Harrenhall
Harrenhall is one of the oldest settlements on the Terathan Continent. It was founded by the ancient, great explorers who left the continent of Eratha, looking for new lands and new riches. The island was colonized to originally be a staging area for the colonization efforts for the rest of the new found continent. The island rests just south of the coast of Atmorra. It is a rocky, grassy island with its primary vegetation being a small darkwood forest and a grassy field. Harrenhall is currently home to the Terathan Warden of Jade. Here, the Wardens use the keep as a base of operations. Usually, The Warden of Teratha is also the High Lord of Harrenhall. Many tragedies have taken place here over the years due to the Wardens' battles against evil. Despite that fact, many still find hope and safety, living on the same island.
Government
Lordship: The title of "High Lord of Harrenhall" is passed on to the oldest male heir in the family of the current Warden of Teratha. Most often, it is the alternative title to Teratha's Warden. While Harrenhall is considered a sovereign city-state, its highly regarded by the government of Atmorra, Harrenhall's closest neighbor, and the High Lord of Harrenhall is even given special permissions to participate in certain levels of Atmorran politics.
Defences
Castle Harrenhall (The Dread Keep)
Industry & Trade
Fishing
Guilds and Factions
The Wardens of Jade
The Harper League
The Diamond Chasers Adventuring Guild
The Order of the Purple Dragon Knight
Satellite School of the Arcanum
The Terathan Trade Guild
The Harper League
The Diamond Chasers Adventuring Guild
The Order of the Purple Dragon Knight
Satellite School of the Arcanum
The Terathan Trade Guild
History
As it is one of the oldest settlements on the continent, Harrenhall has a very rich history that can only be paraphrased and briefly mentioned here. It's highlighted histories often involve either the founding settlers or the introduction of The Wardens of Jade.
Harrenhall was founded during a time when written records were few and far between. Historians have never been able to place a specific date on the founding, but they believe it lines up with the beginning of a time known as the "Discovery Era." This era spanned a few hundred years that marked a time of both exploratory and scientific achievements, including the first usage of magic. While the name of the person who first landed on the island was never recorded, it was mentioned in early texts, during the the construction of the island's first fort, that a clan of tribal humans known as the Harreths had sent ships out into the "great beyond." The only son of the Harreth Chief of the time to return alive with the decree that he staked a claim in the new continent was Grundheed Harren. Grundheed had told his father that he found the "perfect rock to fortify and control the seas" where he had also built a mead hall for all travelers and friends of the clan. These ancient mead halls were often named after the man who built it, hence why historians believe this man to be the origin of "Harrenhall."
The Harrens were the reigning lords of Harrenhall for nearly five centuries. During that time, they had been explorers, traders, marauders, and at times heroes. They take credit for the discovery of many of the islands that make up the Moren and Cecilian Archipelagos and they supposedly used the riches found there to start trade routes that spanned the Terathan Sea and even built Harrenhall to be center of commerce. For a moment in history, Harrenhall would be considered a real power in that part of the world, a player involved in nearly every war and every political move. Until more trade routes and alternative routes were established, Harrenhall was able to decide who could pass into the new continent or how many ships could commute people and cargo into the new world. However, that prestige wore off and the Harrens were considered to be bullies to the new colonies. Alternative routes around Atmorra were charted and business deteriorated for the island, as the Harrens were declared to be extortionists and swindlers. For a brief moment in their history, The Harrens became raiders that terrrorized the seas for wealth and tried scaring people into using the Harrenhall route again. This warranted a military response and during an engagement on the shores of the small isle, the Harrens were nearly wiped out. A few decades after the tragedy, the sons of the Harrens decided to use their base for good, in an attempt to throw away the dark past they had to live with. Few allowed them to sail under the banner of peace or allow them to play a hero part in their own histories. The last of the Harrens died a century after the deadly battle on Harrenhall's shores. The island would be left abandoned for another century and a half.
When the first Warden of Teratha (a knight by the name of Sir Julian Pearce) was chosen, the Kingdom of Atmorra granted the Warden the use of Harrenhall. The barren Geography of the island made it too inhospitable for any commercial investment or military presence. The nature of the Wardens is to be unbiased and unaffiliated with any government or faction, and the Council of Lords for Teratha agreed that Harrenhall was a suitable location to allow the Warden to live and set up a base from which to protect the continent from. Sir Pearce had the old dilapidated mead hall torn down and he had the Kingdom of Atmorra send builders to construct a castle to live in. This castle was called "The Dread Keep" to scare enemies away, but then was later referred to as "Castle Harrenhall" as it was for the longest time the only building on the island. After Sir Julian Pearce was banished by the Nine Saints for unknown reasons with no living heir, there would be seven dynasties of wardens that followed. If counting Julian Pearce's time as a warden as one of the dynasties, the current household, House Davneiros, is the eighth dynasty of Wardens. The symbol of the Harrenhall's Wardens of Teratha tends to be a spell-forged sword, as Julian Pearce was known for wielding a sword known as "Stormbringer." Each Dynasty since has had a custom sword, unique to their house. The current symbol of the House Davneiros is a sword known as "Solaris." Thanks to the generosity of James Davneiros and his daughter, Penelope Davneiros, Harrenhall has become a fully functional city-state again with its own thriving commerce and populous.
