• Information • The House of Warrick

[Alistair]

History

The House of Warrick

"We bid the storms. We are the winds." - Henry Warrick, Castellan-Tribune of the Commons

Agents of terror; harrowing, powerful men - and women - wielding black bows, black blades, and the most subtle of leather garments, preferring alacrity over the rigidity of armor. The foundation of House Warrick was through a great mass of bloodletting - of slaughtering on behalf of House Luther, the Kings and Queens of Sheor, who bid them to hunt and kill anathema, all darkly things ruinous to the prestige of the crown. The Warricks were, for over a hundred arcs before the fall of the Kingdom, the greatest hunters among all Sheorans. They would be gifted great weapons crafted by might unknown to the common man, and the invaluable Chalissean Lions now associated firmly with the house. They hunted monsters, terrors of the night, countless evils . . . rogue magi, adherents to the vile Immortals, and whisperers of revolution and change. They haunted the Kingdom's roads, their blades ever soaked with the ichor of prey. And they were loved, and honored, and reviled.

It is within the days of bloodshed that Henry Warrick was born - the eldest of the Sacred Seven, a man privy to the court affairs of Sheor, a wise counsel to the King and one sent to perform more obligations than merely the hunting of rogue mages. He disciplined vassals, and ensured the peace, and intimidated all internal or external rivals to the throne. Henry was an engineer, and a warrior, and a hunter, and a general . . . and it is for that reason when, against all of his efforts, when the Kingdom fell he was chosen as the man to secure the island of Rynmere from hostile threats.

But the story of Henry did not begin with the collapse of Sheor, and the foundation of Rynmere. The man's life began through incredible adversity - his mother and father both passed as a result of an invasive disease, one that many believed to have been caused by Lisirra, an Immortal malignant to the Sheoran people. He grew in desolation and poverty, his family considered to have collapsed. Despite being from a family of legendary renown, he felt that he was left behind by the crown . . . and so bore no true loyalty to the Luthers, but only to Sheor, and its people.

When Henry came of age, he enlisted as a mercenary across the Eastern Continent, and witnessed many things of baffling and sickening nature to him; the actions of the debauched, of cravens, of uncivilized men. Henry longed to return home. Always, he felt a great wroth against the unknown; a hatred of difference, one that he could not overcome for all of his life, even long after returning to Sheor, and joining with Andaris and Venora to ensure a new future for the people of the land.

In this future, he acquired the acclaim of a man who walked with divinity. He was a man of greatness unparalleled by the heroes after him. He slew the Jacadon of Rynmere, built fortresses still incomparable in the might of their walls. He helped to structure the system of Rynmere and the rights and privileges of both the commoners and common nobility. For his service in administrative and political affairs, Warrick became an official Great House of Rynmere in Arc 181.

Above all things, Henry Warrick was a man of Order. But one who built castles to keep people apart, rather than to protect them. A man who far after his time, laid into the foundations a scar upon the land; a separation akin to castes, and a distancing of the nobility to those who believed in them.

For this reason, Warrick's history in particular has long after been filled with internal disagreements, with the people of the Duchy subdividing almost irreconcilably; with farmers, soldiers, traders and craftsmen living within separate walled regions of the land. It is from this segregation that the Warrick's original legacy was claimed: the family was considered to be made of Warrior-Dukes, and Hunters who would ride upon the backs of Chalissean Lions and slay Jacadons, or any manner of military action - annihilating rebelling armies, putting down peasant riots, or fending off foreign raiders. The concept of the Warricks as men and women who would tow the fields and work the land came much later, their initial pull lying on the back of brutalizing peasants for the sake of the Crown.

Henry was a great administrator, builder, warrior . . . and a loyal man to those he believed in. But through his doggish loyalty, the House suffered as the bludgeon of the Crown of Rynmere, despised by the peasants as perpetrators of war crimes and slaughterers of free thought. And that is why, through time, the later Warricks began to change. They learned to adapt to the world around them, and sought instead to be one with the people. In Arc 383, upon a great conclave of the people, the House learned that the feeling most held to them by the commoners of their domain was one of terror and sorrow. As an act of penance, Duke Aermire of House Warrick worked laboriously within a farm, and found himself admiring the diligence of the peasantry he worked beside. The mold of the House moved from being the flail of the King's desires and instead, the Warricks began to enforce their own will. One that was so often synonymous with the will of those they looked after - they became advocates of the rights of the common man, their suffering and pain.

So now, in the contemporary age, House Warrick is a family of community and understanding - of laying with the commoners in pools of mud and rejoicing in the simplicity of the world. For this reason, they are well loved . . . though sometimes, the compulsions of old return, and the Lords and Ladies gather their crossbows to slay a source of misfortune.

[Alistair]

House Warrick

Twins are common in this bloodline, and those of this house are known for their fertility. Warricks come from a long, proud line of hunters, farmers, and skyriders. They are a hardy people who know the land better than most and seldom die young. Warricks are famous for their bravery, trustworthiness, and wisdom. They know The Burning Mountains better than any and often use this to their advantage.

