Ironcliffe Province
The north-eastern region of Suranth, this province is highlighted in travels by the Nordjeim River system and the tundra lowlands nestled between the Battered Skull Range to the West and the Iron Tip Peaks to the North, along with the Nordjeim Spines nestled in the heartland, the colossal glacial spires overlooking the civilized lands within. One can travel all about this province via the Nordjeim River System. What one would notice in their travels along this river system, beyond the impressive and marvelous works of engineering skill that is the system of dams and redirecting channels that creating this branching river system, all dwarven ingenuity at its finest, would be the fact that many settlements are along this river system. This makes sense, but the sheer population may be unexpected in such a harsh, cold environment. Yet they seem to thrive here.
- As one enters any town or village, they may find themselves surprised by just how well the peoples of the tundra live. Do not confuse the issue, it is still a hard life. Yet they are generally well fed, hale and hearty, with proper warm clothing, decent dwellings and, relatively speaking, happy enough with their lot in life. They are tough, strong, light-hearted people, harsh but well humored, seeing little point in not taking the little amusements where they can. They also, by and large, possess a strong and tight-knit sense of community and loyalty, one that most southerners would struggle to understand to some level. Even the 'noble' families get involved, and it is not unheard of to see the son of a noble or rich family among the young men helping raise a new barn or homestead, working up a sweat with the rest, helping to coordinate supplies and materials along with labor as well. They are people of the tundra, truly and fully, and utilize their surroundings and the limited resources available to their fullest. A strong mining industry in the Iron Tip Peaks helps of course, creating an economic center that feeds outwards by necessity for food, supplies, tools, and other necessities. Though cold and harsh, what one will likely find surprising is the culture and welcome they will find inside the walls of settlements in this region of Suranth.
Structure
The province of Ironcliffe is the seat of the High King of Suranth, the elected and ordained ruler of the nation-state of Suranth, as decided by the ruling families, the Storm-Father of the Kartheartian Church, and a few other select important individuals. These noble families and trusted political, religious and military figures elect one of the six heads of the Suranthi High Clans to serve for life. Upon their death another Conclave of the Clans is held, a two month affair that sees the heads of each of the sixth clans and the other people of importance that make up the Conclave travel to Geata-Iarainn and lock themselves in Armúr an Cheartais (Armory of Justice), the cathedral of Sir Kartheart, to debate, argue and discuss the merits of each of the six options. The ruler does not wear the colors of his or her clan any longer once elected, though they will wear their sigil and their coat of arms. Their cloak and garb however will be a patchwork piece designed to see the color schemes of all six of the High Clans, a symbol of unity amongst the Suranthi. Given that Geata-Iarainn is the capital and the seat of the High King, it makes sense that this province does not have an appointed Protectorate Laird, as the sitting High King takes upon themselves that role, or more aptly, bestows it upon someone else within their family or clan that they trust. So it is at this time. Below are listed, with a brief descriptor of their duties and titles, the folk of importance, within this Tundra Realm, the heads of estate, the High King's Bannermen.
High King Cormac Ironcliffe: The elderly dwarf sits as the elected High King of Suranth. He is at the tail end of his life, into his fifth century, but still a picture of ancient strength and power. He sits as the High King, and with his council of trusted advisors, both representatives from the other realms, and his own. He stands as the High Commander of the military of Suranth as well, by virtue of being High King, though his trusted council of advisors does include ranking military advisors from the knowledgeable officer core of each of the Realms within Suranth.
General Morgrym Ironcliffe: The only biological son of Cormac, Morgrym is just into his fourth century of life and has seen many conflicts. He is the Storm-Lancer Commander and by virtue of this, is the highest ranking military officer in the Suranthi army besides his father. But he is a shrewd dwarf as well, and knows much of social and governance policy from his time as a Warpriest of Sir Kartheart. This makes him an important advisor to his father.
