Talinn Ryalor
Minister of Justice, Duke of Westisle
Staff member
Nobility: Duke
Minister: Justice
Fortuna Survivor
Urk Expedition Service Badge
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The Province of the Northlands
What is the Northlands Province?
The province of the Northlands is the newest Imperial province, officially being integrated into the Imperium proper in 1762. It is the coldest overall region of the Imperium proper next to the island of Urk, with cold summers and even colder winters, with the fringes of Imperial control running up into the vast wintry landmass known only as the Land of Ice and Snow where true barbarians and other horrors live. It is comprised of a collection of islands of various sizes and habitability, with most notable settlements being coastal towns and villages, although there is the occasional interior settlement typically clustered around some sort of mine. The Imperium stations its smallest squadron of ships, the Northern Squadron here, mostly to ward off larger raids from the Land of Ice and Snow, the occasional adventurous pirate, and assist stranded Imperium merchants and sailors with icebreaking barges, as large-scale attacks through the treacherous northern waters are essentially unheard of.
What are the demographics of the Northlands?
The Northlands have, with the exception of some hardy sea otter and squirrel clans with the occasional “exotic” beast, been mostly vermin, although it has seen more woodlander immigration since the great troubles of the 1740s, even before the Imperium made its move to formally bring them into the fold. The smallest minority, barely extant in the most southerly portions of the province, is the reptile population, said to be small enough that the members of the community tend to know each other on a first-name basis as the climate and their cold blood do not mix particularly well. Native beasts from here tend to sport thick gray or white coats and are very well-adapted to the cooler conditions and tend to have a practical, community-oriented culture in order to survive in the comparatively harsh conditions.
What is the economy of the Northlands like?
The economy of the modern Northlands tends to revolve around its exports of minerals and especially precious jewels when the conditions allow for mining, followed by ice, timber, fishing and whaling, experienced sailors, and alcohol, and it tends to either keep or import everything else as all local agriculture, limited to a relatively short growing season where it is available, is needed to support the comparatively low, but stable population. Beasts from the Northlands tend to natural traders, sailors, craftsbeasts, warriors, and hardscrabble farmers in order to survive the conditions of their homeland before Imperial rule, and this carries on into the modern Imperium. Interestingly, it has the lowest wealth gap out of any the Imperial provinces, even with the republican and socialist legacy of Tookumberry, due to the strong social bonds and collectivist family/clan culture that has enabled its beasts to survive for so long, although whether or not this can persist in the age of the Imperium has yet to be determined.
What are the naming conventions used in the Northlands?
Traditional northern naming conventions tend to be either Scottish, Welsh, Scandinavian, or some characteristics of one’s character (eg Todd Fairpaws, a fox that is known for being fair) although one can easily bring in British or French names as recent Imperium immigrants to the region, but, like the rest of the Imperium, you can name your character however you wish.
Are there any particular languages besides Vulpinsulan spoken in the Province?
A variety of smaller local languages (Welsh, Scottish, Scandinavian, your own invention) and foreign languages can be found in addition to accented Vulpinsulan, though the latter tends to be spoken more in the larger towns and ports.
What is the general culture of the Northlands?
The culture of the Northlands can best be described as one focused on community, economic and gender equality, and deep ties and respect for their heritage. Although the lands they inhabit might be harsh, rugged, and cold, the beasts who live there have adapted to survival by being anything but. Loyalty to one’s family and extended family, clan, or town and village is strong, and friendships are considered to be something that lasts a lifetime if one manages to gain a friend from this region of the Imperium. The genders are considered to be effectively equal in esteem, even if they reflect traditional roles at times-a partnership dynamic in the relationship, and kit rearing, is not only common, but expected.
The architecture of the Northlands tends to be minimalistic and functional for whatever the building’s purpose is and sourced from locally available materials, whether that be stone or timber, but the interior of the homes tend to be cozy, with rugs, upholstery, along with blankets to help keep the beasts inside warm during the cold winter months. There is a fondness for candles and especially lanterns fueled by whale oil, leading to most homes and cities being unusually well-lit, which is a boon during the darker months and helps beasts find their way home through the harsh weather conditions.
