes.
They also respect the spirits that they believe to live in every aspect of nature. During full moon
nights they celebrate rites to worship the Earth Mother (Yavanna), believed to be the origin of life.
10.2 NOTABLE PEOPLE
Shirakuben, Shayan leader in TA 1640.
11.0 ECONOMY
DRAFT
Shay has natural resources to be almost self-sufficient. In the plains, there are enogh pastures to
allow plentiful of livestock, mainly horses (in Unvirnay principally, where pastures are greener),
sheeps, goats and pigs. Near the hills and the forests, rice crops and orchards fulfill landscape, and a
huge variety of cereals and vegetables are raised near the monkh and towns.
Shayan manufacture many products from their livestocks: milk (even a liquor from mare’s
fermented milk), cheese, wool, leather, hides, furs and meat.
They know the diverse uses of their plants and fungus, and employs them widely. Cotton, linen,
sacking and esparto are used not only in clothing, but in rope, carpets, rugs and baskets
manufacturing. Several kinds of wood are felled from the forests and sorted right at the edge in
order to distribute them immediatly.
Mining is mostly based in silver, iron and valuable gems although there are some of them
specialized in coal and other minerals. Cooper is used in boilmaking. Mining activity is managed
from the monkh, and it is concentrated near the Sûlannon and the Deánxeh. Niali and Saragisha
work the mines around Deánxeh, while Agurisgen and later, Kohbehto, work the ones near the
Sûlannon.
Trade is the major activity of the southern monkh. The main routes meet at Niali, and that is the
reason why it is the richest of the monkh, but the rest of them displays a huge commercial activity.
Spices, strange brews, fruits, roots and flowers are exported to the Eastern and Southern lands. Also
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34 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
rare woods and animals found in the forests are very seeked abroad. Brôd, Sunum and the Sea of
Winds are the principal addressee, but routes extend to Womaw and Ormal Bay too. Due to enemity
with Tana and Ruuriik, there is no northwards route, and the Goldroin pass keeps closed.
12.0 NIALI: THE CITY
JMME
12.1 Overview
252 Ha. aprox. extension (2,52 Km 2 ), plus 29 Ha of Ekkar.
The accurate proportion is 100 habitants per Ha, so there must be about 25.200 inhabitants in Niali.
Its walls are impressive. They were built with granite stone from the quarries in the Orôsulo,
bordering the Déanxeh. It took more than ten years.
12.2 Background
In TA 1640, Shasindi (and Niali, of course) is part of the Lochaw empire, but this is starting to
break up, due to the maneuvers of Dwar in Waw. The real government in Niali, nevertheless, is the
one of Sëd tribe, and the Lochaw military presence is absent. Piracy is now controlled by Waw
rather than Niali, and there is great anxiety all over the monkh. The curse of Ekkar is starting to
grow more and more frightening, and such a situation is harming the commercial activity. The
unstability of the Lochaw government is observed with concern in the monkh.
12.3 Population
The population of Niali is about 16.000 people at this period (numbers are only approximate),
where 6.000 of them are blood-related to the Sëd tribe, and 11.500 are permanently established in
the monkh.
There are an important but decreasing Númenórean blood-related population of 2.000 people, half
of them also related to Sëd. While government is in Sëd hands, Númenórean descendants have
preserved some of their former wealth and privileges - like the one which tolerate them the using of
DRAFT
their own Númenórean Guard with the classical Númenórean uniform, and the possibility of being
judged by a Númenórean related jury, instead of the habitual of Niali - , so they are respected and
allowed to show their Númenórean familiar blazons in public places. Nevertheless, they are
perfectly adapted to Sëd, and are a very good support for the Nialian society.
The rest of the permanent population is mainly composed of members from the other Shayan tribes
and Lochaw. Racial minorities are watched with suspicion, specially when they do not carry out
their activities openly (like elves, men from distant lands, dwarves and orcs). However, Nialian
people is very open minded about racial presence in the city.
In 1801 SA, Númenórean took a census of Nialian population; since then, everybody must report on
their activities and location in the city, but this numbers are fictious between 2000 SA and 1200 TA.
A big part of the citizens do not want their activities to be known by the authority, and the civil
servants are too lazy to update the census regularly. In 1640 TA, this census is starting to work
efficiently, but still some of the most powerful merchants are out of control.
Newcomers must register and obtain a Thoroughfare Licence in order to freely wander the city, and
they can do it on three ways:
In the mail posts one can find all along the road to Agurisgen.
In any of the city gates.
With a Special Trader Card, in the Central Market or in the Seaport Captaincy.
Business Running Licence can be obtained in the appropiate guild head office.

Depending on the kind of activity, there are different licences which allow (or not) to access to
some districts, likewise different licences for every kind of business, that are strictly controlled by
the guilds and the ITCAC. City Guard is specially alert on this matter.
12.4 Political structure
Niali is an independent state-city (monkh), governed by a council of ministers, one of whose
members is the president of the council. They are assisted by a Senate, composed by the most
important merchants, priests and military commanders in the city. The most of the Parliament is
composed of Sëd blood-relatives.
The president of the Council has only plenty of authority in foreign affairs. Public administration is
ruled by the Council, with sporadic intervention of Senate. Senators are a kind of advicers, for most
of them are guild leaders, and their business prosperity is the best indicator of the city’s wealth.
However, their opinion is not often heard by the Council, so they promote riots from time to time.
They are not elected by people. This is not a democracy. Guild leaders are only the richest among
them. Council’s members are elected among senators by the president, and they become ministers.
The president is elected by Council and Senate. He (or she) must be a senator to become minister,
and must be minister to be president.
There are nine ministers: Treasure, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Commerce, Warfare, Urbanism,
Feeding (agriculture, fishing and cattle), Entertainment and Cults.
There are fifty senators, grouped in five factions. Each faction has a different number of members,
and represents a different group of guilds:
10 members: cabinetmakers, shipwrighters, carpenters, chiselers, coopers, masons, cordmakers.
