Feudal Wilderlands - Fiefs: Severnais

Prologue:  This is the first installment of using Chivalry & Sorcery 1st Edition rules to create a Feudal Wilderlands social hierarchy.  The numbered subareas on the map below correspond to the individual fiefs detailed in the body of the text. 

 County of Severnais

Ruled by the Catilia family of Virdii extraction.  The coasts and banks of the estuaries cutting this demesne are high and steep, making water transport much harder than the you might expect from the map.  Small fishing and smuggling settlements exist, but no major ports.  

     The demesne follows the boundary of Roglaroon from it's beginning at the mouth of the Forest River in hex 3518, all the way through the headwaters of the River Stillring in hex 2014.  From there it turns and follows the Stillring all the way to it's mouth on the coast in hex 3110, thence along the coastal hexes to the Mouth of the Roglaroon in hex 3712, then back up the estuary to the beginning.

Along with the Count's demesne, there are one Barony and two Shell Keeps in Severnais, along with fourteen fortified manors.  Even with the grants of fief lands, about half the area is currently either belongs to towns chartered by the overlord or is unallocated land that can be granted by the Count to adventurers, with the Overlord's permission.

1. Honor of Tain 

     The major holding of the Count of Severnais.  Vibus Curius Catilia is responsible for the defense of and administering justice for offenses committed within the county.  Cadet branches of the Catila's hold a barony in Gwalion and Shell Keeps in Rorystone and Zothiem; potentially giving the Count a geographically dispersed power base, but in practice creating contention between the the Count and his peers that the Overlord fosters to prevent the nobles from combining against him.  The Count owes fealty to the Invincible Overlord.

The Castle of Tain is one of the strongest in the land, with a 90' donjon, inner and outer curtain walls 50 feet high and two moats. (Chivalry & Sorcery Class V Large Castle) .  It is home to 19 knights, besides the Count, their squires, no less than 80 sergeants and 200 men, plus mercenaries.

The demesne supports 334 yeomen families, one quarter of whom owe petite sergeantry to the Count, as well as 800 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 7000.

2. Barony of Seveleville

     Gamelet Bourcier, Baron Seveleville is a brother-in-law of the Count of Gwalion.  His lands and those of his five feudal subordinates lie along the River Stillring and the mouth of the Severn.  The Baron owes fealty to the Count of Severnais, but is politically aligned with his brother-in-law.

     The castle of Seveleville is modest (Chivalry & Sorcery Class I Castle (Exterior)), with a 55 foot high keep and 35 foot high walls enclosed in a a single moat 20 foot wide.  It supports 6 kinghts, besides the Baron, their squires, 25 sergeants and 50 men at arms, plus a few mercenaries.  

     The demesne supports 136 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to the Baron, as well as 300 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 2500.

2.1 Chateau d'Barbelinges 

     The holding passed into the hands of the powerful Vespilla family via marriage only a few generations after it was established.  Allectius Vespilla, Chevalier d'Barbelinges is known for being overly friendly to travelers and is not in good standing with his peers or more degenerate family members because of it.  The Chevalier owes fealty to the Baron Seveleville, there is no indication that he is interested in the politics pursued by his more powerful cousins..

     The Chateau d'Barbelinges is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 20 foot high ring wall, with 50 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Chevalier, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to the Chevalier, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

2.2 Manor of Greycock 

     Opiter Laternus married the only daughter of the former Lord Greycock and was given wardship of his minor nephew, whose other relatives all pray survives to his majority.  The Lord owes fealty to the Baron Seveleville and is politically dependent upon him, as the wardship is revocable.

         The Manor of Greycock is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Greycock, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

(Note: I used the JG Village Book 1 random tables to generate the English place names, so snicker away about the combinations that show up.)

2.3 Akheimborg 

     Bjornar Maximian-Eskill, Ridder of Akhiemborg rules a demesne caught between a Tharbian feudal society and Skandik clansmen.  The family claims relationship with the powerful Maximian's by marriage.  Most of the Maximian's view the relationship as the result of a forced abduction.  The Ridder owes fealty to the Baron Seveleville.

