Nordain

**Nordain** is a relatively young kingdom located in northwestern Morgaea. It was formed by King Lontan Kaulden nearly four hundred years ago by uniting Drahanim clans.

## History

### Unification

*Main Article: Unification of Nordain*

When the Drahanim peoples first split from the Oremeni, they migrated north and crossed the White Spine in **-2415D**. There, they found a new homeland that would eventually become "Nordain", which means "north valley" in the Drahanim tongue. However, the north valley did not become a sovereign nation for almost 3,000 years. This period of time is littered with numerous wars the Drahanim tribes waged, both with foreign powers, such as the Adamantium and Maudet, as well as their fellow tribes. During that time, the Drahanim developed their own political system which remains largely intact to this day. With time, powerful nobles would turn their land into thaneholds, then baronies, and finally jarldoms. The nobles continued the Drahanim tradition of infighting and continued to fight with each other over petty and personal matters in order to gain more power. A few of the most powerful nobles put forward their bid for kingship over the Drahanim, but without success.

Then, when the Fifth Age came, a man named Lontan was born to a merchant. Through a series of events, he got involved in the war for kingship, during which time he first became a servant to one of the candidates for the throne. When his master decided to use him to gain advantage against other nobles, Lontan acted honorably; and through his actions gained respect and command of the armies of his former master. He became a jarl; and a candidate for king himself.

As he was leading his men, more joined his side, for he was known to be more honorable than other true nobles. Lontan also gained followers in the Institute of Magic, as well as the Ashcloaks. By then, the Ministry had become very popular in other lands. Lontan gained the trust of those amongst the Drahanim who followed the faith, as he was said to be a devoted Sibyllan himself.

In **5A42** an Allsmeet was called, and Lontan made an appearance with his army, including mages of the Institute, templars and the Ashcloaks. With allies at his side, Lontan challenged the biggest threat to his rule, the most powerful noble: Kvesgar, the Jarl of Dersoden. Lontan was matched in combat and wounded, but ultimately Kvesgar was defeated by Lady Furwen, a close friend, and companion of Lontan's. The nobles voted Lontan to be king, and the north valley became the nation of Nordain. Lontan started the royal family of Kauldens who would sit on the Nordish throne for the next three centuries.

### Drysdale Rebellion

*Main Article: Battle of Ranger's Peak*

In **7A05**, King Gauren Kaulden, who earned the reputation of a tyrant, ascended to the throne. Some nobles approached Ranger-Commander Aelaide Drysdale, who previously held a claim to the throne, to intercede, and she agreed. She violated the Grey Order's neutrality by gathering allies to rebel against the king. Gauren eventually discovered the plot and his forces routed Aelaide and her followers at Ranger's Peak, where the Rangers held out for a brief time, despite being outnumbered. After defeating the Rangers at Ranger's Peak, Gauren banished them from Nordain. The order would have no presence in Nordain for another two centuries.

Little is known of what became of Gauren's rule, as a civil war for the throne occurred soon after his death. The war lasted a decade and wiped away most records of his reign.

### Maudesian Invasion

*Main Article: Second Maudesian Invasion of Nordain*

The nation was invaded by Maudet in **8A24** and fully conquered 20 years later. The Kauldens were forced into hiding, but the rebellion against the invaders persisted. For the next several decades, the nation was under Maudesian occupation. Maudesian noble Alain was installed as the king of Nordain during the late years of the occupation.

*Main Article: Nordish Rebellion*

Nordain was freed through the efforts of Baylor Kaulden, who was the rightful heir to the throne, with the help of Ornand Dhunne and Rowan Argander. They mustered the remaning rebels against the occupier. A large number of Maudesian forces were defeated at the Battle of Tolamir River, forcing Emperor Maxence to withdraw all support for Alain. Eventually, by **9A00**, King Alain and the remnants of his court fled to and barricaded themselves inside Fort Volantus. Baylor challenged Alain to a duel and killed him in single combat, ending his rule and the Maudesian occupation. Baylor then married Rowan and set out to rebuild Nordain.

## Geography

Nordain is located in northwest Morgaea, itself located in the northern hemisphere. Its climate is harsh and varied.

