Tag: loc-dunst
Belmain (Riverdan)
Posted on October 27, 2015 in Steel-Realms
Geo-Location: Duchy of Dunstrand
Belmain is an independent fiefdom of the Duchy of Dunstrand. In total it supports a population of some 6,000 people. The capital of Tadeus has a population of 2,100 (though in the far past it was 3-5 times that). The folk of this place share the common culture of the Riverdans.
Defining Ideal: The Riverdans has always seen themselves as a bastion of independence & freedom within The Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. They safeguard the traditions of the Fallen East, personal freedom, the nobility of service, and bloodline purity. "Where the river Nanford once flowed, so flows the blood and honor of tradition and loyalty."
Defining Moment: All of the Riverdans were devastated when, in CY 7950-7986, Nanford River changed course during the Storm Times and Dwindor Swamp became a living things itself and gained the appellation of “Mighty Dwindor”.
Unless a specific location offers alternatives, Steel Realms Characters coming of age in/from this locale will shape their perspective to the primary experience of Cultural Experience of the Riverdans.
- A Cultural Experience is on top of any background, archetype, or species character elements; Normally a PC may only have a single Basic Cultural/Regional Experience at the time of Character Inception. A group of characters with the same cultural experience can come together to form a shared Cultural Bond.
Rulership: The fiefdom is ruled by House Oihgnan – a peerage family pledged directly to the Duke of Dunstrand, ruling for more than a millennium.
- Malby – west by south
- Terrovere – west
- Hooker’s Ranch – north (marks the safest north place on the path to the ruins of Gnedfort.
Known For:
Ruled By: (Pledged Directly to the Duke of Dunstrand)
Rulership: Active; [‘Lord-Steward’ is proper, ‘Baron’ outside of Dunstrand] (Titled, peerage [knightly grant] based, matriarchal lineage)
Seat of Rule: The city of
> Symbol:
Factions: The most ancient faction is based on the lineage of the old families from the Fallen East. Like all the old families, they are associated with the League of the White Lily & brought their Dryad refuge through the ancient association with the Osten-Paullus faith.
Armed Forces
Size/Composition:
[Approximate] Professional = / Volunteer = / Mercenary = / Levy =
Pacification Garrison Presence: NO
Total Population:
[Approximate] Urban = / Rural = / Remote =
Transient: Very little due to the economic depression suffered by the river lands.
Racial Division and Relations: Like all the Riverdans, the population is almost 90% human. A few Grollen, Half Elves, and Dwarves have found their way into the old lands due to the general acceptance (though they are still treated as outsiders) of any people.
Social/Cultural Norms of Note: The folk of this place share the common culture of the Riverdans. They take pride in the origins and shared culture with ancient traditions. They all share some common historical events, such as the River Nanford changing course. They are obsessive about their bloodlines and preserving the records around them.
Divine Associations/Religion: The Riverdan folk are not overly religious, though they still observe many of the ancient Rites and traditions of the vanishing Osten-Paullus faith of the Fallen East. Over time, all of the families have gravitated more towards the Green Church and mother Gaia – even welcoming in Druids of the Wyld Faith since the impoverished and somewhat abandoned Riverdans are slowly “returning to nature”.
Common Names:
Riverdan Basic Map
Commerce, Economy, and Travel
Annual $:
Roads and Transport: Most roads are in disrepair. Markers have been left to rot or become overgrown. The river-side territories on the south are mostly lush flood plain lands. The river rarely floods any more, and all settlements are built on rises above the river levels. A few dykes or small seasonal dams are ready but often fail due to their state of disrepair.
Primary Imports:
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Primary Exports: Orchards, grains, and grasses are plentiful.
When the river floods, it deposits silt and nutrients. The silver crown is accepted everywhere, but many transactions between those who live here are on a barter system due to the monetary poverty of the fiefs.
Crime/Criminal Element(s): There is not enough trade and capital to support any kind of large scale organized crime. Most criminals are opportunistic, though in a few large cities a small gang may be organized to run some local operation. Because of the currently impoverished nature of the Riverdans, many criminals are not treated harshly for non violent crimes (and there is a lack of jail facilities), while violent crime is often responded to with a level of severity greater than the crime.The people are fiercely community-minded and disturbing that peace is sometimes even dealt with in vigilante style.
