Varandia

## Location

Extent of Varandia (Red)

*"No matter the storm we will stand together." - Landric the Builder*

## Overview

A kingdom

The Galatian Isles are a unique piece of the Kingdom of Varandia. The Isles are harbored by the fringe remnants of eastern Valhynians. These people have seemingly lived on this isle for generations, and due to their permanence and their honorbound ways, the Kings of Varandia bequeath the title of Archduke, an exclusive title only to the Valhynian Lord of the Isles.

**Borrasque Mountains**

The Borrasque Mountains are known for their inhospitality. The mountains however are a plentiful source of gold and iron, along with its blackstone material which was used to construct Mercier. The mountains wield a heavy breeze just above its foundation, and are the result of its namesake.

**Mountains of Challon**

The Challon ranges are smoky mountains firmly dividing Andalonia and Varandia. Beyond its sparse and incredibly rocky and desolate appearance, the mountains are a meager source of coal.

**Vascar Mountains**

While a small range, it is arguably the most important for its source of the durable metal of Vascarite. These mountains are highly important to Varandia, due to the metal's reaction to magic.

**Aubrac Valley**

Incredibly lush, the Aubrac valley ascends beyond the Plodorov Fields and licks at the fringes of the Fosse Marshes. The valley itself is fertile, and is one of the important factors of Varandia's success as a Kingdom.

**Fosse Marshes**

The wealthiest region within Varandia, the Fosse Marshes or simply the "Low Country" serves as the deception to foreign invaders. Scant are the routes into the rich and fertile coasts of these marshes. Those who are seasoned in the trek however are rewarded handsomely by unimaginable wealth of the coastal cities.

### Cities

**Toulend**

The Capital of Varandia, and arguably the wealthiest city north of the Prolesian Divide. It's reaches span the mouth of the Touloc River, clambering over the mighty river with bridges. Sections of the city are clearly cut and divided militaristically. The city's size is immense enough to have portions without much protection if at all. The many sections of the inner city are expansive and held off by giant gates. It is not out of the realm of possibility that crime syndicates would start here.

**Talanthair**

Talanthair is the seat of the Archdukes of the Galatian Isles. Talanthair, like many coastal cities in the Galatian Isles are exotic to Varandian architecture. Talanthair wields flat thatch atop wood roofs completely contrasting the old stone underneath. The city is expansive, but not large enough to be considered a challenge to the mainland mariners.

**Newgale**

The only major city on the Salt Isle, Newgale acts as a simple mining harbor for artisans leaving Talanthair. The city was once a mere fortress, but now lost its walls to the desire of expansion. Newgale is responsible for much of the salt given to those across Mare Formosus, and Mare Obscurum.

**Cabrach**

Cabrach is home to a variety of churches, and was the original seat of the Valhynian princedom which ruled these isles. The princely blood has long since gone, but the city remains. Cabrach is a major port and shipyard for Talanthair, and Varandia as a whole due to its durable wood along the island.

**Karaboujon**

Karaboujon is always viewed as the second capital of Varandia. While not nearly as well defended as Toulend, it's defense is its natural protection; the overflowing fringes of the Aubrac Valley. The city has grown to wield its own culture, and the city itself harbors life that is foreign to even its neighbors. While surrounded by marshlands, Karaboujon stands as the crossroads to the mountain nobles to the royal capital. This city is often the destination of those seeking a new life.

**Faussaint**

While considered the first city built in Varandia, it is not nearly as large or as wealthy. The city of Faussaint is always synonymous with the city of Dussaint. These cities were, as the legend goes, built by rival brothers seeking to one-up one another. The beauty of these cities are extravagant, and often are those in Faussaint carry themselves higher than those of Dussaint.

**Dussaint**

The city of Dussaint licks at the northern Varandian coastline with pride. The city was first a castle, and sometime after Clairmont with so many families of soldiers it grew to become the "Soldier City" of Varandia. Dussaint is often known and seen as a rugged visage across the coastline. The castle that stands at its center is clearly much more ancient than the fresh stone that surrounds its wealth.

**Toussaint**

Toussaint is a city that has every Varandian environment touching it. The famous Touloc river swims just around the city's exterior. While Lannoc's Landing may be considered the holdings of House Languedoc, the Royal Palace remains in Toussaint. The warm environment of the city along with its inviting personality brings wanderlust to those who roam it. If Toulend was not the capital of Varandia, it would be Toussaint.

**Mercier**

A rival city to Karaboujon. Its positioning in the Mouth of Lannoc entails there is more than a mere friendly feud between these cities. Mercier is a city built of blackstone from the basin of the Borrasque ranges, and is practically invisible at night if it weren't for the torchlight and traffic.

