The most dangerous waters in the world
The Northern Seas
On these relentless waves, a captain learns to listen.They listen for the distant thump of a ducal cannon. They listen for the scrape of a Reaver's grappling hook. They listen for the quiet splash of Kjalen oars in the fog. They listen for the lookout's cry that a merchant is sighted.And they always listen for the scream of the wind, the sound that means the sea itself has come for its claim.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Duchy of Eisenküste
The Duchy of Eisenküste, ruled by the old and respected House von Strelitz, is the maritime heart of the Einhorn Kingdom. Its economy is almost entirely dependent on sea trade, shipbuilding, and its exclusive pearl harvesting. This immense wealth is constantly under threat by two major forces: the organized Northwest Reavers (pirates) and the sporadic, ferocious raids from the Kjalen tribes of the northeast. The Duchy's capital is the bustling port city of Berghafen.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Capital City: Berghafen
Berghafen is the capital of Eisenküste, a sprawling and wealthy port city. The city is built on the slopes of a coastal mountain, overlooking the sea. Its lower levels are dominated by the massive docks, shipyards, and markets, while the upper levels contain the noble estates, the Iron-Forged Way, and the ducal castle, Die Seewacht.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Ducal Castle: Die Seewacht
Die Seewacht, or 'The Sea Watch', is the castle and seat of House von Strelitz. It is an imposing fortress carved into the highest cliff of Berghafen, offering an unparalleled, commanding view of the harbor and the open sea. Its towers serve as lighthouses and military watchpoints. It is the administrative and military command center for the entire duchy.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Berghafen Docks
The Berghafen Docks are the lifeblood of the duchy. They are always choked with activity, a forest of masts from merchant galleons, fishing vessels, and the warships of the ducal navy. The air smells of salt, tar, fish, and foreign spices. Heavily armed dock patrols are a common sight, protecting cargo and keeping the peace among the rowdy sailors.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Wharf Market
The Wharf Market is a massive, noisy, and vibrant bazaar located directly adjacent to the docks. It is one of the richest markets in Einhorn. Merchants from all over the world trade here, selling exotic silks, spices, and wines alongside local goods. This is also the primary, heavily-guarded exchange for the famed Strelitz Pearls.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Iron-Forged Way (Shopping Street)
The Iron-Forged Way is the main thoroughfare in the upper city of Berghafen, famous for its high concentration of master blacksmiths. Fueled by the constant demand from the ducal navy and merchant fleets, the smiths of Eisenküste produce some of the finest blades, cannons, and armor in the kingdom. The street rings with the sound of hammers on anvils from dawn till dusk.
Alliance: Eisenküste
The Ducal Shipyard
The Ducal Shipyard, located in a fortified inlet just north of Berghafen, is where the duchy's naval power is forged. It is a massive complex of dry docks, timber yards, and ropewalks. The shipyard is constantly at work, repairing damaged warships and building new vessels for both the military and the wealthy merchant guilds, including the colossal warship, 'Der Eiserne Herzog'.
Alliance: Eisenküste
Weissenstrand
Weissenstrand ('White Strand') is a coastal region west of Berghafen, far removed from the capital's noise and politics. It is known for its quiet, sandy beaches and small, self-sufficient fishing villages. While it offers a more peaceful life, these villages are isolated and thus the most common targets for raids by the Kjalen tribes.
Alliance: Eisenküste
Strelitz Pearls
Strelitz Pearls are one of the duchy's most valuable exports. They are famed for their unique, deep dusk-grey color with an iridescent purple-blue sheen. They are harvested from a rare species of oyster that lives only in the cold, treacherous, and rocky straits north of Eisenküste. Harvesting them is incredibly dangerous, requiring specialized divers to brave the frigid waters and strong currents, which is why the pearls are so rare and expensive.
Alliance: Pirates
Northwest Reavers
The Northwest Reavers are the primary pirate threat to Eisenküste. They are a highly organized and ruthless coalition of pirate captains who operate from the Northwest. They are infamous for their brutality: they loot merchant ships, take slaves for foreign markets, kill crews, and kidnap nobles or wealthy merchants for massive ransoms. They are a persistent, balanced threat to the duchy's navy.
