Barony of Moonchange

BACKGROUND
Shifters have a novel status in Wresten. During the Great Conflict with Korlan, a large group of shape-shifters fought valiantly on the side of the Roaming King. In gratitude, the Roaming King decreed that Shifters that followed the kingdom’s laws were welcome to reside in Wresten. In addition, he ceded a large chunk of natural area in Wresten’s Southwest corner as the Barony of Moonchange. This happened about 80 years ago.
 The Barony of Moonchange is self-governing, under the watchful eye of the Magistrate of Fort Crag. Inside the Barony shifters live in harmony and in the open. The Barony’s northern border is close to the town of Briar Glen in the Franrath Woods.
 The Barony is an approximately triangle-shaped parcel of approximately 300 square miles. The northern border is the Tumbledown Creek. The Farnsoll Stream is the western border. The Escarpment - a 1500’ cliff/faultline that rises dramatically is the eastern/southern border of the Barony. The two maps below show the approximate location.

ASSORTED NOTES
- Briar Glen is not in the Barony. It lies just north of the Barony where the Tumbledown Creek enters Farnsoll Stream. Briar Glen is the only “large” Wresten town close to the Barony. It provides most of the finished goods to the Barony and acts as a gateway into the Barony.

- The land in the barony is extremely rugged. Very steep hills are carpeted in hardwood deciduous trees. There are many dead ends and box canyons where seasonal creeks have carved out box canyons throughout the area. None of the hills are necessarily tall (500’ above grade), but they are steep. Cross country travel is very difficult.

- The total population is fairly small. Approximately 2000 - 3000 people spread out among the forests and the hills.

- There are no real towns in the Barony. The populations of the Barony mainly live in small family homesteads throughout the land. There are three small hamlets (100 to 200 people) consisting of a couple of extended families and various hangers-on. The hamlets are:

- There are no industries per se. Simple hunting, trapping, herding, and small-scale farming supports the population.

- Government is simple, “live and let live”. Each hamlet governs itself as it sees fit, usually through consensus. Once a year, representatives from all of the hamlets meet to discuss any large changes and collective actions necessary.

- By and large, the Barony is considered a “happy” place. The people are happy to have a place to call their own where they are not hunted or castigated. Most people are friendly and open with strangers; however, they are quick to defend what is theirs. There are many that remember the hiding and persecutions of the old days.

- Although the Barony fought for Wresten in the war, there are still many folks that have ties to family and friends in Korlan. There is a sizable “cross border” trade and interaction that takes place in the backwoods of the Barony. Bear Wallow is the hub of that activity.

- As a barony, Moonchange sends soldiers to support the Roaming King’s armies every 5 years. These soldiers are drawn from the youth of the hamlets. Approximately 20-50 youth are sent every 5 years. The youth serve for 2 years and then return.

Notable denizens of the Barony:

Mawmaw Derkat: An elderly female shifter and druid of considerable power. She rules Honey Cove with a benevolent smile. Honey Cove produces honey and honey-products that are prized throughout Wresten (and even across the border in Korlan). Mawmaw was the wife of one of the original fighters (Baloo Derkat) that impressed the Roaming King. Baloo has passed away of old age.

Winfield Derkat: Grandson of Mawmaw. Acquitted himself well in the army and has returned to Honey Cove to raise a family and eventually take over running Honey Cove.
Cletus Darville: A shifter that is one of the last of the original warriors that helped the Roaming King. A waterman nonpareil, he helped found Bear Wallow and still runs it in his old age. He is one of the most outgoing of the barony and has friends everywhere he goes. . . or soon will. He is a bard of high talent.

Zoe Jayne: A shifter that settled in the Barony relatively recently. She is a mage of no small gifts. She also has a knack of organization and has helped “officialize” the relations between “west river” and Bear Wallow.

Akela Lupine: A shifter that is one of the last of the original warriors that helped the Roaming King. A savage beast barbarian that has mellowed in his old-age. He no longer runs anything and mainly travels around for extended stays with folks and helps where he can

Goblin Tribe Across the River
Little is known about the goblin tribe that lives across from the barony. Here is what is known:
- Known as the Waterbugs which is an unfortunate mistranslation of the Goblin language. Their name “River Reavers” sounds like Waterbugs in common, and that is what they are known as in Wresten

- Led for the last 20 years by the chief JibJab. She is a woman of considerable skills and charisma. She has gotten the goblins to work as a team and interface with Wresten in a friendly manner. This unprecedented tenure length and approach has allowed the Waterbugs to greatly expand their territory and influence in Korlan.

- Many of the members of the tribe have sing-song rhyming names: HocusPocus, InOut, FlimFlam, HiLo, NearBeer, etc. No one knows why this is.

- The Waterbugs have some ogres that are honorary members: Herschel, Lawrence, Lott, Watt, etc. The ogres have seen how much better life is when they just get along and provide muscle and heft when the Waterbugs need it.

-JibJab and Cletus Darville have a good working relationship