Heath

Duchy of Heath
Heath's location (dark green) within the Amasynian Province of the Kingdom of Trae Kelsa (light green), with the Regal Province of the Kingdom of Trae Kelsa (blue) to the south.
Geography
Status:	Duchy of the Kingdom of Trae Kelsa
Region:	Amasynian Province
Area:	-,--- km²
Regional Capital:	Threminor
Demographics
Population:	---,---
Politics
Regional Figurehead:	-

Topography

Heath is essentially a large valley. Bound by mountains along part of its southern shores, as well as higher elevation that marks the border with Myrken Wood, Derry and Xanth Grange. Forests dot the rolling, fertile hills of the valley and the cliffs along the southeastern shores help create a naturally sheltered bay.

Location

Heath touches the borders of many territories within the Amasynian Provincial Region. It shares its northern border with Amasynia, Myrken Wood and Derry. It borders Thessilane on the east and Xanth Grange to the west.

Climate

Strong winds from the mountains meet occasional ocean breezes resulting in frequent storms and a fair amount of thunder storms and precipitation. Due to the warmer ocean breeze during winter, however, there is rarely much snow accumulation for the eastern half of the territory.

Cities

Threminor is easily the duchy’s oldest city. It stands at the northernmost point of the southern bay and has stood there since the Burning Times. It is a city that has been repeatedly built upon itself in the wake of natural disasters and military invasions. Due to its great age it is known to be a winding maze of roads that easily confuses visitors. As it is an important hub of trade for Trae Kelsa, the Crown felt it wise to protect the city with a wall and appropriate fortifications to withstand a siege.

History

For most of their history, the Frum-Bearn (“First Born E lived in clans that warred, adventured, and occasionally sued for peace. These were known as the Ealdordagas (“Days of Life E, a time of great heroes and demigods who walked the earth doing great, if sometimes terrible, things. It was a mythic time nearly lost to the shrouded mist of the past and yet kept fiercely alive in the old stories and songs. Some of the great deeds included in these lost times include the brief capture of Winter, the Splintering of the Sun, and the War of Two-As-One. It was said that many warriors kept the heads of their fallen enemies, ran naked into battle, and hurled these morbid projectiles into the enemy ranks. Such enduring tales have given rise to the understanding of Heathite savagery.

The next significant chapter in Frum-Bearn history is known as The Burning Times. Losiar Gan (the lost walker) wandered the countryside, stealing away the souls of all whose bodies lay beneath the ground while those souls prepared themselves for reincarnation. During these turbulent times many people took it upon themselves to guard the barrows and graves of their relatives, giving rise to the Hyrdraeden (“guardianship E that were not necessarily skilled at arms but were people of great spiritual fortitude and keen intellect.

However, Great Alaric Mourne bested Losiar Gan by flattering him into a memorization game although the victory released the souls into Mourne and caused him to walk a year and a day for every soul he had won. It is said he still stalks the night, bested by his own cleverness and desire for power. The Hyrdraeden became quickly obsolete though the tradition of wise men, ready to defend their people, is a point of pride amongst the First Born to this day.

With Mourne’s vanishing people were free to bury their dead once more though occasionally people will opt not to if they fear for their reincarnation. In such instances someone very trusted will be asked to stand as Hyrdraeden as the body burns. To be asked to serve as such is considered a great honor.

For several centuries following Mourne’s disappearance into the world, though the inter-clan rivalries continued, the time of great wonders and mythic tales seemed to fade into nothing but memory. Some speculated that Alaric Mourne had taken away the bravest and greatest spirits with his departure which left the First Born ripe to rot and in time be conquered.

At first it was the people of Amasynia who grew bold. Too bold, some had said, yet the internecine struggles left them powerless. Great heroism had gone, leaving behind petty rivalry and jealousy that led chieftains to side with Amasynians against their fellow First Born. Outrage grew only as the war became a steady defeat despite several valiant offensives. Their defeat brought with it the promise of economic significance as Heath started to become the important trading crossroads that it would blossom into. In turn, Amasynia, and with it Heath, was conquered by Trae Kelsa. As trade increased in goods, so it did in ideas. Missionaries came preaching the One Faith and stories and identity were often dismissed as folklore or mere savagery. However, for every person who heralded their incorporation into the kingdom as a move into the light of civilization, another missed the Old Ways and clung to them with greater ferocity.

