Home to the Walled Cities of Vardarianna and the Sky Tree, the Kingdom of Iqua Rûn is the birthplace of the elves. House Tarnyl, bloodline of Vardarianna the Builder, holds unequivocal rule of the government, with the firstborn child becoming heir to the throne after their first centennial birthday. The cities within the walls are fiercely defended from outsiders, with strict laws in place forbidding non-elves from even passing the gates without express permission from the ruling king or queen. The majority of its people who live there remain inside the walls for the entirety of their lives, due in part to the self-sustaining nature of life therein, but also because of the harsh laws forbidding visitors from maintaining property or homesteads in multiple locations if the land extends beyond the outer wall. "These laws are in place to protect the Sky Tree. Only we Rûnborn, blessed by the world, are qualified to be its caretakers." - King Iratel Beyond the walls, many small settlements can be found strewn about the plains, populated mostly by merchants, adventurers, and guides. Several of these inhabit the sandy western beaches just outside the capital in order to operate their ports. However, the three largest cities outside the walls are those that run along the rivers Valmoris and Kahyris. Shortly outside the outer wall is Andondi in the lands of House Kytel. The Kytels closely monitor the fork where Valmoris separates from Kahyris and act as the middleman for any personal or professional dealings between outsiders and the capital. Some few lucky outsiders managed to earn favor with House Kytel and gained land in exchange for a pledge of loyalty and service. Following along the Valmoris banks is Ara-I'tuine, held by House Lamir. It is widely considered to be the last of the "civilized lands" before leaving the realm of Iqua Rûn and entering mostly-uncharted wildlands and eventually the Astesta Dynasty. Several adventuring parties pay homage to House Lamir and rest in Ara-I'tuine before journeying southward, and thus hosts many inns, taverns, and commodities. Many of these individuals are those who either wish to earn lordship by expanding the kingdom border or who have been shunned away from the rigid and racist ideologies of the high-born elves and wish to find their own place of belonging. The last of these great cities is Sahta Sinomé, which settled upon where Kahyris separates into the Komal. House Nymir maintains the land and engages in trade and relations with the Commonwealth of Xarius. In recent years, fewer and fewer of the old customs and traditions have been acknowledged in Nymir territory, allowing for an atmosphere of peace and acceptance to reign over the Sahta Sinomé. Many outsiders who admire elvish crafts and culture can find a home under House Nymir.