Citadel King and Highland Clan

The Danian Highlands, which include the Harath and Dain Éduin mountain ranges, comprise some of the worst terrain in the region of the Silver Scale Sea. According to legend, the Highlands were once green and prosperous in the days of Geniche's Eden, but became blighted and desolate with her absence from the world. The original inhabitants of the Highlands were descendants of Queen Dara, daughter of Yhera, and called themselves Daradjans. Under barabaric kings and queens they led an isolated life, though they are recorded as amongst the defenders of Düréa at the Isle's fall.

After the fall of Düréa, the Daradjan warriors who returned brought with them Düréan refugees, who were granted lands and accepted as subjects of the realm of Daradja by Queen Lanys. Her hospitality and openness angered some amongst the mountain folk, who rejected the newcomers and began to refer to themselves as Highlanders (to distinguish themselves from the newer lowland arrivals to Daradja).

Though never a cause of outright violence, this schism continued to the point where even today the term Highlander is only applied to those that claim a direct descent from the original Daradjans, while the term Daradjan is used for anyone who lives in the Highlands regardless of bloodline or origin (though the realm of Daradja ceased to exist centuries ago in any meaningful political sense). Düréans who fled the sinking of the Isle, Danians and Aurians from the lowlands, Dekedrans and Tethedrans from the north, Galians and Vanimorians who settled there during Dauban Hess' brief rule, Hemispian adventurers who hunted Githwaine, even Isliklid exiles who have fled the Dain Éduins — all have over time mixed with the original peoples of the land, and come to be called Daradjans.

The stone citadels that dot the region, built by the ancient Daradjans and their most lasting physical legacy, have long fallen into the hands of different competing factions. In addition to the four great citadels of An-Athair, Finleth, Dara Dess, and Heth Moll, at least twenty minor citadels of ancient provenance (and dozens more keeps and towers of more recent construction) serve as seats of local power. The rulers of the ancient citadels generally claim the title of King or Queen, though the usage of such titles is far more informal than the strict hierarchies of the Middle Kingdoms. The only title of rank for high-born landholders acknowledged throughout the whole of the Highlands is lord; lords acting in a martial capacity who can muster a full banner — a military unit of at least 20 mounted soldiers — are called banner lords. Other titles (the ancient Danian erl, the Hemispian baron, the Imperial title of dux or duke) are claimed on occasion, but are not a matter of common usage.

The Highlanders that claim direct descent from the ancient Daradjans long ago established themselves as the Clans, and claim the status of exiles in their own land. The Clans generally eschew the politics of the region's other inhabitants, and dwell in the most desolate areas from the Dain Éduins to Pela's Gap. By tradition the Clans' military might has been the Free Companies, standing bodies of mercenaries often viewed by outsiders as little better than brigands (Highlands Companies have even taken to piracy in the Kedran Gulf). Eight Highland Companies of some history — the Marauders, the Silverwings, the Blackhearts, the Long Claws, the Leatherskins, the Bronzehearts, the Blackwings, and the Ironclads — currently serve the King of Dara Dess.