The Provinces of Aladagia c. 215 CE (Council
Era)
The council lands of Aladagia, as well as the allied
Concordat of Kent are separated into provinces for more ease in government.
While the Council deals with the nation-spanning agendas, the provincial
governments dictate more local matters. This has led often to problems,
especially in the non-distant abandonment of the council lands by the Elves
and Dwarves, when the regional governors overstep their bounds. It is interesting
to note that nobility in the traditional sense is lacking in the human lands
of Aladagia, since the society was founded in war and eventually had more
land than people to work it. The closest things to a "noble" are the knights
of Kent, whose titles are not hereditary though lineages are respected, and
the provincial governors. It should be noted, also, that while the Council
has a broad command and ability to set policy, the provinces under their
governors are nearly completely autonomous in how they choose to deal with
policy that is not impacted by foreign affairs; i.e. the Council has the
final say on matters related to war efforts, but local policy is seldom dictated
by the Council unless it would impact the wars.
The Concordat of Kent
The Concordat is divided up into three provinces and one ambiguously controlled
front, each of which maintains varying degrees of military readiness and
need. In entirety, the Concordat is under the command of the Grand General,
who oversees the effort and reports to the Council. Currently this post is
filled by Lord Rhasal Goldmere, who keeps his seat in Westcoast.
Contested Lands
This is the area of the isthmus that separates the Orcish Empire and the
rest of the continent. The fortifications here are extreme, and the Orcish
and the Kentish wage nearly constant battles across the span. Those living
in the area are perhaps the most mixed of any in all the lands, as the area
changes hands so often that both sides long ago decided not to kill their
opposing civilians there, as it would soon lead to their own being killed.
The nominal governor of these lands is Sir Uhlian Windsong, a strategist
of great skill.
West Kent
Perhaps the most able military stronghold of the non-Orcish parts of the
continent, West Kent contains the most rigorously trained of all the Concordat,
and, in fact, all citizens are required to have a functioning knowledge of
warfare in order to defend the province should an Orcish attack break through
the contested lands. The capitol of the province is Wyrmhaven, a small castle
city situated at the edge of the northern mountains, from which Lord Sebuhr
Cragwalker governs.
Westcoast
A frequently debated topic is whether this province actually belongs to the
Concordat or the Council Lands proper. For now the answer is that it belongs
to the Concordat, as its current boundaries place it as a tactical point
that needs to be run by the military expertise of the Knights. It is from
here that most ships are launched to raid the Orcish coast. The capitol is
Moonrest, located on the westernmost coast of the province. It is governed
by Sir Noldran Heartrose.
East Kent
Far from the normal bustle of the ever-renewing war with the Orcish, East
Kent is nonetheless part of the lands considered to be part of the Concordat.
It holds much of the great forest which is a prominent place for young knights
to track and fight creatures to prove their prowess, and many knights go
to the war in the west that were raised here. The capitol of the province
is Woodedge, located, appropriately enough, on the northeast border of the
forest. Currently the governor is Lady Corela Silverdust, who is in the seat
of her deceased husband, but nonetheless is a great warrior in her own right.
The Council of Aladagia
Away from the threat of the Orcish, the Council lands theoretically include
all land not claimed by the orcs or the Concordat. However, this is not the
true fact. The entire subcontinent of the Vale has long been the home of
elves, dwarves, and halflings that have chosen to exempt themselves from
the dictates of the council, and the rest of the continent is frontier that
has been unclaimed by any faction in the sense that matters, building cities
upon it. Furthermore, the Theocracy of Arkand has recently broken away from
the tenuous council rule it once was under, taking an entire sub-continent
and making two former provinces little more than battlegrounds for the few
able-bodied men and women that resided there. Thus, in fact, the Council
Lands encompass some 300,000 square miles of contiguous territory, accounting
for perhaps a quarter of the lands of Aladagia.
Northedge
The northernmost province of the council lands, Northedge is perhaps the
safest area of the entire region. Surrounded on two sides by the well-fortified
lands of the Concordat, and above all the other Council Lands, the only possible
method of direct attack from any party would by through the fjord-broken
coast, a very difficult prospect. However, if a foreign power could break
through, it would have a dead run on the Capitol or the center of the Concordat.
This is a problem that Governor Sebel Crystaldawn is well aware of, and part
of the reason that a member of the seafaring clan was installed as governor.
His capitol city is Rockdeep, built on the edge of the ocean and well fortified.
It is, in fact, believed that this might have been the first city and landing
point of the humans on their arrival, supported by the buildings that are
much older than many others in the Council Lands.
Seablade
Perhaps the most vulnerable Council province to Orcish attack, Seablade hosts
a constant garrison of warriors prepared for the eventuality that the Orcish
Empire recover its shipbuilding technology. There is no better place in the
Council Lands to go for training in the arts of the warrior, and many Knights
of Kent are recruited from here. The capitol city is Firekeep, located inland,
and another major city is Dawnbay on the water. The governor is Lady Nolina
Nerhebek Bonecry, a woman whose renowned beauty is overshadowed by her capacity
to ruthlessly achieve any goal she sets out to attain.
