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The name of the human lands comes from ancient times, when the region was extremely balkanized and several dozen warlords, powerful mages, archbishops, and bandit kings ruled over the region. Over time, the more evil and chaotic elements were exterminated by their neighbors, and marriage and political alliances brought many of the states together. Today there are actually eleven kingdoms - two have merged into the capital kingdom of Leomhann. There is a mysterious "thirteenth kingdom" of Aotrom; it is referenced in many histories and documents - some of recent vintage even - but nobody can recall a single fact about it.
Ruled over by The Merchant King Leonidas the Seventh, this kingdom extends across both sides of the Great River on the shores of the Sea of Cecilia. This kingdom owes its great success to its ability to control trade on both the river and the inland sea, and the present monarch maintains his power through his popularity among the people, low taxes and regulation, and his abilities in negotiating favorable trade among the human merchant fleets and the demihuman lands of elves and gnomes.
Leomhann was formed two centuries ago by the union of the Leomhann and Haffum duchies, which controlled the west and east sides of the Great River, respectively. This marriage of convenience gave both noble houses tremendous authority over the trade activity in and around the sea, and the remaining duchies eventually agreed to surrender some sovereignty to continue to access the Sea of Cecilia.
Leomhann today is considered the most cosmopolitan and sophisticated of all of the duchies of the Twelve Kingdoms. It's standard of living is quite high, and its people are considered some of the freest in all the world. The capital city, Haffumtaigh, is host to the largest Adventurers' Guild hall, and its ports regularly see adventurers both coming and going on their quests.
Very little is known about this duchy, and most of the common folk believe it a made-up fairy tale whose existance is primarily to scare small children into behaving properly. Among the more studious wizards and bards, however, its historical presence is not in dispute - but its vanishing is a terrible worry.