The Unclaimed Land
The stretch of continent now known as No-Folk Land has always been lush and arable. In the preceding Aeons it was the primary source of food for the Sol Alliance, cultivated by utilizing ancient magic to ensure bountiful harvests. The breaking of the Sun Machine and subsequent decline of the alliance's power changed this.
It earned its current name after being subject to eternal daylight and deprived of workers and soldiers who would have its fields tended and protected from the enormous beasts of the region for generations. Immense creatures that had been driven into isolation soon congregated in the area, feasting on the unguarded bounty now lying there. Old, unmaintained rituals built up magic and ran wild, accelerating the growth of the flora and even altering it dangerously in some cases. Those that had been left behind there were in a perilous situation indeed.
But if there is one constant truth of the folk it is that they always find a way to survive. They gathered as best they could, learning how to live around the beasts, what food was still safe to eat, and where they could settle safely. The famous Knights of the Open Road were born from these efforts. While it is not an easy life, those native to No-Folk Land still manage to thrive in it.
A certain ruthlessness comes from this state, and it is likely why the area has no true centralized power. Settlements tend to be wary of each other and very territorial. While the occasional warlord or noble might try for a bit of conquest, seldom get very far before their ambitions are halted by a similarly minded neighbor or the maw of a great beast.
The Monster Slayers
There are a great many efforts that maintain the livelihood of those living in No-Folk Land. Runners that are integral to communication, those who hunt and gather food, wise ones who help guide important decisions, and so forth. The most famous among them are the Monster Slayers, who are renowned throughout Outer World for facing the equally famous giant beasts of the region with skill and courage that is unmatched by any other warriors known among the folk.
So great is their reputation that fighters from all corners of Outer World come to seek their advice. A somewhat satirical song about a stony-faced general from Aiden facing numerous slapstick hardships while traveling all the way to No-Folk Land has only made the slayers all the more notorious by exaggerating their many deeds for comedic effect.
Of course, the truth is less gleaming. Survivorship bias means that the slayers with high mana affinity who return after multiple clashes with those terrible creatures are far more talked about than the many who perish during their very first confrontation with one. Those that have tried to point this out are often scolded for being killjoys.
