Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5253314" data-attributes="member: 92511">The Kingdomof Grinlia: Part IThe largest and youngest human realm consumes approximately a  quarter of the Orean continent. The kingdom of Grinlia has existed as a  single sovereignty for just under 1000 years, since the end of the  Scourge Wars. It was only then, under the threat of the Scourge,  Aishapra, that the various petty kings united under the warrior of the  Starsword, Elibon L'lorn. Most of Grinlia’s human lands were integrated  into the monarchy under Elibon. Over the centuries through marriage,  trade arrangements, and ancient alliances Grinlia grew to its current  state. Non-human inhabitants of Grinlia are generally left alone. They  include almost all of Orea's diverse races including concentrations of  hairfeet and centaurs in the Kiari Hills. The demi-human population  enjoys relative peace and security of life within Grinlia’s borders. Trade within Grinlia is abundant with various areas of the  kingdom specializing in a wide variety of goods. The Arm of Tyris  allows easy access for trade or the fast dispatching of troops between  the Embrars and the southern portion of Grinlia, mostly contained within  the Grand Duchy of Denil, and beyond to Mostrial and even to the  Freelands.  [SIZE=+1]Aberol[/SIZE]The great citadel and city of Aberol is the seat of the high-king and/or  -queen of Grinlia, the descendants of the ancient hero, Elibon, the  royal house of L’lorn. Aberol sits on  a great hill rising over the lush fields and fertile farmlands where  the Whiteway River meets the Arm of Tyris. The lands beyond a day or  two’s ride from Aberol are called  West Embrar. It is considered to be under the High  queen’s direct jurisdiction. In reality, the Queen has appointed  ministers to oversee the administration  of the land. The realm of West Embrar extends west from Aberol to the western sea  and north to the edge of Naradun. The eastern border of West Embrar  follows the White Way river north to the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Kiari" target="_blank">Kiari  Hills</a> and beyond the hills along the western borders of the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#O%27Douhn" target="_blank">O’Douhn  forest</a>. The northern reaches, kept relatively secure by the Rangers  of O’Douhn, is still fairly rough and much more wild than the peaceful  farming fields and pastoral woods of the southern part of the realm.  Much of West Embrar is kept secure due to the reputation of the Queen’s  cavalry, <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/sd_org.html#Starsword" target="_blank">The  Starsword knights</a>, and fear of the Wizard of Towerton.          [SIZE=+1]Towerton[/SIZE]The large trading town of Towerton started as little more than a  collection of farmers, herdsmen, and timber workers. Today a small city  sits on the coast surrounded by farmlands, herdmen, and timber workers,  all tightly clustered within view of a great hovering chunk of rock. The  community earned its name and vaulted reputation from its most famous  (and originally its only) resident, the Wizard of the Tower. The town is  ruled by a Council of chosen officials, who supposedly consult with the  Wizard regularly, but this is usually only on matters of great  importance. In the dark years following the Godswar, there was a period of severe  persecution of any magic-use not of divine origin. They were called the  Mage Wars. A secluded wizard found himself beseiged by Zealot forces.  The wizard used his powers to lift his tower (and a significant chunk of  the surrounding earth) from the ground where it hovers, to this day. Over the ages, as  the attitudes toward magic-users mellowed, and the need for protection  ever-increased, settlers came to live in the shadow of the Tower  beseeching the wizard’s great power to protect them and their lands. Following the Mage Wars, the lands of Grinlia were still chaotic and  treacherous with warlords and petty kings forever conquesting and  conquering their neighbors. These gave way to Selurian raiders from  across the sea, barbarian hordes, and eventually even the goblinoid  armies of the Scourge Wars  found their way to floating citadel. So, over the centuries, many of the  inhabitants of West Embrar, made their way to the surrounding environs  of the wizard’s floating tower and Towerton was born. While it’s believed by many that the current resident of the floating  tower is the original, several mages have kept residence there over the  ages, typically passing down stewardship of the tower and now the  mantle of “Wizard of Towerton” to an apprentice. As such, the abilities,  aid, and visibility of the wizard changed dramatically in the town’s  history. Indeed, there have been entire decades at a time in the past  centuries when no “wizard” was ever seen or spoken to. The current  Wizard of Towerton happens to be a wizard of some power named Urellon.  He is somewhat reclusive, but he and/or his apprentice, Torin,  make semi-regular appearances in and around the town. He appears, as you  would think, an elderly man with a thick white beard, clothed in robes  emblazoned with arcane symbols, using a gnarled staff carved with more  symbols.  Urellon is known and respected by many of the other great  mages of Orea. He holds a bitter grudge against the witch-queen of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Dunsmoor" target="_blank">Dunsmoor</a>,  who was once his pupil.    [SIZE=+1]Sanctum[/SIZE]The City of Light, as it’s commonly called, Sanctum is the center of  religion for the current pantheon of the gods of Men, and a symbol for  all that is good and just. Aside from <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Brightmoon" target="_blank">Brightmoon</a>  and Andril, Sanctum is the only city to withstand the devastation of  the Godswar. The great white walls of the city sit on the open lush  plains between the Whiteway and Tyrilith rivers. These walls were  constructed with the aid of the dwarves of Naradun. They stand over 50  ft. tall  and have withstood countless attacks and sieges. They are continuously  plastered and painted white so that the whole city seems to gleam from  the light reflecting from  them for miles around. Sanctum contains the largest collection of temples, shrines, and  organizations for all the gods of good, and most of the gods of  neutrality. There is a constant stream of pilgrims making quests to the  multitude of holy places. The largest and most powerful of these are the  temples of Astar, Celradorn, and Gilea. Of course wherever there is an abundance of good, you can be sure  there is evil trying to bring it down, and Sanctum is no exception.  Secret cults and sects of several evil gods working their deceit and  corruption can be found there as well. Politics, power mongering, and  temple intrigue now tarnish  the interior of Sanctum’s pristine outer appearance. Still, on the  whole, the city and its surrounding countryside are a lawful and ordered  realm, seen as a bastion of the forces of good across much of Orea. Sanctum sits in <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#EEmbrar" target="_blank">East  Embrar</a> and is recognized as subject to the Highseat of Grinlia but  enjoys self-rule by a council of the high priests and priestesses of the  many temples called the Synod. The head of the Synod, the  Cleris Suprima, is the high-priest of the Temple of Astar and  stands as the lord of Sanctum and holy leader of Grinlia. The current  Cleris Suprima is Ellshor Kar Veron. He holds rank as spiritual  advisor to the royal family and is viewed by some as second in power to  the queen herself.  [SIZE=+1]The Kiari Hills[/SIZE]Smack in the middle of the realms of Grinlia, the Kiari Hills run from  eastern side of West Embrar and the river Whiteway along the southern  side of the great forest <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#O%27Douhn" target="_blank">O’Douhn</a>  and into the Duchy of the same name. While not a realm in and of  itself, the Kiari Hills are now home to a number of hairfoot communities  in the northern and western sections, including Goldendale, Briardale,  and Heatherheathe. The hills are also known to be home to a number of  centaur hyrds.   In the distant past, before the rise of Men, parts of the hills were  used as burial mounds by the elves that then roamed the lands. Later,  adventurous dwarves prospected there and a settlement did blossom for a  time. The Lord of these dwarves was Kiar, son of Krom, who lives  on in dwarven song. The Halls of Kiar went through periods of war and  peace over the centuries, sometimes warring with and sometimes doing  work for their Selurian neighbors, who eventually became their  overlords. When the Godswar came it drove the dwarves back to the solid  security of their mountain stoneholds leaving the hills, and Kiar’s  Hall, abandoned for many years. With the rise of evil in the dark years following the Godswar, the  hills were a perfect festering ground for goblins and orcs. These fiends  molested the surrounding lands with periods of raiding and pillaging  hoarding their ill-gotten gains in hill forts and abandoned strongholds.  As the various lords of Grinlia grew in power, the dark creatures  subsided. Centuries later with the rise of the demonson Aishapra,  goblins and trolls again sprang from the hills, eventually being all but  annihilated  by the united peoples of Grinlia and the defeat of Aishapra. To this day, erstwhile adventurers and treasure hunters roam the  hills looking for lost dwarven halls, ancient elvin burial chambers,  forgotten ruins, and endless tunnels that are rumored to still lie  hidden, laden with treasure and ancient artifacts, beneath the hills.  [SIZE=+1]Bluside and East Embrar[/SIZE]Bluside is, by far, the largest port and the oldest city established  after the Godswar in Grinlia. Bluside serves as a trading hub for goods  from the northern Grinlian realms and  the rest of Orea and vice versa. Bluside sits on the rim of the Arm of  Tyris, east of the great river Tyrilith. The city itself is essentially  half port/wharfside and half marketplace.  Merchants and traders from all seafaring nations do business in Bluside.  Its marketplace is thought to be second to none in western Orea. For  travelers from <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#D%27Ensior" target="_blank">D’Ensior</a>,   <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#O%27Douhn" target="_blank">O’Douhn</a>  and <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Resahd" target="_blank">Resahd</a>,  Bluside is the best way to obtain the special materials of far off <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Denil" target="_blank">Denil</a>,  <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/mostrial.html" target="_blank">Mostrial</a>,  and exotic goods of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/tanku.html" target="_blank">Tanku</a>  and <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/rhath.html" target="_blank">R’Hath</a>.  