Northmarch

**Northmarch**

*Out on the Dales*

*where young knights roam*

*there lay a place*

*which I called home*

*Where valleys were thick*

*with oak and green*

*And golden fields*

*Of wheat were seen*

*And ever I were*

*to fall to death*

*upon a sword*

*with my last breath*

*I'd tell my men*

*to carry my bones*

*back to those dales*

*which I call home*

Northmarch (or "The Marches") are the lands between Westermark and Nothrund with a unique culture that were historically ambivalent to royal rule. They are independent minded and not as unified as the other regions.

Following the unification of the Western Marches into the Dukedom of Westermark, the northern Marcher Lords retained a degree of independence, though they swore formal fealty to the king in exchange for a degree of autonomy and self rule. The Marcher Lords were granted this under the *Treaty of Northmarch*, as Nothrund and Westermark were still engaged in hostilities and thus the Marches provided a useful buffer between the two realms. Thus were the Marcher Lords organized into the Iron Lords of Northmarch, having their authority in the Marcher Lords council.

Northmarch consists of fell-like terrain and lush valleys and forests. It is divided into 4 regions known as *The Iron Dales* ruled over by 4 ancient families. These regions (known as "dales") are Garsdale, Riverdale, Severdale and Morndale.

These dales are fertile valleys formed by tributaries of the great Meredyn river. These tributaries lend their names to the dales (R. Gar R. R. Sever R. Morn).

The Norhmarchers are culturally Brehir, though they are devout followers of the Allfather. This cultural difference is a principal factor in their independent-minded attitude and rich cultural identity. Much of the place names within the Marches comes from Brehiri, including the names of the main dales; Gar means "wolf", Wenslas means "cold", Sever means "snake", and Morn means "song" or "singing".

The Marches were fertile valleys fit for arable farming and full of shaggy sheep. However there were the Blight Wyrms to contend with, known also as the Marcher Beasts. These were great poisonous worms that nestled in the deep valleys and forests, wrought from the hideous experiments of the Akharans who fed slave women dragon’s blood and used the resulting abominations as weapons of war to put down the rebellion. The valleys and forests of the Northmarch were filled with them. Eventually, the Marcher Lords decided to ride in and slay every one of them, as well as driving out the Riverain, cunning and evil crows that would attack men.

Those who slew the beasts achieved fame and became the Marcher Lords, and the Dales were divided up between these noble knights.

The Marcher Lords attend the Grand Council and the King's Council collectively, though they may send the Herald of the Marches in their stead.

**The Marcher Lords** **& Their Houses**

**House Braister of Severdale**

Shield: A white boar reared on a field chevron, russet and sable

Motto: *Ferocity, Family, Fidelity*

**House Branhagan of Garsdale**

Shield: A sword shattering another sword on a sable field; above a crossbar in red

Motto:*Yield To None*

**House Irondale** **of Morndale**

Shield: Three lances on a shield divided, silver and blue

Motto: *Iron Rings True*

**House Warder** **of Wenslasdale**

Shield: A watchtower on a field divided, sable and white

Motto: *Blood Begets Wisdom*

**Minor houses of Northmarch**

**House Ashwood**

Shield: two white trees quartered on a quartered field, sable and olive

Motto: *Fortune & Fortitude*

**House Meek**

Shield: A fist clenching a broken chain on a golden field

Motto: *In Honor Lies Strength*

House Loren, of Lorenhal, Reivedale

Shield: A band diagonal, sable on a white field

Motto: *Come Swift The Challenge*

Craghold *population: 2,047* (High Seat ruled Lord Holden and Lady Gwyness Irondale)

Tressleton

Haycliff

Iron Crossing

Lothryn

Brenhall

Tithinghall

Ashwood

Slake Fell

Stonefall

Gardale

Reivedale

Harlsdale

Thorndale