Key:
♚ = King
♛ = Queen
♔ = Duke/Duchess
☗ = Count/Countess
✤ = Baron/Baroness

Capital:
Westcliff

Counties:
The Iron Marches
The Burning Steppe
The Eldengate
Baronies:
Chalcyra
Cambrylon
Summerhall

Alston Warrick (74, deceased, human male)
m. Isabel Warrick (nee Howard, 63, human female)
Jared Warrick (44, deceased human male)
m. Sar’eiris Warrick (nee Ashan, 41, sev’ryn female)
✤ Lazuli Warrick (NPCed, 21, mixed blood female)
✤ Lei’Lira Warrick (21, abdicated to Victor Warrick, mixed blood female)
♔ Victor Warrick (45, Duke of Warrick, human male)
m. Alice Warrick (nee Wade, Duchess of Warrick, 47, human female)
- Charlotte Warrick (NPCed, 26, human female)
- Violet Warrick (NPCed, 23, human female)
- John Warrick (19, deceased human male)
☗ Wren Warrick (41, human female)
m. Garrett Warrick (nee Pace, 43, biqaj male)
- Olivia Warrick (NPCed, 21, mixed blood female)
- Vivian Warrick Shiryu (Excommunicated) (20, mixed blood female)
- ________ Warrick (mixed blood)
- ________ Warrick (mixed blood)
✤ Ned Warrick (40, human male)
m. Ray Warrick (nee Black, 37, human female)
- ________ Warrick (human)
- ________ Warrick (human)
- ________ Warrick (human)
- Rafael Warrick (NPCed, 15, bastard, human male)

Warrick's Relations

Current Relationships
Andaris | Poor
Venora | Excellent
Burhan | Excellent
Krome | Good
Gawyne | Good
Endor | Poor

Producing over half of the country’s food and wine makes House Warrick one of the most decisive votes when it comes to politics in Rynmere. They have a long standing relationship with House Burhan, and have in more recent arcs signed an agreement with House Krome. Marriages between these three houses are common and friendships formed with the members of House Warrick are said to be steadfast and reliable.

In terms of force, Warrick commands the loyalty of the Xiur Skyriders, most of whom hail from the region. They are wise, trustworthy, brave, and always make the right decisions when push comes to shove. It is said that House Warrick has no enemies, but in reality they have little faith in both House Andaris and Endor who they find far too greedy and or secretive.

[Alistair]

Realm

Summation of Territories

Westcliff - Ducal Capital
Standing at the foot of the Burning Mountains, Westcliff is a small city and the capital holding of House Warrick. Unlike many other Duchies whose capitals act as economic and industrial centers, Westcliff has historically operated as the administrative and military capital of the region, hosting the Faith of Rynlism, the Courts, and a chapter of Warrick's Skyriders within the city. Outside of the city, Westcliff is surrounded by kilometers of farmland, with a thick tall-standing wall protecting its surrounding flanks, several Skyrider fortresses between Westcliff and the outer wall surrounding the city and its settlements.

As one might expect from its unusual placement and surrounding architecture, as well as its Skyrider fortifications, Fort Warrick was built to withstand long sieges without being starved out. The farmland between the wall and the capital hosts enough to food the population of Westcliff and all of its surrounding towns, whilst the Jacadons and Volareons of the Skyriders operate effectively in disposing of any who would lay a durable siege against the surrounding fortifications. For this reason, it is considered Rynmere's impenetrable city, and has few rivals throughout Idalos in pure defensive capability.

Chalcyra - South End, Barony
Chalcyra (pron. "Chal-kai-rah") is a barony seated along the small bay situated centrally to the south of Warrick. It is, among all of the baronies in Warrick, the oldest . . . and is in fact the longest established barony in Rynmere. The Chalcyran people are a subculture that formed from the remnants of Sheor; before the great fall of the ancient Kingdom, they were the vassals of a rival family, juxtaposed to the Warricks in an eternal struggle. But as the Lords of the Chalcyran people winnowed and eventually came to pass at the hands of Galador, they were invited to board one of the many ships leading the refugees to Rynmere, under the vassalage of a new Lord - Henry Warrick.

Druskain - West End, Barony
Druskain is the seat of the Iron Marches, the Duchy's most urban Barony and the host of Starkender, the most populous city in Warrick, where the Count's castle resides. Starkender is often called 'the City of Adventurers', by its own people and by the rest of Rynmere. Many of the mercenaries of Warrick dwell in Starkender when they're home, as well as a large population of Skyriders and other ambitious young warriors. For this reason, Druskain is regarded as the most militarized and well-defended Barony in Rynmere, covered in castles, walls, mercenary enclaves, and military outposts. The city of Starkender itself is called the 'City of Adventurers' for a reason - there are always great events ongoing for those with ambitions for glory. Bounty hunts, expeditions against raving monsters, or dives into old ruins left by ancient Sheoran settlers.

Additionally, there are often nobles and wealthy merchants and their emissaries announcing tasks requiring the aid of small bands of warriors or mercenary guilds, with open auctions taking place in the many large agora-like sections of the city.

