Freya

Elf Female

Not affiliated with an Alliance

History of the raven's folk

For the Ravensfolk the journey to the Broken Lands proved an arduous task. Even with good summer weather many hundreds of those travelling in Lord Ravenspire's caravans perished during the long journey from Elgea. Only a small handful of folk able to travel with the Lord Wrenshearth and his fey transportation spell escaped that nightmarish journey across the Bitter Sea.

Worse was to come, as the folk's initial settlements along the west coast of mainland Westmarch became a point of dispute with the nearby Spartan Corporation. The four Lords of the Ravensfolk drafted plans to leave Westmarch. A remote river on the other major continent of the Broken Lands would, it was hoped, be suitable for settlement. The hardy engineers of Lord Dunnockburn were the first to leave, with plans to prepare for future waves of colonists. However, the political situation in Westmarch changed after Lord Dunnockburn left and agreement was reached between Lady Ellania and the last Pandalorian. This agreement provided safe habour for the Ravensfolk on the island off the coast of mainland Westmarch, an island that the Ravensfolk would come to know as Bleaktalon Isle.

The Great Exodus

With the door open to settlement, and ever eager to impress, Lord Crowskeep established the new town of Heronsbridge on the northeast coast - appointing one of his nephews as Baron. Lord Crowskeep sought to clear space in the rich hunting grounds on the small northern plain for him and his people, but this proved more difficult than anticipated. He and his people remained encamped in temporary fortifications until a more permanent defensible location was established. 

Lord Ravenspire directed Baron Goldcrestbluff to establish a foothold on the southeast peninsula, with Baron Kingfishersbrook following shortly thereafter. Lord Ravenspire joined both of his Barons towards the end of the Great Exodus cementing his control over the vast plain across the south of the island. 

Lord Dunnockburn returned, setting up crafting sites and hunting lodges across the wild forests along the east coast and further inland.

Lord Wrenshearth staked out a small territory along the west coast to serve as the hearthsland of the folk, supporting their relocation across the island with small magics and many trade caravans.

Growth

Lord Wrenshearth spent many long nights pouring over scrolls, spy reports, and long-forgotten tales to uncover the secrets of the Order of Allembine, and was the first to implement their teachings improving scholarly work across the island, setting the stage of future expansion. And, in time, the raven's folk recovered from their long journeys and existing settlements flourished. New settlements were founded: Shearwatermeadows nestled deep in the heart of the great northern forest, Ternmoor in the southern plain overlooking Gryphon Point, and Rustlewingbog in the foggy lowlands deep in the interior of the isle.

Stability

With great effort the island had been slowly settled by the Ravensfolk. Protected by treacherous shoals on the shallow sea route between it and mainland Westmarch the isle was the preserve of the Ravensfolk by the early summer of 2026. A chilly and bleak land, split in part by a large forest across the centre of the island, it was nevertheless a welcome home to the Ravensfolk. Politically it was divided into four lordships.

The four Lords of the Ravensfolk and their domains

• Lord Wrenshearth, an elderly and reclusive figure focused on magic and trade, with a penchant for acquiring all things fey. Serving as the cultural and spiritual centre of the folk Lord Wrenshearth commands the smallest domain, but perhaps the most influential. The settlement of Rustlewingbog developed initially as a barracks for Wrenshearth's defensive forces before becoming a township in its own right.
• Lord Ravenspire, a bold and ambitious - if somewhat unimaginative - professional soldier, commanding some of the finest well-drilled cavalry in all of Westmarch. The largest and most populous domain, consisting of the townships of Ravenspire, Goldcrestbluff, Kingfishersbrook, and Ternmoor, Lord Ravenspire commands the most of the economic and military might of the Ravensfolk.
• Lord Dunnockburn, a pragmatic and unassuming engineer focused on weapons development but wont to bouts of hot-headed outbursts. Although nearly as large as Lord Ravenspire's domain, Lord Dunnockburn holds only two cities with most of the population clustered in the capital around Lord Dunnockburn's unversities and libraries and only the township of Shearwatermeadows claiming any real sway over the great swathes of forest that dominate the central part of the isle.
• Lord Crowskeep, a brash and reckless young lord keen to make a name for himself, constantly competing with Ravenspire and Dunnockburn as a soldier and hunter. His domain is split between Crowskeep and Heronsbridge almost evenly, divided by the large central forest. Despite this, monsters and beasts appear to congregate most near his capital drawing the most adventerous souls amongst the Ravensfolk.