Location from The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb
A realm of peaks and passes ruled by a 'Sacrifice' — a culture where rulers exist to serve, not command, and where Kettricken learned the values that made her a better queen than the Six Duchies deserved.
The Mountain Kingdom operates on principles that baffle the Six Duchies. The ruler is called the Sacrifice, because that's what the role requires — the leader who gives the most, who serves rather than commands. The culture values community, shared labor, and a directness in personal dealings that the court-trained Duchies find almost rude. The air is thin and cold and incredibly clear. The Mountain people are hardy, independent, and quietly proud of a civilization that the lowlanders consistently underestimate. Their herbal medicine and healing arts are more advanced than anything in the Six Duchies.
Dramatic mountain terrain — soaring peaks, deep valleys, alpine meadows, and rushing rivers fed by snowmelt. The architecture uses timber and stone in harmony with the landscape, built into the mountainsides rather than imposed upon them. Everything is scaled to the mountains — vast, clean, and vertically oriented.
Also known as: Mountain Kingdom, The Mountains