Dunlain
Chivalry amidst a sea of conflict
Dunlain is a nation in the Golden Lands. It makes up much of the south and eastern border of the Golden Lands. It is bordered by its two neighbors, The Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate. It is flanked by the Golden Mountain Range to the west, the Dragon Sea to the east, and the Amaranthine Sea to the south.
A small castle town in Dunlain
The land of Dunlain is gentle and temperate compared to that of its neighbors. Dunlain is home to wide open plains, rivers, lakes, forests, hills and even a few small mountains of its own. The land is ideal for agriculture and raising farm animals, and the forests, mountains and hills make for great deposits of lumber and other natural resources. Much like other nations, it has a warm summer, gentle but rainy spring and autumn, and chilly winters. Much of Dunlain features coastlines that are ideal for fishing as well as hosting harbors that trade with their neighbors and the distant nations of Arda.
Much like the other nations of the Golden Lands, their history begins following the Last of the Primordial Wars. Before that, Dunlain was believed to be uninhabited by anything other than wild beasts. The first known travelers to Dunlain were dwarven explorers who hailed from the Golden Mountain. The dwarves of the region frequently looked to expand by finding new mountains with valuable mineral deposits. Seeing the edge of the Golden Mountain Range, they despaired, believing there to be little left of interest for the dwarves in these lands.
As they traveled, they cross through pristine plains, gentle slopes, and deep forests, but only encountered a small and distant mountain on the eastern edge of these lands. Scratching the surface, they found little by the way of mineral deposits. Feeling defeated, the dwarves returned to report their findings. With only a small and poor mountain far from the Golden Mountain, it was deemed not worth the effort of creating such a far-flung settlement. Feeling embittered by their long and fruitless trek, the called it the Folly Mountains. Thus, the lands of Dunlain remained fallow and unclaimed for many years.
Following the events of the Last of the Primordial Wars, the dwarves of the Golden Mountain were locked in battle against the newly arrived orcs who looked to settle around the Golden Mountains, also wishing to join in on the gold rush in the region. The dwarves of the Golden Mountain, expelled the orcs, forcing them to the barren plains north of the Golden Mountain range, where they formed a new and rival nation - the Golden Khanate. To deal with the orcs, the dwarves knew they would need to bolster their numbers.
In order to do that, the dwarves of the Golden Mountain opened their gates to human settlers, who they lured to their drab mountains on promises of wealth and brotherhood. Whatever their reasons, the men who emigrated were quickly relegated to second-class citizens in the dwarven nation, forced to live in separate and poorer settlements than their dwarven compatriots. Some men took to fighting the orcs alongside the dwarves in the hopes of gaining recognition for their people, but to no avail. Increasingly frustrated with their lack of opportunity and representation, men rebelled against their dwarven handlers, ultimately leaving for the green and fertile lands of Dunlain beyond dwarven dominion.
It was here that the early men of Dunlain began the struggle for their lives, freedom and identity. The dwarves of the Golden Mountain did not take kindly to yet another nation being born on their lands, and sent numerous task forces to attempt to dispose of the renegade humans. The Golden Khanate, never missing an opportunity to take down the dwarves a notch, offered their aid with the revolutionaries, and the Golden Mountain was well aware it could not win a war on both fronts. Thus, the Golden Mountain left the men of the new land of Dunlain alone, and gained recognition from the Golden Khanate.
Now free of it's oppressors, Dunlain took to developing their land and ideals. They made one of the revolutionary leaders, a man by the name of Gerrard, their king. A man of action but an idealist at heart, he wanted to turn the lands of Dunlain into a real nation free to pursue its future. Coming from a land divided by war and segregation, the first Dunlain king Gerrard endeavored to build a land of peace and fraternity, centered around the knightly and chivalric ideals espoused by the Eastern Continent of the time. In time, Dunlain built and became this image of chivalric strength and ideal amidst the warfare in the other nations of the Golden Lands.
