Post by Valen Storyteller on Jan 31, 2016 13:00:58 GMT
Territory: All of central and southern Valenpoint (11 land hexes, 6 sea hexes;
Language: Common, nobility also speaks Ruathim;
Religion: No state religion, Qamar and Nature are primary deities;
Demonym: Valenish;
Government: None;
Population: 1.5 million, mostly rural;
Demographics: 75% human, Half-Elves 8%, Elves 6%, Dwarves 5%, Others 5%.
So-called because no strong state currently claims any part of the region, the Land Without Borders is something of a misappellation: there are borders, hundreds of them. Every creek, hill and signpost is likely to be the edge between the territory claimed by one noble and that of another. However, all of these tiny chunks of land have nothing like the power of an established city-state like Spinal or Valen, they typically act together not as individuals but through councils representing entire regions of the territory, and almost all of them allow free trade and travel along their lands, making for borders which, while technically there, are very hard to perceive.
The greater part of the region is rolling farmland, dotted with woods. These forests don't typically grow to great size, and in most cases they are slowly shrinking every day, as farmers seek to expand their lands, or loggers seek to draw out more of their products. Several of the deeper woods are still home to fabled and mysterious creatures, from magical beasts to hidden enclaves of fey and druids. In a few cases, humans encroaching too deep into those are already drawing a great deal of trouble.
The lone mountain jutting out from the peninsula on its East end, as well as several of the more dense woods and more rugged hills are claimed by tribes of orcs, goblinoids and other dangerous races, with even a tribe of ogres being known to be present. Many of these were mercenaries hired by Spinal during the recent wars against the undead, and though their ferocity and strength were important in winning several victories in those engagements, they have since turned to open banditry and, in one case, are even attempting to carve out a petty kingdom. A few groups of mercenaries and conscripts have gone much the same way, and there is even a very famous band of forest bandits who harry Valen's border. The leader of the group is said to be a favored soul of Valigan.
Bandits, and barbaric humanoids aren't the only troubles that beset these lands, some pocket remnants of the Reborn Realm's invasion remain. Here and there one might find barns and towers locked up tight, the eerie moans of mindless undead echoing from within. Some times, some of these places are broken open, leading to fresh horror for the communities nearby. In at least two places, undead forces are organized and numerous, and some suspect that intelligent undead, lieutenants who survived the earlier war, lead them.
Raiding is also an issue, as forces from the Underdark, Wildspace or Ilsensine-worshiping slavers will sometimes descend upon the smaller and least-defended communities in the region, killing and kidnapping. From time to time, towns that have become frequent targets will pitch all the wealth of the community together to hire adventuring bands to defend them, though those desperate measures often backfire.
The Land without Borders is surrounded by sea on the East, Valen on the South, Spinal on the West, and the Untamed Moors on the North.
Language: Common, nobility also speaks Ruathim;
Religion: No state religion, Qamar and Nature are primary deities;
Demonym: Valenish;
Government: None;
Population: 1.5 million, mostly rural;
Demographics: 75% human, Half-Elves 8%, Elves 6%, Dwarves 5%, Others 5%.
So-called because no strong state currently claims any part of the region, the Land Without Borders is something of a misappellation: there are borders, hundreds of them. Every creek, hill and signpost is likely to be the edge between the territory claimed by one noble and that of another. However, all of these tiny chunks of land have nothing like the power of an established city-state like Spinal or Valen, they typically act together not as individuals but through councils representing entire regions of the territory, and almost all of them allow free trade and travel along their lands, making for borders which, while technically there, are very hard to perceive.
The greater part of the region is rolling farmland, dotted with woods. These forests don't typically grow to great size, and in most cases they are slowly shrinking every day, as farmers seek to expand their lands, or loggers seek to draw out more of their products. Several of the deeper woods are still home to fabled and mysterious creatures, from magical beasts to hidden enclaves of fey and druids. In a few cases, humans encroaching too deep into those are already drawing a great deal of trouble.
The lone mountain jutting out from the peninsula on its East end, as well as several of the more dense woods and more rugged hills are claimed by tribes of orcs, goblinoids and other dangerous races, with even a tribe of ogres being known to be present. Many of these were mercenaries hired by Spinal during the recent wars against the undead, and though their ferocity and strength were important in winning several victories in those engagements, they have since turned to open banditry and, in one case, are even attempting to carve out a petty kingdom. A few groups of mercenaries and conscripts have gone much the same way, and there is even a very famous band of forest bandits who harry Valen's border. The leader of the group is said to be a favored soul of Valigan.
Bandits, and barbaric humanoids aren't the only troubles that beset these lands, some pocket remnants of the Reborn Realm's invasion remain. Here and there one might find barns and towers locked up tight, the eerie moans of mindless undead echoing from within. Some times, some of these places are broken open, leading to fresh horror for the communities nearby. In at least two places, undead forces are organized and numerous, and some suspect that intelligent undead, lieutenants who survived the earlier war, lead them.
Raiding is also an issue, as forces from the Underdark, Wildspace or Ilsensine-worshiping slavers will sometimes descend upon the smaller and least-defended communities in the region, killing and kidnapping. From time to time, towns that have become frequent targets will pitch all the wealth of the community together to hire adventuring bands to defend them, though those desperate measures often backfire.
The Land without Borders is surrounded by sea on the East, Valen on the South, Spinal on the West, and the Untamed Moors on the North.