Outside of Starkender, Druskain is mostly populated by retired military farmers, and their families. Out of all the Baronies in Rynmere, it has the highest concentration of Suzerains, or Lesser Nobles given land ownership by the King and Duke for their valiant service.

Summerhall - East End, Barony
Summerhall, the easternmost Barony of Warrick, neighbors the bustling garden that is Bellesoir of West Venora. Like one might expect, with the closeness of these two lands, Summerhall carries similar beauty to that of the garden Duchy and is revered for its many colorful fields of flowers. It is regarded often as the most fertile land in all of the Kingdom, with a seemingly endless harvest that even persists through the seasons of Vhalar and Zi'da, with fruits that prosper in the wintry cold. Flat, the Barony is cycled through by the cooling breeze of summer winds, that miraculously seem to recede as the seasons grow colder. For all of these reasons, the Barony is often populated by wealthy crafting and trade families, and notably the Merchant House Raglan, which helps to produce and export the mass amounts of agriculture produced in Summerhall, and more widely the whole of Warrick.

Though the populace of the Barony is largely austere farmers, dedicated to their craft, the more developed towns and villages are renowned for their devout craftsmanship. Summerhall woodworking is considered among the best in Southern Rynmere, with the people passing down trade secrets throughout generations, always unto their children who are expected to carry the mantle of their practice. This has made the Barony a common destination for the wealthy citizenry of Venora, who come often to purchase furniture and decor for their homes. Aside from all of this, Summerhall is the seat of the Burning Steppe, the agricultural heartland of Warrick.

Mistvale - North End, Barony
Mistvale, pressed snugly against the northern border of Druskain, is a place that has -- perhaps -- perfected the art of killing. Being a part of the Iron Marches, Mistvale's legacy is of course one of warfare and valor, and contribution to the mighty royal and ducal armies of both Warrick and the Crown. Rather than supplying soldiers and warriors to the cause, however, Mistvale takes on a much more analytical approach. The population of the Barony is low, but is teeming with alchemists, poisoncrafters and elite hunters, deployed as an auxiliary force in Warrick's military in order to hunt down dangerous enemies and often monsters, while at home.

The Barony has historically been regarded as a hub of Alchemy in Rynmere, with the populace generally viewed as borderline psychopathic in their sheer devotion to the art of developing flasks, contraptions, and weapons of murder. Despite this, unexpectedly, the field of medicine and chemistry equally flourish here, and Mistvale is typically the first destination for a worried family or individual seeking to amend a serious illness.

Counties

Counties are positions offered to nobles of exemplary service to their Houses, and it is not an inherited title, but granted, with the Duke or Duchess retaining the position for themselves until offered to another. These positions are not commonly offered, serving as stations of incredible might; Counts and Countesses will typically rule over hundreds of thousands of people, or even millions in the case of the more populous Duchies, such as Venora, Warrick and Andaris. There are typically three Counties per Duchy, and they comprise of many Baronies. One Barony - which the Count or Countess rules directly - serves as the seat of the County, and the reigning Count will rule from within that locality, directly. Ducal Capitals are not within the border of the Counties, and serve as a sole untouched center for the Duke or Duchess' rule.

Counts and Countesses are expected to be utterly loyal to the Duke and/or Duchess. It is the Counts and Countesses that are treated as the Duke's generals and advisers during times of conflict, and they are expected to provide a suitably large supply of soldiers to the ducal army, including their personal retinues. Gawyne's Counties will be listed here.

The Burning Steppe - The Eastern County
The Burning Steppe is named after its share of the Burning Mountains, spanning more territory alongside the high peaks than any other region. For this reason, the entire northern end of the County is littered with valleys and townships alongside mountains and hills, with nearly the entirety of the Burning Steppe covered in farmland. The Steppe is the agricultural heartland of Rynmere, producing most of the food in Warrick and nearly a third of all food in the entire Kingdom, more than the entire Duchy of Venora. For this reason, the population of the Steppe is steeped in wealthy farming families. There are very few residents of the Steppe who are unemployed, as the farms are always hiring laborers, breeders, butchers and other professions, the burden of feeding the Kingdom supplying an infinite array of tasks to the County's populace.

The Steppe is regarded as a simple place of paupers and rural folk, with the land itself carrying a similar reputation; flat, green, and dull. What does marvel many is the array of terraces that cover the many hills and mountainsides of the north, with nearly a third of the County living within the confines of these high terrace farms that produce a great amount of the Kingdom's rice, beans, potatoes and other common foods.

The Iron Marches - The Northern and Western County
The Iron Marches is the core of Warrick's military might, and is named as such, hosting an armed populace of mercenaries, warriors and retired or active soldiers that make the land truly impervious to harm. Sprawling across much of the Duchy's western coastline and the western end of the Burning Mountains, the Iron Marches is known for its valleys to the north, dense forestry inland, and an endless array of urban militarized townships along the coastline, the spine of the County. Aside from this, the Iron Marches hosts Kyriac, Rynmere's largest coastal island and a hub of fishing, shipbuilding and sand masonry, as well as its aeries of Chalissean Lions island, and the thrumming of dangerous monsters within the forests and beneath the waves.

