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Daernys Keep
A refurbished Elven fortress built to the standards of the royal army, now occupied by a tribe of hobgoblins well on their way to becoming a small nation in their own right. Daernys territory runs east from the Gonglin River along the Ever-rills, a strong-running stream that to date, has never run dry, even in the drought of 1242 IE.
Daernyss has a population of nearly 500, with the bulk living in or near the keep, and perhaps 80 dwelling in the camp/village of Oldways.
The territory is ruled by Ghil and Hala Daernys, twin sisters who to date have not taken husbands. They have two adopted daughters and one son that they have raised jointly.
Location
Daernys Keep is located on a hill overlooking the Gonglin River, along the Old Trade Road in the Fallow Marches. It is roughly 15 miles upstream of Woodsdrop, and over thirty miles from it's next neighbor along the trade route, Beavedere.
History
Originally named Marta Ormë, this fortress was constructed as a royal Elven military base before the Fallow Marches were abandoned. Afterward, it was left to molder until the Old trade Road regained popularity. Since then, countless warlords, bandit groups, and even Kragar the Bile Drake have dwelt here.
Marta Ormë was one of the possible locations for Blackstone Freeholding to be founded, however, three years before the expedition began, the Daernys sisters led their tribe of hobgoblins out of the Atan Hills and settled in the more fertile Gonglin River floodplain below the fortress.
Population
The Daernyss tribe is a unique breed of hobgoblin: wide flat human faces, leonine manes and furred skin, cloven hooves, and a heavy line of scales running down their spines and covering their rather expressive tails. One might call them anthropomorphic manticores, if not for their strongly vegetarian diet: mostly fruits, grains, and vegetables, some dairy and eggs, and the occasional fowl.
There are a few non-hobgoblins dwelling in the keep, including an Elf of House Corundum: apparently an artist studying the architecture who quite readily uses his earth magics to support his hosts.
Economy
Daernyss Keep industry is almost entirely agricultural, focusing on a strain of wheat that is close to animal feed in coarseness, and many kinds of gourds and squashes. The bulk of their trade with neighboring communities involves two varieties of hard cheeses and a slightly bitter strong ale.