The Duchy of Brynoch's Dagger is a small duchy that is mostly made up of the Brynoch's Dagger Peninsula in the northwest of Samia. It is named after the legendary hero Brynoch. Legend states that the peninsula was formed when his dagger fell to earth from the heavens. Nobody really knows what Brynoch looked or acted like (or if he even existed, but in the legends he is a tall thin man who's magical dagger always struck home with it's target. Brynoch, himself, is a trickster figure, often playing pranks on the gods and men.

The Dutchy is small in size, though what it lacks in size it makes up for in importance. While most think of the citizens of Brynoch's Dagger as backwards and simple, it's true that they supply many crops for the entire nation. Without them, Samia would literally starve itself to death in many places.  

Brynoch's dagger has a lot of coastline, and one would presume that it would lead to good fishing, but the truth is that the waters around the Dagger are treacherous and the coast is rocky. There are a small handful of fishing villages in the area, but the conditions mean that many fishermen in the area much work from small boats or on foot, trapping shellfish and other animals that get close to shore. Recently construction on Port Flagon was begun at the tip. this port, when complete, will have a massive dock extending out at least a mile into the water, allowing for ships that never need get too near the shore. The Duke is hoping that the expansion will improve the lobster and crab fishing in the area, which is proffitable, but could be more expansive.  

Brynoch's Dagger  

Area: 22,000 sq leagues
Population: 800,000
Official Language: Miren
Other Languages: Foñiaro
Duchy Seat: Brynoch's Square
Largest City: Brynoch's Square (official) Port Flagon (unofficial)
Duke/Dutchess:
Primary Imports: Crafted Goods, textiles, tools, alcohol
Primary Exports: tobacco, grain, salt meats, stone, wool, cotton
Important Locations: Brynoch's Square, Port Flagon, The Eye of the Sea.
Lesser Locations: Yellowharrow, Greenhill


Culture

The people of Brynoch's Dagger are a simple folk who live lives steeped in nature and farming. They ebb and flow with the seasons, spending a lot of time in the summer and fall shoring up for the deep snows of winter. Most people in Brynoch's Dagger are of the Meiren Faith, but they house a lot of traditions held by the Druids as well, less because they adhere to this faith and more because it matches their agrarian lifestyle. The people of Brynoch's dagger eat more meat than any other culture in Samia, which leads to the myth that they are descended from giants. More to the point, they grow large and strong, a predisposition made easier by working in the fields. Of course, not everyone in Brynoch's Dagger is a farmer or a field worker, but those that are not are familiar with such work and have likely done it at some point in the past.

Climate and Travel

The climate of Brynoch's Dagger is among the harshest in all of Samia. This area catches weather moving in all directions off the Ocean in the winter and snows and ice hit this land hard. It is often said that anyone not inside by the first snowfall in Brynoch's Dagger will not make it through the night and while this may be an exaggeration, it's true that almost nobody can survive a Brynochian winter outside on their own. this harsh weather has lead to what is known as Innerfeast, which is an impromptu celebration of the first snow. When it falls, the people of Brynoch's Dagger all gather into the largest homes they can find (there are usually ten or twelve such celebrations in a given city) and feast. Every family brings food to share and to celebrate the community that will help them survive the harsh cold.