### **Rostland – The Land of Blades and Rebellion** #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Rostland - **Type:** Feudal Region (Southern Brevoy) - **Region:** **Southern Brevoy, bordering [[Issia]], [[Mivon]], and the Stolen Lands** - **Scale & Population:** **Densely populated (~450,000 people), rich in trade and agriculture**, but **simmering with unrest**. - **Primary Inhabitants:** - **Humans (Majority, Rostlandic Nobles & Commoners)** – Descendants of **proud warriors, farmers, and merchants**, many bitter toward **[[House Surtova]]**. - **Elves & Half-Elves** – **Many live as exiled duelists or scholars**, maintaining old Aldori traditions. - **Halflings & Other Minorities** – Thriving among **merchant communities and swordlord households**. - **Climate & Terrain:** - **Mild summers, cold but short winters**, and **fertile plains**, making it **ideal for farming and horse breeding**. - **Rolling grasslands and temperate forests**, cut by **rivers and trade roads leading to Restov and beyond**. #### **Geography & Layout** - **Key Features & Landmarks:** - **[[Restov]] (Capital of Rostland):** A city of **swordplay, dueling academies, and brewing rebellion**, ruled by **[[Aldori Council]]**. - **The Aldori Academy:** The **legendary school of swordplay**, training the finest duelists in the Inner Sea. - **The South Rostland Plains:** A vast **agricultural heartland**, feeding both **Rostland and the growing Stolen Lands settlements**. - **The Swordlords’ Enclaves:** Secretive strongholds **scattered across the region**, where **the Aldori plan their next move against [[House Surtova]]**. - **The Rostlandic Marches:** A contested border region, where **many nobles secretly arm militias against Issian rule**. - **The Gronzi Forest:** A dense woodland **shared with Issia**, rumored to **hide exiles, rebels, and forgotten ruins**. - **Notable Cities & Settlements:** - **[[Restov]]:** The de facto **capital of Rostland**, where **duels settle political conflicts**. - **[[Serenko]]:** A **fortified trade town on the border of Issia**, under constant **political pressure from [[House Surtova]]**. - **[[Varnhold]]:** A growing **frontier settlement**, serving as a **buffer against the Stolen Lands’ dangers**. - **Connections & Accessibility:** - **Roads Connect Rostland to Brevoy’s Wealth:** The region **feeds and supplies much of Brevoy’s population**, making it **vital to the kingdom’s economy**. - **River Trade is Limited by Issia:** The **rivers leading to the Lake of Mists and Veils are controlled by [[House Surtova]], stifling trade**. - **Restov’s Trade Routes Remain Strong:** **Mivon, Pitax, and the River Kingdoms provide alternate markets**, despite Issian interference. #### **Culture & Society** - **Local Governance:** - **Ruled by The [[Aldori Council]]**, a powerful group of swordlords, merchants, and nobles. - **Noble families are divided between those who serve [[House Surtova]] and those who dream of independence**. - **Dueling is a Core Tradition:** Many political and legal matters **are settled with swords rather than words**. - **Economy & Trade:** - **Agriculture & Livestock:** Rostland’s **rich farmlands** provide **Brevoy’s food supply**, but **recent conflicts have disrupted production**. - **Mercenary Companies & Swordplay Schools:** **Wealthy nobles train warriors and sell their services to foreign courts.** - **Smuggling & Black Market Trade:** Many Rostlanders **circumvent [[House Surtova]]’s economic stranglehold** through illegal trade. - **Religion & Beliefs:** - **Gorum (War & Strength)** is the dominant faith, particularly among **swordlords and warriors**. - **Erastil (Community & Farming)** is widely worshiped among **farmers and tradespeople**. - **Abadar (Trade & Law)** is followed by **merchants and city officials**, but is **weaker than in Issia**. - **Laws & Customs:** - **Dueling is the Law of the Land:** Anyone **who refuses an honorable duel is seen as weak and dishonorable**. - **Oaths Hold Great Power:** Breaking a sworn promise **is worse than death in Rostlandic culture**. - **The Surtova Decree:** [[House Surtova]] has **banned open discussion of rebellion**, forcing swordlords to **plan in secret**. - **Languages Spoken:** - **Common, Taldane (Rostlandic Dialect), Aldori Battle Cant (used among duelists), Elven (spoken by old noble houses).** #### **History & Lore** - **Origins & Founding:** - **Rostland was once an independent nation**, ruled by **the Aldori Swordlords** before Brevoy’s unification. - When **Choral the Conqueror** invaded, Rostland **fought fiercely but was ultimately subjugated**. - **Many noble families resent the Issian occupation**, and **some still hold ambitions of restoring Rostland’s independence**. - **Major Historical Events:** - **Choral’s Conquest:** The battle **between Aldori Swordlords and Choral’s dragons devastated Rostland**. - **The Rogarvian Disappearance:** When House Rogarvia **vanished overnight**, many Rostlanders hoped for **independence, only for [[House Surtova]] to seize power instead**. - **The Stolen Lands Charter:** Restov’s leadership **granted charters to groups like Rivermarch**, hoping to expand **without direct conflict with [[House Surtova]]**. - **Current Conflicts or Issues:** - **Restov’s Political Tightrope:** The [[Aldori Council]] seeks to **undermine [[House Surtova]] while avoiding open war**. - **The Stolen Lands’ Role:** Many Rostlanders **see settlements like Rivermarch as potential allies against Issia**. - **Noble Houses are Divided:** Some support **loyalty to Brevoy**, while others **seek to break free**. - **Rumors & Mysteries:** - **The Lost Aldori Blade:** A legendary **sword lost during Choral’s invasion** is said to be hidden **somewhere in Rostland**. - **A Secret War Council:** Some claim that **a hidden group of nobles is already plotting open rebellion**. - **The Phantom Duelist:** Stories tell of **a masked swordsman appearing to challenge only the most corrupt nobles**. #### **Notable NPCs & Factions** - **Key Figures:** - **[[Jamandi Aldori]]:** One of the most powerful **swordlords**, leading the charge for **Rostland’s autonomy**. - **[[Ioseph Sellemius]]:** The **Lord Mayor of Restov**, trying to balance **political survival and his loyalty to the Aldori**. - **[[Gorin Falx]]:** A **wealthy merchant-lord**, playing both sides in the conflict between Rostland and Issia. - **[[Katrina Orlovsky]]:** A noblewoman **secretly funding resistance movements**, hoping to **topple [[House Surtova]]**. - **Factions or Power Groups:** - **[[Aldori Council]]** – The ruling body of **Restov and the remnants of the Aldori Swordlords**. - **[[The Southern Trade Confederacy]]** – A group of **merchants seeking to cut [[House Surtova]] out of Rostland’s economy**. - **[[The Black Blades]]** – A secret society of **duelists who believe only war can free Rostland from Issia’s grip**. - **[[The Iron Pact]]** – A faction of nobles **who believe peaceful negotiations are still possible with [[House Surtova]]**.