HISTORY
The History of Kislev reaches back almost 1000 years, from the times when the hordes of Gospodars finally arrived over the Worlds Edge mountains in strength. The Empire, long a realm torn by internal strife was too weak to hold it`s northernmost provinces. When the Empire finally gathered its strength, the Gospodars had already established their realm.
Emperor Dieter III relised that the Empire would benefit from this bulwrack against chaos and the barbarous Norse, and formed an alliance with the tsar Alexandr I. Since then Kislev and the Empire have enjoyed a strong alliance with each other, and often send allied troops to help their friends in the hour of need. A notable example of this is the Gryphon Legion that is based in the Empire and includes many of the noblest sons of Kislev.
Both Norse barbarians and the dread hordes of Chaos threaten the borders of Kislev. Because of this the army of Kislev is numerous and powerful, and mercenaries are always welcome in Kislev. The realm is in the state of continual warfare, and the people have grown hard in the face of their trials.
The last great Chaos Incursion almost overrun the World, and only by the valiant efforts of Kislevites, supported by the dwarfs and a mighty army of Magnus the Pious barely turned the tide 200 years ago.
The current ruler of Kislev is Tzarina Katarin, who followed his father Radii Bokha after his mysterious death. City States of Kislev, Erengrad and Praag in particular are independent realms, but owe their fealty to the ruler of Kislev.
THE PEOPLE
GOSPODARS
The mainstay of the people of kislev are gospodars: tall, broadshouldered and blond or red-haired people with deep voices. They are quiet and grim in the face of the outsiders, but in fact they are very sentimental people, with deep love for their families and their land. They are mighty fighters, and the most corageous opponents of Chaos anywhere.
Womenfolk of Kislev are famed for their beauty, and the Kislevites value their females as highly as men. There is no reason why a woman could not rise into important poaitions in the goverment, and the bloodline is traced by the mothers side. Most kislevite women tend to stay at home, however, but in the house and home their authority is absolute and far above of that of a man.
Most powerful kislevite sorcerers are always women, and many tales have been told about Baba Yaga, the most powerful Witch of all time. Gospodars love music, and their dances, especially the Bladedance, are famous throughout the Old World. Their battle-songs are one of the most impressive sounds in the Known Wolrd, and their dreaded war-cry "URAAA! URAAA!" is feared where-ever it is heard.
COSSACKS
Cossacks are nomadic people who live in the far North. Riders and scouts without peer, these brave warriors have always stood in the defense of the realm against the wrath of Chaos. Year after year a war of ambush and counter-ambush is fought, and usually Cossacks are victorious. Even when faced with the overwhelming odds and power, their hatred against the forces of Chaos often sees them through.
HUNS
The most primitive and savage of all peoples of Kislev, Huns are little more than animals. They file their teeth, scar their bodies and enter battles in a berserker state of fury. They are cannibalistic, vicious race, but never-the-less fearless in the defense of their land. No opponent wishes to be captured by the Huns, for his fate shall be worse than death.
SIBYRIANS
North from the civilized areas of Kislev, lies the taiga. It is a lawless and inhospitable land, riddled with foul creatures from the norhtern Chaos Wastes. Only the toughest of men survive in this cold and harsh land, and they are hunters and trappers of unrivalled skill. One might ask why a man wishes to travel to this god-forsaken land, but the answer is simple: the furs of the taiga's animals are finest in the knowm world, and the rewards are great for those that survive.
Men of Taiga are known as Sibyrians: Large, bearded and silent folk. They often show hints of eastern blood, and the language they use also hints at this direction. But whatever their origin, they are brave, stubborn folk, and valued scouts and forresters of Kislevite armies.
PLACES OF INTEREST
ERENGRAD
Of the trading cities of the Old World, only Marienburg is larger and more important. Whale-oil, sea-ivory, timber, pearls, tar and fish are traded here, and even the sleek ships of the High Elves often come here, daring the dangers of the seas polluted by the Chaos. Traders from Bretonnia, Marienburg and the Empire come to this city wich is situated in the lagoon at the head of river Lynks.
