The Colossus Mounts region of Glantri
by mickyThe Colossus Mounts Region.. from the Vesubian and Taterhill east to Ethengar.. from Krondahar and the Dol-Anur south to the Broken Lands...
Tchernovodsk, Free Province of
Skullhorn, Free Province of
Nyra, Free Province of
Taterhill, Free Province of
Glantri City and Suburbs
Bramyra, Principality of
Belcadiz, Principality of
Mongolia, Viscounty of
Blofeld, Viscounty of
Glenargyll, County of
Satolas, Marquisate of
Fenswick, Duchy of
Dunvegan, Marquisate of
Tchernovodsk, Free Province of
Area: 4536
Population: 10,808
6580 in the Colossus foothills and lower Dol-Anur hills (1400 sq miles)
3108 in the northern Colossus Mounts (3024 sq miles)
1120 in the Scotch Breach
Ethnic Groups: Ethengarian 35%, Boldavian 25%, Kaelic 20%, Flaem 10%, Fen 5%, Other 5%
Villages: Estoniarsk (320) This is an agricultural enclave on the banks of the Dol-Anur which is the border with Ethengar at this point. The village is a collection point for produce from the nearby hills, a prime fishing location, and last but not least a garrison point for a detachment of undercover wizards and Constables of the feared GSS. Glantrian Secret Service, an elite branch of the Constabulary. They have a permanent duty station here on watch for illegal crossings, both ways, of the border.
Lhamsa (125) A village of Ethengarian and more recently, some Sindhi mystics high up in the Colossus Mounts. The Great Order of Saffron is based here in Lhamsa. The village has is collection point for the goats, and yaks of the Colossus Mounts to be sent downriver to market.
Dalmeny (432) The village is located in the Scotch Breach and is a Kaelic village. Dalmeny was founded by the Primrose clan who fed Klantyre’s border after a feud with the McGregor clan, over possession of some prime grazing land, resulted in the Prince of Klantyre, Malcolm McGregor persecuting the Primrose. They fled the Principality to escape his benevolence, and settled half way into the Breach and founded a new clan seat. The clan-chief’s mansion at Dalmeny is of considerable architectural interest, and houses a splendid collection of paintings and furniture. The clan is well known for furniture making and is raising funds to build a castle so the Primrose might have a proper clan seat. While the grazing here in the Breach isn’t as good for their sheep as the land they left in Klantyre, it is manageable and profitable. They have an excellent relationship with the current Propraetor and he allows them access to log what they can find in the Colossus. The village has occasional problems when the Glenmoorloch garrison of Brannart’s Corp, always of one of his divisions comes into town on a patrol. Tavern fights are a regular occurrence, with hurled insults being a good visit, and bodies carried to the mortuary being a normal occurrence, and all out fighting being a bad visit. The Propraetor shares the Primrose belief that the officers of the Banner are ordered to cause trouble when they visit. Complaints to the Council of Princes have so far changed nothing.
Kaschgar (225) Located approximately 40 miles north of the town of Bramyra. The village is the largest settlement in the southern half of the Free Province. The centre of Agriculture in the eastern hills, the village serves two mountainous Viscounties nearby, the Viscounty of Blofeld and the new Viscounty of Mongolia. Farmers bring their goods to town, local staples such as potatoes, turnips, and cattle and sell to merchants who in turn take them to market in the viscounties to trade or sell for the products of those mineral rich, yet agriculture poor dominions. The population here is overwhelmingly ethnic Ethengarian. Here as in Estoniarsk there is an undercover detachment of the GSS, though a small one of only five constables, which keeps a close watch on the border, and the Ethengarian-Glantrians here. Glantrian army patrols regularly stop here to rest or bivouac here as Kaschgar is just to the south of the halfway point between Camp Bramyra and Fort Tchernovodsk and sits squarely on the Trans Boldavia-Bramyra Highway. Patrols from Morphail’s command usually come no further south than the village. Patrols from Jherek’s command rarely go any further north than this village.
Government: Propraetor; appointed by the Council of Princes, in charge for seven years. Seat in Ft. Tchernovodsk.
Ruler: Propraetor Don Maximilian de Belcadiz (born 820, Elf 10, AL-L)
House: not aligned to any house. Close ties, by blood, to Alhambra
Territory: The Tchernovodsk Free Province includes the Scotch Breach between Klantyre and Boldavia. The eastern foothills of the Colossus Mounts from the Dol-Anur river south to the border of the Principality of Bramyra. It includes the Colossus Mounts from the Boldavian border in the north to the border of the Skullhorn Free Province which is generally on a line from Blofeld in the east to the southeastern border of Klantyre in the west.
Food: Surplus; sold to neighbouring, agricultural challenged, dominions or to the large army installations in Tchernovodsk and Bramyra for reserve stocks in case of siege.
Trails: The Tchernovodsk Free Province is the least centralised Province we have seen yet. There are 3 distinct regions to the Province with the Colossus Mounts preventing substantial contact or movement between them. The Northwest region which is dominated by the Scotch Breach and the Colossus Mounts of the Kaelics. The East region which is dominated by the eastern foothills of the Colossus and the eastern slopes of the Colossus. The Southwest region which is dominated by the inhospitable and the headwaters of the Fen River. There are only dangerous foot trails running between the three regions.
The northwest region has a good trail running through the length of the Scotch Breach. Numerous poor trails reach into the western Colossus from Klantyre which are used for sheep herding and some logging. The east region has the Trans- Boldavia Bramyra Highway which runs due south from Tchernovodsk to the town of Bramyra, and Camp Bramyra. It is classified by Glantrian AAA as a fair trail, but travellers must beware of frequent travellers advisories for marauding bands of the horsemen of the Steppe. Thankfully the Glantrian army does a great job keeping the route clear, but one must always be on ones toes when making this journey. The Glantrian Commission on Homeland Security has implemented the following scale for the nations highways.
The current threat level is yellow, or elevated meaning there is a significant risk of Ethengarian terrorists ruining your ride. Several short fair trails lead to the two viscounties that lay on the eastern slopes of the Colossus Mounts. The Southwestern region has only trail of note, a trail rated poor by AAA, that leads from Lhamsa down the Fen river to the southwest and into the Skullhorn Free Province. Numerous foot trails which do not support caravan or wagon trail exist, but require guides or travellers run the risk of getting lost high in the Colossus.
Economics: The Tchernovodsk Free Province can be broken into two regions economically, the hill country of the Colossus foothills and the mountains of the Colossus Mounts. The hill country is prime agricultural ground for potatoes, turnips, cabbage, beets, and carrots. The hills also support substantial cattle herds as well. The region provides a substantial surplus over and above what is needed to support the local population so the surplus is sold to merchants who in sell to the army, local dominions or ship off through Skullhorn Pass to the heart of Glantri.
The mountain country has significant animal resources with it’s sheep and yak populations. Little mining has been attempted in the heart of the mountains due to the height of the mountains and the glaciers. What mining that has been done has been done by the dominions that occupy the slopes of the range. The western and northern edges of the Colossus support significant logging operations in which the logs taken often make their way into Klantyre.
Notable people/sites: Propraetor Don Maximilian de Belcadiz might be a familiar name to some. Until 1007 he served as the First Secretary to the Glantrian Ambassador to Alfheim. With the closure (since reopened) of the Glantrian embassy with the Shadowelf conquest of Alfheim, now Aengmor, the First Secretary was recalled to Glantri City. Don Maximilian de Belcadiz (you would never think of calling him by a shorter name, so neither will we haha) is the 2nd Cousin of the Princess of Alhambra, Princess Carnelia de Belcadiz y Fedorias, so the former First Secretary was sure to not have to wait long for his next assignment. As fate would have it, he didn’t. In 1008 the Propraetor of the Tchernovodsk Free Province was caught in a sex scandal where he was caught with the wife of a prominent local leader among the Ethengarian-Glantrians. Needless to say the Council looked the other way when the Propraetor was found, not long after the revelation hit the tabloids in Glantri City, with his head removed cleanly at the shoulders. He had last been seen walking back to his room at the Dusky Broad Inn in Estoniarsk one night. The case was closed the next day with no arrests. After that embarrassing scene the Council of Princes wanted a straight arrow, a no-nonsense Propraetor who could ably administer this large, ethnically varied, and strategically important Province. They knew they had their man in Don Maximilian de Belcadiz and quickly appointed the scrupulous, meticulous, and fastidious fusspot. He administers the Province from the Fortress of Tchernovodsk believing that information and news would come to him quicker, which he believes is vital in administering such a decentralised Province.
Useful Links: GPD – Tobol Vlarostk by Giampaolo Agosta (giving the Free Province it’s name haha)
Skullhorn, Free Province of
Area: 3136 sq miles
Population: 6972
4480 in the southern Colossus foothills (896 sq miles)
2492 in the southern Colossus Mounts (2240 sq miles)
Ethnic Groups: Belcadiz-Human 35%, Belcadiz-Elf 25%, Fen 20%, Ethengarian 10%, Other 10%
Villages: Aguilar (516) Located in the foothills of the Colossus roughly 16 miles northeast of Satolas. Aguilar is a walled village , sitting on a large hill commanding the surrounding countryside. Aguilar is noted for the interesting history and architecture of the town. For example, at the centre is a striking and unusual eight-sided plaza which is flanked by some impressive historic buildings. For the best views in town, head for the Peñon de Moro which is the site of an old castle and has wonderful panoramic views over Aguilar and the surrounding countryside. Aguilar is the administrative centre of the Free Province and sits upon the main trail that connects Bramyra and lower Vesubia Valley in southeast Glantri. Aguilar is well known for its ceramics, locally produced wine and olive oil.
Bolton (125) Lying eight miles to the southwest of Skullhorn Pass camp on the Fen River, this village exists to serve the Skullhorn Pass Camp. Daily caravans leave the village every morning to bring the garrison fresh supplies from the heart of Glantri. The town has a overabundance of taverns and gaming houses for the leisure of the garrison.
Hornos (247) This village located approximately 24 east of Satolas is main settlement in the area closest to the Broken Lands. It is currently being rebuilt and after being overrun and sacked by Goblins during the Great War. The new village is to be a walled village and has been training a militia of 60 townsfolk that can be assembled and on the walls within 10 minutes of hearing the villages main bell being rung. The wall around the village is expected to be completed late in 1014. The town is an agricultural base for the southern hills of the Free Province and surplus is usually sent to market in Satolas.
Government: Propraetor; appointed by the Council of Princes, in charge for seven years. Seat in Aguilar.
Ruler: Propraetor Joséphine Fortescue (born 985, F3, AL-L) Selected as Propraetor in 1011.
House: not aligned to any house. Close ties, by blood, to Sylaire and to Alhambra by marriage.
Territory: The Free Province of Skullhorn covers the southern Colossus Mounts. The northern border is formed in a line roughly between the Viscountcy of Blofeld to the southeastern corner of the Principality of Klantyre. The Free Province is bordered; on the west by neighbouring dominions and the western foothills of the Colossus, bordered on the south by the Principality of Belcadiz and on the south and east by Ethengar and the Broken Lands.
Food: Surplus; sold to neighbouring, agricultural challenged, dominions of Satolas and Glenargyll.
Trails: The main artery through the area is the Alexander Glantri Memorial Highway. The highway is rated as a fair trail by Glantrian AAA. The trail runs south out of Bramyra through the heart of the southern Colossus Foothills before turning southwest and reaching the Vesubius River valley where it joins an extensive network of trails. In the Colossus Mounts a the Skullhorn Pass trail comes from Fenswick up the Fen river before entering Skullhorn Pass. The trail passes under Skullhorn Pass Camp and it's defences and enters the Principality of Bramyra at the Fortress of Skullhorn Pass which is the home of the Prince of Bramyra, Urmahid Krinagar. Though the military through Prince Jaggar have been clamouring for years for the trail to be improved and paved to help speed troop movements through the pass, the Council has rejected any such notion to this point on the basis of privacy and not wanting to encourage causal travel throughout Glantri.
Economics: The mountains region of the Skullhorn Free Province provides some of the finest fur and animal skins in all of Glantri. Most of those who live in this region are trappers, independent prospectors, solitary wizards who value their privacy, or those who work in supporting the Skullhorn Pass Camp garrison. The southeastern hills suffered badly during the Great War as the first thrust of Thar's armies drew off Glantrian army units leaving this area ripe for raiding by Goblins from High Gobliny. Hornos, the 2nd largest population centre in the Free Province was sacked and burned to the ground, thankfully most of the residents had warning and had moved north to Aguilar before the Goblins arrived. With no one to stop them the Goblins ran roughshod over this corner of Glantri and used the area to help supply the main Humanoid army as it fought it's way up to the gates of Glantri City after sacking Blackhill in 1007. Now the humanoid threat has been all but eliminated with the depopulation of the humanoid population in the eastern Broken Lands over last years of the war and years immediately after. The Shadow Elves that have taken over the eastern Broken Lands does worry the people of the area but to this point there have been no signs of any hostile intent. All and all the people are upbeat and relieve to be free of the humanoid threat, but still there is always the worry that being close to the border with Ethengar brings but this area has known very few raids over the centuries from that direction. The hills provide a bounty of olives, fruits, and livestock. The rebuilding of communities after the war still continues which has brought a infusion of hard currency to the area and work for those who lost homes and farms during the war. The area will need some years to recover quickly but appears to be well on it's way under the leadership of the Propraetor who managed to secure the funding from the council and has managed the rebuilding of the southern hills and the lives of those who live there.
Notable people/sites: Propraetor Joséphine Fortescue is a hurricane packed into a 5' tall body. She was raised to the position of Propraetor of the Skullhorn Free Province, her first posting as a Propraetor, after showing remarkable tenacity and great ability during the Great War as the assistant to the Director of GEMA (the Glantrian Emergency Management Association). When the position of Propraetor for the Skullhorn Free Province came open in 1011, Fortescue was suggested by Princess Carnelia who had seen her work tirelessly to help the displaced and burned out families of the Vesubian Valley who lost everything when tens of thousands of humanoids under Thar rolled right through their homes on the way to Glantri City. A stunning personal interview with the full Council put to rest fears that some on the Council had about promoting someone so young and from outside the traditional Glantrian Bureaucracy for this position and she was selected to be the Propraetor of the Skullhorn Free Province. Since taking control of the region she has worked tireless to put those displaced to work and to funnel the subsidies the Council was giving the region to the people that needed it. A true rising star in the world of the monstrous and vast Glantrian Bureaucracy. She is intelligent to know that her rapid rise has made enemies of some, but right now her energies are directed where they are needed most. The people and resources of the Free Province.
The village of Aguilar is an ancient settlement being over 1000 years old and predating even the arrival of the Flaems. Founded by a family of Belcadiz whose head was an architecture buff, the village was built with half an eye to functionality (defence) and half an eye to beauty. The town has several noteworthy attractions for visitors...
The Central Square: The distinctive centre of town. The 8 sided plaza hosts farmers markets every morning which draw all the village and people from the surrounding area to shop and socialise. The centre of life in Aguilar.
The Clock Tower: The striking clock tower is a well-known and recognised symbol of the town which reflects traditional Belcadiz style and architecture and was completed in AC 71.
Mansion Houses: There are some magnificent and gracious mansions in the town, some of the most impressive are situated in Calle Morelejo and Calle Carrera. These are guarded behind large wooden doors decorated with elaborate wrought-iron carvings.
Soterraño Church: Located just outside the castle walls is the fascinating Soterraño Church to Valerias. The original building dates from BC 50. It was designed by Hernan Ruiz the famous Belcadiz architect and is one of his best preserved works still standing. Has not been in service since the Light of Rad but there is a movement to reopen the Church as a place of worship. The town is violently divided as to whether it should be or not. The Propraetor has not ruled on that issue yet.
Castle: Located in a strategic high point of the village is Peñon de Moro; formerly a site of a first century castle. These days all that can be seen are parts of the walls which are the haunts of the famed Cats of Aguilar. Stray cats that over the years that are fed and treated as residents of the town.
Skullhorn Pass Camp is the defensive encampment located in the centre of the Skullhorn Pass. Further details can be found in the next issue of the publication 'The Grand Army of Glantri.... revised and updated' (Printed by the Piazza Press; Glantri City, Glantri)
Useful Links: none...as of now.
Nyra, Free Province of
Area: 1904 sq. miles
Population: 73,950
Ethnic Groups: Belcadizan human 20%, Thyatian 20%, Fen 20%, Alphatian 15%, Belcadizan Elf 15%, Others 10%
Towns/Villages: Nyra (1847) Administrative centre of the Free Province
Trintan (1516) Trintan is a commercial village whose lifeblood is trade and commerce.
