Pronunciation: el-AND-ree-ah
The Kingdom of Ellandria is a kingdom largely populated by humans, but generally welcoming to other ancestries as well. The region has rich farmland, as well as other natural resources like iron, gold, and lumber. Villages along the coast also have an active fishing economy.
Trade occurs mostly with other nearby kingdoms: Caedyrn to the east, Tai-Rinn to the northwest, and Vorndihm to the southwest.
¶ Government
Ellandria is ruled by Queen Pythia, member of the family of Ermyn, who have ruled the kingdom for generations. The Council of Dukes, who rule the various duchies within the kingdom, advise the monarch.
Ellandria operates under a feudal system, where lords (at various levels of nobility) hold land, and grant possession of parts of that land to vassals, who pledge an oath of fealty to that lord. These landholding agreements essentially provide pereptual ownership of the land for the vassal and their descendants. The lord is responsible for protecting their vassals from external attack (typically with some sort of castle or stronghold that vassals can flee to), collecting a stockpile of resources to be distributed in times of need, and offering judicial rulings on criminal offences and civil disputes. In return, the vassal must engage in military service when required, pay taxes for the maintenance of the stockpile, and attend the lord's court when requested, for providing counsel.
The hierarchy of nobility forms a sort of pyramid, with the monarch (currently Queen Pythia) ultimately having ownership over all the land in the kingdom. The structure is as follows:
- Monarch – kingdom
- Royal family (princes/princesses) – control over the Crownlands in and around Queensport
- Dukes/duchesses – duchies
- Barons/baronesses (more important landed knights) – baronies
- Lords/ladies (less important landed knights) – fiefdoms
- Peasant vassals with a freehold ownership of land from a lord/lady
- Other peasants not in a vassal relationship – any land they have is likely a leasehold arrangement, paying rent
¶ Notes for Players
Ellandria is a rough analogue for a general "British medieval fantasy" land. Humans from this region might have names like Vincent, Robin, Josephine, Cyril.
¶ Settlements
The settlements discussed below are the major settlements in the region. However, there are many other small villages and hamlets dotted around the landscape; sample settlement names for these are Pineview, Greenhill, Mollybrook, Springminster, Shadowgrove
¶ Cities
Queensport: On the eastern coast of the kingdom, Queensport is the capital city and also the largest city in the kingdom. The castle within the city is occupied by the Queen and some members of the royal family, and the dukes and duchesses also typically live here at least part of the year, with other family in charge of the day-to-day operations of the duchy. The city also has a large library, the Grand Isle Library.
Clareview: Clareview is in the southwest part of the kingdom, on a large lake, Lake Emerval. The city is home to many skilled artisans, who create specialized goods such as ornamental lamps, elaborately engraved weapons and armor, etc. The city also is home to the Halcyon Waters Brewing Co., which brews excellent beer and mead.
¶ Towns
Mistharbor: A coastal community, south of Queensport. The bulk of the kingdom's navy harbors here, in the large protected inlet.
Barcombe: Also on the coast, northwest of Queensport. A large fishing town, as well as a good location for chartering ships to further destinations.
Larston: Mining town west of Queensport, named after the person who founded it, Lars Allen, after discovering a rich vein of iron. Also has a woodworking industry, receiving raw timber coming down the Shawbury River from Treelark and being turned into lumber and other finished goods.
New Cresthill: Westernmost town in Ellandria (though there are villages further west). Original town was destroyed by orc raiders long ago, and was rebuilt (hence “New” Cresthill). The outpost just outside of town holds a permanent garrison of troops to prevent a recurrence, given the continued presence of orc tribes in the foothills to the west.
¶ Villages
Treelark: West of Queensport and Larston, just north of a forest called the Spiderwoods. The timber industry in town sends timber down-river to Larston, but a local carpenter also makes some goods, mostly for local sale.
Squall's End: Small fishing village between Queensport and Mistharbor
Wolfpine: Northwest of Queensport, on the way to Barcombe, near the Ellingshire Forest. Strong lumber industry.
Lhanbryde: Fishing village west of Barcombe.
Rosemont: Farming village west of Queensport, on the road to New Cresthill.
Woodford: East of New Cresthill, near the Brudermere River and Brudermere Forest.
Devil's Fork: Village west of Woodford, on the fork in the river where Cold Creek meets the Brudermere River and flows south.
Hillford: South of New Cresthill, by the Crystal River and the Crystal Falls.
Greymeadow: South of Devil's Fork, on the Brudermere River, on the way to Clareview.
Walden's Fen: South of Clareview, on the Emerval River south of Lake Emerval. The swampy ground in this area has led to an large peat industry, used as fuel and in the local whiskey distillery.
Snowhaven: On the far southwest side of the kingdom, coastal village on the way to Vorndihm.
Goldcrest: Westernmost village, west of Snowhaven, on the way to Vorndihm. Located on the Gilded River, the village was named after a very brief gold rush. Due to its remote location and proximity to the foothills to the west, there is a military outpost nearby to protect against orc raiders.