Kleinreich
Kleinreich is a small kingdom in the hills and valleys of the eastern slopes of the Saxon Hills, directly east of the Nachstein mountains. It is a kingdom, and has been for many centuries, though its history and origins are very unclear.
Geographically, it is a small place, claiming an area about 80 miles wide and 50 miles tall, north of Dietz, in the hills. In the east, it is in the low foothills above the great plains, reaching to a fork where the Jericho river flows into the Kringle river on the plains. This is rolling farm and grazing land, relatively fertile, but completely unprotected. The center of the country is around Kringle Lake, where the city of Kleinstadt and most of the towns are located. This is hill and valley country, but very fertile, supporting farms and animals, cattle and sheep. Rising above the central valley, both north and south, are higher ridges, scored by valleys and streams, with alpine meadows and pastures, used mostly as pastureland. Finally, in the west, the kingdom abuts the Nachstein mountains, that rise very high (and bare, thus the name), and are mostly uninhabited (by humans at least.)
Most of the people live around the lake, with a fair number in the Valley Fork Region. There are five administrative divisions, thought here are many other sources of power and ways of dividing the country. As we will see, this is a very nobility heavy country.
Geography
A hilly valley, surrounded by old, but fairly high mountains, a land of meadows and pine forests and rivers. There are five administrative districts, which correspond to the geography.
1) The Kleinreich: this is the valley at the center of the kingdom. The valley itself is called the Relbeek Valley; the central feature is Kringle Lake. This area is a lovely country, about 20 miles across, 20 miles long. The land is good fertile alluvial land, build up from run off from the hills and mountains, excellent farmland. The topography in the valley tends to be a mix of rolling hills and steep valleys, cut by streams and rivers (which abound.) Most of the people live here, in small villages and farms, as well as in the major towns of the kingdom. The capital city, Kleinstadt, is on the shores of Lake Kringle, and is a well built, ancient, walled town, holding about 6,000 people. There are three or four other towns of note around the lake and on some of the larger rivers, and a number of small towns and villages, usually tucked into a wide spot in one of the river valleys. This is a pleasant area, though isolated from the world, but that is how this tiny place has survived.
2) The Lower Valley: this is the area below the hills, on the edge of the plains. It is higher and rougher than places like Hegelburg, and consists mostly of an alluvial valley. The Jericho river joins the Vixen here, and the two form a relatively fertile area, with some good grain fields, and grazing, for cattle, sheep, some good ponies. This area is not very defensible, but its isolation and relative poverty make it an uninviting target. This is relatively well settled, in small villages, farms, manors and the like, centered on the town of Valley Fork. It is somewhat isolated from the rest fo the kingdom, and is therefor rather less stable.
3) North Piedmont:
4) South Piedmont: these are the areas north and south of the central valley. These are both hilly, rough areas, heavily wooded, scored by rivers and streams, usually 5-10 miles apart with high ridges between. They are sparsely populated, but there are villages and estates scattered throughout. There is decent farmland in the river valleys, and excellent grazing land in the higher places. They are very defensible, and many of the settlements are explicitly meant as defensive positions. However, many of these castles have gone to ruin, and are used for nefarious purposes.
5) The Alps: the western part of the country, from the valley to the Nachstein Mountains. This area is very rough, with the western part completely within the high mountains. This is very sparsely settled by humans, again, mainly in valleys and around defensive castles built on the hills, though there is a fair amount of grazing in the high alpine meadows and passes. This is dangerous - home to giants, dwarves, some elves, and many monsters. Even some dragons. Various alliances have been struck with these groups. This is also rumored to be haunted - this is near an area called Ultramontain, whish is said to contain vampires, werewolves and other monsters.
Fauna & Flora
Heavily wooded, especially in the hills. Good fertile plains support all manner of agrigulture and animals.
Natural Resources
This is mainly an agricultural country, sustaining itself with small farms, pastureland, and what can be derived from those things. It is rich, of course, in water and wood - the rivers flow fast and strong through the hills and valleys, providing the means for many mills. And it is covered in forests, which is a source of trade goods. There are, finally, mineral resources in the hills and mountains, thought hey tend to be hard to get at, and somewhat depleted. The Saxon Hills are an old land, long inhabited by humans, dwarves, elves and other creatures - much of the mieral wealth has been extracted, especially in the Kingdom.
Alternative Name(s)
The Little Kingdom
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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