Coslada (345) Coslada is approximately 32 miles due east of Fort Monteleone just south of the border with the Principality of
Belcadiz. Coslada is a major agricultural centre for the eastern part of the Free Province.
Albion (567) This Fenish village located in the hills to the east of Glantri City is a major mining village servicing the western slopes of the Colossus Mounts.
Government: Propraetor appointed by the Council of Princes, in charge for seven years. Seat in Nyra.
Ruler: Propraetor Thomas Paine (born 939, M6, AL- Neutral) Appointed in 1008
House: not aligned to any house. No ties to any houses.
Territory: The Free Province runs; from the southern suburbs of Glantri City in the north, to Trintan in the south and from the Vesubian River in the west, to the border of the Skullhorn Free Province in the east.
Food: Abundance
Trails: The main road of the Free Province is the main road of Glantri. The Taterhill-Trintan Expressway is the only paved road in Glantri. Running for most of its length within the Free Province it is the most important feature of the Free Province. It has been rated excellent by Glantrian AAA and is still passable even in the heaviest of rain with no threat of mud. It was estimated that 92% of all Glantrian imports and exports pass through Trintan. While there is robust use of the Vesubian River to move commerce, most trade still moves along the Expressway on horse and wagon. The Alexander Glantri Memorial Highway comes into the Free Province from the east and Bramyra and ends at Fort Tchernovodsk.
Economics: One of the main agricultural areas of Glantri. The area of the Vesubian Valley is fertile, well irrigated and with moderate temperatures throughout most of the year. The Vesubian River provides a bounty of fish, while the river valley provides fruits and vegetables of all sorts. Excess is exported throughout Glantri.
Notable People: Propraetor Thomas Paine is the highest ranked Fen in the Glantrian Government and one of the longest tenured members of the Glantrian government. He is also a legend in Bureaucratic circles at the capital, having trained and supervised nearly all the current Propraetors and many lesser positions. He is known for his no-nonsense approach and attention to detail. He is also well known for not suffering fools, even if they happen to be nobles. The assignment to the Nyra Free Province is his second posting here, having served as Propraetor from 985 to 999. He was assigned here from the Glantrian Embassy in Thyatis City in 1008 when the previous Propraetor, Claudio Faggoli the tempestuous and combative best friend of Paine, was killed in an ambush during Thar’s invasion in 1007. It was reported by a witness that 5 Trolls came at Faggoli from the riverbank; he got four of them before the fifth got him. Paine’s orders directly from the council have been to rebuild the shattered northern part of the Free Province. Much of that area was overrun with humanoids during Thar’s siege of Glantri City. After six years he has shown remarkable progress in getting homes rebuilt, instituting a program called Habitat for Glantri. In which he lobbies wealthy patrons to donate for rebuilding (with all donations being a tax write-off of course) and rebuilds homes of those who lost them. The only cost to those who have their homes rebuilt, volunteering the time to help rebuild the homes of others. The program has been a smashing success. The Propraetor has even drawn refugees from other regions, especially Blackhill, which has done a great deal to bring the N.F.P almost back to where it was before Thar struck Glantri. The program has even made Paine more a legend in the eyes of all but the Wizard-Princes. He simply has their respect.
Notable Sites:
Albion was founded by Fen-folk soon after arrived in the Highlands through the portal that brought the Kaelic to Mystara from Laterre. The village is notable for it’s ancient church dedicated to some lost immortal patron from their previous home on Laterre. After the Light of Rad other churches were torn down or made unrecognisable by new occupants. However this church was kept as a museum by the village council and is rumoured to contain a treasure trove of information about the Fen’s history prior to arriving on Mystara. Unfortunately the guardians of this museum are very selective as to who they will allow to view those well preserved documents. Nobles can be, and almost always are refused, including a infamous incident in 946 when the Archduke of Westheath, Edelmiro Pieinants, was refused entry. That led to huge row which had to be settled by the Council of Princes when the Archduke assaulted the Propraetor of the N.F.P after the Propraetor sided with the Museum’s guardians. The Archduke was reprimanded and policy was set that only a Prince of Glantri could enter the vaults without permission of the guardians of the museum. The museum aside the building is a favourite of architectural buffs and is a favourite subject for many artists to reproduce.
Trintan is a walled town on the Vesubian River on what used to be the border with the Broken Lands. With the enfeoffment of Kol and annexing of the Broken Lands in AC 1011 the town finally could relax from it's permanent state of military preparedness. Trintan was unsuccessfully besieged during Thar's invasion and the two reserve divisions caught within the town were successfully resupplied by wizards of the Belcadiz under the supervision of Princess Carnelia. Trintan is a major commercial centre and still, even though the Western Broken Lands have come under control of Glantri and are safer for caravan traffic, is still known for being a centre for hiring mercenary and caravan guards.
Nyra is the administrative centre of the Free Province and is a collection point for all the produce and goods of the region for shipment north to the Capital and beyond. The town was protected during Thar's invasion and his drive north to the Capital in 1007 by the Vesubian River. Thar ravaged the hills to the west, and the west bank of the Vesubian River on his way to the Capital. However Nyra suffered mass upheaval as the population was moved north in advance of Thar and the town held by the 38th Division during the siege of Glantri City to protect the northern flank of Carnelia's forces that held the central and eastern areas of the Province until the siege was broken later that year. After the war the population of Nyra grew substantially as, in addition to it's residents returning, refugees from ravaged areas to the west and southwest decided to stay in Nyra. Nyra is a wealthy town with local trade, and trade with Darokin passing through the town.
Useful Links: none...as of now.
Taterhill, Free Province of
Area: 2352 sq miles
Population: 87,680
Ethnic Groups: Flaem 25%, Thyatian 15%, Kaelic 15%, Ethengarian 15%, Boldavian 10%, Averoignian 5%, Fen 5%, Other 10%
Towns:
Taterhill (3672) The administrative and commercial centre of the Free Province of Taterhill (T.F.P)
Villages:
Douaumont (873) A large farming village 24 miles northeast of Glantri City on the Vyonnes-Glantri City trail.
Veenwouden (678) A fishing village on the Vesubian River approximately 24 miles southeast of the tower of Berrym.
Lugu Lake (521) A resort village in the northeastern hills of the T.F.P approximately 16 miles to the west of Dunvegan.
Daventry (624) A farming village located 16 miles southeast of the town of Taterhill.
Beetstersweach (735) A commercial, agricultural centre located on the Taterhill-Braastar trail approximately 20 miles north of Taterhill
Government: Propraetor appointed by the Council of Princes, in charge for seven years. Seat in Taterhill.
Ruler: Propraetor Saundra McIlvernock (born 952, M16, Al-Chaotic) Appointed in 1013
House: not aligned to any house.
Territory: The T.F.P generally runs south from the border of Principality of Krondahar to the northern suburbs of Glantri City and from the western foothills of the Colossus Mounts westward to the border with the Free Province of Les Hiboux.
Food: Abundance
Trails: The T.F.P contains three vital transportation arteries of Glantri. Leaving Glantri City and heading to the northwest toward New Averoigne and Sablestone, the Vyonnes-Glantri City road is rated a fair trail by Glantrian AAA. There has been talk at the capital about upgrading this road to a fully paved road to speed commerce and speed military movements, however so far no proposals come to vote yet. If it ever does it will be interesting to see how the votes will shake out. Coming out of Glantri City and heading north toward Braastar and the northern Principalities is the Taterhill-Trintan Expressway. Between Taterhill and Glantri City the expressway is paved and rated excellent by Glantrian AAA. Leaving north out of Taterhill towards Braastar the expressway ends and is an unpaved trail rated fair by AAA. This road is called the Northern Principality Road. Finally leaving east out of Taterhill towards the Duchy of Fenswick and Skullhorn Pass is the Eastern Principality Road. This road is also rated fair by the AAA and the section through the mountains is often subject to harsh weather conditions.
Economics: Much like the Free Provinces of Nyra, and Les Hiboux; the T.F.P. is the breadbasket of Glantri. Blessed with fertile soil being located in the Vesubian River valley, it puts forth a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and livestock. The abundance of agriculture feeds the people of the province, the nearby agriculturally challenged dominions and with plenty to spare, the rest is exported throughout the rest of Glantri.
Notable People: Propraetor Saundra McIlvernock
Saundra has served in the Glantrian government for over 40 years and is one of its most capable and experienced bureaucrats. She graduated the Great School at 18 and immediately took a offer to join the embassy staff in Darokin City. She served in various positions in the Darokin embassy for 5 years before having a colleague recommend her for an opening as Legatus Regionis Bogoliubov in the Western Czaikow Hills Free Province. She was served as Legatus in various Free Provinces for another 10 years before getting assigned as Quaestor Provinciae Nordling in 985. When the Frederick Model , the Propraetor of Nordling, died in his sleep in 993, Saundra was selected to become Propraetor of Nordling. Assignments to Tchernovodsk, and Huledain followed in the coming years.
She was Propraetor in the Free Province of Huledain when, in 1007, approximately 30,000 humanoids under the Orc King Thar invaded from the Broken Lands. With the garrison of Huledain Camp overwhelmed by sheer numbers and forced to withdraw to Nathrat and the Silver Sierras for self preservation, the main axis of Humanoid advance came straight toward the village of Huledain with light opposition to oppose it. Saundra skilfully managed a rear-guard action to get as many of her people across the river into Blackhill. She was not able to save all, but was recognised for her calm leadership when the world had turning into a living hell around her. With the occupation of her Province she was ordered to serve Prince Volospin as an aide. She was placed in charge of withdrawing as much of Blackhill’s population to safety.
As the humanoids poured in Blackhill and overwhelmed the local militias, she managed to withdraw a significant percentage of the population to the northeast towards Glantri City and relative safety once they met the Glantrian Divisions sent from the Capital to relieve Blackhill. She led to the refugees to the capital and others to Taterhill. After Thar defeated the Glantrian relief force moving south in the Battle of Hightower he moved north to attempt to take Glantri City. Saundra was prominent in the Siege of Glantri City manning the city walls with men and women of all walks of life. While not a typical military wizard she was a capable wizard whose spells were effective in helping fend off several assaults on the city walls. Finally the siege was broken when Glantrian Forces arrived from the rest of Glantri and Thar was driven back into the Broken Lands.
Saundra found her Province totally destroyed upon returning to the burned ruins of Huledain. She spend the next five years working to rebuild and resettle the area, all while Thar continued raids into the region. Not surprisingly many did not want to return to the area at first considering the area was nothing more than an armed camp of Glantrian Army units watching for Thar, and preparing for the expected Alphatian invasion. With the end of the war and the enfeoffment of Kol and the ending of humanoid raids into Glantri, more of the refugees began to return to the area. In 1013 the Propraetor of Taterhill Free Province retired from public service and Saundra was judged by the Council to be the most prepared and competent of the lesser Provincial Propraetors to manage one of the 3 great Free Provinces in Glantri so in 1013 Saundra was selected to be Propraetor of Taterhill, which along with the Free Provinces of Nyra and Les Hiboux are the pinnacles of power among the Glantrian bureaucracy.
Notable Sites:
Taterhill is administrative centre of the region and a major community in Glantri being one of the larger towns in Glantri. The source of pride in this town is the Blues of Taterhill who have won the Glantrian Scudetto five times since AC 1000. Taterhill is a diverse town with Flaemish, Kaelic, Ethengarian, and Thyatian quarters surrounding the central district was is dominated by the two social centres. The central marketplace and the football stadium which was designed by noted Thyatian architect, Franco Baresi in 878.
Lugu Lake is a popular vacation spot for many in the central region of Glantri. Nestled in the foothills of the Colossus Mounts this beautiful area is famous for it’s many lakes, great fishing and hunting.
Useful Links: none...as of now.
Glantri City and Suburbs
Area: 25 sq miles
Population: 41,698
Ethnic Groups: Thyatian 25%, Flaem 20%, Boldavian 15%, Kaelic 15%, Averoignian 10%, Ethengarian 5%, Other 10%
City:
Glantri City has a population of 9,053 within the city walls (does not include students at the Great School of Magic, nor military stationed at the Citadel who come and go and are not considered permanent residents) Glantri City is the capital of the Principalities of Glantri. Large sections of the city are non-residential or reserved only for the nobility. Population within the city walls is distributed as follows:
West End – 3987. Primarily lower class Boldavians that work primarily in the Port Quarters and with the cities fleet of Gondolas.
Middle Class Quarter – 4866 Primarily upper middle class. The residents generally consists of arcaners, those higher up in the Glantrian bureaucracy, wealthy merchants, and scholars.
Nobles Quarter – estimated to be around 200 at any one time.
Suburbs: (32,645): The suburbs are split into three different suburban areas
Northeast suburbs (10,867)
Northwest suburbs (18,117)
Riverfront suburbs (3,661)
Government: The Supreme Judge of the Council of Princes
Ruler: Prince Jherek Virayana IV (born 958, M36 Dream Master of 5th Level, Al-Neutral) Appointed in 991
House: not aligned to any house.
Military: 1st Division- 1st, 2nd, 4th Banners
12th Division- 1st, 2nd, 3rd Banners
14th Division- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Banners
The Banners of the 1st, 12th, and 14th division are under the peacetime control of the Supreme Judge of the Council of Princes and are stationed in the heart of Glantri City at the Citadel. Here they are charged with assisting the Constabulary when needed and patrolling the surrounding countryside out to a distance of 48 miles from the Capital.
Territory: The city of Glantri City and the immediate suburbs to the northwest and northeast of the city walls
Food: imported
Trails: Glantri City, as Capital of the Principalities is naturally the transportation hub of the nation. The three vital transportation arteries of Glantri all begin or end here. Leaving Glantri City and heading to the northwest toward New Averoigne and Sablestone, the Vyonnes-Glantri City road is rated a fair trail by Glantrian AAA. There has been talk at the capital about upgrading this road to a fully paved road to speed commerce and speed military movements, however so far no proposals come to vote yet. If it ever does it will be interesting to see how the votes will shake out. Glantri City sits on the Taterhill-Trintan Expressway. Between Taterhill and Glantri City the expressway is paved and rated excellent by Glantrian AAA. The southern end of the expressway carries the vast majority of international trade of Glantri with Darokin being the destination for nearly all of it. Conversely much of the imports destined for Glantri almost without fail come up to the Expressway with Glantri City being the final destination. The northern end of the Expressway leads to Taterhill and from there roads lead to the northern principalities, and to eastern side of the Colossus Mounts.
Economics: Glantri City is one of the major trading centres in the southeast of Brun. The accumulated products of the various Principalities and Free Provinces are often brought here to be sold to foreign merchants or organised into caravans to be taken directly to other countries. There is some farming on the outskirts of the suburbs and some fishing from the rivers but the population of Glantri City and its suburbs generally produce goods and service for use by the population of the city as well as the extensive government bureaucracy and the noble population that are based in the capital.
Notable Sites: while many of the prominent locations within the heart of the city have already been detailed in book The Principalities of Glantri published in AC1000 (GAZ3 Publishing, Glantri City, Glantri) What has not been touched on before, would be the suburbs of Glantri City. The suburbs of Glantri City are broken in to three districts.
To the east of the road to Taterhill and going to the marshes on the banks of the Vesubian River are the Northeast Suburbs, nicknamed ‘De Residentie’ This quarter is primarily middle class housing with plenty of small businesses catering the local population. Streets here are chaotic and typical of urban areas of this age, homes are tightly packed and the streets often filled people during the day. Many of the residents work within the city, servants, lower members of the Glantrian Bureaucracy. De Residentie is the home of the grand monument to the Glantrian national sport and second greatest passion, football. The Stadio Comunale is the home of the 35 time winners of the Glantrian Scudetto, the notorious Giallorossi of Metro Glantri City. The stadium will hold nearly 30,000 and every seat is taken for each home match.
Between the Taterhill road and the Vyonnes road are the Northwest Suburbs, nicknamed Il Mercante by locals. While many people live much of the area is given over to warehouses, large stables, many boarding-houses, inns and taverns. Housing conditions here are a step below those found in De Residentie. Quarters are more cramped, the quality of goods and services is cheaper and of less quality. Most of the residents work outside the city in the fields or menial work inside the city walls. A large guild of mercenaries and guards is headquartered here where guards from everything for one’s tower to the smallest caravan can be hired.
Finally between the Isoile River and the Vyonnes road there is the Riverfront Suburbs. Nicknamed by locals the ‘Ville du Péché’. It is the place to go for those who want to have some fun and don’t have the jack nor the looks to get invited to parties in the more swanky areas of Glantri City. Gambling houses, dark dangerous taverns, houses of ill repute all abound here. A small number of people reside here, usually those who manage and own the businesses here along with those who get a kick of living in fear of getting a knife in your back if you walk down the street. A very rough area with footpads galore and little presence by local authorities so one’s best defence is one’s magic, arms, or fleetness of foot.
