The ancient world of Vasagarod is a sprawling tapestry of high peaks, fertile riverlands, and shadowed forests, where a fragile peace serves only as a prelude to inevitable chaos. It is a land of stark geographical contrasts, divided into eight distinct northern kingdoms that boast unique cultures and landscapes. Yet, above the internal rivalries and political intrigue hangs a singular, terrifying reality: the northern world is essentially a fortress, turned inward and locked down against an existential threat from the south.
Vasagarod’s northern geography is defined by its extremes. To the far north lie The Great Highlands, a wind-swept plateau of jagged peaks and frozen valleys so brutal that the air itself is a "death zone" for the unwary. Within these heights, the Azarim Highlands and the Kingdom of Gurval have carved out an existence. This region is home to Unchshit, the highest spire of ice and snow, and Iryasthal, the shifting glacial cavern that serves as the source of the mighty Irya River.
Descending from the highlands, the world opens into the fertile Riverlands, the economic heart of Vasagarod. Here, the Khetai River Kingdom and Kharathuun flourish along the banks of the Irya and Iryavath rivers. This is a region of dense populations, colossal boat trade networks, and golden wheatlands. To the west, the landscape shifts into the Great Grasslands of Velthar, where nomadic traditions and horse-breeding dominate the horizon. To the east, the Narethin Kingdom clings to the coastline, dominating the Azure Sea with its skilled sailors and vast fishing fleets.
At the center of the southern border lies the Zharruk Tribal Forest, an ancient, enchanted woodland where cities are built into colossal living trees. It is a place of druidic power, but also of darkness, housing the cannibalistic tribes of the Gnashed Borough.
The power dynamics of Vasagarod are held by ten primary factions, each currently caught in a cycle of mutual dependence and deep-seated suspicion:
Kharathuun Kingdom: The largest and most advanced realm, currently ruled by Kalsavara II, whose golden eye reflects a new, terrifying expansionist agenda.
Kingdom of Velthar: A nation of horse-lords whose nobility and commoners alike revere the steed as sacred.
Sanquor Kingdom: A serene land of "refined arts" that hides a clandestine network of informants and masters of charm.
Khetai Kingdom: A bustling hub of trade and architecture built upon ancient riverways.
Gurval Kingdom: A rugged mountain realm that values tradition and mineral wealth, home to the finest stone fortresses and mineral refineries.
Azarim Highlands Kingdom: A proud realm of fierce warrior clans and strategic mountain outposts like Haraka Peak.
Zharruk Kingdom: A deep-forest dominion of Zharra mystical dwellers and ancient lore.
Narethin Kingdom: A prosperous coastal power whose navy and trade routes are the lifeblood of the eastern sea.
The Crimson Tides: A ruthless band of corsairs that preys on northern trade, forcing the coastal kingdoms into a state of constant naval war.
The Southern Invaders: A formidable coalition of nomadic tribes from the sun-scorched deserts, driven by ancient prophecies to conquer the north.
Despite the internal skirmishes and the "broken trust" symbolized by landmarks like The Broken Bridge of Gurval, the northern kingdoms have been forced into an unprecedented military union. This is most visible in two colossal structures: The Northern Barrier and The Great Vasagarod Blockade.
The Northern Barrier is an ancient, massive wall stretching from east to west, marking the southern edge of the civilized world. It is the only fortified passage connecting the north to the southern territories, and it is manned with a desperate intensity. On the water, The Great Vasagarod Blockade creates an impassable naval wall, utilizing the finest warships and specialized trimaries of the united northern kingdoms to prevent southern incursions.
This level of cooperation suggests that something catastrophic occurred in the south—a "sun-scorched" history that the northern kings fear will repeat. The presence of the Southern Invaders is not treated as a mere border dispute, but as an existential reckoning. The kingdoms fight each other over trade and land, but they all turn their eyes south with a shared, paralyzing dread.
Life in Vasagarod is governed by a rigid social hierarchy where every class is a weapon. Aristocrats rule through manipulation, but they are consumed by the fear of losing control. The Knowledgable hold the keys to medicine and history, yet seek to make the world submit to their "Truth". Even the Prostitutes of the "Gilded Lily" are masters of information brokering, turning whispered secrets into political leverage.
Beneath this, the Peasants and Miners—those born into "pure agony"—are a ticking time bomb. They do not seek to rule; they seek to "incinerate" the corrupt establishment that ignores them while focusing on southern walls and northern palaces.
Woven through this political tension are the monsters and deities of the land. From the Frostfire Drake in the mountains to the Abyssal Leviathan in the deep trenches, the world itself is hostile. Even the divine is dangerous; the Goddess Irya is a source of wisdom, but her River Guardian is a force of immense destruction if her sanctity is threatened.
In Vasagarod, the geography is a fortress, the classes are at war, and the gods are watching. The current peace is not an absence of conflict, but a collective holding of breath before the storm breaks.