Forguthrie
Forguthrie is a lush farming region with little else in the way of industry. Low flat plains ideal for planting and growing wheat steadily the further south you go. The southern end is dominated by scattered farmstead where shepherds take advantage of otherwise poor farming conditions to graze flocks in the lower foothills.
It would seem an idyllic farming paradise, save for the massive peaks of the Mountain of Woe looming menacingly to the south. Three towers, hewn from the same black mountainous rock that make up the highest peaks stand contrasting the small town and the green and yellow patchwork fields around them. The towers of the Bloodstars were erected here by a frosty eyed countess during the northern crisis of Sanguis Astroism, a tribute to the Alchemist Malleous and a testament to the fortitude of Forguthrie. The three towers serve as a stubborn counter to local tales of horror, of monsters that sometimes pour down from the mountains to capture and eat the few foolish enough to brave the southern hills at night, giving the hardy populace’s fortitude and enduring hope.
Even the area shepherds know to keep their flocks in and their fires dim in a hope whatever malice comes their way in the night passes them by. These fears and precautions over the years have led to a careful eye when strangers pass through, and under the right circumstances marvellous yarns. The people yearn for security but have had little fortune with the ability of occupying forces to protect Forguthrie from marauding undead and monsters. A candle may not be hidden under a bushel, nor a city on a hill, but a candle on the plains is a dangerous thing and better in your pocket.
Geography
An abandoned tower sits in the southwestern forest where an alchemist by the name of Malleous did research. A follower of the Bloodstars, he has researched how to make red glowing lights.
Three Mysterious Towers face the highest peaks of the Mountain of Woe. They have glass stars in the shape of the Bloodstars on top. Connected together by stone bridges. An Astrumese countess built them and poured the alchemical substance concocted by Malleous into the glass stars. It is said the substance captured the light of the Lightbringer and then started glowing red like the Bloodstars, after which it warded off monsters and undead. When war broke out between Niselur and Astrum, Forguthrie was abandoned and the towers wre no longer maintained – losing their glow and function.
Forguthrie is centered around the Guther. This creek starts at the Mountain of Woe and then flows towards the north to Jorradith. Following this creek, one will first pass the Bloodstar Towers. Then the Raphinborg (home to the senators of the Second Westgardian Period), Forguther (capital village), Sandrich and Brynguther.
To the east is the Lytze, which flows north and then becomes the border between Foruthrie and Zereth. A major village along this creek is the Litham. Across the creek is the land of Wesquery. In this area mining operations are performed.
Native Plants and Animals
The Forguthrian plains are home to birds and small critters. The largest animals to be found there are sheep. Closer to the mountains the sheep get company from wild goats and – if they are unlucky – larger creatures.
The northern forest is rich of birch trees and is therefore named the White Forest. It houses deer and wild boar. The southwestern forest is an evergreen forest, consisting of mainly blue spruces, earning it the name the Blue Forest. It is home to elk.
Economy
A trade route from Gaston to Sabadell runs through Forguther and Litham. Other major roads are the road from Litham to Aquitain and the road from Forguther to Jorradith and Gaston to Zereth, which cross at Brynguther.
Most of Forguthrie’s own economy depends on the wheat farmers in the plains and the shepherds near the mountains, which sustain the textile industry in Forguther. Mining operations in Wesquery are small and contribute but a little.
People
The people in Forguthrie live in sod houses. This is not so much due to there poverty as it is a way to survive: the houses are invisible in the landscape and Forguthrians claim there families even lived through the Great Monster Invasion. Although every now and then a monster discovers the entrance to these houses, in general the sod houses prove effective and make the Forguthrians very distrusting to anyone claiming effectiveness of other methods.
Senators from the First Westgardian Period were not allowed to build a keep, but had to live in a (albeit larger) sod house as well. When Meginhard Brennaborg insisted on building a keep, he had to build it at a proper distance south of Forguther so it would not attract monsters to the place.
History
Astrumese Period (2010-2013)
Although Everguard had united the regions east of Forguthrie, their focus was to the south. Therefore Forguthrie was left empty during the initial colonization of the western isle. Likewise, when Astrum defeated Everguard, they initially showed no interest in this region. This changed, however, in February 2010, when old Niselur (around Darfix) was destroyed by a monster invasion and refugees came to Astrum, hoping to restore their claims. They extended the Astrumese borders to Gaston, incorporating Forguthrie in the process and forming a new duchy: Iashalur.
When Astrum had to focus its energy on fighting Caerwyn and Averoth, the lands northwest were neglected and Iashalur was able to operate more and more independent of its mother realm. In December 2011 it declared its independence and started its westward expansion. Astrum accepted this independence in exchange for Forguthrie. Although this initially gained Astrum a faithful ally, it proved disastrous when an uprising ended the theocratic government of Iashalur. The former duchy retook the name of Niselur and attacked Astrum in July 2013. The war brought destruction to both realms and in September 2013 Forguthrie was abandoned.
First Westgardian Period (2016-2020)
During Westgard's second expansion (May - November 2016) it focussed on the regions bordering the mountains, which were Forguthrie, Shrine of Seeklander and Duil. When this plan failed, Westgard attempted the Great Rush West. The near destruction which followed, caused Westgard to fall back upon less unorthodox plans and Forguthrie and Shrine of Seeklander were seen as requirements to control the Mountain of Woe. (April 2017 - July 2018)
Even though after October 2018 attempts were made to expand towards the Mountain of Woe and Gaston, Westgard put its focus to the south, were it clashed with Tol Goldora. The war started well for Westgard and Westgard decided to expand towards Gaston. But as the war went bad, Westgard lost its hold on the northern provinces and was only able to hold Forguthrie during May of 2019. When peace was made, Westgard could again expand to Forguthrie in May 2020 until November 2020 when discontent nobility decided to join the Geat Western Migration of Avernus towards Darfix.
Second Westgardian Period (2022-present)
- Meginhard Brennaborg (2022-11-29 to 2023-05-06). The death of the infamous Seifer Tideweaver saw a huge morale boost in Westgard, allowing the realm to expand its borders. Senator Meginhard of Sabadell ventured into Forguthrie in order to secure the food supply in Gaston Farms. When the realm expanded to Libidizedd, Meginhard was awarded the Shrine of Seeklander. Meginhard was afterwards rarely seen in the region, so during the Astrumese Succession War the people declared their independence.