Regions
Contains information helpful to players new to the Dawnforge setting.
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Eanwulf
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- Title: The Grey
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- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:12 pm
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- Title: The Grey
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Anderland
Post by Eanwulf » Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:20 am
Anderland
The Heartland
Anderland occupies a vast swath of central Ambria, descending from the highlands south of the Icehammer Front. The region spreads as far west as the Stormfells and is bordered on the east by the carefully guarded borders of Sildanyr, the great elven forest. Though large, Ambria is not densely populated, its residents instead preferring to live in scattered villages that lie within the boundaries marked by the Seven Cities of Anderland.
Each of these city-states is ruled by one of the princes of Anderland. Though loosely allied, the princes are more concerned with the welfare of their own people than with the well being of their neighbors. While a stronger alliance might benefit all of the rulers in the region, the princes have difficult seeing this, as each hope to eventually unite all of Anderland under his or her own banner. For now, the city-states work together when it is convenient and help defend one another from threats when they can, but it is a rare prince who will put his own lands at risk for another.
Anderland is blessed with many natural resources, including forests of towering oaks and supple maples, a wealth of natural springs and flowing rivers, and fertile plains that bloom in the spring and bring forth great bounties in summer and fall. Only the steppes and highland regions near the Icehammer Front can be considered harsh terrain, while the rest of the region is dominated by gently rolling plains and expansive stretches of forest waiting to be harvested. The river valleys of Anderland, especiallym, are favored by farmers, despite the risk of flooding when the spring rains come. Many claim that the river spirits fuel the growth of their crops, and the enormous fruits and vegetables produced near the rivers seem to bear this out.
Perhaps the most notable feature within Anderland is the Goldspring Sea. This vast body of water is fed by powerful subterranean springs, producing water that is cool and fresh even in the height of summer. More importantly, the springs are rich in natural minerals and exotic metals, which coalesce as a fine, golden foam near the eastern shore of the sea. Once harvested and refined, seagold fetches a very high price from craftsmen of all types, as well as from practitioners of the magical arts. The princes of Anderland have worked out an extensive network of trade contracts governing how this priceless resource is handled and its distribution is as fair and equitable as possible.
The weather in Anderland is milder than in many areas, but unpredictable and violent weather patterns have led to its inhabitants to carefully venerate the spirits of the storm and their relatives. Winter brings bitter cold and deadly ice storms down from the Icehammer Front, followed in the spring by unpredictable thunderstorms and torrential rains that fill the Goldspring Sea to overflowing. With the change of seasons from spring to summer, the storms die down to be replaced with hot, humid days in the central and southern portions of Anderland, while the northern highlands enjoy a relatively mild season of warm sunshine and calm winds.
The last harvest of summer, though, marks the beginning of another storm season. The cooling air that sweeps down from the Icehammer Front brings with it swirling vortices that become dangerous tornadoes when they reach the central plains. Over the centuries those who live in the path of these deadly storms have adapted, building their houses in the sides of hills or at the bottoms of valleys to avoid the worst danger from the tornadoes.
Whatever the season, however, the weather in Anderland is prone to sudden and unpredictable changes. Surprising warm spells in the deeps of winter transform blankets of snow into slushy quagmires, and the warm breath of spring sometimes becomes the frigid fangs of a northern wolf without warning. The Halflings of Anderland perhaps sum up the weather best: "Wear you spring tunic, but keep your winter cloak handy."
Though most of the central Anderland is well patrolled by the princes' soldiers, its borders are fraught with peril. The Pale Forest in the north disgorges packs of goblins and their allies with frightening frequency, while the forces of Anlar Icefang continue to swell beneath the banner of the winter wolf in the Icehammer Front. In the east, the conflict of the elves threatens to spill over into Anderland, as night elf patrols begin venturing beyond the borders of the elven lands to seek out suitable sites to build their secret fortresses.
Though the dwarves of the Stormfells are ostensibly neutral to the dealings of the men of Anderland, the fire giants who dwell in the deepest caverns of this great mountain range are not. Their periodic raids to procure food and other good to take back to their subterranean homes are becoming more frequent, leading many to wonder if another giant war is not brewing beneath the dwarven homelands.
Just as troublesome is the rise of strange creatures in the swamps of northern Emerlyn. These creatures periodically swarm out of the peninsula and rampage through southern Anderland like a plague of reptilian locusts. Though they are so far easily dealt with by the prince's patrols, their numbers are increasing and their attacks against Anderland are becoming more frequent.
In all, the threats to Anderland, coupled with the unpredictable weather and dangerous tornado season, make it a country quite open to adventurers and others who might be able to lend a hand with its troubles. Though the princes watch closely for any trouble makers, those who swear fealty to the Thorned Thrones are treated well and rewarded richly for their service.