14 members: innkeepers, bakers/millers, farmers, water suppliers, brewers, shepherds,
cooks/foodmerchants, fishermen.
7 members: furriers/ tanners, tailors/embroiders, cobblers, weavers.
11 members: caretakers/watchmen, messengers/transpporters, healers/herborists, pilots/guides,
seamen, gravediggers/embalmers, itinerant merchants, artists/tattooers, scribes/scholars,
gambling/please.
8 members: lamp/candlemakers, weapon smiths, goldsmiths/jewelers, glaziers, potters, blacksmiths,
paper/parchmentmakers, locksmiths.
DRAFT
Guilds are controlled by politicians, mainly senators, as a way of keeping crafters and merchants
organized and, of course, in order to become richer and richer. There have been some attempts of
independent partnership, but they have been quickly aborted. Some guilds have a special status:
Healers/herborist: they are completely away from political intrigues, and are rather good at
detecting control attempts.
Scribes/scholars: the most feared by Parliament, as they are extremely difficult to “guide”. This
guild is also the one where the most dangerous conspiracies are forged, only failed by means of
infiltrated spies.
12.5 Military structure
The military power of Niali is based in an almost fixed number of mercenaries, that are substituted
or renewed as they end their contracts. They are not allowed to join any guild, and they are
supervised by inspectors, designated by the Minister of Warfare. These inspectors are a kind of
intermediaries between the company and the person of the Minister, but they do not interfere when
the captains must talk to the Parliament.
Mercenaries are well paid, and they are allowed to run any other business related to weapons, with
the proper guild’s permission, therefore incoming two wages. They are grouped by companies, no
one bigger than a hundred men. The size of these companies is limited in order to keep them from
threaten the established rule. Each company has a leader, a captain or sargeant, who represents the
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36 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
company when faced with the Parliament, in order to fix contracts or formalizing petitions. There
are corsairs too, who compose the whole of the Nialian Navy. As they are just corsairs, not soldiers,
they are usually sailing the seas looking for preys to sack (other ships or cities). Their captains are
forced to respect the Nialian banner and to spend at least one night each week in Niali (the time
varies with necessity). The same works for the mercenaries: they are allowed to stay out of the city
if they do not like Nialian barracks, but their leader must spend one night each week in Niali. In
peace times, there are about ten mercenary companies and another ten corsair ships paid by Niali.
Most of them reside outwards, but one can always find three or four of them inwards.
In times of war or emergency, a levy of about five hundred Nialians can be released anytime, from a
reserve of about three thousand inhabitants, and the number of mercenaries doubles. If it is possible,
all of them are encamped near the walls, outwards; if it is not, the squares and avenues will fill with
tents, weapons and fires. Niali has only a warship, the “Hakkris”, which makes the function of
Almirant Ship when the fleet must gather. The “Hakkris” is always in a special and protected dock,
and never goes out if it is not war time.
12.5.1 City guard
The city guard has a variable number of them, most men rather than women, partitioned in gates,
civil services and important locations. Additionally, politicians use them as bodyguards, and
important merchants as watchers at their business, whenever they can pay for it. With such a
demand, the city guards neglect their main duty: keep peace in the streets. No city guard will
voluntarily interfere in criminal affairs or street brawling unless they can obtain some kind of
personal profit without any risk, or a sergeant were with them.
On the other side, one city guard is considered highly dispensable: when one dies, it is simply
replaced or the guard manages without it. Such a situation has provided imprisoned criminals with a
mean for redemption and benefit: as the city really needs the guard, in order to prevent the
disappearence of the only public security service, Parliament reprieves any accused individual
whenever it joins up the city guard for life. City guards are briefly executed if they contravene the
duties of the guard (this is, if there is any eye witness who wishes to inform against it).
The captains and sergeants of the City Guard are the ones who impose order and discipline among
them, and they are really severe. There are one captain ruling each district, and he or she orders a
variable number of sergeants, depending on the number of guards at his service, and on the different
locations they must cover. There are only one patrol wandering each district, normally commanded
by a sergeant, but this is not a sure fact. These patrols are composed of three to six men, and there
are at least four times this number expecting in the barrack in order to operate if it is necessary.
JMME
12.6 Worship
DRAFT
The diversity of cults in Niali is large, but the officially recognized is the one of the Sëd/Shay, that
is, the animist traditional worship. The rest of the religions are tolerated, even the most dangerous in
appearance, because religion is another kind of control used by powerful individuals, mainly
senators.
Some of the more worshiped gods in Niali are:
Eru: his worshippers are the Númenórean descendants. They take part on the festivals formerly
consecrated to him, but sometimes, they participate on some of the others too. It is not officially
recognized.
Bêcha: Shayan goddess of vegetal life.
Nêto: Shayan god of the sky.
Ocêhb: Shayan god of rainwater. The tutelary god of Niali, and the most worshipped.
Ënma: Shayan goddess of night.
Eschlank: Shayan demon of magic and knowledge. It is traditionally associated with dark powers
and prohibited rituals, and it is not officially recognized. In Zelón, is the tutelary demon, and is
identified with the Shadow since the last years of the Second Age.

Jeshit: Demoness of happiness and justice. Her origins are not clear, but she was adopted by Nialian
at the end of the Second Age, stemed from an unknown source.
Kirnoda: Shayan demon of death and fate. Txila’s husband.
Txila: Shayan demoness of luck and fortune. She is one of the most worshipped , and her symbol,
the red cornucopy, is included in the Nialian ensign. Kirnoda’s wife.
There are more than these, some of them Shayan and a lot more from other lands, but only the
Shayan ones, except Eschlank, are officially recognized and supported by the Parliament.
