Alisanos
The high duchies and dark uplands of Alisanos.
| Regional Information | |
|---|---|
| Population | 563,000 45% Humans |
| Capital | Inthiel |
| Government | Duchy Senate; Grand Chancellor Alria Goodstone |
| Major Religions | Gishra, Llir, Mala |
| Imports / Exports | Coal, copper, limestone, iron ore, salt, sandstone |
| Total Area | 2,475,000 sq. miles |
| Dimensions | Length: 1,500 miles Width: 1,650 miles |
| Elevation | Average: 10,250 feet Lowest: 9,475 feet |
| Known For | Duchies, Red Knights, Urag Crack, highlands, barrows, mines, border passes |
| Major Military | Red Knights |
Alisanos is one of the rugged northern realms of Ta Los, a highland nation divided into powerful duchies and governed through a Duchy Senate under the authority of Grand Chancellor Alria Goodstone. It is a land of harsh uplands, mines, old fortresses, deep cracks in the earth, haunted barrows, hard villages, and military tradition.
The region is known for its coal, copper, limestone, iron ore, salt, and sandstone, as well as for the Red Knights, whose legions defend the duchies against monsters, raiders, and threats from the wilder northern lands.
Alisanos is a place of old stone, cold air, hard soil, and fierce loyalties. Its duchies are not always friendly to one another, but they remain bound by tradition, law, the Duchy Senate, and a shared need to survive in one of the more dangerous regions of the Northern Realms.
Overview
Alisanos lies within the northern highlands, where great hills, cliffs, mountain passages, mines, and deep ravines shape the land. The realm is divided among twelve duchies, each with its own local ruler, traditions, resources, settlements, and military responsibilities.
The land is high, cold, and often unforgiving. Much of Alisanos rests above 9,000 feet in elevation, and its highest points climb beyond 16,000 feet. Settlements are usually built where water, stone, ore, or defensible ground make permanent life possible.
The realm is marked by several important geographic features, including the Urag Crack, the Khal Dhar Cliffs, the Greydawn Hills, and the Umber Passage. These features help define the duchies and their political importance.
Alisanos is both wealthy and threatened. Its mines and stone quarries bring great value, but many of these same regions are filled with tombs, barrows, old ruins, monsters, and routes into darker places beneath the world.
Inhabitants
Alisanos is home to a mixed population of humans, Fhen Khanur, Formorians, Ta’Jahu, and other peoples. Humans make up the largest portion of the population, though the Fhen Khanur presence is strong and influential, particularly in mining, stonework, trade, and military service.
Formorians and Ta’Jahu communities exist throughout the region, especially near trade roads, mining settlements, border towns, and duchies with strong connections to neighboring realms.
Most inhabitants of Alisanos are hardy, practical folk accustomed to difficult winters, poor roads, dangerous travel, and the constant need for self-defense. Many villages maintain local militias, watch patrols, and agreements with nearby Red Knight garrisons.
Languages
Common is the primary language of Alisanos and is used in law, trade, public declarations, and dealings between duchies.
Fak-Chun is also commonly heard due to the strong Fhen Khanur population. In regions with heavier Ta’Jahu influence, Cor Shan may be heard in markets and diplomatic settings. Local dialects vary sharply from duchy to duchy, especially in the more isolated towns near mines, cliffs, and hill country.
Life and Society
Life in Alisanos is shaped by duchy loyalty, hard work, military obligation, and practical survival. Most common folk are miners, farmers, quarry workers, smiths, hunters, herders, guards, traders, laborers, or craftspeople.
The duchies vary greatly in wealth and culture. Some, like Thule and Inthiel, are centers of trade, politics, or military authority. Others, such as Balish, struggle under poverty, hard land, raids, and monsters. Still others, such as Chuldorn and Jhale, carry darker reputations due to barrows, corrupt nobles, or oppressive rule.
The people of Alisanos are often suspicious of outsiders until trust is earned. Once that trust is established, they can become loyal, direct, and dependable allies.
