THE HERZOG OF AHLISSA: GUDRIC HONE

• Gudric is the great-great-grandson of the Herzog who attempted to seize the Iron League in the first years of the new age. He is tall, thin, very pale of skin with an unruly mane of black hair. He is dissolute, lazy and thin-skinned as well. Taken to bouts of binge-drinking and opium-smoking, he really cares about 2 things: his own pleasures and his perceived status in the ranks of the Great Kingdom nobility.

• For most of his 10 year reign, he has simply reaped the rewards of his hereditary fief. He travels around the province with a huge entourage of 2000 servants and soldiers in a fixed pattern of visits to provincial manors. Each manor must prepare food and shelter for the entourage as it arrives, and the local nobility must produce their tribute and attend his court.

• Over the last 3 years, however, his claim to be overlord of Idee, Sunndi and Onnwal has made him a laughing stock at the Overking's court and he has become enraged enough by this to even contemplate taking some action. He encourages raiders, bandits and mercenaries to make trouble for the Iron League, and revels in bloody tales of triumphs. While this is evil and wanton, it is so far no real danger to the League. The Herzog has no military talent, or even much interest, and fears a powerful general or army more than he hates the taunts and stings of court.

• In the last 6 months he has become dependent upon a new advisor. A frail, old, human wizard named Turino entered the court of the Herzog and immediately impressed him with his talent at conjuring and brewing pleasant potions. Turino is quiet and serene, but constantly whispers in the Herzog's ear. A band of ruthless Tiefling nobles of the province have begun to rise high in the Herzog's favor as well, and have been charged with raising a new “Army of Glorious Rebirth” in the province. Progress is slow but nevertheless frightening.