The new nation was not only attractive to many human settlers from abroad, but also from emigrants from the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate. Numerous dwarves of the Golden Mountain were disillusioned by their own king following the never-ending wars and treatment of the orcs and humans, while other dwarves came seeking new opportunity in a land with a blank slate. Just as surprising, orcs also came to settle in Dunlain, seeking to build new homes, farms, and businesses in the fertile and stable lands of Dunlain, while others still simply wished to escape the overwhelming pressure of the Golden Khanate's culture of strength and competition. King Gerrard welcomed both peoples as brothers, and while there had been tensions at first, these peoples now live largely in harmony in the centuries following the establishment of the nation.
In a few words, the people of Dunlain are idealists - revolving their land, cultures, and lives in the pursuit of honor, peace, and general prosperity. While it may come across to cynics as overly naive, the people of Dunlain have remained committed to upholding these traditions and values in their everyday life. This commitment has made it a glimmering beacon for those fleeing conflict or oppression from the neighboring lands of the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate.
In a sense, this makes the average Dunlainish "soft", but most recognize that their peace doesn't come without hard work or sacrifice. In general, they are an honest and hard-working people who see the value in community and mutual well-being. They are also a people who love stories, particularly those of heroes - from everyday to noble. Thus, do many people of Dunlain pay high compliments to acts of bravery and heroism, and the inns and taverns of their nation are abuzz with the deeds of folk heroes and knight-errants which the Dunlain call the Shepherds. This culture has expanded to the dwarves and orcs of Dunlain as well, both of which were generally left their homelands seeking peace or opportunity. Many of the dwarves of Dunlain live along the hilly and mountainous regions of western Dunlain where they can build similar lives to what they had in the Golden Mountain, simply with more friendly neighbors. Others seek out industrial towns and mines, such as mining mithril in the Folly Mountains or as smiths in the trade city of Easthaven. The orcs of Dunlain, most seeking lives of stability or plenty, generally live along the northern and eastern parts of the nations. Unlike the dwarves, they commonly engage in farming, but also many ply their skills as craftsmen in cities such as Easthaven or Lorraine. Over time, the dwarves and orcs intermarried with the local men, and as a result, there are fairly decent amount of people of mixed ancestries in Dunlain.
As a nation of mostly men, as well as numerous dwarves, Heavens worship is the most common religion among the people of Dunlain. Dunlain is home to numerous churches and remote monasteries at which the faithful pray at or clerics are trained. Many such clerics of Dunlain will go on to serve and hold services in their neighbor nations of the Golden Khanate or Golden Mountain. In the Golden Khanate, Heavens worship is uncommon, thus they send missionaries to spread their religion, but are met with varying, often low, chances of conversion. As for the Golden Mountain, the dwarves are already Heaven worshipers. However, for the men who remained under dwarven control, they are kept in separate and often poorer churches than the dwarves. As a result, few dwarven clerics of the Golden Mountain will hold services for the human population of their nation. Thus, Dunlain often sends clerics of their own to tend to the men of the Golden Mountain, and some even help others flee to a better life in Dunlain in secret.
Primordial 2orship is less common in Dunlain, but is neither uncommon nor strictly discouraged. Realistically, it simply only has a relatively small orcish population who generally worship the Primordial Lords, but anyone from dwarf to man or orc could be a Primordial worshiper. In Dunlain, the Primordial Fire and the Primordial Earth are the most common of those worshiped, namely thanks to the popularity of the Firelord among the orcs and men, and the popularity of the Primordial Earth among dwarves.
The nation of Dunlain is a monarchy, whose royal lineage descends from the human revolutionary hero Gerrard. Striving for peace and order, the dynasty of Gerrard has remained unbroken since the nation's conception. The ruler of Dunlain is the king or queen of Gerrard's bloodline, and the role is passed to the eldest heir of the previous king and queen. With their dependence on tradition, they have had royalty both noble and good from greedy and incompetent, but most royalty of Gerrard's line have proven to be people of integrity and character. This royalty is supported by the nobility of Dunlain, who are descended from other revolutionary leaders or other people of character and service. They overlook their fiefs and provide men and knights in case of military need.
