Nordwehn

**Nordwehn** *(nord-whehn)* is the home of the humans in the north. Seven kingdoms lay claim to the land from north of the deamons to the edges of the Heart Forest. The structures vary from Kingdom to Kingdom but all have keeps and castles made from stone, located in strategic positions along the Empires Walk, a road that travels through all Seven Kingdoms, and the borders to their enemies. Its population is nearly entirely human, and even then nearly entirely Norn, with the coastal trading cities being the only places to find those from more distant walks of life. There are no recorded populations of Alchemists, Mages, or Sorcerers since the purge.

The people of Nordwehn deal with races outside of their domain through nearly entirely trade. Though some have, by whatever discussion or means, found permanent residence in Nordwehn, it is unlike they will be far from the ports they had entered in from.

## The Political Structure of Nordwehn

Nordwehn is under no single unified leadership, the last Emperor to unite the Seven Kingdoms having been lost to time. Instead each Kingdom is lead by their own families and their own dynasties.

The Kingdoms are separated into Duchies and those Duchies are then split into Baronies. Though the King could over rule any decision a Duke or Baron makes for their land they generally relegate themselves to decisions that affect the Kingdom as a whole as well as matters of war. The King has a court to help aide him in his decisions, A Grand Chancellor to take care of civil matters, a Grand Marshal for military matters, a Grand Steward to take care of financial matters and a Grand Tutor for dealing with foreign matters. Generally the Dukes, with courts of their own, have some familial connection to the King not all bonds are of blood. Some are Oathsworn to and from the king and others have earned their titles by deed rather than blood. The Barons lower nobles having more claims by deed than by blood.

## The Seven Kingdoms of Nordwehn

Though the Kingdoms are all one under the label of 'Nordwehn' their unity is non-existent. The Seven Kingdoms are in a constant cycle of war and peace with one another. Even peace is tentative at best as border skirmishes are commonplace through all parts of that cycle. Each Kingdom is trying to get the edge over one another, constantly. Through economic, dynastic, or any number of reasons.

### Kantenverg

The Eastern most Kingdom is Kantenverg, bordering the Kingdom to their west and the Heart Forest. They are in a constant war against the creatures coming from the woods as well as the Kingdom on their border. Known mostly for their archers as well as their bows made from the ever living wood of the Heart Forest itself. They are taught from an early age not only to survive against combat between men, but to hunt the horrifying beasts that wander out of the Heart Wood as well.

### Jirngruf

To the immediate west of Kantenverg is the Kingdom of Jirngruf. Jirngruf is filled plentifully with iron mines that they use to fuel their war against Kantenvergy, those that come from the forests, and the kingdom on their northern borders. They are a Kingdom of Knights, with noble houses, chivalry and tournaments a plenty.

### Grisslan

North of Kantenverg is the Kingdom of Grisslan, know for their ranks of spearmen and lancers. They are fuelled by their fertile fields to the south and the pigs, hogs, and warthogs that roam there. They take a primary defensive stance against Jirngruf to their south and the kingdom to their north, focusing on keeping what's theirs over pushing into the other kingdoms.

### Norj

North of Grisslan is the northern most kingdom of Nordmehn, the Kingdom of Norj. Living in the frigid north of Etherworld the Kingdom of Norj resides on land that are frozen more often than they are thawed. Though their southlands are dedicated to farming every moment the land can hold crops, this is barely able to sustain the entire kingdom. Instead they focus mostly on raiding the other kingdoms, their neighbouring Kingdoms of Grisslan to the south east and their other neighbour to the south west as well as any ships in the coastal waters of Nordmehn. Their boats come covered in swaths of mist to sneak up to enemy vessels and coastal settlements to raid them of their supplies and vanish much like the fog itself.

### Vinghest

Directly south of Norj is the Kingdom of Vinghest. Vinghest is known for it's plentiful prairies filled with rich fields of crops, plenty of game for hunting and ranching, as well as rolling hills filled with horses. With such a large population of horses it is no surprise that Vinghest is known for it's plentiful and skill cavalry. The Kingdom focuses mostly on defending itself from raids by the people of Norj, their other borders being against the denizens of the woods themselves. Even the border they share with the kingdom to their west is never traveled for the woods become to thick and the creatures there insure no man makes it across.

### Tifrityr

West of Vinghest is the Kingdom of Tifrityr. Tifrityr is known for it's black powder cliffs, though initially thought worthless, once traders from O'asin brought news of their technological advancement in firearms new wealth had found it's way into Tifrityr. Their cliffs were filled with the same powder used in the O'asin firearm design and soon all of Tifrityr was well versed in their usage. Though their fields are not as plentiful as their eastern neighbours with horses, they have cavalry a plenty regardless as all men and women are taught not only to ride upon horseback but to fire their powder weapons from such as well. This does not help greatly in combat with their northwestern neighbours, whose narrow valleys leave little room to be exploited by quick moving cavalry.

### Helafanx

North West of Tifrityr is the once grand Kingdom of Helafanx. Helafanx used to be the largest Kingdom in all of Nordwehn until one province took advantage of the increased trade and their defensive position to declare themselves independent of the kingdom. Though trade is still plentiful across Helafanx they struggle to reclaim the territory that was once theirs as well as push into Tifrityr's open fields. Known for their sailors and use of both defensive shield formation as well as gun lines, Helafanx is still as large as any Kingdom in Nordwehn.

### Tropato

Southwest of the Kingdom of Helafanx is the Free Province of Tropato. Tropato once was a Duchy of the Kingdom of Helafanx until trade from the rest of the continent began making large waves in the entirety of Nordwehn. With Tropato being their first port

it became fuelled by foreign coin, so much so that they began enforcing their defenses until a might wall was erected between them and their father Kingdom. They have since declared independence and have been able to hold onto their freedom thus far.

### Afdefri/Tyfelen

Across the channel from Tropato is a 'legally' unpopulated coast. Separated by cliffs and nature herself there is not much accessible to this coast to the untrained eye. To those with a mind for subterfuge and coin this place has become a smugglers haven, ships able to offload any questionable cargo at the 'nonexistent' and truly free state of Afdefri, in their major port of Tyfelen before heading to Nordwehn proper.