Uppervia
Region description
Uppervia lies between the sea to the north and the mountains and the city of Via to the south. Its shores nondescript at best, for its beaches are mostly pebbly rather than fine grain sand, though the pebbles are bleached white by the salty waves. Towards the east and south, however, are plains and valleys lush and green. The abundant fields produce a great variety of vegetables and fruits; in particular, Uppervia boasts its citrus fruits and grapes, which are considered the best in the duchy. Roads from the northern city of Itau and the eastern city of the Golden Farrow cut through the region as they head south through Uppervia and the western cities. Wild horses are known to frequent the mountainside forests.
Estates and mansions
There are three premier estates in Uppervia, namely:
Puella Estate
Holding under its sway the western portion of Uppervia, the Puella Estate primarily focuses on the fishing trade. Its coastal settlements are managed by the Whitefort, a fortress-like edifice upon a platform of rock by the sea and the residence of its commanding knight. To the south, some hillside villages have carved the rock face in order to create arable terraces that produce vegetables of many kinds.
Puer Estate
The Puer Estate governs the eastern plains, and produces the famous grapes of Uppervia, among other fruits and vegetables. Its villages are more scattered throughout the estate, but its management originates from the High House, the villa set almost at the center of the estate. There are mines that tunnel through the southern mountain, abandoned after some futile attempts at mining produced no visible results.
Fortuna Estate
Between estates Puella and Puer is the Fortuna Estate, the smallest but undeniably rich in its own right: the roads pass through it, and its villages are primarily trade-oriented. Goods from the other two estates almost always pass through Fortuna to be sold to passing merchants. Fey Hold is a squat square fortress at the road fork, and its high arch gates are usually open to allow markets to flourish within and without.