United Nomads of New Hyperborea

Back when the world was young, in the long ago, did a people cultivate an ancient civilization among the northern reaches of the world. The passage of time has not been kind to Old Hyperborea, even as its descendants live as nomads amongst the great ruins.

As of recent, a frost haired sorcerer rally the nomads in the long frozen wastes of south of the Corteau Canyon away from the Kingdoms of Rust and Gold, to retake the lost ancient ruins of a great people in the snow.

Declaring himself Vesolod I of Old Hyperborea.

## History

The Hyperboreans are believed to have descended from human colonists who arrived in Zemyland at the invitation of the snow elves in order to help defeat the countless small fiefdoms of unseelie fey that plagued the region at the time. Over time, their numbers grew, and they became the dominant ethnic group in the areas west of the Aine Saerherne and south of Corteau Canyon.

They eventually unified into a large but sparsely populated kingdom now known as Old Hyperborea, and adopted many aspects of snow elf culture into their own, as well maintaining elements of Northmen culture and developing new traditions. Despite sharing some cultural elements, tensions grew between the Hyperboreans and the snow elves. The snow elves were alarmed by the Hyperboreans’ (relatively) large numbers, while the Hyperboreans resented tendency of the snow elves to treat them as inferior.

However, their land was rich and prosperous, and before long they found themselves fighting a series of wars against the inhabitants of Littlestep, including (in chronological order) vassals of the Khenomeric Empire, Greater Elanxa, the Arkadiya Empire, and the Princedom of the Platinum Strait. The Zemylanders, as they became known, slowly but surely established themselves in the coastal areas and pushed inland. On the plus side, tensions between the Hyperboreans and snow elves disappeared as they became desperate allies.

It was Platinum who finally destroyed Old Hyperborea, slaying their king and annexing their core territory into a series of protectorates and vassals, many of whom were gradually assimilated into the Princedom, though parts of Old Hyperborea were also absorbed into the Kingdoms of Copper and Amber (the Kingdom of Amber is now the Kingdom of the Crimson Queen).

But the Hyperborean culture survived. Some migrated further north to live in areas deemed by most Hyperboreans to be borderline uninhabitable and became the Alltaf. Others won de facto independence from Platinum via a long series of rebellions and refusal to assimilate, creating what is now known as the “United Nomads of New Hyperborea”. And others continue to live in small enclaves in Platinum, Copper, and Crimson.

In recent times, a powerful Hyperborean sorcerer has gain the respect of many Hyperborean tribes and villages and crowned himself Vesolod I. His motives and priorities remain a mystery at this point.

## Government

Like the Alltaf, the southern Hyperboreans are loosely organized into tribes and villages led by a chieftain and generally at least one shaman. Despite the “nomad” part of the name, many tribes are fairly sedentary, scattered across several small villages, camps, farmsteads, and temples within the same area.

Recently many tribes and villages have declared Vesolod I to be their king, but the practical implications of this are yet to be seen.

## Economy

Reindeer and mammoth herding, lake fishing, foraging, and hunting are the backbones of the Hyperborean lifestyle, but they do cut wood for buildings, and operate a few mines and smithies for metal items. Harvesting sap, amber, ivory carving, farming hearty vegetables, and occasional mercenary work are also important activities.

## Foreign Relations

### Princedom of the Platinum Strait

Platinum once controlled most of the territory now claimed by the “United Nomads”, but let much of it become de facto independent following a series of rebellions. However, recent aggression against the nomads by the snow elves has darkened the opinions of the Hyperboreans to their ancient allies and has caused some to be more sympathetic towards Platinum. It helps that Platinum pays well for skilled mercenaries.

### Kingdoms of Copper and Crimson

Pockets of Hyperboreans still live in these kingdoms, it has been a long time since any official attempts at assimilation have been carried out, therefore relations are fairly neutral.

### Aine Saevherne

The snow elves were historically allies to the Hyperboreans, but some hardliners among the snow elves have started carrying out raids against all humans, which has hurt relations between Hyperboreans and snow elves greatly. Many less hardline snow elves also resent the Hyperboreans for being defeated so easily and often submitting to Zemylander rule or even assimilating. However, other snow elves maintain good relations with the Hyperboreans and it is not uncommon to see them in each other’s lands.

### Corteau Canyon

Hyperboreans don’t interact much with the Nerim. They sometimes pass through each others territory, though encounters between the two under such circumstances tend to be tense. Nerim are more likely to be in Hyperborean territory than vise-versa, usually while travelling south for mercenary work.

### Alltaf

Although there are some cultural and religious differences, the Alltaf and New Hyperboreans generally see each other as close cousins if not the same people.

## Geography

Much of the territory claimed by the New Hyperboreans is tundra or mountains, but there are also many clusters of trees and many lakes. Hyperborean permanent settlements are generally small, and made almost entirely out of wood. Tent communities and wood shacks mounted on sleds are more common. Religious buildings are infamous for being painted bright colors.

The ruins of larger communities and fortresses can be found here and there, but many of them are nothing but foundations given the Hyperborean preference for building with wood.

## Demographics

### Humans

Humans make up most of the population of New Hyperborea, and the vast majority are Hyperboreans. It is not that Hyperboreans are particularly hostile to outsiders, on the contrary they see hospitality as borderline sacred, but few outsiders have any reason to travel there.

### Fey

Like in the Zemylander nations, there are more than a few fey around. The most common include uldra, snow goblins, rusalka, vodyanoi, sirins, and hags.

### Snow Elves

Some Hyperborean tribes, villages, and temples still maintain good relations with the snow elves and it is not uncommon for snow elves to visit, or even live among humans for a time, though raids by hard line xenophobic snow elves has raised tensions.

### Trolls

Trolls are also plentiful here, including the furred troll, which some believe is actually a distant relative of the yeti.

## Religion

The Hyperboreans follow a complicated religion where in theory there is one god, the All-Creator, who has many forms, but in practice, many Zemylander gods, the snow elf goddess, and many faerie lords are worshipped similar to how they are among non-Hyperboreans on the basis they are different aspects of the All-Creator.

Shamans of the All-Creator traditionally wear white robes, and worship in elaborate wood temples or in sacred groves, but many Zemylander, snow elf, and fey religious traditions have gotten blended in.

## Military

Hyperboreans are self reliant and used to dealing with the likes of unseelie fey, trolls, and dangerous wild animals, but it has been a while since they have been organized militarily in large numbers.

Weapons tend to be limited to bows, axes, swords, spears, and javelins. Magic usage is rare due to Hyperborean distrust of the arcane, though some shamans have access to powerful magic. Probably their greatest strengths are as skirmishers, as well as heavy cavalry due to the usage of reindeer, mammoths, and woolly rhinos as mounts.