Introduction

The Northern Union or also the Riven Kingdom is the northernmost state of Kélas. Its northern border are the high, glacier-covered Grey Mountains, it is washed by the Ocean of Storms to the west and by the Hasyn Ocean to the east; to the south it is bordered by Parlene-Wastian Federation and Middleland Alliance. Most of the territory is covered by lowland tundras, steppes and coniferous forests, while the Löar Mountains, Dragon Ridge and Grey Mountains cover a smaller part. Through the central plains of Revic Lowlands flows the river Valdara (Darha in Daryan) along which larger cities are located, including the capital city Revest.

The country consists of four regions: Hituron, Ruoma, Darya and Löaria.

The Union is currently ruled by a council of prominent nobles led by Rokur Löartun, the lord of Löaria, due to the unresolved situation following the mysterious murder of the royal family in 839, which left the Union without a ruler or heir. Since then, the nobility could not agree on who should reign, as the Riventher Dynasty was considered holy ever since its inception and it was unthinkable that anyone without the holy blood could take the throne. There is surprisingly some truth to this belief in the holy Riventher blood – all Riventhers are always born wizards, even if the non-Riventher parent has no magical abilities.

The Union is the only kingdom on Kélas where wizardry is completely legal and where wizards are a valid part of the society – they make up a quarter of the total population and even have their own unit in the northerner army. Despite the centuries spent equalizing relations between wizards and non-wizards, there are still some strict rules when it comes to the matter of wizardry – in wizard families (especially among the nobility) it is forbidden to kill newborns without magical abilities and to deprive firstborns of the right to succession if they are not wizards. In the case of such an offense, one could serve many years in prison and, in extreme cases, even receive the death penalty.

Notable noble houses

Riventher

Founded by the legendary Agnar Riventher who gained fame during the age of the Lísic Empire. As a warlord, he defended his people during the civil wars and after long years of wandering he found a new home for them in the Revic Lowlands where he founded the city of Revest. He married the shapeshifter Asza. Riventhers prospered as the ruling dynasty for centuries until they met their end in 839 after the mass murder of king Zanael Riventher, queen Naszala Löartun Riventher and their retinue. Prince Nakriel Riventher's body was never found.

Löartun

The most notable Löarish house based in the city of Löarta, founded long before the Riventher house. Its current head is Rokur Löartun, who also serves as the lord of Löaria. His daughter Naszala Löartun Riventher was the murdered queen.

Brakkarland

Hituronish house based in Bruhelm. Its head is Avvik Brakkarland who was the only one of the heads of the great noble families to refuse a place in the council. He was a good friend of the murdered king.

Severyn

A smaller Hituronish house based in Sevstram. Its head is Jergen Severyn who was a close friend of Zanael Riventher's father.