Barony of King's Wald

*"My countrymen, we are the Wald. That's how they see us, a forest, not trees. To them, we are of Arkland, but we are not Arkland. Our history has been one of outsiders, but today, we have shown the rest of Arkland that our people have real power. We are like the Ironwood, the strongest trees in all the forest. We do not snap. We do not break. We bend, but when we return to place, we do so with tremendous force. We have waited a long time for this day, but it is here. Today, you can return to the Wald and let your children know that Arkland not only owes its life to us but now also answers to us!"* - Baron Eric Kleiber on the day he became Baron of King's Crossing.

## Baron of King's Wald

The people of the King's Wald are a strong and prideful people. They are of a different ethnic group than the rest of Arkland, having come across from Montilliare with the rest of the original settlers of Arkland as mercenaries to protect the colony. To this day, their original peoples are still mercenaries and fiercely independent groups within the Kingdom of Grandia. As such, the Baron of King's Wald has traditionally also been a very powerful and aggressive leader. To gather the support of the people of the King's Wald, one must be strong both martially as well as mentally.

Because the people of the Wald are often misunderstood and mistrusted by much of the majority populace within Arkland, the Baron of the Wald is also often misunderstood and mistrusted. Much of the nobility look with unease at this baron from across the Bay of Kings. Having to command respect as an outsider as well as command respect from a fierce and proud people is no small feat, and the Baron of the Wald must be a very strong willed and powerful leader to do so.

The nobility of the Wald also respect strength, cunning, and will. To become baron typically means being able to best the other families in one fashion or another in terms of gaining respect, wealth, or lands. Often, the nobility hold contests among themselves, sometimes martial, sometimes games of skill, and sometimes games of the mind. It is here that often an upcoming lord establishes himself as the material to become baron. The families of the Wald only put forward their best, and they do so because they fear that without that, they will never be able to command the respect of the rest of Arkland.

## Places of King's Wald

The capitol of the King's Wald is known as Redebas. Redebas like almost all cities in Arkland is on the shores of the Bay of Kings. It is through the port of Redebas that Ironwood is shipped both as foreign and domestic trade. Redebas is considered a neutral ground between the noble families and almost a sacred place. Therefore, no nobility maintain estates within Redebas and instead maintain small embassies there for official business. As such, there are very strict laws governing the populace of Redebas where weapons are disallowed and violence is brutally dealt with. This keeps the peace between the families and ensures that the Wald puts forward its strongest face towards the rest of Arkland.

The delta of the Jarron is to the east of the Wald and provides the richest farmland in the county. This area is controlled by a single noble family and acts as both the breadbasket of the Wald but also is seen as a poorer and less prestigious region as the people of the Wald do not typically look favorably upon farming as a respectable way of life. This is unlike most of the rest of Arkland where farmers are typically held in high esteem among all of the laboring classes.

The Wald is the vast forest expanse that covers most of the barony. Here is where the extremely valuable Ironwood is found and cultivated. The soil of the Wald maintains a unique mix of minerals, and in some ways is thought to be magical in nature. It is the only place in the known world where Ironwood can be cultivated. Because the Wald is so important both to the people of the Wald as well as the rest of Arkland, the master lumbermen of the Wald have long ago learned how to cut and plant to keep lumber production from the Wald moving at a steady, yearly rate.

## Geography of the Wald

The King's Wald is a temperate climate that is generally warm with very mild winters. The northern area of the county is the shoreline of the Bay of Kings. The capitol city of Redebas is located there and acts as a major trading port.

In the northeast is the delta of the Jarron where it empties into the Bay of Kings. This is extremely fertile land which often floods and maintains the best farmland within the Wald. This is marshy land and is covered with rice paddies and crop fields.

The most defining feature of the Wald is the forest which covers most of the land. Since this forest is the main cash crop of the Wald, it is generally left uninhabited, only to be dotted by small villages that the lumber merchants establish to harvest. The forest is in a constant rotation of harvesting and planting, especially of the sections of the Ironwood forest which are found furthest south in the county.

## Ironwood Industry

The Wald is the home of Ironwood, a nearly supernatural type of wood which grows in specific places in the Wald in its southern region. This wood is extremely valuable because it is easy to cut with a saw but withstands enormous pressures before snapping or splintering. It is highly prized for its ability to manufacture ships, and the Capital Shipyards are constantly in need of new Ironwood supplies. This along with normal timber needs have created the primary industry of the King's Wald which is around lumber production.

