Populace: Humans, Plains Barbarians (Duchy of Armandy), Sea Barbarians (Duchy of Edessa); 3,023,000 people
Capital:Westmarch (pop. 57,600)
Government: absolute monarchy
His Most August Majesty, Defender of the Eastern Passes,
Duke of the Lenindral, Protector of the Dragonwall, Morann Larkenneld, King of Cassenddy Lyam Demmonder, Lord Protector of the East Coren Larkenneld, Duke Palatine of Koblenz National Alignment: Lawful Good
Languages: Kingdom, Karmani*, Stykllian* (*=minor)
Cassenddy is a major kingdom in the far north governed by His Most August magesty, Morann Larkenneld, King of Cassenddy. Cassenddy is divided up into ten Duchies and the Eastern Realms, each of which are controlled by one of the ten Great Houses - Allondrelle, Barrington, Coriandred, Demmonder, Giddellan,
Huntleign, Koromere, Larkenneld, Prysclan, and Westmorlan. The peasants of Cassenddy tend to be good-aligned, hard working folk, but many are wary nowadays, after the tremedous beating Cassenddy took in the Dark Wars.
Geography: Cassenddy stretches from Halfor Bay in the west to the Wolfsbaen mountains in the far east. The Cape Brennen highlands in the southwest rise up to the Iron Hills and the Dangaard Mountains. The Dangaard River flows east from Cam Malvern to that region through a beautiful, wide, wooded valley bordered on the south by the Dangaard Mountains. To the north stretch the majestic woods of the Tittley Forest, which are well patrolled by the King's wardens. The valley of the Tarallon River from Rylkennen to Westmarch is the 'breadbasket' of Cassenddy, with some of the richest farmland in the Northlands. North of the mouth of the Tarallon, lies the forbidding Whelksmarsh. In the north, the Pelorrian Highlands are home to several tribes of Plains Barbarians. A range of hills just west of the Dragonwall have been the traditional border between eastern and western lands. In the southeast, there is a large wooded basin in which Cam Malvern is roughly center. These woods are full of unnatural things and are avoided by most sensible people. The northern section of the Borderlands is also farmlands, but much more rocky than the Tarallon Valley. The Wolfsbaen Mountains are very forbidding and home to many wild animals. Travel in that region is severely discouraged.
History:
400 Pd - establishment of the Imperial Marches of Cassendiae
12 Pd - Lenindral valley rebels against Imperial rule
1 Pd - Battle of Fallen Boulders and the defeat of Wilamyrand
0-200 Fd - Cassenddy was just a collection of petty fiefdoms
390-394 Fd - Ogre wars where humanoids sweep into Karming and Cassenddy but were beaten back.
596 Fd - The Kingdom of Cassenddy is established under the leadership of the Duke of Koblenz, Merlyn, when the Treaty of the Great Houses was signed.
730 Fd - Cassenddy joined with the Knights of the Swords to defeat the mage Mebraam.
788-796 Fd - War of the Light when Cassendian armies led attacks on the humanoids of the Crystal Mysts and captured the Lenindral Valley for Cassenddy.
874 Fd - Barons' Rebellion when 8 western lords killed King Reynard II and the Dukes of Rylkennen and Cam Delor in Westmarch before the Duke Palatine crushed the revolt.
924 Fd - in the Two Mountains War, Andalusia broke away from Cassenddy
1174 Fd - King Karl IV's plans to unite with Alamayn through the marriage of his daughter were foiled by the kidnapping of the groom, the Provost of Alamayn
1179-83 Fd - Dark Wars
1184 Fd - the Royal Chancellor of Westmarch disappeared while hunting in the King's Park in Westmarch
Politics: Cassenddy is divided into ten Duchies: Anvard, Armandy, Brunn, Edessa, Kiergaard, Kilmirren, Koblenz, Nordmaling, Selland, and Wallachia. Each Duchy is in turn divided into Baronies, Earldoms and various other lands including Church lands and freemens' lands. The Church of Kammerlein has some church lands south of Westmarch, centered around the Prelacy of Montressor. In addition, the Eastern Realm consists of the eastern portion of Cassenddy and is ruled by the Lord Protector in Cam Malvern.
All nobles in Cassenddy belong to one noble house or another, and each noble house is headed by a High Seat. The ten Great Houses, Allondrelle, Barrington, Coriandred, Demmonder, Giddellan, Huntleign, Koromere, Larkenneld, Prysclan, and Westmorlan, each have possession of one or two Duchies and have great political power. The Great Houses also have some connection and claim to the Northern Throne, and the ten houses approve the new king, if the previous king has not named a successor. The numerous other minor houses have large land holdings and some have titles and political office, but they do not each wield very much power. Nobility in Cassenddy have some degree of legal immunity and in most regions are respected by the peasantry. They get taxes from their lands and offices, and in turn, pay the King taxes and levies in times of war.
There is much conspiring among the nobles for various schemes and alliances are quickly forged and broken. In the Eastern Realms, the Lord Protector holds more sway over the local nobles than the King, and there is a constant power struggle between the two men. Many minor houses ally or marry themselves into a Great House to get their ends achieved.
The Kings of Cassenddy
Military Units: The Kingsguard is the national army of Cassenddy; it is seperated into divisions roughly along the duchy divisions. The divisions include the Iron Hills Brigade (Edessa) and the Dunstany Guard (Borderlands). Special units include the Royal Highlanders from Nordmaling. The Lord-General is the commander-in-chief of the King's armies in Cassenddy; he is Alvon Westmorlan. The Counsel-General is a general, usually retired, that serves as the military counsel for the King of Cassenddy. He does not have as much power in the army as the Lord-General. The Lord-Admiral of Cassenddy's extensive navy is Raphael Wickes, a distant relation of Westmorlan.
