Viscounty of Salinmoor
Overview
Upon the southernmost stretches of the Kingdom of Keoland's territory rests the blue coasts of the Azure Sea, where heavy fishing, light trade, and a rough history have sat undisturbed and ignored until recently.
Long separated by geography and peril, the viscounty, despite the territorial claims of Niole Dra, has been an utter frontier, often falling prey to the jurisdiction of the Sea Princes pirate confederacy more than that of Keoland's.
Significance
A royal effort to conquer this wilderness in 453 CY met with utter disaster as it turned out not only to be a costly failure but also the death of King Tavish III. After the Boy King’s Blunder and his successor’s immediate withdrawal of all royal forces from Salinmoor, many Keoish citizens were left to fend for themselves.
Those who remained and didn’t become pirates or bandits turned into hardened, capable, and fiercely independent folk. They quickly learned to give back the bare minimum in allegiance to a Kingdom which saw them as an embarrassing reminder of their throne's limitations.
In fact, many soon came to appreciate and even prosper from this unspoken level of disconnect between the realm and its province.
Features
Today, things are changing rapidly. More outsiders, both Keoish and not, are flocking to the area as over a century of piratical tyranny is seemingly coming to a close. Pillaging, slavery, and bloodshed are not things of the past, but they are less frequent than ever.
Royal interests have taken a slower, pragmatic approach to securing the frontier lands this time, beginning by transforming once quiet towns like the capital of Seaton into military strong points, while also using cheap land grants to flood the area with seasoned veterans as settlers.
Coin, precious ore, and even the fishing are now the Kingdom of Keoland’s concerns, putting an economic resurgence front and center for a depleted realm. This has created a major strain on relations between those seen as natives--Salts locally--and any newcomers--often called Founders--who are seen as following the will of the Founding Houses of Keoland.
In select spots the wilderness is falling. Here and there the dangers are being secured.
This effort is far from finished, however, as the contrast between where actions have succeeded and where they have yet to be attempted is stark.
Demographics
Predominantly human followed by smaller contingents of elves, half-elves, halflings, and dwarves. Though the region itself is by far the most diverse in all of Keoland.
Government
Provincially ruled by a Viscount appointed by the Throne of the Lion and the Council of Niole Dra.
Defences
Royal Keoish Navy, royal Keoish army, local watches, and militia.
Industry & Trade
Fresh and preserved fish/seafood, whale oil, shipyards, timber, trade, smuggling, and potential deposits of silver and gold.
Points of interest
Abbey Isle, Angleburg, Anglar, Bale Keep, Brinestone Keep, Burle, Dreadwood, Drowned Forest, Dun Mounds, Hool Marsh, Maidenstone Keep, Nine Oaks, Overwatch-by-the-Sea, Redshore, Saltmarsh, Seaton, Silverstand, Splitrock, Tower of Zenopus, Waverock.
Climate
Hot, humid, and prone to storms with great tracts of tangled woods, dense swamps, tall cliffs, and open scrub.
