Campaign Setting and a Brief History

In the Northlands of Seanchan, 960 AB, the lands north of the Sohima Mountains were little more than a series of individual farms, orchards, and ranches. The two peninsulas south of the mountains have existed as separate Kingdoms, constantly at war as long as anyone’s great grandfather can remember. Some people in the north considered themselves nobles because of their wealth or the fighting men they had at their disposal, but there was not even a true city north of the mountains beyond the one port city at the mouth of the Cordrelle. The maneuvering and battles for land here were a pale imitation of the politics and bloodshed of the Seanchan mainland.

In that year, 960 AB, a great force of Trollocs, led by Myrddraal and supported by a host of other Shadowspawn, swept out of the Blight and began ravaging the countryside. One man, Havien Maranellin, convinced many of his neighbors to loan him their fighting men, and marched them against the Trolloc armies. He gained many victories, and with each one more and more men came to join him, to save their lands. The fighting died off about 963 AB, and instead of returning home to await the next onslaught, Havien marched his troops to a ruined city on the Cordrelle thought to be the remains of the Age of Legends city of V’saine.

Here he began calling upon people to mass, to make a center of population, to organize themselves against further Trolloc invasions. Slowly the people began to come and build upon the ruined city. Eventually they made it their own, most for the want of protection than for a desire to congregate. With nearly every man who could rightly be called a soldier willing to follow him anywhere, Havien Maranellin easily assumed a position as the head of the government of V’saine. He officially assumed the title of Governor in 969 AB.

Since this time, V’saine has grown into a large and thriving city. It contains one of only three Universities on the Seanchan continent. The existence of this is thought to be a consequence of a bargain Havien struck with several Aes Sedai during his campaign against the Trollocs. V’saine silversmiths and blacksmiths have already gained a reputation as the best in the land. They keep well supplied with raw materials from generous silver and iron mines in Al’Aetha. Farms and orchards can be found east of V’saine, which produce potatoes, peas, onions, lettuce, mustards, apples, pears, and plums. Horses and S’redit are raised on ranches as well. The S’redit have only been recently introduced after a discovery that the people who live across the Morenal Ocean trade in silks for the ivory of S’redit. The S’redit have not adapted well to the climate so far, but there are still hopes.

Though many farms consider themselves part of V’saine, due in part to the border guards Havien has on patrol to defend against Trolloc raids, no other land beyond the city had been claimed as Havien’s until very recently. Two kingdoms, Qirat and Abunai, exist to the south, one on each of the lower peninsulas south of the Sohima Mountains. Both have begun sending armies north, across the Sohima Mountains to take control of the towns along the Cordrelle so as to control the rich river trade coming out of V’saine and gain an edge in their war with each other. The port city of Uttar at the mouth of the Cordrelle and the village of Laughlin at the spot where the Cormuadandrelle meets the Cordrelle have both suffered greatly under the fighting between Qirat and Abunai. Emissaries have been sent asking for help and pledging themselves to be subject to the rule of Havien. In response, Havien Maranellin has declared that the entirety of the lands north of the Sohima Mountains and west of Al’Rahien’Haman belong to him, founding the Maranellin Empire in the year 997 AB. He began preparations to send troops to the south to liberate his newly claimed lands. Unfortunately, several large Trolloc raids have come south, forcing him to commit more troops to his border guard. As a result conscription has begun to build up the troop numbers being sent south, mostly to provide fighting men to push the Qiratans and Abunai back, but also to provide a temporary civil watch in Uttar and other small villages until law and order can be assured there.

Most Player Characters should be enrolled citizens of V’saine who have been conscripted by Maranellin to be sent south and take places in the newly formed Civil Guard of Uttar for a period of one year.

A Few Notes on Culture

These are included to give you a sense of where your characters have most likely come from and to let you know what to expect from the population at the start of the campaign.

Appearance

The people of the Northlands above the Sohima Mountains tend to be fair-skinned, with light colored hair and eyes. The further south you go, the darker the people become and the wider range of hair and eye color observed. Most men wear trousers and high collared shirts and coats. Women wear full-length dresses, often high necked as well, though sometimes with a square cut neck. Coats and dresses are often embroidered in metallic thread with simple patterns and designs among the wealthier classes of people. Boots are typical footwear, even among females due to the terrain and the temperature. Gloves are common year round for both sexes. Head coverings are not forbidden, per se, but no one may keep their face hidden or covered in V’saine. As a result many just do not wear hats of any kind. In the colder months some people wear earmuffs to guard against the chill. Men, as a rule, wear their hair short; women wear their hair long and loose. Short beards and trimmed moustaches are common among the men.

Climate

The area around V’saine tends to be cold. The summers are relatively short warm, while the winters are long and bitterly cold. Precipitation tends to fall heavily in the spring, and the snows come in midfall, rarely letting the ground be seen until spring

Holidays

The populations around V’saine, and in the Northlands in general, tend to be extremely superstitious. This is reflected in the four major holidays observed. The varying length of days over the course of the seasons is said to be an indicator of the eternal struggle between the Light and the Shadow. Therefore on days of special significance to this battle, holidays are observed. The Vernal Equinox is known as the Feast of Rebirth, and is the first day of the New Year; this is the day when light swings back into balance with the dark, and begins to overcome it. The Summer Solstice is known as the Feast of the Sun. The longest day of the year is marked with wild parties and celebrations of victory against the Shadow; many weddings occur on this day. The Autumnal Equinox is the Feast of Solemn Remembrance. People remember their loved ones and pay special homage to those who have died fighting the Shadow, preparing for a submergence into the darkest days, knowing that they will need many more champions to make it back to spring. The Winter Solstice is not given a name, and it is considered bad luck to even speak of it. People rarely venture out of doors on this day, preferring to spend the day quietly with loved ones. Many people fear that the days will not begin to lengthen afterwards and despair over the possibility of the Shadow’s victory. These holidays are observed, with slight variations, across the continent. There tends to be more celebration on the Mainland where there is little superstition and the battle with the Shadow is thought to be far away.

Economy

Mining, farming, and trade professions are the common employment in V’saine. Al’Aetha provides vast yields of silver, iron, and copper for the intrepid miner and the lands to the west are fertile hosting fields of potatoes, peas, onions, lettuce, and mustard trees. Orchards also dot the land bearing apples, pears, plums, and sour cherries. V’saine blacksmiths and silversmiths are considered to be at the pinnacle of the profession. Recently, S’redit were brought north fifteen years ago in an attempt to raise herds with which to collect ivory from. The S’redit were not comfortable in the climate, and many died. Over the past fifteen years they seem to have adapted somewhat and a few of the ranches are beginning to show vast profits from trading the ivory for silk across the Morenal Ocean in Shara.

Ecology

To’raken and Raken can be found in the mountains, as can several varieties of birds, bears, and cats. The rest of the land tends to be lightly forested. Grolm, bears, wolves, and elk are the dominant species. Birds, insects, and small mammals can be found everywhere.