Northern Territories

The North is divided into seven territories, called Electorates, inhabited by the Legions of the same name. They are governed by Electors, chosen from the noble houses of the North, who also command the respective legion.

## The Electorate of Hynafoltre

   Councillor Constantine II of House Byzantine commands the Legion of the city of Hynafoltre (still known by its old name of Constantium to the locals), the ex-capital city of Ásaterra and the largest city of the North. A home to nobles and commoners alike, the city is always a buzz of activity. This is especially true around race-days, when people flock to watch the city’s famous chariot racing and cheer on their favourite racer and team. These races often lead to huge riots within the city, as supporters of the famous blue and red teams dispute the outcome of the races in the streets and taverns. It is through the continual putting down of these riots which allows Hynafoltre to produce some of the finest Lawkeepers around. The forge districts of the city also create some of the highest quality weapons and armour to be found within Ásaterra, finding rich business with the wealthy nobles who pride themselves in wearing the latest fashions in both cloth and steel.

### The City of Hynafoltre

The ex-capital of Ásaterra, Hynafoltre is perhaps the largest city in Ásaterra with a vibrant history that stretches beyond the written history recorded by it's scholars. Within the city can be found groups of every race imaginable, giving the city a huge diversity in its culture. From religious festivals, exotic foods, colourful clothing and more unsavoury activities, all can be found within the cities walls if you know where to look and have the coin to pay for it.

The city was known for a long time by the name of Constantium and it was during this time that the city served as the capital of the nation as it served as the home to both the Royal Family and the Royal Council. However part of the terms of the peace treaty signed after the Ásaterran civil war was the permanent moving of the Council and the nation's capital to Siochana, located in neutral ground further south. Therefore the city was renamed to Hynafoltre to represent its change in status.

The city has many notable locations within its walls, some of which are listed below:

#### Royal Palace

Once home to the Kings and Queens of Ásaterra, the Royal Palace now serves a dual role as the headquarters of both The Legion Hynafoltre and the Legion of Maor Dlí. It is the close proximity of the two headquarters that allows for them to work closely together in the running of the Northern lands and augments the authority of both Legions. The Legion Maor Dlí gains the authority of association with the councillor and close ties to the council itself, extending its influence across the whole of Ásaterra, while the association grants the councillor legitimacy in rule by the close association with the law.

The building itself is a massive, sprawling building lavishly decorated both inside and out with many chambers, halls and rooms in order to fit nearly a hundred nobles at once.

#### Temple of Magnus

The great Temple of Magnus is situated on the second highest point of Hynafoltre, the temple is notable for it’s great golden spire upon which lightning frequently strikes, showing the favour of Magnus with every strike. The temple is also one of the largest temples in the known world, with gaudily painted ceilings and a large enclosed chamber built with such acoustic skill that a single priest can address a congregation of thousands without magical assistance.

#### Cataphract Citadel

A large black stone keep near the heart of the city, the Cataphract Citadel is a small fortress in its own right, having sustained several riots and even sieges in its time. It is here that the Cataphract grand master resides, and the Cataphract inner circle gather when matters of great importance need to be discussed. It is also home to one of the few permenant law courts in Ásaterra, where Lieges are put on trial when the crimes leveled against them are of such high stakes that the Cataphracts are requested to hold the trail. The large black fortress is also seen as a place of doom to some, as beneath the surface the Citadel is home to hundreds of cells containing those who have been condemned to rot.

#### Hippodrome

The monarchs of Ásaterra used to have a simple method for keeping the residents of their city happy; bread and races. It is here in the Hippodrome that the monarchs of old would provide said races to the citizens of the city for free. They would also often attend the races in person, giving the people a rare chance to both see and interact with their rulers. Whilst the monarchs may be gone, the Electors of Hynafoltre have kept up the tradition of providing entertainment to the masses, making the Hippodrome still a location of great importance to the city.

These races do have their drawbacks however, for the intense rivalry between the two big teams, the Reds and the Blues, often boil over into great riots that threaten to destroy much of the city centre. These riots require great coordination and skill to keep under control, and thus it is the Legion of Maor Dlí who are entrusted with this task, and it one at which they excel.

