The Territory of MiddleMarch

Written by the FluffyRabbitofGondor

Size: Small
Description: MiddleMarch (March meaning a territorial boundary in Medieval English) is a mostly empty borderland between 6 countries and as such, has long been a source of interest by emperors and kings of the past. In the last 200 years, and after a great war in which much was destroyed, MiddleMarch was established as a neutral zone, and the surrounding countries made a pact that no cities would be built on it that bore any of their flags, nor would they claim any of its natural resources. So in time MiddleMarch became inhabited by merchants, outlaws, and homesteaders. But with only locally provided law-enforcement, things can get out of hand pretty quickly.
Peoples: Conglomerate (all kinds). Mostly human; intermarried from Heunt and Glandorian peoples. Giants, various monsters, dragons, etc.

Culture

MiddleMarch is about 2% Towns, 30% farmland and settled regions, and 100% wild and crazy adventure-dom. That 68% would be mostly forests, mountainous wastes, caves, dragon lairs, Robberrknight fortresses (Evil Barons), giant-stalking grounds, “fellorns broods” (monster spawning grounds), and meadows for buffalo and elk and wild mountain men in hemlock-log cabins.
In the “civilized” part of MiddleMarch, houses are wooden and often geometrically “stylish” and ornately embellished [sometimes in Victorian style] among the wealthier, more successful inhabitants. Clans, villages and towns generally fall under two categories: those that explore, travel, and trade, and those that really don’t like the thought of that at all. However, almost all the larger settlements (averaging a few thousand people or so in each) respect each other’s privacy and try to help each other out in a pinch. Large fairs are sometimes held; these bring many people from the area to trade produce, livestock, crystals of various kinds, coal and ores, and to experience “surface-cavern-tourism”; a popular activity for all ages. These days outlaws are less common, but when they arise, a posse will usually rally to deal with the problem.
However, in the non-civilized part of MiddleMarch . . .

Territories

Terrain: Mountainous, forested mostly with deciduous hardwood trees, pines and cedars. Once home to enormous Chestnut and Hemlock trees (among others). Cavernous. Open plains and valleys with rivers and farmland.
Climate: Temperate, like that of the southeastern U.S.