The Crownlands

Overview

The Crownlands is the region sworn directly to the royal family, House Tandor’thal. The region is heavily diverse, with nobles claiming heritage and ties to all over Corondor. Some even claim to hail from other areas of the world such as Varcryven, the continent which once neighbored Corondor before Libarus split the realm into a demiplane. The diverse nature of the Crownlands allows the nation’s capital, Drakenmarch, to be a melting pot of regionalities.

Surprisingly, the minor nobles of the Crownlands are quite independent. As House Tandor’thal rules the entire realm of Corondor, they pay very little attention to the minor nobles sworn directly under them. While the Crownland concerns are entertained, House Tandor’thal simply does not have the attention to spare when compared to a Lord Paramount who only observes for the region they rule.

Prior to Vy’shera’s arrival in Corondor, the Crownlands were houses divided. The lands were diverse, often being made of settlers from multiple different regions. The most powerful of which would set up towns, villages, and castles. These groupings would actively fight or lay siege to others. The Crownlands, alongside the Ashlands, were foothold territories for Varcryvian settlers. Many of House Tandor’thal’s closest petty lords are the fellow houses which came from Varcryven.

When Vy’shera arrived alongside Forbann, she was easily able to construct her own coastal castle, known as Vy’shera’s Keep, and conquer the city which would later be known as Drakenmarch. As Vy’shera’s power grew, so did the development of the Crownlands as her original treasury received from her early conquest was heavily reinvested into building up Crownland territory.

Ruling Family

The royal family, House Tandor’thal, controls the Crownlands. As most dysfunctional familial lines in control of an entire continent, they are historically unreliable and prone to starting wars. The Crownlands has always been drawn into Tandor’thal wars as they are the royal family’s closest vassals. When the Tandor’thal’s order it, their banners must raise.

Some members of the royal family are more beloved than others in the Crownlands. Queen Aello, the second ruler in the Tandor’thal line, was known as a great builder and led the construction of many sturdy castles and walls around Drakenmarch and neighboring provinces. King Faelyr would lead the charge to develop magical institutions such as the Scalescend Academy to allow magic to become streamlined and accessible to even commonfolk. Queen Arisanne, would establish criminal reforms in the Crownlands and fix what had been broken in the wars of her predecessors.

The current king, King Rahaevor, was raised alongside the other young Crownland nobles and holds many in high regard within his court. Despite this, he pays little attention to Crownland concerns and focuses most of his attention on the realm. As a result, his heir, Prince Carnys, has taken over much of his duties within the Crownlands.

Structure

The structure of the Crownlands is classically feudal. Most nobles are relatively independent in the Crownlands as the Tandor’thals rarely step in to overrule them or force regional laws. The laws of the Crownlands are entirely up to the minor nobles as the laws enacted by the Tandor’thals are the laws of the overall realm, not the Crownlands. As a result, towns and villages in the Crownlands operate differently.

Most areas of the Crownlands simply defer to Drakenmarch, the capital city. Drakenmarch is the largest city in the realm with many different districts owned by different nobles. However, the overall city is under the complete control of House Tandor’thal. Most of the realm looks to Drakenmarch as the north star for politics. When Drakenmarch makes a structural change, the nobles in the Crownlands will follow.

Culture

The Crownlands has no distinct culture to call its own. As a whole, the Crownlands is a melting pot of cultures that generally accepts the people of any region. There’s always someone more odd to gawk at in the Crownlands. While no town or village shares the same courses of worship or cultural traditions—there is little judgment, just natural avoidance to integrate change in established traditions.

The culture of the royal family plays almost no role in the culture of the Crownlands. The Tandor’thal’s are historically Varcryven. Even after Vy’shera’s Conquest, few Crownlanders chose to change their ways to follow the strange draconic gods of the Tandor’thals. The Tandor’thals were not forceful in their culture, and were rather accepting of the native Crownlander cultures. Even today, there has only been one monarch, Vy’shera II, who attempted to force the Crownlands to follow the Varcryven ways. Most of House Tandor’thal has adjusted culturally to seamlessly integrate themselves with the native Corondorian culture.

Geography

The geography of the Crownlands is relatively plain. The Crownlands are situated on the eastern coast of the realm above the Ashlands and are covered in forests and hills. The Crownlands are covered in history, from abandoned dragon dens to decrepit castles, the Crownlands is terrain made for adventure.

The Crownwoods are thick, flush, and full of life. They are, by far, the healthiest forests in the realm with thriving ecosystems. Most of the southern lumber comes from the Crownwoods as many houses harvest them for transport south to the Ashlands or Farsouth which are farthest from the largest lumber supplier, the Everwinter. However, the Crownwoods are also quite dangerous alone, the further one goes into the forest, the thicker it gets. Monsters hide beneath the bushes and slumber within the caves.

Natural Resources

The Crownlands, similar to the Everwinter, mostly produce lumber and meat. While their fields produce plenty of crops, the Meadows simply fulfills the demand for food by more than what the Crownlands can think to produce. However, the rolling fields and plains are perfect for basic materials such as leather, wool, and meat.

The Crownwoods is also the main source of southern wood. While the lumber of the Everwinter is much better suited for the winter months, the south is warm enough that the Crownwoods is perfectly suitable for their needs

Organizations

The Kingsguard/Queensguard

The Kingsguard are composed of the nine best knights in the realm who serve King Rahaevor II for life. They are bound to serve the king, protect his life, even at the cost of their own. Being a member of the Kingsguard is seen as a great honor. These are knights that children know the stories of and that history regards as the heroes.

The Crimson Cloaks

The Crimson Cloaks are highly trained soldiers or knights who have proven themselves on the battlefield. Battalions of these knights are often sent on dangerous missions or hired to slay the more threatening monsters of the realm.

To become a Crimson Cloak, a knight must wear only light armor and a white cloak into battle. In the fight, the knight either dies or returns with a cloak covered in crimson blood. This color is enchanted onto the cloak, creating a unique pattern of shades of red for each member. While a prestigious title, a Crimson Cloak is seen as much more dangerous than a Kingsguard as they have no direct oath to the king and may operate under their own discretion.

Notable Locations

Drakenmarch

• Castle Crimson
• The Drakehold
• Scalescend Academy
• The Elixus
• The Bazaar

Fort Varthrax

Rat’s Road

• Gutter Gump
  

Crownwoods

Dragonian Coast

• Searmount
• Alvincar
• Nacumbria
• Oxus
• Rook’s Rest
• Breakbones Bay
• Sunspoke Bay

Type
Constituency

Founding Date
[PLACEHOLDER]

Capital
Drakenmarch

Ruling House
House Tandor'thal

Ruler
King Rahaevor Tandor'thal II
Prince Carnys Tandor'thal

Religious Affiliation
New Pantheon
Draconic Pantheon

Neighboring Regions
Ashlands
Bogs
Cordillera
Goldlands


Significant Population(s)
High-Elf

Demonym(s)
Crownlander

Included Locations

• Drakenmarch

Characters in Location

• King Rahaevor Tandor'thal II
• Prince Carnys Tandor'thal

Related Reports (Primary)

• Session 30 - Unexpected Arrivals
• Session 32 - The Kinslayer
• Session 33 - Scared Straight
• Session 34 - A Feast for War