Alliance: Pirates
Pirate Hideout: Serpent's Tooth Atoll
Located far to the northwest, hidden among treacherous storms and uncharted reefs, the Serpent's Tooth Atoll is the main hideout and stronghold of the Northwest Reavers. It is a network of volcanic islands and hidden coves, naturally fortified and impossible to assault with a large fleet. Here, the pirates repair their ships, fence their stolen goods, and hold their most valuable captives for ransom.
Alliance: Raiders
The Kjalen Tribes
The Kjalen are formidable seafaring tribes from the harsh, icy islands of the Northeast. They are expert navigators and warriors, hardened by the brutal seas they call home. They are not organized pirates but rather opportunistic raiders who launch seasonal attacks in longships, plundering small, undefended coastal villages like those in Weissenstrand for supplies, gold, and thralls. Their constant, unpredictable raids force the ducal navy to split its forces, preventing it from fully overwhelming the Northwest Reavers.
Alliance: Eisenküste
Der Eiserne Herzog
Der Eiserne Herzog ('The Iron Duke') is the ducal flagship and the greatest naval ship in the entire Einhorn Kingdom. It is not built for speed; it is a massive, lumbering fortress of the sea, with a reinforced hull that can withstand heavy bombardment. Its true power lies in its unparalleled arsenal of long-range, heavy-caliber cannons, capable of devastating enemy ships and fleets from a distance.
Alliance: Pirates
Fastest Ship: Die Windsbraut
Die Windsbraut ('The Wind's Bride' or 'Squall') is the fastest ship on the seas, a vessel of near-legendary speed owned by one of the most notorious captains of the Northwest Reavers. It is a sleek frigate that can outrun any ship in the ducal navy, including the slow-moving 'Der Eiserne Herzog'. This speed makes it the perfect ship for lightning-fast raids and escaping naval patrols.
Are you ready to sail?
This collab is hosted by dandayi for her 10k celebration! All animations here were AI generated by dandayi. Join the TNS open collab (opening soon) to use them!dandayi's links:
the northern seas collab
The Ducal Family
House von Strelitz: born of the sea, scarred by conflict, and the last line of defense for the Northern Coast.click image to view character info
the northern seas collab
The Raiders
The Kjalen: Ice-forged warriors from the north, they smash, grab, and vanish before you know they were there.click image to view character info
by leidenpotato
the northern seas collab
The Pirates
The Northwest Reavers: they'll take your gold, your ship, and maybe even you.click image to view character info
Name:
Ferdinand von StrelitzAge:
58Status:
Duke of Eisenküste, Lord of House von Strelitz, former Lord High Admiral.Tabloid Whispers:
A towering, sea-hardened noble whose laughter can shake a hall, he is both admired and feared across the Northern Coast. To his people, he is the charismatic “Sea Wolf” who commands with mirth and iron alike; to his enemies, “The Devil of Eisenküste,” a man said to smile as he sentences traitors to the noose. Despite his fearsome reputation, Ferdinand is fiercely devoted to his three adopted sons—Matthias, Velgan, and Leopold—and is known to treat the Kjalen envoy currently residing in his court with surprising warmth, calling them his “favorite troublemaker.” Whether the Duke’s charm hides cruelty or the cruelty hides a deeper loyalty remains the subject of much whispered speculation in Berghafen’s halls.
Name:
Matthias von StrelitzAge:
Early 30sStatus:
Hereditary Prince of Eisenküste, Marquess of Erenford, Knight of the Order of the Wexmoor. Eldest adopted son of Duke Ferdinand von Strelitz.Tabloid Whispers:
Renowned for his composure, intellect, and precision in both speech and strategy, he is regarded as one of the duchy’s most capable yet inscrutable statesmen. Every alliance he forges is calculated, every courtesy deliberate. Recently, he entered a marriage with a prominent figure whose motives remain the subject of court speculation. Eldest son of Duke von Strelitz, Matthias often finds himself at quiet odds with his younger brothers—one a celebrated admiral, the other a wealthy merchant—positioning him as both heir and architect of Eisenküste’s future.
