Emposian Kingdom

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History

The Emposian Kingdom was established in 165 CA by Aigelthin Grindumson al'Baerin. The path to this establishment however, was a rough one.

It was only 165 years since the allied forces of the light finally defeated the Shadow Lord Phobos and his minions in what we today know as "the War against the Shadow". But only a few decades after this magnificent accomplishment tensions sparked up between the kingdoms of men. It was obvious that the taint of shadow was still at large. The dwarves and elves had suffered severe losses during the previous war and thus retreated to their respective homelands and let men to themselves.

Nobody is really sure when the wars began, but it is thought to be sometime during the 30's. To men, this time was known as the Hundred Years War; and to others as the War of Men. None of the kingdoms that survived the War against the Shadow would last through this series of unfortunate events, and a lot of the knowledge from the previous Age would be lost forever.

In a world torn by war and chaos new cities emerged, and from them new kingdoms. The first of these being the Kingdom of Kraan in 110.

During the early 140's Aigelthin Grindumson summoned all men of the House of Baerin to a meeting at Eagle Hill in the midst of the Erellor Plain. Here he told them of a dream he had. On top of that very hill he would build a castle where he and his house would be safe from the cruelty of the Kraani soldiers. And he would name the castle Emporium Sariele, which in the old tongue is translated into the Lion's Castle (the mark of the Baerlings is a white lion).

It took Aigelthin almost 15 years to build the castle, and during this time a town had started growing up around it. To begin with it was mainly the labourers working on the castle and their families, but steadily a small flow of merchants and other folks settled down too. Aigelthin decided to name the town Aegelhiim, home of the eagle, named after the hill, but the town dwellers only used the name of the castle.

When Aigelthin was crowned king of Emporium Sariele in 165 it was only after immense pressure from the leaders of the House of Baerin. The Kingdom of Emporium Sariele would at that time only include the castle, the surrounding town and the entirety of the plains of Erellor.

Around 800 years later, the name Emporium Sariele had been shortened to just Empo Sar, and its original meaning mostly forgotten; only remembered by scholars and the kings themselves. Its territory has greatly swelled since those early days too after numerous wars against both the kingdoms of Kraan and Maliera; both of them now being a part of the Emposian Kingdom. The city of Empo Sar itself has grown into one of the worlds largest cities, attracting all sorts of people, both good and bad, from all over the world. And the Emposian Kingdom is today definitely the most powerful kingdom in the world.


Empo Sar

"All roads lead to Empo Sar" is a common saying throughout Aerath, mirroring both the grandness of the Emposian Kingdom and the city itself.

The city is divided into three main areas, each with a wall surrounding them; the upper, the middle, and the lower city. The upper city being at the top of this hill, and the lower city being at the foot of the hill.

Starting off as a few small houses around the castle, the upper city has developed to become one of the most affluent and secure areas on Aerath, with constant guard-presence on the streets. However with the riches came the secrets, the scandals and the politics; the upper city is nothing like Lyria's garden. In the middle of the upper city one can find the Royal Castle, the home of the Emposian kings. Other notable buildings is the Royal Library, the nobility quarters, the ambassadors quarters and the barracks, the home of the Royal Guard and the Guilds of Learning.

In the middle city one can find the bourgeois, the merchants and master craftsmen. It is said that only the best crafts are sold here, and that if it isn't sold here, it isn't worth any attention.

The lower city can be a dangerous place. Smuggling, theft, bribery, blackmail, and assassination is a way of life for many of the inhabitants of the lower city. It is the gangs that rule the lower city, and the city guard only enters it if an ambassador or a nobleman needs an escort to the harbour. Currently it is the Zeladri Family, based at the Black Lion Pub, who rule the lower city.

Below is a map of the city of Empo Sar.

Empo Sar.jpeg


Provinces

The Emposian Kingdom consists of a total of 12 provinces; 2 earldoms (Korlayra and Wirafal), 4 baronies (Hilafo, Firlow, Milthorn and Tirapeth) and 6 provinces directly controlled by the crown (Cyran, Erellor, Timar, Maleria, Frostport and Seawatch). The six crown provinces are governed by a governor appointed by the king himself.

Royal Domain of Cyran

Cyran borders Firlow to the east and Korlayra to the north.