Notable People:
Yannick Vander is the toast of the common man in Glantri City. The winner of the Golden Boot award 5 times in the last 7 years he was acquired by the Giallorossi, from AC Vyonnes for 1500 Crowns in 1011 after leading Les Grenats to the Scudetto in 1010. While Vander is best known for his variety on the field, from passing and dribbling to shooting, he is also seen living the high life in the Capital. Often seen jetting around the canals in his custom Ferrari F-430,with a straight 6 Water Elemental in the engine compartment, Yannick leads a secret life unknown to all his fans. What few know is that Yannick is a low-level cleric of the Immortal Valerias. Yannick is no adventurer, and has never been one, he has long worked to spread the tenants, if not the faith of his immortal to the spiritually poor nation of his birth.
Bogdan Astapkovich is bear of a man. Standing 6'8" tall and weighing in at 275 pounds. Bogdan works as a bouncer at the Churning Gut Bar and Grill in Ville du Péché at night. A quiet man, of obvious intelligence he listens to everything said around him. He is a recent immigrant to Glantri from Karameikos having arrived less than a year ago. During the day Bogdan is never to be found in his one room quarters in a loft above the Churning Gut. Rumour has it he has a lady friend of rather high society in the Nobles Quarter so he spends his day and nights off with her. In reality, Bogdan is a student at the Great School of magic. What is stranger than reality is Bodgan is as knowledgeable about the arcane arts as many of his instructors. Bodgan is in fact an accomplished wizard, sent by his master to gain information on a particular subject. Bodgan is ingratiating himself with Glantrian society posing as a student. Bogdan is actually a 15th level wizard and senior apprentice to his master. His master... none other than Barimoor of Ylaruam. The subject... what was thought by his master to be a myth till the very end of the Great War.. the Radiance.
Colonel Willhelm Klink is a proud member of the Aalbanese Military Wizard Aristocracy. He showed a great aptitude for magic relating to divination during his years at the Great School. Upon graduation from the Great School Klink accepted a commission into the Glantrian Military and was assigned to Military Intelligence. Klink worked for years as an underling in the M.I.G department making a good name for himself. When the former head of the M.I.G was sacked and forcibly retired after the failure of intelligence to warn Glantri of Thar's Invasion, Klink was selected by Prince Jaggar to head M.I.G. In the years since his promotion, the humanoid threat decreased and he has made Ethengar the primary focus of Intelligences work. While having the stereotypical Aalbanese distrust and disgust for all things Ethengarian, including those in Glantri he recognises that no one can give him better intelligence that those spies of Prince Jherek and Urmahid. As such he has, grudgingly but with some respect, maintained good relations with both. Klink rarely ventures into the field, keeping to his office in the Citadel, but his immediate subordinates are often ordered into the field to be his eyes and ears and to verify what his spies and agents are reporting to him. A very effective Intelligence chief for Glantri. Not brilliant, just very competent.
Useful Links: none...as of now.
Bramyra, Principality of
Area: 1344 square miles
Population: 9286
Towns: Bramyra (2300) The capital of the Principality of Bramyra. Detailed below
Babajun (1100) A farming town located just to the northwest of the town of Bramyra. The great Camp Bramyra is located next to the town. The Camp is the home to the defenders of Bramyra, Jherek's 5th and 13th Divisions, which are deployed here on a rotating schedule. Babajun has strong ties to the Glantrian Military, many of it's residents are veterans and former members of the Grand Army, most having served in Jherek's division in the past. Many shops and services here are geared towards the troops.
Villages: Skullhorn (154) This village, sitting in front of the eastern entrance to Skullhorn Gap, used to be the main settlement of the County of Skullhorn Pass before the enfoeffment of the area in 1003. Sitting above it higher up in the entrance to the gap, is the former tower of the Count which has been converted to a defence work to protect the gap (see the next issue of the publication 'The Grand Army of Glantri.... revised and updated' (Printed by the Piazza Press; Glantri City, Glantri). Prince Urmahid rarely comes here though, though he keeps quarters high in the tower, since he lives in Glantri City. The village is the centre for mining in the Principality, and hosts a detachment of 5 Constables from the GSS (the feared Glantrian Secret Service) who make sure those that are going west through the pass are not of dubious nature.. or nationality. ID papers can be demanded at any time by anyone trying to go through the Pass.
Bolar (235) This village in the southern hills of the Principality, some 20 miles southwest of Bramyra rivals Palatinsk area as the most horse crazy regions of Glantri. Here is where you can find many breeders, trainers, and traders of the famed mori breed. The whole area is mad about horses and the weekly horse races in Bolar draw people from all over the Principality and the Free Territories.
Darchan-Uul (316) This agricultural centre 12 miles north of Bramyra is the main collection point and market place for the fields of the northern hills.
Ethnic groups: Ethengarian 80%, Boldavian 5%, Thyatian 5%, Belcadiz-Human 5%, Others 5%
Languages: Ethengarian, Thyatian.
Ruler: Prince Urmahid Krinagar, Count of Skullhorn Pass, Chancellor of Princes [M24 (1014), Illusionist of 4th Circle, AL-Lawful]
House: Krinagar
Military: Three Banners of the 5th Glantrian Army Division are currently stationed at Bramyra camp and are under the peacetime control of Prince Krinagar. The division patrols the border with Ethengar north to the village of Kaschgar in the Tchernovodsk Free Province and patrols to the south go as far as Aguilar in the Skullhorn Free Province. The 5th Division rotates with the 13th every 3 months. There has been a recent redeployment within Jherek's Divisions which has not been updated in the official Glantrian TOE (The Grand Army of Glantri.... revised and updated' (Printed by the Piazza Press; Glantri City, Glantri). The 1st Banners from the 5th and 13th Divisions have been redeployed in the last month from Bramyra Camp and Skullhorn Pass Camp respectively to Skullhorn Pass Tower. Orders have been sent for the Banners to familiarise themselves with the tower, it's defences, and the local terrain. A recent change to official Glantrian defensive doctrine has stated that Skullhorn Pass Tower is to be held as long as possible as a rearguard in case of invasion, to allow time for troops (if needed) to move into the western end of the Pass from the heart of Glantri, and to allow as many civilians and military if necessary to escape from the eastern Colossus foothills.
Urmahid keeps a separate Skullhorn Pass Tower garrison of 120 elite cavalry-based archers. He also keeps 60 personal guard on hand to maintain order among the principality's small populace. The Prince has encouraged though he found little encouragement was needed, to keep a strong and well trained militia to supplement the Glantrian army units stationed here. As most of the population are very good horse riding and grow up learning how to shoot a bow, the Glantrian High Command has estimated a militia force of up to 900 mounted archers could be called to service in times of need.
History: The history of the Principality of Bramyra begins with the County of Skullhorn Pass for both were created with the Ethengarians to the east in mind. The Council of Princes had long debated the defences of Skullhorn Pass, the Camp at the passes centre was thought to be impregnable but some Princes asked.. what if it wasn't. If it fell and if Glantrian forces were deployed elsewhere then the Capital itself might fall before troops could be redeployed. Finally in 992 the Princes managed to overcome the arrogance of the Glantrian military in the person of Prince Jaggar and created a dominion at the east end of the Pass which would be responsible for defence and slowing down any invasion till reserves might be brought up. However bitter the debate was about the creation of the County of Skullhorn Pass (by law any dominion between 51 and 80 miles from the Capital must be Counties), then matters got kicked up a notch when discussion turned to who should hold this post. Normally an open dominion within Glantri would be settled by and Award's Festival, but the Council of Princes did not want this to go to an Awards Festival. The reasoning being that this was a strategically vital assignment and the last thing Glantri needed or could allow was to potentially have a mediocre noble to hold such a position. Names of viscounts and barons were tossed about and for each they were either found to be lacking, or known to have no interest in moving or taking such a position. That left the Council at wits end, after a recess the Council came back and when they did Prince Jherek asked to have the floor and speak. He was granted permission and here is a transcript of what he said.
Prince Jherek: My fellow Princes, and Princesses of the Council. We have spent the last week trying to find the noble best suited for this vital position which would be the first line of defence of our beloved nation. They have all been found lacking, or unable to take this dominion for various reasons. Some of you (nods to Jaggar, and Vanserie) still question loyalty of the Ethengarian population of ...
Prince Vanserie: (in a rising voice) I think
Prince Etienne: Silence!.. let Jherek finish ..
Jherek: this nation of OURS. Yet my ancestors and my people have fought, bled and died to help establish and protect our beloved nation. Let me introduce a man to you whom I believe we can trust to handle this vital position and would be a fine addition to our noble ranks as a powerful wizard and graduate of the Great School. *speaks to the doorman* Coleman, you may show my guest in.
*in walks a tall dark haired man, with a long thin moustache, dressed in the distinctively ornate robes and headgear of an Ethengarian Lord.. and chaos erupts in the Council*
Prince Innocenti: Minchia!!!!!!!!!!
Prince Jaggar: what kind of madness is this!
Vanserie: NO!!!!!!! I CAN NOT ALLOW THIS! *grabs wand*
Etienne: *chuckles and claps hands* Sacré bleu!!!!!!
The man Prince Jherek introduced the council that day was Urmahid Krinagar. A man known to the Council as a master spy and a personal enemy of the Great Khan of Ethengar, as well as life-long friend and brother-in-law to Prince Jherek. After order was restored to the Council and tempers cooled off, discussion continued. The merits of having Urmahid as the new Count were laid out with the precision of a lawyer in a courtroom by Jherek. The man has dedicated his life, literally, to help defend Glantri and has earned a substantial price on his head and death sentence from the Khan if ever captured. He was already known to be a capable wizard and graduate of the Great School so after another week of heated debate the council voted. With the support of everyone but Jaggar and Vanserie, Urmahid Krinagar was selected to be the choice of the Council to submit TO the council a bid to create the County of Skullhorn Pass after which his proposal would be accepted and he would join the ranks as the Count of Skullhorn Pass.
Krinagar ran his County smoothly and even gained the respect of Sir Duncan and Lord Eachainn in war games and tactical simulations over the years. The council must have been impressed with their selection and his performance and soon discussion turned to expanding control over the eastern Colossus foothills. Krinagar was asked by Prince Jherek to quietly begin to accumulate the needed signatures from those in rapidly growing and expanding Bramyra region. That he did and in 1003 he presented to the Council of Princes a proposal for an Act of Enfoeffment of the Bramyra region and produced the needed signatures. Debate raged again in the council and yet again Jaggar and Vanserie were the odd Princes out as the Council voted to ratify the Act of Enfoeffment and thus on Sviftmont 17 1003 the Principality of Bramyra was established. In the decade since the establishment of the Principality Urmahid has gone to great effort to build up the region and exploit it economically. He has had great success as the population and prosperity of the people here have grown substantially since the Enfoeffment. He has not wasted time nor money constructing defences in the region knowing the area is impossible to hold, militarily and politically if the Khan attacked in force. The tactical doctrine is to bleed the attackers and give ground grudgingly while removing people and resources to the west toward Skullhorn Pass. As such much of the wealth of the region is not static but easily transportable. There are no fancy buildings decorated with gold in Bramyra, no jewel laden decorations. The people of the region place their wealth in horses and the number and quality of horses shows more of a man's place in this region than gold or gems.
Food: Sufficient
Trails: The town of Bramyra is the junction of three main trails in eastern Glantri. All three have been rated as fair quality by Glantrian AAA. The Alexander Glantri Memorial Highway runs south through the hills of the Skullhorn Free Province ultimately ending in the Lower Vesubian Free Province at the fortress of Monteleone. The Trans-Boldavia Bramyra Highway runs north from Bramyra to Fort Tchernovodsk. Both trails have travellers advisories issued by the Glantrian Commission of Homeland Security. Both are listed current threat levels of yellow, which means significant risk of Ethengarian raiders. The third trail The Skullhorn Pass road runs west through the Pass and ends in Fenswick. Numerous other trails crisscross the Principality connecting smaller settlements with each other and with the main settlements in the Principality.
Economics: The Principality of Bramyra imports: precious woods, tea, coffee, and ivory and exports iron, horses, potatoes, turnips, cattle, basketry, woodwork. The mines in the mountains produce a fair amount of iron, while in the foothills the raising of horses provide the main resources of the Principality. Despite hostilities and political suspicions, Bramyra relies heavily upon trade with Ethengar for its survival; therefore, charges of dealing in contraband (any Ethengarian merchandise) are not taken seriously in Bramyra Taxation rates in the Principality are standard with normal Glantrian tax rates. Bramyra as of the time of this writing, 1014, is a rapidly growing Principality and expanding economically a great clip. The GNP of the Principality has increased every year since the establishment of the Principality. Urmahid's comptroller has been heard to say that he expects a double digit increase if things continue to grow as they have in 1015.
Notable sites: The town of Bramyra was established a hundred years ago as a trading posts and early warning station against an invasion from the Great Khan. Over the years the town and the surrounding area have grown and formed it's own community which was cemented when the area was enfeoffed. The town is a dusty, dirty frontier town with little thought given to aesthetics when the town was built. Individual homes are built with defence in mind with shale roofs and brick construction with arrow slits set in strategic spaces. The one area of town that a visitor might find interesting is the great horse market of Bramyra where the pride of Bramyian horses can be bought, sold, and traded. Here you can find the rival of the Palatinsk Tersk breed for Glantrian horse of choice. The finest of the Bramyian Mori can be found here. The Mori is exceptional in rough terrain and has excellent endurance and even a short but lightning quick burst of speed.
Coat of Arms: 
Useful links: Principalities of Krondahar and Bramyra by Jennifer Guerra
GPD - House Krinagar
The Economy of Bramyra by Aleksei Andrievski
Belcadiz, Principality of
Area: 1232 square miles
Population: 13,388
Towns: New Alvar (5,100) Capital of the Principality of Belcadiz. Detailed below
Villages: Xeres (778) Located just to the southwest of New Alvar. In Yarthmont, the village of Xeres, holds its Horse Fair, where the best horses of the whole area are on show; Glantrian nobles from every principality are seen at the fair, bargaining for the finest elven steeds.
Rota (456) This village, renowned for it's Carnival celebration is located north of New Alvar in the in Colossus foothills. It is a major destination for the gold and silver coming out of the mines in the Colossus. Several large smelting operations are based here which turn the raw gold and silver into ingots and then sent to New Alvar.
Vega (645) Vega is a large village southeast of New Alvar. The pride of Vega is the famed Vegan Rapier. The area is renowned for it's weapon making, but the Vegan is what makes the village famous. The Vegan is the epitome of Belcadizan workmanship, attention to detail, and quality. Ownership of a Vegan rapier is a sign of upper social standing, available to anyone who can afford the price (starting at 200 ducats for an unadorned base model, and with no upper limit but for the imagination and tastes of the buyer). The town's leading citizen, Cesar Álvarez, and head of the union of Rapier smiths in Vega sponsors the annual Carnival celebration in Vega and it is one of the most wild in infamous in all of Belcadiz.
Medina (387) Located just to the south of the Palace of Alhambra this area is the prime olive growing area in the Principality. Most olives are pressed by workers into Oil, while others are destined for the plates of Glantrian diners.
Montila (213) The small village in the southeastern hills of Belcadiz is set in the midst of the grape producing area of the Principality.
At the end of Fyrmont and beginning of Ambyrmont, when the grape harvest starts, there are feasts in all the wine-producing areas. The one in Montila is one of the best known.
Ethnic groups: Belcadizan Elf 75%, Belcadizan Human 20%, Others 5%
Languages: Belcadizan, Thyatian.
Ruler: Princess Carnelia de Belcadiz y Fedorias, Marquesa del Alhambra, Commander of Glantrian 3rd Army Corp, Commander of Glantrian 2nd and 10th divisions, Viceroy of Monteleone (E10 Atk Rank M, High Mistress of Witchcraft, AL- Neutral)
House: Alhambra
Military: Princess Carnelia has full command of both of her divisions as both are deployed between her Principality and Fort Monteleone of which she is Vice-Queen. The 2nd Division is currently stationed at Ft. Monteleone. Every 3 months it rotates assignment with the 10th Divisions. The 10th Division's 1st and 4th Banners are stationed in New Alvar. The 2nd, 3rd Banners are stationed in Tristan out of Monteleone are also under the jurisdiction and command of Princess Carnelia. With the death of Don Hippolito, Princess Carnelia's oldest brother and the castellan of Fort Monteleone, her younger brother Don Diego was appointed the Castellan of Monteleone.
