The Grand Duchy of Kotlas

The Grand Duchy of Kotlas, is a human civilisation found in the cold wooded plains of Northern Toran. The nation formed around the banks of the Svenk River, north of the Kazahn Mountains in the early Second Age, aided by the Goddess: Vlinari. Kotlas is an autocratic feudal state headed by a Rolkff: the Kotlai word for Duke. The humans of the Grand Duchy are an incredibly fascinating race. Like the Goddess that created them, they value passion and the raw power and changeability of nature. Due to the neighbouring Dark Forest and the seasonal long nights, Kotlas is a breeding ground for the shadow creatures: The Sullen. The Kotlai in response to this have become terrified of the dark and must keep a light source with them at all times. To aid them, Vlinari gave them the gift of fire magic, to light up the shadows, keep the cold at bay and defend themselves against all enemies.

Geography
The Grand Duchy is found in the cold Kotlas Plains in northern Toran. The climate is mostly sub-polar continental, but also spans some areas of sub-polar maritime and temperate continental climates. It span 1600 miles from east to west. The eastern plains are dominated by the mighty Svenk river, which violently floods once a year due to spring meltwater. The centre of the nation is bordered by the Dark Forests of the Knorrig. No Kotlai passes its borders unharmed. The Knorrig defend their home fiercely and this is the breesing ground of the Sullen. It is mostly avoided because of this, most roads steering well clear. The west has a more temperate climate and here in the lands that border the Gnomes, trees and crops can grow throughout the year. The Kotlai have scores of small towns and two large cities. The Ancient Capital: Kravnik and the Western

coastal city of Relski. The nation borders the Witches of Huiran to the west, The Gnome Clans to the south-west, the Kazahn Mountains and then the Shifting Sands to the south and the polar wilderness and Taiga to the north and east.