SpoilerThe mountainous region of Coerthas lies north of the Black Shroud, dominating the central, uppermost parts of the Aldenard continent. The Shroud remains as the only “friendly” border left to Coerthas, as Dravania to the east is filled with Dragons and Xelphatol to the north and west may be under the power of the Garleans. This makes Coerthas the northernmost destination for any Eorzean merchants looking to sell their wares. Since the Calamity, however, relentless snows have overtaken Coerthas and transformed the region into a frozen wasteland. This has decimated the local wildlife, leaving on the strong and ferocious to survive. Agriculture has now become almost impossible, leaving the inhabitants of Coerthas to rely on sparse harvests of winter wheat, fishermen, hunters, and traders brave enough to venture the frozen lands for sustenance. A colossal piece of Dalamud can be found in the western area of the Central Highlands, surrounded by even larger growths of blood red, corrupted crystal. Only one aetheryte camp remains in the area after the Calamity’s destruction.

Here can be found the infamous Witchdrop, a deep ravine cut into the earth where suspected heretics and blasphemers are forced to fall to their deaths.

The Dzemael Darkhold can be found in this region, a subterranean fortress built by House Dzemael in an attempt to provide shelter to those fleeing the Dravanian Horde. The caves are now swarming with voidsent, but despite this the house refuses to relinquish its claim to the place, believing that if it can be cleared out, the hold might still be utilized.

The four High Houses of Ishgard are established through the region in order to maintain military control of Coerthas, primarily in defense against the dragons but also the Ixali and Garleans as well, should any of their armies press an assault. These Houses exemplify to outsiders Ishgard’s nobility and caste system.

To the south lies the Aurum Vale, a cursed place that once drew flocks of miners with rumors of mythril and gold. What they found instead were pools of gold-colored venom and morbol nurseries, which claimed the lives of many.

Twin Adder units can also be found within Coerthas, in cooperation with the Ishgardian Houses.

Prominent Races:
Wildwood Elezen, Midlander Hyur

Prominent Beast Tribes
Ixali
Giants
Dragons

Factions
[Ishgardian] House Haillenarte (Ishgardian High House)
[Ishgardian] House Durendaire (Ishgardian High House)
[Ishgardian] House Dzemael (Ishgardian High House)
[Ishgardian] House Fortemps (Ishgardian High House)
[Ishgardian] Knights of Ishgard (Ishgardian army)
[Holy See] Church of Halone (presides over Ishgard)
Faces of Mercy (a secretive band of assassins with powerful connections, the invisible hand of the archbishop)
Dragon-bewitched heretics, conspirators, and cultists

SpoilerLeader
His Holiness, the Archbishop (name unknown)

Guardian Diety
Halone, the Fury

Army
The Knights of Ishgard

Major Trades
Chocobo breeding, winter wheat (mostly unknown)

Renowned Combat Practices
Known for its lancers and its legendary dragoons.

Guilds
(Unknown)

Overview
The Holy See, or holy sovereign state, of Ishgard is a theocracy presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Halone. The city-state is situated upon a peak beyond the Steps of Faith, past the Gates of Judgement, but Ishgard forbade the entry of outsiders fifteen years ago during the Garlean invasion—the archbishop wanted to prevent any nonbelievers from entering the city. Ishgard infamously withdrew from the Eorzean Alliance to focus the power of its army in an age-old struggle against the dragonkind of Dravania. Ishgardian Knights are sworn to the Holy See for life, and desertion is punishable by death. Ishgard cannot afford to take risks and remains vigilant against heretics bewitched by dragons against the Holy See. Inquisitors from the Church uphold the order within Ishgard and exercise the Archbishop's will.

Every chocobo in Eorzea can draw its lineage back to Ishgard, which is still the leading provider of Eorzea’s chocobos. Ishgard refused to deliver them to all the other city-states due to a devastating chocobo blight that lasted for a time, but the Calamity saw that the flocks were scattered and many fled to the Black Shroud, where Gridanians have adopted the birds as their own. Ishgard appears to have a caste system involving wealthy and established Elezen families as nobility. Only the four High Houses however have any presence beyond the city walls.

The High Houses
These High Houses have been tasked by the archbishop with the responsibility of defending and maintaining key points throughout the Coerthas Central Highlands. The Houses are:

House Haillenarte
Lord Francel of House Haillenarte, as his father’s fourth born son, has been given the responsibility of controlling the Skyfire Locks, which are manned and cared for by Haillenarte guards. Formerly, House Haillenarte protected the Stone Vigil, one of the four watchtowers built along the Sea of Clouds, but the watchtower was lost to the dragons. The symbol of House Haillenarte is a rose.

