Location Bios
These location bios flesh out the culture, geography, inhabitants, and history of two separate cities within a fantasy setting. One is an isolated society of mages located deep in the frozen north, while the other is a bustling island community that prizes strength above all else.
Hovalde
Summary
In a few words: Repressed, magical, isolated, disciplined.
A society of isolationist mages carved out of the harsh and unforgiving northern lands, contained within an protective arcane barrier. Its denizens fly across the sky to giant spiraling towers, which contain archives of ancient magical knowledge dating back nearly as far as the written word.
Food
To grow food in such a harsh climate, massive amounts of magic are needed. Farmers are greatly respected, as it takes a significant amount of control and power to create life using arcane magic. Growing crops is typically a multi-person affair, and the fruits and vegetables that result are shades of blue and purple with powerful mana-restoring properties.
Hovalde’s people have a long history with the dire wolves of the region, training them as their stalwart companions and hunting dogs. They are large enough to serve as mounts, and expert hunters venture beyond the arcane bubble with them to supplement their city’s food supply.
Culture
Hovaldans appear stoic and cold on the outside, as controlling one’s emotions is essential to controlling one’s spellwork. It is seen as a mark of pride to be cliff-faced and serious, and painted masks have become something of a beauty trend among nobles as a result.
While Hovalde is a thriving metropolis of knowledge, its denizens are not keen to share. Bringing an outsider through the barrier is a crime punishable by death, to say nothing of what is done to the outsider themselves.
History
This extreme aversion to outsiders stems from the origin of Hovalde itself, which is said in ancient texts to have been founded by a fringe group of mages, chased to the ends of the earth by their lifelong enemies. Fearing their adversaries would one day come back for them, they retreated to the most unforgiving of lands and dug in their heels, protecting themselves with a spell so powerful that it lasts to this day. Only their descendants have the power to lift the spell, albeit in a limited range for a short enough period of time to pass through.
Superstitions
There are a number of gruesome cautionary tales of the world beyond the bubble, as well as a handful of real tales in which some unfortunate Hovaldan is bisected by the barrier while trying to bring an outsider in. This is attributed to the anger of the ancestors, protecting their people from beyond the grave.
Valrai
Summary
A militaristic society where combat ability, showmanship, and honor is highly valued. Their culture revolves around public battles, philosophy, and bloodshed.
Theirs is a rigid caste system that is nigh impossible to climb without the acquisition of incredible wealth. Success and affluence are considered markers of morality, and the rich are believed to have earned what they have- a very might makes right point of view.
Social Climbers
Many affluent families, in endless pursuit of their social climb, send their children to institutions that focus on honing combat prowess in a variety of ways, while also providing a proper noble’s education. Youth that follow this warrior’s path are sent out on a journey referred to as The Forging at the end of their enrollment, and many don’t come back. They may succumb to the pressure for greatness and give up, settling down in the outside world unable to return home, or die in their quest for heroism.
The Forging
A rite of passage where youths are sent out into the world to make their mark on society, expected to perform great feats of heroism or might in the name of Valrai and return with proof of their achievements. Those who succeed are elevated to an elite position in the Valrayan military, a special forces reserve, and lauded as heroes. This hand-picked crop of elite soldiers is modeled after a heroic ballad from Valrai’s history, when a small but fierce force of soldiers defended the tiny rocky island from its invaders, driving them back to the surrounding seas.
Those who fail to provide adequate achievements or proof upon their return are shunned, their punishment ranging from anything as light as being turned away to continue their Forging or, if their case is enough of an insult, to be outright exiled from Valrai.
Culture
Noble families in Valrai tend to be rather large as a result of the practice of The Forging. The survival of the fittest attitude is alive and well, with little room for mourning rituals for the weak. It is taboo to speak about those who failed their Forging, and their belongings are often sold at a low price or discarded, some small relief to the desolate among society- though there are derisive whispers for wearing ‘corpse rags.’
Hero worship is part of the culture, with many historic figures immortalized in paintings and statues, making the average Valrayan home feel much like a mausoleum at times. Sculpture is prevalent, as there is plenty of stone in the craggy surroundings to work with. This is one of the few ways to make art that isn’t viewed as frivolous, purely because of its subject matter.
Geology
Valrai is a mountainous island nation in choppy seas, owing much of its independence to its natural defenses and the rest to the ferocity of its inhabitants.
Food
As for their meals, they are functional and consist of seafood prepared in any configuration one can think of. Valrayan ship-builders keep their secrets close to the chest as to how one builds a vessel strong enough to suit these choppy waters, and net fishing is popular.
National Pride
Outsiders may remark on Valrai feeling stuck in the past, clinging to bygone days of glory as part of its strong and prideful national identity. That’s an easy way to get spat on.