Blackmoor

I have long had a love for the name "Blackmoor", which I find highly evocative, and always intended to do something with it.  I always imagined it as a spooky and mysterious place.  Judge's Guild's Frontier Forts of Kelnore provided the seed for the idea here, and has been incorporated into this entry, at least conceptually.

At one time the kingdom of Blackmoor stretched for many leagues across the land.  To guard its farthest frontiers, the kings built several forts at key border points.  These forts were initially nearly identical in design, but have likely had modifications made since.  From these forts, cavalry patrols made regular ventures.

The center of kingdom collapsed into civil war.  The troops in the forts were drawn inland.  With the forts unmanned or less-manned, attackers took advantage and pillaged and sacked inland.  In time, the kingdom fell.  Now it is only a legend.

One of the most remote realms around, bordered by a boreal forest and an icy sea.  Nearby is "The Land of Black Ice".  A series of cold marshes called "Gloomfens" is within its borders as well.  Small villages dot the lands, as well as hot springs and volcanic vents.  Sharp tremors and poison vapors from the springs are not uncommon occurrences.  Orcs rule at least one town, and Kobolds are a common nuisance.

Pre-fall demographics:

Pop Level 4 on S&S Table - 180 ppl per sq mile so it would have to cover  612 square miles.  Not huge.  2-3 forts.  You can use that chapter to determine the number of cities and towns as well.
The largest city is 10,000
The second largest 8,000
20 towns
Cities 40-80 miles apart
Towns 20-40 miles apart
Most of the area was always wilderness.  There are roads and trails, but most of them are probably ruined.
It's a bit larger than Hong Kong and a bit smaller than Comoros in Africa.


Capital: Dantredun
Major Towns: Dantredun (pop. 700), Blackmoor
Town (ruined), Egg of Coot
Provinces: Ten underbaronies
Resources: Walrus ivory, copper, gems (II)
Population: 110,000-Human 37% (FOsb), Orc
20%, Halfling 18%, Elf 10%, Gnome 7%, Half-orc 5%
Half-elf 2%, Other 1%
The Hopping Prophet - a whacked-out prejudicial religion.  They hide out there being as they're unwelcome anywhere else.

Ranial the Gaunt, a lich who crowned himself king
Therod a former Bandit King, now styles himself baron of Ramshorn.


Further Exploration:

Temple of the Frog
The City of the Gods

What Kind of Things Might Lurk There Now:

Banshee
Beholder
Dire Elk
Dire Hawk
Displacer Beasts
Frost Salamanders
Mastodon
Hellfire Worm
Leechwalker
Legendary Bear/Eagle/Horse/Tiger/Wolf
Corrupted Wolf
Orcs
Goblins

Undead 

Forest Drake
Fey Wolverine
Taiga Giant
Witchfire
Catoblepas
Gray Ooze