Pathfinder Region Deepdive: Irrisen

Dropping this one a little early for all of you! Welcome back to our Deep Dive series!
After spending a week in the most southern parts of the Mwangi expanse, its time to head back north to explore the Linnorm Kingdoms' neighbor of Irrisen!
▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - The History of Irrisen
14:18 - Irrisen Today
18:44 - Bleakmarch
26:57 - Feyfrost
33:18 - Thronehold
39:17 - The Verge
44:34 - Wintercrux
53:44 - The Hoarwood
And don't forget to Like & Subscribe!
CREDITS
The large high-res map I use is not a Paizo official map, but the work of the incomparable Rob McCaleb ( www.artstation.com/robmccaleb ) used here with their gracious permission.
Content for this video came from "Irrisen: Land of Eternal Winter" by Mike Shel
If you enjoyed this video, please support Paizo publishing by purchasing this product or others.
paizo.com/products/btpy8w7f?P...
#paizo #pathfinder #golarion #innersea #roleplaying #rpg #history #lore #d&d #Irrisen #BabaYaga

[@danacoleman4007]

You are most definitely NOT wasting anyone's time!!!!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha! Thank you!

[@McGrewer]

idk how rebellion is even considered at this point. Baba Yaga literally crowns each queen and they've done the song and dance more then a dozen times now.

[@casimirlawnicki8990]

Hell yeah!! This is my favorite region in all of Golarion. My first game was based in this place. We beat the ever-loving canonical crap out of Rasputin here. Best. Fight. Ever.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Radical! Reign of Winter is such a funny and different AP. What a way into Golarion.

[@sullyb23511]

This place sounds like something out of a fairy-tale nightmare. I love it.

[@the_mexican_spy5584]

What I learned : "Somehow, Baba Yaga has returned." More seriously, great video as usual.

[@TheMythKeeper]

😅

[@edwardchytil8868]

These region deep dives are amazing! ❤I love learning about all these regions keep it up!

[@briegroncal1551]

The QUALITY of your vids coupled with the rate you make them is insane! Keep it up, cause I’m one of many ardent supporters

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks for the praise! I plan to do my best to keep the pace and quality up.

[@zacharystanley8852]

This feels like a history channel show from the 1990s-early 2000s, and i mean that as a really really good thing! Keep it up!

[@josephheitman652]

My campaign hinges off of this video. Thank you!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Appreciate hearing this! Thank you so much!

[@winterkalte9592]

As russian, I appreciate your correct pronunciation! Top notch content, as always

[@TheMythKeeper]

You're welcome! I'm trying my best!

[@chazzwozzio]

Literally had no idea Anastasia was pronounced that way. Wild!

[@rivogrimm6402]

Your deep dives are absolutely magnificent! I'm about to make the move behind the screen and these are absolute gold for me.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you so much Rivo! Moving behind the screen is work but its the most rewarding version of the game.

[@pavelowjohn9167]

I've run five complete APs and two half-way complete and I would easily place Reign of Winter as the best one out of that group. While Rise of the Runelords, Wrath of the Righteous and Kingmaker get a lot of attention these days, RoW would absolutely be the first campaign I would suggest to anyone playing PF 1st edition and the setting of Irrisen is a big part of why it is so good. Thanks for the deep dive and keep up the good work!

[@OldGreyGryphon]

It’s always a good day when MythKeeper posts!

[@Boglorio]

Irrisen is definitely one of those places I wouldn't shed a tear for if it got it's very own Worldwound or similar apocalypse.

[@watdahill]

Nice...very Nice😆

[@Cuntrag89]

Didn't realize how many settlements have Polish names!

[@TheMythKeeper]

A lot of Polish names in Irrisen for sure!

[@shaunaniguns]

Yay! This is my favorite region of Golarion and it does not get enough attention! Thank you so much and you are absolutely not wasting anybody's time, ours or yours. Keep up the great content I love watching/listening to these videos over and over again while I'm doing other things, they help me prep for game.

[@DaDunge]

I mean I can see why. I can't see myself playing in a region which dips into earth pseudohistory and conspiracy BS. The basic themes are cool but the links to earth and Russia of all places is a hard no for me.

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@DaDunge Your mileage may vary, is a good overview of big chunks of the setting, but the setting is so vast you'll amost certainly find something that is to your liking. Watch the Osirion or Vidrian deep dives for something that is very different.