12.7 Factions & Intrigues
The appearance of stability and order of Niali is absolutely fictious. Ministers and senators are
involved in a cruel struggle for economic and political power. They avoid an open fight by
determining the influencing areas controlled by any of them, and not interferencing each other, but
sometimes, the street war explodes, and blood runs. Even the city guard is divided between the
several notables of the city.
The internal struggles for power and influence in the city has prevented Niali and some of the other
monkh in the Shay area from becoming any more than just a big city, not an empire. One of the
most loved hobbies of the Nialian people seems to be joining a sect.
Orpohineke
The Great Defender is an ancient god of uncertain origin and shamanic roots, whose followers try to
maintain peace while keeping unnoticed.
Lounlaifchuvána
It means “Long life to Vana”, in a secret language only spoken by themselves. Its members are the
group of performes who work at the Theater of the West. The sect activities include ridiculing and
stealing richmen, sharing the loot with poormen. They often change their leader.
DRAFT
Nopraokopex
A kind of Inquisition that seeks peace and spiritual purity through systematic extermination of
heretics, that is, sectarians, criminals and corrupted citizens. Their leader is Melnizor, minister of
Cults. They often confront to the Nopraokpyr.
Pacbetbih
Nopraokpyr
BortHocktejib
Shaka-Meinjinayi
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38 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
The Belaen-an-Voryl (3)
The Belaen-an-Voryl (Av. “Sunsdeath from Hunger”), is an order of dark priests, founded in the
Second Age by Ulgarin the Half-elf, with the task of spreading the worship of Sauron throughout
the East. Its members are mainly travelling preachers who speak of Edainil (Av. “Friend of Men”),
and try to manipulate powerful individuals to achieve the goals of their Dark Master.
Karuan
Its goals are not clear. Every time they have took an action, they have signed with a mask sketched
in a piece of paper, parchment, leather or wood. Everyone in the city has ever seen this signature,
because those actions they perform are usually widely discussed by the populace.
JMME
12.8 Townlife & Trade
12.8.1 Festivities
Nialian have a relatively high number of festivals, most of them with international participation.
Not all the rewards are cash. The list below is the “official” one, but each community in the city has
its own celebrations, but not always it has been like this. During the Númenórean government only
three festivals, the ones related to Eru, were allowed in the city. No other festival was permitted, as
Númenórean believed (and it was not completely false) that festivals were exploited by subversive
groups in order to bring chaos and riots, a very inconveniente fact as they were trying to establish
an organized society in difficult times.
Bechâleb (Númenórean Erukyermë): 1st Spring. This day, Nialian go out of the city and make
barbeques not only over the countryside, as well as in boats over the sea. Those who do not want or
cannot go outside, visit inns. Tradition rules that people exchange their clothes with beggars and
dance all day long.
Pahkeahnê: 43-44th Spring. Fighting tournament. The most outstanding of the fighters receive a
very high reward, and they are offered a job as city guard, with a special promotion possibility.
Nevertheless, they usually are hired as bodyguards or bullies by important people or mercenary
companies.
Nêtohayajio (Númenórean Erulaitalë): 1-3rd Summer. They pray gods for enough of rain and good
DRAFT
winds. During the three days, Nialian wear white garments and adorn the city with flowers and
green leaves.
Coctreahnê: 3-4th Summer. Bards tournament. The Parliament offer the theatres of the city in
order to celebrate the various performances, collecting a symbolic fee for it. Rewards are always
special objects (some of them magical ones), and the winner is engaged for a year, performing only
in Niali.
Marnyêkhleb: 92nd Summer (only leap years). End of Summer’s day. Nialian believe that this
“atemporal” day is a gift from their gods, who offer them an extra day of life. So, they make use of
it in order to do things they would otherwise never dare to do. Understandably, the city guards have
extra task this day.
Ocêhbnepbin (Númenórean Eruhantalë): 1st Autumn. It is celebrated the Autumn harvesting and
the departure of some really huge Nialian trader ships leading far lands. It is normal to gift some of
the first harvested products. Nialian sailors ask for protection to Ocêhb, sport fishing and boat races
take place, - where the bigger captured fishes are donated to Ocêhb Church - , while their wives
decorate the ships and boats.
Mâpka: 1-10th Autumn. Autumn fair. The Parliament provides some terrain, where the fair’s posts
are allowed to be set. There is a great festive atmosphere all over the city.
Rohkâleb: 29th Autumn. Racing day.
Cumbiyokahnê: 69-70th Autumn. Archers tournament.

Akôridaner: introduced by the Lochaw, after the Shay became Shasindi. It last for three Winter
days, but it is fixed by the Senate some weeks in advance.
Nokôhleb: 30th Winter. Pact Day. It was established after Ekkar was cursed, in TA1617. It is not a
celebration day, but a terrifying outcome of Dwar’s curse.
Kohêvrol: 91st Winter. Old Year’s day (the last one of the year). Parliament organizes the festival,
but Nialian get together in familiar or friendly groups in order to get some fun. Tradition dictates
that two prisoners, chosen by Parliament, are liberated. In the first hours of the day, it begins a
contest of “hunting with eagle” over the nearest plains. Contesters keep encamped in the area the
day before, reckonning the best zones. Rewards and hunted beasts are important.
Inscription costs in all competitions are about the 5% of the reward, although it depends on the
number of competitors. Of course, each one must contribute its own stuff in order to win, but
organization team hires the necessary stuff if it is needed, for a small fee.
12.8.2 Nialian Habits
City guards are easily corruptible.
You are not allowed to enter any particular home by wearing your shoes.
Only notable people and city guards are allowed to carry weapons in Niali. After any weapon is
confiscated, one can come for it at the deposit, in exchange for the ticket.
Heavy armoured people will be investigated.
When anybody dies, it is cremated, and its ashes are thrown into the Deán channel. If it has enough
money, it can be embalmed and buried in a special crypt.
There are typical dishes spicy fishes and poultries. Wines from the nearest vineyards and those from
Kaylund are the ones most tasted.
