Yarsol

Yarsol, officially the March of Yarsol, is a nation in northwestern Galessia. Commonly considered the sole bastion of civilization within the frigid and inhospitable Ossyeard, it borders no other polities, though roads connect it to Whitedawn to the northeast and Ossgate to the southeast, leading further through the Windchill Pass to the Protectorate of Highvale on the other side of the Galespine Mountains. Known to some as the City of Ice, Yarsol is known for its tall, elegant buildings constructed nearly exclusively out of ice. Its current ruler is Marchioness Valeria Rosecroft.

History

It is unclear when Yarsol was founded. Oral history implies the city already existed when the frost goliaths entered the Ossyeard during the reign of the Ancient Dwarven Empire, yet written histories that make mention of Yarsol are scarce and mostly rather recent: even among the texts within the Gaothair Library in Burrath, the earliest mention of Yarsol is in an old explorer's journal, which mentions "the empty ageless city of ice" - centuries after the founding of closeby nations such as the Protectorate of Highvale and the Sovranty of the Wendrough.
Yarsol was long considered a haunted place in local folklore, as despite the city's size and immaculate design, very few people actually lived there, and many who visited ended up staying forever or disappearing on a dime. However, as the centuries passed, peoples unaware of the city's reputation slowly migrated to it, slowly filling the icy buildings with inhabitants and eroding its cursed status. It instead became known as the sole safe haven in a hostile region, as even the dreaded white dragons seemed to avoid the city.
In the modern day, Yarsol remains a strange, isolated state. It made no appearance at the Meeting of the North, neither levies taxes nor supports its citizens, and has never been known to engage in war or claim lands. While considered a near-necessary stop on any journey into the Ossyeard due to the safety it provides, most native Ossyeardans warn against lingering there longer than required, as evil is said to lurk in the city's frozen streets: people still disappear regularly, especially travelers.

Geography

Located in the southeastern reaches of the Ossyeard, Yarsol experiences cold, frosty, snowy weather year-round, with temperatures above freezing being very rare. Agriculture is impossible due to the cold, and food is thus obtained through trading with the farmers near Ossgate, the fishers of Whitedawn, or through hunting the rare game in the region. Liquid water can only be obtained through thawing the ice and snow that blankets the region.
Constructed on a flatland before a set of peaks, the demesne of the marchioness is the most inland location of the Ossyeard that can be reached with ease, as a proper road leads southeastward from it towards Windchill Pass. The buildings, tall, elegant, artful, and immaculate, are wholly constructed out of ice that seems indestructible and never-melting. It is widely assumed that these buildings were magically constructed, either by a master of the arcane, or an otherworldly force.

Politics and society

The March of Yarsol is ruled by Marchioness Valeria Rosecroft. A seemingly reclusive woman, she hardly ever leaves the Castellum of Mist, and has rarely been seen by anyone. The marchioness has ruled Yarsol since the first historic mention of it, several centuries ago: it seems this is due to elven heritage. Her rule is almost exclusively felt indirectly, through the Blizzard Blades, the armed force of Yarsol. Rule of law here is typically lax, as only severe problems are dealt with by intervention. However, after arrest, perpetrators are almost never seen again, implying a dark fate for criminals.
Likely due to her reclusiveness, the marchioness does not engage in formal diplomacy. Carriages do sometimes arrive, disappearing beyond the gates of the Castellum, so it is likely she does receive guests, but it is unknown who these people are. The leaders of nearby communities such as Whitedawn regard Yarsol with care and suspicion, and often warn travelers against being infatuated by its immaculate presentation.
The inhabitants of Yarsol are mostly species who can withstand the cold well: humans, frost goliaths, silver and white half-dragons, and the occasional civilized minotaur. In recent years, the city has attracted a sizable population of tieflings, especially those of the cold Levistan and Mephistophelan bloodlines. Marchioness Valeria Rosecroft herself is reported to be a 'frost elf', a subspecies which has never been recorded anywhere else in Luquastra. Her long life and elven ears give her claim some credence, but scholars are reluctant to affirm the claim, as no other evidence exists.
Religion is not policed in Yarsol, and no traditional belief system seems to exist. A temple to Kelemvor has been established within the city, and receives protection from the Blizzard Blades. Notable communities devoted to Ilmater and Shar exist here, too.

March of Yarsol

Standard of the March

Ruler
Marchioness Valeria Rosecroft

Armed Forces
Blizzard Blades