Thenol

Thenol is a kingdom in Southern Hosk, on the continent of Taladas. It borders the Steamwall Mountains to the east, the Blackwater Glade to the south, the Windless Ocean to the west, and Armach and the Imperial League to the north. Most notable geographical features are forests, mountains, and grasslands.

Thenol is the largest nation in Southern Hosk, in terms of land, but it’s not as mighty as the Imperial League or as defensive as Armach. Thenol is a kingdom of fear, slaves, and undead armies, thanks to the Temple of Hith.

Age of Despair[]

Thenol was founded by the exiles of Styrllia, looking for a home in the wake of the First Destruction. Lead by Guidan, they trekked southward, eventually coming upon the land that would become Thenol. Unfortunately, Guidan wasn’t a strong leader, and by the time the travelers arrived to their new land, Guidan was leader only in title, the true power lying in the hands of dukes, barons, and princes, with their own factions. These nobles wanted to settle in the new lands, but Guidan wanted to go further, to find a safer and better home, but the nobles would have nothing to do with it. Thus, New Aurim was settled.

After the settlement, the nobles began to claim the lands near and around New Aurim, eventually fighting each other for power. Each struggled to create a country of his own, and become king. Thus Thenol was founded, a country of opposing factions lead by some titled men, all under the rule of a king. The nobles formed the Senate of Lords, headed by the king, to govern.

Though a country, Thenol had no army, since no Lord was willing to pay taxes or raise troops. So Thenol continued for several centuries, having fifteen kings, all of Guidan’s blood, yet no power at all. The power was held by lords, the Great Lords specifically, being the largest landowning lords. Thus the Lords all competed for power, none gaining all power. Only one person, Bishop Trandamere, gained rule over all of Thenol.

Trandamere, being the head of the Temple of Hith, was chosen by Hiteh to gain followers in Taladas. Once he realized his potential, the Temple of Hith flourished, gaining followers through out Thenol. Sending his followers to serve the lords, these priests were gaining entry to more and more courts, helping to raise cavalry forces and siege trains, which was obvious to the Lords. But finally, on Dragon’s Night, a festival in deep winter, the priests of Hiteh acted. Going to cemetaries, graveyards, and other places, they worked the arts of necromancy to raise an undead army. Now in command of a massive unholy army, Trandamere sent out to take out key lords. By the next day, Trandamere was in control of all of Thenol, and had the full support of the new Army of Thenol behind him. For the next forty years, Trandamere changed the face of Thenol.

As to what happened in Thenol in the years after Trandamere’s takeover to before the Chaos War, it is still unknown.

Age of Mortals[]

The Second Destruction came, and the priests of Hith lost their power. So Thenol endured through it, and finally the gods came back, ending the Godless Night. So with the return of their god, Hiteh, Thenol attacked the Minotaur League. In response, the League sent armies to fight back the Thenolites, lead by the current Bishop, Ondelos. The armies of the League fought the Thenolites for three years, eventually ending in the Imperial League defeating Ondelos and his armies at Hawkbluff, site of the greatest Temple of Hith. Ondelos had his head cut off, and the Temple of Hith was burned and pulled down. The Legions didn’t stay long though, having to retreat as a result of an incident at Kristophan.

Currently now there is room for someone to rise and replace Ondelos, and raise Thenol to power again.

Cities[]

Geographical Features[]

References[]

Time of the Dragon: The Guide Book to Taladas, p.66-69
Blades of the Tiger, p.3, 35-36, 81, 119, 407