Post by sleepingdragon on Mar 30, 2013 19:21:45 GMT
The Ealdorman will explain that, in general, the region of Palania that is safest and most securely behind the Council is in the southwest, especially the area that roughly forms a triangle between Middlemere, Bluebrycg, and Tarnemuthe. The Ealdormen of these three towns are the most powerful lords of the Council and are the driving force behind the resettlement of Phalen. This cooperation is relatively recent and not entirely secure. About thirty years ago the Ealdormen of Bluebrycg and Middlemere had a great rivalry, which came to a boil when they fell in love with the same woman and ended up fighting a war for her hand. As a young man Balnoth himself fought in this war on Middlemere’s side, though he is extremely reluctant to speak of it, apart from to say it was complete madness and a terrible mistake.
Generally, the further north you go in Palania, the more dangerous things are and the more monsters you are likely to encounter. In the days of the High Kings the Palanians had fortresses in the foothills of the Old Mountains, and even had mining communities within the mountains themselves, but these were completely destroyed by Caragaur’s hordes and every attempt to settle anywhere near the mountains since has failed utterly. Balnoth himself has only been north of Bluebrycg once, and advises you to arm yourselves well and travel in a large party if you want to do the same.
The Ealdorman says that perhaps five thousand Gastonlanders (a term he uses to distinguish yourselves from the native Gastons of Palania) have settled in Palania since the League was formed. For the most part, the Council has chosen to settle the Gastonlanders either on the east bank of the Saltanow, where they have formed two large villages called Prestenbroc and Gastonford, or in borderlands like the Forlorn Coast or Peadaland. A few free Gastonlander craftsmen and missionaries have based themselves in Phalen and live amongst the Palanians, but most are gathered in fully Virian communities.
The Ealdorman will explain that Palania is divided into many different regions, some of which are more or less entirely independent and contemptuous of the Council. Within these regions the lands are divided down further into areas that are known either as Weapontakes (e.g. the Weapontake of Stowecott, of which he is lord), or, in the eastern land, as Rapes (e.g. the Rape of Estenworthy.) These are mostly based on old clan boundaries, most of which have long ceased to have much relevance.
The Ealdorman will tell you that the regions in Palania are:
The Forlorn Coast
The Ealdorman’s own region has been largely depopulated by raids from the pirates in Kalmar Keep. Its principal castles, Cenhyrst and Tocburh, have both been destroyed, by orcs and by pirates, respectively. Stowecott and Garstoc are the main villages remaining, and the whole region has a population of only four or five thousand. The coastal region is rife with smugglers, thieves, and bandits.
Cuto’s Well
The most fertile farmland in Palania is around the lake called Cuto’s Well, and this region has been very successful in fending off monsters. Middlemere, the capital, is a town of seven or eight thousand, one of the largest in Palania. Those that don’t farm on the land will instead fish on the lake. Bandits are known to lurk in the Darkholt, the forest to the northwest, and these sometimes launch boats on the lake to raid farms. In recent years, the Camber Hills to the north have been crawling with dragonspawn and cyclopes, and only the boldest travellers dare to pass here.
Norsalt
The North Riverland is centred on the town of Bluebrycg, which is home to twelve thousand people and is the second largest settlement in Palania behind Phalen. There are fewer fords across the Saltanow here, so the North Riverland is safer than the south, though settlements are still overwhelmingly on the western bank and monsters raids are not unknown. The Ealdorman tells you Norsalters are an extremely treacherous and greedy people and that Bluebrycg is a den of thieves and bandits. The Ealdormen of Bluebrycg have built a castle, Saltanstede, at the uppermost ford across the Saltanow, for the ostensible purpose of preventing raids, however it is widely known the true reason for this is to force traders to pass through Bluebrycg and pay the tolls there. The roads from Bluebrycg are the main lifelines to eastern Palania, but are also exceptionally hazardous.
