Hyperborea is a cold and sparsely populated Hyborian kingdom lying east of Asgard and north of Brythunia and the Border Kingdom. Much of the country consists of dark pine forests, ridged hills and poor soil, becoming increasingly wild and inhospitable toward the north.
Hyperborea was the first of the Hyborian kingdoms. In the distant past, one of the wandering Hyborian tribes abandoned its horse-hide tents and began building crude stone dwellings and fortifications. From these beginnings arose the ancient kingdom of Hyperborea, whose stone-building tradition remains one of its defining characteristics.
Its history has been marked by warfare with neighbouring peoples, particularly the Æsir and Hyrkanians. Hyperborea is an isolated and oppressive country of stone villages, ancient fortresses, impoverished serfs and powerful rulers. Slave-taking is deeply embedded in its society, and Hyperborean raiders cross into neighbouring lands in search of captives.
Many Hyperboreans remain tawny-haired and grey-eyed, resembling the original Hyborian population from which they descend.
Centuries of contact and conflict with neighbouring peoples have made their appearance considerably more varied. Nordheimer influence and intermarriage with Hyrkanian, Æsir and Zamorian peoples have introduced a variety of skin, eye and hair colours.
Hyperboreans nevertheless tend to share a distinctive build: they are generally very tall, gaunt and big-boned.
Heavy clothing suitable for Hyperborea's severe climate is common. Beyond this practical requirement, clothing varies considerably according to wealth and position.
Hyperborea is one of the least civilised of the Hyborian kingdoms. Life is harsh, the soil is poor and warfare and slave-raiding are common. Frequent conflict with neighbouring peoples has helped preserve a degree of savagery uncommon among the more settled Hyborian nations.
The majority of Hyperboreans live a serf-like existence in stone-walled settlements, obtaining a meagre living from poor soil and their herds. Their rulers inhabit the stone keeps and granite castles for which Hyperborea is known.
Superstition plays an important role in Hyperborean life. The country retains religious practices long abandoned by most other Hyborian peoples, while sorcery and sorcerous cults have gained considerable influence. This reputation, combined with Hyperborea's isolation, slave-raiding and powerful sorcerers, gives the country a sinister reputation abroad.
Hyperboreans are characteristically slow of speech, but this should not be mistaken for stupidity. Some deliberately benefit from foreigners assuming that slow speech means slow thought.
Hyperboreans have a reputation for cruelty and for using torture to instil fear. Their physical stature and reputation consequently make wandering Hyperboreans intimidating figures outside their homeland.
The traditional religion of Hyperborea is centred upon Bori, the ancient god-hero of the Hyborian peoples. Bori is associated with wisdom, war, victory and the dead. Unlike most southern Hyborians, the isolated Hyperboreans never underwent the widespread conversion to Mitra, and Bori's worship therefore survived among them.