Njorath
Continent: Morwen
Primary Inhabitants: Iskaryn
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Korrveld (16,000)
Population: ~150,000
Symbol: A silver wolf’s head superimposed on a storm-black shield
Motto: “The south conquers stone, but never storm.”
Njorath lies along the northern coast of Morwen, a land of rugged cliffs, mist-shrouded forests, and iron-gray seas. Though not locked in eternal winter like Drenvold, Njorath endures long, bitter winters and short, mild summers, shaping a people as resilient as the land they call home.
To the south, Njorath borders the Supremacy, whose repeated invasions have faltered in the winter and against the fierce resistance of the Njorathi clans. To the east lies Drenvold, Njorath’s steadfast ally, bound by shared heritage, trade, and blood. The Stormbarrier Range rises along the southeast, a vast wall of jagged peaks the Iskaryn call Thrym’s Teeth, dividing the temperate lowlands from the frozen plateaus beyond.
History
The history of Njorath is a saga of endurance — the story of a people who carved civilization from frost and stone. The Iskaryn trace their lineage to the First Exodus, when their ancestors fled the southern conquests of the early Supremacy and sought refuge beyond the Stormbarrier Range. There, amid endless snow and roaring seas, they found a harsh but unclaimed land — and made it their own.
In its earliest age, Njorath was a realm of scattered clans, each led by a War-Chieftain who ruled from hillforts and longhalls. The clans warred often, not for conquest, but for honor and survival. These feuds continued until the Gathering of Korrveld, when the clans united to resist the Supremacy’s first northern invasion. Under Queen Halra the Storm-Wrought, they forged the High Council and crowned their first High Monarch — a symbol of unity against southern tyranny.
For centuries, Njorath has endured the Supremacy’s ambition. Armies have marched north across the passes only to be buried beneath snow and silence. The Iskaryn say, “The south conquers stone, but never storm.” Their victories, though hard-won, have made Njorath both proud and wary — a nation that trusts no peace bought with submission.
In more recent years, Njorath has turned toward diplomacy with Drenvold, strengthening its ports and sharing its craft and metalwork in exchange for grain and goods. The two nations’ alliance is among the oldest and strongest in Morwen. Yet the threat of the Supremacy looms eternal, and the Njorathi know that one day the legions will march again.
When that day comes, the north will be ready — as it always has been.
Geography
Njorath’s terrain is a striking mix of pine forests, wind-swept tundra, and fjord-laden coastlines. The northern seas are treacherous but rich with fish and trade, dotted with longboats and merchant vessels that brave the icy waters to reach distant ports.
Rivers flowing down from the Stormbarrier Range feed fertile valleys in the central plains, where most of the population resides. In winter, blizzards sweep across the land, isolating towns for weeks at a time — but when summer comes, the land bursts briefly into color, and festivals fill the streets.
Economy
Njorath’s economy thrives on mining, timber, shipbuilding, and trade. Iron and silver from the Stormbarrier foothills feed the forges of Ornkaal and Draskar, while Marhavn and Vaerik’s Rest serve as crucial ports for northern trade.
Despite the harsh climate, Njorathi craftsmanship is highly valued across Morwen — especially their blacksteel blades and stormwood ships, both forged to endure the elements that shaped their creators.
Demographics
Njorath’s population of roughly 150,000 is composed primarily of Iskaryn (about 80%), with minorities of Humans (10%), Thaldrim (5%), and other races (5%) — including small enclaves of Solari traders who endure the cold for profit or purpose.
Most Njorathi live along the coastal fjords and river valleys, where fishing, trade, and shipbuilding sustain year-round life. The inland settlements are sparse and hardy, built around mines, forests, and natural hot springs that provide warmth through winter’s grip.
The average Njorathi family belongs to a clan, a social and political unit that defines one’s place in society. Clans range from vast noble houses with storied bloodlines to humble fishing kin-groups bound by shared hearths. Though the monarchy and High Council govern the realm, daily life remains deeply clan-centered, and loyalty to kin often outweighs allegiance to crown or creed.
Culture
The Njorathi are a stoic yet passionate people. They value endurance, honor, and kinship — not in words, but in deeds. Each settlement is ruled by a Clanlord, and the clans together form the High Council, which meets in the capital, Korrveld, to decide matters of war and law.
The Njorathi honor ancestral spirits and the northern lights, which they believe are the souls of heroes watching from the frozen heavens. Their songs are long and mournful, telling tales of storms, sacrifice, and the fires that endure through the cold.
Their alliance with Drenvold is one of mutual respect and survival — forged in centuries of shared struggle against the elements.
Major Settlements
| City | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Korrveld | 16,000 | Capital; seat of the High Council and spiritual heart of the kingdom. |
| Vaerik’s Rest | 13,000 | Great northern port and shipyard; gateway to the icy seas. |
| Haldren | 9,500 | Industrial hub and ironwork center. |
| Draskar | 8,900 | Crossroads city for trade with Drenvold. |
| Tirnhold | 8,700 | Mountain fortress guarding the southern passes. |
Notable Locations
- Thrym’s Teeth – a Vast wall of jagged peaks on Njorath’s southeastern boundary, divides the temperate lowlands from the frozen plateaus of Drenvold.
- The Obsidian Spire Fen – A wide marshland dotted with towering black volcanic spires, where steam rises from warm springs beneath the bogs. Legends say the spires are the petrified remains of a dragon’s breath, and rune-wordsmiths often travel here to collect rare minerals for their craft.
- The Shattered Vale of Aelmar – A deep valley gouged by a millennia-old cataclysm, now riddled with fissures that glow with faint blue light. The vale is haunted by the echoes of that ancient event (and by restless spirits), making it a place both of dread and pilgrimage.
- Stone-Rooted Forest of Vindar – A vast evergreen woodland of ancient pines whose roots have grown around enormous boulders and stone outcrops. Within the forest lie natural amphitheatres where druids hold nighttime gatherings under luminous moss-cover. It’s part wilderness, part sacred grove.
- The Sunken Bastion of Helgrin – The remains of a forgotten stronghold that now lies half-submerged in a dark inland lake. Tall towers still jut from the water, and divers explore its flooded passages for lost relics. The surface of the lake is mirror-calm, giving the impression of a ghost-fortress rising from the water.
Relations
Allies
- Vardessa — Njorath has recently joined the Vardessian coalition agains the Supremacy.
Enemies
- Drenvold - after many raiding incursions, the Njorathi despise Drenvold possibly even more than the Supremacy.
- The Supremacy — historic enmity and repeated border conflicts continue to cause issues.
Neutral
- Dun’Rhael — though in the same coalition, they have yet to make closer contact.
- Skarhold - the distance between these two nations makes contact difficult.
- The Ashen Marches — Njorath does not regard the Ashen Marches as a true nation.
- Vass’Kaal — there is mutual respect, but no real contact between the two nations.
“Let the south build empires of stone and gold — we are forged in storm and silence.
When their banners rot in the rain, ours will still fly against the wind.”
— Queen Halra the Storm-Wrought, High Queen of Njorath