Afilam

The Heartlands

Long have the peoples of Afilam viewed themselves as the heartlands.

— Popular saying of those from Afilam

This ideology is not only due to their geographic location at the apex of the world but also in their belief they, not the other dominions, are the true center of civility in the mortal universe. Though they trade with other dominions, nations, and states, it is rare to find any but merchants beyond Afilam's borders. This carries through even to how they entitle and address themselves, unlike people from other dominions there are no Afilamians or Afilamese or Afilaman people, instead they use the nation, city-state or country for this. Additionally, one born and raised through most of childhood and adolescence in a certain place would identify with that place even if they currently live, and has for some time, in a different place, the place where they were born and raised denotes heritage.
In their eyes, all those who are not from The Heartlands are viewed as either a mark, someone to be avoided or simply another wild uncivilized barbarian. Those within The Heartlands identify as members of three distinct regions within the boundaries of Afilam; The Countries, The Borderland Kingdoms, or one of the City States.

COUNTRIES

The Heartlands of Afilam comprise eleven countries ranging from Othys and the Arad Dominion in the west through Carheinen and Tethar in the east with Altera, Baradon, Athar, Caladan, Eilusk, Murgunday and Xaplistain between them. Rarely does anyone do anything halfway in Afilam. Given that, it makes sense that the patrolled, civilized areas of the country are well structured and relatively safe. The parts of Afilam that are still wild, however, are very wild. In fact, there are some areas that are technically part of Afilam that the government has no power over whatsoever. Wealth and power go hand in hand in Afilam. In the minds of most citizens, in fact, the two words are synonyms. The slang word skiff (short for skifngton, a no-longer-used coin), for example, means both “cash” and power.” Rich Heartlanders are always quick to quote their Golden Rule. “He who has the gold makes the rules.”

BORDERLAND KINGDOMS

The Borderlands of Afilam are the four northern kingdoms that border the Steppes of Sevathien and The Mountain Halls of Grillilath. For three thousand years Agelmar, Jahar, Nosvanii, and Zarine have guarded Afilam against the non-humans of the north and raiding hordes from the Steppes. The culture of the Borderlands is the most martial of all Afilam and many of the best soldiers hail from these four kingdoms. Borderlanders often refer to other countries of the Afilam as "the Southlands" and their inhabitants as "Southlanders", and some show contempt for Southland culture, viewing it as feeble and ill-disciplined with a weakness for pomp and ceremony prone to division and factions. Because of the Borderlands' close proximity to non-human lands they stand as a stark contrast with the cool reception non-humans typically receive in the other lands of Afilam.

CITY STATES

The city-states of Afilam are independent and autonomous entities, not administered as a part of the other local governments, whose territory consists of a central city including surrounding villages. Each makes their own sets of law, form of government, languages, religious beliefs, and ways of life. In Afilam the city states currently included the famed cities of Apalonia, Fleurus, Matrary Wild, Kadraria and Muithuidal.

Maps

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  The Heartlands

  Afilam and regions

Type

Region

Location under

Known Realms

Included Locations

• Apalonia
• Country of Athar
• Country of Baradon
• Country of Bashere
• Country of Braica Dhagon
• Country of Cairtain
• Country of Caladan
• Country of Eilusk
• Country of Murgunday
• Country of Othys
• Country of Tethar
• Country of Xaplistain
• Fleurus
• Kadraria
• Kingdom of Agelmar
• Kingdom of Jahar
• Kingdom of Nosvanii
• Kingdom of Zarine
• Matrary Wild
• Muithuidal