(Please note that this map is still under revision and should only be used for rough reference).
The continent of Tarralon is composed of five great kingdoms, whose borders have been under dispute for as long as anyone alive can remember. Methods of governement range from monarchy, to democracy, to anarchy, but trade between the kingdoms runs strong, protected by a self-appointed peacekeeping force known as the Lawbringers. Under the protection of these knights, the towns trapped between the powers prosper, and manage to keep some semblance of order in spite of competing, and often conflicing judicial systems.
The Freelands are considered to be the most peaceful of the five corners of Tarralon. Founded long ago upon the premise that "if it doesn't harm people, let them do it," the Freelands operate under a loose democracy. Divided into Counties, each region elects its own council (or occasionally gets told who they will be), the heads of which meet a few times per year to form the great Counties Council. The system leaves everyone feeling that they have a say in the governing of the Freelands, but is undeniably slow when it comes to mobilisation of the military, as such an order may only originate with the Counties Council, which can take weeks to assemble.
County borders are only vaguely laid out, and those on the edge rarely have any particular care as to which side they are on today - if they even know. The up side of such an arrangement is that traderoutes run freely from one end of the Freelands to the other, with no interruption or need for inspection by suspicious guardsmen.
It is rumoured that the Freelands was once a part of the Western Provinces, but that they broke away due to general discontent with a non-elected ruling party. Whether this is true or no, an outsider to both would not immediately notice a vast amount of difference. The major distinction between the two is their political structure. While the Freelands are loosely tied at best, the Western Provinces are tightly connected under the watchful gaze of a common ruler. Exactly how this came about is unclear, but it seems that fate has placed the Western Provinces of today under the command of Maximillian Irontooth. If his ancestors were anything like their descendent, it is fairly simple to see why they became the rulers for the Provinces.
Due to the centralised command, military operations are much faster to organise than in the Freelands, and the naval might of the Provinces is not something to be sneered at.
Population is sparse in the Northlands, mostly because nobody can see any reason to live there. The land is mostly hilly, wet, and windy, and the soil considerably poorer than that found in the more populated parts of the continent. Those that have braved the elements to make a living here are generally skilled in both farming and hunting, and somewhat intolerant of outsiders.
The remote location and sparse population generally means that those wanted by the law in neighbouring areas often try to flee into the Northlands, and the area receives regular influxes of undesirables. It says something about the locals that only one in three new arrivals typically proves tough enough to make a living in their towns. It is not unknown for wanted criminals to return across the borders months after the local law enforcement stopped looking for them, only to surrender themselves because the jails of the Western Provinces and Freelands seem like luxuries by comparison with the freedom of the plains.
The Southern Desert is a gigantic area of land, and is almost the opposite of the Northlands in that it is flat, dry, and hot. Most towns are situated only at the edge of the desert and along the coasts. Because of the isolation that this frequently enforces, residents of such towns frequently welcome travellers bringing trade items and news from outside, although the lack of outsider interaction means that certain towns have developed peculiarities over the generations.
Those seeking to make their fortune and not afraid of hard work often brave a desert crossing to reach the centre of the desert, where, after many weeks of dry sand, they find a small oasis of habitable area, barely ten miles across, but one which contains some of the richest diamond mines known. Contact between the two towns at the mines and those on the far side of the desert is even more sporadic than for other settlements, and there are rumoured to be some strange customs and rituals that go on in the dead of night...
The Eastern Kingdoms are similar in climate to the Freelands, made largely of fertile river delta and grassy hills. Farming communities thrive in the valleys, and the hills are often rich in high quality stone, coal, and metal ores. Because of the resources in the area, there is an almost constant stream of trade caravans through the mountains and by sea.
The Eastern Kingdoms can be considered something of an anarchic coalition of regions, each fully governed by a king/emperor/overseer/dictator, and with no centralised government at all. Once in a while this system seems to produce a free and rich society, but often leads to a degree of oppression among the poorer members of the population. The Kingdoms are careful to keep relations sweet with the Freelands, as the Counties Council is known for attempts to establish a more democratic government in its neighbours, something which the average king of the east does not want to see happen.
The Westchain islands form an indirect route between the Freelands and the Provinces. Small towns cater to passing ships on this favoured traderoute, and occasionally entertain rich travellers with their quaint local customs.
