This is an overview for the region of the County of Dirk. The Ruler of the Dirk County, Count Zach III, has three vassals: Baron Saquedall of Stonebark, Baron Johann of Hochmoor, and Baron "Black" Karl of Thornwick. The County of Dirk is allies with the nearby Dwarven peoples of Thaim and its colonies and mines. Here is some basic information about each settlement in the area, any landmarks near it, and who rules it. Players, if I missed anything, let me know and I will amend it. As the party explores stuff, I might add it here if the players request it to be added.
General Terrain and Geography
As is usual in my games, the County of Dirk is quite similar to how a mix between Minnesota, Germany, Switzerland, and "Generic Fantasy Land" would look. There are some areas with prairies, steppes, and grasslands that go on for a while, while others have vast boreal forests or broadleaf forests. There are also mountains, which isn't usual for Minnesota, but is something I always wished there were here.
While the geography of Minnesota would generally indicate a lack of Dwarves, in my mind, Dwarves and American Midwesterners would probably get along really well, hence why there are so many Dwarves in all the regions I construct. I am also partial towards Dwarves, if you couldn't already tell.
The map itself is still being worked on (though it is close to completion), but the local area in which the players have arrived in is known to most, and through that reasoning, will be shown below for all to see. The immediate local points of interest, of course, are present in the section below for explanation, along with any other interesting places and people that the party should know. (You should be able to click to enlarge it.)
Points of Interest
Balaim (Colony)
Balaim, founded by Clan Ironmonger, is a colony of Thaim. They own the local Gimir Iron Mine, a vital source of iron for the local colony. Balaim is ruled by Bolanak Ironmonger III. Like Thrur, the colony is quite young, with Bolonak being the first to properly inherit the mountainhome after his father, Bolanak Ironmonger II, died of old age.
Mount Balaim
Mount Balaim is a volcano ~5 miles north-west of Balaim. It is an active volcano and is a holy site for Skadi, who many dwarves worship. The mountain is also said to have been constructed by an ancient fire elemental, named Balaim, who sleeps deep in the earth below the mountain. Balaim's breaths heat the magma from beneath the earth, keeping the volcano consistently active. If Balaim wakes up, the volcano would erupt, causing disastrous consequences for all the local dwarven peoples, other than those who live in the colony of Thrur.
Black Keep
The Black Keep is the seat of “Black” Karl, the Baron of Thornwick. It is a large keep, with a small village at the foot of it, which sustains the keep. The village is not walled. Baron "Black" Karl of Thornwick is a flamboyant, merchant-minded nobleman who treats nearly every interaction as a business negotiation. He is a shrewd diplomat and ambitious businessman who believes that the strength of a barony comes from wealth, trade, and influence rather than simply the size of its army.
Karl is known for his enormous, jet-black, wavy hair, which he takes considerable pride in, and his tendency to dress more extravagantly than most nobles. He is confident—perhaps excessively so—and has a habit of boasting about his deals, his wealth, and the prosperity of Thornwick. Despite his vanity and opportunism, Karl is genuinely invested in the success of his people and prefers making profitable friends to unnecessary enemies.
Castle Dirk
The Castle Dirk is the seat of Zach III, Count of Dirk. It is a large castle with a town surrounding it. The town is walled and well protected, however, it mostly serves as a hub for diplomacy, trade, and otherwise schmoozing. The farms that sustain the castle are not on site, but rather are just over a mile north by road, in White Oak, a small hamlet.
Zach, also known as 'The Shield', is a stern-looking man, with close-cropped hair and a thick mustache that covers his signature scowl. His thick suit of dwarven armor, hallmark of countless Dirk generations, rests upon his strong frame. Beneath his austere demeanor, he is known to be fiercely devoted to the defense of his people. He values loyalty and bravery, and is distrustful of foreign mages.
Castle Moor
The Castle Moor is ruled by Johann, Baron of Hochmoor. The moorlands are vast, and the castle lies right upon the borderlands between the boreal forests and the moorlands. The castle is surrounded by a small town, which is walled from the threats that lie in the moorlands. Castle Moor also has many farmlands near it, which sustain it without needing much trade, though trading for grain still does take place.
Baron Johan is a broad-shouldered man in his late forties, with close-cropped iron-gray hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and the weathered appearance of someone more accustomed to the saddle than the court. He favors practical clothing and a well-maintained sword, even when attending to matters of state. He is a pragmatic and ambitious lord who views his barony as both a responsibility and an opportunity. He prefers steady expansion, profitable trade, and the cultivation of useful alliances over needless conflict, but is prepared to act decisively when his interests are threatened. He takes particular pride in maintaining order within his lands and expects his subjects and vassals to be productive, reliable, and loyal.
