THE FOUR DUCHIES : GORVANON
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4-b/THE DUCHY OF GORVANON
If MORANON is the richest Duchy because of its trade, MORANON is the richest because of its own production. With two lakes and many fertile lands, Gorvanon is a nice place to live with plenty of food for its population.
Its northern Border is the Emin Tarab, home of the Dwarf kingdom of Kuzdalitar. The moutain range is guarded by fortresses sitting on high ridges and overlooking the plains below and the paths, to protect from any attack from ARGOLATH. For this reason also, the duke of Moranon maintains peace with the dwarves because in case of invasion from Argolath they would be the first to be hit and their help would be invaluable to defend the Duchy.
The Eastern border, with the Duchy of Norlamon reaches from the Emin Tarab and goes through the forest of Nestadron to the ASYR lake.
Because of their trade with Dwarves (bringing more fortune to the Duchy) its inhabitants are often despised by the southern Duchies as non-human friends.
Attempts have been made by the neighbors to stop Gorvanon from dealing with the Dwarves, and mainly by Norlamon who resents having a mysterious Elven colony on its territory, a colony with which they have absolutely no dealing.
The capital of Gorvanon is the big rural city of Gorvil (30000 people), a wide gathering of low buildings where trade is conducted from all parts of the Duchy and with the dwarves of the north. Far from being as beautiful as Dolvir, it is a quiet countryside town, overlooked by the castle of the Duke, TIMON IV.
Gorvanon doesn't seem to have the same passion for architecture and displays of power than Moranon. The cities are less elegant, the castles more functional. The population is also much more spread across numerous villages and small keeps.
The two other main cities in the Duchy are THALVIR, controlling the great ELIBOR lake, and LABRON, on the ASYR lake, the only city to look more like a Moranon city, making its inhabitants quite snobbish and despising their countryside brothers from the rest of the Duchy.
In the Hills at the northwest of ARAD LUNON lies the city of Abilar, a small town famous all over the enclave for its wine.
BELLIAC is a city fortress on the border with Norlamon. It is one of the few "hot" places in the Enclave, because of the enmity between Gorvanon and Norlamon.
Facing KARDELLE on the ARIOS river is the city of COUZAC, contrasting with Kardelle with its simplicity, but in fact easily defended with its straight streets centered around a not very pretty but strong fortress. Couzac is a major trading point, where business is conducted directly with Moranon, but also where boats leave for the ASYR lake and further down, the city of ARGYL. There is no tax on the Arios river because of an agreement between Gorvanon and Moranon to split the navigation and keep it free. This is not the case of course when boats leave Labron and enter the Lyros river. Since they cross Moranon, they have to pay taxes accroding to their cargo.
People of Gorvanon are quiet, mainly peasants. They enjoy a comfortable and rich life and therefore it is a duchy with very few revolts or troubles in general. They don't look for war, practice their religion in a moderate way and seldom travel as they consider there is no better place to live than the one they are in. They are looked down upon by the more citylike and culturaly elaborated people of Moranon, by the scheming people of Ballar and the warlike people of Norlamon. But they are no cowards and can be extremely tough to protect what they have and guarantee their peace of life. They live under the permanent threat of an invasion from Argolath (Although none ever happened) and therefore keep excellent relations with the Dwarves of Kuzdalitar who are their advanced guard. They know that nothing come for free and are usually benevolent, amiable and pragmatic.
Production from Gorvanon includes fish, wool, dairy products, fruits, cider, wine, oats, corn, wheat, sunflowers, vegetables, meat, (cow, goats, sheeps, pigs), iron gold silver and copper, manufactured products and metal craft from the dwarven kingdom. Gorvanon is also famous for the Sturgeon eggs coming from the city of Thalvir, a delicacy that is exported in the whole world.
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