Barony of Thornmur
"Yeah, great place. Just, like, don't land in the woods"
-- Qlecik, aarakocra messenger
Thornmur is the a barony within the Johnslands located in the center of the Moorlands
The Barony of Thornmur is governed by ArchBaron Ashlan Thorn-Sageshadow, who took over leadership from her husband Gotthard Thorn after he was killed at the baronmoot at the Old Druid Circle (Bloom 13, 1538), where it was discovered that he had been conspiring with Daughters of Midnight to ally the baronies of the Northern Moors with the Fomorian Kingdoms.
Ashlan is the daughter of the archDuke Zoth Sageshadow and her daughter Alysan Thorn is set to inherit both the barony of Thornmur as well as the stewardship of the Johnslands. Her son Kylar Thorn [ii] was imprisoned due to a real estate scheme he was running with Giles Spere, and is assumed to have drowned on his way to the Cederpring Isles where he was to serve his penance.
Since the death of Gotthard, Thornmur has been inundated with distant relations looking to take the barony for themselves, petty nobles looking to wed Alysan, and con men claiming to be Kylar Thorn [ii] and the true heir to the Barony of Thornmur.
Like it's neighbors the Barony of D'arcy and the Barony of Dairgarn, Thornmur has a strict hierarchy with only a small artisan class. Peasants are often harshly repressed with strict and brutal laws opposed by their noble landlords. This has lead to a wide number of loosely affiliated outlaw bands being formed in the forests that dot the landscape. These bands of rangers and other rogues are ruthlessly hunted by Thornmur's noble landlords, but find wide support among the common peasants, who see them as Folk Heroes.
Geography
Thornmur is a rugged land, filled with heavily wooded hills and rough and rocky dales. Thornmur is bordered on the North by the Thornwall, on the west by the Islington Rush and on the east by Canburg brook until the two rivers meet at the Old Druid Circle in the Old Witchwood.
The barony also extends to the east through the Thornpass along the border between the Barony of Crowmur and the Barony of Dairgarn, originally built in 987 to bring an end to the wars between the two baronnies, the Thornpass has since been used to profit off of trade between the two, and give Thornmur access to the Golden Rush River, Deep Harbour and the Barony of Shealroh. This has allowed Thornmur to become rich and a major player in the Johnslands.
Geographic locations
Thornwall -- Falstall Woods -- Blackbear woods -- Ashter Hills -- Bramble Grove -- Thornmeadow -- Hedgehog woods -- Jadewood -- Buxtham thicket -- Old Witchwood -- Islington Rush -- Canburg brook -- Thornpass
Trade
The rocky and heavily wooded lands that cover the majority of Thornmur makes large scale agriculture difficult; peas, squash and hearty oats being most common. Mushrooms, including truffles, are plentiful within the forests, as are nuts and berries. Pigs are common and grow quite large, having been bread from the giant boar that exist in the many thickets. Most peasants keep a few cattle, usually of the common Redthorn breed, for milk and cheese. Rabbits, Hedgehogs, and forest grouse are kept for food as well. Beekeeping is common, and most hives are guarded by Honeyhounds (a large golden dog, bred to deter bears from raiding hives). The many small ponds in the forests provide adequate fishing, with pike and perch common. Deer, boar and bear are often hunted for meat, and badgers, foxs and mink are trapped for their furs.
Wood is extremely common, and most structures are of wattle-and-daub construction. plentiful hazel and yew thickets have lead to a thriving craft in Bowyers and Fletchers, with Thornmur bows being known throughout the rainlands for their strength and durability. The Ashter Hills have provided some very wealthy mines of gold and tin. Bog iron is common throughout the many forests of Thornmur. Skilled earthenware artisans are uncommon, yet produce enough to prevent import for every day needs.
- Exports include; Timber, Pork products, Tin, Gold, Bows, Honey, Fur, truffles
- Imports include; Wheat, Flax, wool, wine, ale, salt
Settlements
Stonegate -- Beardale -- Elmhaven -- Garigill -- Lowstoft -- Birkton -- Ampleforth Bridge -- Burrafirth -- Hamshore -- Hærdean -- StanlowLandmarks
Thorn Castle -- The Fair Lady -- Thorngate"Can't rightly say much good about ol' baron Thorn. Heard he was sucked up by some magic hole. Too good for him, ah reckon. I wish nothing but the same for the rest of them landlords."
-- Godiva Roz, local of Birkton
Unique Customs
Several small shrines to the Dagdah are set up along the roads of Thornmur, usually where trails travel into the woods. Each shrine has a large copper bell and a stone box with a slot in the top. It is customary for anyone traveling into the woods to put an offering of a coin into the box and strike the bell before setting off into the woods. The hope is that the Dagdah will watch over them and keep them safe within the dangerous woods. Coins are collected from the boxes periodically by local clerics, though it is not uncommon for bandits to break into the shrines and take the coins for themselves, though locals believe this to be extremely bad luck, and will continue to give even if it is obvious that the shrine has been ransacked.
When a Bowyer is approaching the end of his apprenticeship, they are encouraged to seek out another's bed in hopes of earning the blessings of Madii in their craft. It is said that in the throes of the apprentice's passion, the name of their masterwork bow will come to them. The young craftsperson then spends their journeyman years attempting to craft a weapon worthy of that name. If such a bow is created, it is said to be blessed by Madii and her father Dagdah and be imbued with magical powers. Every village has at least a couple of willing partners who fully embrace this custom, and charge quite dearly for their services, often charging more if they were the inspiration for a past masterwork.
