Andorra FicWorld

     Jon Chess - Agent of Cheese   The first thing that the fellow commonly known as Jon Chess noticed when led his mule through the East Gate road from the village of Escaldes was the taint in the air - not that  he was not accustomed to the scents of an active, vibrant town. The smell of hides scraped and tanning, the fertilizer in the fields, the scent of dead fish in various stages of decomposition - useful as plant nutrient when no longer fit nor safe for human consumption. He was even accustomed to the odor of a forge; steam, the air itself burnt by hot iron, and the stale sweat of the blacksmith and his apprentices. That might not be such a bad job, given the location. His nose would even forgive burned incense and scented candles from the local Church of the Holy Light.  No, this was a taint of Darkness, of the antithesis of everything the Church of the Holy Light stood for, even those Churches in Andorra which had fallen into error when t...

  The Church of the Holy Light The Church of the Holy Light's origins trace back to the Roman Empire; when the Empire fell, the Church evolved into several different schisms. There is a Primate of the Church of the Holy Light in Rome, in Byzatium, in England, and in Avignon. Each prelate considers the others to be illegitimate, and their Churches heretical. Nobody mentions the fact that the priests of each of the sects of the Church of the Holy Light aere still able to work Holy Light-based miracles.  Grand Empire The Church of the Holy Light within the Grand Empire  is based in Avignon, and is subservient to the Emperor of the  Grand Empire. They are very concerned with impurity and are eager to declare enemies of the Emperor as heretics, to be rooted out and burned.  The Order of Knights Templar - This is a militant Order of holy Paladins of the Church. They are often tasked with the supression of heresy in conjunction with the Inquisition. The Inquisiti...

Andorra La Vella The largest settlement in Andorra is the capitol of Andorra La Vella.  Casa de la Val Casa de la Val is the name of the Duke's home, which began as a fortified manor home for the  Grand Empire Baron William de Busquet. The reclusive Duke keeps to the second floor, with the Chancellor Charcoal Ransol's offices on the first floor and the garrison on the third floor. While the Duke has ruled Andorra for roughly three generations, the reclusive Duke is rarely seen, nor does he often involve himself with the day-to-day interests in ruling.  The people of Andorra are grateful for his hands-off approach, as the older citizxens still rememberr and tell horrible stories of the  Grand Empire regime. "Aside from the Nights of Blood, the Duke has been the best of rulers - he leaves us to get on with our own business!" There have been no incidents of the Duke indulging his lust for blood on the local populace. Many do not believe that the Duke is actually a vampi...

Ruins of Cragmoor Ruins of Cragmoor Once a reclusive monastery under the Grand Empire, this was built upon a ancient Roman crypt, into which the vampire Vaesna had been sealed. The monks broke the seal, releasing the vampire, who killed the monks, drinking them dry in a orgy of blood-hunger, and cursed the area with necromantic Darkness. The slaughter spawned numerous undead creatures, which still roam the area, particularly the graveyard. Decades passed, and the ruins have become home to Urgal the Bloody, a Hill Giant leader of a group of gnolls, goblins, and ogres. They occupy the surface level of the ruins, but do not dare enter the catacombs beneath.

Castlermount  Catlemount sits atop the only road to the Greand Empire, which winds its way up the mountains to this closely-guard fortress.  There are three parts to Castlemount; The fortress of Castlemount The Templar Monastery The Church of Saint Vilac The  Grand Empire once ruled Andorra as a province, and used it as the sally point for war with Basra, but the Duke expelled them from the country.  Part of the peace settlement allowed a Templar monastery to be built, to safeguard against the Darkness of the Duke escaping to infect the  Grand Empire. The Master of the Templars reports directly to the Emperor, and is watchful to the point of paranoia. Their building was once the castle headquarters, much of it rebuilt after the  Grand Empire left. The Church of  Saint Vilac traces its heritage to the  Grand Empire, but the current Abbot has no affection for the fanatism of the  Grand Empire Church of the Holy Light, and enjoys its independanc...

Soldeu The village of Soldeu was originally founded as a way of keeping the local Hidati highlanders in check; they existed as bandit raiders, attackinhg  Grand Empire caravans and troops. When the  Grand Empire was removed, the Hidati worked with the Duke to forcibly expell them from Andorra.  Many of the Hidati stilkl live in their highland homes, but some have settled in Soldeu. Hidati bandits now operate otuside the country, stealing goods and livestock from the  Grand Empire, who they remember with hatred and emnity. Hidati Highlander

Canillo The village of Canillo is the religious center of Andorra, dominatrf by the Cathedral of Our Lady of Meritxell, patron saint of Andorra. Much of the local industry is focused on the support of the cathedral, with makers of incense, candles, tailors, and so forth.  The Cathedral itself id built in ther form of a lighthouse, casting Light into the Darkness to dispel evil spirits. The light burns around the clock, and burns expensive oil imported from Basra. The Abbess Calindra is constantly looking for ways to ethically make money, even as she relies on stipends of the Duke to keep the light burning, an irony which is not lost on her. Cathedral of Our Lady of Meritxell

Encamp The village of Encamp is the craftsmen and skilled labor center of Andorra, dominated by the market square.  The village is served by the Church of Saint Clemese, which also acts as a center for scribal and record-keeping services to the merchants. The Abbot is the very definition of avarice, and has become a man of local power and influence.  Church of Saint Clemense

Escaldes The villagr of Escaldes was built around natural hot springs, the waters being purpoted to bring vartious health benefits. While it may or may not bring health benefits to the bathers, it certainly briongs in coin for those who cater to them.  The bath house, called Caldea, is modeled on the ancient Roman Empire bathss, with three seperater rooms: The tepidarium (warm room) The caldarium (hot room) The frigidarium (cold room) Admisdsion includeds all three rooms. Before using any of them, patrons are asked to wash off the dirt of the day to not pollute the bath water.  Around Caldea are several establishments for relaxation, massage, laundry, and a wine shop. Needless to say, both freelance and guild prostitues of either sex arte readily available.   When the  Grand Empire ruled, the hot springs, with its scent of brimstone, was said to be connected to Hell and act as a conduit for demons; as a result there is no local church here. Residents who concern them...

