Kiriloth

Kiriloth is one of the continents spread across Kirandur's surface. A dark, snowy place towards Kirandur's northernmost pole, it is ruled over by an iron-fisted warrior emperor and his various bullies, keeping it's sleepy towns and villages and mighty cities under strict, brutal control. Kiriloth is shrouded in mystery to most of Kirandur, but those who have been there, either to explore or to serve out military sentences in the subteranean prisons, have nothing good to say about the place. It's cold and snowy and dark for most of the day. It's a place to break your spirit and your body. Before the dictatorship moved in though, something else lived there. Something greater and more powerful, but far more passive. In the midst of Kiriloth's beautiful pine forests live dark creatures. Lycanthropes and other twisted creatures, such as demons and dark fae, prowl the pathways, preying on travelers and the punished alike. Some war-criminals are left to die out here, chained to trees that may be more alive than was thought. Great mountains run throughout Kiriloth's bulk, home to the greatest ally the Emperor has: The vampire lords. Hiding in snowy caverns and riding great white dragons, corrupted by their influence, these lords hold sway over many thralls, either living human larders or lesser vampiric creatures. They don't often stray far from their lairs, only to hunt and for the war efforts, but their great castle keeps can be seen from even the base of the mountains, from a far distance. Great black spires of shadow and despair eclipsing the already distant sun. It's not all doom and gloom here, though. The coastal villages are quite beautiful and hold legendary Yule celebrations. Most citizenry here doesn't feel the bite of the Emperor's control, and are far enough from the inland darkness that they can live relatively peaceful lives. They're hardy, hard-working folk, ready to smile and offer a helping hand. Or at least, most of them.