The Highlands of Mhirriah

The eastern region of The Provinces of Mhirriah, referred to as the Highlands, begins at its westernmost border as well as the northern border which is outlined by the Coille Cloiche Uaine, the green stone forest, and extend all the way to the frigid fjords in the east at the coast. The southern border is marked by Abhainn Dhearg, The Red River, Which is fed by the many lakes of the highlands.
The region was settled by three prominent tribes who found themselves closest to Empress Mhirriah at the time of her ascension to godhood. These tribes swore to defend the region, about 200 sq miles, and the ice spire built by the empress shortly before her departure which is said to be her grave.
The people of the region have known great difficulty, as the wildlife in the region tend to be feral and often incredibly hostile towards any living thing they encounter.

Many suspect mind-altering power emanating from the ice spire, but this theory can never be fully tested as the Church of Mhirriah forbids anyone from entering or even getting close enough to study it.

The tribes actively enforce this law and will kill any who attempt to break it with no questions asked. The ice Spire is known to have weather altering magic that causes low temperatures and dense snowfall year round for miles around it.

While these sights are beautiful, they are not all the Highlands have to offer. The highlands show so much more as you move away from the spire and the Grave of Spears, the eastern and western mountain range that travels all the way to Mhirriah's southern border.

Pine and Tundra

The area around the spire affected by its magic only reaches about 30 miles, growing less dense in snowfall the further you go and finally dissipating into the highland tundra, which is rocky and often has little in the way of vegetation as it is too cold and dry to support it. As such, most of this area is covered by ice fields but there are areas of rocky soil that support plant life. The flora in the highland tundra generally consists of algae, moss, and many species of grass that have learned to adapt to the bizarre climate. As one travels further and further away from these tundras they will begin to see more trees that will eventually grow denser into forests as the temperature increases in small amounts. These trees generally remain green year round similar to the pines and Juniper trees found in Estoyan forests.
Temperatures do remain somewhat favorable if a bit chilly in these particular regions for most of the year. This is not the case for winter, where the temperatures dramatically decrease and the radius of snowfall around the epicenter that is the ice spire expand to encompass most of the highlands.

The Highlanders

The Highlanders are a resilient people often scavenging just to meet basic needs. Winter tends to be the harshest time for these people, as the lack of farmland in the highlands leads to food shortages. Many small clans have fought over food and goods during winter leading to an increase in the frequency of raids and theft. Most Highlanders are more reclusive than the people of other regions, preferring their isolation as it paints a smaller target on their back for raiding parties and one or two thieves can be handled in a fight if they can even find you. These reclusive people build their homes from wood, clay, and ice depending on where they are and what they have around them. Some, however, are nomadic, living in insulated tents made from layering animal fur skin. The creatures tend to be the most dangerous thing for those who live alone. While even fierce predators tend to avoid fire and other signs of civilization, hunger can fill them with wondrous courage.

Those who do live in communities either live in the scattered settlements built on the hills or mountains sides, but keep those communities small for similar reasons to those who live alone. These small communities never have more than a dozen or so people while the larger villages tend to have 40 to 100 people.

There are three main cultures in the highlands.

These tribes are further broken down into smaller "families" which the Highlanders refer to as clans. These Clans are lead by those who are of a particular bloodline which, over the many years since the Mhirrian Exodus, expanded from members of Mhirriah's Entourage. Everyone else who claims to be part of a certain Clan is not actually related by blood but rather adopted in a sense after swearing fealty

Greenstone Forest

Coille Cloiche Uaine, or the green stone forest, is the border of the highlands and the other regions of Mhirriah. Named after the emerald and Malachite deposits that litter the forest, it is where most people can be found as it is furthest away from the harsh cold of the Ice Spire.

There are many examples of Flora and Fauna in the highlands, most of which come with biological traits such as dense fur, fat Reserves, and many have a tendency to hibernate in the winter. Like in other parts of the nation megaflora and megafauna exist in the highlands. Though there are numerous examples of megafauna and megaflora that live within this very forest most tend to wander the tundra along with the wintry landscape around the spire.

The Ice Spire

When the empress and her people arrived in the land of Mhirriah, she finished her many labors given to her by the gods who sacrificed themselves to ensure their arrival. One such labor was to construct a large Ozolithian Marker somewhere in the promised land. This marker would serve as her place of ascension and her grave. It is unclear why the various magical effects that seems to stem from the tower occur or even if they were part of the labor itself and therefore had to be part of the construction of the marker. Regardless in the present day very few are allowed inside and only those who are of the highest positions in the Mhirrian Church. What many do not know is that these holy men and women do not actually enter the spire as no one actually knows how to do so. It is assumed that in order to enter any Ozolithian Marker one would need possession as well as the ability to use Mhirriah's spear, an Enchanted weapon that serves as her Thoughtform Armory. What these people actually do is get close enough to see the various stories Mhirriah had inscribed onto the door of this marker which apparently tell of a secret the church does not want anyone else to know. What the secret is remains a mystery but theories claim it has to do with church law or quite possibly some ancient power only the highest members of the church can use. Others still are against the church and claim that it has a dark secret Mhirriah kept to herself until her ascension. these particular stories say that it could be anything from the name of the nameless king to the name of the demon that started it all and forced the people of Ozlith to make their exodus.