The host of Starkender, Warrick's most populous city, the Iron Marches is the most developed and populated section of the Duchy -- though notably with the most crime, banditry and foreign population of them all, a thing many believe to be correlated.

The Eldengate - The Southern County
The Eldengate is a historic County of Warrick, seated by the legendary province of Chalcyra. Known as a land of myth and legend, the Eldengate is considered by many to be a place of inherent mysticism by outsiders, roused by stories of monsters yet unproven and groves of witchcraft, following the arcane rituals of the old Sheoran Gods. The Eldengate carries along its southern coast a cerulean sea and a warm climate, rivaling that of the Promenade of South Venora. With sandstone coasts and palm trees, it is one of the tropical provinces of the Kingdom, with a culture predicated around the sea and the sunny climate.

The Eldengate possesses Warrick's largest navy, though rather than competing with Venora and Andaris for southern trade, the County utilizes its ships to privateer and plunder settlements along the coast of the Eastern Continent. Like the Burning Steppe, the Eldengate is known for its many terraces and rice paddies along the high river banks, and is more than self-sufficient in this regard.

More to come via player submissions.

[Alistair]

Significance

The Obligations of the Lion

Responsibilities and Duties
The Warrick are known to have the richest soil and produce the most food out of everyone in the whole of Rynmere. Roughly about half of all food comes from Warrick. Due to this idea, they are expected to bear the majority of the burden when it comes to the production of food for the rest of the kingdom. This is a task that the Warrick have undertaken both happily and proudly ever since the time of Henry. Westcliff alone produces enough food to easily take care of itself and then some. In addition to its burden as an agricultural front, Warrick also holds itself pridefully in training some of the best Skyriders known to Rynmere. Though not by any means the entirety of the Skyriders, the portion of which take up residence in the Warrick area are known to be highly trained and are highly respected. The training of Skyriders is taken very seriously to the Warrick. Because of this, Warrick is both an offensive and defensive powerhouse.


Resources
The Duchy - It would be unthinkable for anyone to even attempt to tamper with the power of the Warrick duchy. Warrick's duchy is a veritable powerhouse. With its tall, proud walls and its surplus of food, the duchy has withstood the test of time, and will continue to. That's only the physical and tangible power of Warrick. There's a deeply rooted loyalty within the people who share the land belonging to the Warrick family. This loyalty is founded in admiration that the Warrick family would stand among them in the dirt and till these lands in order to better experience what their people do. Not only that, but that loyalty is founded in respect for the tactical might shared by the family. This is a certain kind of might that all those across Rynmere look at and think twice. The duchy of Warrick is in complete control of its own lands and has a loud voice when speaking to the other duchies across the land.

The Commons - The Warrick family isn't the only one to have a chapter of the Skyriders inside their walls, however, the Skyriders who take up their home in the walls of Warrick are often the most respected and feared, as well as having the largest number. Warrick was a family of hunters and slayers long before they were ever farmers, and this is a mentality that has gained longevity throughout the Duchy, instilled into the Skyriders who - most often - are born there. Because of this mentality, the Skyriders living within Warrick are known to work and function with extra diligence, exerting themselves and pushing themselves be the most outstanding. As a result, the ability of the Warrick Skyriders is without replication; they are the best of the best, and serve as the single most elite fighting force of any Duchy, carrying with them a legacy of power, honor and duty. There are few challenges too lofty for the Skyriders of Warrick, and they are often the ones to enact the King's most specialized missions.

Aside from this is a system of conscription that has lived in Warrick since the fall of Sheor. It is known as the 'Commons', originally issued by Henry Warrick, with the Duke titled 'the Castellan-Tribune', allowing him access to this rite. The Duke is allowed to conscript any number of Warrick citizens, from individuals to an entire city, to serve their interests militarily. For this reason, the population of Warrick tends to - on average - be quite armed, and much more proficient than common peasantry in the art of their respective weapons. Though they are still no match for experienced soldiers, these peasants are the one reason Warrick has never been successfully invaded, even amidst civil wars and inter-ducal conflicts.

The Terraces - Warrick is known for its surplus of terraces, on nearly every hill and mountainside, alongside the many flatland farms permeating the width of the Duchy. Warrick being known for its agricultural practices is privy to great swaths of land which are used for farming. These terraces are carefully maintained in order to continue with the maximum product yield every harvest. Because of this Warrick continues to produce half of the food stock in all of Rynmere, if not on occasion a small amount more. They're able to quite easily provide for themselves on top of that. On top of being plentiful, Warrick is supplied with wonderful soil and the crops they produce are often high in nutrients and vitamins. A good portion of the overall good health of those who can afford the crops is attributed to the quality of the soil and the legacy of diligence imparted into the citizenry by Henry Warrick.


