So, I’ve taken on the stupid task of running my own D&D campaign. Which probably means I’ll spend the next few months doing tons of work and then all my players will quite after three sessions. But whatever, it does give me an excuse to flesh out the world of my D&D stories (yes, it takes place in that ludicrous world) as well as give me something new and exciting to post. Now, Derek’s done such a good job with his organization and set up that I’m just going to copy his format and pass it off as my own. Don’t tell him!

I present to you, the Petty Kingdom of Calandria!

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Prototypical image of Calandria’s marriage between ocean and soaring mountains.

The Petty Kingdom of Calandria

Capital: Castrus

Population: ~ 150,000

Government: Petty Kingdom

Lord: Jarl Brivis Laranica and Countesses Arosa and Isorna Laranica

Exports: lumber, lumber and more lumber, alcohol, berries, stockfish, copper, meat, alchemical herbs

Imports: salt, silver, grains, iron, spices

Mention of the petty kingdom of Calandria is likely to stir images of rugged landscape, bitter and tart berries as well as a hardy people capable of weathering war and harsh winters with equal ease. Though it is but one of many petty kingdoms making up the northern shores, Calandria has stood out in its success at remaining independent as well as developing a fairly lucrative trade destination despite its northern climes. House Laranica has ruled for near four hundred years with an unbroken line that they claim dates back to the first voyages of the Lochlanach. The petty kingdom has a proud history that has seen kingdoms rise and fall around her. At times, they have proved to be key allies in securing victory.

Not that Calandria has only been passive in military excursions. The throne at Castrus was forged with blood and bone and even the most recent northern expansion saw the ancient house Andrade forced to submit to the Jarl’s will. And while Calandria may lack the army of grander kingdoms, the greatest defence for the land is the harsh ground itself. Its north is composed almost entirely of impenetrable forest and land that has proven difficult for even native Calandrians to inhabit. A ring of great forts have long kept the temperate heartland of the kingdom protected and high grade metamorphic rock forms a natural shield around the arable farms.

Despite its burgeoning economy, Calandrian lacks a direct connection to the Crossroads. It’s most travelled path to the south passes through several kingdoms before reaching the great trade network and its most ancient artery goes through the foothills of the Ridgeback Mountains to the east instead of south. This isolation has been a blessing and curse. It does retard the development of the kingdom, slowing natural growth due to the length and cost of transporting goods in and out. However, it does provide its own protection as many see the land unworthy of the risk and cost of a full invasion to force fealty from the stubborn line. This has created a relatively lengthy peace for Calandrians who focus more on surviving their cruel climate than questions of subjugation to greater crowns. As such, their isolation has allowed a certain Calandrian culture to start flowering. Some of their old ballads and songs are still kept in the old tongue, intriguing scholars and bards alike who come north to see these ancient holdovers. The mossy and low scrub grounds seems to hold even older secrets as its citizens continuously find ancient ruins half covered in the slow hand of greedy nature. Furthermore, the Calandrians are quite keen on the value of the natural resources within their borders. The endless trees are a constant source of quality wood for local use and export. The whitewood of Caegulla Highlands is considered some of the best for performance and many bards whisper that a magical energy runs through the chords to enhance their shows. And honest scholars attest to the rare plants and flowers that can be found in the grand marsh delta that feeds into the ocean – home to many unique flora with quite a few alchemical applications.

Making recent history is the Jarl’s throne itself. While the fortified walls of Castrus have been famous for being impenetrable, the capital historically has seen less prominence other than being a pivotal port on the great Lake Aluar. However, much intrigue has surrounded the current Jarl Brivis and his beautiful but terrible daughter Arosa. For the outside world, the stories are many and varied. But what seems clear enough is a mounting discontent towards a house historically quite popular with its citizens. Whispers of rebellion are carried on travellers’ lips and more than one crown has kept an attentive ear to the developments in that incredibly defensible land.

A map of Calandria. You can tell I made it because it’s so awful.

Geographical Features

Great Lake Aluar: Aluar dominates Calandria’s western borders. In fact, the traditional delineation runs along the broad Sirria river that feeds into the ocean. But few have hold on the northern coast of the lake and the Calandrian throne has assumed ownership through proximity. Given Aluar’s expansiveness, it has long been a large source of trade and travel well before the major roads were laid in Calandria’s interior. Most scholars theorize that the Calandrians themselves came from across the western waters, despite the people’s claims of kinship to seafaring Lochlanach. Aluar holds a thriving marine ecology and many kingdoms dip into its waters to fetch the fish and weeds which thrive beneath its surface. More than one tale tells of sunken ships, brought down by mysterious creatures in the lake, and holding untold riches in their watery hulls that have yet to be reclaimed.

