Duchy of Kaerendall
The land north of the ruins of old wharf, in the shadow of Mount Konbul were settled in the wake of The Shattering by a small collection of nobles from the south and survivors of Wharf looking for a new home. Here they created a great, expansive network of connected towns with an intricate and well maintained road system ensuring quick trade and response in the need of military might. Three of these towns exist along the coast line and provide ocean access to the trade routes not just with New Wharf but beyond as well. And with the powerful trading partner of the dwarves from the Kingdom of Kon'zarune, Kaerendall quickly positioned itself as a well fortified bastion in the northern reaches, it's borders expanding all the way to the forests that line the Shattered Straight.
Structure
Within Kaerendall there is currently the reigning Duchess Erza Stroumhammer, a descendant of the original founding house that has maintained and fostered the growth of the Duchy since it's founding in the early years of the fourth age. Responsible for using taxes collected by the other nations to foster a strong military, fund further settlements beyond the main 'connected' towns and ensure that the roads are maintained and patrolled, Erza's position is one of straight forward work that requires near constant communication with select other members of the courts.
These include the Lord of the Roads- a title currently held by the Bugbear: Gristle Barkhide. This title refers to the chief of the engineers that are employed by the duchy to maintain, expand, and grow its roads and other crucial systems such as sewage, as well as any potential new ground being broken and settled.
Also included in this title is the Commander of Gravel- a tittle currently held by the halfling: Taxian Greystone. This title refers to the commander of the duchies military forces. The head general, Taxian is the one responsible for assigning patrols, taking reports and training new soldiers for said patrols and the garrisons of the many connected towns. It is a rarely thanked job that requires him to often stay close to the Duchess to ensure that she is allocating the appropriate resources where his people need them.
Beyond this there is also the Raven Heart; a title worn by the currently elect chief surgeon of the hospitals. In order to stem major issues, each town is outfitted and maintained a public hospice that is run by followers of the Raven Queen. It is a group of death worshipers who understand those who need to be guided peacefully to the afterlife, and those whose time has yet to come. The current Raven Heart is a Tiefling named Virtue.
Each of the thirteen major towns of the Duchy are lead by a Baron, a noble family of the empire who had risen to power and settled the lands originally.
Public Agenda
The public agenda of the Duchy is to foster growth and spread in political power. With new, larger settlements outside of the original thirteen being grounded the duchy looks forward to a time of great growth and taming of the wilds in a great renaissance of the second age.
Assets
Beyond the ores provided by the dwarven kingdom within Konbul providing amazing quantities of sturdy metals for their military and city fortifications the Duchy of Kaerendall is home to a collection of powerful universities that are greatly famed around the world.
The 'Oaken Tribunal' is a large campus dedicated to magri-agriculture, nonmagical agriculture, and the nature of druidic magic and is the source of powerfully talented druids who work throughout the realm to improve weather conditions, crop out puts and animal husbandry throughout the realm.
"Rendall Hall' is a smaller, but more impressive campus founded by dwarves who came to the Duchy as immigrants during its founding. With a focus on engineering, dungeoneering and physics the school is one of the greatest universities in the world and works tirelessly to produce new talent to aid in the growth of the duchy and the maintenance of the many fortifications and roads that are found throughout the realm.
Lastly there is a much less known university 'The Kilgrave Concord'; a military academy. It was founded by Arktorus Kilgrave in the late days of the fourth age and is funded directly by the Duke, the empire funding the academy. This allows them to offer free tuition to the select few they welcome into the academy. Always on the search for raw talent the school is extremely selective with those they welcome into their fold. Those selected must sign contracts guaranteeing a set agreed upon term of service to the duchy with the completion of their training with the promise of promotions through military ranks, officer ships, and beyond for those who show the talent, dedication, and predication for hard work that drives the academy.
