The Greylands

The Greylands are regarded as the bastard child of humanity; a fledgling empire born out of violence through colonization, surrounded by the ruins of what the first Aerrunean settlers did to the natives.

The Greylands remains the only sane part of Aerrune.

## Geography

The Greylands are a mix of tundra, taiga and boreal woods.

## Government

The Greylands are ruled by Tzarina Hylea eir Gryrikker from Oskvol, where she commands her agents and Erls throughout the Holds of the lands. This coalition is known as the Frozen Court.

## History

Aerrunes history is a bloody one. Natives who survive in the harsh hinterlands are regarded as monstrous to most, while the humans who deign to live there aren't any different.

Aerrune was brutally invaded by humans around one hundred years ago during the 3rd Age. At the forefront of this invasion was a man called Oskar daer Gryn, commonly known as the Wolf-Grin. Oskar became a saint for his actions and his name the foundation of Oskvol.

Aerrunean settlers travelled up the west coast, reaching the edge of the world at the Northern Limit. Those who stayed would become the Skol, the settlers who discovered Skormr. The rest were lost to the White-That-Wends to become madmen, savages and monsters.

The history surrounding the strange native races is something scholars can only question.

## Trade

From the Greylands the main exports are; wool, timber, hides, pelts, tin, lead, iron and copper. Rarer exports included amber, magical minerals such as chardalyn and blue-ice and soul-infused items.

When it comes to imports, its no hidden secret that Aerrune relies on slavery. Naturally due to its location its hard to travel slaves that far from distant continents, but it happens regardless.

## Locations

### Towns and Cities

* Oskvol - Capital of the Greylands
* Shadowdale - An ancient town once known as Ath-Yolash, now renamed and owned by the Frozen Court. Contains the Pinnacle, home of the Guild Eldritch.
* Torena Logas
* Artor's Rest
* Emyn Vul
* Okrazifin
* Mykrvid

### Holds

* Konig
* Ruarc
* Caroc Morn - Recently announced to be a Freehold by the Erl, much to the amusement of all.
* Rymrgand

### Places of Import

* The Bleak - This vast region is warred over by squabbling tribes of natives, warchiefs and those proclaiming themselves to be kings and tzars.
* The Council of Stones - Surrounds Shadowdale.
* Rakhan Korv - Swampland home to the Bloodsgrove.
* Night Beyond - A vast labryinth forged of black stone, serves as the barrier to Hushabye Valley.
* Hushabye Valley
* The Pinnacle - Home of the Guild Eldritch, a gargantuan tower that has a crown forged of clouds from its sheer height.
* Snowmourne Mountains
* Vogren's Teeth

## Inhabitants

### Aerruneans

Aerruneans of the Greylands are typically humans and halflings, but stranger races exist across Aerrune. Aerrunean humans were not originally native to the region, but have immigrated over the last few hundred years. "Aerruneans" are really a mixed bag of people, whose singular identity has been forged through petty squabbles and claiming land through trial.

The common Aerrunean possesses a tall frame and broad shoulders, but many born in Oskvol were instead lithe and slender, rather than muscular like their outlander cousins.

### Native Races

* The Animat - Crafted soulbound wardens forged by the Guild Eldritch.
* Cythir - Pallid High Elves who worship Yslach, granting them monstrous mutations.
* Dwarrow - Despotic Dwarves from the deep, living underneath Cain Anun.
* Raishicts - Vicious Snow Elves from Gravaraad.
* Hurŵa - Bestial halflings from the wild frontier.
* Orklódh - Savage Orcish raiders from Cain Anun.
* Lenua - Moth-like harpies.
* Grîshalgwin - These Goliaths hail from the mountains of Snowmourne and beyond.

### Factions

* The Guild Eldritch
* The Bloodsgrove - A fearsome mercenary order dedicated to merciless conflict to bring an end to battles swiftly. Feared by all for their cruelty and unyielding nature, they are regarded as a last resort.
* The Kuldrbrotva - Wandering warrior-guides for those who need protectors in the Greylands. Known for their generosity and compassion.
* The Dissidents - A group of extremists and anarchists. If there's ever a surge of vigilantism and violence, it's usually performed by them.
* House Crookspur - They call themselves entrepreneurs, but they are slavers first.
* The Eleventh Storm - An order of monks dedicated to Keonei.
* Yargakhin - Wandering nomads, they follow leylines left by the Flayed God.
* The Hundred Families - Descendants of the first settlers of Aerrune.

### Notable Inhabitants

* Grandmagister Sholtua of the Guild Eldritch
* Tzarina Hylea eir Gryrikker - Queen of the Frozen Court
* Skömm Mantloc eir Rymrgand - Current Skömm of the Bloodsgrove
* Erl Haedric eir Ruarc - Current Erl of Ruarc's Hold.

## Culture

### Society

Aerrunean society is a vast and vicious affair. Organised government outside of Oskvol is little better than Erls ruling however they please while the Frozen Court controls trade through the Greylands into Oskvol.

Compared to many other humans, Aerruneans revere cleverness. This doesn't translate to raw intelligence but cunning such as those found in predators. Subterfuge and frugality are some of the skills found worthy of respect among the Holds. Bravery, communality and general survival aptitude are considered common virtues.

Due to the austere way of life of many Aerruneans, they despise hoarding wealth. Greed, cowardice and vanity are the vices of the Greylands. In Aerrunean communities, an action is only worth what it accomplishes; deeds are measured by their results. To an Aerrunean, words are meaningless. Symbolic gestures, apologies, empty talk and hollow courtesy are exceptionally insulting.

Prayer is outlawed in Aerrune, as terrible things from the wastes may answer those prayers. Followers of the gods of Aerrune believe that only action may turn the favour of their deities. Idols are worn like armour, and followers of Freyth use spears hewn in the visage of the Great Wheel.

## Notes

* The language that those of the Greylands speak is a mix of Skol, Birian and Grishal.
* A Skömm is a general.
* A Skivir is a vizier.
* An Erl is a chieftain.
* A Valka is a shaman or druid.
* A Thayn is a captain.
* "eir" simply means "of" typically used to denote where one is from.