Known predominantly as the first home of the Dwarves the Barrier Mountains have long held secrets of a long forgotten world. One where gods walked among men and the Ancients ruled the earth. From the grand and ancient history the people of the Great Barrier share only their history and love for the beautiful mountains they call home. Made up of various city states each either at war or tightly allied with their neighbors, the nation of the Great Barrier exists only to deter against the universally hated Kaldonian whose constant intrusion upon Barrier lands has lead to the unity of the nation. There is no leader and no central government to speak of, only alliances and treaties that ensure the loyalty of their fellow cities in a case of invasion or threat. Other than the treaties of the nation the cities have kept the right to continue the long standing wars with one another. Most prominently the Wartorn Fields, which lay west of the Kitsune Forests house horrific battles which have been persisting since the First Age.

Pa-Gen Ankoh - Isolationist City State

Resources: Fruits, Berries, Garden Crops, Grains

Production: Flour, Food Stuffs, Jarred Goods, Oracles

Population: 5,000 (Various)

Military: Pavivan Guard, Mouri Guard

Special: Mouri Windows

Demonym: Pavivan

The Barrier knows little of them, however the two have come to an agreement, essentially amounting to that the Barrier will not interfere with Pavivan society, and the Pavivan will keep to themselves. This dark-skinned race have let little be known about their language (they have learned to speak the local tongue when there are visitors), their religion, system of government, and many facets of their culture. What is known is that there is a strange monument in the village, free-standing and thin panes of glass more than twice as tall as the average man. There are perhaps a dozen of them all standing in no particular pattern--no circle or other recognizable shape. From what little has been gathered from the Pavivan, these are called the Mouri Windows, and they supposedly show individuals who are dead. Visits to Pa-Gen Ankoh are rare. However, the Dwarven lords of the Barrier has been known to visit occasionally as a sign of diplomatic unity with the small autonomous people of the nation. Rumors say that they were even allowed to see the mysterious Mouri Windows up close on one occasion. In the time since their absorption into the Barrier, one of the windows was said to have been destroyed or removed under mysterious circumstances. The Pavivan refuse to speak of it, but ever since they have been hesitant to allow anyone into the village. Some say that the one of the Dwarf-lords stole the window and had it brought to their keep. Regardless, Barrier patrols are known to give the village a wide berth, and most major roads to the coast travel distinctly around Pa-Gen Ankoh.

Oiko - Mediator City-State

Resources: Silver, Stone, Iron, Copper, Wheat

Production: Politicians, Clergy, Grain Products, Jewelry, Armor

Population: 7,000 (Various)

Military: Oikan Guard, Barokol Mercenaries

Special: House of the Exarch

Demonym: Oikan

Oiko is a relatively small polis, as far as they go. With a population of only around seven thousand, the settlement could be assumed to be of little importance in the region. However, Oiko has maintained a tradition of neutrality for centuries in a region where such sentiment is rare, to say the least. This has proven valuable to the Strategos of the Great Barrier, as disputes between the poliseis are common, and it has become an unspoken rule that the Exarch of Oiko should be the mediator of such disputes. The polis itself is centered around the large wooden house of the Exarch. It remains one of the few poleis to have hereditary rule, a tradition they have held for centuries. Recently, there has been a growing sentiment amongst the Oikan people that the polis should become independent of the Great Barrier. The view was born out of frustration with the recent increase in insular disputes for which Oiko is called upon to mediate. Many Oikans believe that the Great Barrier "experiment" has proven to be a failure, and that Oiko should embrace its neutrality to the point of no longer being associated with the union of poleis.