Manors of Henwe
State of the Barony Spring of 723
Henwe
History: Henwe was originally a Corani Empire fortress and was rebuilt during the Theocracy of Tekhos. Nemiran created the Barony of Henwe in 671. Until 722 the
keep remained in the hands of Ledrek Pozen. In 722 Baron Pozen turned his loyalties
to Kanday after Hyen fell. Shortly after he again changed allegiances but the
forces of Kanday under command of Tolas Garawe kept the Keep and captured Pozen. At
present Lord Garawe is the apparent front runner to assume the position of Baron. Initially
the King had decided to give the Barony to its champion but of late is having some second thoughts on the topic.
The Keep: The Keep of Henwe is situated on a manmade mound surrounded by
a wooded palisade. There is a creek that runs to a fishing pond on the west side
of the keep. The Keep’s furnishings are intact and the Keep has amble supplies
for the foreseeable future (kind = 5000). While the Keep has been virtually untouched
in 722 the town did not fare as well. The town was completely destroyed, disassembled
or burned. Throughout the winter most of the people were able to rebuild and
reconstruct. Only a few of the former guilds people have returned. More arrive
by the day as it seems that Rethem is not imminently set to retake the Keep. The
former innkeeper at Bildel has taken up residence in Henwe along with only a couple of other guilds people. The town is now being completely reconstructed. The Mill on
the creek will need some repairs which will also help refill the pond. Afterwards
the pond will need to be restocked as well.
The Baron: Baron Tolas Garawe, son of Sir Tosart
Garawe (cousin to the Lord High Chamberlain of Kanday) is the present Baron (legally) although at present his title is under
some question by the King, who granted the Barony while still exhilarated by a victory over the Thardic Legions. Tolas is an attractive, charming and seasoned. He is a staunch
supporter of Sir Temelin of Selvos and the Chahryn Clan. Tolas and his followers
are virtual legends in the Selvos region. Having seized Henwe with a small force
and then later recovering the Grandson of the Earl of Selvos, he and his followers could not be in higher favor with the family.
Alaban
The Manor: The Manor house was not spared the abuse by the retreating Rethemi.
The manor house had suffered some partial fire damage and was looted extensively.
Much of the furnishings were damaged or destroyed. The Rethemi used Alaban
as an HQ while sieging Henwe. The village was left only partially intact. The Manor itself is a small stone structure with a wooden palisade. It was a close
holding to Henwe and thus had limited interior structures and craftsmen capabilities.
The Lord: Sir Idan Kolmar is a loyal and trust friend to the Baron. Having
fought by his side for the last few years the two are inseparable. Idan is a
young and excitable warrior with little interest in politics or manor operations. He
spends most night attending to the comforts of the Keep and little attention to his own holdings which remain in disrepair.
Bildel
The Manor: The manor is located strategically on the road from Henwe to Golotha and a popular stop over spot for caravans
travelling between these markets. Its extensive holdings and location made this
manor very wealthy. The Manor house was moderately damaged during the conflict. Some of the furnishings have been returned (by peasants who have been keeping these
for safe keeping) and the damage to the gate has been repaired. The village which
was largely untouched is being expanded and homes being improved and rebuilt. The
Manor itself is a large stone manor house with extensive outbuildings and a stone wall.
The Granaries are not damaged but were mostly consumed by armies and locals.
The Lord: Sir Erlam Treston is, like most of the Barons men, a seasoned
and dangerous warrior. He has a physically dominant frame nearly 6’ tall
and almost 200 lbs. With all of his combat experience however he is still squeamish
at the sight of blood, an ironic curse by the lady.
Cyneris
The Manor: The Manor has been lightly affected by the war. The Manor
house is well appointed moderate structure. It has a wooden palisade and a series
of outbuildings.
The Lord: Sir Thelud Yolon (690) is the son of Danel Yolon (Bailiff of Niberath
near Pinide). Thelud is an efficient administrator and decent swordsman. He is a thin man with a very high intellect and capacity to persuade. He spent his years learning trade and making good manorial decisions.
His father is a long time friend of Tosart Garawe who helps get this land.
