Wesford

Wesford is a wealthy kingdom, ruled by it's King, Aemirc Starkstride. The King has his own council of advisers; a Master of Coin, Master War, Master of Spies, a Dwarven Rune-Priest, Master of Lords, and Voice of the People. Each has their own purposes as follows in a brief summary:  

• The Master of Lords meets regularly with the Kingdoms Nobility and merchants, gaining insight into the political flavor of societies upper echelon.
• The Voice of the People is similar to the Master of Lords gathering the concerns and blights of the common citizenry.
• While most Royal courts have a court wizard King Aemirc has been able to gain the services of a Rune Priest. The Rune-Priest advises the King on matters the other advisors give, to be a voice of reason. However as sound as his advice is due to the secretive ways of the Rune Priests he is viewed with suspicion from the other advisers.
• Master of Coin is tasked with collecting taxes and regulating commerce.
• Master of War is tasked with overlooking the defense of Wesford's borders waters and is the head military strategist during times of war.
• The Master of Spies sets up networks of spies trough out the kingdom and neighboring countries, listening for talk of treason and hostilities.

  King Aemirc has been an average ruler, collecting taxes, throwing festivals, and protecting the realm with just laws. It was 10 years ago that King Aemirc began increasing taxes and passing harsh judgement for seemingly minor offenses. This took it's toll on the all of the Kingdom's nobility and citizenry. ten knights, Sir Gwænn, Sir Tonnesvolk, Sir Weabber, Sir Mannlock, Sir Greuenstein, Sir Hatsfjord, Sir Van Sablestann, Sir Rayalstein, Sir Wojtek, Sir Freiervogel, were able to amass an army 2,000 strong to overthrow King Aemirc. It was The Esoteric Society of Science that saved King Aemirc from this rebellion. The Society brought a new weapon to the aid of the King; Canons and firearms.   For their role in defending the King from the ten Traitor Knights the Society can forgo taxes in exchange with supplying the kings military with gunpowder, canons, and firearms. This has awarded the Society with political weight to do as they please with their experiments, without direct interference from the Oculus Infernum and the Church.   However in recent times Whispers of undead rising and cultists growing their influence throughout the Kingdom are staring to grow louder.       Regions of the Wesfjord     The Boglands: On the southern coast of Wesford are miles of marshy swamps and bogs. Remnants of an ancient battle, known as the great swallowing, that changed the shape of the continent; undead and other monstrosities lurk in these lands. Dangerous as this place is, allies can be found here too. Elves also call this region home. The land is difficult to maneuver and navigate so the the elves have created a unique method of getting around. Using special poles made of rattan they can vault them selves from tree to tree, avoiding any foe lurking in the waters below.   While the Boglands are a wild place they are governed by Baron Robert Elthington in the fortress Darkstone. There are many settlements in his barony that lie along the outskirts of the swamps and bogs, due to the nature of the region hogs are the primary live stock raised as little else creates enough trade making Baron Elthington one of the poorest nobles in the Kingdom, something the rest of the nobility loves to remind him of. Though, poor his lands give him a sense of duty, his men protect the rest of the kingdom from the threats that come from the swamp. As such there is large presence of the Gladius Vindicte and Tallis orders. The Church provides many services to the people of the Boglands, which help to keep the Barony from going into ruin.   The King's Ride: long and wide fields and meadows lay between the Joutenstein Mountains to the west and the Feyheim Mountains to the East. Grain, sheep, and cattle make up the economy of the King's Ride. Divided by the Serpent's Tail river these lands were once governed by the Knights Sir Sabblestan from the Saber Fortess and Sir Wojtek from the Scimitar Fortess. Ever since their treason the lands have fallen under the control of the Kings Men. Command of these fortress's have been giving to Sir Strawnbrow and Sir Redwinter. The King's Men takes advantage of the wide open spaces to train new members. From here are the King's Men dispatched to various cities and towns to enforce the King's laws and smoke out traitors and bandits.   The Emberstone Barony: home to Emberstone Castle, found on the northern shores of Ember Lake to the south and east of Joutenstein Mountains. The castle was build 200 years ago by Josep Emberstone and has remained under the care of his family since. in the current time it is Lord Elwin Emberstone and his wife Cristine, Lady of the Lochlands. The Barony to the northen tip of the Joutenstein Mountains to the Gulf of Gallian and the Boglands. And from the Joutenstein Mountains east to the Serpent's Tail river.   What makes the Castle unique is the lands around, all around Emberstone Lake are natural hot springs and Emberstone Castle has made large bath house and steam rooms for their guests. The Castle also has some natural Hot Springs in the castle's garden to be enjoyed privately by the Lord and Lady Emberstone. The beautiful lake and the hot springs has made Emberstone Castle a favorite destination for King Aermic as well as other noble houses, which allots Lord Emberstone a fair amount of influence.   