Ormond

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County of Ormond
Location Between Ranke, Mordeaux and the Ffenargh
Government Count Mollan of Cairmond
Population ~175,000
Languages

Lalange
Folksprach
Common

–Literacy


90%
30%
50%

6%

Religion

– Property Tax:
– Bonding rate:
– Visitor Tax:


% per annum
% of goods' value/month
sp/person

Taxes

Western Church:
Demon Worship:


40%
0.5%

Imports
Exports

Geography

The County of Ormond lies some two hundred miles North of Seagate. It contains roughly three thousand square miles, consisting of the arable land in the Ormond and South Ffenargh valleys, as well as the mineral rich range (the Orgon Hills) between the two. Ormond also holds some claim to the Mountain range which divides it from Ranke, and to some portions of the Ffenargh swamp.

To the North of Ormond is the Ffenargh swamp. To the South is the Duchy of Ranke, to which Ormond owes partial fealty. To the East is the County of Mordeaux, of the Marquisate of Bowcourt, of the Western Kingdom, to which Ormond owes partial fealty. To the West is the open sea.

The Ormond River starts in the Wygran Mountains and passes down a valley between the Nadryn Woods on the north side (Bowcourt) and Eormid Woods on the southern side. Once the river passes the Western end of the Eormid Woods it splits in two with a fork continuing Westwards into Lake Astrid, then through the South Orgon Hills via the Orgon Canyon then onwards to join with the Ffenargh River then head out to sea and the Southwestern fork heading down through the Ormond Vale and Jarys Wood before ending in The Great Western Sea at Ormondton.

The Hariston Woods are bounded on the northern edge by the Ferren Hills where the dwarven hold of Minehold is located.

Details

There are roughly 175,000 (as of 810WK) people living in Ormond. The average population density in inhabited areas is about 50/sq.mi. Most of the mountainous areas are uninhabited, and there is only sparse population in the swampy areas. 20% live in urban areas, and over 50% live within twenty miles of the coast. Most rural people are farmers, woodsmen or fishermen. There are about 300 Manorholds in Ormond, and as many Communal hamlets without Fiefholders, particularly close to the towns. The County can muster roughly 300 knights, 1,200 military yeomen and roughly 2,000 militia is time of war. The war affected Ormond in several ways. Bowcourt used Ormondton as a naval base for its frigates, and Ormondton Cathedral was a major staging point in the Church sponsored pacification of Dumar. Refugees from Aladar and Aquiia have settled in Ormond which range from dispossessed Knights of Novalar to farmers fleeing from war-torn Jurgenmark.

As of 818wk the population has grown to around 225,000.

The County of Ormond strongly maintains its internal independence via divided fealty, to the Bishopric of Mordeaux, and the Duchy of Ranke, for which it guards the Western and Northern border respectively, from the denizens of the Ffenargh Swamp, including those of the excommunicated Barony of Dumar, directly North of the lands of the Baron of Uperdyk. Many of the nobles of Ormond also retain significant family ties with Aladar, Ranke and Brandenburg.

Ormond's fealty is paid annually, partially in military service; partially in precious ore, from the mines of the Dwarvish enclaves in the Southeastern mountainous region on the border of Ormond, Ranke and Mordeaux; and partially in coin, from the taxation of Ormond's strong fishing and eeling industries.

Ormond smoked eel is noted for its succulence and longevity.

Ormond also boasts a number of hot springs, some private and some public, all of which have fine and ancient stone-worked bathing pools.

Places and Locations

The principal towns of Ormond are Ormondton, Uperdyk and Southport, three coastal ports.

  • Uperdyk, population 3,000, is the most Northern of these ports, on the South Ffen River.
  • Ormondton, population 5,000 is the middle and largest port, on the mouth of the Ormond River, and also site of Ormond Cathedral and the Bishop of Ormond's See.
  • Southport, population 4,000 is the most Southern, a sheltered cove on the coast road to Ranke.
  • Inland is the town of Worksop, population 600, situated where the road to Mordeaux crosses the South Ffen River.
  • Minehold - this is inland and is a Dwarven town. Population 2,000, situated about twenty miles north of the inland pass into Northeastern Ranke.
  • Riverton
  • Gladheim
  • Orgon Hills.
  • Ormond. This was the main city and County seat until the quake of 776WK when it was almost completely destroyed. The County seat then moved to Ormondton.
  • Cairmond. This is where the court of Count Mollan is held.

Governance of the realm

Count Mollan Bentinck of Cairmond (b730wk)

He resides at Cairmond, his Castle, some 10 miles up river from Ormondton and holds the Barony of Mond (Ormondton, etc.), the Barony of Westffen (Worksop, etc.) in personal fief, although actual control of Westffen is in the hands of Seneschal Samuel Johnson at Worksop Castle. Samuel is Mollan's ex-Castellan.

