¶ Hyperborea
A northeastern Hyborian kingdom situated east of Asgard, west of Turan, and north of Brythunia and the Border Kingdom. It is presumed that the western boundary of Hyperborea with Asgard is the River of Death Ice, having its source in the Eiglophians. This stream would be shallow, clogged by glacial debris. Since it is also frozen throughout the long winters, it provides an ineffectual barrier against invading Aesir.
The eastern Hyperborean frontier is also quite open, delineated vaguely by low hills, a few lakes, and a small river flowing north from the Graaskal Range or Frozen River. The principle break in the southern rampart was Skull Gate Pass.
The climate of Hyperborea is milder during its florescence, allowing some simple agriculture as well as herding and hunting. The early chieftains built stone keeps. The lower classes lived in huts or cave-like hovels, scratching out gardens near the protective castles and herding first ponies and reindeer, and later shaggy cattle.
As the lordlings consolidated their positions and Hyperborea became a kingdom, rebellious tribes migrated southward in an invading horde, into the lands of Acheron. It was probably much later that Hyperborea the Elder was overwhelmed by a wave of Mesolithic Aesir -- perhaps after the climate took a turn for the worse and the economy had been weakened by crop failure and loss of domestic animals.
The invading Aesir settled among the ruins, intermarried with the survivors, and created a new nation -- which also called itself Hyperborea. It prospered and eventually attained a high culture -- apparently abetted by a clique of wizards of alien origin.
Currently, Hyperborean slave raiding has added Hyrkanian and Zamoran genes to those of the northern tribes. The people were pale-skinned, extremely tall and gaunt, with white hair and greenish eyes. The Hyperboreans have to fight off not only Aesir, but also Vanir and occasional Cimmerians. The climate is once more taking a turn for the worse and the culture was decaying. Political control is largely vested in a wizard's guild called the White Hand, which tries to ally itself with other occult forces in Stygia, Nemedia, and distant Kambuja.
The forces of Hyperborea have recently made a power grab in the Savage Wilds. Louhi has pressed her undead armies into virtually every area of the map, forcing all those not directly aligned with or serving her, into the protection of The Vale. Her fortress is in the far northwest, but her presence is found throughout the map.
References: Hyborian Age I-II, Thing in the Crypt, Lair of the ice Worm, Witch of the Mists.
- Population: 910,000
- Capital: Haloga (pop. 115,000)
- Ruler: Vammatar the Witch-Queen
- Major cities: Sigtona (pop. 90,000), Pohiola (pop. 65,000)
- Resources: Game (cave bears, reindeer, musk-ox, mastodon)
- Imports: Extensive raiding for slaves into neighbouring territories
- Allies: Stygia (?)
- Enemies: Asgard, Cimmeria, Vanaheim, Hyrkania
- Tech level: Dark ages
Religion: Louhi, Bori