Lord Protectorate Joakim Ironcliffe: The younger brother of Cormac by a century, this dwarf sits as the appointed 'protectorate' of the Ironcliffe Province. This appointment bestows to him the task of handling most provincial affairs of governance and policy, along with decision making about funds and allocations of men and material, as the High King is more concerned and quite busy with national and international issues. Recently deceased, now Killian Torgamac Kithrune-Ironcliffe, his youngest, and only surviving son, inherits the title of Lord Protectorate, though not very much can be said about the young dwarf as a leader yet, he's been in the seat less than a year.
Fiolag Alec Varnis: This man (Human) sits as the Fiolag of the Higveld Baruntacht, and his family makes the whaling and port city of Higveld his seat, upon the Isle of Higbolv. In his early fifties now, he has retired from his position of Admiral to take his father's place as Fiolag, as his father died but a year ago during a Shivers outbreak. This barony is the smallest by population, home to but forty three thousand Suranthi citizens, but is of great importance tactically. It is a center of Suranthi naval power, a port only equaled or exceeding in naval importance by Geata-Iarainn or An Point Thoir in all of North and Eastern Suranth. It is a barony of important food and resource production, the whaling industry a strong and important one for food, oil, strong tools of whalebone and stone, along with shipwrights. Lumber imported to the region both from Ironshaft wood along the Ferrie River on the mainland, and from Depenwood. Bows and Crossbows produced her of whalebone and timber are weapons of preference amongst naval crewmen as well. They are a tough and hardy people, and produce some of the bonniest sailors, tough, hardy, skilled and utterly fearless, for Suranth's navy. Fiolag Varnis' eldest daughter, a woman named Yvette Varnis, holds the title of Fleet Admiral of the Suranthi Navy.
Fleet Admiral Yvette Varnis: This woman of thirty-one years holds the title of Fleet Admiral within the Suranthi military structure and is captain of the Suranthi Navy's pride and joy, Glacial Goddess, a 70 gun, four deck, three masted skirmish warship, known for her wicked speed and nimble maneuverability, along with her crack two hundred soul crew, many of whom have served, sailed and fought together for years. If the Glacial Goddess is known to be patrolling any stretch of water along Suranth's coastline, piracy swiftly becomes non-existent, and generally any uppity private noble or clan vessels that had been in any sort of conflict or disagreement suddenly decide that whatever they'd been disagreeing about is no longer worth skirmishing over. She is also well known for her brilliant eye for naval strategy and combat.
Fiolag Torvan Sovaunna: This dwarf, into his second century, is the young chief of Clan Sovaunna, known by men, whom struggle with the dwarven tongue, as Clan Blackstone. They hold Protectorate and sway over the Rivean Baruntacht, and the riverside shipping city of Riveach is the center of their power and the seat of their Clan. This estate encompasses around sixty-four thousand of the Suranthi peoples, and is known for their logistics prowess. They handle well the connecting of goods and materials via river, road and rail all along the coastal lands of the north and east of Suranth, and are known as a logistical lynchpin to the modernizing of the nation on this side of the Glacial Sea when it comes to transportation. Fiolag Torvan Sovaunna is well known as a knowledgeable dwarf in the ways of the rails and holds some sway with the High King in regards to the continued potential growth and expansion of Suranth's rail systems, given his clan's ties to the crafting and laying of the track that exists currently, as they headed up the massive project in this province, and provided consulting and aide in the other provinces. They also hold sway over a coastal region that is well known for its shallow and manageable waters known to have many edible kelps and seaweeds growing wild, and given the shallow coastlines, the break away from steep cliffs and shelves, to a more approachable coastline makes this a fine place to fish and 'farm', such as it can be called, the variety of edible seaweeds and kelps.
Chief Barchas Holvani: The Holvani clan of dwarves hold sway over the Lakvyer Connighclan, and though not holding the same noble sway by title as a Baron, Chief Barchas holds a key position in the province and his Estate encompasses about sixty-three thousand Suranthi citizens. The port city of Lakvyer is his central seat of power, and the sway he and his clan hold cannot and is not under-estimated as he holds sway over the mouth of the Nordjeim as it flows out of the Glacial Sea, the massive inland glacial lake that is a crisscrossing boon of resources and trade used by many in the country. Fishing, transportation, water, all these things it gifts and as such is patrolled with the same vigor the ocean coastlines of the nation are. They are connected to the rail system as well in Lakvyer and as such they are a key and important inland port, much like Geata-Iarainn is, goods switching from rail to waterway, or waterway to rails within the settlement. This estate holds many coastal and riverside communities, fishing and harvesting the bounties offered by the Nordjeim and the Glacial Sea itself as its major sector.
