Ardenarai

The Sacred Kingdom of Ardenarai "Sacrath Kahreth yi Ardenarai"
Flag
Motto: "Ahn Reinpeura!" Praise the Purest!
Status	Nation
Capital	Deschareis
Official languages	Tyurigin
Ethnic groups	Ardenaraian Proper, Etharividian, Kalestiyanaian
Religion	Trinitarianism
Demonym(s)	Ardenaraian
Government	Kraterocratic Magocracy
• Kahrethaya	Clardai Aghirra Larai yi Celorix
Legislature	The Flower Court
Population
• Estimate	61.4 Million
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Per capita	$20,000
Currency	Wudz

For the faithful I bring the sun, and the wicked the flames.

— Kahrethaya Augier, the sword that unified Eleutheria

Ardenarai is a kraterocratic magocracy located upon the north of Ilus, in the island known as Eleutheria. Ardenarai is staunchly traditionalist, stratified, and religious, following a religion known as Trinitarianism. It is also a splinter-state of the ancient pre-colonial civilization known as the Ka'chataaisaii.

It is known in Sparkalia as one of the most dangerous places, with authoritarian governments exploiting their populations remorselessly. Many advancements have been made during the struggles against the First Unknown, such as the rapid development of rune-based magitech in Ardenarai, bringing progress without change. What was once a lush, fertile, and land full of life, was reduced into ruins by centuries of infighting. Remnants of magic taint the air, morphing both animal and men into bizarre monstrosities known as aberrations which roam all across Eleutheria. Many bodies have been burnt, and consumed by the flames of war since the days past.

Etymology

The name Ardenarai stems from the Tyurigin word of "Ardenar", meaning to glow, particularly from a blazing fire or the sun above, suffixed with -ai to denote its existence as a nation. An alternate form of Ardenarai's name could be "Ardenalath", but the founding fathers of the kingdom decided against it, as it would've meant that Ardenarai would be a land scorched by flames. The name Eleutheria that is transcribed to the island they reside upon originated its name from an old personification of freedom, an irony to what would've became of the people that reside within it.

Government

Ardenarai's government, The Kingdom of Magi

A day in the life of Ardenarai

Ardenarai is ruled over by Kahretaya, a positioned gained through a succession system known as the Festival of Twilight, declared normally after the death of the previous Kahretaya. It is where every noble family in Ardenarai places forward a candidate to duel against one another in a fight to death. The winner of the Festival of Twilight is thus crowned as the Kahretaya, holding his position for life. The Flower Court contains seats belonging to distinguished noble families, represented by a unique flower. (Larai of Lily, Celorix of Roses, Nariatai of Chrysanthemum, Bacladeai of Poppy, Clardeamos of Tulips, Arzethaal of Orchid, and a special seat for the Tayfarath, namely the Iris). There exists an influential holy order in Ardenarai known as the Tayfarath, commanded by an ascended race of human beings known as the Rittermaetri (lit. Female Knights). Separated from the Kingdom proper, they lead most of the military operations conducted by Ardenarai across all of Eleutheria, their political power contesting with those of the Kahrethaya.

Eastern Eleutheria

City	House	Description
Deschareis	Crownland	The capital of the Sacred Kingdom of Ardenarai, the only city to be untainted by the Glorious Revolution's flames.
Seurois	Bacladeai
Caletal	Arzethaal	Home to the vast farmlands of the Kingdom of Ardenarai, Caletal is also commonly visited for transit between cities due to it's inland location, allowing trade to prosper even as an indirect beneficiary.
Erdenhal	Clardeamos
Ultha	Celorix	Ultha is the seat of House Celorix, the dominant dynasty of the Kingdom of Ardenarai which had produced an unbroken line of Kahrethayas for atleast six generations, all of which had been victorious in the Festival of Twilight. It may as well had been the second capital of Ardenarai due to its overall prosperous economy.
Beurvely	Nariatai
Jularall	Nariatai	A wartorn region of Ardenarai, polluted by magic especially due to being the location of multiple battles during the Glorious Revolution, and even centuries after with attempts by Kalestiyanai to penetrate further into the Ardenarai heartland, only halted by the gates of Jularall.
Edellarium	Larai	A city built into the Edelic Mountains, a strategic location for Ardenarai's control over central Eleutheria. It is also the headquarters of a holy order, the Tayfarath.
Odo-Moloc	Clardeamos
Halvak's Pass	None	It is a military territory as the fortress commonly gets sieged by the Republic of Kalestiyanai, preventing any formation of a proper administration.

