The Ashlands
Overview
To the south of the Crownlands and east of the Meadows, where the volcano known as Forbann’s Peak emits plumes of smoke and soot, lies the Ashlands. What once was a beautiful coastal region of the realm, now thick ash lies upon the ground like snow. Long ago before Queen Vy’shera I took Corondor for her own, the Ashlands were known as the Saltlands. Some of the most powerful coastal cities in Corondor were in the Saltlands for its plentiful fish and adjacent position to Varcryven. Close by in the rocky cliffs of what would later be known as Forbann’s Peak were powerful kingdoms ruled by jinns.The Saltlands were likely one of the most technologically advanced regions of Corondor prior to Vy’shera’s arrival. The jinns would rule different regions with an iron fist. They saw mortals, even their genasi spawn, as lesser beings who were made to serve. Under the rule of the jinns, the people of the Ashlands would suffer greatly. Life was a constant struggle to make ends meet while fulfilling working quotas. However, it was because of this awful life balance that the Ashlands constructed many of the first great buildings and monuments.
No jinn of a different element could agree with one another and would often clash over territory. This would inadvertently lead to the heterogeneous nature of the modern day genasi. It also made them weak and susceptible to a greater power wiping them out if they could not combine forces.
When Vy’shera arrived in Corondor the Ashlands were one of the first regions which readily submitted to her. She had only conquered a few territories when the people of the Ashlands would reach out to her directly. They pleaded for assistance in order to be freed from the rule of the jinn’s, hoping Vy’shera and Forbann may be more forgiving. Vy’shera would muster her forces, leading the charge alongside Forbann and a handful of dragons to assess the potential battle.
Vy’shera was met with great cheer. The commonfolk rallied behind her and the few loyal to the jinns were unable to unite together, leading to an easy victory as no jinn could match the strength of Forbann. However, Vy’shera’s first conquest was not without its mistakes. Vy’shera would learn of Forbann’s impulsiveness and destructive capabilities when he would make the mountain range in the Ashlands a lair fit for a dragon as ancient as him. Alone, Forbann inadvertently destroyed some of the greatest structures in Corondor and made the people of the Ashlands free at the cost of their homes.
Forbann would turn the mountain range of the Ashlands into a large volcano filled with molten lava which would kill the nearby plants and cover the ground in ash. Forbann’s Peak is a toxin to the Ashlands and has, over the course of the centuries, destroyed prairies, forests, and coasts.
The Ashlands is now seen as a dying territory, with little natural resources of its own. Although, the ambition of lords and ladies of the region has allowed it to claw its way into some form of power.
Ruling Family
The Ashlands has been handed down to multiple different houses over its long history. Historically, the Ashlands had been controlled by jinns/genies. Most of the land’s inhabitants were genasi who served as fiefs to their jinn overlords. When Vy’shera came to Corondor, she, alongside many other powerful people in the realm, received word from the genasi requesting aid to defeat the jinns in the Ashlands. Vy’shera readily assisted, using Forbann to destroy those in her way and quickly as she destroyed the exploitative systems. Vy’shera was welcomed by the commoners and Forbann would destroy what was once a magnificent palace built to house the jinns and noble genasi into a pit of lava fit to be his abode.Vy’shera would stay in the Ashlands for a short while afterwards, but she had little interest in ruling over the land directly. Vy’shera was ambitious, she had no desire to only rule the Ashlands—she wanted all of Corondor. As such, she would give the Ashlands a few days to pick a new ruling house and the Ashlands would choose House Kiln.
House Llanite were kind nobles, they had come from a background of peasantry and were generous in not only building the Ashlands up but caring for Forbann and keeping the volcanic dragon happy and satisfied. However, House Llanite would be wiped out by the Heaven’s War after ruling for a century. The seat of Paramount of the Ashlands would then pass to House Kiln as House Llanite had married in with House Kiln.
House Kiln would rule the Ashlands until the War of Feathers and Fur where the Ashlands supported Queen Aello over King Cal’atar in a succession crisis. House Kiln was relatively small at this point, but they would still choose to participate during the war and would be nearly wiped out during a battle against the forces of the Goldlands. House Sail, supporters of Cal’atar, would then usurp House Kiln.
House Sail would rule into the War of Three Crowns and support King Haevon, the boy-prince, rather than his two elder half-sisters, Vy’shera II and Arisanne. Vy’shera II would conquer the Ashlands just as her namesake had and attempt to give the Ashlands to mother’s house, House Avarevel. However, Queen Vy’shera II would be overthrown and the control of the Ashlands would fall into the hands of House Nevertide.
House Nevertide is a slimy house with mysterious origins. During the reign of King Faelyr, House Nevertide worked to orchestrate a break of power between the royal family and allow King Faelyr to marry a commoner—leading into the War of Three Crowns. When the war ended, the vacant seat of the Ashlands was delegated to House Nevertide by Queen Arisanne Tandor’thal.
The current Lord Paramount of the Ashlands is Lord Nictis Nevertide. Lord Nictis is of half-elven descent and has ruled for a few decades. He is ambitious, cunning, and acts just like his forefathers before him. Many compare Lord Nictis to his mother, Lady Ulara Nevertide, who would see the Ashlands through a period of reconstruction by building what would be known as The Spire and taking control of one of the larger cities, Othermoore, to the direct control of House Nevertide through marriage.
