Rathorn

"Orc's rank just above the fungus between my toes, but smell twice as bad"
Klaver - Dragonslayer 606 A.D.

Kingdom Crest

Description

Rathorn, home of the bold highlanders. This vast kingdom's countryside spans along the eastern coast of perhaps the most frequent warring zone in all Vastonia. A once peaceful land torn apart by the constant raiding of the savage Orcish warparties. The people of Rathorn never back down and have held this region for hundreds of years, slowly being abolished by the relentless Orcs. The land is lush and the lower valley offers great comforts to those strong enough to hold the fort. With the recent wars of Rathorn nearing an end. The people of this land have found new hope, making strong ties with the Minotaur League, who offer a strong military backing for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of striking down any Orc they see. This land is full of hard workers, people of great pride and endless folklore. The people who live here are proud of their heritage and always take offense to anyone poking fun at it. The political situation is another matter entirely. Leaders change all to often, councils are very disorganized and crime is at an all time high. A true leader is needed here more than anything, which sadly may never come.

Almost everyone in Rathorn follow the belief's of the Norse way, although finding a temple or church to such gods is very rare. Most people pray at night before bed rest, or during times of need, otherwise the gods are not bothered. It's considered rude to continuously beckon the divine unless one really has too. There's a time and place for everything. Holy men are consulted regularly when one seeks religious advice. These individuals are easily recognized as they often wear small religious symbols, statues etc. On occasion you might run into a person who follows a strange faith called Immensia. This is the belief of the ultimate power in the universe, a belief that is recognized, but shunned by the general populace. People who believe in Immensia do not pray, but rather offer sacrifices through combat etc. These people are often the folk who claim to have witnessed Immortal beings walk the lands. They truly believe that the universe is constantly fought over between hundreds of divine beings. Which in all reality is true. However they are thought of as crazy and are often put away. Thus these people tend to be quite secretive of their ideas and belief's.

Geography

Rathorn stretches over 80 miles in length and is about half that distance in width at it's widest two points. Endless grasslands, lush valley's and hundreds of rolling hills fill the countryside. An abundance of small creeks and slow moving rivers also can be encountered nearly anywhere. The lower valley's having the greatest sources of water, while the upper-highlands possess the fewest natural taps. During the months of spring, thick morning fogs roll in off the ocean, covering nearly the entire lower valley. However these fog fronts quickly dissipate within a few hours. The upper highland's see little fog, but still succumb to many damp mists which rise up from the tail end of the valley's foggy spells. The valley also has allot of windy days, while the hills and mountains protect the upper regions from this sometimes nasty occurrence. The rest of Rathorn is covered in lush green grass, meadows and natural rocky spots.

Justice System

As mentioned above, leadership of Rathorn is somewhat unstable now. Rathorn's closest type of government form would be considered a republic at best. A leader from each community is elected by the local inhabitants, which in turn represents that community as a whole at any summits and/or political gatherings. Leaders are often replaced on a whim, but the most respected ones could stand for several years. There is no "one" supreme head of Rathorn. Any decisions which involve the entire kingdom, must be decided between the leaders themselves, where democratic judgment usually wins the day.

Military/Forces

Now that the warring has subsided Rathorn's able militia numbers fewer than 2,000. Although the next generation should fill the ranks once again.

Notable Legends & Lore

Bagpipes of O'Kern, Gundar's lost horde, Phantom ship of O'Grady