Vanne

The Kingdom of Vanne is a relatively sprawling one, easily the largest of the northern kingdoms and one of the biggest among the Routot. It borders the Swidnicans to the north, and shares some cultural influence with the northerners. It was the first refuge of many Noreya during the fall of their empire, receiving many of them without much complaint. Since then, the city and kingdom have become a bastion for Noreya revival, the race tolerated and even embraced by the various kings over the centuries. Vanne’s king, Lean, is a jovial and friendly man, who makes an effort to connect with his subjects. This has him working alongside them as often as he can, checking up on their concerns and being very active in accepting petitioners to see him. Disdained by some southern nobles, he nonetheless commands great respect within his own borders for his efforts. Swidnicans make up a sizeable minority in the kingdom, and are treated somewhat poorly as migrant labourers.

Politics

Vanne itself is a relatively peaceful realm. The only threats to the kingdom come from the north and the mountains to their east. Goblins, gnolls and other creatures inhabit the foothills of the Blackreach mountains, who occasionally become more than a nuisance and threaten actual destruction. Aside from these disparate bands, the internal politics of the realm revolve around ethnic allegiance. The Noreya have been a part of the kingdom for centuries, and are as accepted as any Routot who moves through the city. While they maintain their own distinct elements of culture, they have also adopted much of their hosts, blending the two into something that makes Vanne unique from its neighbours. Noreya religious and cultural officials see themselves respected and welcomed by the King, even sitting as councillors in his court. To keep both sides of the conflict happy, King Lean has thus far removed himself from the growing tension between the followers of Rannva and Ogne, though if things continue to escalate between the two cults, his intervention may be unavoidable.

A much more pressing concern for the King, and where he exerts much of his intrigue, is in the race for the Swidnican crown. He is constantly courting Headmen of the Swidnican steppe, buying their favour and trying to turn them into his own vassals. Some have knelt to him, increasing his own holdings. While others have been more coy, trying to milk the foreign ruler for as much as they can. In doing so, he hopes to acquire enough traditionally Swidnican territory to crown himself their King, laying claim to the vast expanse of steppe to his north. This attempt is made more complicated by his own people’s attitudes towards their northern neighbours. Swidnicans are not treated particularly well in the kingdom, generally thought of as lower class simply based on their ethnicity. Swidnican labourers are given poor wages, and have little recourse to better their situations. Many avenues to advancement are closed to them, and yet life in the kingdom is still easier than on the steppe. Confined, socially, to live in a specific quarter of the city, many find their conditions to be squalid at best. King Lean has tried to remedy this, with their treatment giving him a black eye in his dealings with their countrymen, but so far his own population has proved obstinate and unwilling to change their views.

Groups

Landmarks

Personalities

King Lean

King Lean is the lord of Vanne, and the most important noble among the northern Routot. He has strong support within his city and kingdom, having much in common with the average commoner. He makes an effort to appear as a sort of everyman, making sojourns around his domain to help in the fields and lumber camps whenever possible. All of this has earned him a reputation as compassionate and helpful, which has done well to repair the damage of his father’s legacy. He puts much of his political energy towards the Swidnicans, where he works to sway local headmen towards his own cause rather than let them support some upstart within their own realm. This has been partly successful, and he has gradually crept his lands ever further towards the north. He makes an effort to reach out to the Noreyans within his realm, consulting them on issues relating to the north as he would other councillors. Several important religious officials frequent his court, owing much to Lean’s continued hospitality. The king has red hair that he wears short, with a small red moustache across his top lip. He is thin and wiry, though much stronger than he appears. He carries himself with an easy energy, charismatic yet not overbearing.

Khionya Berladskaya, Matriarch of the Ice Hags

The highest authority of Rannva, ancient mother-goddess of the Noreya, Khionya is seemingly as ancient as the steppe itself. Born long after the Aetherbreach, she is nonetheless centuries old, having lived in Vanne for much of her life. As a young girl she was selected as many of the Ice Hags are; standing naked on a frozen morning with a cluster of young Noreyan girls. The inspecting Ice Hag saw the spark of magic in her, and she was taken from her family for the proper training. Since then, Khionya has dedicated herself solely to furthering her cult’s agenda. Her tenure has seen Rannva become even more influential among the Noreya, and even garner some influence over the humans in the north. Her and her other elder Ice Hags guide their order throughout the land, sending itinerant witches far and wide to further their goals. Khionya is several hundred years old, and yet one would be hard pressed to realize it. She appears as young and beautiful, if ethereal and otherworldly. Her eyes are completely white, while her skin is pale blue. Horns wrap tightly around her head, pointing down towards her neck. Black hair stretches down her back, disappearing into her dress. Her features are pointed and sharp, giving her a severe impression.

Matvei, Watcher of Ogne

While Rannva is the mother of the Noreya, Ogne is the stern patriarch of their pantheon. His clergy are entirely male, known as the Watchers, and act as the fathers for Noreyan spirituality. In ancient days the two gods were tied through ritual. Those times have since passed, and now their cults fight bitterly for followers and influence. Matvei is the head of their order, a deeply religious man who has worked to guide his followers as well as he can. Despite his convictions, he struggles with an aloof detachment, preferring scripture and ritual to politics. This has allowed him to be outflanked by Khionya and the Ice Hags, who have turned many Noreyan leaders against him and his god. As the cult comes more and more under siege, Matvei retreats deeper into his own studies, dedicating himself to the flames he keeps rather than fighting off the advances of the Matriarch. His skin is a pale yellow, with bright orange eyes. He dresses in the ceremonial robes of Ogne, with flames licking at the hem of a white fabric.