Dranuria

Dranuria is a large, mostly mountainous region in southern Orithea. To the south it borders the lands of Sularia and the Sornele; to the north, Varadeska and Pelenaia; to the west, Ojaum and the Jade River basin; and to the east, Sarpadia and the westernmost extent of Rhydain. 
Dranuria’s terrain is dominated by a series of mountain ranges that are part of the same gigantic mountain chain which stretches from Vastemar’s western tip all the way up through Rhydain and beyond. The most significant of these ranges are the Gated Fells in western Dranuria and the Uldau to the east; sometimes the term “the Dranurian massif” or “the Dranurian highlands” are used for the whole expanse of mountainous terrain formed by both these ranges, the smaller ones flanking them, and the surrounding hills and uplands. Despite its southerly latitude, the high terrain of Dranuria gives it a predominantly cool climate, with summers that can be hot at times but are typically mild, and winters that are long and snowy.
The majority of Dranuria’s human inhabitants are of Dranur descent, members of the tribal family from which the region took its name long ago. For the past few hundred years, Dranuria has been divided among several different kingdoms whose borders have fluctuated somewhat but remained relatively stable: Most notably Tulis, Turajem, Telmarea, and the Kingdom of Dauss and Kroma. The Dranurian kingdoms have a long history of squabbling and warring among themselves, but also of banding together via the traditional alliance of the Deiasmaar in times of great need.  
During the height of the Phyridian Empire’s power several centuries ago, much of Dranuria (especially the northern and eastern parts) were subject to its suzerainty, and Dranurian rulers were reduced to client-kings obligated to give both tribute and their obedience to the emperor in Amran, but those days are long gone. 
Dranuria suffered terribly during the latter part of the orcish wars; Gol Garga’s horde caused considerable devastation throughout the region, killing countless people and razing many towns. The kingdoms of Dranuria were thrown into disorders from which they are still nowhere near recovery. They remain unstable and badly weakened, and to make matters worse, find themselves on the new frontier of orcdom now that the powerful buffer kingdoms of Sularia to the south have been overrun. 
The southern regions of Dranuria (which many have already taken to calling “the new Ulthark Marches”) are currently occupied by strong dwarven forces from Kuzul-Kadrin and elsewhere, along with warriors of the XXXXXXX and XXXXX Orders. As in the southern Sornele and elsewhere, the occupation forces are hard at work building strings of border fortresses that will serve as permanent garrison sites for the reconstituted XXXXXXX Orders. However, while the kings of Dranuria may be grateful for the protection, they surely dislike the idea of handing over large chunks of their territory (and all the attendant revenues) to these independent knightly brotherhoods that will hold sovereign status in their own lands.