The Barrows

The Barrows are a relatively small, extremely fertile territory that encircles the City of Darby and lies between the Empire of Ralo, the Monarchy of Kune, and the Dwarn Republic.  For over two thousand years the Barrows had held itself apart from the rest of the world, remaining undeveloped.  It was largely just full of druids and elf villages.  But with the rise of the great nations, the Barrows became the refuge of many different bands of outlaws and rebels.  Over a hundred small groups make their home in the Barrows, hiding out not only from the different nations but from the few druids who survive.  The elves have long since been driven away, unable to protect their villages from the thugs that have claimed the Barrows.

The fertile, lightly forested territories of the Barrows are interrupted by light, rolling hills and deep, fast-flowing rivers.  Very few bridges have been built in the region, and even fewer are controlled by a faction with the will and the ability to repair those bridges.  While Kune, Ralo, and Dwarn each maintain a single highway from their own empire to the City of Darby, these bridges are heavily taxes and watched constantly.  Many merchants attempt to find other ways to pass through the Barrows, using bridges controlled by a variety of other factions that are less safe and careful to keep their own levies less expensive than those of the great powers.