Highlands of Kord

Encompassing most of the Toran Empire, the lands are littered with hills and forests. The naturally defensible terrain has made the empire widely considered unconquerable for thousands of years. The constant change in elevation would halt any invaders, if it were even remotely feasible to penetrate the nation's military for more than a mild incursion.   The history of these lands is steeped in both in honor & blood, as well as unity as nations were conquered. There are a great many city-states and kingdoms that still exist within the highlands, as a part of the Toran Empire. Some are given autonomy, so long as they adhere to discussed terms. Others have their leaders given a place on the imperial council, second in command of their territory only to the Kaiser, similar to how the Kaiser's royal family is issued authority. The few who did not swear fealty after being conquered had their power removed and given to prominent figures and nobility loyal to the Kaiser.   True to the name of this region of the Irolian continent, worship of the god Kord is prevalent in a majority of the settlements and people. There is a deeply rooted history in combat between neighbors, even to this very day, as nearly every city, town and village has an arena of some sort or a contest of strength or bravery.