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| Dawn is relatively flat, dotted with expanses of largely untamed forest and rocky crags. The forests are maintained by the noble houses of Dawn as part hunting preserve and part training ground. They are home to wild animals, bandits, monsters and ruins, and occasionally these inhabitants cause trouble for nearby villages. | | Dawn is relatively flat, dotted with expanses of largely untamed forest and rocky crags. The forests are maintained by the noble houses of Dawn as part hunting preserve and part training ground. They are home to wild animals, bandits, monsters and ruins, and occasionally these inhabitants cause trouble for nearby villages. |
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| ==Astolat== | | === Territories === |
| Central, well defended, civilized and beautiful, Astolat is the heartland of the nation. It is famous for its rose gardens, and the offering of a single Astolat rose is considered the perfect gift of true love (as in the Dawnish song [[The Rose Garden]]). In the north of Astolat, the majestic granite mountains are rich in ore, but occasionally threatened by their proximity to the wild forests which shelter beasts, barbarians and bandits.
| | * [[Astolat]] |
| | | * [[Weirwater]] |
| Near the centre of Astolat is the Castle of Thorns, the seat of the old Dawnish Kings and Queens. Given over now to a great park, and almost completely engulfed in rose bushes, the Castle of Thorns serves as an academy for the training of civil servants, and is where most of the day-to-day business of running the Nation takes place. Each Dawnish Senator has apartments within this beautiful edifice, decorated with the produce and images of the territory they represent.
| | * [[Semmerholm]] |
| | | * [[The Barrens]] (never conquered) |
| The River of Sighs runs past the Castle of Thorns. This wide, deep, fast flowing river was the site of the First Empress' legendary leap that won her entry to the house of Cevise. Traditionally set as a challenge for yeomen who were considered to be seeking to rise above their station, there are still knights-errant today who try to duplicate the Empress' jump, and the majority of those who fail are swept away and drowned.
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| ==Weirwater==
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| The craggy hills of Weirwater are home of many weavers, and the noble houses here seem to have more than their fair share of witches. The territory itself is scattered with deep forests, maintained untouched by the noble houses and inhabited by Eternal Heralds, exotic beasts and an abundance of rare herbs. The caves of Weirwater have a dark reputation with the people of Dawn, and are said to contain mysterious magics.
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| The largest settlement in Weirwater is Culwich, a large town with a few outlying villages. Culwich has a long tradition of farming and is said to produce some of the best flax and wool in the Empire. The local merchants have influence with the weavers, who in turn offer them fine woven goods to sell to mutual profit.
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| Legend has it that long ago the Earl of Sedaret pursued a crusade against several cabals of weavers who refused to recognise her authority. At the height of a great banquet, thrown by the Earl to celebrate her apparent victory over the weavers, a great bell began to toll and the castle and its surrounding village was drowned beneath great waves and unrelenting rain. It is said by the people of Culwich that on Winter nights of the new moon when the sky is clear one can still hear bells ringing in the depths of the great lake, and see lights that are said to be those of the drowned Earl and her noble household, still celebrating in the depths.
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| ==Semmerholm==
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| Semmerholm produces the majority of the nation's food, though it is closely surrounded by thick and dangerous forests. The dark forests here are home to vicious beasts, including boars, lions and bears, and hunting is a regular pastime for nobles. There are several well-fortified castles here at various strategic points along the border, protecting Semmerholm from the barbarians of the Barrens, The senator for Semmerholm is responsible for holding the border. This responsibility tends to weigh heavily on the head of the Semmerholm senator, with the realisation that if they fail at their task this will be the first land lost to the barbarians in Dawnish history.
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| ==The Barrens (never conquered)==
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| The barrens describes an unconquered area to the east of Semmerholm. Dawn maintains a series of long-established outposts on the western edge that reinforce the border against the barbarians. The land is rich and fertile and there have been several attempts to settle it more fully, but the presence of several barbarian bandit tribes makes establishing permanent settlements impossible. Between 325 AE and 328 AE the barrens were the scene of a short-lived rogue kingdom called Montane following the events of the [[Freedom Heresy]]. Since then a large proportion of the territory has been in the hands of agressive barbarian orcs.
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| Nonetheless, the Dawnish refuse to abandon the Barrens and it serves as a common proving ground for knights-errant.
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| [[Category:Dawn]] | | [[Category:Dawn]] |
| [[Category:Territories]]
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| [[Category:Nations]] | | [[Category:Nations]] |