Western Eleutheria

City	House	Description
Odium	Nil	Odium was the capital of the Radiant Republic.
New Argolath	Celorix	The only colonist city that wasn't completely destroyed by the natives, New Argolath was the cultural capital of Kalestiyanai, the remnants of their identity beyond the stars. Their surrender had allowed leniency for their integration into the kingdom as a peasant's republic that is vassalized by House Celorix.
Egodba
Solba
Halthmach
Norveil	Artifekta Uniona Levenn	An industrial-city built by members of the Artifekta Uniona Levenn, an organization based in New Argolath.
Ichmuth

History

The Humble Beginnings 1289<

"Eleutheria's past was in some ways better than the world we lived in. There were no strangers from the skies, there was peace, but most importantly magic was still a core part of our identities as a Sparkalia, it reflected our innermost thoughts, power made manifest from the strength of our hearts. This was called the animateus, when the outlanders came much of Eleutheria had lost the shine it once had, we didn't knew how and why exactly back then, but it would be the first of our many troubles."

— Marcaleus, Discourse on the Charred Kingdoms

What little remained of history was preserved through legends and oral traditions. " Discourse on the Charred Remnants " written by the historian Marcaleus details the presence of numerous baronies, chiefdoms, and republics all around Eleutheria before the Celestial Coalition's arrival, united by a confederacy known as the Ka'chataaisaii. While also predominantly human, it housed other multiple intelligent species that are no longer seen in present-day Eleutheria.

Arrival of the Three Starships

"Act Four of the Starshine Edict, simply put, restore the queen's authority and punish the barbarians for undermining the crown's authority. Heih Gallandia was levelled by the might of Auhrica Vena where a white flame reportedly scorched the city through sustained arcanic-firebombing. It was an incredibly uncommon, and cruel atrocity made only possible by the Ka'chataaisaii's jingoist imperial faction, perhaps to send a message to the rest of Sparkalia that was receiving an influx of outlanders from the First Unknown."

— Marcaleus, Discourse on the Charred Kingdoms

Documented around the year 1289 was the arrival of the colonists from beyond the void, the starships of "Heih Gallandia", "New Argolath", and "Doraclea" settled upon the territories of what would then be known as the Kalestiyanai. They have originated as refugees from distant stars, in massive vessels capable of housing hundred thousands of humans. The Ka'chataaisaii, while initially cordial towards these settlers, eventually resolved to expel them after a court council vote to force the colonists to follow their law, as they were settling in the Ka'chataaisaii's territory.

A short war started, resulting in the defeat of the ill-prepared colonists and the complete destruction of the colony of Heih Gallandia. Within a span of two years, they were brought under the native crown's jurisdiction, and thus were sown the first seeds of hatred that would change Eleutheria for worse.

The Glorious Revolution 1341

"Our lives will soon be wasted away in the battlefield... but the very least we can do is to make sure the dream keeps living on."

