Aquilonia
Aquilonia is nestled east of the savage Pictish Wilderness, west of militant Nemedia, north of cutthroat Zingara, and south of the Cimmerian tundra.
Aquilonia
Aquilonia is nestled east of the savage Pictish Wilderness, west of militant Nemedia, north of cutthroat Zingara, and south of the Cimmerian tundra. It has pleasant weather and rich, arable farmable lands interwoven and fed by some of the largest rivers in the world. Game hunting is common and plentiful, and wilderness paths and civilized roads are patrolled by Aquilonian forces. At first glance, it is a peaceful kingdom of plenty built on a very pleasant stretch of Hyborian land
Alas, it cannot be so. Although the barbarian King Conan of Cimmeria has taken great lengths to keep his kingdom safe from outside threats and domestic squabbles, Aquilonia sees its share of unrest. Aquilonia has become a kaleidoscope of intrigue and hand-on-hilt politics. There are many peoples who call this land home, carving several invisible borders within the kingdom itself. Bossonians, Poitanians, Gundermen, and others lay claim to lands that now all exist under King Conan's rule.
The barbarian king rules from his throne in the capitol city of Tarantia, delegating his laws and edicts down through the cascade of titled and landed nobles. The city is a massive, walled urban sprawl, its blue and golden towers reaching high into the sky. A kingdom's worth of people from all corners of the world call Tarantia home, protected in part by its high walls and its elite Black Legion army, the capitol's military force. Many travel long distances to come to this place, the "Heart of Aquilonia", trying to claim part of its dazzling wealth and power for themselves.
Aquilonia's countryside is divided into countless noble estates and segmented villages that are ruled by individual noble patriarchs, all of whom are supposed to owe allegiance to the king. Many do, but just as many-some might argue more-are disgusted by a Cimmerian king and pay homage to the crown and banner in deed only, wishing great ill upon him. It is there, in their hollow hearts, that much of the kingdom's unrest is schemed. Perhaps if it were not for the eternal squabbling and backstabbing amongst the nobles, Aquilonia would have strength enough to be an unyielding bastion against its many outside threats.
Although deadly when swept into them, Aquilonia's politics are not the only risk on its rolling landscape. There are many dangers, even with the increased patrols and hired huntsmen, which threaten travelers here. Constant harassment comes from Nemedian mercenaries, Pictish tribes, and mysterious servants of ancient, darker forces. These grueling and merciless minions seem bent on shattering what peace can be found in the kingdom. It is dangerous to travel too far from guarded lands, and many nobles keep hired guards-not much more than mercenaries themselves-to protect their personal estates. To make matters more difficult, as if the relentless two-legged threats are not bad enough, the hunters can only do so much to keep the wolves, great cats and larger predators from moving against small families and lone travelers.
Even with such dangers, Aquilonia is one of the jewels of Hyboria. It is a temperate land of noble and proud people, with a lightly-obscured storm brewing beneath the surface of its grassy hills and ox-plowed wheat fields. Some day, sooner than King Conan can know, the silken curtains of Aquilonia will be ripped down and it will find itself at the mercy of its own devices.
