Your realm is the barony of Hawkhaven in Taldor, so named for the numerous hawks that roost in the nearby Fog Peaks and circle above the hilly fields of the land. Hawkhaven sits between the southern spur of the Fog Peaks and the northern edge of the Venduran forest. It is part of the larger county of Greysmere, which is in turn part of an even larger prefecture of a declining empire.
Hawkhaven is not the ideal realm for farming. The soil is not particularly good for growing, and the land is hilly, rocky and windy. The peasants of the land are hardy folk who live tough lives. Unlike most peasants in Taldor, however, they are blessed with a lord who is concerned about their well being and prosperity. That lord is Baron Theodric Albercroft. The Albercrofts have traditionally been followers of the goddess Imodae, and they have held their lands for many generations. The seat of their power is Albercroft Keep.
Albercroft Keep is crumbling old structure built several generations ago. It sits on a rocky tor in the centre of the barony overlooking Oxtongue Lake, which is at the bottom of the hill just north of the castle. Sandwiched between the keep and the lake is the village of Oxtongue. Oxtongue is the largest settlement in the barony, and it hosts the local farmer's market. It is also where most of the shops and the two best taverns in the domain can be found. On the opposite (northern) shore of the Oxtongue Lake is the White Rabbit Wood. This small forest is where the Albercroft family does their hunting, and in addition to be being home to numerous white rabbits, it also shelters deer, wild pigs and the odd boar.
Radiating out from Albercroft Keep and the village of Oxtongue are several other smaller villages, hamlets and manors that are home to the family's vassals and bannermen. These lesser members of the bearded class bear ranks and titles no higher than Baronet or Knight.
A cart track runs east/west through Oxtongue and acts as Hawkhaven's main road. If one follows the cart track east for a day's ride, one will come to the town of Greymoor, which is the biggest settlement in the region and the home of Count Otto Greyborne- the leige lord of the Albercroft family. Follow the cart track west, and one will soon cross the Singing Eel River and enter the Barony of Redstone, which is currently ruled over by Baron Albercroft's brother Harkon Albercroft.
Baron Harkon is a staunch and warlike follower of Gorum, who was given his lands by the Count Greyborne as reward for his prowess in battle, not due to any heireditary claim. Were he and Baron Theodric Albercroft not brothers they would likely be at war with one another, as Count Greyborne is viewed as a weak leige, far more interested in being in his cups than mediating conflicts between his vassals.