Beyond these academies, Kaerendall is also one of the greatest providers of wood in the northern realms. With access to a great forest along the border of the Shattered Straight it ships its lumber down the coast to New Wharf and using its impressive road system to get it all throughout the duchy quickly. Allowing it to create its own ships at a reduced cost while controlling in a limited expanse the market of the shipyards in New Wharf.
History
Founded early in the fourth age by the first duchess of the realm, Duchess Al'orna D'amero the nation solidified itself through a political marriage with a powerful dwarven noble: Erdent Stroumhammer. With this marriage came trade exclusivity with Kon'zarune provided a great resource of ores and craftsmen for the budding nation, and with it came an influx of Dwarven immigrants seeking to make names for themselves, settle land, and earn their own titles on the untamed wilds.
This lead to a boom of industry for the nation. its love for engineering, roads, powerful and strict military procedures as well as the druidic practices that aided those settlements get their roots into the ground. A unique marriage between dwarven and human skill sets, cultures and practices coming together in a melting pot to create thirteen powerful cities all connected by well maintained roads.
It was not until recently, near the end of the fourth age, with the growing popularity of the area for merchants wanting to claim land and a name for themselves and those coming to attend the universities and academies that were quickly becoming known around the world, that the Duchy began to look beyond the borders of the thirteen cities. This has led to a renaissance of settlers, students from the universities, merchants from abroad, adventurers looking to stake their claim, and nobleman seeking to further their own power at the cost of coin and time. With the growth of the Duchy it has now entered into an age of settling and attempting to tame out sections of the northern lands that is reminiscent to that of the second age.
Territories
Kaerendall is in control of the lands north of Konbul which forms a natural border with New Wharf and as far west as the edge of the swamplands of Umoven. The land itself is a variation of rolling hills, gentle rivers and streams and large grassland plains.
Military
The most significant military power within Kaerendall are the Riders of North, trained soldiers with the best equipment, mounts and skills that the duchy can afford to produce. The greatest of their order being trained at the Kilgrave Concord.
Beyond the Riders of North, each city contains and funds their own private military forces (which as a concession leads to the cities being taxed lighter by the Duchess to allow for them to properly fund their own, reduced, forces for emergency responses), these are also hungry for recruits from the Concord and attempt to seduce accomplished soldiers from the academy to their holds instead of the capital.
The region also has a number of druidic circles that practice within its realms and several of which are tied to the Oaken Tribunal providing magical protection and military might to the capital and any of the thirteen cities within a days hard ride.
Kaerendall also possesses a rather sizeable navy, warships and fast sailing sloops escort trade ships to Warden and New Wharf, as well as to the independent nations that exist in the Northern Sea. They also serve as protection for the fishing vessels of the coastal cities ensuring that the natural threats of the ocean: monsters, and pirates alike will find no easy game among the hard working citizens of the duchy.
Trade & Transport
Transport is one of the greatest powers available to Kaerendall. The well maintained, protected roads provide ease of access and the large open fields owned by the western cities provide the opportunities for large farms of horses to be raised. It is possible to reach any city on your side of the capital within a single day's travel at a brisk pace thanks to the maintenance of the road and the lack of fear it provides. The capital can be reached from any of the twelve other cities within a day's hard ride, and for those that prefer not to work their horses hard or to take their time, three days travel at a leisurely pace.
Swift are the riders, and swift are our tides.
Founding Date
65A4
Type
Geopolitical, Duchy
Capital
Alternative Names
The Roaded Capital
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Currency
Kaerendall uses the currency of the Jaralian Empire.
Legislative Body
The Duke/Duchess of the realm is responsible for the drafting of laws, but all laws are passed through a rigorous litany of clergymen within the local Court House of Jamal, if three of these clergymen are in agreement that a law or rule needs to not be implemented they can veto it and request a re-submission while offering guidelines or problems with the law.
Judicial Body
The Church of Jamal, the Lawbringers have their own charters and chapels within each of the thirteen cities providing skilled and educated lawmen and trained clergy/paladins to carry out problem cases as needed.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Location
Neighboring Nations
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