Geoff
Proper Name: Grand Duchy of Geoff
Ruler: His High Radiance, Owen I, Grand Duke of
Geoff (exiled—LG male human Wiz15 (illusionist)/
Ftr5); now ruled by rival giant and nonhuman
tribal leaders and shamans, divided by race and
religion
Government: (Formerly) feudal monarchy with
minor fealty to Keoland; (now) no central government
exists
Capital: (Formerly) Gorna; (now) none
Major Towns: Gorna (pop. ?), Hochoch (pop. 5,500), Hocholve (pop. 0), Pest's Crossing (pop.
800), Pregmere (pop. 300)
Provinces: (Formerly) six high counties, numerous
elven lordships among nomadic woodland tribes, a
few dwarf and gnome lordships in Stark Mounds;
(now) several ill-managed "provinces" commanded
by most powerful giant inhabitants of former human
cities
Resources: (Formerly) cloth, copper, silver, gold,
timber, gems (I)
Coinage: [Modified Keoland] griffon (pp), lion (gp),
eagle (ep), hawk (sp), owl (cp)
Population:70,000—Human 79% (FSO), Elf 9%
(sylvan 90%), Halfling 5%, Dwarf 3% (hill), Gnome
2%, Half-elf 1%, Half-orc 1% (plus vast number of
uncounted orcs, goblins, various giants, etc.)
Languages: Common, Flan, Keolandish, Elven,
Halfling (plus Orc, Goblin, etc.)
Alignments: NG, LG, CG, N, LN, CN, CE* (law formerly
LN)
Religions: Pelor, Ehlonna, Allitur, Phyton, Fharlanghn,
St. Cuthbert, Obad-Hai, elf pantheon,
Norebo, Beory, gnome pantheon
Allies: Sterich, Keoland, Gran March, Bissel
Enemies: Valley of the Mage (distrusted), nonhumans
and giants in Crystalmists
Overview: The land of Geoff is utterly devastated. Its villages are ghost towns, and armies of orcs and giants of all varieties have inhabited the cities, taking as slaves those humans they did not kill and eat. Few buildings have escaped ruin, and the land's forests are being harvested for unknown purposes. Nearly everything that once was Geoff has been erased. The giants hold all land from the Crystalmist mountains in all directions but east, where the Realstream, Dim Forest, Oytwood, and Stark Mounds demarcate a chaotic, violent border with Gran March.
Geoffs isolated position accounts for some unusual weather. Morning fog is common near the Dim Forest, giving northeastern Geoff a reputation for secrecy and hauntings. Rain is plentiful, though thunderstorms are short, violent affairs. Winter brings significant snowfall, especially in the west and mountains.
Before the wars, Geoff was well known as a source
for wool and furs. Animals, both wild and domesticated,
once freely roamed the countryside. Most of
these were captured and eaten by giants and orcs,
though the deer population has grown following the
loss of their foremost predator (humans—the orcs
and giants eat cattle and horses). Roving packs of
wild dogs range widely throughout Geoff, creating
yet another hazard in an already frightful realm.
Geoffs roads, predictably, are in disrepair. Traveling them is relatively safe, however, since giants ignore roads to take the most direct overland path, carrying their belongings. Few bandits inhabit Geoff, as the giants are dangerous and nothing is left worth stealing.
The giants' gains were hard won. Geoff's archers,
predominantly sylvan elves and half-elves, picked
off the first giant forays, allowing the full evacuation
of the capital and much of the southlands. Eventually,
Geoffs defense broke. Cavalry and pikemen
were little match for seemingly countless bands of
giants and nonhumans. Little evidence of an organized
Geoffite army exists today; survivors long ago
pledged themselves to Gran March or newly liberated
Sterich, and they encourage the retaking of
Geoff from afar. The largest group of these warriors
is based in the all-but-annexed town of Hochoch,
between the Dim Forest and Oytwood.