Barony of Huntingdon
 | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 585 TA |
| Size | Minor Kingdom |
| Fealty | Western Reaches |
| Ruler | Lord Nils Treadway, Ninth Baron of Huntingdon |
| Hex | 5514 |
History
During the First and Second Ages, this fertile land bounded on the north by the Lost River and on the South by the Sirendell River was a vast wilderness known as the Plains of Azgarde. As exploration pushed south along the coast of the Great Sea, the castle at Azgarde was, for hundreds of years, considered the edge of civilization. The forests of Blutwald, Halewood and Bentbridge Woods kept settlers from pushing too deeply into the region. Adventurers traveling up river encountered the forbidding Iron Hills which was the extent of early exploration.
By the middle of the Third Age, the City-State of Teufeldorf had been established as a trade center. Farms and ranches became commonplace along the roads through the area. With the threat of orc raids always present, the Crown created the first Western Reaches barony, Huntingdon, at a newly-rebuilt Azgarde Castle. The first Lord of Huntingdon, Jamie Treadway, was appointed by land grant in 585 TA. Jamie was known to invite the king to hunt jaguars in the forests of Halewood near the Iron Hills. Always enterprising merchants, the Treadways quickly became merchant leaders - a tradition which continues to this day.
The barony gained independence from the Paladin Kings in 833 TA with the arrival of Grim. At the end of The Hastur Rebellions in 885 TA, Huntingdon returned in service to the Crown.
Today, the vast tracts of rich farmland between the Lost River and Sirendell River provide an abundance of grains and vegetables, and the proximity of the barony to the City-State have positioned it as the primary supplier of food to Teufeldorf. The current ruler, Lord Nils Treadway, Ninth Baron of Huntingdon, is one of the most powerful merchant nobles in the Western Reaches.
Nearby Places of Interest
Bentbridge Woods
A lone road leads from the Lesser Farthing Road to the town of Sirendell, deep in the woods to the north. The road passes over the Sirendell River at the Bentbridge - so named because of the twisted bridge that spans the river. Floods in the past have twisted the bridge, and the town elders have repaired the structure on a number of occassions. The resulting "bent bridge" is a creaking structure that survives to this day - although many merchants are loathe to move precious cargo over it. Some say the elders of Sirendell prefer the isolation the bridge provides.
Blutwald
One of a number of small forests immediately south of the city of Teufeldorf, Blutwald is known as a magical place due to its unnaturally cold environs. Within its confines can be found the ruins of the Old Temple of Ice. An expedition to the temple was made in August 825 TA where the legendary sword Cometstail was recovered.
Halewood
At the far eastern edge of the Plains of Azgarde lie the protected boughs of Halewood. Nestled in a valley and cradled by the Iron Hills, this forest of oak, hickory and walnut has long been renowned for its jaguar hunting. As the farmlands of Huntingdon were being settled, the Baron designated the valley as a Royal Forest, to be used only under his permission for sport and game hunting. To this day, Halewood is protected by the Baron's woodsmen, who turn the uninvited away.
Iron Hills
The Iron Hills are a treeless stretch of red brown hills bounded on the north by the River White, the east by the Misty Woods, the west by the Plains of the Mantis, and the south by the Sirendell River. The tallest peaks in the Iron Hills, known simply as the Three Peaks, lie at the far eastern edge of the range.
In October 822 TA, an extensive mapping of the area was made by Zachary (later Sir Zachary, Knight of Virtue), Treadway (later Lord Treadway), Condor the Cleric, Father Guido Sarduici, Hylax the Barker, Count Demoney III, and Ikcin Namffoh during a kingdom-sponsored search for the Staff of the Iron Ring.
Also notable in the Iron Hills are a number of historical sites: Tomb of the Zombie Lord, the Chapel of Silence, the ruins of Riphorn Castle, the Tower of Amurabombi, the village of Roaring Rock, and the Lair of the Garnath.
Plains of Azgarde
South of the Lost River lie the vast, fertile plains that provide much of the food for the Western Reaches. Corn, wheat and other grains are grown in abundance here, and the grazing lands of the eastern parts of the plains provide for some of the fattest and most prized cows and livestock. Long settled and ruled for the last three hundred years by an unbroken succession of Barons of Huntingdon, the farmlands of this area are a vital economic key to the success of the crown.
Sirendell River
This swiftly flowing river cuts its way southwest from the Iron Hills into the Great Sea at the village of Azgarde. Icy cold and fresh, the Sirendell River is the lifeblood of the great farmland of the central Western Reaches. This river is the boundary between the Baronies of Huntingdon and Wendover, and a number of small battles have taken place along its banks. Currently, there are only two permanent bridges on the river at the villages of Azgarde and Sirendell. At its headwaters, the Sirendell River is known for its excellent trout and salmon fishing.