This area encompasses southwestern Anhkvaris and northeastern Telargen of the old empires. Most of the Great War was fought here, and as a result most of the towns were either destroyed or greatly damaged. The post-war period saw the larger of the towns attempting to rebuild, while the remaining small villages and farmsteads were abandoned, the inhabitants seeking more safety in the towns. This rebuilding continued for the most part in peace for quite some time, but a little over seventy years ago a new power grew in the region, this was the Crimson Horde. Though the Crimson Horde does not control this area, it is the predominate power.
The map below shows the furthest extent (purple line) that the Horde ranges. The area that is actually under the actual control of the Horde is only the town of Libreville and the mountains around it.
Population & Settlements :
Arcoz :
Farming town of 2,100.
Boulau :
This small town of 2,300 is home to a small lumber and
woodworking industry. It is also the base of operations for prospectors
looking for riches in the Drakenscales.
Brinden :
Brinden escaped being destroyed like to many of the towns in
the region by surrendering to the forces of Telargen without a fight. Even
so, it was brought low by several waves of the Ibruli plague. There are
about 2,700 inhabitants in this wall less town (the walls having been destroyed
by the Crimson Horde in the past. Brinden claims several small villages in
the surrounding lands.
Gorz
:
This town was completely destroyed during the Great War and
was the site of numerous battles between the empires. After the war
the townsmen returned (they had enough warning to evacuate before the forces of
Anhkvaris took the town), and started to rebuild. Today Gorz is a stone
wall enclosed town of 6,500 with another 3,000 or so outlying farmers.
Ibruli Ruins :
See the Ibrulists.
Igen :
After the Crimson Horde, Igen is the strongest power in the
region, or at least used to be. At one time Igen was in a position to try
to stop paying tribute to the Horde but a cival war ended that. The town
of 6,500 is still divided into factions, each controlling their own part of of
the town. There is no central government.
Kinit :
Farming town of 2,200.
Libreville :
See Crimson Horde
Niez :
Niez started as a small fishing village but has grown to
about 4,000 due to the problems in Igen. Fishing remains important but a
majority of the people are in farming.
Noli :
Noli is a small cattle raising town of 2,500.
Preux :
This town of 5,000 has a strong palisade with wooden towers
for protection. The town elders have discussed gaining protection from
Nouvelle Vhaston. There is a small boat building industry here.
Yazi :
Stockaded farming town of about 5,000.
Matine :
Matine appears to be a normal small farming village, the
first impression that something is amiss is the unearthly chill that is felt
when entering the village. The villagers are for the most part friendly
and willing to chat. The villagers refuse to sell anything saying they
need all they have and they have no services to offer. They have no
knowledge of current events outside their village, and have an odd habit of
talking about Anhkvaris being in the present. If visitors try to talk
about the end of the empire of Anhkvaris the villagers get irate and stop
talking. If the villagers are then continued to be confronted by these
things they get aggressive and tell the strangers to leave.
If strangers remain in town long enough they will come across a young man named Nian. Nian explains that he was once a cleric, but abandoned his god to be with his people. He will try to convince the strangers that there is nothing interesting in the village and that they should move on. If the stranger continue to ask him questions or if they have succeeded in angering the villagers then Nian will explain that everyone in the village is dead, and that all are ghosts including himself, the buildings and animals. It seems the village was suddenly destroyed in the Great War, exactly how Nian does not know. Nian was called to his god's side but wanted to make sure others in the village that worshiped the same god were taken care of first. As he realized no one was leaving the village he turned his back on his god to be with the villagers. Nian has attempted to tell the villagers they are dead, but they refuse to accept it and claim Nian is insane. Nian will also explain that when the first clerics came to the village after the war he tried to get them to make the souls of the villagers be at rest but nothing worked.
Other Areas :
Battle of a Million Screams : Though this area is outside the range of the Horde it will be discussed here. During the Great War a major battle was fought here, after the battle was fought a new battle was entered further to the northeast and the wounded were left on the field. It is the dieing cries of these wounded that gave the area it's name. 221 years ago a lich named Clothaire made his presence here known and claims the title of Emperor of the World. Little is known about the lich nor the area since it is usually widely skirted by travelers. One thing that is known is that there are a very large number of undead roaming the area.
Prominent People : Grod Steelnose
Organizations : Crimson Horde, Ibrulists