With regards to food, due to a shorter or barely extant growing season, the food of the region tends to be hearty and focused on fish or whale meat, although the rest of the diet depends on how far north one tends to be. In the regions closest to the Land of Ice and Snow, this tends to be only supplemented by seaweed, various hardy roots and herbs, and, depending on the summer, hardy winter berries. Further south closer to the Imperium, one instead finds potatoes, barely, rye, oats, and even vegetables like carrots, cabbage, beets, and even some hardier fruits like apples, plums, pears, and whatever can be sourced from the traders of the Imperium proper. Alcohol, when available, tends to be whisky, aquavit, beer, or the recently introduced vodka from Northern Fyador, which, due to the similar climates between the two regions, can be brewed in the Northlands as well, and while exceptions exist, most Northlanders tend to enjoy drinking to stave off the cold and drudgery during the winter months.
With regard to clothing, beasts from the Northlands tend to wear heavier, layered clothing with discarded fur from the shedding seasons being carefully preserved and used to line the interior of their clothing. Scarves, hats, kilts, and sweaters are also commonly seen here, and good boots are considered essential if one can afford them in order to survive the rugged terrain and cold.
Finally, beasts from the Northlands are known to hold a variety of religions, which are often celebrated by great feasts, bonfires, traditional dancing, and the recitation of folklore regarding great heroes and mythical creatures. The solstices are regularly observed and held in particular reverence as they signal the hardest time for beasts here in the winter and the easiest time in the summer.
A Brief History of the Northlands and the Imperium, and the Northlands today.
What is the Northlands Province?
The province of the Northlands is the newest Imperial province, officially being integrated into the Imperium proper in 1762. It is the coldest overall region of the Imperium proper next to the island of Urk, with cold summers and even colder winters, with the fringes of Imperial control running up into the vast wintry landmass known only as the Land of Ice and Snow where true barbarians and other horrors live. It is comprised of a collection of islands of various sizes and habitability, with most notable settlements being coastal towns and villages, although there is the occasional interior settlement typically clustered around some sort of mine. The Imperium stations its smallest squadron of ships, the Northern Squadron here, mostly to ward off larger raids from the Land of Ice and Snow, the occasional adventurous pirate, and assist stranded Imperium merchants and sailors with icebreaking barges, as large-scale attacks through the treacherous northern waters are essentially unheard of.
What are the demographics of the Northlands?
The Northlands have, with the exception of some hardy sea otter and squirrel clans with the occasional “exotic” beast, been mostly vermin, although it has seen more woodlander immigration since the great troubles of the 1740s, even before the Imperium made its move to formally bring them into the fold. The smallest minority, barely extant in the most southerly portions of the province, is the reptile population, said to be small enough that the members of the community tend to know each other on a first-name basis as the climate and their cold blood do not mix particularly well. Native beasts from here tend to sport thick gray or white coats and are very well-adapted to the cooler conditions and tend to have a practical, community-oriented culture in order to survive in the comparatively harsh conditions.
What is the economy of the Northlands like?
The economy of the modern Northlands tends to revolve around its exports of minerals and especially precious jewels when the conditions allow for mining, followed by ice, timber, fishing and whaling, experienced sailors, and alcohol, and it tends to either keep or import everything else as all local agriculture, limited to a relatively short growing season where it is available, is needed to support the comparatively low, but stable population. Beasts from the Northlands tend to natural traders, sailors, craftsbeasts, warriors, and hardscrabble farmers in order to survive the conditions of their homeland before Imperial rule, and this carries on into the modern Imperium. Interestingly, it has the lowest wealth gap out of any the Imperial provinces, even with the republican and socialist legacy of Tookumberry, due to the strong social bonds and collectivist family/clan culture that has enabled its beasts to survive for so long, although whether or not this can persist in the age of the Imperium has yet to be determined.
