The Free Palatinate of Dyrwood is comprised of several Erldoms. Prior to the War of Defiance (often known as "the revolution"), there were 9 erldoms. After the war, two erldoms loyal to Aedyr were dissolved into other erldoms.[1]
Ashfall[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Bendy crimson and murrey, a fish bendwise argent." | Danecg family | It's eastern edge pushes into Eir Glanfath. A complete definition of its borders is not known.[notes 1] |
History[ | ]
Ashfall is the location of the War of Black Trees, a conflict that happened 171 years before the events of Pillars of Eternity. In a tactical move, Admeth Hadret scorched the forests to prevent the opposing Glanfathan forces from retreating.[2]
The war left permanent marks on the land, leaving some of it still barren and littered with burnt trees.[3]
Ashfall became an important place to worshipers of Magran, where they craft guns and explosives. A group of twelve Marganite priests from the area crafted the Godhammer Bomb that was used to stop Waidwen during the Saint's War.[4]
Other locations[ | ]
Abbey of the Cloven Wheel[ | ]
A massive cathedral complex dedicated to the goddess. Impervious to flame on the surface, it's notable for its endless subterranean tunnels and chambers, bellows and fire pits, where Magranic scholars work on new ways to bring fire to the world: Guns, explosives, alchemy.
The Abbey is located near the border of Ashfall and Eir Glanfath. The resident monks have not sworn fealty to any sovereign.[1]
Kindle Vale[ | ]
Kindle Vale is likely part of Ashfall.[notes 1]
Baelreach[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Party per fess embattled vert and argent, two estoiles or."[5] | Approx. 2625–present[6] | Ethgowr family | Baelreach covers the south west corner of The Dyrwood. It's eastern border follows the Bael River.[1] |
History[ | ]
Baelreach is the oldest part of Dyrwood. The area of Dyrford was the first Aedyre settlement in the region and was followed by additional settlements west and north of the Bael River. New Dunryd, renamed to Defiance Bay after the War of Defiance, became the seat of power in the region.[7] Ondra's Gift was the final battle site of the war in 2672. Animancy, which had been outlawed in Aedyr, saw a revival in the area after the war.[8]
Major locations[ | ]
- Aedelwan Bridge
- Defiance Bay - Capital city of Dyrwood
- Dyrford Village
- Pearlwood Bluff
- Searing Falls
- Stormwall Gorge
- Woodend Plains
Other locations[ | ]
Baelreach[ | ]
Location of the "Baelreach incident" where an animancer accidently shattered the souls of twelve volunteers.[8]
Forked Vale[ | ]
Coldwater[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Chequy bleu celeste and argent, a falcon perched gules."[5] | unknown - present | Ungradr family | "A long stretch of land running from the Grasp in the West to Cold Morn in the East". It also contains the former erldom Cwynsrun.[1] |
History[ | ]
Coldwater is described "one of the most placid erldoms". It incorporated the erldom Cwynsrun after the War of Defiance.
During the Saint's War, Readcerans forces passed through the area and burned the city of Mercy Vale.[9]
Other locations[ | ]
Cold Morn[ | ]
Residents let Waidwen forces march through the town during the Saint's War, allowing two brigades to enter Dyrwood unopposed.[9] The town was the first to be hit by mobs during the Purges.[10] Many residents died in the razing, including the family of the Devil of Caroc.[11]
Mercy Vale[ | ]
Razed by Waidwen forces after they marched though Cold Morn.[9] Citizens held back the Readcerans for several days and its believed the delay allowed the time needed to ready the Godhammer Bomb.[12]
Efforts were made following the war to restore the town, including the Magranite Church of of the Winding Flame, where several holy relics had been lost during the siege but later returned.[13]
Cwynsrun[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Checky or and azure, a hand argent." | unknown - 2672[6] | Yngfedr family | North of the Isce Îen River, in what is now Coldwater.[1] |
History[ | ]
The erldom was named after the Aedyren Mecwyn Eina II by imperial decree because she loved the area so much. She died just south of the territory in Eina's Rest.
Cwynsrun sided with Aedyr during the War of Defiance. After the revolution Cwynsrun was incorporated into Coldwater.[1]
The Grasp[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Party per pale wavy vert and celestial-azure, in dexter half a feather or, in sinister half a leaf or." | unknown - present | Bademar family | "Everything north-west of the Isce Îen River from Gilded Vale to north of Eina's Rest in the East. It includes Geiran's Grasp, New Heomar and the ruins of Caed Nua".[1] |
Former rulers | |||
"Bendy vert and lavender, in sinister flank the letters "LPO" bendwise sable, a held scepter bendwise sinister sable."[notes 2][14] | unknown - unknown | House Geiran Gréfa Macga Geiran |
Original rulers of the lands from Geiran's Grasp down to Gilded Vale, covering the northwest of the area now known as The Grasp. |
History[ | ]
The lands between Geiran's Grasp and Gilded Vale (now considered part of The Grasp) were originally ruled by House Geiran, an old elven family that traditionally served the Kulklin mecwyn of the Aedyr. The current head of the family, Gréfa Macga Geiran, is attempting to reclaim The Grasp from the widely disliked Erl Bademar (canonical to the PoETTRPG).[14]
After the War of Defiance it became the largest of the seven erldoms when Yenwood was partitioned and granted to erls who supported the push for independence. It is also said to be the most difficult to manage.[1]
In 2823, lord Raedric VII, thayn of Gilded Vale, attempted to lure new settlers to the area with land offers. The Watcher was one of those who traveled to the area and became the roadwarden of Caed Nua.[15]
In 2828, Eothas, embodied in the great statue of Maros Nua, emerged from beneath Caed Nua.[6] He traveled westward towards the ocean, eventually entering the gulf northwest of Defiance Bay.[16] The incident destroyed Caed Nua, killed over 300 people, and left a path of destruction.[17]
Major locations[ | ]
- Anslög's Compass
- Black Meadow
- Caed Nua
- Esternwood
- Gilded Vale
- Magran's Fork
- Raedric's Hold
- Yenwood Field
Other locations[ | ]
Geiran's Grasp[ | ]
An old coastal town named after House Geiran, the original rulers of lands in the northwestern corner of the Grasp.
