After the Vermin War and the fall of the Skrzzak Empire, the land that was once the center of Aurelian civilization was in near utter ruins. It wasn't long until settlers, crusaders and forgotten Aurelian nobility began flocking to the region, hoping to settle the long-forbidden lands and rebuild. Thus the Marcher Baronies were formed - a loose collection of states who are only unified in their desire to reignite and carry on the Aurelian culture that had nearly been forgotten. Unfortunately, conflict is still rife among the Baronies, both between the new nascent nations and the terrible things that stalk the many ruins of old Aurelia.
Lay of the Land
The Baronies straddle Europa and Aswai, located on two relatively dry and rugged peninsulas separated by the small Umbral Gulf. The peninsulas are bordered by the Middle Sea to the south and the Umbral Sea to the north, meaning farmland and fishing is relatively plentiful. The settlements of the region are heavily fortified, and outside of them much of the wilderness remains dark and dangerous - untouched by civilized hands for centuries and replete with terrible creatures and crumbling ruins. The only heavily fortified path in the region is the Silk Road, and even that isn't fully immune from raids from bandits and worse things.
Politics and Government
There is little political unification in the Baronies - each barony stands alone, and many barely rule more than a fortified town and a few surrounding acres of farmland. The 'barons' come from all walks of life - some claim they are from Aurelian royalty, others are crusader kingdoms created after the Vermin War, and still others are adventurers or exiled nobles looking to establish their own nascent states for themselves. Lygos technically has suzerainty over all the Baronies, but its more a fealty bound by tradition - King Bylbos does not have an army big enough or lands sprawling enough to enforce his will outside of the city's walls.
People and Culture
People from the Baronies are often strong, independent and determined. During the height of the Skrzzak Empire, the few non-ratmen residents of the region were subject to cruel tortures, slavery, exploitation and violence, but they kept the flame of hope burning throughout the years. Even the Baronies' modern instability has not stopped the blood of old Aurelia from flowing strong. The Baronies have also attracted both human and demihuman settlers from across Europa, Aswai and Ifri, though some 'natives' view these settlers as outsiders wishing to exploit both the generosity and weakened nature of the Aurelian successors.
Locations
Many Baronies are small, often built upon the ruins of Aurelian cities or in old crusader strongholds. The only large city in the region is Lygos, and it is there that one can catch a minor glimpse of the awe-inspiring architecture that dominated all of old Aurelia.
Lygos is one of the largest and most populace cities on all of Tellus. Though much of the city is in disrepair and has seen better days, it still remains a center of trade, knowledge and culture. Nearly every nation and ancestry possesses its own city district, meaning Lygos can also become a hotbed of intrigue and political upheaval. All of Tellus has a stake in Lygos and its future, and it shows no matter the city's condition.
Osman is a quickly growing barony on the Aswain side of the Marcher Baronies. Osman was originally a nomadic tribe from the Land of Darkness, but increased pressure from the dvergar caused them to flee west. Led by Osman the Great, this group of nomadic warriors has slowly been building up its strength over the years, with some believing they hold the intention of assaulting Lygos to take as their own.
Rodos is a large island off the coast of the Baronies currently held by the Knights of Mithra - a legendary group of crusaders who have managed to hold the island since the height of the Vermin War. The Knights have served as vigilant defenders against potential attacks from the sea, and despite their relatively small size some Knights have even journeyed west to Anahuac in hopes of expanding their reach into the new world.
Nymphaion is one of the most well-defended baronies in the whole region. Led by Baron John Karameikos III, Nymphaion lies on the edge of the Baronies and serves as the last line of defense against orx, dvergar, bandits and other foul elements who spill westward from the Barrens and Land of Darkness. Despite near constant assault, Nymphaion and its famed soldiers have always managed to stand these tests of endurance.
Conclusion
So here is the first post in the revised gazetteer for Age of Iron. I was hoping to get one of these done a day, but my schedule is just too hectic for that. Every few days is more likely, I feel. I also plan on doing more Age of Iron posts than just gazetteers - religion, timeline, calendars, etc. Hope you enjoy it, because this was pretty fun to write and I look forward to doing more.
Edit: I updated a few things with the Baronies as I wasn't fully happy with them. This is a little bit better representation of what I was going for.
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