Eldfjall Höfból
Eldfjall Höfból, "Volcano Manor" in giant, is the name of the ancient fire giant duchy located in Sceya. Since the First War, the fire giants Volcano Manor have produced weapons, armor and wondrous items, both magical and otherwise, to all willing to pay their high prices.
Volcano Manor, with its several forge-fortresses and outposts dotted throughout Sceya, was for a long time a dominant force in the region. The coming of The Gold Empire limited their influence, and they were reduced to a shadow of their former glory by the genocidal campaign of Prins Andreas Ari.
Today the Volcano Manor is but an ember compared to the fire it once was, with many of its greatest smiths and warriors killed in battle, and their mighty forges relegated to producing farming and mining equipment for two man-ages. Duke Thengill 'the Lesser' tries to rule over what remains of Volcano Manor's once mighty lands, but he is constantly defied and humiliated by both imperial authority and his own giant vassals.
Volcano Manor, with its several forge-fortresses and outposts dotted throughout Sceya, was for a long time a dominant force in the region. The coming of The Gold Empire limited their influence, and they were reduced to a shadow of their former glory by the genocidal campaign of Prins Andreas Ari.
Today the Volcano Manor is but an ember compared to the fire it once was, with many of its greatest smiths and warriors killed in battle, and their mighty forges relegated to producing farming and mining equipment for two man-ages. Duke Thengill 'the Lesser' tries to rule over what remains of Volcano Manor's once mighty lands, but he is constantly defied and humiliated by both imperial authority and his own giant vassals.
Structure
The Volcano Manor is organized like a typical Fire Giant dukedom: with the duke themself at the head of the dukedom with the greatest forge-fortress, and with several counts and barons holding lesser fiefs within the dukedom.
However, imperial aggression has changed the organization of the Volcano Manor drastically. The duke now holds Volcano Manor itself, but has lost much of the surrounding lands, including important mines and quarries, to the imperial duke who rules from Irondeep. The Volcano Manor thus relies on imports from the imperial authority to keep its forges busy.
Meanwhile the counts and barons have lost less of their lands to the imperial authority and their forges continue to operate, and can more freely create products to be sold on the imperial market. A few of them have even been given special dispensation by the imperial authority to produce arms and armour for the Sceyan Royal Army. These counts have banded together to form a strong coalition, capable of defying the duke, with the intention of maintaining and expanding these special privileges.
The duke thus fights a political battle against those who should be his subjects to maintain the unity of Volcano Manor.
However, imperial aggression has changed the organization of the Volcano Manor drastically. The duke now holds Volcano Manor itself, but has lost much of the surrounding lands, including important mines and quarries, to the imperial duke who rules from Irondeep. The Volcano Manor thus relies on imports from the imperial authority to keep its forges busy.
Meanwhile the counts and barons have lost less of their lands to the imperial authority and their forges continue to operate, and can more freely create products to be sold on the imperial market. A few of them have even been given special dispensation by the imperial authority to produce arms and armour for the Sceyan Royal Army. These counts have banded together to form a strong coalition, capable of defying the duke, with the intention of maintaining and expanding these special privileges.
The duke thus fights a political battle against those who should be his subjects to maintain the unity of Volcano Manor.
Public Agenda
Duke Thengill
Duke Thengill the Lesser, nominal ruler of the Volcano Manor, wishes to maintain a stable relationship with the Gold Empire and honor the agreements he signed with Prince Andreas. He keeps the forge warm and his smith-warriors well-trained, waiting for the day he again can begin producing arms and armor to regain the much lost wealth the peace treaty placed upon his house.
However, he faces insidious foes from within. Every day his counts grow more powerful, and every day his authority over them grows weaker. Volcano Manor may well shatter from within, falling to the ambitions of each of his counts. The Duke is unwilling to accept this outcome, and pays close heed to what transpires in the forges of his rivals.
While reluctant to wage war to maintain his authority, the Duke hopes to catch one of the counts in a treasonous act to the Gold Empire, which would allow him to strip them of their title and put them in their place.
Counts
Many of the fire giant counts are working to enhance their personal power and prestige. They can all see that the Duke is old and weak, and that the time for a new ruler of Volcano Manor is close. They smell blood, and are all readying the limited forces to Gold Empire permits them to have for the battle that is coming. They all try to ingratiate themselves with the Gold Empire, hoping to gain permission to field larger retinues, produce more weapons and the greatest prize of them all: resume production of magic items.
While none have defied the peace treaty yet, they all secretly wish to do so: as having the necessary weapons to defeat their foes may be more important than allying with the Gold Empire. A desperate baron may do what they feel is necessary to win the war...
There is little doubt among the counts of Volcano Manor that war is on the way, and while they currently represent a united front against the duke, they are all ready to betray each other when the time comes for the ultimate prize.
The three most important Fire Giant lords under the Volcano Manor are:
The old count Jósteinn Jarnhuth of the eastern fortress of Austurtönn, by the coast is in many ways the most imperial of fire giants. His hird had long since been weakened in battle against the Damatír, and his fortress was far away from the imperial invasion of the Giantheights, sparing him from a confrontation with prince Andreas. Seeing that the Volcano Manor would be defeated soon by the Gold Empire, coun Jósteinn sent emissaries to the prince, as well as the Bronze Metal Cathedral in Highhammer and the Peace Legion delegation who had come to the Volcano Manor.
The count proposed the ceding of his lands in the Coalhills and his legions of indentured Kolathrell, in return for the unique right to produce magical arms and armor for the Holy Legions in Sceya. The old count is the most well-liked of the fire giant lords among the imperials, though his daughter Guthrun Jósteinnsdottir is known
Duke Thengill the Lesser, nominal ruler of the Volcano Manor, wishes to maintain a stable relationship with the Gold Empire and honor the agreements he signed with Prince Andreas. He keeps the forge warm and his smith-warriors well-trained, waiting for the day he again can begin producing arms and armor to regain the much lost wealth the peace treaty placed upon his house.
However, he faces insidious foes from within. Every day his counts grow more powerful, and every day his authority over them grows weaker. Volcano Manor may well shatter from within, falling to the ambitions of each of his counts. The Duke is unwilling to accept this outcome, and pays close heed to what transpires in the forges of his rivals.
While reluctant to wage war to maintain his authority, the Duke hopes to catch one of the counts in a treasonous act to the Gold Empire, which would allow him to strip them of their title and put them in their place.
Counts
Many of the fire giant counts are working to enhance their personal power and prestige. They can all see that the Duke is old and weak, and that the time for a new ruler of Volcano Manor is close. They smell blood, and are all readying the limited forces to Gold Empire permits them to have for the battle that is coming. They all try to ingratiate themselves with the Gold Empire, hoping to gain permission to field larger retinues, produce more weapons and the greatest prize of them all: resume production of magic items.
While none have defied the peace treaty yet, they all secretly wish to do so: as having the necessary weapons to defeat their foes may be more important than allying with the Gold Empire. A desperate baron may do what they feel is necessary to win the war...
There is little doubt among the counts of Volcano Manor that war is on the way, and while they currently represent a united front against the duke, they are all ready to betray each other when the time comes for the ultimate prize.
The three most important Fire Giant lords under the Volcano Manor are:
- Count Jósteinn Jarnhuth of Austurtönn
- Baron Idun Svartmött of Sólátt
- Exiled duke Arngill "the Greater"
The old count Jósteinn Jarnhuth of the eastern fortress of Austurtönn, by the coast is in many ways the most imperial of fire giants. His hird had long since been weakened in battle against the Damatír, and his fortress was far away from the imperial invasion of the Giantheights, sparing him from a confrontation with prince Andreas. Seeing that the Volcano Manor would be defeated soon by the Gold Empire, coun Jósteinn sent emissaries to the prince, as well as the Bronze Metal Cathedral in Highhammer and the Peace Legion delegation who had come to the Volcano Manor.
The count proposed the ceding of his lands in the Coalhills and his legions of indentured Kolathrell, in return for the unique right to produce magical arms and armor for the Holy Legions in Sceya. The old count is the most well-liked of the fire giant lords among the imperials, though his daughter Guthrun Jósteinnsdottir is known
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