Midden Reik Hegemony

In the middle of the continent Kandria is where the vast tundra is located. Covered in thick fog lingers lush green grass and dense confireous forests. This land is the domain of the proud but war torn kingdom called Midden Reik.
The Midden Reik is the sworn enemy of the Andric Empire. Since the two realms first made contact they have been at each other’s throats. The magic is powerful in this kingdom and the best spellcasters are born in this country, but it seems the power of this magic drains their life force and so the lifespan is shorter than that of people in the Andric Empire or Skanwatre. Some call it the Cursed Kingdom because of its long-lasting nights - especially in winter - and because of the unholy green glow which lightens up the night sky. Also, every few decades there is the Ride of the dead, were a group of 40 ghostly riders appear from the Marshlands in the east and pillage all the villages they can reach. They always take children back to where they originate. It is assumed that a necromancer from the ancient days cursed this country with this plague.
The Midden Reik is ruled by the Drudenkönig or Drudenkönigin, which commands over four dukedoms. The sovereign is a mighty spellcaster descended from a line of powerful magic-users. The four archdukes are also highly capable magic casters; all of them are proficient in their own specific domain of magic. Under the command of the archdukes are many ambitious barons and baronesses who all strive for power in becoming one of the archdukes themselves or maybe even queen or king. The ruling monarch is well-advised to choose his followers wisely.
In the older history of this kingdom, everyone was allowed to use magic, but since experiments and hunger for power became uncontrollable there needed to be a law put in place. This law stated that, the ordinary folk had no right to cast magic without a license and if caught doing so they will be burned at the stake. A organisations of spellhunters has been established to ensure that this decree is enforced. Nobility sends their sons and daughters to schools where they acquire the official license for the responsible use of magic.
In secrecy, some people of the minor folk meet at seedy locations to practice and study the art of magic. Those people are called wild mages and are looked down upon. Since the last great war between the Andric Empire and the Midden Reik there has been reports of an increase of wild mages and there have been more sightings of the undead in the west at the border to the Marshlands.
There is great uncertainty in the Midden Reik. Many have lost their hope and flee from this accursed kingdom others are trying to rebuild what is left. By the order of the king leaving this country without permission is punishable by death. Some think that death already has come to this godforsaken kingdom anyways. Even if you flee this country there aren't many options left. First there would be the archenemy - The Andric Empire - and no one from the Midden Reik would ever surrender themselves to the Empire and be at their mercy. Then there is in the north - The Tjarnlands - where there is snow and ice the whole year and if you survive crossing the mountains than you would be in danger of getting eaten alive by either the Tjarn Tribes or the wildlife. The only suitable option to flee to is Skanwatre and to be hired there by one of many captains, but even the great oceans have been touched by foul darkness. Even with all this darkness and desperation, there is a beauty to be found in this land let alone the Silver Lake, next to the capital Thanfeste, is from utmost beauty. This is the place where the king of the Midden Reik gets crowned in an hour-long ceremony. Then there is the Wurmburg a stronghold so massive that even the ghostly riders avoid it and Knightfall where the proud protectors of the Midden Reik stand watch against the Tjarn Tribes, so their hordes may never threaten mankind of the south. If this isn't enough researchers find a lot more intact elven ruins here than in any other realm on this continent - so this is an opportunity for experienced adventures and gold diggers to recover a lot of untouched relics but beware these elven ruins are dangerous and not to be underestimated.
The environments shape the minds of the folk who lives there; the people are sturdy and unforgiving. It is rare that a commoner would strife from the life they where born in, a serf shall stay a serf forever and obey his lords commands. Most people of the common folk work in the fields as farmhands and maidens and try to rest in a shabby tavern. All the other work is managed by the guild system of the artisan-, bakery-, masons- and many other guilds. The guilds usually hire apprentices and distribute them between certified workshops. From the lowest commoner to the King they believe in the old faith. They believe that a god sends them messages through aspects of nature. A tree hit by lightning can become a small center of faith for the people of the Midden Reik. In recent years missionaries of Stromus Solare have tried to spread the words of their saints and condeming the old faiths. After the great war Stromus Solare has gotten more attention from the citiziens of the Midden Reik, because the helped to rebuilt the land.
The citiziens dont look to kindly upon the Ara'Tashi if they even regocnize their existence. They do not abide by the laws of the the ruling monarch and practice magic without permission, but since they have always been here the monarchs granted them the right to continue settling far from human villages and cities. Some have moved into the old elvish ruins, where they try to practice the ways of their ancestors. Humans and Elves carefully avoid each other here. The half-elves aren prohibited from joining any human organisation, not that they would want it.
Halflings have settled here long after the elves had gone and before humanity built there first houses in the region. They have settlements in the west in the hills close to the border of skanwatre and crafty as they are they have become essential to the economy of the Midden Reik. Their most renown settlement in the Midden Reik is Spruceborough it is the last major settlement before skanwatre and brimming with the tiny folk.
The Dwarfs of Lóng Huǒ rarely move into the Midden Reik, they are not fond of the large open fields and hills that shape this country. They pass it fast to prospect the glaciers and mountains in the north. In recent years they have doubled their diplomatic efforts with the Midden Reik, but to want avail seems to be unbeknownst.
Skanwatre is their neighbour to the westand is as so often not involved in the politically affairs of their neighbours and the rest of the world. They sell the fine halfling wine and tobacco to the Midden Reik and the Andric Empire for resources and riches to expand on their fleet. Lately their Sea Routes have gotten more dangerous and so they started relying upon land routes more and therefore the trade with the Midden Reik has increased.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Joan, Anna, Julia, Dörte, Astrid, Iohanna, Maria, Osanne, Cathrine, Hildegard, Brunhilde, Elisabeth, Ivonne, Irmgard, Hermine, Victoria, Ninette, Yvette, Jacquelle, Michelle, Anabelle, Margareth,