Structure
The structure of the Ashlands has changed over the course of its existence. Each previous ruling house has changed the structure of the Ashlands to best match the power structure they prefer. House Nevertide is an ambitious house and has changed the Ashlands to reflect that.The Ashlands is completely under the control of House Nevertide. There are few houses that can even dare to challenge the power of House Nevertide and even less that would ever choose to do so. The current lord, Nictis Nevertide, is feared in the Ashlands and rules based on that perceived power and fear. Some nobilities love this approach and act as devout followers to House Nevertide. Others will stay away in fear of what House Nevertide would do if another house mettles with their affairs.
Most of the inner structure is kept hidden from the realm. However, the centralized power in House Nevertide has given Nictis Nevertide and his two children, Alecto and Kithic, immense power in the region.
Culture
Ashlander culture is as dry as its land. The people of the Ashlands tend to be seen as dull and boring. Everything about the Ashlands is simply second fiddle to another territory. For instance, their stone and masonry is second to the Goldlands, their textiles second to the Cordillera, and, outside of Forbann, there is little that the Ashlands has to offer the realm. The people tend to keep to themselves, not because they are not welcome, but because they feel as if they have nothing to offer.The people are solemn and sullen. Their food is as bland as their culture. There are few crops that grow in the Ashlands, and the ones that do grow are grown in abundance. Due to the ground being covered in soot, everything grown or raised in the Ashlands has the overwhelming taste of ash. While the Ashlands are used to the taste, the other realms look down on the poor quality of Ashland materials.
This quality of the Ashlands has instilled a strong constitution and tenacity in its people. Their culture is based on simply surviving. Long lives are valued in the Ashlands due to their rough livelihood.
The Ashlands are almost entirely loyal to House Tandor’thal and the crown. The commoners have loved House Tandor’thal since the reign of Queen Vy’shera I and have a seemingly unwavering faith in the royal house.
Geography
The geography of the Ashlands is dry and barren. Most of its geography is made up of the volcanic ridge known as Forbann’s Peak. What was once a thriving mountain has become arid with the longer Forbann slumbers in its region, covering the central Ashlands with ash and soot. While livable, the volcanic debris makes the cities of the Ashlands heavily reliant on other regions for natural resources.Most of the region’s geography is shaped to accommodate Forbann. Originally, the mountain range was not a volcano, just a small range of mountains a little smaller than the Cordillera. Forbann would make it his home, spitting lava around the area and making the largest mountain his home. He would lord over the surrounding cities and towns, forcing them to pay tribute to him in exchange for safety. Even now, many of these towns pay homage to Forbann in some way in fear that the ancient dragon may wake from his slumber once more to gouge them for their indiscretion.
Prior to Forbann’s landing, most of the land had been terraformed by the original genasi inhabitants. However, the lands were juggled from noble to noble, leading to disjointed territories that have been built and rebuilt over and over again. Outside of the natural resources in the Ashlands like the obsidian from Forbann’s volcano—there is little geographical infrastructure to make much use out of.
North of the volcanic region of the Ashlands are sparse fields and the Crownswood which connects back into the Crownlands. To the south of the volcano is the wastelands of the Farsouth. There are no major cities south of Forbann’s Peak in the Ashlands, most towns or cities are built either around the volcano or north of it bordering Crownland territory.
Natural Resources
The Ashlands has few natural resources except the magma and lava that come from Forbann’s Peak. Volcanoes are not native to Corondor, its lands should not be able to geologically support one. However, Forbann’s presence alone fuels the large volcano. This allows the Ashlands to produce the magma that is used in specialty forging and was a valuable resource during the Long Winter.Furthermore, the Ashlands produce lots of magical ingredients. As Forbann is the only well-known dragon left in Corondor, there are magical potions and items that require dragon droppings, teeth, scales, and more that can only be found around Forbann’s peak. Many Ashlanders sift through soot looking for dragon scales or other draconic ingredients in hope to make a fortune.
Organizations
The Ashbound
The Ashbound are servants of Forbann, the Worldgorger. They have historically worshipped Forbann as a deific figure. They care for Forbann and his volcanic lair. Only the most powerful Ashbound have the ability to actively walk into Forbann’s lair.The Scorn
The Scorn are a sect of people who have dedicated their lives looking for Libarus, the Aspect of Time. Their goal is to reunite Corondor with the greater realm of Aestas. This order was founded in the Ashlands but has groupings all over Corondor.Notable Locations
- The Spire
- The Pyre
- The Osrepus
- Obsidian Mines
- Steps of Saelerys
Type
Constituency
Founding Date
[PLACEHOLDER]
Capital
Tidestone
Ruling House
House Nevertide
Ruler
Lord Nictis Nevertide
Religious Affiliation
New Pantheon
Draconic Pantheon
Neighboring Regions
Meadows
Bogs
Farsouth
Crownlands
Signficant Population(s)
Genasi
Demonym(s)
Ashlander
Constituency
Founding Date
[PLACEHOLDER]
Capital
Tidestone
Ruling House
House Nevertide
Ruler
Lord Nictis Nevertide
Religious Affiliation
New Pantheon
Draconic Pantheon
Neighboring Regions
Meadows
Bogs
Farsouth
Crownlands
Signficant Population(s)
Genasi
Demonym(s)
Ashlander
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