[@DaDunge]

@@TheMythKeeper I mean I can salvage Irrisen with minor changes. Change the names Baba Yaga and Anastasia and remover any reference to it being in the same universe as earth.

[@kythian]

​@@DaDungeI have the same problem with Numinaria; I absolutely do not like the sci-fi aspect of the realm or the associated AP. I enjoy a good sci-fantasy as much as the next person (I even have my own such setting and game system), but I just can't abide the mix in a more "traditional" game setting. (Same reason I strongly dislike Ebberon.) Mixing genres is always tricky, and it will inevitably turn some folks away. (At the same time, it will also attract those seeking something different.) To each their own!

[@linkhyat5917]

if somebody feels like your videos are a waste of time, they're in the wrong feed man. gimme ALLLLL the details on these deep dives! ❤

[@DargorV]

You're never wasting our time 👍

[@ELCare86]

Love these videos.

[@israelmorales4249]

excellent work!, thanks for this video!

[@burningbronze7555]

I have been looking forward to this

[@phatasticpat5374]

Always love seeing your video pop up

[@DCM68W]

Love these videos! Great work

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you so much Hank! I really appreciate the support & super glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@Jo-Heike]

Oooohhh, I am excited about this one.

[@JasonDBG]

I am glad I have found this channel. Wanted to learn about the world of Pathfinder even if I don't tend to play in established settings. Nice to have stuff to steal from.

[@frederickgleicher1385]

Wow ! Amazingly done !

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you so much Frederick!

[@crazygeordie1383]

love these deep dives keep up the good work

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks Crazy!

[@davidpotts2299]

Great video appreciate all the hard work on it

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@MrTotalAhole]

YES!! A one hour deep dive! I just love these. Hey Myth, as always I really appreciate all the hard work and time you put into these.

[@joshuakirkham9593]

After this, I want to run a campaign in Irrisen.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Its a great place to run one

[@mrredoak1008]

Goodsir you spend the time to say everything correctly is exactly the reason we all tune into your deep dive and more videos it's just one small gesture among many that shows quality in your videos and the care you take to make them

[@TheMythKeeper]

Awww! that's so nice, thank you!

[@madisondwaina96]

Not a waste of time l, I eagerly await these videos.

[@aras_knight]

Excellent video as always! I'm really excited to see if a video about the Realm of Mamoth Lords is coming in the future

[@TheMythKeeper]

Coming soon! It’s already recorded!

[@exquisitane233]

Hey! I just found this channel. It's great! Thanks 🙏

[@TheMythKeeper]

Welcome to the channel!

[@enigma9971]

I bet you're the best Game Master of all time

[@TheMythKeeper]

My players have a good time at the table for sure 😅

[@johndoe4373]

I hope we get in depth videos like this for the entire pathfinder setting! The level of detail is incredible and useful for game running. Thanks for tackling this!

[@TheMythKeeper]

That's the plan!

[@yomama211]

I understand now how new players feel about the realms. Looks like a great area to set a west marches campaign.

[@Basch2007]

I love hearing the Deep dives, wish to hear one with and about Geb which would also have to include Nex and the Mana Wastes with Alkenstar since they are all connected. The quality is the best i have seen so far. Keep up the great work.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you so much! Also you should know I'm about 2/3 done recording my Geb video. I have a few more videos queued up between now and then, but its coming.

[@gewdguy6972]

I cannot wait to see you do a deepdive on Numeria

[@TheMythKeeper]

We're getting there!

[@jedbex7070]

This is perfect timing! I’m starting a campaign based in Irrisen (first time Pathfinder DM, semi experienced 5e DM)

[@TheMythKeeper]

Glad I could be of help, you'll have a lot of fun here.

[@MrGarlic157]

Making in depth character background is so easy now. I can say what town In what region doing what the town is known for

[@TheMythKeeper]

You're welcome. That's exactly the hope here.

[@LeWebslinger]

Thanks for the clarification!! I love trying to use correct pronunciation and failing miserably but respectfully

[@ereviscale3966]

If you finish all of the regions you should make one giant super-cut of them all! I would watch an 8 hour video if you made one, definitely not wasting MY time!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Hahah, it would be way, way, way longer than 8 hours. It would be a 60 hour video or something.

