The Gnarls
The Western Midlunds is the largest of Cygnar’s nine
duchies but also one of the most sparsely settled. This lack
of population is not surprising when one considers the large
stretches of inhospitable mountains, including the Upper
Wyrmwalls and the Watcher Peaks, as well as the vast swaths
of dense forest known as the Gnarls. Lying along the shores
of the Dragon’s Tongue River, much of the Gnarls has been
engulfed in kudzu, which overtakes not merely the trees
and other natural features, but also any structures that aren’t
regularly cleared off. Despite this, the woods have long been a
draw for the inhabitants of the Western Midlunds, due in no
small part to their rich bounty of timber.
Trollkin outnumber Cygnaran soldiers in the duchy, and in the days before the Claiming, lumber camps attempting to work the Gnarls frequently clashed with local Trollkin kriels, bogrin tribes, and other threats from the depths of the forest. Since the signing of the treaty between Cygnar and the United Kriels, however, the Trollkin, who have returned to the Gnarls in ever-larger numbers, have grudgingly accepted lumberjacks and other expeditions into the dense woods, provided that the humans practice good husbandry of the land. These days, travelers in the more rural areas of the Western Midlunds are as likely to come upon a bustling Trollkin village built in the traditional style as they are a fortified human town, and the Sunbright Yeomen—highly skilled rangers who operate out of Fort Whiterock, the duchy’s capital—have allied with the local Trollkin kriels and even accepted several Trollkin scouts into their ranks. This alliance has led to an explosion in the production of timber, which is in high demand throughout the kingdom as Cygnar rebuilds on numerous fronts. But the increased activity in the Gnarls has also stirred up denizens of the deeper woods, sometimes with violent results.
Trollkin outnumber Cygnaran soldiers in the duchy, and in the days before the Claiming, lumber camps attempting to work the Gnarls frequently clashed with local Trollkin kriels, bogrin tribes, and other threats from the depths of the forest. Since the signing of the treaty between Cygnar and the United Kriels, however, the Trollkin, who have returned to the Gnarls in ever-larger numbers, have grudgingly accepted lumberjacks and other expeditions into the dense woods, provided that the humans practice good husbandry of the land. These days, travelers in the more rural areas of the Western Midlunds are as likely to come upon a bustling Trollkin village built in the traditional style as they are a fortified human town, and the Sunbright Yeomen—highly skilled rangers who operate out of Fort Whiterock, the duchy’s capital—have allied with the local Trollkin kriels and even accepted several Trollkin scouts into their ranks. This alliance has led to an explosion in the production of timber, which is in high demand throughout the kingdom as Cygnar rebuilds on numerous fronts. But the increased activity in the Gnarls has also stirred up denizens of the deeper woods, sometimes with violent results.
Location under