Lake Iadra: Considered the jewel of Calandria, Lake Iadra is a frigid lake fed by the waters of the Ridgeback Mountains. During the coming or departing of winter, it is not unheard of to discover great bergs of ice floating down the river Mino. It’s primary function is to serve as transportation for the spruce logs from Ferrol and there are many log jammers who will make the long journey to Mens upon the rolling backs of an entire fleet of downed trees. Fresh water fish inhabit the deep blue lake, providing Mens with a robust fishing industry of its own. However, Iadra is better protected than the northern villages and Mens requires the importation of salt o preserve their stock, hampering profits and output. But the rugged beauty of the lake is not to be underestimated. So picturesque is it that Countess Arosa demanded a summer estate be built so she can enjoy the only place in the petty kingdom to rival her own majesty. However, after some conflict, the construction on the estate has halted and it sits like a bleached skeleton overlooking the tranquil waters.

The Frozen Lake of Meros: The Frozen Lake is a prominent symbol in Calandrian legend, despite the isolated body having only a recent history of discovery. For most the year, the elevated lake is near frozen over, with only a brief period at the height of the summer solstice providing enough heat to break portions of its skin to send adrift down from its mountain hideout. For the longest time, the Calandrian’s believed the ice was from the mountainsides themselves and once the lake was discovered, rumours and tales of evil sorcery and the touch of the fickle gods abound. But because of it’s near continuous cover, there seems to be little production made from its icy waters so it mostly serves as a curiosity to travellers, bards and scholars alike who are drawn by its various stories and scenic location.

Artistic rendition of the return of a sacred necklace by Heimdallr’s hand and demonstrating Calandrian culture isn’t all bearskin and mud.

Bandua’s Pike: Once thought to be the headwaters of the Ice River Mino, Bandua’s Pike is the largest mountain in the Ridgeback. Its tip is perpetually white capped and is said to be the spear to have pierced the side of the great Aenir Heimdallr the White God and thusly forever stained with his precious blood. Course, no one is entirely sure who Bandua is suppose to be. General consensus is that he must be some mythological Vanir figure though the temples attest he is not mentioned in any of the poetics or prose. Some scholars speculate he was an ancient god of a forgotten pantheon whose only remembrance is the soaring mountain. Others claim he was a mighty local hero. The actual headwaters of the Mino turned out to be the less impressive Little Brothers which feed the Frozen Lake of Meros.

Ice River Mino: An incredibly frigid river and often featuring in the ever amusing Calandrian initiation ritual of dunking hapless travellers nude in its icy embrace, the river Mino. While neither the deepest or longest river, Mino does chart a stunning course along the edge of the Ceagulla Highlands and the Ridgeback Mountains. It serves as the lifeblood for the lumber town Ferrol which floats practically all of its lumber down its length. Many travellers attest to the spectacle of the Ferrol log jammers navigating their long charges through the rather turbulent rapids as both a testament to Calandrian fearlessness and almost peculiar grace while performing the most ridiculous tasks.

Iliomar’s Folly: Named after the legendary ruins found within, Iliomar’s Folly (often referred to as simply The Folly) is a large marsh delta that feeds into the ocean. It marks the point of connection between the ocean and Lake Aluar and the Calandrians maintain that their ancestors navigated its twisting paths when they first arrived. Home to an ancient ruin of an unknown people, the marsh is perhaps more famous for the people who occupy its border along the river Sarria. The peoples of Bares carve out a fairly lucrative living with the many plants and animals that live within as well as producing the grossly infamous Salamander Brandy.

Ceagulla Highlands: An enormous expanse of valuable pine and spruce that stretches right across the north of Calandria and the source of its valuable lumber economy. The whitewood is especially sought after for use in musical instruments as well as lavish interior panelling. The pulp is then used in paper production. But the Calandrian’s do not rely solely on the trees, finding riches in just about every aspect of the expansive highlands. Fireweed Honey made from the nectar of the fireweed plant has a distinct, spiced flavour. The traditional Coporye tea is created with the leaves of the trees. Cranberry and Cloudberry are large harvests but as they’re considered sour and tart respectively, the connotations have carried over to the world’s consideration of its people. In the more northern sections, bilberries are a major fruit harvest with their near black/purple colour and deep red, flesh staining pulp that makes it look as if it were meat. Lingonberry are bright red and have a distinct tart taste while blackberries and raspberries provide some much needed sweetness to their medleys. Juniper trees offer spice for flavouring both the numerous wild game (quail, pheasant, veal, rabbit, venison etc) hunted within as well as the basis for a robust distillery tradition. Many of these berries spoil easily, however, and remain a staple of the northern settlements with little export beyond the borders. Spoil easily and hard to keep so are mostly a staple of the northern settlements and see almost no export beyond the borders.

Broken Spine Uplands: The hunters of Bares say it’s named after the fact that they break their backs going through the rugged land to hunt the caribou in the wild north beyond but the name comes from a failed invasion along the western border of Calandria. Her enemies thinking they could launch a surprise attack upon the northern shores of Castrus found the terrain far too rugged and formidable to navigate easily. Even worse, the ruling Jarl heard word of the approaching army and set an ambush. The battle was grisly and the outcome “broke the spine” of the invader’s army and they were forced to flee, seeing House Laracina’s sovereignty for generations to come. The Broken Spine has traditionally seen little use in the lives of Calandrians who consider it traditionally part of their lands. Some hunters will stalk its interior but for the most part it is ignored for the more dense Ceagulla Highlands and serves mostly as a nuisance for the hunting parties that have to constantly trek through it.