Barony of North Star

**The Barony of North Star**, or **North Stor** is a vassal territory within the Kingdom of Lambert that's been established in 344 during the Great Coronations that divided the Kingdom of Lambert into several Baronies and Duchies. The Barony of North Star was the first territory given out and its title has been passed among those who were given the title of Lord Warden, a title that means they are tasked with protecting the frontiers from barbarian invasion. For most of Lambertian history, the title has largely remained under the Gerard family lineage, whose ancestry consists of veterans of countless barbarian invasions as well as feudal wars with neighboring kingdoms.

## Inhabitants

North Star is largely inhabited by native Lambertians, many of whom migrated to Angeldenn and Forgetown in 344. Before that, North Star mainly comprised of tribals and clans who fought with the slaves who formed the Kingdom of Lambert as mercenaries. Most clans are comparatively small unlike other clans in Clamund as they mainly sustained themselves off of hunting and trapping, using metal tools and equipment bought from the dwarven cities to the west.

For the most part, the barony is usually inhabited by several thousand people, many of whom are enserfed or are freemen living in Angeldenn, Forgetown, or Crabstall. Most serfs are living in reasonable conditions, living fine off the profits brought by hunting herds of animals coming from the Wildman Plains in order to sell their furs abroad. North Star citizens have also reflected this nature of living through their clothing as they wear animal skins to protect themselves from the frigid northern temperatures brought by the treeless plains of the north and the Irongrate Mountains. Most women in the barony are about as independent as the men as most have jobs of their own if they are without children.

Out of all the vassal territories in the Kingdom of Lambert, the Barony of North Star has by far the lowest amount of elves and dwarfs living in the barony; with elves being the lowest. Most of the dwarven population is located within Forgetown as the town has a historical relationship with the dwarven city states for being a trade post between the Kingdom of Lambert and the fortresses. Most dwarves in Forgetown are smiths and are apart of the historical forgers guild that only grants membership to skilled metalsmiths and humans of extraordinary skill.

Most elves inhabit Angeldenn within the barony and number around two hundred. Although called elves, almost all well-known elves are only half-elves as most of the original elves that migrated to the Kingdom of Lambert to settle in the barony have passed away long ago by 600. Those elves that lived in the barony were of no significance aside from serving as courtiers for multiple Baron's courts and retiring in relatively rich environments until they peacefully passed away.

Being exposed to the savagery of the Wildman Plains, several tribes have settled along the border zone that separates the barony from the plains. Many of these tribes survived even after the Great Coronation and the subsequent power move to clear the border zone of them in 570 by Lord Warden Looys Gerard. Tribals residing in the North Star barony have commonly been known to join approaching war parties from the north with intention to give knowledge of the land they raid, but in early 600, most of the tribes along the border were wiped out after several military expeditions of little more than a hundred men-at-arms and barony knights flushed them out from several forest camps and an unnamed hill fort which acted as a staging ground for small scale tribal raids. Now, most of the former tribal population has retreated back north, with those few left behind being integrated into the clans that inhabit the Pan Forest and the territories north of Northpost.

## Notable Locations

**Forgetown** - A historic trade post between the Kingdom of Lambert and the dwarven fortresses that were along the foot of the Irongrate mountains. Now the seat of power for the Baron or Lord Warden in control of the Barony with a considerable dwarven population. During the early times of the Kingdom of Lambert, the dwarves would sail the Irongrate River south on large rafts in order to sell their ingots to the humans.

**Angeldenn** - A border town situated extremely close to the border of the Holy Empire of Visimar. Has been sacked several times throughout Lambertian history due to how close it was to the border to be easily raided and sacked by Visimarian soldiers. Known for its elvish pipeweed dens and red district that is hated by the religious fanatics to the south.

**Crabstall** - A small town along the Irontear River that exports crabs. Large crabs are caught here and sold to noble houses abroad as exotic cuisine.

**Castle Soapstones** - One of the two only border forts that secure the border between the Holy Empire of Visimar and the Kingdom of Lambert. A meagre castle that houses a majority of the knights in service to the Baron.

**Castle Stone Axe** - A black fortress of slate that stands as the first stopgap against barbarian invasions from the north. Castle Stone Axe is by far the most sturdy and ancient castle in the kingdom as its been used several times to stop invasions before they reach the baronies in the south. Most kingdoms avoid besieging this castle due to how elaborate and strong built it is but most invasion forces coming from the North are forced to besiege it unless they can handle being attacked from the rear.