Official Name: Kingdom of the Anderfels
Demonym: Ander
Government: Monarchy
Capital: Hossberg
Religion: Chantry (majority)
The Anderfels is a heavily blighted region in northwest Thedas best known for its harsh terrain and being home to the Grey Wardens. The Order was first founded here, and Weisshaupt Fortress in the south remains the center of Warden leadership in Thedas.
The darkspawn are constant and formidable threat in the Andefels, even in the absence of a true Blight. The region's people, known as Anders, have been hardened by entire lives at war with darkspawn. They live in constant fear and vigilance of the surfacing blighted, and the nation is far enough away from the rest of Thedas that their plight is easily ignored.
The Anders are bitter neighbors of the Tevinter Imperium that once ruled the region. Anders, at best, resent their former rulers-not that the darkspawn allow them much capacity for cross-border conflict.
The Anderfels' sparse populace is largely ignored by the king at Hossberg, who focuses on maintaining order and relative comfort in the capital. Protecting the king and enforcing his laws are infamous royal tribunals said to dole out justice in the name of "absolution" at least in the eyes of the Maker.
Outside of the city, most Anders fend for themselves in small , largely self-sufficient villages and outposts. The closest thing rural Anders have to real authority are the Wardens, who maintain at least a token presence in even the farthest inhabited corners of the region.
Ander summers are dangerously hot, and dust storms blowing inland during cooler months make it hard for anything to ever grow.
The Grey Wardens retain their importance in the Anderfels, even as their influence wanes in other nations. Warden numbers are at their largest here, and they hold political power equal to any Ferelden teyrn or Orlesian baron.
The First Warden, who lives at Weisshaupt, ostensibly commands Grey Wardens across Thedas. However, in practice, the First Warden is too caught up in local politics to act as more than a figurhead for the Wardens, who rely on Warden Commanders to make the big decisions for the good of their assigned territories.
The First Warden has traditionally acted as the Ander king's advisor. In recent years, the leader of the Wardens has been more of an outspoken critic of the status quo and the monarchy as a whole. Some speculate that the First Warden has eyes on the throne.
Aside from dust storms and darkspawn, the Anderfels is famous for its arts and the relative piety of its people.
Religion plays a particularly large role in Ander life, even by Orlesian standards. Perhaps it's the air of desperation that seems to hang over the region, but the Chantry maintains a heavy, popular presence. Dedicated worship of the Maker is all but expected among Anders, and breaking the Maker's laws-by extension the king's law- is often perishable by death in the capital.
Few make the pilgrimage to see the magnificent white statue of Our Lady (Andraste), carved into the face of the Merdaine near Weisshaupt, but this wonder's fame is widespread. Outside the region, much smaller Ander sculptures are among the most prized and sought-after art pieces in all of Thedas. The sculptures are especially popular within circles of Orlesian nobility. Members have been known to pay exorbitant prices for exemplary pieces. This has been the subject of great controversy in the Anderfels, as artist's don't see much, if any, of the money their work yields. Most of the proceeds go towards the crooked members of the dwarven Merchants Guild as "handling fees".