I'm not sure if there's already a thread on this subject, but the Lands of the Linnorm Kings is one of the few places that hasn't been explored in any canon AP that isn't set to have its lore reevaluated... outside this one spot.
The bulk of information about Hagreach, the easternmost of the Linnorm Kingdoms, comes from the 1e Pathfinder Campaign Setting guide for the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, written in 2011. This has been outdated for nearly a decade at this point. We know that Southmoor and the Thanelands have new Linnorm Kings (Ostog the Unslain and Thira Ash-Eyes, respectively) and there is also a Linnorm King of Icemark (Nankou, who receives a lot of odd glances for being Varki), but this is the extent of our canon updates. Hagreach's whole thing was being a bastion against the invasions of the White Witches who are no longer in power, and the Travel Guide makes it clear that the people of the Saga Lands as a whole know that Anastasia is somehow "different". So Hagreach's political climate has very heavily changed, but we currently don't know how. There's presumably still skirmishes along its borders, but they're no longer organized by the White Witches. The threat that previously pervaded the kingdom's culture is now gone.
I'm hoping that Hagreach becomes the subject of an adventure sometime soon. For now, what do you think may be going on there? Is the Castellan of the Trollheim Freyr Darkwine planning to become a Linnorm King himself, or is the position of King of Hagreach currently up for grabs? Is Hagreach scoping out what the new ruler of Irrisen is like, or are they raiding Irrisen themselves? Is the huscarl of Blackraven Hall Stenvast Trollkiller plotting to take back Irrisen using the resources stashed in the fortress and set to become a BBEG? Hagreach was so heavily focused around the White Witches that all these questions and more are yet to be answered. What do you think?
Anastasia's rule is all but certain, and I could totally imagine some nostalgic Jadwiga trying to make a play for power with a stupid invasion into the Linnorm Kingdoms. Even if Irrisen's queen can keep a lid on things, thousands of years of animosity aren't going away overnight - and indeed, might set up a fun reversal if the Ulfen decide to attack their hated neighbor when it looks 'weak' under a gentler ruler.
keftiu wrote: Anastasia's rule is all but certain, and I could totally imagine some nostalgic Jadwiga trying to make a play for power with a stupid invasion into the Linnorm Kingdoms. Even if Irrisen's queen can keep a lid on things, thousands of years of animosity aren't going away overnight - and indeed, might set up a fun reversal if the Ulfen decide to attack their hated neighbor when it looks 'weak' under a gentler ruler. There are definitely going to be some Jadwiga who are organizing attacks without the permission of the crown, hence why I mentioned skirmishes, but I doubt they haven't let up when starved of the authority and resources of the White Witches. Hence I'm curious as to what Hagreach's response to all this is. I'm sure there are people on both sides who would like to continue as if nothing happened, but is that the prevailing opinion of the people of Hagreach?
GM_3826 wrote: There are definitely going to be some Jadwiga who are organizing attacks without the permission of the crown, hence why I mentioned skirmishes, but I doubt they haven't let up when starved of the authority and resources of the White Witches. Hence I'm curious as to what Hagreach's response to all this is. I'm sure there are people on both sides who would like to continue as if nothing happened, but is that the prevailing opinion of the people of Hagreach? Does it matter? Hagreach is a military autocracy and border march, and the change in leadership in Irrisen will not have changed that - even if the rather thoroughgoing reforms of Irriseni society you have presumed have taken place, which they probably have not.
zimmerwald1915 wrote: Does it matter? Hagreach is a military autocracy and border march, and the change in leadership in Irrisen will not have changed that - even if the rather thoroughgoing reforms of Irriseni society you have presumed have taken place, which they probably have not. I don't see why it can't. The Lost Omens Character Guide says that the Jadwiga once ruled Irrisen, so they apparently don't anymore, and while I'm sure that Hagreach is still expending at least some efforts in defending its borders, continuing to exist in a state of total war a decade later is less of a chaotic neutral thing and more something a chaotic evil society would do. There are likely a LOT of people within the kingdom who are not sure what to do or what their purpose in life is anymore, and I wouldn't be surprised if Hagreach is now the bad guy, but I think it's totally plausible that much of Hagreach's response is "well, what now?" There are definitely some that want to retake Irrisen while it's under a "weak" ruler, and that may even be a majority, but I still think the possibility that it's not is worth considering.
Edit: In case you want to argue that that is specifically referring to the queen, the LOWG mentions that the people of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords are growing "fat and lazy" now that the Worldwound has been closed, Belkzen is under a more peaceful leader, and—most notably—now that irrisen's leadership has changed. This does imply that irrisen is not raiding as much as it used to, whether because Queen Anastasia can keep a lid on things, is slowly finding new rulers to replace the Jadwiga, or both.
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