Gomis
The Manor: Similar to Cyneris, Gomis was only mildly affected by the war and is fortified by a small manor house. The manor is a small stone Manor house with a wood palisade. Its holdings are a bit smaller than the local average but its remote position leaves it far from the attentions
of marauders.
The Lord: At present there is no permanent lord
at this Manor. Although Sir Kyran Olzdan (former squire to Sir Idan Kolmar) and
the Mage Giearrd have been overseeing it productivity, there is no real management.
The mage considers this post to be an opportunity to use the manor as a laboratory for his Fyvrian experiments.
Hydmir
The Manor: Manor was unaffected by the war and the manor house is a very defensible stone structure located on a stone
spire. The village is located on a flat area a 100’ above the valley
floor below. The manor has always maintained extensive sheep and goats flocks. The village is also in an excellent position to see most of the barony below and is
responsible for sending alarms in the event of attack.
The Lord: Sir Eastmar of Gevid (698) is a former Rethemi serf turned outlaw. Although he is young his combat and survival experience are impressive. He is a smallish man who would not seem particularly menacing. He
is quiet and humble but a skilled and cunning warrior. Because he was a known
rebel against the Rethemi he is respected by the people of the Barony and later made a knight of Kanday and lord of the manor
that was his birthplace.
Jeun
The Manor: Jeun is the largest and least effected manor of the Barony. It
is the halfway mark between Hyen and Henwe a position that makes it ideal for travelers on their way from one manor to the
other. Its location is optimal and their extensive lands make it the most desirable
manor in the Henwe region. At present the Manor is quite self sufficient
and fully manned and operating at peak levels. The Manor is a large stone structure
with a 3rd story tower and surrounded by several outbuildings and a stone wall with a stone gate house. Next to Henwe keep Jeun Manor is the most defensible.
The Phantom Lancers: Jeun is also the HQ for the Henwe Squadron
of Light Horse (a squadron that served with the Baron in 722-23). Under the command
of Alerist of Kevon they travel between Hyen and Henwe taking messages and escorting
travelers on the dangerous trek. They have been effective at reducing banditry
on the highway drastically. Recently after having pursued and ambushed small
groups of brigands the group has begun to take pride in their seeming stealthiness and begun to refer to themselves as the
Phantom lancers for their quite but rapid attacks on the local brigands.
The Bailiff: Sir Gamel Torench was temporarily assigned
by Sir Temilin during 722 after Hyen was captured. Once Henwe fell Baron Tolas
Garawe was in need of men and kept Sir Gamel on until he could determine what he was to do with Jeun. The fact that Jeun is out of sight of the Baron has provided Sir Gamel a certain degree of job security. He is a somewhat efficient lord and his efforts are doubled in hopes that he can maintain
his position indefinitely.
Metass & Woryn
The Manor: Prior to the War this manor had been the best run and most successful manor in the immediate region. The manor house is stone and has the largest great hall in the area. The manor also has a number of outbuildings. The manor was
lightly affected by the conflict and although the manor was looted most of the furnishings of any size have remained. Next to Jeun it is one of the more impressive holdings in Henwe.
The Lord: Sir Lavro Kesid, son of Sir Hardor Kesid who is married to the
Sister of Sir Cerale of Lamin (Chancellor of Kanday). His Uncle Cerale is good
friends of Aldren Garawe (Lord High Chamberlain of Kanday). Sir Aldren
Garawe requested the favor of his brother Tosart in payment for a slight between the brothers that go back years. Sir Lavro is an effective administrator and good warrior although his combat experience has been less than
many of the local friends of the Baron.
Larton
The Manor: The stone manor house is located well above the valley and has an excellent position in that it is remote. The manor itself is well appointed but not entirely defensible. It has only a low wood palisade. Its land quality is poor
but the lord has kept the fief well maintained and in good operating order. Over
the winter the Lord of Larton has seized the unoccupied quarry just northwest of his manor he is using his light militia to
hold the quarry and has even begun constructing a rough trail to the quarry. The
quarry itself is now defended by a small palisade and about 10 Men at arms.
