The Northern Arm
This region of Galladia extends from the Tierney Plains across to Northbreak and out to Behard' Point. It includes the area south of Thalaston to King's Rock. The major city in this region is the city of Tierney with its shining White Keep. The region is seasonally very cold, but lower latitudes see much more mild summers, fueled by warm winds carried north by the separating point in the spine.
Geography
Moving west across the region one starts with the towering mountains of the Spine, which feed the rivers that become the Mundi River. This river feeds the highly fertile farmland created by large sediment deposits from alluvial and glacial transport. Lake Mundi is the major source of fresh water for the city of Tierney and Fort Behard, and it also helps to irrigate the nearby fields and orchards. Grasslands with low rolling hills stretch the rest of the way until one hits the shores of North Break. The coast alternates between small cliffs and pebbly beaches farther north. Although the climate is more moderate, large storms can blow in off the Silver Sea and ravage this area. The northern coasts are rocky, with steep walled cliffs and pebble-strewn beaches. The coastlines of the Northern Arm peninsula are more forgiving, with sandy beach and lagoons. The coast gains topgraphic relief as one moves west along the southern underbelly of peninsula, with particularly steep walled cliffs at King's Watch.
Localized Phenomena
Everstones dot the landscape, and can be seen sticking out of hills or standing among trees across the region.
Climate
Pine forests cover the lower slopes of the spine, but then give way to grasslands as one descends into the Mundi Valley, as warmer ocean arm blows in off the Bay of Kings. The northern part of the region is primarily covered in colder pine forests. These forests become temperate rainforests, and then grasslands as one moves east. The northern half of the Northern Arm, the feature for which the region draws it's name, is primarily Mediterranean, while the southern side is more lush grassland. Severe storms often batter the Northern Arm peninsula, whether they be cold gales off the Congoma Ocean to the north, or tropical rain storms from the Silver Ocean to the south.
Fauna & Flora
Valar are raised on the plains, while Ekipters also enjoy the climate similar to their original home in the Lowlands. Seahawks reside in the northern cliffs, and some even live out at Behard's point. Todean Blade can be found all around the northern coasts, along with other large fish. It has also been said strange serpent-like fish prowl the waters of Lake Mundi. However, the region is most famous for the Blue Rose. While not true rose, the sweet-smelling, large, royal-blue flower is added to local dishes and baked goods during times of festivity, adding a floral and sweet taste. The Rose Roll is the best known such dish. Alpen Trumpet also grow on the slopes of The Spine.
Natural Resources
Marble deposits are abundant in the northern reaches of The Spine. Other minerals and metals can be found in The Spine, but the major resource by far is marble. Monuments made of Northern Arm marble are immediately recognizable by their brilliant white color, and are common of buildings from the Forefather era, when the material was prized for similarities with Silver Glass. Fishing is common along the coasts and in Lake Mundi, while farming is common along its shores. The main reason for the building of the White Keep in Tierney was to protect the fertile farming land in this area to feed the empire.
History
For much of its history, the Northern Arm was inhabited by nomadic peoples, or governed by far off empires, with few local kingdoms every arising. Predominantly populated by humans and half-orcs, the Northern Arm, was first home to small hamlets along the major rivers, with small fishing villages dotting the coast. Town councils were the primary places of political discourse, with most major conflict involving bands of villages facing their rivals. Even today, some villages retain rivalries with their neighbors. However, the peoples of these lands, Northerners, are hardy and multi-talented, with excellent experience in farming, foraging fishing and fighting.
However, these skills were not able to keep the Fenmarin legions at bay when they emerged from their strongholds in the Spine. The Empire subdued the disparate clans and villages across the Northern Arm, with the local town councils only realizing the Fenmarin as an existential threat to the Northerner way of late once it was too late. The Fenmarin, often busy fighting wars agains the Alarim and Ottenians in the south, often exploited the bountiful lands and skilled peoples of the Northern Arm to feed their war machine. Warriors were pressed into service, and taxes of food and materials put in place. The Northerners developed a resentment towards the Fenmarin, and some of the abuses were so severe, that even some local dwarfish populations began to resent their own ruling-class kind.
With the Stagnation of the Fenmarin during the Ottenian uprising and the Wars of The Gift, the Northern Arm yearned to breathe free. Slowly, a structured resistance began to emerge, and with Fenmarin armies occupied in the south, the flow of tributes and tax revenue to the Spine began to wane. Eventually the disparate clans, villages and peoples of the Northern Arm, for the first time truly unified in a common cause, led a revolt again the Fenmarin, gradually liberating villages starting at Behard's point and moving across the lands.