What are the naming conventions used in the Northlands?
Traditional northern naming conventions tend to be either Scottish, Welsh, Scandinavian, or some characteristics of one’s character (eg Todd Fairpaws, a fox that is known for being fair) although one can easily bring in British or French names as recent Imperium immigrants to the region, but, like the rest of the Imperium, you can name your character however you wish.
Are there any particular languages besides Vulpinsulan spoken in the Province?
A variety of smaller local languages (Welsh, Scottish, Scandinavian, your own invention) and foreign languages can be found in addition to accented Vulpinsulan, though the latter tends to be spoken more in the larger towns and ports.
What is the general culture of the Northlands?
The culture of the Northlands can best be described as one focused on community, economic and gender equality, and deep ties and respect for their heritage. Although the lands they inhabit might be harsh, rugged, and cold, the beasts who live there have adapted to survival by being anything but. Loyalty to one’s family and extended family, clan, or town and village is strong, and friendships are considered to be something that lasts a lifetime if one manages to gain a friend from this region of the Imperium. The genders are considered to be effectively equal in esteem, even if they reflect traditional roles at times-a partnership dynamic in the relationship, and kit rearing, is not only common, but expected.
The architecture of the Northlands tends to be minimalistic and functional for whatever the building’s purpose is and sourced from locally available materials, whether that be stone or timber, but the interior of the homes tend to be cozy, with rugs, upholstery, along with blankets to help keep the beasts inside warm during the cold winter months. There is a fondness for candles and especially lanterns fueled by whale oil, leading to most homes and cities being unusually well-lit, which is a boon during the darker months and helps beasts find their way home through the harsh weather conditions.
With regards to food, due to a shorter or barely extant growing season, the food of the region tends to be hearty and focused on fish or whale meat, although the rest of the diet depends on how far north one tends to be. In the regions closest to the Land of Ice and Snow, this tends to be only supplemented by seaweed, various hardy roots and herbs, and, depending on the summer, hardy winter berries. Further south closer to the Imperium, one instead finds potatoes, barely, rye, oats, and even vegetables like carrots, cabbage, beets, and even some hardier fruits like apples, plums, pears, and whatever can be sourced from the traders of the Imperium proper. Alcohol, when available, tends to be whisky, aquavit, beer, or the recently introduced vodka from Northern Fyador, which, due to the similar climates between the two regions, can be brewed in the Northlands as well, and while exceptions exist, most Northlanders tend to enjoy drinking to stave off the cold and drudgery during the winter months.
With regard to clothing, beasts from the Northlands tend to wear heavier, layered clothing with discarded fur from the shedding seasons being carefully preserved and used to line the interior of their clothing. Scarves, hats, kilts, and sweaters are also commonly seen here, and good boots are considered essential if one can afford them in order to survive the rugged terrain and cold.
Finally, beasts from the Northlands are known to hold a variety of religions, which are often celebrated by great feasts, bonfires, traditional dancing, and the recitation of folklore regarding great heroes and mythical creatures. The solstices are regularly observed and held in particular reverence as they signal the hardest time for beasts here in the winter and the easiest time in the summer.
A Brief History of the Northlands and the Imperium, and the Northlands today.
Although the Imperium had always been aware of and traded, and sometimes warred with some of the clans and tribes of the Northlands, it was not until the reign of the current Empress that it was thought worthy of inclusion, or indeed, even possible to do so. Despite much fanfare in Amarone and Bully Harbor to another province being added as a showcase of the Empress’s power and the Imperium’s might, it was perhaps the easiest possible “conquest” and integration that the empire has ever had in its history. When the small, but comparatively well-armed and supplied Imperial expeditions arrived in the late 1750s, they found surprisingly little resistance, and, indeed, were even welcomed willingly into the various small towns, villages, and clan-inhabited islands, much to the dismay of many younger officers hoping to make a name for themselves by glory in combat. This was because they had been hit particularly hard by the double-punch of famine and plagues of the 1740s which weakened both their communities and defenses and by the increased increased raider, slaver, and pirate activity from the Land of Ice and Snow, which they were unable to recover from nearly as quickly as the Imperium due to their climate and the comparative lack of immigration to the region.
