Realms

A realm in Borost is a general term designating either a sovereign or semi-autonomous territory or significantly large group of individuals. There is a large number of realms in Borost, the majority of which are separated along lines of race. This is likely due to the tension between the races of Borost, and the many evils all believe they have suffered at the hands of the others.

Map of the states of Borost
The map above shows the states, i.e. formally political unions and regions, of the continent. This does not include the territories controlled by the Rangers, the territories controlled by the free cities, or the chiefdoms. This map only shows the de jure areas controlled by the Dwaerkar freeholds as well as Tirsos, as well as the relative locations of informal political entities in Borost.

Map of the realms of Borost


The realms of Borost are varied and numerous. For the sake of simplicity, the areas controlled by the Serpent-folk, Chtzulhand, and Mankind are colored in a single hue, although the realms therein are numerous. For a more detailed map, see the one below.

Chtzulhand
Chtzulhand, also known as the Northern Chiefdoms and the Great Chiefdom, is not actually a chiefdom per se, but a vast collection of small tribes and clans under the leadership of two primary factions.

Chtzulhand literally means "land of the Chtzul", where Chtzul refers to the Chtzul people. The land is barren and mountainous, and the Chtzul live by foraging in the great mountains and their pine-laden faces, and in the ice-free but infertile glacial valleys through tribe-organized farming.

Chtzulhand is considered to be un-invadable, and many attempts to conquer the land have ended in utter disaster. This includes a Dwaerkar attempt, the Izlenteft War of +523 to +527, in which more than 20,000 Dwaerkar perished while attempting to traverse the Izlenteft mountains.

Klodricnjenckj
Klodricnjenckj, known to the Dwaerkar as Klodrickneck, is a Chtzul faction in power primarily in the eastern reaches of the chiefdom.

Nejemugdeskaggj
Nejemugdeskaggj, also known as Nejemnjenckj, and primarily known to the Dwaerkar as Neemunskatt, is a Chtzul faction in power primarily in the western reaches of the chiefdom.

Cities of the Borostím
The Cities of the Borostím, to the South of Borost, and known as the Free Cities to their inhabitants, are a group of city-states established by Borostím dissidents who escaped Borost following the Dwaerkar ascendancy, and settled in places where the dark elves had already primitive colonies. The rapid growth of these cities has caused a number of problems, and many of their inhabitants live in squalor.

Adwengwyngeryn
Adwengwyngeryn, known to the Dwaerkar as Adwenigen, is a city located at the mouth of the river Callagon.

Branngylledyll
Branngylledyll, known to the Dwaerkar as Branagell, is a city located close to the mouth of the great river Cyridef.

Gwyngyrymlech
Gwyngyrymlech, known by many Dwaerkar as Grimlech,

Hardnemym
Hardnemym, known by the Dwaerkar as Haerdnemim,

Dwaerkar freeholds
Although many mistakenly believe the Dwaerkar to live in a single kingdom, this is far from the case. The Dwaerkar inhabit a confederation of freeholds, which vary in government, size, population, and other factors. The Freeholds are all some form of a city-state, with power being maintained by a role determined through familial succession (as per the culture of the Dwaer). Some of the Freeholds also have council-bodies, which either advise the ruler or hold shared power with the ruler.

Tielsland


Tielsland freehold, also known as Tjelsland, is located in the Northern reaches of Borost, under the auspices of the Barends range. Its capital is Ouwestad, which, as far as Ouwestadians are concerned, is also the capital of the Dwaerkar people in general. In the year +532, this freehold annexed the former Terbrug freehold in the Annexation of Terbrug. This resulted in the powerful 'capital freehold' becoming even larger and more influential.

This freehold is unique in that its populace is primarily Dwaerkar, and the elven population is almost negligible. The Dwaerkar of Ouwestad, and most of the hold, are stout and conservative in their views. Ouwestad is the religious center of the Faith of Kel, and the Dwaerkar of this hold consider themselves to be an exemplar of proper orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The Chief of this hold is Keris Ÿzerhand, of Clan Ÿzerhand. The Golden Tower of Ouwestad is a famously opulent display of the city's power and wealth, and houses the principal administrative organs of the city and the freehold.

Helderen
Helderen freehold is largely considered to be the second most influential of the Dwaerkar freeholds. Neudenaald, the capital of Helderen, is the most important trading hub in the whole of the Dwaerkar realm, bringing in goods from Tirsos in the South and the other realms of the North. The Administrator of Neudenaald, Wolik Korthodum, oversees the Council of Neudenaald, a pseudo-democratic body that presides over the city and the hold.

The Borostím population of Helderen is mostly located in the Halen peninsula, which is generally the closest to Tielsland the dark elves are allowed to settle. The rest of the hold, with the exception of the above settlements, is rather rural, with many Dwaerkar living in hill-farms and tending to numerous herds and flocks. Helderen has secured ties with Bahyrst and Zuiderbaai to protect the commercial interests of the most important harbour in Borost. Behind closed doors, it is claimed this alliance was designed to counter the expansionism of Ouwestad, and is known as the Pact of the Three.

