Barony of Blackmoor

Suzanne

Artisan
This is the first part of our teasers of the new Alliance Denver Larp World for the upcoming campaign. We will be doing four posts a month (one a week) with information about the territory and what to expect in those areas. (In March, we are playing catch up so we will do one a day until the end of the month.)

Here is the link for the Baronies in each County in the Duchy of Tieveth
County of Brigosa
Barony of Drewynn: https://alliancelarp.com/forum/threads/barony-of-drewynn.41957/
Barony of Blackmoor: https://alliancelarp.com/forum/threads/barony-of-blackmoor.41945/
The District of Portunis: https://alliancelarp.com/forum/threads/the-district-of-portunis.42005/
Barony of Astelan: https://alliancelarp.com/forum/threads/barony-of-astelan.42086/#post-321942

County of Ellowi
Barony of Thialor: Coming in July 2021
Barony of Caloam: Coming in August 2021
Barony of Pendallen: Coming in September 2021
Barony of Hoeveth: Coming in October 2021

County of Galiseth
Barony of Westbeach: Coming in November 2021
Barony of Durrani: Coming in December 2021
Barony of Lothaudith: Coming in January 2021
Barony of Falconhurt: Coming in February 2021

We are adding to the post each day so make sure to check back!

A HUGE Thank you goes out to the World Building/Plot Team for all of their hard work and their brainpower to get this off the ground. Our volunteers, staff, and organizers are some of the best out there and we can’t thank them enough for their time.

Hope you all enjoy!

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The Barony of Blackmoor

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The timbre darkens around the very mention of this barony. It is more often spoken of in hushed tones for this reason. And while prosperous in definition, its merchants and farmers continue to live and work within its borders, it is the Barony of Blackmoor’s approximation to the Sea of Rowca that gives most pause when needing to travel close. It is also said that those that find the courage to make the journey are rewarded for their effort with a warm reception by its citizens and unparalleled views of this coastal paradise. Visitors find this paradoxical land to be nothing like what it is written about in history or told in a tale.


Capital: Pearlburg
Leadership: (Baron) Lord Captain Broderick Montia
Population: Three city’s worth in total
Major Philosophy: Ancestry
Major Societies: Longshoremen’s Guild, Metalsmith’s Guild, The Society of the Pearl, Broadstone Guard
Major Commodities: Pearls, Ships/Boats, Metalsmith Tools, Weapons, Fish
Heraldic Colors: White (Pearl), Teal (Sea)

Blackmoor - self a dolphin and anchor gris in full, per bend sarcelle.png

History
The City of Oakenport was the first major settlement in the Barony. At first, it looked like the Onyx Spire over in the District of Portunis was going to be the best military position, however, the access given to the rest of Fortannis there made it less than desirable as a strategic fortification. Oakenport offered deep harbors and being at the tip of a peninsula gave it the ability to construct both land and sea defenses. As the shipyards in Oakenport grew, the needs of the builders drove the growth of the local economy. Trees were cleared to build ships, stumps were removed to make way for pastures and fields to grow food for the nearby populations. The barony grew from the sea and the population moved inland.

Culture
Seaweed works its way into everything. It is farmed, there are 13 varieties that are grown. It is used in salads instead of spinach. It is used to wrap rice and raw fish. It is used as a facial rejuvenation treatment. It is planted around oyster beds as an underwater living, protective fence to larger sea creatures that like oysters. While much of the corruption of the early days of the barony has mostly been rooted out, the culture was established enough that the barony still maintains a healthy subculture of off-record trade.

Style
(Check out our style board on Pinterest for ideas on the Barony’s aesthetic) https://pin.it/6b2ivCD

Blackmoor is a coastal barony, as such, the local styles reflect that. Most prefer loose billowy shirts as the Sea of Rowca keeps the climate humid. However, they wear the practical tighter fitting pants as they may find themselves climbing the rigging of a ship. Architecture tends to be simple.

Traditions/Holidays/Values
Bell Festival - held every winter, one of the largest celebrations of the year that begins with competitive games, climaxes with a glorious feast and concludes with a bonfire and the hanging of giant jingle bells accompanied with a wish for the coming year.
The Casting of the Nets Feast - held each spring as the sea trout spawn. A great one-day event that starts in the early morning of the fishermen casting the great Ositas fishing nets, and ends in a great feast in the evening of that day's catch.