Religious Significance
For a long time, Henry Warrick has been noted in the faith as a patron of harvest and fertility. Due to Warrick's significance as a major food producer, this is what most think of when they regard this member of the 7. Many believe the reason the Warrick family is privy to so many twins is due to this blessing placed upon them by their ancestor. It's customary for farmers to leave small offerings of their previous harvests in order for the next to be even more bountiful. Along with the fertility of the soil, Henry has often been associated with the fertility of spouses. For those having trouble producing children in their relationship, it's customary to pay homage to the spirit of Warrick. Many newlywed couples will give offerings and prayers in hopes of having many healthy children. There was a portion of time when Henry was associated with the schools of combat alone. For those who truly remember the meaning behind the name Warrick, this member of the seven isn't just an associated voice of farming, he's the long praised leader of those who defend Rynmere from dangerous forces. In times of strife, the original meaning of the Warrick name is remembered, and warriors often pray to him for valor and fortitude of mind.

It's traditional for those who hold the role of priest or priestess to be knowledgeable in schools of agriculture and farming as a way to honor the revered spirits. In times of war, it's not uncommon for these priests to take up the roles of Skyriders. The most famous and well-known priests was said to have skills which outmatched even come commanding Skyriders.

Familial Artefact
The Artefact of House Warrick, one of the Legendary Weapons of Rynmere, is known to the masses as the 'Tribune's Arbalest'. Originally crafted by Warren Gawyne, the Arbalest is a divine-forged weapon with several unique properties. Firstly, it appears to be entirely untouchable; it cannot be scratched, scarred, damaged, broken or any similar thing. It is also an arm-mounted crossbow, a weapon variation nearly unheard of in its time. The Arbalest is mostly known for its astounding ability to 'magnetize' objects and metals at its wielder's mental will, and the Arbalest only responds to the Castellan-Tribune, the current Duke or Duchess of Warrick. This 'magnetization' ability is simple as well as complex. Firstly, the Crossbow will always reload itself, pulling bolts from its quiver without any assistance from the wielder of the Crossbow. Additionally, on mental command, it can fully operate itself; it draws back with incredible force beyond what humans can typically muster, and fires with incredibly high velocity, accuracy and kinetic impact... which is where another aspect of its magnetization ability comes in. The crossbow's bolts seem to rip through and dismantle metals in their path, violently, clearing a path for the bolt. Considering the incredible impact damage of the bolts, one that will typically throw common men dozens of feet from the ground upon being hit, this ensures most shots utter and instant lethality.

The Arbalest is known to even be capable of puncturing through the scales of Jacadons, and killing them very quickly. For this reason, it was an essential tool in making the island of Rynmere initially habitable, and is always worn by the Duke of Warrick in case of an attack.

*Thanks to Nightshade for the help!

[Alistair]

Leadership

The Duke(ssa) of the Bladed Priory

The Current Duke of Warrick is Victor Warrick, ruling from the Bladed Priory of Westcliff. Considering the man only just inherited the role from his father, who died amidst the plague of Arc 719, there is little to discuss in regards of his accomplishments or accolades. It is known that he was an enigmatic man in his youth, however, and continued to be until the abdication of his elder brother's children, who handed the inheritance of the Duchy to him. Now, he has declared that he will rule Warrick 'by whatever means necessary', and has moved to blockade the borders of the Duchy to all but authorized merchants in order to minimize the damage dealt by the plague.

Victor is a middle-aged man, married to Alice Warrick, a woman he has openly expressed his distaste for. It is rumored by many that the man carries negative opinions of women generally, and does not trust either of his daughters to rule.

[Alistair]

Fort Tremengoth

Fort Tremengoth, located along a mountain to the east of Westcliff, is the largest Skyrider hub in Rynmere, hosting several thousand Skyriders at any given time, the far majority of them comprised of Warrick's airborne specialists. The Fort, known to be difficult to scale without flight capabilities, is a massive institution with one of Northern Idalos' greatest academies for mounted combat and ranged weapon wielding.

Considered to be the Gate to Warrick by some, Tremengoth is located near the southern coastline of Warrick and acts as an impassible fortification if the region were ever to be invaded by foreign powers, with Chalissean Lions, Jacadons and Volareons capable of springing from the fort's 'aeries' or 'nests' to demolish ships and landing armies.

Location NPCs

Moderator's Note: Players are free to control NPCs in this location without moderation.

Kieran Warrick

Race: Human
Age: 58
Title: General of the Xiur Skyriders, Commander of Fort Tremengoth
Skills: Ranged Combat: 90, Animal Training: 80, Animal Husbandry: 80, Mount: 55, Tactics: 50, Leadership: 50, Endurance: 30, Running: 20

Kieran Warrick, youngest sibling of Duke Alston of House Warrick, is renowned as one of the greatest military generals in Rynmere. Considered to be the de facto leader of Warrick's Skyriders, the man leads Fort Tremengoth effectively and has maintained incredibly high militant standards since coming into his position. For this reason, Warrick's Skyriders have prospered for tens of arcs, and continue to do so.

Serving as the military leader of House Warrick in general, Kieran operates effectively for the interests of his House, whilst remaining mostly outside of the political sphere. He is respected and admired by nearly all within the region, including by his competitors.

In terms of his personality, the man is firm and stern, and not one for a great deal of words or rhetoric. He is frank, blunt and honest, and will very clearly express disapproval or disappointment in any given individual. He is known for being a great friend of Komodo Enthor, the Lord Commander of the Iron Hand, and an avid supporter of military veterans and the military traditions of Rynmere.

