Earldom of Borss
The Earldom of Borss is the farthest land that still swears fealty to the Foerdewaith crown at Courghais and consists of the southern portion of the island of West Talon. The Earldom, and specifically its capital of Borss, are recognized as a safe haven by Foere merchants who ply the southern Crescent Sea and the waterways feeding trade along the southwest portion of the continent.
History and People
Originally the Hyperborean Province of West Talon, Borss became an earldom of Foere in 2812 I.R., as that kingdom expanded throughout Akados.
Though the Kingdom of Foere diminished long ago, the earls of Borss continue to find it favorable to remain loyal to the Court of Courghais to avoid interference from Castorhage. This makes Borss a favorable port for those who seek to avoid the dangers of Castorhagi influence in the southern seas.
A small but well respected and wealthy population of mountain dwarves dwells within their own enclave in the city of Borss. Many are descendants of the army that King Col of the Ironskull Great Mountain Clan from the Blackrock Mountains brought to the island in a failed assault on the Dread Dragon Temple. Many still long to avenge the death of the king and are known to hire adventurers with the purpose of testing the strength of the Dread Dragon Temple and seeking a way to destroy it.
The earls of Borss, for their part, leave the Dragon Heights alone. They have not felt the breath of a dragon in centuries and have no interest in stoking the fires that burn in the belly of old wyrms.
The city of Borss holds a small population of halflings from the Low Country, transplants who work as merchants and sailors to negotiate trade between the two regions and beyond. Other populations of note include a group of half elves feeling the pull of their elven side who long to catch a glimpse of the Green Realm, though to their sorrow they are not welcome among the wild elves of the deep forests. Many of the half elves serve in Borss as sailors, scouts, interpreters, and guides.
Religion
Natives of the earldom are generally members of the High Church of Foere, and temples to Stryme, Tyre, and Sefagreth in the city are well-attended.
Bishop Otto VanDeurer, a worshipper of Sefagreth, is the ranking ecclesiastical leader in the earldom and has the ear of Earl Harald. His advice has been crucial in helping the earl rapidly build his fortunes. Common folk of the earldom pay their respects to the Foere gods during their various seasonal rituals, with congregations of warriors paying homage to Tyr and Stryme and demonstrating their skill at arms in seasonal tournaments that are popular among the locals.
Trade and Commerce
The economy is largely based on shipping, fishing, and providing escort to ships plying the waterways through the Mouth of Akados onward to the southwestern coastline. Local merchant houses and foreign merchants who seek to establish a presence in Borss must execute a contract with the earl, who grants a charter in return for a percentage of the profits from any shipping venture.
The earl has banned the Imperial Mercantile League from operating within the earldom. The earl has begun to charter private captains with their own ships as privateers to hunt and destroy members of the Brotherhood of Skulls. This has brought the ire of the buccaneers who have alerted the brotherhood’s other strongholds, making a war between the two forces increasingly likely.
Loyalty and Diplomacy
The earldom is on friendly terms with the Grand Duchy of Reme, the Kingdom of Vast, the Principality of Olduvar, the Duchy of Mains, Bottomborough, and most of the coastal cities south of Castorhage. They are openly neutral to Castorhage, though secretly unfriendly, and work to avoid Castorhagi influence from creeping into their port.
The earldom’s proximity to Vilik Strad, Braktu, and the Mud Coast is of increasing concern. Their warships seem to fight an unending battle against the fleet of Brotherhood of Skulls’ pirates operating out of Braktu, who keep hidden bases in Treachery Bay. Quietly, the earl is investigating the cost and potential for success of an assault on Braktu to destroy the port and degrade the city-state’s ability to harass trade.
Government
The earldom is a domain of the Kingdom of Foere, and all Foerdewaith laws apply here. As the local vassal of the Court at Courghais, Earl Harald rules, with the advice of his inner council which consists of his son Harald Borss-Evey II, Bishop VanDeurer, and Vice Admiral Anslaugh Vanwyken, known as “Iron Arms” for his thick forearms. Viscount Dejark Seablade, ruler of Kamis, affords his fealty to Earl Harald, and is the second-wealthiest and most powerful man in the earldom, after only Harald himself.
The earl also claims the fealty of four sea-lords who have chartered holdings within the earldom.
Military
Soldiers of the earldom are led by Earl Harald himself, while his fleet of a dozen armed carracks and twice that number of support ships is led by Vice Admiral Anslaugh. Half of the warships are out to sea at any given time providing merchant escort, with the other half plying the waterways close to port in patrol capacity or in drydocks for repair.
The city watch is administered by the harbormaster of the city watch, who has a keep near the docks that serves as the watch headquarters and city jail.
Major Threats
The Earldom of Borss is far from the center of Foere power in Courghais. As a result, it has to maintain local strength to protect itself from threats, since any assistance from the rest of the kingdom would be long in coming. Also for that reason, relationships with those who might be able to aid Borss, such as Reme, are nurtured by the earl. The greatest threat to the earldom comes from the denizens of the Talanos Peninsula, and in particular Braktu and the Brotherhood of Skulls, with whose ships the earl’s navy does frequent battle. Other pirates on the Crescent Sea pose risks to those who use the port of Borss. And Castorhage remains a continuing concern, as the ruler of the Blight finds the presence of this outpost of Foere to be a thorn in his side.
Region
Earldom of Borss
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories
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