     The Keep of Akhiem is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 20 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corner  s.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 Skandik free warrior families as well as 125 thralls capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

2.4 Chateau d'Mesanges 

     Moysant Chagnon, Dame d'Mesanges was barred from her inheritance by Tharbian Law prohibiting females from inheriting property.  So she challenged her cousin to a trial by combat and won the Chateau for herself on the field of honor.  The Dame owes fealty to the Baron Seveleville, her political support for him is lukewarm as he did not back her claim initially.

     The Chateau d'Mesanges is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 20 foot high ring wall, with 50 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Dame, her two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

   The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to the Dame, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

2.5 Manor of Livedile (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior))

      Swithin Bredham, Lord Livedile, has fallen on hard times, rumor has it that he is being blackmailed by Squeaky Werter.  Whatever the issue, taxes and assessments are high and the demesne seems to live on the edge of starvation, no matter how good the harvest.  Despite this, Lord Livedile never entertains and wears patched and faded robes. The Lord owes fealty to Baron Seveleville, and money to everyone else.  

         The Manor of Livedile is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Livedile, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

3. Santeetlah 

     Gaius Nigidius Hadriana, Dominus of the Latifundium of Santeetlah is the head of an old, but rather small and unimportant Virdii family.  The estate itself is named for an old Orichalan holy site, now lost beneath the fields.   Hadriana owes fealty to the Count of Severnais, who he considers the descendant of a family of upstarts.

     The main house of Santeetlah is one of the smallest fortifications (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Interior)), in the area of the City State of the Invincible Overlord.  A two story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 18 foot high ring wall, with 30 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Dominus and his squire, 3 sergeants and only ten men at arms provide the garrison.

    The demesne supports 14 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Santeetlah, as well as 50 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is only 300.

4. Maureil Donjon

     Colart Gueguen is the Guardien d'Maureil.  As such he is a scion of a noble family, appointed by the Count and confirmed by the Overlord in possession of an important fortification and it's dependencies.  The dependent fiefs, while paying rent and owing obedience, are the hereditary possessions of their families.   The Guardien owes fealty to the Invincible Overlord, while being aligned politically with the Count of Severnais.

     Mauriel is a shell keep, almost a major fortification in it's own right., consisting of a 75 foot tower surrounded by a fifty foot tall wall.  (Chivalry & Sorcery Shell Keep (Exterior, Greater)).  It's garrison consists of the Guardien, his five attendant knights and their squires, 20 sergeants, fifty men at arms and assorted mercenaries.

         The demesne supports 132 yeomen families, one quarter of whom owe petite sergeantry to Mauriel, as well as 300 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 2400.

4.1 Manor of Outwitch

      Regnier Brazier, Lord of Outwitch. is a descendant of a collateral branch of the founding family, his father inherited the manor after all closer relatives perished in the Onyx Plague.  His attempts to implement Tharbian Law for the existing Common Law customs and norms have made him very unpopular in his own home.  The Lord owes fealty to the Guardien d'Maureil.

        The Manor of Outwich is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Outwitch, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

4.2 Scallabis 

     Gnaius Nasia. Dominus of Latifunium Scallabis, is the descendant of one of the original Virdii colonial families.  He lost his right ear fighting a werewolf in the Dearthwood when he was younger.  He's totally not a lycanthrope himself, ask anyone on the estate.  Nasia owes fealty to the Guardien d'Maureil.

     Scallabis is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 22 foot high ring wall, with 35 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Dominus, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Scallabis, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

4.3 Chateau d'Laret 

        Dame Maio Viviana Dexippus, Dame d'Laret, came into her estate by way of her grandfather who bought Laret from the Tharbian founders.  Changing the inheritance laws to follow Viridii customs, she ascended without challenge.  The Dame owes fealty to the Guardien d'Maureil.