Elder-Tol: a city state that resides within Wesford yet keeps it's own sovereignty. The city keeps it's own laws, similar to the rest of the country but with a focus on studying the arcane. the History of Elder-Tol predates the kingdom of Wesford. Having been built by an ancient elvin culture in response to the Dwarven Rune Priests keeping their rune magic a secret from them, the purpose being to study magic and to either discover rune magic or magic powerful enough to surpass it. Over the centuries Kingdoms have come and gone, wars raged and times of peace endured. Through it all Elder-Tol stood tall, gathering more and more residents. As the Kingdom of Wesford was forming, the Kings of old saw the potential of Elder-Tol and the elvin wizards being on their side and so allowed Elder-Tol to govern itself so long as they aid the Kingdom in its times of need.   While the Kingdom was still young there was a movement growing in the south. The Gaal Empire began to raise an undead army to push northward. Elder-Tol for the first time fought along side Dwarven Rune-Priests in defense of the land. Together with the Rune-Priests magic was able to summon a title wave so large that the waters receded so far back that the ocean floor was exposed for miles. When the title wave crashed it permanently changed the land of Wesford, destroying the southern half of Wesford, in what is commonly known as the Great Swallowing, and creating a giant salt water bog, which became known as the Bog Lands.   The Feyheim Mountains: A mountainous region rich in mineral resources. Once ruled by the Dwarf King Herron Goldenheart during the war against the necromancer he send out his soldiers to gather up refugees and other non-combatants to be placed in the protections of his strongholds. He ran his forges to produce arms and armor for armies of the living. After the great swallowing Herron stepped down as King and his son Derron took his place. King Derron had a castle built out of the side of the mountain and named it Herron's Hall in his father's honor and. A monument to the great King He was. Generations of Dwarf kings have passed and the Feyheim Mountains are ruled now by the Dwarf King Haldier Goldenheart. Haldier has honored the alliance between his Grandfather and the human kingdom of Wesford. King Haldier rules his mountain with the laws of the dwarves observed below and the laws of man above. King Haldier has leased the mining rights and Herron's Hall to the Kingdom of Wesford, the largest of the mines used as a labor camp for criminals of Wesford known commonly as the Pit. The Pit is run by Earl Pikman of Wesford. Earl Pikman unlike the Dwarven Kings is notorious as being cruel and abusive. Exploiting his laborers in a way that prevents them from getting out of debt to continually force them to work for him.   Smuggler's Bay: A this bay along the Iron Coast is lined with naturally formed caves and tunnels. A perfect place for pirates and smugglers to hide from the King's Men. Smuggler's Bay is divided into three Baronies, Old Port, High Arbor, and Erik's Landing. Theese coastal cities have a reputation of being able to acquire any goods anyone can ever want...for a price. Which does make it a popular place for many criminals, and often times noble houses to visit the area trying to procure goods that are illegal in the eyes of the law. However, the smuggling operations in the area have taken a hit ever since Earl Pikman took over the Pit. It is rumored that the Earl routinely send his own agents to the coastal baronies to weed out and hunt down smugglers, often times without the permission of the coastal Barons, as is his right as Earl, making most citizens distrustful to outsiders.   Vildmark: (Also known as the Dutchy of Flamewhal) the north of Wesford is the wild lands were orcs bands still roam, here most of the people still cling to the old ways worshiping the forest spirits and Old Gods. the southern half calls those form the north barbarians. The northern lands economy is based mostly around trapping and logging. It does, however, have large adventuring community. The Vildmark is vast and underpopulated, and dotted with ruins of ancient kingdoms long forgotten to time, making it a prime destination for those seeking to escape the King's Justice. The Vilderland Mountains make a natural barrier making traveling by land very treacherous so the Dutchy of Flamewhal have made pacts with orc tribes, paying tributes in exchange the orcs allow them to hunt and live in their territories. These pacts have lead to some unions between man and orc and so half-orcs became a common sight in the north of Wesford. However south of the Vildmark orcs and half-orcs are viewed as one and are stereotyped as brutal savages. The port city of New Arborshire is the primary hub of importing and exporting goods and people. Every fall New Arborshire celebrates the Dragonfell, festival marking the day The red dragon terrorized the region was brought down. The Vildmark is governed by Duke Flewming, fifth in line to the crown. The Flewming line has ruled Vildmark for several generations. In that time the harsh northern country has made them strong pragmatic rulers. They have little care for what happens south of the mountains.   Vilderkand: The Vilderlands are a vast mountain range seperating the Vildmark with the rest of Wesford. within these mountains are home to roming herds of Goliaths and Orcs tribes that hold to the old ways. Within the mountains are the monistares of the Dwarven Rune-Priests.   