The Grauhoft coat of arms, with a triple eagle over a blue-and-gold checkered field, symbolizes vigilance (eagles), order (checkers), and wealth earned through hard-won land and trade.
Northern Coniferous Forests: The deep woods house quiet hamlets and logging villages. Superstitions remain strong here, locals whisper of “hill-wives” (forest spirits or feral women from raider stock) and follow syncretic folk rites that blend local saint worship with animist traditions. Southern Woodlands & Meadows: These areas are more fertile and settled. Farming, hunting, and modest trade define life here. The meadows near the coast were once the landing point for inland raiders; now, they host isolated hillforts and watchtowers. Lakes & Riverways: Small fishing communities cluster around the lakes, some claiming there are ancient ruins beneath the waters.
Grauhoft is a proud and stoic region known for its strong internal cohesion and deeply rooted traditions. It serves as a natural barrier between the wilderness to the north and the more densely populated southern regions, earning it the moniker "The Shield of the North." House Rhalen, ruling from Kristheim Castle, is an old noble house tracing its lineage back to a legendary campaign where Val Rhalen, an exiled noble, served as a mercenary captain. He was awarded vassalship after recapturing the castle from Viking invaders.
Fyrd System: Instead of a standing army, House Rhalen relies on local militias, every able-bodied freeholder is expected to own arms and train once per month. There’s strong community loyalty and respect for local elders. Stone Singing: An old regional craft, quarrymen and masons use rhythmic chants while working stone, believed to “calm the earth” and “keep the bones from waking.” While viewed as superstition by outsiders, it’s culturally sacred in Grauhoft. The Autumn Pike: An annual tournament held before winter, where regional champions compete in mounted forest hunts and war games. It honours the region’s martial past and serves as a discreet show of strength to rival factions.
In the early days of the War of Crown and scepter, when the isle was first torn between King Heinrich of Steinau and the angry nobility who opposed his policies, the proud banners of House Rhalen were among the first to fly openly for the crown. Grauhoft’s people, shaped by ancient traditions and still practicing quiet rites from their heathen past, had little love for the current bishop’s heavy hand, who held a prominent role among the Bucketheads . To them, loyalty to Anselm’s regency demanded the death of their ancestral customs, the whispered songs to forest spirits, the river blessings, the sacred stones at village edges. Thus, Lord Rhalen declared allegiance to the king. In response, the Bucketheads marched an army of levied swords, mercenaries, and fanatics across the meadows. With winter fast approaching and his forces overextended, the Bucketheads made a brutal choice: rather than starve out Sülverdal Castle, they would break its spirit.
The castle, strong atop its rocky hill and stocked with provisions for months, could not be taken quickly. Instead, the bishop’s men sacked the hamlet. Homes were set aflame; mills and storehouses were put to the torch. Those who resisted were put to the sword and others fled into the forests or were dragged away. The invaders left the castle isolated but intact, believing that without its lifeblood, the town, Sülverdal would eventually wither on its own. However, their banners still hang from the unbroken walls. Today, the ruins of the hamlet stand as a grim reminder of both resilience and ruin. Smoke-blackened stones, broken wells, and the charred skeletons of homes still linger. Some locals say ghosts of the slain can be heard at night, calling for vengeance. Now, Grauhoft's folk, proud and stubborn, see the rebuilding of Sülverdal not merely as restoring homes, but as defying the bishop's memory. Every stone laid, every roof raised, is an act of rebellion and honour.