The Barrens
Overview
The Barrens describes an area to the east of Semmerholm never conquered by the Empire. Dawn maintains a series of long-established outposts on the western edge that reinforce the border against the barbarians. In general the Barrens is rich and fertile but it's natural resources are almost entirely unexploited. There have been several attempts to settle it more fully, but the presence of several barbarian bandit tribes makes establishing permanent settlements impossible. Nonetheless, the Dawnish refuse to abandon their foothold in the Barrens and it serves as a common proving ground for knights-errant.
Between 325 YE and 328 YE 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.
Recent History
The Druj barbarians have dominated the eastern Barrens for a little over a century. They ruthlessly dominated the disparate barbarian tribes who had lived there previously, and installed themselves as overlords. They used the central position of the Barrens to co-ordinate attacks on Holberg and Reikos; depleted armies would withdraw to the Barrens, and be replaced by fresh armies. This came to a dramatic end in Winter last year when an Imperial force ambushed and slaughtered the Druj leaders in the Barrens. This triggered an armed revolt among the subject tribes that continues today.
The indigeonous orcs have been engaging in a campaign of slaughter against every Druj enclave they can find. Druj prisoners are generally hung from the nearest branch capable of holding their weight, leading to horrifying encounters with literally dozens of dead orcs hanging from hempen nooses wherever the two orc factions have clashed. They appear unconcerned with the Dawnish citizens in Dawnguard, but it is impossible to predict what they will do once the Druj are dealt with.
Major Features
Drycastle
Towers of the Dawn
Along the western borders of the Barrens are four massively built white granite tower-keeps collectively known as the Towers of Dawn. This great fortification serves as a base of operation for Dawnish knights exploring the Barrens, and a reminder to the orcs that while they may dominate the Barrens, they do not do so without opposition. During the Freedom Heresy, the towers were the sight to an atrocity as rebellious briars murdered the yeomen and knights assigned to the FIrst and Second towers. To this day, the garrisons of the Towers of Dawn are unfriendly towards briars - and woe betide anyone who supports the 'virtues' of freedom within their earshot.
The Spires of Dusk
Along the eastern borders of the Barrens are two spires of white granite and weirwood, studded with spikes and surrounded by multiple rows of sharpened spikes, moats and carefully constructed pit-traps and staged-quagmires. Only one safe approach exists to the towers, overlooked by archery posts, and the trees that surround this Druj fortification are thick with traps and poisonous beasts. Looking on the towers sends a thrill of fear up the spine of all save the bravest knights. They glare across the Barrens toward the Towers of Dawn, and dark tales speak of what happens to Dawnish or Navarri scouts captiured in the vicinity. Occasionally, the Druj masters of the fortress release prisoners from the towers, broken in body and mind and shattered in spirit, to spread tales of cruelty and terror within the Empire.
The Druj call this fortress The Jaws of Suffering; the Dawnish choose to refer to it as the Spires of Dusk and know that if they are ever to claim the Barrens for the Empire they will need to destroy this abominable castle.
Great Forest of Peytaht
The great forest stretches across the southern Barrens, and into Reikos to the south west. Stories from Highguard describe the forest as being possessed of some dark spirit - something that partakes more of the nature of a Varushkan sovereign than anything to do with the vallorn. The forest was said to be equally hostile to man and orc, and attempts by either Imperial or barbarian forces to explore the interior invariably met with tragedy - assuming they were ever heard of again. This changed in 367YE when the Druj launched a crippling surprise attack through the forest into Reikos.
A persistent rumour suggests the presence of a great grove of weirwood somewhere in its trackless interior but it has never been located.
Regions
Dawnguard
Dawnguard is the location of a number of Imperial settlements, the most prominent of which is Drycastle. It is still held, as a bastion against the creatures of the Barrens. It’s often under attack, with much glory waiting the brave knights who volunteer here for dangerous adventure. This is not a place for families.
