Duchy of Belcastel
The largest duchy in the Kingdom, encompassing the entire south-east basin and lakes. Home of the Medois family, a young family with Dedrik Medois as its first member. Known for its less hilly terrain and strong steeds, Belcastel is by far the lushest of all the regions. Its pastures are only interrupted by calm lakes and rolling meadows, and the horizon is marked by smaller snowy peaks. Cows and horses graze freely here with shepherds and farmers following them in lackadaisical fashion. However the most prominent area is that of the Beleu Lake, which encompasses much of the central region of the duchy. This lake is fed by the rains from the mountains to the south and houses multitudes of fresh water fish which grow in abundance. The winters here are a bit milder than the rest of the kingdom, with its powdery snow.
Historically, the region has served as a breadbasket for much of the kingdom and there has never been too powerful a vassal controlling all of the area until modern times. This was due to kings knowing the strength that would mean for whoever wielded it, and instead always appointed proxy landlords; the borders had never been permanent and many lords who ruled at one time or another saw it as a right of passage to serve here a few years to earn money. The steeds bred in the region are also tall and muscular, serving as mounts to many influential lords and knights and are quite valuable, though the Ossentum folk prefer their stockier breeds to the Menshari ones.
In the main city of Belcastel (located on the western banks of the Alber river) is the castle and home of the Medois family, an upstart in political terms. The streets are adorned in cobblestone in similar fashion to that as Elliaster, and it is a close second in terms of population. It is idyllic at best, and a bit boring at worst for its continuity of design. Still, its people are jovial and happy-go-lucky that it gets to the nerves of other people to the point that they assume locals are simple minded. Though it is true that Castelian people spend most of the time figuring out new ways to celebrate old customs, they are also the most adept farmers and have so much free time due to their efficiency. They have created multitudes of different ales, meads, beers, and everything in between which would make a hardy Ossentox blush. If one is a fan of cheese, Belcastel would be heaven. In fact, cheese revolves around many of their festivities; Cheese tasting, Cheese experimentation, Cheese Wheel Sizes, and the most important Cheese Rolling. The latter festivity according to rumor sprung when a large delivery cart of cheese headed to Elliaster collapsed under a broken wheel, and the most of the cheese rolled down the hill they had so struggled to climb. In frustration, the handlers threw the others down while others tumbled down after the cheese to try and salvage something. Since then Castelians gather in the summer to toss their cheese wheels down the steepest hill and also themselves after them to see who’s wheel can make it to the bottom first.
East of Belcastel lies the looming crags of the Farradax mountains. These are almost impregnable with only a few passages known to merchants intrepid enough to go through and interact with the desert folk of the eastern wastelands. The mountains are composed of ravines and crags hundreds and hundreds of feet tall, and the bottoms are littered with bones of men and animals alike. These animals range from simple mountain goats to eagles of incredible size and mountain lions to match. To make matters worse, the Farradax groan and shift due to enormous quakes that can be felt even in Elliaster. As a result, passages that were sometimes traversable disappear to be replaced with completely new ones. Most merchants consider it a fool’s errand to try and cross, but those who can bring back strange stories of the people on the other side are seen as insane and brave all at once. Regardless, it won’t stop them from selling the most important of their goods which are composed of fabrics, spices, and fine red salts.
Defences
100,000-200,000 Footmen
20,000-30,000 Cavalry
Natural Resources
Grain, mead, cows, cheese. General agriculture.
Alternative Name(s)
Menshar
Type
Large city
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Menshari, Castelians
Location under
Owner/Ruler
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