Western Dales

The Western Dales is a country comprised of five duchies that represent about half of the Dalelands, a very large region of the Savage North. The five duchies (or Dales) of the Western Dales are Linnsdale, Andravia, Merribor, Yornhome and Venterlund. All of these duchies swear fealty to the King of the Western Dales, Osric Cadogan.
== History and Culture ==
The Dalelands were originally mixed elven and dwarven lands, who held vast kingdoms within the mountains and forests of the region. The elves of the Dales were largely peaceful, favouring music and the arts over the ways of magic and war, while the dwarved toiled their mines in Venterlund and Merribor. When the region of Andrea to the south mysteriously transformed into the inhospitable wilderness known as the Winter Wastes, many of the human folk of those lands travelled north to the Dalelands and established villages in the Dales.
The elves and dwarves were not hostile to the intruders, and the Andreans began to fell the forests and use the land for their purposes, their populations growing at rates completely unmatched by the native races. It's unknown when the balance of power shifted in favour of the Andreans, but the elves recognized the change and retreated to the deeper woods, making deals with the humans not to fell the ancient forests of the Dales in exchange for their new homeland. The dwarves were largely driven into the rocky lands of Yornhome.
The Dalelands became wealthy quickly, as the lands were largely fertile and full of natural resources such as lumber, iron, silver and mithril. Shortly before King Florentius died, he split the kingdom between his two sons, claiming that the land was too vast for a single ruler. Henceforth the Western Dales held governance over the lands of Linnsdale, Andravia, Merribor, Yornhome, and Venterlund. Similarly, the Eastern Dales governed the lands of Lisadarne, Terevania, Darrowdale, and the Elkhorn Marches.
As each of the Dales is ruled by its own Duke, there is significant cultural disparity between these regions; their shared traits largely being their Andrean ancestry or conquest and their fealty to the King of the Western Dales, Osric Cadogan II, who claims distant blood ties to the original line of royalty.
== Linnsdale ==
Linnsdale is the most northerly of the Western Dales, bordering the city-state of Amarynth to the south-west, the Grey Marches to the north, and Eriabourne to the north-east. Its land is a combination of thick forest, wild hills, developed farming valleys, and a highly urbanized coast on the Resting Sea. Linnsdale is a wealthy region that produces wine, mead, grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and various meats. It boasts large armies and military companies which defend this bounty from thieves and bandits. The capital city of Linnwick also serves as the seat of King Osric Cadogan. The most prominent families of Linnsdale are the Cadogans, the Dyrenians, the Lanfreys, the Davernians and the Wellards. The current duke of Linnsdale is Kenneth Wellard. Locations of Linnsdale include
* Linnwick, the capital city of the Western Dales and the seat of King Osric Cadogan. This huge city boasts an expansive shipyard on the Resting Sea, the Royal and Duchal Palaces, and the Fighter's Fellowship. This city is also the birthplace of Tark Stonehand.
* Berry Vale, a large town in the north-eastern valleys that produces a great deal of fruit and grain.
* Aramsford, a town in the eastern valleys producing a high yield of vegetables.
* Salbower, a fishing town on the southwest coast.
* Arborlain, a whaling city on the western coast with a large population and huge walls..
== Andravia ==
Andravia is the largest of the Western Dales, bordering the city-state of Amarynth to the north-west, Linnsdale to the south and bordering the westernmost of the Eastern Dales, Lisadarne, to the east. Andravia is interspersed with several rows of hills which divide its landscape, ranging from forest in the north to steep mountains in the south. There are also large wetlands that span the midlands from the northern woods to the foot of the hills bordering Merribor. Andravia has a large halfling population in this area and within the city  of Springhollow. The land is primarily used for the growth of herbs and pipeweed, as well as vegetables that can manage the uneven terrain. The halfling population is well integrated, and many claim noble status. The most prominent noble families of Andravia are the DuVogues, the Fenderleys, the Moresques, the Galogrins, and the Rushwaters. The current duke of Andravia is Rodrigar DuVogue. Locations of Andravia include
* Springhollow, a large city in northern Andravia and the seat of Duke Rodrigar DuVogue. This city has many prosperous farms, mills and breweries, but under the surface operate a number of thieves guilds which redistribute the wealth of landlords and industry heads. This city is also the birthplace of Mikael.
* Mornstead, a coastal city in Andravia. A university city on the western coast, Mornstead is a city of libraries, towers, and old statues of quiet dignity. Magi are prominent in this city and a number of magical organizations operate from these cobbled streets.
* Sog Bottom, a small village in central Andravia on the borders of the large wetlands, of whom the locals know much of the swamps around.
* Applethatch, a halfling town in the hills of the south, from which they trade in fruits, vegetables, livestock, beer, and pipeweed.
* Trevander, a river town at the foot of the Crowscorn mountains. They sell fish, furs, wool, and livestock.