The royalty of Dunlain are also supported two legal bodies known as the Court of Nobles and the Court of Commons. As their name implies, they are ministries which are populated by the nobility and the common people of Dunlain respectively. It is the responsibility of these courts to find and investigate issues that impact the people of their respective courts, and present them to the king or queen for resolution. For example, if the nobility believes the taxes are too high, the Court of Nobles will reach a verdict to bring the matter to the king or queen. This is likewise true if the Court of Commons may find issues at hand, such as the need for new roads or irrigation, or more. As a result, the royalty is often able to stave-off malcontent in the nation before it has a chance to foment.
Dunlain is a land that generally prefers peace to war, but with two frequently warring neighbors, the people of this land see the necessity of military preparedness. As a result, King Gerrard, the first king of Dunlain created the Dunlain Royal Army, a military force to protect their realm from potential incursions or attempts of reconquest by the dwarves of the Golden Mountain. In comparison, the standing army of Dunlain is smaller than that of the Golden Mountain, but technically larger than that of the Golden Khanate. The latter however, has access to numerous rough and ready tribal warriors who could readily join battle, whereas Dunlain does not.
As a result of their inherent disadvantages in sheer numbers or readiness, the Dunlain instead focus on the development of fortifications and military tactics. Dunlain, having little room or need to expand its territory, can use these fortifications to great effect in defending their homeland. In addition, the Dunlain Royal Army makes great use of the longbow, which can employed effectively in both open fields and in fortifications. In addition, the army also has a number of court wizards, clerics, and paladins who can support their allies in close quarters or ranged combat.
Dunlain is a relatively small nation on the world stage, but not un-blessed. It has green and fertile lands, numerous and skilled craftsmen, lakes and oceans for fishing and transport, and numerous metal deposits including the wonder-metal known as mithril. As a result, the land has most of its needs met by their own peoples, as well as enough to trade with their neighbors. The land and people in Dunlain are not nearly so rich as the Golden Mountain or the mercantile nations, but they do well enough to be content, or even prosperous.
Having great access to farmland in the largely inhospitable lands of the Golden Lands has proven a good boon for the people of Dunlain. Not only have they enough to feed themselves; they frequently trade with their agricultural goods with their neighbors for the goods that would be otherwise difficult to get in Dunlain, namely iron and gold. Humorous to some, despite having orcish and dwarven neighbors, Dunlain produces more alcohol per capita than both the Golden Khanate and Golden Mountain combined. Unsurprisingly, the brews of Dunlain are one of the most popular goods sold to their neighbors.
With the influx of orcish and dwarven immigrants, Dunlain has traditionally had access to skilled craftsmen, many of who have settled in mining and trading settlements such as Easthaven. The forging of mithril tools and particularly armor have been prized by merchants the world over. With the combined arts of dwarven, men, and orcish craftsmen, such goods can be made or crafted in nearly any way, from delicate and ornamental to brutal but functional, and anywhere in between.
Despite the past, Dunlain maintains good relations with both of its neighbors, the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate. In order to uphold its core belief in peace, the nation frequently acts an intermediary and common ground for both the Golden Mountain and Golden Khanate. In terms of national affairs, Dunlain tends to favor the dwarves of the Golden Mountain in the regards of technology as well as sharing a common heritage. Similarly, most of the Dunlainish consider they owe a debt of gratitude to the Golden Khanate who helped in their time of need, and prefer the more flexible orcs as trading and negotiating partners over the stubborn dwarves.
Dunlain sends and receives envoys from nearly every other nation. At home and abroad, their people are known for their integrity and dedication to peace, making them ideal as mediators in international disputes. Their primary interest abroad is to forge alliances. The Dunlainish otherwise seek to forge trade deals with most nations to export their trade goods and raw materials for metal such as iron or exotic goods that may otherwise be hard to get in Dunlain.
