Hartland

A newly industrializing land that has secured its independence from Great Arvantha a few decades ago. Now the scene to pitched battles between unions and trusts.

History
See also: Timeline of Hartlander Independence

The Hartlands were never expected to be powerful nation, or even a nation at all. Where once in ancient days stood pretty hillfort kingdoms atop silver veins, the long centuries of Angirmen, Lunglander and later Arvanthan rule exhausted such deposits. Since then, the region has been a mountainous backwater notable for two things: deep forests so replete with game - especially deer - that gave the Hartlands their name, and the relatively isolated natural harbour of Østbirk which has been conquered on-and-off by every thalassocratic power for a thousand years. It's only other city, Rathenow lay at the most northern navigable part of a great river - a city for convenient portage, and little more.



And yet change came. Wood is intensely valuable to industrializing economies, and the Hartlands contain deep, primeval forests. Lunglander and Angir prospectors and land speculators came. Foreign demand grew, and deals were struck between the merchants of the northern city and petty nobility of the portage city. Mills at the fall line turned logs into lumber, and whether by longboats or portage were carried off to Østbirk and the wider world. Cash and immigrants rolled in, and the region became less of a forgotten backwater and more an interconnected economy in its' own right. Factories were built, furniture and finished goods began being made instead of just raw lumber, and exported for greater profits. The two cities grew. Settlement patterns shifted from isolated hunting/farming communities to silviculture boomtowns. Steam power arrived - not powered by coal, but by wood pellets.

Of course, this came with increased attention from the Irnaic Palace. Imperial officials were, as one can imagine, quite displeased that "uppity" local nobles acting above their station and "treasonous" merchants selling to foreign powers. The inevitable tension over self rule, authority and taxation escalated ever higher until, at last, it burst into open conflict in the Hartlander Indepnedence War. Unfortunately for Arvantha, the nations now near-dependent on Hartlander lumber were more than willing to offer arms and armaments to secure continued supply.

In most other circumstances, Arvantha could've won, but their famed banner host charges work poorly in thickly forested mountain terrain, and long-held Hartland hunting traditions combined with the revolutionary fervour of the newly formed Volunteer Batalions, the so called 'Veebees' created a true 'nation in arms' with the will and materiel to throw out the Arvanthans. While the Hartlanders never pushed the royalists out or truly defeated them in the field, the also didn't need to. The might of the kingdom was simply bled dry here and in their other conflicts as Arvanthan supremacy over the west beagn collapsing.

And thus, independence, and the mess that came with it. Even now, the formalization of power and the forging of a new nation creates political disputes and factionalism, even as vast tracts of forested land are consolidated for economic use with or without local support. It's an exciting and dynamic time to be alive!

Labour History
See also: Ballad of the Grüntal March

The Hartlands were not home to a substantial population prior to the lumber boom. Depending on their luck and business acumen, local freemen would either become newly minted gentry, selling logging rights to their previously useless highland parcels or destitute beggars as unscrupulous logging companies would use loopholes in the entirely too vague medieval legal codes of the Hartlands. The vast majority of the lumberjacks themselves however would come from the south and from the east. Either escaped factory-slaves from the Duchy of Lungland, impoverished peasants from the Angir League and downtrodden serfs from Great Arvantha all dreaming of a land where man is free. Peasants denied their lands as local nobles increasingly turn to enclosure acts to enlarge their vast rural properties, thus started to pour into the Hartlands with by and large very high hopes for their new homeland.

This enthusiasm was cut short however as many saw themselves stuffed into company towns under strict surveillance of detective agencies in the employ of the biggest logging and saw mill conglomerates. Most of the new arrivals soon started to feel like the places they left were in the end no worse than where they ended up and anger started swelling in the bunk houses of logging boom towns.

This proved to be fertile grounds for various agitators and organizers and soon underground societies and brotherhoods of workingmen sprung up across the countries boom towns. Machinery started mysteriously disappearing. Corporate detectives would somehow end up lost in the woods for months. This situation was almost at the verge of transforming into a real insurrection when the independence war came.

