Greenfield

* **Size**: 316.000 km2
* **Location**: South of Beornhelm, east of Sirendale, west of Oldwood, north of Malgrave
* **Authority**: A weak crown, Beornhelm raid Chieftain, lawless areas, and Malgrave supervision

#### ***Geography***

The north of Greenfield consists of a hilly and moderately rocky boreal forest with both evergreens and deciduous leaf trees. The Selkir and Iodin rivers act like Greenfield's western respectively eastern, both of them run moderately fast and fiercely. Around Newthorpe Town, spruce trees are uncommon. Instead, the forest around the town consists mostly of asps, oaks, and maple trees. The central and western regions of the kingdom are dominated by a large fertile basin, the Green Elder Valley. The climate is mildly temperate here, and the earth has proven ideal for agriculture. The population density within the Green Elder Valley is greater than the other biomes of Greenfield.

The boreal forest of the Oldberry woods in the north sits on generally higher terrain than the Green Elder Valley. The Thetis river slices through the Oldberry Woods and creates a broad valley for which Greenfield's capital rests within. Greenfield possesses several smaller lakes and one major lake, called Thetil. The major river of Thetanor runs broadly and moderately slow, ideal for river trading from Sirendale to Eastcreek and Malgrave. In the southwest, the border of the Oldberry Woods swells over from Oldwood into Greenfield. This part of the Oldberry Wood is less rocky, with more deciduous trees and a milder climate. Greenfield also shares the most northern tip of the Bazkeen Moor's swamplands in the central south and the Bicdes Veldt's plains in the central south to the southwest.

#### ***Summary***

Greenfield has had the poor fortune of being the battleground between many kingdoms and been the target of many Beornish raids due to their rich natural production and their central position in Frostmark. Greenfield has been torn asunder by war and strife time and time again, their infrastructure falling apart, and crime runs rampant where the monarchy's guards don't dare to tread. The areas around the cities in the south and the capital are the most stable, but as soon as you venture outside of this protected fold, prepare to defend what you own and your own life. The monarchy is desperately trying to keep the kingdom held together, accosted by Beornhelm from the north, exploited by Malgrave from the south, and plagued by bandits in the middle.

#### ***Living in Greenfield***

Greenfield is a torn kingdom by war and political exploitation. During the imperial age, Greenfield was able to lift itself as a peaceful and unified country by the grace of the Empire's protection. Greenfield became the Empire's most zealous and loyal ally. They realized that as long as they were preserved under the Empire's peace and laws, they could continue to flourish. Greenfield did indeed prosper a great deal during the imperial age. They could root out corruption, take firm control of their natural resources, build a military, and ensure their roads' safety.

Greenfield desperately tried keeping the Empire alive, not wanting to return to their precarious position on the geopolitical landscape, but the Empire was doomed to fall in the end. Greenfield tried to adapt to the post-imperial age and rally its citizens and soldiers against those who want to claim their prosperity. But they are gradually being beaten down. Much of the progress that Greenfield has enjoyed under the imperial rule is slowly crumbling away. The north and the east have more or less been occupied by a Beornish Chieftain, and in the south, Malgrave is negotiating mercilessly for influence and their natural resources.

Only in the southwest, crime is more controlled, and Greenfield can be somewhat Greenfield. Merchants, artisans, and even most of the priesthood have fled the lawless areas, and some have even fled the kingdom completely. Now the populace is divided into two parts. Those who have given up and turned to lawlessness or defected to the Beornish presence in the north, and those who keep on fighting for the dream of a peaceful and united Greenfield. Greenfield's bastions are still holding somewhat strong in the west and south, but many look to the future with depressing thoughts. It will take a miracle to turn the tide in Greenfield's favor.

#### ***Relations with the Church***

Greenfield has been stalwart faithful and good friends with the Church of Riahn, but the country's chaos and insecurity have made the Church less inclined to give them attention. Currently, the Church is occupied with their Eastcreek project and keeping Karthmere a monarchy. The distance between the Church's headquarters and Greenfield certainly does not aid Greenfield's cause either. Yet, the Church does send charity their way. However, relief supplies sometimes arrive at the intended target and sometimes in somebody else's pocket. Parts of the priesthood remain to support Greenfield, but only the bravest and selfless priests dare venture close to troubled areas or within Chieftain Idris' territory.

#### ***Relations with other Kingdoms***

In the past, Greenfield has had a strong relationship with Malgrave as the seat of the imperial throne, but recent events have deteriorated Greenfield's opinion of Malgrave. This is mainly because of its cutthroat exploitation of Greenfield and the fact that Malgrave hasn't protected Greenfield, something that Greenfield stalwartly did during the Empire's collapse.

