For many years before the Days of Fire the royal seat of power in Elland has been found in the Middle Kingdom. The royal capital of the realm, Ironmark sits in the centre of the rich and prosperous duchy of Tarren. Tarren sits at the centre of Elland and allows King Edric a position from which to rule his kingdom. To the west lies the County of Northwyne that borders The Theocracy to the East and to the West is the County of Riance with its eastern border brushing the Shieldlands. The Middle Kingdom is not the first seat of power for the kings of Elland. Centuries ago the first kings sat on the throne in the northern city of Graben and it is not forgotten by the northern lords that the old clans from whence Elland grew were once the true rulers of this land ...
Duncan of House Tarren, Member of Lady Elsbeth of Tarren's household guard.
The Duchy of Tarren is at the very heart of the Kingdom of Elland. It is here, from the city of Ironmark that King Edric rules his kingdom and oversees the day to day maintenance of the realm and the war in the south.
Tarren is historically the home of House Tarren who have held the seat of power since before the Days of Fire. Duchess Elsbeth Tarren, the current ruler inherited the title in her own right and rules the duchy. She is related directly to the king and has his favour in all things. Lady Elsbeth is extended the protection of The Lion Guard and has the power of high and low justice over her lands. Only in Ironmark does this formidable ruler give way to the direct rulership of the King. It is not surprising to think that the petition to explore the Vale would be gifted to one in such high esteem ...
Tarren is a land of rolling hills and flat grasslands. It is dotted with forests and woodland that are farmed for the great Elland oak the strongest timber in all the human lands. The Wall of Iron in the Shieldlands is made of Iron banded oak from the forests of Elland and stands as a testament to their durability.
Royal Tarren is a land of heraldry and nobility. The purple and white of the King flies next to the red and gold of the Duchess. Along with these there are many other smaller houses that call Tarren home, all owing fealty to either Elsbeth or the King directly.
In the centre of the Duchy of Tarren lies the vast walled city of Royal Ironmark. The current king, Edric of House Shadowbane, rules Elland from his seat of power, surrounded by his most trusted family and advisers, protected by The Lion Guard. It is here in Ironmark, the new crafting guilds have made their home. One whole quarter of the city is given over to the Mage Wrights, Alchemists, Warsmiths and the Academy of Magic. Acting under royal patent The Guilds work to create new weapons and devices to give the Northern Alliance an edge in the ongoing conflict. With the discovery of the Vale, The Guilds are hopeful that new, more powerful weapons of war will be available and they yearn for the resources that this magical place will yield.
Ironmark is the most well defended city in Elland. The king and his family are afforded a level of protection that is unsurpassed in the rest of the realm. The Lion Guard patrol the city and the Duchy of Tarren, keeping a firm grip on the law and deal out the King’s Justice wherever it is needed.
Riance is the eastern most county in the Middle Kingdoms. It is governed by Count Cenred of House Riance. Count Cenred's family traces its lineage back to the old northern lords from a time when the kings of Elland resided in the Duchy of Graben and ruled from the city of Frostguard. He holds court in the city of Highwall in the north of the county.
Riance is a land on the edge of greatness. Looking west the count sees the favour given by the King to Lady Elsbeth and the seeds of envy grow slowly in his heart. Riance is a county on the periphery, a place recognised by the crown but seldom mentioned in court or favoured as much as other counties. The count believes that this is due to his lineage and the stigma that is attached to having a proud line of northern descent.
The county sits on the border of the Shieldlands and has historically been responsible for the defense of the borders of the realm. Before the Days of Fire, while the Republic was the power in the east, this was a simple job with no real meaning. Now that the land eastward is a blasted waste, the borders are suddenly of great concern. The forces of Riance patrol the edge of the county, defending against attacks from any Undead or mercenary bands that would raid Elland.
The land here is rockier than Tarren. The green fields and low hills giving way to crags and rougher heathlands as you travel farther east.
The seat of the Count, Highwall sits on the northern border with the county of Palamyr in the north and overlooks the southern edge of the Demon's Deep. The city sits on a promontory of rock overlooking the rent in the earth, its black walls and towers made from stone hollowed out from the centre of the crag upon which it rests. The city is a defense against both attack from the east and a watch against the rumoured horrors of the Demon Deep.
