The North

This region lies directly north of The Great Forest and is sparsely populated. There are no declared nations, however there are several independent cities, including:
  • Cold Harbor
  • Salthaven
  • Hedeby
 

The Landscape and Climate

The North is a realm of stark beauty, where snow-capped mountains pierce the sky, and vast tundra spreads like a white blanket, broken only by the dark specks of forests and the winding paths of frozen rivers. The climate here is unforgiving, with long, brutal winters that cloak the land in ice and snow, and brief summers when the sun barely dips below the horizon, casting the landscape in a perpetual twilight. It is a land where the aurora dances across the sky, painting the night with colors of otherworldly beauty.  

Independent Cities of The North

Despite the harsh conditions, life in The North persists, clustered around several independent cities that have adapted to thrive in this unforgiving environment.   Cold Harbor: A city built on resilience and the rugged determination of its inhabitants, Cold Harbor stands as a testament to Human tenacity. Its people are seasoned sailors and fishermen who navigate the icy waters, drawing bounty from the sea's depths. The city's harbors, protected from the ice by ingenious engineering, welcome ships from distant lands, making it a crucial trading hub in the otherwise isolated North.   Salthaven: Nestled in a bay where the sea's salt crystallizes along the shores, Salthaven owes its prosperity to the salt trade. The city is renowned for its salt carvers, artists who turn the sea's gift into sculptures that are both practical and beautiful. Salthaven's markets are a mosaic of cultures, where traders from across Nehwon come to barter for the prized salt and the unique artworks it inspires.   Cold Corner: True to its name, Cold Corner is perched on the very edge of the habitable world, where the forest gives way to the ice. It is a community of hunters and trappers, hardy souls who wear furs of the beasts they track across the snow. Cold Corner's craftsmen are skilled in working with bone and hide, and their handiwork is sought after in the warmer lands to the south.   Hedeby: A village with the heart of a city, Hedeby is run by the Northern Barbarian Clans, a collective of families known for their fierce independence and martial prowess. Hedeby serves as a vital trading route, a place where the North's raw, untamed resources are exchanged for the luxuries of the south. The clans host gatherings here, where stories are told, alliances are forged, and the strength of the North is celebrated.  

The Spirit of The North

In The North, community and survival are intertwined; the harsh conditions forge bonds of kinship and cooperation that are as enduring as the ice. Magic is woven into the fabric of life, with shamans and wise women harnessing the ancient powers that whisper in the wind and flow with the meltwater. Legends of ice dragons, spirits of the aurora, and ancient gods lost to memory are part of the everyday, a testament to the region's rich tapestry of myth and folklore.
The North by Chad Watson
Type
Region


Cover image: Moon Phases by Unknown

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