North Hold

North Hold lies on the northern most reaches of Galken and is the strongest and largest remaining bastion of Milserii culture in the world. North Hold was a large remote monastery used by the Kyic Empire, but once Heimsdale was established and the Kyic Empire destroyed, milserii refugees fled from southern Galken and took up residence in the temple of Highwind. The temple alone couldn't support all the incoming milserii, and they flooded out into the surrounding inhabitable lands of the mountains. With the shelter of the mountains, the Milserii culture began to blossom.

The inhabitants recognize that air and earth aren't opposites, but instead they are compliments, and when air and earth combine they create things like the mountains. Most inhabitants of North Hold today draw lineage to the Earthen Milserii of the Kyic Empire, or the wind augurs who inhabited the Temple of the Highwind.

North Hold, being far removed from the world, seldom takes part in the politics of other nations. Even their Milserii brethren. They are able to self sustain their nation in the mountains. The only factions that have been able to establish any foothold in North Hold are the Silver Sigil and a few members of the Mathsiah University.

Leadership
While North Hold is a combination of many different smaller Yandars, the nation is ruled by a single Ascetar with divine claim to his right to rule. Currently North Hold is ruled by Ascetar Lodry Rotun who killed a blighted eniawing during his ascendancy trial seventeen years ago. Those close to the Ascetar claim he is equally wise as he is strong.

The Trial of Purification
There Ascetar of North Hold is chosen by a trial of purification. There is a dark cave on the borders of North Hold's lands. Inside the cave, unbeknownst to the citizens of North Hold, is a slain servant of Deldeth. It's body has long decayed but the cave still seeps corruption in the same manor as Shadow Top. Whoever is able to clear out the foul abominations that spawn from the cave whenever they spawn may claim the title of Ascetar.

Highwind
Once the temple of the Highwind, this cliff side monastery has evolved into an impregnable mountainside fortress that is the capital of North Hold.

Ridgewatch
Ridgewatch is a low mountainside fortress that watches over North Hold's lowest farmers, villages, and lands.