[@achillesrodriguezxx3958]

I really love your content, I'm interested in the history of the various nations of golarion after seeing a brief description of it in the games. Would u be covering the history of Mendev anytime soon?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yes but it's about 5-6 deep dives out just based on what else I've got coming through, and the Deep Dives are one in every three of my weekly videos, so you can do the rough math on that to figure out when it'll land. 😅

[@robfrank3423]

Impressive

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks Rob! Its nice to see from the comments you slowly making your way through all the vids. ;-)

[@robfrank3423]

@TheMythKeeper I wouldn't be binging your videos if they weren't of great quality, you do a great job, but which episode about ancestry has the changings

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@robfrank3423 Its called "Special Bloodlines"

[@robfrank3423]

@@TheMythKeeper found it, forgot I watched it

[@RicardoPM777]

Nice! Now I know how to pronounce baba yaga

[@davdav1370]

Lets see, wearing mother's hand as amulet, poking everyone's eye in entire province, sleepless paranoid Baroness, every ruler exposed after century, real life person as current ruler...Irrisen is one interesting region I must say. In fact, so far I find it most fascinating region (I've watched abut half of these regional deepdives so far, it will be interesting to see if something will topple it :)) Also just a small nitick, baba Yaga is Slavic mythical figure, it is not exclusively Russian one, pretty much every Slavic group has it's own version of baba Yaga folklore, and in my language correct pronunciation is one that you used originally (ya-ga instead of yee-ga).

[@TheMythKeeper]

Good to know, thanks for the note

[@ripper1157]

Long videos are good!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks sir! Feels like they're getting longer too! 😅

[@skyfatherproductions4929]

Next video nidal. I guess

[@TheMythKeeper]

We're going back to Garund for the next video. I plan to bounce back and forth between north and south for a while to keep it fresh.

[@stormelemental13]

@@TheMythKeeper I'd enjoy one on Andoran. While it gets less attention today, it was one of the first parts of the Inner Sea to be developed and have adventures. It's also fundamental to understanding the political landscape of the Inner Sea, and a sensible fit as you've already done Taldor and Cheliax.

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@stormelemental13 That's definitely one I'm holding back on a little bit, but I hear you and we will definitely get there eventually.

[@andresmullerbeck2427]

Woo! My favorite country on Golarion! I had a winter witch character in PFS. She most certainly did NOT eat children, not even the exceptionally plump ones or even on holidays when visiting her mother in the old country... any more.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha! Nice

[@historicallyelaine]

My group loves your videos, and as their GM, I find them incredibly useful. One thing I'd love to know, though: where'd you get the big world map that you use? I've never been able to find anything so up-to-date and detailed!

[@TheMythKeeper]

I don't have the ultra-high-res available at the moment, but I can share the version I posted to Imgur with the various elf-gates on it - imgur.com/gallery/gIguRr4

[@historicallyelaine]

@@TheMythKeeper this is very nice to have, thanks! If it's not too much trouble, the high-res version you describe would be an incredible resource for the community at large. Alternatively, if it's something you've personally made and/or maintained, I would gladly subscribe to a patreon

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@historicallyelaine As of 2 minutes ago I have a membership set up with KZbin! No Patreon yet, but thanks to your comment I've included the full res map there. Check my Community tab for my latest. There's also a bunch of additional content already up on the members section that I had ready to go.

[@boris_bulletdodger9109]

Positive comment

[@misterion8920]

Thank you for your concern about pronouncing Russian names correctly. This is worthy of respect.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks! I am trying!

[@rafamucha5385]

If proper pronuncation is important to you, then you might want to revise some of the names. Watching the video I was able to see elements of several slavic languages, including russian, polish and czech. Of the top of my head: Jadwiga is a polish name, pronounced "Yadviga", Czarny Las ("Charny Las") means Black Forest and Nadzieja Lato ("Nadzieya Lato") can be roughly translated to "A hope of summer". I know, it's not easy to unlearn everything you know about letters but that's slavic languages for you. Also, great videos. I'm preparing to run my first Pathfinder campaign soon and your videos are a great lore crash course. Keep up the good work.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks! I also appreciate all the pronunciation tips!

[@Grevnor]

And I thought fighting Rasputin in WW1 era Russia was the craziest part of Reign of Winter. I really must get on reading the final few adventures, it seems.

