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The Crownlands
🕑 Added 2022-01-30 08:01:01 +0000 UTCHey everyone! Let me present to you The Crownlands, the last map for the Castles and Keep theme.
Long ago the kingdom of Rasfadal was founded in these lands. They were originally called Fendal and the namesake of the Kingdom; Rasfadal meaning Great Fendal. The lords in these lands used to be mere chiefs of disorganized clans. The were eventually unified by the Burbric Empire, until they declared independence, forming the Kingdom of Rasfadal.
These days the lands around the capital are called the Crownlands. They are held by King Staar II, and are considered the safest and most peaceful lands in the kingdom. It encompasses the lands directly east and west of Hofendal, as well as the lands to the north up to Hofenkeep.
Around the land are countless villages and hamlets, all small farming communities of common folk. Being close to the capital brings a sense of security with it as the lands are often well travelled and watched and for that reason the Crownlands are the most densely populated region in the kingdom.
Geography
Wavy hills, rivers and forests populate the Crownlands. It’s the southern most region of Rasfadal and has the warmest climate. Here the summers are usually warm with an average temperature of 25˚ and soft winters bring little to no frost. From the Endeleas Sea rain is swept over the region bringing showers during summer and winter, with occasional snowfall in the cold season. The east consists of fertile fields and scattered trees while the west is dominated by old forests and rocky hills.
Government
The Crownlands contain the Crownduchy, ruled directly by King Staar II. The rest of the crownlands is ruled by a number of the king’s vassals who have sworn fealty to the king. The king’s lands are between the rivers Lyar and Thring, from the capital all the way to Hofenkeep and including the farmlands beyond. The other lands are under the control of counts and barons. Staar II rules directly over the lands within his duchy, but also concerns himself with the governing of the surrounding lands. However, Rasfadal is greatly decentralized and the king if often unable to directly affect the decision making of lords outside of this region.
In addition to the king there is the High Council. The council consist of the king’s most important and trusted vassals, currently Duke Deiniol I of Arnallan, Duke Arling of Daradal, Count Anwil of the Great Vale and Bishop Marten of Soravia. Many of the king’s decisions are made with their advice.
Settlements
Within the Crownlands you’ll find several towns and villages, all ruled by counts and barons. These regions are among the most populous of Rasfadal and you’ll never have to travel far from one village to the next. The settlements in the east of the Crownlands are well travelled and surrounded by farmlands, while the ones further west are more isolated and surrounded by forests and hills.
Anfel
On the borders of the Crownlands and along the Thring river lies the village Anfel. It is a prosperous community of farmers. The settlement is located on the edge of the Crownlands and close to the Feylin Forest.
Darnithal
Darnithal is a rather secluded village in the Golban Hills. It is reached by traveling a scarcely used, meandering road from Fing in the south. In the village center is Dara’s Jest, a Tavern where the villagers spend most of their free time. Next to the tavern is the Lord’s Manor, home of Count Marthen. A small church, dedicated to the Gods of Light, is run by Priestess Madelyn. An old, abandoned watchtower overlooks the land west of the village. In addition to that the town offers a blacksmith and stables.
Deleeron
Hardworking people who have earned enough to retire often move out to the quiet Tarnal Peninsula with the town of Deleeron at the very end. Deleeron is not the fanciest town on the peninsula, but it's a very popular place among retired folk. Nothing happens here and they can spend their old days in peace.
The town is renowned for its great artists, sculptors and painters. Many people here spend their time picking up hobbies that they never had time for. The Church of Arus, the God of Art, is filled with beautiful –and less beautiful– paintings and sculptures. In addition to art created by the townsfolk, it also contains some of the most famous works of art from the kingdom.
Three nights ago there has been a theft. Someone, or something broke into the church and stole the "Lyck Mien Raet", one of the most valuable paintings in the kingdom. The priest has offered a great reward to those who would bring it back to its rightful place.
Fing
Fing is a small community of lumberjacks. The people here work in the Hofen Forest and provide most of the wood for the surrounding area. It also functions as a military outpost in the western Crownlands with a small castle overlooking the village from a nearby hill. There is a renowned blacksmith and weapon shop to maintain and supply the garrison with equipment, as well as adventurer’s passing through.