A part of Geography and Regions See Also
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Geography
The land of Dunlain is gentle and temperate compared to that of its neighbors. Dunlain is home to wide open plains, rivers, lakes, forests, hills and even a few small mountains of its own. The land is ideal for agriculture and raising farm animals, and the forests, mountains and hills make for great deposits of lumber and other natural resources. Much like other nations, it has a warm summer, gentle but rainy spring and autumn, and chilly winters. Much of Dunlain features coastlines that are ideal for fishing as well as hosting harbors that trade with their neighbors and the distant nations of Arda.
History
Much like the other nations of the Golden Lands, their history begins following the Last of the Primordial Wars. Before that, Dunlain was believed to be uninhabited by anything other than wild beasts. The first known travelers to Dunlain were dwarven explorers who hailed from the Golden Mountain. The dwarves of the region frequently looked to expand by finding new mountains with valuable mineral deposits. Seeing the edge of the Golden Mountain Range, they despaired, believing there to be little left of interest for the dwarves in these lands.
As they traveled, they cross through pristine plains, gentle slopes, and deep forests, but only encountered a small and distant mountain on the eastern edge of these lands. Scratching the surface, they found little by the way of mineral deposits. Feeling defeated, the dwarves returned to report their findings. With only a small and poor mountain far from the Golden Mountain, it was deemed not worth the effort of creating such a far-flung settlement. Feeling embittered by their long and fruitless trek, the called it the Folly Mountains. Thus, the lands of Dunlain remained fallow and unclaimed for many years.
Following the events of the Last of the Primordial Wars, the dwarves of the Golden Mountain were locked in battle against the newly arrived orcs who looked to settle around the Golden Mountains, also wishing to join in on the gold rush in the region. The dwarves of the Golden Mountain, expelled the orcs, forcing them to the barren plains north of the Golden Mountain range, where they formed a new and rival nation - the Golden Khanate. To deal with the orcs, the dwarves knew they would need to bolster their numbers.
In order to do that, the dwarves of the Golden Mountain opened their gates to human settlers, who they lured to their drab mountains on promises of wealth and brotherhood. Whatever their reasons, the men who emigrated were quickly relegated to second-class citizens in the dwarven nation, forced to live in separate and poorer settlements than their dwarven compatriots. Some men took to fighting the orcs alongside the dwarves in the hopes of gaining recognition for their people, but to no avail. Increasingly frustrated with their lack of opportunity and representation, men rebelled against their dwarven handlers, ultimately leaving for the green and fertile lands of Dunlain beyond dwarven dominion.
It was here that the early men of Dunlain began the struggle for their lives, freedom and identity. The dwarves of the Golden Mountain did not take kindly to yet another nation being born on their lands, and sent numerous task forces to attempt to dispose of the renegade humans. The Golden Khanate, never missing an opportunity to take down the dwarves a notch, offered their aid with the revolutionaries, and the Golden Mountain was well aware it could not win a war on both fronts. Thus, the Golden Mountain left the men of the new land of Dunlain alone, and gained recognition from the Golden Khanate.
Now free of it's oppressors, Dunlain took to developing their land and ideals. They made one of the revolutionary leaders, a man by the name of Gerrard, their king. A man of action but an idealist at heart, he wanted to turn the lands of Dunlain into a real nation free to pursue its future. Coming from a land divided by war and segregation, the first Dunlain king Gerrard endeavored to build a land of peace and fraternity, centered around the knightly and chivalric ideals espoused by the Eastern Continent of the time. In time, Dunlain built and became this image of chivalric strength and ideal amidst the warfare in the other nations of the Golden Lands.
The new nation was not only attractive to many human settlers from abroad, but also from emigrants from the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate. Numerous dwarves of the Golden Mountain were disillusioned by their own king following the never-ending wars and treatment of the orcs and humans, while other dwarves came seeking new opportunity in a land with a blank slate. Just as surprising, orcs also came to settle in Dunlain, seeking to build new homes, farms, and businesses in the fertile and stable lands of Dunlain, while others still simply wished to escape the overwhelming pressure of the Golden Khanate's culture of strength and competition. King Gerrard welcomed both peoples as brothers, and while there had been tensions at first, these peoples now live largely in harmony in the centuries following the establishment of the nation.
