freeholds of the dunes

The city of Tzo'ar is surrounded on all sides by untamed wilderness of varying terrain. Wholistic regional control of the Emerald Basin and surrounding Dromad Dunes has been non-existent since the fall of the Ancients.

strongholds

In these days of the yawning sun the region is dotted with strongholds of varying type each being the hold to a fort of outlaws, revered priestly orders, druidic cults, thegn's bastion, wizard's dark tower, isolated monastery, or lordly castle.

strongholds of law

Lawful castellans (who may go by a plethora of various titles) will maintain the lands surrounding their holding providing services such as road maintenance, military patrols, and monster extermination. A lawful castellan will generally have several small villages (2-8) constructed within their sphere of influence. These small villages will pay fealty to the castellan in exchange for the ability to live within his protected and maintained lands.

strongholds of chaos

Chaotic castellans generally attract beings of chaotic disposition to their lands and are generally devoid of settlements due to the mistreatment of surrounding populace. A chaotic holding may actively seek to ensorcel the surrounding wilderness with rough terrain, entice deadly monsters to roam their lands, and establish chaotic settlements of orcs, goblins, and other wicked creatures of chaos. Other chaotic holdings may be completely isolated seeking to be hidden in plain sight or on the edges of the known region where they can practice wicked rituals without interruption.

laws, taxes, and customs of a freehold

Many freeholds have been in power since the early days of the fall of the Ancients. These regions have become well established with distinct laws and customs. Entering an unfamiliar freehold should be done cautiously by travelers as a violation of unknown laws may not be a valid excuse to avoid fines, imprisonment, or other punishment by the castellan. When traveling overland through a freehold, many explorers will employ a local at first contact to help introduce them to the freehold's taxes, customs, laws.

trespassing

Despite the varying customs of freeholds, one near universal practice of the strongholds is the expectation of visitation of the castellan upon entry into their lands, even if just passing through. Small groups of 1-10 are often able to slip through a freeholding without notice. Large traveling groups are relatively uncommon and may be pursued for forceable questioning (alignment tests) and to collect a toll to pass across the lands. Travelers of opposite alignment are often executed.

"Our passage to the north of Limne lead us to the ruins of a forgotten dwarven stronghold. A small village was once established at the base of the crooked rocks that lead up to the double door entrance. The dwarves among our hired hands spoke amongst themselves in their own tongue never raising their voices above hushed tones." -- Excerpts from 'A Collection of Strongholds, Known and Unknown', in the Scripta Rota.

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