Gwendal
Sat on the Edge of the Endeleas Sea, on the Gulf of Fendal, the humble fishing town of Gwendal is the nearest settlement to both the city of Hofendal and the Elmaran Border. As such, the settlement benefits from direct trade with merchants travelling to the Capital, as well as direct protection from the Royal Guard. Banditry is practically nonexistent, yet the fief still host a garrison of 30 Men, and a wooden palisade.
Indeed, while common crooks are no issue for the people of Gwendal, the Beast-Men of the Hofen-wood keep their door locked and windows shuttered. While the Royal Scholars deny their existence, local farm-hands swear by it. They talk of huge, human-like figures with the heads goats or cattle, with cloven hooves and eyes of fire, menacing with brass horns and swords of rusted iron.
Legend has it that the Druid Priestess Gwendolyn Fairbriar cursed the village in days of yore, after the Elder's Son, Geoffrey, shot the White Stag, who was in reality Gwendolyn's lover Aerlalon, in animal form. She proclaimed thus than any male child born during the full moon should be born a monster, a twisted amalgam of Man and Beast.
According to the Court Scholar's, this tale is completely and utterly fictitious- yet confess that Gwendolyn was, in fact, very real, and the town's namesake. The main exports from Gwendal are fresh fish (Sea Bass, primarily), barley, textiles, and salt. Its main imports are Wool, Iron, Olive Oil, and livestock.
Hargal
Hargal is nestled in an elbow of the Thring river, between Anfel and Merwon to the north and south respectively. It is reached by traveling north along the Thring river from Hofendal. The oft forgotten village of Hargal. It’s a small settlement is not more than a collection of farm houses and a few hunters and fishermen. Around the village are large fields of corn, cabbage and wheat.
Hofenkeep
Hofenkeep is a castle town and capital of the Barony of Ordal. It lies a long days travel away from Hofendal and is usually granted to the king’s heir as they come of age. The last baron of Ordal was Prince Goedling, but the castle has been empty after the prince died in the War of the Vale. There are many rumors going about suggestion what the future of Hofenkeep will be. Some say the king will adopt a new son before his death and that this new prince will take residence in the castle and rule the town. Others believe that there will not be a new lord of Hofenkeep before the king draws his final breath and that all hell will break loose when he does.
Hofendal
The city of Hofendal was founded in 202BP. Back then it was called Gauafonyd, meaning "river mouths" or "place at the river mouths". Old Town is the oldest part of the city and where its foundation was laid. A small trade post with bridges crossing the rivers Lyar and Thring quickly rose in importance and attracted many travelers and merchants. From it grew a village and eventually a town, important and wealthy enough to be surrounded by a stone wall surrounding the entire town. The wall had three gates. The North Gate, Lyar Gate and Thring Gate. The latter gates were accessed via wooden drawbridges over the rivers surrounding the city. On a cliff facing the Gulf of Fendal the castle of Gaul Falith was built, serving both to defend the city and as the house of the cities Lord.
To the south were large farmlands called Sudvelt, (meaning South Field) as well as to the north and east. Around the docks of sudvelt grew another small village which was eventually incorporated into the city of Hofendal, becoming a new district of the town, divided from Old Town by the river Lyar. A new wall was built around the district in 177AP. This district became an important part of the city and has proven incredibly valuable in times when the city was besieged.
The the east is the Merchant District. This is by far the newest part of town and wasn't more than a collection of settlements outside the city walls until 535AP. Around that time there was no more space to built around South Field's docks and people started building new shops and warehouses on the eastern shore of the gulf. Within several years this area attracted many merchants and permanent shops were established.
In recent years the city has seen a rising unrest with the king’s absence. For a moment things seemed to clear up, but then the Homeless Lords came to the city. These lords originally ruled in The Swamps, but upon their arrival home they found their holdings in the hands of bandit-kings. Now they have come to the capital and demand the king to send reinforcements to the back their holdings. The king, however, doesn’t have the manpower either, after the devastating War of the Vale.
Merwon
When entering the Tarnal Peninsula from the capital the first settlement you’ll came across is Merwon. It lies about a day away from Hofendal and and sees fairly little traffic. The majority of the people passing through are traveling to or from Deleeron in the east. People from Deleeron are rich folk, but the ones in Merwon are much more modest. Still, houses in Merwon are generally comfortable and sturdy and its people certainly aren’t poor.
Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
Comments
Daniel's Maps
Thank you Michael! :D
Michael
Awesome work Daniel... love this!
