Midlands

## Map Location

The **Midlands** is one of the 16 regions of Phytor. Its a vast region in the center of the continent and has one of the highest population densities. The Midlands are part of the State of Phytor.

## **Midlands**

### **Landscape**

Due to the vastness of the region the landscape of the Midlands varies a lot. In the western and eastern Midlands you will find large forested areas, most notable are The Hornwood, The Stormwood in the west and the great Cattle Forests in the east. In the center of the region you will find large open fields, mostly cultivated by the many farmers. In the north west the region borders the Phinnellands and the Wolfshill, a large mountain range. In the southwest the Grey Heights stretches from Hemington to Caellae.

Many rivers run through the region All originate in other regions, but converge here. These rivers are the Uquai River, Mase River, The Spire and the Cattle River, but the most notable of all is the Meridian, which is also the largest and longest river of the whole continent

This landscape of many rivers and lowlands makes the Midlands one of the most favourable regions to live.

### **Geography**

The Midlands neighbours the Phinnellands and Zarrock in the north, The Edge and Acradam in the east, the Great Mesa and Dead Valley in the south and the regions of Boogi and Xalvador in the west. By bordering a total of eight regions, the Midlands borders more regions than any other.

Throughout the centuries a lot of villages, castles and cities have popped up in the region. Most of them are located in the middle and western areas around the major rivers, the Meridian and The Spire. The biggest settlements in the Midlands are the cities of Stormfast, Caellae, Phenatorio, Uquai, Grenport and Hemington. The latter also being the capital and economic center of the region.

### **Culture**

###### **Language**

Phytorian is the primary language in the Midlands, with the exception of the city of Phenatorio, where Kaith is the most prevelant language.

###### **Religion**

In most of the region The Shepherd is the primary religion. However, there are several exceptions: In the city of Stormfast and the surrounding area, the Sky Gods are very popular. In the city of Uquai the Maiden of the East is the primary religion and lastly the Cattle Forests still mostly follow the Alta Dei.

## **History**

The Midlands would be one of the first regions where Westerlings settled after their arrival on the shores of Phytor. According to stories they would break the natural dam protecting the Grass Sea somewhere around 15.000 BNE. Which flooded the lower grass fields, killing all the Herculae. The water never retreated and the submerged Grass Sea formed the Herculas Bay.

Around 4000 BNE the Kaith reached Phytor and entered the Midlands from the east where they were offered land and in return had to defend the eastern borders. Around the same time the would found the city of Phenatorio along the shores of the Meridian.

Like in most region around 3000 BNE houses started forming in the Midlands, deviding the land among them.

During the First Civil War Era, the Midlands saw many internal wars and conflicts, while simultaenously struggling to defend its borders from the Vitorian League and later the Acradian League from the east. Internal conflict in the west would come to a climax in 1450 BNE with The Rogue War. Worse and worse rule by House Crawdon, made almost all of the western Midlands revolt, which concluded in the defeat of House Crawdon, the sacking of Blackhall and the start of Rosendel rule over the Midlands.

The First Civil War Era would conclude with the East-West Wars, the name for nine wars fought between the Eastern regions agianst the Western regions between 920 - 798 BNE. Four of them would take place in the Midlands.

* First Attack on the Midlands (920-918 BNE)
* Second Attack on the Midlands (912-905 BNE)
* Third Attack on the Midlands (873-852 BNE)
* War of East-Midland (840-831 BNE)

The end of the war saw Acradam surrender and the disbandonment of the Acradian League. The Midlands would gain the province of the Cattle Forests. The city state of Uquai would become part of the Midlands to form a land bridge between the west and the Cattle Forests to the east. The war actually resulted in an era of peace. The alliances between western regions would stay strong for the remainder of history.

## **Houses of the Midlands**

#### **Active:**

* House Amber
* House Appleton
* House Ashworth
* House Berester
* House Chevron
* House Gallos
* House Grenner
* House Hawkly
* House Kaith
* House Marshland
* House Meradia
* House Millmour
* House Monroe
* House Rosendel
* House Ranhold
* House Starmin
* House Uquai

#### **Extinct:**

* House Bodis
* House Caeriver
* House Muller
* House Oldriver
* House Rickly
* House Waiwin

## **Locations in the Midlands**

#### Regions:

* Autumn Fields
* Cattle Forests
* Rosefield
* Grey Heights
* Hammergarden
* Highmill
* Maiden Region
* Lowmill
* The Hornwood
* The Stormwood
* Wolfshill
* Yuitilde Fields

#### Rivers/Lakes:

* Cattle River
* Edge Lake
* Herculas Bay
* Mase River
* The Meridian
* The Mesa Grande
* The Spire
* Uquai River

#### Cities/Villages/Castles:

* Aston *(Village)*
* Barcley *(Village)*
* Barreltown *(Village)*
* Beverly *(Village)*
* Blackhall *(Castle, Ruin)*
* Bloodstone *(Castle)*
* Borough *(Village)*
* Bridgeton *(Village)*
* Caellae *(City)*
* Chamberhill *(Castle)*
* Clarence *(Village)*
* Cloudgate *(Castle)*
* Easthorn *(Castle)*
* Estrald *(Village)*
* Fort Rickly *(Castle)*
* Gardiville *(Village)*
* Grayton *(Village)*
* Grenport *(City)*
* Hometown *(Village)*
* Hemington *(City)*
* Hillton *(Village)*
* Hornwood *(Village)*
* Lazar *(Village)*
* Midway *(Village)*
* Millmour *(Village)*
* Mirstone *(Village)*
* Mulltown *(Village)*
* Norpeak *(Castle)*
* Oakville *(Village)*
* Phenatorio *(City)*
* Raven Hold *(Castle)*
* Rutherbrick *(Village)*
* Riverton *(Village)*
* Rosefolk *(Village)*
* Rosefort *(Castle)*
* Ruins of Amber *(Ruins)*
* Senville *(Village)*
* Starhold *(Castle)*
* Stormfast *(City)*
* The Bridge *(Castle)*
* Uquai *(City)*
* Waiwin *(Village)*
* Westport *(Village)*
* Yuitilde *(Village)*

### Routes:

* Herculas Route
* Road Victoria
* Rose Road
* The Blanway
* Western Route