by Désirée Nordlund
Droyma's landscape is shaped by the interplay of its formidable mountain ranges, sprawling steppes, and lush, fertile valleys, with human settlements deeply connected to the terrain's natural character. Dominated by the towering Droyma Mountain range, which extends from the very north to the southern lowlands like a vast spine, these peaks shape both the geography and the lives of the people of Droyma.
To the west of the Droyma Mountains lie the rich and productive lands that nurture some of Droyma’s most thriving settlements—Midhväkt, Holagh, Likhtar, and Hamar. This region is characterized by its fertile soil, where lush fields of golden wheat, barley, and vegetables stretch towards the horizon. The regular rain carried inland by oceanic winds, combined with the rivers flowing from the mountains, create ideal conditions for agriculture, and it is here that the people of Droyma find plenty. Midhväkt, centrally positioned among these fertile lands, stands as a beacon of this abundance. Its granaries, built from thick wood and thatch, are filled with harvested grain after each growing cycle. The air is filled with the scent of drying wheat and freshly baked bread, and the roads are busy with oxen-drawn carts transporting the surplus to other areas.
Holagh, located just to the south of Midhväkt, has prospered from both agriculture and craftsmanship. It is here that the finest ales and beers are brewed, and the scent of fermenting barley and hops wafts through the village, a constant reminder of the region's bounty. Holagh's brewers are known across Droyma, and their drinks find their way to celebrations and gatherings in many far-off places.
Likhtar, like Holagh, thrives due to its agricultural wealth, producing grains and vegetables in abundance. Likhtar’s markets are bustling, with traders exchanging crops, livestock, and crafted goods. Meanwhile, Hamar lies further north, at the boundary of where the land remains hospitable. Here, the colder climate means that wheat cannot thrive as well, but the people have adapted, focusing more on hardy livestock like sheep and cattle. The wool from Hamar is of excellent quality, and its leather goods are known for their durability. Hamar may be on the fringe of the fertile belt, but it stands resilient against the colder winds, with a community rooted in cooperation and resourcefulness.
The Droyma Mountains themselves are a formidable presence, splitting the country into different regions. To the east, the mountains give way to Tangata’s Bowl, a vast, dry steppe extending to the base of the Mara Mountains. This area is dotted with scrub and hardy grasses, a stark contrast to the lush western valleys. At the heart of this expanse lies the Karaka Swamp, a saltwater basin where white salt crusts line the banks, giving the air a pungent, briny tang that lingers throughout the day.
Along the north coast, but southmost among the settlements in that region, lies the town of Fith, nestled between the Mara Mountains to the east and Tangata's Bowl to the west. Fith benefits from its coastal position and access to freshwater through Jemlanger river nourishing orchards and vegetable patches. The community here is built on the balance between the sea's bounty and the cultivated fields, and the scent of salt air mingles with that of ripe apples and freshly harvested vegetables. Fith is a place of opportunity amidst the challenging geography—a beacon of fertile land in a rugged and often unforgiving landscape.
Further north, and at the very edge of Droymam, peeking out into the unforgiving Hafrek sea, lies the Town of Cha. It is a harsh place, locked in an eternal freeze where snow and ice cover the ground for as long as memory holds. The land here is unforgiving, with rocky, frozen soil that resists attempts at farming, and a wind that howls ceaselessly, carrying biting cold and the sharp scent of frost. Yet the Town of Cha has found its own means to thrive; it is known for its production of pigments derived from minerals mined out of the frozen earth. These pigments are highly prized across Droyma and beyond, bringing a splash of color to an otherwise bleak landscape. The people here are tough and practical, enduring the cold in exchange for the unique resources the land provides.
These settlements each reflect their distinct environments, shaped by their proximity to the Droyma Mountains and the climate they create. On the western side of the mountains, settlements like Midhväkt, Holagh, Likhtar, and Hamar benefit from fertile lands, abundant water, and a temperate climate that allows them to thrive. Their people grow grains, raise livestock, and craft goods that fuel their prosperity.
On the northern coast, Fith makes the most of its location between sea and mountain, cultivating a mix of agricultural and marine resources, while the Town of Cha, further to the frozen north, extracts color from the lifeless earth and endures where others might have faltered.
The Jemlanger River, fed by glacial melt from both the Droyma and Mara ranges, winds through these lands, providing a lifeline of fresh water that sustains both human settlements and the wild places in between. The river's presence is essential, not just for drinking water, but for irrigation, industry, and transport.
History
Nine lifetimes back, when it was spring,
The Tangata people had most of the area west of the Mara mountains to themselves. They were nomad people moving their herds across the plain no matter the season. They had no written records, only oral stories, and the stories told they had been living this way for hundreds of lifetimes.
The Droyma Kingdom is not as old as the Tangata people, but according to their records, their first Queen was crowned in
Midhväkt nine lifetimes back. They were farmers, fishers, and timber-men, living in permanent houses.
A mountain range separated them from the Tangata people, and little did they bother each other, neither understanding the other’s culture nor wanting the other’s lands.
Aboi Jemlanger founded the Town of Fith, and he used the river to reach the Droyma Mountains and then trade with the people of the Droyma Kingdom. He came from the northeast and sought a way not to have to sail around, coming from the south. The Tangata People rarely walked further east than the river. To secure his investment, Jemlanger claimed the land from the river to the Mara Mountains in the east eight lifetimes back. It was summer.
Still summer, in the same lifetime, other people arrived, seeking land to claim for their country. It is said they came from Atgömin, but no one knows for sure. They called the place where they had arrived at Rangatira. Even if they found little of interest, they stayed.
A few from the group crossed the mountains in the north into the eternal winter. They found riches in the form of clay with minerals, but when they returned, no one was interested in their findings. So they returned and founded Cha, which they claimed for their own.
by Désirée Nordlund
When spring came again, the Tangata People found themselves blocked from both rivers. The lake at the bottom is salt and could not be given to their animals.
by Désirée Nordlund
Before autumn, Rangatira had grown into a kingdom of their own, eliminating the Tangata People.
The Jemlanger Kingdom felt threatened by their new neighbor. They were easy prey for Rangatira, who trained for battle from an early age. Jemlanger had not needed to have anything but symbolic protection before.
by Désirée Nordlund
Then, the Droyma Kingdom joined the battle. They wanted to protect Sial’s Well from people who did not respect the holy place. Jemlanger and Droyma had a common interest in the site, but Rangatira had a different religion and culture altogether.
Once Sial’s Well was secured, the battle continued, and by the end, Droyma was the victor.
What was left of the Rangatira Kingdom was their former capital,
Kahurangi Pa, where their culture and religion remained under the rule of Droyma.
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