Sir Níosgruam Axe-hand Árthachmac: This old dwarf (it is believed he is at least as old as High King Cormac) still possesses the look of his youth, with the only true show of age his beard of silvery grey. His hair is still black as coal and thick. He is the High Warpriest, or what others may think of as the Father or First Priest or Lord-Bishop of the Cult of Sir Kartheart, standing above any of the Ord's of the faith, as the overall head of the religion. He is one of the High King's most trusted advisors and confidantes besides his own family. His duties and job in managing the faith include all manner of affairs, internal buecracy of the church, the funds and 'donations' the organizing and tracking of the various Ords, and many other administrative details, and he has the look, keeping himself prim, proper, looking the part of a priest and well spoken leader and logistically well versed in commerce and social graces, as well as known for excellent people resource management. One would not think him to have a history worthy of his nickname, yet he stood beside High King Cormac in many battles to reclaim parts of Suranthi land for her people, and carved out his reputation amongst the brave and bold tundra dwelling folks both within the faith and citizenry, with his prowess whilst wielding a double headed battle-axe.
Master Magus Tobais Verholf: This human magister is in his fifties, though he does not look it. Bald, with a thick moustache of dark brown hair, with loamy brown eyes, he is the Master Magus of the Collegiate's operations within Suranth's borders, and the Head Magus of the Collegiate Campus with Geata-Iarainn. He is a highly skilled magister himself of the Domhan school, fittingly. In an oddity amongst mages, and the first in his position in five generations of holders of the office, he is well liked by, and even considered a good friend of, High King Cormac. This should be of little surprise however, for Tobais did serve in the army with the magi corps for a full decade, and served with distinction and bravery, earning the praise of officers, even those outside the magi corps, and perhaps more importantly to this odd friendship in many ways, the respect and comradery of even common soldiers whom served with him due to his bravery and valor beyond that which would normally be expected from someone who, by general opinion within the Suranthi forces, is little more than a breathing artillery piece. Tobais is an oddity, and a pleasant one, for he is a jovial, outgoing man, of strong conviction and willpower, but also physical strength and toughness.
There are of course many more and many are family, be they cousins or relatives by this marriage or that alliance to the Ironcliffe Clan, holding positions such as Suranthi Treasurer, a variety of military and civil positions of note from various communities, advisors of many sorts within his court, but the above are some of the most important and influential both within the province and their decisions and power able to ripple outwards as well.
High King Cormac Ironcliffe: The elderly dwarf sits as the elected High King of Suranth. He is at the tail end of his life, into his fifth century, but still a picture of ancient strength and power. He sits as the High King, and with his council of trusted advisors, both representatives from the other realms, and his own. He stands as the High Commander of the military of Suranth as well, by virtue of being High King, though his trusted council of advisors does include ranking military advisors from the knowledgeable officer core of each of the Realms within Suranth.
General Morgrym Ironcliffe: The only biological son of Cormac, Morgrym is just into his fourth century of life and has seen many conflicts. He is the Storm-Lancer Commander and by virtue of this, is the highest ranking military officer in the Suranthi army besides his father. But he is a shrewd dwarf as well, and knows much of social and governance policy from his time as a Warpriest of Sir Kartheart. This makes him an important advisor to his father.
Lord Protectorate Joakim Ironcliffe: The younger brother of Cormac by a century, this dwarf sits as the appointed 'protectorate' of the Ironcliffe Province. This appointment bestows to him the task of handling most provincial affairs of governance and policy, along with decision making about funds and allocations of men and material, as the High King is more concerned and quite busy with national and international issues. Recently deceased, now Killian Torgamac Kithrune-Ironcliffe, his youngest, and only surviving son, inherits the title of Lord Protectorate, though not very much can be said about the young dwarf as a leader yet, he's been in the seat less than a year.
