At the dawn of the empire, these lands still remained shunned by locals, partly because they were swamps, but also there was talk of a dark curse and strange voices in the night. That was until someone figured out that there is a lot of peat and iron ore in these swamps. For some hundred years after that the lands prospered. The city of Leubock was founded by Lord Beneficious Leubock-Bold and its main concern was extracting that peat and iron and shipping it up the Shandar. The populace grew rapidly as Willing* and Well Paid* workers were brought in from all corners of The Eternal Empire thus making Leubockers a varied melange of peoples and cultures. But the happy days were not to last. The wetlands were relentless in swallowing and eroding most anything erected there, making upkeep costs for the iron ore production high. So when iron later was discovered in mountains elsewhere it became increasingly hard to turn a profit.
After the sixteenth slave uprising deals were struck between slaves and slavers where the slaves could buy the various enterprises they worked for and thus their freedom. The former masters thought this a good way to cut their losses, literally avoid further sunk costs and move to drier climates without loosing too much wealth or face. Many of the slaves remained, living the only life they knew how to live. And although wet, the swamps were bountiful lands in their own way. The huge anglerfish are plentiful and easy to catch. With the right know-how the various mushrooms, polypores, snakes and frogs provide much nutrition, and poison, that can be use to hunt birds, bevers and the mighty alligators.
\*not
The hodgepodge mix of peoples and cultures in Leubock has, over the years grown into something quite of its own. But these strange lands have changed its people at least as much as it has been changed by them. A sort of superstition has grown into religious practice. The swamp lore and its holy order are a big part of the peoples lives where a faith in the mystical nature of the swamp lives alongside faith in the emperor. The swamp is seen as a great giver and taker of life. It provides much of the sustenance and livelihood for the people in the area who have come to regard it much as sailors regard the sea. There are many practices and rituals of listening to the voices of the swamp which guide people in everything from where to dig for resources to politics and statecraft. The Blessed Fen Order are the religious leaders, residing in The Sunken Temple. The Holy Mother is their prime hierophant and an important political figure.
The Duke of Leubock is a hereditery title traditionally passed from eldest child to eldest child in the Leubock-Bold family since the days of Beneficious I. The Duke is a sworn servant to the emperor - and if certain charts and family trees are to be believed emperor blood also flows within the Leubock-Bold family.
Exports are iron ore, peat and a certain bog fermented spirit called Gharnah. Also unofficial trade in various herbs and poisons.