World

Land of Settlers almost entirely revolves around the regions of Hadebrand (/hɑːd:ə:brand/). The game begins in the year 715 after the separation of the Kingdom of Hadebrand following it's Pyrrhic victory over the Basalyik Khanate in the Battle of Halbach. After this point the direction of the world is entirely decided by players!

## Regions

#### Alevig

Alevig lies in the North East of Hadebrand, it is a hilly coastal region which provides the only passage for large forces into the fjords of Vardheim. Despite being one of the longest settled regions, Alevig has experienced troublesome times since refusing to aid Manfred II in the conflicts against the Khanate some 15 years ago. Along with Vardheim and Ried, Alevig was shunned by the other baronies of Hadebrand. Despite Alevig's unstable political situation, a versatile port economy and fearsome warriors are more than capable of helping it rise to it's former glory.

#### Erdorf

Erdorf is a rugged region located on the headlands in the West of Hadebrand. Erdorf was founded primarily as a quarry settlement in the 450's to assist the Barony ofKonigshaven. However, during the chaos at the turn of the 5th century, the settlement gained its Independence as many of the merchants who owned the quarries had their power crippled by Wilhelm I. Erdorf remained independent until the formation of the Hadebrand Confederation and eventual Kingdom. Erdorf suffered during the aftermath of the Battle of Halbach, many of its men were killed in the battle leaving many fatherless sons; but the power vacume left by the collapse of Hadebrand is an opening for Erdorf to expand from its humble origins.

#### Erchel

In the middle of Hadebrand lies the wealthy region of Erchel, founded in 539 alongside its sister city of Kalle. Being landlocked and surrounded by strong, wealthy regions, Erchel has thrived on trade with its neighbours since its founding, giving it the epithet of "Land of Merchants" - a name the citizens here seldom forget to flaunt. Despite contributing men to the battle of Halbach in the battle against the Southern Khans, the regular citizens of Erchel were not hugely effected by the subsequent fracturing of Hadebrand; Erchel has always been a reflectively autonomous cog in the Kingdom.

#### Erste

Lying deep in the Anohe mountains, Erste was founded in 575 as a frontier outpost by a tired and weary expedition force sent by Wilhelm II. The initial settlement was truly a pathetic hamlet, containing no more than 4 or 5 huts at any point, but when gold was struck in 605, Erste's fortunes turned favourable. The ensuing gold rush drew hardened miners and merchants alike from all around the Kingdom, swelling the population and making the ruling baron: Berfrid the White an extremely influential man. All good things come to an end, and so the increasing tensions between Hadebrand and the Basalyik Khanate towards the late 600s along with the crowning of the boy King Manfred II led to a sharp economic collapse in Erste. Workers fled north in fear of raids from the Khans as stories of the brutality in Silburg found their way to the mines. Erste has remained in a dilapidated condition since the end of the war, mostly due to the political collapse in warmer regions. Importantly, though: Erste's gold never did run dry, the mines lie empty of workers, but the gold still lies deep in the mountains, a fact which lingers on the minds of many newly rising barons...

#### Federobe

Federobe - the infamous den of thieves, thugs and brigands lies on an isolated headland in the Northern Pridelands. 'Founded' in 550 when a group of brigands occupied a farmstead near the white cliffs, it soon attracted much of the likes of its founders. Although it was peacefully incorporated into the Kingdom of Hadebrand at the turn of the 7th century by Johan II, Federobe has remained a fiercely independent region. Due to its average economy and isolationism, the Kings of Hadebrand were content with leaving this region to rule itself. This did however, come back to bite, as during the crucial Battle of Halbach, soldiers from Federobe did not arrive. Although, Federobe was not massively affected by the subsequent collapse of Hadebrand, the city remains in a sorrowful state.

#### Hochstad

Dubbed the heart of Hadebrand by the merchants and passer-bys, Hochstad might seem an unsuitable location for such a city, but its strategic location makes it a pivotal crossroads for inland bound caravans.

#### Kreuze

A vital and pivotal province to have under an ambitious ruler's thumb. Its strategic positioning lodged in-between 4 provinces that slices Hadebrand into two, what are all isolated between each-other assures great defence against invasive forces.

#### Kalle

Flat, fertile and slotted between the mighty River Hal - Kalle has been central to the outside market; offering wine, berries and wheat to the other nearby Barons who aren't as lucky to hold the agricultural capacity of Kalle.

#### Konigshaven

Overlooking the Jade sea, the Noble city of Konigshaven is believed to be the first real semblance of a power Kingdom in the Hadebrand region. Dating back to the days of yore, Harald the Great had created a city of gold and splendour from the influx of trade, due to his strategic positioning of one of the greatest cities Hadebrand has ever seen. A descendant of Harald the Great, Gerhart I even managed to convince the Western Provinces to unite under the common Hadebrand people; Konigshaven holds such symbolic importance that If a man wants to become a King, he must control the Noble City.

#### Ried

The mysteries that lies behind Ried have been credited towards the drab and dingy swamp that surrounds the city. People claim that ones who travel too far into the unexplored swamp will be met by monsters, who were once humans; with the adventurer meeting the same fate as the apparent purple-skinned monsters. Sumpfland's greatest flaw is also its greatest boon, having the land of the swamp being far too dangerous for foreign invaders to even dare traverse.

#### Silburg

The First line of defence between Hadebrand and their fierce rival, the Basalyik Khanate. Being unforgivably cold with mountains piercing in to the sky, Silburg has faced numerous challenges, especially the many foreign forces crossing this "Wall of blood".

## History

Long before the unification of the regions, the Duchies and Baronies in Hadebrand have long been disunited with little to no optimism of unification, many-a-times has this been attempted such as King Gerhart I, a Baron to the west that managed to cunningly convince the lands to unite under an alliance momentarily to resist the onslaught from the Southern Basaylisk Khanate from the Steppe. However at the end of the war; no Baron was adamant about any permanent unification. So, unfortunately, the Lords preferred to be independent for their own honour’s sake - what saw the dissolution of possibly, one of the most powerful Kingdoms the continent had ever saw.

After the vanish of Gerhart in his descent into madness to discover the meaning behind the secrets that lie upon his demesne, the regency council that could not find a suitable heir to the childless Gerhart - one of the primary reasons behind the secession of Hadebrand now had caused everlasting reverberations across the people long seeking a unified people, where it is believed that King Gerhart still remains in the mountains of the Anohe guarded by Titans to return and bring all other Empires to heel.

### Further Information

Mythology

Battles