It brings bad luck the thorn garments, spitting and red coloured shoes. Rings, birds and walking
sticks makes luck good.
Slavery is tolerated, but not legal.
Fined facts:
slight deterioration of public ownership.
illegal wares selling.
swindling on non basic consumer goods.
exorbitant taxes.
mercenaries or bullies hiring.
killing somebody else’s slaves.
DRAFT
Prison and fines (in prison, criminals sometimes suffer different physical damages, even amputations):
severe deterioration of public ownership.
attempt on private property.
curfew transgression.
drunkenness.
stealing and bribery.
swindling on basic consumer goods.
breach of the peace.
slight attempt on physical integrity.
blackmailing.
contraband of non basic goods.
take part in facts attempting on the established authority.
unauthorised weapons holding.
unauthorised thoroughfare.
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40 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
unauthorised business running.
Insolvency (insolvent people loss their status of citizen, and must leave the city or get imprisoned)
Death:
murdering.
rioting inciting.
organizing facts attempting on the established authority.
grave swindling.
contraband of drugs and basic consumer goods.
drug holding.
President:
Krolora
Council:
JMME
12.8.3 Notable people
Kruo do Armenal
Ormon Eerin
Tencraon
Alcatar
Kûmil
Berko
Léreto
Frogamo
Melnizor
Notable Senators:
Revinu
Zendais/Gramtakare
Timopar
Jerlegante
Velgabor
Arduzob
Silefei
Ilya
Enok do Fener
Darwa
Jiggitai
Imrich
Slotar
Other Nialian notables:
Cantralo
Sinafay
Elmer
Licaon
Liu Ching
Lydia
DRAFT

Yin Kuo
Dinar
Torga
André
Noah
Solzhen
Demfirio
Cetino
Pelvar
Anbes
Nilcrurgo
Jeshgir
Marten
Vicot
Kendayo
Ku Rin Ghay
Boterbras
Licurga
Cicelin
Elginlord
Kirlian Ivintor
Ashima
12.9 Economy: Currency, Trade Routes and major markets
See TradeRoutes map. Detail the main harbours where Nialian ships shelter.
12.10 Sites of Note
12.10.1 NORTHERN DISTRICT
DRAFT
Also called “Principal”. Noblemen and high ranking people live here. You can find thermae, circus,
townhall and city record office, the biggest gardens in Niali, the Nialian reservoir and the placement
of fairs are in this district.
1) Zoo: There are no animals here now. It is being reformed in order to receive more sunlight.
Beasts have been translated to a natural reserve.
2) Food Store: Food for beasts in the zoologic is stored here. When it is the season, it is used
by feriants and jail workers to store food too. It is always guarded by six city guards at least,
in order to keep beggars and smugglers away.
3) Fighting Arena: This little arena is the scenery for several competitions: fighting, singing,
poetry,... and it is used as a sky-opened theatre too. Racing and athletics take place all over
the city.
4) Executioner: Cantralo is the one and only official executioner in the city. His art is well
appreciated several kilometres round the city. He works a lot, and has a high wage, so he is
one of the richer persons in the city. Officially, he is employed by the Justice Ministry, but
he accepts any kind of minor tasks. He is also a skilled torturer.
5) Thermae Calorta: although it is a public service, entrance costs 2 sp, so only the wealthy can
pay the cost. It is an enormous building with a sky-opened pool, thermae and a garden with
springs for relaxing. This is a common meeting point for important people, and, of course,
spies too. It is permanently guarded by twenty city guards. The building is three floors tall at
the thermae place (21 m. height), where one can find wide galleries bordering the pools.
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42 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
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First floor galleries even pass over the sky-opened pools and garden, whose walls are 15 m.
height. The front is made from granitic and sand stone. The inner walls are from beige
seamed marble .
6) Tencraon Manor: same as the other manors in this district, it possesses three floors and a
wide inner sky-opened reservoir, accessible from the gallery which constitutes the lower
floor. Five city guards watch for the manor 24 hours a day. Tencraon, Minister of Justice, is
one of the honest politicians in Niali.
7) Alcatar Manor: Alcatar is the Minister of Commerce, and one of the worst criminals in
Niali. He drives almost the whole smuggling and slavery business. He has rejected the
official escort service, but he counts on his own hired assassins. He is also the leader in the
shadow of the sect called “Kohinha Hochtejib”, whose rituals include human sacrifices.
8) Kûmil Manor: Kûmil is the Minister of Warfare. He administers the city guard, the navy and
the army. He is an impressive master of strategy, but his enrichment in the Parliament has
corrupted him. He always complains, reasonably, about the fact of the lack of men, but he
hires the city guard to those who can pay the cost (Berko is his preferred client). This illegal
activity is quite profitable for him, and nobody dares to inform on it. There are six city
guards watching for his manor.
9) Berko Manor: Berko is the Minister of Urbanism. He cares for the good state of Niali and
concedes construction licenses. Of course, his manor is the most luxurious in Niali, and he
owns a lot of other manors along the coast an inland. Reconstruction of Southern District
(the oldest one) is taking a long time since he reached his ministry. He resides most of time
in a fortress he has in a coastal village, 80 km. from Niali. Three city guards watch for his
manor in Niali, and some others, the rest of his houses. He often discuss with Kûmil about
the cost of such a protection.
10) Real state: Grako, elder son of Berko, drives this business. It is rather normal to throw off
the poorest inhabitants in order to offer their homes to wealthier clients.
11) Revinu manor: Revinu is the Captain of the Harbour, and a main senator. As a smuggler and
cargos controller, he is a very rich man. He is also a deadly foe of Alcatar, and pursues to
displace him off Council. In addition to his own bodyguards, he has eight city guards who
protect him.His daughter, Yeldina, is the Alcatar ‘s lover (who thinks his lover’s name is
Belna), and she is a very efficient spy for her father.