Suthesalt
The South Riverland, like the North Riverland and Cuto’s Well, is an extremely fertile region, home to large numbers of people. Historically, the town of Tarnemuthe was equal in size to Bluebrycg, however the Suthesalters led the assault that reclaimed Phalen a decade ago, and their losses were heavy. The Suthesalters patrol the road that runs from Tarnemuthe to Phalen via the castle of Ceorlburh, however the river is narrower in the south and it is extremely difficult to stop monsters, especially goblins, from swimming the river and attacking travellers and traders.
Peadaland
The region between the Great Forest in the north and the Swithen river in the south. It is named for the first High King of the Gastons in Palania, Peada, who led the rebellion against the Alanian Empire. Peada’s capital, Peadingas, was razed by pirates and his folk have had to retreat south, where they have been joined by Fryderi settlers and now Gastonlanders.
Upriver
This region, also called the Forks, is located in the forested hills of the Great Forest, where three tributary rivers join as one to form the mighty Saltanow. The large logging towns of Durleaht and Norbrycg are havens of civilisation in the wilds. Forklanders are noted as hunters and trackers, and must contend with elves and their bound demons. There are also many mines in these wooded hills.
Gundergrad Hills
An ancient region which was, during the Alanian days, the most populous area of Palania. The dragonspawn who served Caragaur and sacked Phalen were eventually driven here by the riverland orcs, and remain here still. Seventy-five years ago the region was completely abandoned, however sailors were able to establish a strong position at the mouth of the Dunbach, Chepworth, and they have been resettling the region since. Balnoth travelled here as a youth, and says the shepherds of Gundergrad are the best archers in the world.
The Long Shore
The region on the east coast of Palania. Balnoth's travels ended here, at Huncestre, an ancient fortress that has withstood repeated sieges since the days of the Alanians, and, as far as he knows, has never fallen. The Shoremen were long cut off from the rest of Palania, and during this time they turned heavily to piracy, though in peace they are fishermen and sailors.
Coelney
Those too cowardly or weak to fight Caragaur fled to these remote eastern islands, however when the east fell they ran out of food and many perished of disease and famine, or else turned to cannibalism. Coelneymen are still considered contemptible and weak by the overwhelming majority of Palanians.
Lands of the Lost
While Coelneymen are weak, the folk of this land, the Ealdormen says, should not even be considered Gastons at all. Located near to the Old Mountains, the Lostfolk are generally believed to have only survived at all by worshipping the dragonspawn. Though they deny it hotly, the Lostfolk are said to give up one of every three or four children, and anyone who survives to the age of fifty, over to the dragonspawn to become their undead servants. They are also renowned for capturing outsiders and handing them over for the same treatment, so very few people actually travel here.
Tohringland
The resettlement of the eastern lands began here, when the great adventurer Tohrthelm of Norbrycg drove out the orc warbands and began to clear the forest. The Ealdorman judges that the Tohringlanders support the Council most strongly of all the outland peoples, though due to their remote location they have little influence on politics. The Ealdorman has also heard that Tohringlanders have taken to the Virian Way more than any other Palanians, though he has no notion why.
Ethelhelm's Gap
The rough plains between the Great Forest and the Camber Hills. Far from any major sources of water, these lands are very poor and the people tend to survive by pastoral farming. The castle of Wihthrcyg is the main centre here, built to protect the land from the dragonspawn.
Mollenmere
A marshy land deep within the Great Forest. Gastons who were pushed out of the coastal regions by the first Fryderi settlers fled here, and have remained. The people of Mollenmere are extremely distrustful of outsiders, particularly the Fryderi, and are renowned for practising incest. Since there is very little in Mollenmere apart from flies and disease, the Ealdorman has never had reason to go here or have much to do with its people.
Krygarland
The land on the river Krygar has gradually become dominated by the Fryderi, though a slim majority of its population remains Gaston. Since the Krygarlanders lost control of the Bay of Brego and the ancient city of Haltengar, they have been completely isolated, and its people are notorious for becoming bandits and wandering the Great Forest.