Harrenhall was founded during a time when written records were few and far between. Historians have never been able to place a specific date on the founding, but they believe it lines up with the beginning of a time known as the "Discovery Era." This era spanned a few hundred years that marked a time of both exploratory and scientific achievements, including the first usage of magic. While the name of the person who first landed on the island was never recorded, it was mentioned in early texts, during the the construction of the island's first fort, that a clan of tribal humans known as the Harreths had sent ships out into the "great beyond." The only son of the Harreth Chief of the time to return alive with the decree that he staked a claim in the new continent was Grundheed Harren. Grundheed had told his father that he found the "perfect rock to fortify and control the seas" where he had also built a mead hall for all travelers and friends of the clan. These ancient mead halls were often named after the man who built it, hence why historians believe this man to be the origin of "Harrenhall."
The Harrens were the reigning lords of Harrenhall for nearly five centuries. During that time, they had been explorers, traders, marauders, and at times heroes. They take credit for the discovery of many of the islands that make up the Moren and Cecilian Archipelagos and they supposedly used the riches found there to start trade routes that spanned the Terathan Sea and even built Harrenhall to be center of commerce. For a moment in history, Harrenhall would be considered a real power in that part of the world, a player involved in nearly every war and every political move. Until more trade routes and alternative routes were established, Harrenhall was able to decide who could pass into the new continent or how many ships could commute people and cargo into the new world. However, that prestige wore off and the Harrens were considered to be bullies to the new colonies. Alternative routes around Atmorra were charted and business deteriorated for the island, as the Harrens were declared to be extortionists and swindlers. For a brief moment in their history, The Harrens became raiders that terrrorized the seas for wealth and tried scaring people into using the Harrenhall route again. This warranted a military response and during an engagement on the shores of the small isle, the Harrens were nearly wiped out. A few decades after the tragedy, the sons of the Harrens decided to use their base for good, in an attempt to throw away the dark past they had to live with. Few allowed them to sail under the banner of peace or allow them to play a hero part in their own histories. The last of the Harrens died a century after the deadly battle on Harrenhall's shores. The island would be left abandoned for another century and a half.
When the first Warden of Teratha (a knight by the name of Sir Julian Pearce) was chosen, the Kingdom of Atmorra granted the Warden the use of Harrenhall. The barren Geography of the island made it too inhospitable for any commercial investment or military presence. The nature of the Wardens is to be unbiased and unaffiliated with any government or faction, and the Council of Lords for Teratha agreed that Harrenhall was a suitable location to allow the Warden to live and set up a base from which to protect the continent from. Sir Pearce had the old dilapidated mead hall torn down and he had the Kingdom of Atmorra send builders to construct a castle to live in. This castle was called "The Dread Keep" to scare enemies away, but then was later referred to as "Castle Harrenhall" as it was for the longest time the only building on the island. After Sir Julian Pearce was banished by the Nine Saints for unknown reasons with no living heir, there would be seven dynasties of wardens that followed. If counting Julian Pearce's time as a warden as one of the dynasties, the current household, House Davneiros, is the eighth dynasty of Wardens. The symbol of the Harrenhall's Wardens of Teratha tends to be a spell-forged sword, as Julian Pearce was known for wielding a sword known as "Stormbringer." Each Dynasty since has had a custom sword, unique to their house. The current symbol of the House Davneiros is a sword known as "Solaris." Thanks to the generosity of James Davneiros and his daughter, Penelope Davneiros, Harrenhall has become a fully functional city-state again with its own thriving commerce and populous.
Architecture
Mostly Stone buildings. Banners of Blue and Silver adorn most public buildings.
Geography
The island of Harrenhall proved to the early settlers to be a barren rock jutting out of the sea. It is located just under 10 miles from the southern most coast of the greater island of Atmorra. Harrenhall is surrounded by white marble cliffs on all sides except the northern quadrant. The two beach heads to the north serve as the primary landings and entrances for the island from the Atmorran Channel. Wild grasses, rice, and the occasional shrubbery can grow in the rocky, salt-ridden soil. To many Druids' surprise, a forest of Darkwood trees (a species that should require a more delicate environment, not to mention is considered to be near extinction) grows and flourishes here. Most of the wildlife and plant life had to be introduced to the ecosystem and many of which required special care and adjustments to life on this hardy rock. If it wasn't for its strategic importance and access to most of the trade routes, in and out of the continent, life wouldn't be able to survive as long as it has on Harrenhall.
Natural Resources
Darkwood forest
Marble
Fishing
Marble
Fishing
Alternative Name(s)
Korko-Nethra (Elvish)
Type
Town
Population
4,853
Inhabitant Demonym
Harrens (only used in the days of Old Common)
Characters in Location
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