The Duchy of Southroy (Gnomish: Hezoggdoum Ronroy) is a region in northern Lencenor, considered the crossroad between gnomish and Lorentish culture and influence. Southroy was established alongside the Kingdom of Iochand, under the gnomish dynasty of Tonks/Southroy, but ended up as a border march under the Kingdom of Lorent when Iochand fell. The name ‘Southroy’ comes from the gnomish name ‘Ronroy’, meaning “South of the River”.
History[]
Early History[]
The geographic region that would become Southroy was defined as the lands south of the Portroy and north of the Middanroy rivers, and west of the Redglade Forest. Many Lencori tribes would claim the region as their home, but following the Gnomish Hierarchy founding the trading post of Portnamm, two would gain the favour and become nominal subjects of the gnomes - the Abonni that called the lands south of the Portroy river their home, and a group of the Rouderni, who settled in the lands of southern Southroy and Clearshore following the ousting of other Lencori who were hostile with the gnomes and Abonni to the north.
The lands and tribes of Southroy would become de facto administered by the Gnomish Hierarchy as a part of the Portroy Province, the human-majority lands across the Westcoast that the Hierarchy held for trade. The Lencori of Southroy would strengthen their ties with the gnomes over centuries, and borders of Southroy would become more established. On the southern bank of the Portroy river, the gnomish settlement of Ronroy would be established as the Portroy Province administration centre of the lands south of the Portroy.
Kingdom of Iochand[]
The Kingdom of Iochand in 1263, with the lands of Southroy since the Era of Black Ice marked. Map by Rhó Lavelle
When the Hierarchy fell during the Dragonwake, the Creek Gnome diplomat Erna Tonks was instrumental in aiding her friend Fizwick Allspark, the governor of the Portroy Province, in reforming the province into a monarchy with Fizwick ruling as King of Iochand in 471. Erna was known for her role as official diplomat between Roynoms and established ties with the Lencori tribes, easing the transition. Fizwick would name Erna as Hezoggin - or Duchess - of Ronroy, ruling from the city of Ronroy and leading the two Graaffin representing each of the southern Lencori tribes as vassal subjects.
In the centuries following the transition into feudalism, Southroy saw little change until the Era of Black Ice. When the Reavers under Reaverking Askel assaulted the northern lands of Iochand, many of the soldiers of Southroy would be taken by the King to support the war in the north. Over time the numbers of those willing to join the army of the kingdom diminished, and with fears of further attacks from Reavers on other fronts, the crown’s forces would commission the Nimsnoms Theatre to develop a play to convince the people of Iochand to join the army. The Sildthol Seven would be released and prove both popular and effective, however Southroy would never face aggression from Reavers, with the lands of Clearshore being lost to the Lencori Kingdom of Enteben instead.
Southroy avoided focus during the War of the Sorcerer King, largely seen as an irrelevant passage between Portnamm and Deranne by the Castanorian armies. After The Landing, Southroy itself saw no further direct engagement with the war outside of serving Iochand. Alongside King Carwick, the house of Tonks would undergo Elvenisation under Mindi II, reaffirming it as the síl Southroy dynasty.
During the rule of Mindi II síl Southroy in the 11th century, The House of Southroy would face a rebellion by the human Graaffin nominally under her rule, aided by her rival in Portnamm. The House of Southroy would triumph over these rebellions, and would revoke vassalage from the rebellious Graaffin under her, establishing the absolutist Duchy of Southroy under Mindi’s rule.
Kingdom of Lorent[]
Following the Reverian invasion of Iochand in 1263 and the Sack of Iochand in 1264, the Kingdom of Iochand was effectively dissolved. Fearing incursions and even annexation from the Reverian armies, Duke Rando II síl Southroy pledged loyalty to King Laurens III of Lorent. This pledge was accepted, and when Portnamm cited the Portroy Agreement in requesting Lorent’s defence against Reveria, Lorent would ensure Reveria would halt any further conquests.
For over a century, Southroy benefited from a period of peace and reaped the benefits of long-term farming reforms, letting the duchy avoid most of the effects of the famines across Lencenor and the Small Country during the Lilac wars. This in turn led to many new people moving and settling in the countryside of Southroy, creating a Lencori mixing pot.
Southroy would face a sudden disaster in 1399, as the elven necromancer Alarawel the Shadow captured the city of Ronroy. A majority of the city would be killed and raised as undead under her control. Alarawel would be slain by an adventuring party from Portnamm, The Portroy Pentarchy, before she could push north into Portnamm. After the necromancer was killed, the soldiers of Lorent would be the ones to finish the job. Ronroy was determined to be too overwhelmed to be saved, and the Lorentish would burn and raze the city to kill all undead they could find, leaving Ronroy largely destroyed. The government of the duchy was relocated to the next largest settlement in the region, which would gain the name of Southroy.
Culture[]
The traditions of Southroy draw heavily from those of Iochand, with the more rural society of the south adapting to follow the spirit of Iochand. While the north would revere theatre and acting schools, Southroy would become popular for its travelling carnivals. Song, dance, entertainment and other festivities would be ever present wherever these carnivals went, and over time they would find their way outside of Southroy and would travel all around Western Cannor, becoming known as Iochander Carnivals.
Southroyers are often believed to be among the most reliable and loyal allies one can have, as long as they are treated well. Stemming from the dukes of Southroy never raising arms against their respective kings, the reliability of Southroyers has perpetuated over the centuries.