As news that the Imperial banners were assembling at Irniac to march north broke out in the local press, the boom towns of the Hartlands exploded into revolutionary frenzy. Men spontaneously assembled at saloons and town-houses and demanded rifles and ammo to meet the Royal Hussars, their rugged enthusiasm barely contained by local police. It's in this atmosphere of general chaos that the many underground societies decided to strike and declared a general convention of workingmen in the industrial center of Ronnenberg. It was thus there, in the largest of the logging towns, that the Lumber Workers Industrial Union was officially born. The first act of the newly united organisation was the raising of Volunteer Battalions, the so-called 'Veebees' to help safeguard the country.



While the Hartlander Congress in Østbirk was most distrustful of these units they were still inducted into the official command structure of the newly developing Hartland armed forces, despite the protests and indignation of the logging companies. However the general staff was under the impression that fighting the Imperials and Revolutionaries at the same time would be fatal to the newly formed state.

The war ended up being less costly than previously anticipated and at its conclusion, a constitution for the new state was drafted which explicitly legalised trade unions and allowed them a certain amount of privileges, in exchange of the disarmament of the Veebees.

This move proved to be almost as damning for the LWIU as the for the Big 4 lumber conglomerates. A radical well organized minority of the industrial union, mainly based in the eastern states had fully expected that once victory over the Imperials was secure, the LWIU would march on the capital to dislodge the hated fatcats of the trusts and other barons of industry that grew fat of the honest work of the labouring people.

The move by the more moderate majority and the collective leadership to acquiesce to the new government's demands was met with fury, violence and accusations of scabbing. The radicals reformed themselves into the illegal General Union of Labour and went on to continue the armed struggle. This low level insurgency in the east would take 13 long years to fully quash causing untold misery to the population and bad stock ratings for the lumber companies. The GUL would over time morph from a purely industrial union to encompass and organize many marginalised groups the LWIU wouldn't touch with a 10 ft logging pole, like the remote Silvermen and Adizheans whose ancestral territories are increasingly being expropriated by logging operations, prison labourers, prostitutes, the unemployed, smugglers and other vagrants. While still illegal and shunned by polite society, the GUL has however found sympathy with many of the newly minted urbanites of Østbirk and Rathenow that make up the intelligentsia and art circles of the fledgling nation.



Meanwhile the companies used the legalisation of unions as an opportunity to start their own so called "yellow" union, the Allied Federation of Lumberjacks, a blatant attempt to steal influence on the back of the LWIU that has been relentlessly mocked in union press.

At present a delicate balance between the companies and the unions has established itself, helped by the decision of the Hartland government to stay out of the Isthmus War. While currently all signs point towards a slow détente as the war between labour and capital moves out of the streets and into courts it would not take much for Hartlander society to plunge itself into conflict once more if for example a worldwide economic crisis were to occur. But what are the chances of that?

Parties
The Hartland parliament is made up of two houses: the States Assembly and the National Assembly. The States Assembly consists of representatives from each of the nine states, with each state having a number of representatives proportional to its population. The National Assembly is made up of elected representatives from each of the parliamentary districts throughout the country.


 * The Hartland Federalist Party is the dominant party in the States Assembly, with a strong presence in all nine states. They are particularly strong in Birkenbruk, Eidsvool, Branwall and Moelven, where they hold a majority of the seats.
 * The Labour Party is the main opposition party in the States Assembly, with a large presence in Nidarå, Birkenbruk, and Larvik. They are also represented in the other states, but in smaller numbers.
 * The Reform Party is a centrist party that has a significant presence in Nidarå and Birkenbruk, and also has some representation in the other states.
 * The Hartland Social Credit Union is a minor party with a small number of representatives in Kirkenær and Sagbruk.
 * The Larvik Free State Movement is a regional party that represents the interests of the people of Larvik. They have a presence in the States Assembly, with a majority of the seats in Larvik.
 * The Constructionist Association is a small, fringe party that has no representation in the States Assembly and limited representation in local government. They are primarily concentrated in Birkenbruk.