Credit: Alistair

[Alistair]

Westcliff

Standing at the foot of the Burning Mountains, Westcliff is a small city and the capital holding of House Warrick. Unlike many other Duchies whose capitals act as economic and industrial centers, Westcliff has historically operated as the administrative and military capital of the region, hosting the Faith of Rynlism, the Courts, and a chapter of Warrick's Skyriders within the city. Outside of the city, Westcliff is surrounded by kilometers of farmland, with a thick tall-standing wall protecting its surrounding flanks, several Skyrider fortresses between Westcliff and the outer wall surrounding the city and its settlements.

As one might expect from its unusual placement and surrounding architecture, as well as its Skyrider fortifications, Fort Warrick was built to withstand long sieges without being starved out. The farmland between the wall and the capital hosts enough to food the population of Westcliff and all of its surrounding towns, whilst the Jacadons and Volareons of the Skyriders operate effectively in disposing of any who would lay a durable siege against the surrounding fortifications. For this reason, it is considered Rynmere's impenetrable city, and has few rivals throughout Idalos in pure defensive capability.

House Warrick, especially its primary inheriting line, typically lives in Westcliff in the ducal palace of the city. Known for being modest comparably to the surrounding Houses, the ducal family will often tow the fields and engage in military training exercises with the Skyrider bases surrounding the city. Relations between nobles and commoners in this sub-sect of the Duchy are known to be immensely positive, with all three economic classes cooperating to make for a prosperous and well-fed region.

Within the burning mountains, there is a large mining operation run by a satellite town of Westcliff, where a great deal of ore is processed and smelted into bars. The surrounding towns are renowned for their extensive and skillful weapon production. Keeping in mind their fortifications, weapons production and Skyrider chapters with illustrious military academies within, the region around Fort Warrick is renowned as Rynmere's great military capital.

As a recent venture, they have begun to conceptualize a large military university to extend the effectiveness of their soldiers and those of the Kingdom in entirety, subsidized by attendants and the ducal budget.

Credit: Alistair

[Alistair]

Chalcyra

Location: Warrick
Baron/Baroness: None
Appeal: Its natural beauty, old Sheoran architecture, and distinctive culture
Drawback: Difficult population to control; the populous does not accept outsiders, and rarely complies with their local nobility

Chalcyra (pron. "Chal-kai-rah") is a barony seated along the small bay situated centrally to the south of Warrick. It is, among all of the baronies in Warrick, the oldest . . . and is in fact the longest established barony in Rynmere. The Chalcyran people are a subculture that formed from the remnants of Sheor; before the great fall of the ancient Kingdom, they were the vassals of a rival family, juxtaposed to the Warricks in an eternal struggle. But as the Lords of the Chalcyran people winnowed and eventually came to pass at the hands of Galador, they were invited to board one of the many ships leading the refugees to Rynmere, under the vassalage of a new Lord - Henry Warrick.

Upon arriving on the island, the disobedience of the people was immediately displayed; they swore fealty to Henry, but with many conditions, which were necessarily obliged as a condition to providing access to their Lions - a symbol which the Warricks seemingly appropriated from them. The Lions, necessary to combat the Jacadons, were among the most treasured of Rynmere resources . . . and were far more valuable than trade, or taxes were. Unfortunately, in haste, the treaties written were accepted as eternally binding and the people were allowed to keep high autonomy and preserve their culture. As a result, the Chalcyran aristocrats - the merchants and military elite - built their structures and designed their way of life in remembrance of their old Sheoran heritage.

They were, truthfully, refugees only in desperation; they did not follow the dream of a new Kingdom to rest within, and felt intimately tied to the land they left behind. The people, even unto now, remain disconnected from the grain of the Warricks . . . though they are led by them. They are typically locally governed, and though the Warrick Baron does have authority over the people, those who have entered the position and failed to serve the people's needs have been historically displaced. As such, it is typically the heir to House Warrick that oversees Chalcyra, as a test of their diplomatic might.

In terms of the barony itself -- it is littered with old buildings, akin to ruins, and ivory temples revering Sheoran gods. Being largely coastal, there are many towns along the ocean that thrive mostly on fishing and sailing. Swimming is among the most common activities for a Chalcyran, and the Duchy is equally as warm-weathered and beautiful as any southern province of Venora. The oceans remain blue and clear all across the arc, and the children will often flock to the sands in massive numbers during the warmer half of the arc.

Most of the Barony is mountainous, separating the farming towns and villas into disparate and distinctive valleys often connected by roads through the passes. Nearly the whole of the coastal area around the bay is considered to be one extensive valley known as Lissea, hosting much of the population within a highly defensible position. Due to its geography, Chalcyra has a considerable navy, its people considered to be very hardy and elite sailors. Combined with the Skyriders of the Chalissean Lions, the Barony - despite its weaknesses - is very formidable, at least defensively.

The capital of Chalcyra is Arborea, as pictured above. The town is unspectacular, merely hosting the wealthy merchants of the region and their families, as well as any slaves, servants or assistants they may have.

