Ironlands

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The Ironlands are the populated and peaceful countries of the Ash Continent; carved along its eastern shore, they stretch from the sunny south to the cold and icy north. They consist of three distinct political structures: a monarchy sits in the north, and in the temperate riverlands between the north and the south the republic rules. Far to the south, there is no strong political organization, but the land is dominated by a coalition of loosely associated city states.   Outside the Ironlands lie the Ashlands. The Ashlands are ruled by none but monsters and the empty ruins of the mighty civilizations of yore. Few venture there and return. There are wispers of something stirring far away, beyond where even the boldest would dare go. But the people of the Ironlands can only pray to the old Kings as they always have. The Kings are long gone now, of course, but their legends remain. The Ironlands are but a shadow of their past glory, dimmed by the slow creep of the wilds.   Perhaps, the people hope, the old kings will return one day and restore the land to glory and dignity. But if you asked the right Ironlander they would narrow their eyes and shake their head. "The old Kings are dead," they would say. "And its probably best they stay that way."