Suthfryd
The northwesternmost part of Palania, the Ealdorman believes this land is more or less an annexe of Frydenland. It is the only part of Palania where the Fryderi are the majority of the population. As such, they are completely uninterested in the Council, and the lord of the Suthfryderi openly names himself the King of Krogsager. There is a notable Gaston settlement, Wuffingas, however this has been burned down several times and had to be resettled.
Generally, the further north you go in Palania, the more dangerous things are and the more monsters you are likely to encounter. In the days of the High Kings the Palanians had fortresses in the foothills of the Old Mountains, and even had mining communities within the mountains themselves, but these were completely destroyed by Caragaur’s hordes and every attempt to settle anywhere near the mountains since has failed utterly. Balnoth himself has only been north of Bluebrycg once, and advises you to arm yourselves well and travel in a large party if you want to do the same.
The Ealdorman says that perhaps five thousand Gastonlanders (a term he uses to distinguish yourselves from the native Gastons of Palania) have settled in Palania since the League was formed. For the most part, the Council has chosen to settle the Gastonlanders either on the east bank of the Saltanow, where they have formed two large villages called Prestenbroc and Gastonford, or in borderlands like the Forlorn Coast or Peadaland. A few free Gastonlander craftsmen and missionaries have based themselves in Phalen and live amongst the Palanians, but most are gathered in fully Virian communities.
The Ealdorman will explain that Palania is divided into many different regions, some of which are more or less entirely independent and contemptuous of the Council. Within these regions the lands are divided down further into areas that are known either as Weapontakes (e.g. the Weapontake of Stowecott, of which he is lord), or, in the eastern land, as Rapes (e.g. the Rape of Estenworthy.) These are mostly based on old clan boundaries, most of which have long ceased to have much relevance.
The Ealdorman will tell you that the regions in Palania are:
The Forlorn Coast
The Ealdorman’s own region has been largely depopulated by raids from the pirates in Kalmar Keep. Its principal castles, Cenhyrst and Tocburh, have both been destroyed, by orcs and by pirates, respectively. Stowecott and Garstoc are the main villages remaining, and the whole region has a population of only four or five thousand. The coastal region is rife with smugglers, thieves, and bandits.
Cuto’s Well
The most fertile farmland in Palania is around the lake called Cuto’s Well, and this region has been very successful in fending off monsters. Middlemere, the capital, is a town of seven or eight thousand, one of the largest in Palania. Those that don’t farm on the land will instead fish on the lake. Bandits are known to lurk in the Darkholt, the forest to the northwest, and these sometimes launch boats on the lake to raid farms. In recent years, the Camber Hills to the north have been crawling with dragonspawn and cyclopes, and only the boldest travellers dare to pass here.
Norsalt
The North Riverland is centred on the town of Bluebrycg, which is home to twelve thousand people and is the second largest settlement in Palania behind Phalen. There are fewer fords across the Saltanow here, so the North Riverland is safer than the south, though settlements are still overwhelmingly on the western bank and monsters raids are not unknown. The Ealdorman tells you Norsalters are an extremely treacherous and greedy people and that Bluebrycg is a den of thieves and bandits. The Ealdormen of Bluebrycg have built a castle, Saltanstede, at the uppermost ford across the Saltanow, for the ostensible purpose of preventing raids, however it is widely known the true reason for this is to force traders to pass through Bluebrycg and pay the tolls there. The roads from Bluebrycg are the main lifelines to eastern Palania, but are also exceptionally hazardous.
Suthesalt
The South Riverland, like the North Riverland and Cuto’s Well, is an extremely fertile region, home to large numbers of people. Historically, the town of Tarnemuthe was equal in size to Bluebrycg, however the Suthesalters led the assault that reclaimed Phalen a decade ago, and their losses were heavy. The Suthesalters patrol the road that runs from Tarnemuthe to Phalen via the castle of Ceorlburh, however the river is narrower in the south and it is extremely difficult to stop monsters, especially goblins, from swimming the river and attacking travellers and traders.