People and Culture
In a few words, the people of Dunlain are idealists - revolving their land, cultures, and lives in the pursuit of honor, peace, and general prosperity. While it may come across to cynics as overly naive, the people of Dunlain have remained committed to upholding these traditions and values in their everyday life. This commitment has made it a glimmering beacon for those fleeing conflict or oppression from the neighboring lands of the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate.
In a sense, this makes the average Dunlainish "soft", but most recognize that their peace doesn't come without hard work or sacrifice. In general, they are an honest and hard-working people who see the value in community and mutual well-being. They are also a people who love stories, particularly those of heroes - from everyday to noble. Thus, do many people of Dunlain pay high compliments to acts of bravery and heroism, and the inns and taverns of their nation are abuzz with the deeds of folk heroes and knight-errants which the Dunlain call the Shepherds. This culture has expanded to the dwarves and orcs of Dunlain as well, both of which were generally left their homelands seeking peace or opportunity. Many of the dwarves of Dunlain live along the hilly and mountainous regions of western Dunlain where they can build similar lives to what they had in the Golden Mountain, simply with more friendly neighbors. Others seek out industrial towns and mines, such as mining mithril in the Folly Mountains or as smiths in the trade city of Easthaven. The orcs of Dunlain, most seeking lives of stability or plenty, generally live along the northern and eastern parts of the nations. Unlike the dwarves, they commonly engage in farming, but also many ply their skills as craftsmen in cities such as Easthaven or Lorraine. Over time, the dwarves and orcs intermarried with the local men, and as a result, there are fairly decent amount of people of mixed ancestries in Dunlain.
Religion
As a nation of mostly men, as well as numerous dwarves, Heavens worship is the most common religion among the people of Dunlain. Dunlain is home to numerous churches and remote monasteries at which the faithful pray at or clerics are trained. Many such clerics of Dunlain will go on to serve and hold services in their neighbor nations of the Golden Khanate or Golden Mountain. In the Golden Khanate, Heavens worship is uncommon, thus they send missionaries to spread their religion, but are met with varying, often low, chances of conversion. As for the Golden Mountain, the dwarves are already Heaven worshipers. However, for the men who remained under dwarven control, they are kept in separate and often poorer churches than the dwarves. As a result, few dwarven clerics of the Golden Mountain will hold services for the human population of their nation. Thus, Dunlain often sends clerics of their own to tend to the men of the Golden Mountain, and some even help others flee to a better life in Dunlain in secret.
Primordial 2orship is less common in Dunlain, but is neither uncommon nor strictly discouraged. Realistically, it simply only has a relatively small orcish population who generally worship the Primordial Lords, but anyone from dwarf to man or orc could be a Primordial worshiper. In Dunlain, the Primordial Fire and the Primordial Earth are the most common of those worshiped, namely thanks to the popularity of the Firelord among the orcs and men, and the popularity of the Primordial Earth among dwarves.
Government
The nation of Dunlain is a monarchy, whose royal lineage descends from the human revolutionary hero Gerrard. Striving for peace and order, the dynasty of Gerrard has remained unbroken since the nation's conception. The ruler of Dunlain is the king or queen of Gerrard's bloodline, and the role is passed to the eldest heir of the previous king and queen. With their dependence on tradition, they have had royalty both noble and good from greedy and incompetent, but most royalty of Gerrard's line have proven to be people of integrity and character. This royalty is supported by the nobility of Dunlain, who are descended from other revolutionary leaders or other people of character and service. They overlook their fiefs and provide men and knights in case of military need.