        Laret is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Dame, her two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Laret, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

4.4 Gravikenborg (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior))

       Josset Thorlak-Alard, Lord Graviken, is the scion of an unusual Tharbian-Skandik alliance.  His father sought out a Skandik chieftain with a marriageable daughter to make the alliance.  Generally, Tharbian daughters are wed to Skandik chiefs to buy off the raiders.  The current lord has renamed the estate to reflect his inheritance. The Lord owes fealty to the Guardien d'Maureil.

        Gravikenborg is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Graviken, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

5. Keep of Eventringe

       The Constable of Eventringe, Octavia Veturia Orosia, is the daughter of a wealthy old Virdii family.  She was appointed constable almost ten years ago and is rumored that Eventringe may be upgraded to a hereditary barony.  The Constable owes fealty to the Invincible Overlord, while being aligned politically with the Count of Severnais.

     Eventringe is a shell keep, consisting of a 55 foot tower surrounded by a thirty five foot tall ring wall.  (Chivalry & Sorcery Shell Keep (Exterior, Lesser)).  It's garrison consists of the Constable, her four attendant knights and their squires, 15 sergeants, fifty men at arms and assorted mercenaries.

     The demesne supports 70 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Eventringe, as well as 150 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1700.

5.1 Duncurraugh

       Mariod MacKerrous, Mhuire (Lady) of Duncurraugh, is the matriarch of the Duneal foresters who live on the estate.  It functions as a normally safe base for the foresters operating on the Dearthwood.  The Lady owes fealty to the Constable of Eventringe; but her clan comes first.

       Duncurraugh is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lady, her two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Duncurraugh, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

5.2 Dun Forenaught

      David Beauvilliers, Thane of Dun Forenaught, rules this bulwark against the Orcs of the Purple Claw.  He supports the foresters as well as mounting his own raids into the Dearthwood.   The Thane owes fealty to the Constable of Eventringe,  but he feels that she is too complacent about the orcs and pushes for more offensive action in councils. 

       Dun Forenaught is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

         The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Dun Forenaught, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

6. Manor of Swinevert

     Tedric Osteler, Lord Swinevert controls the upper reaches of the River Stillring, but is quite vexed at recent goblin raids coming from even further upstream.  He is seeking adventurers who can investigate the goblins at Trollslore.   Swinvert owes fealty to the Count of Severnais, within the count's councils he aligns with the Baron of Seveleville..

     Swinevert Manor is a bit larger than most (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), manor houses in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof topped by a tower, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners and surrounded by a ditch.  The Lord, his four attendant knights and their squires, 15 sergeants and forty men at arms provide the garrison, augmented by a few mercenaries.

    The demesne supports 70 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Dun Forenaught, as well as 150 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

6.1 Schloss Rodorf 

     Claus Dietgard, Ritter von Rodorf, is the scion of an Altanian adventurer who was the original Osteler's companion when the land grant for Swinevert was made.  As such the families have fanatical devotion to each other, the Ritter owes fealty to the Lord of Swinevert.

    Rodorf is an typical  manor house (Chivalry & Sorcery Small Fortified Manor House (Exterior)), one of the most common fortifications in the land.  A three story building with a gabled roof, surrounded by a 25 foot high ring wall, with 45 foot towers to connect and reinforce the wall and the manor at the corners.  The Lord, his two attendant knights and their squires, 10 sergeants and twenty five men at arms provide the garrison.

    The demesne supports 46 yeomen families, one third of whom owe petite sergeantry to Rodorf, as well as 125 peasants capable of of being levied for military service.  The total population is over 1500.

Previous Posts in this Series

Wilderlands Trade Radius

Wilderlands Market Areas

Wilderlands Where the Barbarians Roam

Wilderlands Baronies

Wilderlands Baronies, Further Considerations

Wilderlands The Roglaroon

Feudal Wilderlands Part I

Feudal Wilderlands Part II - The Heartlands

Feudal Wilderlands Part III - The Restless North

Feudal Wilderlands Part IV - The Imperial West

Fuedal Wilderlands Part V - The Changing South