Murr Shore

The Murr Shore is a large, barren land, located in northwestern Rasfadal. It is known for its treeless landscape and harsh, salty winds. The landscape is full of old rocks and treacherous cliffs. The region is surrounded by steep cliffs on the northern and western shores, the mysterious Feylin Forest to the south, and marauding orc tribes at its heart. Much of the settlement in the region is along the shore, where small communities of fishermen and hunters seek protection from local warlords.   The rivers in the land are short, swift, and flood-prone, making them unsuitable for navigation. The Finwyr River, on the other hand, is much better suited for navigation and connects Wyryndam to the rest of Rasfadal by safe means. The Westhar River, however, is shallow, with a treacherous, rocky riverbed, and serves as a natural defensive barrier, protecting the Count of Harewood from the orc tribes.   There is not much of a central government in the region; the counts and barons that rule these lands are ferocious warriors who have only since the last century been subjugated by the Fendalian king. They are independent, and their control spreads little further than their capital town. Count Emerling of Wyryndam is a port town that struggles with fighting off the orcs in the south. More frequently each season, the orcs raid his lands and ambush his people. At the same time, the influence of the bandit-kings in the north keeps spreading, and lawlessness in his lands is rising with each passing day. Count Hayling of Burnard has put his faith in Dor, the God of Luck and Prosperity. In his town, the Shield of Dor is a militant group that aims to protect the town's walls and keep its people safe. Baron Othur of Jarlang rules over a small fishing village much further south. He deals less with the orcs and bandits, but instead is constantly reminded by the ominous presence of the Feylin Forest, just outside his village boundaries. The trees whisper to the people, and those who enter the forest seldom return.   Throughout its history, Murr has been shaped by cultural tension. As long as people care to remember, the land has been shared by humans and orcs. Over centuries, the orcs have deforested the entire region in their continuous quest to gather more fuel for their Eternal Fire, the Sacred Flame. With the waning authority of human rulers, the borders between orc and human lands have blurred, and conflicts are more common than ever. But there is not only strife between humans and orcs; the old Orc Chief, Inkathu, faces a divide in his tribe. He sees a bleak future for his people and insists that it is time for hostilities to end. However, his right-hand man, Morzog, fiercely rejects the idea and instead urges the orcs to hold on to their traditional ways. He even claims that Inkathu's old age, beyond that of most orcs, is a sign that their ruler is half-human and a false ruler.