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Illustration by Richard Luschek, 2001.
The year is 2720 TR. Hârn is a multi-species country comprising three kingdoms: Hârn, Azadmere and Evael. Humans share the realm with the Khuzdul, the Gargun and - to a very small extent - the Sindarin. In the eyes of the law, Khuzdul and Sindarin are viewed in exactly the same way as humans, but the Gargun are discriminated against and awarded an inferior status. The Gargun have never been liked by the other sentient species, mainly because of their anti-social habit of raping, killing and eating humans, Khuzdul and Sindarin. Had the Khuzdul and the more militant humans had their way, a policy of genocide would have been firmly in place. However, due to a number of political and economic reasons, including pressure from other trading nations frowning on the notion of genocide, the Hârnic government’s stance was softened to the point that Gargu-Kyani – the least violent of the Gargun species – have been permitted to co-exist in human settlements and the other Gargun have been granted land in the northern Rayesha Mountains and the upper Equeth region. The Khuzdul mostly continue to live in the kingdom of Azadmere and the Sindarin – those few who have not already departed for the Blessed Realms – continue to live in the kingdom of Evael.
The kingdom of Hârn is ruled by a parliamentary monarchy. The Gargun-inhabited region of Northern Rayesha is not part of the kingdom of Hârn but is a direct dependency of the Hârnic crown and supposedly has internal self-governing powers. As long as the Gargun are not attempting to swarm across the Line of Control surrounding their land, the Hârnic government is content to let the Gargun govern themselves. Officially, Azadmere and Evael are separate nations, but because of their close and long-term trading relationship with Hârn, they are effectively direct dependencies of Hârn, enjoying Hârnic military protection as required. The capital of Hârn is Tashal and the largest population is in Cherafir.
Although the Gargu-Kyani are permitted to live in Hârn as citizens, over the centuries there have been a number of restrictions placed upon them appropriate to their inferior legal status. The most significant restriction is in their population control. The Hârnic government has long understood that one of the primary causes for Gargun violence is over-population. With this taken into consideration, the government passed a law that kept male and female Gargu-Kyani separate from each other and strictly controlled access for the purpose of breeding. Female Gargu-Kyani can either live within high-security breeding facilities or be de-sexed and live with male Gargu-Kyani as free citizens. Such restrictions are often seen as abhorrent and barbaric to other nations and humanitarian organisations, but are necessary measures to ensure the safety for all of Hârn’s citizens.
The fragile peace that currently exists is about to be shattered, however, as a Gargun uprising is being sparked, driven by the Gargun's lust for freedom from human oppression, and supported by Agrikan terrorists and the socialist Ivinian state that has been subversively working for decades to "reclaim" their rightful territory of Orbaal from Hârn...
