Issia
The mountainous northern half of Brevoy. Winters are long and deadly here, forcing common folk to scratch out a sustainable existence from near-frozen soil during an all-too-short spring and summer. All the while, the lords of the land plot in their keeps and strongholds, jealously eyeing their neighbours’ domains. The Lords, originally came here from Iobaria, are practical folks and bowed before Chorale when he and his dragons came to their strongholds.
The lords of Issia are male; eldest sons inherit their father’s estate and titles. Younger sons often receive some provision, but it need not be much under the law. Women exert influence through their husbands or sons, and may even rule as regents for sons who have not yet reached the age of majority (15 winters). Lords tend to have many children as a result, at least to secure a male “heir and a spare.” This leads to various cadet branches and lines of houses, as well as alliances by marriage, such that in the past 200 years the seven major noble houses have become both more closely related and more widespread. There is an ever-greater demand for land and titles, and more young, disaffected nobility looking to make a mark in the world
Gold, Red and Black dominate the religious landscape - Abadar and Gorum are favoured by the warlike and wealthy nobles, while Pharasma is the deity of the common folks. However, Erastil rules in some areas.
The Lake of Mists and Veils
The people of Brevoy know the vast Lake of Mists and Veils simply as “the Lake,” and it defines the northern border of the land as well as dominates Brevoy’s seasons and weather. In the winter, the fiercest storms howl down from the foggy waters, driven between the mountain peaks to pour freezing rain, sharp hail, and heavy snow drifts upon Issia, slowed only slightly by the forest and the hills around Rostland, before exhausting their fury on the southern hills and plains. The lake gets its name from its tendency to warm enough in the peak months of summer so that when the first chill of winter sets in, the water “steams” with heavy layers of mist at night, slowly burning off each morning.
There are two major strongholds associated with the lake.
Port Ice - Large City: Pop 13,260 - Although connected to the lakeshore villages by a reasonably well maintained road, Port Ice is locked behind its walls for much of the cold winter months, mainly accessible by sled and visited only by the occasional foolhardy traveller. The rest of the year, the city’s residents stockpile all the supplies needed for the next season. The White Manor is the Surtova ancestral seat, currently in the care of King Noleski’s uncle, Lord Domani Surtova. House Surtova’s ancestral lands extend south and east from Port Ice.
Winterbreak - Small City: Pop 5,840 - Located on Acuben Isle in the Lake of Mists and Veils, Winterbreak is home to fishermen and merchant traders alike. Almost completely isolated by ice during winter - it is the ancestral seat of the Lodovka - and where they still take their winter break from trading and fishing.
Golushkin Mountains
The Golushkin Mountains are home to Issia’s greatest concentration of natural resources, as the peaks sit upon deep veins of iron, nickel, copper, silver, and tin, along with some other useful or precious ores. Humans like the Surtovas showed little interest in mining these riches, particularly since the Golka clan of dwarves were already doing so. House Garess established trade with the mountain dwarves, making their fortune in metalwork.
Grayhaven - Small City: Pop 5,880 - High up in the foothills of the Goloshkin mountains, is a walled city that is the ancestral seat of House Garess. Much of its wealth has come from trading with the Golka Clan of Dwarves and working the metals that they bring out of their mines.
Highdelve - Lost underground town: Pop 4500 - was the home Golka Clan of dwarves, which was lost in a major earthquake at the same time as House Rogavaria disappeared and Skywatch closed itself off.
The Icerime Peaks
The Icerime Peaks wall off most of Brevoy from the former lands of Iobaria to the west. Their heights are perpetually covered in ice, even in the summer months, when cold rivers tumble and cascade down their sides, forming towering waterfalls and clear mountain lakes. The late spring thaws open what passes there are through the mountains, although few make use of them. Skywatch is by no means the only ancient site in the Icerime Peaks. Tales tell of half-buried entrances to mountain dungeons, some of them outposts of old Iobaria, others even older. Some of the ruins are said to be haunted by the chill shades of soldiers or miners who perished there, still guarding whatever treasures they found in life.
Skywatch – Sealed Small City: Pop 6,590 - High in the northern Icerime Peaks is a city built around an ancient observatory discovered by the Surtovas centuries ago in the early days of Issia. In spite of its apparent age, the observatory is perfectly preserved, maintained by a powerful, lingering magic. The same night House Rogarvia vanished, Skywatch sealed its gates, and the walled city has allowed no one to enter or leave since, not even couriers or supply caravans. Messages and envoys sent to Skywatch have been ignored and none are known to have left. Even divination magic cannot penetrate its walls to discover what is going on within, or even if anyone there is still alive.
Stoneclimb – Large Fortified Town: Pop 2,244 - is a fortress along the eastern side of the Icerime Peaks in Brevoy. It is south of Skywatchand it is in the north of lands controlled by House Medvyed and from where that House lives and rules. Erastil is the primary deity in this area.
Mount Veska
Brevoy’s highest point is Mount Veshka in the north-central area of the nation. It sits in the middle of a belt of hills stretching from the Icerime Mountains to the Goloshkin mountains, and is pretty much the central point in Issia.
Eagle’s Watch – Large Town : Pop 2,000+ – Sits high up on the slopes of Mount Veska, it is the seat of House Orlovsky.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:06, Sat 23 July 2016.