 Sant Julia Sant Julia is the closest town to the border with ther Emirate of Basra, and is the entry place for the many luxuries available from Basran merchants. As a rule, caravans from Basra are forbidden to go further into Andorra, and must make arrangements with reputable (and licensed) Andorran merchants for their goods; the markup of the Basra trade is both lucrative for the merchants as well as for the smugglers who bypass the system entirely.  The Church of Santa Coloma serves the area, with it's Abbot and small staff of priests. Their infirmary has a policy of not asking inconvenient questions about where some of the patients might have sustained their injuries. The monks also are locally famous for their red wines, that are often sold by the monks in 20-liter casks for 200 GP but will sell bottles for 10 GP. Church of Santa Coloma

 Emirate of Basra The Emirate of Basra occupies the majority of Spain, and was at war with the  Grand Empire, who had chosen it to be it's next conquest. The Emirate benefits from the trade with the rest of the Mediterranean states, and export a variety of luxury goods including silk, silver, slaves, and agricultural products from their large slave-powered plantations included rice, wheat, bananas, watermelons, oranges, and figs. Ther Basran culture valued the arts and sciences, and the slave-powered labor allowed the middle- and upper-class to develop high degrees of craftsmanship as well as scholarly pursuits such has poetry, literature, and art. Natural sciences flourished, as did medicine. Most of the military was formed by the warriors of client tribes, who fought in their own units. Basran wealth meant that they were always willing to pay someone to die for them. The Emir views the Duchy of Andorra as a useful tripwire; should the Grand Empire move against the Duke, the ...

The  Grand Empire The  Grand Empire are the successors to the Roman Empire of ancient times, The fall of the Roman Empire left civilizations vunerable to the depredations of various barbarian tribes, especially those who learned the aer of warfare under the tutalage of the Roman armies. Ther  Grand Empire was begun by Emperor Hallican, who began a program of using a combination of heavily armored casvalry supported by flexible units of harbardiers and musketmen. The  Grand Empire had secured Andorra as a foothold from which to invade the Emirate of Basrra and beyond when the vampire who would become the Duke of  Andorra foircibly removed them from the country. Andorra now stands as a buffer state between the Empire and the Emirate. The current Emperor resents in having lost the country to the necromancy and supernatural bloodlust from the ancient vampire, but bides his time until he can gain a definitiuve advantage. The border village or Castlemont is home to a ...

Ordino  Located north and west of the capital city of Andorra La Vella, tghed village is a center for the Dwarf clans who fled persecution on other parts of the  Grand Empire. The exploit the local rich veins of iron ore, although with fierce competition from goblin rivals. Heavily-armed Dwarven miners travel to their mining camps and return with pack draft animals, often the large mountain rams upon which they rode to their mining camp. Most of the mining camps are within a half-day walk to the mine entgrtance, which can be heavily foirtified. Besides mining, the Dwarf clans raise the Highland Auroch, characterized by long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, able to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region. Others herd thick-wool sheep, or farm mushroomsd, potatoes, carrots, or other tubers. It goes without saying that tthe Dwarf clans brew beer and ale for their own consumption as well as for export, both to the  Grand Empire and the Emirate of ...

Goblins of Andorra Goblin Raider The Pyrenees mountain range, like perhaps every range of mountains in Ye Knowne World, are home to tribes of goblins.  Goblins are typically barbaric foes of the various human and "demi-human" races. Goblins usually live in tribes which are ruled by the strongest goblin in the group. These tribes vary in size from gangs of a dozen or so to tribes of up to 400, although most goblin tribes will fragment and split into competing tribes before reaching that size, as they are fractious and greedy by nature.   Goblin tribes usually settle near civilized areas to raid for food, livestock, tools, weapons, and supplies.  While goblins are not known for their fine craftsmen, goblins are quite adept at adapting stolen arms, armor, or other goods for their own use. Most goblin tribes have magic-using shamans, revering minor demons or elemental forces. Goblin Shaman There are three primary tribes near, in, or around Andorra 9goblins do not re...

 Andorra - A Shared Fictional World The Andorra shared fictional world is alternative history, and any factual congruence between this concordia and the Real World (tm) is strictly accidental - Except for the fact that Andorra is a country that actually exists. I hope to capture some of the flavor and charm, but let's face it - I'm a weak vessel, and the real country of  Andorra has a rich heritage, culture, and history that puts anything I might write to shame. Andorra Andorra has an oceanic climate, with warm days and cool nights in summer, and chilly to cold, snowy winters. Andorra is bordered to the north by the militant  Grand Empire, and to the south by the sophisticated and slightly decadent Emirate of Basra. The primary language is Catalan, although most of the inhabitants speak a smattering of Gallia (Descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, which the  Grand Empire replaced).  Andorra was founded as a province of the  Grand Empire, and ...