Western Reaches

The Western Reaches is the territory controlled by the Kingdom of Dakar. This province stretches from the Feuwald to the Caragan Sea, from the Zun River to the Elfenwald. Within fifty kilometers (50km ~= 30 miles) the land is settled, villages safe from banditry. The rest of the province is still considered the frontier for most of the population.

With material support from Stoneheart Hold, King Reiner II warred with Ellendar over control of these lands. After nearly a decade of war the elves ceded all lands east of the Aland River to the Kingdom of Dakar. The kingdom quickly settled villages along the Zun River, but with the assassination of the king the nation teetered on civil war. Small families continued to settle deeper into the territory, but tribes of orcs and goblins also settled.

Reigning over a time of relative peace, King Reiner IV moved to settle these lands, along with all other territory the Kingdom gained to the shores of the Isaurus Ocean. Several villages and towns had already grown over the Bornheim Trade Route as goods flowing from across the sea were traded in the newly settled city of Bornheim. To settle the lands north and south of this road, King Reiner IV began granting baronies to those whose deeds have served the kingdom. These mercenary captains and honor knights were scoffed at by the existing nobility, but soon proved their worth. Although many baronies fell to raids by the orc and goblin tribes that lived on these lands, enough survived to drive those tribes further north.

These survivors are known as the Burk or Silver Lords on account of their mercenary past. The lands and titles they hold are not hereditary, but the royal taxes on these lands are far less than other barons. King Reiner IV wanted strong men to conquer those lands claimed by the Kingdom. The Council of Earls objected when several women were raised ennobled directly as Baronesses.

The last of the lords named nearly caused a civil war. The mercenary company Phoenix Force had preformed duties over the years that have earned praise from both the throne and temple. The Temple of Light objected to the ennobling of Baron Hellstrom Darkmaster as he practiced sorcery. War almost broke out in the throne room when King Reiner IV ennobled Tharen Starlight, who was not only a woman but an elf. The first non-human ennobled in the kingdom's history. Stoneheart Hold recalled their emissary and several allies of the king withdrew their support for further expansion in the Western Reaches.