Mythic Vistas: SpirosBlaak - Property Is Theft!

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Duchy Population: 168,000 (68% human, 10% Rilgoth human, 8%
dwarves, 14% other).
Duchy Boundaries: Hemmed in by the River of Fire to the west
and the Swamp of Woe to the east, the Duchy of Hiltaenos
claims and patrols the lands up to the Wild Vode’s edge, north to
Fire Eye Mountain and south to the border of the Warder Hills.
Religions: Spiros and Shivanos.
Imports: Weapons, armor, and horses.
Exports: Soldiers, mercenaries, timber, stone, iron, bronze, and
lead.
Languages: Common and Rilgoth.
Alignments: Neutral good, neutral, and lawful good.
Hiltaenos is known as both the Warder of Light and the Crown of
Keeps. Considered the rustic sibling of the other duchies, Hiltaenos,
as one of the nation’s major strong points, is perhaps the greatest
contributor to the west’s warlike reputation. Home to the Daelian
War College and the Academy of Fellowship, the wide dirt roads of
this torch-lit, relatively primitive fortress-city always echo with the
perfectly timed marching of troops and the jangling of swords from
the pommels of war saddles. Unlike most cities of its size, Hiltaenos
contains no sewers. Instead, refuse and filth run through roadside
ditches to nearby creeks.
A single wall does not protect the city; most of the various
districts and blocks are protected within their own separate
fortifications. Thus, Hiltaenos appears as a series of small, crampedtogether
fortresses rather than an orthodox metropolis. Any
aacker aempting to take the city would have to partition his
forces to encircle and besiege each walled area individually, thereby
spreading his forces thin and requiring his troops to turn their backs
to one compound to assault another. This unconventional strategy
has been proven sound many times throughout Hiltaenos’ long
history of war and siege.
Relations
The other duchies, especially those to the south and east, view the
people of Hiltaenos as gruff and barbaric frontiersmen. Hiltaenos’
communication with the capital has always remained good, despite
Hiltaenos’ resentment of SpirosBlaak’s relationship with hated
Kirvos. Hiltaenos maintains an amicable relationship with Vas,
although Vas tirelessly complains about Hiltaenos’ training and
deployment of war magi. However, the military hierarchy of the
Crown of Keeps naturally irritates peaceful Askalan. And, of course,
the funding needed to maintain Hiltaenos’ numerous soldiers and
schools has always incensed Dreij’s bean counters.
Locations of Note
The following are locations of note in Hiltaenos.
Academy of Fellowship
The academy’s stone fortress rises from a hill and claims almost 200
acres of the city’s eastern outskirts. The fortress houses a stables and
a student barracks within the shadows of its high walls. Initiated
academy members in good standing handpick the academy’s
potential Sentinels. When the chosen students prove their mele
and are accepted into the academy, they join the most elite force of
fighting men and women in all the Archduchy.
Daelian War College
The Daelian War College twists through the city’s core like a great
tree with rambling roots. The college’s main compound sits at its
center like a stone bole, while the various campuses of this celebrated
institute intermingle amongst the civilian structures. The college’s
buildings stand out among the city’s edifices, however. Each structure
is marked by distinctive decorations of war and the haughty, brash
Chapter Four: Customs, Communities, and Geography
students milling about them. The campuses are divided by their focus
of study, which include, but are not limited to, the schools of siege
engineering, bale alchemy, firearms, archery (bow and crossbow),
scouting, cavalry combat, infantry combat, strategy and tactics,
advanced strategy, logistics, officer’s training, and combat medicine.
Schools of divine combat casting and an academy for Hiltaenos’
renowned war magi were both added within the past two centuries.
People of Note
The following are people of note in Hiltaenos.
Duke Paratros Daelian XXVI
Male Spiran 6th-level fighter, LG.
The youngest son and a distinguished centurion, Paratros grew up
expecting, at most, to lead men into bale; he never thought he’d rule
an entire city. When Savior assassins slew his entire family while he
was away on maneuvers with his legion, the young warrior inherited
the throne. Paratros, a strong youngster of unassuming looks, knows
lile of diplomacy, even less of bureaucracy, and has no patience for
either despite his line’s long history as talented administrators and
conscientious rulers. Only the years ahead can reveal whether or not
the new duke is up to the role thrust upon him.
Lord Guardian Marcus Artaenias
Male Spiran 8th-level fighter/10th-level Sentinel, NG.
The tall, broad, one-eyed Lord Guardian commands the Sentinels
of the Homeguard and serves as the Academy of Fellowship’s
headmaster. Although technically answerable to the See in Vas,
Artaenias suspects the depths of the Church’s corruption, and so
he acts with more independence than the Pontiff likes. There are
rumors in the See of Vas Artaenias will be removed because of
his age, frailness, and failing memory. Those who know Marcus
Artaenias know his memory is sharp and his body remains strong
and healthy.
The Silver Dragoons
The dragoons are a brotherhood of knights, all of noble birth,
dedicated to protecting the Archduchy of SpirosBlaak from
lycanthropes. Although these cavaliers abide by a code of honor (of a
sort), to a one they hate and despise all kav, and have commied many
atrocities against the shapeshiers. The dragoons are easily recognized
by their pristine silver-plated armor and dragonskull helms.
Kannis, the Stout Stone
Lord Marshal of the Western Watch Gaffidious
Bordistole
Symbol: A yellow heraldic shield containing
a many-branched tree with eyes for fruit.
Population: 6,000 (60% human, 14% Rilgoth
human, 6% halfling, 2% elven, 5% halfelven,
13% other).
Special Population:100 Barbas Fusiliers, 2
Archducal infantry legions, 2 Archducal
artillery legions, 2 Archducal cavalry
maniples, 3 Archducal siege legions, 200 Sentinels of the Homeguard.
Religions: Spiros and Sycleese.
Imports: Foodstuffs and complex tools.
Exports: Timber, fur, and stone.
Languages: Common and Rilgoth.
Alignments: Neutral good, chaotic good, and neutral evil.
Considered a holding of the entire Archduchy, beholden to no one
duke, Kannis is a vital extension of man’s taming of the Wildlands.