[@herkles5416]

Irrisen is a fun land, I like the various slavic elements, not just Russian but Polish, Ukranian, Belarussian and so on that litter the land. Good video :) I am not quite sure the religions of Irrisen but one that I would use far more prominently is Alglenweis, the chaotic good daughter of Kostchtchie whom you did mention. A witch deity worshipped in Sarkosis and the Mammoth Lord Lands which also covered part of Irrisen. especially if a player is playing a winter witch who is more good aligned One thing that I have always wondered about and I don't know if Paizo will address is what religion does Anastasia follow. Is she still an Orthodox Christian, thus implying there might be orthodox christian characters. if so, I can imagine that the faith would change quite a bit in a world with other deities, non-humans and magic.I don't know if Paizo plans to address this but probably not, but it is something that I would want addressed. this matter is why I have occassionally considered that instead of making Anastasia the Queen of Irrisen, it is Vasilisa the Beautiful, who also hails from slavic folklore and mythology but notably isn't a real historical person.

[@TheMythKeeper]

I think your change is not a bad idea, if I'm honest. I present the content in my video in an unbiased format - just reporting the facts - but frankly using a real-world historical figure in the game world doesn't sit perfectly right with me. Not entirely sure about her religion either, but if I were using her in my game I'd probably have her either be agnostic or embrace an Irriseny faith (like Alglenweis!)

[@patriciusthehumanfighter3642]

I shouldn't be surprised at this point whenever historical figures make an appearance in TTRPG lore. It has a certain I-don't-know-what that ties these worlds to our own. I wouldn't say it makes it more grounded, but I think that's the closest term I can think of. Great video, Sir. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

[@DaDunge]

I roll my eyes and change the names.

[@marcussimoes2909]

a very fun novel about Irrisen it´s pathfinder tales winter witch

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks for the book plugs Marcus. Keep them coming! 🙂

[@pugking4518]

Agreed it's a pretty fun novel but it does feel rushed they should have made the novel into three books instead of just one

[@marcussimoes2909]

@@pugking4518 like the "Liars trilogy", That's my favorite pathfinder tales titles

[@jjschm20]

I’m down for every region/nation being given this treatment.

[@TheMythKeeper]

That's the goal!

[@DaDunge]

Given the choice of putting a Russian in charge an letting the witches stay I would go with the witches. I wonder how many east European pathfinder players relaized who she was and said "Yeah no we're not gonna help her".

[@TheMythKeeper]

Russia has always been a messy complicated place. Communists killed the Tsars, the Soviet Union was succeeded by the oligarchs and today its a dictatorship. I don't know maybe enough time has past that the sins of old world nobility doesn't have as much weight any more... In any case America in particular has always had a romanticized view of the Tsars and frankly of the British royal family and anyone else that has ties to old world nobility, maybe because they are fortunate enough to never have had any nobility of their own. That said your mileage will definitely vary on this aspect of the lore, and like everything else you take the bits you like and you leave what you don't.

[@DaDunge]

@@TheMythKeeper There is old world nobility and there is Russia. I live in a monarchy right now. But the Russians tsar, the soviet premiers and Putin they are all the same manifestations of the same authoritarian tendencies. Read the courier of the tsar by Jules Verne (Which i use as an exmple because i happened to be rereading it right now) and consider how much the fear of confiding in strangers he describes in that echo the current state. Look at the fact that Catherine the great, what passes for an enlightened despot in Russia tried to wipe out the Krim tartars, this was attempted again by Stalin and right now again by Putin. Russia never really changes. I dont mind a setting inspired by Russia. But yeah I will defiantly be changing the names of Baba Yaga and Anastasia if I were to run a campaign in this part of Golarion.

[@zesky6654]

@@TheMythKeeper As an eastern European, I'd have plunged Irrisen into anarchy before allowing a Romanov to breathe air.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

​@@zesky6654 as an eastern European you would be a vassal of another more powerful nation with no input on anything.

[@mboatrightED300]

So at what point do you, as Baba Yaga’s daughter, notice the pattern and turn down the job of queen? 😅

[@TheMythKeeper]

I think they get it now, but 100 years of being the boss, that's not a bad gig. Plus I'm not sure they have the right of refusal... 🤔

[@israelmorales4249]

Please, do the Deepdive of Mendev, i want to nknow more about the worldwound

[@TheMythKeeper]

Its coming but it's about 5-6 deep dives out just based on what else I've got coming through, and the Deep Dives are one in every three of my weekly videos, so you can do the rough math on that to figure out when it'll land.

[@israelmorales4249]

@@TheMythKeeper No problem, i can wait, every work you upload it's great, so it's worth the wait!

