Hilsi-Kile

Hilsi-Kile was a coastal territory of the Holy Eavonian Confederation and was made up of five regions: Hayvenhurst, Sulzbach, Iberstein, Laguna, and Fallerwald. The territory shared borders with Collea, Pahru, and The Farwei Wilds. It was home to the Kile-Mahi Eavons, a cultural group that formed after the territory was recognized by the Confederation. Hilsi-Kile’s environment led to a wide variety of effects that made the Kile-Mahi's appearance distinct from other Eavons, such as lighter skin, red and green hair pigmentation, and regional dialects. 

Hayvenhurst

Hayvenhurst was the southeastern border region of Hilsi-Kile. Although woodland remains a defining feature of the landscape, Hayvenhurst possesses considerably more open terrain than the other regions of Hilsi-Kile. This allowed for an increased amount of urban development in the region, which grew even further as migrants from Pahru entered the region to work in the lucrative lumber industry, making Hayvenhurst the most diverse region in Hilsi-Kile. In the early 6th Dispensation, the Royal Court nationalized and regulated the lumber and logging industry of the Confederation to support the construction and maintenance of settlements across all regions. As the industry spread deeper into the region, Hayvenhurst shifted focus onto agriculture to feed the locals and travelers alike, as sunlight reached the ground throughout much of the region unlike the dense northern forests, producing productive soils well suited for orchards and broad agricultural fields. Large farming operations focused on sweet fruits, hardy vegetables, hops and brewing grains, and vineyard grapes. Townships became dedicated to their primary crop, both the town and farms often owned by a minor noble family of local influence. Such families rarely hold significant influence within the Royal Court, yet they exercise considerable authority over regional commerce and land management. Estate and government investment also allowed for the construction of brick roads, short rail lines, river barges, and sawmills to better facilitate the transportation of lumber. The increase of efficient transportation also allowed more outsiders to participate in local harvest festivals, such as the ever-popular and lucrative Flohakleg (Feast of Beer).

Sulzbach

Sulzbach was the southwestern border region of Hilsi-Kile. While it shared most of its southern border with Pahur, it also had a western border with The Farwei Wilds. As a result of humid air currents and heavy rainfall, Sulzbach was one of the warmest regions of Hilsi-Kile with temperate rainforests. Settlements in Sulzbach were primarily founded following the discovery of bogarite in the region, a mineral required for creating the robust Eavonian steel alloy used in the majority of Confederation megastructures. While the region proved incredibly profitable, the proximity to The Farwei Wilds incurred a consistent perception of risk and danger. Along with the usual hazards posed by the territory such as the fodogsi and various woodland insects, stragglers from The Farwei Wilds would eventually find themselves in Sulzbach. This included aggressive plant life, wild parasitic spores, and rogue haküaladü, including the famous Uapalchiuhtzitl. Settlements invested heavily into outer perimeter defenses, using the local bogarite to construct walls and watchtowers of considerable durability. As the need for steel alloy increased in the 6th Dispensation, the Royal Court demanded the Sulzbach mining industry leaders further allocate funding to defense, this decree hastening the development of military technology never before seen in the Confederation. This included new alloys, armor construction, defensive vehicles, and the first Eavon-constructed firearm. This percussion rifle was credited to Kutwa khe-Karnezis, founder of the Karnezis Small Arms Factory, although much of the design was stolen from an Asymptite pneumatic rifle. 

