Three nations war over Stoneholm, the contested continent that lies between the Midlandic mainland and the Ismirean north of Nordheim. The fighting you do over flags and castles is the present tense of a much older quarrel — here's the story beneath it.

The Ismirs

Tough, honour-bound clan warriors from the frozen mountains and fjords of Nordheim — large, often fair- or red-haired and long-bearded, modelled on the Danes and Vikings. They prize strength of arms, courage and hospitality, hold their word above their lives, and carry their history in chants sung to steel a war-band before battle. Long feared as raiders, they signed an uneasy peace with Midland and pushed onto the northern coasts as the semi-independent dukedom of Styrborg. Their banner is the serpent, in blue and white.

The Midlanders

A people of feudal kingdoms and faith, devoted to Geliand the Forefather, modelled on medieval continental Europe. They are long split into two realms — wealthy Logres in the west and the weaker Wenedia in the east — and value honour, fencing, archery and horsemanship, though pride has more than once turned them on each other. Beset by the Azebs to the south and pagan unrest within, they build for defence: reinforced walls and stone fortresses. Their arms are the tower and sword, in red and green.

The Sangmar

Two peoples — the Sangmar and the Azebs — united under one banner and one Emperor of near-absolute power, modelled on Rome and Byzantium. Dark-haired and clean-shaven, they prize mastery of every craft as an art, alongside knowledge, invention and architecture; their greatest city, Baalhammon, is the last stronghold of high science and culture. Their armies are built on disciplined legions and famed imperial smithies. Their sign is the zenith sun, in black, gold and purple.