District of Sunderland
Considered by Courghais to comprise everything between the Trader’s Way and the sea, the District of Sunderland proper primarily encompasses The Plains and hills between the Gaelon River to the north, Old Burgundia to the south, and the Matagost Peninsula to the east. Hundreds of villages and farmsteads are scattered across the district, most with no more than a few dozen inhabitants and many without even a name. The folk are primarily native Foerdewaith, though the Oceanders have moved in from the Matagost Peninsula and influence much of the northeastern parts of the district, primarily along the Soldier’s Road. They do not extend their reach north of Soldier Stone because they do not wish to agitate Endhome, whom they see as a valuable trading partner. To the west, Sunderland extends to the King’s Road and Trader’s Way, and it reaches the Burgundian Road in places to the south. These lands are under no sovereign in general, though mercantile interests from other lands have made forays in some strategic locations.
Most of Sunderland is dry, rolling plains covered in low grasses and rocky outcroppings. Rivers are usually seasonal and appear during the rainy springs and dry up over the summer. Winters can be harsh with no mountains and few trees to break the bitter north winds. Horses are still bred on these plains as they have been for hundreds of generations, though it is no longer the primary source of horseflesh as it once was in the days of Foere. Shepherds and their flocks are frequently seen on these grasslands. The Plains’ two chains of hills are low but rugged in places, and often tree covered. On the gentler slopes of these hills, the soil is often good for vineyards and orchards.
History and People
Sunderland has always been a sparsely-populated, sleepy backwater. In fact, the Hyperboreans did not even exercise control here, preferring instead to simply patrol the roads to keep them clear of dangers. Since the departure of the Hyperboreans, the district has fallen under the influence of Foere and Burgundia, but with Foere’s decline and Burgundia’s destruction, the region has returned to a largely ungoverned state, with villages managing their own affairs. Merchants from Oceander, Foere, and Suilley have been visiting the region lately, seeking horses, wine, and other goods. Beyond this, Sunderland is usually simply a region that travelers pass through on the way to Eastreach, Southvale, or Suilley.
Religion
Most Sunderlanders worship the gods of Foere and Oceanus, primarily Muir and Thyr. The district has a small temple located in Malthlyn overseen by an aging priest and priestess, and a shrine in the midst of the Lonely Moor.
Trade and Commerce
Trade represents Sunderland’s major contact with the outside world, as traders from neighboring lands regularly stop in small villages to barter for the district’s various goods. In general, Foerdewaith coinage is used, though most Sutherlanders aren’t particular and accept any currency that contains the right amount of gold, silver, or copper. Besides these small trade expeditions, there is little activity in the region besides travelers along the Burgundian and Hollow Roads, which has led to the establishment of several small inns. Of these, the Black Crow between Malthlyn and Terrin Keld is the most famous.
Wilderness and Adventure
Sunderland is a largely empty and uneventful place, though it is not without its potential challenges, particularly in the south along the borders of the Wilderlands and the ruins of Old Burgundia. The Erskaelosi barbarians of the Wildlands sometimes advance over the Burgundian Road seeking plunder and blood and force farmers to flee into the safety of local stockades or the village of Malthlyn.
Farther south, the ruins of Old Burgundia and the city of Trevi have become a haven for outlaws and humanoids, including ragtag orc bands, goblin gangs, and Erskaelosi barbarians who fight with each other but often venture into Sunderland. In the north and perilously close to Malthlyn, the creatures and supernatural forces of the Moon Fog Hills represent a danger to the Sunderlanders and an opportunity for adventurers.
Region
District of Sunderland
Controlled Territories
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