The Client States

The Client States is the common, but not official, name for a large region of Alech'nor due south of Telleconia and across the broadest section of Meroshavain River (think a more temperate version of the Amazon). There is no official name, for the area is not near unified enough to agree upon single name. Indeed, it is filled with diverse cultures and languages, though most of its inhabitants are Humans and Half-elves. The area is mainly flat temperate plains, save for hills to the south, and is dominated in politics, war, culture and economics by four perpetually warring city states, each backed and spurred to compete with the others by a different political faction in Telleconia, all of whom use the area the carry out "cold war" type struggles against each other. Thousands of Staters suffer and die for minor shifts in influence in Telleconia. Because of this, the region is impoverished, violent and ridden with disease.

Thom

(18,000/ NE, think Black Plague England) The poorest of the four, and because it has the least, arguably the least wracked by violence from the outside. But Thom makes up for this lack by being the domain of the maddest ruler, Zalvax Gratt ( NE black Dragonborn champion fighter 13), who regularly walks its streets killing citizens at random, which is perfectly legal for HIM to do. He makes all laws, and changes them at will. Why doesn't everyone just leave? 1) the outside is worse, 2) Gratt has convinced most he is inspired by divine madness, and his killings send the killed to paradise. Thom gives squalid hell-holes a bad name.

Bilmir

(30,000/CN, think of Gypsy (Roma) culture ) An almost-normal city, but one ruled by bandits. They consider themselves cultured and fair bandits, but their plundering bandit armies make trade and travel in the region very difficult, except, of course, for that which they control. Bilmir's leader calls herself The Bandit Queen (CN Half-Elf hunter Ranger 10).

Gell

(20,000 CE, think Homer's time Greece) A city whose only exports are war, mercenaries and slaves. The armies of Gell regularly raid and invade as far away as the Seven Kingdoms and The Wild Plains. Where they pass, they leave death and destruction, except for where they leave brutal military rule and slave farms. Gell is known for its Sparta-like military culture, and it is rumored that demons walk its streets.

Hotsut

(25,000 N, think medieval Netherlands) Known as the City of Sorcery, Hotsut is in fact ruled by a council of sorcerers of several races, who aim to destroy the other states and enforce their brand of "order and peace" through magic. Often unleashes wild magic chaos on the States.