The north lands, those of the Free Lands, Kaald, and ever the territory/kingdom of Kalascor all follow the Freelander Way – a set of written and unwritten laws and traditions that emphasize personal freedom, responsibility, and decry the formation of any authority larger than a city-state.
The Distrust of the High King/Heartlanders: Many of the inhabitants of Dundaria surrendered, despite the pledge of D’menco, and were killed en masse and returned as eternal servants to their new masters. Those who survived fled west and changed the entire culture of the north – bringing their distrust and anger with them. This is the source of the free north’s violently independent perspective – all kings, occult orders, and most divine orders abandoned them, in their opinion. None of them are trusted now. Once the Pine Tribes of the north were enemies and competitive – now they fight together, both cultures transformed by the influence of and inter-marriage with the other.