Berleigh
Lord: Orin, chief of Clan Elkwood
Patron Host: Penellea, Host of the Hunt Berleigh sits at the southern end of the Eskiwood. For centuries, this forest was known as the Elkwood, and in ancient times it supposedly stretched all the way north to the Blue Wyrm River. Some legends say the River Nightfall once ran all the way north to where Berleigh sits, though there is little evidence to support this. Curiously, Berleigh is the only one of the four major Revellian settlements that does not claim to have ever served as the canton's capitol. The town is built directly along the southern edge of the Eskiwood, with some houses practically touching the trees. Elk, wolves, bears, the people of Berleigh show no fear of them. Rangers, perhaps the most coveted profession in the region, patrol the edge of the woods at all hours for predators and bandits. It is said an infant in Berleigh is safer than a warrior in Revelback. Much of the architecture of Berleigh is wooden: timbered homes or even log cabins in the outskirts of town. The fortress, Proud Hall, is the only stone structure of note. Four stories high, Proud Hall has its own walls towering fifty feet high, with enough room within them to house the entire population (though not very comfortably). Berleighans are famously proud and stubborn folk, and still consider the Eskiwood to be their rightful home. As such, poaching is rampant, as hunting game is their primary source of sustenance, and felling trees their primary source of habitation. There are no Urudunite settlements nearby of any sufficient force, however, so the High Lord of Urudun must undergo great efforts to enforce his rights, often leaving the Berleighans time to cover their tracks by pulling up stumps of the trees they have felled or removing any scattered evidence of hunting in the Eskiwood. There is a small forest to the east, called the Berwood, but its resources are so few that it functions primarily as an alibi for how Berleighans may have acquired new timber or game. The people of Berleigh are a bit unusual for citizens of eastern Revellia. Though they pay lip service to the Hosts, many citizens seem more invested in the Deinain, and indeed this worship seems the result of a recent resurgence. They have also failed to embrace the modern economic practices the Eysch have delivered to the farther eastern towns. By and large, the Berleighans and their ancestral lords prefer to be left alone by the rest of the world, and more than once have had to be forced into inter-cantonal conflicts. Though other settlements can claim to be older, Berleigh is perhaps the most unchanged by the modern world. Many say that to enter its borders is to step back in time to an age before the Khabarese Crusade or even the Southern Conquest that helped shape Milosian culture. Being so close to Urudun, there is a natural influx of Urudunite immigrants, yet these folk seem to absorb Berleighan customs more often than spread their own. There appear to be no Satar worshipers in Berleigh, or at least none that do so openly, and even Host Keeping is rarely seen outside of holy days. In fact, it is said Berleigh has an unhealthy relationship with Crulos, the horned god of the Deinain. Their interest appears to be purely cosmetic. Their High Lords, the Elkwoods, feature antlers frequently in their decorations, so naturally they and their people might enjoy myths and ceremonies that make use of a god with antlers. Yet some suggest they make blood sacrifices to Crulos. That, such whispers claim, is why Satar worshipers and Host Keepers are so rarely seen in Berleigh. Even if this unlikely fantasy were true, however, the Berleighans present a proud and respectful front to the rest of the world. Their ancestral lords, the Elkwoods, are second oldest only to the Beths, and the citizens consider it their duty and their honor to respect the dignity such ancestry commands.
Patron Host: Penellea, Host of the Hunt Berleigh sits at the southern end of the Eskiwood. For centuries, this forest was known as the Elkwood, and in ancient times it supposedly stretched all the way north to the Blue Wyrm River. Some legends say the River Nightfall once ran all the way north to where Berleigh sits, though there is little evidence to support this. Curiously, Berleigh is the only one of the four major Revellian settlements that does not claim to have ever served as the canton's capitol. The town is built directly along the southern edge of the Eskiwood, with some houses practically touching the trees. Elk, wolves, bears, the people of Berleigh show no fear of them. Rangers, perhaps the most coveted profession in the region, patrol the edge of the woods at all hours for predators and bandits. It is said an infant in Berleigh is safer than a warrior in Revelback. Much of the architecture of Berleigh is wooden: timbered homes or even log cabins in the outskirts of town. The fortress, Proud Hall, is the only stone structure of note. Four stories high, Proud Hall has its own walls towering fifty feet high, with enough room within them to house the entire population (though not very comfortably). Berleighans are famously proud and stubborn folk, and still consider the Eskiwood to be their rightful home. As such, poaching is rampant, as hunting game is their primary source of sustenance, and felling trees their primary source of habitation. There are no Urudunite settlements nearby of any sufficient force, however, so the High Lord of Urudun must undergo great efforts to enforce his rights, often leaving the Berleighans time to cover their tracks by pulling up stumps of the trees they have felled or removing any scattered evidence of hunting in the Eskiwood. There is a small forest to the east, called the Berwood, but its resources are so few that it functions primarily as an alibi for how Berleighans may have acquired new timber or game. The people of Berleigh are a bit unusual for citizens of eastern Revellia. Though they pay lip service to the Hosts, many citizens seem more invested in the Deinain, and indeed this worship seems the result of a recent resurgence. They have also failed to embrace the modern economic practices the Eysch have delivered to the farther eastern towns. By and large, the Berleighans and their ancestral lords prefer to be left alone by the rest of the world, and more than once have had to be forced into inter-cantonal conflicts. Though other settlements can claim to be older, Berleigh is perhaps the most unchanged by the modern world. Many say that to enter its borders is to step back in time to an age before the Khabarese Crusade or even the Southern Conquest that helped shape Milosian culture. Being so close to Urudun, there is a natural influx of Urudunite immigrants, yet these folk seem to absorb Berleighan customs more often than spread their own. There appear to be no Satar worshipers in Berleigh, or at least none that do so openly, and even Host Keeping is rarely seen outside of holy days. In fact, it is said Berleigh has an unhealthy relationship with Crulos, the horned god of the Deinain. Their interest appears to be purely cosmetic. Their High Lords, the Elkwoods, feature antlers frequently in their decorations, so naturally they and their people might enjoy myths and ceremonies that make use of a god with antlers. Yet some suggest they make blood sacrifices to Crulos. That, such whispers claim, is why Satar worshipers and Host Keepers are so rarely seen in Berleigh. Even if this unlikely fantasy were true, however, the Berleighans present a proud and respectful front to the rest of the world. Their ancestral lords, the Elkwoods, are second oldest only to the Beths, and the citizens consider it their duty and their honor to respect the dignity such ancestry commands.
History
There are two mythical origins for Berleigh. The more popular one says that Crulos, the horned god of the Aernigh, created the first people here at the edge of the great Elkwood and gave them dominion over all the world. Another legend claims that Ullagh the Walker settled here after wiping out the Glastins, one of the clans of the Aernigh that were believed to dwell in the woods.
Architecture
Chiefly timbered houses for the wealthier and log cabins for the peasantry.
by JD Medaeris with Wonderdraft
Alternative Name(s)
Elk Town, Elkwood Town
Type
Large town
Population
14,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Berleighs
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization