So why not take your people there, kick out the fuddy-duddies, and make it a thriving, vibrant area?
well, cuz it sounds like they're having a fun time in the south with the war. why travel half a continent so you can have a new new realm half a continent away from anything?
needs new blood to go populate the area and break it up into smaller realms, IMO. Or a good influx of monsters