Kingdom of the Crimson Queen

In the east of the Kingdom of Copper lies the **Kingdom of the Crimson Queen**. The Crimson Queen herself has earned the respect of the local populace by taming wild dire wolves and imposing her will on them. She is a legendary hunter and perhaps the best crossbowman in Zemyland, which obviously gives her words considerable weight. There is a legend that she struck the heart of the Alpha Wolf of the Dark Forest pack three times before he fell. When he was then skinned and disemboweled, it was discovered that each of the three bolts she had fired had the previous one split.

## History

As a reward for the fact that the Crimson Queen, still known as the Red Huntress at that time, had freed the forestfolk from the Grimwolves' scourge, the red caps living in the forest chopped off a thick branch of the blood oak sacred to them and gave it to the wild men, who crafted the legendary crossbow Nagelfar out of it, which they gave to the Huntress as a coronation gift and made her their queen. It is said that a single bolt fired from this sacred weapon has the power to cleave an ironbark tree.

The banner of this Kingdom is a severed wolf head on a red background. Most of the settlements in this land are log houses and cabins build around a chilly taiga. Her knights include human wolf riders in full plate, while the infantry are made up by halberd-weilding red caps.

Prior to the arrival of the invaders from Greater Elanxa, this region was considered to be Hyperborean territory, but it also had a very large fey presence, centered around two Faerie Lords, Auntie Heigi and The Wolf. The Zemylanders were able to defeat the local Hyperborean lords, but were never able to defeat the Faerie Lords, so eventually came to an unspoken truce with them instead.

The region became known as the Kingdom of Amber, and was the poorest of the Zemylander kingdoms. Most of the colonists came from the Orange Marquissates or the Woodcutter Cities instead of Greater Elanxa, and many of the Hyperboreans stayed in the area too, creating a mix of cultures that was only really Zemylander in the eyes of non-Zemylanders.

Due to the magicks of Auntie Heigi, the Zemylander methods of magically locating valuable minerals did not work, nor was the land well suited for agriculture, and as a result, the human population was mostly hunters and isolated homesteaders. The position of monarch changed hands often, and lacking a source of wealth (and often undermined by the fey) the kings and queens were rarely able to impose any real power. Sometimes the throne was simply left empty when no one credible could be found to fill it.

In recent times though, an unusual change has occurred in the kingdom.

A woman named Wilhilma Grimm, AKA the Red Huntress, gained much fame as a hunter of monsters and murderous fey, particularly the direwolf and werewolf servants of The Wolf. Following her slaying of a powerful creature known as the Alpha Wolf, she received a number of boons from The Wolf, in keeping with his brutal philosophy. Around the same time she also forged an alliance with Auntie Heigi by unknown means, giving her access to the services of the redcaps as well.

With the backing of the two Faerie Lords, it wasn’t too difficult for Wilhilma to convince the scattered hunters and homesteaders of the realm to make her their queen (the throne was empty at the time).

## Government

Wilhilma may be queen, but the humans of the (newly named) Kingdom of the Crimson Queen barely have a government, so she is more like a spokesperson and a military commander than the head of a functioning state. Her capital is the traditional seat of power, Hassenpflug, a large coastal town with a modest sized, poorly maintained castle.

The two Faerie Lords fill a similar role for their respective peoples. In theory both are subservient to the queen, but they are powerful, erratic beings, and the nature of the alliance between the three remains poorly understood.

## Economy

The human population is scattered across countless homesteads, hunter’s shacks, fishing hamlets, and a few logging camps, quarries, and coastal towns. They are self-sufficient, but have little to trade with foreigners.

The fey followers of The Wolf are even more primitive, living barely a step up from beasts.

Most of what little wealth the nation has comes from the redcaps and other servants of Auntie Heigi, who operate a few secretive mines and are also adept at crafting magical devices like wands. However, the redcaps are secretive and only a few foreigners have the knowledge and the means to reach their well hidden lairs in order to barter.

### Wandmaking

The Redcaps resident in the forests of the Crimson Queen are are among the most talented woodworkers and especially talented in the secret art of wand making. They have the reputation of being the best wandmakers on all continents. Many wizards, witches and other magic users consult them to have special and powerful staffs and wands made for them. The Redcaps possess the knowledge of the secret properties, the different wandwoods possess. They know how the wood, core, lenght, flexibility, and possible embedded crystals or gemstones affect the magical abilities of the wand. A wand is the object through which a wizard channels his magic. It is made from wood and has a magical substance at its core.

