Soniele

Soniele is a highland province, a plateau between the moors of the Northbyrn valley and the lush forests of the Ruide valley. The upland forests vary somewhat in the types of trees that grow here, compared to the lower lands of Sidhuire or Ruidewash. While oaks, maples, and birches are still in great abundance, more pines, firs, and spruces grow in these woods. Even so the yellow birch is more common than the white birch, and the sugar maples grow here where they do not grow in the southern lands.

The people of Soniele represent a combination of Rjurik and Anuirean traits and lifeways. A curious blend of holidays, diet and clothing alerts the traveler that he is neither in Anuire nor Rjurik, at least not entirely. Among the Anuirean habits that prosper here is the settlement pattern. The few people in Soniele are townsfolk, not only for the benefits offered by large towns, but for defense as well, as the towns here are fortified against danger. The deeper forests of Soniele are almost empty of human settlements, particularly since several of the villages took to nomadic ways under the guidance of the Sons of Hjalsone. A few families of elves wander the forests, as do many goblin clans, particularly near the Grimpen Mire in the heart of the province.

The Sons of Hjalsone wander through the northern half of the forest and consider the forest sacred. Their newly nomadic ways are slowly starving their people however, for the Sons have yet to learn the age old wisdom of the Rjurik nomads and often hunt and forage an area to depletion before moving on, some of the nomads have begun to question their ways, and seek guidance from Rjurik traders and wandering druids, but Father Pais still holds an iron grip over most of his flock and more starve every winter.


The worship of Erik predominates with a strong reverence for Avani, his wife as well. The druids often employ such phrases as, "The Old Father of the Forests, warmed by His loving wife, has bestowed great bounty from the land." The patronage of the Count, Daeric Dhoesone (a follower of Avani) has been influential in bringing out her role in the Oaken Grove's teaching here. The Druid, Roger Callton even joined Count Daeric in a pilgrimage to Elinie to honor the Lady of Light in the great cathedral at Ansien.

The yuletide, the summer solstice and the day of enlightenment are all celebrated here with great enthusiasm. In most other respects, the druids' faith is as you might expect it in Mhoried or the towns of Stjordvik, focused on the great stone circles just outside the towns. The druids here work closely with the Count to insure that the forests are protected and not abused by the guilds and their rapacious foresters. In response to the rising power of the guild]s, the Count has recently tightened his control over the forests and given management of them to his Warden, Snorri Rosling, a ranger. However, the guilds have a friend in High Judge Gaerith Evaerlin, who is the brother-in-law of Gaelin Thuried.

Even so, Gaelin and his Upper Anuire Traders tread lightly here to retain the good graces of the count, who successfully contested the holdings of the Northlands Exchange and threw them out of the province. The Upper Anuire Traders do no forestry here, this being controlled by the Count, but does mill the wood and tend to the carpenter's guild here. Otherwise the guild mostly imports craft goods from Nolien and exports maple syrup, an important industry in Soniele.

The Count himself is the son of Aartric Dhoesone, the old baron's older son who accepted the county of Soniele in exchange for relinquishing his claims to the barony when Fhiele Dhoesone, Aartric's sister, announced she was returning to reclaim her birthright with the support of Tuarhievel. He's very much a traditional Anuirean aristocrat, with a strong ethic of service to his people, duty to his office and stewardship of his holdings. Daeric often makes the journey to Sonnelind to advise his aunt, the Baroness, and to supervise the establishment of the College of Dhoesone, which Daeric has undertaken as Court Academician of Dhoesone.

Daeric Dhoesone is count of the province, lord of Rotherham, court mage and famed for hosting the greatest hunts of all Dhoesone.

Richard Evaerlin is the Lord of Evearlin. His brother, Gaerith Evaerlin is High Judge of Soniele.