Turen d’Vri (tur-REN-de-VREE) is the northern half of the Kingdom’s heartland, and one of the biggest centers of agriculture and commerce on the Continent. The land of the Duchy is highly fertile but rather sodden; many lakes and swamps dot the region, in between multiple tributaries of the Rothlin and the main body of the River itself. Standard farming techniques frequently require significant investment into draining or raising the terrain; while some nobles have followed that path to great success, many hold to the traditional ways of wet-cultivation, raising crops that make good use of the wet soil, particularly the bountiful herbs that grow wild within the swamps and fields when the land is left fallow. Of special note are the Baies du Marais (BAY-doo-mah-RAI), a unique varietal of grape vine that thrives in the wet soil of Turenese vinyards, the fruit of which contributes significantly to the Duchy’s economy.
Though it is near enough to the coast that it has seen its share of raids by Skalding forces over the centuries, the Turenese have historically had to worry more about one another or a greedy neighbor than about viking longboats. The nearness of the Rothlin and its major tributaries to so many Turenese towns and cities has made the Duchy a hub of trade and commerce, with Ponters moving barges of goods throughout the region every day of the year. It was in Turen d’Vri that the first grand cities appeared within Rivermark, built by commerce, ambition, and steady rulership.
The Turenese view themselves as the laid-back, educated, and sophisticated siblings of the folk of Redcrown; both Duchies have enormous economies, but Turen d’Vri tends to put more of its money into scholarly and philosophical pursuits compared to its southern neighbor. The best Scriveners in the Kingdom come from the Towers and cloisters of Turen, and many of the most gifted arcanists and engineers in the Kingdom’s history were educated here. Thanks to the extensive cultivation of Baies du Marais, Turen d’Vri is also home to some of the best vinyards and wineries on the Continent; its ports and rosés in particular are considered alongside Vauldan reds and Dalean whites as some of the best vintages on the market.