Ravynnar

Ravynnar is the smallest of the former six kingdoms in the Lands of Man. It is mostly a mountainous peninsula, with a wide, rocky plain in the center, and Coldwater Bay divides the region. The population of Ravynnar, the Ravyn, has a reputation for being hardy and jingoistic, and have historically produced the greatest warriors in the Lands of Man.

Geography

The Ravynnar Peninsula is a rocky, craggy landscape of scrubby moorland and sharp, snow-capped peaks. Countless meltwater streams spring up from under the hollow ground, and cascade down the faces of the mountains. It is hemmed by the rugged Ravynnrock Range to the north, which fall into the Icefloe Bay, and the bottle-green waters of the Coldwater Bay to the south. A narrow strip of green pastures, suitable for grazing and root cultivation, are south of the Coldwater Bay, bordered by the southern edge of the region, the Windhand Peaks.

People

The Ravyn, over the aeons of settlement in their isolated mountain land, became a very uniform people, and was one of the first kingdoms to develop a common language. They tend to be tall and brawny folk, with fair hair, historically worn long, and leathery, weather-beaten skin. The halfling population, before Arrival, was practically nonexistent, with the exception of slaves taken from other lands. Historically, the Ravyn wore little in the way of clothes, with short whaleskin kilts over leather leggings, and cloaks in the depths of winter. Men and women would be bare-chested, and would decorate themselves with tattoos.

The Ravyn Berserkers were notorious in battle; just a few could break sieges and hold villages. They were the closest allies to Tyresia, who helped provide pulses, fruits, and slaves in exchange for their elite warriors.

After Arrival, the Princes of Ravynnar have fallen in line with abolishing slavery, as difficult as that was culturally, and have continued to impress on the fields of battle.

Culture

Ravynnar was populated by a number of small tribes in individual valleys before it became an established kingdom. During that time, tribes would face off in physical competition and whale-hunting, and very quickly the bonds of non-violence unified the region quickly. This idea of pride in physical perfection became so widespread as to make it nearly meaningless, though, and soon a person's worth was measured by the slaves they took in battle, and later, the amount of slaves they owned.

Being Ravynn was all that was needed to be a "full-man" in historic Ravynnar. Men and women were treated equally, and could own land, slaves, and had a voice in local governance. The strength of women in battle was never questioned, and their ability to produce more Ravyn was revered, which tipped the balance culturally into being a de facto matriarchy.

One of the defining aspects of Ravynnar that quickly spread through the empire was Aquavit, a clear, strong alcohol made from distilled root vegetables. The ability of a Ravyn to hold their alcohol is legendary.