Kingdom of Eastfordshire
The Kingdom of Eastfordshire is a Kingdom north-east of the Kingdom of Jerovia, and is a tried and true ally of the Jerovians. The Shiremen who live in Eastfordshire are of a medium complexion, with black hair and brown eyes, and prefer to fight with long spears and mounted archers, rather than the Jerovian-style of combat.
The Shiremen are ruled by the King Thorne, father of Queen Cleopatra, the wife of King Winston II. The old King Thorne’s age is beginning to show slowly, being more set in his ways (which aren’t necessarily good), unlike his son-in-law, King Winston II.
Greenburg
Greenburg is a town about a ten miles north of Rosethorp by road. It is ruled by the King’s advisors directly right now, as the previous Baron at Old Watcher Keep disappeared. It is a small town, near a large forest owned in part by the Count right now. Further west, the forest is owned by Baron “Black” Karl, and to the north, it is owned by Baron Wyatt.
Halls of Horror
The Halls of Horror is the name for an ancient mountainhome, constructed by Skafith II. He is dead and the halls are long abandoned, but they are full of monsters, many of which eat humans, dwarves, and anything else bipedal and vaguely humanoid. The only known entrance to the Halls lies four miles south-east down the road from Rosethorp.
The Hells
The Hells is the name for the underworld in general. There are three hells: the Underworld, the Stygian Abyss, and Helheim. The Underworld a vast cave network home to all kinds of evil creatures, most notably orogs, vile subterranean orcs who are stronger and faster than your average orc, see better than dwarves in the dark, and breed like rabbits.
The Stygian Abyss is the realm underneath the Underworld. It is completely uncharted and there are no accounts of what truly lies down there. There is also Helheim, where spirits go who did not die in combat, and is not necessarily “evil” in nature. While it is considered one of the Hells, it is also a different plane of existence entirely, unlike the Underworld and the Stygian Abyss.
Iron's End
Iron’s End is a hamlet that acts as the trade hub between the Dwarven colonies on the other side of Skafith’s Peaks and the County of Dirk. It is directly ruled jointly by King Ornil Elfslayer, Chieftain of Thaim, and Count Zach III of the Dirk County. It is a particularly rich settlement, with the wealthiest of merchants building homes and trading posts there. Exports from both the Mountainhome and the County are widely found here.
Ironeye
Ironeye is a small walled keep specifically constructed in a joint-effort by King Ornil Elfslayer and Count Dirk, who wanted to increase the safety of the roads and provide tolls on the road used by merchants. This proved a double success, decreasing elven attacks on caravans in the area as well as making some decent income. There are a few buildings around Ironeye, namely an inn and grocer, meaning it is a key point to stock up on goods.
Kingdom of Jerovia
The Kingdom of Jerovia is the central Kingdom in this region of Anglica, and is home to mostly humans, as well as some dwarves, elves, and halflings. Jerovians have light skin, hazel to green eyes, and black to brown hair. They mostly use medium-length spears and medium-sized shields in combat, though richer Jerovians use swords of all types as a sign of wealth.
They are ruled by King Winston II, a younger King who is quite forgiving, unlike his father. The King has led one conquest already, against the green tide, which succeeded. The County of Dirk participated in this, being quite important players in that conquest specifically. King Winston II is married to Queen Cleopatra, daughter of King Thorne, ruler of Eastfordshire.
Nevasa
Nevasa is the local population center and is one of the cities owned by the Count. It is a trade hub and contains the leadership of all major guilds as well as many expert craftsmen. The city itself is walled and contains a keep, though the keep is nowhere near as impressive as Castle Dirk. Nevasa is governed by Sir Seth of Dirk, Zach III’s cousin and trusted friend.
Old Watcher Keep
Old Watcher Keep is an abandoned keep a mile north of Rosethorp, standing upon a hill. It was abandoned when the Baron who ruled the local area disappeared and has decayed significantly since then. Repairing it would take some time, but is possible. The area itself is currently under supervision of the Count’s advisors, but has no proper lord as of now.
Kingdom of Quercus
The Kingdom of Quercus is the larger low elf kingdom, south of the Kingdom of Jerovia. They are friendly (for the most part) to humanoids but live a secluded life. These low elves have pine needle to autumn-leaf colored hair, pointed ears, grey to dark blue eyes, and tan skin (though occasionally some low elves have a deeper, olive skin tone).