History:
Excerpts from 1) The History of House Alhambra (Great School of Magic Press, Glantri City, Glantri. AC1000)
Written by noted Glantrian Scholar Harri Mäki
Excerpts from 2)Glantrian History on a Ducat - The History of Glantri 1000-1014 (Beggar’s Court Publishing, The West Side Glantri City, Glantri. AC1014)
written by Micky, infamous socialite, part-time comedian, student of Professor Mäki, and all around bad boy
First Years in Highlands
The Belcadiz elves arrived in the foothills of the Colossus Mounts in the middle of the 2nd century BC. Their leader at that time was a cultivated elder elf, Don Fernando Vicente Olivar de Guerra. They begin to build a new settlement, which they name Nuevo Alvar, to the north of River Vesubia.
De Belcadiz was one of the leading families amongst the elves. Their leader in those days was Don Leonardo de Belcadiz. He was as diminutive as all male amongst Belcadiz elves, but he had an authoritative aura around him. He had a steel grey goatee and drooping moustaches. His fiery temper had been softening by the age.
From the beginning the elves have problems with the humanoids of the Broken Lands and in AC 148 Don Leonardo was killed defending retreating elven hunting party from the mountains. His successor was his son Don Sancho. He was like a younger copy from his father only much fiercer.
In AC 178 Don Fernando dies at the age of 670. After period of mourning, the power struggle begins. Four families (de Guerra, de Fedorias, de Casanegra and de Belcadiz) dominate the proceedings, and there can be no clear agreement of a new clan leader. Strife breaks out amongst the factions. Don Sancho is unbending in his demands. He would not accept any compromises.
Many elves fear that the factional strife will lead to all-out civil unrest. Cries for compromise begin to build. In AC 180 an elven cleric, Don Juan Antonio de Caixas, begins to gain support as a compromise candidate for clan leader. Caixas however refuses the title, saying that clan needs stronger leadership than that limited position can provide. He wants to reinstate the ancient monarchy. Many elders are scandalised, but the idea is popular with many younger elves. Caixas continues to prove his leadership skills as the elders debate.
In AC 183 Don Sancho is poisoned. He had been the hardest opponent of compromise. His young (118) son Don Miguel instead is ready for compromise. He is inexperienced and doesn't want to continue strife with other families.
In AC 185 the unity is at last reached and Don Juan is named King over all the families of Clan Alhambra. The position is conditional: power is not absolute, he must confer with the elders on all matters before reaching a decision. The elders may remove a King from power under certain circumstances, such as abuse of power, provided it is also the will of the people. The crown is not hereditary, but rather shall pass to the most capable leader upon death or removal of the king.
During the next years Don Miguel get more experience until he is one of the most respected warriors and wizards amongst the elves. And when in AC 362 Don Juan dies in his sleep Don Miguel is chosen to be the next king.
Years went relatively peaceful; there were always humanoids but nothing more serious. Until in AC 535 when the elves met the southward pushing Flaems. The elves had known about the Flaems since they came to Highlands, but now they first time began to compete from same land. The Flaems had been fighting with all their neighbours since their coming to the Highlands and now they considered the elves only as a new threat. Elves had to retreat back to woods around the foothills of the mountains after only a couple of years of war.
The raiding went on for another couple of years. Then in AC 565 Don Miguel contacted the leaders of southern Flaem holdings and proposed a meeting. That was arranged at the meetings of Red River and Vesubia. Don Miguel sent his eldest son Don Manuel with his retinue to the meeting. The elves realised too late that the Flaems had set up a trap. The elves were seized and ceremoniously sacrificed in the holy fire of the Flaems. Don Miguel was of course furious for this betrayal. This is something that still burns in their memory and is very much the reason for their bad relations with the Flaems.
Thanks to Don Miguel's second sons Don Antonio's military genius, the less numerous elves were able to keep their positions against the magical might of the Flaems during the 7th century. There were not two peaceful years in a row during the whole century, but one must also acknowledge that one of the reasons that there was no peace was Don Miguel's want for revenge. At first he executed all messengers from the Flaems and when his councillors at last got him at the negotiation table he couldn't stand any demands from the Flaems.
At the beginning of the 8th century both sides were finally tired of fighting. In AC 702 they made a truce and the southern Flaemish lords promised the lands between Vesubia and Colossus Mounts to the elves. Don Miguel was relieved.
In AC 710 something happened that changed everything: the Erewan elves came to the Highlands from Alfheim. Their leader, Charan Erewan, immediately contacted Don Miguel and acknowledged his authority, asking permission to settle amongst the dark-skinned elves. The alliance between two elven clans was sealed in AC 712, when Don Miguel's younger son, Don Fernando, married Charan Erewan's sister Charlena. The two young elves had fallen in love immediately after their first meeting two years earlier, but it had taken some time to convince the leaders of the desirability of this marriage.
In the same year Don Miguel and Charan Erewan also decided that the area was too crowded for both elven groups. Don Miguel proposed that the Erewan elves would move to the woods between Vesubia and Red River were only a few Flaemish woodcutters were living. Unfortunately Don Miguel didn't even bother to ask permission from the Flaems. So, immediately after the Erewan elves moved there, the Flaemish lords declared that the elves had broken the truce and began raiding again. Many raids were targeted against the Belcadiz elves and in AC 717 Don Antonio fell defending the city of New Alvar.
Don Fernando de Belcadiz
After Don Antonio's death Don Miguel withdraw himself from the government, he kept the title of King but gave actual power to don Fernando. The elves where now ruled by the new generation. Don Fernando was only 136, his wife Charlena 125, his younger brother Alfonso 62 and his brother-in-law Charan Erewan 175-years-old. They were all still young for elven standards. Don Fernando had been living all his earlier years in the middle of the fighting against the humanoids or the Flaems, but contrary to most other elves of his generation he was already tired of it. He was more mild-tempered than most other male elves of his clan. All he really wanted was peace, so that he could concentrate on family life with his beloved wife, Charlena.
At first it looked as though that would remain only as dream. He couldn't control elder clan leaders who wanted to avenge his brothers' deaths, so the skirmishing continued on and on for 13 years without any great gains for either side. Then in AC 730 settlers from Alasiyan and Traladaran lands changed the situation.
When the settlers came over the Broken Lands, the elves were at first wary of them. But then Don Fernando realised that if he established good relations with them, he could use them as a buffer against the Flaems. He met the leaders of the settlers and promised them a safe route through the elven forests to the more open areas at the river valleys, if they would protect the forests from the aggressions of the Flaems once they settled there. The leaders realised the motives of Don Fernando for making this proposal, but as they had no desire for either settling in the forests or fighting their way through it, they accepted the proposal.
The move was brilliant. The other elves were at first against it, but when Don Miguel accepted it they couldn't resist any longer. They also realised that the settlers were not a threat to them and that in the future fighting would continue between different groups of humans. They could now concentrate their troops against the humanoids.
The next years were peaceful for the elves. The settlers and the Flaems were fighting against each other and the elves were left in peace. Don Fernando kept good relations with the first generation of the settlers, but when the second generation came to power the relations began to deteriorate. Especially leaders of the Thyatian settlers demanded more support against the Flaems, so after AC 754 Don Fernando broke all relations with the settlers.
When Joachim Von Drachenfels sent his envoys to propose a unified state in the area in AC 762, Don Fernando announced that the elves had no desire to let the humans decide anything concerning their lands. They wanted to keep their independence and if someone tried to take it away from them, they would resist with arms. One thing that affected the decision was that Don Fernando and the other elven leaders recognised Joachim's thirst for power and didn't like it.
These were happy years for Don Fernando. There was generally peace in elven forests. Some humanoid raids happened but that was all. The only dark cloud was that he and Charlena didn't get a child. This was not a big problem for them because as elves they had all the time in the world, but anyhow after 40-years trying the thing began somewhat to preoccupy them.
The Forty Years War
When the all-out war broke between the Flaems and the settlers in AC 784, settler leaders again approached the elves. Don Fernando's answer was same as 20 years earlier: the elves didn't want to take any part in a war among humans.
Then in the spring of AC 786 Joachim von Drachenfels came in person to negotiate with the elven leaders. He was well prepared and used just the right arguments. He promised to recognise their independence at the end of the war and he also told them that this was a good opportunity, maybe the last one, to avenge the deaths of Don Manuel, Don Antonio and countless of other dead at the hands of the Flaems. Don Fernando was still against the war, but he knew that he couldn't control the younger generation led by his own brother Don Alfonso, the words of Joachim had also lit the fire in the heart of old Don Miguel. So Don Fernando gave away and promised his support to the settlers.
During the next years the elves fought side-by-side with the settlers and the newly arrived Alphatian battlemages in every major battle. Don Fernando didn't personally take part in the fighting, he left the leadership of elven troops to Don Alfonso and Charan Erewan assisted by Don Miguel. At the battle of Braastar the elven longbowmen were decisive in guaranteeing the victory. To Don Alfonso, the battle was personally both a triumph and a tragedy. He slew alone the King Willem van Drees and six of his bodyguards. On the other hand, his only son, Felipe, was among the casualties. Also Don Miguel was slain in the age 723.
Don Fernando arrived in Braastar immediately after receiving the announcements of his father's and Joachim von Drachenfels's deaths. He took the leadership of the elves in negotiations leading to the establishment of the Republic of the Highlands, while Don Alfonso hurried home with his father's and son's bodies. The negotiations were surprisingly easy because everyone was looking for peace. The Flaems were so totally defeated that they had no objections against anything the allies wanted them to accept, so the settlers got the ownership of the lands they had already occupied and the elves also got the same recognition. Don Fernando also surprised everyone when he announced that the elves wanted to join the new republic. The composition of the new council was also Don Fernando's idea. The settler leaders would have liked a council were there were 1 Flaem, 1 Thyatian, 1 Kerendan, 1 Hattian and 1 elf. Don Fernando's opinion was that this would have been unfair for both the Flaems and the elves, so he proposed that there should be 3 Flaems and 2 elves instead of 1 for both. This was accepted after some negotiations.
Don Fernando and Charan Erewan took the elven seats in the council. They were present at the first meeting when Halzunthram made his coup and captured the council members. At first it seemed that everyone had submitted to his coup, but then the elves made a daring strike under the leadership of Don Alfonso and released the imprisoned Flaemish and elven council members. The Flaems revolted immediately and the elves declared their independence.
Don Fernando was disappointed of the human treachery and once again he wanted to take no part in what was happening in the northwest. Luckily for the elves, Halzunthram was interested in crushing the Flaems more than anything else and so they were left in peace. Only after AC 796, when Thyatians and Kerendans joined the Flaems in the rebellion, were the elves approached. Don Fernando was adamant the elves would have taken no part in the fighting unless someone attacked them first.
Don Fernando's opinion began to change only after Halzunthram enlisted the dwarves to his side in AC 804. The elves had had problems with them for two years already. The dwarves had been filtering through the Broken Lands since the gold findings in AC 802 and the elves didn't like them digging in their forested hills. The situation with the dwarves went from bad to worse, until Don Fernando announced in AC 806 that the elves joined the fight against Halzunthram. Again he left the leadership of the elven troops to his brother Don Alfonso.
The war went on for 22 years and the elven troops suffered great losses during those years. They were mostly fighting against dwarven and Alphatian troops in the southern Highlands. Don Fernando's greatest contributions were his negotiations first with Wilhelm von Drachenfels and then with Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany. Without his efforts Morphail probably wouldn't have joined the rebels in AC 821.
The Republic of the Highlands
The negotiations after the death of Halzunthram were difficult for Don Fernando. His every instinct was against joining the humans in the new regime, but he also realised the advantages that it would bring to elves. They would have allies against the humanoids of the Broken Lands. The other point was that although he was sure that most current human leaders would be his friends, he couldn't be sure about the future generations. His brother Don Alfonso pressed him also very hard for joining, because he could think only its military advantages. But at the end in spite of everything this Don Fernando's decision was not to join the new republic.
When Don Fernando heard about Alexander Glantri's death at the hands of Vortram in AC 835 his trust in humans was nearly destroyed: it was the umpteenth proof that one could never trust them. He was saddened also because he had seen in Alexander the only man capable to hold the republic together. Fortunately his foreboding was erroneous.
When in AC 858 the Light of Rad decision was declared, Don Fernando had already changed his mind about humans. Friedrich von Drachenfels had contacted him and Charan Erewan in 856 and told them about the coming change. Don Fernando thought that reserving rulership to more intelligent people would lessen the chaos, improve the cohesion of the country and lessen the possibilities of wars. Unfortunately in this his foreboding went wrong. He decided to join the Glantri after the decision and Friedrich promised him a position in Council and status of Prince. He was never liked his position as king and he could get out of it. So when Don Fernando declared in 859 elves willingness to join the Principalities only Prince to object was Jacob Vlaardoen I. Don Fernando was given place in Council as Prince of Belcadiz and Marquis of Alhambra.
At the first meeting of the Council Don Fernando was appointed to build a fort against the border of the Broken Lands. Don Fernando was not pleased with this, but he gave the supervising of the building to his brother. Elves surprised everyone when they announced in 861 that Fort Monteleone was finished.
Next year Don Fernando was chosen as Chamberlain of the Land. With this office he was happy. He was by nature a diplomat and an administrator and could now use his talents to their best for building new roads and bridges, and tending forests.
Personal Tragedy
Year 858 was a happy one for Don Fernando, for his son Don Carlo was born. Every elf was happy for Don Fernando and Dona Charlena, because their long efforts had at last born a fruit. Next two years were the happiest in their life. But then dark clouds began to gather over the Belcadiz. Something seemed to be wrong with their son. He had difficulties learning to speak and when at the age of 5 he could at last speak something, it was obvious that he wasn't mentally at the level of other children of the same age. Don Fernando and Dona Charlena were devastated when it was clear that their son wouldn't ever learn even to read. All this was kept secret to the outside world. They said that Don Carlo had a bad health so they didn't want to strain him by meeting with outsiders.
When it was absolutely sure that there was no cure for Don Carlo, Don Fernando was so devastated that he decided that his son should never meet other people. He took him to a secret place known only by him and some clan elders and afterwards announced that his son had died. Dona Charlena guessed what had happened and never forgave his husband that he did that without consulting her first. She was told later where Don Carlo was and given permission to visit him there.
Don Fernando hoped that they could give birth to another child to succeed him, but these hopes were crashed in AC 869, when Dona Charlena, on her way back home from a visit to his brother Charan, was slain in an ambush by some orcs. Don Fernando felt like his whole world was crumbling around him.
Don Fernando blamed his brother-in-law for his wife's death and broke all relations with Erewans. This hostility culminated in the division of the elven Principality in AC 884. During these 15 years, the Erewans were reduced to second-class citizens in the Principality of Belcadiz. There were harsher sentences for them, harsher taxation and so on. The division of the Principality was a hard pillow to swallow for Don Fernando and it broke his good relations with Friedrich von Drachenfels, but anyhow when Friedrich died two years later even Don Fernando couldn't say a bad word about him.
Don Fernando's Last Years
When Etienne d'Ambreville asked Don Fernando to give classes in the Great School of Magic after it was opened in AC 875, he was delighted. He could now find relief only in his work in Etienne's school. So it was no surprise that after d'Ambreville's disappearance in AC 896 he was chosen as new Grandmaster.
He now spent all his time in the school or in rare visits to his mentally retarded son. At first the new responsibilities seemed to revive him, but after AC 910 his state of mind began to worsen. He visited his son more and more frequently and everyone in School realised that every time he came back from Alhambra he was more depressed. Then in AC 912 he made a surprise announcement that he would give up his position as Prince to his brother Don Alfonso, which also meant that he would give up his position as Grandmaster. He went back to Alhambra and only two months later Don Alfonso announced that his brother had died at the age of 331.
In fact, Don Fernando hanged himself in his son's chamber. He had considered his life and seen it as a total failure. He had surrendered the independence of the elves to humans, he had caused the division of the elven Principality, and he had made everyone's life miserable. He couldn't stand it anymore. He also considered killing his son first, but in the end he couldn't do it.
Don Alfonso de Belcadiz
Don Alfonso was 257-years old when he became Prince of Belcadiz. He was in many ways the opposite of his elder brother. In his younger days Don Alfonso was quick-tempered, easily insulted, always waving his rapier at the slightest insult. Now he had somewhat calmed down. But anyhow he was more a warrior than diplomat or administrator like his brother had been. Moreover he had four living children so continuity was secured.
