The Duchy of Wall is the oldest in Samia.  Legend has it that the city of Banion Brock, it's capital, is the oldest city in the known world.   Wall is a hard place full of quaries, vast stretches of farmland, and caverns from which minerals, rocks, and gems are drug by eager human miners. 

This duchy is quite large in regards to land mass, and has a long history of dissatisfaction with the crown.  The Duchy seat, Banion Brock, holds laws against magic (and, indeed, magic of any sort of frowned upon in the whole of Wall, though towards Red Ferm and some other areas these laws are often loosely enforced - more on this below) making any magic spell, ability, or item illegal and a crime punishable by immediate imprisonment if not death.  There are rumors that magic does not function at all within the city walls (though this leads one to wonder how this law can be enforced if this is the case). 

Wall has been a key element in Samian history, though not always positively.  It was a key player in the Orc Incursion until it's armies, lead by the Firelord, marched on the capital, leaving Samia a broken nation for years.  this resulted in the ban on standing armies within Wall.  The citizenry chaffed, but Wall's new Duke (freshly appointed after the old Duke was put to death for treason) held no illusion that he had a choice and he let his citizens know.   Rumors circulated that Wall and Banion Brock specifically was threatened with martial law in the event of further action taken against the Crown.   Since them things have been very quiet in Wall, on the whole.  The primary dispute is over Dane's Grove.  Astute readers will see that Dane's Grove is listed as a settlment for both Wall and Knorwell.  This is because both Duchyies claim control of this city, a small apple producing farming community.  Every year it is a race to see whjo will collect taxes and tribute from this city first.  

The newly appointed Duke (newly within the last ten years, that is) of Wall is Alrik Tenamore.  He was a minor noble from Banion Brock before the war and when he became Duke he and his family relocated to Lur Fel (Banion Brock is ruled by a council and neither party wished to challenge the authority of the other). Since his move, Lur Fel has grown from a small fishing and mining town to a local vacation and holiday spot as well as a town that does a reasonable trade in Scrimshaw art (the ships that navigate from Lur Fel to the Fernwells have begun a supply to the city since the Duke is fond of the art).   The duke is unmarried and popular opinion is that his Herald Victor is also his lover.



Wall 

Area: 64,000 sq leagues
Population: 978,000
Official Language: Meiren
Other Languages: Borrsta, Vorshova (in places), others by race or creed
Duchy Seat: Banion Brock
Largest City: Banion Brock (including areas claimed outside the wall)
Grand Duke/Duchess: Alrik Tenamore (unmarried)
Primary Imports: lumber, oil
Primary Exports: ore, coal, stone, wheat, glass, minerals
Important Locations:  Banion Brock, Droven Stracht, Dwaeren Taeric, Lur Fel
Lesser Locations:  Dane's Grove,  the Osterhaüse


Culture

The people of Wall are a serious and proud folk, clinging strongly to local traditions, a sense of Duchy-based patriotism, and a strong belief in personal authority.  While Wall is by no means uncivilized, there is a strong sense that might makes right.  HAving the ability to defend yourself is a prized commodity.  Wall is blessed with a large number of young men who used to serve in the army and who now have no place.  this has lead to a rise in both crime and in mercenery companies, which are closely monitored by agents of the Crown to prevent military activities.  Horse races and long distance running are popular as are hand to hand tournaments (usually boxing and wrestling, though a recent series of wins from the Order of Frozen Light have kindled an interest in martial arts). 

Climate and Travel

Wall's climate can be very harsh.  Along the Southern Trade Line the weather is cold for over half hte year and rainy when it is not.  Summer days with dry skies and bright sun are a rarity.  And to the south, where the foothills get more common and eventually turn into the Irkin Mountains, this is even more true.  Ice is a nearly constant companion.  These lands are brutal to outsiders, with little room for playing around.  When teh weather is good people tend to travel in caravans, but very few leave their cities once the snow sets in until the thaw, which is celebrated in almost all of Wall with a festival.  Sometimes people will travel for several days attending festivals in nearby cities simply to celebrate thte fact that they can move about freely again.

To the reaches even further south, Wall becomes the northern end of the Scorchlands.  Technically, Wall claims the Scorchlands as part of it's Duchy, but that is only a technicality.  Nobody goes to the Scorchlands, and those that live there:  savage natives, orc towns, and wandering Uhlsh families, are rarely the sort to attend to the Duke or pay his taxes.  Most do not recognize his authority at all, and he is a man overburdened already.  Having no army, he has no option but to leave them be.