Campaign created Wednesday, May 27, 2009 07:18:48 AM by Kamarathin

A small campaign to further explore the Clairon Barony in preparation for the release of the Dark Waters adventure from D3 Games.

1 position is available. Please read the Campaign Guidelines before applying.

Duchy of Jisan

Current Ruler: Duchess Tirlessa

Capital City: Sesley

Languages: Gibberish and Highlander predominate, while Cadic and Mariner can be found along the Queensreach, even Tollic can be found in her coastal ports. Further north you'll find Atharan, Simeret and Slave Pidgin. Go inland and Kvonite can be found among the few tribes that roam the open spaces.

Major Resources: Naval yards and hard woods are the duchies main exports, supplemented by a few iron and stone quarries in the foothills of the Olemecans.

Religion: The Old Faith is far and away the dominant religion. A few small Asunite churches can be found, mostly in the larger towns along the Nirian Sea.

Racial Mix: Jisan is home to many of the Dirissland races in addition to the Kvonite and a few Aigulf clans. It is heavily Tursh, as are all of the duchies, but can claim the dubious fame of the only duchy with a Simeret Warband.

Overview: The Duchy of Jisan is one of the youngest duchies in the Kingdom, but it has a long and storied past. During the Great Darkness her lands were part of the Principality of Ossai, the center of a great evil that terrorized the surrounding lands.

Later she became a loose coalition of human tribes, united in their defense against hordes of Beastmen that used to run rampant throughout northern Hylrexia. This alliance would form the foundation of what is now House Jisan.

During Queen Aslyn's rise to power and her crusade to form a single kingdom, it was House Jisan that helped ferry the various bandit kings and rebels across the Queensreach. Despite the family's own belief in Queen Aslyn's cause, they could not raise a hand to strike down those who did not wish to fight her armies and not live under her rule.

For this the Jisan bloodline was struck from the Annals of Heritage for several generations. It wasn't until after the time of the Robber Barons that House Jisan would reclaim their titles and lands.

Through assassinations, political maneuverings and outright war did Lady Lexa finally complete the reinstatement of her family name, becoming the first Duchess of House Jisan.

In the present day, the duchy is only partially civilized. The baronies along the Queensreach and Nirian Sea being by far the safest and most cultivated. The further one gets from the river the more wild and untamed the land becomes.

Trade through the duchy is done along the coast and river. It takes a brave or foolish caravan-master to cross the duchy by land. There is one path that begins at Joracy. This city lies at the point where the Queensreach exits the Olemecans and is a major trade hub for those that wish to travel to the lands west of the Olemecans and south of Dirissland.

Joracy is the Seat of the Denneth Barony which is currently ruled by Baron Kaven. The Northroad, as it is properly called, runs from Joracy and follows the foothills of the Olemecans until it ends at the city of Riverford in the Clah duchy.

About midway lies the fortified town of Rolas, under the effete and politically slippery rule of Baron Fina. This town has long been a bone of contention between House Jisan and House Clah and has been under the supposed rule of both duchies for longer than anyone can remember.

Clairon Barony
The Clairon Barony is located within the Duchy of Jisan, its southern border is made by the Queensreach River and it is just west of the Nirian Sea. House Clairon has long been a strong supporter of House Jisan which is why it has landed the prestigious and lucrative territory along the Queensreach.

The barony does extensive trade with several of the Dirissland "Kingdoms" as well as supplying a large amount of foodstuffs in the form of grains and vegetables to the Nirian Sea Trade.

The current ruler of the barony is Baron Ker and his wife, the Baroness Alette. Both the Lord and the Lady are driven by their lust for power and guided by their supreme arrogance. This is further fueled by the betrothal of their twelve year old daughter, Gonjean, to Duchess Tirlessa's son, Stuaryn.

Baron Ker cares little for the actual act of governance and leaves all such things to his Seneschal, Manthonet. The only reason Ker would trifle with the affairs of state is when there is a political advantage to appearing concerned for his people. For his part, Manthonet is only interested in maintaining the status quo and thus avoiding the erratic attentions of his Liege.

The members of House Clairon have long been followers of the Old Faith but they would have no qualms with switching religions should House Jisan do the same. For now they follow their traditional faith but rarely practice outside of High Holidays.

Tineman
Tineman (pronounced like the tines on a fork) is a small, non-descript township of about 2000 people. It boosts no claims to fame and no valuable resources, it does, however, serve as the gateway to several ruins within the Clairon Barony, specifically; The Tors and Jilin's Folly. It also serves as a trade hub for those small villages that lie along the Caleen Lake and on the borders of Melinda's Tangle. It's location near the confluence of the Cames and Stenet Rivers allows the town to utilize the faster River Traders in preference to the slower and more dangerous caravan trade, though both do exist.

Tineman is run by Lady Lermma of House Clairon, a light hearted and jovial soul she is far more worried about socializing and festivals than any form of civil governance. Much like the rest of House Clairon, she cares little for the goings within her demesne, though unlike some, she isn't cruel and uncaring, just easily distracted by affairs of less import. The true governance of the township lies on the shoulders of her Seneschal, Lady Ganeil of House Irlian, the childhood friend of her Ladyship. Lady Lermma is well liked among the populace though many a good natured joke has been formed around her flighty and airheaded nature. While Lady Ganeil, on the other hand, is considered quite the troll and rumors abound of how the fair Lady Lermma is under Ganeil sorcerous control. While Lady Ganeil is certainly less popular, she is the only reason the town still runs and the truth of the Ladies relationship is likely far more mundane than the locals believe.

The town militia trains twice a tenday but despite this, they aren't particularly effective. They are lead by the capable Captain Lendan who used to serve with House Lissinia's Rangers, the reasons he left and settled here remains a topic he cares little to bring up. Despite Lady Lermma's insistence that a militia is unnecessary, the good Captain has managed to get her approval for a standing force of 10 Patrolmen, known simply as The Patrol. These men and women are split into two shifts and patrol the township proper, ignoring the farmsteads beyond the town.

Like most of the kingdom, it is illegal to carry arms within the township proper and all weapons must be given over to the Patrol. Weapons will be returned to their owners when they are leaving the township. Exceptions are for those that have Writs of Carriage. Unlike most townships, Captain Lendan is willing to create a Writ for those that are able to prove they are operating as a guard or in some form of protective capacity. The fee is steep, 5 Pence per Writ, but many a sage and merchant has felt the need to acquire Writs for the sellswords they've hired.

Outside of Tineman are the familiar rolling hills and copse's that dot the countryside, the land is dangerous during the day and downright scary at night. Bandits and Highwaymen ply their trade and there are precious few fortified Roadhouses to take refuge in. The Tor's are said to be filled with Vampires and evil death cults seeking to resurrect the inhabitants of those ancient tombs and Jilin's Folly has long been cursed by the spirits who died there. Yet there is a constant supply of sages and treasure hunters that wish to try their hand at these ancient ruins or the smaller les known sites that dot the barony, most are killed or robbed before they reach their destinations, others die at their sites, but occasionally one group or another make it back and even a smaller number have something to show for it. There are many who still hunt for the remains of the Ossai Principality and rumors abound of where this piece or that of the dreadlords armor can be found. Thus far, no reputable discovery has been claimed.

This constant flow of newcomers keeps the coin flowing into the coffers of local merchants and craftsmen and has even lead to Captain Lendan's old friend; Raig Blackbeard to leave the liveried service of a Lissinia noble to work as Tineman's blacksmith. Raig is primarily a weaponsmith and armorer, but has acquired a few apprentices to do the day-to-day labor. His prices are outrageous (though not quite as outrageous as the size of his beard), but he is also the only man of his craft within a hundred miles and even further if you actually want one that will do the work for you.