(Think Henry VIII without the wives. A bit of a philanderer, but nice about it. A reasonable chap, good with a sword, likes his food and drink and his bathhouse, and not stupid)

Baron Ortega Borbone of Southport (b745wk)

Holds the Barony of Ory (Southport, etc.), purchased from Count Mollan's adversary (a distant cousin of Baron Ortega) after the recent political machinations which allowed the Count to be invested.

A greasy Destinian. Pleasant and charming, but as calculating as his unfortunate cousin whom he bought the Barony from. His cousin couldn't stomach being enfeoffed to his long time rival Mollan. Still he is a new boy in town and is keeping quiet at the moment

Baron Vicmund Narsau of Uperdyk (b750wk);

An Aladarian, holds the newly created Barony of Uperdyk. Younger brother of Baron Victar Alagaad of Zumalar (Aladar).

Come to Ormond to seek his fortune. Not evil, just amoral and interested in getting rich quickly

Guildmaster Stonesplitter

He is the Master of Minehold, and holds authority equal to any of the Barons.

Stereotypical gruff dwarf who plays things on the straight and narrow, but has a dodgy past. Not on good terms with the pixies who live in the mountains

Knights

These guild members owe fealty to the Count of Ormond, in exchange for fiefs in Riverton and Cairmond, in the Northeast of Ormond.

People of Note/Importance

Seneschal Samuel of Worksop Castle

thin & cadaverous, very Victorian butlerish sort of character. Doesn't like the Seagate Guild knights's much, thinks they are vainglorious upstarts (with good reason).

The Pixies who live in the Mountains

several of them have met the enfeoffed guildmembers, like them and think they are great fun. The pixies don't really have a care in the world, except that they have heard that their cousins in Jurgenmark are having a hard time with the trolls.

Jones

a Gnomish Illusionist who lives in a tower in the forest Northeast of Ormondton. He fancies Sasha, but hates Orcs and Goblins because they "always try to steal stuff. Very choosy of the company he keeps or lets into his tower, but generally lets the great unwashed stay in his none-to-clean barn if necessary. Has a crush on Clementine

Exx

- a Hobbit Thief. Currently works for Baron Vicmund with his mates (Six fellows, roughly equivalent to a low-medium guild party.) Had a one night stand with Sasha once (this is untrue, what use is a hobbit to a grown woman) and stole all her stuff (which is true), which only got several of his friends beaten up (never steal from an E&E) which is why he left Carzala and move up here. Exx knows about half of Seagate guild members by sight and/or reputation. Exx has a ring of Passwall as well as several other nifty magic items. Exx and Sasha have been told to end their feud by Vicmund and Samuel respectively possibly as it would threaten an alliance between the two.

Mayor Paul Daniels of Worksop

- a hypochondriac and fast talker. Not very reliable.

Roger and Allan

- Mayor Daniels’ aides. More reliable, but not very bright

Doctor Klaus Barbie - of Worksop. An Aquilan. Not a very nice chap, but a good healer (rank 6) and an alchemist (rank 5, poisons). Into taxidermy, drooling and kinky sex with the local brothel keeper.

Ms Daisy – of Worksop. The local bar & brothel keeper at the Stripy Frog. Middle aged but still pleasant and charming. Unfortunately she lusts after men with Aquilan (German) accents.

Jakob Eichmann

The Harbour-master of Ormondton.

The Bentinck Family

The ruling family of Ormond is the Bentinck family headed by Count Mollan Bentinck (b730wk d-). He and his wife Lizbeth Bentinck (nee Huitfeldt) (b732wk d810wk) married in 752wk had several children and a long life together.

  • Berend Bentinck, the Baron of Ormondton (b753wk d-) married Daphne van Hoensbrock (b755 d-) in 773wk. They have several children
    • Els Bentinck (b773wk d-) who married Harold Velps (b771wk d-) in 792wk and they have 4 children.
    • Jesse Bentinck (b774wk d-) who married Johan de Mure (b773wk d-) in 793wk and they have 2 children
    • Maas Bentinck (b775wk d-) who married Jenig de Voign
Count Mollan's Siblings

Udo Bentinck is Count Mollan's brother and is the Lord of Caeredin (b754wk d-) married Else von Dinther (b756wk d-) in 774wk.

Cecilia Bentinck is Count Mollan's sister and the Lady of Limberg (b756wk d-) married Marcus van Lynden (b756wk d-) in 774wk.

Arnold Bentinck (b757 d771) died after a hunting accident

Ottoline Bentinck is Count Mollan's younger sister (b760wk d-) married Rutger Schimmelpennick (b758wk d-) in 778wk.


