Dawn territories

Astolat

Central, well defended, civilized and beautiful, the heartland of the nation contains the Citadel from which the country is governed and where the great Tourneys are held. It is famous for its rose gardens, and the offering of a single Astolat rose is considered the perfect gift of true love.

In the North of Astolat, the granite mountains are rich in ore, but in continual danger from the forest, the barbarians and the elements. Their mining and smithing inhabitants are tough, hardy and laconic, greatly dependent on imported food to maintain themselves, particularly in the depths of frozen winters. They know all too well their worth to the rest of the Nation, and to the Empire, and have on occasion pushed their luck politically.

Weirwater

This rocky territory is home of many weavers, and the noble houses here seem to have more than their fair share of war witches. The territory itself is scattered with deep forests, maintained untouched by the noble houses and said to be inhabited by Eternal Heralds, exotic beasts and an abundance of rare herbs. The people of Weirwater have a dark reputation with the people of Astolat and Semmerholm.

The largest settlement in Weirwater is Culwich, a large town with a few outlying villages. Culwich maitains a long tradition of flax and wool farming, and is said to produce some of the best materials for the use of weavers in the entire Empire. The local merchants have made much of this in recent years, and hold some political sway with the weavers, who in turn offer them fine woven goods to sell to mutual profit.

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.

Semmerholm

A national rarity in terms of its rich and fertile soil, 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 practice for nobles and a training method for young knights. If the forests were to be cleared it is possible that the farms of Semmerholm would become more productive, but whenever this is suggested the inhabitants simply laugh, or spit, and ask if the stranger has mistaken their beautiful home for some muddy Marcher field,

The Barrens

The easternmost territory of Dawn, the Barrens are little more than a series of long-established outposts, desperately holding the border against the barbarians. The land is rich and fertile and there have been several attempts to settle it more fully, but the continual threat from over the border has rendered this all but impossible. Nonetheless, the Dawnish refuse to abandon the Barrens, and focus their struggle on defending them and their sovereign border. The Senator for the Barrens is responsible for holding the border, and is heavily supported by levies of troops from other territories, and a large force of Knights-errant.