#### Royal Armoury

Tucked away behind the Royal Palace is small and seemingly unassuming building called the Royal Armoury. However looks can be deceiving, for within the building is contained the most dangerous artefacts and substances known to the monarchs of old. The vast majority of said items are securely locked away under stone and magical wards, deemed too dangerous to ever be used. However some substances (such as the infamous Northern Fire, a substance that burns with an incredible heat even on water) are carefully produced here, ready to be used should the Legions require an upper hand in their wars.

## The Electorate of Thebepolis

The Legion of Thebepolis has also been under the command of Councillor Constantine II since the tragic and unexpected death of his childless brother Theon. Bordering the city of Hynafoltre, it forms part of the Byzantine stronghold in Northern Ásaterra and is home to many towns and villages in the hot northern lands. It is from these regions that the majority of the well-equipped and disciplined heavy infantry and cavalry of the northern armies originate to fight for the Council in its wars.

## The Electorate of Atheopolis

The Legion of Atheopolis was under the command of Elector Thel of House Byzantine, before her untimely death serving the council.  She was succeeded by Elector Justin of House Byzantine. The House of Byzantine is famous for its consolidation of votes and voices in the Elector council and have already made moves to ensure it stays within their family. The region under the Legion’s influence itself is a highly urban one, containing many towns and cities. The region is also famous for producing Theodosian Wine, widely (but not completely) considered the best wine in all of Ásaterra.

## The Electorate of Albion

The Legion of Albion is located to the far southeast of the Northern lands and is headed by Elector Marian, who recently came to the title after winning the election. Being in a more temperate climate, the lands of Albion are far greener and leafier than the hot northern lands. In fact, the majority of the region is covered by the Broad Oak Forest, and its people live within clearings cut within its green embrace. The nobles of Albion take honour to an almost absurd degree, priding themselves in their jousting, archery and telling of tales of bravery above all else.

### Stonewell Castle

Located within a clearing within Broad Oak Forest, Stonewell Castle is a powerful fortress of considerable fame. Stonewell Castle is often nicknamed “the key to the north” as it guards the main land route from the eastern lands to the north. The fortress has changed ownership many times in its long history of bloodshed but is currently owned by the Elector of Albion and serves as the home to the Legion of Albion. The castle itself does not resemble a luxurious home for the nobility, but a centre of war, with three layers of large stone walls littered with towers that present a formidable obstacle to anyone who wishes to take the fortress.

### Broad Oak Forest

Located on the southern border of the Northern lands, Broad Oak Forest is a vast forest that overlaps the border between the Northern and Eastern parts of Ásaterra. The forest is most notable for it’s rich hunting ground and for being almost overrun by bandits who prey upon the trade routes between the north and the east. It is for this reason the forest holds a permanent Legion encampment, from which members of the Legion of Maor Dlí fight an almost constant war alongside the local forces to keep the trade routes safe. There are also stories abound among the residents of the Electorate about much more sinister and dangerous things than bandits lurking within the deepest parts of the forest.

Broad Oak Forest was also one of the major battlegrounds during the Ásaterran civil war. Many people from both sides of the conflict died within its green boundaries, some so deep in the forest that their bodies were never recovered and so lie in un-marked graves between the great Oak trees.

## The Electorate/Kingdom of Karak Anor

   The Legion of Karak Anor commands the majority of the Orton mountains that span the eastern border of Northern Ásaterra. Karak Anor itself is an underground city that resides deep within the rock of the mountains and is full of grand forges as well as vast mines that bear rich deposits of Iron, Gold and Adamant. However, Karak Anor is part of the nation of Ásaterra on paper alone, as it abides by its own laws, has its own army, its own structures of government and even has its own King who rules over the Dwarven hold. The King in Karak Anor is a very unique position, as by law there can be no monarchs within Ásaterra; the King in Karak Anor is only a King while within the Dwarven hold. This means that when the Dwarf king steps outside of Karak Anor, he legally becomes an Elector instead. This gives the Dwarf the strange position of King in Karak Anor rather than King of Karak Anor. The Kings in Karak Anor have historically rarely stepped foot outside their hold, however, only entering Ásaterra proper either when the Karak marches to war or when a new Councillor must be elected. The current King in Karak Anor is Thonar Iron-hand and the position has been in his royal line for centuries. The Dwarves of Karak Anor are very insular and prefer to remain within the confines of the Fortress-hold that is their home or the various towns and mines that stretch the Orton mountains. The Dwarves of the Legion of Karak Anor only really venture beyond their borders to trade with the various towns that have prospered near the border for food and such, or to march to war, where their shield-wall is near-unbreakable.