In his younger days Don Alfonso had led the elven warriors in retaliations against humanoids and northern neighbours when necessary. He had also been the warleader of the elven troops first in the war against the Flaems in 780's and then against Halzunthram. In those years rests his claim as greatest Belcadizan warrior ever. After the wars he had been his Brother's deputy in ruling Alhambra. After Don Fernando broke relations with Erewan elves, it was Don Alfonso who realised the oppression of the Erewans. He ruled the Erewan part of the Principality like a military dictator for 14 years. In fact, Don Alfonso never liked Erewans, who he considered as intruders.
After Don Alfonso became a Prince, he heard from the clan's sage, Don Rodrigo de Belcadiz, that his nephew was still alive. He was surprised but could visit him only after Don Fernando's death. His hatred toward Erewan elves only grew when he saw Don Carlo's condition. He blamed them for polluting the Belcadizan blood and immediately forbade marriages between the two elven groups. He never visited Don Carlo again and even forbade Don Rodrigo to speak of him. The only reason Don Carlo survived further was because Dona Leontina, Don Alfonso's wife, took a pity of him and took care of him, helped first by Don Rodrigo and then by his son Alejandro.
After taking a seat in the Council, Don Alfonso was elected as new Supreme Judge, much to his surprise. The previous judge Antonie Vlaardoen V was chosen as the new Grand Master and there was no one else who wanted the position. Don Alfonso was not happy with the situation either, he had hoped to become a Viceroy of some fort, preferably Monteleone. But he realised the advantages of the position and accepted it. He knew that with that position he could harass Erewan elves in Glantri City "legally". Aside from this, Don Alfonso proved a fair Supreme Judge, since he could take a neutral position in human politics; he also relaxed the laws somewhat as his chaotic nature demanded. In AC 937 he was also given a title of Warden of Marches, because of his superior war experience.
Don Alfonso also had one domestic problem: his oldest son Don Hippolito. From the beginning Don Alfonso saw that Don Hippolito would have been a disaster as a ruler, and Dona Leontina had the same opinion. But they didn't agree about who should replace him. They also agreed that their youngest son Don Ricardo was not capable either. Dona Leontina's favourite was the second son Don Diego, while Don Alfonso preferred their only daughter Dona Carnelia, with his husband Don Miguel.
In AC 985 Don Alfonso at last decided to settle the question. He called his family together and announced his decision to pass Don Hippolito. He demanded everyone to swear to honour this decision after his death. Don Hippolito understandably was furious for this and left immediately. Don Alfonso put the question of choosing between Dona Carnelia and Don Diego before the others. Don Ricardo immediately made known his support for his brother. But then came a surprise when Don Diego gallantly announced that he supported his sister and his husband Don Miguel to avoid more family quarrels.
Nobody at that time expected that Don Alfonso's death would come in six years. Don Alfonso's hot-temper cost him his life. In AC 991 he was challenged to fight during a court session and without much pondering he accepted the challenge from an unknown stranger. Only this time he met a better rapierist than he himself was. Don Alfonso was 336-years old when he died heart pierced in the middle of Alexander-Plaza. His killer vanished immediately after the deed was done.
Dona Carnelia de Belcadiz
Everyone was shocked when they heard about Don Alfonso's death. It was so sudden and unexpected. Dona Leontina immediately announced that she had no claims to be a ruler and that she would retire to the Convent. After that Dona Carnelia called his husband Don Miguel back from a mountain expedition, but got no answer. After couple of weeks she realised to his great relief that she was now sole ruler of Alhambra at the age of 179. Her marriage with Don Miguel had been unhappy from the beginning and she didn't shed a tear for him.1)
In the years since Princess Carnelia took over the Principality she has proven to be an adroit ruler and an effective commander having learned well from her father, and her husband, Miguel de Fedorias. Carnelia was seen as an effective commander of the Glantrian 3rd Corp by many observers throughout the nation. She whipped her reserve formations into combat shape as quickly as the more ‘noted’ commanders like Jagger, and Morphail. Her first real test came in 1007 when Thar launched a lightning assault into Glantri. While much of the thrust was aimed at Blackhill, many hordes came into the lower Vesubian Valley in support of the main thrust. Princess Carnelia showed great tactical acumen in her deployments of the 2nd, 10th, 19th, and 38th Divisions in the Battle of Asadras in 1007 where her forces, outnumbered 2 to 1, inflicted 60% casualties while losing less than 500 herself. She was also credited with engineering the creative resupply of the encircled 21st, and 24th divisions at Trintan, which never fell during Thar’s invasion. When the siege of Glantri City was finally broken and Thar pushed back to the Broken Lands, the Council of Princes approved a second draft of reserves to help replace losses. A third draft was implemented in the fall of 1008 when the Council realised that it was only a matter of time before Alphatia knocked out Thyatis and would be invading Glantri directly. In the spring of 1009 Glantri reached it’s maximum mobilisation and had some 90 army divisions deployed in the field, most were put in the likely paths of expected Alphatian invasion. As commander of the 3rd Corp and being precisely in line with the expected Alphatian axis of advance, Carnelia thus was given command of 20 Glantrian divisions and her 3rd Corp was designated the 3rd Glantrian Army. She devoted all of her time in this years, as many Princes did, to military matters and had little time for managing her Principality. Belcadiz was not immune to the plague that ravaged Glantri during these years yet for some unknown reason the rate of mortality among the Belcadiz was the lowest in all of Glantri. Some Flaems went as far as to claim that clerics were being harboured among the Belcadiz, and being that the Belcadiz were later the leading supporter and proponent of the suspension of restrictions regarding clerics, few believed the Belcadiz claims to the contrary.
The invasion everyone feared never happened of course as Alphatian was defeated by the Glantri using the magical might and ingenuity of the Glantrians. Showing that while Alphatia might have had more wizards, Glantrian wizards were simply more powerful. The post war years have been one of rebuilding for Belcadiz as well as the rest of Glantri. While the Principality suffered little in the way of direct impact of the war as Thar’s humanoids never made it into Belcadiz in any strength, the people did pay a heavy price. Many lives were lost on the battlefields of southern Glantri, and the prosperity of the pre-war years was shattered. The last four years have been as challenging to the Princess as any battle she fought. She has successfully restarted trade and commerce. The gold and silver mines are back to full production and the fields are fully manned and turning out the products that make Belcadiz such a wealthy Principality. 2)
Food: Sufficient
Trails: The town of New Alvar is linked to Nyra by a good trail. Many fair trails criss-cross the region linking villages throughout the Principality and the Free Province of Nyra
Economics: Belcadiz is a temperate realm of rolling hills and dry, though not arid, soil. Conventional agriculture is thus difficult in this principality, but the elves have made the most of it, cultivating grapes, olives, and fruits. Belcadiz also encompasses a large stand of forest running to the Vesubia river valley; while the forest is protected by royal decree, the princess and her forebears have been known to sell small tracts of the tall oaks for lumber in tight economic times. The southern Colossus Mounts, which border the principality, have made those troubled times more rare in the past century, since the elves discovered (and maintained mines for) gold and silver there. Belcadiz imports grains, stone, wood, gems, textiles, perfume, and exports fine metalwork, precious metals, weapons, wine, olive oil, cured meats, lace, pottery, fruits.
Notable sites: The town of New Alvar is the capital of the Principality of Belcadiz. New Alvar is considered to be a shopping mecca for Glantrians. The town’s lively central market is a collage of colours, people, languages and superior products. Belcadiz has a long tradition of making high quality leather goods, clothing, embroidery and lace, jewellery (especially gold and silver), blown glass and wonderful, unique pottery. Other items to look for include antiques, the famous porcelains, and musical instruments. Notably Belcadiz guitarras are world famous, yet inexpensive here in New Alvar. Also in New Alvar is the famed Las Ventas. The social centre of the whole Principality. The world famous bullfighting ring has hosted Emperors, Chancellors, Kings and Queens. It is an architectural marvel and is something every Glantrian should see at least once in their lives.
Coat of Arms: 
Useful links: Principalities of Belcadiz by Jennifer Guerra
History of House Alhambra by Harri Mäki
The Economy of Belcadiz by Aleksei Andrievski
Mongolia, Viscounty of
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 1050
Villages: Briasma (210) is a thriving village that existed long before the Viscounty was formed. The village traces it's history back to before the foundation of the Republic. Long a mining town, after discovery of one of the few large deposits of platinum discovered in Glantri. When the Viscounty was formed, this town was naturally selected as the administrative seat of the dominion. A new tower was constructed by the incoming Viscount which was built on a ridge overlooking the town.
Pastense (101) Located in the southeastern hills, is like any of the thousands of small village that dot the Glantrian landscape. Few though draw as many tourists from as far as Pastense does. (see notable sites)
Ethnic groups: Thyatian 55%, Ethengarian 15%, Boldavian 15%, Flaem 10%, others 5%.
Languages: Thyatian (common) is the most common language here and the language of business, official and commercial. Like the rest of Glantri, any number of languages are to be found.
Ruler: Viscount Pieter Vandehaar
House: Linden
Military: The 'Crimson Knights' are a handpicked force selected for strength, constitution, experience and devotion to the magocracy. They were introduced to the people of the Viscounty by the new Viscount himself on one of his few early stays in the Viscounty. The 'knights' also happen to all be Flaemish and are fanatically loyal to the Vandehaar and his gold. The Crimson Knights served Vandehaar as his Baronial Guard while in Oxhill and with his promotion to Viscount he was allowed under the Glantrian Military Supervision Law to carry more men in his guard. An additional 30 men were recruited in Bergdhoven to be the Viscount's fist in the 'barbarian reaches' as the Viscount is oft to call his new dominion.
Crimson Knights: (50) (F3, Strength 16+, Constitution 16+, sword, lance, golden plate, with war horses) Guard Captain (F7, Str-18, Dex -13, Con-17, sword +2, ring of spell turning)
Food: Deficient. Food brought to markets in Viscounty from outlying free territories.
Trails: Briasma is the destination of three trails within the Viscounty. One leads due west into the mountains to the Platinum mines. A second leads southeast through Pastense to the village of Kaschgar in the Tchernovodsk Free Territory. This is the main artery for agriculture to come into the Viscounty. Both those trails have been rated as fair by Glantrian AAA. A third, less used and rated as a poor trail, leads northeast toward Estoniarsk
Economics: While the Viscounty of Mongolia is a new blip on the political radar, the area known to locals as Mongolia has been a settled area since before the foundation of the Republic. Thyatian settlers came to this location drawn by Lonar (see Notable sites) and decided to stay. In 949 prospectors in the mountains above Briasma found a huge deposit of platinum which led to the platinum rush which brought a significant influx of population to the area. This mine is one of the very few deposits of platinum found in Glantri, Gold and Silver being much more common. As Glantri does not use platinum as a means of exchange, in it's currency, the platinum mined is tagged strictly for export, usually to Darokin but increasingly with the Heldann Territories. Some staple foods are grown in the foothills but the space is generally used for livestock so food is important by Free Territory farmers and merchants. Tourism from around the known world pumps money into the economy as well as people come to Pastense to see Lonar.
History:
Viscounts of Mongolia
Pieter Vandehaar 1009-
Mongolia is one of the four new Glantrian dominions founded in 1009. They were created in the last of several rounds of dominion creation by the Council of Princes to help with managing the defences, finances, and population of Glantri, as well as bringing the Parliament in line with all the Act of Enfeoffments of the previous years in which 3 new Principalities were created. There had long been ideas about creating a Viscounty in the Colossus Foothills especially in the mineral rich region between Blofeld and Tchernovodsk but the proposal never gained enough support until the last years of the Alphatian War when events pointed to a final battle on Glantrian soil with the Alphatians. The Council finally resolved the fears of some of the Princes and believed that control over this mineral rich area might help with Glantri's strained finances after years of having such a large standing military force (estimated in the fall of 1009 to have reached a peak of 15% of Glantri's population or 90000 troops, divided into 90 divisions, in preparation for the invasion expected in 1010).
So in the fall of 1009 the title and lands of the newly created Viscounty north of Blofeld was announced to the House of Lords to be open and would be settled in an Awards Tournament. Surprisingly, or perhaps not considering the location and the anticipated axis of advance the Alphatians would take, there were few Barons interested in taking this dominion. Especially of those from the far west. Baron Pieter Vandehaar threw his hat into the ring at the start, as he always did for open Viscounties, and this time he had the luck to run against two Barons that were believed to be beatable. One was an Alphatian Baron, who in spite of having a sterling military record and being the leader of a prominent hunter-killer squad earlier in the war, was still viewed with some suspicion by some groups in the Capital. The second was a bit of a enigma and unknown to nearly all in the Capital. Jella-Lan, a female Krondaharan mage, who became a Baroness in 1007, after her husband died of the plague. (much more on both of them in later instalments) After frenzied politicking, the matter went to Council. There the Alphatian, Borodin, did not receive enough votes and was eliminated. Jella-Lan and Pieter did and the matter went to Parliament. After an impassioned speech by Sinaria Verlein reminded all about what the next year was going to bring, and how Glantri needed proven leaders, not shrinking violets with no experience in the ways of war leading it's frontier dominions, Pieter Vandehaar was selected by the Parliament to be the Viscount of the new dominion.
The new Viscount has little interest in the dominion itself, only it's title and it's resources. To date (1014) he has been to his dominion all of two times. He could not even be troubled to give his new dominion a name. The name submitted was a old nickname that Thyatian miners, who settled the area, used to call it. The origin and meaning of the nickname are lost to time, but the name stuck and was entered officially as the name of the new Viscounty. The Viscount stays at his mansion and is seen (and heard) in every session of Parliament. His son Pieter-Euweke stays at the Tower of Mongolia with his nurse-maid Leena Tijlen. Pieter-Euweke has as much interest in running a dominion as his father does, and spends his days immersed in magical research. Owing to the long friendship that the Viscount has with the head of the Guild of Spokesmen Pieter has the services of the most heralded up and comers in the Guild as his Seneschal. The people of the Viscounty are generally content with their new status as subjects of the Viscount. Many though have questioned the seemingly bizarre laws that came to Mongolia with his rule. Such as requiring every village over 50 people to have a central bonfire, kept burning continuously 24/7, 334 days a year. Most though shrug it off as the eccentricities of mages and scholars. The people continue to work the mines bringing them a good solid income and prosperity.
Notable sites: As alluded to above, the village of Pastense is the destination for tourists from around the known world. Just 5 miles to the southwest of the village is Lonar crater lake. Lonar Lake, which was created by a meteor hitting the Mystara during the Pleistocene epoch, is a saltwater lake. The crater thereby formed is the only hypervelocity meteoritic impact crater on basalt rock. A lake that evolved in the resulting basaltic rock formation, is both saline and alkaline in nature. Geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, naturalists and astronomers from the Great School of Magic have reported several studies on the various aspects of this crater lake ecosystem. Lonar Lake has a mean diameter of 1.2 kilometres (3,900 ft) and is about 137 metres (450 ft) below the crater rim. The meteor crater rim is about 1.8 kilometres (5,900 ft) in diameter. The circular depression bears a saline water lake in its central portion. The crater's age is estimated to be 52,000 ± 6,000 years. Many visitors come to see this wonder of nature and sit in the alkaline water which has been rumoured to be magical and can prolong one's life by decades. So far the Great School of Magic has found no proof of those claims.
Coat of Arms: Three stacks of gold coins on a field of white
Useful links: GPD – Pieter Vandehaar by Giovanni Porpora
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 770
Villages: Schwabach (154) This picturesque village sits on a spur of Mount Celione, over a 1000 feet above the foothills of the Viscounty. The village serves as the economic and administrative centre for the Viscounty. The Tower of Blofeld, the tower of the Viscount himself, looms even further up the mountain and overlooks the village.
Dologhon (110) This village in the northwest foothills of the Viscounty is the centre of what little agriculture the Viscounty manages. A brisk parade of farmers and merchants from the Free Territories congregate here and proceed up to Schwabach to bring the food to the predominantly mountainous Viscounty and it's population working the mines.
Ethnic groups: Flaem 40%, Ethengarian 25%, Boldavian 15%, Thyatian 10%, Fen 5%, Other 5%.
Languages: Thyatian (common) is the most common language here and the language of business, official and commercial. Like the rest of Glantri, any number of languages are to be found.
Ruler: Viscount Rolf Graustein
House: Ritterburg
Military: The Viscount employs a standing force of 20 mounted Bowman (F1, short bow, riding horse) and 30 heavy foot (F1, chain, shield, sword). The heavy foot are quartered in Schwaback and rotate assignments, by squad, to the mines to guard the workers and the mines themselves. While in Schwaback they enforce law and order, which is a full time duty since the miners out on the town can be a bit rowdy after several rounds. The mounted horsemen patrol the foothills and are stationed in Dologhon. The Viscounts tower employs no servants nor guards from the local population. The viscount has his own special guards and servants.
