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the Vale, and crack infantry could make that far in eight days.
Drasnian infantry was particularly effective
against Nyissan soldiery, since Nyissans traditionally took to the
trees when assaulted, and the long Drasnian spears were able to
quite easily reach them in the lower branches where they normally
took refuge. Indeed, in certain areas of the jungles of eastern Nyissa
the trees are festooned with human skeletons to this very day.
For all their power and courage, the Drasnians were the first to
fall when the savage Angarak hordes of Kal-Torak spilled down out
of the mountains of Nadrak and onto the plains in the spring of
4865. Although they resisted valiantly, the Drasnians were largely
destroyed. Their cities were pulled down, and those who were not
killed were enslaved. Upon command of the King, a few crack units
of the southern Drasnian army escaped into northern Algaria and
evaded the southward march of the main body of the Angarak
hordes southwestward toward Arendia.
These infantry units accompanied the Algarian cavalry across the
southern tip of Ulgoland and fell upon the Angarak left flank with
particular savagery during the decisive Battle of Vo Mimbre.
The units effected the release of the surviving Drasnian captives
from the retreating Nadraks, and these sorry remnants formed the
basis for the rebirth of the Drasnian nation. Assisted by Chereks and
Algars, the new monarch at Boktor, Rhodar I (the general who had
commanded Drasnian forces during the war) rebuilt the city of
Boktor, cleared the rubble and sunken vessels from the harbor at
Kotu, and rebuilt the great causeway across the northeastern reaches
of Aldurfens.
For a century following the Angarak invasion, Drasnian border
guards systematically and routinely killed all travelers from the east
until continued remonstrances from Tolnedra persuaded them to
abandon the practice and to restore normal trade along the North
Caravan Route. In some measure the decline of Tolnedra can be
directly traced to this drying up of northern commerce.
The present King of Drasnia, Rhodar XVIH, is an immensely fat,
jolly man in his mid-sixties who appears to be somewhat simple but
is, in fact, a shrewd and clever man who is ever watchful. Drasnian
merchants are found throughout the known world, and through
fheir agency the Drasnian intelligence system is probably the finest
in the world.
It is said - probably with some measure of truth - that the
Tolnedran Emperor cannot change his tunic without word of it
being delivered to Boktor within the hour.
Drasnia
COINAGE
GOLD
1. A 2 oz. gold plaque (rectangular) called a 'Cold Bull' - equals
about $250.00
2. A 1 oz. gold coin (square) called a 'Gold Cow' - equals about
$125.00
3. A ''oz. gold coin (also square) called a 'Gold Calf' - equals about
$62.50
SILVER
1. A 2 oz. silver plaque shaped into an open rectangle called a 'silver
link' (can be hooked together into chains)