Nation Name:
Grand Duchy of Calenberg

Ethnic Peoples:
Calenburg

Ethnic Description:
The people of Calenburg are of the classic human stock, a tough, ingenious, industrious, and highly motivated species. Blonde and red hair is very common in this region, darker hair being much less so. Like most humans they breed quickly and there is never a shortage of new children to be raised in the true image of the Calenburg Knightly Spirit.

The average male in the Grand Duchy is around six feet tall, usually has blue or green eyes and some variation in hair colour ranging from white to red. Albino's are not so uncommon that it would cause you to stop and stare. Men are typically clean shaven and wear their hair short. Knights on the other hand tend to wear their hair to collar length and the only ones you find with a beard are Master Craftsmen as a symbol of their own skill set.

Women in Grand Duchy tend to be tall like the men, with fair hair, the longer the better, and strong lean figures. A woman who can fight is just as valuable as a man. Women have their own codes of conduct in some ways, and in fact tend to treat each other more civilly than the men do. The current fashion involves a long flowing braid down the back with a smaller braid that wraps about the right side of the head. Most have blonde or red hair, though the odd few are darker, hinting at their savage heritage. Some of the cruelest figures of the Grand Duchy happen to be female, the most famous being Mariel Skall, known for skinning her enemies alive and allowing her dogs to feast on the bloodied flesh. Not a pretty image, but one indicative of violence the fairer sex are capable of.


Geography:
It is easy to see why Calenburg was chosen to be the landing place of Ardall the Conquerer. The land is fertile, lush and welcoming to a well mounted invader. The Emperors use of horses, now copied by the Grand Duchy, made it possible for him to subjugate the region with ease. The coastlines are long white sand beaches broken here and there by ragged outcroppings of rock and fine natural harbours. Impressive still are the huge rivers that pour into the ocean, creating vast deltas and sandbanks. Following these rivers inland reveals a landscape of rolling plains, semi-rocky hills, excellent fertile soil and huge lakes. In the midst of it all is a huge rift, known quite accurately as the Great Rift, all that remains of a great movement in the earth long before men came to Ardacia.

The Great Rift is rumoured to have no bottom, at least none that can be seen by men, and into this mysterious gap pour a pair of rivers, one on either end. No bridge exists across its width though a man might shoot a straight bow across it with a favourable wind. The land on either side of it is particularly wealthy in small hard gems of various colours, the Imperials harvested them for their toughness and beauty and the Grand Duchy has continued the tradition.

Spreading out from the rift lie great prairies, golden grasses and grains waving in the wind everywhere a man might turn. Hilltops are not so rare they are remarkable but any hilltop worth noting has a fort or tower upon it to keep watch for an enemy. Many of these, Imperial by construction, have fallen into disuse as their need diminished and the Grand Duchy only maintains the most necessary ones.

Roads are straight as an arrow here, running from one city, town or fort to the next. Built by the Imperial Army to allow for quick travel they are of excellent fitted flagstones and marked every mile by well chiseled marker stones. Where they cross a river, a fine bridge has been built, where they meet each other a town has sprung up. Very few settlements lie far from the main roads.

To the north the great forests encroach upon the plain. Smaller forests are common throughout the Grand Duchy but nothing like the immense woods that lie brooding on the furthest border. Being people of the horse, the Calenburg tend to stay well clear of the woods save for logging purposes and even then it is a rare venture. Their own buildings are of stone taken from massive pit quarries.

The rivers are vast and deep, so wide in some places a man might not be able to tell where the far side ends and the plains begin. Ferry crossings are available in a few places but where roads end, river travel begins. Much of the trade and commerce in the Grand Duchy goes by the rivers, low barges with oars and square sails carrying the trade of the world up and down. In a few places there are waterfalls, cunningly avoided with a series of horse power locks that can be flooded and drained to allow vessels to pass.

Lakes are equally deep and impressive, huge smooth surfaces that are always ruffled by the wind that never seems to entirely cease in Calenburg. Fishing boats ply the surfaces and occasionally one is lost to something far larger than fish. The attacks only occur at night and for that reason the lakes, and even the rivers, can be quite empty at night save for the call of wild beasts and the roar of some huge creature.

And always there are the plains, huge wandering expanses that provide as much protection through their size as they do food. To move across the face of Calenburg is to be watched for two days and a night before one comes to their destination. The amount of water that exists makes it easy for an army to move across its face but the creatures that lurk in the plains can be deadly to man and beast alike. Predators of grace, power and great cunning, they hunt man and horse alike if given the chance. The only sure way to ensure they cannot prey upon the populace is to burn their habitat.

One of the great fears in the Grand Duchy is fire. Every year infernos sweep the plains, burning and rejuvenating the landscape. This unfortunately often means man and horse as well for no horse can outrun the cleansing fire. The towns and cities have their walls as much for military defence as for keeping the flames from entering their streets. This is not always an advantage, one only needs to be told the story of Luneberg. This once growing town found the flames licking at its walls and the populace inside discovered that the town had been built in the wrong area when the wind was unable to lift the smoke and so several thousand died within the walls of smoke inhalation. The town still sits empty today, the smoke blackened gates closed for all time like a giant tomb.

Culture:
Generally speaking the people of Calenburg consider themselves superior to all of the other peoples they encounter. This is most likely a result of being the first conquered by Ardall, and so benefitting the most from his patronage. They are an arrogant, and sometimes rightly so, group of people. They are the jacks of all trades and work hard to achieve mastery in all that they do.

The very nature of being human however ensures that there is a wealth of corruption and sinister goings on, and those who seek to work evil are just as skilled as those working for a better world. An undercurrent of kidnappings and sale of citizens is not uncommon, even if illegal. The existence of a Pro-Imperial undercurrent still exists and religious turmoil is almost constant.

Some Imperial customs can still be found in the styles of Dance enjoyed in Calenburg, for no one can resist a classic Crazatian Whirl. It is a dance where a man and a woman alternate in taking quick steps over a pair of crossed swords to an ever increasing drumbeat, accompanied by Imperial Pipes of course.

Education is encouraged in Calenburg and multiple universities and colleges exist, including a Mages College on the Island of Terazlein, in the centre of Selena Lake. The name of the lake, incidentally, is taken from a young woman who is said to have cried the lake into existence when the Imperial Army first destroyed the native temples that once graced the island. A story, but a good one perhaps. The various educational institutions tend to specialize in one thing or another. The most well known across the entire continent is the Navigators College. Here, amongst the great libraries of the Imperial founders, a young men or woman of any nation is welcome to study the world. Once they have found an interest they are encouraged to travel and seek out that interest, study it, and return with knowledge to share. The College even helps fund expeditions. The Navigators are generally considered friendly to all and not required to hold allegiance to anyone but themselves.

There is of course the most important topic in Calenburg, one that could be devoted to a thousand books but the shorter version is more interesting and leaves out the bit about breeding. That topic is of course horses. The Calenburg consider themselves the People of the Horse. When the Imperial Army first landed the locals viewed the horse with awe and terror. As they were absorbed into Imperial society they came to master the great creatures and that custom has never changed. Every family owns at least one horse, for it would be unthinkable for them not to. The horses are more precious than slaves, or even some Calenburg lives if pushed.

The Knights of Calenburg are the elite of the Army. Each Town or City is expected to provide at least ten percent of its populace for the full-time service of the Grand Duchy. Of these, at least five percent must be mounted as Knights. These Knights ride the biggest horses, are often the strongest men and women, and dress to impress. Bright colours, fancy horse hair plumes, dyed sword tassels, flashy banners, they are all marks of the Knights of Calenburg. Many an enemy, the Imperial Army included, saw these Knight, first known as the Brunswickers, and laughed. That laughter turned to silent admiration and even fear, for though they may look fancy, the Knights of Calenburg can fight, and fight well. Be it in massed units or individually, there is no army that can match them in hoof to hoof combat. Needless to say, one would not want to ride into a swamp or the forest as a Knight of Calenburg.

For that task the Grand Duchy has a large levy of local troops. Every male and female of Calenburg is expected to serve two years, from their 18th to 20th birthdays, in the military, and then one month a year thereafter. They fill the ranks of pikemen, footsoldiers, flatbowmen, and artillerymen. They fight in massed blocks and are as dangerous as the Knights if not as skilled. Elite units exists amongst the footmen of course, the Greatswordsmen are renowned foot combat troops and respected by their mounted peers. Engineers are highly educated breed and work with their weapons full time.









History:
The Grand Duchy of Calenburg was initially a region awarded to Ardall the Conquerors most daring and reckless General, Dunstan Thorne. The City of Calenburg, now a shattered ruin of what it once was, sits at the mouth of the river which flows down from the former Imperial City of Cyneberg. Among Thornes more notable officers was an excellent cavalry officer who bore the name of the modern house he sired, Brunswick. The Brunswickers, as his unit would be called, waged war on behalf of Ardall and aided in subjugating much Ardacia.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The peoples who inhabited the area that would one day play host to the initial invasion were a tribal people. They hunted in the summer and moved inland in the winter on small river boats, rarely going beyond sight of their own red sails if they could avoid it. They fought small skirmishes with each other, stole each others women, and in general bothered no one else.

It is no surprise of course that when Ardall arrived he over awed the simple river folk. Those who would not join him died, and those who did soon lost any semblance of who they had once been. None now can even say for certain who their chief was, they had no written language.

Instead Ardall settled his own people in the region, parcelling it up amongst Army officers as was custom. This ensured a loyal following at his back as he conquered the remainder of Ardacia. Dunstan Thorne served nobly, earning much wealth and gratitude from his employer, eventually turning his little Manor at Calenburg into a thriving seaside port and main stop for ships coming to and from Cyneberg.

The fortunes of Calenburg were tied to those of the Ardall Royal Line. Things began to get even worse as the crow King took the throne. The Duke of Calenburg, the great great grandson of Dunstan Thorne, began to chaff under the heavy taxes and the waste created by the building of the Ashen Arena. Working in secret he quietly approached other Houses to look for assurances that should he raise his own banner against the Emperor, others would follow.

The Crow King had his spies and soon got word of the traitorous actions of his once loyal Duke. The Imperial Armies marched on the same day that Brandon tossed Gertrude into the Ashen Arena. Calenburg burned the next day. The entire Thorne clan was destroyed and the Duchy and title transferred to the same Brunswick family for reasons not entirely clear at the time. It seems, since then, that the official dispatch naming a different leader was waylaid and a forgery appeared. It will come as no surprise that the guards for the messenger had been Knights of Brunswick.

The Duke of Brunswick quickly moved to join the other Noble houses in their march on the Imperial City. The few battles that were fought were hardly something to sing songs about. The Imperial Army wanting nothing more than to return to its own lands and when they at last departed the Noble houses were left with a huge power vacuum. Brunswick would dearly have liked the title of Emperor but the decision was made that no one should have it. Instead the other Noble families left the Imperial region in Brunswicks hands and marched home. The wasted Regional capital was moved to Cyneberg, Brunswick declared himself Grand Duke, stating that he was related to the former Emperor by distant relation. It was a weak and pathetic attempt but it was enough to allow the remaining loyalists to grudgingly accept him, as well as keep the former leadership at enough of an arms length to appease the newly freed local populace.

Since that time the Brunswick family has worked diligently to tighten their own grasp over the region, stamp out any dissent, and most of all, protect their own position. Now, with the destruction of a heavenly orb, religious troubles are threatening to tear the Grand Duchy apart.

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House Name:
House Brunswick

House Members:




Elder Son Edward Brunswick
Elder Daughter Anna Brunswick
Younger Son Frederick Brunswick

House Motto:
Through Difficulty

House Sigil:
A Knight slaying a dragon, said to be the great Ardall the Conqueror, to whom the Brunswick's of course claim a discreet but well defined lineage. The modern tale is that the Dragon symbolizes the Ardall line being brought low by Brunswick.

House Seat:
Castle Brunswick. This huge fortress stands watch over the former Imperial City, within easy eye shot of the Ashen Arena. Here three major rivers converge before rushing towards the sea as one huge body of water. The entire city is walled, and an additional three layers of defences exist to keep out the curious. The stone was brought upriver from a quarry elsewhere in the world and the stones are of a reddish hue. The Citadel proper sits atop one of the rare large hilltops in the region on one side, with the river on all three other sides. It is accessed only by boat or by the three bridges that cross the aforementioned rivers.

House Heirloom:
Serpents Breath, a complicated enough name for a weapon that looks like any common blade. No great jewels adorn this weapon but, when covered in blood or breathed upon, it reveals the intricate patterns of a dragon along the blade. It is said to be the same sword that Ardall used to kill the last dragon.

House Themes:
WIP

Capital City:
Cyenberg (The former Imperial Capital)

Banner Houses
WIP

Nation Name
Kedoren
Athiar was the old name of the region, meaning “west” or “westerly” in the local tongue.

Ethnic Peoples
Kedorian

• Holdsmen
• Freeholders

Geography
Much like its people, Kedoren is a land of contrasts. The country is roughly divided into two parts by the Windwall Mountains (locals refer to them as “The Windwall” or more infrequently as “The Wall”), a great range stretching from the Bay of Lights in the west to the Vaincur hills in the east. The mountains act as barrier for the harsh winter winds, sparing the south from the worst of the cold climate. As a result southern Kedoren is more hospitable than most other regions in the north, able to sustain a wider variety of crops and livestock. The land consists of low hills and plains, dotted by the occasional forest. Small rivers and streams crisscross the landscape, flowing from the Windwall Mountains into the Jade Gulf. There is only one river large enough to accommodate ship travel - the Greylin and it is of strategic importance. (more on that below)

North of the Windwall Mountains, it’s a different story. Tundra stretches as far as the eye can see and the sparse forests are confined to the northern foot of the mountains. Even in summer, the air is chilly and the wind bites, little refugee can be found, save for the odd hill or rock formation. If one were to travel further north, they would eventually reach the Singing Mountains, which go all the way to the sea. The name is two-fold: it is both derived from the Singing Sea and, as locals tell it, from the way the wind “sings” as it passes through the mountain’s gullies and canyons. Needless to say, it is an ominous song. The mountain has a dark history, as no living man has managed to climb it and reach the continent’s northernmost shore. For this reason Kedorians regard the Singing Mountains as the end of the world.

More importantly perhaps, the Windwall Mountains are famed for their mineral deposits. High quality iron, gold, silver and even precious stones are mined there. On the whole, Kedoren is rich in ores, even smaller mountain formations and hills have bountiful veins of useful metals.

Another point of interest is the Round Lake, situated in the south-east of the kingdom. The Greylin empties into it, finishing its long journey from the Windwall Mountians in the north. What’s more, the Round Lake drains into a series of caverns that eventually open up into the Mottem Expanse, allowing ships to reach distant Caerulmoste. Understandably, this makes it one of the most important geographic locations in Kedoren, apart from the Windwall.

Ethnic Description
Kedorians are a fair-skinned people, inhabiting the north-western parts of the continent. They tend to be on the stocky side, with height averaging between 5’3’’ and 5’8’’. Hair ranges from blonde to brown; black is rarer, but not uncommon in the south. Green eyes remain the most widespread, although hazel and brown have become more common in the past centuries, a result of Ardall’s people mingling with the locals.

Few would describe Kedorians as beautiful, but their rugged features and muscularity are memorable to say the least. Their men are broad-shouldered and thick-necked; women tend to be curvy, with wide hips. As travelers, Kedorians have been exposed to a range of climates, so they are resistant to plagues and sickness. The ones living north of the Windwall are naturally resistant to the cold as well.

On the other hand, their close relations and smaller genetic pool mean that some disorders are passed from generation to generation. Kedorians are more likely to develop allergies and more than 5% of the population suffers from a sickness which prevents blood clotting. Some children are also afflicted by a form of paralysis known as the Creeping Death, which typically manifests at an early age, but can develop during adolescence as well. (if found early, the afflicted children are killed out of mercy)

Culture
Kedorians are adventurous, driven, free-spirited, prideful and above all pragmatic. Their culture is one of contrasts, a strange mishmash of local beliefs and traditions melded with the teachings brought by Ardall and his people.

To understand Kedorians, one has to understand family. Nearly everyone in Kedoren is related to each other in some way, a result of the extended families which made up most of the ingenious population before Ardall’s conquest. It’s often said that in Kedoren, you could be your own uncle (though never in front of Kedorians, unless you’re begging for a fight). This is perhaps unfair to Kedorians, who view incest with utter contempt and was one of the main reasons Ardall’s foreign gods could never fully be accepted. What passes for incest is an important matter and the woman of the household is responsible for making sure that the blood lines are not completely intermingled.

Most Kedorians can easily name their third, fourth and even fifth cousins, while staunch traditionalists keep track of even their most far-removed relatives. Even if you’ve never met a relative it is expected to know their name, their parents and who exactly your common ancestor is. Refusing to help family is looked down upon universally; it is not uncommon for a rich merchant to shelter a vagabond only because their great-great-grandmothers happened to be sisters.

Their tumultuous history and unique geographic features have forced them to learn to adapt in order to survive. While many other peoples on the continent concern themselves with abstract notions such as honour, Kedorians prefer to focus on the materialistic. Social standing and wealth are extremely important, a Kedorian’s greatest fear is to die poorer than their father. As a result, foreigners tend to view Kedorians as dishonest and greedy.

Kedorian culture is competitive to a fault, dominating most aspects of life. Brothers compete to see who will bring the most wealth to their house, sisters compete to have the most handsome suitor and cities compete to be the most prosperous out of their neighbours. Competitiveness is reflected in their games as well – all children play ball games, frequently rough and bloody, well into their teens.

As already mentioned social standing and pride are important to Kedorians. They are deeply concerned with how society perceives them. This gives a purpose to most everything they do. Yes, a rich merchant might shelter a far-removed relative down on their luck, but not out of good will; they will do it because it will raise their standing with the rest of the family. Even seemingly random acts of passion usually have a purpose behind them. Foreigners are wise to remember this when dealing with Kedorians.

Another interesting aspect of Kedorian culture is the status of soldiers. While Kedorians are first and foremost renowned as crafters, it was their soldiers who kept the region independent for centuries. Nowadays, Kedoren boasts a professional army. Lords do not levy soldiers, instead they maintain a constant force of battle-ready men, who are paid in gold or salt. Those who do not serve a lord ply their services as sellswords, willing to fight for any man with enough coin to afford them. Kedorian mercenaries are acknowledged as dependable and disciplined troops that can be counted on as long as they are paid. Mercenary work is so common that even landed knights and minor nobles can often be found hundreds of leagues from home, fighting for a foreign cause.

Ambition and daring are important for a Kedorian. Their merchants travel far and wide in search of profit, while their craftsmen are often employed by rich patrons from different kingdoms. In recent times overpopulation has become a problem in the south, causing many young men and women to emigrate to neighbouring kingdoms. They are generally met with a healthy dose of distrust, but most can agree that the skills they bring to a community outweigh the negatives.

Kedorians are famously pragmatic. If something doesn't have an everyday use or doesn't bring wealth to its owner, it is viewed as worthless. This means that art, music and other "frivolous" activities are seldom practiced by Kedorians. They are hungry for knowledge and read books, but only ones that are practical and can be applied to their crafts. Plants are grown not for their beauty, but their uses. Kedorian cities and castles are utilitarian, decorations are sparse and largely reserved for the very wealthy. Monuments and statues are extremely rare, but if you see one, you can be absolutely certain that whoever it depicts deserved it.

Men and women have distinct roles in Kedorian culture. The only acceptable professions for a male are as a craftsman, merchant or soldier. The firstborn son inherits their father’s wealth and craft, the second son is apprenticed to a guild (usually a different craft), while the third is encouraged to become a soldier. This principle holds true on both ends of the social spectrum. Women on the other hand care for the spiritual health of the community, just as Elonar orbits and supports Eritu. Priests are exclusively female, as they are believed to be closer to the realm of the gods. It is a vital role for society, as Black Sisters are skilled healers and surgeons. Kedorian scholars are also completely female, with only a tiny fraction of men taking up the vocation. In poorer, rural areas, most people are naturally farmers, but this division of society exists there as well: men are expected to provide for their family and have a final say in matters, but women are generally the masters of the household.

Though unified as kingdom, Kedoren has never been a united land. People largely identify with their family and city first, rather than the kingdom itself. On top of this, there is a long-standing division existing between north and south. In general, the south is composed of the Freeholds dominating the planes. Once little more than hill-forts, they eventually developed into prosperous cities and centres of trade. They were the first to rise up against the Crow King. The north is made up of the Holds guarding the mines and quarries in the Windwall Mountains, as well as the settlements north of them. They tended to be loyalists and resisted the south for many years, even after the fall of the Empire. Overall it can be said that the south is generally more progressive and populous, while the north is composed of powerful noble families, with traditional views, which make them more martially inclined than the south.















History
Kedoren traces its history back to ancient times, when the region was still known as Athiar. Most of the locals inhabited isolated farming communities, which were essentially large extended families. The population was small, so it was customary for sons to move out of their father’s farmstead when they came of age. They would then establish new farms (still relatively close to their birthplace) and claim more land for their family. In times of trouble, the families would band together in fortified hill-forts, referred to as Holds, where they stockpiled food and supplies. Farms could be destroyed and crops burned, but as long as the family survived, they could rebuild. Each Hold was a community unto itself and they largely remained isolated from one another.

The northern tribes on the other hand moved across the tundra, following the herds they hunted. (and occasionally crossing the mountains to raid their sedentary cousins) The ones that dwelt around the Windwall Mountains had a rudimentary knowledge of metalworking, fashioning crude trinkets from gold and silver.

Little else is known of them, as they were quickly absorbed by Ardall’s conquest. True to their pragmatic nature, the majority bent the knee instead of resisting; they were content to carry on their farming, while enjoying the protection offered by the Emperor’s troops. Those that proved more difficulty to reason with, especially north of the Windwall, were swiftly brought to heel and subjugated.

Ardall was quick to see the importance of the region and so he sent one of his most trusted generals, Corrin Adal, to oversee it. It was given the name Kedoren, the exact meaning lost to time, but many claim it was in honour of Adal’s own birthplace. The region was rapidly developed, mainly exploited for its huge quantities of iron and gold, which were sent to the capital. Stone quarries were opened as well, the material used to build the castles and forts Adal commissioned.

The local Athiar Holds proved perfectly situated to keep the local populace in check, as a small garrison could easily keep track of the scattered farmsteads around the Hold. In time, these hill forts become proper fortifications, while the garrison commanders become minor lords. It was agreed that the lord and his men would protect the farmers, while they would deposit a part of their produce as tribute. This practice gave rise to the Freeholds that now dominate the entire south of Kedoren.

The distinction between local and Imperial was quickly blurred. In a few generations the people of Athiar were completely integrated in Imperial society, to the point where only their genetic features could set them apart. The “them” and “us” attitude still existed, but it was between the various Freeholds and cities, not between invaders and subjugated.

Meanwhile Adal had been busy building up the seat of his future House. He had settled on a strategic spot of land, a high cliff situated on the banks of the Greylin River. Adal had initially given it another name, but by the time of his son, it was referred to as Highcliff, the capital of Kedoren and House Adal’s seat of power. A road was built, which led down from the quarries and mines of the Windwall all the way to the Imperial capital in the distant south. Naturally, it passed right through Highcliff’s gates, meaning that the ruler of the city controlled the road which was the lifeblood of the nation.

Kedoren prospered in the following decades: many cities and trading hubs were formed; the influx of craftsmen, merchants and settlers, coupled with the rapid advances in agriculture led to a population boom. The northern parts were somewhat tamed as well, with pioneers mainly settling around the bountiful Bay of Lights. The local tribes were absorbed or driven further north, where their few descendants eke out a living to this day.

This all changed during the time of the Crow King. Being one of the richest regions in the Empire, Kedoren was bled dry. The infamous Ashen Arena was built from the stone painstakingly hewed by thousands of slaves in the Singing Mountains to the far north. Kedorians bore the brunt of it, as even minor offenses were punished with a lifetime in the quarries. Huge taxes were levied on the cities and Freeholds to fuel Brandon Arda’s games; thousands of livestock were confiscated by the Imperial troops and sent to the capital for wasteful, decadent feasts. In short, the region was choking.

It comes as no surprise then that Kedorians were the first to openly revolt against the Empire. Rebellion first started in the Freeholds to the south, where peasants rose up against their Imperial overseers. Unfortunately for them, the Crow King’s men in Kedoren were numerous, sent there to guard the precious mines and quarries. The head of house Adal at the time, Alric Adal, was a devoted loyalist. The first uprisings were mercilessly crushed.

This backfired and instead of being cowed, more and more Kedorians began rebelling. Alric’s own son, Liran Adal, opposed his father and led the rebels. In a stroke of luck, the pressure from the other Houses on the capital itself forced some of Arda’s troops to pull back. This gave the rebels a fighting chance. Perhaps the most decisive role was played by the craft guilds and the local branches of the Mages Guild, who used their skills to supply the rebellion with a large quantity of crossbows. A lowborn peasant could, with a few months of training, bring down a fully armored knight without even getting close.

Riding the political winds of the time, Liran took a token force to the capital (which is the source of some ridicule in other kingdoms) and came back as King. This was not the end of the war for Kedoren however, as they had to deal with the sizable garrisons still loyal to house Arda. It is a point of pride for Kedorians that they eventually managed to win, with no outside help. It took the better part of a decade and thousands of lives, but in the end Liran came out on top.

A time of peace should have followed, but with the full strength of Kedoren now behind him, Liran had grown bold. He made war on his neighbours, taking some territories, but in the end he lost more than he won. After his infamous last battle, in which he lost more than half his army, King Liran Adal was executed by his own generals. With no heirs, House Adal was extinguished. This was the last time in history that a united Kedorian army marched outside the borders of the country.

No king claimed Kedoren for a long time. The Freeholds and cities instead remained largely independent from one another, instead they engaged in active trade and the occasional skirmish. Their wealth often made them the target of raids from neighbours and more than one warlord attempted to make himself King of Kedoren. This was the only time Kedoren presented a more or less united front, but once an invasion was beaten back they quickly reverted to their old quarrels.

This changed about two hundred years ago, when the two most influential families in the land joined in union. On one side was the northern Arren family, a line claiming descent from one of House Adal’s junior branches; most of the northern families supported them due to their lineage. The south was represented by House Lanster, one of the most numerous old families from the Freeholds. Torin Arren married Ilina Lanster and, in a stroke of political genius, decided to forfeit his name and create House Tyndall, the Royal House. This served to placate both north and south and their union was widely celebrated. They have been the rulers of Kedoren ever since.

Nation Name
Aratona (eh-ruh-toe-nuh)

Ethnic Peoples

Aratonians
Grenoles (native name for people living by the river Grend)

Ethnic Description
Aratonians have long lived in places of heat and sunlight especially near their beloved river Grend. Although they may have once been fair skinned, the entire population now has darker skin and tends not to burn in the sun. Some do and get dark red burns anywhere they are exposed. Hair color is almost uniform in Aratonians being a dark brown that most kept very short to avoid the heat. Eye color, however, is not a shared trait in Aratona as varies from brown to blue to shades of green. Brown is the most common color of eyes but blue eyes are found on almost every aristocrat. Many people in Aratona are also color-blind, males and females alike.

Aratonians are by no means a small people, as height generally falls into the 5'6" to 5'11" category, but they are not known for having large amounts of muscle. Their builds reflect this being thinner and more lithe, not stocky or strapping. They are quick-fingered and fast but do not have the brute strength of some peoples. They tend to run and swim well over long distance although do not compete in sprints. This could be helped by the fact that Aratonians never ride horses or engage in combat with vehicles (ships aside of course).
Some Aratonians who ancestors have fed from the sea for hundreds of years and have little exposure to red meat have trouble digesting beef, venison, pork, and other large mammals products preferring simple fish and carbohydrates grow in Aratona. These natives also have much trouble being in drier climates suffering severe headaches and dryness of throat.

Culture
The history of Aratona centers around the river Grend and its link to the sea. The largest cities all lie on the river. Every year in honor of Elonar, citizens from all over Aratona travel to take part in the biggest observance-the festival of boats. Aratonians love the water, and the festival goes on for days with swimming and sailing. Contests for speed and beauty of ships are held with the people being the judge. The awards for these contests are taken seriously and given out at the Hall of Kings, the only temple in Aratona. Receiving an award of the festival of boats brings great joy to a family.

Their ships are built to be fast and are not large. Trading vessels are designed to combat the seasonal winds so are lateen rigged. These seasonal winds can be so severe they would deter normal sailors coming up the river. Grenoles even ordinary people have adapted to them. Citizens in cities near the river Grend generally own boats similar to canoes which can accommodate up to 5 people. Aratonians swim and ride these boats almost from birth. Bigger vessels owned by the Great house bring mail up and down the river. These are usually treated with great applause as when a ship bearing the Royal sigil comes to town mail from relatives is delivered. Middle class and wealthy merchants also have the option of sending their mail a quicker way-by bird. Green pigeons are most commonly used and fly messages across the country; between these two systems, news spreads very quickly in Aratona and hence the expression "gossip in Aratona" refers to something everyone knows.

The food of Aratona almost entitled comes from the river and ocean. A commoners diet consists of freshwater fish, shellfish, sea plants, wine and if trading and growing has gone well recently: bread, cheese, and vegetables. Red meat is not eaten at all by the common people. Growing crops is not very common in the parts of Aratona near the sea but further inland vegetables, fruits, and sugar cane can be grown plentifully. These are mainly shipped away to the royalty or traded to other nations, unless a surplus is made. Foods such as red meat and dairy products come to Aratona exclusively by trade as no large animals are found naturally near the river Grend. Some small rodents and birds can be killed as well and sold for a great profit-meat is considered a delicacy. When traveling to foreign countries, anyone who has an abundance of meat is usually regarded as a glutton or untrustworthy.

The land within 5-12 miles of the river is generally populated or used as farm land but farther away from the river on the southern side a desert stretches on to where the commoners know not. Aratona is known for being flat, hot, and humid. The northern parts of the river and far inland in the south have forests of deciduous trees providing wood to sell and build ships. Fruit trees are not uncommon. Wood and fish are the main exports of Aratona accompanied by small amounts of sugar, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and a small fruit known as Aratona fruit that only grows in Aratona and is used for making wine.

Common dress consists of a simple robe or cloak of a drab color and a wide brimmed hat or hood covering the face. A persons place in society can be guessed by the brightness of their garment: brown and tan for workers; yellow or blue for merchants, soldiers, priests, and lower level officials; red for aristocrats; and purple for royalty. The working class people are fishers, farmers, lumberjacks, sailors, or in times of need men-at-arms.

Trading is a big part of Aratona's income and the wealthy are usually merchants. Because of this and common interaction with other nations and other nations selling materials along the Grend, people tend to be open to foreigners and foreign men of higher class are welcomed as guests at the palace and taken on a welcoming cruise down the Grend. After this, they are asked about their reasons for coming to Aratona. As long as intentions seem honest and the houses of Aratona the homeland of the guest are at peace, the guest is free to travel the country.

Worship of Elonar and Eitru are generally looked on as private things in Aratona so priests are rare. The only large celebration honoring the gods is the festival of boats. After Eirtu was destroyed, more minor sects formed around Aratona but the festival of boats did not stop. Some worship the river god "Grend" of the river Grend and those join in the festivities of festival of boats as well agreeing with the bigger church that the river gives life to the population. Another minor sect with some power believes Elonar will be destroyed soon as well and the worship of man should be to the sun.

Social gatherings of the Aratonians are usually centered around the thing all people around Ardacia share: music. Aratonians tend to focus on only two kinds of art: ship building and decorating, but also playing instruments usually drums and strings without frets. Playing music is not seen as a career, it is common for everyone to play or sing. Any other religious ceremonies that take place focus on music as well.

Fighting on both land and sea, Aratonians tend to use projectile weapons typically the bow or crossbow. Some soldiers also train with swords and scimitars, the value and protection of armor is dependent on economic class, so most soldiers only wear chain mail. Aratonians' ships are not designed for war, but with speed outflanking or outrunning the enemy can almost always be achieved. The Royal houses during war will inplement the use of crescent arrowheads, which can cut sails and rigging of enemy ships. Another tactic is using ballista mounted on ships with flaming tips dipped in tar imported from northern Ardacia.

