Cinnamon Valley
Cinnamon Valley is a richly soiled area with a split population. First, there are the Hill People, who farm the land. Second, the the towns of the area are populated mostly by Hmanas, with a sprinkling of other invading races. These peoples existed in harmony with the Hill People, celebrating their coexistence yearly at the Festival of the Magpie, until the Jarl came.
Before the Jarl
The Cinnamon Valley was a fertile place, blessed by the gods with the Volcano Glitterox and many geysers and numerous lava pools. Glitterox erupted annually in a spectacular fashion on the winter equinox, enriching the soil. The volcano sent up sparks that resembled firecrackers exploding at great height. Some of these "sparks" actually landed in various places across the valley. Where a spark landed, a Glittermint Tree grew in the spring, a gift of health and goodness from Alemi.
Another sacred landmark in the valley was Magpie Lake and Magpie Falls. The lake had some of the purest water in The Wold. "Cleansed by Alemi," these waters helped the folk of the area to remain healthy and able to work until the day they died.
Throughout the valley, there were always some people -- more often, Hill People -- who were blessed with talents, with unusual powers. Some said that Alemi used the sacred waters of Magpie Lake to bestow these liberal gifts, used for the good of all. Others said that certain beings, called The Sisters, watched over Cinnamon Valley and blessed those with talents.
Cinnamon Valley lies in the south central part of the Windbourne Hills, jutted up against Culverwood.
The Dread lies to the north and east. This neighbor is a northern extension of Culverwood that was perverted by a powerful lich who gives the area its name. The Dread has always sought to rule by power and expand its borders, striving to become powerful enough to bring upon everyone The Great Death, a horrible blight that will signal the end of The Wold. The lich is the father of a splinter group of mages called the Sons of Dread, who played a prominent role in the Year of Ascension.
Rowena lies to the north and west. The City-state of Effacia is a day¹s travel north through Rowena. Rowena is as peaceful as the Dread is violent. It's people are kin to the Hill People of Cinnamon Valley, but they have become estranged since the coming of Royd the Merciless.
The Time of Change
In a place called the Scab, the people of the valley say, there lived a mighty race of Fire Giants, who protected important things and accomplished important tasks. But these giants were manipulated by a great evil, so that their culture diminished into servitude. Eventually, the giants were corrupted and weakened to the point that they were not prepared for attack. A powerful group of adventurers invaded their home and slaughtered half the tribe before being defeated. Great damage was done, and those giants who were young and could not remember the honor of their people overthrew their elders and killed King of the Fire Giants.
The son of the giant king was named Royd, and later in his life he became known as Royd the Merciless, the Jarl. After his father was deposed, Royd had to make a run for it, taking three of his closest and most loyal subjects with him. Traveling the high valleys of the Scab, they finally forced the dwarfs of the area to show them the way out and down. They traveled west, causing havoc wherever they went. They learned about the societies of men and the ways of power.
Five years ago, the Jarl, Royd the Merciless, arrived in Cinnamon Valley. He simply walked into Castle Wolf, asked for an audience, killed Sorngrim the VII, the Hmost Honorable Hnand, and took over. Royd and his three giant-kin recruited a most vile army that taxed the land horribly. Once a month he visited the Honorable Hnand and Hill People Chiefs and collected taxes. No one dared to refuse. The Witchspawn Coven tried to overthrow him, but lost their power when Jarl ordered his two fire giant brothers, Hrolf and Magnor, to knock over their sacred stones, robbing them of much power. He burned those witches he could catch. A few still survived in secret.
At that time the evil of the Dread threatened the valley. Royd then declared that all males over the age of 14 must join the army to defend the homeland. The army, spurred on by Hrolf and Magnor, held back the Dread armies with great success. Eventually a great battle was fought near Strongwind Castle. After that the Dread seemed to turn their energies elsewhere.
The Hill People of Rowena, however, did not come to aid their neighbor. They believe that their brothers and sisters of Cinnamon Valley must have forsaken their faith, or such a horrible fate would never have come upon them. They also blame Cinnamon Valley for the recent influx of two witch covens into their peaceful kingdom, saying that it is the Cins' fault that the witches were allowed in this area of the Windbourne Hills in the first place. The Cins argue that the witches' coven was always loyal to the kingdom, even giving their lives in its defense.
But even though the army of the Dread was turned away, no one was inspired to rejoice. It is as if the spirit of the Hill People died in Cinnamon Valley the day Royd took over. Whereas they, in the past, had stood up to or simply ignored all previous invaders, here they just gave up and accepted their lot. Something vibrant in this people was lost. Where there were gifts, they were erased. When Glitterox erupted, the Hill People shuddered and hid in their hovels -- afraid of the wrath of the gods. It is generally accepted that someone of the Hill People, or some clan or family, acted as a traitor to their people, allowing Royd¹s coup to succeed -- and indeed, for a time, there were no gifts of the gods, either to the land or to the Hill People. Even the loyal priests were not granted spells above the 3rd level.
After the Jarl
This was the situation of the peoples of Cinnamon Valley -- until the coming of the noble heroes known as the Dragons! A one time collaboration of the Storm Dragons and the Gold Dragons Adventuring Troups, this large group of adventurers came to Cinnamon Valley when one of their own, a son of the Hill People named Gareth, learned that the Dread had kidnapped his father. Coming in like a proverbial storm, they rode into The Dreadlands and rescued the patriarch.
Turning their wrath upon Royd and his allies, the giants were slain, along with a dragon named Blast who had allied himself with the giants. The Cinnamon Valley was once again free.
Before leaving, the Dragon Consortium helped the people set up a fledgling government with two pieces. First they recruited a second cousin of Gareth the Mighty's who had worked in the High Lord Mayor's office in Plateau City and appointed him the Transitional Governor for one year. Then they formed a Council to oversee the governor and named them The Pitchfork Council. This group would have a representative of each culture group within the valley: Hmanas, Hill People, Witches, and Druidfolk.
Cinnamon Valley is once again free and self-governed. However, the Windbourne Hills is a hotbed of contested kingdoms that tends to fight and vie with one another. The future is hopeful, but very fragile. May Alemi guide them and give them health. May Domi give them his courage.