The Hartland Federalist Party is a political party that advocates for a weaker and decentralized federal government and a more local Hartland Republic. They believe that the states should have more power and that the federal government should canton itself to managing issues such as foreign policy, defence, and tariffs. They also support a strong and efficient bureaucracy and believe in a strong system of checks and balances. The Federalist Party is typically more conservative than other parties in Hartland, and they often support business interests and free market policies. Some notable figures in the Federalist Party include Ewan Beemer-Pellmanner, the current President of the Republic, and Jan van Huisse, the Leader of the Assembly. It is traditionally allied with the Big 4 trusts and other employer groups.

The Labour Party is the political wing of the Lumber Workers Industrial Union and represents the interests of the working class and organized labour. It is strongest in the industrial states of Nidarå, Birkenbruk, and Larvik, as well as in the towns with large working class populations such as Zirknitz and Gurley-Flynn. The party advocates for social justice, worker's rights, and greater government intervention in the economy to address income inequality. It is traditionally allied with industrial unions and other progressive groups.

The Reform Party is a centrist political party in the Hartland Republic that advocates for moderate political and social reform. They are strongest in the states of Birkenbruk, and Nidarå, where they have a strong base of support among urban professionals, small business owners, and intellectuals. They are particularly strong in the capital city of Østbrik and the port city of Fiskhafn. The Reform Party is known for their support of free trade, public education, and infrastructure development. They are often seen as a more moderate alternative to the more radical Labour Party and the more conservative Federalist Party.

The Social Credit Union is a political party that advocates for the implementation of a social credit economic system in the Republic. The party believes that the current atheisic-capitalist zeitegist is flawed and leads to inequality and poverty. They propose the use of a social credit system, which seeks to redistribute wealth and provide a basic income to all citizens, as well as a return to religious morals and standards. The party is popular among those who feel left behind by the current economic system yet are distrustful of the Labourists and their distaste for clericalism. The party is strongest in the states of Kirkenær and Sagbruk, mainly amongst disgruntled and impoverished free peasants and agricultural labourers. The party also has a presence amongst the Silvermen communities, one of the few traditional parties to politically engage with the marginalised aboriginals.

The Larvik Free State Movement is a small autonomist party that advocates for greater autonomy and independence for the state of Larvik within the Hartland Republic. They push for Larvik to have more control over its own affairs, such as its economy and laws, and also seek to maintain or strengthen Larvik's distinct cultural identity. The party appeals to those who feel that Larvik is not adequately represented in the federal government and that the interests of the state are not being prioritized. The core of the party is composed of old aristocrats, nostalgic for the old feudal system that granted the fortress of Ronnenberg extensive autonomy and desire a return to a more traditional way of life.

The Hartland Constructionist Association is a minuscule political movement that advocates for the implementation of constructionist principles in government and society. This includes a support for a merit-based system of education and employment, as well as policies that prioritize efficiency and productivity. The party also promote the use of technology and scientific advancements to improve society and government functions. Their only presence is in a few urban areas, centred on universities and scientific institutes.

Other Organisations
The Silvermen's Defense League is a fraternal association that advocates for the rights and interests of Silvermen, a minority group in Hartland known for their pale skin and raven black hair. The league is relatively small but has a strong local presence in the cities of Ostbirk, Ronnenberg and Peekskill where many Silvermen have flocked to in search of employment as they are increasingly chased from their ancestral lands. Silvermen traditionally organise themselves along tribal clan lines, but such allegiances become of little importance in the great industrial cities, leading to the creation of the league as a new form of Silvermen organisation. The traditional hillfort chiefs of the highlands view the league with suspicion as a ploy by clan-less young firebrands to usurp the power of the ancient clans.

