County of Dietenbeck

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
 **Baronies**
* Barony of Beardrift
 **Beliefs**
* Church of the Holy Light (secondary)
 **Founded**

**Dietenbeck** is the coastal-focused, southeastern county of the Duchy of Zollern. It houses the famous Nightport, a settlement known for trading and it's large lighthouse, as well as the baronies of Beardrift and Grayharbor. It's name is a combination of the term 'beckon' as in to beckon home, and 'diet', which is an assembly. It was supposed to be a clever ploy, but the history has been largely lost in translation. Duchess Valerie's brother, Tharlum Andell, is the current Count of Dietenbeck.

## Culture

Being a largely coastal-focused landscape, civilians living in Dietenbeck are no stranger to eating seafood. Shellfish, whitefish varieties, and salmon in particular are all staples of the diet of a person living here. It's several ports are also open to tradeways, which allows them a more varied meal selection, as well as religion. Dietenbeck is one of the most laid back counties in all of Zollern, for the official rulers have always been kind and open to multiple schools of thought, often holding large assemblies to get the views and opinions on their subjects.

As a result of frequent trade and travel, many people of Dietenbeck are kind and welcoming, a stark contrast to the hardy Northerners of Northfront View. Not unlike Karumetsa, a strong familial sense resonates with the Dietenbeckians, however the cities of Scharnpoole and the Nightport are staunch rivals, often competing in sports and what can be traded or exported, always seeking to gain a foot up on the other.

## History

### Founding

The County of Dietenbeck was founded not so long after the County of Karumetsa was founded, as all the travelers had to do was just flock south. Over time, more coastal settlements were founded as less and less fertile farmland was found, and people needed some source of food - so seafood it was.

### The Sacking of the Nightport

The Horde launched a surprise attack on the Nightport, quietly rowing upriver and scaling through brush and mountain land alike, until they had practically been right on the perimeter of the coastal city. Then, the lighthouse was stormed and the city invaded, with it's many riches and trade goods pillaged and multiple villages burned. The extra sailing vessels were seized by the Horde and utilized for the further invasion of Zollern, particularly in what would become the First Siege of Starkfeste.

### Present Day

Dietenbeck has beckoned home it's former inhabitants, with seafarers and fishermen alike returning to the various settlements within. Lord Burchard Hillegas has arranged a few trading deals with his friends and allies, and has managed to get trading up and running once more, utilizing the famed Nightport as a staging ground for riverboats and other travel. In order to begin the construction of a Zollern navy, and to heal the lands around this county, Burchard has granted the land to Tharlum Andell, Valerie Hillegas' brother, making him Count of Dietenbeck.

## Settlements

### The Nightport

The Nightport is a famous settlement within Dietenbeck, sitting as the capital city for the county and bolstered by trade and tourism. A large lighthouse sits on Bear Island, of course named for a native population there, guiding newcomers to the lands of the Duchy of Zollern. Because of this, the Nightport is often a first stop for those traveling here. This has led to an influx in the Nightport's economy, and establishing it as a popular tourist destination. During the Second War, it was sacked and devastated by Horde attackers, and although the lighthouse is still marred with old scars, the town itself has recovered nicely in the time since.

### Scharnpoole

Scharnpoole was named after Cornelius Scharn, a famous outdoorsman and pioneer of the early days of Zollern. He was renowned for his swimming abilities, and ended up residing in this coastal town. It is the second most popular town within Dietenbeck, the first being the famous Nightport of course. It resides as the capital of the Barony of Grayharbor, named so because of the shadows cast by looming mountains no so far off.

### Bear Cove

Bear Cove is the capital of Beardrift. It was named because the shape of the inlet the costal town sits in looks like the opened maw of a roaring bear. In fact, the Barony of Beardrift is named aptly, for many bears travel down from the mountains or out from the forests to bathe in the rapids found here, and to eat upon the plentiful schools of salmon. Bear Cove is not nearly as wealthy or popular as Scharnpoole or the Nightport, but that is probably because the average person does not want to cross a bear. It is seen as a minor religious site, however, since the denizens of Zollern have noticed the natural occurrence of bears flocking here.

## Houses

House Andell, the family of Tharlum Andell, rules as the head of Dietenbeck. Tharlum is Count and finds his capital in the famed, historical city of the Nightport.

House Scharn resides within Zollern, the political heads of the Barony of Grayharbor, but they aren't much one for the big leagues of politicking. They have much enjoyed their local fame with spouting off legends of Cornelius Scharn, keeping their town active as a tourist destination and making their wealth from it. Still, they remain envious of the Nightport and it's successes, for they feel that it is unearned since the Nightport does not have any historical value, save for their failed defense of the nation, as the Scharns would say.