Rosethorp
Rosethorpe is a small settlement at the foot of Skafith's Peaks. Rosethorp is home to a few buildings, most importantly a market, an inn, a fighters’ guild building, a thieves’ guild building, a wizard’s tower, a temple, and a statue. About a half-mile outside of town, atop a hill, is the Old Watcher's Keep, which was abandoned long ago. The town has no direct ruler at the moment, and is instead ruled by the Count’s Advisors. The town is too small for most proper adventuring equipment to be made, thus most of it needs to get imported. About four miles to the south-east of the thorp is a known entrance to the Halls of Horror.
Ruby Kingdom
The Ruby Kingdom is the name for the loose federation of petty kingdoms and clans ruled by dwarves. They are led by the High King Thorr Battleaxe. The dwarves are perpetually at war with all greenskins, giants, orogs, and many other races. Their most prominent and wealthy clans are Clan Battleaxe, Clan Elfslayer, Clan Goldenhand, Clan Emerald, and Clan Ruby. The gemstone-named clans are remnants from the old Garnet Kingdom, which was ruled by the “Gemstone Clans”, most notably Clan Garnet, who were overthrown after they were found to be colluding with the elves.
Dwarves come in many complexions, ranging from a unsightly pale grey to a rich and deep mahogany complexion, but always have strawberry blond to deep red hair and emerald green eyes (though the shade of emerald green varies from bright to dim). Dwarves fight with hammers, axes, and various large weapons, suited specifically for their brutal style of combat. Every dwarf is raised to know how to smash greenskins in an effective manner with a mace, at the minimum.
Scotia, City
Scotia is a large city in the vicinity of Rosethorp, owned directly by the Count. Most adventuring equipment and treasure sold in Rosethorp ends up here by caravan. Those coming from the Halls of Horror with valuables that are so expensive that nobody wishes to buy them usually head to Scotia to offload it.
Skafith’s Peaks
Skafith’s Peaks is the name for the mountain range which spans from Iron’s End up into the Outlands past Mount Balaim. It is home to many beasts, namely at least one green dragon, as well as the Halls of Horror. It is also where Clan Elfslayer founded Thaim. It is rather beautiful as well, being described as one of the most important destination for pilgrims who wish to see the region to go to.
Stonebark Keep
Stonebark Keep is the seat of Wyatt, Baron of Saquedall. Stonebark Keep lies right next to the forest which Baron Wyatt owns, less than a minute walk away. It is also quite close to Black Lake, a large lake (almost five miles across) which the great Black River runs through. Blackriver Bay, a town built along Black River, gets its name sake from the river and lake. Saquedall is smaller than the other Baronies, mostly as Wyatt only recently received his fiefdom, becoming a landed knight.
Baron Wyatt of Saquedall himself is a handsome man with smooth shoulder-length brown hair and a pencil mustache, with a face scarred over the years of battle. After he lost an eye to secure the victory of the Kingdom in the war against the green tide alongside the Count, he received the title and land of a Baron. His ruling methodology is one of productivity over expansion; he'd rather exploit the little land he owns to its maximum potential than obtain all of the land and neglect it later.
Thaim
Thaim is the Mountainhome from which the colonies of Thrur and Balaim are ruled. It is ruled by King Ornil Elfslayer, although he is only a petty king (closer to a chieftain). There are four clans within Thaim: Clan Elfslayer, Clan Ironmonger, Clan Bloodymaul, and Clan Blackshield. Thaim is prosperous; however, recent attacks by Zavelan high elves have caused minor economic strain on Thaim.Thaim owns the mines of Balur and Dorur, which are a silver mine and copper mine respectively.
Ornil has good relations with his vassals in Thrur and Balaim, commonly hosting feasts for them to attend, along with other important humans, generally merchants and visiting knights. Ornil’s feasts are said to be filled with both Jerovian and dwarven delicacies, especially rare foods from further out places in the County of Dirk, like Moorish Deer Haggis, which is made from the Red Deer found in the Moorlands.
Thrur
Thrur is a colony of Thaim, ruled by Chieftain Niall Stonefist. It is a younger colony, being founded recently by Niall, who was given permission by King Ornil Elfslayer. They own the Nalo Iron Mine, a well producing mine that has fueled Thrur well in its early days.
Niall is quite large for a dwarf, about 4'6" and 250 lbs, he's got a very long, white, braided beard, and looks like someone who could bench press about 400 lbs. He is always outfitted in lots of gold jewelry and gold-trimmed clothing. Despite being fearsome looking, when he holds court, he is known for being wise, even-keeled, and compassionate, which is inconsistent with his reputation as a usurper and heroic warrior who decapitated most of his foes with his greataxe.
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