The royalty of Dunlain are also supported two legal bodies known as the Court of Nobles and the Court of Commons. As their name implies, they are ministries which are populated by the nobility and the common people of Dunlain respectively. It is the responsibility of these courts to find and investigate issues that impact the people of their respective courts, and present them to the king or queen for resolution. For example, if the nobility believes the taxes are too high, the Court of Nobles will reach a verdict to bring the matter to the king or queen. This is likewise true if the Court of Commons may find issues at hand, such as the need for new roads or irrigation, or more. As a result, the royalty is often able to stave-off malcontent in the nation before it has a chance to foment.
Military
Dunlain is a land that generally prefers peace to war, but with two frequently warring neighbors, the people of this land see the necessity of military preparedness. As a result, King Gerrard, the first king of Dunlain created the Dunlain Royal Army, a military force to protect their realm from potential incursions or attempts of reconquest by the dwarves of the Golden Mountain. In comparison, the standing army of Dunlain is smaller than that of the Golden Mountain, but technically larger than that of the Golden Khanate. The latter however, has access to numerous rough and ready tribal warriors who could readily join battle, whereas Dunlain does not.
As a result of their inherent disadvantages in sheer numbers or readiness, the Dunlain instead focus on the development of fortifications and military tactics. Dunlain, having little room or need to expand its territory, can use these fortifications to great effect in defending their homeland. In addition, the Dunlain Royal Army makes great use of the longbow, which can employed effectively in both open fields and in fortifications. In addition, the army also has a number of court wizards, clerics, and paladins who can support their allies in close quarters or ranged combat.
Organizations
- Dunlain Royal Army - The standing army maintained by the crown and nobility of Dunlain. They maintain a presence throughout the nation in its towns, fortresses and castles. They also have in their ranks numerous archers and wizards, and being particularly known for their use of the longbow, which allows their troops to attack from greater distances. They also make use of dwarven and orcish recruits, deploying them as sturdy and mobile infantry to protect lines of ranged troops. While the Army can and will patrol the roads on occasion, the roads are often protected by the Shepherds, the local knight-errants and adventurers.
- The Shepherds - The land of Dunlain is steeped in idealism, and has popularized the concept of the knight-errant - lordless knights who wander the land to protect the common people. In Dunlain, knight-errants are colloquially known as the Shepherds, named after a fairy tale in which a lonesome but brave shepherd boy saves his village from marauding bandits. In Dunlain, being a Shepherd is not unlike adventurer work, but is supported by the crown of Dunlain. While many young men and women of action become Shepherds for romanticism or renown, those who perform honorable deeds can expect to be rewarded. The role is not strictly reserved for knights or nobility - commoners with skill can take on the role as well, as well as others such as rangers, paladins, or even wizards. While most are human, it is not uncommon for orcs and dwarves to become Shepherds as well. Most Shepherds travel alone or in pairs as knight and squire (or Shepherd-in-training).
- The Torches - The only Torch post in the Golden Lands, it is the most far-flung of any of the Torch branches. It is based in the capital of Dunlain, in the river city of Lorraine. With less access to resources and manpower than their sister sites, the Torches here often play a supporting role. They are reliant on the information gathering and combat expertise of the Shepherds to quell threats from Shadow worshipers.
Economy
Dunlain is a relatively small nation on the world stage, but not un-blessed. It has green and fertile lands, numerous and skilled craftsmen, lakes and oceans for fishing and transport, and numerous metal deposits including the wonder-metal known as mithril. As a result, the land has most of its needs met by their own peoples, as well as enough to trade with their neighbors. The land and people in Dunlain are not nearly so rich as the Golden Mountain or the mercantile nations, but they do well enough to be content, or even prosperous.
Having great access to farmland in the largely inhospitable lands of the Golden Lands has proven a good boon for the people of Dunlain. Not only have they enough to feed themselves; they frequently trade with their agricultural goods with their neighbors for the goods that would be otherwise difficult to get in Dunlain, namely iron and gold. Humorous to some, despite having orcish and dwarven neighbors, Dunlain produces more alcohol per capita than both the Golden Khanate and Golden Mountain combined. Unsurprisingly, the brews of Dunlain are one of the most popular goods sold to their neighbors.