House Durendaire
In addition to its claim over the Observatorium in the south, Lord Drillemont of House Durendaire controls the Whitebrim Front fortress. He has begun to set about the task of reclaiming the Stone Vigil from the dragons after Haillenarte’s failure to keep it secure. Unlike the other more lenient Houses, Drillemont will not tolerate interloping sellsword or adventurers. The symbol of House Durendaire is a bell.

House Fortemps
Lord Haurchefant of House Fortemps currently holds Camp Dragonhead, a key military fortress that secures the front line against the dragons massing in the fallen Steel Vigil watchtower as well as Coerthas’s only remaining aetheryte camp. The symbol of House Fortemps is a unicorn.

House Dzemael
Having the weakest presence in the Highlands, House Dzemael lays claim to the Dzemael Darkhold, which is currently infested with voidsent. The symbol of the House is a tower.

History
Ishgard was founded around one thousand years ago during the Sixth Astral Era. Legend goes that Halone, so impressed with the spirit of the Ishgardians’ ancestors, saw fit to make these people her own. She appeared before a man of courage and integrity name Thordan and bade him to lead her people to the Promised Land, which would become the nation of Ishgard. There, they came upon a great chasm and began constructing a bridge. It was then that a dark shadow descended upon them—the great wyrm, Nidhogg. Heedless of his own safety, Thordan fearlessly charged at the colossal beast. Alas, he was pushed into the chasm by one of his own men, bewitched by the dragon’s power, and he fell to his death. Overcome with grief, a man (Thordan’s son? Thordan’s squire?) called Haldrath took up his sire’s spear and pierced out Nidhogg’s, his hand supposedly guided by Halone. Nidhogg roared in pain and took wing, fleeing as the people rejoiced below.

Thus was created the artifact, the powerful Eye of Nidhogg, capable of exerting control over the hearts of men. Haldrath’s pure heart and love of justice brooked no corruption, and he prevailed over the eye’s power. With the power of this relic, first Azure Dragoon was born.

Settlements outside the city-state:

Spoiler
What I was thinking for my Hyur lancer Byron Mercer to have him be of a vassal/retainer house in service to House Haillenarte but also did some service for House Fortemps in hopes of being selected for formal Dragoon training which also led him to being exposed to stories told by adventurers. I also want him to have a certain prejudice against Elezen due to being passed over in favor of them for rank and training, however I also want him to have some Elezen lineage that is unknown to him at first which would bring about coming to terms with himself and his preconceived notions. This percent would be either 1/6, 1/8, or 1/16 and displays itself in the form of his tall and slim figure, fine features, and eye shape. I would also like his Elezen blood to link him to something or someone in some meaningful way that isn't too out there. This ancestry was kept hidden from him due to his family's pride and is of no fault of his own.

His grandfather Kristoff Mercer was a dragoon that many years ago killed a dragon by jumping straight down its throat and piercing it's heart, however he fell with it down a gorge and the two were never seen again; this made him a hero of sorts and a source of inspiration for Byron who aspires to be just as great but survive the process. Once Byron becomes accomplished enough he could go looking for his grandfather's last battle and reclaim his spear and armor which would allow for him to get his relic gear without needing the direct blessing of the Holy See.

Due to exposure to adventurers and the strict behaviors of most Ishgardians, Byron comes to resent many of their practices and wishes that some sort of reformation to come about. Ishgard is in trouble, especially with the new climate brought on by the Calamity and while Byron still reveres Halone and loves his countrymen, he knows that suspicion and blind pride will only lead to Ishgard's downfall. This is also tempered by the decline of House Haillenarte which could also make Byron want to see the House bolstered back to it's former glory.

However due to his denial of becoming a proper Dragoon, perhaps he could find another way to learn and prove that strength can be found outside Ishgard's walls and that such strength should be viewed as an ally and not an enemy. This could lead to potential exile and/or being hunted so that could be a possible path. I do however want him to be more or less loyal to Ishgard to begin with but be rather dissatisfied as to how things are being done for surely the Fury would not have her children die out in a frozen wasteland due to zealotry and misplaced pride.

Spoiler
1: If the killings by the Faces of Mercy in Gridania are being blamed on Black Shroud Moon-keepers then Kiht would take major issue with that, and probably investigate it.

2: Kiht's mentor is an ex-Ishgardian knight. I can't speak for him, but he might want to be involved in this LS too (hes on the RPC, so he'll likely see this thread ). Knowing that assassins are hunting her mentor would make her take action against them if she could.

3: Ishgardian refugees would -not- be any more welcome in Gridania/Black Shroud than the Ala Mhigan refugees. With a few years of living in such a place, they could adapt to life there, but any new refugees from Ishgard would be totally out of their element. A local scout, who's not part on any official Gridanian factions and who knows the Shroud like the back of her hand would be useful for someone who might want to keep their ex-ishgardian status hush hush