History
The History of Aratona revolves around its main resource-the river Grend itself. The first outpost, now replaced by the Grendgate, was built by none other than Shamar Hadad, Ardall the Great's best naval commander. Not needing to fight the Earthmen on the water, Shamar took a lesser cavalry command under his brother Axxel Hadad one of Ardall's Generals. Together they routed the native Earthmen from the river claimed it for their own and placed the outpost on the Grend knowing how valuable it could be-it teemed with life, was deep enough for ships to enter, and was surrounded by fertile land.

With the protection of the royal name as a safeguard people came to settle the river: Earthmen who learned common tougue as well as Men and Women from Ardall's homelands. Under the rule of the empire, Aratona had nothing but prosperity in trade and built itself to be a notable name in shipbuilding all around Aratona. The people picked the natural berries and experimented planting crops found on different parts of Aratona they had traded with.

The grandson of Shamar (Samuel I) owned quite a large amount of land and named himself of the land. He built the keep of Grendgate and established House Canmore. Two minor houses (House Forener and another that disappeared) agreed to follow Canmore and they conquered the other houses making Aratona.

The Great Uprising stirred up the empire and House Canmore, as they came to call themselves, was called to help overthrow the emperor. The current seat (King Oliver II) thought long about it and realized he could make a bigger profit without the empires' taxes, so he sent ships to blockade two of the empires main ports and after the war took possession of many of the empires trading vessels. People who opposed the movements against the empire realized they were wrong after how easily the great houses of Aratona took down the empire and how much independence gave them freedom. Oliver II set few rules other than minor tariffs and oaths of loyalty from the lesser houses of Aratona.

The people of Aratona rely on the sea and by controlling the sea's entrance (the mouth of the Grend), House Canmore controls its people. This control has gone on for generations with the people content and power passing from father to son or until the current monarch Oliver XI ruled. Many citizens suspect he does not actually relate to the original founders the brothers Shamar and Axxel under Ardall but he controls Grendgate and rules with unchallenged control.

House Name
House Canmore

House Members

King Oliver XI
Queen Helen
Prince Oliver XII
Prince Howard
Lady Cordelia
Sir Alfred

House Words
"Swiftness of the wind"
Due to Aratona's heavy seasonal winds, navigating the Grend and surrounding ocean can be very tough. For experienced sailors, however, the winds can be used as an advantage instead of a hindrance.
House Canmore has led naval engagements and navigated the winds for generations leading to their boasts and claiming to master the wind, being as swift as it.

House Sigil
(Blue and white background, black border, green pigeon, house
motto)

House Seat
The house Canmore rules from Grendgate at the mouth of the
Grend. It is a traditional enough looking 5-tower castle with wooden doors opening at a cart road, leading to the heart of the castle. From the real entrance however, is something much more impressive. The ships' gate or Grendgate has a wide canal running into a large archway with a portcullis
suspended high enough ships could enter. The high towers on either side of the
ships' gate light beacons for those entering the Grend, seen from miles around.
These are kept lit year in and year out. Upon entering the gate the inner keep is visible with the standard of house Canmore flying high on each of its 4
towers. About 1/3 of the area within the outer walls is covered with water-a huge man made lake (construction started under OliverIII) capable of holding a portion of the lords fleet. There
always seems to be activity going on in the castle, ships coming and leaving the Grendgate and soldiers training. The castle opens up to the sky and sea, allowing one to feel free but protected still. The walls of the inner keep are impressive, made with marble from a far away part of Arcadia and are hundreds of years old. The castle is
kept rather clean as waste is dumped into the ocean. No one could miss that this is the political center of Aratona or feel as if it was abandoned .

House Heirloom
A small black covered disk that when opens reveal its true
nature-a compass. How exactly it finds direction is unknown, but it unfailingly points south as all Aratonian maps have south facing up.
Not only does it function but it is a thing of beauty. West, north, and east are inlaid with gems and south has a large emerald which glitters in the sunlight. The arrow itself is played in gold and spins smoothly to point south.

House Themes

Capital City
Lumi is the name of the city surrounding Grendgate. It is large stretching for miles down the Grend. The center of town is the docks where the trading ships bring their goods after paying tariffs to the royalty.
The dwellings in Lumi are generally are built with only one floor but a cellar as well, a cool place to sleep at night and to store food. Markets are common around the city, small booths set up to sell today's import from Ardacia or from farms inland.
The most notable building is the only temple in Aratona-the Hall of Kings they call it because all kings since Oliver III were buried within. The hall was built in honor of Oliver III by his son Oliver IV. The largest tapestries owned by House Canmore are in this hall and are of the oceans. On one side the night with the two moons of Ardacia, and the opposite end of the hall the ocean at morning with the sun just rising.
Two roads run out of Lumi. One leads to the docks and up to the north winding to the center of House Mak. The other leads to Grendgate and runs parallel for miles down the Grend.

Banner Houses
House Mak
The most independent lesser house of Aratona and the only one to not be situated on the river Grend. It is farther north and is led by Lord Nicolo who is a Suberb shot with the short bow.

