Eastcreek

* **Size**: 636.000 km2
* **Location**: West coast, south of Oldwood, east of Malgrave, north of Stormholme, northeast of Crowhill.
* **Authority**: Normally clans with a temporary elected unified representative in time of need. Today a noble from Crowhill officially sits as governor over the area.

#### **Geography**

The south of Eastcreek is covered by the Iskerian Boondocks, a thick evergreen leaf forest that experiences wet summers and dry winters. From Nastemi Point to the Imara river, there is elevated terrain with moderately high hills. The coastline around Nastemi Cove and Nastemi Point is far drier than the forest, it is also moderately rocky, and the water is generally deep, creating many natural harbors. Teigri and Teiko river composes Eastcreek's southern border to Stormholme. It runs broadly and slowly, experiencing a great deal of river trading between kingdoms.

The heartland of Eastcreek is composed of a great and dry grassland, called the Zakaru Prairie. This grassland is generally flat, experiences little rainfall, and is either covered by bare rock, grass, or bushes. The borderlands to Malgrave become gradually more rainfall rich and allows for farming. This border between the Zakaru Prairie and the Qettam Meadow is not greatly defined, but Malgrave decisively claims they control all the land where agriculture is possible.

The coastline, the Silver Cliffs Ridge, is 20 to well over 150 meters high and consists of white marble. By the sea's erosion, this coastline is constantly eroded, where rocks or large parts of its breaks sporadically. The depth of the shoreline below depends upon the tides, sometimes there may be dozens of meters you can walk on the wet sand and rock beach, and other times the water rests high against the cliffs. The Imara river is fed by a hill ridge in the Nastemi Point and the rainfall over the Iskera Boondocks. It pierces through the relatively soft bedrock and creates an incredibly steep v valley, and the river continues to bite deeper and deeper. At some points, the height difference can be towards a 100-meter sheer cliff wall.

The north is more varied. The eastern border to Oldwood is defined by a windy, rocky and thin pine forest. In the central north, Frostmark's largest lake can be found, the Sky Mirror. The Sky Mirror is large enough to be its sea, with unique flora and fauna within. There are a few islands within the Sky Mirror, but there is only one at Oldlake town with any significant size. The north of the Sky Mirror, in the northwest, the Bazken Moor can be found. The Bazken Moor is incredibly wet, fueled by precipitation and the rivers of Thetsini, Thetanor, Thetra, and Thetmar. There are occasionally dry spots within the marsh, covered by bushes and pine. The rivers mentioned above also mark Eastcreek's northern border to Malgrave and Oldwood. These rivers run very broadly and slowly, they also sometimes change their shape. A moderate amount of river trading still braves the swamp to arrive at the Sky Mirror lake's harbors. The borderlands between the Bazken Moor and the Zakaru Prairie and the border between the Zakaru Prairie and the Iskera Boondocks are the only regions in Eastcreek that allow for profitable agricultural pursuits.

#### ***Summary***

The grass plains of Eastcreek stretches far and wide. Only the thin remnants of the Oldberry woods and its stony hills in the north give the Clans of the Zakaru Prairie a source of building materials. Eastcreek possesses the rare feature of an incredibly long and high white marble coastline, but the stone is regarded as holy. The Easters do not usually use the marble for their own devices, instead only using it ceremoniously to build temples and sacred halls. While many would like to buy their marble resources, the Easters seldom sell it, and then only at very steep prices. The large arid grass sea has turned Easters into herders and horse masters. Indeed, horses of Eastcreek is the finest breed in all of Frostmark.

