Gléannmark - The Independant


Two rivers limit this territory. The Gléann River, the northern one, gave its name to this land. It flows from the Shieldryn glaciers to the White Lake, where the Southern river, the Anamin coming from the southwest, also flows into that lake. The eastern, northern and southern borders are determined by those two rivers, and by the White lake to the East. The western border is determined by the hills, the Goblin Downs in the South, and The Valley of Hephaestus to the north.

Today, its economy is mostly strong because of the coal mines of the Valley of Hephaestus. The city of Haphes is the trade capital and economic centre of Gléannmark. Receiving shipments of ore from dwarves, and goods from the elves from the North. They come to Hahpes to trade for coal or other goods coming from Kingdom of Cernaunce.  

Humans dominate the region. The Capital of Gléannmark is Favorn, the city that led the rebellion against Cernaunce.

In the south-west : hills called Goblin Downs. The Grey Forest and plains where farmers live off the land dominate the south. The Grey forest was never exploited because of its rocky terrain, steep hills and very dense vegetation. South of the Forest is the River Anamin. No road passes through the forest. It is said to be ancient and inhabited by evil. In the northwest : the Valley of Hephaestus where the coal mines, a recently discoverd commodity that permits a more refined blacksmithing, are what drives the economy of Gléannmark. Disputed by the western neighbour, Amiskwintyn. This Valley has been conquered multiple times by both parties. 

On the Eastern border, relations with Cernauce have been peaceful for the last century, since the war in which Gléannmark won its independence. 

The curent king of Gléannmark, Darian, is the direct descendant of Ajurn the Liberator, the hero of the Battle of White Lake. 

War of independence
Since the fall of the Last King, Cernaunce has seen its territory fragmented slowly over the centuries. The last territories to go were the islands of the western see, some 50 years ago. The Gléannmark declared its independence 120 years ago, when the coal mines, newly discovered suddenly gave wealth and power to the Barons of Gléannmark province. Arjun was the leading Baron from Favorn who challenged King Brenton’s hold of the region. After the 20 years war, Gléannmark’s sovereignty was never questioned again. 

King Brenton, from the first year of the mines of Hephaestus, taxed the miners and the merchant excessively, taking every profit back to Portcawl, the capital of the kingdom. In fact, Brenton was an extravagant who lived in excessive luxury who couldn’t care less about the people of Gléannmark. Gléannmark had been known as very poor and unimportant. Gléannmark’s nobility had always been very low ranking in the grand scheme of things. Ajurn was an ambitious leader, not incline to war, but to commerce and trade. Under his reign, he had considerably structured the trade routes coming from the west of Anonhateya. That had ruffled some powerful feathers. Caravans were now stopping in Favorn to trade, and were turning back the way they came, instead of continuing their way to Portcawl. Brenton humiliated Ajurn in front of the whole court, stripping him from some of his land and branding him a lesser nobleman. Ajurn had ever since been thinking about the possibility of cessation. 

The discovery of the mines and of their extent brought new hope to the people of Gléannmark; hope of exiting their state of poverty. When Brenton came to visit the mines, announced his taxes, and took personally possession of one of the mine, a secret coalition of local lords came up with a plan to keep secret a portion of the profits from the king. They invested this sum in hidden armies in the West. They kept this ploy secret as long as possible. When Brenton heard of this, he marched right into Favorn, and took the city. The war waged for years at the gates of Favorn. Until Ajurn and his army successfully retook the city and brought the battle to the banks of White Lake. The legend says that none were spared and that some of Cernaunce’s soldiers are still swimming, trying to reach the other side of White Lake. This was the Battle of White Lake, where Ajurn finally brought an end to the war. He was not long after that crowned king of Gléannmark. Since then, Cernaunce keeps its gaze on the Eastern See and the worlds that lie beyond. 

Rumours around Ajurn
Rumours about the character of Ajurn abounds. At the end of the war, he became obsessed with acquiring power to finish the war. He sought the aid of the elves of the North, to have access to their powerful magic. When rebuked by the elven power, it is told that he turned to darker magic, and sacrificed some of his men to a dark power. At about the time the tides of war turned in his favour, before he retook Favorn, a poorly known man named Vômar became his advisor. He was pale, hunched, walked with a cane, and gave the impression of being a week and old man. Though, apparently he was as strong as a horse and his mind, sharp as a razor. 

His expertise was not war, but divination and transmutation magic. He made Ajurn’s seven heroes stronger, more resistant, almost deamonlike. After the Battle of the White Lake, those heroes disappeared. Their bodies were never found on the battlefield, and they were never seen after that. 

In the glory of the victory and the celebrations, this story stayed buried, but rumours came to spread. There is a recollection of the daughter of one of the seven who sought to shed light on this mystery. It is said that she met an fate worse than death as she fell victim to a strange and tormenting illness. 


Back to top