Today, while still recovering from the depredations of the previous few decades, the Northlands seem to be on an upwards trajectory, with significant demand for their exported goods and seasoned craftsbeast and sailors, and while the Imperium’s military presence is comparatively small compared to the other provinces, it is usually able to handle attacks from pirates and raiders on the central major settlements and respond in time to at least assist in the recovery with the more remote, smaller ones.
Locations
Masnach
Known formally as “Lle Masnach Mawr”, but known simply as Masnach to most of the Imperium, is the largest town, provincial capital and some might say, small, hilly city located in the southernmost area of the Northlands where the weather is the most temperate. It has the benefit of being one of the few large, completely natural and yearlong ice free ports in the Northlands and the longest growing season, making it a crucial location for trade between Vulpinsula and the province, and is the headquarters of the Imperium’s Northern Squadron. Many traders in the province decide to simply ship their goods to Masnach and sell them there, rather than undertake the full journey to the Imperium proper, making it an extremely busy port as goods are almost always in transit, even in the evenings.
It is defended by the imposing, formidable hillside fortress which doubles as a lighthouse constructed by Imperium engineers named “Stwffio Dy Chwith” or “Stwffio” where the governor resides at the suggestion of the locals, who often chuckle at the name much to the confusion of native Vulpinsulans but who otherwise seem content and grateful at the protection it provides.
Caer Eira Haf
Located approximately midway between the warmer southern regions and the colder regions nearest the Land of Ice and Snow, Caer Eira Haf is a small port town with outlying tributary villages nestled in a fjord surrounded by mountain valleys and extensive pine forests. While not entirely naturally ice free during the winters with the fjord freezing up, icebreaking barges and hard work have bent nature to the will of its residents and ensured ships can reach it at all times of the year. Traditionally more of a fishing community not interested much in the outside world except for the importation of weapons and armor as it was focused more on survival, this changed with the famines and plagues hitting the region in the 1740s. Realizing that in order to survive the town and its villages would have to change, a young Callisto Bluemoon, who had been kept for almost a decade by foreign traders as collateral as part of his father’s dealings, returned after buying his freedom from them and his father’s, the former Jarl’s, death. He negotiated being able to retain the title of Jarl among his own people while leaving the day to day administration in the council of elders while he focused on implementing reforms he had learned about from his time among the traders. Unnecessary expenses were curbed, and the town began to focus on the export of lumber, “exotic” goods from whalebone jewelry to fine furniture, and even the beginnings of iron ore export from the local mountains. When Imperium forces arrived in the late 1750s, they were pleased to see that there was a centralized “lord” to negotiate with unlike in many other locations, and affirmed that Callisto would be able to keep his title and open up new trade routes to the Imperium proper in exchange for swearing fealty to the Empress, which he quickly did without hesitation or delay. This was a brilliant and shrewd move by the young Bluemoon, because since Caer Eira Haf was independent and the administration of the province was not yet set up, it immediately elevated him to the equivalent of Duke in the Imperium-beholden to no other lord except the Empress herself-much to the later dismay of other Dukes such as Talinn Ryalor, who had much larger holdings yet were now compelled to treat Callisto as an equal. It also enabled him to swiftly enter the ranks of the Ministry of Commerce due to the combination of skill and title.
Carchar Iâ
A small, freezing, and barren island situated just south of where the water begins to freeze over in the winter to enable yearlong transport of prisoners, it is the site of a miserable prison where the worst or most troublesome criminals of the Imperium are held and more often then not left to rot and die, supervised by guards who are similarly considered to be problematic and abusive. It is located far away from any other habitable islands, and the waters are so cold as to kill even the most prepared and athletic beast in as little as thirty minutes, and much less so for the average citizen, and so rough as to be unnavigable except for larger resupply and prisoner transport vessels, so even if one managed to build a rough canoe or raft, the chances of making it to anywhere habitable are effectively nil. There is little to no recreation except for the cutting of firewood and mining, and the quality of food, exclusively imported, is poor. It is said to be the policy of the Ministry that, in the event of a prisoner takeover, to simply not send any resupply ships to the island for a few months, at which point most, if not all of the beasts there would be dead from starvation.