The largest and most notorious wand workshop of the Redcaps is the so-called Lumberforge, located deep in the woods of the Iron Oak Forest, requiring a long and perilous journey to get there. The Redcaps have a very large selection of different woods, cores and other production materials at their disposal, but are also willing to process materials which were brought by the customers and make staffs specifically tailored to the user for an additional charge. Many renowned wizards have made the arduous journey to seek out the Lumberforge. Wandsmiths enjoy great prestige for their craftsmanship, which can be compared to an art form rather than a craft. The best-known wandsmith among the Red Caps is Olv Vilan, a wise old Red Cap with a beard that reaches down to his bare feet. Only particularly important customers can count themselves lucky to have a stick made by him personally.

## Foreign Relations

### Zemylander Realms (Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum, Rust)

Many Zemylanders don’t see the humans of Crimson as being real Zemylanders due to their mixed origins, but since everyone else in Zemyland does see them as Zemylanders, they often find common causes with other Zemylander nations. They tend to get along best with Copper, who are also of mixed origins.

### Aine Saevherne

The snow elves see the human inhabitants of the Crimson Kingdom as being Zemylanders, though snow elves are rare in western Zemyland so this view has little practical impact.

### Hyberborea and Alltaf

Many humans in the Crimson Kingdom have at least some Hyperborean ancestry, so they have little of the colonial attitudes common in Platinum. The border with the Alltaf is vague and unenforced, and Alltaf tribes can be found deep within the Crimson Realm.

### Corteau Canyon

The Nerim/Nemir Tribals rarely enter the Crimson Kingdom, or vice versa, the two seem content to ignore each other.

## Geography

Most of the region is covered with dense pine forest, though the north edge and the mountain foothills to the east are empty tundra instead.

The forest is divided into many regions like “The Dark Forest”, “The Iron Oak Forest”, etc.

## Demographics

### Humans

The humans of the region come from a mix of Zemylander, Hyperborean, Marquisate, and Woodcutter origins. Some have a bit of fey blood as well. Compared to the other Zemylander nations, they are often seen as semi-feral woodsmen.

### Redcaps

A fey race found elsewhere, but very prominent here, they resemble the offspring of various goblin and gnome subraces and can be quite diverse in appearance. They generally serve Auntie Heigi, and some have been lent to the Crimson Queen to form the backbone of her standing army.

### Werewolves

Few in number, but individually dangerous. Although the curse can theoretically be spread quite quickly, The Wolf only accept the strongest and most cunning into his ranks, so most werewolves in the Crimson Kingdom are hereditary.

### Other Fey

Hags, vodyanoi, sirins, balachko, and chorts sometimes serve Auntie Heigi. There are also a few arctic merfolk, pondlings, and rusalka near the coast.

### Trolls

Like elsewhere in Zemyland, there are several varieties of troll in the Crimson Kingdom, most of whom are barely sentient.

## Religion

Few trained priests are found in the realm, and those that do mostly stick to the coast, therefore humans worship an odd mix of Zemylander, fey, Hyperborean, and southern gods.

Of the Zemylander Pantheon, Soshotnik, Zverukitel, and Mirslava are most common.

Many also pay homage to The Wolf, Auntie Heigi, the snow elf/Hyperborean goddess Shiora/Bythol, and the Hyperborean god known as The Creator.

Religious rites are mostly limited to prayers and offerings at homemade shrines. Due to isolation, many in remote areas have made up religious traditions that are barely recognizable to foreigners.

The fey are mostly split between followers of Auntie Heigi and The Wolf.

The Wolf is a harsh master who values almost nothing other than hunting ability, and whose followers are barely more than animals.

Auntie Heigi is a hag of unusual power who rules with bargains and threats. She is popular with the redcaps for her magical knowledge, while others follow her instructions due to a mix of fear and promise of material gain.

## Military

The Crimson Queen’s alliance with the two Faerie Lords has granted her an army of sorts.

Auntie Heigi has provided her with several clans of redcap, who fight as infantry, skirmishers, and magic users.

The Wolf has provided some dire wolves, which are ridden by herself and a few key allies, forming a knightly order of sorts.