Dividing Nordain from Maudet to the east is the White Spine. To the south, the Narrow Sea separates it from the Freemarks. The northwest holds the Umbradal Forest, where clans of Sylvan elves are known to roam. To the far north are the forbidding forests, swamps and eventually tundra of the Welserine Wilds. To the south of the Wilds lie the Northron Hills and the Hinterlands. The central region of Nordain contains the Thaneholds and Lake Lontan. In the far southern region are the Coastlands, which include more swamps and forests.

### Settlements

* **Ardenhall**
* **Armskirk**
* **Drahan**
* **Coltherstone**
* **Crestwood**
* **Croydon**
* **Sylvan's End**
* **Dersoden**
* **Dhunne**
* **Drasmere**
* **Elmridge**
* **Erencliffe Village**
* **Fisher's End**
* **Greenfell**
* **Harper's Crossing**
* **Hythe**
* **Logerstead**
* **Longdale**
* **North Reach**
* **Portsmouth**
* **Rissing**
* **Rutherglen**
* **Seaworth**
* **Stathmore**
* **Willesden**

### Fortresses

* **The Aeonod**
* **Aldrych Keep**
* **Caer Edanach**
* **Caer Croftdale**
* **Corren's Villa**
* **Droskyn Hold**
* **Erencliffe Castle**
* **Fort Volantus**
* **Fort Terund**
* **Genedara**
* **Ranger's Peak**
* **Castle Sorelden**
* **Starnhold**
* **Vigil's Fort**
* **South Hill**
* **Watcher's Redoubt**
* **Winterwatch**

### Regions

#### Jarldoms

* **Dhunne**
* **Seaworth**

#### Baronies

* **Coltherstone**
* **Crestwood**
* **Dersoden**
* **Ardenhall**
* **Erencliffe**
* **North Reach**
* **East Hills**
* **Starnhold**

#### Thaneholds

* **Carelon**
* **City of Coltherstone**
* **Croftdale**
* **Dragon's Peak**
* **Dragonmount**
* **Portsmouth**
* **Rainestead**
* **Narrow Sea**
* **Northern Thanehold**
* **Storm Coast**
* **South Hill**
* **White River**
* **Winter's Breath**

### Lakes

* **Lake Lontan**
* **Lake Lugas**

#### Rivers

* **Heford**
* **Volantus**
* **Talomir**
* **White**

### Additional places

* **Bersnal's Reach**
* **Coltherstone**
	+ **The Pilgrim's Path**
	+ **Wanderer's Wood**
* **Hinterlands**
* **Northron Hills**
* **Thaneholds**
* **The Mire**
* **Umbradal Forest**
* **Welserine Wilds**
* **White Spine**
	+ **Gherlen's Pass**
	+ **Sermon's Pass**

## Culture and Society

Nordain has been historically populated by a simple, militaristic, culture that has only begun to "civilize" in the last few centuries. The Ministry is now revered by the 90% of the population. Nordish cities are considered virtually anarchic by the standards of most outsiders, and the Nordish desire for freedom has engendered a cultural mistrust of law enforcement, and 'laissez-faire' attitudes in general.

### Social Tiers

Nordish society is descended directly from Drahanim tribal culture and its respect for skill and ability. It is most generally broken up into the nobility and commoners (including city elves). There are also crafters and crafthouses (similar to guilds), who make up a highly valued middle tier between the lowest noble and the highest common classes, and have total power over certain industries in Nordain.

Beneath the crafthouses, the population is subdivided into common classes called "High Freemen" and "Low Freemen." High freemen are comprised of freeholders (land owners), soldiers and other employed individuals. Low freemen are made up of criminals, prostitutes and elves. For all that, all freemen are allowed to live and go where they wish, and make a living as they will. There are no serfs in Nordain; all are paid in coin or barter for their work.

### Surnames

In Nordain, nobles have proper last names, such as the Kauldens or the Arganders. Sometimes commoners will have last names that stem from noble lines, foreign origins, land ownership or titles granted to family members in the past. Otherwise, most Nordish commoners introduce themselves with a reference to the area they come from or to their trade, e.g. Stenly of Dersoden or Gondall Kettlemaker.

### Enclave Culture

*For a more information, see Enclave.*

Like many countries in Morgaea, Nordain has a large population of elves who are segregated from the rest of society and live in walled-off enclaves. Unlike in other countries, however, elves in Nordain have rights and are paid for their work. Those who do not find positions of service outside of the enclave are unable to achieve high-paying jobs, but most seem to feel that they have better lives in Nordain than in other countries, because at least they are free and among family who look out for each other.

