Very little is known before the founding of the first cities, which coincided with the earliest systematic keeping of records. Aekania is today recognized as the first city, bolstered by the records kept in its Bardic College, Library of the Pantheon, and University. Some dispute this, however, claiming that the fallen city of Ostrakyn arose first, perhaps along with some other cities consumed by its cataclysm.
Ostrakyn and all the lands around it that would come to be known collectively as “Ostran” developed a great interest, and reliance, in the magical arts. Those who mastered such arts were revered in these lands, and gained political power, sometimes offered by the populace and sometimes taken by might. From time to time these Mage lords clashed with one another, but also, the wiser ones would come together in councils seeking to pool their knowledge. From these councils, certain rules were established to govern how the Mages interacted with one another. Among these was the decision to establish an Archmage as single ruler of the Ostran lands. The exact procedure of selecting an Archmage was lost in the cataclysm.
When the Ostrakyn Magiocracy was firmly established, another culture with an entirely different outlook was rising on the other side of the Northlands, the Kythan people, so named for the city of Kythos. The Kythan folk were great believers in the ability of man to advance by his own labors and came to revere such gods who encouraged such. Chief among these were Stregat, the god of battle and tactics, Saanesir, the god of wisdom and learning, and Baric, the god of builders and other craftsmen. While the Ostran lands followed Mage lords, the earliest leaders among the Kythan folk were warlords. Mostly by strength of arms, but with diplomacy as well, the Kythan lands began to unite under the banner of the imperial city of Kythos.
In between these two human cultures, in those early days of history, man had not settled as thoroughly and courts of elves ruled. The interactions between elves and men differed from court to court though most scholars today consider the overall approach to have been positive. It is accepted that these elven courts actually predate the human cities though no one knows for sure.
In any case, the Ostran Mage lords came to see the elves as rivals, especially as their kingdoms grew in prosperity, and desired to learn the secrets of their unique magic. At first, diplomats were sent, but the elves showed them little respect, claiming that their way would be too alien to the human mages. Then, spies were sent with only very limited success. Slowly, the Mage lords grew frustrated and led raiding parties to take prisoners.
Tensions between the Ostrakyn magiocracy and the elven courts ultimately led to war. By size, the armies of both sides were quite small, as each relied heavily on individual mages. The war brought death and destruction to both sides as wars do. In the end, the elves retreated from the realms of man, which the Mage lords claimed as a great victory. With the elves gone, the Midlands largely fell under the sway of the Ostrakyn magiocracy, though the growing Kythan empire expanded there as well. Mostly, the mages showed very little interest in direct rule, but collected tributes from the supposedly conquered lands.
It looked inevitable that the two growing empires would collide, and start a new war. Throughout the Kythan lands, tales of the depravity of power hungry mages spread, most likely exaggerated but based on kernels of truth. Kythan folk had always placed far greater trust and respect in physical human labor, but now great suspicion and disgust toward magic took hold. Meanwhile, the Mage lords scoffed at anyone who would shun magic, considering such folk beneath them.
The confrontation between the two lands never occurred, after an event that perhaps proved some truth to the Kythan outlook. The latest Archmage became quite obsessed with his own power, and sought the secrets of life itself, seeking immortality. Perhaps he even succeeded, as a foul blight spread across the lands, emanating from the city of Ostrakyn, perhaps even from the Archmage’s tower itself. All men agree that after these terrible times there is now far less magic in the land. Whether this is due solely to the mad Lich’s spell, or the war with the elves, or perhaps other causes is still a matter of debate.
The Ostran lands were thrown into disarray. In the fear and panic that followed, most remaining Mage lords were overthrown. Still, some mages persevered, aiding the common folk were they could. In the end, a great Academy of magic was founded, as a place to teach mages constraint in their powers. While the Academy would never hold the direct political power of the Mage lords, it has become an arbiter between the singular city states that now make up the Ostran lands.
With the collapse of the Ostrakyn magiocracy, the Kythan empire was now able to expand rapidly into the Midlands, most notably conquering the already ancient city of Aekania. For a time, it appeared the Kythan empire would dominate the entire Northlands, perhaps forever. The new conquests brought great wealth to the empire, but its new size also presented challenges to governing.
As well, emperors, still ingrained with the mindset of their warlord ancestors, sought to expand further. Expeditions into the deeper Northern kingdoms met with great difficulty. The land itself seemed to conspire against the Kythans here, from rocky terrain, to incredibly dense forests, to bitter cold. A few gains were made but were found impossible to hold. A foray into the Ostran lands as well proved futile. Enough time had passed that they had regrouped behind the Academy. Battles could be won, but the Kythans were now too far from home to effectively hold lands.
The supply of Kythan soldiers was far from endless, and with the Empire’s size and continued expeditions, they turned more and more to the hiring of mercenaries. To ease the burden on the central bureaucracy, more autonomy was granted to the provincial governors. Perhaps still, the Empire could have lasted quite a while, until a succession crisis resulted in a long, and complicated civil war. Aekania won its independence, other provinces broke away, and in the end, the core Kythan states fractured into several duchies.
The imperial city itself now stands alone, controlled and governed by the Order of the Guard, who formerly served as protectors of the Emperor. Their official doctrine states that they would welcome and serve one a legitimate new Emperor, though the accepted belief is that the Guard itself would deny any such claimant as false. The heart of the city is still a fortress, well fortified and stationed on the twin hills. The city and the libraries of both the Guard and the temples has become a destination for pilgrims, seeking its splendor and ancient knowledge.
Between the Kythan and Ostran lands, the Midland Kingdoms are relatively young nations that emerged in the vacuum left as the Kythan armies returned to the core of the empire. The kings in these new realms came from a mix of backgrounds; some former Kythan governors able to maintain their local power, some local nobility, either native or Kythan immigrants, some local strongmen able to seize a crown through might. In many cases, the new rulers traced their lineage back to Midland royalty of old, elven or otherwise. Who can quite say what the truth of these claims are. With the Kythan empire now fractured and its core lands greatly divided and the Ostran city states only the merest shadow of the former Ostrakyn magiocracy, these kingdoms appear finally free to forge their own identity and future. When left relatively free of the ravages of war, the Midlands offer vast swaths of fertile farmland, which promise growth and prosperity.
Farther north lie those lands whose inhospitable terrain left them largely free of conquest, but also rather small and at times forgotten. Old traditions persist here, and often a harsh land has produced harsh customs. Perhaps most notable among these far North places is the land of Scendara, farthest to the north, oft covered in snow. In the later days of the Kythan empire, this land was united by the great chieftain Harulf, who raided even into Kythan lands. At his death, the ideal of a high king of Scendara persists, though few have dared to take up that mantle.
These are the four main areas of the Northlands today; the Kythan states, the Midlands, the Ostran city states, and the far North.
iggysden 