The Half Castles of Straff are a set of small fiefdoms in the low hills of the Tolkisson Mountain Range that border on the Duchy of N’Lokrha. Access to these fiefdoms are through the Duchy, though the incentive to take control over them is not to be under the control of the Duchy. Some of the castles and surrounding lands are controlled by half elven/Faerie blood descendants. A few have rotating control by knights of the Duchy. It is a strange set of conditions and alliances, perhaps the oddest in all the realms. The one thing they are unified by is the desire to kill the Orrish and protect their lands… a harsh existence makes a strong people.
The name of the lands all reflect the nature of the fortified capitals of the fiefdoms. In addition to castles, under them are fortifications tunneled into the rock, wrought with alarms, spells, and guards to prevent Orrish from directly tunneling under in into the fortified redoubts.
All of these territories are considered Dominion of the High King Lands means the rulers have given the Sworn Oath of High King’s Service to the High King of the Steel Realms. As with all allies of and lands under the Dominion of the High King, this locale is subject to the Realms Levy.
The Eastern Rampart is the series of fortresses staffed by the Realms Levy hold back the tide of the Orrish and the followers of the Unholy Trio. They are all found bordering the Tolkisson Mountain Range.