Peoples of Ysval

Ysval is a free territory, dotted with self-governing towns in each Dukedom, joined only by their worship of the Light, which remains the only overarching authority in the half-untamed region.

Humans
Ysvalians are overwhelmingly human, with 80% of the Realm’s small population descending from the human cultists that first settled it. Very few of these develop any Dream-touched, Will-chosen or Source-gifted potential, depending more on their faith, their direct approach to Vaala, than on its magic aspects.

Most Ysvalian humans are farmers, hunters or fisherfolk, growing crops in the Realm’s fertile riverbeds, trading furs from its wild beasts, or hunting whales in the cold northern seas.

Hygar.
Recently, Ysvalians have made contact with some human tribes from the western forests, which live much closer to nature than Alliance citizens. These tribes claim to have been there since the fall of the Altanesi, surviving by hunting and foraging, and learning to stay out of the way of Hmyr, with which they maintain a cautious friendship. They call themselves Hygar, ‘the Singing Folk’ in their language—a variant of Hmyrya—and are much fiercer than the average Ysvalian, practicing primal Source magic and sharing space with Ikini bone gnomes. They have many source-gifted among their number, with healing abilities that nearly match the power of Galadyan Light.

Halflings
More than 15% of Ysvalians are Pint halflings, which love the Realm’s weather, its sense of community and the rich produce of its fields. Shivs and Quills are far less common, but still more so than other nonhuman Ysvalians.

Pint cuisine is one of the pillars of Ysvalian society. The human ancestors of the Alliance were focused on survival, not cooking, and the first halfling immigrants, with their ever-present inns and eateries, brought along a new, previously unimagined world of sensations and enjoyment. Many say that it was Pints who taught Ysvalians to enjoy life, and that the Alliance would immediately collapse without halflings and their inns.Every Ysvalian city and village has at least one Pint cook, and their respective, exclusive recipes, styles or methods are part of their community’s identity.

Giants
Ysval has the largest population of civilized giants in Valerna, enjoying the allegiance of several Hmyr tribes from the Northwestern Fogwood. Some of these hmyr are not truly loyal to Ysval, and some live in open enmity with these ‘human trespassers’, but for the most part they have established a bond of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.

Orcs
Many ogerron seeking alternatives to Tyverian military service, and snow orcs seeking escape from the Frost Horde, have settled in Ysval as free folk, and accepted the Faith of Light as long as it means a new, independent life.

Other Peoples
Ysval is open to any honest, hard-working settlers, but its harsh climate and the Tyverian blockade make it unlikely for foreigners to seek land here. Yet exceptions exist, and some ellari, frost or sky dwarves, foreign humans and godao have decided to give a chance to the plucky, rough-edged young Realm.