Anderland occupies a vast swath of central Ambria, descending from the highlands south of the Icehammer Front. The region spreads as far west as the Stormfells and is bordered on the east by the carefully guarded borders of Sildanyr, the great elven forest. Though large, Ambria is not densely populated, its residents instead preferring to live in scattered villages that lie within the boundaries marked by the Seven Cities of Anderland.
Each of these city-states is ruled by one of the princes of Anderland. Though loosely allied, the princes are more concerned with the welfare of their own people than with the well being of their neighbors. While a stronger alliance might benefit all of the rulers in the region, the princes have difficult seeing this, as each hope to eventually unite all of Anderland under his or her own banner. For now, the city-states work together when it is convenient and help defend one another from threats when they can, but it is a rare prince who will put his own lands at risk for another.
Anderland is blessed with many natural resources, including forests of towering oaks and supple maples, a wealth of natural springs and flowing rivers, and fertile plains that bloom in the spring and bring forth great bounties in summer and fall. Only the steppes and highland regions near the Icehammer Front can be considered harsh terrain, while the rest of the region is dominated by gently rolling plains and expansive stretches of forest waiting to be harvested. The river valleys of Anderland, especiallym, are favored by farmers, despite the risk of flooding when the spring rains come. Many claim that the river spirits fuel the growth of their crops, and the enormous fruits and vegetables produced near the rivers seem to bear this out.
Perhaps the most notable feature within Anderland is the Goldspring Sea. This vast body of water is fed by powerful subterranean springs, producing water that is cool and fresh even in the height of summer. More importantly, the springs are rich in natural minerals and exotic metals, which coalesce as a fine, golden foam near the eastern shore of the sea. Once harvested and refined, seagold fetches a very high price from craftsmen of all types, as well as from practitioners of the magical arts. The princes of Anderland have worked out an extensive network of trade contracts governing how this priceless resource is handled and its distribution is as fair and equitable as possible.
The weather in Anderland is milder than in many areas, but unpredictable and violent weather patterns have led to its inhabitants to carefully venerate the spirits of the storm and their relatives. Winter brings bitter cold and deadly ice storms down from the Icehammer Front, followed in the spring by unpredictable thunderstorms and torrential rains that fill the Goldspring Sea to overflowing. With the change of seasons from spring to summer, the storms die down to be replaced with hot, humid days in the central and southern portions of Anderland, while the northern highlands enjoy a relatively mild season of warm sunshine and calm winds.
The last harvest of summer, though, marks the beginning of another storm season. The cooling air that sweeps down from the Icehammer Front brings with it swirling vortices that become dangerous tornadoes when they reach the central plains. Over the centuries those who live in the path of these deadly storms have adapted, building their houses in the sides of hills or at the bottoms of valleys to avoid the worst danger from the tornadoes.
Whatever the season, however, the weather in Anderland is prone to sudden and unpredictable changes. Surprising warm spells in the deeps of winter transform blankets of snow into slushy quagmires, and the warm breath of spring sometimes becomes the frigid fangs of a northern wolf without warning. The Halflings of Anderland perhaps sum up the weather best: "Wear you spring tunic, but keep your winter cloak handy."
Though most of the central Anderland is well patrolled by the princes' soldiers, its borders are fraught with peril. The Pale Forest in the north disgorges packs of goblins and their allies with frightening frequency, while the forces of Anlar Icefang continue to swell beneath the banner of the winter wolf in the Icehammer Front. In the east, the conflict of the elves threatens to spill over into Anderland, as night elf patrols begin venturing beyond the borders of the elven lands to seek out suitable sites to build their secret fortresses.
Though the dwarves of the Stormfells are ostensibly neutral to the dealings of the men of Anderland, the fire giants who dwell in the deepest caverns of this great mountain range are not. Their periodic raids to procure food and other good to take back to their subterranean homes are becoming more frequent, leading many to wonder if another giant war is not brewing beneath the dwarven homelands.
Just as troublesome is the rise of strange creatures in the swamps of northern Emerlyn. These creatures periodically swarm out of the peninsula and rampage through southern Anderland like a plague of reptilian locusts. Though they are so far easily dealt with by the prince's patrols, their numbers are increasing and their attacks against Anderland are becoming more frequent.
In all, the threats to Anderland, coupled with the unpredictable weather and dangerous tornado season, make it a country quite open to adventurers and others who might be able to lend a hand with its troubles. Though the princes watch closely for any trouble makers, those who swear fealty to the Thorned Thrones are treated well and rewarded richly for their service.