Culture, Education & Traditions of the Riverdans

Posted on July 25, 2023 in Steel-Realms

The Culture, Education & Traditions of the Riverdans is mostly a mono-culture from more ancient days. The Riverland Culture is based on ancient eastern traditions and have merged some newer ones over time. The Riverdans of Dunstrand have incorporated many elements of the culture of the duchy at large.

Granted Rulership: The Riverdans have their own ancient laws and each ruler has, by Ducal decree from the founding days, authority in their own fief; Each small territory has its own hereditary ruling family – a fiefdom where the ruler has absolute, near autonomous control (unlike the official ‘counties’ and smaller peer titles of the Duchy). Where the hereditary families still rule, these lords are addressed as Barons by outsiders, otherwise ‘Liege-Steward’ or ‘Lord-Steward’ with a family name; All rulers are knighted by the Duke or one of his senior heralds, and as is to be addressed as ‘Sir’ or ‘Lady’ at a minimum by other peer nobles of the duchy.

Self-Sufficiency: Given the politics arrayed against them, the river land folk try and be self sufficient locally. 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 and there is more than enough for all. Rare raids by descendants of the Pine Tribesmen (no longer barbarians of the north, but tame hill men) still living in isolated pockets for fruit and grain do occur.

Trade and Barter: The silver crown is accepted currency everywhere, but many transactions between those who live here are on a barter system due to the monetary poverty of the fiefs. When dealing over long distances and with other fiefs and large institutions, the rulers of the western river lands look to Silver Lining Lenders; This organization is also present for all manner of individual and small business services.

Free From House Malor: The practitioners of mystical arts are EXEMPT from the famous Malorian Prohibitions the govern the use of the mystical arts within the boundaries of the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand.

Places, Locales, and Features of Monaides (Riverdan)

Posted on July 25, 2023 in Steel-Realms

There are many Places, Locales and Features of Monaides cover the notable territorial and geographical areas of the Riverdan. Most were built for much larger populations, though now settlements are small and have ruins or areas left uninhabited. There are ruins to explore, though most have been so many times before and little remains in the way of “plunder” or loot that is not dangerously precarious or buried.

Common Experience

Characters coming of age in/from this locale will shape their perspective to the primary experience of Cultural Experience of the Riverdans.

The Nanford River Council (of the Riverdans)

Posted on July 25, 2023 in Steel-Realms

The Nanford River Council (of the Riverdans) is a body representing the Riverdan territory. It has not met regularly in a thousand years has nor updated charter any longer – but once it represented a united territory to the rest of Dunstrand and the world. It is named after the Nanford River which wound through the original Dunstrand Vale to the sea. The council was chartered with an end date. Eventually, it was permanently replaced with the Twin River Council.

Its symbol is a red-yellow background, with a blue driving forward 3 white horses – springing from the front of the wave. The Nanford River Council was never officially dissolved after the Nanford Accord around CY 8710.

It is rumored that the original Riverdan representatives of The Nanford River Council went on to form League of the White Lily.

Ruary (the City of Festivals)

Posted on July 25, 2023 in Steel-Realms

Overview: Ruary is a small city compared to the other Merchant Cities. Its stable population is around 20,000 (about the same mount in many “hamlet” communities). Rare hardy grapes on the north side of the river in a valley which catches the sun light and is fed by streams from a lone short peak. Ruard mountain is sacred to Ikribu and Darupet. Pure and cold and used for brewing is the Artesian spring on the mountain named “Pristos”. On the southern side is hops, barley, corn and oats. The major industry is brewing and distilling of mead, wine, and beer – especially beer. When folks speak of northern wine, most of them are shipped out from here, as the aging process and bottling is done in Ruary in traditional manners.

The greatest of the holy place of Scrofa the Boar (of the Wyld Faith), is the artesian Spring of Pristos in Ruary of the North Merchant Cities, on the north side of the Beyne River.

Wheat is mostly brought in from the southern merchant cities – the golden vein of the south. The brewers have been perfecting their craft for thousands of years. There are sacred times, festivals, and such.

PRINZ Family: Alpien

Places

Brothels: The brothels of Ruary are also legendary, and attract many a sailor, merchant, and noble alike.

• Temple to Ezrilus

Ruard’s Anchor

The bridge over the the Beyne River was constructed by the Ducateon. It is a sight to behold. It supports three full lanes of traffic.

Ahead you can see the arched bridge over the Beyne River. Placed in the narrowest span that could be found, it replaced an ancient ferry crossing that Ruary was founded upon. The bridge is a total of 40m from side to side, arched about 20m high in the center. There are massive constructed embankments on both sides that hold each end in place. Getting closer, you can see that although there are guard stations, they are not manned. There seems to be little in the way of security – probably due to the the repeated attempts over thousands of years to affects it – none of which availed themselves. Mount Ruard looms in the distance on the north side, a small mountain just over 1km tall. The smells, sounds, and sights on revelry are unmistakable – and its easy to understand why Ruary is called the City of Festivals.

Important Groups & Individuals

A council made up of the various brew houses rules the city, with the house of Gormont being the oldest and having the greatest privilege.

Multi-Faith: The town’s patron is Ezrilus and Darupet has a strong following as well, in addition to churches for Ikribu and a shrine to the light-bringers in general and almost every other faith has a shrine presence in Ruary. In some unspoken sense, Ruary is a sort-of neutral ground for the faith’s – though no formal relations are conducted between them here.

• The Spring of Pristos is guarded day and night by a Briarwood that surrounds it and is the highest holy place of Scrofa the Boar.

Noble Families

Gormont:

Military Strength and Brotherhoods

Each house provides its own militia to guard its product, and House Gormont is paid a stipend by each to have a naval presence and a formal Merchant City garrison – for protection of the town in general. The Harbormaster Office controls the docks and is allied with the breweries, coopers, and Glassblowers and Bottlers Guild of Ruary– serving as their militia as well.

Home of Baleguard

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The Breweries of Ruary

Oh, the breweries of Ruary are legendary. From flat (often called a ‘stoic ale’) to bubbly (carbonated)