Alhamland
Alhamland is a rugged land filled with rugged people which occupies the northern edge of The Crater Sea. Alhamland is the south-eastern tip of a much larger landmass, divided by the mountain range known as "The Alhamish Spine", a fragment of the much larger mountain range which once extended unbroken from the northern tip of the continent to the bottom.
Geography and Climate
Alhamland is a rugged land of wild coniferous forests, rocky alpine tundra, and majestic fjords which averages around 300-400 miles across and 100-200 miles north to south. Most of the region has a chilly but generally temperate climate, getting colder the further north one ventures, but the mountainous central and eastern sections are eternally frozen alpine tundra. The southern coast is riddled with fjords, a legacy of the violence of The Cataclysm, and most of the rest of the region is covered in coniferous forest.
The Fjords
During the cataclysm the southern coast of Alhamland split away from the northern coast of Alboria, and while the resulting Alborian coast was largely untouched, Alhamland underwent major trauma beyond the initial seperation. The coastline was thrust upwards by fifty to a hundred feet, resulting in high rocky cliffs along the entire coast, and the trauma of this uplifting caused scars which define the region today. As the rock of the cliffs crumbled under the tremendous forces involved, massive rifts formed in the new cliffs, forming Fjords along their entire length.
Because many of the fjords form natural harbors, many settlements are located on their shores. In addition to shelter from any storms in The Northern Strait, the fjords also hide the settlements within them both from potential seaborne raiders and from reprisals from their own raids. Despite the number of settlements in this region, they tend towards being smaller due to the size constraints of the fjords themselves limiting the size of their fishing fleets.
The Western Forests
The western half of the region is dominated by dense coniferous forests interspersed with open grassland populated by herds of caribou and other native herbivores, along with packs of wolves and other predators. Only a few settlements are located outside of the coasts in this region, most of which exist to provide lumber for the coastal towns and cities. With the season for farming being relatively short, fishing and trade are incredibly important for existance in this rugged region.
The Northern Coast
Further to the north-west, The Western Forests give way to open tundra with only sparse patches of trees, the much colder temperatures likely affected by the preturnatural cold of the vetrarfjöll. The lack of any real growing season for crops has left the tiny handful of settlements in this harsh climate entirely dependant on hunting, fishing, and trade.
The Vetrarfjöll
Stretching west down the center of the region from the Alhamish Spine to the edge of The Western Forests, this mountainous region is significantly colder than the surrounding areas, existing in a neverending condition of deepest winter. This region is known among the Alhamish as 'The Vetrarfjöll', or 'The Winter Mountains' in old Alhamish dialect, and is regarded with a certain level of superstitious dread by most native Alhamish with good reason. Within the glaciers and alpine forests of The Vetrarfjöll reside tribes of frost giants, packs of winter wolves, ice trolls, remorhaz, frost worms, and many other deadly creatures which thrive in its frigid reaches.
The Ísvirki
The Ísvirki, or ice fortress in old alhamish dialect, is a ring of mighty mountains surrounding a singular peak which may be the largest on the continent. Massive glaciers stretch between the peaks, forming mighty walls of ice and effectively creating a fortress with the central peak as its keep. Little is known about this imposing edifice, who it's master is, or what their motivations are outside of the occasional raiding parties of frost giants, ice trolls, and the like equipped with fine armor and weapons which can be traced back to The Ísvirki.
The Alhamish Union
Nominally comprising the entirety of Alhamland, although it's claim on The Vetrarfjöll is questionable due to the lack of any major human settlements or even attempts to tame the region, The Alhamish Union is comprised of three smaller kingdoms, united through marriage between their royal families in an attempt to end the endless series of minor wars between them and consolidate their power to compete with the larger and wealthier nations to the south.
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