Ondari Provinces and Territories

Provinces of the Ondari Dominion

Valamar - The Beating Heart

Valamar is the heart of the imperial system and home to the capital, imperial agencies, guild headquarters and more. The Province rests at the Northern-most end of the Bay of Tureon, and is the most populous province in the country. Valamar is dominated by three main geographic features; The Amberwood Peaks to the north, the Andishan Lowlands, and the Bay of Tureon. The Amberwood Peak are famous for their wood that when harvested is extremely durable and near the colour of orange, as well as the Elvish Autumn Glade somewhere within the ancient depths of the Autumn Wyrwood. Being the heart of the country, the majority of the inhabitants work for the central government, in Artisan work, agriculture, or forestry related fields. Other important cities include the Huardin hill city of Tor Barosh, the Muardin city of Dun Garaz, and the Elven city enclave of Tel Anor.

Kirkwall - Bulwark Against the Dark

The last of the five "breadbasket" provinces which occupy the Andishan lowlands. Much like Hossberg on the Western side of the Bay of Tureon, only a small portion of the province can be considered lowlands. Turning east towards the Kybar's Teeth, the land quickly turns to rocky foothills and woodlands, before steadily rising into rocky fractured highlands at the foot of the mountains. Turning southeast, one would encounter the northern end of the Throndak Range and Duardin Hold of Barak Gundarr and further the Kingdom of Tiriande. Primary industries in the province revolve strongly around forestry, agriculture, mining, and magical creations.

Few provinces have felt the effects of disease, famine, conflict, and the encroaching darkness more acutely than the Kirkwallers; save perhaps Drakenwald. The Gellerpox runs rampant through many communities, and famine stalks the land after several successive droughts. The lingering effects of war wait Tiriande remain. There remains a large cultural presence of Tirians, and in the absence of open conflict there continues to be an extensive underground cold conflict with Tiriande over the region. The eastern portion of the province has been among the hardest hit by the creeping darkness and the creatures it brings. Wereherds of beasts run rampant through the forests, and the roads are no longer safe for travel at night. The Legion of the region struggles to hold ground against the dark.

Andorhal - Former Glories

Andorhal remembers a time of glory before, and many among the noble families and aristocracy continue to work to bring back that glory. Here resides the former Imperial Capital of Encanis. Still a shell and shadow of its former self hundreds of years after the fall. Andorhal is one of the Breadbasket provinces within the Andishan lowlands. While the western half is gentle rolling hills and farms, the eastern half quickly grows rocky, and dense with trees as foothills give way to highlands of the Kybar's Teeth Mountains. Alongside Kirkwall and Drakkenwald; Andorhal is one of the hardest hit by the encroaching darkness with the Legion barely managing to protect vast stretches of the eastern end of the province. At one time the highlands could be counted on to act as a Bulwark against the monsters that decend from the mountain sides, but now as the defenders are overwhelmed, the farmers fields and back roads have their own share of dangers in the night.

Before the darkness crept west, rare minerals were mined extesnively from the mountains in the west, bringing in great riches and wealth to the province. But these resources have now been lost, in addition to contact with the Ravencourt Sanctuary at Lake Darshal, and the Dwarven Hold of Khaz Sharok. Aside from the city of Encanis, one of the other notable cities is that of Pentark. Pentark is a bridge city spanning the River Anders, which forms the border with Kirkwall. The city itself, or at least the core of it; is entirely self contained on the bridge.

Hossberg -Stillness in a Storm

Considered one of the "breadbasket" provinces, Hossberg sits at the southern end of the Andishan Lowlands on the Western side of the Bay of Tureon, bordered by the Greymantle Mountains to the west, and the Grand Duchies of Aranoc to the South-West. Only a small portion of the province is considered part of the lowlands, extending down in the Halfling region of Shellharbour. The rest of the province is rolling hills, dotted with quiet forests, and pastures for grazing cattle until you hit the Greymantles and Greenleaf Hills to the Southwest.