More Materials
Adventures in the Area
Adventure Ideas
General adventuring in the Riverdans has some common threads…
Riverdans (Riverland Retainer States) of Dunstrand
Posted on October 27, 2015 in Steel-Realms
Geo-Location: Grand Duchy of Dunstrand
The Riverdans of Dunstrand is a settled (though many consider uncivilized) area of the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. The term ‘Riverdans’ is a corrupted version of ‘River Lands’ in the eastern accent of the old families that rule the ‘dans which became Gladorian, and part of the vernacular. These territories once straddled the Nanford River as it wound its way through the Duchy, each territory had a fording as a means of rewarding the ancient families that helped to conquer and civilize Dunstrand Vale. In 7950-7986 the river suffered a cataclysmic shift in course, and these territories lost their value. Once the greatest and most wealthy, now they are an isolated pocket of ancient Riverland Culture and relegated to a minor role in the Duchy as a whole. Their inhabitants are thought of as poor, less civilized/simple, and hostile to outsiders – few remember the epic and ancient history of the Riverdans. Gladnorian is spoken, with a bit of recognizable local dialect. The Sunbelt Merchants have a trade presence (especially in the north ones) within the Riverdans they are trying to always expand upon.
Defining Ideal: The Riverdans has always seen themselves as a bastion of independence & freedom within The Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. They safeguard the traditions of the Fallen East, personal freedom, the nobility of service, and bloodline purity. "Where the river Nanford once flowed, so flows the blood and honor of tradition and loyalty."
Defining Moment: All of the Riverdans were devastated when, in CY 7950-7986, Nanford River changed course during the Storm Times and Dwindor Swamp became a living things itself and gained the appellation of “Mighty Dwindor”.
Unless a specific location offers alternatives, Steel Realms Characters coming of age in/from this locale will shape their perspective to the primary experience of Cultural Experience of the Riverdans.
- A Cultural Experience is on top of any background, archetype, or species character elements; Normally a PC may only have a single Basic Cultural/Regional Experience at the time of Character Inception. A group of characters with the same cultural experience can come together to form a shared Cultural Bond.
General Traveling in the Riverdans
Travel Speed: Travel is slow through most of the Riverdans. The roads are almost non-existent, most fallen into disrepair and muddy, bumpy and dangerous. The places where the river washed out have deposited stones and created gulches, gully’s, sinks, mud flats that make anything more than ponderous travel of about 10-15 miles a day a labor. The locales find this does more good than harm, and make little effort to repair the ‘roads’ which, when present, have ruts and meander through areas where villages, steads and farms had to be moved many time. Mercantilism relies heavily on the peddlers role – going from stead to village trading and transporting what they can.
Travel Hazards: The locales are not friendly to outsiders. Banditry against outsiders (except peddlers) is not investigated very diligently (Lore check to know). Many outsiders are robbed while traveling on isolated stretches of country or roads late at night. Bandits rarely ever take more than they can carry, maybe the occasional mount, but never large goods, carts, or anything they cannot stay mobile with.
Known For: Being EXEMPT from the famous Malorian Prohibitions the govern the use of the mystical arts within the boundaries of the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand.
Eastern Traditions: The ruling bloodlines were one noble families of the Fallen East. They have a virulent intolerance for the Orrish – mixed bloods are not welcome. Although they have assimilated to the heartlands in many ways, the old faiths (Osten Paullus) still hold on by a thread. Additionally, their speech is heavily accented and they stubbornly hold to some traditions left over from the time of Dominion in the east. At one time, the Osten-Paullus faith secured safety and stability for many Dryads of the Wyld; After the Fall of the East (CY 2899), at least one found a home in each of the Riverdans of Dunstrand, where some eastern families found refuge.
Ruled By: [Structure]
Rulership: Active; [TITLE] (Titled, peerage based, patriarchal lineage)
Factions:
Armed Forces
Size/Composition:
[Approximate] Professional = / Volunteer = / Mercenary = / Levy =
Pacification Garrison Presence:
Total Population:
[Approximate] Urban = / Rural = / Remote =
Transient: (occasion)
Racial Division and Relations:
Social/Cultural Norms of Note:
Dress and Fashion: The eastern culture of the Riverdans has a tradition of larger, brightly colored clothes for all people, young and old. It is not garish, but it is bright. Flairs, wide shoulders and bloused are common elements; silk and cotton are preferred though few can afford much silk.
Commerce, Economy, and Travel
Annual $:
Roads and Transport:
Primary Imports:
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Primary Exports:
The river-side territories on the south are mostly lush flood plain lands. The river rarely floods any more, and all settlements are built on rises above the river levels, but when it does, it deposits silt and nutrients; orchards and grasses are plentiful. The silver crown is accepted everywhere, but many transactions between those who live here are on a barter system due to the monetary poverty of the fiefs.
Crime/Criminal Element(s):
Culture and Social Perspectives
Death Observances: Common Death and Cultural Observances of the Heartlands.