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The Kingdom of Eastgard
This Kingdom was founded shortly after the Cataclysm, when the barbaric Ostanders overthrew their Vilani masters and promptly adopted much of their culture and government. Eastgard is a truly stereotypical Medieval European state, with the standard titleage and feudal governing structure. Wooded and Mountainous in the north, the south is rich and fertile and frequently yields great harvests which bring much coin to the nobles of the fiefs. Which, as great nobles do when they are rich, they promptly spend it on baronial wars and feuds.
a. Government: Eastgard has a feudal nobility of Dukes, Counts, Barons, and Lords that all owe nominal loyalty to their King, Theodoric II. In truth, the King spends much of his time avoiding deposal (Ostander are not big on 'Divine Right') and keeping his truculent vassals in line. Eastgard is a 'triangle' divided into 3 sections, with a circle in the center of Royal Land. The Upper point is the Duchy of Borealis, which borders Tir Ardonae. The bottom left is the Duchy of Verdantia, which borders the Azure sea to the west and the Kingdom of Istandar to the south. The third Duchy is the Duchy of Iron mountain, which is flanked on both sides by the Iron Crag Mountains. These are each broken into around 3 Counties, with roughly 3 Baronies, etc.
b. Military: Each Duke has their own levies, which vary widely. Iron Mountain has the weakest, while Borealis has the strongest. The King has the Huskarls, an elite group of 400 knights sworn directly to the Royal service. While small, they make up for their lack of numbers by intense training and loyalty (around 2-3rd level each with 4-5th level officers). Some say their martial skills rival those of the Imperial Knightly Orders themselves. Eastgard has no real ports (Haven is nominally a free city) and thus has no navy to speak of.
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Duchy of Borealis
(Set like a diamond, with the upper point as 1 going clockwise. 'Diamond' is wider at west-east than north-south.)
1. March of Ardon Wood
Ruler: Marquis Esteban di Cabrini
Ruling Seat: Castle Ardon in the town of Ardonirain.
Notes: Cabrini family was granted the March during the Second Goblin War. Family HATES elves and half-elves and patrol the border rigorously.
2. Barony of Frisia
RULER: Baroness Coriandr von Frisia
RULING SEAT: Castle Repulse at town of Frisiaburg
***NOTES: The Baroness is a 9th level Cavalier who inherited the Barony from her father who died in a 'hunting accident'. Coriandr rules as Baroness but misses the Knight Errant lifestyle and holds frequent tournaments. her mother survives and is a Druid of 5th level but she is content to live as the Dowager Baroness.
3. Barony of Fediafensor.
RULER: Baroness Felicity du Wintermere
RULING SEAT: Castle Wintermere at Wintermere Village.
***NOTES: Felicity is the wife of Bjorn and this is also the location of the Ducal seat. Bjorn has spared no expense in making Wintermere the strongest Castle in the Northlands.
4. Barony of Drachenwald
RULER: Baron Morten von Drachenwald
RULING SEAT: Castle Drachen at Durrendallton.
See Y1 for details.
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The Duchy of Iron Mountain
Description:
The Duchy of Iron Mountain lies to the east of the Eastgard Royal Lands and borders the Iron Crag Mountains from whence the Duchy took its name. A vassal of the King of Eastgard, the Duke strives to defend his lands from the numerous humanoid tribes that infest the mountain ranges and the steppes beyond.
Geography:
The western part of the Duchy is flat grasslands that are fertile but dry in the summers. Most of the Ducal lands are taken up by the Iron Mountains which take the entire eastern range of the Duchy and form a 'fishhook' from north to south with the hook curving east and north opposite the lateral range.
This area is rich in mineral wealth, but averages only mediocre harvests. Thick woodland on the lateral range give good hunting and shepherding but little else.
Towns & Settlements:
The Ducal seat is Ausberg, a town of some 1-2, 000 inhabitants. Castle Nuren stands watch over the town, and a thick stone wall surrounds the town and even some small farm plots.
Granitewald is on the northeast (top) part of the lateral range and has about 400 inhabitants. A major mining town, it is protected by a keep but no wall.
Kraggard is on the central mountains of the lateral range and has a population of about 800. A small wall protects this city, and an imposing fortress, the Castle Skyspire, on a cliff that is reputedly unbesiegeable.
Ducal Allies:
There are three Dwarven Warrens that work closely with the Ducal forces for mutual self defense. Nominally vassals of the Duke, the Dwarven Jarls are actually independent and the Duke only refers to them as vassals to keep the Eastgard King content.
The Dwarves have three warrens, one of which has already been partially lost to goblins. A fourth, Aws Noir, was a truly massive Dwarven Warren of the first order and was located at the 'tip' of the hook of the Iron Mountains. Unfortunately, 500 years ago Aws Noir was overrun by Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Orcs and now is a ruined hall still occasionally occupied by these foul races.
The secure Warrens are Axe Head, which is on the other side of the mountains from Granitewald and is the stronger (in warriors) of the two remaining unmolested Dwarven steadings. The other Warren is Coir Magnus, which is south and opposite Kraggard and is surrounded by massive forests and sheer cliffs. Smaller in population to Axe Head, it nonetheless has an excellent defensive position.
The final warren is Woldham, which is at the 'curve' of the fish hook of the mountain range and interior. This warren is under strong attack from goblin & orcish forces and only 30% of the warren is still under Dwarfish control. The Duke has sent some forces to aid them but he has little to spare.
Relations:
The Duchy of Iron Mountain is in a precarious position. Because no organized state threatens it; unlike the Duchy of Borealis that faces the Elves of Tir Ardonae or the southern Verdantia that face Istandar; the King of Eastgard does not appropriate many forces or financial resources to the embattled Duke. While the Duchy is itself quite wealthy, the wealth is all too often drained for the royal coffers and the funds sent to hire troops and build Castles for the other two Duchies.
The Duke, Manfried Holtz, tries to negotiate defensive alliances with the Dwarven warrens in the region and fight desperately to hold the hordes of humanoid tribes at bay. While doing this, he sends vassal after vassal and plea after plea to the Crown Citadel of Sturmfestung to beg for more troops and more funds. So far, the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
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Duchy of Verdantia (coming soon!)
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