It was difficult to get a handle on the social dynamics in the land of mountains. I was used to the very open nature of the other places I had traveled and especially in Farpath. There people were rarely hesistant to confront me or express displeasure with my actions. But here it seemed as if everyone was easygoing and never had anything bad to say. That is until one of them got me alone and sternly told me about all the things I shouldn't have done or said.
I am certainly no expert on the culture of the Spine but that experience brought me one level deeper and now I pick up on some of the emotion that simmers just below the surface.— Carlyle Westerward, Travel by Horse: The Spine
A Sturdy Ally
The Spine has always been a region unquestionably loyal to the
king. The
lords of the mountains have always backed the
king's decisions even though they may have disagreed. As is common in the Spine, the leaders believe that disagreement and debate between two people happens behind closed doors and that a unified front is shown to everyone else.
The people of the Spine also value loyalty very highly; breaking a promise causes great damage to one's reputation and betrayal turns one into a social pariah.
Skyward Peaks
The Kingdom's Spine is the region encompassing the mountain range northeast of
Mount Kalna. These peaks and ridges reach into the clouds and are devoid of trees above a certain height. Traversing the mountains at these altitudes is arduous and dangerous - especially without a guide. The towns and villages of the Spine are located much lower than the heights that offer magnificent views. The roads to the region still make the transport of goods difficult with the hills and especially the ice in the winter.
Stone, Iron, and Blood
During the unification,
Jarus Sabah was provided weapons and armor for his forces by the blacksmiths of the Spine. It was a difficult ally for the
future king to make because they were able to easily repel bandit attacks from their mountain towns that resembled fortresses but
Jarus shared what little food his forces had after a bad season where bandits had ransacked the lowlands.
Outside of the region the spine is known for the quality of their metal goods. The weapons and armor for the forces of
Naemore still come from the mines and craftsmen of these mountains. The majority of the metals and gemstones used to make currency and fine jewlery come from the deep mines.
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