The Duchies of Alisanos
The following are the twelve recognized duchies of Alisanos. Each duchy holds its own lands, settlements, ruler, responsibilities, and place within the Duchy Senate.
| Duchy | Ruler | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Inthiel | Grand Chancellor Alria Goodstone | Capital duchy, government center, 1st Legion of Red Knights |
| Lolar | Goblin King Ugtal Umarish | Dark ales, amber, sapphire mines |
| Mayneri | Duchy Lord Dath Rahmur | Khal Dhar Cliffs, Greydawn Hills, barrows, 4th Legion of Red Knights |
| Chuldorn | Duchy Lord Jhul Khru | Barrows, blue sandstone, semi-precious stones, Belgoure vampire clan |
| Khelmar | Senator Ana Zabru | Smallest duchy, Urag Crack expeditions |
| Ghon | Duchy Lord Malzin Thurl | Umber Passage, riders, western end of the Westering Road |
| Unther | Unknown | Villages, open farms, 3rd Legion of Red Knights |
| Balish | Oku Chieftain Gham Phak | Poor hard land, White Worm border, raids and monsters |
| Greyhome | Duchy Lord Quy Jhan | Myanothian approach, spiked berms facing the White Worm Plain |
| Khalesh | Madam Kinish Lhark | Second largest duchy, 2nd Legion of Red Knights |
| Thule | Duchy Lord Akira Luhkgem | Uleta and Benlhar rivers, trade, wealth |
| Jhale | Duchy Lord Belgar Eligan | Swamps, crevices, gemstones, internal corruption, rebels |
Inthiel
Inthiel is the largest duchy and the government center for all of Alisanos. It is named for the fortress city of Inthiel, which stands south of the Urag Crack and north of the ruins of Castle Du Mac.
The 1st Legion of Red Knights calls Inthiel home, making the duchy both a political and military center of the realm.
Lolar
Lolar sits north of the Urag Crack. It is well known for its dark ales, amber, and sapphire mines.
The duchy is ruled by the goblin king Ugtal Umarish, making it one of the more unusual political regions of Alisanos.
Mayneri
Mayneri sits along the Khal Dhar Cliffs and south of Chuldorn. Its lands include portions of the Greydawn Hills and the numerous barrows of the dead found there.
It is home to the 4th Legion of Red Knights and is ruled by Duchy Lord Dath Rahmur.
Chuldorn
Chuldorn is a hilly duchy known for its many barrows and mines that produce blue sandstone and semi-precious stones.
The duchy is ruled by the vladin vampire clan Belgoure. Its Duchy Lord is Jhul Khru.
Khelmar
Khelmar is the smallest of the duchies and sits southwest of the Urag Crack.
Many adventuring parties and explorers begin their journeys into the Crack and its depths from the few towns that sit on or near its edges. The duchy’s Senator is Ana Zabru.
Ghon
Ghon, called the Wall of Alisanos, sits along the eastern edge of the Bayreesh Mountains, where the mountain range falls off and opens into the Umber Passage.
The duchy is well known for its riders, who protect the pass. It is also home to the western end of the Westering Road. Duchy Lord Malzin Thurl hails from Ghon.
Unther
Unther is the third largest duchy and is known for having the largest number of villages in the Republic.
Unther is home to many open farms, with villages surrounded by fields and pasture. It is also home to the 3rd Legion of Red Knights.
Balish
Balish is a poor duchy. Much of its land is hard and difficult to work.
Its southern border lies along the edge of the White Worm Plain and the Blue Mountains, making it vulnerable to fir darrig raiding parties seeking slaves, as well as the horrific monsters of the plain.
Balish is ruled by the oku chieftain Gham Phak.
Greyhome
Greyhome, like its sister duchy Thule, is unique in its position. It is the first duchy that merchants, traders, and travelers encounter when coming from Myanothia.