New Heomar[ | ]
A port city that's home to a chapter of Bleak Walkers.
Helsgate[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Party per chevron sable and gules, a dragon rampant sinister counter-charged."[5] | Approx. 2625–present[6] | Manhem family Frya Manhem |
"Includes Hels' Gate Citadel, Road's End and most of the land north of Pearlwood Bluff"[1] |
History[ | ]
In 2626, Helsgate was the site of the Broken Stone War, a conflict between Aedyr settlers and the Glanfathan. It was an important strategic location during the War of Defiance and saw violent conflicts during the period.
In recent times it is considered one of the most sedate nations.[1]
Other locations[ | ]
Hel's Gate Citadel[ | ]
Home to to a group of bell masters who keep watch from the citadel.[18]
Road's End[ | ]
A port city home to charnel houses and cemeteries, including Kell Hill Cemetery.[19][20]
Norwaech[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Party per pale vert and azure overall a tower argent." | unknown - present | Rafendr family Osgara Rafendr, Erla of Norwaech |
"Shares a frontier with Readceras and holds New Yarma, Godhammer Citadel (formerly Halgot Citadel) and the isolated Hangman's Abbey".[1] |
History[ | ]
In 2808 Norwaech saw the final conflict of the Saint's War. Waidwen was lured into a trap on the Evon Dewr bridge and destroyed by the Godhammer Bomb.[9]
Major locations[ | ]
- Halgot Citadel renamed to Godhammer Citadel after the Saint's War
Other locations[ | ]
Hangman's Abbey[ | ]
An isolated abbey.
New Yarma[ | ]
Likely named after Yarma in Aedyr.[21]
Tenferths[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Celestial-azure, a bendlet sinister or, in first quarter a spoked wheel argent." | unknown - present | Aedwell family | Described as "home to Echo Bay, Fleetbreaker Castle and King's Lantern." |
History[ | ]
Tenferths was named for the ten fords along its wandering cost.[1]
Major locations[ | ]
Other locations[ | ]
Echo Bay[ | ]
King's Lantern[ | ]
Yenwood[ | ]
Background[ | ]
Heraldry | Years | Rulers | Border |
---|---|---|---|
"Party per fess dancetty gules and bleu celeste, an oak tree eradicated counter-charged."[5] | Approx. 2625 - 2672[6] | Gathbin family Arledr Gathbin, Rännig Gathbin |
Formerly encompassing Gilded Vale, Caed Nua and Magran's Fork. |
History[ | ]
Caed Nua began construction circa 2626 atop ancient Engwithan ruins. The erl, Gathbin, accidentally unleashed a slaughter when he opened the Endless Paths of Od Nua.[6]
Yenwood sided with Aedyr during the War of Defiance. After the revolution Yenwood was incorporated into the Grasp.[1]
Gallery[ | ]
Notes[ | ]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The only description on Ashfall's borders is from the Guidebook: "Its eastern border shifts with pressure from Glanfathans and the boldness of settlers and explorers. The Abbey of the Cloven Wheel is technically part of Ashfall". Northweald shows damage from the War of Black Trees, which enforces the approximate location of Ashfall. Due to Kindle Vale's close proximity and name, it's likely within the erldom. Possibly a town named Whitewreath (see What the Well Holds) is also located within Ashfall. Eina's Rest and Loghome may also be as well, and could be confirmed in the Pillars TTRPG (per this tweet from Josh Sawyer).
- ↑ Suggestive of the imperial heraldry of Aedyr. Represents the Ine Gyrd (pearl sceptre) held by the emperor. The symbols are Aedyran for IFM - "in service to the mecwyn".
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Pillars of Eternity Guidebook, pages 48-49
- ↑ War of Black Trees
- ↑ Durance described Ashfall: "The forest has never regrown, no seed was laid beyond her sanctifying the ground. The blackened trees still remain, like black hands reaching from the ground."
- ↑ Durance
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Josh Sawyer post on Obsidian forums: https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/66165-the-world-realms-places-coats-of-arms/?tab=comments#comment-1446428
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Timeline
- ↑ The Dyrwood, Part 1: Early Colonial History
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Dyrwood, Part 5: The Proliferation of Animancy
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 The Dyrwood, Part 6: The Saint's War and Waidwen's Legacy
- ↑ Edér Teylecg in game dialog: "Might've been Cold Morn that started it. Town near the border. They let Waidwen march right on through. Rest of Dyrwood cursed their names till the end of the war." and "Either way that town was burning before the first ashes of Eothas hit the ground."
- ↑ Devil of Caroc
- ↑ Cloak of the Tireless Defender
- ↑ Clerical Errors
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Frog Helms Fan Club — Been looking at your more detailed eastern reach...
- ↑ Per Marshal Forwyn
- ↑ Per this tweet from Josh Sawyer).
- ↑ Per Berath's dialog at the start of POE2
- ↑ Resounding Call
- ↑ The Mourning Circle
- ↑ Bound and Buried
- ↑ Bleak Walkers
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