### Karak Anor

Located within the Ortun mountains, Karak Anor sits along the main pass through the mountain range connecting Ásaterra to Treth. It is for this reason that Karak Anor is a both a centre of trade and a key strong point for the north as the Karak sits along the safest route through the mountains for hundreds of miles around. Karak Anor itself however is unique within Ásaterra as it is simultaneously a great mine extracting many exquisite jewels & rare ores, a great underground city home to the greatest concentration of Dwarves in Ásaterra and a great fortress guarding the pass between the Ásaterra and Treth. Karak Anor is also unique within Ásaterra as it is inhabited almost exclusively by dwarves, with visitors to the Karak rarely going below it's outer levels or staying for more than a few days.

## The Electorate of Syracolis

Situated along the northern coast of Ásaterra, the population of the Legion of Syracolis are almost entirely based along the coast-line. This is due to the intense heat of the area making anywhere that is not near a cool sea breeze near-uninhabitable. As a result the people of Syracolis take great pride in shipbuilding and seafaring, their numerous cities and towns surrounded by a sea of ship-masts moving to and fro with fish and goods. The current Elector of Syracolis is Theodora of House Quinquereme, a house that has ruled over Syracolis for many generations. Syracolis also has a large population of Elves that live within her cities where their skills in ship-building are highly valued by the local population.

### Sicila

Travelers brave enough to traverse the Atesli desert to Ásaterra’s Northern coast, or to sail around the coastline, rarely go without visiting the stunning city of Sicila. The city itself is famous for three things, fountains, ships and elves. The fountains of Sicila are wondrous marvels of beauty and engineering as they take fresh water from the natural spring upon which the city sits and survives in the scorching heat and provide an elegant method with which to ensure the city receives the water it needs. The harsh climate around the city also prevents the growth of almost all crops, making the city wholly dependant on fishing and trade for food. Because of this, Sicila boasts a mighty fleet of both civilian ships in the form of fishing and trade ships, and military ships to defend the city and it's interests. However neither of these would be as famous as they are without the large elven population within the city. The elves of Sicila are drawn to water in the form of sailors and as builders in the form of ship-building and the providing of water to the city as a whole. It is their skills and knowledge that allows the city to produce such beauties that attract tourists and traders alike making the city very prosperous.

### Atesli Desert

Located across the north of Northern Ásaterra, the Atesli Desert is a vast expanse of barren sand that stretches from the Theodosian hills to the Northern coastline. The desert itself holds very little in the way of life, with the few people who eek out an existence within the desert doing so around the few oases scattered across its breadth. These communities provide stopping points for travellers who wish to traverse the desert and so survive on trade. The people that live within the Atesli Desert are a hardy folk, used to living in extremely harsh conditions, they can travel for days without food or water. The people of the desert are quite isolated from the influence of the nobles of Northern Ásaterra and so are often much more independent in thought than other Northerners, much to the nobles displeasure.

### Theodosian hills

Located north of Hynafoltre, the Theodosian hills is a series of hills that are often seen as a place of outstanding beauty. This is because the hills themselves present a physical boundary between the vast farmlands of the central Northern lands and the huge Atesli Desert of the far north. Due to this outstanding natural phenomenon, many of the highest points on the hills allow for a vast contrast in horizon making it a unique experience within the Northern lands. Thanks to this natural beauty, the hills are home to many countryside villas owned by nobles from across Ásaterra, many of which have brightly painted towers built into them in order to make the most of the view. The hills themselves also produce the sources for many of the rivers that flow through the north including the great Tzeban river.

## The Electorate of Shamal

The Legion of Shamal was one of the founding Legions of the North that swore fealty after the civil war. However, following the death of its first Elector, the Elector's family fell into disarray when choosing a successor. This disarray collapsed into fighting which saw the Legion of Shamal disintegrate as it's members flocked to other Legions. The Legion was considered disbanded until Elector Osman entered the political world in 1294 BA, but he was soon revealed by the Expeditionary Force to be an unbound vampire aiming to conquer Asaterra. Since his slaying by the Expeditionary Force, the Legion of Shamal has been in dispute in both existence and Electoral vote.