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- For other uses of The Vermin Pit, see The Vermin Pit
Kakhabad is a land of the north-eastern Old World riven by a history of violence and chaos whose northern reaches are all but a mystery. Kakhabad is a land filled with criminals, monsters and "many outcasts from the rest of the world". Kakhabad is almost cut off from the rest of the Old World by the Cloudcap Mountains on its western border and the Zanzunu Peaks on its northern border. Its purported capital is Kharé. [1][2]
Introduction[]
Interestingly, both Sword of the Samurai and the guide book Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World, refer to the Old World by the name "Kakhabad" (although in the case of Titan this is on the back cover only).
The "Vermin Pit at Earth End" is another name for Kakhabad in the Old World, referring to its geographical location, next to the Earth End Coastline, and the lawless nature of that land.[3]
Kakhbad is "tainted by the touch of Chaos," and is the home of strange monsters and unusual natural phenomena.[1][4]
Days and nights is Kakhabad's Baklands plain are unusual, as the appearance and disappearance of daylight in this region are controlled by supernatural forces rather than the sun and moon. [5] Sometimes, an optical illusion occurs in the Baklands where the sun seems to not set at nightfall; rather, the sun hangs in the sky for weeks on end (although elsewhere on Titan, the sun sets and rises as usual). [6]
History[]
Little is known of Kakhabad's history. However, Kakhabad has never been brought under a single rule, "although several warlords had tried".[7]
According to one source, in the past there was a Black Elf princedom of Nagomanti, on the Nagomanti River. The source also states that this Nagomanti princedom was one of six countries that made up a ruling alliance of the region of Kakhabad, called "The Confederacy".[8]
The Blessed Crusade[]
The Blessed Crusade in 1688 OT left Arkleton in Analand on Earthday 16th Locking.[9] The Blessed Crusade was a military expedition against Kakhabad consisting of Analander and Ruddlestonian knights. During the Crusade the city of Kharé was besieged.[10] Thell-Qinla, the High Priestess of Tanit, was killed while trying to magically lock Kharé's North Gate from a group of Templar Knights from Ruddlestone.[10]
The Great Wall of Analand and After[]
1845 OT - Construction of the Great Wall of Analand, designed to protect Analand from Kakhabadian attacks, was begun on Fireday 15th of Reaping.[11] But in 1970 OT, work on the Great Wall of Analand was stopped for good in this year, even though it was incomplete in three places.[12]
On Seaday 7th of Watching, 1889 OT, there was a Slave rebellion in Kakhabad.[13]
The Rise of Kakhabad[]
In 1998 OT, the War of the Wizards broke out in Allansia and Khul. Many inhabitants of the Old World feared their continent would be next. The Forces of Chaos began to assemble in Kakhabad, an event later historians of Titan termed "The Rise of Kakhabad".[14] [15] Alarmed at this event, the Lawful race of Minimites tried to find a way to stop the advance of Chaos. After five months they failed to find a solution, and the Kakhabadian armies were now attacking the borders of Analand and Ruddlestone; the armies had also penetrated deep into Mauristatia.[15][16] The ancestors of the Hero of Night of the Necromancer slew several Kakhabadian Dragons and Wyverns invading Ruddlestone during this time. [17] Frantically searching, the Minimites located the treatise of an insane mystic, Aughm Lightchaser. Lightchaser claimed to have found a magical technique that would focus the very energy of Goodness itself in one devastating, split-second burst of power. [15] Gathering themselves on a mountaintop in Mauristatia, with the aid of the greatest human spellcasters, they began work on the ritual, with the armies of Chaos milling below them. The Minimites cast the spell, and bolts of golden light shot from the sky and destroyed most of the Forces of Chaos. The terrified survivors retreated and hid. The Old World had been saved.[15] However, the Minimites became tempted by the lure of ultimate worldly power after casting the spell. Fearful of being corrupted, the Minimites scattered and became a solitary nomadic race. The Minimites deliberately avoiding forming groups of their people, and are "prevented by intricate spells woven into the very fabric of their being" from ever combining forces with others of their kind.[15]
Recent History[]
Around 272 AC, the infamous Archmage of Mampang first came to public notice. His servants were known to be raiding settlements in the Baddu-Bak Plains and also near Lake Ilklala at this time.[18] The Archmage then fought and killed a powerful Hydra in the caves of High Xamen. The Archmage then resurrected each of the Hydra's severed heads as the Seven Serpents, his magical servants.[19]
In 277 AC the Book of Tortures, by the Ogre Naggamanteh, was published in Kakhabad on Seaday 23rd of Hiding.[20]
In 283 AC,on Stormsday 16th of Watching, one of the most infamous events in Kakhabad's history took place. This was when the fabled The Crown of Kings was stolen from Analand by Birdmen from Mampang, on the orders of the Archmage.[21]
Geography[]