A custom among many landowners of Thornmur is allowing their tenants to pay their rent with blood. Peasants who fall behind on their tributes are often brought to the landowner's keep and are invited to do battle with a beast in order to have their debts forgiven. Nobles from all around are invited to these spectacles and often lavish parties are held on the day of the battle. The peasants are armed and armoured in the manner their "host" wishes, and may battle anything from a bear or boar, to more exotic monstrosities. Though rare, if the peasant wins he is relieved of his debts for the year. A few stronger peasants have made a name for themselves by doing battle for their neighbors debts, but few of them last more than a few seasons. They are either killed or enter into the service of the landowner themself.
Festivals
The Tavern festival takes place on the first week of Snowdrift. Inns and Taverns are decorated with greenery and elaborate meals are provided. Originally, the holiday was started by land owners who wished to keep business profitable during the long months where travel was impossible, but in recent years these festivities have become a celebration of friendships among the common man, and have a slightly revolutionary flavor. Drinking, gambling and feating are common for two weeks, and many chose to stay at their village taverns for the whole week.
The feast of the Fae takes place the Daghday of the last week of Bloom. Men and women dress in motley, and women let their hair flow loose with flowers woven throughout. Some revelers even going as far as to celebrate naked. Honey from the first combs and cream from the first milking are put out with oat cakes and floral hopped ale. Portals to the Feywild open all throughout the woods of Thornmur, and fae creatures follow the sound of music to the feast. Revelry and good natured mischief ensues until dawn the next day, after which the fey folk return to their homes, having left gifts for their hosts. this can be anything from buttons, to gold, to magical artifacts.
The Landsman's festival starts on the first day of Stormwatch, and is held in the honor of the local lords. it is a week of market stalls and carnivals, with jousting, archery competitions and other games of skill being held throught the land. Land owners bring in traveling bards, each one trying to out do the other in the prestige of their act.
The Hogday festival takes place in the last weeks of Harvestide, groups of hunters travel the woods in search of giant boar. each village prides itself on it's hunt, with each trying to out do each other with the size of their prize. Many a brave young lad seeks to prove themselves on the hunt, and more than a few never return. Once the boar is slain, a great feast is had by the whole village. Toasts are given to the landlords who sponsered the hunt, and drunken debauchery is common among the young. One youth (chosen by--and usualy related to--the Landowner) is crowned the Hogking and their will is the law of the land for the next week. They become master of ceremonies, and the mead flows at their behest.
Cuisine
Thornmur cusine is a hearty affair, consisting of rough oat breads, porrages and bacon. Wild game is common on the nobles tables, and flavors of wide mushrooms, roasted chestnuts, wild onions, and dried currents are common in most dishes. Smoked bacon and ham are eaten throughout the year, at almost every meal. The other most popular meat avalabe throught Thornmur is hedghog, which is often stewed with mushrooms or baked in pies.
Honey is a common sweetener in Thornmur, as is rosewater. Marzipan is a common treat, often flavored with rose or blackberry.
Spiced mead is th drink of choice within Thornmur, though common people tend to drink hearty, toasted oat beer. Thornmur citizens also commonly drink hopped ales and whiskys imported from the Barony of D'arcy.
"Nicked a pie made from one dose hedgy-hoggos. Who know dems spiny rats makes for good eatin'?"
-- Wrigs the kobold
Fashion
Thornmur citizens tend to wear darker clothes made from wool and leather; with black, ox blood and forest green being most common. Velvet and flora patterns are common amung the nobles, with designs involving roses being ubiquitus. Full lenght dresses and trousers are comon, and most wear sturdy boots.
Men commonly wear short sleaved tunics and trousers, often with either sturdy boots, or gaters made from leather or wool to combat the thick underbrush of the woods. Women commonly wear kirtles and cover their har with either a wimple or a kirchief. Nobles tend to wear more elaborate clothing, with drop sleeves and fur trim. Elaborate hatd are also common amung the nobility, with long stovepipes and wide fur brims.
Commoners rarly wear jewlery, often just a simple ring or stone on a leather thong being the height of luxery. Nobles on the other hand often wear elaborate rings and broaches. Pearcings and tattoos are almost unheard of amoung common folk, though those associated with the rebels that make their home in the woods often show their loyalty through tattoos, usualy on their forarms. Nobles see tattoos as a common art, sutable only for barbarians and ladies of the night, though some rebellious young women get small tattoos hidden away on their body; more for the appearence of danger than any sort of true rebellion.
Men wear their hair short, and beards are verry common. Shaving is seen as a luxery, and elaborate beards are sommon on wealthy landlords, while common men tend to just let their beards grow wild. Women don't cut their hair, but often braid it and pin it up. Loose hair is only commonly seen as something little girls do, and any grown woman with her hair loose will be looked at with suspicion, espcialy if it is cut short.
Threats
A handful of young green dragons call the forests of Thornmur home, but they are cautious and warry and tend to stay away from rangers, insted using their subtle charisma to influence the nobles that come through their lands on hunts. Ogres, Trolls and Firbolg also call the forests home, with a small hill giant community harrasing the mines in the Ashter Hills. Much more common are the fey creatures, such as quicklings, pixies and sprites. They can cause quite a bit of mishchief for anyone traveling through the woods.
Brown Bears, Giant boar, and owl bears pose a major threat to travelers in Thornmur. Cocatraces, giant badgers, giant constrictor snakes, and displacer beasts are also not uncommon.
Anone traveling the roads, even those who believe themselves to be well protected, will often find themselves harrased by bandits and other rebels. A few tribes of goblins can be found throughout the darker areas of Thornmur, especialy in the Old Witchwood to the south.
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