Streamwood

The Land of the Blowing Horn

Written by David_Ulph

History

In the past, Streamwood was considered to be a part of the Kingdom of Mordwynn. Now though, it is firmly consolidated under the Great Western Empire as one of the Holds of Frostern. It is said that Streamwood holds the oldest trees you can find on Terralba.

Geography

One of the most resourceful areas of Skìrah, Streamwood is the easternmost of all the Frosian Holds. The only Hold to border Elgerlor, through a mountain pass at Mount Aurora, Streamwood is an important trade route in the Great Western Empire. Streamwood also borders Dawnsmarch Hold to the south, Frostern Hold to the west, and Valhol Hold to the north.

The geography of Streamwood is almost entirely wooded by the Great Pine Forests, with a major forest of Colle Inen covering the majority of the landmass. Various rivers also flow through the forests between lakes. Despite having a major mountain range across one of it's borders, Streamwood is fairly flat but, in comparison to the other Holds, it is higher up that the others, as if the entire region is atop a hill. Often, the region will be covered in a fine mist that makes the land seem without season.

To the south, forming the border between Streamwood and Dawnsmarch, there are swamps and boglands known as the Deadwood that are incredibly dangerous to traverse. The trees are half-drowned and covered in fungus, and beneath the water, quicksand will drown anyone who attempts to walk the waters. Trees still standing are skeletal, dead leaves clinging to the dry branches. When the wind blows through the area, it sounds of rattling bones, and the rustling leaves hiss dry laughter. Whilst passing through or skirting the edges of the forest, travellers may hear faint screams coming from somewhere in its depths. Unlike the rest of Streamwood, boat travel is near impossible in the Deadwood and so causeways are built to connect the two Holds it divides. These causeways all join together at a formidable ruined fortress in the centre of the swampland.

Fauna & Flora

Colle Inen of Streamwood is very rich in thistles and other mountain flowers. However, the Great Pine Forests are deep and for the most part, some of the most dangerous woodlands in the entire region. The only known sightings of Beastbloods in Skìrah have occured in Streamwood Hold and from scattered reports there seems to be a higher population of Minotaurs in the Beastblood Packs than their Hellaland counterparts. Due to the vast amounts of battles and skirmishes taking place in the area due to historic competitions of ownership between Skìrah and Mordwynn, large hoards of undead creatures can be a regular issue for travellers on and off Streamwood roads.

Wolves also come aplenty in Streamwood, although the packs are managed annually by local rangers so that they do not become too high a threat. At night, the almost eerie silence of the region is broken by the howling of these packs. Besides wolves, other animals living in Streamwood include boar, deer, elk, badgers, rabbits, foxes, and bears.

Civilisation

The peoples of Streamwood have always stuck close to the rivers that crisscross the landscape, favouring travel by boat than foot due to the natural dangers of the forests. During Winter, Streamwood is affected the least out of all Holds as the rivers freeze over and people can travel by walking on these. Since the majority of travel, communication and trade is done in Streamwood via river-boat, specialised boats designed for caravan protection are used en masse in the region. These boats have built in palisades allowing for easy cover from attack by Beastbloods and further allow crossbowmen on board to fire out.

Even in the deepest parts of Streamwood's forests, civilisation can be found on rivers built upon crofting, foresting and hunting. Some men of the Anvil Forest are even accomplished ice-fishers during Winter. The roads that do cut through the Great Pine Forest, including the Great Imperial Road, are dotted with fortified inns and watchtowers and both ranger and militia patrols are routinely carried out to guard against the threat posed to travellers and caravans from bandits, Beastbloods and other dangers.

In the Deadwood that divides Streamwood and Dawnsmarch, the land is extremely harsh and deadly for civilisation and so the only people found are rangers patrolling the roads and causeways. The area is lawless and those that wish to hide from the law will commonly try their luck and attempt to survive in the swamps.

Due to many Beastblood packs that plague the region, every single settlement or farmstead has a wall surrounding it. These walls are often topped with the spiked heads of dead Beastbloods as well as different plants and herbs each community will believe wards off these creatures. The houses and buildings of each settlement will also be adorned in the pelts and furs of Beastbloods those living inside have hunted and killed. Thus, it is easy for travellers to find Monster Hunters in Streamwood as their homes will be completely covered in the skins of their kills.

Ancient Ruins

As with every Hold in Skìrah, there are many ancient Dathranii Human ruins scattered throughout the forests of Streamwood. There are also 5 Stones of Fate (Remaining standing stones covered in Old Speech tales) that can still be found in different areas. Clavius Clegorane, in his book An Explorer's Guide to Skìrah, describes that 3 stones stand together above Loch Inen. This point seems to be extremely significant to an old Dathranii Tribe that ruled over the Anvil Forest because of this. The stone depicting House Aesmann of Dun Fur's mythical founder, Bastian the Woodsman, is found in the Smithy's Square of the Hold's city, Riverwatch.

The inscriptions are as follows;

Tha a ’chlach seo a’ comharrachadh an eich Savirra, an t-each as misneachaile a thug ionnsaigh air an àraich, agus thug e dha a bheatha airson an neach-seilbh aige.

This stone commemorates the horse Sarvirra, the most courageous horse to charge the battlefield, and gave his life for his owner.

An seo, chaochail am mèirleach brèagha Skorji Corragan-Buidhe, chaidh an ceann aige a thoirt air falbh leis an tuagh a dh'fheuch e ri goid.

Here fell the traitorous thief Skorji Yellowfinger, whose head was removed by the very axe he tried to steal.

An seo tha an neach-dìon Neach-gleidhidh na Fala, agus cumhachd de thrioblaid 's dorchadas gun chrìoch.

Here lies the guardian Warden of the Blood, and a force of unending rage and darkness.

The 2 other Stones show the following inscriptions;

Tha a ’chlach seo a’ comharrachadh Thjodrek grinn, a chaochail ann am blàr na mara reòthte.

This stone commemorates the brave Thjodrek, who died heroically in the Battle of the Frozen Sea.

Thog Bastian a ’chlach seo dha phiuthar, Thohild an Teine, aig an robh an dealas air a losgadh cho teth ris a ’cheàrdaich.

Bastian raised this stone for his sister, Thohild the Inferno, whose passion burned as hot as a forge.

Natural Resources

Currently these are the following active ore veins across the Region; 38x Iron, 29x Corundum, 9x Silver, 9x Copper, 8x Gold, 2x Coal, 1x Mercury, 2x Stone Quarries.

Alternative Name(s)

Streamwood Hold, Sruthfiodh (Old Speech), Forest of Anvil (In reference to Colle Inen)

Type

Region

Location under

Skìrah

Included Locations

• Riverwatch

As of the 2100EM Imperial Census, the following demographics were present in the Hold;

• 58% - Korgs

• 13% - Mordwynnian Humans

• 12% - Dagor Humans

• 9% - Hellic Humans

• 6% - Losalfar

• 3% - Bludalfar