Southmarch

Southmarch is one of the provinces in the continent of Teriv, and home to Teriv's capital city of Banner Stand.

Southmarch, in contrast with Imperia, is the political capital of Teriv. The traditional monarch of the realm is crowned and rules from the city of Banner Stand.

Southmarch was famously the antagonizing force in the War of Three Rivers, when anti-Imperia dissidents of the noble Southmarch family – who legend tells originally settled the southern lands of Teriv – rose an army to challenge the plutocratic regime of Imperia. The uprising was successful, and the Southmarch family has ruled Teriv since, until the death of the last Southmarch, Ianna, in 840 PT.

Legend tells that the final battle that decided the fate of the war was fought on the banks of the Doran River. The Southmarch forces, reduced to fewer than four hundred troops, were facing down the full Imperian might of near three-thousand.

The story goes that Iryes Southmarch, having taken up the last intact banner from a fallen standard-bearer, planted it into the earth at her feet, drew her sword, and personally led the charge into the marshaled Imperian army. They were victorious, and the spot where Iryes planted that banner became the center of the capital city - Banner Stand. The Doran River was hence named for her brother, Doran Southmarch, who fell in that same battle.