County of Cryllor
Overview
The western County of Cryllor is one of Keoland’s wealthiest and most strategically powerful provinces. The county stretches along the banks of the Javan, in a fluvial valley cut by the river between the Good Hills and the Little Hills, which border the lands of the Yeomanry. The walled city of Cryllor, whose western district opens onto the banks of the Javan, is the fourth largest in the kingdom, after only Gradsul, Flen, and Niole Dra. The city and its wealthy lord benefit strongly from the river traffic and trade that passes just outside his walls on the road between Niole Dra and Longspear. Additionally, riches are still drawn from the lower Good Hills. much of which finds its way to the markets of Cryllor, where skilled artisans are known for their metalwork. The counties of Flen and Cryllor have been rivals for centuries, but while the rulership of Flen has been relatively stable over that time, the lordship of Cryllor has changed hands many times. The current count is Lord lgnas Manz. Count Manz has made himself very wealthy from the ores he draws from prodigious mines in the valley, much to the chagrin of the gnomes of Plim’s Delve, who find his methods unscrupulous. The Count is a firm believer in the concept of bread and circus, and he does not disappoint his citizens. He spreads around just enough of his coin to keep the people happy and his rivals among the lords of the county off balance. Toward this end, Count Manz has turned an annual swordmeet held during Brewfest, called the Tocsin of Kelanen, into a festival of competition which draws participants and spectators from across the Sheldomar Valley (and no doubt considerable coin into the count’s coffers). Count Manz has long harbored a desire to annex the rich highlands in the Little Hills, which are believed to hold unexploited mineral wealth, but has garnered no support to do so from his peers in the Council of Niole Dra. He has made it clear to the Countess Elgarin that any alliance with Flen depends upon her support in this endeavor, which she will not give. The western half of the province of Cryllor, referred to as the Trans-javan, extends from the western bank of the river to the foothills of the Jotens and the Little Hills. Manz has further provoked the Yeomanry by mining the foothills of the Littles in abrogation of long-standing treaties. There are rumours of the discovery of a vein of Mithral well within Yeoman territory, but the location of this mine, if it exists, remains unknown. Its discovery would likely go greatly rewarded by the court of the Freeholder should it be revealed.
Type
Geopolitical, County / March
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Parent Organization
Comments