County Penthiver
Legend says that the county of Penthiver has been founded by a heroic act, when Philippe de Sylbenitte fought a monster that terrorised the region. His descendants throve and then became powerful lords.
In the land’s centre lies the town of Âprevent, rebuilt many times around the count’s castle. The landscape alternates pastures, meadows, woods and lake along the Merys valley. A thriving land, water never falls short to irrigate the wheat fields peasants are busy reaping.
The Brisants coast is a shingle where beaches stand alongside reefs and cliffs. Inhabitants live by fishing. The rest of the county mostly leans against Druadach Mountains that separate New High Rock from Skyrim. People make a living from trade with the Nord region.
Two main roads go through the county. The eastern one goes from the Castelcol castle, watching the Deuil-Bois pass toward Skyrim, to the city of Valtordu. The Royal Road allows travels to Alesbourg (Aorre duchy’s capital city) from Âprevent.
County’s geography has shaped its history. Herds grazing peacefully in the fields made foreign kings covet it, such as the Montroise d’Aorre.
Thus, the peaceful abbey of Grégoire du Val has been erected to honour a victory of king Grégoire II over a coalition of invaders coming from Skyrim and High Rock.
The nearby Merys castle is infamous for being the most sieged stronghold in New High Rock history.
As for the ruins of Château-Gaillard, on a hill north of the Merys River, they remind the county’s occupation by Aorre’s troops during the First Shattered Sword War.
In the county of Penthiver, wars seem to last longer and be more violent than in other New High Rock fiefdoms. Embers from past fires are slow to cool down and prompt to rekindle.
As the passage of the last civil war still weights upon Penthiver, plots are being built in the depths of ruined strongholds between losers of past conflicts and dark people.
The main source of tension comes from the army raised by Adelmond de Sylbenitte. Despite his defeat five years ago against Jehanne the Maid, his army has been reassembled and threatens Âprevent again. Since the king refuses to get involved in this family conflict, the worst is feared. After all, he has already caused the Third Shattered Sword War. In New High Rock, especially in the county of Penthiver, history tends to repeat itself. Who knows whether Vortigern de Sistre’s blindness toward his vassals’ problems will cause a new civil war or not…
