River Kingdoms

Name: The River Kingdoms
Type: Region/Collection of Small States
Region: Central Avistan, south of Brevoy and north of Galt
Scale & Population: Moderate to sparse population; collection of small city-states and territories
Primary Inhabitants: Humans are the majority, with significant minorities of halflings, gnomes, and other races; bandits, mercenaries, refugees, and political exiles
Climate & Terrain: Temperate, river-laced forests, plains, and marshlands; dominated by the Sellen River and its many tributaries

Key Features & Landmarks:
- The Sellen River (East, West, and Little Sellen) and its many tributaries
- Vast tracts of wilderness between settled areas
- Scattered fortified cities and towns
- Ancient ruins hidden throughout the region
Notable Districts/Areas:
- Mivon: A city-state ruled by Aldori Swordlords
- Pitax: Kingdom ruled by the poet-king Castruccio Irovetti
- Numerous smaller states including Sevenarches, Tymon, Daggermark, and Outpost
- Countless minor fiefdoms that rise and fall with the seasons
Connections & Accessibility:
- The Sellen River serves as the main highway for trade and travel
- Various roads of varying quality, often unsafe outside of settlements
- Trade routes connecting to Brevoy in the north and Galt in the south

Local Governance:
- Decentralized - each kingdom has its own ruler and laws
- Common political structures include bandit lords, mercenary captains, merchant councils, and petty kings
- All rulers technically adhere to the River Freedoms, though enforcement varies
Economy & Trade:
- River trade is the lifeblood of the economy
- Exports include timber, fish, furs, mercenary services, and smuggled goods
- Many cities serve as trading hubs for goods moving between larger nations
Religion & Beliefs:
- Diverse religious practices with no dominant faith
- Worship of Cayden Cailean, Desna, and Gorum is common
- Many followers of river deities and nature spirits
Laws & Customs:
- Governed by the Six River Freedoms:
  1. Say What You Will, I Live Free
  2. Oathbreakers Die
  3. Walk Any Road, Float Any River
  4. Courts Are For Kings
  5. Slavery Is An Abomination
  6. You Have What You Hold
- Each kingdom enforces its own laws beyond these freedoms
Languages Spoken:
- Common is universal
- Hallit spoken in northern regions
- Various regional dialects that identify one's home kingdom

Origins & Founding:
- No formal founding; the region has been a patchwork of small states since the fall of ancient Taldor
- Many current kingdoms are built on the ruins of previous failed states
Major Historical Events:
- Constant rise and fall of petty kingdoms over centuries
- Establishment of the River Freedoms about 400 years ago
- Recent growth of Pitax under Castruccio Irovetti
- Aldori expansion from Brevoy, establishing Mivon
Current Conflicts or Issues:
- Ongoing tension between Pitax and Mivon
- Castruccio Irovetti's ambition to control more territory
- The emergence of Rivermarch and other new settlements in the Stolen Lands
- Bandit groups trying to establish new territories
Rumors & Mysteries:
- Ancient ruins with pre-Taldan artifacts scattered throughout the region
- Whispers of fey activity increasing in certain areas
- Tales of lost treasures from fallen kingdoms
- Rumors of a shadowy organization manipulating various rulers

Key Figures:
- King Castruccio Irovetti: Poet-king of Pitax with grand ambitions
- Rulov Aldori: Leader of the Aldori Swordlords in Mivon
- Character Cards/Humans/Felisia d'Rocca: Influential merchant and power broker
Factions or Power Groups:
- Aldori Swordlords: Exiled duelists from Brevoy who control Mivon
- The Blades of Exile: Mercenary company operating throughout the region
- Lords of the Black Sails: River pirates who prey on merchant vessels
- The River Kings' Compact: Loose alliance of river traders and captains
Major Monsters or Threats:
- River pirates and bandit gangs
- Territorial fey in the wilder regions
- Monsters from nearby forests and marshes
- Remnant threats from fallen kingdoms

Connected people