House Forener
The most powerful of the lesser houses-Forener Castle sits in the mouth of the Grends biggest tributary. It is called the River Rachele or sometimes the Little Grend. About 2/3 the lumber industry is within their domain.
House Thoman
Boasts having the queen from their house.
House Loushi
House Forehall

King Oliver XI
King Oliver has reigned for over 25 years claiming an age of 46 years old. He reigned after his father died leaving him in charge of the kingdom. Finances were Oliver's biggest concern and through many good judgments and the evasion of war, Oliver doubled the wealth of the Royal house. Aratonians love their kind King who asks nothing but a few pennies from them. Aratona has not seen a major war since Oliver VIII ruled years ago. Oliver enjoys nothing more than to sit by the waterside of the Grend with his wife Helen and enjoy his Aratona berry wine and with cheese from northern parts of Ardacia.
He is a large man roughly 5'9" and very overweight. His blue-grey eyes let anyone see that he is content with his life, happy with his kingdom, and proud of his sons. He is bald, his hair not having grown on the top of his head since he turned 36. He does not have a beard keeping it well trimmed to avoid the heat. He will die on the day Eirtu is destroyed.

Queen Helen
The wife of King Oliver and mother of Oliver XII and Howard. She is soon to be a widow. Helen was born into the house Thoman and there her loyalty lies after it being to her husband and then to House Canmore. She is 3 years younger than Oliver at 43, too old to bear more children she still faithfully sits with him through diplomatic meetings and sails on cruises with him when he desires her. Helen was loved by Oliver her whole life, he never cheated on her or had concubines to serve him preferring her company. When he dies she will be devastated and unable to help her sons rule the kingdom.
Helen is tall for a female of Aratona standing 5'7". She has the blue eyes that passed to her sons. A green-blue like the ocean. She is calm and brings a peace to the royal court.

Prince Oliver XII

Age
22 years almost to become 23 in a few months.

Loyalty
House Canmore
(No other loyalties currently)

Appearance
Oliver stands a 5'8" a little bit shorter than his father and bit shorter than his brother. Oliver has eyes similar to his brother and mother although a little less green and a darker blue. His beard is short and head hair shorter. Brown hair being common in his family, he is no exception. His fingers are long and kept noticeably clean.
Oliver wears the purple robes of royalty, proud of his heritage and position. When outside he wears a wide tan hat blocking the sun from his face and covering it in shadow. He carries his long sword everywhere with him. It is nothing extraordinary to look at with a black leather handle and simple hand guard.
Hider [-]


Personality
Oliver has almost no friends taking special care before trusting people or developing relationships. It is no surprise he has not found a wife while his younger brother Howard has become betrothed. Oliver is formal but a good speaker with command over common tougue only a man who reads constantly could attain. His swordplay is also magnificent and he spends an hour a day fencing his courtiers in turn. He bathes more frequently than anyone else in the royalty having read it can improve health. Oliver is arrogant, proud of his own skills and his house unwilling to believe they could beaten, unwilling to believe much that comes from others than his trusted bird-message carrying system from all houses in Aratona. Oliver strays from social gatherings and music preferring his books, or the sea. Oliver has a formal relationship at best with his brother Howard. Oliver knows Howard challenges his right to the throne, after his marriage especially.

History
Prince Oliver learned to read at a young age and enjoyed reading tales of the empire before his father. The ships of Aratona coming to the blockade the emperor and pictures of Oliver II grew imprinted in his mind from a young age and he knew he could be a great naval commander as well. Growing up he also gained the desire to be a masterful swordsman convincing his father to hire a tutor to teach him. The tutor taught him for years until one day taking him away from the castle and trying to kill Oliver. Oliver was only 13 at the time, and still managed to draw his own weapon and strike down the tutor. Oliver studied in his own after that and waited until the throne would be his and he could Aratona and reintroduce its military tradition.

Prince Howard
Of the two sons, Howard is the most like his father choosing a life where monetary gain and indulgences are a priority and ruling the kingdom comes after food, drink, women, and fine clothing. Howard is a decent shot with the bow, but spends most of his time playing music on his fiddle or singing to his betrothed (lady Cordelia of house Forener). Howard enjoys the river as do all Aratonians, occasionally taking a ship down to House Mak or House Loushi to collect taxes.
Howard has his mother's eyes and unusual height. He is taller than his brother by 2 inches, adding clarity to the claims that he should be king.

Lady Cordelia
Cordelia comes from house Forener being engaged to Howard to assure ties between the Greater and lesser house. Although their marriage is arranged, Cordelia finds joy in it as Howard is kind to her and she could be queen over Aratona some day, something she always dreamed of doing. Cordelia does not entertain the thought of being subservient to Howard, and thinks the power belongs in her hands as well as anyone else's. Cordelia would spend her time on the water all day if she could rowing or swimming near the banks of the Grend.
Cordelia is a little fairer skinned than most Aratonians and does not have the characteristic blue eyes of royalty. Instead, her eyes are brown like her hair. She cuts it short although not as short as the men of the Royal house do. Cordelia is short herself but no man would look down to her-she is royalty after all.

Sir Alfred
Sir Alfred was from a house so minor, it's name does not matter as no one would recognize it. He was the capital of a ship trading for House Canmore that was seized by pirates, but he fought back killing the pirate leader and freeing his crewmates to actually take over the Pirates ship and sail home with both laden with cargo. King Oliver XI was so impressed he set as second in command of the naval fleet. As King Oliver never fought wars or even had the slightest idea commanding ships in battle, Alfred essentially commanded all of the navy. Although trying to bring the navy up to par with other fighting ships of the world he was almost as oblivious to naval combat as his Leige. His loyalty lays to his shipmates with whom he almost died and had worked with for a decade, then to the house Canmore.
Sir Alfred is a short man with no features of royalty. He has more strength than is typical for an Aratonian man of 39. Alfred shaves his head, although keeping a thick brown beard from ear to ear. His eyes are a brown and his nose is crooked with scars running across his face from the legendary fight with pirates.