The Freelands

History of Bloodshed

The Freelands as they are known today are a far cry from the once tyrannically held Dragon Kingdoms as it was originally founded. The Dragon Kingdoms were named as such after the children of Firna who created a country of their own to call home in the early days of the Age of Creation. They encouraged other Risen peoples to join them to work together in prosperity, but that soon turned into the first tyrannical rule of Nora. Life in the Dragon Kingdoms was wholly desolate as the Dragon Lords held their subordinates under tight control.
Through a combination of will, foreign assistance, and secret pacts the people of the Dragon Kingdoms turned on their masters and brought about the fall of the Dragon Kingdoms in 705 AR. This was followed by the near-genocide of all dragons in the years that followed with no reported sightings of dragons in the last century. In 715 AR, the survivors of the conflict established their newly conquered continent as The Freelands, a nation that would hold no unified rule and bow to no outsiders. This has continued to hold for the centuries that have followed, with the tenure of the Freelands now longer than the rule of the Dragon Kingdoms.

Land of Freedom and Opportunity

As it was dictated by the new founders, the Freelands currently hold no unified government. Instead, the people follow a free system of every man for themselves. While some small areas have held onto a sense of feudalism and pay heed to the strong and wealthy who run these pockets of society, there are few who would still call them their lord or ruler. It has often been found that when these pocket lords begin to try and force their rule down on others or spread their influence beyond their city walls the disbanded people of the Freelands unite to strike them back down. This sentiment has now become a rallying cry for all of their people.
Life in the Freelands is now as free as it can be throughout all of Nora. Most citizens throughout the country consider themselves to be drifters or vagabonds and wear the title with pride. It is not uncommon for one to spend the greater part of their life here traveling between settlements looking for work or pleasure. This has led to a wealth of opportunities available which has attracted a large number of immigrants who seek freedom or shelter away from their home countries. Although life on the road is heavily desired by many of the people within the country, a fair number of them have still managed to settle in various places within.
Settlements are few and far between compared to other countries throughout the rest of the world, but not non-existent. Several communities of like-minded individuals have settled down in towns hidden amongst the woods and rivers of the Freelands. While the old strongholds of Caer Morhen and Caer Kurzag maintain their peace through absolute strength, towns like Spectre and Wailing Hollow keep outsiders away through tales of haunting spirits and vile necromancers in their forests nearby.
From the great mountain bluffs to the north to the forest rivers of the south, the geography of the Freelands varies greatly and caters to a wide number of lifestyles. Shepherds push great herd beasts across the plains, hunters roam the forests, and fishers line the waterways. The buried ruins and cave systems left behind by the Dragon Kingdoms hold ancient treasures and secrets sought after by many on and off the continent. A life spent in the Freelands is designed to be a life of your own making, provided you have the strength to ensure it happens.

Every Risen For Themselves

Freedom always comes at a cost, and as it is currently in the Freelands, that cost is personal strength. A viable livelihood is determined by the survival of the fittest for many throughout the country. With no government to protect them, Risen here must rely on their own abilities and the scarce relationships that they can build with like-minded individuals. A sense of community only goes as far as how useful someone is to others in the wild here. Those who have consistently found themselves on the short end of the stick have declared that the only choice is free in the Freelands, anything else will cost you in blood or gold.
The Freelands lends itself to a state of lawlessness and moral abandon as is usually the case when Risen are granted freedom. Bandits, thugs, and highwaymen litter the landscape looking to prey upon the weak and weary. Merchants traveling between settlements often have a great portion of their profits poured directly into guards for their transport and often end up being robbed by the same individuals they hired to protect them. Certain cities such as Caer Morhen and Caer Kurzag promise protection to their inhabitants in exchange for high taxes only to abuse the people within their walls. Daily life is dangerous in the Freelands, often deadly, but ask anyone and most would tell you they would not have it any other way.

The Freelands

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A large continent whose people have always held to the belief of solidarity through separation and neither forming nor conforming to any worldly nations or powers. Mostly populated by free thinkers, libertarians, and bandits, the people here reject most authority while still holding most to a moral code. From rolling hills, to mountains, to forests, the terrain here varies wildly to suit the many different characters who call it home.

No Lords, No Masters
Tyrant Wings Come Crashing Faster

Giants On The Bluffs

In the northern bluffs of the Freelands lies Mak'Nanda, a great city of giants and halflings that live in coexistence. Remnants of the war, these two species were originally used as craftsmen by the dragons, but have now been left to their own devices. The two live separate from the rest of Risen society and tend to be aggressive towards outsiders. The violent and greedy nature of too many Risen has led them to embrace this lifestyle of solitude high above the cliffs.

Dark Powers

Rumors have spread throughout the Freelands ever since the War for the Dragon Kingdoms about the dark powers that the fighters relied upon to overthrow the dragons. As it goes, the leaders of the free people each conspired with devils and dark gods in exchange for the strength they needed to overcome the winged tyrants. Many of them were said to have taken their secrets and artifacts to their graves, but this has not stopped the rumor mill from churning. It is said that remnants of these pacts and their artifacts can still be found, hidden deep within the ruins spread throughout the country.