The Ryne mountains, also known as The Dark Crown. This is a dominant, interconnected series of ranges to the northernmost of western Erdgard’s landmass. Known for its dark, granite substrate and the looming Kalakshi over the region. 

Over a thousand years ago a Trekhin caravan found a way through the mountain to a hidden valley nestled high above, ultimately founding a colony that would come to be known as beginning, or Amona in the common tongue.

Similarly surrounded by the peaks of the Ryne are the Void lands, isolated from the rest of Erdgard, but connected to the Amonian valley by a narrow break in the rock called the Breach. This is the home of Amona's ancient, monstrous, and mysterious enemy, the Sinti.

Skirting the base of the Ryne are the cousins of Amona, the Humma—a diverse, dispersed collection of independent tribes roaming a vast, rolling plain. The border of the Humma Plains marks the end of Humma territory and the beginning of the rest of western Erdgard.

The history of Western Erdgard is undeniably dominated by the machinations of Haligern. Once a unified civilisation in the western reaches of Erdgard under a ruling monarchy, it now exists as seven, interconnected, but independent city states. The effects of its rapid expansion and fall are still felt today, and the landscape south of the Humma Plains are dominated by Tunland farming and Haligerian fortifications.

The Haligernian collapse, colloquially referred to as the Shattering, is an important turning point for western Erdgard's geopolitics. Six of the modern states retain largely the same ruling structure, replacing the royal court of the Rodorstol with scheming aristocrats, influential men, or wealthy regional players that insularly dictate state policy; the exception being the westernmost port city of Brimdun that employs a system of representation and majority vote. 

Haligern culture is known for its heavy emphasis on individualism and commerce. It is by far the most dominant culture group in the region with their language becoming the universal common tongue.

Other significant cultural influences in western Erdgard include the Fiorgan, and by extension the Trekhin. Several cities and towns were allowed to retain autonomy if they swore allegience to the crown and pay tribute, and consequently with the Shattering enjoy uniquely preserved culture groups largely free from Haligernian influence, e.g. the port city Freolic, the peoples of the Stone Temple, and more.

Landmarks and places of interest are plentiful such as the Standing Stones of Oak Hill, the Haligern colonies, Fifell's Fall and the Nitherness, the Fyrnweald, and many more.

It is impossible to talk about Western Erdgard without mentioning the Fiorgan, who are the original natives of the region. Their people originally inhabited where Haligern capitol now stands, seeded the cold forests of the Fyrnweald ultimately culminating in the distinct Trekhin culture, who in turn, combined with Haligernian refugees, created another entirely new civilisation in Amona, and finally resulting in the deserters of the Ryne valley making the roaming Humma below. All can trace their blood back to the Fiorgan isle.

Yet, despite their influence and renowned prowess in battle, the Fiorgan never shared the imperialistic mindset of the Haligernians. The secret as to why is within their culture of concentrated refinement. It is a deeply rooted philosophy and spirituality in Fiorgan culture to put great emphasis on the passage of time. To the Fiorgan, time is flowing water and to allow yourself to drift with the current, will mean you'll soon lose control and break on the shore. For the Fiorgan to expand would be to invite ruin, which proved to be the fate of their budding Haligernian neighbours. As such, the Fiorgan islanders choose to instead master themselves and simply observe the fumbling mainlanders wash away in the tides from the home they had to reclaim from Haligernian occupation during the expansionist era; the ancient isle they are now eternally prepared to defend.

Far more influential in modern Erdgard are the direct offspring of the Fiorgan, The Trekhin, who became masterful diplomats to any and all courts that would have use of their talents of tongue. 

Despite their secular culture, the Haligernians see both the Trekhin and their progenitors as steeped in an air of mysticism and mystery. These whispered, anxious superstitions are much more concentrated for the forest-dwelling Trekhin, and as such, the Trekhin have enjoyed the benefits of never having had to seriously defend the Fyrnweald from any sizeable force. Talk in the Rodorstol court of a deadly witch in the Fyrnweald and all Haligernian military excursions north being snuffed from Erdgard with no survivors stayed the hand of the kings, then later the various ruling factions post-Shattering. The Haligernians fear the ancient Fyrnweald, but the Trekhin were and are not warlike. Diplomatic relations were established early in the expansionist era, ultimately resulting in a position being made available among the Rodorstol court for a permanent Trekhin emissary, a practice they themselves expanded upon to every significant state in and beyond western Erdgard. By making themselves indispensible as advisors, this soft, but absolute projection of soft power makes the Trekhin extremely influential, to the mistrust of many.

Their home, the Fyrnweald, has stood strong since the beginning of time and in the modern era, stretches from the Humma Plains all the way to the Fiorgan sea. Other than the Trekhin border settlements that entertain interested foreigners, the deeper Fyrnweald is strictly forbidden to any outsider and even to most of their own kin. The reason for this is nebulous, but for as long as the Fyrnweald has stood, so has there been rumours of ancient power and strange intelligence beyond the understanding of common man.

Our records of wider Erdgard are considerably more sparse by virtue of inaccessibility and our Nodin operative population. The majority of what we know of the jungles to the southeast comes from Rojani Jatin. Information on or beyond the land of mists is limited given the treacherous nature of the frozen wastes, but we are aware of exotic civilisations not unlike the more stable elements of the southeast. 

Occasionally bold travellers will find their way to Hafendun and share their tales of men riding ferocious beasts taller than trees, forests of bone, colossal temples and spires to unknown gods, vast cities of glass, and armor like insect carapace, though none of these fantasical tales have ever been validated. Similarly, artifacts and weapons of coloured glass are rare, but do appear in the markets of Hafendun through specialist dealers, assumed to be from the far east.

Instances of more than rumour and stray artifacts are rare, but in recent history an unusual vessel was spotted on the horizon of the Haligernian sea. Ships from Hafendun sailed out to meet it and reported a low profile design without any potential space for the substantial lower-decks of Haligernian builds. The hull's ribbing was fully exposed and seemingly crafted from bleached bone. Similarly, it was lined with curling, tree-lengthed horns decorated in strange, painted glyphs that should have weighed the vessel down, but didn't seem to hinder its maneuverability. At its bow was a carved likeness of an unknown tusked beast. Its crew were fully veiled, wielding spears fashioned from bone. The vessel fled before any formal contact was made, never to be seen again.

The far north is uncharted by all accounts, the Ryne ranges found to be largely intraversible by any and all that try. All current information on these frozen reaches come from Haligernian hearsay, rogue explorer accounts, and Hafendun merchant gossip. With the Sinti charge, Amona itself hasnt had the luxury or inclination to expand our records naturally, and the Humma do not roam into the northeastern wastes.