Sulta Van Steppes

Land of Giant's Bane, Iron Blood, No-Half Measure.

  Leyveldt-Na-Van, as the locals would call it, is the high and barren land of the Fiefs of Van. Those who lived here were called Fuen, or simply, the Lost. Among themselves, they are the children of Van, an ancient warrior-king now deified by the people of the steppes.   Some one hundred years ago, the disorganized Vanish people swore their allegiance to the Aertan conqueror Queen Vaelia the Bloody, whose army bested the mightiest among their clans in the Battle of Ten-Fold Field. They reorganized their society, forming numerous fiefdoms under the command of Rathmorne, and it's High Lord.   A coastal hold, keeping watch over the sea.   The people of the steppes had long battled the creatures of the north, holding the line between the Midlands and the land of endless storms. With their new allegiance, this battle became their cultural duty. To better equip the Vanish to guard their northern borders, the Mountain Kingdom sent forth a legion of stone-mage, engineers, and architects. With the combined resources of Aertas and the formidable passion of the Vanish workforce, grand fortresses and castles soon dotted the landscape, where only the occasional stone watchtower stood. A vast array of fief-holds were born, with fief-lords being named among the mightiest of the Vanish warriors.   Since then, the warlike tendencies of the Vanish have transitioned cleanly into those of loyal protectors of the realm. Their traditions as warriors and hunter-gatherers recede over time, replaced by their newfound sense of purpose. What few of their rituals remain have been reforged, though most Vanish still worship the old gods, rather than the Aertan star-mistress.   Even after the closing of Aertas, and the slowing of the flow of valuable resources and spellcasters, the fiefdoms continue to hold the line, battering back increasingly persistent orcish onslaughts. What's more, High-Lord Balfour is growing old, and the time of a succession tribune draws near. While the bonds between the strongest Vanish clans remain strong, there is always a possibility that such a time of upheaval will stoke the embers of conflict.   Potential heir-candidates are encouraged to sharpen their skills and avoid traveling alone.  

Major Fiefs and their Respective Clans

  Rath - Occupy Rathmorne, the capitol of Sulta Van. Proud and mighty is the blood of Rath, descended from Van's brother Rathlan, who was a mighty chief in his own right. Their heir-candidates have won the past seventeen heir-candidate contests, meaning the seat of High-Lord has been held by a Rath for more than four hundred years.   Fier - The people of Fier are stubborn and self-reliant as a rule, as they dwell in perhaps the harshesht and most remote region of Sulta Van. Their fief is centered within a castle-city straddling Eagle Pass, a pass they hold against the most cunning of the mountain tribes. They are famous for their archers and scouts, renowned for their accuracy and survival instincts.   Virgo - The sprawling lands of Fief Virgo occupy the Aberglais river valleys of the that wind their way south towards the Tyne. The verdant lands afforded to them, as well as the long routes they must travel up and down the river, have made them excellent horse and boatmen. Their cavalry in particular is worth noting, as it was once the most dangerous fighting force on the continent.   Sten - While lacking their former vigor, the hearty folk of Sten are, as they've always been, survivors. They scrape their living off the eastern shores of the Highlands, defending the coastline against naval assaults and occasionally clashing with Grixian sorcerers over rights to prime fishing spots. Fief Sten is built atop the Boulder Slopes, one of a number of defensible landing spots for potential invaders.