When I first joined the World of Darkness fan community ShadowNessence, I had intended on making a setting sourcebook set in the Kingdom of Apples, in the style of the Changeling sourcebook Kingdom of Willows. I figured that since I live in New Hampshire, it would be easy for me to put together something on my home region. Boy was I wrong. In fact, I don't think I've ever been so wrong about the size or scope of a project before! Here I am, a few years later and with this site up and running. We've devoted a lot of time to a lot of areas of interest and I figured that it was time to get back to a promise I made to the wonderful folks over at SnE (No Astra, not the game... not yet at least.) So, here for your pleasure I give to you the start of Kingdom of Apples. I hope you enjoy it, it's been a long time coming.
~Tom~
Our amazing map was created by Alaina. Thank you so much my love!
History of the Kingdom
Coming Soon
Geography of the Kingdom
The Kingdom of Apples- American Northeast
Ruled by Queen Mab ni Fiona
Tara-Nar- Catskill Mountains
Held by Regent Morwen ni Gwydion, claimed by High Queen Faerilyth ni Eiluned
Physical Geography:
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Enchanted Places:
Caer Palisades- Mab’s holding near Palisades Park, Cliffside Park and Fort Lee New Jersey
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The Duchy of the Golden Sigil- New York State
Ruled by Duke Kelodin (Ennobled Troll loyal to House Gwydion)
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The Marquis of the Grand Apple- New York City
Ruled by Edwyn ap Gwydion, the Marquis of Apples
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The County of Man’s Mountains– Manhattan
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The County over the Brook – Brooklyn
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County Queensland – Queens
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The Northland County – The Bronx
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The County Over the Narrows– Staten Island
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The Duchy of Gardens- New Jersey
Ruled by Duke Marcurian ap Dougal
Physical Geography:
The most densely populated state
in the United States, New Jersey’s borders correspond with those of the fae
Duchy of Gardens. With over eight million people making their homes in the
fourth smallest state in the nation, the duchy is rich in both Glamour and
Banality of all sorts. While the area is one of the most liberal in the nation,
and its proximity to both Philadelphia and New York ensure a steady flow of the
arts and culture, the region is also home to more scientists than any other
state (as well as a sizable population of Nockers), and the tedium of the
average worker’s life can quickly become Banal.
Duke Marcurian of House Dougal rules from an estate near Newark in the north,
but the changelings of the Duchy of Gardens, like their mortal counterparts,
follow the lead of New York in the north and Philadelphia in the south. Northern
changeling life is much more closely associated with the royal court (seeing as
Queen Mab’s court at Palisades is located in the Duchy itself, and Tara-Nar is
just a couple hours away), while southern changelings are much more
freewheeling, given the wilds of the Pine Barrens, the carefree style of the
Jersey Shore, and the accepting Quaker roots of the Philadelphia region.
Marcurian doesn’t have much control over his own region, but seeing as the duchy
is mostly made up of independent-minded Nockers, they like that just fine.
Major Cities and Landmarks:
Philadelphia and New York
definitely set the tone, but New Jersey has several cities in its own right. The
largest is Newark, with a population of nearly 300,000; other northern cities in
the same sphere of influence include Jersey City, Elizabeth, and New Brunswick,
home of Rutgers University. To the south of this, in the middle of the state,
are Trenton (the state capital) and Princeton (home of the University of the
same name). Across from Philadelphia, Camden has the dubious distinction of
being the most dangerous city in the nation, while down at the shore, Atlantic
City is a Mecca of casinos, hotels, and Donald Trump fans. Finally, the southern
tip of the state is the site of Cape May, a shadow of its former glory as the
ultimate Victorian beach resort.
Newark
Five miles from Manhattan, Newark has had increasing trouble over the years
moving out of its neighbor’s shadow. Historically an industrial powerhouse for
its command of shipping in New York Harbor, Newark has fallen into decline since
the Second World War, and it is wracked with problems such as high murder rates
and racial tensions since the riots of the 1960s. However, it still holds great
cultural power, with the largest Portuguese population in America inhabiting the
Ironbound neighborhood, a large number of Hispanic immigrants, and two colleges
(Rutgers Newark and Seton Hall) to boost its youthful demographic. Hundreds of
millions have been spent on arts facilities (such as the impressive Tibetan
collection at the local museum) in recent years. Whether it will be enough to
stop Newark’s slow inexorable slide into Banality remains to be seen.
Camden
Camden serves as a dark possibility for the future of Newark. Located just
across the Delaware from Philadelphia, Camden too was once an important
industrial center, mainly due to its strategic location on the waterfront; the
Naval yards were some of the most important in the nation. However, crime and
poverty have overtaken the city, especially since the 1970s, with most of the
80,000 residents having a family member or friend that has been murdered. Adding
insult to injury are the fact that affluent suburbs like Moorestown (voted “best
place to live in the US”) and Cherry Hill (site of the first symbol of
suburbia—the mall—in America) are mere miles away. While the bleak outlook of
Camden is certainly sobering, the quality of local nightmares is far more
powerful.
Atlantic City
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Atlantic City has consistently been a town
full of pizzazz and fast living. A miniature Vegas on the East Coast, the
municipality is packed with hotels, casinos, and resorts; the legalization of
gambling is a welcome attraction to thousands every day. With some eccentric
distinctions—the location off which the original Monopoly game was based, the
sometime home of Donald Trump, site (until recently) of the Miss America
pageant—there are dreams of riches and fame floating all through the streets.
The center of the Jersey Shore’s bustling resort community (its colorful
Boardwalk is an especially popular attraction), Atlantic City could easily move
up or down in its prospects at any time; its future is as uncertain as the spin
of the roulette wheel.
