Geography (The Ashen Sagas Setting)

“	We had nine before. Nine little circles on the World Tapestry. Now we have five cuz the gods (curse 'em) lost four. Jus' lost 'em. Big ol' stretches of land, poof, now where'd they go? Sure Askaland's got's it's quirks, but the cold... burr. I need ta find me a portal to Muspelheim. I hear they give ya a moment to warm yer hands before they lob yer neck off.	”
—Snorre, a Dwarven Skald

Askaland

A Map of Askaland

Settled Lands

Vulflaw

The Vulflaw is the land under the protection of its namesake, the god Vulfadir. Considered one of the safer lands to live in Askaland, the Vulflaw is covered in ancient runes and protections; some set there by the Old Kingdom of Fotr that once occupied the boundaries of the Vulflaw. Others, set in place by the god Vulfadir himself. The capital of Fotr is still standing, the coastal city of Kastali, where the citizens of the Vulflaw work and toil to keep the last bastion of true civilization alive and burning bright against the encroaching darkness, but the true "capital" of the Vulflaw is Valdrhol, a fortified settlement built around the dwelling of the Laughing God himself.

The forts and settlements of the Vulflaw are defended mostly by the residents themselves, with swords, shields, spears and axes passed down from father to son, some as old as before the Last War. However, regional groups also defend the area, the most prominent being the Ulfhednar, the spear-wielding martial clergy of Vulfadir, many of whom are lycanthropes. The Ulfhednar are not just warriors but are trained in the art of healing and story-weaving as well. It is customary for local leaders to invite a traveling Ulfhedinn to their hearth and give a warm meal in exchange for a story, similar to the treatment of a skilled bard.

While the Vulflaw is relatively safe, perhaps because of this safety the denizens are not as friendly to outsiders as in other lands where cooperation is vital for survival. While not openly hostile like the dwarves of the Shattered Spires or the elves of Alfenheim, they are cold to outsiders especially non-humans. Racial slurs such as "cave-skulker" (dwarves), "leaf-eaters", "dark backs" (drow), "green-skin" (trollkin) are commonly used and a non-human character might be talked down to or even refused service in certain areas. They hold the same respect for revenants as other deeply religious regions however, and treat lycanthropes with respect befitting nobles, as they have received "the gift" from Vulfadir.

Breidrwall

Breidrwall is a land of castles and forts, some still occupied by humans as havens against the creatures of the cold, others lost to less… savory denizens. The settled land furthest north of Askaland the rocky climate and brutal cold, protects the people here from bandits and undead that plague other lands. Indeed, the steep slopes and narrow paths make large-scale assaults difficult if not impossible. However, this works both ways and many settlements have been starved out or frozen over, when trade routes become cut.

With the cold climate and limited farming space, sunstones are a necessity here. The largest settlement, Solgrot is built on against a cliff side around a massive Sunstone that fell from Solatir’s chariot when she crashed to the ground. Using the runes on the sun stone as a template, the craftsmen of Solgrot create some of the most potent sunstones in Askaland, trading them to the other settlements of Breidrwall. Solgrot is the beating heart of Breidrwall, and if something were to happen to the settlement… well, people would prefer not to think on that.

Bjornlund

Bjornlund is a land of forests and green, but all this proximity to life comes at a cost. Strength and savagery is the rule of Bjornlund, even in the most civilized of settlements the settlers would not think twice of murdering an outsider under their own roof, violating guest right, if it meant their clan could survive another winter.

Muspelheim

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