Aqoris

**Aqoris** is a continent located in the far west of the known world. It is separated from the continent of Erius by a strip of water known as the Blue Sea. Most of the action in *A Shattered Realm* takes place in Aqoris.

Historically, most of Aqoris used to be occupied by The Alba until the ancient kingdom civilisation of Aqoris fought them back up to the present-day Borderlands. After the Age of Fire and collapse of the kingdom, all lands north of the new Anarchy were divided into three separate Kingdoms with The Alba to the north in the Borderlands. After Barden's Foundation Wars, the kingdoms were all unified into one realm under the title of the King of The North. The Borderlands were invaded and occupied after the Foundation Wars, establishing the five regions of the Kingdom of The North.

A majority of Aqoris is inhabited by a race of man called the Aqorisi as well as their descendants through intermingling with the Alba. Due to the majority population, and the limited contact with The Alba, people or things from Aqoris are referred to as "Aqorisi".

## Regions

The Kingdom of Aqoris is divided into five administrative regions, three of which were independent kingdoms before Barden's Foundation Wars. Each region is ruled by a Great House, who in turn are commanded by the King on the Northern Throne. These regions are:

### The North

Ruled by House Carlisle from the castle of Syderhill. Bastards of noble birth born in the North take the surname "Hill". The North is the largest of the regions of Aqoris but also the most sparsely-populated, due the harshness of the long winter. The North was once ruled by House Syder as the Kings of the Hills before Barden's Foundation War which rendered the house and the Kingdom of the Hill, extinct.

### The Borderlands

Ruled by House Slait from the castle of Greycrest. Bastards of noble birth born in the Borderlands take the surname "Rocks". The Borderlands is the primary defence against the tribes of Alba to the north and the lands were once apart of Alba domain before King Digby's Great War in which the Borderlands were invaded and occupied. The Bordermen have the closest relation to the original Alba inhabitants and many still hold to the Old Gods of Alba.

### The Lakelands

Ruled by House Rocke from the castle of Ravenglass. Bastards of noble birth born in the Lakelands take the surname "Pond". The principal ports of the Lakelands are Ravenglass and White Haven. Notable towns include Shadebeach and the abandoned Eden's Rest. The Lakelands are dominated by hundreds of Lakes as well as rivers and swamps. They were once an independent Kingdom, the Kingdom of the Lake, but surrendered after heavy fighting to King Barden I Boyce. House Rocke was allowed to continue ruling as Wardens of the Lake.

### The Southlands

Ruled by House Ross from the city of Sunderly. Bastards of noble birth born in the Southlands take the surname "Fields". The principal city and port of the Westerlands is Sunderly, Southrock and Highgrove. The Southlands are noted for their hills and low mountains in the north of their lands which are rich in silver and gold, providing House Ross and their vassals with immense wealth, as well as the vast fertile fields in the south which allow them to field vast armies and provide even more wealth.

### The Domainlands

Ruled directly by the King on the Northern Throne from the city of Newcastle in the Winter Keep, the largest city in Aqoris and the capital of the Kingdom of Aqoris. Bastards of noble birth born in the Domainlands take the surname "Streams". Other notable townships of the Domainlands include Bluestream and Hillhold. The Domainlands stretch along the shores of Newcastle Bay and across several islands in the Cape, such as Winter's Rock. The islands are separately administered from Winter's Rock. The Domainlands were never a kingdom before the Conquest; control of the region fluctuated between various neighbouring kingdoms throughout history. House Boyce have ruled over the Domainlands since their creation 402 years ago.

### Alba

A vast, snow-covered wilderness independent from the Northern Throne and separated from the Kingdom of Aqoris by the Titan's Mountains. It is inhabited by tribes of people known as The Alba, who often attempt to raid along the Bay of Rocks or the Bay of Ice or pass through the mountains for the same purposes. There are only three passes through the mountains into the Borderlands and these are defended by Narhold, Ice Guard and Thornhill.