== Merribor ==
Merribor is a mountainous Dale in that encompasses the Goblinteeth and Crowscorn Mountains. The outer marches are dominated by steep slopes and great crags, while the central wooded valleys provide a home for the Dale's human residents. Merribor is widely multiracial, with large dwarven, elven and halfling populations. The elves are the rarest of the three, but can be found in forest villages and monasteries among the highest peaks. The dwarves hold many great fastnesses, especially below the Goblinteeth. The halflings of Merribor are the famously heroic Stronghearts and some even retain their nomadic barbarian heritage. Merribor humans are typically hardy folk who gather ores, furs and timber from their mountain homes. The most prominent noble families are similarly racially mixed, with the human Pevalliers, Goodstrongs, and Hommunds; but also the Aelandar elven family, the dwarven Gravelhand and Bucklebeard clans, and the halfling Hardifoots. The current duke of Merribor is Antoine Pevallier. Locations in Merribor include
* Caedorn, the largest city in Merribor and seat of duke Antoine Pevallier. Situated in between the looming mountains to the north, east and south, Caedorn serves as the dale's primary centre of trade, where goods pass through before passage to Andravia, Yornhome or Venterlund.
* Cloud Top, an elven town high in the Crowscorn mountains and home to the monastic Aelandar family. 
* Canyon Forge, a large dwarven fastness in the Goblinteeth and home to the Gravelhand clan.
* Riverstar, a mining and trapping town in the high forests of the Crowscorns.
* Bramblehearth Burrow, a large subterranean halfling town in the lower Goblinteeth and home to the Hardifoots. The city is famous for its winter vegetables, ales, and brave warriors, as they clash with goblin tribes regularly.
== Yornhome ==
Yornhome is almost entirely dwarven in its population, though having been conquered by Florentian soldiers centuries prior they remain sworn to King Osric. The landscape of Yornhome is varied, with steep mountains to the east on the border of Merribor, wooded hills in the north near Andravia, vast pine forests in the south near Venterlund, and a maze of rocky crags and hidden valleys winding west to the coast of the Resting Sea. The dwarves of Yornhome are unusual in their proclivity to build ships for fishing and trade, and typical in their brewing of strong liquors, mining and battling nearby monster tribes. The most prominent noble families of Yornhome are the Helmgards, the Understones, the Tolgors, the Bruheims, and the Grondhorns. The current duke of Yornhome is Kaigen "Ironbelly" Helmgard. Locations in Yornhome include
* Hammarvost, the largest city in Yornhome and seat of Duke Kaigen Helmgard, built partially under the Goblinteeth mountains of the east. The city produces a range of alcoholic spirits, most notably whiskey, as well as gold, silver and mithril from its great mines. There is a movement of dwarves here who still resent their fealty to the human king. 
* Kegport, a trading city on the western coast and the seat of the Bruheim clan.
* Hol Doron, a dwarven stronghold in the central badlands and the seat of the Understone clan. They cultivate cave mushrooms that grow near underground rivers.
* Oakmoot, a large farming town in the north of Yornhome which produces grains, barley, hops, vegetables, and meat. Seat of the Tolgors.
* Stoneshore, a large fishing town in the west of Yornhome and the seat of the Grondhorn clan.
== Venterlund ==
Venterlund is the most southerly of the Western Dales, bordering Yornhome to the northwest, Merribor to the north, and the Elkhorn Marches to the east. The terrain is steep on its border with Merribor, but descends into vast pine forests in its heartlands. The climate of Venterlund is colder than most Dales due to its proximity to the Winter Wastes, though they do not share a land border. Venterlund is a region of high mineral wealth, once occupied by dwarves but driven out by Florentian soldiers. As well as its mines, widescale logging is performed in the great pine forests, though attacks by monster tribes make this dangerous. Ancient Andrean treasures are said to be found in tombs and barrows along the southern coast. The most prominent noble families of Venterlund are the Craymars, the Burwulfs, the Lanwells, the Idurians, and the Vengreys. The current duke of Venterlund is Sideon Craymar. Locations in Venterlund include
* Mormoth, the largest city in Venterlund and the seat of Duke Sideon Craymar. Mormoth trades in furs, lumber, iron, silver, gold, mithril and jewels, particularly with Selvan and Easthaven. The city has a fleet of privateers who patrol the Gulf of Silence, an infamous route for pirates.
* Gurraving, a logging and mining town in the central pine forests and the seat of the Lanwell family.
* Ceradol, a large trading town on the southern coast and the seat of the Burwulf family.
* Tallowspire, a small city on Venterlund's southwest coast that trades with Dura, Bruanon and the Frostbone Islands. Home to the mystic Idurian family who own a large tower complex in the centre of the city.
* Shiverwood, a logging town in the central forests and the seat of the Vengrey family.
Category:Countries