Seahaven, the North Province

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A Brief History of Seahaven

A few decades ago, the northern coast of the North Province was a quiet and even dull, if somewhat cold, place to live. Life could be difficult for those unprepared for the harsh winter weather or local peculiarities of climate. But, although the region possessed poor farming and grazing land, the sea provided a rich bounty and met with the land to create a region of striking natural beauty. The land prospered well enough with an economy of fishing, whaling, trade and homecrafts. Many small, independant, self-sufficient ports dotted the coast, each a veritable kingdom in miniature.

Before the Great Kingdom turned on the North Province, the region that is now Seahaven was already having trouble. The initial assault of humanoids from the Bone March included several invading warships of hobgoblins (supported by their koalinch cousins). While this invading force was ultimately defeated by the Scottish forces, they wrecked havoc along most of the northern seacoast. Not only were towns sacked and ships burnt to their waterline, but marine life was hunted out.

Enter the Great Kingdom's "re-conquest" force. The Malachite Throne sent its navies northward, establishing bases in the ruins of the former seaports. From these centers, the Baklunish people of the North Province were either conscripted for service to "the Motherland" or put to the sword. The lands and people were raped of their resources; fed to the war-machine from the south.

Then, in one night, the forces of the Great Kingdom departed. The Highland army had liberated the northern coast. The occupation survivors rejoiced and prepared to rebuild...

But the Royal coffers were empty and the Great Kingdom still had forces in Province lands to the south. There was no gold to repair the damage or even see the townsfolk through the winter. What's more, many regions had been nearly depopulated and very few nobles remained anywhere. So the heroes came up with a plan; to sell titles (perpetual feudal lairdships) for those lands without nobles of their own.

And so it is that Raitan Drake, a half-Arabian sea captain, came to be laird of a Scotish port town.

Raitan had joined the Highland forces some months before. A royal privateer for the crown of Furyondy, in the name of Queen Damelia, Raitan (personally and single-handedly) declared war against the Great Kingdom navy and the Malachite Throne itself. With his tiny skiff, the Seawolf, and his crew of adventuring companions, Raitan shattered 'Kingdom blockades and sacked 'Kingdom battleships. For 15,000gp, Raitan purchased the Lairdship to a small cove and its surrounding regions. Dubbing the area Seahaven, he got to work planning a new port.

Raitan chose Seahaven because it's a natural harbor, a large shallow bay with a saddle at the ocean mouth. After some work, Raitan felt he could establish a large and prosperous port city here. The mariner set to work importing timber and personally teaching the fisherfolk and shipwrights the layouts for newer, more capable vessels. Knowing that he had little understanding or tolerance for running the day-to-day working of a fiefdom, Raitan enlisted the support of his long-time friend, Tetsuko no Kuwahara.

Tetsuko made up for Raitan's brusque and lacsidasical manner. She quickly snapped the inhabitants into shape while Raitan commanded the navies of the North Province on a single, massive counter-assault against the Great Kingdom. Raitan returned from his military success to a town rebuilding itself from ruin.

And then a miracle happened...

Tetsuko strode smoothly into the surf at the center of the bay. She called out in her foreign tongue, as if requesting a favor of the gods. Arms out stretched and head thrown back, she continued to call to something "beyond". Suddenly, as a sculpture shapes her work, two huge "hands" of surf and sand rose out of the bay and reshaped the region, pulling the water aside and creating a large, flat, level island of solid rock in the middle of the bay.

And so the township of Seahaven was established.

The fief of SeaHaven consists of only a partial hex. Although Raitan's reputation and status both as an adventurer and liberator of the Highlands prevented any objections to him assuming the mantle of Laird of SeaHaven, there has been some concern due to his non-Baklunish heritage. Born and raised in the far-off lands of Zakhara, many of the inhabitants of SeaHaven and nearby fiefs were concerned that Laird Drake would not respect local traditions. The fact that his second-in-command is another foreigner only furthered this anxiety.

Many of the nobles felt the logical answer was to marry Raitan to a Baklunish woman who could guide him in cultural matters. Although Raitan's reputation as a womanizer is known far and wide, he did not seem overly attracted to any of the nobles' daughters he met. Then Glenn Torbrean, former General of the Highland Army and hero of the assault on Atirr, casually introduce Raitan to his sister, Flora, when she returned home. It was love at first sight. Flora's fiery temper and unusual way of looking at the world smote Raitan. Within a year the couple was wed. Although Flora is seen as a very odd and strange wizardess, she does have the Sight and is of good Baklunish stock. The couple has thus far had two children, Kitara (Kitty) and Rory, both of which are being raised according to local customs. It would appear that Flora has taught both children as well as Raitan the intricacies of her native tongue as well.

Thumbnail of SeaHaven regional map
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SeaHaven is extremely well-situated on the coast. Although a small fief, it is a very prosperous seaport. None of Raitan's neighboring nobles have expressed any problem with his fief or rule in many years. Indeed, the majority of the coast has settled back into the quiet way of life that preceeded the Highlands Wars.

Meanwhile, Raitan maintains contacts with other fiefs and nations, both near and far. In the North Province, SeaHaven's greatest ally is probably the fief of Ian Northbrook's, Angel's Forge. Ian (although NOT Raitan) in turn has ties to Navroc MacCorvals domain of Irongate as well as the holdings of Bellport.

Other contacts Raitan maintains are a tennuous link with Furyondy (where Raitan remains the sole Royal Privateer), especially the fief of Amberwood, ruled by his cousin Baron Moorak Drake. Raitan also remains on a first name basis with Arch-Duchess Damelia St Karlon, the former Queen.

The invasion of the Wolfen.

Some of the heroes and adventurers who live in the Domain of Seahaven include:

Other nearby and/or allied visitors

Questions? Comments? Funny stories? Lemme know...

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