Shadowvine

Shadowvine is an exclave of the Imperium that is separated from the body of the Illian Empire by the nation state of Cycien. Though it is not the Northernmost tip of the Empire, it is the most Northerly territory of the Empire that is continuously settled. Its geography is even more rugged than Cycien’s, existing almost entirely within the peaks of the Forsaken Mountain range. The Northern tip of Shadowvine lies beyond the mountains, touching the beginnings of the Frozen Wastes. This land is within the auroral zone, and the sky is routinely lit in pale acid-green lights caused by solar wind and interference in the magnetosphere. The majority of Shadowvine’s population lives in the Southern half of the country, which boasts a milder temperature than the absolutely arctic North.

Shadowvine and Cycien have clashed in a series of documented wars and skirmishes, and the martial history of the two governments have both influenced each other. Shadowvine forcibly occupied Cycien in ancient times. The last war between Shadowvine and Cycien ended in a ceasefire—as an Imperial possession, the Illian Empire is technically still at war with the Anchorite Kingdom, though no skirmishes have occurred for hundreds of years.

The principality of Shadowvine is ruled by a military junta, and martial prowess dictates status within their war-like society. As a frontier province, the principality of Shadowvine is subject to frequent incursions of Tribal Orc and Human warbands that hail from the Frozen Wastes. These incursions are often little more than raiding parties, and the raiders often only target small, undefended villages. The huge tracts of the Frozen Wastes make chasing down such warbands a logistical impossibility, and so the problem persists for now.

Shadowvine society is centered around individual martial prowess—debts and grievances are often dealt with by dueling. Even Shadowvine’s judicial system is based around this concept; guilt and innocence are determined in a trial by combat. Personal and family honor are of paramount importance, and some clan grudges date back centuries. There are clans within the kingdom that exist in an honor bound state of quasi-war—with duel challenges being issued and deaths being avenged in a cycle that shows no end in sight. Sometimes, these blood debts result in the open warfare of two families.

The country of Shadowvine boasts many magic users, but their magics are almost all centered around increasing the martial potential of the user or others. It is considered unmanly to kill a foe from range—only the lesser classes make any use of ranged weaponry. Their sorcerers are clad in armor, not robes. They augment themselves with supernatural prowess, and apply a variety of magical effects to the armor and weapons.