The most populous portion of the province is the southern end, containing both the provincial capital of Holbrook, and the small Halfling region known as The Mootland. The Mootland is known in particular for growing various crops of tobacco and wines, the city of Shellharbour, and generating many of the finest bards, actors, and artists the world has ever known. Farming by far the most predominant industry here, with one of the largest temples to Pelor, and one of very few temples to Ollandra are located in the province. The foothills to the west contain the Dwarven Huardin city of Tor Vogal, as well as the Muardin City of Baraz Tynril at the north end of the Greenleaf Hils. the It remains a sleepy region, largest untouched by recent wars, or the creeping darkness; but continues to struggle with failed crops and disease.

Drakenwald - Land of Darkened Woods

Considered one of the "Frontier Provinces", Drakenwald is an unforgiving landscape of mountains, forests, and valleys. It is situated in the North East of the Dominion, sharing a border with the Principality of Danothmire in the North, and the Kybar's Teeth Mountains to the East. Owning to its low, highly spread out population, the people of Drakenwald are a hardy, self-reliant folk. The primary industries in the region are hunting, forestry, and mining. Drakenwald has been hit among the hardest by the encroaching darkness from the east. The roads are dangerous, forests become untamed, and vast eastern sections of the province have lost contact. The Eastern Fringes of the province along the Kybar's Teeth are home to several Dwarven settlements, include the large holds of Karak Algaz, and Khaz Ungor. Among the most notable landmarks is a set of mountains known as the The Fingers. It consists of several mountains clustered very close together that are more like spires than mountains. This formation has taken some symbolic meaning for some, like the Order of the North Wind, a sect of Monks who have set up a Monastary high up on its spire like fingers.

Therinfal - Wilderness Tamed

Much like its eastern neighbor Drakenwald, Therinfal is a sparsely populated frontier province full of mountain streams, snowy peaks, vast coniferous forests, narrow mountain valleys and high meadows. Also like its neighbor, it struggles with the encroaching dark, with herds of Werebeasts, once a rarity on the western sides of the Amberwoods, now commonplace stalking the darkened underbrush. The primary industries in Thereinfal are also mining, hunting and forestry, but it is also the only province where Gryphons and Great Eagles are raised for the noble families and Imperial Legions. The Dwarven hold of Dun Azgoraz can be found on the south end of the Icemourn Mountains. The High Elven city of Tel Thalrien is built onto the side of a very steep mountain face. And on the southern end of Therinfal, on the Greymantle Peaks, also resides the Orcish settlement of Spurwin Gar.

Ostwick - Breadbasket of the Empire

Ostwick is a realm of grand cities surrounded by miles upon miles of fertile farmlands. Situated near the core of the dominion, south-west of Valamar, bordered by the Bay of Tureon in the West, and the Greymantle Mountains to the east. it is a highly populated, fertile farming province mostly within the Andishan Lowlands. It is said that the founder of the first nations in inhabit Ostwick was devoted to the acquisition of knowledge and the study of magic, and he shaped the province and its people as such. Magic is a part of daily life throughout Esseas, but it is especially common in Ostwick; the province produces more Magewrights, Arcanists, Wizards, or Artificers than any other. Ostwick is home to a number of magical centers of learning, such as Sundermount College which specializes in the creation of magical goods, the White Tower of Uron, or the Institute of Extra-planar Studies. Magic is also common in the lives of the people, with enchanted farming equipment, and magical lamps in the streets. From the nobles in the towers of Fairhaven to the common folk working the vast vineyards of Bluevine, Ostwians value wit and wisdom, and intellect. They also often prefer finesse to brute force and appreciate cunning wordplay and fine fashions. Ostwick also boasts some of the largest concentration of worshipers of Ioun anywhere in the dominion. In the rolling foothills of the mountains resides the Hill Dwarf city of Tor Haldren, where many of the rare, magical minerals used in the artificing process are mined. More curiously, wandering the countryside, is the famous Terrance and Turgons Traveling Tavern. Built on the back of gargantuan tortoise of unknown origins, this tavern has grown from just a single hut, into a small bustling town of several Gnomish, Halfling, and Tabaxi families.

