The Northlands are a cold, fog-choked marshland at the northern edge of Epgora. Almost the entire region is made of shallow water, sucking mud, and endless reeds that sway in the wind like they’re listening. The fog never seems to burn off. It hangs low to the ground in sheets and curls, drifting across the marsh until even nearby shapes look strange and far away.

Most people live in small fishing villages—wooden shacks on stilts, leaning boardwalks, boats tied to every door. The only true city is Northland City, a busy port where trade ships load up salted fish, hides, peat, and the region’s other strange exports. People here work hard, waste nothing, and look at newcomers with quiet curiosity.

Traveling the Northlands is difficult. Landmarks vanish in fog, and the marsh can swallow a careless step. Locals navigate by the sound of tall wooden posts scattered across the region. When the wind blows through them, they let out long, low notes—half whistle, half animal call. Each post has its own voice, and the people here seem to know them all.

Wildlife is everywhere. You hear splashes where nothing is visible, see birds circling the moment anything dies, and feel the steady pressure of being watched from the reeds. The marsh has its own rules, and it tests everyone who walks through it.

People of the Northlands tend to be quiet, practical, and respectful of strength. They have a way of looking at the world that newcomers pick up quickly: everything eats something, and everything tries to survive. Outsiders sometimes find the culture harsh, but the locals see it as natural—just the way things are when the land itself is hungry.

Far to the north, near a great salt lake, stands an imposing stone fortress known simply as the Palace of Salt. Most people avoid it. It is said to be the center of Tidebound tradition, and the fog near it seems thicker than anywhere else.

For travelers, the Northlands can feel unsettling, even unfriendly—but never chaotic. The people know their place, understand their land, and expect you to do the same. If you can adapt to the marsh, keep your footing, and learn which sounds mean safety and which mean danger, the Northlands will treat you fairly.

If not, the fog has a way of closing in fast.