The Mountain Realm

The Mountain Realm is one of the Five Great Lands of Mystos. House Wayward holds the title of the Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm. The Mountain Realm used to be known as the Snowlands. Before the creation of the Five Great Lands, House Wayward ruled a majority of the Snowlands as king.

The region's capital city is Maryere.

Geography
The Mountain Realm is sparsely populated, with small cities and holdfasts dotting the region. The Brightwater River splits the region in two: the northern region and the southern region. The southern region is much more populated than the northern region.

The northern region is covered with a vast forest called the Northwoods. The Northwoods is known for its sudden crags and cliffs. Many do not travel far through the Northwoods because of its harsh terrain.

The southern region is filled with forests and hills, similar to the Kingdom of Valley Pines. North of Maryere is a large forest called the Dense Pines. There is a lush green grassland area named Beggar's Basin.

In the east is the Valley of Smoke, covered almost completely by lava. There are two cities and one holdfast in this area that has tamed the terrain: Kikisi, Vil Lav, and Volkan's Keep ruled by Grasslandi families who now serve House Wayward. Lady Fallen Wayward gifted these plots of land to her Grasslandi friends because none of the Mountain Realm houses wanted to populate the area.

In the west, separated from the Mountain Realm by the Blackwater Sound, is a large island known as Shadow's Peak. Dominated with mountains, there is only one city also known as Shadow's Peak. The Citadel of the Owl is also located on Shadow's Peak. North of Shadow's Peak is Ice Bay, and south is the Moonstone Gulf.

There are several rivers that flow through the Mountain Realm: Brightwater River, Embrus River, Bear's Creek, Snow Creek, Bear River, and Crystal River. There are no major lakes in the realm. The "fork in the road" is where the Embrus River, Bear River, and Crystal River meet. The Trident is a small triangular island split by the Bear River and Bear Creek.

Seasons
North of the Brightwater River, winter last around 9-12 moons. In the northern most region, the winter last 11 moons with only 1 warm moon where the snow melts. South of the Brightwater River, winter lasts 6-9 moons with 3-4 warmer moons allowing some fast growing vegetables to grow.

Recently, however, the winters have become shorter.

People
There are two types of Mountain people: the northern Mountain people and the southern Mountain people. There are also the tribal people who live in the Northern Peaks with an extremely small population.

The northern Mountain people, located north of the Brightwater River, are tough natured. The constant snow and the perilous Northwoods has isolated the northern mountain people. They do not like to stray away from the Mountain tradition, and are sometimes violent towards outsiders. There are four cities in this region, Embrita, Accrid, Blackwater, and Snow Creek, which have smaller population sizes compared to the southern region. Embrita is the largest city, located in the middle of the Northwoods and controlled by House Embrus. The northern Mountain people listen to the commands of House Embrus, although House Wayward truly rules the realm.

The southern Mountain people, located south of the Brightwater River, have evolved from small warrior clans known as the Valiant Warriors to large bustling cities with a strong economy. The southern region still experiences long winters, but the summers are much warmer than the northern region, allowing small but lush harvests in the quick autumn seasons. Bear's Creek is the largest city in the Mountain Realm followed by Maryere and Dimwich. The southern Mountain houses that rule the region are known for taking vacations and staying for long periods of time in Maryere. This created an influx of towns and small settlements. The peasants of the southern region experience harsh circumstances and do not live long lives.

Economy
The northern region relies on its fur and lumber trades. Both being lucrative trades, every social class in the northern region experiences some kind of wealth but the almost year long winters makes life difficult regardless.

The southern region relies on its mining and quick growing vegetables. Maryere, the capital city of the Mountain Realm, has the largest vegetable market in the realm. House Wayward is very proud of the southern region's agricultural growth and demands that most of the vegetables be grown around Maryere. Peasant villages are set up around Maryere, and during the short harvest season, House Wayward takes ninety percent of the harvest, leaving the peasants with nothing. Coal is mined from the Valley of Smoke, making House Kikisi of Kikisi and House Nendro of Vil Lav wealthy. The mountains around House Myster of Bear's Creek have emerald mines, making the house the wealthiest in the Mountain Realm. Dimwich, located at the "fork in the road", is known for the having the biggest market in the Mountain Realm, selling delicacies of various cultures from all over the world. Most houses in the Mountain Realm follow the lead of House Wayward, forcing peasants to create the goods and taking ninety percent of what is harvest.

History
Before the creation of the Five Great Lands of Mystos the Mountain Realm was known as the Snowlands. Near the end of the Empyrean Ascendancy Era (EAE) Arcan slaves begin to escape into the mountains. At the beginning of the Secession of Man (SM) one of the warrior clans expanded their territory creating a kingdom ruled by House Wayward. Queen Rayleen Wayward is the most famous monarch and widely idolized throughout the Mountain Realm. Taylia the Good and Queen Haylise Wayward are two other memorable queens. Queen Alaric of the Trident and Bad King Rickard are other well known monarchs with tragic stories.

In 300 SM, the Five Great Lands of Mystos was created.

