Duchy of Averancia (Known Lands)

Inkarnate Map

The Known Lands of Averancia

Anvilstar Keep: This palace was built during the reign of the first Duke Anvilstar. It is regarded as a bit of an architectural marvel, though it is beginning to show some wear as no one has been maintaining it since the disappearance of the last Duke Anvilstar. It is the seat of the Ducal throne, and the home of Lord Chamberlain Amberstead when he is not dealing with the nobles in Redstone.

Avlin, Sanctuary of: This is a religious city dedicated to the Church of Elion in the northernmost part of the Duchy. For 100 years before the arrival of the Anvilstar Lineage, it also served as the capital of the Duchy. There are several cathedrals and monasteries within the city, but also the Bishop's Palace.

Balgold: A halfling village with a large community focused on farms, orchards, and woodcutting industry.

Blackhill: A halfling village with a large community focused on farms and orchards. There is also some woodcutting, stonecutting, and mining of gold and iron, though the rarer resources have been reduced to a trickle of production since the loss of the previous Duke Anvilstar.

The Blackridge: This is a forested mountain chain that proceeds north from the Duchy. It's peaks are capped in snow through most of the year, but warm springs and summers have caused icemelts that cause the River Haven to flood.

Crimson Sea: The eastern sea. The islands are mostly small and uninhabitable, though some fishermen use the islands for their trade. On certain evenings before storms, the sun appears red as it sets, and some form of bioluminescent moss glows red in response. The red glow from sun and algae is picked up in the foam and whitewaters of the sea, causing it to appear a crimson red.

Forsaken Desert: This desert marks the northern edge of the Duchy of Averancia. It stretches northward as far as the eye can see. In the past decade the sands have begun encroaching on the Sanctuary of Avlin, but this has not changed the way of life of any of the Elionians.

The Green Hunt: This forest surrounds Anvilstar Keep from the west. It has been cleared of most of its larger predators and kept as a hunting forest for the Anvilstar family and invited nobles. Anyone else caught hunting here is guilty of poaching.

R. Haven: The River Haven meanders peacefully across the hills and plains from the Blackridge. There is one major bridge that crosses over the river near Market Town, and it seems larger than is required. The river can be forded in shallow places where the water does not move so swiftly. When the River floods (usually from the snowmelts in the Blackridge), the reason for the bridge's size becomes apparent. Most other crossings (footbridges, etcetera) are temporary in structure and are usually washed out whenever the river floods.

Market Town: A larger village or small town, Market Town actually has a dock and harbor, and is the port of entry for the Duchy of Averancia. There is a small military presence here, as is evidenced by the presence of a tower outpost looking over the crossroads. Signal fires from Market Tower can be seen as far away as Redstone and the village of Balgold.

Outlaw's Forest: This dark wood is mostly unexplored, though the outer edges (particularly the northern treeline) are used for woodcutting and lumber production. Deeper within the wood lies untold dangers, including larger predators, (some of a reptilian nature) and a few bandit camps. Bandits and highwaymen lay ambushes on the nearby road during harvest seasons and on High Holy Days.

Redstone: The largest settlement of Averancia, Redstone was the original home of the Ducal palace (Castle Redstone). The Castle was dismantled during the rule of the Anvilstars, with some of the famously red stones used in its construction reused in the Grand Plaza in the noble's district. South of Redstone lies a large area of farming, ranching, and grazing land that continues south to a horizon of hills, beyond which has not been explored. Many of the shepherds in the area have reported hearing loud rumbles and feeling the earth shake when they approach the hills in question.

In the image on the Game Information site, we see a much closer view of Anvilstar Keep, a glorious castle of ivory with blue tiled tower roofs. In the distance the River Haven meanders through the valley, before it turns towards the ocean. And beyond that the Blackridge rises prominently into the sky. Behind Anvilstar Keep, the Green Hunt keeps its secrets. Unexplored forests reach far beyond into the mists.

The Island Continent that has yet to be explored (and the Duchy of Averancia). North is up in this one.

The town of Redstone, once much larger than its current size is home to most of the nobles that together rule Averancia, appointed by Duke Frederic Anvilstar and others of that lineage. The rocky hills that surround the town explain why much of the territory is used for grazing and herding.

The town of Market Town was once two villages near the stone bridge over the River Haven and the harbor built to host the large ships that came from the Old Continent. Over time, houses and shops grew up around the villages until it merged into one larger town. Market Town is a trade center for most of the Duchy, allowing farm produce, chattel, and other trade goods to move swiftly from one end of the Duchy to the other. It is a much happier place than the town of Redstone.