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Willowdark

The Territories of Willowdark is a kingdom in east central Avalon founded in 601 by order of the Concordance of Avalon.

History

In 601, the Nations of Avalon chartered Sir Teerik Willowdark to begin an expedition to explore a strategically important valley that lay between several Kingdoms. The Willowdark Expedition traveled to this valley and began to map it and settle the area. Over the next few years, numerous small villages and towns were built, and friendly relations were established with local barbarian tribes, gypsy clans, and the Acralaun dwarves who live in the Turma mountains. Now known as the Territory of Willowdark, Sir Teerik signed the Accords of Avalon and the land was recognized as a member of the civilized community of Avalon and resigned his commission as a Knight of Avalon to focus himself entirely upon developing Willowdark from a frontier land into a civilized and established realm. Sir Teerik became the Lord Regent of the new territory, holding rulership in regency until it could be settled and built as a proper kingdom.

In late 604, Willowdark descended into civil war as the Lord Regent Willowdark's four lieutenants broke out into infighting and strife. Within the space of a few months, the Lord Regent went from controlling the whole of Willowdark to just the northwestern region of Fallwin. By spring of 605, adventurers from across Avalon had arrived in Willowdark to answer the Lord Regent's call to arms. Gathering in the small roadside inn known as Wayside Lodge and in the town of Hangman's Pass, adventurers met and begun to work to restore the rightful rule of Lord Regent Teerik Willowdark over all of the lands of Willowdark, as well as deal with the mercenary orcs and devious kobolds that call the land home as well as the elementals and undead that wander the countryside. In April of 607 the Warlord Lycor had been defeated and the Lord Regent's forces had reclaimed the region of Mintergaus.

Geography

Geographically, Willowdark is south of Stonegate and the Dragon Isles, to the east of Fengate, southwest of Izendorn?, and west of Wolvaera.

The Southern Sea is a small inland sea approximately 50 miles across that separates Stonegate from Willowdark, Wayside Lodge is the most prominent settlement on Willowdark's side of the Southern Sea. The Turma Mountains and it's foothills ring Willowdark on it's east, southeast and southern borders, with the volcanic Mount Therasta in the southwest as the highest peak. Several forests dot Willowdark, from the Great Southern Forest in northwestern Willowdark (named for being mostly in southern Dylleria), to the expansive Varna Forest in central and southwestern Willowdark, to the smaller Grey Forest in northwest Willowdark near the town of Hangman's Pass.

Willowdark is dotted by the ruins of an ancient civilization. It is not conclusive, but it is currently believed that these ruins date to the Hadran Empire. Small ruined towers and villages are scattered throughout Willowdark, with a massive ruined city in the center of Willowdark. This ruined city is currently a necropolis ruled by the Warlord Lannessa under the name Oblitiris?.

Politically, northeastern Willowdark is referred to as Fallwell, northwestern Willowdark is referred to as Mintergaus. Central Willowdark is called Aerikin, southwestern Willowdark is known as Halvanok, and southeastern Willowdark is Nannell.

Nobility and Leadership

The sovereign of Willowdark is Lord Regent Teerik Willowdark, who founded the realm while a Knight of the Concordance of Avalon. He is recognized by the Concordance of Avalon and all its member nations as a sovereign and independent state. Lord Regent Willowdark has also appointed a Council of Willowdark to advise him, composed of Lord Guilmaster Cirin Icerider, Lord Tel'Daarn Ebonwyrm, Chief Brell Ackralaun, Ambassador Lan Vrektu. The Archmage Mylorn does not hold an official position within the Willowdark government, but he is known to be a close and trusted advisor to the Lord Regent. Lord Regent Willowdark has elevated three nobles to help administer Willowdark. Lord Guildmaster Cirin Icerider is responsible for all affairs of trade, education and foreign relations, essentially tasked with developing Willowdark from a sparsely settled frontier into a settled Kingdom. Lord Ryric of Wayside is the Lord of Wayside Lodge? and Lord Tel'Daarn Ebonwyrm is the Lord of Elmrisen?. There are also a number of minor Knights in service to Willowdark. A number of commoners have been appointed to courtly station to help administer Willowdark, particularly a number of magistrates and sheriffs.

The Archmages

An enigmatic order of Archmages also lives in Willowdark. Their presence in Willowdark predates the Willowdark expeditions and they are independent of the Willowdark government or any outside organization, although they are friendly to the Willowdark government. The Archmages possess the power to cast incredibly powerful spells, similar to Dragon Magic.

Military of Willowdark

Willowdark is defended by three military services: The Militia, the Rangers, and the Elite Guard.

The Militia are citizen-soldiers, every able bodied adult male citizen of Willowdark is in theory a member of the militia. In practice, adult male residents of major settlements are organized into local platoons and companies. The Militia is responsible for the bulk of the defense of Willowdark. The officers of the Willowdark militia are drawn from among the commoner citizens.

The Rangers of Willowdark is an elite service that act as the eyes and ears of the sovereign of Willowdark. They act as spies, couriers, messengers, and personal envoys of the Soveriegn. Every member of the Rangers of Willowdark is considered to be of officer rank, although they normally operate independently of larger military structures.

The Elite Guard of the Lord Regent is a small order of Knights in direct service to the sovereign of Willowdark. They are his personal bodyguards and escorts, who sometimes act as heavy cavalry in major military actions. Every member of the Elite Guard is considered to be of officer rank and to be a minor Knight.

The Willowdark Taint

There is a subtle but definite magical taint upon the lands of Willowdark. It is too subtle to be noticed by a casual visitor, or by many residents, but it is strong nonetheless. The taint manifests by corrupting those who are powerful or highly ambitious and exposed to the taint for long periods of time, turning people into twisted versions of themselves. It is this taint that sparked the Willowdark Civil War, turning the Lord Regent's four closest lieutenants, including his wife, into twisted versions of themselves. His scout commander Lycor became a shadow-corrupted bandit leader, his General Tethrin became a lycanthrope of extreme power, his Celestial Wizard Blevin encased himself in a Mithril Golem. His wife Lannessa, a powerful Earth Wizard, was twisted into a vengeful necromancer. Briefly Lord Ryric was tainted and turned into a powerful ice elemental before his corruption was cured.

The spirit of the land of Willowdark is attempting to purge itself of this taint, and the will of the land has manifested itself in the form of a mighty artifact: the Box of Enhancement, and a number of minor artifacts. These artifacts have the power to purge corruption from subjects or protect subjects from being corrupted. It is believed by sages that these artifacts may one day be able to eliminate the Willowdark taint entirely.