Fiolag Alec Varnis: This man (Human) sits as the Fiolag of the Higveld Baruntacht, and his family makes the whaling and port city of Higveld his seat, upon the Isle of Higbolv. In his early fifties now, he has retired from his position of Admiral to take his father's place as Fiolag, as his father died but a year ago during a Shivers outbreak. This barony is the smallest by population, home to but forty three thousand Suranthi citizens, but is of great importance tactically. It is a center of Suranthi naval power, a port only equaled or exceeding in naval importance by Geata-Iarainn or An Point Thoir in all of North and Eastern Suranth. It is a barony of important food and resource production, the whaling industry a strong and important one for food, oil, strong tools of whalebone and stone, along with shipwrights. Lumber imported to the region both from Ironshaft wood along the Ferrie River on the mainland, and from Depenwood. Bows and Crossbows produced her of whalebone and timber are weapons of preference amongst naval crewmen as well. They are a tough and hardy people, and produce some of the bonniest sailors, tough, hardy, skilled and utterly fearless, for Suranth's navy. Fiolag Varnis' eldest daughter, a woman named Yvette Varnis, holds the title of Fleet Admiral of the Suranthi Navy.
Fleet Admiral Yvette Varnis: This woman of thirty-one years holds the title of Fleet Admiral within the Suranthi military structure and is captain of the Suranthi Navy's pride and joy, Glacial Goddess, a 70 gun, four deck, three masted skirmish warship, known for her wicked speed and nimble maneuverability, along with her crack two hundred soul crew, many of whom have served, sailed and fought together for years. If the Glacial Goddess is known to be patrolling any stretch of water along Suranth's coastline, piracy swiftly becomes non-existent, and generally any uppity private noble or clan vessels that had been in any sort of conflict or disagreement suddenly decide that whatever they'd been disagreeing about is no longer worth skirmishing over. She is also well known for her brilliant eye for naval strategy and combat.
Fiolag Torvan Sovaunna: This dwarf, into his second century, is the young chief of Clan Sovaunna, known by men, whom struggle with the dwarven tongue, as Clan Blackstone. They hold Protectorate and sway over the Rivean Baruntacht, and the riverside shipping city of Riveach is the center of their power and the seat of their Clan. This estate encompasses around sixty-four thousand of the Suranthi peoples, and is known for their logistics prowess. They handle well the connecting of goods and materials via river, road and rail all along the coastal lands of the north and east of Suranth, and are known as a logistical lynchpin to the modernizing of the nation on this side of the Glacial Sea when it comes to transportation. Fiolag Torvan Sovaunna is well known as a knowledgeable dwarf in the ways of the rails and holds some sway with the High King in regards to the continued potential growth and expansion of Suranth's rail systems, given his clan's ties to the crafting and laying of the track that exists currently, as they headed up the massive project in this province, and provided consulting and aide in the other provinces. They also hold sway over a coastal region that is well known for its shallow and manageable waters known to have many edible kelps and seaweeds growing wild, and given the shallow coastlines, the break away from steep cliffs and shelves, to a more approachable coastline makes this a fine place to fish and 'farm', such as it can be called, the variety of edible seaweeds and kelps.
Chief Barchas Holvani: The Holvani clan of dwarves hold sway over the Lakvyer Connighclan, and though not holding the same noble sway by title as a Baron, Chief Barchas holds a key position in the province and his Estate encompasses about sixty-three thousand Suranthi citizens. The port city of Lakvyer is his central seat of power, and the sway he and his clan hold cannot and is not under-estimated as he holds sway over the mouth of the Nordjeim as it flows out of the Glacial Sea, the massive inland glacial lake that is a crisscrossing boon of resources and trade used by many in the country. Fishing, transportation, water, all these things it gifts and as such is patrolled with the same vigor the ocean coastlines of the nation are. They are connected to the rail system as well in Lakvyer and as such they are a key and important inland port, much like Geata-Iarainn is, goods switching from rail to waterway, or waterway to rails within the settlement. This estate holds many coastal and riverside communities, fishing and harvesting the bounties offered by the Nordjeim and the Glacial Sea itself as its major sector.