Cyran was the center of the Kingdom of Kraan untill it was annexed by Emposia in 244 CA during the aftermath of the second Kraani-Emposian War. Today Cyran is the home of the city of Kraan, the former heart of the Kraan Kingdom. Kraan is still a lively and buzzing city although much of its former glory has faded away.

The name Cyran was strategically chosen by the Emposian kings instead of Kraan, as had been the name of the region while it was controlled by the Kingdom of Kraan. Where the city of Kraan is today there was a small village named Cyranem, and although all the descendants of the early inhabitants of this village either died or moved on, it was still for a long time a symbol of the opposition in Kraan. It is also believed that Cyran was a former kingdom in the area during the Hundred Years War.

Royal Domain of Erellor

Erellor borders Hilafo to the north and east, and Firlow to the west. It is the location of the Emposian capital, Empo Sar.

The name "Erellor" is the only remnant of the once mighty Kingdom of Erellor which at its peak ruled most of southern Aerath. It was however utterly destroyed during the War of Men. Its capital was placed somewhere along the southern coast, but there are no known remnants left of it. It is said however that the Kingdom of Erellor was widely known for its advanced culture and scientists.

Royal Domain of Timar

Timar borders Hilafo in the south, and Firlow and Milthorn to the west.

Shortly after the discovery of Timar Valley in 600 CA a temple was raised and a few explorers settled around it. This settlement was to be known as Northern Hope due to the peaceful surroundings contrasting the lands outside the valley. The settlement was unfortunately abandoned in 610 CA when the valley was more or less completely explored. Only a few monks stayed behind in the temple and were the only human inhabitants of the valley for the next 200 years.

In 838 CA a few Emposian explorers re-discovered the valley, as it had been forgotten by most during the two past centuries, and settled down. They built a new village, partially upon the ruins of the previous settlement and named it Timari.

In 998 CA the Timari Act was announced saying that all boys and girls of the Emposian Kingdom had to travel to Timari at the age of twelve. Here they would be taught the basics of surviving in the more dangerous world outside and they would have the opportunity to join a guild and gain a class.

Royal Domain of Maliera

Maliera is the region north of Milthorn and Korlayra and west of Wirafal. Having been the centre of the Malieran Empire from around 589, Maliera was annexed by the Emposian Kingdom at the true end of the Emposian-Malieran war in 929.

The once great city of Sivaris, the former capital of Malieria, can be found here. There is still much bad-feeling between the ex-Malieran Empire and the rest of Emposia, however.

The Royal Domains of Frostport and Seawatch

Emposian explorers have founded two settlements outside the borders of the Emposian Kingdom; one on the north coast (Frostport) and one on the west coast (Seawatch). The villages are quite small, but are of great importance for the Emposian crown as they represent the Emposian right to settle wherever they want. Seawatch is also playing an important role in the on-going war between the elven kingdom of Luthialim and the elven republic of Deluthiel.

Earldom of Wirafal

Wirafal is a heavily forested area to the north of Milthorn and east of Malieria. It includes the human town named Tereth, and the orcish stronghold, Mraklar Fortress.

For warriors and merchants alike who walk the roads of Wirafal, little more than the occasional bandit is likely to bother them. However those who stray far from the road without a map will quickly find themselves lost. Yet even with a map and trusted guide, the deeper forests of Wirafal can be difficult to navigate. There are many tales told in the taverns of the surrounding areas which speak of how the trees actually move to confuse unwary travellers; coaxing them into traps with wirathistles, or just forcing them deeper into the dark heart of Wirafal.

One thing is certainly true, the forests of Wirafal are ancient and magical. And certainly not all the magic present is a threat.

Perhaps somewhat more of a threat to even the most hardened of travellers are the orcs who inhabit the area. During the second half of the second war of shadows, orcs built several immense fortresses in an attempt to tighten the Dark Lord Phobos' already slipping grip upon the world. One of the greatest was Mraklar Fortress on the eastern side of Wirafal. Many orcs fled Wirafal in the second fall of the Shadow, however others retreated into the caves and mountains to the east instead. By the year 800, orcs began to resurface, whilst Aerathians, tied up in their own conflicts, took little notice. The orcs were able to rebuild Mraklar Fortress to its former strength. Many of the old tunnels still exist, leading deep into the mountains. The nearby town of Tereth is often attacked by groups of orcs from Mraklar Fortress, the war and Emposian takeover of Maliera meant that Tereth often had little support during attacks in the past. However a wall now protects the town and Emposian guards keep a constant presence there.

