Numidia

The Dark Continent

Continent-Building: General Assumptions

[These are the general assumptions I offered to the 7th Sea mailing list upon embarking on this adventure.]

1. There has been limited trade to these places, but the portolans, rutters, and charts are top-secret documents hidden by people like Vodacci Merchant Princes, Philip Gosse, etc.  The "Cabora effect" may also have prevented in-depth exploration, depending on whether the GMs are using this bit of timeline or not.   (I have no problem with the concept, just with the way it was implemented by AEG.)
    
2. These other continents will be as sketchy and simplified compared to our real-life counterparts as Theah is compared to Europe.   It's actually quite difficult for a stickler like myself, but otherwise the world would not hang well together at all.   Thus, many similar cultures will end up lumped together in a most inaccurate fashion for the sake of simplicity.
    
3. Each continent and culture will have its own magic and fighting styles, but bits already published may be adapted as needed.   There's a limit to what can be constructed given that the system offers no meta-magic or martial arts "plug-in" systems.

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Cultures of Numidia

• Only a few kingdoms would be readily identifiable to Théans.  Most of the differences and subtleties between ethnic group in Nyambe would be completely lost on Theans, as African subtleties were initially lost on Europeans.  Hence, I highlighted a few kingdoms to illustrate what Theans would perceive.


• I just had to add Prester John's Realm.  That's a natural, and would definitely have ties with Die Kreutzritter and/or the Knights of the Rose and Cross.


• Non-human races would have to be much, much rarer (by at least a factor of ten) or even inexistent.  Similarly, magical beasts and monsters might be reduced a bit., though they definitely add to the continent's aura of unknown and danger.


• Naturally, "Numidia" is the name Theans give the continent of Nyambe-tanda.  Its inhabitants would not recognize it.

Note: Edmund also became quite enthusiastic about an African setting once he was able to pry Nyambe from my hands.  Look for 7th Sea-Nyambe character creation rules soon, including for non-human races! 

Numidia is situated beyond the Island of Kanuba and to the southeast of it.   When the latter was discovered in 1665 by "Eisen and Avalon settlers," it is to Numidia they were going.  The existence of the continent has been known for a while in certain circles, particularly the Explorers' Society, although it remains a well-guarded secret.

What Nyambans call the Northern and Western Oceans roughly correspond to Théah's Forbidden Sea, while the Eastern Ocean connects to the Corridors of Flame.  Théans have landed in the north and northwest portions of the continent.  And they have not ventured very far inland, except for the few brave or obsessed souls looking for the Kingdom of Prester John.

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Boroko

Boroko is nominally a protectorate of the Crescent Empire (which Nyambans refer to as the "Near East"), yet ruled by its own sovereign, the Mansa.  It trades foodstuffs, especially vegetables, and other trade goods.  Crescent coins are not rare, having almost replaced the cowry shell standard in this part of Numidia.  Borokans either are followers of the Second Prophet or worship Ancestor Orisha or Celestial Orisha.

Although in recent history Boroko has had a tradition of weak puppet rulers under the thumb of the Crescents, the most recent one, Mansa Kwabena Nkansah, is a shrewd and forceful king.  

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Taumau-Boha

The realm of Taumau-Boha is possibly the oldest on Terra.  It was old and decrepit when Numa was taking its first baby steps, so old that it has been forgotten by most of Théah.  A powerful civilization known only as "the Water People" once ruled there thousands of years ago, then declined, leaving marvels of architecture behind.  The forces of Numa occupied the remnants of Taumau-Boha and were awed by the grandeur of the ruins left by the long-dead kings.  Numa in turn waxed and waned, and large parts of its former empire were brushed into oblivion during the Dark Ages of Théah.  Meanwhile, the Azzazza, heirs of Taumau-Boha, live on in the shadow of former greatness.  

Taumau-Boha is the most densely populated of the Numidian kingdoms.  The Crescent Empire is a tangible presence in Taumau-Boha, but does not rule.  Most Taumau-Bohans still follow the call of the Celestial Orisha, though a few are followers of the Second Prophet. 

