Nanoc
Baron Aeryc Mauridsson
Baronial Capitol, Barony of Mauridsson, Dandria (Feudal Monarchy)
Symbol: Crossed golden swords over iron field (gold and iron gray)
Capitol of Barony Mauridsson
Terrain: Rocky, Aldak River.
Built by the famous adventurer Conan, Nanoc has the wealthiest gold mine in all of Dandria. Likely in all of Hybrana. Its iron mines are easy to access, but require much refining of the ore. Gemstones, too, are carved from the rock that forms the majority of this barony's land. What little farmable land exists is mostly along the Aldak River, and that is insufficient to support the population. They import most of their grain and meat from the southern baronies. The Nanocese often have trouble with the Diaunese tribes to the north, who see them as soft and gone to fat. By Diaunese standards, they have.
Norven
Countess Jurga Dorrion
Castle, Barony of Dorrion, Dandria (Feudal Monarchy)
Symbol: Wheat ear and crossed silver spears
Terrain: Farming and grazing land with occasional valleys and crevasses.
Built to meet the threats of banditry from the Freelands some thirty years before Anryth returned, Norven is a strong castle guarding the Se'kanian border. The Countess is known for turning a sympathetic eye towards the Se'kanians (whom many say she envies for meeting the Tesharans in battle so frequently). However, most of the castle garrison now sits idle, since the Se'kanians and Leddokese eliminated the bandits when they conquered Aldakar.
Countess Dorrion keeps her troops busy with frequent patrols, drills, and "loans" to Langare to patrol the Gaumon hills far to the southeast (and, incidentally, remind the Devinians why they really don't want to get caught on the Dandrian side of the border).
Overunia
Capitol City, Leddok (Military Dictatorship, pop. 27,000/7,000 transient) Prime Governor Calis Elenkevah (human)
See also: Overunia city map
Originally established as part of a Teshian military fortification, Overunia has been built and rebuilt multiple times. Parts of the city show the sweeping arches and rounded walls of Teshian architecture, while others display stages of architecture stretching back more than two thousand years.
Before the return of Anryth, Overunia was ruled by a collection of old, wealthy families who more often than not looked after their own interests first. When Teshar attacked, most of the younger, vital members of those families were killed in the fighting. This left an opening for Sylin Tak to move in and take control, establishing a base from which to hold against Teshar's advancing armies. Since that time, Overunia, both the city and the nation, have enjoyed some measure of stability.
People of Note:
Calis Elenkevah, Prime Governor - Last survivor of the wealthy Elenkevah family, Calis was captured in the initial Tesharan attack on his homeland, was sold into slavery, fought in the gladiatorial Arena of Anryth, and then was sold to a tribe of orcs in Aldakar. After a group of adventurers rescued him, he set about trying to reclaim his family holdings. However, the other noble families of Overunia rebuffed his efforts, most especially the Zurns family. Calis successfully pressed his claim, however, and was appointed Prime Governor of Leddok by Sylin Tak, when the Dread Guard stepped down from power. A harsh, but fair man, Calis is reorganizing Leddok's government smoothly, incorporating the surviving humanoids from the conquest of Aldakar, and already planning for the coming battles with Teshar.
Jorric - An Aryan Guild sorcerer and mercenary, most consider Jorric to be incredibly annoying. He has all the personality traits of a well-dressed wolverine with a bad hangover, but he is always polite and has a distinguished manner about him. Though he is not part of Sylin Tak's "Inner Circle", he performs his duties to perfection, is always clean and well-dressed, and keeps his quarters and workroom in perfect condition. He has a fondness for young, dark-haired women, and loves tobaccos.
Rodrick Miller - Rodrick is Sylin Tak's right-hand man. His left knee was crippled during a near-fatal encounter with an ankheg as a child. He has walked with a limp ever since. Though he is of common birth, and has all the combat skill of a wet rag, Rodrick has honed his intellect to the point that he alone of all Overunians is probably Sylin Tak's intellectual equal. Though not as skilled a wizard as The Lady, there is little that occurs in the country of Overunia that he is not aware of. Rodrick handles most of the "emotional nonsense" for Sylin. He is very good at seeming less competent than he is.
All things considered, Castellain Rodrick would much prefer a quiet library to read and study in, rather than the often unpleasant duties of Castellain and Governor. Though he is not averse to employing less than pleasant means to protect his beloved land, such decisions are a great burden on him. He longs for the day when he can turn over his duties to someone competent enough who also enjoys such work, for he does not.
Sylin Tak - Sylin Tak came to Overunia in early 4193 and took control of the rapidly failing state of the Freelands. She has beaten back the Tesharan forces, personally facing her former peers, the Dread Guard, in personal combat, and won. She claims to have escaped Asrexius, and to hate him above all other creatures. Indeed, her every move can be linked back to her near overwhelming desire to destroy him.