Vaalsebossen


Scheveningen is the capital of Vaalsebossen freehold. As the name implies, Vaalsebossen is densely forested, a hilly and mountainous region with thick pine forests that stretch through most of northern Borost. With the exception of the cities of Scheveningen and Vaalseburght, the majority of the freehold is of elvic extraction: the pine forests have been inhabited by elven hunters and tree-farmers since time immemorial.

Yevek Gorthoadum, the 'Silent Senator' and 'Optimus Princeps' of Scheveningen, leads the hold. The Dwaerkar of Scheveningen are considered, at least by Ouwestad, to be deviants and heretics -- indeed, Scheveningen was founded by Ouwestadian religious and political undesirables. In response to such a negative opinion, Vaalsebossen is happy to act as a haven for the Borostím, and practices some of the most liberal Fatherhood policies in Borost.

Scheveningen itself is constructed almost completely under the eponymous mountain: the enormous gate of its principal entrance, once a fortification on the western approach to Ouwestad, is an imposing reminder of the monumental scale of the Invisible City.

Hyrost
Bahyrst is the capital of Hyrost freehold. One of the few non-mountainous cities of the Dwaerkar, Bahyrst's close proximity to Den Waal means that water-wheels form an integral component of its industry.

The flatlands of Hyrost freehold are dominated by the powerful waters of the Waal, which facilitates the travel of Dwaerkar patrols in the area. This is much necessary, as the Borostím of Hyrost are simple-minded and easily enlisted into the many terrorist cells in the area.

Hyrost is ruled by Gehrman Anderast, Lord of Hyrost, in an autocratic fashion. A proud descendant of Clan Anderast, who first captured the land from its previous elven masters in Ÿphergund's War, Lord Gehrman is happy to comply with the less-democratic traditions of his land.

Tederland
Tederland freehold is, to the displeasure of many of the other Freeholds, fabulously rich, unacceptably colorful, and despicably liberal. Zuiderbaai, its capital, is a large and influential port and bustling metropolis, with a diverse yet harmonious population. The freehold is led by Sjael Reimart, the Steward of Zuiderbaai. The power of the Council of Zuiderbaai, freely elected by the Dwaerkar inhabitants of Zuiderbaai, means that Tederland is the most progressive freehold in the land. Scandalously, the Council of Zuiderbaai is advised on Borostím matters by the Second Council, a body elected by the Símic inhabitants of the city, regarding Borostím affairs.

Westerbos
Westerbos freehold has Windbaai as its capital. The freehold is ruled with an iron fist by Wulder Yulthermand, the Lord of Westerbos. Westerbos is the largest freehold, but has one of the lowest populations of Dwaerkar inhabitants -- as well as one of the largest populations of Borostím of any of the other freeholds. Most of the Dwaerkar of this freehold live in Windbaai, and the roads and highways are unsafe for unescorted Dwaerkar travelers -- and even for escorted ones.

Lizardmen of the North
The realms of the Serpent-folk are not well-known and understood. The lizardmen have yet to establish cities and kingdoms outside of the Great Swamp, for which any discussion of the political systems of the serpent-folk and the Great Swamp must go hand in hand.

Tochal League
The Tochal League was a former unified lizardmen state, comprised of all the various quabbling cities and petty states of the Serpent-folk. As a cohesive unit, it brought great destruction upon ancient Borost, causing particular damage to the Northern kingdoms. The Tochal League, as most other cultural elements of the Serpent-folk, remains shrouded in mystery. Some, such as Ruud Moldenteft, suggest that the defunct Tochal League, the Invasions, and the natural cycles of the Great Swamp are all related in a grand pattern which has yet to be englobed in Dwaerkar or Borostím understanding.

The Rangers
The Rangers, also known as the Foresters, the Wild Folk, the Rebels, and many other names, is an organization comprised of men ostensibly dedicated to the defence of that group. In practice, however, it is evident its main goals act along racist lines, with targets often being Dwaerkar and Borostím alike.

The Rangers are currently led by Head Ranger Raime of Allsellen, also known as Raime the Rebel, Raime the Traitor, and many other epithets. His principal lieutenants are Second Rangers Gael of Lunfrick, Idris Coldwind, and Caile of the Tower.

Other Rangers of note include Archer Schmidt, Gaertholde the Furious, Thunelde the Silent, and Gaire the Blade of Fire.

Old Alenreic
Old Alenreic, once the Kingdom of Alenreic, is the former seat of the largest Realm of Men. Nowadays, it is a ruined land, covered in abandoned cities. The Great Swamp, ever-growing, has begun to encroach on the realm, and Old Alenreic has slowly become more and more like a marshland. The Ban of Alenreic prevents its re-settlement.

Tirsos


Tirsos, the country of the red elves, is located to the far south of Borost, at the very end of the Tirsosi peninsula. Its capital, Tirsos, is the largest city in the continent. The realm, although decadent and sundered, remains a powerful contender for the rule of the land.

The ruler of the Kingdom, Ainé, the Exiled King, does not live in the city itself, but maintains residence in Baobhinn Palace.

Currently, the War of the Ten Claims, which has raged for more than fifteen years, has caused stark division in the realm, and paved the way toward its further disintegration.