Barony of Penhhaligon

Overview

The Estate of Penhaligon, located in the northeastern reaches of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, is a dominion defined by constant struggle. It was established by Lord Arturus Penhaligon, a Thyatian follower of Duke Stefan Karameikos III, who arrived in the region in AC 970. Arturus chose a "challenging land" populated by humanoid tribes, and he and his men had to fight hard to secure the territory and defend the local population. This ongoing conflict has shaped the Barony’s very identity. A central element of this is the Knights of the Three Suns, a knightly order founded by Arturus to provide recognition to warriors who aid him in controlling his borderlands. The barony is the setting for the Penhaligon Trilogy of adventure modules, a testament to its dramatic and dangerous nature.

Appearance

The Barony of Penhaligon is home to the Castle of the Three Suns, its central keep and the headquarters of its knightly order. In contrast to the developed regions of Karameikos, the Barony's lands are rugged and fraught with danger. The landscape is inhabited by humanoid tribes, and its wilderness is home to monstrous creatures such as stone giants and lycanthropes. The physical appearance of the barony is one of a frontier on the edge of civilization, where fortresses and small settlements stand in stark defiance of the encroaching wild.

Culture and Society

The culture of the Penhaligon Estate is fundamentally a martial one, forged in the crucible of continuous conflict with the wilderness and its hostile inhabitants. The existence of the Knights of the Three Suns demonstrates the high value placed on military prowess and loyalty. This order, a "lesser order of chivalry" acknowledged by Duke Stefan, is a social institution designed to reward those who dedicate themselves to the barony's defense. The estate is ruled by its Lord, who had to fight hard to defend the local populace, a fact that suggests a powerful bond between the ruler and the people. However, the society is also a place of subtle turmoil, as dark forces have been known to conspire to plunge the estate into chaos.

Territory

The Estate of Penhaligon is a notable territory in northeastern Karameikos, encompassing 325 square miles. Its most significant landmark is the Castle of the Three Suns, which serves as the seat of power for Lord Penhaligon and the headquarters for his knightly order. The land is described as a "challenging" frontier, overrun with humanoid tribes.

Resources and Sustenance

Due to its nature as a contested frontier, the Penhaligon Estate's resources are not as easily exploited as those in other parts of the duchy. The barony maintains a human population of 7,900, suggesting a low population density of 24.3 people per square mile. This low density reflects the difficulty and danger of surviving in a region where farming and other activities are constantly threatened by hostile creatures. The primary "resource" of the barony is its ability to defend itself, allowing its small population to subsist on the land they have managed to hold.

Military and Defense

The military of the Penhaligon Estate is its defining feature. It is centered around the Knights of the Three Suns, a knightly order founded by Lord Arturus Penhaligon himself. The order’s primary mission is to protect the Barony and its populace from the constant threat of humanoid tribes. It is a smaller order, and its members are not granted the full social rights of a formal knighthood unless they are separately bestowed by the Duke. The Knights are a fighting force that, in cooperation with Lord Penhaligon, works to maintain control over the dangerous borderlands.

Relations (with Other Races and Factions)

The most defining relationship of the Barony is its open hostility with the humanoid tribes that infest its lands. The barony is also a key site for confrontations with supernatural threats like evil lycanthropes and with creatures like stone giants, who may have been wronged by the actions of the human inhabitants. On the other hand, Penhaligon maintains a loyal relationship with the central government of the Grand Duchy, with Duke Stefan acknowledging the Knights of the Three Suns. Lord Arturus Penhaligon also received crucial aid from a powerful wizard, Clenarius, who helped him in clearing the land.

Reputation

The reputation of the Estate of Penhaligon is that of a tough, frontier land where only the strong survive. It is known as a place where adventurers can find both trouble and opportunities. The city and its surrounding territory are a known backdrop for stories involving conspiracies and "dark forces," which suggests that its conflicts are not always simple battles with humanoids. The barony’s reputation is one of resilience and a hard-won place on the map, a testament to the dedication of its lord and his knightly order in a land constantly on the brink of chaos.