Food: Deficient. Food brought to markets in Viscounty from outlying free territories.
Trails: Blofeld has one trail of note. The McDonald Memorial Thruway. The trail is rated good by the Glantrian AAA, having been improved over the years to make sure the mines can deliver their bounty and food gets to them from the lower foothills. The trail runs from the Glenfiddich mining complex to the northeast passing through Schwaback and down the mountain to Dologhon. A fair trail leads out of the Viscounty towards the village of Kaschgar in the Tchernovodsk Free Territory which in turn lays on the Trans Boldavia Bramyra Highway. Several poor trails go deeper into the mountains used by hunters, trappers and prospectors looking for the next big strike.
Economics: Blofeld's economics revolve around mining in the Colossus Mounts. The scant hill country to the northeast brings some agriculture and herds to feed those of the mountains but not near enough to feed them all so Blofeld is one of the primary destinations for local Free Territory farmers and merchants to bring their produce and herds to market. What transformed this once solitary refuge for wizards who wanted privacy was the discovery in 935 of a large deposit of gold about 6 miles southwest of Schwaback. After a number of years expanding the original mine and building infrastructure to handle the extraction, and collection needs of a major gold mine. The mine fully began sending large quantities of gold to Glantri City where it was sold at market to foreign merchants. The mine has helped solidify Glantri as one of the known world's largest exporters of precious metals.
History:
Sigmund Pieinants 829-837
The Viscounty of Blofeld was established out of the ashes of the old Flaemish aristocracy. When the Flaems held power over the whole of the Highlands, power was concentrated in the hands of the seven families that ruled the Seven Duchies of the Highlands. At the end of the 40 Years War and with the establishment of the Republic of Glantri there were only four of the seven families left. Only one of the families, the Vlaardoen were given a seat a seat on the Council (only one per ethnic group was given a seat) and the rest of the old ducal families demanded to have duchies as they had before the war. In fact the Flaems didn't stop with that. Flaems insisted to have seven Duchies. Others allowed them seven fiefs but, due to the fact the fiefs weren't as large as previous Flaemish Duchies, Flaems were imposed lower titles. Frederick Vlaardoen, who convinced the other Flaem nobles to accept the Republic and was elected council member, was very annoyed by this. But Alexander Glantri convinced him by offering the most powerful position in the Council, the Supreme Judge. To have other nobles accept this situation Vlaardoen agreed in degrading Linden to Viscounty, a title lower than most of other Flaemish fiefs. Other nobles agreed, after all Flaemish people continued to call them Duke anyhow. One of the old Ducal families was the Pieinants family and they were given the new Viscounty of Blofeld on the eastern slopes of the Colossus Mounts. This rather isolated fief was in charge of keeping a good look to Ethengar and of helping Skullhorn Pass' garrisons. Pieinants were the more warrior-like Flaem family. Also they had been dukes in Braastar, and with the Ethengarian possession of Braastar, attitudes towards Ethengarians were really strained and always have been between the Flaems and Ethengarians in the Viscounty especially.
The Viscounty was an important for the Flaemish, being a watchtower on the eastern frontier to watch the horsemen of the Steppes as well as supporting the defence of Skullhorn Pass. There was little to the dominion but what could be scratched out of the ground in those days. Many wizards, especially Flaemish, took the wilderness of Blofeld as the perfect place for their towers where they might enjoy peace, quiet and security under the Flaemish Viscount. The Viscounty was a economic afterthought during these early years but was a strategically important dominion for Glantri. In time the Pieinants family moved on to a higher title and Blofeld became a regular revolving door for many years. The dominion remained a poor, underpopulated refuge for wizards until a prospecting mission, sponsored by the viscount at the time Lothar McDonald, discovered a large vein of gold in the mountains within the borders of the Viscounty. With the mines came not only wealth, but people. The land was overrun with those who came searching for jobs in the mines and prospectors looking for a little piece of the action themselves. McDonald closed the border to new immigrants and violently expelled squatters and those that did not have the proper licenses needed to prospect or mine within the Viscounty. Today in Blofeld the dominion is a hardworking and generally prosperous dominion. The Viscount Rolf von Graustein is completely engrossed in his magical studies and leaves rule of the Viscounty to his sister. Frau Tabitha von Graustein. She is by all accounts a stern, yet fair and caring ruler. She drops in at the Leaky Dyke Tavern occasionally for the Aalbanese Lager they keep on hand just for her, and a friendly game of darts. The people that meet her like her and the dominion is generally a happy prosperous dominion, though conflicts, sometimes bloody, sometimes even fatal, between the Flaemish and Ethengarian population pop up with some regularity.
Notable people/sites: The Tower of the Nine Moons is located deep in the Colossus Mounts near the northwest border of the Viscounty. The tower itself is unoccupied, the previous owner killed 20 years ago when he teleported into solid rock on his way to catch some sun and fun in Ierendi City. The dungeons of the tower are not unoccupied though. Hidden in the dungeon of the tower is a detachment of some 15 heavily armed Dwarves from Rockhome, who slipped across the border unseen and took refuge in the unoccupied tower. What their purpose is.. remains to be seen.
Schwabach is a picturesque village perched precariously on a mountain spur with fantastic views of the hills to the northeast and on a good day you can even see into Ethengar. The town is a clean, well kept village with many services geared towards supporting the local mining population. The population is predominantly Flaemish, descendants of those that came originally to Blofeld. The village is notable for the famous Schwabach Swing which is an alpine climbing tournament held every 2nd week in Felmont. The best climbers from around Glantri, and even some from out of Glantri come to the village to test their skills on Mount Celione where there the shear drop of 1500 feet. Several climbers have lost their lives in the Swing but that has only reinforced the nature of the challenge and the danger. The Viscount puts up the prize money and awards the winner himself with a Gold Metal and a substantial monetary reward.
Coat of Arms: Useful links: Glantrian Nobility during the years, History of House Ritterburg, and Linden by Harri Mäki
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 778
Villages: Grangemouth (162) Located on top of a rise overlooking the Colossus foothills Grangemouth is the administrative centre of the County. Miners working the County's gold mines use this town as a collection point for the ore they mine and a home base for operations. A rough village that has never lost it's frontier nature in spite of being several hundred years old, it is located just below fortress of the Count of Glenargyll which overlooks the town on Mount Galloway
Killmoreeths (189) A walled village in the southeastern hills. The village is noted for producing a particularly choice vintage of whiskey that has grown in popularity over the years outside of the County. The village is the agricultural centre of the County and has is centre for the area's lamb herding population.
Ethnic groups: Kaelic 50%, Thyatian 30%, Ethengarian 15%, others 5%.
Languages: Thyatian, Kaelic
Ruler: Count Antonio di Tarento
House: Sirecchia
Military: The Counties long standing Scotch Guard was disbanded in 1004 when Antonio di Tarento was raised to Count of Glenargyll thus ending nearly 200 years of Kaelic rule of Glenargyll. A handpicked force of 30 men, apparently Thyatian, enforces the Count's law now. The residents of Glenargyll are not happy with the current Count but know best to keep their mouths shut. The Counts men brutally enforce the laws of Glantri and seem to take particular enjoyment in meting out punishment. Enforcement is random and capricious and sometimes very violent. The Seneschal who rules in the Count's name seems to care about making sure the gold flows in the County than for the lives of it's people. Most realise that the Counts have never cared as much for their lives and this one is no different. It has taken time for the people to accept the rule of a non-Kaelic but since the Count leaves them alone they just go on living their lives.
Food: Deficient. Food brought to markets in County from outlying free territories.
Trails: Glenargyll has a single poor quality trail leading from Grangemouth through Killmoreeths and off to the southeast where it intersects the Alexander Glantri Memorial Highway. Trails lead into the mountains from Grangemouth to the gold mines which bring a slow but steady flow of gold back to the Count's appointed representative for collection and payment.
Economics: Glenargyll has never been a particularly rich dominion but it does bring in a steady income in gold from the nearby mountains. Gold has been taken from the mountains for the last 150 years in this area. There has never been that huge strike that some areas might have, but prospectors have continued to find numerous smaller veins that while keeping Glenargyll from being considered a major supplier of gold, does keep the County financial viable and keeps a steady income coming in. The foothills do produce a particularly popular blend of malt whiskey and grain whiskey which is shipped off to expatriates in Glantri City, and Sablestone.
History:
Percival McDougall 829-861
The McDougall family, the founders of the County of Glenargyll, were a distinguished and renowned warrior clan on the Kaelic's home world of Laterre. They were closely related to the prominent McGregor clan, whose leaders were wizards of a darker side (mostly sorcerers and necromancers). Their clan holdings were close to each other and near the border between the kingdoms of Kaelics and the Fens. Besides the war with the Fen, the two clans were troubled with strained relations of McGregors towards other clans. The situation, over time, went from bad to worse and only solution for McGregors was an escape through the gate that leader of the clan, Brannart McGregor, had recently found in co-operation with the Fen witches. McDougalls wanting escape the war decided to follow their allies to a new world and found themselves in the Highlands of the Flaem on Mystara. The McGregor clan settled near the present location of Crownguard while the McDougalls settled to the southeast and founded the town of Tavish. War soon came to the Highlands and the Kaelics were caught between the two sides. They refused to ally with the Flaem and remained neutral in the war against the Flaem. When Halzunthram took over the Council and the much of the rest of the Highlands rebelled against him, the Kaelic's under the easily dominated and weak leadership of Baliol McGregor went to war on Halzunthram's side in 788. The McDougalls followed suit having always been loyal to the McGregors but the move to support Halzunthram was not a popular one among the clans, nor among the McGregors. Soon Bailol's oldest son, Bruce "the Grim" McGregor, overthrew him and imprisoned Baliol. The Kaelic's, the McDougalls included, withdrew from the war only to fight those who entered their lands. No matter which side they were on.
The McDougall's finally broke with clan McGregor in the later years of the war, along with the McAllister clan, and sided with the rebels which helped hasten their eventual victory. When it came time to dole out rewards and titles to the loyal when Glantri was formed. The Kaelic, under the leadership of the great Percival McDougall, demanded a seat on the Council but were refused for not doing enough for the rebels to have such a high honour. However they were granted dominions. The lands that had been the McDougalls were given to Bogdo Khan, a prominent war leader among the Ethengarian faction. Percival led his clan over Colossus Mounts, through Skullhorn Pass to Glenargyll and got a County there. There the McDougalls held a strategically important dominion on the eastern frontier against Ethengarian aggression for almost 170 years. The McDougalls were always highly regarded as capable commanders, tacticians, and powerful military wizards however perhaps the most talented come in 983 when Eachainn McDougall inherited the County when his father was killed in a laboratory accident.
Eachainn was already known as a masterful tactician from his time serving in the Grand Army as a young noble. In 992 as a compromise to created the Country of Skullhorn Pass and giving it to a Ethengarian the Council made a second dominion, a Marquises, to balance it with the caveat of finding a noble that would be suitable. While Eachainn had rejected an earlier offer of taking Skullhorn Pass without a second thought, he was persuaded by Jaggar, and Brannart to accept it so 992 Eachainn McDougall requested 'officially' to accept his proposal to create a dominion on the opposite side of the Fen river from Fenswick just to the west of Skullhorn Pass. Nearly the whole of clan McDougall picked up and left Glenargyll and moved to the newly named (after his favourite Scotch) Marquis of Dunvegan.
Many Kaelic who were not a part of clan McDougall who had moved to Glenargyll over the last 150 years decided to stay having put their roots down in the area with another Kaelic taking the County. Even though with a the first non-Kaelic ruler in 1004, a Thyatian, since the formation of Glantri in 829 the area still retains a prominent Kaelic character along with it's majority Kaelic population. Though the Thyatian has chipped away a few of the distinctive features of the County, most notably the Scotch Guard, the current Count seems to care little for ruling and so things continue for the most part as they have for 170 years.
Notable sites: One of the great citadels in Glantri can be found towering above Grangemouth on Mount Galloway, the Citadel of Glenargyll. Built by Percival McDougall over 20 years it is carved from the mountain itself with an extensive cave system below it, rumoured to be able to shelter the vast majority, perhaps all, of all the Counties population in times of crisis. The tower which rises above the works has multiple permanent enchantments and 3 heavy ballistae and 2 catapults are pre-sighted on the narrow path which leads down to Grangemouth. Most military experts consider the Citadel to be impregnable when held by a trained, and competent force.
The village of Killmoreeths is known throughout Glantri, especially in Kaelic circles for the fine blended whiskey that comes from the famed Auchmuty brewery just outside the village. Here you can taste-test the famed Auchmuty 18 Year Old: Blended from whiskeys matured for at least 18 years. Chocolate and orange notes, some citrus and spice on the nose and a full, fruity, citrusy and spicy palate, with sherry notes to finish. This blend won best Glantrian Whiskey in 1011 and along with the increased in demand the price has increased which has made this local brew something of source of civic pride.
Coat of Arms: three blazing suns on a field of white.
Useful links:
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 810
Villages: Mojácar (184) A walled village in the southern hills of Satolas. The village is the administrative centre of the Marquisate.
Benoajan (145) A mining village located 2 miles to the west of the Tower of Satolas. The village is a major tourist destination and brings in visitors from all over Glantri.
Ethnic groups: Belcadizan Elf 50%, Belcadizan Human 35%, Alphatian 10%, Others 5%.
Languages: Belcadiz Elf, Thyatian
Ruler: Marquis Quanil Urbaal
House: Silverston
Military: The Knights of Satolas is a military order that dates back to the formation of the Marquisate. It was formed to be the first line of defence against attacks from the east and the south. The Knights draw heavily from the population of Satolas but do not restrict themselves to those from the Marquisate. The number of Knights is fixed at 120. Knights have always been drawn from elves from Belcadiz decent. In times of invasion the Knights would act as a rearguard to protect the population and hinder the progress of the invader while Glantrian formations are moved up. During the great war the Knights were mobilised with other volunteers from Satolas and formed the 3rd Banner of the of the Glantrian 21st Division. The Knights had a prominent part in the Battle of Asadras were the 3rd Banner was first unit to breach humanoid lines in Carnelia's decisive counterstroke. The 3rd of the 21st had the highest carcass counts of any banner of any division in the battle. After the war and demobilisation the Knights came back to Satolas. They safeguard the flag and colours of the 21st Division, as it would be one of the first Glantrian reserve divisions called back to service in case of emergency.
Food: Deficient. Food brought to markets in Marquisate from outlying free territories.
Trails: Satolas has fair trails leading from the mines to Benoajan and to Mojácar. A single trail leads south from Mojácar and intersects with the Alexander Glantri Memorial Highway which runs between Ft. Monteleone and Bramyra
Economics: Satolas is primarily mountainous and its economics are almost totally centred around mining the southern Colossus Mounts. Substantial deposits of gold and silver have been found in the mountains of Satolas and the mountains just outside it's borders. Much of the ore is smelted into bars at Benoajan and sent from there in heavily guarded caravans to New Alvar. Little agriculture comes from the Marquisate. The hills of Satolas do produce a particularly in-demand olive which are gathered and pressed into an olive oil that is a favourite of many connoisseurs. The Knights of Satolas are financed by a surcharge per pound of gold and silver extracted from the mines of Satolas.
History:
Marquises of Satolas
Carlos de Reyder 859-940
The Marquisate of Satolas was born out of secret negotiations between Friedrich von Drachenfels and Don Fernando de Belcadiz and Charan Erewan regarding Elvish in 856 regarding how the Elves would fit into a new Glantri envisioned by the Light of Rad, a nation of wizards ruled by wizards. In 859 when the Light of Rad was being enacted, the elves put forth a petition. As previously agreed during negotiations with Friedrich von Drachenfels, the elven petition consisted of:
-The creation of a new Elven Principality, whose dimensions will be doubled in respect to other Principalities. Elves are in charge of building a Fort against the border of the Broken Lands.
-The Elven Prince, Fernando de Belcadiz, will enter the CoP as Prince of Belcadiz and Marquise of Alhambra. He'll hold the Charge of Viceroy.
