Ynnraile

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Ynnraile
Ynnraileflag.gif

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Feudal Status: Barony
Capital: Avakair
Largest Cities: Avakair

Local Leadership Title: The Baron
Local Government: Feudal
Current leader: None

Local language: English
Local Religion: Traditional, Cedrism

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The Flag of the {{{nameofbarony}}}


Baron: {{{nameofbaron}}}
Date of Succession: {{{dateofsuccession}}}
Duchy: Brookshire
Counties: Syrelwynn, Holwinn, Goldendown, Asantelian
Capital: {{{capital}}}

Ynnraile was the Barony of Yvain Wintersong. It features traditional Goldshire culture, with a Celtic/Arthurian theme and a fondness for puns.

History

In real history, Ynnraile was originally the northern part of the Duchy of Goldshire, and was never developed in any meaningful way before November 2007. According to some histories, Duke Zarathustra Erutirn had his Italian-themed County of Lombardia in the area with an elite fighting force called Florenets. However, the area's modern history begins with the ascension of Yvain Wintersong to the County of Syrelwynn. A few days later, he was promoted to Baron of Ynnraile. So far he has not made any Baronial decrees or specified the system of government, preferring to first work out the area's culture.

In fictional history, Ynnraile was originally inhabited by a kingdom of peaceful farmers. After its invasion by a series of foreign invaders, it was unified first by the half-fey queen Moraquine and later by the part-fey noble Tristram Wintersong into a political entity. Tristram spent his life defending the area from Brookshire and other invaders; despite a very successful and heroic career, it eventually was annexed by Shireroth and became part of Goldshire. Originally ruled directly from Goldshire Hamlet, power was later devolved to the first Baroness, Gwynnlir Wintersong, whose capital was Wintersong Keep, later known as Syrelwynn. The capital was later moved to the large city of Avakair.

More complete information about Ynnraile history can be found in the following stories:

The Five Woes of Ynnraile, Parts I-III

The Five Woes of Ynnraile, Part IV

The Five Woes of Ynnraile, Part V

Geography

The name Ynnraile means "Mountain-fringe", and this is an accurate depiction of the region. Most of the center of the Barony is occupied by high hills and mountains, with the only well-settled areas being the banks of the Elwynn to the south and the seacoasts to the north (one exception to this is the small Quinewinn Valley in Syrelwynn). In general, the banks of the Elwynn tend to have a culture very similar to that of southern Brookshire, Shirekeep, and the country in general, while the areas to the north of the mountains are more traditional and Goldshirean. The mountains themselves, which are populated by a few small farming villages, are extremely traditional, and there is a popular belief that in the deepest parts of the mountains live people who don't even know they are under Shirerothian rule, despite the area being conquered several millennia ago.

A few valleys in the mountains contain large cities; the Holwinn Valley contains the city of Demonsfall, historically important as the site of the last battle against the demon Rrakanychan. The Diarmacha valley contains the city of Diarsanta as well as other towns that hold the majority of the Goldendown population. These valleys are also important as key links in a network of passes that allow a few roads (and one railroad) to cross the mountains; travellers to Shirekeep, however, still find it easier to take a longer route that goes through the flatter area of Ran.

Economy

This area was once full of gold mines; these have long since been mined out, and all that remains of their bounty is the occasional sparkle of gold in the area's rivers. Although the mountains still provide a useful quarry for granite and marble, most economic activity is now in the form of farming. Popular crops include wheat, apples, and grapes (Ynnraile wine is said to be some of the best in the world). Many people also raise cows, sheep, or horses in the hillier areas, and Ynnraile is a center of horsemanship both useful and recreational.

A few of the coastal cities are shipbuilding centers, especially Syrelwynn and especially especially Avakair. These also serve as trade ports connecting Benacia with Hyperborea, Monovia, and Adraisia. Unfortunately, transportation barriers make it more efficient for most of Shireroth to ship goods out of Musica; however, Ynnraile gets some commerce from the rest of Goldshire and from Eliria and north Elwynn. Ynnraile is also a popular tourism destination for its forested hills, its famous wineries, and its horses, and some tourist cruises stop in Avakair.

The Barony is somewhat poor compared to other regions of Shireroth, but because of its rural setting and the low cost of living, few people actually live in poverty.