It is a useful tool for the Ministry of Justice, as the mere threat of sending a beast there is often enough on its own to gain confessions or informants. Many criminals plead to the judiciary to be sent to work on the Empress’s Road on the Mahsterious Sathern Continent or in any other location instead for their crimes. Those who do manage to return from the miserable prison after their sentences are up are noted to have a notably lower recidivism rate, with them willing to do almost anything to avoid being sent back.
Ruins of Iskatyut
See here for more information.
One of the last places to be included into the province of the Northlands on the far northern coast of an island close to the Land of Ice and Snow, it was visited by a lone, small Imperial military sloop in the summer of 1761 when the waters around it thawed enough to allow for trade and travel. It was largely meant to be a routine and largely perfunctory expedition, meet the locals, convince them to join the new province via promises of trade and military protection, better assess the economic (and tax) potential of the village, and chart out the geography. When they arrived to where the settlement should be, however, they came upon a scene of devastation. They found the village completely depopulated, the buildings looted, burned out, and hollow, and, most sickeningly, many of the still well-preserved corpses scattered across it, arrows and sword slashes still evident in their bodies. It seemed, upon closer examination to the Captain, Jonas Highwater, to be indicative of a pirate attack rather than a typical barbarian raid from the Land of Ice and Snow, unusual, but not unheard of, this far north. Search as they might, they did not find a single survivor anywhere near the ruined settlement, so, as a beast of honor, Captain Highwater ordered that all of the corpses be brought to a central location near the docks, and a pyre be set up for them, with some scattered whale oil containers being found and placed near them. A note was written in Vulpinsulan and affixed to the pyre, stating that they were unaware of the proper burial practices, but that they had arranged such in the event it was proper, should a potential survivor return and wish to pay homage to the dead by lighting it. With that, the crew returned to the sloop, noting that it had been destroyed on their maps and indicating that if a resettlement were to occur in the future, a small garrison would be needed to prevent such from occurring again.
Tref Iachau
Located closer to the Land of Ice and Snow in the Northlands, this small village in the mountains accessed first by a fjord and then by either a small, beast-powered lift or a truly difficult set of snowy steps would have been entirely unremarkable, or perhaps not even put on the map, were it not for the hot springs that can be found here, along with a rather unusual, but apparently therapeutic practice, called Northlands Bathing. This involves jumping between the hot waters of the springs, to the crafted cool pools nearby, the resultant shock between both supposedly being of significant health benefits by which some Northlanders swear by. This, combined the local traditions of skiing, sledding, and the use of a small wooden board to surf along the top of the snow, called a “snowboard” has begun to draw more and more visitors to the island, much to the pleasure of the local inn owners.
Llynnau Rhewlif
A small village on the same latitude as Iskatyut, but further to the East and inland, it would be unremarkable except for the fact that there is a beautiful glacial lagoon which one can observe off of its coast. The Northern Lights can be observed clearly from the settlement, and it is said that if one marries under them while watching their lights scatter upon the glaciers and icebergs in the lagoon, that the marriage will be happy and last until death. This may be the result of the local gods, as the locals claim, or the result of the fact that if a couple actually manages to make this far north during the limited time one can visit the village by water during the summer or making the hard trek here by winter to perform the ceremony, they are already among one of the strongest couples on the planet to begin with.