Capitol
The lands surrounding the Council City are known only as the Capitol. These
hilly but well-provided lands are under the sole jurisdiction of the Council
and those that oversee the needs of the government. The only other habitation
of note in the area is Nightower, which surrounds an immense keep of dark
stone set to watch the surrounding countryside. There is no governor, as
the Council or their aides oversee the day-to-day business.
Steelbay
A well-situated area, all this province really lacks is forestland. Flat
farmland, well irrigated by two major rivers, flows into the wide but sheltered
bay that gives the province its name. It is said that here was where the
attack against the Orcish shipyards was launched from, and the city on the
bay, Steelhaven, shows all the signs of a former well-honed naval power.
However, now the martial aspects have given in to a mercantile effort, and
the province is almost completely dominated by the Crystaldawn family, who
run most of the details of water-based business. Oddly enough, the governor
is Squire Rahlock Whitesnow, who just wandered into the province one day
and was the governor the next. Those who would wish to remove him from the
seat are either too scared or too confused to make a unified attempt. However,
he does seem to be doing a good job of it.
Heart
Situated on lake-country in the mountains and foothills of the central
council-lands, this land is harsh and demanding. Very few citizens have chosen
to live here, and the only village is Windspire, arrayed around the foremost
magic school in the lands. It is no surprise that Mistress Lahalai Moonthorn,
preeminent archmage, sits as governor.
Sunplains
Set between two immense rivers the Sunplains have an equal mix of fertile
plains and thin, readily harvestable forest. If trade developed a method
for spreading further, the Sunplains would easily become the breadbasket
of the region. As it stands, those who live here are very happy for the time,
but look towards a very bleak future should the three provinces below fall
to the Theocracy. The major city is Graydawn, set on a smaller river and
on the edge of the forest, with a good vantage of the entire province from
its watchtower. From here the land is overseen by Governor Lyekh Darkblood,
a sociable older fellow who has done much to erase the negative stereotypes
his family suffers from the view of the public.
Northvale
Beyond the wall of mountains, set in rocky country, the citizens of Northvale
survive nonetheless. This province is still home to some of the elves that
chose to remain in the Council, who reside in the forested areas of the land.
The region does have a slight penchant for lawlessness, protected as it is
from the Council and its martial strength by mountains. Numerous small coves
and several large bays make the region excellent for piracy, yet the citizens
have begun to show their nationalism by directing their raids mostly against
Arkandite vessels whenever possible. As many would expect, the governor,
ruling from Saltbreeze, is Captain Perek Blacksteel, a foppish man, but deadly
with a blade.
Southvale
The counterpart to the lawlessness of Northvale, this province practices
a studied indifference. Much less civilized than the other valley-state,
Southvale is also home to many dwarves that remain in the council. The surface
lands are peppered with small settlements of rugged individuals that make
their livings from hunting, fishing, and herding for the most part. In some
places the odd mix of dwarven pragmatism and human ambition has created what
are known in other areas as Vikings. These barbarian raiders regularly contest
with the pirates of Northvale for the best catches, and all too often a good
raid has been stolen by a dastardly ship of pirates. This is taken in good
humor, and the Southvaleans have also done their civic duty by raiding mostly
Arkandite villages. It remains to be seen whether the Theocracy will continue
inland or try to conquer the vale provinces for their impudence. The governor
is Rahcras Icemist.
Edgeland
This is a land fearing for the worst. The two provinces below it have all
but fallen and even should the Council mobilize an army soon, the region
will become a battleground. Though it is a good land, many are leaving it
behind for other provinces, some even for the frontier. Even those that stay
are often retreating into the forest, preferring to hide in the deep woods
and their believed threat rather than face the actual threat of the Theocracy.
Major cities are Treereach in the northeast, Kinghill in the central area,
and Ravenbay on the coast. The governor is Sir Nloech Flamewolf, a former
knight turned to politics.
Deepcrag
The western of the two contested provinces, Deepcrag was never very large
or very grand. Its major strength is a large lake in the deep woods, and
it is from this shrouded area that guerrilla fighters against the Theocracy
originate from. The governor is Rical Deathknell, but perhaps not for much
longer.
Darkisle
Even more harried than their neighbor, the eastern contested province yet
has the benefit of many islands off of its coast. It is believed a sacred
shrine to the Gods is on one of these islands, and the residents do their
best to defend their land. The mainland of the province is almost entirely
claimed by the Arkandites at this point, but resistance still rests in the
islands, which have managed to hold against the Theocracy's navy with tricks
of fog and magic. The governor is Lady Ravalai Stormraven, a very canny priestess
of Earthmother.
The Frontier
Last hope of many, the frontier has begun to see outgrowth once again. The
Council road through these ways, long overgrown and washed out, has been
beaten down by travel once more. Small inns have sprung up along its length
to support the steady trickle of refugees, many who wind up stopping at a
good location, creating small hamlets centered around a roadside inn. Yet
others press on into the wilderness, and are not often heard from again.
Perhaps they found a place to their liking, made some deal with the elves
and dwarves, or simply ran afoul of the many dangers that face travelers
though the forgotten lands.