Ratik, the Loftwood, Southwatch, and Environs.
RATIK HISTORY:
CY 684.
It is 70 years after the Gnollwars that ravaged southern and eastern Ratik.
The Gnollsbane, heroes of the Gnollwars, have lived, disappeared, died, and their their deeds have passed into legend. Their ancestors, such that remain, have gone on to live their lives. Some earned glory, as when Killean Ginntsdyr, daughter of Kiley Mindbender, lead the charge that broke the lines when the Stone Hold invaded. Some earned infamy, like Kileala Dorlubbin, sometimes known as 'The Twisted Gnome,' created a living illusion that devoured three towns before the twin mages Calensdyr and Calenson destroyed it.
Events have settled into a routine:
- Evaleigh remarried and her grandson Alvaran is now Arch-Duke. Evaleigh, once a beauty who played the Great Game of Houses with the Dukes and Captains, lives but there are rumors of senility and horrible scarring after the redpox a decade ago.
- The Frost Barbarians are now annexed into Ratik, with the grandson of Evaleigh and Hurtak Fironssen having united the lands. Hurtak led the expedition into the Stone Hold and laid waste to the entire eastern half of the Stone Hold.
- Raiders of the Snow and Ice Barbarians continue to raid the coasts, sometimes taking a town, sometimes being hanged by the score (or more).
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RATIK GEOGRAPHGY
The Loftwood has been entirely claimed by Ratik.
Southwatch is the southernmost town of Ratik, lying just at the edge of the southern Loftwood. Nearby towns deep in the Loftwood include Upriver, Three Roads. There are occasional travellers and traders from Deepwood, Red Hill, Dekspointe, and even Johnsport and Bellporte.
Southwatch is part of the new Hold of Eastwood. Eastwood Fort lies between Johnsport and Dekspointe on the coast and keeps the pirates of Johnsport at bay... mostly. There is a thriving community of shipwrights at Dekspointe. The Duke of Eastwood rarely travels to Southwatch.
To the south and west of Southwatch is the Bone March. Within the Bone March, County Knurl is barely hanging on in the Blemu Hills and the rest of the March is over-run with tribes of goblins and orcs, who fight among themselves. The gnolls have not been heard of since their near-extermination 3 generations ago. Spinecastle is a ruin, destroyed by Ratik after the Gnoll Wars.
Johnsport is a free city, though most would call it a pirate town. It is run by a trio of cutthroats who call themselves "The Trangle."
Far to the south and along the coast, remnants of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy are trying to come to grips with self-rule and down the coast, the Principality of Bellport is stirring up trouble.
- Pale continues to discourage trade and emigration to the West.
- The Sea Barons carry on a brisk trade with the Arch-Duchy.
- A pair of dragons living somewhere in the Solonor Ocean can be seen periodically winging their way back and forth from the Timberway. Rumors have it that they visit with the Druid of the North... or that they escort Icylius Wanderfae, Ambassador of the Ruby Court of Dragons.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Mon 21 Jan 2019.