Count Cenred maintains a garrison of the finest knights and rangers within Highwall, ready at any moment to ride out and defend the borders against intrusion. His liege men wear his colours of green and gold and many in Highwall follow the old traditions and styles of their shared northern heritage with the kilt and brat often being worn.
Silver Keep is the main stronghold of the Swords of the Mother. It is here that the order began its life in the hands of the order of priestesses and healers known as the Tears of the Mother. The stronghold is more fortified hospital that regular castle and the holy women who spend their days in worship to their patron and tending to the sick are protected by a garrison of their brothers and sisters at arms. When not on duty at another outpost or on the front line of a battle most Swords tend to travel back to their spiritual home to take their turn either guarding the sick or spending time in quiet contemplation and prayer to their chosen god.
It is at Silver Keep that the orders artisans create the medical tools that the swords use to give succor to the wounded. It is also here that these tools are blessed by the mother superior of the Tears as they are laid at the feet of the vast statue of the goddess in the grand chapel of the Mother which lies at the heart of the citadel.
Northwyne is a place of relative peace and tranquility in the Kingdom. Bordered to the west by The Theocracy and otherwise surrounded on all sides by other Kingdom territories, the county benefits from relative seclusion and sees very little of the fighting that the north and south are accustomed to. The count of Northwyne, Count Geoffrey of House Wynne oversees his lands from the city of Dun Clynth in the west.
Of all the peoples of the Kingdom it is said that the people of Northwyne are the most devout and attendant to the needs of the gods. They have excellent dealing with The Theocracy and many Northwyne citizens will make pilgrimages to the holy city of Sarqand to pray at the high temples of the gods for prosperity and health. The majority of kingdom folk that join The Priesthood hail from Northwyne. They are said to be the most devout and zealous in their worship of the gods and the chastising of the demons.
Northwyne is a county that shares the low rolling hills and grasslands of its neighbor, Tarren. In the north the grassland gives way to heavily forested regions that are farmed for Elland Oak and the myriad wildlife that exists on its edges.
In the centre of the county there is a vast area of low hills and heath land known as the Northwyne Downs. It is here that the rulers and nobles were historically buried in the old way. Great barrow mounds and tombs dot the region and the winds whip through the deathly still landscape carrying the Songs of the peaceful dead as they rest in quiet repose.
It is this place that the forces of Northwyne are charged to protect. The mounds and tombs of ancient kings are sacred to the gods and as such the county has an order of skilled trackers and outdoors-men known as Barrow Wardens who are sworn to protect them. These holy men strive to keep the tombs and graves of the nobility of Elland closed to those who would rob them and disturb the sleep of resting kings. They are fanatical followers of the Father and dedicate their lives to keeping the resting places of the souls safe from grave robbers and any who would profane this holy place.
This city town has historically enjoyed a peaceful life and in living memory there is not one tale or account of the settlement being attacked. The walls of the city are low and the military presence is small in relation to the surrounding regions. The inhabitants of Dun Clynth attribute this prosperity to their location on the border of The Theocracy and are sometimes berated in court at Ironmark for being more Theocracy than Kingdom.
The town boast numerous temples to all the gods. They hold the Designer as a patron however, stating that it can only be the might and foresight of this deity who could place them in such a safe and secure place, protecting them within the embrace of his great design. Dun Clynth is the largest and most influential centre of of cult worship to the Designer and although frowned upon The Theocracy is happy to allow it so long as the relevant prayers to the Three are always delivered...
The Royal heraldic style of tunic, tabard and House colours is the standard in the green plains and rolling hills of central Elland. The capital of Ironmark is the seat of King Edric and the royal heraldry of white and purple is seen throughout this region. The most influential ducal houses are situated in this region and it is no coincidence that the Ducal House of Tarren has been granted the royal patent to explore the Vale. Elland holds within its borders Royal Ironmark and as such, it is easy for even the least politically minded citizen to understand the favour that is bestowed on this house by the King.