### Importance of Dogs

Visitors and travelers to Nordain are often curious about local attitudes toward dogs. Throughout Morgaea dogs are employed in hunting game, keeping barns and storehouses free of vermin, herding livestock and guarding homes; in the mountains they may even be used as beasts of burden. Nordishfolk, however, show a particular appreciation for canine companions. The origin of this is tangled up in mythology.

The ability of normal dogs to detect a werewolf even when it is in a human guise is what first led Nordishfolk to adopt dogs as indispensable companions in every farmhold. Nordish lore is full of instances where werewolves plagued the countryside and the humans of Nordain had to undergo many wars to eliminate the werewolf threat.

Dogs are common in Nordain, both amongst the nobles as well as the common folk and mercenaries such as the Ashcloaks. Keeping dogs is a tradition kept since the times before Nordain, started by the Drahanim tribes. The barbarians were introduced to wargs by the magisters, who brought the dogs with them during their invasion of the land; many of the dogs decided to stay in the occupied lands after their original masters were defeated. Wargs are said to have been bred from the wolves who served the Drahanim hero Tolamir and anyone they are paired with are believed by Nordishfolk to be a person of worth. Furthermore, prominent Nordish families think that they have a kinship with the wargs because according to Nordish folklore, they are descendants of Tolamir, who was reputed to be a werewolf. In addition to that, the wargs have also become an essential part of Nordish military strategy and a formidable asset to Nordish armies.

## Legal System

Nordish law is relatively unregulated compared to that of older nations, and is expected on an individual level to be supplemented by one's martial prowess. Indeed, most petty crimes like theft are overlooked by the King's Patrol in Dersoden, whose main concern is protecting their posts. Consequently, the common Nordishman should not expect much help fending off criminal activity unless murder or major property damage has occurred. Slavery is also illegal in Nordain, but criminals still practice it in secret.

There are no laws regulating personal behavior such as bearing arms, drinking, gambling and prostitution. This is not to say that Nordain is lawless; quite the opposite. The king's steward personally appoints arbiters called "blackhallers" to hear disputes. Blackhallers adjudicate cases from the black granite steward's hall in Dersoden, hence the name, and in the countryside, sheriffs are appointed by the local thane patrol to keep track of upcoming cases for the blackhallers to hear.

Given the blackhallers' busy schedules, trials can take some time to occur. A suspect may surrender an item of great value to the local sheriff and be released "on his bond" until the time of the trial rather than waiting in a dungeon. This property will be returned if the suspect returns to be judged. Otherwise, the property is retained by the sheriff and the suspect has the charge of fleeing justice added to their criminal record.

As long-term imprisonment is frowned upon in general in Nordain, punishment is often quick and violent. Common methods include public humiliation, whipping, disfigurement, fines and even executions.

There's no firm rule that dictates who rules the household. Nordishfolk are willful and their families tend to be managed by whoever can. Usually, the oldest child inherits the majority of the property regardless of gender, but there are some cases where a younger brother or sister is named the heir simply because he or she seems more capable.

## Politics

*Main Article: Nordish Nobility*

Unlike most kingdoms, power does not reside exclusively with the nobility. Rather, it arises from the support of the freeholders. Even the king is not an unchallenged ruler. For many centuries the nobility has gathered annually to hold the Allsmeet, a council which functions as the official legislative body of Nordain and it can even override the king or queen on any matter of law.

The royalty and nobility of Nordain is divided into several ranks.

* King/Queen
* Prince/Princess
* Jarl/Jarless
* Baron/Baroness
* Thane/Thaness
* Lord/Lady
* Knight

Some kingdoms ridigly define the rights of vassals and their duty to their liege. In Nordain, a relatively new kingdom, the barons and baronesses theoretically command their barony's thanes and lords. In practice, those lessers often zealously maintain their independence.

Some Nordish vassals must be goaded instead of ordered, swayed, not ruled. Vassals owe military obligations to their liege, yet often deny even sworn oaths and signed contracts. In contrast, the vassals expect their liege's protection despite provocation otherwise. A successful Nordish liege applies force, persuasion, and duplicity in equal measure.