Ffenargh

From DQWiki

(pron. Fen-argh or Ef-en-arrgh). Area also known as Carroc's Mire.

Located some one hundred miles to the north-east of Sanctuary, the Theocracy of the Ffenargh is a little known area of low-lying swamp, moor, and varied monsters covering over 3500 square miles at the mouth of the Baratary River. The Ffenargh is a dark place known to contain many varieties of fantastical monster and undead.

Deeded in 343 Wk to the Church of Saint Theodoric by the then Duke of Ranke, Sigmund, the land has been ruled since by the "Lord Spiritual" from their temple at Eylea. The Church is loosely associated with the Unified Western Church and sends a representative to the summer conclave.

The Lords Spiritual created three Barons within their domain, and it was through these "Lords Secular" that the power of the Church was wielded. The Baronies and their current statuses are:

• Lorge
  • The last Lord of Lorge died in 764 after apparently murdering his young wife.
  • A Guild party was involved.
• Myrkfast
  • The last Lord of Myrkfast, Geoffrey D'Arcy, was murdered in 787 by his son Miles, who subsequently died during his attempt to overthrow the Lords Spiritual.
  • A Guild party was involved, see the Progress of Disease II (http://dq.sf.org.nz/library/snwi8802.pdf) (pdf).
• Holme Isle
  • Line of Barons died out over 200 years ago.
  • Power (but not baronial title) passed to Lord High Bailiff of the Ffenargh.
    • As at 798 WK the High Bailiff was (still) Clavados who was over 90 years old.

The common people of the Ffenargh are in the most part of low intelligence, and many are ill-formed; the Vapours (infections supposed to result from diseased winds) have caused gross degeneracy in the populace. Most people appear much older than their years, with an average lifespan of around 40. This shortened lifespan does not appear to affect the clerics of St. Theodoric, and some other functionaries.

In the outlying areas some of the people are not entirely human, having cross-bred with something named a Swamp Ghoul. These areas have little dry land, houses are built on stilts and most transport is by punt. Most people in the Ffenargh speak a form of antiquated Common.

Conditions in the Ffenargh have improved somewhat in the last twenty years, and more markedly since the events in 798 detailed in the Overdue Library Books (http://dq.sf.org.nz/library/snwi9801.pdf) (pdf) scribe notes.

The initial improvements followed the reunification of the Church after a 40 year schism over the nature of the powers of Saint Theodoric [The Heresy of Minon: Heretics believed that Theodoric had been a mage -- as significant evidence suggests]. This unification brought back into the Church the former Heretical Church, many of whom had mage and healer training.

Post-reunification, a shipping channel was cleared through the Ffenargh making it possible for river traffic on the Baratary river to access the sea. This trade (and taxation) has brought much needed funds into the area and paved the way for civic improvements. The events of 798 may have finally ended the Vapours, or at least removed their primary cause allowing them to die out over time.