Unclaimed Lands

Beyond the country of nations lies the Unclaimed Lands. In this place full of warlords, rogue Material Gods, and ancient secrets, many believe it impossible to unite this area of the continent.

Survival of the Fittest

The Unclaimed Lands are cutthroat. Roving bandit groups stalk the land. City states wage resource wars that cost thousands of lives. Chromatic dragons hunt the land, unworried that a powerful kingdom might send an army to the threshold of their layer. Only the strong or lucky survive in the Unclaimed Lands.

Changing Maps

Cartographers agree that it is impossible to make an accurate map of the lands. Not only do villages disappear overnight but grand surges of magic alter the landscape. Once a scholar attempted to document a mountain range in the Unclaimed Lands. When they awoke the next morning, the mountains had disappeared and were replaced by barren plains.

Cities Within

Despite the harsh conditions within the Unclaimed Lands, a few cities have been able to survive throughout the centuries. These cities have been known to appear on maps.

Varos

Sitting on the edge of the Barrow River, Varos was for a short time controlled by Zell. The city still retains many of the administrative programs provided by the empire but now fiercely defends its independence. Varos is known for its ironworks and intricate metal working. The population of Varos is mostly gnomish.

Dalekingrad

Long ago, settlers from Kovorov came upon a lush grassland between two forests. In this place they built the city of Dalekingrad. The city fills its baskets with bountiful harvests every year. Additionally, with their ancestral connection to Kovorov, Dalekingrad is able to buy Kovorovian mercenaries to reinforce their army.

Chathair

The dwarven city of Cthathair sits at the edge of a bubbling lava lake. Using the heat from the lake, the dwarves power many wondrous artificed creations. Workers harvest fungal growths from around the lava pool which is the bedrock of Cthathairite’s diet. Mostly the dwarves keep to themselves as they harvest knowledge from around the Unclaimed Lands.

Prahova

Prahova was a thriving trading city in the Unclaimed Lands until 208 AR. Although the exact records are unclear, a powerful entity known as the Umber Prince came to power in Prahova with a group of loyal followers known as the Dracul. The Umber Prince and his Dracul began consuming the citizens of Prahova. This drew out Prahova’s patron god. The Umber Prince killed Prahova’s god and took their torvian, the Storm Caller. Records show that the Prince and his Dracul were trying to complete a ritual although the specifics of this ritual are lost to history. Before the ritual was completed, the Lord of Mists sent three warriors, known as Sigilites, to vanquish the Umber Prince and his followers. They slew all the Dracul but one and locked the Umber Prince away in a prison of the Lord of Mists’ design. Now Prahova stands in ruins. A stark reminder that the forces of Sin are never far within the Unclaimed Lands.

Unity

Long ago, during the orc diaspora, a caravan made its way into the heart of the Unclaimed Lands. There they began a city that would last for hundreds of years despite warlords, bloodthirsty beasts, and other evils. The orc city of Unity holds close to its core virtue. And someone, during its time, Unity has made allies with the villages that surround it. There is a belief among the orcs that perhaps they could really unite the Unclaimed Lands.

Fallen City of Wisdom

Many orcish cities have been destroyed by outside forces but none except Wisdom have abandoned their core virtue. Wisdom long ago decided that it could not survive in the Unclaimed Lands with knowledge alone. Now orcish warbands flow from Wisdom and destroy any travelers, villages, or other cities they can mind.

Wisdom has a new motto after it abandoned its core virtue. It is “through destruction I find absolution.” For many of Wisdom’s orcs, the purpose of the fight does not matter. They only care about the carnage they can create.

Some scholars wonder if Sin or another malevolent force was the thing to make Wisdom fall but that remains speculatory.