The land and nation of the Alerans, it constitutes most of a continent, ending at the coast to the west and south, the Calderon Valley land bridge to the realm of the Marat, Maratea, to the east, and the Shieldwall to the north. The nation is divided into state-like territories named for the prominent cities, each ruled by a High Lord. Inside these territories exist various towns and steadholts where the majority of the free, non-citizen populace live. Each city fields the Legions that make up the military of Alera. These cities, and their lords at the start of the series, are: