Posted by Moore on March 18, 2004 at 17:47:46:
This is the frontier. While the rest of the kingdom focuses its attention on the up coming war, the frontier worries about its day to day survival. There are dragons, Orcs, Barbarians, and slithering horrors then can rip a man to shreds. They control the land. The humans have learned sword craft, magic spells, and their Gods answer their worshiper's prayers. Warriors can stand against the most fearsome beasts, mages change the laws of reality, and priests can perform miracles, even bringing the dead back to life. It is an age of heroes. The nobles rule over all. The frontier has a mix of noble rulers, both good and bad, wise and foolish. The townsman has a skill, such as blacksmithing, which allows him to specialize and charge a decent coin for his labor. The normal farmer tries to eke out a living, get in his crop, and if he is lucky, have a little surplus for luxuries.
The Province of Roussillon was briefly the Kingdom of Majorca. The Kingdom of Majorca lasted for seventy five years. About one hundred and fifty years ago, the fledgling kingdom was overrun by monsters, mostly Orcs, and destroyed. The Orcs were in turn overrun by migrating barbarians and finished off as an organized state by internal feuds. Count Perpignan currently rules the Province of Roussillon from the Palace de la Charité - Charity Palace. It is built on the ruins of Palais des Rois de Majorque - Palace of the Kings of Majorca. The Count is keenly aware of how precarious his position is, and that one error would change the status of his kingdom from frontier area to just a footnote in history.
The Province of Roussillon is bordered to the north by the Camargue. It is a haunting, desolate, marshy wilderness. It has vast pools, low flat plains, and innumerable species of migrating birds. It is an area formerly covered by the sea, which magically receded to reveal the sprawling delta. Thousands of Aquatic Elves lived here when the area was underwater. An army of Koalinth attacked and slaughtered most of the elves. A dying, vengeful elven sorceress used powerful magic to avenge the death of her nation, causing the seabed to violently rise, killing the victorious Koalinth. The area is the home of the Temple of Black Death; a lair of Necromancers attracted by the bones of the Elves and Koalinth.
To the south and west of the Province of Roussillon are wild woods, inhabited by Barbarians, monsters, and worse. To the east is the sea, the lifeline of trade and goods from the capital. Cetaceans (whales) are common offshore.
Count Perpignan rules directly over the immodestly named town of Perpignan, a town of four thousand people, four miles up the coast on the Tet river. The town of Perpignan is best known for its massively fortified brick gateway, the same one that had failed to protect the previous town.
The Count commands five Barons. Baron Rouget de Lisle has an obsessive need to help others, but he is often depressed. He has a phobia of graves, but no one knows why. Baron Rouget de Lisle rules over Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a village of eight hundred, which has many village improvements, like a granary, well, and new docks.
Baron Vendres is know to have as a patron (and be blackmailed by) Orc General Rostangnus. Baron Vendres rules over Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone, a village of seven hundred and fifty, which is built near ruins from the Kingdom of Majorca. Orc General Rostangnus' Orcs mainly live in the Gorges du Tarn, a 30-mile long canyon dug into the limestone plateau by the Tet River.
Baroness Snuthree only rules over some scattered farmsteads, and a small central whaling town. Baroness Snuthree marries and buries adventuring husbands; she is currently on number five.
Baron Theodosius is from Constantinople. He fled after some internal dispute, and arrived here at the edge of the civilized world. He has a small but loyal following living in scattered farmsteads.
Baron Collioure rules only his manor house and staff. He is rumored to hate his family, carouse with loose women, and act in a very shameful manner.
Only the town of Perpignan is inland; most of the rest of the population is grouped along the coast. Scattered frontier forts provide a half circle of protection, but even the common man's truest friend is his sword.