Warning! Violence and the Supernatural the Fantasy World of the Palladium Role-Playing Game® Is Violent, Deadly and Filled with Magic and Monsters

Warning! Violence and the Supernatural The fantasy world of The Palladium Role-Playing Game® is violent, deadly and filled with magic and monsters. Other-dimensional beings, demons, and sorcerers torment, stalk and enslave humans. Mon- sters, gods, magic, insanity, cannibalism, war and heroic adventure are all elements of this book. Some parents may find the violence and supernatural elements inappropriate for young readers/players. We suggest parental discretion. Please note that none of us at Palladium Books condone or encourage the occult, the practice of magic, the use of drugs, or violence.

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An epic sourcebook for the Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition.

1 Dedication To Kevin Siembieda and Erick Wujcik for making a wonderful fantasy setting that has allowed me to spend part of my life in a won- drous world whenever I need a little escapism.

To my best friend Miles who helped bring Bizantium to life with his diligence and mapmaking skills.

To my Fantasy Players, John, Paul, Richard, Andy, Brent and Okey, for all the good times sitting around the table even when we failed to get any adventuring done.

But above all to my buddy Herbert Nielsen, you were there for me during the lowest point in my life, I’ll never forget our “going to breakfast mornings,” they always cheered me up during the sad days. You forced me to become a better Game Master so in return I be- came a better story teller. Without you this book and everything I’ve accomplished with Palladium Books would not be possible. While Bizantium is not the proper setting for the Elf Paladin Garret Oakenshield, his adventures remain some of the happiest times in my life. It was destiny that you rolled those natural 20s to defeat the Orcish Warlord; roll another, and keep playing my friend.

– Glen A. Evans, 2015

To friends and fond memories . . . of happy times, grand adventures, the Detroit Gaming Center, The Defilers, Erick, Kay, Kevin Lowery, Kevin Long, Thom, Ken, Tony, Julius, Alex, Rusty, Ziggy, Kerry, Al, Dave, Mark, Bill, Robin, and all the rest. And to the many friends and memories that would follow and are yet to come. – Kevin Siembieda, 2015

PDF Edition – October 2018

All rights reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention, World Wide. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of characters or persons living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Rifts®, The Rifter®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, Megaverse®, Powers Unlim- ited®, Coalition Wars®, Wormwood®, and After the Bomb® are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. Adventures on the High Seas, Algor, Algorian Sea, Baalgor Wastelands, Bearmen, Beastla, Bizantium, Bizantian, Bizas, Island Kingdom of Bizantium, Brgg, Dragons & Gods, Age of a Thousand Magicks, Age of Purification, Corpse Jelly, Coyles, Deevil, De- filers, Diabolist, Dragondactyl, Dragonwright, Empire of Sin, Eandroth, Eastern Territory, Eoten, Epim, Floenery Islands, Great Ice Shelf, Great Northern Wilderness, Hoknar, Iceborn, Icy Ocean, Kankoran, Land of the Damned, Land of the South Winds, Library of Bletherad, Mind Mage, Od, Old Kingdom, Psi-Healer, Rurga, Monsters & Animals, Nimro, Northern Hinterlands, Palladium of De- sires, Wolfen, Emerin, Gigante, Old Ones, Rock Claw, Northern Hinterlands, Sea Ghoul, Sea of Despair, Sea Unicorn, Serpent Chaser, Shadow Coast, Shadow Coast Colonies, Skinbinder, Summoner, Timiro Kingdom, Tristine Chronicles, Waterchanter, Western Empire, Wolfen, Wolfen Empire, Wolvenar, Yin-Sloth Jungles, and other names, titles and likenesses of characters are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.

PalladiumSample Online: www.palladiumbooks.com file Also visit us at facebook.com/PalladiumBooks

Bizantium and the Northern Islands™ – A sourcebook for The Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition is published by Pal- ladium Books Inc., 39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185. Printed by McNaughton & Gunn in the USA.

2 Palladium Books® Presents: Bizantium and the Northern Islands™

Written by: Glen Evans

Additional Text and Ideas: Kevin Siembieda Matthew Clements

Editors: Matthew Clements Alex Marciniszyn Wayne Smith

Proofreader: Julius Rosenstein

Cover Painting: Charles Walton II Eduardo Dominguez S.

