Fantastic Locations: The Kingdom of Duke Nightmare

Places: The Underground Forest, the Arena, the 9^th District

Portals: from the 9^th District to Sigil, the City of Doors

Description: The demi-god known as Duke Nightmare carved out a section of the Underground Forest early during his adventuring days and has turned it into a kingdom. Duke Nightmare’s reach extends across an area referred to as the Underground Forest: an expanse of several miles underground that has developed a unique subterranean jungle environment. Duke Nightmare led hundreds to their death conquering and thousands in the pillaging that ensued to gain control of the Underground Forest. From the ruins of others who attempted to explore the region, Duke Nightmare would build a war camp that eventually give rise to a castle (although to be fair dear readers, the castle was magical summoned). Duke Nightmare would expand his reach over the Underground Forest with his castle by creating a city around the castle; with the 9^th District being the only section open to visitors. Duke Nightmare would also connect the surface world to the Underground Forest with a grand arena in the province of Fairfield.

Ruler: The demi-god known as Duke Nightmare is a foul and dark creature, brooding in his castle; plotting dark deeds. Duke Nightmare likes to be referred to as Alexander Roesone, the name he once forsaken when leaving the surface world. Duke Nightmare makes jokes about becoming Emperor of Anuire and beheading all of his enemies. And Duke Nightmare does have some enemies to be sure: Caliedhe Dosiere the Imperial Chamberlain, the Second Sword Mage, and the Gorgon to name just a few. A majority of the time Duke Nightmare can be found either keeping court (25% of the time) and riding around the Underground Forest on his namesake nightmare mount (25% of the time). Duke Nightmare can also be found in the Alchemist Works (15% of the time), ordering or drilling his troops (15% of the time), and sometimes Duke Nightmare just can’t be found at all (20% of the time). Duke Nightmare seems to have the ability to keep a watchful eye out over his territory and will fight off invaders personally.

Features

The Arena: The Arena is a grand affair with seating for several hundred and standing room for thousands others. The Arena itself serves several purposes: to make money off of entertainment, to serve as a place to get rid of those unfaithful to Duke Nightmare, to test those faithful to Duke Nightmare, and most importantly the Arena serves as the intersection between the surface world and the Underground Forest.

The Arena draws many visitors, merchants, mercenaries, and those seeking fame in the Arena. Several highways have sprung up and connect the Arena to several close by towns and the city of Fairfield. A small open-air market outside of the Arena has an always changing stock of goods and services. The atmosphere around the Arena is one of mercantilism and enjoyment; very different than what lies beneath the surface and down below in the Underground Forest.

The Districts: From a small but well fortified war-camp Duke Nightmare built-up a city in the Underground Forest. The oldest part of town, and the district furthest way from the castle, the 9^th District is the busiest section of town. The 9^th District being the only part of town opens to outsiders and of course off limits to all but the most loyal of Duke Nightmare underlings.

The 9^th District is home to several spots of interest. The Gate to Sigil, the City of Doors is a how people come and go from the 9^th District. The only people allowed between the surface world and the Underground Forest are those loyal to Duke Nightmare. So that means all the visitors to the 9^th District come from other realms. One can see odd humans, drow, and mind flayers around the 9^th District. Duke Nightmare has created quite a market for food-stuffs, building materials, raw and refined metals, weapons, and slaves.

Also found in the 9^th District is a rather large temple belonging to the Church of All. Being that no other temple is allowed in the 9^th District, the Church of All has prospered in the absence of competition. While all faiths are welcome at the Church of All, this particular temple has three statues that dominate the worship area: of course one is of the New Dark God, another is of the demi-god known as Duke Nightmare, and the third bears no name platting but those who see it will recognize as the primordial sky god. Visitors from the far-flung realms who visit the 9^th District stop at the temple to pay respect to the various gods; so one can see quite a variety of people and worshippers stopping in on this temple.

The 8^th District is home to the Monsters Society: an elite squad that Duke Nightmare takes with information gathering, assassinations, enforcement, muscle, and whatever else a tyrant could need. The Monsters Society is allowed a lot of freedoms that others in Duke Nightmare’s regime do not get. The Monsters Society control a section of town near the 9^th District partly to keep an eye on the 9^th District but mainly to make sure those who do not belong do not cross either way. Those in the 9^th District need to stay their and those who do not belong in the 9^th need to stay away. The Monsters Society is the only group of soldiers in Duke Nightmare’s army allowed to come and go from the Underground Forest but only with permission of course.

