Ruler: Her Most Dreadful Presence, Myrhha the War Witch, Tyrant-Queen of Argonak (NE female half-red dragon, Sor 20)
Government:: Independent monarchy with meritocratic rulership; strongest or most charismatic of the various tribal chieftains is proclaimed king of the realm holding court in the capital city
Notable Figures: Jaarli, High Priest of Kharon (LE male human, Clr 14); Lord Drannog of Kazagoth (LE male hobgoblin, Ftr 10); Lord Shelgor the Butcher of Urdranak (LE male hobgoblin, Ftr 4/Clr 9 of Noghri)
Rule of Law: Lawful Evil. Society with limited freedoms, strict code of conduct with little mercy or compassion. Citizens generally use society and its laws to benefit themselves and obey law mainly out of fear of punishment which is generally quite severe. Generally equivalent to the evil police state.
Capital: Redgate (pop. 18,400)
Major Towns:Bloodpool (pop. 6,500), Kazagoth (pop. 14,100), Urdranak (pop. 4,900)
Population: 210,000- Human 45% (AF), hobgoblin 40%, orc 8%, goblin 4%, dwarf 2% (brown), other 1% (mainly ogres, trolls and some hills giants)
Major Religions: Kharon, Mordagh, Endorie, Jocasta, Shiran, Arcanus, Johvi, Sedna, Nazrine, Radha, Noghri, Orc pantheon, Grimilzad
Major Resources: Iron, silver, foodstuffs, gems, furs
Military: 15,000 (includes light and medium infantry, light cavalry with an augmentation of charmed slave-warriors)
Allies: Fenmarch, Golrune (sometimes)
Enemies: Rendore, Shield March, Norgale, Ravaged Nomads
Coinage: Platinum gauntlet, gold skull, silver serpent, copper common

What originally began as a plain of nomadic tribal lands that grew to a series of minor trading outposts has become a bloodstained kingdom tainted by the horrors of war. Argonak is a hostile realm that has long been dominated by evil humans and hobgoblins. Each of the various tribal communities strive to gain dominance in the land through strength of arms for in this land only the strong can hope to survive. The climate is known for its short, dry summers and its long, cold winters. The soil has a low fertility capable of sustaining only limited crops.

The current Tyrant-Queen only recently ascended to the Tainted Throne by staging a coup against her former ally the master of the Circle of the Despised Ones, a faction of religious zealots dedicated to the hobgoblin deity. The War Witch succeeded Zeraduk. Zeraduk succeeded in having the former king, Grilkor the Brutal, murdered by a hired assassin along with the king's brother in order to take the throne for himself. The ruler only holds her position as long as she can unite the tribes under her banner. Assassination among the ruling houses is certainly not uncommon. In fact, the country's history is stained in the blood of its people and the capital city of Redgate derives its name from the great massacre that occured at its very walls in the 5th century of the New Age.

The War Witch uses Redgate has her power base and uses a variety of agents to help secure her position. She is known to be attended at a number of human and half-dragon wizards and sorcerers, some of whom are quite powerful. She also maintains a force of secret police throughout the city to gather intelligence and to deal with any potential threats that may come up.

The military forces of Argonak are slightly larger than one normally found in a land of this size due to the use of charmed slave forces under the control of a band of evil spellcasters known as the Mindbenders. These terrible wizards and sorcerers specialize in mind control and enchantment magic and are top military strategists in their own right. They pledge allegiance to whomever sits on the Tainted Throne and command enslaved troops, many of whom are brainwashed from birth, to march for the cause of Argonak and the Tyrant-Queen. The Mindbenders are responsible for administrating a highly organized indoctrination program used to maintain an atmosphere of fear and obedience from the populace.

Rumors: The main indoctrination center of the Mindbenders is said to be located in the city of Bloodpool. They have been known to also bring back captured slaves from the lands of the Ravaged Nomads. If this center could be destroyed it would put a major crimp in the military might of the kingdom.