Doorstep

On the opposite side of the Red Dew is the Doorstep to Longhouse. Most traveling the Emporer's Highway pass out of the mountains and into the foothills, moorlands and river valleys that comprise Doorstep. Much of Doorstep is a Karst type of landscape, with random pillars of green-shrouded stone and sudden potholes or deep cracks. Springs or creeks disappear into them, while others have water pouring forth.

The northern edge is known as the Freckled Moors due to the thousands of boulders and Karst outcroppings that jut inexplicably out of the otherwise fertile soil.

The middle is the true Doorstep, where three enormous rivers wind their way down from the highlands and into the Red Dew.

The Fettle This river is a deep, wide, swiftly flowing river that has been the death of many a traveler. Only the most expert boatman can safely navigate it, and no bridge has yet been able to last more than a year due to its tendency to flood and surge violently with the slightest coming of a storm.

Oxendine This is named so for the habit of keeping cattle along its borders. The river is an average of 10 miles wide, shallow and nearly choked with aquatic grasses. It's more a swamp than a proper river, a wetland that splits into hundreds of small creeks that run through the Red Dew.

Staircase This latter is called such for it flows all the way from Gelid Falls, and makes its way down a torturous landscape, with a waterfall at least every mile along its 2000+ mile journey. It narrows but deepens greatly by the time it flows into the Doorstep area, in a curvy, rocky bed, often disappearing into caves or potholes, before returning again farther west.

To the south are the Fieldspurs where orchards and plantations grow upon steep hills and up into the mountain peaks themselves.

Banner/Colors: The symbol of Doorstep are three waving blue lines between two straight green stripes.

Population: 12,000-13,000; 65% human, 20% wild children, 10% mongrelfolk, 3% shifter, 2% dwarf

Primary Language: Chat: a common/sylvan hybrid tongue

Year of Establishment: YoF (Year of Frost)

Government
Government: There is no real government to the Doorstep, but instead tend to be extended families ruled over by familial clans with a Representative that journeys frequently between Forest Heart and his village.

Chaim Hyman is the official Regional representative of all of Doorstep, though of all the regional representatives is the least present within Forest Heart. Instead he prefers to only visit the capital during important votes, otherwise riding to and fro throughout Doorstep. Most often he is found on his large, extended farm where his family of eight is found, with neighbors sharing his borders.

His is one of the few farms of such richness to have been completely untouched by the cult of Ruin, and it is said that the land itself fights on Chaim's behalf, such does it love its master.

Government Popularity: As the head of the clans tend to be elders of over a century, most greatly respect these aged, if not necessarily wise, grandfolk.

Chaim is exceedingly popular, and not in an official capacity, but has the genuine love and respect of most of the clans. He is also easily the youngest of the Regionals, only in his early thirties.

Army:  Doorstep has no army, being so spread out, but is conjointly looked after by Rangers from Banzar, Knights of the Golden Orchard and Forces from the Order of the Epiphanies. Still, many villages have their own small cavalry that patrol their clan's borders, sometimes joining with friendly neighboring clans.

Defenses: Most towns and villages are fortified, or possessing at least one 'Safety Hall' where children and elders can be hidden. These Halls are usually enormous manners where extended families live. Low stone walls, sharpened log caltrops or dense gardens surround these manners to slow down invaders.

Watch towers are also spread throughout the Doorstep in the thousands ready to give sound off alarms if Ruin is spotted. These alarms take the form of enormous vuvuzela-like horns that once sounded off will be picked up by other towers until all of Doorstep rings with its warnings.

Primary Enemy: The cult of Ruin as well as rogue fey all plague Doorstep. Thus many possess the Wary template.

Fighting Style: With wide open lands, most fighting takes place atop horses, war boars, or other wide-backed beasts. Thus spears and arrows are most commonly used.

Society
Slavery: Slavery does not exist in the common usage within Doorstep, though most children are raised to work the farms and orchards of the region and many clans will hold them so close they can never leave except so long as to visit another clan for breeding purposes.

Many a time an elder matchmaker goes about visiting, bringing back husbands or wives for their grandchildren.

Constabulary: Clan justice tends to be the only police force found within the Doorstp region.

Method of execution: This depends on the clan and the area, though quartering is not unheard of for truly vicious crimes.

Organized Crime: A black market thrives within the Doorstep area, goods from the Bazaar or stolen from riders and caravams traveling the Emporer's Highway.