Narvaez (Baronía de)

Location: Northwest of Saragón, north of Gargoña, south of Torreón.
Area: 15,477 sq. mi.
Population: 16,000, including 12,300 in Puerto Morillos.
Languages: Slag Common (Espan Dialect).
Coinage: Oro (gp), dies (sp) and centa (cp).
Taxes: 35% income tax.
Government Type: Independent barony part of the Treaty of Tampico and Signatory Council.
Industries: Agriculture, mercenaries.
Important Figures: Barón Hugo "El Despiadado" de Narvaez y Montoya (baron, human, male, P(cr)15).
Flora and Fauna: Standard for its warm temperate climate, including kudzu, tomatoes, potatoes, maize, plains grasses, deer, armadillos, prairie dogs, turkeys, and eagles. Dangerous monsters include the vast number of goblinoids that raid from the Yazzak Steppes and from an unnamed swamp on the coast of the Gulf. Normal animals with Legacies can also be very dangerous.
Further Reading: The Savage Coast online document.

Description: by Hernando Cagliostro

Narvaez. El nombre [The name. Ed] of this baronia alone is enough to cause fear in most people, and with reason. Narvaezans have always be intent on conquest of all the Savage Baronías, and they intend for everyone to worship the flames of Ixion and his Inquisitor.

The Land

Narvaez is the largest baronia of the Gulf of Hule. It is mostly fertile farmland situated in the valley of el Río Guadiana. Forested hills marks the borders on either side of the valley. Many aldeas [villages. Ed.] can be found along el río, but most have been destroyed and are nothing more than ruins thanks to the holy war Narvaez embarked upon almost a decade ago. Only two main towns are still left in esta región: Paz del sol and Punto-Eseobar.

The southern parte de Narvaez turns eastward and goes all the way to the sea, where Puerto Morillos stands. This is el capital of la nación, where Barón Hugo rules with an iron fist and his Matones thugs enforce his laws. Life is Puerto Morillos is very subdued, as to try and be lively and entertaining marks one out for the dreaded inquisitors, who will most assuredly come and visit.

North of this stretch of land, and east of el Río Guadiana, lies las Colinas Grutescas and an unnamed swamp. Banditos and religious refugees have made many a hideout in this area, and it is rumoured to be filled with ruins and ancient treasures.

The People

Narvaezans are an oppressed people who have no freedom to do as they please. The dreaded inquisitors and their goddess, aptly named the Inquisitor, make sure that everyone is extremely devoted to Ixion. Those believed to have performed the slightest herejía [heresy. Ed.] are burned to the stake.

La población is heavily taxed so el Barón can afford to build his military forces. With these, he insures that there are no revolts in his nación and enforces the worship of Ixion. Many such mercenaries even serve abroad, although most other countries are afraid to hire them because of their religious conviciones [convictions. Ed.]. Those that do serve outside of Narvaez must still pay taxes to el Barón or they will be declared heretics.

El Barón even exports the food of the commoners to other nacionas for money, often leaving them starving in his own baronia. Then El Despiadado [The Despised. Ed.] wonders why he has so many revolts and has to pay for so many soldiers. Los famous Matones, the elite guards of Narvaez, are nothing more than thugs who take pleasure in bullying those weaker than they are. And any who complain to the officials are soon found burning at the stakes; the inquisitors find their devotion in Ixion to be lacking merely days afterwards.

Narvaezans view Afflicted as those punished by the Immortals, in particular by Ixion. Since cinnabryl is rare in Narvaez, only the clero of Ixion can keep the Red Curse at bay with their Maintain spells. Those who become Afflicted are therefore viewed as those who have not been faithful to the church and therefore suffer the punishment they deserve. What I believe is even worse is that the Afflicted themselves, so caught up in the religión of Ixion, believe that they are to blame for their curse. What kind of religión puts such false and destructive ideas into the heads of its own people?

These days, Afflicted are automatically viewed as heretics and are to be killed on sight. Also, druids and mages are equally viewed as heretics, since they obviously worship other sources of powers for their spells. It is because of my arcane studies that I was forced to flee my own homeland.

Recent History

Narvaez was the first baronia along the Savage Coast, created many years ago by Ispan [A group of Thyatians. Ed.] colonists at the turn of the last century. They claimed the entire coast of the Gulf of Hule where almost all the other baronies now lie.

Soon after it's creation, several towns declared their independence and formed their own baronias. Then, in AC 913, the first Barón died and la nación was divided in two by his two heirs. The northern baronia remained Narvaez while the southern baronia became la Baronia de Sotto. Over the next decades, Sotto fell apart to numerous civil wars and eventually became what are known as las baronias of Gargoña, Almarrón, and Cimmaron.

Meanwhile, Narvaez itself was facing many revolts and declaraciones of independence as well. Tired of these secessions, el Barón started building his forces and attacked the rebellious towns. By AC 937, Narvaez had reclaimed all its lands, not including those that were given to Sotto. El Barón continued to build his forces to prevent any other uprisings. Narvaez became known for its infantry and military throughout las baronias. They held their land and remained peaceful until the next century.

Then in AC 1005, Narvaez fell into civil war over their religion. El Barón managed to unite his people in AC 1006 by claiming that it was the other naciones which were heretics, uniting los factiones into a Holy War against the rest of las baronias. Torreón, Texeiras and Vilaverde joined Narvaez against the other baronias. This war ended when Hule invaded, forcing los Baróns to work together or lose all their lands.

Near the end of AC 1009, the Red Curse spread throughout the land and many Narvaezans became Afflicted. This has begun causing many troubles within la baronia, and many believe that another religious civil war is inevitable. Last year, Barón Hugo began stockpiling smokepowder, and many feared that la baronia would again start a spree of conquests and expansión. In consequence, they have created sanciones which thankfully forbid the export of smokepowder to Narvaez.

Don't Miss

Unless you are willing to become a near-slave to the whims of lost Matones and the inquisitors, I recommend avoiding Narvaez as much as possible. If you must go, stay in small villages where you will be harder to find.

The one thing I enjoy in Narvaez is to see the daring swashbucklers in Puerto Morillos. They wear masks and go about taunting the inquisitors, the priests of Ixion, los Matones, and even el Barón. Sadly, many of them have been killed and burned to the stake, but just as many always manage to escape and harass the fanatical Narvaezans even more.