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Prester John's Realm

The mysterious kingdom of Prester John sits with that of the Philosopher's Stone and of the Graal (before Queen Elaine brought the latter back, anyway) among Théan scholars: a tantalizing rumour, a myth, a promise of knowledge and riches.  It is reputed to be ruled by an undying priest-king as a bastion of Vaticine faith in the heart of darkest Numidia, filled with unimaginable riches.  Die Kreutzritter and the Knights of the Rose and Cross occasionally send knights in search of the fabled kingdom, for the legends say that Prester John was one of the original Poor Knights.  The kingdom hides somewhere in the deep of the bIda Rainforest, southeast of the great Kalimara River.

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Bashar'ka

The theocracy of Bashar'ka is ruled by fire-priests who would most likely be very interested by the very rare adepts of El Fuego Adentro.  The land is not good for agriculture, slowly melding into the D'okan Desert; Bashar'ka's wealth lies mainly in salt, oils and perfumes, and a substance called "alchemist's fire" which can burn even when spread on the water.  Bashar'kans worship Elemental and Ancestor Orisha.  The land is probably safe from Théan ambitions for a while yet because of the desertic conditions.  

The ruler of Bashar'ka is Queen Nyathera.  

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Nibomay

This is about as far as any Théan explorers have reached at this point.  The Kingdom of Nibomay and its elite Amazon warriors seem particularly strange to Théans, and no doubt the JamIkadi (queen) Kimah will be less than amused by the white male visitors when she meets them.

While Niboman males are treated with respect, in Nibomay it is women who hold political office, wage war, and run businesses.  They also nurse infants.  Men are farmers, herders, care for children, or become priests, artisans, or scholars.  Nibomay is rich in gemstones and minerals, inevitably marking it as a target for greed sooner or later.

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Isle of the Overpower and Kalayu Island

Two islands lie in the path of Théans headed for Numidia.  The Nyambans call them the Isle of the Overpower, and Kalayu.  Both are home to dangerous ruins, sites of power, and what Théans would term Syrneth artefacts (and what Nyambans think of as magical relics of the Overpower and the Orisha.)  While these islands no doubt fascinate the Explorers' Society, they are also extremely dangerous to explore.  The Isle of the Overpower contains many powerful relics the Nyambans attribute to the "Overpower", the supreme being.  Kalayu is the domain of the Fiendish Orisha and is the location of portals that are reputed to allow access to their realm.

The "Syrneth" who have left their mark on Numidia, and particularly on these two islands, belong to a race unknown in Theah.

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Great Mangrove Marsh

The Great Mangrove Marsh, situated to the northeast between Boroko and Taumau-Boha, is an unattractive place for Théans to land and is usually referred to as "the giant pestilential swamp" by explorers (Théans have not yet warmed to the benefits of wetlands).  In effect, it has so far discouraged exploration eastward, forming a buffer for Boroko and Kaya vua Samaki.  Many strange and dangerous creatures dwell in this area and add to the risks of exploration.

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Kaya vua Samaki

On the eastern coast of Numidia/Nyambe, seven merchant city-states have form a confederation, not unlike Vodacce in organization.  This confederation, Kaya vua Samaki, does quite a bit of trade with Cathay (known in Nyambe as the "Far East").  Théans will probably take a little while to get this far, but when they do the face of trade and exploration is likely to change quite a bit.

Kaya vua Samaki's cities are wealthy and supremely attractive for both merchants and conquerors.  Many cultures and religions from both Numidia and Cathay meld here into a distinct identity.

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Credits: Map of Nyambe copyright Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games, 2002.  From the book Nyambe: African Adventures by Chris Dolunt, and available for download from Atlas Games.  Buy the book, it's great.  Used without permission, no copyright challenge intended.  This site copyright Edmund Metheny and Sophie  Lagacé, 2001, 2002.