The Järldom of Roathia

The frigid nation of the North

North of the Forbidden Sea lies the frozen mountainous realm of Roathia. Home to the most distant dwellers on all of Athír. A land where life is cold, brutish and short. There are no more nations beyond them; nothing but ice and death. This once divided nation now stand as one, under a single ruler they call the First Axe. All Kings would be wise to keep an eye on their Northern horizon, for a once sleeping giant now stirs.

Quilus Axia, Chief Imperial Adviser

Geography

The Kingdom of Roathia is a vast mountainous realm, bordered in the east and south by the icy Forbidden Sea and to the west and north by the frozen waste of The Everfrost. The land is mostly made up of towering snowy mountains with alpine valleys below them. For four months of the year the seas around Roathia are frozen solid which cuts her off from the rest of the Athír. It is considered an unwelcoming and impenetrable land by all outsiders where little is known of the people who live there.

Structure

Roathia is divided up into five provincial Järldoms who up until the unification in 1021 acted as independent sovereign states, each with their own figurehead and cultural identity. Although many of these cultural differences still remain today, the Järldom of Roathia is now a unified nation under the rule of a single high king known as the First Axe.

History

Settled over 1000 years ago by ancestors of the southern Eldvari people, after a huge invasion of nomadic foreigners attacked their homeland. Instead of staying to be slaughtered, many Eldvari took the sea and made the treacherous journey across the freezing waters to the land they called Roathia. These early settlers scratched out a living by hunting and fishing on the coast and river valleys that lay below the soaring mountain peaks. They established the first settlements of Roathia and after several centuries they had spread to every corner of the land. They formed tribes and eventually clans as they pushed inwards and were cut off from one another by the huge mountains. Eventually five main clans made up the bulk of the Kingdom. Two clans controlled the eastern coast, the Rorakin in the north eastern and the Kovokin in the south east. In the interior there were two major clans, the north interior there were the Norvaks and the central interior were the Sendaks. The far west there was controlled by the Varlan clan. Although each differed greatly, they all belonged to a single Roathian culture. Each clan was headed by a ruling family and were constantly at war with each other. They warred over territory, cattle and clan pride, however they also traded with one another and formed alliances when it was convenient to do so. These were extremely hard times where might was right and violence was not only accepted but encouraged.
For the next five hundred years these clans built large towns, forts and strongholds all through Roathia. They had conquered the spiraling peaks and many of them lived in fortified castles and settlements up high on the mountains, allowing them to watch over the valleys below where they grew their crops and raised their cattle. However after half a millennia as a divided collection of clans, the people of Roathia would be forced to unite to defend their home from an enemy never before seen this far north.
In 1020 an army from the Kingdom of Kholdôr , which lay south across the Sea of Storms, landed on the shores of Roathia and began a series of attacks now known as the Invasion of Roathia. During these attacks the savage Kholdor army brutally sacked many small coastal settlements. Women and children were either butchered or taken as slaves along with any able bodied man who wasn't killed in the massacre. The town treasuries and shrines were looted and their farms and townships burnt to the ground. It wasn't long before the invaders had conquered all of the southern territory of Kovokin. Fearing the worst, the clans decided their only choice was to form an uneasy alliance and join forces to expel the invaders. After months of negotiation and deal making, a ruler was chosen from among them to lead this newly established confederation.
Järl Roak, leader of the Rorakin clan was elected as First Axe of a unified Roathia and led the counterattack which quickly defeated the invading Kholdor army. Now unified under a single ruler, the once divided nation stands stronger than ever and many southern Kings believe that a once sleeping giant is awake and looking to flex its power.

Järl Roak, First Axe of Roathia

Demography and Population

The Five Clans

Kovokin - The Southern Realm

Kovokin is the southernmost dominion of Roathia, a mostly lush green land with small areas of forest among the rolling emerald hills. It is the least mountainous of any of the realms and is by far the best place to grow crops and raise cattle. It is known as the food basket of Roathia . Its coastline is harsh, with towering rocky cliffs and only a few locations along the rugged shore are suitable for ships to port. Its citizens are mainly farmers who work the land during the warmer months, knowing that once winter sets in there will be no chance to secure more food. Without the existence of Kovokin; Roathia would be an impossible place to live. There are several large settlements which dot the landscape of Kovokin including the towns of Keave, Armar and the large walled city of Corvil. The new fortress of Ravos , the seat of the First Axe was also built in Kovokin.

Kovokin, Southern Roathia

Rorakin- The Eastern Realm

Rorakin is the easternmost and oldest realm of Roathia. A largely mountainous area consisting of low lying river valleys below soaring snow capped peaks. It has the most accessible coastline and is therefore usually the first place most travelers to Roathia visit. The people here are usually polite yet distant to most outsiders, acknowledging that trade to the outside world is necessary for their survival. Rorakin is home to the most finely trained weapon and armor smiths in the Järldom, and a large part of their economy is derived from this industry, as well as the tariffs it places on those wishing to use its ports for trade.

