Shield Lands

The Shield Lands, properly known as the Holy Realm of the Faithful of the Shield Lands, is a political state of the Flanaess.

Overview

The Shield Lands consists of two dozen provinces of various size, stretching from the Ritensa River in the south to the Vigilant Highway, from Plague Fields to Alhaster. The nation’s northern border has shifted throughout the centuries, but it was generally defined by the southern margins of the Rift Barrens.
The Shield Lands established perhaps the most modern and well-cared-for system of roadways in the Flanaess.
The local climate is temperate, and less harsh that the Bandit Kingdoms to the north. Though far from tropical, the southern coast of the Shield Lands provide the most hospitable beaches in all the Nyr Dyv coastline.

History

When Ferrond broke from the Great Kingdom in 254 CY, the nobles of the Nyr Dyv’s north shore refused to acknowledge the new king in Dyvers. Loyal to the ideal of ancient Aerdy but wholly opposed to the decadent regime in Rauxes, these nobles failed to declare complete independence, instead existing somewhere in-between autonomy and their former status as vassals to the viceroy.
When similar circumstances resulted, ultimately, in the formation of the lawless Combination of Free Lords to the north, the southern nobles banded together, forming the “Shield Lands” as a bulwark against the depredations and chaos of the north. Since the earl of Walworth commanded Admundfort, at the time the only notable city in the region, he was chosen as the knight commander of the combined forces of the nobles. Within a handful of years, the new capital saw the formation of the Knights of Holy Shielding, a Heironean order that both formed the core of the new national army and served as an example of good, clean living through dedication to strict, militaristic goals.
The first true challenge to the authority of the shield came during 420–445 CY, when a local warlord gained the Hand and Eye of Vecna, two surpassingly evil artifacts. The lord, Halmadar the Cruel, conquered the region near Delcomben and laid siege to Critwall before being drugged by his subjects and interred alive in the Kron Hills. After the Halmadar affair, the earl of Walworth increased the size of the Knights of Holy Shielding, stationing his holy warriors as advisors throughout the land.
When the Horned Society appeared after the disappearance of Iuz, affairs in the Shield Lands reached a desperate crescendo. Here were enemies dedicated to vile darkness and evil sacrifice, who had sworn upon the ashen altars of Molag’s Hall of Dread that they would march to Admundfort and line the walls with the earl’s intestines. Though years passed without significant military activity, the period between 550–570 saw heavy skirmishing along the western banks of the Ritensa River, and in response great forts such as Torkeep were raised.

Settlements

Cities

• Admundfort
• Alhaster
• Critwall 

Towns and Villages

• Axeport
• Battledown
• Bolarn
• Delcomben
• Deleven
• Docamald
• Eastfork
• Gensal
• Harryn
• Jondo
• Kellswald
• Lardon
• Law's Forge
• Nairen
• Olenak
• Plague Fields (ruined)
• Pomfrey
• Reyneld
• Ringland
• Shepkote
• Southkeep
• Stahzer
• Torkeep
• Trallant
• Weslan
• Yellowreach

Notable locations

• Bright Sentry
• Castle Mukos (ruined)
• Correll's Watch
• Fort Vigilance
• Morannon Keep
• Shield Reclaimed
• Westkeep

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Demonym

Shieldlander

Government System

Stratocracy

Power Structure

Feudal state