The Land of Kakhabad stretches out in a north-easterly direction. The Shamutanti Hills run across the country's southern edge, and form a natural border between Analand and Kakhabad.[22][23] The Jabaji River cuts across the edge of the Hills.[24] On the river's only ford is sited the infamous Kharé - Cityport of Traps.[1] Beyond Kharé is Lake Lumlé, an enormous body of water that sprawls across the border between Kakhabad and Mauristatia.[25] Northwards lie the Baklands, and the Vanti-Bak Wastes, the former being an area of arid, desolate plains.[26] At the seashore sits the Earth End Coastline, a group of cliffs filled with caves. Another river, the Kharabak River, marks the end of the Baklands. The enormous Forest of the Snatta surrounds another body of water, Lake Ilklala.[1] This lake borders the dismal Vischlami Swamp; the Kharabak River flows out of the Lake. Further north lie the imposing Zanzunu Peaks.The Xamen foothills mark the Zanzunu mountains' edge. The imposing citadel of the Mampang Fortress towers over this region.[1] Little is known about the highlands beyond the Zanzunus, except that "the hidden city" of Throben is located somewhere in this region.[27] The Avanti Wood and Nagomanti River lie in the region's far northeast. In the east of Kakhabad lies the Orcish town of Zuzbeck. [28] Kakhabad's east coast borders the Kakhabad Sea.[29]
Demographics[]
Human:
- Beastmen
- Hill Dwellers
- Klattamen
- Others
Non-Human:
Notable Residents[]
Politics[]
"The Legend of the Crown of Kings" states that Kakhabad lacks a central government, has no army, and that its inhabitants are perpetually fighting among themselves.[30] Although Kharé is the capital of Kakhabad, it is not defined how much power the city actually has over the region. [1] The country lacks centralised authority such as the ones in Analand or Gallantaria. The First Noble of Kharé is described as the most powerful individual in the city, but the full extent of his political power is unknown. [1] The inhabitants of the village of Birritanti (such as Glandragor) are in contact with those of Kharé, but it is unclear whether Birritanti or the other Shamutanti villages are under the sovereignty of the city. [31] The North Gate of Kharé is specifically locked to protect its inhabitants from Bakland raiders, meaning the city has no power over The Baklands region. [32] The Baddu-Bak plains are inhabited by nomadic Klattaman and Black Elf tribes, suggesting each tribe is ruled by an individual chief. [33] In the Zanzunu Peaks, power is held by tribes of Bird-Men. [34] However, the Archmage of Mampang has become the dominant power in this part of Kakhabad following his theft of the The Crown of Kings.[30]
Economy[]
Fishing on Lake Lumlé forms an important part of the Kakhabian economy.
Religion[]
The inhabitants of Kristatanti venerate Sindla (also called Cheela in Kakhabad).[35] There is a large temple to Libra in Birritanti, administered by Priestress Lorana. [36] There is a temple to Courga in Kharé. [37] Slangg and Tanit both have temples with substantial congregations in Kharé.[38] There is a priesthood in Daddu-Yadu that worships the goddess Throff.[39] This priesthood sent an mission to rebuild the ruined temple of Throff in the Klatta-Bak Steppes. [40]
Culture[]
- Festival of the Children
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Gamebooks
- The Shamutanti Hills (book)
- Kharé - Cityport of Traps (book)
- The Seven Serpents (book)
- The Crown of Kings (book)
- Revenge of the Vampire (book)
- Bloodbones (mentioned)
Rulebooks
- Advanced Fighting Fantasy – The Roleplaying Game (mentioned)
Adventures
- The Shamutanti Hills (d20)
- Kharé - Cityport of Traps (d20)
- The Seven Serpents (d20)
- The Crown of Kings Campaign (AFF)
Sourcebooks
- Beyond the Pit (mentioned)
- Blacksand (AFF) (mentioned)
- Encyclopedia Arcana Vol I - Treasures (mentioned)
- Heroes Companion (mentioned)
- Heroes of Titan (mentioned)
- Out of the Pit (mentioned)
- Return to the Pit (mentioned)
- The Titan Herbal (mentioned)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - pp. 20-21.
- ↑ Kharé - Cityport of Traps - para. 1
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - p.??
- ↑ The Seven Serpents - para 1.
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - p 1.
- ↑ Titan - p. 26.
- ↑ The Crown of Kings
- ↑ "Nagomanti" ,at Advancedfightingfantasy.com, 10 February, 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2019. Non-Canon.
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.218
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Encyclopedia Arcana Vol I - Treasures - pg. 150
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.168
- ↑ Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - p.37/71
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.149
- ↑ Titan - p. 26.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Titan - p. 59.
- ↑ "A History of Mauristatia" by Otto Öviszódi in The Warlock Returns Issue 3, (pg. 22-27).
- ↑ Night of the Necromancer para 153.
- ↑ Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - pg. 105
- ↑ The Seven Serpents - para. 150
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.187
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.152
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - para 183.
- ↑ Revenge of the Vampire - para 357
- ↑ Kharé - Cityport of Traps - para. 110, 165
- ↑ Warlock Issue 5 , The Apes of Mauristatia.
- ↑ Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - p. 26.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Arcana Vol I - Treasures - (p. 143).
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook , pgs. 127-128
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - Map; Kharé - Cityport of Traps - Map; The Seven Serpents - Map; The Crown of Kings - Map; Out of the Pit - Kakhabad Map; Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - 18/??; Warlock Issue 5 - Rear Cover; Revenge of the Vampire - Map
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 The Shamutanti Hills - "The Legend of the Crown of Kings".
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - para 434
- ↑ Kharé - Cityport of Traps - para 256
- ↑ The Seven Serpents - para 204
- ↑ Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - p. 21
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - para 192.
- ↑ The Shamutanti Hills - para 34.
- ↑ Kharé - Cityport of Traps - para 148
- ↑ Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World - pgs. 70-71
- ↑ The Seven Serpents - para 189
- ↑ The Seven Serpents - paras 40, 145