### **Issia – The Cold Heart of Brevoy’s Power**
#### **Basic Information**
- **Name:** Issia
- **Type:** Feudal Region (Northern Brevoy)
- **Region:** **Northern Brevoy, bordering Lake of Mists and Veils**
- **Scale & Population:** **Large but sparsely populated** (~350,000 people), with **strong naval dominance** over Brevoy’s trade routes.
- **Primary Inhabitants:**
- **Humans (Majority, Issian Nobility & Commoners)** – Loyal to **[[House Surtova]]**, cold and calculating.
- **Dwarves** – Present in the **[[Icerime Peaks]]**, mostly isolated.
- **Elves & Other Minorities** – Small populations in merchant enclaves.
- **Climate & Terrain:**
- Harsh, **icy winters and short, damp summers**.
- **Rocky coasts, frozen plains, and mist-covered lakes**, making **naval power critical**.
#### **Geography & Layout**
- **Key Features & Landmarks:**
- **[[New Stetven]] (Capital of Brevoy):** The **seat of [[House Surtova]]**, a city of political scheming and ruthless ambition.
- **[[Ruby Fortress]]:** [[House Surtova]]’s **impenetrable stronghold**, overlooking [[New Stetven]].
- **Lake of Mists and Veils:** A **massive, fog-covered lake**, serving as a trade highway between Brevoy and the River Kingdoms.
- **Port Ice:** A **naval stronghold**, controlling northern trade and **Brevoy’s most formidable warships**.
- **Icerime Peaks:** A **barren, snow-covered mountain range**, home to **dwarven settlements and ancient ruins**.
- **Winterbreak Castle:** A strategic **fortress overlooking the lake**, used as a defensive post against potential invaders.
- **[[Whitewood Hall]]:** The ancestral seat of **[[House Whitewood]]**, located on the southern edge of Issia, bordering Rostland.
- **Notable Cities & Settlements:**
- **[[New Stetven]]:** A **grand city of nobles, spies, and intrigue**, where [[House Surtova]] enforces its rule.
- **Port Ice:** A **naval and trade center**, controlling commerce across Lake of Mists and Veils
- **Chasven:** A **fishing town turned military outpost**, guarding against incursions from Numeria.
- **Connections & Accessibility:**
- **Naval Superiority:** Issia dominates Brevoy’s **waterways and trade**, ensuring **[[House Surtova]]’s control over merchants and nobles**.
- **Trade Routes:** Issian merchants **sail south toward Mivon and the River Kingdoms**, bringing back wealth and political leverage.
- **Land Routes Are Dangerous:** The **frozen plains and mountains** make overland travel difficult, isolating Issia from the rest of Brevoy.
#### **Culture & Society**
- **Local Governance:**
- **Ruled by [[House Surtova]]**, a family known for **cunning diplomacy, ruthless politics, and strategic marriages**.
- **[[House Whitewood]]** maintains a **martial tradition**, known for producing skilled warriors and knights who serve **as enforcers of Issian rule in Rostland**.
- **[[Lords of the Black Sails]]:** A group of **naval captains and merchant lords** who enforce [[House Surtova]]’s rule on the lake.
- **Political Intrigue is a Way of Life:** Betrayal, **secret deals, and assassinations** are common among Issian nobility.
- **Economy & Trade:**
- **Naval Control Over Trade:** The **Lake of Mists and Veils is a vital trade route**, giving [[House Surtova]] economic power.
- **High Taxes & Tolls:** Issia **taxes merchant ships heavily**, making trade difficult for **independent merchants**.
- **Fishing, Whaling, and Timber:** Primary industries, but not as wealthy as Rostland’s fertile lands.
- **Privateers & Piracy:** Issia **uses mercenary naval crews** to attack enemy merchants, claiming it as "legal taxation."
- **Religion & Beliefs:**
- **Abadar (Trade & Law)** is widely followed, especially by merchants and nobles.
- **Pharasma (Fate & Death)** is deeply respected in the **cold, unforgiving north**.
- **Gorum (War & Strength)** is worshiped by **the [[House Surtova]] military and privateer captains**.
- **Dwarves in the [[Icerime Peaks]]** follow **Torag (Forge & Protection)**.
- **Laws & Customs:**
- **[[House Surtova]]’s Word is Law:** Issia is a land of **rigid feudal hierarchy**, where the nobility rules absolutely.
- **[[House Whitewood]] is known for its strict martial code**, enforcing **dueling traditions and military discipline** to maintain order.
- **Treason is Met with Dagger or Ice:** **Political dissenters** often **disappear into the frozen wilderness or wash up in the lake**.
- **Mercantile Control:** All **merchant guilds answer to [[House Surtova]]**, ensuring **economic power remains centralized**.
- **Marriage is a Political Tool:** Noble **alliances are forged through arranged marriages**, but betrayal is common.
#### **History & Lore**
- **Origins & Founding:**
- Issia was once **a collection of pirate lords, merchant kings, and feudal warlords**, unified under **[[House Surtova]]**.
- [[House Whitewood]] is an **old but minor noble house**, originally a branch of [[House Surtova]] that became known for **producing knights, generals, and military advisors**.
- When **Choral the Conqueror** took Brevoy, **[[House Surtova]] surrendered peacefully**, securing **a position of power in his new kingdom**.
- **Major Historical Events:**
- **Choral’s Conquest:** Issia’s **nobles submitted to Choral the Conqueror**, unlike the defiant Rostlanders.
- **The Rogarvian Disappearance:** When House Rogarvia **vanished overnight**, [[House Surtova]] **seized control of Brevoy**, claiming **rightful rule**.
- **The Rostland Conflict:** The **southern lords (Rostland)** resent Issia’s rule and have been **waiting for an opportunity to break away**.
- **The Stolen Lands Charter:** Issia allowed **Restov to send charters south** (including Rivermarch) to **distract the Swordlords**.
#### **Notable NPCs & Factions**
- **Key Figures:**
- **[[Noleski Surtova (Deceased)]]:** The **official ruler of Brevoy**, fighting to hold the kingdom together.
- **[[Natala Surtova]]:** His **cold and calculating sister**, rumored to **orchestrate political assassinations**.
- **[[Brinnard Whitewood]]:** Patriarch of [[House Whitewood]], a staunch military leader and enforcer of Issian rule in the south.
- **[[Gurev Medvyed]]:** A noble lord **opposed to Issian rule**, seeking **allies to resist [[House Surtova]]**.
- **[[Vasily Toranescu (Deceased)]]:** A **[[House Surtova]] privateer**, enforcing their will on Lake of Mists and Veils.
- **Factions or Power Groups:**
- **[[House Surtova]]**
- **[[House Whitewood]]**
- **[[Lords of the Black Sails]]**
- **[[Issian Merchant Guilds]]**
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```