Name:
Velgan Alexander von StrelitzAge:
30Status:
Lord High Admiral of the Eisenküste Fleet, Baron of Sturmfels, Knight of the Order of the Wexmoor. Second adopted son of Duke Ferdinand von Strelitz.Tabloid Whispers:
Feared and respected for his tactical brilliance and uncompromising discipline, he is regarded as the embodiment of Eisenküste’s naval might. Velgan lost his right eye during an attempted League assassination three years ago, an incident that only enhanced his grim legend. His command of the dreadnought Sturmfels’ Wrath and forty-two ships makes him one of the most powerful figures in the Duchy. Though he is known for his stoic demeanor and refusal to lower the ducal standard before any foreign flag, rumors persist of a mysterious thief called the Phantom Reaver whose betrayal left more than one kind of scar.
Name:
Leopold von StrelitzAge:
28Status:
Youngest adopted son of Duke Ferdinand von Strelitz, Viscount of Handelsbrück, Pearl Straits Warden, Wharf Market Guild Patron. The Duchy's most infamous merchant lord.Tabloid Whispers:
Nicknamed the Silver Fox of Berghafen for his charm and cunning in trade, he has turned profit-making into an art form. Known for his sharp wit, scandalous escapades, and reckless dealings with foreign captains, Leopold thrives in the wharfs and markets where coin speaks louder than titles. Though his ventures skirt the edge of legality, his success has enriched both himself and the duchy. Eccentric, rebellious, and endlessly ambitious, he is admired as a genius of commerce and derided as a scandal in noble form. Despite his roguish reputation, he remains fiercely—if quietly—loyal to his family, often clashing with his elder brothers, Lord Matthias and Admiral Velgan, over what truly defines honor and power in Eisenküste.
Name:
Einar the HavulfrAge:
41Status:
Kjalen raider. Commander of the longship The Drowned Wolf.Tabloid Whispers:
Known publicly as "The Butcher of Weissenstrand." A towering Kjalen raider famed for savage, ritual slaughter and for wielding the curved axe Havbrjót (rumored to be forged from a drowned rival’s iron). Einar is feared for raids that strike deep into coastal holdings, his creed that death by blade is sacred, and his utter contempt for mercy and politics. Born beneath a winter eclipse and raised at sea, he earned his name after burning a ducal scouting post at sixteen and now commands the longship The Drowned Wolf. Rumor and whispered ballads add one darker, more human note: he kept a captive from a shore raid — a thrall who, unseen by most, softens the legend at its edges.
Name:
Caspian von DrachlowAge:
34Status:
Captain of Die Windsbraut, leader among the Northwest Reavers. One of the most infamous pirates of the Northern Seas.Tabloid Whispers:
Nicknamed The Black Squall, he is known for his cunning, charisma, and ruthlessness in battle, responsible for some of the most devastating raids along Eisenküste’s coasts. His ship’s speed and his unpredictability have made him a figure of both dread and fascination. Despite his brutality, sailors’ tales claim he spares children and the defenseless, though few live to confirm it. His noble-sounding surname was stolen from a ducal family he destroyed, and the name Caspian von Drachlow has since become synonymous with fear on the open sea.
Name:
Alaric of SturmfelsAge:
27Status:
Boatswain of Die Windsbraut (under Captain Caspian von Drachlow).Tabloid Whispers:
Known among the Reavers as a daring and sharp-tongued sailor, Alaric earned his post through skill, nerve, and unshakable loyalty to his captain. His charm and wit make him a favorite among the crew, though he is also known for his reckless streak and love of risk. Once a destitute orphan, Alaric’s rise through the ranks is often told as proof that the sea favors the bold. Some claim he has noble blood or strange connections to the houses of Eisenküste, but such stories remain unproven — and Alaric himself never confirms or denies them.
Notes from Dayi: This is the AI enhanced map based on the original map that I manually made in Inkarnate. I'll finish the final map later. Or never. Hehe. It takes a lot of time and I'm terrible at shading 🥲
