Akaryth
From The Lands of Maraseri: A Guide by Solva Sabo:
and functional, usually crafted of wool or linen as the temperatures of the passing year vary. Men often wear a long vest they call a shamil, which hangs to thair flanks and in which are deep pockets. Clothing among the commoners is warm, functional and utilitarian. Men tend to wear loose, light tunics over pants and boots. Sometimes a small hat or skullcap is added as well. The men are hard-working and are expected to support their families through their labour and their devotion, but bear a deep sense of honour that is based in these efforts. They take great pride in their families. The men are given at times to spend free time in taverns among their peers, and much enjoy ales or wines, but frown upon the madness that drunkeness can produce.
"Akarthan common women clothe themselves in long dresses of wool or linen, frequently of white, gray, or a simple blue dye made from the adelin flower. Before they wed their hair is uncovered and the dress alone serves as their covering. They will often braid their hair and the custom of such reveals much, for when their hair is worn in two braids it is an indication that a woman is unmarried and has not been betrothed, but a single braid is a sign of betrothal. In the town of Beaumer I was told that this custom of the single braid represents two people becoming one through a coming marriage, and that it is good fortune to wear one's hair in such fashion until the ceremony. Once they have wed it is common for women to wear their hair loose, or unbraided but tied like the tail of a horse, yet covered by a simple cloth. A woman who has wed adds to her attire a garment called a shamaline, which takes the form of an overskirt attached to a bodice. Within this garment she sews pockets and carries about with her items and objects she may need, or treasures dearly. The shamaline is most commonly blue, red, or green and may be decorated through embroidery according to the skill of its owner."
"The common folk are hard working and consider laziness or sloth to be grievous flaws."
"Within the family men are called in their language doors of the family, which is to say that they are the guardian and outer face of their kin to the world around them. The family's temporal and mortal needs are met by the head of the family, and thus do men involve themselves far more deeply in the affairs of the mundane world. Yet the women are themselves called hearths of the family, for to them is given the nurturing not only of the family and its children, but also of their spirits. While the priests and priestesses of the Path provide wisdom, it is the women who ensure it is followed. For this reason an adage says, the priest may pour the wine but your mother makes you drink.
"Among the upper classes a strong tradition of honour holds sway, although it is the appearance of honour and propriety that matters more than its literal truth. So strong is this sense of honour that battles to the death will at times occur when one feels his honour has been slighted unrepentantly, yet among the women such undertakings are considered foolish. The noble men often wear clothing in black, gold, or purple, which colours are considered emblematic of masculinity, while blue, red, and green are badges of womanhood. Slashed fabrics, revealing another colour beneath, are a common feature of noble dress; law forbids commoners from wearing such garments. Noble women often wear clothing fashioned from richly embroidered fabrics, strange textiles from lands far away, and gems. Low-cut necklines and long, flowing skirts are common features of these women, who never wear the attire of men, finding in this great shame. Among women of such means the shamaline is never worn, for they consider the garment to be a sign of the lower classes."
Morcham, in which is vested the kingship of the land. The true symbol of the people, and much adored, is the adelin , a blue and white flower which grows throughout the kingdom, and appears embroidered on clothing, carved in statues and lintels, painted on crockery, and in many other such fashions. For this reason the flower's name is given to the Adelin Temple in Solstrom, being the greatest and most beautiful of the temples of the land. The flowers are given to a loved one as a token of romantic affection, but also used in cooking and medicine. Of all the symbols of the people, none approach the adelin in esteem or value."
"A great holiday is held in the land on the 15th day of the month of Harvest, being itself the feast day of Saint Luyan , and thus a day of national pride; ceremonies are held in the mornings in the temples, and the afternoons are given over to joyous celebration in the fields and the markets of the cities and towns. Performances by actors and mimes that illustrate the life of the saint are held, and adelin flowers are gathered before they wilt for the winter, being then made into medicine, dyes, and dried bouquets which are hung over the doors into homes as a ward against ill luck in the winter and the promise of a coming spring."