Peadaland
The region between the Great Forest in the north and the Swithen river in the south. It is named for the first High King of the Gastons in Palania, Peada, who led the rebellion against the Alanian Empire. Peada’s capital, Peadingas, was razed by pirates and his folk have had to retreat south, where they have been joined by Fryderi settlers and now Gastonlanders.
Upriver
This region, also called the Forks, is located in the forested hills of the Great Forest, where three tributary rivers join as one to form the mighty Saltanow. The large logging towns of Durleaht and Norbrycg are havens of civilisation in the wilds. Forklanders are noted as hunters and trackers, and must contend with elves and their bound demons. There are also many mines in these wooded hills.
Gundergrad Hills
An ancient region which was, during the Alanian days, the most populous area of Palania. The dragonspawn who served Caragaur and sacked Phalen were eventually driven here by the riverland orcs, and remain here still. Seventy-five years ago the region was completely abandoned, however sailors were able to establish a strong position at the mouth of the Dunbach, Chepworth, and they have been resettling the region since. Balnoth travelled here as a youth, and says the shepherds of Gundergrad are the best archers in the world.
The Long Shore
The region on the east coast of Palania. Balnoth's travels ended here, at Huncestre, an ancient fortress that has withstood repeated sieges since the days of the Alanians, and, as far as he knows, has never fallen. The Shoremen were long cut off from the rest of Palania, and during this time they turned heavily to piracy, though in peace they are fishermen and sailors.
Coelney
Those too cowardly or weak to fight Caragaur fled to these remote eastern islands, however when the east fell they ran out of food and many perished of disease and famine, or else turned to cannibalism. Coelneymen are still considered contemptible and weak by the overwhelming majority of Palanians.
Lands of the Lost
While Coelneymen are weak, the folk of this land, the Ealdormen says, should not even be considered Gastons at all. Located near to the Old Mountains, the Lostfolk are generally believed to have only survived at all by worshipping the dragonspawn. Though they deny it hotly, the Lostfolk are said to give up one of every three or four children, and anyone who survives to the age of fifty, over to the dragonspawn to become their undead servants. They are also renowned for capturing outsiders and handing them over for the same treatment, so very few people actually travel here.
Tohringland
The resettlement of the eastern lands began here, when the great adventurer Tohrthelm of Norbrycg drove out the orc warbands and began to clear the forest. The Ealdorman judges that the Tohringlanders support the Council most strongly of all the outland peoples, though due to their remote location they have little influence on politics. The Ealdorman has also heard that Tohringlanders have taken to the Virian Way more than any other Palanians, though he has no notion why.
Ethelhelm's Gap
The rough plains between the Great Forest and the Camber Hills. Far from any major sources of water, these lands are very poor and the people tend to survive by pastoral farming. The castle of Wihthrcyg is the main centre here, built to protect the land from the dragonspawn.
Mollenmere
A marshy land deep within the Great Forest. Gastons who were pushed out of the coastal regions by the first Fryderi settlers fled here, and have remained. The people of Mollenmere are extremely distrustful of outsiders, particularly the Fryderi, and are renowned for practising incest. Since there is very little in Mollenmere apart from flies and disease, the Ealdorman has never had reason to go here or have much to do with its people.
Krygarland
The land on the river Krygar has gradually become dominated by the Fryderi, though a slim majority of its population remains Gaston. Since the Krygarlanders lost control of the Bay of Brego and the ancient city of Haltengar, they have been completely isolated, and its people are notorious for becoming bandits and wandering the Great Forest.
Suthfryd
The northwesternmost part of Palania, the Ealdorman believes this land is more or less an annexe of Frydenland. It is the only part of Palania where the Fryderi are the majority of the population. As such, they are completely uninterested in the Council, and the lord of the Suthfryderi openly names himself the King of Krogsager. There is a notable Gaston settlement, Wuffingas, however this has been burned down several times and had to be resettled.