The 7^th District is referred to as the Alchemists Works and is a fenced off area. The walls are their to keep people out as much as too keep the alchemists in. Duke Nightmare regularly keeps up on the nature of research of alchemy and is always seeking to expand. The Monster Society has been dispatched repeatedly to kidnap alchemists and novice wizards. Duke Nightmare takes those kidnapped and put them to work researching and conjuring alchemical solutions. Through tuff and grueling work, Duke Nightmare regularly produces healing potions and philosophers stones; seeking to gain even more power through science.

The 6^th District can be called the Slave Pits because that is what this shanty town is: a holding pen for slaves. Duke Nightmare loves collecting slaves for all the uses Duke Nightmare has found for them. From being simple labors and craftsmen, slaves also serve other vital roles in Duke Nightmare’s economy and army. A high quality slave can fetch a good price from the drow or mind flayers in the 9^th District. Female slaves can be used for a few of Duke Nightmare’s breeding programs. Willing human females can be mated with orcs or ogres to produce half-orcs or half-ogres. Unwilling human females can be tossed to the trolls who in time can change a human female into a hideous troll-bride.

The 5^th District is collectively referred to as the Troll Holes. Duke Nightmare’s first breeding program was a series of holes with male trolls in them. Duke Nightmare would then give each troll a human female and not do much but toss in meat once a week. In about a month’s time, the troll would turn the human female into a troll-bride. Now the pair of trolls could breed other trolls and the process would start over again. The area still serves this purpose; filling Duke Nightmare’s ranks with troll muscle.

The 4^th District is an area called the Ghoul Pit. Duke Nightmare has a small amount of influence over undead and created a pit of ghouls and ghasts. Whenever anybody acts out of line there are a few places you could end up first but you will eventually make it to the Ghoul Pit. Sure, Duke Nightmare might sentence one to death in the Arena or back-breaking labor in the mines but when one dies, and ones do die all the time under the reign of Duke Nightmare, their bodies end up in the Ghoul Pit. Duke Nightmare has been building up a small army of these undead creatures to one day unleash a wave of them upon the surface world.

The 3^rd District is a series of open meeting grounds. Duke Nightmare holds a variety of ceremonies, military drills, and displays of might and the 3^rd District is the home to these events. The creatures subjugated by Duke Nightmare seem to like the events; it breaks up the monotony of their otherwise rather droll existence.

The 2^nd District is the largest and is often referred to as the city of half-orcs. Duke Nightmare’s other breeding program consisted of breeding a stock of humanoids that would be utterly loyal to Duke Nightmare. Duke Nightmare would mix orcs, ogres, goblins, and humans to create a whole generation of half-orcs and half-ogres loyal to Duke Nightmare. Female goblins where paired with male orcs to produce half-orcs. Female orcs were mated with male ogres to produce ogrillions. Male orcs mated with female humans to produce half-orcs. And female ogres mated with human males to produce half-ogres. Of all the races Duke Nightmare used, the goblin was the least useful: only female goblins where of any value to Duke Nightmare. Male goblins would be given harsher jobs then most and used in the army in more reckless fashion. Of the society Duke Nightmare was breeding; male goblins where on the bottom of the ladder and more unique creations like half-giants and giant trolls were more coveted acquisitions.

The 1^st District is most commonly called just the Castle than anything else. Duke Nightmare had a large but not overly complicated castle magically summoned. The Castle is now Duke Nightmare’s primary residence and stronghold for his armies. A group known as the Knights of the Underground Forest maintains strong positions in Duke Nightmare’s army serving as generals and marshals in the field. Most of the Knights of the Underground Forest have a flying mount of some sort: whether it be a tamed wyvern or battle drake. Duke Nightmare runs his kingdom from his throne room but absolute power over the Underground Forest is secured from a tower where Duke Nightmare keeps two very powerful artifacts: The Orb of Fog and the Mother of Storms.