By Kieran/Kyra “Omri” Barry
(Photo courtesy of Jason "Aeston")Today we’re learning more about Ashenmark and its rich cheese culture as part of a new series exploring cultural and regional lore in depth, from what drives the local economy to why a group's flag looks like that.
From http://www.ashenmark.com/history.htm Ashenmark was founded May 5, 1010 under Highlord Termorse Sorrowind with Kahelnar Swingline, Grindin Starbrook, Killian Battlefate and Osric Turnstone. Its lands were a gift from Dame Twenaria, previously of “Elemirre.”
On older maps this nation was bordered by Rhiassa and Ekembria and is currently bordered by Rhiassa still, in addition to Val Dara, Invictus, Chimeron, and what remains of Ekembria, the rest absorbed into Ashenmark. It is a largely landlocked nation with Amber Lake near its commerce city of Highmarket, and the major rivers Anderlyss River and Deiard River, as well as the Roaring Brook, feeding into said lake. Not pictured is the Elimirre Isle, south of Teng Hua and North-East of Corsica, an island part of Ashenmark’s holdings.
In an interview with Sir Shader Jarlsberg of Ashenmark they expounded more upon the four great cheese baron families of Highmarket.
“I am Shader Jarlsberg of the Jarlsberg cheese mongers of Highmarket. The cheese monger clans in (friendly) competition with ours are Luke John Havarti’s clan (you can tell because his cheese cake was so good)[author’s note: see below for B&W 22 competition] and clans Yarg and Adelost.”
Notable members of the cheese baron families who became adventurers are:
- Shader Jarlsberg
- LukeJohn Havarti
- Moria Yarg
- Lyanna Adelost
“Together we are the backbone of the Ashenmark economy, producing the main export.” This, of course, being the famous Ashenmark cheese. Despite being a largely landlocked nation and the river Deiard which becomes the Lhenrock River before feeding into the sea its only natural sailing route to ocean, Highmarket’s trade greatly benefits from Ashenmark’s Seagate. The Seagate is located in the middle of Amber Lake and allows ships to travel from Amber Lake directly to the other Seagate, also known as Tidegate, located at the Elimirre Isle, by the outpost of Farport.
The prevalence of the cheese trade and cheese families and the effects they have had on the culture of Ashenmark can be seen in the 1022’s Black and White Royal Pâtissier of Chimeron competition. Having been absent a few years, the 1022 baking competition returned with cheesecake as its dessert of choice, and more than half of entries were from members of Ashenmark. That Sabine, a non Ashenmark entrant, won is a testament to her cheesecake.
Ashenmark Entrants:
- Raynor - Crème brûlée
- Umbra - Matcha
- LukeJohn - Peanut butter
- Temorse - Classic
Non-Ashenmark Entrants:
- Sabine (winner of the competition and thus Royal Pâtissier of Chimeron for the year) - Dulce de Leche
- Lunaliss - Blueberry
- Omri - Burnt classic
The four families have “crafted the golden curd since time immemorial", elevating the proud cheese farming tradition, until they became the cheese barons of Highmarket of Ashenmark.