Articia

Introduction of 'On Articia: The Land of Mists and Snow" by Artificer Ingram, senior scribe of Tamaron.   Articia; a frigid land of boreal forest, fjords, and glaciers located in the northern hemisphere of Vriggamel. One would think this land would be sparsely populated but in fact the opposite is the case. This expansive area is home to 28 million souls thanks in large part to the presence of the Argentum Imperii, one of the most powerful and influential states in the realm. A number of political states exist in the region of Articia: The Republic of Todland, the Northern Confederation of Free States, the Argentum Imperii, the Kingdom of Barov, the Dominion of Aatakia, and the Szentorszag Thaig.   Following the unexplained Barovian Valley catastrophe the Argentum Imperii took it upon themselves to punish those whom they deemed responsible: the wielders of the arcane arts. On the 21st day of Amare, 1 AMF the senate of the Argentum Imperii passed a resolution commencing the state control of arcane abilities. The Republic of Todland and Kingdom of Barov quickly followed suite and a period known as the Arcane Inquisition followed. For roughly a period of five years anyone whom was born with magical abilities or was publicly known to practice the arcane was hunted down and killed or imprisoned. The banning of unlicensed practice of magical schools is strictly enforced in the Argentum Imperii, Kingdom of Barov, and Republic of Todland to this day.   Today the Articia region has seen over 85 years of peace however there are whispers of trouble flowing out of the land. Rumors of the Barovian Valley Exclusion Zone are growing and it is reported that there has been an increase in supernatural activity in the Kingdom of Barov. Whispers of an unknown virulent disease are cropping up in her rural island communities. Reports of undead are increasing in the northern mountain range of Kolesrun and the dwarven thaigs have requested the aide of the Silver Senate. Secrets surround the land of Articia cloaked like a swirling mist, awaiting to be uncovered by the sun.