Sword of the North

Ruling official: Lady Ilsabet

Ruling Keep: Domavern

Northkeep is the northernmost of the regions of Civiel, aside from the small province of Seahollow. It is known for being a bitterly cold place with militant people and a strong sense of national pride. It was the initial crown land of Civiel, but was decided against in favor of Greylight.

Because of its isolation, the people of Northkeep are all of similar ethnicities, either Jehisi or Civielite. The people in Northkeep don't make distinctions between ethnicities, but are proud of the region they were born in. Many people share a no-nonsense, practical attitude, which can be seen in their clothing and architecture. The architecture of Northkeep favors more compact shapes than that of the other regions, and their clothing is quilted, simple, and often features heavy amounts of fur and wool. The people have adopted the Jehisi wolf-caps, which are often said to be the most colorful part of their wardrobe. Other aspects of Jehisi clothing are more subtle, regarding how it is sewn as well as the types of undergarments worn. The waistband has become a thick, multi-layered cloth that is embroidered with designs that often mimic antlers, hoofprints, or suns. 

Noric beauty standards favor shorter folk and people with rounder faces and body fat. Dark, straight hair is seen as beautiful, as well as round noses and ruddy cheeks. Green eyes are seen as the most beautiful eye color, partially because they represent spring and growth.

Northkeep is the region with the most Ervaju practitioners, and many people believe in a blended mix of Ervaju and Avonism, as opposed to the stricter, more visibly religious Avonism practiced in Greylight and Whitewatch. The presence of the Dragonback Mountains in the middle of the territory encourages smaller communities to form, and as such Norics value independence and helpfulness to an equal extent. Small families are more common, as smaller houses make it difficult to have large families without multiple living spaces.

Guiding the People

Ruling official: King Alric

Ruling Keep: Kenafirs

Greylight is the central and ruling region of Civiel, and the home of the monarch King Alric and Castle Avenstone.

The people of Greylight are likened to wolves in many respects, from their seemingly endless patience to their cooperation and famously strict rule-following. Greylight has the highest proportion of guards to citizens because it is the ruling region. Formerly, the distinction of crown region belonged to Northkeep, the first region to break from the empire, but since then Greylight was chosen as it is the central region and has access to trade routes that connect it with both Northkeep and Whitewatch.

South Greylight is considered the nation's breadbasket, as it is temperate enough to produce a wide variety of crops. The lowlands of Greylight are notable for their production of wild rice in the wetlands and ponds between the mountains and the Serkey waterway. Walnuts and chestnuts are other common foods harvested in Greylight.