Cities

Oakenport (Largest City)
Leadership: Lady Mayor Llucia Colomar
Notable Societies: The Longshoremen’s Guild, Broadstone Guard
Population: One city’s worth
Commodities: Ships/Boats
Notable NPC’s:
Okin Barkhagh - former Mariner Captain of the Broadstone Guard, did his part in attempting to root out and clean up the corruption that exists in The Longshoremen’s Guild before the guild’s superior resources forced his “early retirement”. He left behind a lifetime of exemplary military service and left behind a gleaming reputation as a powerful officer and competent commander, on land and at sea. He still resides in Oakenport and now offers his brilliant investigatory services to anyone with a job and the coin to pay his fee.


History:
Broadstone shipyard was founded shortly after the Ivy Fjord was created. As a consequence of the Fjords creation, it also changed the land around it, thus creating the Bay of Twilight and the Oak Peninsula. At the tip of the peninsula Captain Ezme Broadstone found an ideal place for a pirate port.
Building a fort where ships would have easy, and quick access to the entire coastline made an ideal home for the would-be pirate queen. Empress Simona Caderian tried for years to stop the plundering, and sack Oakenport for their own. But the fort was too well fortified, and ships too well trained to be blockaded. Until a stalemate was reached. The Empress could not defeat Broadstone, but they could make the cost of doing business too high. A deal was struck. Piracy would stop, as the Empress would commission the pirate fleet to its banner. In exchange a shipyard would be built at the fort, bringing in more commissions.
This large city sprung into existence essentially to support the nearby shipbuilding yard of Broadstone. The local economy continues to be supported by the shipbuilders, their teams, and the soldiers and sailors that require everything from food and entertainment to weapons and equipment.



Pearlburg Capital (2nd largest city)
Leadership: Lady Mayor Idemay Ultu
Notable Societies: The Society of the Pearl
Population: A town’s worth
Commodities: Pearls and Transient Lodging
Notable NPC’s:
Baron Broderick Montia - and his family reside here.

History:
This fishing village is known to possess the very best deep sea fishermen and divers that harvest clams and oysters. As their name might suggest, they are the main source of pearls for the Realm. Thus, Pearlburg is the baronial seat for the Barony of Blackmoor, as its economic importance outstrips even that of Oakenport. The fringing reef along the shore of Pearlburg makes it that the city is unable to be a trade port.
Blackmoor is no different than most other lands in that secretly it is home to illicit and clandestine organizations. One such group, The Society of the Pearl, operates out of this tiny “fishing village”. A long time ago, this group stumbled across a set of ancient scrolls that described a powerful draconic creature bestowing its followers' wealth and prosperity in exchange for worship and acts of service. They formed The Society of the Pearl shortly thereafter believing that they are favored by that ancient creature.
The locals are torn about working with/for them as the Society pays their workers very well. But the work is dangerous, and the families of many fishermen and divers routinely have to be paid extensively over the disappearance of loved ones. When the Trine established their reign, Pearlburg offered no resistance. The Society knew it better to work with the new leaders, especially seeing the trouble they went through with Oakenport.
Pearl divers tend to be secretive, and will never share the secret paths to their oyster beds and keep their stash hidden and their recipes secret.
Nobles in this town are typically affluent as it is a popular vacation spot for them with picturesque beaches with a few high overlooks that offer amazing views of summer sunrises and sunsets.

Summerash (5th largest city)
Leadership: Lord Mayor Oriol Cio
Notable Societies: Order of the Puffin
Population: A town’s worth
Commodities: Fishing Nets
Notable NPC’s:
Devin Hampson - Head of the Order of the Puffin

Margaret Downing, Head of the Healer’s Guild - Margaret is a very empathetic, and thoughtful woman. She has always looked out for those in her community by attending to their needs as a community. Attending midwife, soup delivery for the sick, healing spells for the injured. Someone the community can rely on when they’re down. When not attending healing duties with the guild, she can even be found helping repair fishing nets down by the docks.

History:
Known for making Fishing Nets of all types and the exclusive distributor of the Ositas Nets. The economy thrives on fishing and there are many fish farms near the shores. Tourists from Pearlberg travel to Summerash to take boat tours that allow them to see whales during migration and birthing season.
The founding of Summerash occurred fairly recently. The settlers who established it did so as a haven away from the environmentally ignorant industrial atmosphere of Oakenport and the hoity-toity tourist entitlement culture of Pearlberg.
The licensing of the Ositas Nets to be exclusively distributed through Summerash was a cause for great celebration. Each year the city celebrates the spawning season with the Casting of the Nets feast.
The people of Summerash work well together and although there is a town guard it is seldom called upon except to defend against the occasional pirate attack. Most people in the area know basic fighting skills using common items such as tridents and fishing spears.

