Ah, yes. The River Kingdoms. A fascinating tapestry of chaos. To speak of it in the year 4703 AR, approaching 4704, is to speak of a moment of relative...well, not stability, for that word is a stranger here, but a moment of particular tension and opportunity. I have wandered through that land more times than I can count, often with a feeling of great weariness for the constant squabbles, but also with a sense of wonder at the sheer, untamed vitality of the place.
The River Kingdoms are not a single nation, but a hundred little ones, all vying for a fleeting moment of power. They are a collection of self-proclaimed city-states, bandit enclaves, and tiny principalities, each with a leader who claims to be a king for a week, a warlord for a month, or a baron for as long as his sword arm remains strong. The people here live by the principle that if you have the will and the might to take something, you have the right to keep it. This is why the code of the "Free Captains" of Avistan feels so at home here.
In the year 4703 AR, much of the region is still reeling from the great events that shook the north. The opening of the Worldwound was a cataclysm that, while far from their borders, sent ripples of refugees and displaced creatures south. The closure of the Worldwound in 4714 AR is still a decade away, and its presence looms large, affecting trade routes and contributing to the general unease. This means that a lot of what transpires in the River Kingdoms is driven by opportunistic groups looking to seize advantage from the chaos further north.
The great cities, such as Daggermark and Mivon, stand as anchors in this sea of anarchy. Daggermark, the "City of Daggers," is a hub of espionage and assassinations. In 4703, its spymasters are at their height, with agents fanning out across the Inner Sea region, all looking for opportunities to manipulate the fall of one kingdom and the rise of another. To me, it seems like a particularly dreary place, full of people who trust no one, not even themselves. I much prefer a good, honest goblin skirmish to the back-stabbing of Daggermark. But it is a necessary evil, I suppose, if you need a secret delivered or a troublesome lord... "removed."
Mivon, on the other hand, is a self-proclaimed empire, a place that believes it is destined for greatness. Its tyrannical rulers are forever trying to expand their borders, clashing with the other independent states. In 4703, they are likely plotting to annex another small settlement, perhaps a new town that has sprung up on a particularly fruitful trade route. Their arrogance is boundless, which, as I have seen in my long life, is often a prelude to a great and humbling fall.
The common people of the River Kingdoms are a resilient sort. They learn to be self-sufficient and to trust their neighbors only so far as they can see them. Life is cheap, but freedom is priceless, and they cling to it with a tenacity that would make a dwarf proud. The most common threats are not only rival lords but also beasts from the wilds—river drakes, boggards, and the occasional displaced monstrosity from the Echo Wood.