Riverlands

The Riverlands
Overview: The Riverlands are a set of allied city-states in southwestern Rhonnos. If any region of humankind can claim to carry on the Nerathi Empire, it would be the Riverlands, sans the oppressive tyranny.

History: Given that the Riverlands hold true to their name, there are multiple major waterways and countless minor ones that crisscross the area. Because of this, civilization has lived and thrived here for centuries. However, because of the Jhonnodori rise to power in the east, the Riverlands played second fiddle.

The Riverlands mostly kept pace with their more aggressive neighbor, but were quickly defeated and annexed when they tried to fight back a few years before the official start of the Nerathi Empire. The region became more prominent when, nearly 500 years later, Emperor Harren move the seat of power from Nerath City to Rivedel, renaming it Harrendel. This made Harrendel and the Riverlands the major power in Nerath.

Even after the capital was moved back to Nerath City, the Riverlands were so beloved by many nobles, that they kept a finger or two in the region. After the Cataclysm, the Riverlands were one of the few areas that were economically and militarily capable of surviving. Though some changes occurred, the Riverlands remained a collection of city-states, independent and often antagonistic towards one another.

Over the years, Yuan-ti and Dragonborn from the Axplo Jungle and Silverscale Mountains have been a problem in the west. Eladrin forces held, for a time, the city of Ghale, leaving their mark on the city. Drow and Zhunnish forces in the Dark Mountains frequently threaten the eastern lands. The powers of the Storm Coast will occasionally make overtures towards annexing parts of the Riverlands.

Because of these dangers, in 1117 (roughly 200 years ago), the most powerful River Lords gathered together and formed the Riverlands Protectorate. For those 200 years, the Protectorate has worked together to thwart any outside menace.