Tulim (Thu-lim)

Tulim is a Kingdom that lies wedged in between the cold seas and the dread black woods of the north with little to no chance of easy expansion into ‘neutral territories’. They are in general a people that much hardship, and although they see honor in the way of the warrior they generally abhor war. Actually, to foreigners, they appear to dislike almost everything. A cold and hardy people, they live in a land with long and hard winters, with summer being brief and mild. Tulim is not blessed with lots of farmable land, easily accessible minerals, or a friendly climate. As such they Make do with what they have, predominantly using leather and wood, and they make little iron through burning peat in a few furnaces. They do produce a decent amount of bronze to alleviate their lack of iron, and they do trade some of it to Kellerion. They export furs, wood and cider, and some bronze. Tulim cider is world-renowned, even more so than the Tulim nation itself. The spicy pear cider is both sweet and crisp and will burn all the way down. It is only made in a few towns, but people all over Tulim nurture pear trees for its creation, as they trade the pears for grain that lasts better in the winter.

Structure

The land is divided in 16 Fylker, each locally governd by a Fylkingsmann who is chosen trough winning a game called the rulers trial. The trial has several tasks, from hunting, poetry, combat, debate, and most dreaded 'economics'. The games can last a week and is filled with festivities. Above the Fylkingsmenn sits the High King, elected from themselves, in a kingscouncil. Most of the population lives in fortified farming towns for collective community, and isolated farms are only viable in the heartlands due to the dangers from monsters. The Blackwoods

Foreign Relations

For generations, war with Gilm has been a fact of life. The war has been going badly for decades and the current High King is suing for peace, despite resentment from its warriors who wish to continue the war and reclaim the honor of the north. They have been on the losing side against Gilm for over 75 years, ever since Gilm conquered their neighboring nation Ferlias, and pushed on in their expansion. For much of the war, the terrain has greatly favored Tulim, but in 487 Gilm launched an assault on Graystone fortress which guarded the entrance to Tulims heartlands. With the fall of Graystone the old stalemate was crushed and Tulim is loosing rapidly. The warriors of Tulim relish in bloody skirmish raids rather than fielding large armies. They are known to fight with a ferocity that is poorly matched by the slave soldiers that Gilm employs. What they don’t have is numbers or wizards, and Gilm has been content with a long war of attrition, as they have the resources of a wealthy empire at their back. As long as Gilm is content with sending criminals and unruly slaves to war, Tulim has little chance of halting the tide.

Worship

The people of Tulim have a deeper connection with spirits than most other cultures, and although they recognise and worship the Gods the connection to spirits have a more direct influence on their lives.