Galorva
The Comitat of Galorva is the easternmost of the two Comitati of Inalt Antova, rising from the Temesh River to the northern ridge of the Antasian Mountains in the east. Its northern boundary is the Vale of the Two Kings and its southern boundary meanders along the northern border of the Comitat of Mijloc Antova. With the Vale of the Two Kings serving as the gateway between the Antasian and Challieann Mountains, the Via Clodia serving as the vital trade artery through Dracia and the headwaters of the Temesh River, Galorva is one of the most tactically and economically significant Comitati in the Kingdom of Dracia.
The seat of the Comitat is the fortified town of Wessen, spanning the Wessov River just eight miles northeast of where it flows into the Temesh. As the central hub for the Comitat (even moreso than the seat of the Vojvodina, Zabshoga), Wessen is a merchant town of sharp contrasts. The University of Wessen is a major center of learning in northern Aurea, drawing students from far outside of Dracia to study Theology, Rhetoric and Values (economics). It is also host to a wide variety of sport, including a very active hippodrome, gladiatorial arenas and prominent gambling houses. Several mercenaries company have their headquarters in Wessen, each with a favorable agreement with the Pârcălab to render aid to the town in times of need. Despite a reputation of the town guard enjoying the gambling halls more than their training, there is little overt crime in the town. Wessen is bisected by the Via Clodia north and south and the Trogesva Road actually starts in Wessen, leaving the town northwest before crossing the Temesh River at the Telmi Bridge and heading west to Kargonik in the Comitat of Trogesva. The Pârcălab of Galorva, Marinko of House Zabšinac, is the younger brother of the Voievod Cyril and is as famous throughout Dracia for his tactical acumen as the elder Zabšinac is known for his strategic ability.
Aside from Wessen and Zabshoga, there are four towns that dominate Galorva’s tradeways: Magopolje, Medalam, Szabad and Jajva.
Magopolje, seat of the Banat of Magovria, lies just upriver to the east of Zabshoba. Magopolje is known as a thriving, chaotic town with maze-like streets and lavish temples to Minos, Pavor and Furinus. The Bȃn of Magovria is held by Žiga of House Zabšinac, the eldest son of the Voievod Cyril (it is traditional for the eldest son of the Voievod to hold this seat). Žiga is known to be a heavy drinker and more interested in sport and celebration than oversight of his Banat. He’s also gained some reputation in the Hippodrome of Wessen as a charioteer, winning laurels regularly. Most of the nobility of Inalt Antova are dreading Žiga’s ascension to the Vojvodina and he has already escaped no less than five assassination attempts, one of which took the life of his young wife, Nina of House Tyšorov, about a year ago.
Medalam lies in the Vale of the Kings astride the Via Clodia as it departs Dracia northward into Mabagne and the Boljovan Road as it arrives from the western reaches of the Vojvodina. It is the first major stop for goods coming into Dracia and the last major stop before goods depart the Kingdom; the watchfulness of the customs bureaucrats here are only matched by the watchfulness of the Guard, which once included a contingent of the Queen’s own Ivory Guard. Though technically the seat of the Bȃn Konrád of House Vãduva, the Bȃn Konrád went into voluntary exile when the Voievod declared open rebellion against the Dracian Queen. The town is overseen by Reeve Simon Bozhidarov as the Bȃn’s regent during the duration of the Dracian Civil War.
The town of Szabad, seat of the Banat of Szabada, lies along the Via Clodia between the bustling crossroad at Medalam and the Seat of the Comitat in Wessen. In contrast to the careful organization of Medalam to the north, Szabad is a confusing heap of winding roads and narrow alleys, made even more chaotic by the regular herds of cattle ushered into the town from the countryside for sale at the Szabad Markets. It is also known throughout northern Dracia for the Szabada Warhorse, a short but very sturdy and steady breed of warhorse trained at stables just east of the town. Szabad is ruled by Bȃn Viktor of House Zabšinac, the eldest son and heir of Marinko of House Zabšinac, Pârcălab of Galorva. Viktor is known to be a deeply ethical man who broke with the Church of Minos in his youth and rededicated to Lord Ptharos, though he takes no recourse to curb the power of Minos in his Banat. Because of his convictions and ethics, Viktor is seen as a bit foolish my his Dracian colleagues and subjects, though most show deep respect in his presence and know well that any deal they enter with him, he will see through to the end.
Jajva, just north of Zabshoga on the Hráh river, is the heart of the ore trade in Galorva, with miners coming down from the northern reaches of the Antasian Mountains in the east of the Comitat to sell their wares to the blacksmiths, brownsmiths and, in particular, the greensmiths of the town. Its markets are known for being well stocked with a variety of goods, even in the off-seasons, but its merchants have a reputation for being particularly corrupt, eager to take advantage of their less-educated kin from the mountains coming to sell off their haul. It is perhaps not coincidence that it is also home to the Prismatic Towers, one of the central guild halls of the Fellowship of the Golden Quill in northern Dracia. Bȃn Nikifor of House Zabšinac, a cousin of the Voievod, rules the town, which is the seat of the Banat of Jajvra. Nikifor is extraordinarily wealthy for a man of his station, but this is perhaps more remarkable because he is a devout and evangelical worshiper of Kratos Steelhand, the God of War. He’s often found at his cousin the Voievod’s side during times of war to offer tactical and strategic advice while cajoling the stoic Lord High Marshal to rededicate himself to the Steelhand. Despite his friendship with his cousin, Nikifor also has a reputation for being independent, sometimes just bordering on this side of insubordinate.
Galorva is littered with fortifications and castles of various significance, but the Two Kings themselves, Pevnost Silnýkrál' (Fortress of the Strong King) and Pevnost Starýkrál' (Fortress of the Old King) are easily the most significant fortifications in Dracia, if not the most significant fortifications on the continent of Aurea. The Two Kings are two monumental statues carved from the cliff face of mountains that rise from two separate mountain ranges, the Antasian Mountains and the Challieann Mountains. Stories about who constructed these two monuments conflict, but it is generally assumed they were built well before humans settled in the area and perhaps represent two giant kings, the names of which have been lost to time. The Two Kings guard the only pass into northern Dracia and, during the latter part of the Third Age of Man, served as the unassailable northern border of the Great Empire for much of its existence. The Two Kings are commanded by the brothers of Voievod Cyril XIV, Domn Ožbej (of Silnýkráľ to the southeast) and Domn Vratisav, Champion of Minos (of Starýkráľ to the northwest).
Other significant castles in the region include Vár Mladýprinc (Castle of the Young Prince) the primary supply storehouse for the Two Kings high in the Challieann Mountains behind Pevnost Starýkrál'; Vár Szabada that serves as the main barracks for the Voievod’s legendary cavalry, the Order of the White Eagle; and Věž Vinohrad, the keep of Bȃn Mateja of House Zabšinac, the Pârcălab’s Warden and the Commander of the Voievod’s rangers when he takes the field.
The Comitat has several significant religious settlements, including the Opátstva Čierne Kladivá (Abbey of the Black Hammer), a chapterhouse for the Order of the Black Hammer, Champions of Baelthor Stonehands; the Kovárna of War (Smithy of War), a smithy dedicated to Kratos Steelhand; and the Kapitula of the Golden Order, an Abbey of Knights and Champions of Minos the Cockerel in the mountains near the Old King.
Personalities
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