12) Léreto manor: Léreto is the minister of Feeding. He cares for the logistics of the city. He is
DRAFT
forced to make business with Alcatar, but he cannot compete against the minister of
Commerce, in power and influence, so his functions are only an extension of Alcatar’s will.
This minister is then controlled by Alcatar too, and Léreto must keep himself apart. But
Léreto is also the leader of the sect “Nopraokpyr”, a kind of justice-makers who try to
impose law and justice all over Niali, by fighting criminals with their own weapons and no
matter who could result damaged. They have tried to kill Alcatar for four times, but Alcatar
is convinced that Revinu is the one who did it.
13) Frogamo manor: Frogamo is the minister of Entertainment: libraries, fairs, markets and local
celebrations are of his responsibility. Although he behaves and looks like a stupid and
coward fool, as a matter of fact he pursues a very ambitious goal. He has attracted
sympathies from common people and part of senators, who do not perceive any threat from
him. He aspires to be erected as the dictator of the city, while the rest of the ministers and
senators cannot figure the reason why he still remains where he is.
14) Zendais manor: Senator Zendais is the leader of the Artist and Bards Guild. The way he has
reached his actual position is a real mistery for the rest of the Parliament, because the most
of nialian habitual dwellers do not have neither wish nor free time to visit the few theatres in
the city. Actually, Zendais alias Gramtakare is the owner of all of the gambling houses of
the city and the bigger extortion net of possibly the whole Lochas Drus. The few who know
who he is are afraid enough to not dare to unmask him. Zendais is an anonymus individual,

ut his alter ego Gramtakare is the most feared person in Niali. He is out of the city the most
of the time.
15) Gambling house “Fortune”: three incredibly flamboyant floors, in and outdoors, make of
this building the most luxurious and famous in Niali. Entrance tax is insultingly expensive
(5 gp or more), vigilance unsurpassable and, of course, the right of admission is reserved.
16) “The Lotus Bed” brothel: The wider offer for the highest prize. It is only comparable to the
“Fortune”, whose customers are also the ones from here.
17) Timopar manor: Timopar is the leader of the fishermen guild, principal responsible of
contraband. Alcatar controls the business, but he relies on Timopar in order to safeguard
receipt and leaving of goods, despite of the vigilance Revinu holds over the seaport.
Timopar is moving on both sides, but he still has not been caught.
18) “Elmer’s Waxcrafts”: This business is a cover for an illegal herbs smoking place, rather
visited by people who know it. Elmer is the temporary leader of the lamp/candlemakers
guild; he will be soon relieved, as his health is quite bad, due to the continous exposition to
narcotic mist.
19) Licaon, the moneylender: Huge credits and very high interests, only for richmen with three
or four reputated endorsers.
20) Niali’s Record Office: Here is written and stored all about Niali functioning, public and
legal affairs.
21) Niali’s Reservoir: As there is no drinkable water but when it rains or water suppliers come
from near streams, the rest of the time users or their servants must come for it. Few Nialian
dare to drink water in order to quench their thirst (it is safer to drink juices or spirits), but
manors, thermae and business like tincturers, embalmers and some others requiere a lot of
drinkable water, and they have got their own underground tanks and pipes. In flood times,
filtrations from sewers to these cisterns are a serious trouble for those affected. In drought
times, Parliament set a water suppliers public service up.
22) Gambling house “The Clover”: discrete. 1gc entrance. Right of admission reserved. It works
by night, but when is fairs time, that opens the whole day. Three floors.
23) Cedrij brothers, moneylenders: quiet and implacable.
24) “The Golden Garden” brothel:
25) Autumn Square: here take place fairs and itinerant merchants, great events are proclaimed
and criminals are punished. When it’s not, Nialian troops are here trained and children play
their games.
DRAFT
26) Gambling house “Cornucopy”: 8 sc entrance. One floor. It is conceived for regular district
inhabitants.
27) “The Haunted Crown” brothel: this is the real destination for some of the most regular
customers of the thermae. Narcotics are on hand.
28) Teka, moneylender: Teka is its unlucky owner. In the rest of the city, a moneylender
business next to a gambling house runs quite well, but this is the only exception. She knows
she will get ruined unless she were able to become partner with some other moneylenders,
therefore she tries to officialy constitute the guild, without success.
29) School: here are imparted history, sciences, literature, fighting technics and sorcery lessons,
as well as politics and religion lore. Only richmen are accepted. The rector is Dremon,
leader of the Scholars Guild, senator, Greatest Librarian and leader of the Pacbetbih sect,
that aspire to found a pacific empire where everybody were a wiseman. Nonetheless, they
are persuaded that goal justifies means, and tend to be quite violent.
30) “Ibon’s Place” inn: High prices for a good service.
31) “The Blue Roof” tavern: quite expensive, for merchants and notable people who want
stillness and cleanliness.
32) Guard’s barracks: this is the resting place for most of the guards in this district.
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44 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
JMME
33) “The Long Way” tavern: meeting place for sectarians and spies. Almost every information
concerning the dark side of the city can be obtained here, if one knows the cost and the one
to be asked for.
12.10.2 WESTERN DISTRICT
This is the district of guilds. The most of the commercial activity in the city occurs here. Shops are
grouped by guilds and by streets. The jail, court and public finance are in the same building. The
general headquarter for the military forces is here too.
1) Prison: it lodges prisoners by political and religious reasons, corrupted civil servants and
foreigners that lost their money in the city. It has one floor and a good torture room.
2) Embalmers Guild: Cicelin, a beautiful bodied woman, is the leader of the embalmers and
gravediggers guild, whose head office is here. Cicelin, twenty three, is physically really
attractive, but an unfortunate accident disfigured her face horribly, now hidden behind a
wonderful mask. Nonetheless, her psyquical scares are on the surface. Embittered, she chose
to leave the world by devoting to the most repulsive proffession for nialians, and gave up
any kind of affection, other than her work. She is able to kill anyone who tries to seduce her.