22nd Royal Light Foot "Hendershot's Hellraisers" were killed off in a heroic battle early in the Dark Wars when they were the only unit in the way of a large invasion force and were able to stall it long enough so that the lowlands could ready a defense.
13th Royal Pikes "Dunstany's Glory" (Dunstany Guard)
His Highness's Own Royal Artillerists (Tarallon Brigade) is a body of 120 artillerists and engineers who man 4 heavy and 6 light catapults.
The Lord Marshall-General's Life Guard (Coastal Brigade)
Major Cities:
Cam Delor - principal Eastern Realms port; ice-locked seven months of the year; capital of the Duchy of Brunn; pop. 10,980;
Cam Malvern - capital of the Eastern Realms; Lord Protector has more power here than the King; population - 19,100;
Candelbury - large town located in the foothills of the Dragonwall; capital of the Duchy of Wallachia; pop. 9,000;
Hasthness - a seaport on the head of the Dangaard River; the sigil of Hasthness is a gray castle against the waves on a field of white; capital of the Duchy of Edessa; pop. 33,610;
Humberside - major market town at junction of Humber and Tarallon Rivers in eastern Selland Duchy; pop. 990;
Kelgaard - trading town on the Dangaard River east of Meinheim; capital of the Duchy of Anvard; pop. 7,140;
Marmurg - trading town on the divide between northern and southern Borderlands; pop. 870;
Mecklenberg - large town in east of Rylkennen along the Tarallon River; capital of the Duchy of Selland; pop. 9,750;
Meinheim - important trading town on the Dangaard River; northern terminus of West Pass Highroad; population - 17,900; capital of the Duchy of Kiergaard;
Mentrey - town southwest of Westmarch; capital of the Prelacy of Montressor; pop. 1,350;
Northwarden - a Borderfort and small town on the pass between the upper Rydel basin and Lenindral Valley; ruled by Lord Pommeron, Baron Northwarden; pop. 4,720; under siege by the Witchlord's forces;
Rel Eldora - north of Rylkennen on the coast; famous for its mages and academies and the Mages of the Coast; capital of the Duchy of Nordmaling; pop. 29,020;
Rylkennen - largest city in Cassenddy; important port on mouth of Tarallon River; population - 59,900; capital of the Duchy of Armandy;
Tubringen - small university town on the south shore of Great Star Lake; home to Tubringen College; still recovering from the Witchlord's partial burning of the town;
Warchester - capital of the Duchy of Kilmirren; pop. 6,490;
Westmarch - capitol of Cassenddy; a large, beautiful city full of white palaces and expansive parks;
Important People:
Allondrelle, Seldric - High Seat of House Allondrelle; Geneva's husband; Duke of Edessa;
Aves - Cardinal of Kammerlein for Cam Malvern where it is the dominent religion;
Barrington, Cariel - High Seat of House Barrington; Duchess of Kilmirren;
Coriandred, Roland - Duke of Kiergaard; High Seat of House Coriandred;
Demmonder, Francis - Duke of Anvard;
Demmonder, Lyam - Lord Protector of the East; High Seat of House Demmonder;
Dunstead, Willam - Royal Chancellor and Baron Muhlhausen; he was appointed by Karl IV right before his death; related to House Giddellan; he replaced the former Chancellor, who disappeared under unusual circumstances;
Gatrucy, Enata - Holy Censor of Kammerlein for King Morann's court; a weak-willed man;
Giddellan, Michael - Duke of Brunn; High Seat of House Giddellan;
Heiker, Kaidy - a former adventurer who runs a tavern and outfitters in Cam Malvern, the Eastern Darkness Trading Company and Ale-house;
Huntleign, Albaerin - High Seat of House Huntleign; Duke of Selland;
Koromere, Bassin - High Seat of House Koromere; Duke of Wallachia;
Larkenneld, Coren - Duke Palatine of Koblenz; he connived his way into the Dukeship and has bigger and better plans; Morann's cousin;
Larkenneld, Karl IV - The late King of Cassenddy, he had a son 23 years ago, but both his wife and son died from birthing complications. Karl died five years ago in a hunting accident.
Larkenneld, Morann - current King of Cassenddy, Protector of the Dragonwall, Defender of the Eastern Passes; High Seat of House Larkenneld; brother of Karl;
Larkenneld, Ruby san Koromere - Queen of Cassenddy; married to Morann; Bassin's niece;
Larkenneld, Torianna Elkund - Queen of Cassenddy; wife of Karl; died 23 years ago;
Prysclan, Marlies - High Seat of House Prysclan; Duke of Nordmaling; mage from a family of mages;
Prysclan, Wilhelm - the man who really runs Rel Eldora while Marlies researches magic; Marlies' cousin;
Raehle, Tyamos - Prelate of Montressor, who is controlling Enata Gatrucy; priest of Kammerlein;
Reggis of Westmarch - Cassenddian Court Magician;
Resoln, Lady Kyel - female Knight-Lieutenant of the Swords; head of the Swordslands delegation to the court in Westmarch;
Reussel, Coren - spymaster for the King; evil man who only cares about getting information; doesn't hesitate to sacrifice his contacts if necessary;
Westmorlan, Alvon - Duke of Armandy, Lord Marshall-General of the Kingsguard;
Wickes, Raphael - Lord High-Admiral of the Cassenddian Navy; relation of Alvon Westmorlan;
Kingdom of Cassenddy