Type

National Territory

Population

the nation does not take a census of its population but there are likely anywhere from 10 to 20 thousand people living in the highlands in the present day.

Inhabitant Demonym

Highlanders

Red River

Abhainn Dhearg is a river that traces the southern border of the Highlands and where most fighting between the Highlanders and other tribal banners from other regions fight as the forest is far too dense and well known to the people of the Highlands to mount a successful attack. This tendency towards being a battlefield is the prime reason why it is referred to as the Red River. On numerous occasions, those traveling along it have noticed the water turning red with blood due to a battle being fought further upstream. The most notable thing about the Red River is it's noticeably flat landscape. The vast majority of the Highlands are rocky and covered in hills. These examples of elevation are what give it its name. The river itself flows into the The Weir Ocean from a lake further north as well as water that melts from the peak of the mountains. These streams, as well as the lake and the Red River itself all, serve as a major water source for those who live in the region and serve as a prime hunting ground. As such, most settlements, and even the reclusive Highlanders who live alone, are seldom far away from these streams.

Loch Diathan

The main source of water in the highlands, The Lake is a body of water nestled Within the Greenstone Forest. Many individuals live along its shores and it tends to be the seat of all civilization in the highlands. For whatever reason creatures that are normally hostile in areas further away from the lake become incredibly passive as they get closer to the water. Many believe that there is another marker at the bottom of the lake protected by a giant Beast that radiates this pacifying effect. Many individuals find domesticating creatures a lot easier the closer they are to the lake. For this reason it is the base of operations for the Beast masters of Mhirriah.

Grave of Spears

The Grave of Spears refers to the mountains that line both of the eastern and western coast of the nation. While the people of the nation itself do not live within them, they are said to be the homes of other races such as the dwarves, low elves, and what remains of the Giants. Attempts to find their Subterranean cities embedded underground and within the mountains themselves have failed and they are not the most sociable of races. Despite this it is a known fact that they are there and often help when The Infernum sends its crusades. The name of the mountain range comes from Mhirriah herself who, upon her ascendance to godhood, took the title “Goddess of Spears.” The spear was her primary weapon and she spent much of her life learning its uses and techniques as she continued her quest of becoming a warrior queen.

The Clans

The three answer to the Circle of Salt and the Circle of Winter. These circles speak for the church of Mhirriah as a whole. The three clans joined under the Highland banner and share control of the highlands.

The Calib

The Calib are named after Calibus, an esteemed general of Empress Mhirriah's armies. When they arrived in the promised land, Mhirriah build the Ice Spire and Calibus vowed to defend it with his dying breath. His people followed suit and settled in the snowy region. They adapted well and refused to allow any other clans, even their closest allies, to enter the territory without permission. The most notable thing about this clan is their connections to their Homeland. The Highland Berzerkers trace their lineage to this clan and as such they still pledge fealty despite the fact that they are a neutral organization. The Mhirrian Shield Maidens are loyal to the Calib as well, having stemmed from the The Matriarchs Legion (Mhirriah's Legion) when Mhirriah Ascended.

The Finnich Tribe

The Finnichs (finick) are fishermen and sailors who took to raiding Estoyas coast during the war. Their ships are tough and built for ramming and boarding. They are named after Finnich, a young man who served Mhirriah as an adviser. When they met, he was a peasant and a fisherman. She was said to have taken a liking to him and that the empress bedded the pauper in his own cottage. He joined her entourage and served as a way for Mhirriah to get to know her people.

Now, the clan provides the primary food source around the lake through their fishing. Their military is lacking, consisting of men and women who often have little training before a battle and fight with crude weapons. What the Finnich do have to offer is the sea shaman. These members are from the Circle of Salt, a druidic circle that deals with water and oceanic balance. The Highland Sea Shaman are often regarded as insane and their brutality knows no bounds.

The Arbhon

The Arbhon (Arv-on) are tall, muscular, and likely the most imposing Clan in the highlands. They often enter battle with lighter armor, and fight with clubs, claymore, and dagger. They scream their battle cries while cleaving the front line with wide heavy cuts. While intimidating, They are gentle giants. They stand on average at about 6" to 6' 6". While many people wear kilts in the highlands, it was The Arbhan who invented it as a means of identifying clan and clan. Arbhan was a young woman who Mhirriah befriended during her youth. Arbhan was the woman who made Mhirriah's Spear and served as a personal blacksmith to the Empress.