The Mountain Realm

The Mountain Realm is a multi-terrain territory located in northwestern Mystos and makes up one of the Five Great Lands. House Wayward is the ruling house and holds the title of the Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm. Before the creation of the Five Great Lands in 300 SM, the Mountain Realm was known as the Snowlands.

The region's capital city is Maryere.

## Geography

The Mountain Realm's multi-terrain kingdom has created two very distinct regions that conveniently split by the Brightwater River. The two main regions are the northern region and the southern region. The southern region is much more populated than the northern region.

To the south is the Kingdom of Valley Pines and to the east is the Valley of Smoke that separates the Mountain Realm from the Grasslands.

In the west, separated from the Mountain Realm by the Blackwater Sound, is a large island known as Shadow's Peak ruled by House Tudor. Dominated with mountains, there is only one city also known as Shadow's Peak. The Citadel of the Owl is also located on Shadow's Peak. North of Shadow's Peak is Ice Bay, and south is the Moonstone Gulf.

There are several rivers that flow through the Mountain Realm: Brightwater River, Embrus River, Bear's Creek, Snow Creek, Bear River, and Crystal River. There are no major lakes in the realm. The "fork in the road" is where the Embrus River, Bear River, and Crystal River meet. The Trident is a small triangular island split by the Bear River and Bear Creek.

The Northern Peaks separates the Mountain Realm from the Deadlands. There are tribal people who live in the Northern Peaks with an extremely small population, but they do not reside in the Deadlands.

### Northern Region

The northern region has two distinct terrains - forest and snow. These terrains have shaped the people who live in this region. The northern Mountain people, located north of the Brightwater River, are tough natured. The constant snow and the perilous Northwoods has isolated the northern mountain people. They do not like to stray away from the Mountain tradition, and are sometimes violent towards outsiders. The northern region is split into three subregions: the Ice Region, the Northwoods, and the White Region.

The Ice Region is the second largest subregion in the Mountain Realm and is completely covered by snow - even during the summer moons. There is contention as to which city holds the title of capital in the subregion, but traditionally the Ice Region's capital is Accrid. Snow Creek, Blackwater, and Fairpeak are three other large cities that are in the subregion.

The Northwoods is a vast forest known for its sudden crags and cliffs. Many do not travel far through the Northwoods because of its harsh terrain. Embrita is the largest city, located in the middle of the Northwoods and controlled by House Embrus. The northern Mountain people listen to the commands of House Embrus, although House Wayward truly rules the realm.

The White Region is the smallest subregion populated only by the White Gate Fort.

### Southern Region

The southern region is filled with forests and hills, similar to the Kingdom of Valley Pines. North of Maryere is a large forest called the Dense Pines. There is a lush green grassland area named Beggar's Basin.

In the east is the Valley of Smoke, covered almost completely by lava. There are two cities and one holdfast in this area that has tamed the terrain: Kikisi, Vil Lav, and Volkan's Keep ruled by Grasslandi families who now serve House Wayward. Lady Fallen Wayward gifted these plots of land to her Grasslandi friends because none of the Mountain Realm houses wanted to populate the area.

The southern Mountain people, located south of the Brightwater River, have evolved from small warrior clans known as the Valiant Warriors to large bustling cities with a strong economy. The southern region still experiences long winters, but the summers are much warmer than the northern region, allowing small but lush harvests in the quick autumn seasons. Bear's Creek is the largest city in the Mountain Realm followed by Maryere and Dimwich. The southern Mountain houses that rule the region are known for taking vacations and staying for long periods of time in Maryere. This created an influx of towns and small settlements. The peasants of the southern region experience harsh circumstances and do not live long lives.

## Economy

The northern region relies on its fur and lumber trades. Both being lucrative trades, every social class in the northern region experiences some kind of wealth but the almost year long winters makes life difficult regardless.

The southern region relies on its mining and quick growing vegetables. Maryere, the capital city of the Mountain Realm, has the largest vegetable market in the realm. House Wayward is very proud of the southern region's agricultural growth and demands that most of the vegetables be grown around Maryere. Peasant villages are set up around Maryere, and during the short harvest season, House Wayward takes ninety percent of the harvest, leaving the peasants with nothing. Coal is mined from the Valley of Smoke, making House Kikisi of Kikisi and House Nendro of Vil Lav wealthy. The mountains around House Myster of Bear's Creek have emerald mines, making the house the wealthiest in the Mountain Realm. Dimwich, located at the "fork in the road", is known for the having the biggest market in the Mountain Realm, selling delicacies of various cultures from all over the world. Most houses in the Mountain Realm follow the lead of House Wayward, forcing peasants to create the goods and taking ninety percent of what is harvest.