The kingdom has friendly and strong ties to Oldwood and Sirendale after their alliance, the Northern Front. Some nobles of Greenfield migrated to Oldwood to help their infrastructure float after Oldwood mistakenly "cleansed" themselves of regional rulers put into power by the Empire. Oldwood was bitter that the Empire disrespected their autonomy. Still, after centuries of the imperial governing style, some areas realized that they needed the nobility to continue working their infrastructure after the cleansing. Greenfieldish nobles were more welcomed in Oldwood than the imperial ones. Many of these nobles that offered aid traveled back and forth from their duties in Oldwood and their families in Greenfield. After the Beornish presence, most Greenfield nobles cannot revisit their families or return to Oldwood, as the border is too perilous to cross.

Most of the Greenfieldish people are openly hostile towards Beornhelm. Others have turned to their side for a better life. There is also a great deal of suspicion towards Armathain due to past armed invasions directed towards Malgrave in the last years of the imperial age. Armathain's rebellion against the Empire was, after all, instrumental in the fall of the Empire.

#### ***Military***

Greenfield's army was influenced heavily by the Sacred Arms as Greenfield created their standing army during the imperial age. Greenfield also had their subdivision of the Sacred Arms. The Sacred Arms units that did not follow the Church to Crowhill after the collapse of the Empire and the rest of Greenfield's standing army have suffered from Greenfield's wars, the occupation, and the dwindling coin purses. Today, Greenfield's army has significantly shrunk. They are not as well equipped, new soldiers aren't trained as well, and they are generally stretched thin.

#### ***Royal House Fairfax***

***Ruler***: King Melchior (19 years)

***Family***: Queen (17 years) and a brother (4 years)

***Coat of Arms***: A green shield, a golden pale with three silver crossed swords.

***Rule***: Technically all of Greenfield, but realistically only the southern and western parts of the kingdom

Two years ago, Idris became frustrated over the stalemate in her offensive. Greenfield had bowed over and given her the northern territories, but they were far more resilient when defending their farmlands in central Greenfield. Idris started to communicate secretly with nobles she had identified as less loyal to the Queen. She offered them positions in the new Greenfield she would create after conquering it, if the nobles used their security forces to kidnap the Queen and her only child. Most of them accepted, and the operation was on its way. To Idris, the Queen was delivered, but her son had managed to slip out of the grip of the traitorous nobles. Idris thought that perhaps it was enough to squash the Greenfieldish people's will, so she publicly executed the Queen with quite the show.

The son, Melchior, was crowned king and tried to take the reins of the country. He started with publicly executing the traitorous nobles in turn and gave loyalists the territories they ruled. Greenfield was apprehensive at first towards the young king. Worry spread that he wasn't experienced enough to lead them. Idris did win many clashes between her raiders and Greenfield's soldiers, but Melchior matured and adapted quickly to his new position. After a while, Greenfield could breathe a bit more easily once more as loyalists could whole-heartedly trust their new regent. A queen was selected for him to quickly ensure the safety of his royal bloodline, but the match was less than a happy one, and the queen and king spend most of their time in separate parts of the Fairfax castle despite the desperate cries of the Greenfield people. King Melchior of Fairfax is still stubbornly trying to do the impossible of ruling this crumbling kingdom, even though he is struggling against his inexperience and shy nature.

#### ***Beornhelm Chieftain***

***Ruler***: Idris (27 years)

***Family***: A male lover of (19 years) and a brother (23 years)

***Coat of Arms***: A black shield with a forest green diagonal cross above it, displayed in the middle a silver lynx passant.

***Rule***: Taken over the northern and eastern areas of Greenfield. In control of Stagwell City, Lastborn Town, Newthorpe Town, Esterby Town, and the Kei Hills City.

Idris is an ambitious Beornish chieftain who lusts for power and lands. She is known for her cunning, passion, and mind for warfare. As Beornhelm's recent raids against Sirendale and Oldwood have been met with more resistance, Duke Grimcolt organizing an impressive defense in Oldwood and Armathain stopping their advances in Sirendale, she is instead trying to cement Beornish influence at their southern border to Greenfield. Her brutal tactics, clever schemes, and promises of power together with safety to those who defect have given her almost half of Greenfield. Yet, the capital halts her advance, which has started to make her increasingly frustrated. To pierce through the stalemate, she is launching more and more bold strategies against Greenfield, constantly requesting more warriors from Warchieftain Kynemund, who is becoming progressively displeased with her recent actions. He does not wish to aggravate Malgrave enough to the point they will march into the kingdom as that would immensely decrease their chances for conquest.