Embedded Files
The Five Duchies are the embattled remains of the old Craenid Empire, a human kingdom which united the very different cultures still represented among The Five Duchies. Corruption, economic collapse and the ambitions of the great families have since torn asunder the fragile alliance under the Craenids. After centuries of war and power struggle, The Five Duchies have settled into a kind of stasis. Rarely do the forces of one duchy attempt to seize the lands of another, and on those rare occasions the aggressor can expect resistance from all four of the other duchies.
The human residents of The Five Duchies are already so preoccupied with the differences among themselves that the idea of welcoming non-human people to their lands is patently absurd - even people with mixed human heritage are likely to be assaulted upon discovery.
Duchy of the Shrouds
The northernmost of the duchies, it is ruled over by Duke Takaga. The Shrouds is known for its miserable weather and its excellent spies. Several different biomes are represented within the Duchy of the Shrouds, all of them quite unpleasant. Least pleasant is its eastern desert, a scorched wasteland during the day and a frozen wasteland during the nights. Its woods are thick, gloomy and infested with monsters. The southern hills are really more like tiny crags, difficult to traverse and a popular hiding spot for bandits, raiders and outlaws.Duchy of the Shrouds
Important Figures
Important Figures
The Royal Jewels
The most militarily powerful duchy among The Five is the duchy of The Royal Jewels. The mainland portion of the duchy serves mostly as the jumping-out point for the three islands (known colloquially as “the jewels”). Duke Adon rules over the islands and the seas between them, using the most powerful navy in the whole archipelago to defend and control them. The Royal Jewels were the former home of the Craenids, to whom Duke Adon claims a direct lineage.The Royal Jewels
Erondale Barrier
The Erondale Barrier island is a large sandbar which has been turned into an immense harbor. This is the heart of Duke Ado’s navy, and so there is a strong military culture on the island.Erondale Barrier
Silver Island
Pit mining and textiles are the key to the economy in The Royal Jewels, all of which happens on this small island. The environment is unpleasant to say the least, but there is money to be made spinning raw materials into fabric.Silver Island
Aelimar
Aelimar is a densely-populated tenement island. It is known for being host to The Royal Naval Academy and the Guild of Oddjobsmen (a sort of brotherhood of misfits).Aelimar
Important Figures
Important Figures
Duchy of the Rogue Orb
During the collapse of the Craenid Empire, the strangest of the great families, House Samsim, managed to seize control over the largest of the five duchies. How they did this is still a bit of a mystery - the Samsim were (and still are) considered militarily weak, and the family itself is notoriously afflicted by myriad odd ailments. The Samsim themselves claim that they owe their “successes” to their great and powerful god - Choi, the Rogue Orb. Little is known about Choi outside of the duchy, but his clerics are understood to be completely obsessed with astrology, and usually a bit mad.The Duchy of the Rogue Orb is the most agriculturally productive duchy, and the population is quite large as a result. Despite being well-fed, the faithful of Choi are desperately poor, mostly illiterate and vulnerable to epidemic disease.Duchy of the Rogue Orb
Important Figures
Important Figures
Duchy of Many Grey Ravens
The southwestern duchy is heavily forested and hilly. Ruled by the erudite and charming Duke Ravar Sudram, the Duchy of Many Grey Ravens is the most open of the five to dealing with outsiders. However, this is not to be misunderstood as true tolerance - they are interested in trade, not cultural exchange. This duchy is rich in many natural resources, but has little arable land, so Duke Sudram relies on trade to feed his people. Because of its wealth, people in the Duchy of Many Grey Ravens are long-lived and well-educated. Knowledge and its application is very important, especially when it comes to creating machines - all of the mining and forestry is performed by complex artifices (sometimes aided by magic).Duchy of Many Grey Ravens
Important Figures
Important Figures
Southern Reach Duchy
The Southern Reach operates as a confederacy of great houses, rather than being controlled by a single family. After the Craenid collapse, the weaker houses banded together and retreated south, where they fought amongst themselves for a long time. Eventually, the houses agreed that no single house should hold permanent territory; instead holding temporary leases which cannot be renewed. Governance in the Southern Reach operates like a network of syndicates, each house a different faction making alliances or starting small wars to push their agenda. There are a few dozen small houses in the Southern Reach, each of which has the opportunity to sit on the Ducal Council as a “Margrave”, determined annually by drawing lots. Because power is always shifting, the Southern Reach has had difficulty developing, but on the odd occasion that all of the houses in the Southern Reach unite behind a cause, it can suddenly become staggeringly powerful (if only for a short time).Southern Reach Duchy
Important Figures
Important Figures
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse