Sirendale

* **Size**: 226.000 km2
* **Location**: West coast, south of Beornhelm, west of Greenfield, north of Armathain
* **Authority**: Coalition of nobles and master artisans

#### **Geography**

The Green Elder Valley, a huge fertile and flat valley from the coast of Sirendale to eastern Greenfield split Sirendale's two forests into two. From the north, the dense and hilly Oldberry Woods spreads southward, progressively turning thinner the more south you travel. The south is divided into the Patkov Marsh in the southeast, and the forest of Sum Wald in the southwest, an incredibly rocky evergreen forest. Despite the northern latitude that Sirendale is in, the warm ocean currents are pushed up from Karthmere and Applegate through Salzissa Island have made Sirendale surprisingly mild in its climate. Snow still falls during the winter, but the summer is warm enough to create a suitable agricultural environment in the Green Elder Valley.

Thetla river flows moderately fast within the Oldberry Woods but calms down considerably once it flows through the Green Elder Valley. Still, the river trading along the Thetla, Thetanor, and Thetenna rivers starts from Mosshold City and ends in Eastcreek's Sky Mirror lake. Thetanor river provides excellent river trading possibilities, as it flows calmly, and progressively more so, through the Green Elder Valley and later into the Bazken Moor. The shoreline is either rocky and deep or shallow with stony or sandy beaches. The Eagle's Strait inlet is too jagged on the Sirendale side to allow any significant harbors as it does on the Beornish side of the inlet. Still, this is the busiest region on Frostmark where trade takes place between Beornhelm and another kingdom, even if it is still a shy amount.

#### ***Summary***

Sirendale, who is nestled between Armathain and Beornhelm, has not gone unaffected from its geographical position. Their royal family was murdered in a bold Beornish raid that turned to a full-scale invasion that pierced the capital. Nowadays, Sirendale has developed a solution like that of Applegate, where several nobles have banded together to protect their kingdom. Still, no one is daring to step forward as the de-facto ruler to have to face both Beornhelm and Armathain's attention.

Despite all of this, Sirendale has fared better than Greenfield, mainly due to their arts and crafts traditions. Both Armathain and Beornhelm have drawn benefits from the fine craftsmen and artists Sirendale produces, which the Sirens use as an advantage. Raids from Beornhelm has also diminished, dissuaded by the large presence of Armathain in the kingdom. As Sirendale is the largest producer of luxury and processed goods, its economy has recovered from its violent past. Sirendale's most striking feature is its large flower fields, producing perfumes, herbal alcohol, and rich cloth.

#### ***Living in Sirendale***

50 years after Oldwood successfully negotiated with the Northern Front to give them a new king in the form of Queen Lysander's brother, a daring Beornish coalition of chieftains attacked Sirendale. The raid transformed into more of an invasion after a string of surprising windfalls for the attacking force, and thus, the beornish ransacked northern to central Sirendale. In the end, they reached the capital, and after a short siege, the beornish stormed the city. The royal family of Mistshear in Sirendale was wiped out during this event, refusing to leave the city even after the defeat was obvious. During that winter, the Beornish chieftains couldn't keep the peace between themselves after successfully occupying almost half of Sirendale. Quarrels turned progressively more violent and ended in infighting between the chieftains. When spring came, all the beornish returned home, unable to keep their grip on the kingdom.

After the incident, Sirendale leaned on their neighboring kingdom Armathain, to ensure that another raid of Beornhelm would never become as devastating again. This has given Armathain a strong foothold in the nation, using every opportunity to try and force their culture upon the sirens and squeeze every coin they can through silly taxes and demands. In the north, Beornhelm continues to pester Sirendale but not to the same extent now that Armathain protects the more central areas. Despite this, Armathain hasn't shown any will to protect the northern territories of Sirendale, and here Sirendale must hire mercenaries to withstand the Beornish presence. Some southern Sirendale territories make secret deals with Beornhelm to keep Armathain from completely absorbing the south, turning this whole affair into a tense balance between two super nations and a smaller country caught in the middle.

Sirendale has never been a great militaristic state, instead of surviving on their grace of diplomacy and trade. Art and craft are significant in siren culture, and the area was relöatively peaceful before and during the Empire. The greatest masters in their respective fields of arts or craft became the rulers of Sirendale. After the Empire's influence, masters of their field were given official noble titles. During the Imperial era, Sirendale acquired some Sacred arms troops as protection against the Six Horrid Devils' lingering presence. Most of these forces withdrew when their assignment came to its completion, and more so when the Empire fell. A few remained, though, which has become the core of the small military presence of Sirendale.

Apprenticeship plays a strong role in Siren society. If you're able to impress a Master with your talent and withstand the years of learning, you can ascend to become a Practitioner, someone who is licensed to work their craft or art. If the Practitioner has the means and the will, they can turn into a Journeyman and travel around Frostmark for a few years, seeking inspiration and more knowledge about their craft or art. Once back in Sirendale, a group of Masters comes together to evaluate what the Journeyman has learned and can advance them to the rank of Master, which entails entering the elite of Sirendale's hierarchy and grants them a noble title. Sirendale's traditions and educational prowess with arts and crafts have made it famous throughout Frostmark. Many pay handsomely to get their hands on Siren craftsmanship or a Siren performer. It is quite common that Journeymen never travel home again, employed as private artisans within courts, and live out their days in a very comfortable lifestyle.

Considering the unstable climate in Sirendale, Beornish raids from the north, and Armathain breathing down their necks in from the south, many craftsmen and artists have fled the kingdom. It is quite common to find Siren artists in either Stormholme, Malgrave, or Karthmere. Armathain is often seen as too oppressive and conservative for a free-thinking crafter or artist to feel at home in their society, which infuriates Armathain. Many passionate souls from other kingdoms travel to Sirendale to try to impress a resident Master for an apprenticeship. This has granted the Masters of Sirendale some international immunity when they school influential families' children in the Siren way. Sirendale's system has also set the tone of similar institutions in other kingdoms.

#### ***Relation to the Church***

There isn't much to say about the relationship between Sirendale and the Church of Riahn. Both parties don't pay much heed to each other, except when a new cathedral is built, a church needs renovating, or personal requests from the higher priests. The faith of Riahn is the state religion of Sirendale, but the faith is hardly a focus in people's everyday lives. It is more of a tradition and a pleasant place to seek support and help. Armathain's presence in the south has brought pressure to adhere to the Church more than Sirens normally do, and it has indeed influenced some communities in the south.

#### ***Relation to other nations***

To some Sirens, the royal family of Sirendale, the old Lysanders, is still the kingdom's rightful ruler. Some send romantic and hopeful glances towards Oldwood's branch of the Lysander family, wishing that one day a Lysander will return to Sirendale.

Sirendale has in the past made much trade with Greenfield and has enjoyed a long history of good diplomatic relations, but Greenfield's crumbling system and Sirendale's issues have certainly isolated the kingdoms from each other.

Armathain is pushing into the country through political means to secure as much taxes and trade from Sirendale as possible to feed Armathain's empty coffers. Some Sirens see Armathain as the lesser evil than Beornhelm, and others find both of them as oppressive.

Sirendale is more than chilly towards Beornhelm, the Great Ransack of Mistshear, and the general raids in the northern areas would turn most people sour. But some Sirens swallow their anger to work with Beornhelm to slow down Armathain's silent tyranny.

#### ***Military***

Before the Empire, Sirendale had a few professional soldiers who saw battle and their weapon of choice to be their art. After the Empire, there are still a small number of Sacred Arms soldiers who carry their tradition to the next generations. Lastly, there is a resistance group, called the Light of Lysander, who wants to free Sirendale from Beornhelm and Armathain. This underground group is the strongest supporter of the Lysander royal household.

#### ***House Seyland***

***Ruler***: Viscount Seyland (46 years)

***Family***: Viscountess (41 years old) and a daughter (11 years)

***Rule***: Mosshold City and Stillglen City

***Master of***: Leatherworking and sowing

Viscount Seyland has proven to be bold in his decision to rule the northern territories of Sirendale so brazenly as he is not a fighter at heart. Seyland is known for recklessly trying to keep Sirendale intact and his people safe from danger. This, in the past, has meant deterring beornish raids. Today, however, there are rumors of a shaky peace between a Beornish chieftain and Seyland, which Armathain vehemently denies.

***House Cottonport***

***Ruler***: Duchess Cottonport (25 years)

***Family***: Duke (30 years)

***Rule***: Cottonport City, Chillvale Town, and Rosewood Town

***Master of***: Singing and stringed instruments

Duchess Cottonport, hailing from an influential family of Sirendale, ascended to power in Sirendale's most important trade town, by coin and name. Today, Duchess Cottonport is a household name, famous for her nightingale voice. Cottonport is known to attend and throw parties and only takes an interest in politics when the economy is not flowing as it should. She has been the most welcoming provincial ruler for Armathain and has let them roam her territories unchecked, preferring the stability and safety that they can provide. Today Armathain is almost the true governing force of this area. The Duchess is known to be adventurous but also a bit conceited.

#### ***House Bluerow***

***Ruler***: Count (26 years)

***Family***: Sister (19 years)

***Rule***: Mistshear Capital, Swanwater Town, and Glimmerdrift Town

***Master of***: Writing and painting

Bluerow might be the only thing keeping the capital neutral between Armathian and Beornhelm and prevents the sirens from going too anxious about the kingdom's state. He is known to be a dreamer with a great imagination, who prefers to spend his time reading, writing, and painting than deal with too much serious business. Nonetheless, he is the only prominent noble with enough resources to rule Mistshear, and the people seem to enjoy living in a state of status quo. At least they have not been ruined by Armathain, and they have been affected by Beornhelm for a long time.