Bluside also serves as the capital of East Embrar and home for the  Duke, Batram Embrar, who traces his family back to one of  the great kings in the days before Grinlia was united under the  High-king. As a realm, East Embrar extends from the Whiteway river (though  the regions between the Whiteway and Tyrilith are generally considered  to belong to Sanctum) to the Dragonreach mountains. The “Endless  Marshes” of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Dunsmoor" target="_blank">Dunsmoor</a>  block East Embrar by land to the southern realms.  To the north, Embrar extends as far as the ancient druid wood of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Starglen" target="_blank">Starglen</a>  and follows the river Tyrilith to the edge of the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Kiari" target="_blank">Kiari  Hills</a> that continue into the Duchy of O’Douhn.   [SIZE=+1]Duchy of O’Douhn/The O’Douhn Forest[/SIZE]The Duchy of O’Douhn consists of the lands inhabited by the clans  collectively called the Sons of Douhn. These hearty people are noble  hearted and strong willed, much like the men of Mostrial. They are,  perhaps, the greatest and most loyal supporters of the Highseat of  Grinlia. Patrolling the northern borderlands and ever-vigilant of their  sinister neighbors in <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#D%27Ensior" target="_blank">D’Ensior</a>.  The Duke of O’Douhn is Destrin O’Kach, brother of the  High-queen. He overlooks the wide rolling hills and fields  of eastern O’Douhn from the ancient keep at O’Rook, the traditional home  of the lord of O’Douhn. The realm of O’Douhn encompasses from the  Naradun mountains to the woods of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Starglen" target="_blank">Starglen</a>  and the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Kiari" target="_blank">Kiari  Hills</a> in the south. The eastern border of O’Douhn is the river  Wydeep which runs into the Skyface Sea. East of the Wydeep is the  ancient nemeses of the Sons of Douhn, the lands of D’Ensior. Less than  two days west of Castle O’Rook begins the great forest of O’Douhn.  This massive primordial wood blankets almost the entire western half of  what is considered the Duchy. The western edge of the forest is the  border of O’Douhn and West Embrar. The O’Douhn clans made their lives within that forest since  before the Godswar. Living lives of relative freedom, constantly  fighting against the ever-encroaching Selurians. They constructed  villages around and atop the huge Bronzewood trees after the elvin  style, many of whom made their home in  the O’Douhn forest. They taught the Sons of Douhn how to live with the  land, how to make great arts and great war. In time, the great woodland  city of Covertgaard rose as the center of O’Douhn society and  enjoyed centuries as a monument to the friendship of the O’Douhn and the  elves of that forest. Since the Scourge Wars, and the destruction of  the ancient hold of Covertgaard, most of the human populace have moved  into the open lands or to communities on the borders of the forest  like Richton and Shadybough. Within the forest, however, is where O’Douhn’s real claim to fame  lies. From a secret stronghold deep in the wood, the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/sd_org.html#Rangers" target="_blank">Rangers  of O’Douhn</a> train and patrol their homeland, and Grinlia as a whole.  They are known and respected throughout the Embrars and <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Resahd" target="_blank">Resahd</a>,  also by the dwarves of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/dwarfrealms.html" target="_blank">Naradun</a>  and even the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/elfrealms.html" target="_blank">Miralostae</a>.  They are disdained in the realms of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#D%27Ensior" target="_blank">D’Ensior</a>,  seen as spies, thieves, and interfering outlaws. The Rangers of O’Douhn  are reputed as having great skill in woodcraft and animal husbandry  along with great courage and valor. The organization of the Rangers as a  fellowship is credited to the mythic hero of the Thorn, Corellon  Oakbrow, who rallied the O’Douhn forces, scattered in the wake  of Covertgaard’s ruin,  and organized them in the dawning days of the  unification of Grinlia, to aid his friend and comrade, the newly crowned  high-king Elibon. Thus contributing to the ultimate destruction of  Aishapra. That was almost 1000 years ago. Today the Rangers aren’t  necessarily comprised solely of the men of O’Douhn. In fact, one doesn’t  have to be a ranger to be a Ranger of O’Douhn. There are known members  of the organization, defenders of the realm, who are clerics of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/gods/gods.html" target="_blank">Sylari</a>  and <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/gods/gods.html" target="_blank">Celradorn</a>,  bards, rogues,  even a mage or two. Membership has also grown to include elves, gnomes,  halflings, even an odd centaur or dwarf. Each patrol band is still led  by an actual ranger. The current Captain of the Rangers is also an  actual O’Douhn ranger named Bronner Twobow. He is a good  friend of the Duke’s though his duties rarely allow him time in court.   [SIZE=+1]The Baronies of D’Ensior[/SIZE]East of O’Douhn and north of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Resahd" target="_blank">Resahd</a>  is the northernmost collection of territories claiming allegiance to  the throne of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Aberol" target="_blank">Aberol</a>.  This collection of smaller realms are collective called the Baronies of  D’Ensior. They include the Barony of D’Evon, the Barony of  D’Arongil, the Barony of Farreach, and D’Ensior, home of the Arch-Baron  Dereborn. The baronies run from the Wydeep river east, across  the great river Tyrilith to the plains and tundra of Gorundu. Its  northern reaches are harsh rocky lands giving way to frozen wastes  terminating at the glacial Diamond Cliffs. On its south, D’Ensior  borders Resahd and has a substantial amount of coastline around the  Skyface Sea, which the ships of D’Arongil patrol (and privateer) as  their own.  While seemingly loyal and supportive of the crown, the Arch-Baron  not-so-secretly plots to get closer to the crown by any means  necessary, perhaps even take it for himself. As protection from  retribution he has the knowledge that he is viewed by the court, in far  off Aberol, as great defenders of Grinlia endlessly protecting the inner  realms from the barbarian hordes of Gorunduun. Dereborn is also able to  lay claim to lineage going back to the time of the original High-king  and strong alliances and pacts that were made at that time and  subsequently renewed and reinforced over the centuries through marriages  and the like. He is also far enough away from the court at Aberol to  scheme and plot unhindered. The Barons of D’Ensior strictly patrol their  lands and deal harshly with unwelcome guests. Curiously, these do not  seem to include a variety of goblinoids that roam the baronies  relatively unhindered by the Arch-baron’s forces and occasionally  working with them. There are often skirmishes with O’Douhn and border disputes with  Resahd, though the political power of Resahd’s Duchess keeps things  civil. At its southeastern tip D’Ensior borders the elvin realm of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/elfrealms.html" target="_blank">Miralosta.</a>  The elves, generally not welcoming to outsiders, do not suffer the  soldiers of D’Ensior at all, meeting any incursions with force.   [SIZE=+1]Duchy of Resahd, Castle Bentril[/SIZE]Resahd is the smallest of Grinlia’s territories, sitting along the  Skyface sea and stretching not much further east than the foothills of  the Dragonreach mountains. On its eastern border is the elfhold of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/elfrealms.html" target="_blank">Miralosta</a>  and the great open expanse of the Orean Plains. It is bordered on the  north by the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#D%27Ensior" target="_blank">Baronies  of D’Ensior</a> that are a constant source of concern and irritation.  Other than the fortress of the Duke, Castle Bentril, there are no major  settlements in Resahd. Farming and fishing villages, and the occasional  coastal town, the largest of these surrounding the Castle Bentril. The  densely wooded hills and rocky protrusions of the Dragonreach range make  the southern regions of Resahd something of a frontier. The territory  maintains itself with timber, some mining, and acting as the liason for  elvin goods to enter the kingdom, the Skyface sea and Tyrilith river  offer an easy shipping route for all sorts of goods straight to Bluside. The current ruler of these lands is the Duchess Annaline  L’lorn, the former high-king’s sister. The Castle Bentril is the  ancestral home of the Duchess’ deceased husband, the Bentril family.  Like D’Ensior, the family Bentril holds ties to Grinlia’s Highseat since  its formation. The two regions have had a rocky history. Part of the  reason for the current Duchess’ marriage was to bring some stability to  the realms, the former High-king knowing that D’Ensior would not dare to  insult a member of the High family. The Duchess is a woman of great  strength, compassion, generosity, and duty much beloved by her people  (even most of her late husband’s family). Following the direct line of  the High-king, the crown prince Gerren, the Duchess of Resahd and her  children are next in line of succession to the Highseat.   [SIZE=+1]Starglen[/SIZE] While not belonging to any particular duchy nor holding any allegiance  to the throne in Aberol, Starglen is the second of the three major druid  holds in Orea. This ancient forest is nestled along the northernmost  stretch of the Dragonreach mountains extending as far west as the river  Tyrilith. The northern edge of Starglen rounds the Dragonreach range and  borders on the realm of Resahd. The wood is kept by one of the highest  in the Ancient Order of Mistwood’s mysterious governing body, called the  Lord (or Lady) of Birch. Little else is known about the druidwood  or its denizens and most of the residents of Grinlia give it a wide  berth. The forest of Starglen, and the druids of that wood, are viewed  with a combination of fear and respect by the men of Grinlia. Giving to  the fact that it was a druidess of Starglen that brought the mythic  Starsword to Elibon L’lorn thus allowing the defeat of Aishapra, uniting  Grinlia, and making Elibon High-king. This is the only documented  interaction the kingdom has had with Starglen since the establishment of  Grinlia. The Druids of the Ancient Order seldom involve themselves in  the affairs of Men, but if they do, people tend to listen.</blockquote>

Verification