Palace Guards - The Overunian Guard. A competent group of warriors drawn from all walks of life. Training is rigorous with frequent injuries. All Guard and Guard-candidates undergo monthly magical inspections that include questioning by a priest of Vardin. They are chosen for competence rather than looks. Most go on to become commanders in the army. The Guards are nearly fearless. Their personal loyalty to Sylin is earned by the Lady's actions rather than her coins. Several visiting dignitaries have learned that offending the Guard is a quick way to lots of trouble. The Guard includes a NightWatch division that handles the more distasteful duties. Their first job is to protect Sylin Tak, then other government officials (starting with Rodrick). Everyone else is expendable.
City Watch - Like most civilian police, the Watch is bolstered by retired veterans and recovering wounded. Front line troops are also transferred to the Watch for a season or two to give them a rest. The Watch is heavily reinforced by magic - there is always one senior wizard or sorcerer (8th level or higher) on duty to lend magical firepower where needed. The Watch has good relations with the smuggler's guild ever since The Lady demonstrated her ruthlessness on the Sanguine Mummers. Goodwill has also been extended to the Tiowin, though it is a grudging acceptance.
Sanguine Mummers, The - A guild of assassins who operated out of Overunia, working mostly for the various elite families. The Mummers suffered small losses during the Tesharan attacks. However, they made two critical mistakes: They rebuffed Sylin Tak's offer of official employment to the city's benefit, and they then accepted a contract to kill Rodrick. There is now a sinkhole in the middle of the Free Market district of Overunia, where The Lady literally caused the rocky chambers of the guild's headquarters to close in on them, crushing them all to putty. The sinkhole is left as a reminder of who holds the power in Overunia.
Notes: Econ: C, Religion: C, Magic: C
The people of Overunia are becoming more and more accepting of outsiders than most in the Freelands. Quite simply, they have half-orcs, Dwarves, halflings, and Tiowin as regular visitors and residents of the city. Some of these stranger new citizens are well-known and honored as defenders of the Freelander way of life.
Ravenskeep
Baron Kaerd Rogansson
Baronial Capitol, Barony of Rogansson, Dandria (Feudal Monarchy)
Symbol: Black raven over gray tower (black and gray)
Capitol of Barony Rogansson
Terrain: Farmland and grazing
Long ago, the Ravenwood Forest covered much of the Rogansson Barony. The castle was known by a different name then, Roganstor, established as a frontier outpost to provide warning and patrols of the Ravenwood. After the first Baron's death, Ravens would always perch upon the battlements the night before a battle took place on the keep's lands. People eventually came to call the place Ravenskeep, both for the ravens, and for the fact that the keep was very haunted.
Later barons built upon the keep, adding to its maze-like passages, walls, and battlements, until now few living souls know all of its ins and outs. Ghosts still haunt the place, in spite of the best efforts of the Accurites to send them on to their final reward. And ravens still perch upon the battlements the night before a battle takes place on the castle's lands.
Ravenskeep is still a frontier town. Its population contains a small mix of Ralkian blood, for its lands have changed sides of the border several times over the centuries. Ravenskeep may be the only place in all of Dandria where the common folk do not hate the Ralkian people, only their rulers. Indeed, Ravenskeep soldiers often accept the surrender of Ralkian troops in times of war, gladly ransoming them back when a new, more acceptable ruler takes control of Ralkstag.
Because of their experience, and the constant raids by trolls and other creatures from the Ravenwood across the border in Ralkstag, Ravenskeep soldiers are among the best in Dandria. And they know it.
Saria
Baron Lodrim Corysson
Baronial Capitol, Barony of Corysson, Dandria (Feudal Monarchy)
Symbol: Crimson shore and light blue wave (crimson and light blue)
Capitol of Barony Corysson
Terrain: Earthsblood River to the west, the remainder is open farmland
Saria is one of the major trading focal points of the Midlands. Its location on the river, close proximity to the Freelands, and the two main bridges allow it to tax and regulate river traffic as well as accept caravans from nearly any direction.
Of particular note is the Traveler's Hospice, a temple-hospital staffed and run by Talamyr's priesthood. They are constantly at odds with the more dominant Cromite religion in the area.
Seun
Mayor Derra Korfansdotter
Mining Town, Barony of Conarrion, Dandria (Feudal Monarchy)
Symbol: Silver pick on topaz
Terrain: Somewhat rocky with sparse grazing and farm land.
Seun grew up as a trading locale between Nanoc and Kaluin. The town population exploded when several rich veins of silver, topaz, and coal were discovered nearby, turning Seun into a massive, dirty mining town. The people here are rough and no-nonsense, with little interest beyond their town, their mines, and their families.
People of Note: