Lutherian Settlements & Colonies (Patreon)

After the founding of Lutheria, the Kingdom of Albion continued to expand its territory. Between the might of its military and religious influence, many other countries found themselves with little choice but to ally themselves with the hostile nation. And as they did, many of their citizens found themselves faced with the choice of living under an oppressive rule, or leaving their homes. Many attempted to flee to Lutheria, following their example of self-made freedom, but Inisfalia, the island it was founded on, was only so large. So they were forced to look further west.

Journeying across the ocean, this alliance that consisted almost entirely of humans landed on the shores of a land they knew as Nova Mundus. With a long stretch of the eastern coast open and free, the newly immigrated people began to build settlements. The first four of these were Bridgeport, Goldbury, Pinewater, and Holbrooke. While the four townships maintain business and trade relations with one another, they all operate independently.

There were some clashes with the native population as they broke ground, largely based around access to the waterfront. Most of these have been resolved by the current day, though relations remain icy. Pakannon is the only city to establish formal ties with the four settlements, and it has been working with some of the other local cities to encourage them to follow suit.

Goldbury is the northernmost settlement, named so in a fit of wishful thinking. Being the closest settlement to the mountains, its founders had big dreams of striking it rich by starting up a mine. However, several months of searching for precious metals and stones ended without a single deposit being found. As a result, the town was forced to switch its focuses elsewhere. These days, Goldbury features a thriving textile-based economy, providing clothing and other fabrics to the other settlements.

South of Goldbury is Holbrooke, known for its agriculture and livestock. The township’s defining feature is the large windmill that sits on a hill near the shore, visible for miles in the distance. Using the strong ocean winds to their advantage, this and other mills grind flour for breads and other baked goods that are shipped up and down the coastline. Curiously, while most of the settlements are by and large secular, Holbrooke contains a significant religious population. An offshoot of the Albion Orthodox Church having been established, though with no formal ties to the larger and more oppressive religious body.

The third settlement, south of Holbrooke is Bridgeport, which is also the most populated of the four settlements. Built next to the mouth of a wide river, the town was named after the large bridge that was built to connect both sides. With nearby access to bodies of water containing both fresh and saltwater, Bridgeports main industry is fishing, which also contributes to a major part of the local diet.

The final and southernmost settlement is Pinewater. Located next to some of the thickest parts of the forest, logging and carpentry are what form the basis of this town’s economy. This also led to some of the worst confrontations with the local orc population, who felt their territory was being encroached on. With the counseling of a delegation from Pakanon, formal boundaries were established defining where the settlers were allowed to gather their lumber.

In the hundred or so years since their founding, these four settlements have managed to each find their niche and grow with each other’s corporation, but that growth is limited. There are many more cultures all across Nova Mundus, most of whom have never even heard of Lutheria or these colonies. If they want to continue to thrive on these foreign shores, reaching out to their non-human neighbors may be the only way forward.