Free Highlands Overview

The Free Highlands are a number of independent city states and territories in Northwestern Aldorath that have banded together under a single banner for mutual protection and trade. These include the Goliath town of Rauta-kavi, the Aarakocra aerie of Cheharrah, the Dwarf town of Gravenholm, the Frost Dwarf town of Jokulhrith, the Shifter enclave of Three Rivers, and the Monastery of St. Arnd.

After the Battle of Worldbreaker's Howe, as new nations like Aiyolhast, The Three Shires, Valdamere, and Varrenholm were coming into being, the peoples of the various communities of the Everfrost Mountains began to fear the Goblinoids of Gristamere would strike out and seek to claim more territory due to losing their southern lands to Valdamere. They held a conclave of community leaders in Gravenholm, wherein many matters were discussed. Although Rubicus Chillbrow, Archdruid of the North, offered to mitigate in the event of Gristameri aggression, the community leaders, particularly the shifter Ghost of Three Rivers and the goliath Kanaika Lifts-the-Tree of Rauta-Kavi, felt that they needed to guard their own lands.

They brought their petition to the crowns of Norhast, Kurdenheim, Valdamere, Summerlund, and Faerinwold to recognize the Free Highlands as its own separate territory. Valdamere agreed immediately, with Faerinwold, Norhast, and Summerlund following quickly thereafter. Kurdenheim was reluctant, principally because it would limit some of their mineral access in the southern Everfrosts, but they ultimately agreed and recognized the area’s independence.

The area does not have a single ruler, but the Council of the Peaks meets on a regular basis, where leaders from the various communities gather to discuss important matters. The Council chooses a spokesperson to meet with folk from outside the region whom they call the Voice of the Mountains. The current Voice is Halati Slays-Three-Drakes, daughter of Kanaika Lifts-the-Tree.