Wild March

The Wild March is the area north of the Dalelands and south of the Mire. It's western border butts against the Grey Peaks, with the city of Gateway guarding the valley road into the mountains and Orcbreast. Its most eastern edge is bordered by several of the North-West Baronies. It is a rugged hilly region, peppered with mountains, canyons and tors. Most settlements are mining towns as the area is very rich in valuable mineral deposits. The Wild March has a long history of conflict as orcish war bands commonly make raids throughout.

**People**

Those that call the Wild March home are not a gentle people. The land is both rough and dangerous. The primary humanoid inhabitants are humans, dwarves and orcs. Culture in the region has been heavily influenced by norns and dwarves with numerous influences from trade. Clothing combines these varying influences but is generally more practical in purpose than aesthetic. There is an emphasis on clothes good for rain, cold and rough travel. In warmer weather layers are removed or even stripped down.

**Climate & Geography**

The Wild March is a mineral rich and extremely rocky region. The land is dry, with temperatures that tend a bit colder than temperate norms. Coarse scrub grasses, hardy trees and conifer brush cover the landscape. Spring brings the regions rainy season with regular drizzle and morning fogs, but heavy rain is extremely rare. After April the region remains very dry and mild until late autumn. Snowfall occurs as early as September but generally doesn't become serious until mid-October. Thaw doesn't generally begin until the next year as the spring rain begins.

Heading south the region becomes less rocky and rainfall is more regular. This gives the areas closest to the Dalelands a wider variety of vegetation and the Wild March's largest forest; Dorchodas Dorcha. North the land drops down cliffs over a hundred feet high into the Mire and the further east rises into the Black Mountains.

**Economy**

The Wild March has a strong economy for what many consider the edge of civilization. Trade from the largest road through the Grey Peaks flows through Gateway into the rest of the Continent. This means that merchants looking to trade goods to the Grey Peaks pass through the region as well. The region also has an abundance of natural resources, especially minerals. From the eastern portion of the lands, mercenaries and adventurers bring gold from the Northern Baronies into the region. This combination of factors makes the Wild March a place where one can become very wealthy, and a wide variety of trade items are available.

This economic situation has its consequences. Roads while reasonably developed are not regularly patrolled and bandits are common. Also, Gateway has one of the largest disparities of wealth of any major city on the Continent. The poor of the city live in squalor in one district of the while the wealthy live in opulent manor houses in another. While the city has a staggering availability of goods, prices have a reputation among travelers of being very high.

**Government**

The Wild March has never had a particularly strong central government. Though considered part of White Castle's empire at one time, the region's location kept it from strict control. The only other attempts at a collective power structure are from the Baronies along the area's eastern edge. However, constant conflict among these made any consolidation of control impossible.

Gateway is nominally the capital of the region. It is by far the largest settlement and hugely important location. Troops from the city do send out minimal patrols along major trade roads. These troops sometimes are sent out in numbers to deal with militarily significant threats. Mostly settlements maintain their own guards with support the Tower of Five Orders. During the Rise of New Loraen guild-based governing became popular in most settlements.

**Landmarks**

*Gateway* - This city is perhaps the biggest landmark of the Wild March and is described in greater detail elsewhere.

*Mires Edge Cliffs* - These cliffs stretch from the Grey Peaks to the Black Mountains. These cliffs vary in height along their stretch reaching 200' in most places. The cliffs are not an impossible climb though extremely dangerous. The safest way up of down them is located at the Tower of Five Orders.

*Tower of Five Orders* - home to Knighthood of Five Orders, the tower sits on the edge of northern cliffs and rises to an impressive ten floors. The stone used in its construction combined with clever design gives the tower an extraordinary color. On close inspection it appears opalescent and pale but has a varying coloration depending on the position of the sun and viewer, often compared to a prism or rainbow. The Lowest floor has an elevator which descends the cliffs to the Mire below.

*Orcish Cairns* - Orcish burial mounds can be found throughout the Wild March owing to the presence of a few nomadic tribes in region. These sites are considered sacred to orcs and desecration of such sites is considered to bring bad luck and anger the spirit realm.

*The Gurgle* - Located in hills near the Dale Lands is a strange magical phenomenon known for the sound it makes. This gurgling noise can be heard for miles and is upsetting to mundane animals. The phenomenon itself appears to be a strange swirling collection of light blobs that have been compared to wax bubbles in water. Wild magic events are common in the location and has stymied research of the area.

*The Sandstorm Keep* - A bit into the Grey Peaks near the head of the Lavender River is a castle surrounded by billowing clouds of mineral dust and debris. The castle was discovered during the Age of Kingdoms and many rumors surround its origins and contents. Numerous bands of adventurers have gone in, but none have returned.

*Hronolda* - A volcanic mountain near the southern border of the Wild March. The volcano is 11,250' high and active. Dwarven mining operations are active at its lower elevations. Dragons have on occasion taken residence in the volcano.