Paavi is perhaps the last anyone would expect in the far north. Located in the far north, at Icebreaker Bay, Paavi was originally a marginally important and neglected trading post, nominally sworn to the Middenrealm. Its golden age began almost a hundred years ago, when Geldana of Gareth arrived here. Geldana was a cousin of the newly crowned Emperor Perval and unlike the rest of her family, she was smart enough to flee the very moment Perval’s claim got confirmed. This saved her life, as Perval’s first order was to execute every single member of his family, who could become a threat to him due to their own claims, as well as his political rivals. Geldana was both, but Perval’s men were unable to follow her to the far north and the emperor eventually gave up on persecuting her, seeing how she was no threat to him up in Paavi.
Geldana found the small trading post with the help of Nivesian scouts and she took them and their traditions seriously. This brought her the respect of the local Nivesian tribes, who supported her and her small army of followers. Using trickery, Geldana claimed to be there on behalf of her cousin, the new emperor, and that she was supposed to become the new Duchess of Paavi. Nobody questioned this and before Perval was able to intervene, she had proclaimed Paavi’s independence. As the only actual state in the Nivesian lands, Paavi has become one of the most influential power players in the entire region. Geldana’s Middenrealm exiles and others, who later fled from Perval, or had to leave for other reasons, live there side by side with Nivesian tribes, who have sworn fealty to House Paavi.
Due to these two groups living so close together, Paavi has become a mixture of Middenrealm customs and Nivesian traditions, with the city itself being built in the style of a Middenrealm city, despite being surrounded by some of the most inhospitable lands in all Aventuria. Cultural exchange is encouraged and following Geldana’s tradition, as she married a Nivesian warrior who saved her life during her escape from Perval, the rulers of Paavi each married a member of the local tribes. This has led to the rulers of Paavi having strong Nivesian blood in their veins and though the Twelve Gods are held in high regards, especially Firun, the Nivesian Sky Wolves are openly worshipped. The current duke, Dermot, is Geldana's grandson and almost completely a Nivesian in terms of appearance and customs.