Geography
North Cambria is nestled in the north-central region between the
The Sea of Echoes, the Brimdale mountains and
The Wailing Wood. It was previously a human province, but fell to ruin following the
March of the Damned, and is now a blend of grassland, forest and fallow fields.
North Cambria is bordered on the west by the
Brimdale Mountains, the east by the
The Sea of Echoes and the south by the
Wailing Wood.
Landmarks
Spellwrought Scar. A swath of spell-burnt ground some hundred feet wide and hundreds of miles long, which crosses the width of North Cambria and stands as the last remnanet of an immense, magical barrier. It is said to hold a latent and dangerous magic.
The Howling Pass. An immense gorge filled with Thri-kreen, Manticores and worse.
The Purelake. A mountain lake for which the village on its shore is named; the waters are prized for their alchemical purity, and the village's landowner, Baron Stormhand
Ruins
Ashport. Once the capitol of North Cambria, now an ashen ruin flooded with dark magic.
Cedarburg. Once a small hamlet and home to Aniiseis.
Towns & Hamlets
Redplate Point. A fishing hamlet, notable for its perpetual population of Redplate Perch.
Killarnock
Myrefall. A hamlet in North Cambria.
The Purelake. A thriving village which has sprung up around a lake of clear, alchemically pure water.
Inhabitants
Culture
Most commonfolk and nobility fled during the March of the Damned, and those that remained survived thanks to protection from the
The House of Order or sheer luck, and now talismans in honor of
Beryllian are found in most homes, and piety ranges from lip-service to undying zeal; nevertheless, most treat Beryl’s cobalt banner to be lucky, if not entirely divine, and consider blue dragons to be sacred creatures, despite (or perhaps owing to) having never met one themselves.
Though there are true zealots among the Cambrians, most are selfish at their core, and call for Beryl’s help only to protect themselves or their families, and not for any love of law. The House of Order provides security and propserity to the families of those who devote their lives to the House and swear oaths of duty.
Under
Beryllian's influence, the disdain for fiends and all other things borne of
Chaos has grown, and guides the hearts and minds of the people.
Organizations
A handful of human noble houses remain in the province, each with a small military and governance of a small tract of land or settlement and fighting for control of the province. A mercenary group,
The Grey Company has risen up in the absence of greater governance and collects tithes from villages in exchange for dubious protection. The
The House of Order has one of two chapters located here, in
Northfort.
The
Woodlimb Legion are a clan of
Rangers,
Druids and
Primevalists who make their home in the Wailing Wood.
The Wicked is a catch-all term for those who serve fiends and devilry. These evil figures are forever at odds with the law-abiding citizenry.
Monsters
Bulettes and
Griffons occasionally wander near the Brimdale Mountains and the fallow fields and ruined hamlets which pepper the countryside are haunted by innumerable spirits and ghouls. Since the March of the Damned, a variety of lesser fiends are occasionally spotted roving the hillsides in search of bloodshed.
Notable Inhabitants
The Green Mother. A cunning and ancient dragon, who makes her home in the Wailing Wood.
The Laughing Giant of Killarnock Wood. A monstrous and bloodthirsty monster that lurks in the dark, ripping woodsmen limb from limb, laughing all the while.
Myths & Legends
The Knight Bound by Broken Oaths. A tragic tale of a renowned House of Order captain who, in swearing an oath to save her charge, was made to abandon her oath to the House of Order.
The Blue Knight. A knight in a dragonwing helm and blue-patterned plate, said to bring wind and lightning with their coming and wield the gavel of Beryllian herself. In their presence, lies burn the tongue and agents of chaos flee in terror.
Damocles, Duke of Swords . An apocryphal figure said to hang a weighty sword over his head in reminder of the weight of rulership. Legend tells that he broke an oath, and Beryllian cast the blade down to skewer him in his throne.
History
Fifth Century
Cedarburg, a small hamlet, was assaulted and burned to ashes. Rumours abound, some claiming it the work of
Aniiseis or of
The Grey Company.
Fourth Century
The North and South of Cambria were unified until the
Duchess of Brighton was kidnapped by
The Warriors Five at the latter end of the third century. By the year 304 S.A, the
War of Retribution had caused the province's dissolution and North Cambria was born.
North Cambria remained itself unified and suffered few major conflicts until the March of the Damned in the year 370 S.A, when
The Damned, a coalition of five powerful and terrible beings trekked darkness and bloodshed across the province. The resulting conflict lasted nearly two years, and saw the creation of the Spellwrought Scar, the deaths of tens of thousands, mass emigration and the utter destruction of the former capitol, Frell.