Earldom of Korlayra

Korlayra, or the Korlayra Mountains, stretch across central Aerath effectively separating Empo Sar from Sivaris and so were of considerable strategic importance during the Emposian-Malieran conflict. After the fall of Sivaris, most of the tunnels, caves and strongholds were abandoned, and many are now inhabited by other creatures. Most of these are scavengers and renegades who pose little threat to an experienced explorer; however there are also a few darker secrets hidden within the bowels and towering snowy peaks of these rugged mountains.

Barony of Hilafo

Hilafo is known for its mines. Three mines exist on the south slopes of the Hilafo Range: Hethen, Gryld and Nilkas. As human constructions, they lack both the finesse and grandeur of Dwarven mines, although they were little less efficient because of it. Most of the mines are now abandoned, although some have since been inhabited by various peoples; including bands of outlaws, along with packs of vicious wolves and wargs.

The towns of Arferniel and Brookton are found in this province.

Barony of Firlow

Firlow is one of the largest regions of Aerath, stretching as far east as Erellor to Cyran in the west, bordering Korlayra to the north and the coast in the south. Firlow's vegetation is a mixture of flowery, open plains with copses dotted around, and dense forest. Its landscape is similarly varied, as both gentle hills and rugged cliffs may be found across the region. The bison-like rhodosus roam the shores of Lake Firlow and the less forested plains around. Further to the south-west the trees grow closer and taller, seeming to close in around travellers exploring them. These deeper, darker regions of the forest are home to trow and goblins, but few other creatures which would pose a problem to experienced warriors. Firlow has long been home to a shrine to the goddess of health and wellbeing, Iutithra. The pool at the shrine was blessed by Iutithra herself and is said to be so pure that it brings good health to the body of the good and the righteous drinker, but burns the mouths of the evil and the false. It is certainly one of the better known shrines, perhaps largely because Iutithra is held in such high opinion by the Emposians.

The towns of Mirai and Yethil are found here.

Barony of Milthorn

Milthorn is one of the larger forests spreading the continent of Aerath. It is roughly central in location in Aerath, stretching from as far north as Maliera and as far south as Firlow. Dense vegetation, scarred battlegrounds and mountaineous regions make this a dark and unpleasant landscape. Because it is the valley between the Korlayra Mountains and the Hilafo Range it marks the only passage between those two natural obstacles. Milthorn has been of strategic importance in many battles throughout Aerathian history.

Barony of Tirapeth

The Portho Brook winds its way down the hill on the southern side of Arferniel, carving a narrow gulley, known as Tirapeth Gorge, down to the sea. In contrast to the mining areas further north, this region is a green and rugged wilderness. Explorers should be mindful of the spiders which inhabit many of the crags and caves, and of the treacherous pitfalls which litter the area.


Monarchs

The Emposian Kingdom has been ruled by a total of 27 monarchs, King Eirim IV being the current one. Most of the time the crown has been on the hands of the House of Baerin, except of the period from 490-635 when the House of Tokura held it.

  • List of Monarchs (time of reign)
  • Aigelthin I "the Founder" (165-208)
  • Eirim I (208-239)
  • Aegili I (239-247)
  • Mirtus I (247-265)
  • Garlath I (265-287)
  • Aegili II (287-301)
  • Lubjale I (301-339)
  • Hallum I (339-405)
  • Hirald I (405-411)
  • Eulin I (411-425)
  • Aigelthin II "the Builder" (425-478)
  • Lubjale II (478-490)
  • Tiratoris I (490-523)
  • Litorious I (523-546)
  • Grandum I "the Cruel" (546-553)
  • Aegum I (553-588)
  • Hathus I (588-635)
  • Ailgeth I (635-711)
  • Eirim II (711-727)
  • Aegum II (727-745)
  • Eulin II (745-751)
  • Hirald II (751-776)
  • Liranda I (776-825)
  • Aigelthin III (825-856)
  • Garlath II (856-859)
  • Ailgeth II (859-887)
  • Eirim III (887-945)
  • Liera I (945-955)
  • Hirald III (955-982)
  • Eirim IV (982- )