The Lord: Sir Keyel Fandawart (782) is a former bandit who claims Larton to have been in his family for some generations
but was illegally taken years ago from his father. He was made outlaw in his
20’s when he got in a fight with the lords son who inevitably inherited Larton.
After Baron Pozen executed the former Lord and chaos abounded Keyel returned to Larton and resumed the work of his
fathers. He is loved and adored by his serfs who he freed from slavery (a mostly
symbolic distinction). He is very calculating and a master of intrigue. A formidable warrior and a recent convert to Laranianisim, which seems odd for a former
Agrikan. It is rumored that he has become quite taken by his new faith and has
even assembled an altar in his manor house. For some reason he dismissed the
altar as a symbol but rumors still abound that he spends hours in prayer.
Pabjeme & Altona
The Manor: A wealthy and well appointed manor was affected by the conflict.
The manor was pillaged and partially burned no less than 3 times. The
stone manor house is being repaired and the village is mostly rebuilt. The manor
is very close to Henwe Keep and its extensive lands make it a prime holding being the second largest next to Jeun.
The Bailiff: At present the Barons father Sir Tosart
Garawe is overlooking the holding to help his son rebuild the Barony to a state in which it can sustain itself.
Romus
The Manor: This manor was lightly affected by the conflict but certainly pillaged.
The manor house is a stone manor with a small palisade and a couple of outbuildings located on a makeshift moat (created
by diverting the creek around both sides of the manor. There is a small low wooden
bridge that is rebuilt periodically after floods.
The Lord: Sir Farow Gremmel (697) is a former squire to Sir Tosart Garawe. He is the nephew of Baron Stennis Tertimas, a good friend of Sir Tosart Garawe. Under the guidance of Sir Tosart he should be a capable land lord. He is quiet and reserved but rather intellectual. As a child
he was tutored by Mages from Aleath. It is not believed that he has any skill
with magery but his demeanor might say otherwise.
Narterin
The Manor: This Manor is a complete ruin. Little can be seen with the
exception of charred ruins and ash. It is the largest land holding in the immediate
area and can easily be revived into a profitable holding.
The Lord: Initially this holding was to be given to Sir Tamel of Alren. However
due to lack of funds and serfs the manor has been left fallow for the time being.
Common Folk of Henwe
The winter of 722 was long and hard, yet surprisingly productive.
However several factors helped the peasants live thru the winter and the Barony to improve. Surprisingly the locals survived on a diet of meat and the grains that they were able to scrounge from
the previous autumn. Because much of the fields were left untended, animals (both
livestock and game) were feasting on the remnants of the unharnessed grains and hay.
In a strange turn of events this brought more game animals into the barony and fattened much of the livestock that
had been able to run free. With the Baron giving the people open range for both
hunting and assart the fortunes of many had made a significant change. On a diet
relatively high in meat and unlimited availability of building materials the peasants took to this boon quickly. Unexpectedly the peasants quickly capitalized on the opportunity and began hunting and rebuilding with
zest. Since many did not know when the open assortment would end they used this
opportunity to build with the best timbers available. Normally serfs would live
in homes built with fallen timbers and branches. Instead they began in earnest
to build with the best trees of oak and ash. Quickly the manors found themselves
virtual mini boom towns with free food and timber. Craftsmen tried quickly to
regain their former status and began working with whatever materials they could find.
For the woodcrafters (or any serf with such skill) rebuilding inventory and gathering material for free was something
they took too quickly. From this have come some small prices. Most notably several acres of woods in each manor have been converted to wasted land (peasants were quick
to chop trees but not remove the roots to add to the cultivated land). Also manors
with little timer had reduced this to very small plots. Quick action by the lords
limited this damage and allowed labor to gather wood farther afield.
Livestock has been scattered or hunted down for food. Most
manors have a significantly reduced quantity of livestock. These herds will need
to be replaced or bred back to their capacity.
Guild
Throughout the Barony craftsmen have returned to their trade. Metalsmiths
and others are finding it difficult to find material for goods. Woodcrafters,
charcoalers and hideworkers are working overtime due to having an abundance of supplies.
Merchant traffic is non-existent and new accesses to goods are in immediate and emergency demand.
