The Myrov Mariners

Judging from the tales told by travelers at taverns and around campfires, one could be forgiven for assuming that Togarmah is a gloomy, foreboding wasteland of craggy peaks, wind-battered plains, and mist-shrouded forests. Not so. While the Kingdom has plenty of those things, it also has some regions that many would call downright pleasant. After all, Solenna is the Togarmans' patron goddess, so surely the sun shines somewhere. And perhaps the jewel of Togarmah is the coastal domains of the Myrovs.

Though perhaps not as wealthy or as powerful as the Polavians, the Myrov clans were a formidable power in the days before the unification of Togarmah, controlling a few kingdoms and city-states along the western coast. This rise to power was aided by several factors - not only was the coastal climate more mild than that inland, allowing for more comfortable lives and longer and more bountiful crop harvests, the Myrov states had access to the water, allowing trade down the coast south to Vardessy and north into the Sea of Bartel and the Northlands. Furthermore, the Myrov lands boast plentiful forests, which made ship-building a prominent industry among their people. Not only do they supply timber to the thinly forested North, they build great ships of their own, taking them on voyages to foreign ports and returning with wealth. This strategic location allowed the Myrovs to profit greatly off of trade, and many proud merchant dynasties in the region today can trace their lineage back centuries.

The Myrovs still had use for war, though. They would soon learn that the Northmen could not be relied on to always come in peace, and to this day, their cities boast robust walls to repel raids, with Myrov castles dotting the coast. Furthermore, not all Myrovs were inclined to make their wealth through honest means, and the region developed a reputation for piracy as these fierce fighters turned their swords against any merchant vessels unlucky enough to attract their ire. Even now, many Myrovs can be found in the service to other lieges, lending their services out as mercenaries - or privateers.

Red hair is a trait commonly associated with Myrov ancestry in Togarmah, and it seems to be particularly common among these people, but is by no means universal. It is noteworthy that this feature is also not uncommon in Northmen, which has led several to speculate that the Myrovs have a higher than average amount of Northman blood - though it is wise not to make such an accusation to a Myrov's face unless you want to get punched.

Today, the Myrov cities remain some of Togarmah's richest ports. Some have fallen under the sway of the League of Three Crowns, some are loyal to the crown or other nobles, and others retain a bold independence, with their merchant princes holding a tight grip over the economy. They remain the backbone of Togarmah's navies and merchant fleets, and they can be found almost anywhere there is access to the sea, whether as traders or sellswords.