Interior Artists: Amy L. Ashbaugh Mark Dudley Tanya Ramsey Benjamin Rodriguez Kevin Siembieda Charles Walton

Map Artist, Back Cover: Tad Davis Map of Bizantium & Region: Will Erwin Other Maps: Kevin Siembieda

Art Direction & Layout: Kevin Siembieda Typography: Wayne Smith

Based on the RPG rules, text, characters, concepts and Megaverse® created by Kevin Siembieda.

Special Thanks to Glen Evans who has never given up on honing his craft and making his dreams come true; to MatthewSample Clements, writer and friend who is chasing dreams of his own; to Chuck, Amy,file Mark, Ben, Eduardo, Tad, Will and all the artists who visualize the stuff of dreams and bring them to life on paper; and to Palladium’s crew of hardworking adventurers – Alex, Wayne, Julius, Kathy, and Jeff – who have been helping me realize my dreams for decades. – Kevin Siembieda, 2015

3 Iron and Coal ...... 34 Contents Fishing and Hunting Sea Creatures ...... 35 Map of the Known World 7 Sea Serpents ...... 35 Bizantium 8 Sea Serpent Oil ...... 35 The Northern Kingdom of Man 8 Magic ...... 36 An Overview of the Island Kingdom ...... 9 Warlocks and Waterchanters ...... 36 Reputation ...... 10 Religion ...... 37 Safety in Isolation ...... 10 The Shipyards of Bizantium ...... 37 Serpents all around ...... 10 Bizantium’s Laws of Salvage 38 Global Influence 10 The Bai Regatta ...... 38 The Timiro Kingdom ...... 10 Bizantium Foreign Relations ...... 38 Attitudes Toward Outsiders 11 The Wolfen Empire ...... 39 Human Elitists 11 The Kiridin Barbarians ...... 40 Relations with the Wolfen 11 The Eastern Territory ...... 41 Political Unrest at Home ...... 11 The Western Empire ...... 41 The King Must Go ...... 12 The Timiro Kingdom ...... 42 Warlock Council 12 The Island of Bizantium 43 Bizantium’s Origins ...... 13 The City of Stonebrook ...... 44 Eoten Creation Myth ...... 13 Bizas Inlet and Inland Sea 45 The Eoten ...... 14 The City of Bizantium ...... 46 The Northern Mysteries 15 City Map 48 The Eoten in Recorded History ...... 15 The Market Star District ...... 49 One Possible Origin of the Eoten ...... 16 The City Dock District ...... 50 The Recorded History of Bizantium ...... 16 Temple of Light ...... 51 Origins of the Eoten: 10,000 Years Ago ...... 16 Notes about Inns in the City 52 The Time of Bizas: 2,325 Years Ago 18 Visitor bylaws of the city ...... 52 The Western Empire Invasion: 1,020 Years Ago 18 The Grinning Goblin ...... 53 The Great Chain ...... 18 The Stone Hearth Inn ...... 53 First Contact with Wolfen: 600 Years Ago 18 Elenor Rosario (Selkie) ...... 53 Battle of the Frozen Plain ...... 18 The Purple Rose 54 Modern Bizantium & Global Outreach: 409 Years Ago ...... 19 Celeste Loveless 54 Stonebrook 19 The Sailor’s Sackhouse ...... 54 Establishing the Shadow Coast Colonies 19 Kirsgen Yard 55 Shadow Coast Established: 104 Years Ago 19 Other Cities of Note on Bizantium ...... 56 Council of Elements 20 The City of Wujcik ...... 56 Bizantium Today 21 Wujick Catherdral & High Sister Latharsis ...... 57 King Raedaen IV ...... 21 The Thankful Trader 57 Iceborn 21 Tavern District (West Side) 58 The Kingdom of Bizantium ...... 22 The Kraken Inn & Tavern ...... 58 Seven Main Islands Population ...... 22 Bai 60 Social Classes ...... 22 Bean 60 Slavery 23 Gate Fort ...... 60 The Monarchy 23 Homesight 61 High Father of the Church of Algor 23 Kallico 61 King Raedaen IV ...... 23 Letia 61 Judicial Authority ...... 23 Northomber ...... 61 Silent Council ...... 23 Plu 62 Noble Houses 24 Southomber ...... 62 Some Noble Houses of Note ...... 24 Timsink ...... 62 House Bardomus 25 Stonebrook (Dwarven City) 62 House Vatatzes ...... 26 Tree of Life ...... 62 Freemen ...... 26 The Great Oak ...... 63 Laborers and Peasantry ...... 27 Geographic Overview ...... 64 Fiefholders/Farmers 27 Map of Bizantium and its Colonies 65 Women ...... 27 The Strait of Forlorn Hope ...... 66 Non-Humans ...... 28 Goblin Rock 66 Taxes and Obligations 28 Sea of Despair 66 The Great Requirement ...... 29 Icy Ocean ...... 67 Laws and Legal System 30 Island of Borich ...... 67 The CrownSample Commissions ...... 31 Cities on the Island of Borich file 68 The Warlock Council ...... 31 Cantock Island 70 The Bizantian Military ...... 32 The Island of Wyst 70 Royal Navy ...... 32 Worms of Taut ...... 70 Bizantium’s Economy 33 The Island of Yufel 71 Imports 34 The Isle of Acta 71