Notable Points of Interest: Puffin cliffs to the west.


Ositas (4th largest city)
Leadership: Lord Mayor Malculms Lonetail
Notable Societies:
Population:
A town’s worth
Commodities: Reeds
Notable NPC’s:
Bazile Burguet - Weaver, The Augur of Ositas. A local and prominent elder, this very powerful mage lives outside the city but regularly makes treks to the neighboring communities to sell his woven treasure and special grass needed for the nets. He is known to have a powerful grasp of both nature and elemental magic. He is said to possess an unnaturally strong connection to the earth. He appears to be an elderly man incapable of making the arduous journey across the Barony of Blackmoor, which has led to wild rumors about his actual age and his background.

History:
A tiny village that houses The Augur of Ositas, one of the Realm’s oldest and most powerful mages. This is the reason the grasses within the grasslands are so strong and perfect for fishing nets, they are magically imbued. Known for the grasslands to the south, the grasslands supply the materials for Summerash’s fishing nets. It is assumed that Bazile settled in the area, long before there was a village, to protect the grassland. But as he started making the trek to Summerash, and Pearlburg villages, his nets became infamous. Soon others would make the trek back with him to learn the secrets of the nets. Those that found harmony with the land, through Bazile’s teachings, ended up staying. Thus the village grew up around him. Others took the trade back to Summerash.

Bellhaven (3rd largest city)
Leadership: Lord Mayor Tobin Arslan
Notable Societies: Metalsmith’s Guild
Population: A town’s worth
Commodities: Metalsmithing Tools, Weapons
Notable NPC’s:
Erfried - The Assassin of Bellhaven, lived there for years, skulking in shadow and murdering folk for the coin in their purse. Over time, he developed both a taste for death and became quite skilled at delivering it. Presently, he remains one of the realm’s most wanted.

History:
The metalsmiths of Bellhaven are famous for producing some of the Realm’s best tools, weapons, and armor. They are even more famous for the bells they craft for the Nydabethian Bell Festival held here every winter.
Bellhaven started as a small waypoint between villages. Then it became a base of operations against Oakenport, whilst the fort was under the control of pirates. But as the port became more militarized, so too did Bellhaven. There became little room for the smiths in Oakenport due to shipyards and the need for a reduced threat of fires. So they set up shop in Bellhaven.
Bellhaven got its name from the bell atop the Inn. The residence would use the bell to scare off predators that would try to raid the stables. When the military came to set up base, they took the idea for their own, setting up a network of alarm bells at each of its checkpoints and watch stations. Thus the festival got its name as all the bells are rung in unison at the start of the new year.

Points of Interest in the Barony of Blackmoor​

Sea of Rowca​

A vast, deep-sea that stretches the entire length of the northern border of the Duchy of Tieveth, from The Ivy Fjord that forms the western border of the Realm to almost all the way across the next duchy east of Tieveth, The Duchy of Everglade Vale. Its coastline is dotted with settlements that range from sleepy fishing villages to vast sprawling military shipyards.

Broadstone Shipyard​

Located in Oakenport, the Broadstone Shipyard comprises the single largest military presence in the whole of the realm of Nydabeth. This fortified coastal resource is also the single source of production for the Realm’s naval ships. In addition to naval production, this royal estate also serves as the preferred base of operations for the Knight Commander of Nydabeth.

The Shipwreck​

Travel west out of Pearlburg toward Oakenport in the relative shallows of a mellow ocean lies what remains of the Argosy, a ship with an unknown history dating back decades. She's barely a ship anymore; the mast has broken and caused more damage on the way down. She belongs to the salty waters now and they're far from kind, but large, aquatic beings search for food around her every now and then, while small creatures use her as shelter. It can be difficult to spot them all as they hide at the slightest movement. The new inhabitants will guard their homes against new arrivals as well as try to claim more for their own when given the chance.

The Argosy doesn't make for a pretty sight, especially not from further away. Like discarded waste, she seems to not belong in these waters. She's in an odd, angled position and her absent pieces leave a gloomy absence of what was meant to be. Deep inside the darkened and gutted hull, explorers will find a massive cage with thick steel bars that appear to have been smashed outward from the inside. Fortunately, human remains are not part of this wreckage site, but it, unfortunately, doesn't mean they made it out alive.
 
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