-The creation of three more fief to be ruled by elves:
After taking two months to finally convince the Prince of the Flaems to accept the petition. After the Flaems had threatened to walk out, which could have possibly started another civil war. The petition was accepted by the Council and the Marquisate of Satolas was born with Carlos de Reyder, a prominent Belcadiz Elf as it's Marquis. Gold and silver had been discovered in the hills and mountains of Satolas and provided a good living for the men and elves that settled Satolas. De Reyder, a veteran of the 40 Years War and an expert tactician, needed no impetus from the Council of Princes to understand that his dominion sat in a strategic location overlooking a prime invasion route into Glantri from the east. Satolas also was close to the border with the humanoids of the Broken Lands. The Knights of Satolas was founded the same year as the birth of Satolas. They were drawn from Belcadiz Elves at first and has been a tradition that has remained and been respected ever since, even when Satolas was not being ruled by a Belcadiz Elf. The Knights duties are policing the Marquisate and patrolling to the border with the Broken Lands.
Time passed slowly and peacefully for the elves and men of Satolas. De Reyder passed up all chance at becoming a Duke as not to leave the dominion he founded. With his death in 940, which had been preceded by his son and presumed heir some 8 years earlier, the Marquisate came open for an Award's Festival and started a period that lasts still today where Satolas has changed hands with regularity due to promotions or heir-less deaths. Satolas has been a quiet dominion. Few humanoid raids came and those that were quickly destroyed, usually to the last humanoid. The border with the Khan has long been quiet, yet the Knights always prepare and train for fighting the Khans fabulous light cavalry. The Great War saw large portions of Satolas join the Glantrian Army to fight the Alphatians. The Glantrian 21st Division was an all Belcadiz Division raised primarily in Satolas along with elves of the surrounding Free Territories. The 21st received great fame and a unit citation from Prince Jaggar personally when it pierced the heart of the humanoid's defensive line on Hill 254 during the decisive Battles of Asadras which ended the humanoid advance up the eastern Vesubian Valley. Conjured monsters brought by Alphatian wizards troubled the region since many of it's best fighters and mages were off at the front. A hunter-killer team was dispatched from Glantri City and cleaned most of the monsters away. Even today it is not unheard of for an always vicious and often powerful monster to pop out of a cave or abandoned mineshaft and have to be tracked down and destroyed.
After the war things began returning to normal. With great honour and acclaim the 21st Division was demobilised with the Knights of Satolas charged with safeguarding the unit flag, emblazon with the Glantrian Unit Citation for bravery, and units colours. The region has seen an upswing in Alphatians migrating the region after the destruction of their homeland of Blackhill during the war. They followed the newest Marquis of Satolas. Quanil Urbaal. With the death of Prince Volospin and his father, Quanil is the highest ranking Alphatian noble in Glantri and many look to him for leadership, and protection in the post Great War Glantri when being an Alphatian, even of Glantrian decent is not a good thing to be. The Belcadiz of Satolas are too laid back to harbour such hatred so the Alphatians have found a welcome refuge where they might start new lives.
Notable sites: Benoajan is a mining village near the geographic centre of the Marquisate. Located just a couple miles from the Tower of the Marquis but has recently become a destination of many tourist in southeast Glantri. Some tourists have even come from the Capital to see the amazing caves of Cueva de la Pileta. Recently in 1002 by a prospector and opened for tours in 1011 the amount of tourists coming through Benoajan has increased steadily over the last 3 years. Plans have been laid forth to the Marquis to fund an expansion of the village for more inns, taverns, and specialty shops that cater to exploring the depths of the caves. So far the Marquis has not ruled on that proposal yet. While the caves are interesting and worth exploring, they are by no means unique especially in Glantri. What is unique though are the writings found in the caves. Scholars from the Great School have studied the drawings on the cave walls and estimate that there are two schools of art in the caves. The first dates from Cro-Magnon man, approximately 25,000 years ago in the upper Palaeolithic period. The more common charcoal scratchings are attributed to the Beastman school and contain a number of zigzags and stick men. Many of these are of archers hunting their prey.
Coat of Arms: three doves on a field of sky blue
Useful links:
another divergence from canon here.. and who can blame me. As much as I didn't like the Great Crater. The way Dolores/Syn and the 'enfoeffment' of Fenswick was thought up was ..well... simply stupid. Sure... great legs.. hot body.. killed a dragon.. lets make her a Princess for the hell of it. Doh!!!!!
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 1915
Villages: Fenswick (543) Fenswick is located on the east bank of Fen river to the northwest of Fenswick Castle. The village is the largest settlement in the Duchy and is the cultural centre of the Fen population in Glantri as well as the administrative centre of the Duchy.
Ethnic groups: Fen 70%, Alphatian 15%, Kaelic 10%, Others 5%.
Languages: Fen, Kaelic, Thyatian,
Ruler: Duke Alasdair McAllister
House: Crownguard
Military: The Redcoats of Fenswick are the standard bearers of a proud military legacy that goes back to the 40 years war. The Redcoats are selected from the best applicants, and restricted to those who can claim Fenish ancestry. The Ducal Guard numbers some 70 men. Mages are accepted and generally consist of between 10 to 20 percent of the guard. The Redcoats, as they are popularly known, are stationed in the village of Fenswick and patrol the Duchy and provide security for the local population. At times in its history, the current Duke or Duchess has been known to draw members of the Guard for members of their personal bodyguard. The Fen has a proud military tradition and as they did during the Great War can mobilise up to 25% of their population in case of war. During the great war the Redcoats, and volunteers and draftees from the Duchy formed two Banners of heavy foot and were designated the 2nd and 3rd Banner upon assignment to the 27th Glantrian division (the Fen Division) of reserves. They saw action in the lifting of the siege of Glantri City after having been stationed in Bramyra when Thar invaded.
Food: Deficient. Food, mainly fruits and vegetables, brought to markets in Duchy from outlying free territories.
Trails: The main trail through Skullhorn Pass passes through the region passes just to the north through the Marquisate of Dunvegan. Within Fenswick there are several fair trails to lead from settlements to the Bramyra-Taterhill trail. There is regular riverboat travel between the Capital and the village Doncaster and much stopover from boats going up and down the Vesubian river.
Economics: Fenswick is known for its sheep and goats herds and excellent trout harvest. The foothills and low mountains that make up the Duchy of Fenswick is prime grazing ground for sheep and goats. Fenswick is one of the leaders in Glantri in making clothes due to the large available supply of wool. Fenswick has developed a strong commercial relationship with the Flaems of Bergdhoven. There is a thriving trade with Bergdhoven whose dyes are very much in demand among the tailors in Fenswick. The Flaems have developed a passion for Rainbow trout whose traditional breeding grounds are in the Fen River just north of the confluence of the Fen and Vesubian rivers. Fenswick’s mountains are generally mineral poor and instead are the home of many isolated towers of wizards. Some are the home of wizards others are the retreats of wizards from the nearby Capital. Those wizards often come to their towers when they need a break from the trials and tribulations of city life and just want to get away or carry out experiments in extreme privacy.
History:
Adalbert Batril 829-855
The history of Fenswick begins in AC 743 when Fen magic users, known as the Fen-Witches came to Mystara and the Highlands fleeing the Inquisition along with the Kaelics. They settled in the area of the western Colossus foothills near the intersection of the Vesubian and Morgathian rivers. The Morgathian River was later renamed the Fen River when the Republic of Glantri was established in 828. The Fen were at a substantial disadvantage to the other groups in Glantri for they were hampered by the lack of followers that came through the gate from Laterre before it closed in comparison to the Averoignians and Kaelics. The Moorkroft family rose to prominence in those early years and was considered the leaders of the Fen population. The Moorkrofts find their history in the legends of the people of Fenswick, since the time they were still known as the Fen Witches. Though never rulers of Fenswick themselves, the Moorkrofts have always played a crucial role in the protection and preservation of the Fenswick people. Required reading for those interested in Fenswick is the text on the history of the Moorkroft family by legendary Glantrian scholar Kit Navarro.
Edward Moorkroft
When he came of age, Edward joined the local militia. At that time, early in the War, the Fen Witches neither sided with the Flaems nor the Alphatians, but only fought to preserve their territory from all aggressors. The Fen holdings were small in comparison to those of the Flaems, the elves, the Thyatians, or even the Kaelic. But their proximity to the capital city of Braejr placed them in a crucial position for victory. For Edward Moorkroft, the Moorkroft legacy weighed heavily on him, for many people saw him as the defender of the Fenswick, like the other Moorkrofts before him. But his name was also greatly feared by the Kaelics, the Flaems, the elves and all sorts of wizards, and Edward won many battles on this distinct advantage. Eventually, Edward Moorkroft became recognised as the military leader of the Fens, with the full support of the leading families of Fen Witches, and with that, the Fen militia became a considerable force that could stand on its own.
In AC 813, well into the Forty Years War, Edward Moorkroft was approached by envoys from the major opposing forces. From the side of the Alphatians, General Halzunthram met with Edward Moorkroft in secret. Halzunthram knew of Edward's seething hatred for the Flaems (who had executed his mother) and offered an alliance between the Fens and the Alphatians, in return for preservation of the Fen territories when the Alphatians won. Within the same month, Edward Moorkroft was approached by envoys of the Flaemish lords, who offered him a much prized artifact, the Sword of Sir James Moorkroft, which was retrieved from a defeated Kaelic army camp. They explained that the Sword was magical, imbued with much power after being wielded to destroy Brannart the Red and used in many heroic feats that were now legendary in the Highlands. The Flaems offered the Sword to Edward, for a price of an alliance with them, and his betrayal of the Alphatians. Suspicious of all magic-users, Edward was wary of both sides. But Edward was greatly tempted by both offers, and he knew he could not survive either decision without magic on his side. He consulted the ancient Lady Morgan Fairley who advised a meeting of forces on Fen ground. All three sides knew the dangers of such a convergence, but each was confident of their own powers to avoid any trap, and perhaps to capture their own opponents. The details of what happened are inexact, but the legends speak of a huge wildstorm of magic, fire and wind like none seen before in the skies above the land of the Fens. The Flaemish lords and their party were obliterated and forgotten by time. General Halzunthram barely escaped that day. Edward Moorkroft and the legendary Sword of James Moorkroft were never seen again.
The Children of Edward Moorkroft
Of all the Moorkrofts, Edward Moorkroft was said to be the most Kaelic when it came to wives and children, having two wives, nine legitimate children, two mistresses, and several more affairs which may or may not have borne children. In AC 791, Edward married his first wife, Josephine Batril. It was a political marriage arranged by Lady Morgan Fairley, to strengthen the ties between the Averoignians and the Fen Witches, and there was little love between the two. Still, Edward had four children by this marriage. The oldest child was Joseph, who followed in his father's footsteps and became his lieutenant. He died with his father in the wildstorm in AC 813. The second and third children, Emily and Roland, died when they were children in the Plague of 802. Josephine died in AC 804, giving birth to a fourth child, who was presumed to have died as well. At the height of the Forty Years War and after his wife's death, Edward Moorkroft wasted no time to marry his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Wickfield in AC 796. With her, Edward had five children. The eldest son Michael had no love for war, and lived to a ripe old age of 71, together with his dear friend, Laurence Batril, another confirmed bachelor. The second son, John, was a warrior like his father, and joined the militia a few years after Edward's disappearance. He had a lacklustre career and died in battle in AC 819. A third child, Millicent, caught the Plague in AC 802 and died. With the death of Millicent came the birth of a fourth child, Florence. Florence had a modest talent in magic and herbalism, and learned the healing arts of the Fen Witches. She became a nurse and a healer for the Fen troops in the Forty Years War, but was killed in one of the final battles in AC 828. The youngest child, Jerome, had no military ambitions but preferred adventuring in the wilderness. In AC 822, he disappeared and was presumed killed by one of the many dangerous forces in the Highlands at the time.
The Duchy of Fenswick
At the end of the Forty Years War, the Highlands underwent major changes in the political climate. In AC 829, the Republic of Glantri was established, and the territories of the Fen Witches became recognised as the Duchy of Fenswick. Rule over Fenswick was awarded to Adalbert Batril, who did not only belong to one of the most prominent Fen families, but was also recognised and respected as a capable politician and diplomat by other groups, particularly by the d'Ambrevilles of Nouvelle Averoigne (where the Batrils originated). The next half century was a time of peace for the Fen Witches, who were now called the Fenswick, and since the disappearance of Edward Moorkroft in AC 813, the Moorkrofts were all but forgotten.
Jerome Moorkroft
In AC 879, rulership of Fenswick passed from the Fenswick Batrils to the Flaemish hands of Lord Leopol Pieinants, and it was a dark time for the Fenswick. Though Duke Leopol himself was not an unkind man (His main concern was politics and the study of the Radiance), his right-hand man and seneschal, Baltasaer de Woens, was a cruel and hateful racist, who took every opportunity to torment the Fenswick people. It was at that time that a mysterious figure appeared to the Fenswick, claiming to be Jerome Moorkroft, the long-lost son of Edward Moorkroft. This young man of eighteen explained that for forty years, he was living with the faeries in the Fenswick countryside (In some accounts, he says it was a dryad who kidnapped him.), and that he has now returned to his home to defend it against Flaemish tyranny. At every turn, where Baltasaer and his men tried to abuse, oppress, or subjugate the Fenswick, they were foiled by Jerome Moorkroft, initially alone, later with his rag-tag group of loyal followers and peasant heroes.
Robert Moorkroft
In AC 944, Lothar "Big Mac" McDonald, a cunning politician and military wizard from Klantyre and a ruthless despot, became the Duke of Fenswick. Within the same year, Duke Lothar began his reign of terror in Fenswick, imprisoning and executing many of the locals who opposed his rule. Before the year ended, another Moorkroft appeared from the wilderness, announcing himself to be the son of Jerome Moorkroft and the new defender of the Fenswick people. Where Jerome Moorkroft was met with much scepticism, Robert was welcomed by the Fenswick as their saviour and hero. But where the mere threat of the arrival of Jerome Moorkroft was enough to stop the plots of the fearful Flaems, Robert had to fight battle after bloody battle against Duke Lothar, his regiment from the Glantrian Army, his personal guards from Klantyre, and his loyal Kaelic mercenaries. The Duchy of Fenswick became a hotbed of rebellion and insurgency for the next five years, until Robert Moorkroft killed Lothar McDonald in battle in AC 949.
For the next couple decades Fenswick knew peace and quiet as the competent Haaskinz family ruled Fenswick. The Thyatian Dukes left the native Fen population in peace and were considered generally good rulers. They were more interested in politics in the Capital and their own magical research that ruling a resource poor dominion such as Fenswick. When Konstantin of Haaskinz won the open Archduchy of Westheath in 970 the Duchy of Fenswick was brought to a state of political frenzy. Among those who would be competing for Fenswick was the fast rising star of Glantrian politics, Edward Hillsbury, a Fen born and raised in Fenwick who was seen as the local boy who did well. Edward in the span of 16 years risen from Baron of Adlerturm to the Marquis of Satolas. The election would be between the two Marquis, Hillsbury and the Marchioness of Berrym, Mariana Terlagard. The election came within 6 votes of a duel as Hillsbury received the votes needed, and Terlagard fell just short of the needed votes. The celebration went on for days in Fenswick. For the first time a Fen was going to rule the land of the Fens. William was seen as the great hope for the Fens to attain the Principality and seat on the ruling Council they were denied at the formation of the nation. Edward’s reign as Duke was a short one however as he blew himself and his castle apart in 980 apparently after an experiment of unknown origin when very wrong. His daughter Margaret took over the rule of Fenwick and ruled with a iron fist for the next 3 decades. While the people might grumble, they at least were satisfied that one of their own was oppressing them and not a damned Kaelic.
The years passed uneventfully for Fenswick until the Great War touched all of Glantri. Much of the Fen population answered the call when Glantri called for volunteers to serve in the new divisions being formed to provide for the defence of the nation. Many Fens volunteered, from Fenswick and the Fens living in other territories, and the Fen’s were able to form two reserve division made up completely of Fen. The 27th Division was the first and was formed during the first mobilisation in 1005, the 71st was formed in 1008 in preparation for the expected Alphatian advance into the Glantri itself. The 27th saw action in the lifting of the siege of Glantri City in 1007 and was stationed for the remainder of the war at the ruins in Eriadna. The 71st saw no action during the war and was stationed in Rymskigrad before being demobilised at the end of the war. The Duchy suffered badly during the war on several fronts. The plague that hit Glantri hit Fenswick hard as the census of AC 1010 attest. It is estimated that only 65% of the population that lived in Fenswick in 1004 remained some six years later. The great number of fresh burial plots in Fenswick attests than much of the drop can be attributed to the plague as well as severe attacks by Alphatian terrorists during the war. The severity of the attacks being attributed to the proximity to the Capital and the nearby shelter of the mountains. Several hunter-killer squads served in the region and were able to eliminate the nastiest of conjured monsters but were not able to get all of them. Like much of Glantri the hills and mountains of Fenswick are even more dangerous than they were in the pre-war years thanks to conjured monsters that escaped the H-K squads and took refuge in the mountains.