The league acts as a center of the new urban Silvermen communities and helps Silvermen conduct business amongst themselves, proposes community initiatives to support small businesses owned by Silvermen and efforts to preserve and promote Silvermen culture. The association also works to protect Silvermen, particularly in regards to discrimination and hate crimes against the group.

The Lumber Workers Industrial Union (LWIU) is a trade union that represents workers in the lumber industry in the Hartland Republic. It was formed during the independence war as a result of spontaneous assemblies of workers in the boom towns of the Hartlands, and it played an important role in the fight for independence from the Empire.

The LWIU is recognized by the Hartland government and is one of the largest and most influential unions in the country. It is a member of the national federation of trade unions and has a strong presence in the logging and saw mill industries. The LWIU is dedicated to improving the working conditions, wages, and benefits of its members and is known for its advocacy for workers' rights and social justice.

The General Union of Labour (GUL) is an illegal labor union in the country of Hartland. It was formed by a radical faction of the Lumber Workers Industrial Union (LWIU) after the latter agreed to disarm its volunteer battalions and submit to government regulations in exchange for legal recognition and certain privileges. The GUL opposes the compromises made by the LWIU and continues to fight for the rights of marginalized groups in Hartland, including remote indigenous populations, prison laborers, prostitutes, the unemployed, smugglers, and other vagrants. Despite its illegal status, the GUL has gained sympathy among the intelligentsia and artistic circles in the cities of Østbirk and Rathenow. The GUL operates underground and its activities are often met with opposition from both the government and the logging companies.

The Allied Federation of Lumberjacks (AFL) is a trade union that operates primarily in the Hartlands. It was established in the aftermath of the Hartlander War of Independence as a response to the legalisation of trade unions in the newly formed state. The AFL is often referred to as a "yellow" union, meaning that it is perceived as being controlled or heavily influenced by employers, in contrast to independent or "red" unions.

The AFL is comprised primarily of workers in the lumber industry, including lumberjacks, saw mill workers, and other related professions. It is one of the largest trade unions in the Hartlands and has a significant presence in the country's largest cities, including Østbirk and Rathenow.

The AFL is often viewed as being more cooperative with the country's major lumber companies than other unions, such as the Lumber Workers Industrial Union (LWIU). Despite this reputation, the AFL has a membership base of thousands of workers and has been involved in several notable industrial actions in the Hartlands.

Economy & Infrastructure


The Hartland Republic is a highly industrialized nation that has seen rapid growth and development in recent years. The economy is centered around wood pellet-fed steam engines, which are used to power a wide variety of machines and devices, from factories and transportation systems to home appliances and even personal gadgets. The Republic is a major importer of Kiep crystal engines, which are prized for their reliability and efficiency.

The economy of the Republic is controlled by the so called "Big Four" trusts. They are the Republic Lumber Corporation, Mosenbar Transport and Manufacturing, the Øksenvald-Barnhart Company and the Western Transport and Logging Union. All of them have most of their capital mainly in railways, logging and mining operations. Mosenbar also includes some light manufacturering and textiles. The Western Transport and Logging Union is the only one of the big trusts to not have its headquarters in Østbirk as they are in Saggen instead. All four trusts back the Federalist party and have been known to maintain links with union busting private security agencies.

The infrastructure of the Republic is highly developed around the main rivers of the Sag and Bruk, with well-maintained roads, rails, and waterways connecting major cities and towns, but the harder to reach interior areas remain almost completely unconnected with lumber exploitations laying down new tracks to reach new exploitations every day. The ports of the Republic are bustling with activity, as trade ships from all over the world come and go, bringing in goods from exotic lands and exporting the Republic's own wares, mainly textiles, lumber and its derived products.