With the influx of orcish and dwarven immigrants, Dunlain has traditionally had access to skilled craftsmen, many of who have settled in mining and trading settlements such as Easthaven. The forging of mithril tools and particularly armor have been prized by merchants the world over. With the combined arts of dwarven, men, and orcish craftsmen, such goods can be made or crafted in nearly any way, from delicate and ornamental to brutal but functional, and anywhere in between.
Relations
Despite the past, Dunlain maintains good relations with both of its neighbors, the Golden Mountain and the Golden Khanate. In order to uphold its core belief in peace, the nation frequently acts an intermediary and common ground for both the Golden Mountain and Golden Khanate. In terms of national affairs, Dunlain tends to favor the dwarves of the Golden Mountain in the regards of technology as well as sharing a common heritage. Similarly, most of the Dunlainish consider they owe a debt of gratitude to the Golden Khanate who helped in their time of need, and prefer the more flexible orcs as trading and negotiating partners over the stubborn dwarves.
Dunlain sends and receives envoys from nearly every other nation. At home and abroad, their people are known for their integrity and dedication to peace, making them ideal as mediators in international disputes. Their primary interest abroad is to forge alliances. The Dunlainish otherwise seek to forge trade deals with most nations to export their trade goods and raw materials for metal such as iron or exotic goods that may otherwise be hard to get in Dunlain.
Locations of Interest
- Lorraine - Also known as "the City between Rivers", Lorraine is built at the convergence of rivers Anugeld down from the shores of Geldmor Lake, Lorraine is the capital of the nation of Dunlain. The city was founded by the first Dunlain King, Gerrard, who named it after his daughter. Being a new nation, Gerrard took great pains in staking out the region that would become his capital. Fruits of his efforts, the land around the capital is green and fertile, the rivers provide means of water, sanitation, and transport, and the numerous waterways reduce the chances of encirclement during siege. Today, the city is small but prosperous, and hosts the castle of the Dunlain king.
- Easthaven - Once the provisional capital of Dunlain, it was originally a regional fort taken in the early days of conflict between the men of Dunlain and the dwarves of the Golden Mountain. Built near the base of the Folly Mountains, it has access to the valuable metals of the mines there. Today, Easthaven has expanded, and is considered the economic and industrial center of Dunlain.
- Folly Mountains - The Folly Mountains is a small and comparatively short mountain range in eastern Dunlain. In Dunlain's early history, dwarven explorers dug into the mountain, hoping to scout it as a site for a new dwarven hold. The explorers, finding little of value, returned to report their disappointing findings. Feeling embittered by the long trip, they jokingly named it Khazad-Lalkh, or the Folly Mountain. Once the men of Dunlain came to occupy the land, most knew little of the history of the mountain beside the name, so they dug anyway. Digging deep, their perseverance paid off, finding deposits of mithril in the mountain. While comparatively small to the vast stores of Khazad-Mor, the discovery was a huge boon to the people of Dunlain, and a massive oversight of the dwarves.
- Geldmor Lake - A large lake that borders the northwestern corner of Dunlain, and borders the lands of the Golden Mountain and Golden Khanate. Numerous towns are built along its banks, and are ideal with trading and shipping to it's neighbor towns and adjoining nations.
Trivia
- Dunlain is loosely based on the Duchy of Toussaint, from The Witcher.
- The Court of Nobles and Court of Commons are based on English civil law bodies of the House of Lords and House of Commons respectively.
- It also draws on a number of cultural elements from Bant, from Shards of Alara.
See Also
A part of Geography and Regions See Also
Quick Reference
Type
Region
Region: Golden Lands
Government: Monarchy
National Language: Dunlain Common
Ancestry: 45% Men, 20% Mul, 15% Half-Orc, 10% Dwarf, 5% Orc, 5% Other or un-described mixed ancestry
Religion: 75% Heavens, 15% Primordial, 5% Druidism, 5% Other
General Alignment: Lawful Good
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