Sir Níosgruam Axe-hand Árthachmac: This old dwarf (it is believed he is at least as old as High King Cormac) still possesses the look of his youth, with the only true show of age his beard of silvery grey. His hair is still black as coal and thick. He is the High Warpriest, or what others may think of as the Father or First Priest or Lord-Bishop of the Cult of Sir Kartheart, standing above any of the Ord's of the faith, as the overall head of the religion. He is one of the High King's most trusted advisors and confidantes besides his own family. His duties and job in managing the faith include all manner of affairs, internal buecracy of the church, the funds and 'donations' the organizing and tracking of the various Ords, and many other administrative details, and he has the look, keeping himself prim, proper, looking the part of a priest and well spoken leader and logistically well versed in commerce and social graces, as well as known for excellent people resource management. One would not think him to have a history worthy of his nickname, yet he stood beside High King Cormac in many battles to reclaim parts of Suranthi land for her people, and carved out his reputation amongst the brave and bold tundra dwelling folks both within the faith and citizenry, with his prowess whilst wielding a double headed battle-axe.
Master Magus Tobais Verholf: This human magister is in his fifties, though he does not look it. Bald, with a thick moustache of dark brown hair, with loamy brown eyes, he is the Master Magus of the Collegiate's operations within Suranth's borders, and the Head Magus of the Collegiate Campus with Geata-Iarainn. He is a highly skilled magister himself of the Domhan school, fittingly. In an oddity amongst mages, and the first in his position in five generations of holders of the office, he is well liked by, and even considered a good friend of, High King Cormac. This should be of little surprise however, for Tobais did serve in the army with the magi corps for a full decade, and served with distinction and bravery, earning the praise of officers, even those outside the magi corps, and perhaps more importantly to this odd friendship in many ways, the respect and comradery of even common soldiers whom served with him due to his bravery and valor beyond that which would normally be expected from someone who, by general opinion within the Suranthi forces, is little more than a breathing artillery piece. Tobais is an oddity, and a pleasant one, for he is a jovial, outgoing man, of strong conviction and willpower, but also physical strength and toughness.
There are of course many more and many are family, be they cousins or relatives by this marriage or that alliance to the Ironcliffe Clan, holding positions such as Suranthi Treasurer, a variety of military and civil positions of note from various communities, advisors of many sorts within his court, but the above are some of the most important and influential both within the province and their decisions and power able to ripple outwards as well.
Culture
They are a hardy, tough and stout people in this province, a mix of aquatic sorts, working the coastlines and waterways harvesting the bounty of resources available from such places. The whaling industry of course adds to such a culture, as it is a tough and hard job for those serving on such vessels, cold, harsh and dangerous as can be. Coupled with this in northern area of along the Iron Tip Peaks a healthy and booming mining and quarrying culture insures the inland populations are of a similar bent; strong, tough and hardy peoples whom are skilled at making the most of and not just surviving but living modestly well off the the, seemingly to most folk, limited bounty the tundra lands have to offer. They know their home well and make the best of it, and are a steadfast and utilitarian bunch, utilizing every part of anything they catch, kill or harvest. They waste nothing and this is a deep cultural behavior within them.
Assets
Within the Ironcliffe Province, some of the largest assets are those of environment. The whaling industry of course is a major asset and player, as the oil produced is coveted all across the northlands of Valerick for a great many and varied tasks and purposes. Besides this, the coastline and the Nordjeim River System provide a natural bounty of resources, from the variety of kelps and seaweeds used for food, to make fabric and a host of other useful applications. In the Iron Tip Peaks there exists a hearty and thriving mining industry, with iron ore being the majority of what is mined, but there exists a healthy and thriving silver mine, a newly struck gold mine, and within all of these as well, manna crystals are occasionally found in the thickest and healthiest veins. Besides Iron, a few small, but impressively pure, veins of Tacturnium have also been struck. This rare ore is highly valued in the crafting of master craft tools, armors and weapons.
