Rolling Baronies
The collective term for independent holdings in the wooded hills of North-Eastern Asteria between Boisnoir and Paratalle on either side of the Castella River. Found every five to ten miles, they generally consist of a fortified castle or manor, a small town, and one to three outlying villages, all within walking distance of one another. None of them amount to a serious power in the region, and would in fact be better off uniting as a single state. Unfortunately, the end of Imperial oversight has allowed the local feuds to simmer to the surface.
Once upon a time, quite a few of the baronies were affiliated with powerful lords and ministers in the Empire proper, and served as summer retreats and convenient locales for troublesome lordlings to cool off. That time (and income) has long past.
- Clementine: One of the better off baronies, across the river from Riverseat. On the big trade road connecting Verdante and Thrall's Gate Hall. Bandits sacked one of their outlying villages recently, resulting in a trio of revenanants. At least the bandits are gone.
- Dorn: Just across the Castella River from Kingsfall. The baron has an uneasy relationship with his neighbor: on one hand, Kingfall's military does keep his neighbors from being too much of an issue. On the other, he really treasures his autonomy.
- Galt: In between Down and Witchfel. Baron Galt is Contentious, covetous, and broke. Odds are good he's either going to be deposed by the next batch of mercenaries he backstabs, or approached by unsavory investors.
- Rundorig: Roughly halfway between Paratalle and Riverseat, the baron and his people have successfully simplified their lifestyles out of necessity. This is partly because Aterian nobles aren't visiting to partake of the mineral springs, and partly because the demi-wyrms Slathis and Underth pulverized the original baronial keep about three generations back. The ruins may or may not be haunted.
- Tol Durn: About as minor a holding as you can find. Nearly it's entire income comes from providing services to merchants on the Old Trade Road. Militarily… the PCs stand a better than even chance of conquering it.