Winter Duchy

❄️ Architecture

Buildings in small villages are made in the style of wooden log cabins. Buildings in larger towns are stone and wood in the style of traditional Bavarian, multi-story buildings.

The Winter Court in the City of Orbost is defined by its traditional Russian architecture - Byzantine inspired onion domes, ornate carvings, lace ironwork, and colourful facades. 

The Orbost Cathedral is also inspired by Russian architecture with ornate stained glass on the inside. It is dimly lit with candles and has depictings of Rhiannon, Morrigan, the Red Evergreen tree and other winter magic and fae in stained glass and painting.

❄️ Clothing

Even Fae are not immune to the freezing temperatures of the Northmost Duchy. Animal furs, wool, fur lined cloaks and thick boots are necessary to stay warm. Inside, you may see traditional Russian style outfits consisting of pinafores, head scarves, and blouses.

❄️ Races

Playable Races: High Fae, Sprites (nut type), Selkies, Dryads, Stonefolk, Critters, Wildlings, Fairies. 

• High Fae — uncommon, the only high Fae in this frosty land are the Winter Court Duke and Duchess, and some of the Winter Court and university members.

• Sprites — uncommon but some nut types live here.

• Selkies — Common. way out by the peninsula.

• Dryads — Common. This is a heavily forested Duchy so there are some.

• Stonefolk — common. They aren’t bothered by the cold. This Duchy has many mines and caverns.

• Critters — common. This Duchy suits their thick coats well.

• Wildlings — common. This Duchy suits their thick coats well.

• Fishfolk — Some ice fishfolk live off the coast in the deep water.

• Fairies — Uncommon.

• Arachnus — none.

• Non-playable races — brownies, gnomes and trolls are common. Banshees and ice nymphs have been seen.

❄️ Wildlife

Arctic wolves, harp seals, snow leopards, arctic foxes, arctic musk ox, snowy owls, penguins, polar bears, lynxes, arctic hares, walruses, moose, reindeer.

❄️ Travel

Citizens travel via reindeer sleigh, moose mounts, dog sleds, mammoth drawn sleighs, polar bear mounts.

❄️ Industry

• Forestry

• Mining

• Healthcare

❄️ Important Figures

• Sifur – High Fae Duchess of the Winter Duchy, and ruler of the Winter Court. Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) type.

• Balan - High Fae Consort to the Duchess. Cyclamen (Cyclamen alpinum) type.

• Frostguard – The Winter Court Knights

❄️ Locations

• Orbost — Capital City and home of the Winter Court. High up in the mountains with the city built on the side of the mountain around it.

  • The University of Orbost — A prestigious University that offers many classes but specializes in Astronomy.

  • The Orbost Hospital — A large hospital where skilled Healers work.

  • Orbost Cathedral — Majestic cathedral where Rhiannon and Morrigan are worshiped.

  • Orbost Station — Home of a revolutionary invention - a magic steam light rail/tram that travels around the city.

  • The Red Evergreen — Sacred tree revered in the Winter Duchy. Extremely powerful and has various magical effects on those who touch it (some fatal - so it is guarded at all times by Frostguard).

• Rostovets — Selkie Camp. Not too difficult to get to as there is a lonely small train stop nearby on the other side of the mountains. 

• The Lighthouse — An ancient stone lighthouse that looks out across the Peninsula. It is said to be haunted. What is it watching for?

• Tyverov — A bustling cliffside town that has a booming fur trade. Popular with mercenaries and spies as its a bit of a rough town.

• Critter Woods — Relatively peaceful series of residential villages for winter type critters. They are friendly and happy to host fae travelling through this area to the larger cities.

• Bystrzyca — The town nearby the logging fields. Huge, busy and full of working class fae. Good taverns and hotels here.

  • Skaya: Logging Town — The temporary town where fae log huge trees. Rebel dryad groups often try to destroy the logging machinery here and interrupt logging activities.

• Lodzina — A heavily forested town known for its winter markets and ice sculpting tournaments. Attracts lots of tourists as it is on the train line and near the large town of Bystrzyca.

• Skul — A vast pine forest. 

  • Skul Ruins — Something magical seems to lie here. 

  • Vartivnyk — A small community of dryad from the forest that surveys the ruins. Exist to keep an eye on the magics and deter visitors from unwisely exploring the depths.

• Ivakhov — A small village in the snow plains south of Skul. Though a relatively simple village, it’s a stop on many people’s journeys should they pass through the unbeaten path. They specialize in hunting and animal husbandry as opposed to farming and do some logging as well.

• Smolenska — A large city on the banks of the lakes and fjords. Known for their ice fishing.

• Fjords — Magical fjords

• Grodnov — A research centre/town. The people here are interested in the crystal caverns in the lake below and come to study the cave and the ruins nearby. A very magical place.

• Opolska — A town built on the side of an icey mountain. The tower at the top is an arcane place to study, and there are flowers growing on the precipice that have incredible healing properties. 

• Kostomuk — A huge town, completely frozen over. It seems abandoned, but sometimes you can hear waltz music and laughing like a party is being held there... A large spirit of a polar bear guards the town and will attack trespassers.

• Petrovka — A remote town in amongst the icey mountains of the Winter duchy. The mountain valley pass to get to this town is nicknamed the Screaming Ravine because the wind rushing through the narrow pass sounds like high pitched shrieking. The people of this town are a bit suspicious. Lots of huntsmen here.

• Kaliszany — A large, bustling portside city with a famous toy shop and competitive ice sport tournaments.

• Tannengrad - Just off the train line on the way to Kaliszany is a small, cozy village lit up in the snow with countless Christmas lights and bedecked with ornaments. This joyful, bustling village known as Tannengrad is renowned for its toy shops and excellent Yule markets.

• Plockov — A lively town where they brew hot mead and cider and trade often with the Autumn Duchy.

• Novika — A humble but comfortable town with good shopping, especially tailors who specialise in making cold-resistant clothing and armour. Close to the Autumn Duchy so the cold isn't as harsh here - popular with tourists. Excellent taverns and hotels here.

  • Novika Train Station — A grand old train station built in partnership with the Autumn Court. The ticketmaster is a frost giant - one of the only ones left. He may seem intimidating, but he is a gentle giant and loves to help tourists find their way and get on the right train.

• Tundra — Lots of nomadic communities out on the tundra, moving around with the herds of reindeer.

• Krakorov — A mining and smithing town.

• Volosovo — Realm renowned for its amazing hot springs and views. There is a healing sanctuary here as well as a monastery high up on the mountain top that is a popular place for the most dedicated monks to train.

• Sierpnik — Selkie camp. Quite remote and hard to get to - only selkie and other hunstman can traverse the huge expanse of tundra and mountains without perishing.