The Chalissean Lion

What the average Ryn might imagine when they picture Chalcyra is the Chalissean Lion, the symbol of House Warrick and a beast whose likeness rivals the Jacadon in symbolism; it represents strength, loyalty, honor and unwavering dedication. All of these representations are for good reason - the Chalissean Lion is among the world's greatest beasts, a Legendary Mount with few equal.

Castle Cravenborn

Castle Cravenborn, a long-standing and old castle of Warrick, is the seat of the Baron of Chalcyra and the first and only great project of Henry Warrick's firstborn son, Camden Warrick, the castle's namesake. The castle is often utilized as a place of refuge for a Warrick Baron who has been, largely, ousted by the people - as it is in a highly defensible position, Lords can fortify themselves within the Castle's walls as a contingent of Warricks comes to reinforce them and restore order. This has been much of the castle's history in the last five hundred arcs, and so its name is eternally revived by the locals of Chalcyra, and even the other denizens of the Duchy of Warrick.

Equally of import, the castle is surrounded by aeries of Chalcyran Lions, who form their prides along flat mountain-tops and other high places. The Baron of Chalcyra historically is to bond with an alpha of one of the prides, and with a large section of the castle dedicated to that creature, and open for arrivals and departure by the large and magnificent beast.

Location NPCs

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Credit: Alistair

Chalissean Lions

It is unknown how the Chalissean Lions originally came to Sheor, though what is known to many Immortal scholars is that they were brought into the world by Delroth amidst the Immortal War, serving as his exalted warriors in offense and defense alike; enforcers, hunters, protectors of his flock. At some point, however, the beasts lost their connection to the Winged Calamity, perhaps discarded by him or perhaps seeking to free themselves from a life of unrequited service. Considering the intellect many Lisseans (as they're commonly referred to) possess, it is just as likely that they fled willingly as it is that they were separated outside of their control.

Whatever the case, the beasts were considered to be scions of royalty within Sheor, and their habitat and way of life was protected instinctively by the Sheoran people. They were viewed as beasts of divine providence, come to validate the Sheoran populous and their Nobility in their holy war against the Immortal oppressors. The theories that they themselves fled from Delroth's grip only emboldened these claims, and before long, the Sheoran Pantheon blended with the beast's reverence. They were exalted as heavenly guardians and messengers of Nuadha, the Father-God of the Sheoran Pantheon, who shared with them one thing in common: Black Wings, a thing many Lisseans possess. The symbolism and extravagance of their power led them to exact in a state of almost-worship, as many of them forged their own large domains within Sheor and carved out swathes of territory that acted much as a dominion to them.

And then, when Sheor was culled by Galador, they followed the only life they knew: acting as a guardian and defender for the people that they saw themselves as shepherding. The Lisseans followed after the Chalcyrans, the people who most avidly worshiped them, and accompanied these people along with their ducal masters to the new land of Warrick. And then, the Black Lissean - the largest and most revered of all Lissean Lions - bonded with Duke Henry, forging a pact that would last through the ages. For this reason, the Duke of Warrick always bonds with the Black Lissean, a creature born only once in every generation to act as the father of his kin. This pact declares both the Lion and Warrick as the leader of their kind, come together to defend the realm against any opposition or threat.

Biology Information
Chalissean Lions tend to live as long humans do, roughly, at around eighty arcs or so. This fact is deeply ingrained in the way they view humans, and how humans view them; as comrades-in-arms, almost... fellow nationals, and potential life-long companions. For this reason, the poaching or hunting of a Lissean Lion is considered equal or worse than the murder of a fellow Rynmeren citizen, as they are a deeply protected class of beast within Warrick's borders.

Alongside dying at around the same age, Chalisseans also fully develop at a similar age of around fifteen arcs. At full size they are incredibly large, with the average Lion having a sixty to seventy foot wingspan, with their body length half that at around thirty to thirty five feet long. They are extremely heavy, but possess incredibly strong wings capable of holding up their absurd weight, as well as multiple riders. Appearance-wise, they are generally white with copper-colored horns, though many color variations exist. Light and dark browns, greys, even amber colors have been seen. Some of them even change the color of their fur as they develop, though it is uncertain what causes this.

In terms of temperament, Lisseans are gracious animals, and will generally tolerate the presence of humans unless they feel encroached upon. Many have been known to protect travelers from other beasts within the countryside, though this is more scholarly believed to be a stroke of luck - wandering into their hunting grounds - over an overt attempt to protect humankind.

Abilities
The Lissean lion does not possess a long-ranged ability as lethal as the Jacadon's 'white fire', but they do possess other abilities that allow them to compensate for or even exceed this difference. Firstly, Lisseans are considerably larger and stronger than Jacadons, though they are - also - slower, and cannot typically catch a Jacadon without wearing them down. What they possess is the ability to manipulate wind around themselves whilst in flight, creating powerful gusts and currents that deflect and disperse incoming projectiles and other objects - including the Jacadon's white flame. For this reason, they are considered to be Jacadon hunters, keeping them in line, and were utilized during the initial colonization of Rynmere to hunt and kill Jacadon stragglers before converging upon their primary enclaves. In battle, they will typically land with an overwhelming shockwave against the ground, the wind dispersing around them as they prepare to leap forward, claw and bite enemies, and slaughter them with their bludgeoned tails.

The Black Lissean is essentially the extreme of this; he is (generally a male) around fifty percent larger than other Chalissean Lions, and is considerably stronger, as well as more durable. With adequately improved wind-cloaking to boot, he tends to appear nearly invulnerable whilst in flight, a swirling vortex following his movements and veiling him from harm.

Acquisition
The Duke/Duchess of Warrick (whomever is ruling, not the spouse) and Baron/ess of Chalcyra both receive a Chalissean Lion, with the Duke/Duchess making a pact with the Black Lissean as their mount. Additionally, members of House Warrick or residents of the Duchy who achieve the rank within the Skyriders where they would be sent to bond with a Jacadon can instead choose to bond with a Chalissean Lion instead.

Credit: Alistair

[Alistair]

Druskain

Location: Warrick
Baron/Baroness: None
Appeal: Its opportunity, self-sustainability and strong military presence
Drawback: Crime, Transient Population and Corruption

Named after the Sheoran God of Darkness, Druskain is known to the typically traditional, family-oriented people of Warrick as a land of corruption and sin. Like Chalcyra, Druskain is unlike any other place in Warrick, though it does not carry the same shade of ancient disloyalty or the unwavering desire to remain stagnant. Instead, Druskain has opened its doors to the rest of the world, and has invited with its embrace both opulence and decadence alike. Hedonism, vanity, and voracity for wealth and glory... these things are typically associated with Druskain, and particularly its capital city, Starkender.

But these stereotypes are, perhaps, not founded in truth. While Druskain does host a large population of glory-seeking migrants from other Duchies, and even other lands, the populace of the Barony is deeply loyal to their Lord -- and deeply religious. It is here where Henry Warrick's legacy as the Hunter is most remembered, and his tales of valiance are often recalled in the enclosures of theaters and with the sermons of Monks and Priors on the Barony's many streets.

Druskain is, more than any Barony in Warrick, urban. Though there are large swaths of countryside, typically adorned with humble vineyards and other farms that grow lush fruit, Starkender spirals out into a large inter-connecting variance of townships and densely populated villages. Some who have come to Druskain to visit have mistaken it for a land equal in number to Andaris, if only for the vibrancy of the people, who rarely dwell at home and instead bask in the warmth of their summer-like climate. Driven by community and a sense of war-like brotherhood with their peers, the people of the Barony are known for their friendliness and unabashed sense of humor.

The climate and geography of the Barony is, largely, flat. Most of Druskain is situated along the coast, and so the western end is largely a collective of seaside cliffs and port cities, while the interior is largely farmland, with dense forestry on the edges of the Barony. The nature of Druskain is known to be typically lush and green throughout the year, with most of the forestry evergreens of various forest shades.

There are, however, some issues with the Barony... mostly deriving from Starkender, its capital. Unlike most of the region, Starkender has a largely transient population. The people, who tend to shuffle in and out as arcs go on, carry little commonalities with their peers and will often be forgotten when they leave. As a result of this, with no fear of being publicly shamed for their misdeeds, the transient (and typically foreign) sections of Starkender's populace tend to engage in unchecked hedonism, often laced in crime. Endless are the reports of a local citizen of Warrick being sexually or physically assaulted by a foreigner, with a frequency so maddening that some have called for all foreigners to be expelled.

Equal to this is the corruption of the Barony's many officials, who are often bolstered by the support of these foreign criminals, in exchange for their legal protections. These officials can often operate like crime-bosses, exploiting the citizenry relentlessly for their interests. Despite this, Druskain has continued to grow as time has gone on -- though some wonder when Starkender's festering disease might embroil the people into violence, and revolt.

Castle Wayford

Castle Wayford sits not far from the city of Starkender, situated upon a rocky knoll within miles of dense forestry. Wayford acts as a defensible location beyond the borders of Starkender, quickly defensible by the forces within the city if Warrick's coastline is assaulted, but equally free of the risk typically associated with living in the mercenary Haven. It was originally conceived by Count Talyn Warrick in Arc 546, a project of his vanity at the expense of the egregious taxation of the local populace. A deeply paranoid man, Talyn built Wayford higher and higher, and more and more defensible as his reign endured, fearful of the retribution of a resenting populace at the hands of his many misguided policies.

Now, though built upon a legacy of greed, Castle Wayford exists as a national monument of sorts and is often revered by the populace as a symbol of Warrick architecture. It is known as the Castellan's Citadel to many; one more example of the Warrick's ability to build excellent, impenetrable fortresses. As a result of its location and structure, there is a small contingent of Skyriders both within the fortress, as well as soldiers residing in the surrounding forestry.

Location NPCs

Moderator's Note: Players are free to control NPCs in this location without moderation. However, keep in mind that these are NPCs involved in major events / plots and therefore they can only be used in a 'surface' manner. If in doubt, please check with a Ryn mod.

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NPC 4

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NPC 5

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Credit: Alistair