Greyhome is also well known for the spiked berms that face the White Worm Plain. Its Duchy Lord is Quy Jhan.
Khalesh
Khalesh is the second largest duchy within Alisanos.
Along with Inthiel, it provides the largest number of eager volunteers for the Red Knights. It is home to the 2nd Legion of Red Knights.
Khalesh’s Duchy Lord is Madam Kinish Lhark.
Thule
Thule is only slightly larger than Khelmar but is one of the most important duchies in Alisanos.
With the twin rivers of Uleta and Benlhar, Thule is the most profitable of the duchies and serves as a major staging ground for trade throughout the realm by both road and river.
Akira Luhkgem is the current Duchy Lord.
Jhale
Jhale was once a region overrun with thick, harsh vegetation and swampland. It was also known for deep crevices and holes leading into Tav Aeduhn, as well as rare gemstones brought to the surface by early miners.
Of all the duchies, Jhale is infamous for internal corruption, the oppression of its citizens, and rebel movements that fight to overthrow the current Duchy Lord and Lord Commander.
The current Duchy Lord is Belgar Eligan.
Social Customs
Social customs in Alisanos vary by duchy, but most are shaped by military service, duchy loyalty, work, religion, and the dangers of the land.
Respect is usually shown to duchy lords, senators, Red Knight officers, and elders of old families. In mining regions, foremen and master stonecutters may receive similar respect.
Hospitality exists, but it is measured. Travelers are often expected to state their purpose clearly and avoid prying too deeply into local politics, mines, old ruins, or barrow sites.
Arts
The art of Alisanos is practical, somber, and often tied to stone, metal, and memory. Carved stone markers, fortress reliefs, heraldic shields, barrow stones, and military banners are common.
In wealthier duchies, especially Inthiel, Khalesh, and Thule, artists also produce tapestries, painted shields, carved wood panels, and decorative stonework. In poorer duchies, art is more often functional: carved tools, family stones, grave markers, and symbols painted on homes or gates.
Literature and Education
Education in Alisanos depends greatly on duchy wealth and access to towns, temples, military posts, or noble households.
Children of noble families, wealthy merchants, and military officers may learn reading, writing, history, law, tactics, heraldry, and trade accounting. Common folk are usually educated in practical skills: mining, farming, hunting, riding, weapon handling, local laws, and survival.
The Red Knights maintain their own military records, maps, reports, and tactical writings. These are among the more organized bodies of written knowledge in the realm.
Architecture
Alisanos architecture is dominated by stone, timber, iron, and practicality.
Fortress cities, mining towns, defensive villages, stone towers, and walled holdings are common. Buildings are often low, thick-walled, and built to resist cold, wind, raids, and monsters. In wealthier duchies, blue sandstone, limestone, and carved granite are used to show status and regional pride.
Settlements near the Urag Crack, the Greydawn Hills, or the White Worm Plain are usually more heavily fortified, with watchtowers, walls, berms, and underground shelters.
Lifestyles
Life in Alisanos is direct and demanding. Most people work hard from a young age and learn to defend themselves.
In farming duchies, life follows planting, harvest, livestock care, and local defense. In mining duchies, life follows shifts, ore movement, smithing, trade routes, and the dangers of cave-ins or underground creatures.
In the fortress and trade duchies, politics and commerce shape daily life. Merchants, soldiers, magistrates, caravan leaders, priests, and spies all move through the larger settlements.
Most Alisanos folk view comfort as temporary, honor as useful, and strength as necessary.
Kingdom Law and Government
Alisanos is governed by a Duchy Senate under Grand Chancellor Alria Goodstone. Each duchy holds representation in the broader government while maintaining local control over its own towns, villages, defenses, laws, and traditions.
The title and authority of each duchy ruler varies. Some are Duchy Lords, some senators, and some rulers whose authority comes from older arrangements, conquest, clan power, or military necessity.
The Duchy Senate exists to keep the duchies united, resolve disputes, coordinate military defense, regulate trade, and manage threats too large for a single duchy to face alone.
