Hyperborea - A Quick Overview

This document was compiled by the order of his royal majesty King Theoderich III for use in the early education of young citizens. It is intended to be a guide, not a collection of all knowledge.
More detailed documents regarding these lands are available in the royal library, with the correct permits of course.

— The Order of Scribes

   

Division

The Northern Realms

Summary

The northern parts of the mainland are dominated by large forests of pines and and other needle bearing trees, large jagged mountain ranges are the ancestral home of many a dwarven clan. People visiting from down south often remark about the cold temperatures, which are below freezing most of the time, forcing farmers to rely on magic to keep their crop alive and healthy. Harsh winters may kill what you have raised, making us a hard and sturdy folk which knows how a single mistake can kill an entire city.
 

Politics

The Northern Realms are defined by the plethora of small kingdoms ruling it. Many of them are barely larger than a simple city state and control little land, but have grown rich and powerful from mining the ores that sit in their mountain ranges. A large portion of them has been recently united beneath the banner of a single empire under King Theoderich III. A few smaller kingdoms to the east are still holding out, having formed a surprisingly strong and cohesive coalition in defense of their territories. In the southern regions, a few noble houses have formed strong alliances with the clans in the Middlelands and managed to maintain a degree of autonomy.  

Nations & Countries

The Empire

Formed from one formerly unimportant kingdom at its center, having been founded by a minor warlord it quickly rose to the top and started to conquer sorrounding nations, eventually kicking off the long war and plunging the Northern Realms into two and a half centuries of ebbing and flowing wars.
These wars ended with the almost total dominance of the Empire and the beginning of a large scale rebuilding effort. The success of the Empire has not been explained well, they followed many of the same strategies as the ones before them, with the only difference being that they were able to succeed.
A deep piety to the ancestral gods and magiciansnot afraid to stretch beyond what was once known are the given reasons. The creation of the Pained Beast being the eventual edge our Empire had been looking for.
 

The Independent Kingdoms

To the east of the Northern Realms, a series of smaller kingdoms have formed a coalition of sorts to weather the the long war. In the hardest to reach parts of the land and therefore also the ones richest in ores and other ressources it is easier to hide from an attacker and ambush them from an unexpected angle. Large scale armies as used by the Empire have troubles maintaining formation in the dense woods and steep mountains.
The Independent Kingdoms pride themselves on their abilities to repell any would be attacker. Leaving only diplomatic channels to take over, something they have been using quite cunningly, marrying their children into much more important families within the Empire, way above their usual status.
 

The Lords and Ladies of the Border

In the southest parts of what is still considered the Northern Realms, large rivers flow into the sea and the forests grow even denser. Traversing them is difficult and reliant on the expertise of trappers that have been trained for their whole life. This unique setting allows for them to basically control the trade that flows into and out of the Northern Realms, making the Lords and Ladies of the Border incredibly wealthy.
Instead of outright fighting the Empire or submitting to it, they have brokered a deal with them, technically they are a part of the Empire in name, but retain all of their independence and may act with impunity. The Empire is not very happy about this, but will tolerate them as long as needed.

The Middlelands

Summary

Soft rolling hills and gently flowing rivers dominate the landscape, gentle Winds blow through forests filled with light and serenely grazing deer. Mild temperatures are present througout the entire year. Life here would be perfect, were it not for the ever present death. At night the peaceful lands are home to the many souls that perished here and elsewhere. Undead of all forms flock to these lands, spirits, zombies, wraiths, vampires they all seem to be drawn to the Middlelands. The people have learned to live with and despite the many undead in the region, often forming ancestor cults and raising their children with a deep appreciation for life and the end it has.
 

Politics

The many politicians of the Middlelands are expert negotiators, having often practiced by aligning the varied interests of both living and dead. Religion is at the center of many a ruler, the different followers of many gods try to exert pressure on the rulers, proclaiming that only divine intervention and guidance has ensured the long existence of nations in the Middlelands.
Many small city states with heavily fortified walls form the bulk of the Middlelands' political landscape, many of them ruled by different guilds or faiths. At the northern border, were the undead are the strongest, clans have made their home, rarely building cities, preferring to build smaller villages connected by a vast network of trade routes. In the southern regions the Order of the Rose has built their fortressed city, trying to collect and file away all of the world's knowledge.
 

