There are a large number of independent duchies within Sogel. Each is ruled by a duke which swears fealty directly to the emperor. These lands are typically granted to individuals who perform special service to the empire. New duchies are occasionally created in the regions between the major kingdoms, or in special locations which cannot support a full kingdom.
Nestled between Carregor, Harphos, Oludhor, and Ardevora is a tiny duchy. This duchy, Umorast, is unique in that the ruler is actually a vampire. The vampire has worked to make his domain a haven for those things which are monstrous - such as other undead. He is working to make his domain self-sufficient, and to prevent its inhabitants from causing too many problems in the neighboring kingdoms.
Because of the monstrous inhabitants, the duchy has attracted other powerful, immoral individuals who crave the freedom to pursue various nefarious goals. Duke Vartovis forbids his subjects from preying upon other kingdoms, and any large-scale slaughters or destruction is also forbidden. However, the ordinary townsfolk who dwell in the duchy live in fear.
Nubion is a duchy made up of three medium-sized islands far out to sea, beyond Wahovea. It does not welcome outsiders, and the isles have mysterious magics surrounding them. The duke is not known to outsiders (except the Emperor).
Spiarrak is a duchy nestled in the mountains between Harphos, Sarpace, and Carregor. It is a tiny isolated valley, with a few mountain passes leading into its heart. A small alpine lake flows empties into the RRR river, which flows southwest into Carregor.
Goblins contest the land with SSS
The duchy has several gemstone mines, mostly held by the goblins.
Caratak is the northernmost duchy of Sogel. It is nestled on a high plateau in the mountain range which marks the northern border of Sogel. It is a frigid land, but the inhabitants are resilient.
Rokadain is a hidden independent duchy, deep in the earth. It is totally underground, and is primarily a duchy of dwarves. But other denizens are petitioning the emperor to extend the reaches of Rokadain, and turn it into a kingdom. The land is rich in mineral wealth, and a wide underground river and lake provides a means for transporting the ores.
The dwarves are very active at exploring and fortifying their duchy. They are expert miners, and produce more raw material than any other duchy in the empire. The dwarves also have alliances with several earth elemental creatures, which bolsters their productivity.
Rokadain is composed of five dwarven clans.
One of the newest duchies of the empire, Ditaria is located between Carregor and Ardevora, in a small jungle valley south of the SSS sea. The duchy is largely populated by orcs and Kahukas, which frequently feud. The rulership of the duchy was granted to XXX, a powerful orc warlord. But the truly notable inhabitants of the duchy are the dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs of various types are common in the duchy. Because of its relative isolation, the dinosaurs have flourished, but rarely escape to plague outside territories, with the notable exception of the neighboring duchy of Toptelia, in Ardevora. Toptelia shares part of the Komar jungle valley.
The orcs are trying to tame some of the dinosaurs, with varying degrees of success. It remains to be seen whether these beasts become a new part of the Sogel military, or simply create more problems than the empire wants to handle.
Cinceth is located along the coast, just south of Altema, and to the west of Sarpace. It is the northernmost of a series of independent duchies which stretch along the seacoast from Altema to Carregor. Cinceth has strong ties with Altema. It is dominated by a single city, of the same name.
Cinceth is a city which contains a (non-magical) university for higher learning. Many are the disciplines taught here. An interesting note is that the University of Cinceth does not carry any courses of a magical nature. The Duke-Mayor is reportedly established ties with Kaparia (on Fe'ansia) and agrees with the Kaparian view of magic.
Catoln is a duchy dominated by a town of the same name. It is just south of Cinceth, and north of the Pedenor Bay.
Catoln is renowned for hosting athletic and gladiatorial competitions. Chariot races are quite popular, and Duke Edrian has challenged any other noble of at least baronial rank to beat him in a chariot race. So far, none have beaten him without resorting to magic.
Pedenor is located just south of Pedenor Bay, and is an idyllic setting. The duchy is in fact the vacation spot of the empire, there are usually a number of nobles staying in the duchy. The nobles socialize, and the gala parties are frequently a place for noble matchmaking. The duchess also sponsors a bardic college, and the bards are regular performers at the various social events.fc
Pedenor includes a number of small islands within the bay, which are a favorite destination of visiting nobles. There is also fertile land for farming, and raising horses. The horses of Pedenor are of excellent quality, and the duchess is a devoted equestrian.
A small settlement of merfolk dwells within Pedenor, deep within the waters of the bay. While the merfolk are somewhat insular, their dolphin allies are quite fond of frolicking on the surface. The dolphins will frequently bear messages, or even small trade goods, for the merfolk. The ruler of the merfolk is accepted as one of the nobles of the realm, and maintains a beautiful estate to host the other nobles when necessary.
South of Pedenor is Velabil. Velabil is just north of Carregor, and is dominated by a thick forest. Many fey creatures dwell within the forest.
Between the forested duchies of the Hemlock Forest in Carregor and Phostonor in Harphos lies a unique underground region. The forests of each aboveground duchy extend underground in a massive underground vault. This region, known as the Bolgortha Vault, extends under the mountain range, and connects the Hemlock Forest directly to the Phoston Forest in Harphos. The forest extends under a huge stone vault, between 30 and 45 miles wide and up to half a mile high. Under the vault, the forest vegetation gives way to a forest of fungi. The vault is caused by a concentration of levistone in the mountains, and it is stable. The rulers of all nearby duchies have strictly forbidden large-scale mining of the levistone, to prevent a collapse. Part of the vault extends under the duchy of Firinar, but most of it is controlled neither by Carregor nor Harphos.
The under-forest, as its called, is home to several underground societies, including drow, shadow elves, dwarves, duergar, and other under-races. It is currently not controlled by either Carregor or Harphor, lying between the areas they control. It remains to be seen whether a new kingdom will be formed in this region, but currently no leader has developed. This region also provides access to the hidden underground duchy, Rokadain, and several different leaders of various races are trying to gain the emperor's favor in order to create a new duchy or kingdom.