Law is strongest in Inthiel, Khalesh, Thule, and Ghon. It is weaker or more oppressive in places such as Jhale, Balish, and Chuldorn, where local threats, corruption, or strange rulers shape justice more than written codes.
Technology and Crafting
Alisanos is known for practical crafting tied to mines, stone, military equipment, and trade goods.
The realm produces coal, copper, limestone, iron ore, salt, and sandstone. These resources support smiths, builders, masons, armorers, weapon makers, and caravan companies throughout the duchies.
The Red Knights rely on Alisanos armorers and smiths for much of their equipment. Mining regions also produce specialized tools, reinforced carts, stone braces, and other equipment needed for dangerous underground work.
Religion
The major religions of Alisanos are Gishra, Llir, and Mala.
Gishra is honored by those who survive through the harsh land, farming, childbirth, wilderness, and the cycles of life and death. Llir is revered by travelers, storm-watchers, river folk, and those who fear the changing weather of the highlands. Mala is honored by warriors, avengers, soldiers, and those who believe battle and harsh necessity shape the world.
Many smaller shrines exist throughout the duchies, especially near roads, river crossings, barrows, and mining entrances.
Features and Important Sites
Urag Crack
The Urag Crack is one of the defining features of Alisanos. It splits portions of the realm and shapes the duchies around it, especially Inthiel, Lolar, and Khelmar.
Many explorers and adventurers begin expeditions into the Crack from Khelmar and nearby towns. The Crack is believed to descend into dangerous depths, old tunnels, monster lairs, and possibly passages toward Tav Aeduhn.
Khal Dhar Cliffs
The Khal Dhar Cliffs stand near Mayneri and form one of the more dramatic landscapes of the duchy.
The cliffs are associated with difficult travel, dangerous overlooks, hidden paths, and settlements that cling to harsh land.
Greydawn Hills
The Greydawn Hills are known for their numerous barrows and ancient dead. They are tied strongly to Mayneri and Chuldorn.
Many of the hills contain tombs, burial mounds, old stones, and places locals avoid after dark.
Umber Passage
The Umber Passage opens where the Bayreesh Mountains fall away near Ghon.
It is a strategically important passage watched by the riders of Ghon. Control of the passage is essential for trade, military movement, and protection from forces that might attempt to move into Alisanos through the eastern approaches.
Westering Road
The Westering Road has its western end in Ghon. It is one of the most important roads tied to Alisanos trade and travel.
The road connects the duchy to broader movement across the Northern Realms and makes Ghon a key defensive and commercial location.
Organizations
Red Knights
The Red Knights are the most important military order associated with Alisanos. Their legions are spread among several duchies and serve as defenders, soldiers, patrol forces, and symbols of duchy strength.
Known legions include:
| Legion | Duchy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Legion of Red Knights | Inthiel | Based in the capital duchy and tied to the fortress city of Inthiel. |
| 2nd Legion of Red Knights | Khalesh | Supported by one of the largest sources of volunteers in the realm. |
| 3rd Legion of Red Knights | Unther | Protects farm villages, open fields, and pasture lands. |
| 4th Legion of Red Knights | Mayneri | Watches the cliffs, hills, and barrow-haunted regions. |
Cities and Settlements
Inthiel City
| City Information | |
|---|---|
| Name | Inthiel |
| Type | Fortress city; capital |
| Region | Alisanos |
| Duchy | Inthiel |
| Government | Seat of the Duchy Senate and Grand Chancellor Alria Goodstone |
| Major Military | 1st Legion of Red Knights |
| Known For | Capital of Alisanos, fortress city, government center |
Inthiel is the capital and largest known government center of Alisanos. The city gives its name to the largest duchy and serves as the seat of the Duchy Senate.
It sits south of the Urag Crack and north of Castle Du Mac. The 1st Legion of Red Knights calls the city home, making Inthiel one of the most defended and politically important locations in the realm.