Lochlands: To the north of Wesford and west of the Vildmark is the region known as the Lochlands. Surrounded by mountains the Lochlands are cut off from the rest of Wesford. It is said that the Lochlands were first inhabited by Orcs and when explorers from Räuberland happened upon this region they started trade with the Orcs, soon a settlement was established. After the Räuberland was diminished back east, in order to survive and thrive, the settlements intergraded with the orcs tribes. it is common for half-orcs to come out of the Lochlands. Even nobility is said to contain some orc blood in their lineage. Lochlanders, people from the Lochlands, wear an animal pelt across their shoudlers joine together by a small gorget. The gorget is often emblazened with the house mark that Lochlander belongs too. After centuries of co-existing the animal pelt with the gorget signifying their shared Orc and Räuberland heritage.   After the Great Swallowing much of the other kingdoms merged to form the Kingdom of Wesford. The Lochlands were not one that wanted to join the new Kingdom of Wesford. And thus a war broke out. The Lochlands held out for well over 30 years, using the natural mountain barriers to their advantage. But in the end the Lochlands could not outlast the resources and magic from Elder-Tol. the leaders of orc tribes that were lead by half-orc chieftains were the only tribes recognized as noble houses. Many Lochlanders do not recognize the legitimacy of the King or his rule and during the war of the 10 Traitor Knights many Lochlanders joined the rebels. After the war the King had sent large detachments of Kings Men to keep a watchful eye and bring down an iron fist on decenters, which has only succeeded in deepening resentment for the crown.   The Timberlands: The Western lands are know as the Timberlands and is the second largest region in Wesford. From the Thunder Cliffs to the Joutenstein Mountains and from the western border to the Emberstone Barony, The vast forests makes this lands a prime location for the timber trade as well as hunting. The people of the Timberlands are viewed as hard working, salt of the earth people. Brave and loyal, the Timberlands guard the western border with Skalford. Lord Iti-Homma traces his line back to before the Great Swallowing, to the orc tribes that were here before the humans invaded from the south. Four large fortresses line the western border with several smaller garrisons between, Redfort is where Lord Iti-Homma calls home, on the front lines with his men. In the central of the Timberlands on the southern shores of Timber Lake is Rosenford Manor. Lord Rosenford oversees the timber trade in region. Considered "soft" by Lord Iti-Homma, Lord Rosenford commits his time to business ventures and land acquisitions over border defense.   Eastport: The major hub for imported products heading for the central cities of the Wesfjord that is Governed by Duke Tutus. Eastport it is a large port city set up into 9 distinct districts. Each district contain their own markets and urban dwellings. Eastport is well know for the Docks District. The 9 districts are as follows:   1. Docks District: located at the docks, it is the largest of the districts, filled with large warehouses and fish markets, it attracts many visitors for it's famous sea food. The Golden Cockle is a fine place, once the favorite spot for the renowned dwarven hero Stumble Silvershoes.   2. Fisher's District, near the Dock district this district is the only district on the docks, it is the oldest part of Eastport before the trade economy exploded and caused the town to expand into the city that it is today. The Fisher's District is now know for it's shipwrights and boat building.   3. The Merchant District is near the center of the city. It has the largest bazaar and brings in many from across the city for it's foreign spices and textiles.   4. The Holy District, this is by far the most controversial of Districts, this area houses many churches and shrines to various pantheons. However with the rise of the Church of the Penitent Soul they have suppressed many followers of other religions prompting the King's Men to patrol the area in force to keep the peace.   5. The Workers District, this district houses many of the workers as well as tradesmen guilds. A working class district but still has a fair variety of shops of middling value.   6. The Arts District, this district is mostly and upper class district full of museums and art galleries, and though theatres can be found in other districts, the finest of them are found here. The Pearl, a restaurant of high class.   7. The Military District, this district house the many barracks for the King's Men as well as Wesford's Royal Marines. this is perhaps the smallest of the districts as there are no markets here, it was a fort that the city grew around and incorporated.   8. The Common District, this district is the poorest of the districts, it was a small town that was absorbed into Eastport as the city grew. Many of the cities poorer worker who takes jobs many deem undesirable call this district home. An epidemic has spread through the district. Duke Titus has placed it on quarantine, only those deemed un-ill may come and go. The King's Men have posted outside the district entrances. The Church has sent in the Tallis and Gladius Vindicte orders to help keep the peace and heal the sick.   9. The High District, also known as the Estates it is found on a small plateau that looks over the rest of the city, this is where the high lords and royalty lives. It is a home to decadence and excess.