Situated in the northernmost reaches of the Realm of Ghyran, where it bleeds into Ghur, the continent of Gotholm is a cold, alpine land with several free cities, numerous small frontier settlements, and Sylvaneth enclaves situated amongst its heavily forested mountains and coastal plains. The central ridge of mountains that runs across the length of Gotholm, the Karlskrieg Alps, divides the continent almost in half, with Beastmen raids from Ghur coming right up to the mountains' line on the northern side. Skaven gnaw holes under the mountains forced Duardin of the Kolhblitzberg to abandon their hold during the Age of Chaos, later resettling among the new cities established by the liberators at the beginning of the Age of Sigmar. The Gotha and Ulf Tribes established in the latter days of the Age of Myth the foundations of the Free City of the Ulfberg, of which much has been told already.
The Karlskrieg Alps form the bastion against which the beasts of Ghur are barred from overrunning Ghyran. The centerpiece of this bastion is the Ulfberg itself. Towering above the entire alpine range, like a jagged speartip forged by the gods, the "Wolf Mountain" guards the passage between the two bleeding realms. The city of Ulfberg climbs the slopes of the mountain crowned at the peak by the Adlerhohen storm keep. At the foot of the Ulfberg lies the Drachenwald, a thickly wooded forest once settled by the Sylvaneth, but since abandoned because of the taint of Chaos and the numerous bands of Beastmen that wander its shadowed expanse. Beyond the wald to the south is the hill county dotted with forests and rivers that make for excellent sites for smaller settlements and farmsteads.
The Ulfberg, surrounded by the menacing Drachenwald.
To the west is flat marshland, foetid swamps, tainted from Nurgle's invasion centuries before. This expanse is known as the Neidermarsh, infested with Skaven and remnants of Nurgle's blight. It is, by decree, under the authority of the Princes of Ulfberg, the title of Landgraff long since given out to a distant branch of the Gotha dynasty. A rebellion of several peasant villages along the edge of the marshland was brutally crushed by Prince Sigebert, the great grandsire of the current Prince. Some say it was Chaos inspired rebellion, though others might suggest that Sigebert was a terrible ruler, letting the Council of Burhgermeisters tax the peasant farmers to levels of destitution not seen since the Age of Chaos. Sigebert's assassination a year after the rebellion was met with celebration in the outlying farmsteads. South of the marsh, along the broken, rocky coastline is the Grand Barony of Fjordland, a minor principality established in the wake of the conquests of the Stormhosts in order to further solidify Sigmar's liberated territories. Though lacking a Storm Keep, Fjordland has done quite well since it's founding. It's capital, the port city of Arrendelle, is home to a thriving fishing and whaling industry, along with seaborne trade from across the realm. Fjordlanders are still angry after the Ulfberger conquest and are reluctant to fight for the Kronprinz, regardless if the Baroness has been married off to his cousin.
Arrendelle, seat of the Grand Barony of Fjordland.
Oorstricht, the Great Seaport and capital of the Zeebund.
To the east along sandier coastlines and flat expanses is the Zeebund, a collection of cities in a loose trade confederation. The Zeebund has a fleet of ships that sails across the realm of Ghyran trading with a good many free cities, kingdoms, and even with the Kharadron Overlords when their great sky bound citadels appear overhead. several years prior to the current date, the Zeebund was defeated in a lightning war by the Ulfberger Wacht. The siege of Oorstricht, capital of the bund, ended the war with the Zeebunders' capitulation after the horrific death of the Stadholder when his upper torso was vaporized by a shot from the steam tank "Siegfried". His blood still stains the clocktower in the middle of the town square. Oorstricht is currently being expanded for the building of the "Royal Ulfberger Navy" to further the Kronprinz' dream of a united Gotholm. Numerous other small states exits across the length and breadth of Gotholm and with the rising tide of Skaven attacks, Chaos plots, and Beastmen raids, the dream of an "Ulfberger Empire" is still a long way off.
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