The region also has its share of fortified positions, including all the major cities of course, along with many of the towns. The largest and most impressive of these is Fort Crag-Mount, an absolutely monstrosity of a fortification part of which is the largest of the dwarven made dams that control and force the flow of the Nordjeim to behave how it does, and create the complex system that the people of Suranth decided was needed to best fit their needs in the area for settlement and to best utilize the limited habitable and worthwhile land in the region. This fort is positioned at the largest branch off from the Nordjeim, which is known as the Dugkra. The fortress itself houses around six hundred troops and all associated family, assistants and staff, along with the various working folk such people would need around it, creating a second layer of defense, a fortified town of nearly three thousand around the fortress, the town of Karak Abhainn Barak.
The flagship of the Suranthi Navy calls the port of city of Higveld her home port. Besides the Glacial Goddess, the Ironcliffe province and the waters along her coasts, rivers and the banks of the Glacial Sea that this province lay claim too, with the ports there in, house around seventy to eighty naval vessels all told in combination. Of course on top of all this, the Ironcliffe Province benefits from being the seat of power for all of Suranth, the seat of the High King. Geata-Iarainn itself is an asset and boon, for the capital is a position of power and strength, and the mining operations that built the city are the most successful and richest in the nation.
As to troops, the province as a whole can field nearly 13300, fully a third of the armed forces of the Suranthi military. A more detailed census of such is listed below;
4810 Clansmen
3080 Saltbeards
1390 Tundra Rovers
1000 Iron Riders
660 Storm Lancers
660 Iron Dragons
500 Warpriests/Priests/Magisters/Physicians
500 Engineers/Artisans
660 Wave-Runners(An assumed number based on percentage of Suranth's population the region has, that report to a handler in the region. No real concrete basis for this number.)
These are naturally spread out amongst the garrisons, forts, noble estates and military encampments within the province itself and are not all in one place. Since the province is home to the Suranthi Capital and is the seat of the High King, it also makes sense that it is one of the wealthier provinces in coin, and finally, it is the most populated province within Suranth, housing a full third of the nation-state's population. This manpower is an asset in and of itself, allowing projects of a greater labor scale than any other province in the tundra nation.
The region also has its share of fortified positions, including all the major cities of course, along with many of the towns. The largest and most impressive of these is Fort Crag-Mount, an absolutely monstrosity of a fortification part of which is the largest of the dwarven made dams that control and force the flow of the Nordjeim to behave how it does, and create the complex system that the people of Suranth decided was needed to best fit their needs in the area for settlement and to best utilize the limited habitable and worthwhile land in the region. This fort is positioned at the largest branch off from the Nordjeim, which is known as the Dugkra. The fortress itself houses around six hundred troops and all associated family, assistants and staff, along with the various working folk such people would need around it, creating a second layer of defense, a fortified town of nearly three thousand around the fortress, the town of Karak Abhainn Barak.
The flagship of the Suranthi Navy calls the port of city of Higveld her home port. Besides the Glacial Goddess, the Ironcliffe province and the waters along her coasts, rivers and the banks of the Glacial Sea that this province lay claim too, with the ports there in, house around seventy to eighty naval vessels all told in combination. Of course on top of all this, the Ironcliffe Province benefits from being the seat of power for all of Suranth, the seat of the High King. Geata-Iarainn itself is an asset and boon, for the capital is a position of power and strength, and the mining operations that built the city are the most successful and richest in the nation.
As to troops, the province as a whole can field nearly 13300, fully a third of the armed forces of the Suranthi military. A more detailed census of such is listed below;
4810 Clansmen
3080 Saltbeards
1390 Tundra Rovers
1000 Iron Riders
660 Storm Lancers
660 Iron Dragons
500 Warpriests/Priests/Magisters/Physicians
500 Engineers/Artisans
660 Wave-Runners(An assumed number based on percentage of Suranth's population the region has, that report to a handler in the region. No real concrete basis for this number.)
