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

Legend has it that the village of Weirwater pursued a crusade against Mages, many years ago. For their crimes, the Weavers drowned the village far beneath the water, where on stormy nights the church bells can still be heard ringing in the depths of the great lake. Legend aside, this barren and rocky territory is the home of the College of Weavers, where the great magical traditions are passed on in a lakeside tower.

The largest settlement in Weirwater is Culwich, a small city with a few outlying villages. Culwich maitains a long tradition of flax and wool farming here, meaning that the Weavers of Weirwater are tied very closely to them for supply of raw materials. The local merchants have made much of this in recent years, and hold some political sway with the Weavers.

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. Although reasonably central it provides good ground for training Knights, and any laxity in protection would be fatal to both Semmerholm and to the nation's food supply.?

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.