## History

Before the creation of the Five Great Lands of Mystos the Mountain Realm was known as the Snowlands. Near the end of the Empyrean Ascendancy Era (EAE) Arcan slaves begin to escape into the mountains. At the beginning of the Secession of Man (SM) one of the warrior clans expanded their territory creating a kingdom ruled by House Wayward. Queen Rayleen Wayward is the most famous monarch and widely idolized throughout the Mountain Realm. Taylia the Good and Queen Haylise Wayward are two other memorable queens. Queen Alaric of the Trident and Bad King Rickard are other well known monarchs with tragic stories.

In 300 SM, the Five Great Lands of Mystos was created.

### The Holy Wars and the Holy Massacres

#### First Holy War

In 270 SM, the First Holy War between House Wayward and several southern Mountain Realm houses occurred. In 272 SM, Maryere was burned by Lord Christian Blackmour of Eldenhold, forcing King Harland Wayward to escape. He sought refuge in Silverwood in the Forestlands where King Cypris Osmont was also hiding. In Silverwood, King Harland and King Cypris decided that the other houses were a problem and began to plan how to deal with them. The First Holy War ended in 287 SM when Lord Gilod Embrus marched his army to Maryere and killed Lord Christian Blackmour. Lord Gilod then installed Calarel as King of the Snowlands.

#### Second Holy War

In 302 SM, seeing an opportunity for power, Lord Ulfred Myster began rumors that Lord Armaic was an Arc even though it was never confirmed that his grandmother Lixiss was an Arc. Lord Ulfred found houses to align with and planned to overthrow the Lord Protector’s title. Accounts are muddled, but it is said that when Lord Ulfred and his army approached Maryere, a woman appeared and set the entire army on fire for going against the Lord Protector. Many believe the woman was Lixiss, who died two days later.

#### Third Holy War

The Third Holy War was the longest of the Holy Wars, lasting from 345-373 SM. The war began in 345 SM when Crimson Wayward rose to power as Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm after her father, Durlan Wayward, died. Upset that Crimson rose to power instead of her younger brother, Kharis Wayward, several southern **Mountain Realm** houses created an alliance called the Holy Alliance. The Holy Alliance were very close to overthrowing House Wayward several times during the Third Holy War.

The Third Holy War ended bringing a lot of consequences; the only true winners were the Preservers of the Cleansed Race (PCR). Mountain Realm houses were still upset that House Wayward was still in power. After Narrik Wayward came into power, he became a pawn for the PCR, allowing the Holy Massacres to occur.

#### Holy Massacres

The Holy Massacres (374-395 SM) was a systematic genocide of Maras in the Mountain Realm carried out by the Holy Alliance after the Third Holy War. The PCR were the main participants of the massacres, leading raids and bringing down judgement on Harborers. It is believed that over five million Maras were murdered.

In 374 SM, Lady Crimson Wayward began her Ten Acts of Faith tour. Her Ten Acts of Faith tour was her apology to the Maras she felt she betrayed by signing the Agreement of the Cleansed. During her tour, she gave back to the commoners and peasants and is known as being the most giving highborn in history. She became a beloved figure by the mountain people.

#### Last Holy War

In 395 SM, Lord Aleister Wayward signed the Arts Agreement with the Rangers in Maryere. This agreement allowed the Rangers to protect Maras from the PCR. Doing this would also protect the small agricultural economy Lord Aleister had created. In 396 SM, the Rangers created their headquarters in the Essential Zone in Maryere. In retaliation, Lord **Julius Myster** and other southern Mountain Realm houses declared war on House Wayward in 396 SM. This war is known as the Last Holy War. The war ended when House Myster and the other southern houses failed in taking control of Maryere at the Last Battle in 398 SM. No house has risen against House Wayward since.

## Recent Events

### A Death at Dawn

The Mountain Realm is one of the regions featured in A Death at Dawn. Although most of the story is located in Maryere, Jaslyn and Gloriana describe the Dense Pines and peasant villages.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Grey, Gabrielle. WTFBT Expanded: Highborn Houses. (2021)