Aaranost

Aaranost was once a proud kingdom that has since been reduced to rubble. It sided with the Liberty Freeholds during the Great War, whose lands received most of the fighting. Aaranost was one of the only true competitors to Tydara, and stood poised to recreate the Baranil League under its hegemony. It was ruled by House Astor for centuries, right up until Aaranost's collapse.

Over the years there have been several independent attempts to rebuild the region of Aaranost, typically sponsored by nobles from other kingdoms. Most expeditions have met with limited success, if not outright failure. In the intervening years, the ruins of Aaranost have been overrun by bandit lords, beasts, and other savage creatures.

The Consortium
The Consortium is a collection of nobles, mercenaries, and ex-soldiers who once lived in, or operated around, Aaranost prior to its collapse. It was initially created for mutual defense in a post-War world, but desperation, corruption, and greed eventually pushed the Consortium down a criminal path.

To date, the Consortium has avoided Tydaran territory, content to simply eek out an existence in the forgotten lands of Aaranost.