Masculine names

Heinrich, Willhelm, Christopher, Charles, Philip, Pippin, Roland, Gustav, Geoffry, George, Reginald, Henry, Daniel, Michael, Harry, Lukas, Herbert, Kunibert, Hugo, Bernd

Family names

• Prefix: Lion, Iron, Stone, Dragon, Black, Wolf, Griffon, Light, Doom, Blood, Fire, Ice, Shield, Silver, Storm
• Suffix: Heart, Fall, Cleaver, Bane, Breaker, Breeze, Winds, Wings, Bringer, Gleam, Weaver, Borne, Shield, Courage,

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Occuin - Common

Art & Architecture

The architecture the Midden Reik focus on the construction of timber and half-timber framing for housing and taverns. Major buildings like churches and castle focus on building elements like pointed or ovigal arches, this led to building style of rib vaults and flying buttresses combined with the usage of tracery and stained glass windows. The most common used building material are dark granite and black oak. Some houses in remote hamlets and villages use braiding of plants for the walls and hay for the the roof.

Foods & Cuisine

The cuisine for the average people is rather bland the barely use herbs and have little access to spices. Most commoner eat porridge and bread. Farmers, Hunters and wealthier people get the pleasure of eating cheese, fish or venison but even they can't afford spices. Nobility is able to afford the import of more luxurious food like duck, swan, eel and expensive wine.

Common Taboos

People of the Midden Reik hate tardiness as it is a sign of unreliabilty. A true citiziens of the Midden Reik starts to work as soon as the first ray of sun light appears and goes to sleep when the last bit of sunlight has left the realm.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The people of the Midden Reik prefer sturdy and bulky bodies, which are cabable of resisting weather and daily efforts. They love long blond and red hair and fall for green and blue eyes. The men often have long scraggy beards and the women like to wear flowers as headresses.

Relationship Ideals

In the Midden Reik it is from outmost importants, that both partners are able to work hard. Everyone has to work hard to provide for the families they have joined in unison. The more task a partner can accomplish the more valuable they are to the partner.