Blackstone

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More information on Blackstone

(Taken from A Traveler’s Guide to Evendarr by Shifter Gileen, Master Trader. Original to be found in Ember's Library of Ravenholt)

Blackstone- Blackstone, named for its active volcano was once a separate kingdom, having been ruled for many years by the Blackstone family.

About 500 years ago, as Evendarr grew around them, the king offered them a place within his kingdom. King Hender Blackstone, glancing about at the good king’s troops, decided that such an arrangement would be beneficial to everybody. In fact the people of Blackstone have taken Evendarr to their hearts and thoroughly enjoy the new markets that have been made available to them through this compromise. For Blackstone is possibly the largest trading and shipping capital on the continent of Avalon, and as such it is also one of the richest.

Blackstone is an anomaly politically- it is a County without a Duchy. It has no baronies, either. When Count Blackstone visits other duchies he is offered the treatment afforded a visiting Count, not a visiting Duke. Politics is what Blackstone is all about. The nobles of the county seem to be in constant political struggle with each other to gain status and standing in the court. Gossip and innuendo can make or break a noble house here, and word as to who was at each party, and who has the Count’s ear at any time are valuable commodities. It consumes their lives to the point where it provides meaningful employment for the local thieves guilds, which provide nobles with the necessary spies and assassins.

When visiting Blackstone, you may wish to travel to the capital city of Braughm-Raor, where the marketplace is open from dusk to dawn. It is a colorful ongoing pageant of sight, sound and smell, and I have seen nothing like it in my travels. Row upon row of shops, inns, taverns, gambling parlors and other places of pleasure and leisure abound in the city. Of course, remember what I said about powerful thieves guilds, and watch your money carefully when there.

Update : In 601 King Mykel Evendar II visited Blackstone and elevated Count Blackstone to the rank of Duke. It is expected in the spring of 603 that Duke Blackstone will establish the first Counties and raise various Lords to the rank of Count. Baronies are sure to follow.

Also, the town of Stonereach has been the host of the local Gathers for some years, it is located northwest of Mount Sarobar in the Black Hills, a few miles inland from Darksands Bay.

In April of 603, due to reports of disturbances in the vicinity of the town of Whitestaff, the Gather was moved there by order of Duke Blackstone.

In July of 604, during the qwelling of the Saxony Rebellion, the Duchy of Blackstone was visited by the King of Evendarr, Mykel II. While there, he appointed the Derek Blackstone as Prince of the Heart of Evendarr, and recognized Derek's nephew Mikhail as the rightful Duke of Blackstone. As his final act as Duke of Blackstone, Derek split the Duchy of Blackstone into three Counties. The nothern most county, being from the border of Rotaria to the Capital of Braughm-Roar being known as County Arawyn. The middle County, being from the Capital of Braughm-roar to the Whitemane River to be known as the County of Whitemane, and the southernmost County from the Whitemane river to the Border of Therendry being known as the County Blackmoor. Two Barons were appointed at this time, with Ducal Knights being elevated to these positions. Baron Delwyn Mithrilmist was appointed to County Whitemane, and Baron Cedric Warclaw being appointed to County Blackmoor.