The cities themselves are rapidly growing centers, dotted with towering chimneys, workshops, warehouses, and tenements. The relentless beat of industry is ever-present, as workers toil day and night to feed the voracious maw of the Republic's factories. What were once medieval hillforts are now crowded and dirty metropolises with narrow, dark alleys twisting between towering buildings and constant clatter of machinery. The air is thick with the reek of Kiep sludge, coal soot and other chemicals, and the streets are cluttered with rumbling steam-trucks, rickety streetcars, and smoke-belching airships.

Despite the wealth generated by the Republic's massive industrial base, the majority of its people live in relative poverty, eeking out a grim existence in the worker barracks that have grown up around the lumber exploitations, mines and factories. The rich, meanwhile, lounge in opulent mansions and gamble in high-stakes gambling dens, surrounded by the luxuries of a world built on the backs of the poor. Nevertheless, the Republic is a land of opportunity, where anyone with ambition and a willingness to work hard can make a name for themselves.

Geography
The Hartland Republic is a vast and rugged country located in the northern hemisphere. The geography of the Republic is characterized by its sprawling forests, high mountains, and icy tundra. The climate is similar to that of Manchuria and British Columbia, with long, harsh winters and brief, temperate summers. The country is dotted with numerous large lakes and rivers, which serve as important transportation and trade routes. The forests of the Hartland Republic are teeming with wildlife, including elk, moose, and bear. The high mountains of the Republic contain rich deposits of tin, and are mined by a dangerous and hardy breed of men.

Geomorphological Features
The ancient Tarankow hills are a defining feature of the landscape, with their rocky and rolling hills that have been shaped over millions of years by weathering and erosion. These hills are rich in minerals and are home to many small communities that have been built around the abundant resources.

The Birk plateau is another important geographical feature of the Hartland Republic. The plateau is dotted with small towns and villages that are situated along the banks of the Birk river. The river and the surrounding alluvial plains are crucial for agriculture, providing fertile soil for crops and pasture for livestock.

In contrast to the rolling hills and fertile plains, the Hartland Republic is also home to the very high Kjeldor mountains. These towering peaks are some of the tallest in the world and are a popular destination for mountaineers and adventurers. The harsh and rugged terrain of the Kjeldor mountains has helped to preserve the unique flora and fauna that can be found there, making it an important area for conservation.

Administrative Divisions
The Hartland Republic is composed of the following 9 states:

Birkenbruk
Birkenbruk is one of the most important states. It contains the national capital Østbirk, which lies on the sea at the mouth of the river Birk. Additional settlements include the old fishing port of Breege, the mining and lumber town of Wijma and the important inland rail junction of Gurley-Flynn which lies next to a large railway bridge on the river Birk. Gurley-Flynn is the one of 3 such bridges in the state, the other two being in Østbirk.

Nidarå
Nidarå is the largest and most populous of the states. It cover the vast plain where the Birk and Sag rivers meet to flow north. It has a land border with Great Arvantha, a state sinking into civil war and anarchy, which has led to a lot of cross border smuggling. The capital of Nidarå is Rathenow, the largest city in the Republic, situated at the confluence of the Birk and the Sag. Other settlements are the logging boom towns of Aarau and Zirknitz, the Silvermen town of Ikerne, the railway bridgehead of Vellenik, the farming communities of Bistriz, Fintschgar and Tarnow as well as the border town of Honowitsch where the river Birk enters the Hartlands from Arvantha. The city of Kjårstadt is the second largest in the state and features an important military fortress that blocks the entry further into the valley of the Sag.

Larvik
A state bordering Nidarå, Larvik covers the lower part of the Sag valley as well as the rocky Tarankow Hills in the south where it borders Arvantha. It's capital is Ronnenberg. Some other settlements are the logging and smuggling towns of Laibakow and Nordmarka which are both used to smuggle goods over the hills into Arvantha. Another important town is the agricultural hub of Gaudal. Larvik state is notorious for issuing its own currency, the Pine Tree Shilling, which is an ancient feudal right of the city of Ronnenberg that's never been revoked. Ronnenberg is also famous for frequent strikes such as the 552 Bloody Thursday which resulted in 466 dead. Ronnenberg is also the centre of the Stone Cults in the Hartlands, being home to the Monolith of the Ancestory and a starting point for pilgrimages into the Tarankow Hills.

