The Barony of Wincor

The Southern Barony is known affectionately by its residents as “The Oasis”. It may seem contradictory to call such an inhospitable place a refuge, but the inhabitants have a long and complicated history with the land. No more recently than half a millenia ago outsiders looked at the Southern Barony as a vast inhospitable wasteland and a disease ridden bog. No one wanted to live in such a challenging environment, and as such the land became overlooked and forgotten. This resulted in the wasteland and the bogs being viewed as a haven for desperate people. People who had been exiled from the other lands, people who had escaped persecution, the undesirables, and even people who were criminals all came here seeking solace. Because each and every one of these people had suffered hardship they bonded and were able to put aside their differences and became one people.    

For the Wasteland, the vast deserts in the center of Wincor this presented new problems, as the wasteland was unforgiving and ever present. Resources were scarce and life was physically and emotionally demanding. With every day a fight for survival and resources tight, it would have been easy for one person to survive at the expense of others – however the people had bonded over shared trauma and had established families. They would not abandon their own to the wasteland. Wasteland culture states that everyone works, everyone fights, everyone receives a fair portion. Everyone shares in their success and everyone is held accountable for their failings. In the wasteland success meant survival for the many while failure meant pain, suffering, and death. In order to survive, the wasteland the people focused on preserving the entire group instead of just the lone individual.  

For the Bog, the eastern penninsula of Wincor this presented a different set of concerns.  It is very easy to get lost or swept away by the “gulpers” in the bog. Family became very important as you needed someone to look out for you and literally pull you out of the muck. Surviving in such a wet and dangerous environment meant trusting the people around you. Bog culture became one in which everyone helps their neighbor, everyone receives a fair portion, and everyone is held accountable. In the bog, success can be overshadowed by disaster in an instant so it's best to spread your wealth out among your entire community, lest one lone individual lose it all.

The Mountains throughout Wincor are wondrous and strange. To the west the mountains have been civilized. Huge manors and villas have been carved into the mountains allowing a sense of peace and security unknown in the wasteland or the bogs. While to the East the Knuckle is mysterious and foreboding. Mountain culture is extremely superstitious and it is one where you revere your elders, show your intentions with hard work, and share in the glory and rewards that you reap. Western mountain culture is seen to be decadent by the other parts of the Barony, while those who live in the shadow of the Knuckle are treated with fear, awe, and respect.  

MACUNGEE

The Wincorian Capital

 

The Baronial Center of Wincor, Macungee is a large and prosperous town where people come to trade and exchange ideas. It is the center of power for the Barony and its oldest settlement, with a history that goes back centuries. We come from the Muck is a common saying that helps remind people where they come from.

Noteworthy Places

  • The Arena of Dust and Wind

    The coliseum where all tournaments are held., people gather year-round to train for the games and maintain this giant structure. Every five years the Order of Jirrah hosts the Iron Gauntlet here. It is such a grand spectacle that the population swells exponentially.

  • The Citadel

    A military center of training and learning, the town is run with precision as people are expected to be in the right place and the right time, all the time. Outsiders are hit with culture shock due to the rigid schedule imposed on the town. Bells sound for wake up, Bells sound for meals, Bells sound for bed; in the Citadel every aspect of one’s life is scheduled and regulated.

  • The Oubliette

    A menacing tower that stretches high into the sky, much mystery surrounds this area. Guards from the Order of Jirrah are posted here but swapped out for fresh troops frequently. The area has a sense of foreboding that one can never shake.

  • Zirconite Keep

    The wealthiest enclave in Chalameria, Zirconite Keep is where the Order of Gale shows prominence. Mountaintop villas and mansions dot this area surrounded by lakes and orchards. This is the premier banking and luxury center of the world, and attracts types from all over.

  • Baldassare

    The largest trading center in the wasteland and the original home of the Order of Jirrah, buildings in Baldassare are compact, efficient, yet colorful, as traders, artists, adventurers, scholars, and commoners all gather here to exchange ideas, merchandise, goods, and services. It is a place where people come to escape the harsh realities of the wasteland and is known for its legendary parties.

  • The Knuckle

    The mountain range that separates the bog from the wasteland, these peaks run directly along the Stillwater Channel and were previously coveted by Elion before they similarly relinquished their claim on the Stillwater for its proximity to the Dreamwood.

 

Wincorians of Note

Famous, infamous, noteworthy, or otherwise – these Wincorians are widely known throughout Chalameria for one reason or another, but note this is not an exhaustive list.

 

  • The current Baron of Wincor, he is a quiet spoken person and quite reserved. His temperament is one where he is just and fair and tries to weigh all sides of an issue before coming to a decision. He does share the legendary Sweeney temper when it comes to treason and necromancy and will enact a severe penalty if you go against the kingdom.

  • A legendary hobling who won the marathon to the end of the world 10 years in a row. He was not fast; he was just persistent and followed the inns and shops along the route until he reached the end. Rumor has it he did not even know the event was going on when he started he just signed up because it meant he could eat for free at all the shops and cafes in the Southern Barony. He has currently retired from the marathon and spends his days giving advice on travel, racing, and dining.

  • A legendary former leader of Jirrah, Iskandar was known for his charisma as much as he was his ruthlessness. Only a legendary hydra was able to curtail his ambition, and it was said his spirit was spread amongst the stars, never to know peace again. The constellation Iskandar can still be seen today.

 
 

Views on Other Cultures

  • On Maram

    The Capital City is looked at as a drab and joyless experience surrounded by bland and faceless bureaucrats. People who stem from the capital are looked at as honest but plain folk. You can trust a bureaucrat to follow the letter of the law but not to be very creative. However it is well known that you do not get into a drinking contest with a person from the capital, as you will lose. For most people who hail from Wincor, their idea of a personal hell is being transferred to Maram to endlessly shuffle paperwork back and forth between agencies.

  • On Elion

    People who hail from the Barony of Elion are viewed as “soft”. They are pompous and wealthy individuals that have never had to work in their life. They are largely looked at as people who were born to wealth and privilege and yet are still given celebrity status by the people of the Southern Barony. Nobles from the Barony of Elion are held in the highest regards, as are their squires.

  • On Laurentium

    People who hail from the Barony of Laurentium are viewed as kindred spirits, similar to cousins, and deeply loved by the Barony of Wincor. The level of inspiration and sheer brilliance that comes from the Barony of Laurentium is staggering. They are respected but also viewed as a little crazy. The people from Wincor love seeing the explosive magical effects Laurentians come up with.