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Capital: Town of Whitehale Dioceses Population: 131,300 – Oeridians 79,200, Suloise 18,100, Flan 7,200, Other 900, Elves 12,200, Halflings 6,300, Half Elves 3,400, Gnomes 2,200, Dwarves 1,700, Half Orcs >100 Ruler: Duchess Clariece Landis (Rao) Bishop: Roland Otjieg |
he Diocese of Whitehale
is the largest and most powerful region in Veluna. Founded in 254 CY, when Veluna first declared total independence
from Furyondy, the diocese is also the oldest. Ruled by the Noble house of Landis, it has a long tradition of support
for the Canon and the Church of Rao. The current ruler is Duchess Clariece Landis. Called back to take her father's
place when he was lost in the great wars, she has done an admirable job though some old families in Whitehale still
cause her grief. The diocese's representative on the Celestial Order is Rachael Landis. She is the Duchess's niece
and shares many of her aunt's fiery traits. The diocese boasts the largest and most powerful city in Veluna in
Mitrik. Considered a pilgrimage point for many, Mitrik is the
headquarters for the Church of Rao. The majority of Whitehale is farmland that stretches as far as the eye can see.
As the diocese nears the Yatil Mountains the land turns into rolling hills and eventually the imposing peaks of the
mountains. Many old noble houses exist in Whitehale and the surrounding areas. Most notable of these is the house
of Randis. With a small claim on the ruling house, they believe they should have stepped forward and ruled when
Clariece's father passed away.
![[Portrait] Duchess Landis, by Russell Akred](../../images/portraits/Clariece.jpg "Duchess Clariece Landis, by Russell Akred")
The Duchess stepped into the role of leader quite suddenly. Her father, against his advisors wishes, traveled with his troops to support Furyondy in the war against Iuz and was lost in battle. She was called back from her duties with the Knights of Veluna to take up her present position. Clariece was the first woman accepted into the Knights of Veluna and was decorated many times before having to give up her duties to return home. She is a very fiery lady who knows what she wants and is not shy about getting it done. She has shaken up the local nobility by replacing many leaders in the diocese’s armed forces with new men. These positions used to be honorary and gave the local nobles something to do. They took this as a personal affront and the Duchess has had trouble dealing with them since. The Duchess is on very good terms with Bishop Roland, whom she has known for her entire life. Sir Rojan Ellard, the leader of the Knights of Whitehale, is a fellow Knight of Veluna and her present love interest.
![[Portrait] Bishop Otjieg, by Russell Akred](../../images/portraits/Otjieg.jpg "Bishop Roland Otjieg, by Russell Akred")
Bishop Roland has served as the representative from the College of Bishops to the diocese of Whitehale for over 30 years now. A white haired man in his early 60’s, the bishop still strikes a very imposing figure. He adventured with Clariece’s father, Yurik, in his younger years and has always been a close friend and supporter of the family. The bishop is a very wise man and is known for his acts of kindness and charity. He is currently fighting a sentiment with the nobles that he should be replaced as he cannot do his job correctly while being such a good friend with the Duchess. So far these rumors have done nothing, but what tricks the other nobles have up their sleeves remains to be seen.
Also known as the Knight Imperious or the Avenger, Sir Ellard Rojan is arguably the most powerful man in the diocese outside of Mitrik. He is commander of the Knights of Whitehale as well as a member of the Knights of Veluna. A man of common birth and simple means, Ellard is a champion of the common man. He first met Duchess Clariece in the Knights of Veluna 5 years ago and has since become a trusted friend and her current love interest. Ellard is the type of man that sees the world in very black and white terms. This has caused him some trouble in the past with some of the local nobles, but with the peoples support for him they have lacked the power to do anything about it.
![[Portrait] Baron Randis, by Russell Akred](../../images/portraits/Marcus.jpg "Baron Marcus Randis, by Russell Akred")
Marcus is married to the cousin of Duchess Clariece. He believes this entitles him to the rulership of Whitehale instead of what he considers an inferior woman. The baron is not an evil man, but is not above stooping to political pressure and mudslinging to get what he believes he deserves.
This is the city where Veluna started. The Crook of Rao was found in the catacombs underneath the present Cathedral of Rao almost 600 years ago. Since that time the city has grown up around it and became the center of religion and culture for Veluna.
Mitrik is a very old city and shows it. The entire city is almost totally constructed of stone. When walking through its streets you get the feeling of ancient power and the worn roads show the path that thousands have walked over the past 5 centuries. The city is divided into several wards. Large stone walls separate each section with gates controlling the flow of traffic. All sections of the city are open to anybody except the temple grounds themselves which are open to authorized members and their guests only. The dock area is very clean and orderly compared to most other cities. It is well patrolled and trouble is not common. Just up the river from the dock area you can see the floating villa's of some of the merchant lords of the city rising and falling with the seasonal floods.
Whitehale is the second largest town after Mitrik and is home to the ruling family of Whitehale. The city started out as more of a farmers market then a city. The farmers from the surrounding areas used it as a meeting place to swap goods and to sell crops to visiting merchants. It has grown into a decent sized town which supports many of the finer things in life. It is home to the Knights of Whitehale. A group started by the late Duke Yurik as a quick response force to threats from the Yatils or more recently Iuz himself. The Church of Rao has a large temple here and is by far the most common god worshipped in Whitehale. Temples to St. Cuthbert, Heironeous, and general temples to agricultural gods are also found, but have small followings at the present.
The duke started the construction of a large fortification on the Fals River in the northernmost point in the diocese before his death. He believed it was paramount to have a strong position in that area with the advancement of Iuz through the Vesve forest. The castle is nearing completion and when it is finished, the Knights of Whitehale plan to move their headquarters there.
Falls of Mist is a large waterfall on the western edge of the diocese. A tributary of the Fals River runs down out of the Yatil Mountains and falls over a 300 foot cliff to the valley floor below. The cliffsides around the waterfall are littered with small caves and passageways. What is most strange about the waterfall is the fact that it never freezes. The caves around the waterfall are often used by bandits and other things that have crawled down out of the mountains. The Knights of Whitehale make regular trips to the Falls to clean them out every few months.