Dawnguard is also the site of the Towers of the Dawn, the fortification that oversees the western borders of the Barrens. Keywords: Fortification; the Towers of the Dawn is a well-maintained fortification of rank two. Control: Drycastle is controlled by the Dawnish at this time.
Murderdale
Battle between orc forces and Imperial forces are common here, giving the region it's name. The soil here is particularly fertile, and there are a number of ruined villages that represent previous attempts by Imperials to settle the barrens.
Over the last six months, a steady stream of orcs from Broceliande have been marked moving from west to east. The presence of the Druj forces in the Carmine Fields, and their superstition of the forest of Peytaht to the south, means that several recent arrivals are taking up residence in this region – although there has been little conflict between the indigenous orcs and the Broceliande refugees.
Keywords: None Control: This region is currently under the control of the indigenous orc peoples
Heart of Peytaht
The great forest stretches across the southern Barrens, and into Reikos to the south west. Stories from Highguard that describe the forest as being possessed of some dark spirit appear to be based on fact. The deeper a force presses into the forest the more uneasy they feel – the more they report being watched, and the more certain they become that they are unwelcome. Imperial forces do not press into the forest. There is, however, no hint of discernable Vallorn presence here.
There appear to be no permanent orc forces in this forest, but a major Druj force has passed through this region in the last few months – but not without cost. Corpses are occasionally found huddled against the boles of the massive trees, or hung by their entrails from thick branches. The orcs appear to have died in agony and great terror.
On the north-eastern borders of the forest is a massive strand of weirwood trees, one that has clearly been cultivated for some time. The Eaves of Peytaht is the equivalent of a Bourse seat that produces a bounty of weirwood each season.
Keywords: Forest Control: This region is nominally uncontrolled – or rather it is controlled by neither the Imperials, the indigineous orcs nor the Druj. Major Resource: The Eaves of Peytaht is controlled by the indigineous orcs at this time; it is estimated that it might produce 25 wains of Weirwood each season in Imperial hands.
The Carmine Fields
The soil on these wide plains has a red colour which the fanciful might say is from blood but is moe likely due to a high clay quotient. This region is covered with isolated rice fields, and other crops that prosper on this kind of soil.
The region has clearly been settled by orc farmers and hunters for a very long time. However, there are signs of recent invasion; several settlements have been burnt to the ground and the populace enslaved.
Three druj armies are camped on the Carmine Fields, having recently emerged from the Heart of Peytaht.
Keywords: None Control: This region is controlled by the Druj orcs
Farweald
On the nothern side of the Barren Sea is a damp forest that rises slowly to the north-east. It is occupied by what seems to be several large groups of indigenous orcs who have built makeshift fortified camps along the rivers and the eastern borders. It would provide a strategic location from which to strike across the rivel into Holberg.
Keywords: Forest Control: This region is controlled by the indigenous orcs
Hopes Rest
In depth exploration of this region has tricky due to the rough terrain. Several times spies encounter well-hidden man-traps designed to kill – spiked pits, spring-loaded impaling arms and the like. The high hills surround a well fortified keep that appears to have only recently been completed. The southern slopes drop towards a large fresh-lake of brackish water on the other side of which are the marshy forests of Therunnin.
The fortification here, Dourfell Keep, is not manned by orcs but by humans. Imperial spies are not able to get a very close look at them but they appear to show signs of very strong briar lineage, and the castle itself appears to surround a strong Spring regio.
There are signs of recent fighting here, and the remains of dozens of rotted and skeletonised orc bodies nailed to trees, impaled on spikes and crucified on makeshift “x”s. Examination suggests strongly that these bodies belonged to Druj rather than indigenous orcs.
Keywords: Rugged, Fortification; Dourfell keep is a fortification of the first rank. Control: This region is nominally controlled by the indigenous orcs
The Untrod Groves
A deep, tangled forest that stretches from the hills of Hope's Rest to the very edge of the plain of teeth. The woods seem largely uninhabited by the orcs, and the only trails appear to be game trails, Trackless, it is easy to become lost in the groves – but reports also indidate that the woods are rich with untapped reserves of iridescent gloaming, beggarwood and dragonbone.