Rorakin, Eastern Roathia

Like most Roathian settlements, it's towns and fortresses are built high in the towering mountains which dominate the land. Most of the citizens are either miners, smiths, traders or soldiers. They have relatively good relations with all the other clans, with most disputes settled over mugs of mead rather than sharpened iron. There are several major settlements in Rorakin as well as some impressive man made structures such as the Gates of Rorakin which signify the border with Kovokin in the south. Built over 200 years as a gift to the people of Kovokin, the gates are always opened as a symbol of the good relationship between the two clans. Other major landmarks include the port city of Estkor, the mining town of Anv and the large mountain city of Róna which is the capital of Rorakin. First Axe Roak as well as the current First Axe Rakarth both hail from Rorakin.

Sendak- The Middle Realm

Deep in the interior of Roathia lies the mountainous realm of Sendak. The people here are cold and unsympathetic, spending the majority of their lives sheltered away in the large subterranean cities they call home. During the winter months access to these settlements is almost impossible except via underground passages which wind their way through the mountains. During the construction of these passages large veins of silver and gold were found, leading to many in the realm becoming extremely wealthy. The huge fortified city if Iros is the largest settlement in all of Roathia and is built into the side of one of the tallest mountains. Sendak has had one of the most violent histories of any realm, warring regularly with the Varlans and the Kovokins. It controls the largest standing army of any realm and is not afraid to use its might to get its own way.

Sendak,Central Roathia

Norvak- The Northern Realm

Situated beyond the great Torvil Glacier lies Norvak, the most northerly territory of Roathia. A cold and stormy region with towering peaks; ensures life here is extremely harsh, which is why Norvak has the smallest population of any realm. Most of its inhabitants live cloistered away behind thick fortified walls. However, unlike its neighbours Norvak is a home of knowledge and learning, housing some of the greatest libraries and academies in the known world. During the warmer months many scholars and sages make the treacherous journey to Norvak to study within its famed academies. Norvak is the only region not to be ruled by a powerful family but rather an elected council of elders with its leader known as the High Sage. There is only one settlement in Norvak, the small town of Fáwë which is situated high on the glacier between two huge waterfalls. Beyond Norvak is the frozen wasteland known only as The Everfrost.

Norvak, Northern Roathia

Varlan- The Western Realm

To the far west lies the region of Varlan. A wild and mostly uninhabitable land with huge jagged crags and soaring peaks. There is no large mountain range between it and The Everfrost meaning huge blizzards and ice storms blow over and blanket the region regularly. Not blessed with rich deposits of ore or fertile ground on which to grow crops, the Varlan are forced to raid neighbouring territories to secure their future. This has led the Varlan to be known as the most reviled clan in Roathian society, with most considering them untrustworthy, greedy and savage. The dynastic Varluz family have ruled Varlan since its foundation over 700 years ago. They were last clan to agree to unification and many believe the Varluz are plotting to over through the First Axe and claim the title for themselves.

Varlan, Western Roathia

Agriculture & Industry

Roathian economy is fundamentally agricultural, although mining and the selling of goods also makes up a large part. Trade with foreign kingdoms has also grown since unification and now makes up a small yet lucrative part of the economy. The currency in Roathia is known as the Cralack and is based on the price of livestock, during famine when livestock numbers dwindle the value of the Cralack falls meaning the cost of everything increases. The primary cattle in Roathia are huge native Ox like creatures called Yaxë. Life in Roathia depends greatly on these animals, they are the main source of meat, milk, leather and also used to transport anything heavier than a man across the kingdom. Therefore they are greatly valued and a family's wealth is often measured in how many Yaxë they own. Other areas of the Roathian economy which are often profitable yet outlawed include smuggling and the selling of slaves, most of these activities are conducted through the lawless and treacherous Varlan coastline.

Yaxë farm in Kovokin

Trade & Transport

Yaxë provided the main form of overland transport of both humans and their goods, although carts and wagons are used, too. In the parts of Roathia with the deepest freezes and snows, large wolf like creatures called Draùgs are used to pull sleds across the frozen landscape. Horses are also common in the low lying areas, however these are usually owned by nobles or those wealthy enough to import them. Large trade ships called Hâlks are used to import and export goods across the seas, however due to the extreme weather in Roathia much of life shuts down over the colder months as most are forced indoors and travel becomes almost impossible. Many trade ships are also unable to make it into port due to the large amount of ice which forms along the coast during these times.

Yaxë transporting goods

Iron and Ice

Roathia, in relation to Eldvar

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Ravos

Demonym

Roathian

Leader

First Axe Roak

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Confederation

Economic System

Mixed economy

Currency

Cralak

Major Exports

Gold

- Silver
- Finely crafted weapons
- Fur

Major Imports

Luxury Foods

- Spices
- Jewelry
- Silk

Judicial Body

The Axem (Law Code)

Controlled Territories

• The Everfrost

Related Ethnicities

• Roathian

Population: 500,000