Geography
"On the northern shore of Maraséri , north of the Sapphire City, Sitadori, rests the wide kingdom of Akaryth, cradled in a great vale that sweeps down from the mountains men call the Ironfists unto the sea. Fertile are her lands, and wide, and possessed of remarkable beauty. The kingdom is divided into four great provinces, which in ancient times were independent lands in their own right. Today the people often simply call them the East, West, South, and North, yet they retain their ancient names as well." "In the West is the land they call Estaran. It is rockier and drier than the others, yet not barren. It begins in the foothills of the great Ironfists and from there marches eastward, becoming in the process more fertile and richer. From the fortified town of Pontoire the land is ruled in the name of the Crown." "In the South is the land called Maleceny, which marches from the centre of the land unto the waters of the sea. Here the foothills have given away to sweeping plains and grasslands where the people grow many crops and enjoy a prosperous life. Power in the region is centered in the port city of Lyns." "In the East of the land is the province of Avinyar, wherein the great river Alayne reaches the sea. Of all the regions of Akaryth the greatest beauty, prosperity, and fertility of land and crop is found here. All there is lush, and in the days of high summer did I visit it, sitting upon the banks of the great river, caressed by fair breezes perfumed by the heady scent of the Adelin Flower , and lost in quiet contemplation of the land's pastroal splendour. The city of Lustare is the capital of the region, rising in imposing beauty from the rolling plains and farmland." "In the North lies Almundy, where the lands are as fertile as those of Ayinvar, yet end in the foothills of the northern Ironfists. In this region lies the great city of Solstrom, held as a holy place by the people, for from here came their patron, Saint Luyan of Solstrom , and here too is he entombed beneath the greatest temple of the kingdom, named for the Adelin flower itself." "Besides these four provinces there is a fifth in the center, called Angouerre, wherein lies the kingdom's capital, Morcham Keep, and the home of its king. Here begins the great river Alayne which flows through Avinyar to the sea."Government
In this wide and beautiful land rules a king with absolute authority over his realm and those who live there. Through the advice and counsel of his advisors he alone sets the course of the realm. The king creates and eliminates roles on this council at his whim, yet two rolesare always present-the Lord Chancellor, through whom royal power is expressed in the land, and the Lord Exchequer who collects taxes and ensures the realm is funded adequately. " "Each of the four great provinces of the realm is ruled in the name of the king by a senechal who carries also the title of Prince. Thus, in the east the Senechal of the East is called also the Prince of Avinyar, and within that land his authority is nearly absolute, and subject to the will of the king alone. Much of the land is given in trust to noble houses who rule their own duchies, baronies, counties, and such but who owe their allegiance to the king and no other. These men of noble lineage serve in their lands as magistrates, administrators, and bringers of justice as they so interpret it themselves, but are empowered also to appoint others to serve in these capacities in their stead." "Tradition is of great value and importance to the society of the realm, and the law must be interpreted according to that which has gone before." "Beyond the nobility and the king, the priesthood of The High Path wields great influence within the realm and often it is that the First Priest of Akaryth holds a role of influence and a seat upon the council of the king."People
"The people of the land are themselves hardy and descended as one from the peoples of the four ancient realms that today form the kingdom, yet no longer do they believe themselves to be separate, but of a single race. They are most commonly black of hair and brown of eye, though hair the color of straw or of flame does exist in parts of the land, most commonly in Estaran. Yet custom and dialect can vary throughout the land and the people have themselves great pride in the region in which they live, declaring regardless of from where they come that their land is the most beautiful, the most blessed, and the most desirable of the entire realm. They are given to great celebration on national holidays, as are so many peoples, and are deeply pious and devoted to their faith. Within each community the local Brother or Sister is accorded great respect and is called upon for both the performance of the rites of birth, marriage, and death, but also as an advisor and counsellor to the common man." "Among the common folk the men keep their hair short and often wear beards and moustaches, sometimes styled elaborately. Their clothing is warm by James Berry enhanced via AI