The Forefathers arrived in the midst of this uprising, with the Fenmarin and Northerners largely held in a stalemate in the Mundi Valley. The Forefathers, sensing an opportunity to further weaken the vastly more powerful Fenmarin, supported the independence of the Northern Arm, sending their forces to help in the campaign. However, the Northerners were hesitant to swear featly to yet another ruling force, even with the promise of aid in their struggle. The ensuing treaty that promised Forefather help, in exchange for loyalty displeased many villages and tribes, specifically those further north. Local leaders saw the treaty as a wolf in sheep' clothing, but promised to turn their attention to these new overlords once the Fenmarin were vanquished. The Forefathers, already stretched thin in their campaigns across Gloratium, needed to ameliorate the situation, quickly. They searched the land for a leader they could install to win the support of at least a majority of the clans. They settled upon a village elder, Mara Stormwind. Well-respected, and a Northerner herself, she was able to rally a majority of the southern villages as well as the council of the powerful port city of Thalatston to her cause. To some, she was seen as a true Northerner, someone who could project the needs of the people to the Forefathers, while others saw her as a traitor to the Northern Arm. Mara married a Forefather noble to cement her claim as the leader of the Northern Arm in the eyes of her people as well as the Forefathers. In a rare, and highly controversial move, the family retained the Stormwind name, both pleasing northern elders, while displeasing Forefather conservatives.
However, under the rule of the Stormwinds, and by proxy the Forefathers, the Northern Arm prospered in peace, largely insulated from the wars of the south. The fertile farming lands and fishing grounds helped the people flourish, and with the completion of the massive marble keep at Tierney, the jewel of the north, the Northern Arm grew into one of the most powerful provinces in Galladia.
However, these skills were not able to keep the Fenmarin legions at bay when they emerged from their strongholds in the Spine. The Empire subdued the disparate clans and villages across the Northern Arm, with the local town councils only realizing the Fenmarin as an existential threat to the Northerner way of late once it was too late. The Fenmarin, often busy fighting wars agains the Alarim and Ottenians in the south, often exploited the bountiful lands and skilled peoples of the Northern Arm to feed their war machine. Warriors were pressed into service, and taxes of food and materials put in place. The Northerners developed a resentment towards the Fenmarin, and some of the abuses were so severe, that even some local dwarfish populations began to resent their own ruling-class kind.
With the Stagnation of the Fenmarin during the Ottenian uprising and the Wars of The Gift, the Northern Arm yearned to breathe free. Slowly, a structured resistance began to emerge, and with Fenmarin armies occupied in the south, the flow of tributes and tax revenue to the Spine began to wane. Eventually the disparate clans, villages and peoples of the Northern Arm, for the first time truly unified in a common cause, led a revolt again the Fenmarin, gradually liberating villages starting at Behard's point and moving across the lands.
The Forefathers arrived in the midst of this uprising, with the Fenmarin and Northerners largely held in a stalemate in the Mundi Valley. The Forefathers, sensing an opportunity to further weaken the vastly more powerful Fenmarin, supported the independence of the Northern Arm, sending their forces to help in the campaign. However, the Northerners were hesitant to swear featly to yet another ruling force, even with the promise of aid in their struggle. The ensuing treaty that promised Forefather help, in exchange for loyalty displeased many villages and tribes, specifically those further north. Local leaders saw the treaty as a wolf in sheep' clothing, but promised to turn their attention to these new overlords once the Fenmarin were vanquished. The Forefathers, already stretched thin in their campaigns across Gloratium, needed to ameliorate the situation, quickly. They searched the land for a leader they could install to win the support of at least a majority of the clans. They settled upon a village elder, Mara Stormwind. Well-respected, and a Northerner herself, she was able to rally a majority of the southern villages as well as the council of the powerful port city of Thalatston to her cause. To some, she was seen as a true Northerner, someone who could project the needs of the people to the Forefathers, while others saw her as a traitor to the Northern Arm. Mara married a Forefather noble to cement her claim as the leader of the Northern Arm in the eyes of her people as well as the Forefathers. In a rare, and highly controversial move, the family retained the Stormwind name, both pleasing northern elders, while displeasing Forefather conservatives.
However, under the rule of the Stormwinds, and by proxy the Forefathers, the Northern Arm prospered in peace, largely insulated from the wars of the south. The fertile farming lands and fishing grounds helped the people flourish, and with the completion of the massive marble keep at Tierney, the jewel of the north, the Northern Arm grew into one of the most powerful provinces in Galladia.
Tourism
The Flavacia, a festival celebrating the start of the spring/summer snowmelt, is started when local wildflowers bloom in the Mundi Valley. Across the valley, villages, towns and cities will hold festivals for weeks, which end after four weeks of celebration. This is punctuated by the final, main event in Tierney, for which people travel days.
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