Koto Steppes

The Koto Steppes is a very sparsely inhabited region. Burshhame (pronounced as Bursh-hame) is its main hub. It is bordered by the Heartlands to the north west, Oknamizemoor to the west, and the Shattered Isles to the north.

The Koto is known for mainly three things: The vast open plains, the fiery red horses, and the supermassive trees that dot its landscape. Due to the sparsity of actual cover from the strong winds and winters that ravage the land, most settlements exist around the massive trees, one of the few trees able to withstand the harsh climate of the steppes.

The Koto steppes have the lowest crime rates in imperial lands. Due to the open and harsh landscape, it is possible to see from settlement to settlement, despite being sometimes dozens of kilometers away. Also, due to the lack of hills, mountains, and forests, there are no bandits or raiders to be found. It’s just not worth the risks.

Still, though the crime is very low, the death rates are high. The winters are far worse there than in other regions. You can die from starvation or exposition while outside settlements, or you can die within settlements due to illnesses, starvation, or a building collapsing under heavy winds, all caused by the harsh environment they live in.

For such reasons, and others,  the Koto is usually avoided save for the most hardy of people. Armies do not even bother trying to conquer it.

During the civil war of the 900’s, Bjorn’s Campaign, Burshhame and the steppes were allied with Queen Rin Takeda, but did very little to support the war. Bjorn, knowing that trying to conquer the city would be a huge waste of resources and would likely fail, rather ignored it and simply cut off roads leading to it. Though it has never been confirmed, it’s believed the leadership of the city signed a neutrality pact with Bjorn Varkamblood in turn for discreetly reopening vital supply roads to it. Thus Burshhame and the Koto steppes threw their lot in with Bjorn Varkamblood, while still officially supporting the Takedan queen.

During the Firmamental Break, most of the steppes’ population died out, and the few that survived, escaped westwards. However, after the Break was over, several returned home to the steppes, to find the weather to have gotten better and less hostile, similiar to weather patterns elsewhere. It still remains dangerous and harsh though.