To be honest, I kinda grew bored with Sudwald after I fleshed out everything; I got the itch out. However, I think I could have fun with the Midlands. But as I said, I would like to change things up juust a little bit, and of course dictate a coat of arms and a family motto. It'll be up after dinner, so no later than four hours from now. I hope.
EDIT:
So, for the crest I'd prefer something like:
With the motto "Strength in Seed and Steed"
For those of you who can't discern what is what from my amazing paint skills, it is a green field with maroon chevron and three horseshoes.
I like the family outlined by Mr. Santiago, and all the rest works for me; however, I would like to make the additions as follows:
Lord Edward- 66 ---- Lady Annabella- 41
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Guy- Dead Emma- 19 Ana-17
Ana instead of Annabella again, for all our sake. And Ana is now part of this:
Ana- 17 ---- Viscount Daniel Manson- 45
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David- 3
This way, there is some competition for the throne; if Emma cannot marry and have a boy in time, or if Edward and Annabella cannot get a son...well, to put it lightly, fit will hit the shan.
Lord Edward is still "the simple," and Lady Annabella is still an extremely rich Burgher whose influence is dominating right now.
I shall address the history of the region in my own way, while remaining rather true to the ideas of Mr. Santiago.
Ok, here goes:
House Harrald is one of the oldest noble houses surviving to this day, tracing its lineage to great kings of central Neumark before the conquest by the Great Empire of classic history (you said celtic-->roman-->etc, this is before roman, or rather high celtic). From then on they have ruled over their ancestral lands as simple lords, faithfully serving whoever held the high throne of Neumark. To this day, they remain one of the largest supporters of the Royal house.
The Midlands themselves used to comprise of both the current Midlands and its vassal Bernford, but over time their natural divisions led to differing cultures. The Midlands remained focused on crops and horse warfare, while Bernford grew more akin to the Clans who border their Eastern boundary, developing more natural skill as hunters and archers with an economy more focused on game and various minor meats.
Both regions retain their ancient holdings, which developed into a system of Holds. Rather than hamlets or other such settlements crossing the lands, extended families live together in Holds, solid, two-storied structures which acts as both living quarters and barn. The poorer ones are wooden, sometimes with wooden palisades, while the wealthier ones are stone, surrounded by walls of either stone or wood. Intermarriage of relatives is not the norm, as women leave their holds to the homes of their husbands. The notable exceptions are the towns and cities typically marked on maps, which are locations for the intermingling of holds on neutral ground. It is believed that Harrald was one such hold, which bred enough men to form a cavalry regiment used to intimidate and eventually rule the neighboring holds, until their power spread across the region.
The Midlands are commonly called the bread basket of the nation, and truly their holds produce grain crops aplenty via extensive irrigation of both the Glauborne and the Abanmal. The centermost region of the Midlands is open plains, where fields grow undisturbed and largely free from human interaction, with the exception of horse breeders who frequently come to supplant their stock with some of the numerous, famed wild horses of those plains. Bernford, named for the lake nearby, has hills in its Eastern and Southern corners, with forests encroaching from those directions as well. The holds in these regions tend to focus less on grain, growing only enough for the tax, preferring to make their living by hunting the plentiful game coming from the Highlands, or by raising small meatstuffs such as sheep.
The natural expanse of the Midlands led to the rise of light cavalry, who are a terror on the plains. These forces comprise an abnormally large portion of the Midland army, and are perfect for swiftly striking the enemy from any open angle. These troops are supported by the hunters of Bernford, who provide both light infantry and archers. Heavy infantry often equal in amount to the light infantry, forming a solid center for the light troops to work from. These heavy infantry are raised from the men of the holds, who train for these roles specifically, being able to buy the necessary gear due to the great wealth of the region and the free trade of Glorket. A typical Midland army has 25% heavy and light infantry each, 35% light cavalry, and 15% archers. Knights are rare in the land, with only the royal house providing any form of heavy cavalry; even then, these are usually in reserve as the general's bodyguard.
(So for the cities I'm just going to quote Mr. Santiago, with spelling corrections and some changes for my slightly different histor):
Glorket (city)
If the Middlands are Neumark's breadbasket, then Glorket (a derivation from Glauborne Market) is where the bread is wheighed, measured and sold. Initialy a small castle on a hill by the river, it has turned into an active trading hub. Thanks to the decadence of the house of Harrald, the burgers are gaining more freedom. Rumours go that they are willing to become a chartered city, if they can gain (or buy) the King's favour.
Stonewall (castle)
Built where the Crownway turns east to avoid the Fenlands the castle is a reminder of richer days, since all the stone for its massive walls and five towers was ferried from the Upper Glauborne, then overland to the site, as the site is close to the marshes and no suitable rock could be found. However, it was not the house's last work, as they built the stretch of the road that goes to the Abanmal, known as Harrald's Causeway to this day.
Wheelwright (town)
A small township in the middle of the flatlands, it concentrates the activity of the nearby holds, which form a sort of fortified town, with each home individually fortified. Caravans carrying wool and wheat depart to Glorket every week. The only remarkable point is the large cathedral built by the High Church a century ago, from which many monks of St. Collin are produced.
Amerton (town)
It began as an inn over the road to the capitol. With time it grew slowly and now it's a community of a few thousand souls, trading with both the travelers and nearby farmers
Bernford
A rather small county compared to it's neighbours, here the foothills of the Mist Mountains are covered by a thick forest where the boar, the bear and the deer are plenty.
King's Lodge (castle)
Initially hunting lodge in the middle of the woods, it got its name when Leothric spent the summer of 142 AC hunting there, under an invitation from the Lord Harrald. To mark the ocasion, the lodge was expanded and a wooden wall was built surrounding it, along with a few towers, hence earning the category of Castle
St. Collin (town & monastery)
Seeking isolation for his studies, St. Colin created the small abbey in a small valley, with a narrow road connecting it to lake Bern. The monastery grew and now it has a small village attached to it, to mind for the monk's worldly matters and liberate them for their contemplation.
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