by James Berry enhanced via AI
by James Berry enhanced via AI
Religion
"The people of Akaryth are pious devotees of The High Path , and in their eyes other faiths are to a great degree barbaric at worst or misguided at best. There is a deep devotion to Saint Luyan of Solstrom who is the patron of the realm, and to the Eight Lights; it is common for all to gather on the holy days in their local temple according to the saints to whom they adhere. The priests and priestesses are held in high esteem within the realm, and their advice and counsel is considered to be of great value. Most common are prayers within the family, held before each meal and at the setting of the sun, and personal devotions to one's patron saint are expressed in prayers and through the wearing of medallions or bracelets dedicated to them and blessed." "The Brothers and Sisters who lead the faithful occupy a role of great importance in the society of the land, for it is they who offer blessings to the newborn, perform the marriage ceremonies, and the rites of passing at the end of life. The Akarthans inter their dead beneath the ground in land devoted to this purpose alone; it is common to erect a stone marker over each grave or to plant a tree or bush at which devotional offerings are made in remembrance of the departed." "The people are deep believers in the spiritual world, and many are the tales of ghostly apparitions and haunted sites that are told in hushed tones over fires and in deep nights. Longest Night they hold as a particularly troubling time, and gather themselves within their homes where they pass the long hours in somber song and silent prayer." "As all devotees of the High Path hold pilgrimage as a holy undertaking, for the people of Akaryth their efforts are focused on a visit to the Adelin Temple in Solstrom.Symbols and Holidays
"While the image of a blazing sun on a field of sky blue is the official symbol of the realm, it is derived in truth from the sigil of the House of Fal-History in Brief (timeline under construction)
"A thousand years ago the realm was four smaller kingdoms, as I have previously described, but at that time the first king of the land brought together those four kingdoms through conquest, alliance, and marriage. King Martel I is remembered now as the founder of the realm, and the signing of the Treaty of Abassard in 852 is considered the marriage of the peoples, being then the binding together of four realms into one. Until 978 AS the House of Ardalane ruled the land as its kings, until in that year the House of Etaro came to the throne. And long ruled they until the War of the Savages in 1257 brought to their line an ending. In their place rose the House of Avondelle, and ruled they though the reigns of seven kings, until revolution cast them out, and for three decades the land was ruled by council alone." "The War of the Coming Dawn then swept the land for five years, and kingship was thereafter restored under the House of L'Courmen until 1661, when the House of Fal-Morcham gained the throne, and has remained in power in the land ever since."
In Brief: Akaryth is a lush and fertile land occupying a great, sweeping vale running from the eastern Ironfist Mountains to the sea. It is divided into four provinces each ruled by a senechal under the king, who rules from Morcham Keep , the capital city. The realm is fiercely devoted to The High Path and is thus strongly allied to similar nations.
Founding Date
852
Capital
Training Level
Trained
Demonym
Akarthan
Leader
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Founders
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Official State Religion
Official Languages
Notable Members
Allies through faith
As Deici is the heart of The High Path religious ties bind the two nations, as do Akarthan efforts at spreading the faith.
Allies with moments of tension generally solved diplomatically
Akaryth has a greater sense of gratitude towards Sitadori due to the latter's assistance in both the invasion of Alysur and for rendering assistance during the famine of the 1850s
Tense but this is mitigated by the Ironfist Mountains which divide the two nations.
Keledon and Akaryth have, at many times in their history, been rivals and outright foes. Akarthan aggression and attempts at conquest either militarily or economically have been relatively common, and the Keledoni adherence to the Old Ways and refusal to follow The High Path causes Akaryth to view them as uncultured at best and outright savages at the worst.
Comments