Nobrakh

Overview:   The Radiant Kingdom of Nobrakh was founded by refugees from Golmara. The Nobrakhi are a grim people with a reputation for being both stern and stubborn. Surviving the destruction of Golmara, domination by Blood Lords, and attacks from the warwolves has turned them into hardy survivalists. It has also given them a fervent religious streak, and the Nobrakhi are some of the most devout (and inflexible) Haborians.   History:   When the Golmar Civilization collapsed, many of its people fled across the White Mountains to the wild lands beyond. Although the West had been devastated by the recent invasion of katşaska from Aven Tsur, the Wolf King had made considerable strides in reclaiming everything from the plains to the Dragon Mountains. As such, the refugees were at first limited to the foothills of the White Mountains. Some settled in the alpine valleys east of the White Woods. Others, led by Lord Nobrakh, continued south past the High Lake and down into the Elyfal forest where they founded their own kingdom around the capital city of Kingstown. It wasn’t long before the fledgling kingdom was invaded by native the Blood Lords. The Nobrakhi had no choice but to become their vassals. After the invasion of the Radiant Empire, the Blood Lords were forced to retreat into the wild depths of the eastern forest. The Nobrakhi, freed from their servitude by the Emperor, swore fealty to him.   After the fall of the Radiant Empire, Nobrakh became an independent state. Having only briefly had their own king, due to their domination by the Blood Lords and later status as an Imperial province, Nobrakh continued on without a strong central government. A more-or-less feudal system developed in which each town was ruled by a local noble who may or may not have some other noble as his suzerain. Despite referring to themselves as the Kingdom of Nobrakh, they have not had a king since their founder, Nobrakh I. Many nobles hope to take the mantel one day, and much intrigue plays out over the vacant throne.   Culture:   The Nobrakhi are primarily known for their theological contributions to Habor. They tend to be militantly religious and are the most active in sending missionaries to heathen lands. They mistrust non-humans and have a burning hatred for anything magical or otherwise "unnatural". The Golmari find the Nobrakhi to be the least welcoming people towards their caravans.   As the majority of the surviving scholars and artisans of Golmara settled in Morgham, and those that moved on to Nobrakh did not survive the Blood Lord's occupation, there are very few scribes or other people of learning in the Kingdom. The few that there are, tend to be priests in Haborian monasteries dedicated to theological studies.   Fairs and Tourneys are the primary form of recreation, and one of the few times people venture beyond the safety of their villages is to travel to whichever town is hosting the current Fair.   Safety:   The years without central authority have led to a relatively dangerous situation in the countryside. People generally do not like to venture beyond the walls of their villages after dark and little traveling is done by the average person. The woods are home to bandits, and other dangers, and the Blood Lords still lurk in the deep forest. There is also the occasional knight who will claim a ford or bridge and demand a toll or duel from those who would pass.   Architecture:   Buildings in Nobrakh are usually made out of wood, as it is readily available. Settlements are always walled with wooden ramparts for protection. The effort and expense of creating stone buildings is generally prohibitive, especially given the lack of architects. The two stone buildings, Kelbor Abby and Stonewall Keep were both built during the Radiant Empire made.   Fashion:   Men in Nobrakh usually wear hair short as sanitation is poor. Tunics and leggings are the normal attire for men. Wealthier men wear longer tunics. Dyes are limited and clothing tends to be drab. Cloaks are used to keep warm.   Connections:   Nobrakh is a fairly isolated kingdom. It nominally connects to Morgham via a pass through the mountains. Stonewall Keep blocks the route, however, and travelers are not allowed to travel north. A difficult trail leads eastwards from Stonewall Keep through the foothills of the White Mountains to East Port, a small town with a river port on one of the Balara river's lower tributaries. It is from this port that missionaries bound for Erkestr and beyond often depart. The kingdom's main port, West Port, is a city in the moor lands to west. However, the threat of Kodesar war ships has all but stopped traffic through the port.