4 House Selernani ...... 71 Male Iceborn R.C.C...... 138 The Island of Sinza 71 Iceborn Raider O.C.C. 141 Ogres 72 Iceborn Captain O.C.C...... 142 Ancient Elven Monastery 72 The Tribe is All ...... 143 Artifacts and Tombs 72 Female Iceborn R.C.C...... 144 Sun-Sphere of Osiris 73 Skinbinder Female O.C.C. 145 Wolf-Son’s Sword 73 Iceborn Sea Witch O.C.C. 146 The Island of Torn 73 Iceborn Ships 148 Ghost City of Valsk ...... 74 Iceborn Necroilus ...... 148 Other Places of Note 75 Sinking a Necroilus near shore ...... 149 The Shadow Coast ...... 75 Necroilus Warship, the Iceborn’s Home ...... 149 The Council of Elements ...... 76 Necroilus not reliant on Sails or Oars ...... 150 The Hil-Santo Colony 77 Necroilus Warship Stats 150 The Me’zfii Onh Colony ...... 77 Bone Longboats 151 Lyrna Colony ...... 78 The Necromancer O.C.C...... 152 Noatun Colony ...... 78 Necromancer O.C.C. Abilities and Bonuses ...... 152 The Great Ice Shelf ...... 78 Necromancy Magic ...... 155 Map of the Known World ...... 78 Level One ...... 156 The Frozen Coast ...... 79 Level Four 159 The Land of the Iceborn 80 Level Eight ...... 162 The Heart of Evil (Ay-Ezan) ...... 80 Level Twelve ...... 166 The Edge of the World ...... 80 Wizard Spells Available to the Necromancer 169 Key Figures of the Kingdom of Bizantium 81 Weapons & Armor 170 King Raedaen IV ...... 81 Bizantian Harpoons ...... 170 Merchant-Prince Wilgan Vatatzes ...... 82 Iceborn Gnagawa ...... 170 Hanta Farrip, Chief of the Warlock Council ...... 83 Iceborn War Club ...... 170 Airen Roth, High Minister Northern Pantheon ...... 85 Bizantium Armor of Note ...... 171 Merchant-Prince Grayen Bardomus ...... 86 Navigational Equipment 171 High Sister Olevea Lathrsis 87 Bizantium Navy ...... 172 Powerful Individuals Looking to Subvert the King . . . . . 88 Ships of Bizantium ...... 172 The Council of Elements ...... 90 Biremes ...... 173 Bizantium O.C.C.s 91 Whaling Ship ...... 174 Fisherman O.C.C. 91 Icebreakers 176 Bizantium Marine O.C.C. 93 Battleships ...... 177 Bonuses to Specific Marine Groups 94 Stone Ships of Bizantium ...... 178 Serpent Chaser O.C.C...... 95 Foreign Ships ...... 180 Waterchanter O.C.C...... 98 Dangers from the Past 181 Bizantium Warlocks 100 Beastla, Queen of Sea Monsters ...... 181 Ocean Magic Descriptions 100 The Binding of Brrg 183 New Earth Warlock Spells ...... 104 Brgg the Destroyer ...... 184 New Fire Warlock Spells ...... 105 The Prison Chamber of Brgg ...... 185 New Skill Descriptions 106 Releasing Brgg 186 Experience Tables ...... 108 The Trove of Oddgeir ...... 186 Animals of the Northern Sea ...... 109 The Seven Treasures of the North ...... 186 Black Whale 109 Aragat, Sinker of Ships ...... 189 Corpse Jelly ...... 110 Avenues of Adventure ...... 190 Green Fin Shark 111 Close Encounter of the Iceborn Kind ...... 190 Harbor Seal ...... 112 Investigate Torn ...... 190 Wolf Seal ...... 113 Sailing with the Fourth Fleet ...... 191 Sea Unicorn ...... 114 Pirate Hunting ...... 191 Ice Bear ...... 115 The Enemy from the North ...... 191 Rock Claw 116 Iceborn attack Bizantium ...... 192 Walrus 118 Also for the Palladium Fantasy RPG® Series ...... 192 Sea Serpents & Monsters ...... 119 Color Map of the Known World ...... Back Cover Ice Bearman 120 Sea Ghoul ...... 123 Selkie ...... 124 Quick Find Index Sea Serpents 127 Acta, Isle of (Mermaids & Resorts) 71 Jormund Serpent 127 Adventure Ideas 190 NorthernSample Strangler 128 Age of a Thousand Magicks . . . file...... 15 Winterserpents 130 Animals of the Northern Sea ...... 109 Random Monster Generator ...... 132 Ay-Ezan, Iceborn City ...... 80 Strange Abilities Table ...... 135 Beastla, Queen of Sea Monsters ...... 181 Sea of Despair Animal Mutations 136 Bai Regatta ...... 20 & 38 The Iceborn 136 Bizantium: Armor of Note ...... 171