In general, nianian rather cremation, being their ashes thrown to Deán channel.All the same,
the cultural diversity in the city makes funerary tastes to be very different too: embalming,
burials and some strange rites are quite common, and the guild works on every one.
3) “Deán”, the Magnificent Theatre: built by a nobleman more than 500 years ago. His
offspring took care of it in the hope they could find a huge treasure, hidden by the nobleman
somewhere in the building. Nowadays, it has become an urban legend. When his
descendants turned to a seer in order to find it, with frustrating results, it was sold to a group
of performancers, that resold it to another, and so was by eight times in the last three years.
The actual owners are in search of another purchaser, but a theatre in Niali is not a worthy
business, and this one is in a very bad preserved, as its most valuable carvings and
sculptures have been gradually removed.
4) Theater of the West: a group of far-westerner men and elves from southern Gondor
(Pelargir, Dol Amroth,..) manages this business. They only perform what they call “avant-
DRAFT
garde” and “new artistic tendencies”, that is, social criticism and absurd-played, quite
metaphysical and revolutionary. Sometimes they allow other similarly oriented bards to
perform in exchange of a symbolic donation. All of them are closely watched by Nialian
City Guard, and have been in jail due to attempts to the established order.
5) Ashima, the tatoo maker: Ashima, a thirtyer Shakal an-Karim, is the best tatoo maker in
Shay (her tattos are told to be magical), a quite skilful amulet manufacturer and an expert in
herbs and balms, a less known facet. She is also a follower of the Orpohineke.
6) “Water Buffalo”, transports: Slotar, guild leader and senator, manages this business from his
office. This branch checks caravans and travelers turnover by land and river, though there is
another branch at the seaport. They do not rent their stuff without direct supervision. It is a
thriving business, quite requested by notable men and merchants. Their slogan: “World is
too small”. They are very interested in finding new routes, so they often collaborate with
any exploration project, though this agreement means that explorers must be supervised by a
member of the company. Its members, well known for their skill, astuteness, toughness and
arrogance, enjoy a special freedom status in Niali, and they are even supplied with lockers in
the city gates in times of high activity in the surrounding lands (wars, migrations,..). They
manage those relays at their routes and several treaties with other inns and taverns, in and
out of Niali.
7) Kruo do Armenal manor: Kruo is the current Minister of Treasure. He has robbed so much
from city’s chests along his ten years of ministry that nowadays he has more than enough
money. Therefore, he is an efficient administrator already. Yet he is the most hated and

slandered individual in the nearby, quite understandable as his tax collectors are implacable.
Despite of taxes are not high, guards’ illegal abuses when charging tariffs (thoroughfare
licences, residential licences,…) rather contribute to ruin the less wealthy dwellers. Kruo
personally heads the Illustrious Tax Collectors Armed Corps (ITCAC or “bloodsuckers” on
popular jargon). Uncorruptible, implacable and invincible, the fourty members of the corps
are the best remunerated and respected civil servants in Niali, and their selection process is
extremely demanding. They collect the taxes, investigate bad debtors and illegal economic
activities as well. They are forced to keep their information silent, as only Kruo is
authorized to order their intervention. This grants Kruo a vast knowledge about all economic
activities in the city and their bearers, who mostly want him dead, but the ITCAC are, by
now, enough to keep him safe.
8) Ormon Eerin manor:
12.10.3 CENTRAL DISTRICT
The commercial district is where the carpenters and scholars guilds, and the central market are
located.
1) Temple of Txila: this temple is the biggest one in the city, with subterranean corridors
leading to the sewers. Melnizor, Highest Priest, inhabits here; he is also minister of Cults,
police commander and leader of the sect Nopraokopex. Melnizor is an ambitious
manipulator who aspires to control the city.
2) Krolora manor: Krolora is the current President of the Nialian Council. His strong temper
allows him to take decisions quite fairly, but he has no confidence in his ministers and listen
carefully to senators. Nevertheless, he is usually too busy trying to keep Nialian hegemony
among the other Shayan monkh, so he is forced to give up domestic affairs on minister’s
hands. Even being coarse, suspicious, cruel and often unjust, he truly believes that sometime
honest and wise citizen will constitute the Parlament.
3) Central marketplace: esta singular construcción consta de varios pequeños edificios de dos
plantas, divididas en pequeños compartimentos a los que se accede por una galería,
ocupados por infinidad de comerciantes, sobre todo del ramo de la alimentación. Suele estar
DRAFT
abarrotado hacia finales de verano y otoño. El resto del tiempo, unos pocos negocios
variados se pueden encontrar aquí. Los puestos se alquilan en el Ayuntamiento. En los
períodos de mayor actividad suele haber un destacamento de guardias (10-15) patrullando.
El resto del tiempo, hay un par de ellos, que vuelven la cabeza si el beneficio lo justifica.
Suele utilizarse como lugar para ajustar cuentas entre las diversas facciones de la ciudad.
4) Trecae manor: Trecae was a southron lord who made his fortune by seizing other lords,
thanks to his astuteness and powerful army. As he fell sick of tuberculosis, he departed to
Niali and let his incompetent brother, Nuagor, rule his properties. Of course, Nuagor got
soon subduedTrecae fue un señor del Sur que hizo fortuna a base de robar a otros señores,
gracias a su astucia y su potente ejército. Cuan la tuberculosis le incapacitó, se retiró a Niali,
dejando sus propiedades en manos de su incompetente hermano, el cual fue arrollado en
poco tiempo por sus numerosos rivales. En Niali, Trecae envejeció al cuidado de su única
familia: su hija Lydia. Actualmente, se ha apartado de la vida pública, y a nombrado a Lydia
heredera
5) Nialian High School: it was the reward the wizards of the Pact asked for, in TA1617.