In its ancient cradle, Eastcreek had no stable settlements. Instead, tribes moved around with their herds and the seasons. As time went by, the Easters evolved to create a tribal society where tribes moved between semi-permanent settlements. This has shaped the face of their aristocracy as well, where the wise and gifted naturally became the cultural leaders. In the time of necessity, the tribes gather in their main sacred temple on the Blessed Isle, which is considered neutral ground for all Easters. Suppose the Easters call for a unified action between the tribes. In that case, a temporary representative is chosen among the clan leaders for the crisis's duration. As soon as it is diverted, the Clans return to being self-governed. About 40 years ago, Eastcreek was invaded by Crowhill, who seeks to modernize and save the Easters from their savage ways. The war was quick and brutal, and Eastcreek is today ruled by Crowhill, which is changing their society slowly but surely.

#### ***Living in Eastcreek***

The steppe landscape of Eastcreek hasn't changed this ancient tribal community, and Easters seem to prefer that way. Before the Empire, Eastcreek had no name. Instead, they called themselves the "Clans of the Great Grass Sea." It was Empress Leana that named the region Eastcreek when she finalized the imperial system of governance. It was only an official name that the Easters for many centuries rejected. Today the name is widely used around Frostmark. The tribes of this vast Grass Sea live and die by their herds and the seasons. Usually, the Clans move their cattle, goats, and horses between a summer and a winter camp. Food can also originate from a small amount of summer farming that can be had in the south and fishing in the winter in the Sky Mirror, the largest lake on Frostmark.

Traditional settlements are composed of leather tents, communal fireplaces, and several work areas. Easters cannot waste anything their environment gives them. Even the feces of their animals are used to stock their fires. There is a shortage of wood in Eastcreek, which is another reason for their nomadic lifestyle. Eastcreek's shore is a marvel of the world. A majority of Eastcreek's shoreline is composed of high marble cliffs. The marble could have been a wonderful building material if not, it was considered highly sacred. Only a few temples and sacred halls have been built with this material, and fewer still stand today. The most significant of these buildings is the ancient temple on the Blessed Isle, within the Sky Mirror and close to Oldlake town. The ancient temple has been the sacred meeting place of the tribes of Eastcreek for thousands of years. No tribe may wear weapons or ill intent on the Blessed Isle, especially not in the temple. Here the tribes meet to discuss politics, external worries, and war.

The Easters are known for their respect for nature, their elders' admiration, and their adherence to their tradition. The leader of the clans are not military leaders, but spiritual ones, called Visions. Another unique tradition of the tribes of Eastcreek is the selection of mates for their Union, something the Easters call the Bird Dance. When there is a significant number of marriageable girls and boys in peacetime, the tribes gather huge communions. The men who wish to marry spend three whole days impressing the women they have eyes for, with gifts, compliments, hunting trophies, entertainment, etc. Any skills the man possesses, he flaunts. At the end of the three days, women state to the Visions who they want to marry, with the only restriction that the blood tie can't be too close.

If two women choose the same man and their both adamant about stepping down, they gain two wives. In times of war, when husbands become short at hand, widows are expected to choose from the remaining men at hand through secondary selections. If a man wasn't chosen, he needs to improve his skills and capabilities for the next Bird Dance to try to impress a new female. A woman who won't choose a man eventually draws shame on herself and is exiled to put herself before the tribe. In the Union, it is the man's primary duty to protect the woman while she is pregnant and taking care of a newborn baby, if he is unable to fulfill this duty, the woman has the right to break their Union. Likewise, if no child is procured after a few years, the woman has failed her duty, and the man can break their Union. This system is in place to ensure the continued survival of the tribes and exchange members of their tribes to keep a healthy population.