The Land of Ice and Snow
Although not part of the Northlands itself, one can often see the coastline of the eastern edge of the massive landmass from its northernmost regions. Not much is known about the landmass, at least the portion closest to the Imperium, except for the fact that is inhabited by hard, often hostile, and sometimes uncivilized beasts who often try to raid the Northlands and Northern Fyador, sometimes in surprisingly large numbers, and that is bitterly cold the entire year with little or no agriculture. It is rumored to have many monsters in its interior, and reaching it is difficult due to the rough seas and ice-choked waters.
Masnach
Known formally as “Lle Masnach Mawr”, but known simply as Masnach to most of the Imperium, is the largest town, provincial capital and some might say, small, hilly city located in the southernmost area of the Northlands where the weather is the most temperate. It has the benefit of being one of the few large, completely natural and yearlong ice free ports in the Northlands and the longest growing season, making it a crucial location for trade between Vulpinsula and the province, and is the headquarters of the Imperium’s Northern Squadron. Many traders in the province decide to simply ship their goods to Masnach and sell them there, rather than undertake the full journey to the Imperium proper, making it an extremely busy port as goods are almost always in transit, even in the evenings.
It is defended by the imposing, formidable hillside fortress which doubles as a lighthouse constructed by Imperium engineers named “Stwffio Dy Chwith” or “Stwffio” where the governor resides at the suggestion of the locals, who often chuckle at the name much to the confusion of native Vulpinsulans but who otherwise seem content and grateful at the protection it provides.
Caer Eira Haf
Located approximately midway between the warmer southern regions and the colder regions nearest the Land of Ice and Snow, Caer Eira Haf is a small port town with outlying tributary villages nestled in a fjord surrounded by mountain valleys and extensive pine forests. While not entirely naturally ice free during the winters with the fjord freezing up, icebreaking barges and hard work have bent nature to the will of its residents and ensured ships can reach it at all times of the year. Traditionally more of a fishing community not interested much in the outside world except for the importation of weapons and armor as it was focused more on survival, this changed with the famines and plagues hitting the region in the 1740s. Realizing that in order to survive the town and its villages would have to change, a young Callisto Bluemoon, who had been kept for almost a decade by foreign traders as collateral as part of his father’s dealings, returned after buying his freedom from them and his father’s, the former Jarl’s, death. He negotiated being able to retain the title of Jarl among his own people while leaving the day to day administration in the council of elders while he focused on implementing reforms he had learned about from his time among the traders. Unnecessary expenses were curbed, and the town began to focus on the export of lumber, “exotic” goods from whalebone jewelry to fine furniture, and even the beginnings of iron ore export from the local mountains. When Imperium forces arrived in the late 1750s, they were pleased to see that there was a centralized “lord” to negotiate with unlike in many other locations, and affirmed that Callisto would be able to keep his title and open up new trade routes to the Imperium proper in exchange for swearing fealty to the Empress, which he quickly did without hesitation or delay. This was a brilliant and shrewd move by the young Bluemoon, because since Caer Eira Haf was independent and the administration of the province was not yet set up, it immediately elevated him to the equivalent of Duke in the Imperium-beholden to no other lord except the Empress herself-much to the later dismay of other Dukes such as Talinn Ryalor, who had much larger holdings yet were now compelled to treat Callisto as an equal. It also enabled him to swiftly enter the ranks of the Ministry of Commerce due to the combination of skill and title.
Carchar Iâ
A small, freezing, and barren island situated just south of where the water begins to freeze over in the winter to enable yearlong transport of prisoners, it is the site of a miserable prison where the worst or most troublesome criminals of the Imperium are held and more often then not left to rot and die, supervised by guards who are similarly considered to be problematic and abusive. It is located far away from any other habitable islands, and the waters are so cold as to kill even the most prepared and athletic beast in as little as thirty minutes, and much less so for the average citizen, and so rough as to be unnavigable except for larger resupply and prisoner transport vessels, so even if one managed to build a rough canoe or raft, the chances of making it to anywhere habitable are effectively nil. There is little to no recreation except for the cutting of firewood and mining, and the quality of food, exclusively imported, is poor. It is said to be the policy of the Ministry that, in the event of a prisoner takeover, to simply not send any resupply ships to the island for a few months, at which point most, if not all of the beasts there would be dead from starvation.