— General Chellan, Speech after the razing of Doraclea

General Chellan instructing a group of militia to be raised against the Ka'chataaisaii, that would come to be known as the first generation of mercenaries in Kalestiyanai

Tensions began brewing in the Ka'chataaisaii's crown about increased taxation following multiple famines in succession throughout the previous years, all whilst the colonist's farmlands remained untouched by neither blight or weather. Soon, the westernmost regions they occupied became both known as the breadbasket of Eleutheria, and its only industrialized sector. In 1341, a visit was conducted by the reigning queen of Ka'chataaisaii to Doraclea, where she was slain along with her entire royal guard. A declaration of independence was then issued by the two cities, forming a nation known as the Radiant Republic of Kalestiyanai. The war came to be known in Kalestiyanaian history as the Glorious Revolution.

Ka'chataaisaii's traditional form of warfare revolved around shock infantry, made up of the state-commissioned magi, one that could wield large volumes of firepower in a concentrated group that decimated even the formations fielded by the early waves of colonists, such as the late Heih Gallandia. They also possessed earliest form of magitech vehicles, autonomous golem-constructs taking from the concepts of the colonist fighter jet were employed as specialty aircraft, and transportation was easily handled by airships maintained by artificiers.

All was set for the Radiant Republic's loss, surrounded by all sides, the royal host of Ka'chataaisaii closed upon the freedom fighters. It took five separate skirmishes until the confederation's army reached the city of Doraclea, where it met its demise similarly to Heih Gallandia's fate. There were multiple heroes that participated in the war, but none was as instrumental to Kalestiyanai as General Chellan Neuvaerth. A Doraclean mercenary, he managed to usurp the former general's position in a mutiny and resolved to face the confederacy head-on. Baiting Ka'chataaisaii in a series of protracted engagements on the river estuary towards the Augieralla Forest, Neuvaerth successfuly exhausted the once-thought to be invincible men-at-arms sorcerors after three days, and annihilated three divisions left behind in the pursuit. As it were monsoon season, much of the nobility was dragged down by the autumn rain and couldn't respond effectively towards multiple fronts even if they were superior in most direct engagements. A week after, G. Chellan Neuvaerth sallied along with the garrison of New Argolath and decisively defeated Ka'chataaisaii in the battle of Halthmach, killing every head of the noble families of the confederacy, their direct heirs, and much of their ruling government (Ka'chataaisaii had a culture of martial aristocracy).

All while the Kalestiyanai managed to occupy Western Eleutheria, and expand past the Edelic Mountains, the Ka'chataaisaii collapsed into infighting. The colonist coalition occupied thirteen out of the fifteen native citystates. But the war didn't end just yet, wild magi continued to bring the war into the countrysides, resisting bitterly against any change to their authority. After three years of low-intensity conflict, the Radiant Republic grew increasingly frustrated, and their once disciplined armies were watered away by mercenaries whom all followed their own agendas. Chellan Neuvaerth was killed in an ambush during the Edellarium Campaign, and although his accomplishments were remembered for centuries after, he failed to achieve the goal of ending the war.

The Price of Failure 1344

"They killed my brother, chief, why the fuck should I spare some sympathy for them? Look, wouldn't you had done the same? "

— Unnamed soldier, court-martial records

In the name of freeing Eleutheria from the tyrants of the old, as Kalestiyanai would have justified it, an ordinance passed in 1344 to persecute potential guerillas quickly spiraled out of control. The Radiant Republic, of which was no longer radiant, began to embark on a genocidal campaign on all non-humans and magic-users. During this time, the elven population of Norveil perished, only fragments of their bloodline remained on the matrilineal line where attractive females were married off as consorts to high-ranking officials. The dwarven community of Edellarium was buried beneath the mountains. The beastmen that once roamed the plains of Eastern Eleutheria were all hunted, and turned into both accessories and zoo-creatures robbed of their dignity, and the fae which resided upon the Medereian forests were scorched along the firebombs dropped into the once-lush landscapes in effort to drag partisans out.

Only the human populations, deemed sufficiently civilized, were spared much of the destruction. It didn't take long before most of the non-human population either left, or perished in Eleutheria's bitter war.

