Two years ago the Duchess and Duke of Sabrinn, who are typically quiet and carefree, closed their western border. To enforce this, a family of gypsies remained along the river that separates Nygaard from Sabrinn and had them speak to as many people as possible. The Bone Forest had become infested with beasts that hunt people and are made of whispering shadows. That was one dramatic explanation from the typically theatrical gypsies. Another rumor that was passed along went beyond deadly shadows and involved madness that penetrated the most willful of minds. What wasn’t seen could still hurt you.

Nygaard lost many people, both official scouts sent from the royal family to adventurers who thought they would bring the heads of beasts home as trophies. No one ever saw those who entered the Bone Forest again. It wasn’t merely a gypsy illusion as originally thought. Those west of Nygaard have always had problems with entering Sabrinn, except through the southern corridor that always had issues with opportunistic thieves. The wonderful and colorful merchandise crafted in the eastern provinces or acquired by pirates, was traded for with difficulty. A few merchants did travel out of Sabrinn, but they would not speak of anything being wrong. Many thought that the Duchess and Duke had fallen ill, or were poisoned by their Council of Twelve. The Council has more say, and have their fingers in every pie. It’s whispered that they control not only the pirate ships, but also a spy network that has infiltrated every noble court. Perhaps they heard something and needed to push away from the western provinces.  Perhaps they were all driven mad from a plague as the Seers of Aslindale have whispered.

It is well known that Sabrinn not only is a haven for the gypsies, but also for a variety of criminals and dark magic weavers; not that the gypsies can be in the same lump with such wickedness.

The gypsies are comprised of a number of families, both by blood and through vow, who have rejected their mistreatment in other provinces throughout the century. They farm, are excellent tinkerers  and most of all ... are performers. They are not good at paying large sums of gold to the ruler of the land, especially if they do not have what is demanded of them. Self-sufficient, many travel away from their caravan village within the Bone Forest to sell what the large port city of Seadovia has to offer. Silks, pearls, unusual weapons and strange potions make their way to the furthest reaches of Anstarra. Some even say the gypsies unknowingly carry lost artifacts and strange weapons from Azgharad soldiers who warred throughout the eastern region.

Other notable citizens of Sabrinn are pirates who scavenge the coast and sea. They enjoy their ability to travel without harassment, though they do have to pay their respects seasonally to the royal house and various blind city guards. It isn’t as though anarchy runs rampant through the province - there are plenty of guards that the Council has dispatched to make judgements on the fly and rules to enforce. It’s just that people who live by the sword, will die by the sword. Each citizen has the freedom to choose to be at peace with those around him or her, or they can choose to pick a fight. The guards exist to protect the weak and innocent, and to right real wrongs, not to interfere with foolish brawls between dock workers and rowdy ship crews.

There is a lack of nobility in Sabrinn due to Duchess Sorina the Fair announcing twenty years ago that jewels are not favored over oysters in her humble court. The Council that consists of business folk and influential villagers are the closest to nobility beyond the small castle-dwelling family.  Even Duke Andrei the Vigilant has no desire to have more than three children, the first of which is traveling on the open sea with a pair of warships.  All citizens of Sabrinn are invited to join the naval fleet or a royal fishing vessel for welcome compensation.