5101-Ivinia Region
 Cover of the 2nd edition | |
| Alternate title | Ivinia: The Viking Lands |
|---|---|
| Writers | N. Robin Crossby, Tom Dalgliesh, Edwin King |
| Contributors | Joe Adams, Jonathan Davidson |
| Artists | Richard Luschek, Eric Hotz |
| Cover artist | Richard Luschek |
| Heraldry | C.I. Roegner, Matt Roegner |
| Maps | N. Robin Crossby, Oddgeir Drevdal |
| Editors | Brent Bailey, Tom Dalgliesh |
| Layout | Brent Bailey |
| Language | English |
| Series | HârnWorld |
| Genre | Fantasy RPG |
| Publisher | Columbia Games Inc. |
Publication date | 1985 (1st edition) 2017 (2nd edition) |
| Pages | 48 index, 32 overview (1st edition) 38 index, 44 overview (2nd edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0920711019 |
The Ivinia Region Module is a HârnWorld supplement that provides a detailed, realistic, flexible, and system-neutral setting for fantasy role-playing games with a Norse or Viking flavor.
Ivinia is a group of islands off the northwest coast of the Lythian continent, roughly 200 leagues northeast of Hârn. It is a land brimming with warring kingdoms, icy fjords, and bold mariners. The Ivinians‘ tough, seaworthy ships enable them to range further than any other people and they have planted colonies throughout western Lythia. They are canny traders but are best known for the terror of their raids on the Lythian coast. The Ivinian homeland is divided into several mutually hostile kingdoms.
The Ivinia module has these components:
- Ivinia Overview: These 44 pages provide a general overview of Ivinian culture, governments, economics, history, and more. It also includes campaign aids for generating character backgrounds and weather conditions.
- Ivinia Index: This 38-page index is an alphabetical general reference of the geographical, political, cultural, economic, and religious entities in Ivinia.
- Ivinia Region Map: The 22 x 34 inch, full-color map of Ivinia provides a vast amount of information with a unique cartographic system developed specifically for fantasy gaming. The map shows vegetation, terrain, settlements, and trails.
1st Edition[edit | edit source]
Coming out in in early 1985, it was released as a boxed set containing two books, the “Ivinia Overview” and “Ivinia Index” and a map of the Ivinia region on the same scale as the original map of Hârn.
The “Overview” is a 32-page book that is divided into two sections; the first coveres the history, culture, economics and religion of Ivinia. The second section of the book contains both advice for GMs wishing to use Ivinia and the necessary tables to do so.
The “Index” is a 64 page alphabetical listing of the locations, organizations and creatures that exist in the Ivinia setting.
The islands themselves are divided into a number of states, the most important of which are:
Ibanvaal: This expansionist state is the product of the ambition of the Dagen clan; it is Ivinia's most centralized state with many settlements controlled by members of the ruling clan. Fear of Ibanvaal caused both the formation of the Kingdom of Govyna and the creation of the Pendragondom of Seldenbaal. When Seldenbaal formed an alliance with Jarenmark, Ibanvaal's southern expansion was checked. Seeking to outflank the southern alliance, King Osidar of Ibanvaal invaded Menglana, an act that could plunge Ivinia into all out war.
Govyna: Govyna is not so much a kingdom as a loose tributary alliance formed to check the ambitions of Ibanvaal in the east. Successful in this, the kingdom prefers to remain outside the mainstream of Ivinian politics.
Jarenmark: Jarenmark spent most of its energies expanding onto the Lythian mainland and into Hurisea. Fear of Ibanvaal forced the kingdom into an alliance with Seldenbaal. Together Seldenbaal and Jarenmark have stopped Ibanvaal in the south, soon Jarenmarks warriors may travel to Menglana to do the same in the west, with or without the support of Seldenbaal.
Menglana: Like Ibanvaal, Menglana is the product of one clan's ambition, the Stahlers. Unlike the Dagens of Ibanvaal, the Stahlers failed to consolidate their success and until the invasion from Ibanvaal faced an incipient revolt from another clan, the Storzars. Now, King Hlanakar III plays a dangerous game and waits, hoping that the Storzars and the Ibanvaaler invaders will cripple each other and allow him to defeat them both.
Rogna: Rogna is a pirate kingdom, which used to be part of Menglana until it successfully revolted. The kingdom once controlled territories on the Ivinian mainland until they rebelled and joined Seldenbaal. Ibanvaals invasion of Menglana has given the King of Rogna a chance to gain new territory at the expense of Menglanas beleaguered King.
Seldenbaal: Fearing the rise of Ibanvaal four kingdoms (Gilbenmark, Balisheim, Lokemheim & Seldenbaal) joined to form the Pendragondom (High Kingdom) of Seldenbaal. In combination with Jarenmark the new state was strong enough to halt the Ibanvaals expansion south. Later part of the Kingdom of Rogna broke away under the name of Gelemaar and joined Seldenbaal, making the Pendragondom the richest state in Ivinia. Its wealth is tempered by the fact that each new Pendragon (High King) must invariably put down a revolt amongst his subjects upon succession.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Capsule Review by Graham Donald, May 19, 2003