Duchy of Fromaggio

The Cheese Duchy

Overview

The Duchy of Fromaggio, affectionately known as “The Cheese Duchy,” is a proud and whimsical member of the Canyon Kingdoms Commonwealth. Located in a fertile river valley nestled within the rugged Greywall Peaks, Fromaggio is located on the river Storn, which flows from the shadowed borders of the Black Forest into the heart of the Kingdom of Albion.

Though small in size, the duchy boasts outsized influence thanks to its political alliance with Albion’s royal Trueheart dynasty, its unique dairy-based economy, and its highly recognizable military traditions.

Geography

Region: Greywall Peaks, Canyon Kingdoms
Capital: Rindledeep
Key Feature: The River Storn, an important trade and agricultural lifeline connecting the duchy to both the Black Forest and Albion.
Landscape: A fertile highland river valley framed by steep, rocky mountains and dotted with lush dairy pastures, enchanted cheese caves, and misty mountain passes.

Political Structure

Ruler: Duke Nathaniel, son of Melvynus
Nathaniel gained the dukedom through diplomatic arrangements rather than inheritance, reflecting the duchy’s intertwined political ties with Albion.
Despite its status within the Canyon Kingdoms, Fromaggio’s loyalty to the Albion crown makes it a key diplomatic bridge between the mountain kingdoms and the western lowlands.

Economy

Primary Exports:
Magically aged cheeses (including pocket-dimension-aged varieties)
The Singing Blue, a legendary sentient mould cheese that hums when cut
Dairy products, enchanted preservation charms, and artisanal dairy tools
Economic Quirk:
Cheese acts not only as the duchy’s chief export but also as a local currency, making wheels of cheese as valuable as coin in internal trade.
Signature Magic:
Cave Cold: A specialized local spell used to maintain ideal aging temperatures in underground cheese caves.

Culture

Fromaggio’s culture is a blend of humour, craftsmanship, and stubborn pride. While outsiders sometimes mock its cheese obsession, the people of Fromaggio view their dairy mastery as an art form and a symbol of resilience.

The duchy celebrates seasonal cheese festivals, holds cheese-tasting duels, and reveres the goat as a sacred animal, often depicted on their heraldry.

Military

The First Fromaggio Regiment (The Cheese Guards)

Size: ~200–400 elite soldiers
Type: Heavy infantry, defensive specialists
Gear:
Full-length glaives styled like cheese-slicer blades (not throwing weapons)
Wedge-shaped shields, often embossed with a goat or cheese emblem
Yellow ceremonial uniforms (cream-trimmed), swapped for reinforced armor and practical helms in combat
Helmets include ceremonial “cheese hop hats” (for parades) and practical kettle or nasal helms (for battle)
Special Units:
The Rindwall Pike Line (defensive wall formations)
The Meltborn (shock troops, tunnel fighters)
The Curdrunners (scouts and flankers)
The Fondue Four (legendary fireteam known for fiery defenses)
Wheelbearer Unit (ceremonial battering-ram team hauling a giant war-cheese wheel)
Traditions:
Soldiers are awarded aged victory cheese instead of medals, and their battle cries include “Cut the rind!” and “Melt them down!”
Nicknames: “The Brie-Brigade,” “The Gouda Guard,” “Wedge One.”

Notable Figures

Sir Jack Monterey

Title: Knight-Sergeant of the Cheese Guards
Heritage: Half Corvid Clan (father), Half Celt Clan (mother)
Appearance: Wiry, sharp-featured, dark hair in a braid tied with blue and green ribbons, brass armor polished with curdwax, and a cheekbone marked with a Fromaggian sigil
Personality: Witty, dry-humored, fiercely loyal, deeply aware of his mixed heritage, but found belonging in the Duchy
Combat Specialty:
Wields Wedgecutter, a custom glaive
Uses the “Rindwalling” tactic: shield-baiting enemy charges and counterstriking
Backstory: Former mercenary in the Borderlands, knighted after saving the Duke’s son in a mountain ambush. Currently vigilant about rising tensions in the Canyon Kingdoms.
Famous Quotes:
“Hold the line! The Cheese Guards do not melt!”
“Every wall is a rind, every blade a wedge.”
“Just because they call us ridiculous doesn’t mean we aren’t deadly.”

Heraldry and Symbols

Heraldic Animal: The Goat, symbolizing resilience and sure-footed strength
Crest: A wheel of cheese impaled on a sword, surrounded by gold laurels
Banner Colors: Yellow, cream, and gold

Role in the Commonwealth

As part of the Canyon Kingdoms’ combined army (the Commonwealth Host), the Duchy of Fromaggio sends its Cheese Guards as part of a colorful, diverse alliance alongside Gryphonalian gryphon-riders, dwarf sappers, brownie scouts, and Skand raiders.

Though small in numbers, the Cheese Guards are known for holding the line, defending choke points, and outlasting larger foes with stubborn, disciplined formations.

Duchy of Fromaggio