Farthingale Duchy
From Dreams of Hope
The central, most heavily populated Duchy of Dreamshore. It covers the area from the Craan River along the foot of the Dreamwall Mountains west to the Cragholm River and includes most of the major cities and towns of Dreamshore. It is ruled by Duke Rakel Farthingale from Bradavon.
Counties
The counties are named after their seats, which are the largest town or city within the boundaries and the residence of the ruling yarl.
- Baile Craan
- The capital county of Dreamshore. Ruled by Lady Coldwind, it is only technically part of the duchy and does not actually pay any tribute. Borders are from the Craan River and running west until the Westmont River and one day's journey into the Dreamwall Mountains, making an overall triangular shape roughly 62 miles north/south by 50 miles east west at the widest point. Total land area: 1550 sq. mi. Total population: ~50k (~20k in the city itself).
- Montavon
- Ruled by the ihmisi Piela il Koa, this northern border county is the least well-connected of the counties of Farthingale, as well as the most rural. Montavon itself is a small city of only 3,000 people, and the northern lands are sparsely populated. It extends roughly along the mountain line from the Westmont River until the Cragholm Range and stretches south roughly half-way to Bradavon. Its people are hardy sheepfarmers and some of the most insular and backward people of the Duarchy. It's said that their family trees are more like family thorn bushes.
- Northaven
- Anchored by the large trading town of Northaven, this county has grown wealthy off of trade coming down from Cragholm and along the North Sheep Road. Ruled by Dorothea Northaven Farthingale, it's the least traditional and hidebound of the counties.
- Bradavon
- The seat of the duchy, Bradavon is dominated by halflings and apiaries, making it the sugar capital of the Sea of Grass, as well as a significant source of mead for the region. Ruled by Duke Rakel Farthingale as her personal fief, it is hyper traditional and one of the worst places to be a male, especially if you're a halfling. It's also intensely religious, rivaling the Holy Kaelthian Republic in that respect.
- Bradford
- The smallest county, it's the only one that borders another country (the Holy Kaelthian Republic). Noted for wool production. Located at the juncture of the Eastwalk River and Cragholm River as well as the joining of the North Sheep Road and the Bee Road, it commands much of the trade through the region and is one of the wealthier counties. Currently without a permanent jarl after the death of the former jarl (who was killed in the destruction of the Cherry Blossom Temple, which stood nearby) and the flight of Nyx Astra after being implicated in that destruction. The acting ruler is Rachael Bradford Farthingale, the daughter of the former yarl. She is not eligible for the post for health reasons.