These are naturally spread out amongst the garrisons, forts, noble estates and military encampments within the province itself and are not all in one place. Since the province is home to the Suranthi Capital and is the seat of the High King, it also makes sense that it is one of the wealthier provinces in coin, and finally, it is the most populated province within Suranth, housing a full third of the nation-state's population. This manpower is an asset in and of itself, allowing projects of a greater labor scale than any other province in the tundra nation.
Demography and Population
The Ironcliffe Province is home, roughly, to some 263000 of Suranth's 793000 person population. The rough demographics are noted in the table below for use if you wish, these numbers are not necessarily this well known in world of course.;
| Race | Rough % of Population | Count |
| Dwarf | 32% | 84160 |
| Elf | 2% | 5260 |
| Halfling | 11% | 28930 |
| Human | 28% | 73640 |
| Gnome | 7% | 18410 |
| Vrock | 15% | 39450 |
| Tiefling | 5% | 13150 |
Territories
This province encompasses all the lands from the north-eastern banks of the Glacial Sea, following the Nordjeim River System, all lands east to the coast, and the islands to the north-east that make up the Higveld Baruntacht. They lay claim to the waters along their coast in the Nor'westor Sea. The barrier to the south, as it were, where the lands transition into the Durin Province along the hinterlands and hills that herald the Shivering Wood and the White-Tip Mountains. To the West the natural transition is the western glacial shelves just west of the Battered Skull Range. Not all these lands are currently occupied or settled, and indeed, some are merely a claim, which is echoed by some neighboring nobility from other provinces. Minor conflicts, could, at some point if and when expansion occurs, very well be expected within the Nation-State that is Suranth, though such squabbles amongst nobility or individual clans are not expected to ever erupt into full on civil war.
All in all, the Ironcliffe Province encompasses some rough 265000 square kilometers of land and coastal waters, though this is naturally a rough measure, and within that, there are reasonably large swathes of land, particularly west of the Nordjeim River System, that are unsettled and known to house many dangers and threats.
All in all, the Ironcliffe Province encompasses some rough 265000 square kilometers of land and coastal waters, though this is naturally a rough measure, and within that, there are reasonably large swathes of land, particularly west of the Nordjeim River System, that are unsettled and known to house many dangers and threats.
Technological Level
Pre Industrial-Mid Industrial Revolution in more urban environments
Late Renaissance-Early Industrial Revolution in more rural environments.
Late Renaissance-Early Industrial Revolution in more rural environments.
Religion
Within this province, as with all of Suranth, Sir Kartheart is the most favored among the Ascended, however one may worship any of them of course. Worship of any of the Ruinous Ones is heretical in nature and seen as a capital crime, worthy of execution.
Foreign Relations
Again one can refer to the Nation State of Suranth and their diplomatic relations and foreign policy.
Agriculture & Industry
This province has a healthy mix, as healthy as can be expected in a tundra. Agriculture is next to nothing, directly, though the river lands and coastlines are harvested and cared for by those communities along them. Kelp and seaweeds that are edible and useful in many ways, amongst other small coastal flora. Whaling of course, specifically the oil and all it can be used for in its various concentrations and consistencies is a major industry. Besides this mining and refining, both Iron and Coal being the two largest by volume, but other minerals are found in varying quantities, is the backbone of the province's economy. The fishing industry along the coast of the Glacial Sea and all along the river systems and the coast of the Nor'westor are also important industries in their own right. The mining and whaling however, are the two pillars by which the province's economic vitality is truly supported.
Trade & Transport
Much of the raw material is of course still moved by ship all along the northern coasts of Valerick, however a significant percentage is now moved via the rail systems as well of course, mostly within the nation-state, raw materials going by rail to other provinces to be manufactured into various products that will then be exported, or moved about the market places within Suranth for her own peoples.
