Ivgorod (Country)

Ivgorod was the name of a nation in the north of Sanctuary's western continent.

History
Home of an ancient culture, Ivgorod's people followed the tenets of the Sahptev faith. Ivgorod once held sway over its surrounding lands, including portions of Entsteig, and the northern deserts of Aranoch. Some of the land's rulers were interned in the Valley of the Ancient Kings.

During the 11th century, Ivgorod found in conflict with the Sons of Rakkis, as they marched west to spread the Zakarum faith. Sahptev was (and is) a vastly different religion from Zakarum, and as such, Ivgorod vehemently opposed Rakkis and his beliefs. Across the dunes of Aranoch, the two sides clashed in a series of one-sided engagements. The Kehjistani forces were masters of warfare across open terrain, and crushed their adversaries at every turn. Ivgorod's control over Aranoch was shattered, and the kingdom would never again reclaim its desert territories. However, the forces of Ivgorod continued to hound Rakkis as he led his crusade across the Tamoe Mountain Range, prompting Rakkis to construct Eastgate Keep as a safeguard against their attacks.

History would downplay Ivgorod's actions in this stage of Rakkis's campaign, though other sources speak of Ivgorod's forces being far more effective in the mountains than they had in the deserts. It has been said that Ivgorod intentionally lured the Kehjistani forces further north into the dense forests and craggy terrain that suited its kingdom's style of warfare far more than Aranoch. Here, the Monks of Ivgorod were unleashed, hounding the Sons of Rakkis at every turn. Rakkis's crusade turned into a true clash of faiths as his Paladins went toe to toe against the Monks. A clash of faiths on this martial scale has never since been seen.

As the Kehjistani pushed north, they also had to deal with the s as well. Ultimately, the Sons of Rakkis failed to conquer either Ivgorod or the Northern Steppes, and he was forced to retreat to Eastgate. Ivgorod's culture survived, but the conflict had taken its toll. Ivgorod was reduced to a city state.

Known Locations

 * Gorgorra
 * Ivgorod (capital)
 * Floating Sky Monastery
 * Mount Zavain
 * Sanctified Earth Monastery