Harvthenia

Harvthenia is a long and flat country in the south-west of Siv, it borders Cypreos to the east, and Sunberry to the west.

People and culture
The majority of people who live in Harvthenia are carefree people who live off the land and in harmony with nature's beasts. Druids and Rangers are not an uncommon sight in the country, and serve as healers and priests for much of its population. The majority of people aren't druids themselves however, but farmers and animal breeders.


 * Nobility
 * Not many citizens of Harvthenia see a class system as most countries would, but those that would consider themselves nobles usually are no less hands-on than the normal folk of the country. What makes a noble is simply the fact that they own more land than another, but they usually live humble lifestyles.


 * Citizen
 * Those that own less land are looked upon with no less prestige than that of a noble, as many of the people live similar lifestyles, whether they are sharing a meal with their family or tilling the fields. Slavery is illegal in Harvthenia.

Society
The people of Harvthenia are humble folk who live off the land. Trade is a large part of their culture though there is not often much competition for the same products and members of the various settlements coordinate amongst themselves so that they can contribute equally to their local economy. Every citizen has their own niche in each of these settlements, one may be a blacksmith one may be a horse breeder, while another may be a carrot farmer. Families that tend to have the right land and equipment for similar produce or husbandry typically join their family together to form a clan of sorts.

Customs
Harvthenia recognizes no formal government but each settlement is seperated into seperate Patriarchies whose head is a member of a council for the settlement in which it resides. The harvest period and breeding months for animals are all very important times for people in this country as their entire life is driven by agriculture.

Language
Common and Undercommon are both spoken here, exotic languages and races are both uncommon in Harvthenia however, though they are not unwelcomed, but the climes favor humans and halflings the most, as trees and forests are few and far between the vast rolling grasslands of this country, but orchards specializing in lumber are not uncommon to fulfill the need of such products in their settlements.

Geography
Harvthenia is a vast grassland with a near endless horizon in every which way, it is extremely flat and wide-open.

Bodies of Water
The Deadwater Bastion is a large salt-water lake that borders Harvthenia to the north-east. This sea is an important trade route for the continent of Siv.

"The Vast" is the common term for the ocean that borders Harvthenia to the north.

Lake Partim is a large lake that acts as a border between Harvthenia and Ghembold, it is an important fishing area in the country and is dotted with many small villages with large clans specializing in fishing.

Stillmoon Sea is a large frozen sea to the south of Harvthenia. It's coast is barren and lifeless for reasons unknown and no settlements are to be found there, only frost.

Mountains
Harvthenia is a wide grassland and has no mountains except for a small range in it's heart that consists mostly of canyons and crags between grasslands. This 'hole' is often the final resting place of animals that have died, and even wild animals make for it during the final days, it is a strange phenomena that has been studied by the druids for years, it is known as the Crag of Bones.

Plains
Harvthenia is primarily made up of rolling plains and are named for the settlements they surround.

Rivers
Harvthenia is striped with a number of rivers and irrigation channels the most significant of these is the Roaring Mother, a large and wide river that connects Lake Partim with The Vast. It twists its way westward from the lake around the various hills for several miles before connecting to the sea, it is named as such because many of the other rivers of Harvthenia are fed from it.

Cities
Orr's Stand is the capitol of Harvthenia and lies on its northern coast. Other major cities are Devil's Mouth, a large port city that lies on the coast of Deadwater Bastion. There are not many large cities in Harvthenia other than these two, but the plains are dotted with thousands of Clan Holds.

Provinces of Harvthenia
Harvthenia is divided into nine regions.

Dwynnen: Dwynnen is a northern region that specializes in fishing and ocean-bound trade. It has a cold temperate climate. Characters starting here have a +1 to swim.

Vyrrdys: This province is a rocky region not suitable to agriculture. It is a cold taiga region that specializes in logging. Characters starting here have +1 to climb.

Bleddynwood: Similar to Vyrrdys, this heavily wooded region is slightly more temperate people here specialize in hunting. Characters starting here have +1 to survival.

Breghan: This province is a swampy wetland much like it's neightbors Lyoneis and Argyll to the west. This region specializes in agriculture that requires heavy amounts of water such as rice and peat. Characters starting here have +1 to swim checks.

Argyll: This province borders the country of Sunberry. This region is a moorland, and somewhat swampy but not as wet as Breghan or Lyoneis. The climate here makes it ideal for cultivation of fruit-bearing berry bushes. Characters here have +1 to fortitude against disease due to their unnaturally high anti-oxidant levels.

Lyoneis: The least-populated region of of Harvthenia, this deep swamp land is both famous and infamous for its numerous ancient ruins. This is a very dangerous land mostly populated by the undead remains of civilizations long dead. Characters starting here have +1 to AC against undead creatures.

Burkismoor: This large province is known as the third largest, and most populated region of Harvthenia. It has rich farmlands excellent for all forms of agriculture. Characters starting here have +1 to appraise due to the large amount of deals finalized in this country as far as trade.

Harvenwys: Also known as the horse-lands, Harvenwys is famous for its suitable climate for husbandry. A large amount of agriculture is also done here in this province. Characters starting here have +1 to handle animal.

Islwyn: Islwyn is the largest province in Harvthenia, the majority of the province is wild-lands. And while the population here is greater than the population of Lyoneis, this is this least populated province by area, as over 70% of it is wild frontier lands. Islwyn is also the location of a large graveyard where all manner of fauna go to live out their final days, The phenomena is unknown but it is often studied. Characters starting here have +1 to Knowledge: Nature checks.

Navy and seafaring
Harvthenian Vessels are simple but sturdy. There are clans that specialize in producing hybrid lumbers especially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the sea, and coincidentally this same durability grants these ships a powerful endurance in nautical combat. Harvthenian Vessels are typically named for the clans that own them.

The Horselords
Harvthenian's were the first people to raise horses as mounts, and the climate of the country is perfect for producing strong and healthy animals. People from all around the world pay top coin for Harvthenian Stallions. Legend has it that the King of Horses continues to wander the rolling grasslands of Harvthenia with his herd keeping the spirit of the land strong with the energy of his pounding hooves.

Peaceful History
Harvthenia is the only country in the world who has never had an internal war, which astounds scholars and peacekeepers around the globe. Never once has their been a rebellion, civil war or other disbute that was not settled peacefully, and as such it makes other countries somewhat jealous. Even during this war-age known as the Age of Sunken Cities, Harvthenia has yet to raise arms against another country or be attacked, but there is tension between Harvthenia and it's neighbor, Ghembold.

Abolition of Entrapment
In 436 slavery was banned in the country of Harvthenia by the council of four-hundred. A large group of Clan-Heads that come together once a year to sustain the peace within the country, guided by the nine elders. Ghembold continues to capture and enslave Harvthenians but they do so very subtley.

Notable Inhabitants

 * King of Horses (Animal 21)