Keywords: Forest Control: This region is controlled by the indigienous orcs
Bitter Strand
The Barren sea is technically a great lake, but the waters are not drinkable – they are not as salty as the Bay of Catazaar but it is obvious that some mineral gives the waters a foul taste. They are home to a vicious species of predatory fish the size of an ox with armoured plates on the head.
The northern coast is relatively smooth, but the southern coast is scattered with islands, many of them inhabited. Conquering this region would be made considerably easier by the addition of forces skilled at fighting amphibious assaults, such as the Red Wind Corsairs.
Along the eastern coast of the Barren sea, where it narrows as it feeds into the Saltmarsh, are a series of perhaps a dozen massive rocky columns that rise out of the water here. Several similar columns protrude from the headlands around this area. There are obvious signs of mine workings, and observation indicates that there is mithril ore to recover. It appears that the mines are quite primitive – the constant threat of flooding and the natural difficulty of mining at sea mean the indigenous orcs are exploiting only a fraction of the potential of this resource.
Keywords: Coastal Control: This region is controlled by the indigenous orcs Major Resource: The Savage Teeth are controlled by the indigineous orcs at this time; it is estimated that it might produce 18 wains of Mithril each season in Imperial hand – or perhaps more if advanced Imperial mining techniques were employed to help deal with the difficult conditions here. This would require an initial investment of time and resources, but it is extremely unlikely that a civil servant could give an idea of what this would cost without unrestricted access to the area.
The Bleaks
The southern forests become danker and damper as Therunin gets closed. The woods are home to a number of orc clans, many of whom live in the branches of ancient trees. There are heavily wooded marshes in the south; there are occasional sightings of both hydra and small marshwalkers.
Keywords: Forest Control: This region is controlled by the indigenous orcs
Saltmarsh
The eastern Barren Sea floods out across a great flat basin that contains the Saltmarsh. It is covered with treacherous rivers and streams that shift their banks regularly and without warning. The place is thick with flies and mosquitos that leave nasty stinging welts on exposed flesh. The orcs who live here maintain huts on stilts, and also move about using long wooden stilts that occasionally give them the appearance of walking on water.
There appear to be a large number of herb gardens maintained here by the indigenous orcs, no doubt captured from the Druj during the rebellion.
Keywords: Marsh Control: The region is controlled by the indigenous orcs The Plains of Teeth
This area may once have been heavily forested but it has been ruthlessly cleared to provide building materials for the Spires of Dusk.
Along the eastern borders of the Barrens are two spires of white granite and weirwood, studded with spikes and surrounded by multiple rows of sharpened spikes, moats and carefully constructed pit-traps and staged-quagmires. Only one safe approach exists to the towers, overlooked by archery posts, and the trees that surround this Druj fortification are thick with traps and poisonous beasts. Looking on the towers sends a thrill of fear up the spine of all save the bravest knights. They glare across the Barrens toward the Towers of Dawn, and dark tales speak of what happens to Dawnish or Navarri scouts captiured in the vicinity. Occasionally, the Druj masters of the fortress release prisoners from the towers, broken in body and mind and shattered in spirit, to spread tales of cruelty and terror within the Empire.
The spires guard access to the Druj lands to the east. This abominable castle represents a significant fortification. Until very recently it was the site of a major siege by the indigenous armies. The presence of three new Druj armies in the east has effectively broken the siege for the time being.
Keywords: Fortification; the Spires of Dusk are a fortification of rank two. The walls have sustained light damage but the Druj garrison appears undimished by the attacks of indigenous orcs. Control: This region is under the control of the Druj Armed Forces
There are two main forces in the Barrens at this time.
OOC Note
- The Barrens is still in development.
- The Dawnish control at least one region which is the location of Drycastle and the Towers of the Dawn.
- The Barrens is considered to be under the control of the Druj.