[@Sjaddix]

Still Funny to me that Baba Yaga and Old Mage Jatembe hang out together

[@TheMythKeeper]

I totally use that picture in my next video too. ;-)

[@Sjaddix]

​@@TheMythKeeper I mean it makes sense they hang out. How much of the old guard Humans are really around...Its them, the Runelords and Geb. Its more weird cause Old Mage Jatembe is Neutral Good while Baba Yaga is Neutral Evil.

[@MrFahqup]

Now do it again in a Ray Romano voice, or I too, shall be counted among the upset.

[@aidanhearn4210]

At the end of our Reign of Winter run, my gfs character was Anastasia's Ice Magic tutor and adopted mother and my character was her Ulfen Bodyguard and Champion. It was a great run and fun campaign

[@TheMythKeeper]

That sounds awesome

[@Pathsfound]

I have one question: where do you get your maps from?

[@TheMythKeeper]

The original underlying map was not mine, and I'd credit the original creator, but I do not know where it came from as I grabbed it years before I created the channel. I am no longer able to find that original version online. It may be a high-res official Paizo map in fact, as if you look in the books its actually identicaly. All of the regional maps with the colored overlays are my creation.

[@DCJMS]

My guess is that someone at Paizo was a big fan of the Anastasia film.

[@TheMythKeeper]

🤣

[@chazzwozzio]

Who knows? Shhhhh

[@philhudson3619]

My Sorcerer is from here

[@ethanbest9110]

How many times do you have to see your siblings get out in cosmic time-out before you learn to behave?

[@TheMythKeeper]

14 times. 14 times should do it. I have high hope for the new queen...

[@pugking4518]

@@TheMythKeeper I am not too sure about that because the nobility don't see her as there queen I am not saying it's impossible but she will not have a easy time that's for sure just look at how they treated Pavlina the nobles of Irrisen have a low opinion on being kind to the common folk and have no problems out casting you if you are high up in Irrisen society

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@pugking4518 You're right of course. I'm really curious what kind of AP we get out of Irrisen in 2E.

[@Krustulum]

Welp, this is kinda of Russia on Golarion.

[@lordebrazen]

and I thought Ustalav was brutal...

[@TheMythKeeper]

🤣

[@marcolinosalgarone9442]

Baba Yaga Your second pronunciation is the one use in john wick, so I suppose that is the one used in non-slavic languages, I' italian and I never heard the first pronunciation

[@TheMythKeeper]

My understanding is that the first unstressed 'a' gets kind of eaten in the word if you're Russian. The same is true of the name Boris which sounds more like Baris apparently. Its a really difficult language to pronounce correctly. Italian is an almost completely regular language (which is why I love it) so its much easier to pronounce. ( Sono Italiano anche io 😉 )

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Gun Fu of John wick is cringy. 3/10 series

[@drakonyanazkar]

My shit got flipped when you mentioned Anastasia Romanov. I was like "really?! Did they just go with the actual name of a historic person?!" No, brother. They _took the historic person herself!_ Very creative use of the fact Anastasia had disappeared. Of course, now we know the bolsheviks did not spare her (wisely). But it's a cool twist and addition to the world of Golarion.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah its a weird choice for sure 😅😅😅

[@Rosarosa106]

Is there Pathfinder “mongols”?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yes, see my second human ancestry video for a breakdown of the various Tian ethnic groups.

[@irvenman]

I thought Anastasia was just Paizo using the name of the historical figure for their fictional character. I can't believe they actually did a Drifters-style* isekai and had the historical figure transported to Golarion. *For those who don't know, Drifters is the name of the manga/anime about historical figures transported into a fantasy world. It's far better than most isekai stories out there.

[@pugking4518]

Not just Anastasia but Rasputin too he is the father of Anastasia

[@MadAtreides1]

Irrisen is perhaps the worst written of all Golarion regions. Every quenn ruled ininterrupted for a century, every riot and revolt failed miserably, and yet, even with this incredible internal stability that would have allowed for incrediblo plots between Irrisen and its neighbours, almost every queen did NOTHING for their entire 100 years reign.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Strange opinion

[@goransekulic3671]

Definitely not a nice place to be. Even in spite of its very striking winter aesthetics.

[@SonicSanctuary]

Jesus and you think living in chiliax looks bad....

[@TheMythKeeper]

😅

[@DaDunge]

This region might have been cool without the whole "linked to earth" crap. Especially dragning Anastasia Romanova into it when her body is very much with the rest of the Romanovs. We've tested the bones genetically.

[@hikerwolfspaine8200]

Average Slavic lore.