Easters have mostly minded their own business through the ages, outside of exiled tribal members poaching Oldwood over the border and occasional trading with Stormholme. Eastcreek's history has been marked by several small wars between the tribes, but as quick they have been to engage in war, they have been to issue peace once more. About 40 years ago, this changed when Crowhill and the Church of Riahn forcibly wanted to give the Easters a better way of life. After the collapse of the Empire, the Church's headquarters migrated to Crowhill. The new location and politics on Frostmark gave the Church other priorities. After the post-imperial wars had died down, the Church of Riahn gazed towards Eastcreek. Eastcreek had been seen as a backwater and inconsequential region during the imperial age. On top of it, Empress Leana, on behalf of the Empire, had entered an extensive contract with the Easters. In return for allowing the Easters to keep some parts of their way of life, culture, and religion, the Easters would supply the Empire with meat, leather, and trained horses. The contract was automatically abolished as the Empire fell. Thus, nothing kept the Church of Riahn back in "modernizing" and "straightening up" the country, so-called city-states, which may consist of one settlement or several. These city-states elect their leaders and are somewhat independent of each other. They share strong trade agreements, and city-states may ask another for aid, but it is up to the individual city-state to answer affirmatively or negatively. The free city-states were not amused when divided into two dukedoms, but those who ended up on the Eastcreek side have found some catharsis. Most would say that they prefer living in the Clans' shadow rather than have to lose their whole identity to the Stormish. Still, Iskerians always thought the Clans to be isolated from the world, and they looked to their prosperous neighbor Stormholme and were jealous of their advances.

After the Empire fell, the free city-states took advantage, and slowly they have started to catch up with Stormholme or Malgrave in development. They do not feel any bitterness towards the Clans of the Zakaru per se, but they do not experience any kinship either. Sometimes the Iskerians and the Clans have done trade or exchanged information. Still, as long as the Clans respect the Iskerian's territory and do not meddle in their business, Iskerians give the Clans the same courtesy. That is also the free city-states of Iskera's disposition against any other kingdom that makes contact with them or sends their trade ships to other shores.

When it comes to Crowhill and the invasion, the relationship between Crowhill and Iskera is at the beginning of a business deal. If they allowed Crow troops to be transported between their shores to the Zakura Prairie, Iskera would not be attacked by Crowhill. After some years of secret negotiations, the free city-states all agreed to the pact. In recent years, Crowhill has started to meddle in the affairs of Iskerians more and more, increasing their political pressure on the free city-states to comply with Crowhill's will. This can mostly be noticed by exploiting Iskera's resources and Crowhill strongly recommending the Rianish faith. Iskera was, of course, faithful to the Church of Riahn during the imperial years, but after the fall, this piousness has somewhat diminished in popularity. Some do not mind the stronger Church's presence, as they were already aligned with the faith. Other Iskerians are growing more and more restless, seeing Crowhill's presence as a silent occupation, and jealousy guards their freedom of choice. Some rumors have even started to circulate that some Iskerian's aiding Iron Raven in secret.

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

The relationship Crowhill and the Church of Riahn have with Easters vary. The faith of Riahn was introduced during the Empire, but Easters were given the freedom to worship their way. Some Easters openly reject the faith of Riahn, some secretly so, others begrudgingly accept under threat, some have willingly submitted, and some of the new generations of Easters has grown up with the faith of Riahn as their single religion.

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

Crowhill occupies Eastcreek. Some Easters believe this to be ultimately good was Crowhill offers better education and living standards, others see it as oppression.

Historically, Easters have been wary of both Stormholme and Oldwood, fending off and removing such presence from their lands.

Some Easters hold feelings of gratitude towards Malgrave, as the Empire's leadership allowed Eastcreek some leniency with their traditions. Furthermore, trade flourished between them because of their contract.

#### ***Military***

The traditional army of the tribes of Eastcreek has mounted combatants, composed of light cavalry with expert riders, equipped with different simple throwing weapons, short-bows, spears, shields, and clubs. A normal tactic for these riders is several passes with ranged weapons, and when their ammunition runs out, or the enemy is weakened, they jump upon their enemy from horseback and assault them with clubs or spears. How Easters deal with enemy cavalry that possesses better armor often attempts to lure such cavalry into traps, using the natural landscape to their advantage or simply tiring them out by relying on their superior speed.

Easters also have another combat tradition, hand to hand. This fighting style, called the Flowing River, attempts to awaken Soul Mastery from within to achieve supernatural effects. This tradition is usually not utilized in open warfare, as it is seen as more of a ceremonial fighting style. When two individuals enter into an argument that can't be easily solved, one solution is a duel in the Flowing River.