5 Bizantium: At a Crossroads 12 Iceborn, Failure at Conquest ...... 148 Bizantium: Battle of the Frozen Plain 18 Iceborn, Female R.C.C...... 144 Bizantium: Church of Algor ...... 37 Iceborn, Male R.C.C...... 138 Bizantium: City of 46 Iceborn, Necroilus 136 & 148 Bizantium: Cities of Note 56 Iceborn, Necroilus, sinking near shore ...... 149 Bizantium: Economy ...... 33 Iceborn, Technology ...... 138 Bizantium: Elven Monastery, Ruin & Treasure ...... 72 Iceborn, Weapons of Note ...... 170 Bizantium: Elves on the Islands 15 & 72 Icy Ocean ...... 67 & 79 Bizantium: Fleet (see Great Requirement) ...... 29 & 172 Ice Shelf, Great ...... 78 Bizantium: Foreign Relations 38 Island of Torn (prison of Brgg) ...... 73 Bizantium: Freemen 26 Island of Torn (Aragat, one of the 7 Treasures) 189 Bizantium: Human Elitists ...... 11 King Must Go 12 Bizantium: Hunting Sea Creatures ...... 35 King Raedaen IV ...... 11, 12, 23 & 81 Bizantium: Kingdom of 22 Kiridin Barbarians 40 Bizantium: Laws and Punishment ...... 30 Magic Items: Great Oak 63 Bizantium: Laws of Salvage ...... 38 Magic Items: Seven Treasures ...... 187 Bizantium: Map of ...... 65 Magic Spells: Earth Warlock ...... 104 Bizantium: Marines ...... 93 Magic Spells: Fire Warlock 105 Bizantium: Military ...... 32 Magic Spells: Necromancy ...... 156 Bizantium: Modern Bizantium Global Outreach ...... 19 Magic Spells: Ocean Magic 100 Bizantium: Monarchy 23 Make Sea Monsters (Random Tables) ...... 132 Bizantium: Navy ...... 32 & 172 Map of Bizantium and its Colonies 65 Bizantium: Noble Houses 24 Map of the Great Ice Shelf ...... 78 & 79 Bizantium: Non-Humans ...... 28 Map showing Ice Shelf and Edge of the World 78 Bizantium: Ogres (see the Island of Sinza) ...... 71 Navigational Equipment ...... 171 Bizantium: Overview and Other Islands ...... 64 Necromancer O.C.C...... 152 Bizantium: Plague (see Island of Yufel) ...... 71 Necromancy Components 169 Bizantium: Pirates (see House Malemore) ...... 25 Necromancy Magic Spells ...... 156 Bizantium: Political Unrest at Home ...... 11 Necroilus, Iceborn Dead Serpent Ships 148 Bizantium: Population Breakdown ...... 22 North Folk (see Eoten) ...... 14 Bizantium: Remote location ...... 9 & 10 O.C.C.s ...... 91 Bizantium: Reputation ...... 