Iberstein

Iberstein was a northeastern region in Hilsi-Kile. As with the three coastal regions of Hilsi-Kile, most of the land was occupied by the giant humikha (black sky) trees, named for their tall trunks and dense branches that created a thick canopy which blocked most sunlight. Despite this nearly eternal night, these regions were plentiful in resources and opportunity. Iberstein in particular gained prominence as a fur exporter, with a large population of native deer, rodents, and seals found across the region. Instead of constructing homes from scratch, Iberstein prided itself on the tradition of hollowing out the oldest humikha and making them into shelters while preserving the tree's exterior integrity. These living homes would be passed down from generation to generation, stewardship over them considered one of the most important priorities for a woman inheriting the property as the trees are treated in a similar way to relatives. Renovations were constant and neighbors would become competitive in how they embellish their home tree, installing stained glass windows, electric lights, and advanced plumbing. It was also not uncommon for the furniture within these homes, such as tables, shelving, and beds to be carved directly out of the tree and become permanent, unmovable fixtures. As the population of Iberstein increased, the humikha homes turned into natural skyscrapers, homes built atop each other up to ten units high with bridges and stairways constructed to connect them all together. Incidentally, this also saw local fire brigades increase their on-duty defenders dramatically in response to the sheer density of the homes made entirely out of wood. 

Laguna

Laguna is the northeastern region of Hilsi-Kile. Laguna is named after and known for its lakes, marshes, and lagoons dotted across the landscape. Three of the lakes in the northern part of the region are nearly ten kilometers wide. As they are fantastic sources of fresh water, Laguna’s major population centers were constructed around these lakes. Compared to other regions in Hilsi-Kile, Laguna was rather wet and swampy. It was located close to The Farwei Wilds and received its humid climate, but as there was a large river separating the two land masses, Laguna was largely safe from the dangers of the neighboring territory. This didn’t mean Laguna was entirely devoid of natural hazards, the swampy waters becoming the perfect environment for a wide array of predatory reptiles, venomous insects, and even freshwater sharks. 

The region developed into two distinct societies. The more rural Kile-Mahi had to adapt rapidly, constructing elevated planktowns that were out of reach from the waters below. These towns and their residents, derogatorily known as befupkowbů (swampfolk) by those living by the lakes, became well known for their hardy, rugged, and abrasive social norms, but were also acclaimed fishers, hunters, and ferrymen. While they appeared rude and even aggressive to outsiders, local custom instead viewed excessive politeness as dangerous, believing honesty and immediate criticism better prepare newcomers for the realities of wetland life. As the lakeside towns of Laguna proved more welcoming and less resonate, the befupkowbů of Laguna were largely left alone by the Confederation at large. They were one of the last to hear of the Solstice War when it began, but they also held out remarkably well because of their inherited survival skills, eventually spreading out into the decimated remnants of the Confederation. The befupkowbů and their independent ways would become enemies to the newly established Silver Lining military order, rebranded once more as “wildlings,” a term which would later apply to any pirate or brigand who actively disrupted Silver Lining operations. 

Fallerwald

Fallerwald was the northcentral region of Hilsi-Kile and home to the territorial capital city Ekhe Flaushire. Fallerwald was the most populated region in the territory, the central hub of the lumber industry for the entire Confederation. As such, the capital is one of the few places in Hilsi-Kile that receives sunlight thanks to the hundreds of humikha cleared to construct the massive city. Ekhe Flaushire was actually built around the ruins of a lost civilization that once lived in the forest, Eavon infrastructure built over the stone stupas and obelisks once it was claimed by settlers. Very few artifacts and information existed about this ancient culture, so over time people forgot and believed Ekhe Flaushire was entirely built by human hands. Structural additions included wooden paneling, water and power, and netting over the walkways. These were originally designed to prevent arboreal wolves from attacking residents, but the nets soon became highly decorative and were perfect for growing grapes and other flowering vines. Along with the extensive logging industry and pastoral ideology, Ekhe Flaushire was known for its expansive public transportation system. Along with an interterritory rail line stopping in the capital, Ekhe Flaushire also had its own centralized light rail system that could take travelers across Fallerwald and to the other regions of Hilsi-Kile. Due to the claustrophobic and isolated nature of the territory as a whole, the local Kile-Mahi held cultural systems that were totally foreign to the rest of the Confederation. This included a diet primarily made up of meat and cheese products, excessive alcohol consumption as a social activity, and a looser sense of decorum compared to the more rigid norms of other cultures. When traveling throughout the Confederation, Kile-Mahi citizens occasionally found themselves adapting to customs considerably stricter than those practiced at home.