First Holy War
In 270 SM, the First Holy War between House Wayward and several southern Mountain Realm houses occurred. In 272 SM, Maryere was burned by Lord Christian Blackmour of Eldenhold, forcing King Harland Wayward to escape. He sought refuge in Silverwood in the Forestlands where King Cypris Osmont was also hiding. In Silverwood, King Harland and King Cypris decided that the other houses were a problem and began to plan how to deal with them. The First Holy War ended in 287 SM when Lord Gilod Embrus marched his army to Maryere and killed Lord Christian Blackmour. Lord Gilod then installed Calarel as King of the Snowlands.

Second Holy War
In 302 SM, seeing an opportunity for power, Lord Ulfred Myster began rumors that Lord Armaic was an Arc even though it was never confirmed that his grandmother Lixiss was an Arc. Lord Ulfred found houses to align with and planned to overthrow the Lord Protector’s title. Accounts are muddled, but it is said that when Lord Ulfred and his army approached Maryere, a woman appeared and set the entire army on fire for going against the Lord Protector. Many believe the woman was Lixiss, who died two days later.

Third Holy War
The Third Holy War was the longest of the Holy Wars, lasting from 345-373 SM. The war began in 345 SM when Crimson Wayward rose to power as Lord Protector after her father, Durlan Wayward, died. Upset that Crimson rose to power instead of her younger brother, Kharis, several southern Mountain Realm houses created an alliance called the Holy Alliance. The Holy Alliance were very close to overthrowing House Wayward several times during the Third Holy War.

There were seven major events that happened during the Third Holy War:


 * Attack on the Crimson Queen: In 345 SM, Lord Protector Crimson Wayward visited Bear Creek for negotiations on House Myster’s emerald mines. During her stay, her family was attacked and she barely made it out of Bear Creek alive. Her husband Lord Agnim Seamann, her one-year-old son Tobias, her brother Kharis, and her friend, Aerith, were murdered by the Holy Alliance. When Crimson returned Maryere, the Holy Alliance officially declared war and began to act as a separate sovereign with their capital being Bear Creek.
 * Battle of the Bear: In 350 SM, Crimson attacked Bear Creek and successfully captured Lord Morgan Myster. She wanted to behead the Lord of Bear Creek but her advisors convinced her into exiling Lord Morgan on Shadow’s Peak. Regretting the decision later, she exiles her advisors too. Crimson believed she disbanded the Holy Alliance, but this only created a ten-year peace period.


 * The Advance of the Holy Alliance: In 360 SM, Klyn Myster rescued his father from Shadow’s Peak. The Holy Alliance then began to take the land as they made their way to Maryere. The two armies met at Riverhold where Crimson watched as her beloved half-sister, Eventide, was beheaded. This caused Crimson to want the full destruction of the Holy Alliance. She left Riverhold immediately after Eventide’s beheading, telling her trusted advisors Lyari and Bemere to create a fake surrender asking the Holy Alliance not to cross the Embrus River. The Holy Alliance agrees.
 * Creation of the Art Alliance: In 361 SM, Crimson secretly created an alliance with the Maras to attack the Holy Alliance. She is also the first Wayward to ask the Rangers for their support.
 * The Art Assault: In 366 SM, the Art Alliance attacks Riverhold, Alaric’s Holdfast, and Bear Creek leaving no highborn survivors but sparing all the townspeople.
 * The PCR Rises: In 368 SM, with their numbers cut in half, the Holy Alliance get the support of the Citadel. The citadel suggests creating their own Preservers of the Cleansed Race (PCR) like the Kingdom of Valley Pines. The Holy Alliance agrees and the Mountain Realm faction of the PCR was created.
 * Battle of Heavenfield: In 372 SM, the Art Alliance and the Holy Alliance meet near Hearts Grove and the final battle ensues. After two moons of battle, the two sides agree on a stalemate.
 * Agreement of the Cleansed: In 373 SM, the Art Alliance and the Holy Alliance agree to officially stop fighting, essentially ending the Third Holy War.

The Third Holy War ended bringing a lot of consequences; the only true winners were the PCR. Mountain Realm houses were still upset that not only was House Wayward still in power, but Waywards of Arcan blood was still alive. Lady Crimson Wayward had to step down as Lord Protector. Eventide’s son, Narrik Wayward, became the new Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm. House Wayward lost their allies in the Maras. Maras were mass murdered by the PCR.

Holy Massacres
The Holy Massacres lasted from 374-395 SM. It is believed that over five million Maras were murdered.

In 374 SM, Lady Crimson Wayward began her Ten Acts of Faith tour. Her Ten Acts of Faith tour was her apology to the Maras she felt she betrayed by signing the Agreement of the Cleansed. During her tour, she gave back to the commoners and peasants and is known as being the most giving highborn in history. She became a beloved figure by the mountain people.

Last Holy War
In 395 SM, Lord Aleister Wayward signed the Arts Agreement with the Rangers in Maryere. This agreement allowed the Rangers to protect Maras from the PCR. Doing this would also protect the small agricultural economy Lord Aleister had created. In 396 SM, the Rangers created their headquarters in the Essential Zone in Maryere. In retaliation, Lord Julius Myster and other southern Mountain Realm houses declared war on House Wayward in 396 SM. This war is known as the Last Holy War. The war ended when House Myster and the other southern houses failed in taking control of Maryere at the Last Battle in 398 SM. No house has risen against House Wayward since.

A Death at Dawn
The Mountain Realm is one of the regions featured in A Death at Dawn. Although most of the story is located in Maryere, Jaslyn and Gloriana describe the Dense Pines and peasant villages.