Branwall
Situated at the extreme south-east of the country, bordering the nation of Great Arvantha to the south and the once-united Duchy of Lungland and the Federation of United Worker Councils to the east. Internally it borders the Hartland states of Birkenbruk, Nidarå and Eidsvool. The capital of Branwall is Walsenburg, a rail bridgehead. Additional settlements include the logging towns of Tschaag and Vorspuur (another rail bridgehead). To the east are the agricultural communities of Joe's Hill and Horlick which are plagued with Labourist rebels which enjoy support from the neighbouring federation. There have been many proposed plans to link up the rail system of Hartland and the Duchy of Lungland through Branwall, but these plans inevitably fail due to industrial sabotage. Most blame labourist rebels but experts suspect some other foreign powers are involved as well.

Eidsvool
Eidsvool borders Branwall and Birkenbruk to its south, the Workers Federation to its East and the open sea to its north and west. Its one of the smaller states that used to be part of the Lunglander sphere of influence during the times of the Ribsea League, hence the culture and language being similar. Its capital is the fishing port of Fiskhafn, additional settlements include Windwall and Passpunkt.

Tinnset
The state of Tinnset borders the sea to its north, Birkenbruk to its south-east, Kirkenær to the south and south-west and Moelven to the west. The state of Tinnset is geographically quite large but does not have many cities. Its capital is the fishing and merchant port of Neusavvaerk which features a rail connection to Østbirk. Additional settlements include the fishing towns of Ugerløse and Mjösbruket and the rail station and agricultural hub of Vrijheit, mainly inhabited by former serfs from Arvantha, Lungland and Torlingham that emigrated to Hartland.

Moelven
The state of Moelven borders on the sea in the east, the Grand Duchy of Torskland and the Archbisphoric of Fritigil to the west. To the south it borders the other Hartland states of Tinnset, Sagbruk and Kirkenær. The state is made up of large cold and rocky windswept plains making it the least inhabited of all the states. Its capital is the port city of Heiderør and the only other 2 settlements worthy of note in Moelven are the border town of Thyssen which stands on the Eastern bank of the river Peek, facing the Grand Duchy of Torskland on the other side. The other important town in the state is the rail hub of Kleijtel. During the Hartland independence war, the Arvanthan forces managed to occupy Rathenow, effectively splitting the country in two. The Eastern part could be supplied via the river Birk from the capital of Østbirk while the Western part along the river Sag was cut off from supplies. With the covert help and supplies from the Duchy of Torskland intelligence, the Hartland revolutionaries set out to quickly build over 200 km of rail from the North-Western port of Heiderør over the empty crags of Moelven and the uninhabited hills of Sagbruk to link up with the city of Saggen which was the northernmost navigable port on the river Sag, thus linking the isolated Western front on the Sag river with easy access to supplies and armaments, helping Hartland eventually win its independence. In the far south of the country there is a small Silvermen minority.

Sagbruk
The westmost state of Hartland. Sharing an international border with the Archbisphoric of Fritigil, the Heptapolis Alliance, the Adizhean Federation and Great Arvantha to the south. Internally Sagbruk borders on Larvik to the south, Kirkenær to the east and Moelven to the north. Sagbruk is famous for frequent labour unrest such as the Grüntal rebellion. The capital of the state of Sagbruk is Saggen, a city in the North on the river Sag. Additional settlements are the logging town of Grüntal, the rail link of Astor famous for being a national center of the lumber trade, the latest logging boom town for now known only as WTLU (Western Transport and Logging Union) Line Depot 104. Sagbruk also has many small logging towns scattered all across the state making it one of the most populous states in Hartland. In the north-east of the country the state also has a significant Silvermen minority centered on villages such as Bertxin.