Before this, aquí aprenden su oficio soldados, magos y eruditos que van a pertenecer a la
administración nialita, aunque, por un precio razonable, se admite a cualquiera. La
enseñanza que se imparte está a cargo de excelentes profesores, distribuidos en aulas por los
cinco enormes pisos y los tres sótanos del imponente edificio. El mantenimiento y dirección
están bajo jurisdicción del Parlamento.
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46 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
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6) Yin-Kuo’s Martial arts donjon: dirigida por Yin-Kuo, un oriental nervudo y templado
experto en artes marciales. Sus alumnos aventajados encuentran trabajo rápidamente como
guardaespaldas. Algunos de sus antiguos alumnos trabajan para él, pues son eficientes
espías y asesinos, muy solicitados.
7) Gred, the butlers renter: Gred, una cuarentona bien conservada, actúa como cabeza visible
del negocio. En realidad, es una tapadera para un negocio de venta de esclavos dirigido por
Gramtakare (Zendais). Todos los personajes importantes se benefician de eso, así que hacen
lo posible por mantenerlo en secreto. Por lo demás, no se sabe de ningún criado que haya
sido alquilado aquí. Los envíos de esclavos se hacen mensualmente por vía marítima,
dependiendo su número de la demanda. Son elegidos personalmente por Zendais y
encerrados en las mazmorras del edificio, que comunican directamente con las alcantarillas,
vía de transporte hacia el mar para los negreros.
8) Dinar, the moneylender: Dinar is an hedonist Mornúmenedáin accountant arrived from Pêl,
in southwestern Endor. His loans have rather fine payment conditions, but his agents are
implacable.
9) Gambling house “Txila’s Dance”: 5 sc entrance. Famous croupierettes, skilled and beautiful.
10) “Sky blue” brothel: variety.
11) “Big Torga” tavern: in Niali, taverns are property of the Parliament, that rent them to
individuals who can pay the seasonal fee. Torga is a pure Sed of 210 cm and 170 Kg. His
black thick moustache and beard reinforce the impression that he is not a good enemy. He
lived in Zelón till the day a drunk guard killed his wife. Since then, he has a very bad mood,
and does not stand neither drunkards nor uniformed guys. He scorns local authority and his
tavern shelter any kind of plot against Parliament and, specially, against Krolora.
12.10.4 EASTERN DISTRICT
Commercial activity here is very poor, because it is mostly dedicated to residence for wealthy
inhabitants, sailors, farmers, civil servants and all of the people who can afford any additional
residence, out of the business building. The city library and the city bank are here.
1) André manor: André is a famous merchant and warrior, with refined manners and vaste
culture. His manor is one of the most tasteful, and he frequents places characteristic of his
DRAFT
rank, but he keeps himself apart from the general public. His friends are mostly from among
the scholars; in political groups, he has been seen only with the leaders of the most
important guilds and Tencraon. He is married and has three children of 29, 24 and 21 years,
that study in Dremon’s school, in the Northern District, who is a very good friend of his,
although André disapprove Pacbetbih’s methods. His wife is a mistery: tall, blonde and pale,
deep blue eyed an always dressed in black, without any adornment; she has been never seen
without her husband. People tell some strange tales about the couple, but only a few know
the truth. André and his wife are Teleri, more than 2.000 years old, who came to Niali 30
years ago. Their only wish is to depart to Aman, such was their goal when they first arrived
here, but the premature born of their first child forced them to stay. After that, they chose to
taste the human vitality for the last time before setting off. Nowadays, there are again ready
to leave.
2) Gambling house “Roulette”: 3 sc entrance. Famous for its “Death Roulette”, an appliance
that kills a 25 % of the loosers with a strong poison, normally by means of some kind of
gas.
3) Borg, the moneylender: limited credits.
4) Nialian Library, “The Glass Tower”: a six floors labyrinth full of bookshelves, each of them
seven metres tall with stained-glass windows. This is the reason why is nicknamed “Glass
Tower”. There is a subjects location plan in the ground floor, next to the librarian office.
Books are magically bond to the building. It is mandatory to be a recognized scholar or
student.

5) Oddities “Material Magic”: bizarre and antique stuff, of unknown properties, is sold, bought
and exchanged here. The owner is Noha, a fiftyish alchemist of sharp wit and conviction
ability. He is also a cheater: with his knowledgment and purchasing runes and spells to some
local wizards, he creates his own “antique oddities” and a tale to tell to his customers. He is
a member of Orpohineke.
6) Nialian bank: three floors without windows, tuning fork shaped with no decoration. No
weapons allowed and it is needed a special authorization, signed by the minister of Treasure.
Here is Nialian coinage minted.
7) “The Golden Chain” tavern: quiet and select, visited by locals and travelers who come
through the Western Gate. Its wines quality is very appreciated.
8) “Lights from the Orient” tavern: Womaw atmosphere and customers.
9) Solzhen manor: Solzhen, the rich owner of this mournful building, is intended to be a kind
of evil sorcerer, but reality is even worse. His true name is Xtro, an extraterrestrial mutant
sent here as an observer from a distant galaxy. His cellular mutator was broken casually, so
he cannot take a human look but for four hours a day. He bought then slaves and emptied
their minds in order to easily telepathic communicate with them. Xtro inhabits a dungeon
under his garden; the rest of his manor is untidy and the garden resembles a jungle. His
servants lay near the doors and the windows of the ground floor, and they behave as
aggressive zombies.
10) Guard’s barracks: fifteen guards have their beds here, but rarely more than one can be found
here anytime.