10 Sea Ghoul ...... 123 Bizantium: Shadow Coast 19 & 75 Sea of Despair 66 & 67 Bizantium: Social Classes 22 Sea of Despair Animal Mutations 136 Bizantium: Ships ...... 172 Sea Serpents 127 Bizantium: Shipyards ...... 37 Sea Serpent Attack (story) ...... 8 Bizantium: Stonebrook ...... 19 & 62 Sea Serpent Hunting ...... 35 Bizantium: Stone Ships ...... 20 & 178 Sea Serpent Hunter (see Serpent Chaser) 95 Bizantium: Weapons & Gear of Note 170 Sea Serpent Meat, Oil & Values ...... 35 Bizantium: Western Empire Invasion 18 Sea Serpent/Monster Generator 132 Bizantium: Wolfen ...... 9, 11 & 39 Selkie R.C.C...... 124 Bizantium: Worms of Taut (see Island of Wyst) ...... 70 Selkie NPC (see Elenor Rosario) ...... 53 Bizas 14 & 18 Seven Treasures of the North ...... 186 Brgg (Ancient God; Evil) ...... 184 Shadow Coast ...... 11, 19 & 75 Brgg: High Priestess Olevea Latharsis ...... 87 Shadow Coast: Council of Elements ...... 76 Brgg: Binding of ...... 183 Shadow Coast: Time Line 19 Brgg: Island of Torn (prison) ...... 73 Skill Descriptions ...... 106 Brgg: The Seven Treasures of the North ...... 186 Slayer of Mountains 16 Council of Elements 21 & 90 Stonebrook ...... 19 & 62 Demon Black Ships ...... 10, 19 & 20 Timiro 17 Dwarven City (see Stonebrook) 19 & 62 Tree of Life (see Great Oak) ...... 62 Elf-Dwarf War ...... 15 Tristine Chronicles ...... 15, 16 & 80 Experience Tables 108 Trove of Oddgeir ...... 186 Eoten: Founding Leader (see Bizas) ...... 14 & 18 Warlocks ...... 36 & 100 Eoten: Creation Myth ...... 13 Warlock Council ...... 12 & 31 Eoten: Origins 16 Warlock Hanta Farrip 12 & 83 Eoten: Ruins of City (see Valsk) ...... 74 Waterchanter ...... 36 & 98 Great Oak, The ...... 62 Western Empire 17 & 41 Great Ice Shelf ...... 78 Wolfen: Relations with Bizantium ...... 39 Ice BearmanSample 120 Wolfen: Shadow Coast Colonies . file...... 11 Iceborn, The 136 Wolfen: Trade Partner Me’zfii Onh Colony ...... 77 Iceborn, Attacks (adventure hooks) 191 Wolfen: Trade Partner House Lamrith ...... 25 Iceborn, Bone Longboats ...... 151 Wolfen: Trade Partner House Yinxner ...... 26 Iceborn, City of Ay-Ezan ...... 80 Wolfen: The Battle of the Frozen Plain 18 Iceborn, Land of (see Great Ice Shelf) ...... 78 Wolfen: Twelve Tribes Unite 20