The Red Iris 1346

"On the mountains of corpses that continued piling forth, Ardenarai was born. Though initially the guiding hand of the Red Iris, like a protective mother, moved the natives of Eleutheria into pursuing self-determination, and so leading into the war's end in the Peace of the Twelfth, her death would be the first steps of Ardenarai, looking forward to its grim future.

— Unknown

For two centuries, the two nations of Kalestiyanai and Ardenarai had fought over Eleutheria, up until the 16th century.

Two years after the genocide of 1344, a woman known as the Red Iris, a member of the native garrison of Erdenhal killed three of her commanding officers, and led into a revolt with her fellow colleagues, that was then crushed in a matter of ten days by a relief-force sent by the city of Beurveiy. Her body was nowhere to be seen in the vicinity.

In the end of november, she reappeared in Jularall, commanding yet another revolution against Kalestiyanai. This time, when the relief-force sent by the neighbouring cities arrived in the city, they were torn away by a blood-red magical blast, leaving nothing but raw organs scattered along the battlefield. A host of Rittermaetri known as the Tayfarath was then organized by the said figure, and had embarked on the "Crusade of the Purest", an offensive maneuver towards the south, condemning all republic-aligned towns upon their path into the flames. The chevauchee reached the remaining independent fortress of Deschareis, where an ongoing siege was routed through a strike to their field headquarters. She formed the Sacred Kingdom of Ardenaraii, becoming the first Kahretaya. Although not once thought to be capable of producing such crafts especially after the war's desolation, in a matter of a few months, Ardenaraii revolutionized the application of colonist industrial methods into magitech, giving birth to its first aircraft and motorized vehicles.

The crusade retook all the towns before the Edelic mountains, as the rest of the native garrisons took up arms to revolt against the colonizers. Kalestiyanai held on bitterly to Edellarium, still having the advantage of a superior industrial prowess and economy, they were able to replenish their losses and steadily guarded strategic positions in a battle of attrition. Soon, the momentum of the Crusade of the Purest died out, with the Tayfarath capturing Edellarium at the cost of the majority of Rittermaetri's lives. By the end of the year, the war was successfully concluded the Peace of the Twelfth.

Geography and Climate

Maps

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  Geography of the Regal See

Demographics

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Economy

Ardenaraii's economy is mainly agrarian, with its industrial base being made up almost entirely out of artisan workshops specializing in their various product lines. Several businesses in particular are family-owned, ran by the aristocratic elites, but many too are self-organized workshops sponsored by nobility. The high-end machines and appliances are commonly produced by a method known as "Ruunfabrikta" (lit. Rune Fabrication), a process that utilizes carefully-placed assortments of miniature glyphs, in a similar manner to producing computer circuits, giving them access to parallels of the technologies colonists have brought to Sparkalia. It had underwent an equivalent of industrial revolution after the arrival of the first unknown, allowing it to modernize its vastly outdated society, and leading eventually to its triumph over the Republic of Kalestiyanai.

Culture

Ardenarai has made a lot of technological breakthroughs with the development of Ruunfabrikta (rune-based magitech), but many of these are inaccessible to the common populace.

The people of Ardenarai are traditionalist belonging to a religion known as Trinitarianism, worshipping the unified entity of the godhead Nymenna, the first great magi, and the collective spirit of humanity. Much of the Kingdom places magical prowess on a pedestal, to have no affinity for the arcane is equivalent to becoming a soulless human being, and thus forming discrimination towards outsiders incapable of performing magic (such as those of Kalestiyanai). The culture of Ardenarai has fostered an attitude of elitism, where the lowborns exist only to be exploited by magi, although even such aristocrats aren't safe from the machinations of both those above them, and subordinates seeking to usurp their power. Social darwinism rules the vast lands of Eleutheria, where no one can truly proclaim to be safe.

There is a phrase commonly attributed to Eleutheria, that is "Progress without change", as even though many struggles, tragedies, and miracles could come pass, nothing ever seemed to truly change in Ardenarai.