Vaxin was the first territory to come into being when the fledgeling kingdom of Cheshire expanded. Nestled in the southeast quadrant of Cheshire, it is also the only one of the three other duchies to only have ever had one family, the Vaxins, ruling it since its inception. It’s location to the Endless Peak mountain range gives it a source of ore that Cheshire uses to make the armors and weapons its smiths are famous for. It doesn’t hurt that the Shatterstone Clan of dwarves has an outpost in the mountains and a lucrative contract to make weapons and armor for the human kingdom.
As the first territory, it boasts the largest number of independent forts in the entire kingdom. The fortified city of Vaxin is home of the current ruler, Duke Sim Vanix and his family. Duke Vaxin, like his cousin Duke Perthius is also a military man, arguably even more so. His family aggressively conquered the region that became Vaxin, and helped secure the land north that became Perth.
Vaxin is also home to a vast number of nobles and upper class citizens. In fact there are only two classes in Vaxin. The upper class, and the lower class that makes up the menial labor. Vaxin is also called the walled city, due to the double ring of walls within it. The inner ring houses the nobles. The smaller, narrower ring outside it is were the lower class live.
Vaxin is surrounded by cities of Cekar, Bhor, Dorai, and Vanus. Both Vanus and Dorai have a fort on the roads leading to it: Fort Dorai, and Castle Van. Up the road from Castle Van is Fort Brakus. The cliffside city of Skie is south of Fort Brakus.
As the other duchies, Vaxin is home to primarily humans, but there is a larger population of elves (due to its proximity to Arien and the Spider woods), and dwarves due to the Shatterstone mines in the Endless Peaks, than all the other regions except Shire.
To the northwest of Vaxin is the Spider Woods, with the valley elf city of Arien within it. To the north lies the Mist Woods. For more on the Spider Woods, Arien, and Mist Woods check here.
West of the Mist Woods is Crystal Lake. The Bloodmoon Carnival is held regularly here every summer. The fact that people mysteriously vanish here hasn’t stopped it from being a popular tourist attraction. It is run by the traveling circus family, the Aitanos.
The southern portion the Forest of Souls is in the northeast portion of Vaxin. I will touch upon that haunted place when I discuss the Shire, since the majority of it lies within its borders.
Fort Brakus and the cliffside city below it, lie in the southern portion of Vaxin. Fort Brakus is an impressive edifice, and the Ironguards and Silver Knights are among the fiercest warriors in all of Cheshire.
In the southwest portion of Vaxin lies Castle Van, the Vax Forest and the Endless Peaks. The Endless Peaks are a large set of mountains directly on the cliffs of Cheshire. Hill giants and a variety of drakes make their home here. There is an outpost hidden in the Peaks that the Shatterstone Clan of dwarves, call home. There is a direct tunnel, hidden and guarded that leads to Shatterstone Hall, the last of the dwarven citadels.
The Vax Forest is home to a large tribe of trolls, the leader of which is a half-red dragon. A druid circle, which has been unattended for decades lies in the center of it.
Castle Van is a larger more impressive building than even Fort Brakus. Clearly meant for defense, any force trying to make its way into Vaxin would be sorely pressed, even if they make it past Fort Brakus.
A Darkness Rising 