KISLEV
This city stands in the banks of river Urskoy, and is built around "Gora Geroyev", known also as Kreml, "The Hill of the Heroes". It is a fortress-city, for the Realm of Chaos draws ever nearer every year, and the many valiant Kislevites are buried every day in the red soil of Kreml. Dwarfs hired from the Empire and from their own realm work tirelessly to strenghten the defenses.
PRAAG
During the last great Chaos Incursion this once-beautiful city was completely overrun by the forces of Chaos. The minions of the Four Powers breached the defenses of the city and put the inhabitants to sword. Those few who survived by fleeing in the surrounding woods returned to find their homes twisted by the Chaos. The buildings had melted with the flesh, forming disturbing and sickening visage of horror.
The Tzar of Erengrad ordered the city to be burned down and re-built. This was done, but the Chaos returned. Travellers tell tales of cries of agony that pierce the nights, and faeces appearing in the walls of the buildings, consuming unwary with sharp teeth. Kislevites burn down and re-build their homes continually to retain some measure of sanity. They refuse to move away, for they feel that this would mean giving in to Chaos.
Current Tzar Saltan spends his time drilling his militia and dreaming of the revenge he will inflict upon the foul spawn of chaos.
LANDS OF KISLEV
Kislev is a land of wind-bitten steppes, ancient forests, and great Mountains. The rule of the throne of Kislev extends well over the World's Edge Mountains. These provinces are known as "Zaborota" or Farside. The boyars of Farside are very independent, however, and this is not surprising because the mountain passes over the mountains are open only during the peak of the Summer. The regions of Kislev can be roughly divided to three parts:
Tundra, Taiga, and Whetlands.
Tundra is the northermost part of Kislev: it is a land inhabited by the creatures of Chaos, and many castles made of a black stone harbour the Enemies of Man. Only Cossack patrols and the most fearless of the Sibyrians come here, to seek information and wealth in this freezingly cold part of the Old World.
Taiga is an area where the great forests of Kislev grow: the famous timber of Kislev comes from here, as well as the bear-hides acquired by the Sibyrian hunters. Occassionally the Chaos warbands penetrtate the defences of the Borders. At such times the scattered Cossack tribes gather to oust these invaders. This is their land, and their enemies must pay a heavy price if they wish to pass them to destroy their homes.
Whetlands (or Dobryion as the Kislevites call it) is the area where the cities and villages of Kislev are situated, and it is the best known place elsewhere in the world. This is a relatively rich land, for the fields yield a rich harvest here. This region is the main target for the armies of Chaos as they strike south. If Whetlands are taken and the cities of Kislev fall, all of the Old World is in grave danger.
There are two great rivers that flow through the lands of Kislev: Urskoy and Lynsk. Urskoy is the river that makes the fields of Kislev fruitfull and allows Kislevite ships to be built in the capital. It is a mighty river, joining the Reik in Altdorf. The barges of Kislev use this river to navigate to the Empire, where the exotic wares like Vodka and the famous Kislevite duelling pistols fetch a good price. In the middle of the River Urskoy stands a lonely cliff. Covered only by wild moss and lichen, it juts out to astonishing heights. the only person ever to reach it's top is the Cossack leader Stepan Rasin. Today, the cliff bears his name; and when the waves of Urskoy speak to one another at night, they're sure to mention ataman (Cossack Chief) Stepan Rasin, the great hero.
Lynsk is the border river of Kislev: to North of this mighty flow lies the Tundra:area disputed by Kislevites and the Forces of Chaos. Kislevites call it also by name Sanguisov: the Stream of Blood. In it's banks and bridges, Kislevites have wages many desperate and bitter battles. It symbolizes their struggle against their hated foes.
The architecture of Kislev is unique: almost all of the buildings are one or two storeys high, making a stark contrast to the many temples and palaces. These public constructions are decorated with gilded cupolas that are coated with gold, and the temples are equipped with multitude of bells. On great festival days these bells are rung in unision, and their peels echo for miles around. Beastmen are known to fear and loathe this sound, and they hide in their secret camps deep in the forests. As masoners the Kislevites are famed in all of the Old World, since this is a very practical profession: a stone-mason whose battlements are carried in the next attack of Chaos will certainly not get any work again.