The end of the Great War and victory over Alphatia brought mixed feelings of great joy and sorrow with the joy of a victory, though a costly one, and sorrow as the Duchess Margaret Hillsbury was killed by a Black Dragon during the assault on Glantri by the Alphatian Arch-Mages. A previously unknown heir to the Hillsbury dynasty came forward but in a typically twist of Glantrian political fate, she was also the child of the Prince of Blackhill, Volospin Aendyr. In a twist of the twisting of fate, Prince Volospin disappeared during the attack and was presumed to have been killed by the Alphatian Arch-mages. A presumption that most tend to assume since it was suspected he might be a figure that would be targeted by the Alphatians. After some days of uncertainty and heralded by the Sir Lathan renouncing any claim to the Principality, Dolores of Hillsbury was confirmed as the new Princess of Blackhill. While many were overjoyed at first that a Fen had finally reached the pinnacle of Glantrian political power and relocated to Blackhill, the reality soon set in that whatever agenda Dolores had, establishing Fens as equal players in the Glantrian political landscape was not one of them. She rarely saw delegations of Fen leaders who bombarded her with notions and plans to make Blackhill into a Fen as well as an Alphatian Principality. They were not alone of course for Dolores showed as little care to the desires and pleas of the Alphatian population that had survived Thar’s invasion and moved back to Blackhill. In the last few years many of those who had moved to Blackhill have since returned to Fenswick, even though a Kaelic now rules Fenswick. The current Duke by all accounts has nothing to do with the local population and is completely immersed in this research and lets the Fens rule themselves as long as tax income is collected and the peace is kept. The recent ascension of Judith Beaumarys-Moorkroft to Archduchess of Westheath after the death of her father John, has given some Fen optimists hope that there is a potential leader among the Fens that might emerge that has the same pride in their heritage that they do.
Notable sites:
Coat of Arms: Useful links:
Area: 392 square miles
Population: 1880
Villages: Dunvegan (536) This walled village is much larger in size than the population might indicate. The village is located on the trail coming from Skullhorn Pass and is considered the last line of defence in the Skullhorn Pass defensive system. The village is the administrative centre of the Marquisate and the many men of the village are employed by the Marquis, with subsidies from the Glantrian military budget, in labour projects making repairs and improvements to the defensive works of the fortress. The Marquis tower is located close to the village, on a ridge overlooking the trail and the village.
Ethnic groups: Kaelic 70%, Alphatian 15%, Fen 10%, Others 5%.
Languages: Kaelic, Thyatian,
Ruler: Marquis Eachainn McDougall
House: Crownguard
Military: The Marquis maintains a well trained guard of 50 heavy foot that patrol Dunvegan, maintaining law and order and are always for wandering monsters and leftover conjured monsters from the Great War. The Duniwassal of Dunvegan also lead monthly training exercises by the local militia. Such tactical training is geared toward defence of the Dunvegan Citadel. In case of need the militia has the names of 250 men on its rolls. The militia was last called to service when Thar invaded. They were charged with holding the Citadel. They saw no action though as Thar never moved in the direction of Dunvegan. The militia was called up again later in the war and assigned to the 64th Division. The 64th was tasked with defence of the Skullhorn Gap in case the Alphatians tried to force their way through it and was stationed in Dunvegan.
Food: Deficient. Food, mainly fruits and vegetables, is brought to markets from the nearby free provinces. The Citadel maintains large stores of grain and livestock in case of siege.
Trails: The main trail through Skullhorn Pass passes through Dunvegan. A great deal of military traffic and inter-region commerce passes through Dunvegan on its way to Bramyra and to Glantri City. Numerous poor trails crisscross Dunvegan connecting smaller settlements to the larger ones and to the main trail running through Dunvegan.
Economics: Dunvegan is a prime cattle producer and supplier to areas in the Colossus Mounts. Eachainn has received the contract to provide cattle for the military garrisons at Camp Skullhorn Pass and the fortress of Skullhorn Pass. There has been some attempt at mining in the mountains of Dunvegan but little of note has been found, only sporadic amounts of precious metals. Dunvegan is known though throughout Glantri for its locally brewed Dunvegan Brown Ale. In Dunvegan, the ale is often called 'Dog' (or simply 'Broon'). The 'Dog' name comes from the euphemism "I'm going to walk the dog" - meaning "I'm going to the pub". The ‘Broon’ is a favourite of the Marquis and of lovers of ale across Glantri. The brewery in Dunvegan is considered such a treasure that it is located within the walls of the Citadel of Dunvegan.
History:
Eachainn McDougall 992-
The history of the Marquisate of Dunvegan begins with the County of Skullhorn Pass for both were created with the Ethengarians to the east in mind. The Council of Princes had long debated the defences of Skullhorn Pass, the Camp at the passes centre was thought to be impregnable but some Princes asked.. what if it wasn't. If it fell and if Glantrian forces were deployed elsewhere then the Capital itself might fall before troops could be redeployed. Finally in 992 the Princes managed to overcome the arrogance of the Glantrian military in the person of Prince Jaggar and created a dominion at the east end of the Pass which would be responsible for defence and slowing down any invasion till reserves might be brought up. As noted in the chapter of the history of the Principality of Bramyra in the book Glantrian History on a Ducat - The History of Glantri 828-1014 (The Piazza Press, Glantri. AC1014 written by Micky, infamous socialite, part-time comedian, student of Professor Emeritus of Glantrian History Harri Mäki), an Ethengarian spy named Urmahid Krinagar was selected by the Council to In effect petition the council for the establishment of a County at the east end of Skullhorn Pass and he would be responsible for holding the strategically vital east end in case of invasion for as long as possible to allow reserves to come from the rest of Glantri.
The selection of Krinagar was not without a compromise though, put skilfully forward by Prince Volospin Aendyr. If the Flaems and Hattians (the only two holdouts to supporting Krinagar) would support Krinagar the Council would then establish a complementary dominion, one of higher nobility rank as well. A Marquisate and there was a noble waiting in the wings that would be perfect to take that position. The current Duke of Glenargyll, Eachainn McDougall, who had a reputation to all as a brilliant military mind and a great leader of men. Prince Jaggar immediately agreed and after some persuasion Prince Vanserie accepted the compromise as well. It was decided that the Marquisate would be created by the council, but as always there was a side plot in the never-ending game of Glantrian Politics included. In order to placate the nobles who might be upset at the elevation of a ‘non-noble’ like Urmahid over the current viscounts, robbing them of a chance to advance with the creation of a new dominion, the election of Eachainn was going to be rigged. All council members were to agree to support him, and the County of Glenargyll would come open for an Award’s Festival which would take the sting of the bite of being passed over for such a strategically important dominion. All the pieces fell into place, and Eachainn was taken aside by his mentor, Prince Jaggar and had the situation explained to him. Eachainn accepted the offer to ‘run’ for the newly created Marquisate and soon was confirmed by the Council as the first Marquis of what was soon named Dunvegan after the locally famous ale that was brewed in the region.
Soon after the creation of Dunvegan though came one of the more notorious events of recent Glantrian History. The native population of the region was a mix of Ethengarian and Kaelic. In an controversial act, the native Ethengarian population was forcibly relocated out of Dunvegan on the pretext of eminent domain of the lands they held. The reason given was for defensive works and public works. That was the result of an ‘off the record’ amendment to the agreement at the Prince's Council. Prince Vanserie demanded that national security demanded that possible traitors must be removed from the location in which the Council had deemed to be the last line of defence in the Skullhorn region. He would agree to the creation of the two dominions only if the Ethengarians were removed, relocated out of Dunvegan. Jaggar immediately agreed but this time it was the Prince of Krondahar, Prince Jherek who threatened to scuttle the whole affair. Cooler heads prevailed though and though none liked the whole of the agreement, everyone got something so it was agreed upon. Eachainn, a good, decent man hated having to do so but the whole compromise would have fallen apart if he had not, so he put duty before morals as a good soldier must at times and participated and tried to make the whole relocation as humane as possible with no tolerance for abuse of those being relocated. Though some at the Capital screamed bloody murder, the whole matter faded in memory as Eachainn handled the matter with compassion and efficiency and without bodies, rampant abuse, or torn apart families to point to, the public outcry soon faded.
Now free to fulfil his mission to build a dominion and provide the last line of defence through the Colossus Mounts Eachainn worked hard to prepare his dominion for the task for it was created for. He built a large fortress, with support and advice from Jaggar, around the central village of Dunvegan and began training his guard, the local militia, to work with Glantrian military units which would be occasionally deployed to Dunvegan. Dunvegan has little chance to make much of an imprint on Glantrian history since it is just over 20 years old. Like nearly all of Glantri during the Great War Dunvegan suffered under an assault of conjured and summoned monsters brought forth by Alphatian terrorists and was hit hard by the plague that swept through Glantri. Since the end of the war things have been quiet in Dunvegan and the Marquis continues to improve and make repairs on defensive works and train his forces how to hold their dominion if the worse should happen and the hordes of Ethengar should penetrate this far through the pass.
Notable sites: The village of Dunvegan is noted for its famous brewery of Dunvegan Brown Ale which has been made here for the last 105 years. The brewery is a regional treasure and when the village was fortified the decision was made to put the brewery inside the inner walls. The Citadel itself is a marvel of Glantrian military engineering and is thought by Glantrian Military Intelligence to be able to hold off 10 times the number of defenders. The Citadel is capable of housing roughly 5000 men and women.
The village of Bogniebrae is the site of one of the great events in Glantrian history. While a dwarf hunt in the area, the Alphatian, Lord Halzunthram was ambushed and captured just outside Bogniebrae by Alexander Glantri thus ending the 40 years war. A monument made by the Architects Cadre of Caurenze sits on the site reported to be exactly where this momentous event happened. Many historians, school children on field trips and Glantrian patriots make the pilgrimage here on the annual anniversary of the capture.
Coat of Arms: Useful links:
Pieter-Euweke Vandehaar by Giovanni Porpora
wiki entry of Lopar Crater Lake
by Aleksei Andrievski
Blofeld, Viscounty of
Viscounts of Blofeld
Georg Pieinats 837-848
Leopold Pieinants 848-861
John Bluebeard 861-868
Alexander Wolfen 868-871
Petrus Foljanbe 871-881
Guy Foljanbe 881-894
Roger Foljanbe 894-917
Raimund McDonald 917-927
Lothar McDonald 927-931
Alberts Kviepoly 931-951
Wilhelm von Graustein 951-971
Rolf von Graustein 971-
The Economy of Blofeld by Aleksei Andrievski
Glantrian Heraldry by Chimpman
Rolf Von Graustein by Micky
Glenargyll, County of
Counts of Glenargyll
Hugh McDougall 861-886
Hamish McDougall 886-912
Conan McDougall 912-925
William McDougall 925-966
Malcolm McDougall 966-983
Eachainn McDougall 983-992
Alasdair McAllister 992-1004
Antonio di Tarento 1004-
, Nobility during the years, by Harri Mäki
GPD Eachainn McDougall by Markus Olavi Montola
GPD Antonio di Tarento by Giampaolo Agosta
The Economy of Glantri by Aleksei Andrievski
Satolas, Marquisate of
Marquises of Satolas
Lothar McDonald 940-944
Constanza de Blanca 944-967
Edward Hillsbury 967-970
Gabriel Bon 970-991
John Beaumarys-Moorkroft 991-997
Fernando de Casanegra 997-1004
Alasdair McAllister 1004-1009
Emeth Urbaal 1009
Quanil Urbaal 1009-
The Marquisate of Satolas, ruled by Marquise Carlos de Reyder.
The Marquisate of Ellerovyn, ruled by Marquise Charan Erewan.
The County of Soth-Kabree, ruled by Count Idagoraz Cornaber.
Glantrian Political History - AC 858 to 859 by Harri Mäki and Giovanni Porpora
History of House Urbaal by Giampaolo Agosta
GPD - Emeth Urbaal by Giampaolo Agosta
The Economy of Glantri by Aleksei Andrievski
Fenswick, Duchy of
Doncaster (291) Located in the southwest hills of the Duchy on the bank of the river Fen near the confluence of the Fen and Vesubian rivers is a major riverboat stop for river boats and trade up and down the Vesubian. The village also marks the furthest point north of riverboat travel up the river Fen before rapids make the river too treacherous for travelling.
Dukes of Fenswick
Ernst Batril 855-875
Bohemon Batril 875-879
Leopol Pieinants 879-898
Albert Pieinants 898-919
Edelmiro Pieinants 919-944
Lothar McDonald 944-949
Arnulf of Haaskinz 949-957
Konstantin of Haaskinz 957-970
Edward Hillsbury 970-980
Margaret Hillsbury 980-1009
Alasdair McAllister 1009-
Excerpt taken from ‘The History of House Beaumarys-Moorkroft’ by Kit Navarro (GPD publishing, Glantri City Glantri)
Edward, the son of William Moorkroft, was born in AC 773. His mother died giving birth to him, and his weak father of grief a year later. Edward’s upbringing was left in the care of his sister Joan, and his great-aunt, Lady Morgan Fairley.
But when the Forty Years War broke out, Edward was left in the care of a number of respectable families of the Fen, who passed him on from household to household, leaving him to his devices. Growing up, Edward saw more corpses than crops in the fields, so it was no wonder he became a warrior. With the death of his sister at the hands of the Fen, Edward a developed deep sense of patriotism and continuance of Fen tradition, as well as a seething hatred for the Flaems.
The Forty Years War did not end that day, but the Fens lost another of their heroes.
As expected, many were sceptical about Jerome's claims of his identity (One ingenious enchantress, Marian Fairley, descendant of Lady Morgan Fairley, was able to magical test him and ascertained that the blood of the Moorkrofts ran in his veins.), but no one doubted his capability to protect the Fenswick as the Moorkrofts before him. For the next thirty years, the enigmatic Jerome Moorkroft (sometimes called "Moorkroft Flaemkiller") was a hero to the Fenswick and a bane to their Flaemish rulers. With the death of Lord Leopol and the ascension of his son, Albert to the position of Duke of Fenswick, Baltasaer remained as Seneschal but his control in Fenswick grew as Duke Albert was even less concerned with the Fenswick as his father was. Eventually, in AC 914, Baltasaer de Woens was slain by Jerome Moorkroft at the gates of Fenswick Keep. He was replaced by a local Fenswick as Seneschal. By the time the third Flaemish Duke of Fenswick, Lord Edelmiro Pieinants, came into power in AC 919, Baltasaer's atrocities were forgotten, and Jerome Moorkroft became a rare sight to the Fenswick. His presence however was still constantly felt-and feared-by all who sought to oppress the Fenswick.
The small village of Britomart (78) located in the unremarkable countryside of Fenswick, the common folk hide a small cult dedicated to a legendary hero of their past. Three centuries ago, Joan Moorkroft was zealous protector of her people who had just settled in the Highlands around the Fen River. She battled the Flaems valiantly, but was eventually captured and burned at the stake. The Fen folk believe she achieved Immortality, and now worship her as Saimpt Joan.
The Church of Saimpt Joan is virtually unknown outside of Fenswick, and the few Glantrians who have heard of it have generally dismissed it as "a superstitious cult of uneducated country bumpkins suffering from delusions induced by dabbling in hedge magic and engaging primitive rituals of witchcraft." There are those who warn that this Saimpt Joan Moorkroft, sometimes associated with a new Immortal named Britomart, may actually be a different Immortal in disguise, possibly from the Sphere of Entropy or even a Fiend, taking advantage on the simple folk of the Fen. Nevertheless, the Fenswick disciples of the Church remain stalwart in their faith. The most prominent member of their clergy is Sir Jonathan Beaumarys-Moorkroft, the weak and gullible brother of Archduchess Judith Beaumarys-Moorkroft of Westhealth and a descendant of Joan Moorkroft.
Glantrian Political History - AC 829 to 859 by Harri Mäki and Giovanni Porpora
History of House Beaumarys-Moorkroft by Kit Navarro
Heraldry of House Crownguard by Chimpman
Britomart by Kit Navarro
GPD Margaret Hillsbury by Markus Olavi Montola
The Economy of Glantri by Aleksei Andrievski
Dunvegan, Marquisate of
Bogniebrae (278) This farming community in the hills north of Dunvegan is a famous site and location of one of the great events in Glantrian history (see notable sites). The village is located in the region of Dunvegan known for its large cattle ranches.
Marquises of Dunvegan
GPD Eachainn McDougall by Markus Olavi Montola
Heraldry of House Crownguard by Chimpman
The Economy of Glantri by Aleksei Andrievski