Culture

Heath is a culture in conflict with itself. There are many ancient traditions that are still with the populace that have been influenced by outside traditions. The solstices and equinoxes remain observed by those who follow the Old Ways, and even adherents of the One Faith may celebrate these dates though without the religious meaning. Heath is an old land, dotted with barrows and burial mounds of past lords and heroes, the fire-blackened tops of the Pyre Hills used during the Burning Times for the mass cremation of the dead, and the significance of remembering things as the Old Teachings were never written down. Losing one's memory is considered a serious and sorrowful event, whether it be through amnesia or encroaching senility. Oaks are considered sacred by many given their significance to the Druidic Tradition (mentioned below) even by converts to the One Faith who desire to follow their one deity while at the same time remaining in good standing with the ancient nature spirits who are still believed to haunt the land.

The Old Ways consist of a pantheon of deities with their own portfolios and concerns and an adherent of the old faith might pray to any deity at any given time, depending upon what one wanted. The priests of this particular religion are called druids who still meet amongst the ancient oak groves and whose knowledge of history, astrology and the natural world is recognized far and wide. This tradition is known as the Druidic Tradition.

There is also a smaller group of the First Born who worship a small pantheon of deities, each of which stands as the embodiment and custodian of a given season. The passing of the seasons during the equinoxes and solstices is particularly important to this tradition, known as the Ancient Circle.

Missionaries brought with them the One Faith whose adherents are most concentrated in the capital city but who can be found throughout the countryside. The belief often teeters on the brink of outright syncretism as new believers often still feel compelled to leave a small offering for fertile crops to the old deities despite their supposedly new allegiance.

Transportation & Trade

Heath can be a merchant’s paradise and serves as a central hub for trade goods amongst the Amasynian Provincial Region. Such trading brought new, outside ideas to the diminished “First Born Eof Heath, along with foreign missionaries and exotic foods. The capital city sits on the sheltered harbor to the south, while the river that runs from east to west along the northern border is yet another source of sea-based travel. There are also extensive cobblestone roads that lead amongst the townships and cities to the bordering lands. It is not difficult to reach most other territories in the provincial region, or even the Royal Province, from Heath.

Public Service

The petty lords of scattered feudal estates are charged with keeping the peace on and around their own lands. The Duke also maintains soldiers who mount regular patrols. Furthermore, given the amount of trade crossing Heath’s borders, many merchants are also often accompanied with their own capable caravan guards.

News

Messengers are commonly employed to pass along important news from one lord or merchant to another, and the steady influx of merchants provides for ready knowledge of current events both within and without the borders. Merchants often leave word for one another on various posts that can be found at the various crossroads throughout Heath. Furthermore, in times of great need or haste, horn-blowers are used to sound out various notes that carry far within the territory as it is mostly a large valley. Various notes signify a request for military aid, a rampaging fire, and other such emergencies.

Leisure Activities

Amongst the more urbane populace, one would likely find many of the same leisurely pursuits one would find amongst Heath's neighbors. Three activities stand out as being of significant importance and status among the Heathites. The first is the boar hunts that take place at irregular intervals. Participating in one is an opportunity to mingle with powerful social figures, if the hunt is called by the merchants and petty lords, or a chance to relive Heathite history if it is called by the common folk.

The second is the boasting contest that is mostly only practiced by the country-dwellers. Two participants boast of their various deeds, attempting to surpass his opponent's, until someone asks his opponent to prove himself capable of the boasted deeds. While often a breeding ground for egos and vendettas, it also serves to keep the land's ancient heroic spirit alive.

The third id, quite simply, a memorization game that takes many forms. It is said the Druids taught these games to acolytes to prepare them to remember the entirety of the Old Ways as nothing of the tradition has ever been written down. Essentially people take turns reciting what was previously said and then adding additional information of their own. The messages relayed are often stories concocted on the spot.

Local Economy

The land is largely self-sufficient due to it being fed by rivers, possessing ample forests, as well as mountains that are fit for mining. Insofar as raw goods are concerned, Heath produces little that stands out in comparison to its neighbors. However, it does profit greatly from trade tariffs and possesses significant shipyards and ports to facilitate sea travel and commerce. Though able to sustain itself with goods and services any such attempt would yield only inferior products to that which is either directly imported or acquired through tariffs on passing caravans. Commerce yet remains the territory's lifeblood.

While still upholding a feudal system, the wealth and standing of native merchants is often enough to challenge these lordly figures. The countryside may be home to the landholders but the capital is home to the merchants and their guilds.