### **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]]:** 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]]:** 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]]** This version **fully integrates [[House Whitewood]] into Issia’s power structure**, tying them to the **military enforcement of [[House Surtova]]’s rule**. 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