Burach - A Coastal Realm

Formerly heartland of the Burach Empire before its collapse and annexation into the Dominion more than two centuries earlier. Now the western-most province in the empire, and the southern half of the Ondari holdings on the western side of the Greymantles against the Sea of Ulmo to the west. Primary industries of the region are derived mostly from the ocean and forests, along with some mining in the mountains. The region at one time was populated heavily by Elves of an ancient kingdom, but now only ruins remain. Like the people of Terangarde, Burach produces amazing mariners who know how to ride the waves of great storms, as well a traders and adventurers. Owing to its location on the Sea of Ulmo, ports in Burach are also frequently visited by traders from abroad, such as Meridian Concord, or the Cindarian Dukedoms

While fairly sparsely populated, the province does have a number of locations of interest. It is home to the legendary Havern School of Sorcery. Up in the peaks of the Greymantles can be found both the Dwarven hold of Khazad Dron, and the hidden underground Elven city of Shal Endar. Along the southern coast nearing the Grand Duchies of Aranoc, there is an area of forest by the ocean known as Giant's Row; where the trees are thousands of feet tall, and hundreds of feet wide. Here, ocean over time as swelled around the base of the forest allowing ships to sail in between them to approach Tidewood harbor deep within the Row. Additionally, there exists a mixed Wood and High Elven enclave named Shal Tarius, here they have made their home in three hollowed out giant trees, stretching bridges between them and homes high up in the branches.

Hochlere - A Cold, Unforgiving Coastline

A sister province to Burach, and also formerly part of the Burach Empire before its collapse. Hochlere is located in the Imperial northwest, along the Sea of Ulmo and the Greymantle Mountains to it's east, and extends up north into the beginnings of the frozen Free Marches of Kargenras. Sandwiched between it and the Province of Burach, the Elven enclave of @Dor'Danil resides along the western coast, and forms a strong trading partner with the locals. Like its southern neighbor, it is considered a Frontier Province, and is comparatively sparsely populated and is largely covered in dense coniferous forests from the mountain to the coast. Many communities here are reachable only via boat or flying creature. The major industries are from the Ocean, some mining, and forestry related. While they have also seen an increase in threats from the monsters which lie in the depths, they've also seen an increase in the number of attacks from barbarian hoards crossing the Sea of Cold Silence, as well as Wereherds from the deep woods and mountains.

Terangarde - The Isles of the Empire

Terangarde is unique in the Dominion in that it's entirely a maritime province, situated on a chain of rocky islands out in the Bay of Tureon. It is the smallest, least populous, and among the poorest of the provinces. Despite being positioned almost directly a the geographic center of the empire, Terangarde is still considered a "Frontier" province due to its sparse population and rugged terrain. Almost all of the industry on the island relates to the sea, be it fishing, boat making, or producing goods from bounty provided by the water. Terangarde naturally also has the densest population of those devoted to Ulmo, God of the Sea; produces many of the finest sailors in the Dominion, and houses one of the largest naval ports in the empire. In recent times the province has seen the waters of both the Bay of Tureon and Sea of Ulmo become more dangerous, with Merfolk, Merrow, Kou-toa, and other sea beasts all appearing in numbers and aggression not seen in generations. Unique to the Islands are a small area of magical forest never touched for ship construction is the sacred Thalanis Wood; believed to be touched by Ulmo himself. Here the trees grow slow and low, with leaves tinted blue; at night, orbs not visible by day hang from their branches and glow a swirling blue colour. These orbs are known as Storm Orbs, can be used as a reagent for magics, but are protected by the denizens of the forest. In addition to being a sacred site of Ulmo, the forest is also home to several holy sites for Ghyran, as well as the Elven God Keranos, and it continues to be inhabited by a sects of Druids and Monks who live with the tree spirits of the wood.

Overseas Territories

The Ondari Dominion continues its expansionist agenda. They maintain several overseas holdings such as on the Island of Ishkalah, the Rathlin Islands, Western Coast of Tyrean, the Gulf of Xeti and the Ixalan Penninsula. These holdings are mix of military outposts, trading hubs, and complete colonies.