11) Temple of Eschlank: the Highest Priest of Eschlank in Niali, Demfirio, is an evil priest more
than 500 years old, a powerful Mornúmenedáin vampire. He also has a magic orb of power
in a crypt, guarded by a handful of minor vampires and connected to the sewers gallery
named “Níobe” by means of a secret passage. The temple is daily maintained by a ghoul
(not always the same one). Once a season, at dusk, it takes place in the temple the
“Challenge of Eschlank”. A huge crowd gather in the nearby to see those who dare to accept
the challenge, that usually consists of a riddle. If correctly solved, Eschlank will answer the
truth to any question proposed by the winner, with suitable details, by means of Demfirio; if
failed, the looser must convert and adore Eschlank. Conversion means that they loose their
ability to use spells others than those of evil priest, and will be considered “evil” from then
on, despite of their behaviour, even for spells of alignment detection. Adoration means blind
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obedience to Demfirio, daily attending to night services (unless Demfirio decide a different
thing) and contributing to the temple economic support. Eschlank is exhibited as a kind
deity who conforms with occasional prayers, but this is not the truth. If the acquired bond
after the failure is broken, the offender will be cursed with the “Eschlank eternal withering”,
that wastes away the body during half a season, until the suffering and malfunction of vital
processes turn the victim to a living corpse. The curse start to show its presence two seasons
after the breaking of the bond. Nialian does not know this fact, as victims usually avoid
human contact and hide, as their appearance and stench become too repulsive, and they are
not aware of the consequence of their disobedience.
12.10.5 SOUTHERN DISTRICT
The most ancient area in the city, it is almost wrecked, and is very dangerous by night. The candlers
guild and the Main Theatre are here.
12.10.6 MARINE DISTRICT
Shipwrighters and pilots guilds, customs officer, entry and exit registers, seaport, wharehouses and
the lighthouse, which is used as an asylum too, are sited here. The crews of the Nialian warships,
when they are on land, stay at this district.
Seaport Captaincy:
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48 NIALI, CITY OF GREY WALLS
Lighthouse Asylum:
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12.10.7 EKKAR ISLAND
Ekkar was the original village. It grew up with Vulmaw arrival, when it turned to a flourishing
colony, expanded to the nearest coast. It was destroyed by Lochaw in 1785 SA, but its Númenórean
dwellers recovered it, making a kind of palace from the whole island, where the wealthy
Númenórean families kept aside from the native population in the coastal quarters.
A wrecked lighthouse, an old circus and a misterious temple can be glimpsed from the docks when
the mist is over (very few times). Cursed by Dwar of Waw and some of the wizards of his own, in
TA 1617, Ekkar was never again inhabitable, and those who were still in the island when this
happened, never returned alive to the city. A perpetual unhealthy mist concealed the cursed island
from that moment, and nobody dared to get too close to the place. It is said that frightening shapes
can be seen from the coast, moving near the edges of the island, looking for a pass point in order to
reach Niali and bring terror and pain to the living ones.
On Winter of that same year, one morning, the dead people from Ekkar, sheltered by a dense mist,
went back to Niali, killing and devouring every misfortuned living creature they captured. When the
next day started, they retreated to the island. The horror was of such a great magnitude that the
Nialian parlament resolved to call for the help of all the magic practitioners, in exchange of the
prize they agreed to ask for. A lot of magicians answered the request, but the curse was too strong;
they could not dispel it, but they were able to make a pact with the evil forces which Dwar had
ensued in Ekkar: the Damned would return to Niali and breed once in a year, but they are not
allowed to open any door (this part is not enough clear) and it would be a fixed day, the same day
they had done that time. That day is from then named Nokôhleb, the Pact Day. The streets of Niali
are full of mist and undead walking bodies during 24 hours. People lock in their houses or in public
places, like taverns and so, or simply leave the city for the whole day. City’s gates are wide open,
but from the outside there can only be seen shadows in the mist. Those who are caught by the
undead, return next year as some of them. The wizards who fixed the pact asked, as a reward, a
whole building of their own, in order to teach and learn the art of magic: the Nialian High School.
SA 1000
12.11 Shadow-holds
12.12 Niali At Other Times
DRAFT
Niali is still named Ekkarniali, and Shayan still are far away in the north, so it is populated by
Rúakasi people. The town is limited by the old Vulmaw wall, and has only the two southern
districts (southern and marine) and the Ekkar island. Vulmaw rule has almost dissappeared, and
only the pirates’ honour code is recognized and respected.
SA 2000
Niali and Zelón have recently been reconstructed by Númenóreans, and are still recovering from
destruction. The greater part of Sëd tribe is in the north, helping Shay conquering the Unvirnay
against the Rúakasi. The rest of Sëd are watching and plotting against the Númenóreans in order to
regain the control of Niali. Government method is, now, the Númenórean feudalism, supported by
some notable members of the Sëd.
SA 3000
After one millenium of Númenórean dominion, Niali is again on Sëd hands. But the weakness of
Númenórean power allows some Khamul agents to infiltrate and start their plots. Niali is almost in
the top of its power, with a huge fleet and lots of mercenaries at its service. Such a power will be

used by the Shadow in order to fight the Womaw, with a very bad result for the Shayan
confederacy.
TA 1000
Shayan are divided after the destruction of Zhuting, the Womaw capital city. The Unvirnay has
joined the Lochaw, in doing so confrontating and defeating the weakened Shayan confederation.
The Ti and Sëd tribes are enemies, due to the Zhuting affair, so Niali is involved in a secret war
against the Ti, a war which cannot be profitable for any of them. Dwar is starting to regain his
dominions.
TA 2000
Short after the Shasindi independence from Lochaw and the war against Shaka-ahar. Niali is
weakened and exhausted, waiting for someone who were able to bring order and new prosperity to
the monkh. The Shadow plots will make Niali accept the guide of Zelón and the corrupted Ti tribe
(same as the rest of the brother monkh), which will prove to be a disaster.
TA 3000
Shasindi is a ruin. The Shadow has wrecked the entire region, and Niali is no more than a pile of
rocks. Zelón is the one which rules. It is on its summit, with the Ti tribe under the Shadow’s yoke.
The Rúakasi are recovering their lands, restablished with permission of Zelón. The only free
activities are the ones developed by Jaekgârayi and their secret allies.
12.13 Adventures In Niali
“Glassfingers” Loragvor, the bard.
The paths of Kirnoda.
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