**Lucerne**

Originally a castle, Lucerne was famously the fief of Queen Henrietta dey Languedoc. The construction of the castle brought forth peasants and laymen seemingly willing to support the first Queen of Varandia in the Varandian Civil War. After the war her name and statue are standing defiantly in the market's square of Lucerne; *"I Rule by the Will of the People."*

**Kladikopolis**

The city of Kladius is an incredibly Lakonic-looking city. Its origins dating back to Lukon Tzumantouros' investments into the region. This city is arguably the most beautiful in the region; from the iconography to the Lakonic-style gatehouses. While the city is mostly one used by traveling merchants as a mere rest stop, it is a little mark of humanity's own creation flanked by the mighty ranges of the Prolesian Divide and the Challon ranges.

**Seredinsk**

An old trade city expanded by the Varandians, its wooden walls and Valhynian-style décor imply it was once held by the Grand Principality. The city since carries the Varandian banners. Unlike many other the cities across Varandia, Seredinsk serves as one of the only cities in the west to carry its original Valhynian name.

**Tartovsk**

Along with its forest's namesake, the Tartovsk city was captured after the Battle of Clairmont. So rural and far from the reaches of Varandia, it is not even considered an official fief. One of the smaller cities, Tartovsk is merely used as a guide for those somehow making their way through the rugged forests of Tartovsk. Tartovsk is the only city in Varandia that technically does not pay any tribute or tithe; its existence is merely a mocking gesture of conquest against the Valhynians.

**Vascar**

Vascar is the only city that holds the incredibly durable ore that is Vascarite. Originating as a mining town, Vascar clung to the mountains as if it's life depended on it. The Lords of Vascar are often the most influential, and forever will their power be so long as this ore flows into the hands of the royal retinue of Varandia. The city itself is more vertical than it is horizontal; climbing the base of the mountains with sturdy wooden bridges connecting sections of the city together.

### Towns

**Clairmont**

Clairmont was an insignificant town in Varandia, and now the people living within are always reminded of the incredible battle which took place only a few miles from their home. The town is surrounded by a wooden palisade.

**Toumont**

Founded by Varandians sailing along the Touloc river, the town of Toumont is split in half with an arching bridge climbing over the river which feeds into the lake which the town feeds off of. Fisheries in Toussaint often get their merchandise from this town.

**Meson**

Literally "Mason" in Varandian, the town is known for its marble deposits nearby. The town is often humbled by nobles seeking statues or other works built of them here. Meson is otherwise insignificant.

**Neulend**

Neulend was founded by Neumar the Bearslayer, the town prides itself of its hunters, and usually holds great archers. Some of the most famous archers come from Neulend.

**Dauphin**

Dauphin is named after Queen Henrietta's eldest son who died during the Varandian Civil War. The town, beyond its name, is mostly insignificant.

### Forts

**Lannoc's Landing**

Lannoc's Landing or the "Hall of Languedoc" is the ancestral seat of Dey Languedoc. Originally known as Wirund's Hall, it became the base of operations for liberating and securing the entire region of Varandia. Langue Hall is an old fort with ancient architecture scattering the entirety of the building. Tall towers crawl above the salted waters just off the coast of the castle.

**Peuforte**

Peuforte was the first fortification constructed in the northern regions of Varandia. It served as an initial bulwark between the towns of Seredinsk and Dussaint. Now the fort is more-so useless, but still regionally important. Peuforte is much older, and the castle itself is still healing from the war between Reime and Reimond dey Languedoc.

**Fosse Hall**

Fosse Hall serves as a mighty battlement guarding the Fosse Marshes aptly named after one of Rennard the Strong's nicknames; Fosse. The Castle is more rudimentary than the cities and towns it protects. No army has successfully breached the gates of Fosse Hall, and its mighty size and daunting position makes it a very unwieldy obstruct into the rich lands of Varandia.

**Merdoc**

Merdoc Castle was constructed only four years before the Battle of Clairmont. This castle was meant to be where the Valhynians were going to siege, yet unexpectedly they had attacked Clairmont. Now the castle carries the duties of Peuforte - guarding the wealth of the region, as well as keeping the massive Valhynian population in line.

**Puissant**

A castle-city, Puissant is truly a wall that became a city. On the corners of each mountain range that surround Puissant are sharp needle-like towers that watch over the lush valley between. Puissant is weirdly a one-sided castle, with its wall facing directly towards Andalonia. The growing population that surrounds the inner bailey are merely soldier families and ambitious merchants from Karaboujon.