Church

  • Bishop Costello of Ormondton
  • Bishop Barston of Ormond
  • Deacon Charles of Ormond
  • Father Adolphus of Ormond
  • Father Randolph of Ormond
  • Brothers Symon and Dylon of Ormond

Trade

Religion

Magic

Crime and Punishment

Mundane Crime

Magical Crimes

History

An excerpt taken from the SGT 795
  • New Count Invested at Ormondton

In a ceremony on the 16th of Harvest, Bishop Costello of Ormondton Cathedral invested Baron Mollan of Cairmond as the new Count of Ormond.

Ormond, a small demesne on the coast North of Ranke. has been without an official Count for some two hundred years. After the disappearance of the previous Count, Uspreckt of Riverton. Since then Ormond has been governed by a council of Barons called the Hasbaran.

For various reasons the Hasbaran has been so finely balanced that no new Count could be elected. However recent events have forced the lost Baronial Torc of Count Uspreckt into Count Mollan's hands, thus giving him two Baronies and the upper hand in negotiations over the last month.

The first acts of the new Count were to invest Sir Vicmund of Aladar as the new Baron of Uperdyk, an act presumably to promote a strong armed presence on his Northern border with the Barony of Dumar. He also invested several new Knights (including a group of Seagate Adventurers) and promised to rule wisely and beneficently.

"I will continue Ormond's present tributary arrangements with Ranke and Bowcourt, at least until I visit the court of Duke Frederick (the Regent of the Western Kingdom). I intend to maintain cordial relations with all our neighbours and Ormond is in great need of simplifying Feudal dues".

Other topics of his investiture speech included the problems of piracy and a need for clemency towards Aladarian refugees.

His speech was met mainly with great applause.

Local support is mixed. Lady Ithilmor (of Seagate) said of Count Mollan "Well. He made me a Knight. He's all right ... [but] being a Knight is hard work." However Colonel Blackthorn, sometime head of Aladarian security said "I don't even know who Mollan is....".

Fiefs given to guild members by Count Mollan

Several guild members were instrumental in helping Mollan get invested ("Raiders of the Lost Torc" Feb 95).

The characters who received knighthoods and fiefs were Sasha, Ithilmor, Ty Trident, Jhiselle & some character of Struan's and a dwarf whose names I can't remember.

The fiefs he gave them were not of the best quality, being as they were inland on the South Ffen river some twenty miles North of Worksop and some sixty miles by road East of Cairmond, although only about forty miles as the crow flies. For the most part, the land is good, but fewer people live or are interested in living in such an out of the way area, not least because of the proximity of the Ffenargh swamp, which in common superstition contains many ghosts and other foul terrors. However successful searching has lured several Northern Aquilan families to the area, particularly for the promise of free tenure land (land for rent) as opposed to villein tenure land (land for labour). This influx has brought new skills and newer farming techniques, and has in some ways helped revitalise Worksop after all its weird troubles of a few years ago.

Each manorial fief has about 100 tenants, and contains roughly two square miles (1,200 acres) of arable land and forestry. It provides its owners with a middle class household and a yearly 2,400 sp income, plus the rank of lesser nobility. However, the owner is required to decide disputes between tenants fairly and equitably, keep the peace, protect their tenants from bandits and monsters, and provide the Count with a lance of troops (normally, a mounted soldier, two military yeoman or squires and three militia who are also normally the knights servants) two months of the year. The cost of a mercenary substitute for the mounted soldier (if the character is unable or unwilling to serve) roughly equates to 2,400 sp.

Other Fiefholders

Most Fiefholders are hereditary knights, and a large proportion do not take kindly to uncouth upstarts! However Count Mollan is quite approachable, and is happy to make introductions for people. Some general statistics:

  • 80% of fiefholders are male.
  • 70% are armoured horse soldiers.
  • 60% are married.
  • 50% are primarily interested in casual sex.
  • 40% are members of the Western Church. (about 1/4 from each sect)
  • 30% own a townhouse and have commercial interests in one of the towns.
  • 20% are nasty, mean, ill tempered and/or violent.
  • Conversely 20% are pleasant, charming, chivalrous and/or versed well educated.

(Rolling both would give you an Iago-like or villainous NPC)

  • 10% are very suspicious of magic, particularly the Aladarians.
  • Conversely 10% have some skill with magic, although this may only be a talent or a few spells rather than a whole college.

(Rolling both would give you a rather paranoid or mixed-up NPC)

Names also give important clues as to the lineage of the NPC. Names including "or", "ory", "mol", "mond", or "orm" are likely to be hereditary Ormondines. Names including "ar", "mund", "iich", "al" or "ad" are likely to be hereditary Aladarians. Germanic names are likely to be hereditary Aquilans. Names including "ra", "ur", "mi" or "ga" are likely to be hereditary Church knights or Church vassals.