Barrowmark
After exiting through a small stone lobby and an open doorway, we found ourselves on a frigid mountain peak in the evening, with an expansive view of the lands below.
To the west, the sun set over the rolling Rhudarian plains, bathing the Irontooth mountains in a red glow. Beyond the breakaway state of Rhudaria and a great river valley, beyond our sight, lay the dread realm of Barovia and the vampire lord Strahd. To the East, stars twinkled over the endless green expanse of the Greatwood, which stretched as far as we could see. Beyond the Greatwood lay the mighty city of Holmgard, from whence we came.
And before us, we saw the Barrowmere valley. Nestled within the mountains and snow-covered foothills, lay the Barrowmere lake - Starfall lake. Rolling, pine-covered hills slope down towards it, far in the distance.
In the valley, we saw the patchwork of numerous farms and villages.
Smoke rose from them in great black plumes. Beyond, the great city of Carovin stretched along the lake, the smoke from it mingling with the plumes of the scorched country to form a blackened haze, the last breath of a dying land.
- The War of the Broken Crypt
The Barrowmere Valley, or the Barrowmark, is the westernmost Imperial province, one of the semi-autonomous border-realms known as Marks. Despite being situated in the mountains, it is a highly fertile region and one of the most densely-peopled areas of the Holmgardian Empire. The region derived much wealth from trade with the great dwarven metropolis of Tznchundel, exchanging wine, fabric and food for dwarven metalwork and artifice.
This once brisk trade disappeared long ago; as with much of the Empire, the region has entered a steep decline. Population centers such as Barrowgarde and Carsgarde have collapsed, becoming ruins or rural villages. However, Carovin, the capital and principal city, remains the third largest city in the Empire, and the Barrowmark a place of great importance.
Centuries ago, the Barrowmark was ruled by the Valmeric kingdom of Cariovarin, from which Carovin derives its name. Many half-elves still live in the Barrowmark, their faith and culture still possess a strong influence, and their ruins dot the valley. Their faith in Kelemvor brings them in conflict with the Tyr-worshipping humans.
Culture: Barrowlanders are an independent folk, viewing themselves as their own people. They speak a dialect of Holmgardian heavily influenced by the Valmeric tongue, which is quite different from the language spoken elsewhere. The nobility are known for their ostentatious garb, which tends to incorporate gold lace, frilly collars, and elaborate hats. Barrowlanders tend towards a dark sense of humour, and it is said that they "are born with a foot in the grave", referring to their elaborate death rituals and funerary rites, which were present even before the the War of the Broken Crypt. The region is renowned for its ice wine, a product widely exported throughout the Empire.
Geography
The Barrowmere region is a fertile alpine valley nestled in a break in the Irontooth mountains. To the West is the expansionist Kingdom of Rhudaria, while the Holmgardian Empire lies to the East. The namesake of the region is the Barrowmere: a dark, still lake 70 miles long that freezes in the winter. The region is known for its beauty, and the reflection of the snow-capped mountains on the mere are a common sight.
Localized Phenomena
Following the War of the Broken Crypt, the Barrowmark was frequently ravaged by soulstorms: freak gales of glowing wind that reaved the spirits of the living from their bodies.
Natural Resources
Iron ore, silver, lumber, fish, grain, stone
Type
Valley
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