Nations & Countries

The Clans of the Middlelands

In the northern parts cities are rare, replaced by much smaller villages. Extensive and often hidden trade routes connect all of them with each other. Many clans control one village and marry their children into others, trying to gain control and build up relations.
These clans are defined by the worship of their ancestors, who often stay with them after death and are consulted before difficult decisions. Many ancestral spirits are also employed to guard the villages at night, in some circumstances one of these spirits will decide to follow their offspring on an adventure, providing council and help. People that manage to convince such a spirit, are valued highly and seen as blessed.
 

The City States of the Middlelands

Some clans have deviated from their old ways, building cities from stone and metal instead of wood and earth. Having grown rich and fat from the rivers flowing along their limits and the trade upon them, many of them have nothing better to do than to squabble and fight petty wars with each other.
It is not rare to see a noble receive a letter from a friend in another city, proclaiming war for some perceived slight and forgetting about it the next minute. The cities often pride themselves on a specialty, vying for the attention of master artisans, bards and poets.
 

The Order of the Rose

In the southern parts of the Middlelands one city state stands above them all. Many hundred years ago the Order of the Rose built it up and decided to not only build city walls, but also to turn it into a fortress. Marrying the traditional and new ways of the Middlelands, even the dead are welcome, as they might carry the most interesting secrets. The leaders of the order are rumoured to be undead as well - something the order has always fervently denied.  

The Southern Reaches

Summary

In the south the temperature may get warmern, but the people may turn colder. Or so say travelers at least, if they enter these lands. The people tend to be closed off to outsiders, but much more open towards those they know and love.
Large ranges of mountains dominate the landscape, many of them cloaked in mists and clouds, their peaks hidden where no mortals will ever dare to go. These peaks are rumoured to house the last of the truly ancient and mighty dragons that once roamed the mainland.
 

Politics

Each peak has birthed a different noble house, many of them infused with the blood of dragons. Some of them even ruled by one. While they might war and clash with each other, their unique culture is very binding and ensure that they hold steadfast against any outsider, ready to repell any attack before returning to their own squabbles.
Children born as Dragonborn are seen as blessed by the dragons and will often be trained as clerics, priests and sometimes even leaders of the house.
During the ages past it was tradition that in the case of large scale disasters, be it famine, invasion or anything else, the heads of the family convene and make a trip to the highest peaks, to petition the Dragon Emperor for guidance, wisdom and council. It was expected that only few heads would survive this trip, a necessary sacrifice.
Each peak is its own kingdom, the farther up the mountain you live, the higher your status is.

Nations & Countries

Since each peak is its own kingdom, it is an exercise in futility to list them all. However, many of them have formed alliances and coalitions with their neighbours, which might be easier to explain.

The Seven Families

The oldest families, controlling the most peaks. They hold the true power, all other peaks report to them, their strength is what holds the Southern Reaches together, it is what defines them and gives them form. No sign of disagreement between them is ever carried outside, ambassadors however describe their interactions with them as being "like dealing with a spoiled child".
Ambassadors to other nations are exclusively appointed from within their own ranks. All others have to be turned away, to not insult the Seven Families, further complicating our relationship.
 

The Trade Alliance of Queng Ho

A relatively young and fresh alliance mainly from cities situated along the borders and oceans. Forming their alliance based on trade, gaining access is not very easy, applicants have to show their worth and pre-existing wealth to even be considered.
Many of these cities have attempted to send ambassadors to the neighbouring nations, previously all had been turned away for fear of the Seven Families, but lately some have acccepted them in an unofficial manner - greatly outraging but insulting.
 

Dragonfall

Not all of the cities are built on mountains, one of them is where a mountain used to be. A mountain that collapsed and fell into whatever lies below. A mountain that collapsed and took an entire city with it. A mountain that collapsed and buried a dragon beneath itself. A dragon that was wise and old, kind and forgiving then it was dead.
Those that left the city beforehand and returned later, those that were lucky enough to cling to the edges of the pit and those that were brave enough to return to a cursed city. Those were the ones that rebuilt the city right next to an open wound on the face of the earth. Patiently waiting and truly believing that the old dragon would return, over the years the city was rebuilt and many brave adventurers even dare to venture down into the chasm.