Across the channel from Albion lies the Kingdom of Normandy, a land of order, feudal bonds, and knightly honor. Its rolling fields and fortified castles are a picture of prosperity and strength — but beneath its polished veneer, ambition, intrigue, and rivalry simmer.
Normandy’s lords swear fealty to the Crown of King Raoul II, yet each duchy is its own world: proud, wealthy, and watchful for opportunity.
The Crownlands are the heart of Normandy, ruled directly by King Raoul II, a benevolent yet shrewd monarch. The land is rich and fertile, its fields feeding both king and knight. From the capital, Raoul works tirelessly to maintain unity, balancing the ambition of his dukes with the demands of war, faith, and diplomacy.
In Garonne, succession is uncertain: Duke Gerault lies aged and ailing, and his four ambitious daughters vie for inheritance. Their rivalry has turned the duchy into a chessboard of alliances, knightly challenges, and whispered intrigues. Amidst this turmoil, loyal knights and cunning schemers alike may rise to greatness — or fall to ruin.
The wealth of Albray flows from river trade, silver, and learning. Its lords are famed for their piety and subtlety — outwardly devout, inwardly cunning. Here, court wizards, bards, and poisoners are trained under noble patronage, blurring the line between artistry and assassination. Albray’s duchess is said to hold both prayer book and dagger with equal grace.
South lies Bellestarre, the jewel of Normandy’s vineyards and estates. Its rolling hills and elegant châteaux make it the center of culture — poets, troubadours, and courtiers flourish here. Yet beneath the music of lutes and clinking goblets runs a darker melody:
House Fiorelle plays host to secretive cults and dangerous duels.
Espionage, seduction, and murder stalk masked balls and vineyard feasts.
Here, beauty and danger are never far apart.
North lies Morvault, a stark and rugged land of cliffs and forests, guarding Normandy’s border. Ruled by stern House Carnet, its knights are famed for their discipline and grim honor. In Morvault, strength and loyalty are prized above all. Its castles are austere but unyielding, its people hardened by border wars and raids from Albion.
Normandy prides itself on being a realm of law and order, in contrast to Albion’s chaos. Its knights are drilled, its castles well-garrisoned, and its court refined. Yet the truth is less simple: behind the walls of every estate lies ambition, rivalry, and intrigue.
To the Briton duchies, Normandy is both rival and savior — a kingdom that might bring stability, or conquest.
To the Scoti and fae isles, it is a tempting prize of wealth and wine.
To Normandy’s own dukes, it is a stage upon which honor, treachery, and destiny unfold.