The Freelands of the North
The Freelands of the North began as an expedition that evolved into a fully autonomous kingdom. A great number of Freelanders journeyed into the uncharted, frozen wastelands beyond the northern borders—the very lands from which countless monsters descended. Over time, these explorers established settlements, eventually forming what is now known as the Freelands of the North.
Campaigning in the North Freelands
The northern continent is a harsh and unforgiving expanse of endless snow-covered mountains and dense, sunless forests.
The most pressing concern for any traveler or citizen is the abundance of monsters, many of them ancient, powerful, and largely unknown to the rest of Vitallia.
Cities lie far apart and are connected only by perilous trails that require expert survival skills and intimate regional knowledge.
The People of the North Freelands
Freelanders of the North are a tough, insular people.
They maintain tight-knit communities built on mutual survival in extreme conditions. Outsiders are met with suspicion and are generally ignored or pushed away unless they can prove themselves useful to the settlement.
Useful Lore
Freelanders have little interest in the politics of distant kingdoms.
They fight a constant war not against mortals, but against monsters—especially those that emerge during winter from the Amber Seals deep beneath the ground. These creatures are part of the land’s cycle, and the Freelanders have adapted their culture around resisting them.
The Dangers of the North Freelands
Life in the Freelands is brutal and short.
Children are raised to become hunters and monster-slayers. Survival skills, wilderness knowledge, and herbal identification are essential lessons.
Only through mastery of these skills can anyone hope to survive the conditions of the north, where nature and monsters are equally lethal.
North Freelander Customs
A Warlord is elected to rule the kingdom and typically resides in the capital.
Chieftains are appointed by the Warlord to govern the outlying cities.
Adventurers who slay monsters beyond the Tooth Mountain Range earn the title Spinemaster, along with wealth and privileges.
Social ranks are minimal; only military and ceremonial titles exist, almost all tied to hunting and survival.
First Hunters are elite woodsmen who lead expeditions into the wild.
Foreign mercenaries who kill monsters for money are viewed as soulless.
Basic Information
Sigil: A Hawk
Location: Mainland
Founding Date: 420 AC
Capital: Antoria
Population: 48,000
Military: 9,000 (Infantry)
Official State Religion: The Sentinel
Official Language: Margo
Leader: Enkantor Alx
Government System: Elective Monarchy
Power Structure: Autonomous Area
Economy System: Market Economy
Native Race: Human, Brutgor, Dwarf, Serenian