The work of lumberers is also extremely labor intensive and requires many weeks away from ones family while out in the woods. Because there are few rivers running through the woods, lumber must be dragged, and the workers toil to build drag paths through the land whereupon sturdy horses and men can pull the lumber north for processing. This type of extreme labor suits the people of the Wald and their mythos about themselves as being the strongest and most fierce individuals in all of Arkland.

## People of the Wald

To understand the basics of the people of the Wald, one must first understand that these people are of a different ethnic group than the rest of Arkland. Their bull-headed and often aggressive nature also does not endear them, and this just further fuels their isolationist attitudes towards the rest of Arkland. The people of the Wald often view themselves as second class citizens, but they are much to prideful to admit to it outside of the Wald.

The general culture of the Wald is to value strength. This can be strength of body or mind for they understand well the benefits of both. Mothers teach their children to be strong but also to exhibit powerful passions and emotions. It is believed in most families that the ability to express one's self in a powerful way shows strength of character. Most men work the lumber industry, spending a great deal of time away from their families, and this type of life is well adapted by most within the Wald. Often, the villages of the Wald are more matriarchal because it is women who control the day to day business of the villages while the men labor.

Working the forest is considered hard work but also builds strength of character. Working the fields, then, is considered a lesser job, and as a result, the rice farmers in the delta of the Jarron form even a further minority within a minority of the people of the Wald. The people of this region are generally even more belligerent than the average denizen of the Wald and twice as fierce.

It is a common idea taught to the children of the Wald that to be from the Wald means to carry yourself with great determination and strength but to also love twice as fiercely.

Lastly, the people of the Wald are not really devout followers of the Priests of Light. Although they must respect them, the priesthood has had a very difficult time penetrating the society of this group. This is largely because the people of the Wald are distrustful of the most of the majority ethnic group of Arkland and see the priests as an extension of that culture.

## Noble Families of the King's Wald

The nobility of the Wald draw their wealth and stature both by owning land and by controlling the lumber industry. The distinction between the nobility and the commoner in the Wald is far less apparent than that found in other places in Arkland. This is because the commoners will not follow a lord that they do not believe is strong and full of wit. Therefore, to gain the respect of the commoners, a lord or lady must also exhibit power and strength in all ways. This does not lend itself to the typical lifestyle or pomp that most of the nobility in Arkland enjoy.

Since it is the way of the Wald to be strong but also to wear your emotions on your sleeves, the nobility of the Wald can and do bicker and in-fight, heavily. However, this in-fighting very rarely ends up at the point of a sword. For, at the end of the day, all of the Wald think of each other like a family, albeit a family with a stormy relationship. This is so because the people of the Wald view their status as outsiders in Arkland as a much greater threat to them all. Further, they must unite in order to protect their claims on the Ironwood for it is their livelihood.

Therefore, the nobility of the Wald often settle disputes through challenges of skill, strength, or cunning. These games are often public affairs and draw large crowds. It is through winning such games that one noble family may resolve a dispute and gain power. It is also through this that the eventual Baron of the Wald is named.

## Banners of the King's Wald

The Lord Commanders of the Wald are the most aggressive and fiercest of all found in Arkland. This is reflective of the people from which they come. Their military order is strict, and they and their soldiers believe themselves the strongest fighters in Arkland. Lord Commanders, unlike most in Arkland, are not really appointed, but rather, the soldiers tell the nobility who the next commander will be. This is because the soldiers will refuse to follow anyone who they do not feel is their better.

The armies of the Wald generally forgo the cavalry tactics of many other lands, mostly because there is not much pasture land in the Wald. Therefore, the bulk of the Wald's forces are made up of infantry and archers. Often, the soldiers of the Wald carry axes into battle instead of swords or pikes, and this acts as a symbol of their homeland.

Although financed by the nobility, the Lord Commanders of the Wald work more in a partnership with the noble families than as servants. This relationship is maintained mostly because the nobility understand that Lord Commanders often command the hearts of the soldiers and thereby could themselves, through martial power, take over the Wald. So, their station is held somewhat more on equal footing with the nobility than one finds in other places within Arkland.

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--Neil (talk) 17:32, 17 October 2016 (AST)