Natural Places:
While New Jersey certainly
doesn’t possess the extent of natural beauty that it did a hundred years ago, it
is by no means devoid of wilderness; the wilderness is simply confined and
pushed into the uninhabited corners of the state, with no profit prospects. In
the northwest rise the Kittatinny and Ramapo Mountain chains, branches of the
low-elevation Appalachians; small towns sit nestled snugly in the forested
valleys of these ridges. Preserves such as Stokes Forest are scattered along the
Delaware, and a few patches of marshland still remain in the northeast. Across
the suburban tangle that is central Jersey, much of the barrier islands of Ocean
County remain untouched, a haven for wetland birds and wildlife.
Finally, the interior of South Jersey is dominated by the Pine Barrens, a
quintessential feature of the state. Defined as covering over 2,500 square miles
of land, the Barrens derive their name from the very poor quality of their soil;
despite this, they are home to a vast array of flora and fauna. The former site
of iron factories and the first blueberry farms in America, most of the Barrens
are now set aside as a national reserve (the nation’s first). Local legends
include that of the infamous “Jersey Devil”, various ghost towns such as Ong’s
Hat, the “Pineys” who are secluded in the darkest corners of the forest, and
natural features such as the bottomless Blue Hole.
Enchanted Places:
The Greenery
Duke Marcurian’s estate outside of Newark appears to be a rundown garden and
greenhouse to the mortal eye. For the fae, however, the garden is quite alive,
full of various flowers and plants that wind along the path up to the greenhouse
where court is held. The nature of the greenhouse is somewhat reflective of the
Duke’s attitude toward his realm: while he understands and respects the nockers’
dominance and love of technology, he wishes to restore some of the “garden” that
the Duchy is famous for. Queen Mab is a frequent visitor to the greenhouse’s
delights, and the Duke goes out of his way to make sure her every need is met.
Menlo Park
For the nockers, there are few sites more holy than that of Menlo Park. The
location of inventor Thomas A. Edison’s laboratory, a faint aura of Glamour
still crackles in the air like electricity around the site. On these grounds,
inventions such as the electric light bulb and phonograph (the advent of
recorded music) were first conceived and demonstrated to the public; the Black
Maria movie studio to the north has long since fallen into disrepair and holds
no real attraction any longer. For those who find the Glamour in creation of
mechanical devices, in their beauty and simplicity, an afternoon in Menlo Park
can be sufficient to reawaken even the most jaded nocker grump.
Wheaton Village
Hidden deep in the heart of the Pine Barrens, just outside of Millville, Wheaton
Village is an open-air historical site that recreates the early industrial days
of the Barrens. The primary attraction of the village is its extensive
glassworks, glass shops, and glassblowing demonstrations. The world’s largest
bottle is located here, and glass of all shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and
uses exists in the minds and hands of the talented artisans. At least two
nockers and one sidhe* make their home here, Musing Glamour from the visitors
and employees alike.
Rankokus Indian Reservation
The last bastion of Native American culture in the state, Rankokus is the home
of the Renape Indian Nation, a once-massive force that spread across the
Delaware Valley. Now, the site is home to several arts and crafts fairs that
attract thousands upon thousands of guests, who are all freshly impressed by the
beauty and complex splendor of this great culture. One Nunnehi elder*, perhaps
the only to make her home in the Duchy, bases her operations out of this
reservation, and passes the secrets of the Lenni-Renape Delawares to all who
wish to listen.
The Duchy of Liberty’s Heart- Pennsylvania
Ruled by Duke Allenion ap Gwydion
Physical Geography:
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Caer Brotherhood- Liberty Hall
The Duchy of Stonecoast- Maine
Ruled by Duchess Ylenaria ni Eiluned
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The Duchy of Granite- New Hampshire
Ruled by Duke Garan ap Fiona
Physical Geography:
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Caer Freewill- A mansion on the shores of Lake Massabesic
The Duchy of Maples- Vermont
Ruled by Duchess Caerendlith ni Gwydion
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The Duchy of Pewter- Massachusetts
Ruled by Duchess Peraniya ni Ailil
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The County of Cauldrons- Salem
Ruled by Countess Rianna ni Eiluned
The Duchy of Back Bay- The City of Boston
Ruled by Duke Tymon ap Gwydion
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The Duchy of Sails- Rhode Island
Ruled by Duke Larys ap Fiona
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The Duchy of Fair Winds- Delaware
Ruled by Duchess Linnielle ni Eiluned
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The Commonwealth of Hope’s Boundary- Connecticut
Led by elected Governor, currently the Satyr Zharkis who is serving his second three year term.
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Politics and Culture
Coming Soon
Kithain of the Kingdom
Queen Mab ni Fiona (See War in Concordia page 104)
Regent Morwen ni Gwydion (See War in Concordia page 102)
Princess Lenore ni Dougal (See War in Concordia page 102)
Duke Kelodin (Ennobled Troll loyal to House Gwydion)
Edwyn ap Gwydion, the Marquis of Apples
Duke Marcurian ap Dougal
Duke Allenion ap Gwydion
Duchess Ylenaria ni Eiluned
Duke Garan ap Fiona
Count Thomas ap Ailil
Count Corlet ap Gwydion
Duchess Caerendlith ni Gwydion
Duchess Peraniya ni Ailil
Countess Rianna ni Eiluned
Duke Tymon ap Gwydion
Count Conerlaihn ap Gwydion
Duke Larys ap Fiona
Duchess Linnielle ni Eiluned
Governor Zharkis
Dame Rowena ni Scathach (See War in Concordia page 83)
Gallain and Others
Coming Soon