Eastcreek has 6 major Clans, whereas three are larger than the other. The Clans who have all but assimilated to Crowhill's society and disappeared were called Stone Claw, First Sun, and Silent Spear. The three Clans who still have enough members to continue resisting Crowhill are Red Stag, Iron Raven, and Swift Fox. The Crowhill occupation has brought Sacred Arms forces and agents of different kinds to the country.

#### ***House Vitelli, Governor of Eastcreek***

***Rule***: Marquess Andronikos (22 years)

***Family***: Two brothers (19 years and 13 years)

***Coat of Arms***: A white shield with a golden star displayed in the middle of six black crow wings (three on each side).

***Rule***: Technically, all of Eastcreek

Marquess Andronikos Vitelli has been a genius since birth. He matured at an alarming rate, and he is known for his aptitude for manipulation, something he has flaunted from a very young age. He was able to amass quite the influence in his late teens and arrived in Eastcreek as a general. From there, when the position became vacant, he advanced to the governor of the whole region. There is no secret that Vitelli is extremely pious, and he is hellbent on flushing out heresy among the Easters. His two younger brothers never stood a chance in the wake of their brother's cleverness and mind games, today serving as his loyal lackeys.

#### ***Clan Red Stag***

***Ruler***: Vision Tide (male, 24 years)

***Family***: Two sisters (21 years and 16 years)

***Coat of Arms***: A shield divided into two horizontal fields, the lower green, the higher of blue with a red stag passant displayed.

***Rule***: Holds unofficial control of Fleetbury Town

Clan Red Stag has endured a lot since Crowhill's occupation. Before, Red Stag was the largest clan by population, but it has dwindled greatly to the occupation. But Red Stag was also the most traditionalistic clan of them all, which has been the primary reason for their continued existence out on the Grass Sea. Interestingly, they refuse to fight fire with fire and insist on calmly waiting for the storm out. The Vision of Red Stag is said to be exceptionally wise and caring but is likewise accused of being a coward for not standing up against the invaders, for which Clan Red Stag refused to fight. This is seen as a great betrayal by both the Clans of Iron Raven and Swift Fox.

#### ***Clan Iron Raven***

***Ruler***: Vision Mesa (Female, 38 years)

***Family***: Partner (38 years), sister (27 years), and a daughter (20 years)

***Coat of Arms***: A shield divided into two horizontal fields, the lower green, the higher of blue with a black raven rising displayed.

***Rule***: Holds unofficial control of Cliffby Town

Originally, Iron Raven was a smaller but wealthier clan. They are experts in tool and weaponsmithing, working with limited traditional techniques and minimal iron access through red sand. Today, they have stolen resources and learned from their enemy and have become through it the main resistance force against Crowhill. Despite the gap in development between the countries, Iron Raven has been doing fairly well with mysterious luck on their side. Vision Mesa is loyal to a fault to her tribe, stubborn, and not afraid of sacrifices.

#### ***Clan Swift Fox***

***Ruler***: Vision Zinnia (Male, 28 years)

***Family***: None

***Coat of Arms***: A shield divided into two horizontal fields, the lower green, the higher of blue with a red fox rampant displayed.

***Rule***: Holds unofficial control of Swiftlight Town

The Swift Fox clan has always been superb hunters of the game that roams the Grass Sea of Eastcreek. Mildly said, they took a strong dislike to everything foreign when the occupation started, turning their backs on everything that wasn't familiar. Now they roam Eastcreek as a stealthy shock guerilla, who seeks to destroy everything that would harm or infect Eastcreek. Iron Raven welcomes other parties' support and resources, Swift Fox does not. They don't shy away from either from removing Easters who have betrayed the tribes. Vision Zinnia is a personification of Swift Fox's recent actions, judgmental, rash, and unwillingness to admit defeat.