It is a useful tool for the Ministry of Justice, as the mere threat of sending a beast there is often enough on its own to gain confessions or informants. Many criminals plead to the judiciary to be sent to work on the Empress’s Road on the Mahsterious Sathern Continent or in any other location instead for their crimes. Those who do manage to return from the miserable prison after their sentences are up are noted to have a notably lower recidivism rate, with them willing to do almost anything to avoid being sent back.
Ruins of Iskatyut
See here for more information.
One of the last places to be included into the province of the Northlands on the far northern coast of an island close to the Land of Ice and Snow, it was visited by a lone, small Imperial military sloop in the summer of 1761 when the waters around it thawed enough to allow for trade and travel. It was largely meant to be a routine and largely perfunctory expedition, meet the locals, convince them to join the new province via promises of trade and military protection, better assess the economic (and tax) potential of the village, and chart out the geography. When they arrived to where the settlement should be, however, they came upon a scene of devastation. They found the village completely depopulated, the buildings looted, burned out, and hollow, and, most sickeningly, many of the still well-preserved corpses scattered across it, arrows and sword slashes still evident in their bodies. It seemed, upon closer examination to the Captain, Jonas Highwater, to be indicative of a pirate attack rather than a typical barbarian raid from the Land of Ice and Snow, unusual, but not unheard of, this far north. Search as they might, they did not find a single survivor anywhere near the ruined settlement, so, as a beast of honor, Captain Highwater ordered that all of the corpses be brought to a central location near the docks, and a pyre be set up for them, with some scattered whale oil containers being found and placed near them. A note was written in Vulpinsulan and affixed to the pyre, stating that they were unaware of the proper burial practices, but that they had arranged such in the event it was proper, should a potential survivor return and wish to pay homage to the dead by lighting it. With that, the crew returned to the sloop, noting that it had been destroyed on their maps and indicating that if a resettlement were to occur in the future, a small garrison would be needed to prevent such from occurring again.
Tref Iachau
Located closer to the Land of Ice and Snow in the Northlands, this small village in the mountains accessed first by a fjord and then by either a small, beast-powered lift or a truly difficult set of snowy steps would have been entirely unremarkable, or perhaps not even put on the map, were it not for the hot springs that can be found here, along with a rather unusual, but apparently therapeutic practice, called Northlands Bathing. This involves jumping between the hot waters of the springs, to the crafted cool pools nearby, the resultant shock between both supposedly being of significant health benefits by which some Northlanders swear by. This, combined the local traditions of skiing, sledding, and the use of a small wooden board to surf along the top of the snow, called a “snowboard” has begun to draw more and more visitors to the island, much to the pleasure of the local inn owners.
Llynnau Rhewlif
A small village on the same latitude as Iskatyut, but further to the East and inland, it would be unremarkable except for the fact that there is a beautiful glacial lagoon which one can observe off of its coast. The Northern Lights can be observed clearly from the settlement, and it is said that if one marries under them while watching their lights scatter upon the glaciers and icebergs in the lagoon, that the marriage will be happy and last until death. This may be the result of the local gods, as the locals claim, or the result of the fact that if a couple actually manages to make this far north during the limited time one can visit the village by water during the summer or making the hard trek here by winter to perform the ceremony, they are already among one of the strongest couples on the planet to begin with.
The Land of Ice and Snow
Although not part of the Northlands itself, one can often see the coastline of the eastern edge of the massive landmass from its northernmost regions. Not much is known about the landmass, at least the portion closest to the Imperium, except for the fact that is inhabited by hard, often hostile, and sometimes uncivilized beasts who often try to raid the Northlands and Northern Fyador, sometimes in surprisingly large numbers, and that is bitterly cold the entire year with little or no agriculture. It is rumored to have many monsters in its interior, and reaching it is difficult due to the rough seas and ice-choked waters.
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