The free kingdoms of Riversend

All along the northern border of the empire spans the realm of Riversend, a friendly and green place of slow rivers and quaint hills and villages. Provinces and kingdoms still free of the empire’s control reign here such as Vinheim, Oziria, Lamberg, and the halfling home of hearthhaven. While the empire has tried to peacefully invite the kingdoms here into a confederation, they’ve denied the offer on account of their disapproval of the emperor and his supposed divine right to rule, and so they wish to remain free.

The land is some of the most peaceful on the continent, with the occasional orc and goblinoid attack on small villages and barony’s. Yet the land proves a valuable strategic asset in its positioning of bordering every other mainland nation in the north, as well as having control over some of the coasts. It seems everyone is eyeing a piece of the countryside, and the lasting peace it’s residents have enjoyed is currently threatened by those around them.

Most of the men, dwarves, halflings and elves here all share a similar melting pot culture where they tolerate each other’s existence. The land itself is somewhat of an expression of the paths of many different people crossing, and so it’s continued neutrality to most quarrels is actually sought to be maintained, as it acts as a sort of middle man for trade between nations that might otherwise never trade with one another due to hostility or distance.