Education
Education varies mostly by social class and hierarchy, along of course with your profession. Within cities, and large towns a semi formalized education system does exist...to a measurable degree. However it is a basic system, encompassing only 7 years of a child's life, teaching but basics of language, numbers, a little geography and science, but not all that much besides. A good grounding, admittedly, including reading and writing, however this system is not government organized or funded, directly. They encourage it, indeed it is mandatory for government positions to have attended, then attended private advanced schooling and in many cases follow that with college or university. It is provided by the church, or professors, charging modest, but not minimal, fees. So there do exist an uneducated, overworked labor/poor class. In smaller towns, villages and other rural settings, the education in some manners is even poorer. Reading and writing are not commonplace, in fact those who can are the minority among such folk. But they are impressively resourceful, well organized and task oriented, with a level of skill that often can only be achieved in a profession through generations passing down from parent to child. Hunters, farmers, fishermen, miners, loggers, they are all as such in the more rural areas. Though education is more readily available in more urbanized settings, the various Guilds still have the largest share of such things, and those born the son or daughter of someone very likely either end up in the military, or as the same profession as their parent. Otherwise it is likely they end up in an adjacent profession and guild (so the son of a framer could end up a roofer, or a bricklayer, yes they are different from stone masons, or a tiler. Something within the industry of building structures.) Though as technology develops, the things like boilers to heat homes (coal and steam, high tech, hard to work with), and plumbing, the drive in urban areas for a more educated working class, specifically larger in number, has begun to see some government intervention in the way of state funded 'opportunity schools' for orphans, the less fortunate, the working poor. These are run by the government and are targeted to educate students in small numbers to fill the labor gaps and begin the growth of a self sustaining career group in such industries, capable of handling the next generation on their own, including, oddly, explaining the importance of a united front in a Guild configuration, despite the fact that the Guilds and the government are often on opposite sides of the negotiating tables in any given scenario.
Fuil Agus Cloch, Iarann agus Cnamh!!! (Iron and Bone, Blood and Stone!!!)
Maps
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Riveach
This is the map of Riveach, the principal town nestled on the southern banks of the Nordjeim where the River Glace joins it. -
Ironcliffe Province of Suranth
The map of the North-Eastern Realm of Suranth, the Ironcliffe Province -
Lakvyer Connighclan Estate
These are the lands and towns under the control and guardianship directly of the Chief of the Holvani Clan, whomever that may be. Currently the chief of this dwarven clan is one Barchas Toragmac Holvani, a middle aged dwarf, around three hundred years old, and is known, as an oddity among his kind, for his skill with a longbow and as a hunter and tracker. He is a quiet, serious fellow, even for a dwarf. -
Lakvyer
The city of Lakvyer, nestled where the Nordjeim flows forth from the Glacial Sea. -
Higveld
This is the map of Higveld, the principal town within the Higveld Baruntacht. It is located along the southwestern coast of Higbolv Island, about a hundred kilometers from the mainland. -
Rivean Baruntacht
These are the lands and towns under the control and guardianship directly of the Baron of Riveach, whomever that may be. Currently that title is held by a young dwarf of the clan Sovaunna, Baron Torvan Sovaunna, whom is only a little over two centuries in age. -
Ironcliffe Connighclan Estate
These are the lands and towns under the control and guardianship directly of the Ironcliffe Clan. -
Higveld Baruntacht
These are the lands and towns under the control and guardianship directly of the Fiolag of Higveld, whomever that may be. Currently that title is held by an older gentleman whom retired from his post as Admiral of the Suranthi Navy only a year earlier after his father died in a Shivers outbreak. Fiolag Alec Varnis is in his fifties now and served with impressive distinction in the Suranthi Navy for twenty-five years, the last ten of them as Admiral.
Type
Geopolitical, Province
Capital
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Gold Suns
Silver Moons (20 moons to a Sun)
Copper Stars (12 Stars to a Moon)
Silver Moons (20 moons to a Sun)
Copper Stars (12 Stars to a Moon)
Major Exports
Refer to the nation of Suranth for this list.
Major Imports
Again see Suranth's lists for this it is much the same.
Legislative Body
They fall under the Nation State of Suranth of course and a more detailed explanation can be found there
Judicial Body
They fall under the Nation State of Suranth of course and a more detailed explanation can be found there.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Comments