Kirkenær
Kirkenær is the central state of Hartland which borders Tinnset and Moelven on the north, Sagbruk to the west, Larvik and Nidarå to the south and Birkenbruk to the east. The capital of the state is the rail bridgehead of Peekskill, the only settlement in the state with a rail connection. Most of the state is covered in heavily forested hills and features a Silvermen majority, centered on the old historic fortress towns of Urkullu, Ibarrex and Etexpare.

Demography
Diverse and varied but mainly young. Due to its multi-ethnic diversity most Hartlanders speak at least two languages, usually Hartlander Angir and Torsklander or Arvanthan.

Ethnic groups

 * Hartlander / Northmen / Angiro-Lunglander (53%)
 * Osterner (18%)
 * Northern Arvanthan (14%)
 * Silvermen (8%)
 * Adizhean (3%)
 * Cwyn and Aarcliffer (2%)
 * Other (2%)

Languages
For the Hartlands, I'd been thinking about it like this: >the major portage city as the focal point of a northern Unlandic dialect, presumably related to what the Arvanthans speak, forming a continuum with that tongue as one moves south out of the heavily forested regions and into sprawling plains and heavily farmed areas downriver, but inversely becoming less mutually intelligible with that tongue as one moves north into the forested valleys. >also probably the usual cultural divide between a growing urban center and rural townships being reorganized for resource extraction. I can't imagine that being very pleasant! >clannish "Silvermen" in the more marginal highlands regions, relict populations that until recently were nigh entirely disconnected from outside economics. Less focused on forestry and more on high-altitude ranching of, like, goats and shit. The name derives from what their distant ancestors were known for in ancient times: works of silver. >the northeastern harbor city would hold a significant foreign population. But perhaps foreign is the wrong word, but a centuries-old community of peoples whose original homeland is distant. A local patois of the Hartlander Unlandic dialect and whatever foreign lingua franca took root exists, assuredly with some Silvertongue loanwords. The lifestyle there is almost certainly shaped by access to foreign trade and the bounty of the sea. Bound to the rest of the Hartlands more by mutual economic interest than by culture, though that's changing as growing industry draws laborers of Unlandic stock from the countryside to the port city.

Religion
Religion in the Hartlands: The Stone Cults are based around ancestor worship centred around large white stone monoliths scattered around the continent. Many are engraved with ancient symbols lost to time and many more were engraved by the Brotherhood of Carvers, a Hundred Kings and Thousand Lords era order of blind monks who knew how to elegantly engrave the monolith with pious imagery and texts. Unlike the ancient eldritch carvings, the carvings of the blind monks can still be understood today. The monks had their heyday during the Marble Renaissance but have went nearly extinct since. Some of the more important monoliths in the Hartlands are:
 * Church of the Seas - New Synod (64%)
 * Church of the Seas - Contemplationist (16%)
 * Stone Cults (11%)
 * Old Gods (9%)
 * The Monolith of the Brine: Located on a rocky shore in the eastern state of Eidsvool, this monolith is covered in intricate carvings of sea creatures and other marine life. It is said that offerings placed at the base of the monolith will be carried to the deeps by the spirits of the sea, and that the monolith itself has the power to calm rough waters and protect sailors from harm.
 * The Monolith of the Wilds: Located in the heart of the Sagbruk Forest, this monolith is surrounded by a ring of standing stones and is carved with images of animals and plants native to the region. It is a place of pilgrimage for those seeking guidance and protection in the wilderness.
 * The Monolith of the Ancestors: Located in the city of Ronnenberg, this monolith stands in the center of the city's oldest cemetery and is carved with the names and images of the city's most illustrious ancestors. It is said that the spirits of the ancestors are able to communicate through the monolith and offer wisdom and guidance to those who seek it.
 * The Monolith of the Sky: Located on the highest peak of the Kjeldor Mountains, this monolith is carved with images of the stars and the constellations. It is a place of contemplation and enlightenment for those seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe.