Twilight of Empires

A Scottish themed territory with scores of not entirely unified clans who prefer feuding with one another, until an outside nation intrudes upon their affairs. Then they unite into an unexpectedly effective fighting force, and drive out the invaders.

Lallybroch is located north of the Redfang Mountains and Lalfallell Hills, east of the Jotunheim Mountains and Muspel Hills, south of the Iss Rier basin, and west of the Tikume Plains. There are three distinct geographic regions: the highlands to the south, the moor country towards the center, and the loch territory feeding into the river Iss.

Before the clans took up residency here, another people, referred to only as the Old Ones, dwelt in these lands. They left no records of themselves, save the neolithic monuments that literally can be found everywhere: circles, henges, menhirs, stone altars, you name it. Every kind of neolithic architecture you could name, save houses, towns, or fortresses. Scholars have inferred the Old Ones revered the old gods exclusively, and quite probably died out before the end of the Divine Age.

The current residents of this rugged land arrived many centuries ago, possibly towards the end of the Degenerate Era. They are mostly human, but do not closely resemble their neighbors to the south, east, or west. As most of the history of Lallybroch is related by Bards instead of scribes, details get vague more than a few centuries back.

There are a lot of clans in Lallybroch, more than their enemies in Tildane, Vjorn, or raiders out of the Karrack region really comprehend. The twelve great clans would be considered small nations in the Anube River areas, but prefer a less formal governing arrangement. The population is almost entirely human, with some goblin and hobgoblin communities tucked in here and there. Elves are almost unheard of, though dwarven merchants visit often enough to be respected and welcomed. There is a known, but highly elusive population of Keshanti living in the Enchanted Forest who are allied with, but not one of, the clans.

• Campbell: Dark Green & Blue tartan. Nothern moors, edging into the loch country. Clan Campbell has one of the higher populations, with at least four sub-clans under their direct control. They also have a checkered past, purported to have switched sides in any number of clan disputes.
• Christine: Pink & Black tartan. Western highlands and up into the mountains. The head of the clan always female, and as a group, almost as stubborn as MacRiley. Known for having the best hunters, and arbalesteers.
• DunAllan: Blue, Yellow & Red tartan. Western highlands, closest to the Karrack coastal nations. A bit more into the whole “warrior mythos” than other clans, as the Sea Wolves never send armies, just raiding groups of young bravos proving themselves.
• DunKay: Green & Red tartan. Found in the central highlands east of MacKenzie lands, and out into the moors. The clan head is always a male, as are many of the other positions of power. Which draw a lot of hostility from the Vjorn shieldmaidens when they come into conflict.
• DunMoore: Green, Violet & Orange tartan. Eastern end of the east highlands. Probably the most superstitious of the clans, but they are the ones dealing with Dark Horrors coming out of Noc.
• Findlady: Blue, Black & White tartan. Eastern highlands, right up against the Enchanted Forest. The clan head is always female, and generally regarded as the most spiritual of the clans. Has experience fighting Tildanes and Vjorns.
• Keer: Red, Blue & Black tartan. Loch country. Known for picking fights with the Polar Lords, and raising woolly mammoths. You know the border dispute with Tildane has crossed the line into outright war when they bring their cavalry to the fight.
• MacDouglas: Blue & Orange tartan. Located in the eastern highlands, at the northern edge of the Lalfallell hills. Thanks to Tikume influence, have the best (equine) cavalry among the clans, something their more southern neighbors are glad of when the Tildanes start feeling intrusive.
• MacKelly: Yellow Violet tartan. Central highlands, right at the outlet of the Vjorn Pass. Have a bit more formalized martial tradition than their neighbor clans, as they are the front line against raiding expeditions through the pass.
• MacKenzie: Blue & Green tartan. Found in the central highlands, not bordering any other nations. Their territory is adjacent to many of the more haunted landmarks.
• MacRiley: Red & Black tartan. Eastern highlands, Clan head is always male, and known for a sometimes foolish independent streak.
• MacShaw: Blue & Yellow tartan. Eastern highlands. As a group, has the strongest grudges from the Tildane territorial disputes. Maintains a good relationship with Clan MacDouglas.

• Bholcàno Fire: A cavern in the Redfang mountains west of Findlady territory, more than merely challenging to reach, filled with volcanic basalt columns. Shamanic types revere it as possibly the only site north of the Ebon Gulf where one stands a chance of calling and contracting with Ifrit.
• Castle In The Clouds: Legend tells of a dark coven of witches who dwelt in a fortress somewhere near the Woden border who were a plague upon the clans, and led the unwary to heretical acts. Two centuries ago, a hero stood against them, and supported by a divine advisor, drove them into their stronghold and then severed the castle from time itself. In the early spring, if the conditions are just right (or horribly wrong), one might find the castle, and tread the bridge of Nebula Crossing to seek their fortune… or never bee seen again.
• Five Lady Mountains: A valley in the Redfang Mountains south of MacKelly territory famed for the five peaks surroundign it. The mountains all sport what look to be faces, all gazing at one another.
• Haunted Forest: found at the eastern edge of the Redfang Mountains, this ancient temperate rainforest is known for monstrous trees, strange beasts, stranger magics lingering from the time of the Old Ones, and rather shy population of Keshanti. Elven scholars believe this to be one of the likely locations the gods created the fox-taurs.
• Neolithic Old One sites: As noted, they are nearly everywhere in and around Lallybroch. It is unclear what they were used for, though the old granny stories include entrances to secret underground nations, portals to distant lands, other times, or the realm of the gods, and mysterious ritual locations. Many of them have faint traces of power, unrecognizable to modern arcanists.