Geography

Bariston is a medium-sized region at the western end of Kelevantia. While technically a Duchy of Kelevantia, Bariston has a great deal of autonomy when managing its own affairs. The land is ideal for the halfling way of life - the lands are very fertile, and many crops are grown thoughout the Duchy. Only Horthen produces more food.

Physically, Bariston is made up of three regions, and wraps around the eastern end of the Veldis Sea. The lands south of the sea, in the shadow of the Throndil Mountains, are home to the Stouts. The City of Seafield lies between, at the easternmost edge of the Veldis Sea. The northern two regions divide the area north of the Veldis Sea

History

Bariston became home to the large number of halflings when Ossav spread his rule across Melarna. Led by Baris Bearclaw the Dark, the halflings fled to a sheltered area and banded together for defense. Unfortunately, these happy folk were still subjugated, but were not treated harshly. In fact, the halflings were given free reign over their lands as long as they obeyed the rule of Ossav. Most halflings, traumatized by the harsh treatment they had received from several bugbear and goblin tribes, were willing to accept this role. A smaller number fled across the Veldis Sea, and established towns and farmlands in the foothills of the Throndils. After some suspicion, they were accepted by the dwarves that lived there. Contact with the halflings of the south (the Stouts) and those north of the Veldis sea continued from the efforts of the Stout halflings.

The Stouts attempted to foment discontent within the Hairfoot communities. By the time of Candar Tenpenny, the northern hobbits were already on the edge of a revolt. Candar saw this and realized that the hobbits, some of whom were already killing their goblin overseers, merely needed a leader. Candar became that leader, and with the aid of the dwarves, led the Hairfoots in revolt in 2247.

Bariston has maintained its freedom for most of the time since the Great Revolt. In 2625, a tribe of bugbears allied with one of the Ossavian families tried to subjugate the wee folk once again. After six months, both the Bugbear chief and Duke Morlen Crisimat were found dead, slain in their rooms. Amid the confusion, the halflings once again threw off their chains. Discovery of a halfling guerrilla training grounds within Bariston a year later prompted most tribes to avoid Bariston apart from the occasional raid.

When Antíem began his unification of southern Melarna, the Stouts of Bariston were led by Ceyrodin, a close friend and confidant of Antíem. The Hairfoots elected to join the Stouts in unifying their people under Ceyrodin's rule, as a Duchy of Kelevantia. Bariston even supplied troops in the recent war, and several companies of Halfling slingers earned high praise from the generals of Kelevantia.

Regions

When Bariston was unified, the northern Hairfoot-dominated region was split into two administrative sections. The southern stouts remained one county. The town of Seafield was ceded to Bariston control, although it remains an open (and human-dominated) town. Each county and Seafield is controlled by an elected sheriff, who are in service to the Grand Sheriff, Ceyrodin. Although duke is the official Kelevantian title, Ceyrodin finds that it sounds too pompous, and does not want hobbits to be ruled by royalty. The post of Grand Sheriff is an elected one, not a hereditary one.

Ganae Gazetteer

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