The Kingdom of Tir Cendel

Written by little song

Culture

The people of Tir Cendel have many faults and a few redeeming qualities. They usually believe themselves far wiser and prosperous than other lands. As if they are Elyon’s gift to world, they believe everyone else should be grateful and honored to trade with them. Due mainly to the terrorism of the Blue Cloaks, racism remains heavily present. Only humans are allowed citizenship and though outsiders, especially in current days, are allowed to stay and live and work as anyone else, when it comes to matters of crime and justice, they often have a harder time in gaining recompense.
For all their flaws though, their resilience is legendary. Loyalty to both their fellow man and their kingdom holds fast, and though the nation has a well-established class system of lords, dukes, serfes, and freemen, movement between the ranks is common as innovation and hard work are rewarded and laziness is punished. In order to maintain a family title, the heir must maintain both reputation and production. The lack of regulation on the economy increases the incentive to do well allowing the free market to expand and new ideas to flourish. Since before the Pale War, they have practically proceeded in a state of perpetual war. Whether conquering under a power hungry monarch or defending themselves from the Blue Cloaks, the armies have always been maintained, well funded and well trained. Their fighting style resembles that of knights with divisions for footmen, calvary, and archers. The common folk also train in a militia reserve once a month. Only men are allowed to fight, for the women are viewed as too valuable as mothers to allow in danger.
The national language of Tir Cendel is Common. (English British accents) Many are fluent in a second or third language, but they are not utilized within the border. The wealthy often travel to other lands for vacation or business. Architecture is extravagant and spacious. (Victorian) Art is encouraged and funded by wealthy lords. Mens clothing consists of suits and various coats and vests, often in earthy and dark colors, with pocket watches and hats. (Steampunk). Women’s style has three different styles of bustles with full skirts and heavily corseted blouses, curled hair, gloves, and parasols in either dark colors or pale shades.

History

Tir Cendel already existed as a kingdom before the Pale War and remains one of the few with accurate historical records of their peoples. It’s true founding began in year 543, when their first King, Desmund the Unshakeable united the four main clans under one banner and established the first capital of Tir Falla. At that time there were four main cities with a far different landscape. Aer, Tan Rage, Dwer Cyson, and Tir Falla. Disputes sometimes rose amongst them, but they were never so great as to come to full out war. At this time, men, elves, dwarves, halflings, and the children of the stars (now a race lost to time) all lived together as citizens.
Under King Blanchard the Conqueror, Tir Cendel expanded like never before as he systematically wrecked the villages to the south and then, turning his focus up, attempted to invade Aelyssar and Vachelous. He never invaded however, for it was at this time that the Pale War began. The initial upheave, in some stroke of divine providence, crushed Blanchard and his main battalion. From then his son, Jonathon the Wise, shifted the focus of the war to defeating this ancient enemy. After their period of conquest, the training and tactics of their armies, as well as the arrogance of the people, saw them most often rushing to the front. To this day Tir Cendel prides itself in it efforts against Pale, and though they do not claim to be what defeated him, they believe that the rest of the world owes them for taking the damage.
It is no boast to say they sacrificed much in the years of Pale War. Historians estimate that 78% of the forces perished in the fight, (both men and women then). In the wake of this, during the upheaval of the land, Tir Cendel lost more totaling 92% of their population. This fact is confirmed by the census taken every year up until the Pale War and after. Most that remained were of the race of men, the Children of Stars now understood as extinct. The land itself, once full of rich lakes, springs and rivers, fertile forests and hearty farmland, had been replaced with dry plain, most of the rain falling in the hill country to the south. Only one lake existed still, though now much smaller than before, and that became the new epicenter for their rebirth.
Though proud and arrogant, Tir Cendel is also determined and stubborn. They never see themselves as a failure while one remains to breathe. Thus Jonathon the Wise established the Keep Yen Parhu, meaning we endure, and encouraged all his people to band together and help each other. Over the years, man resilience grew the small keep into a fortified city, establishing a school, and developing merchandise and trade. Through their ingenuity they also invented more efficient ways to raise crops and cattle until by the end of his reign they could not only support themselves, but also began trade with the other lands, prices then focused to aid the struggles with little gain for themselves. This time too they sought to better all nations through peaceful alliance than conquering.
For three generations peaceful kings built back their nation into a prosperous state. A Farmer named Hal Glormira discovered the first of a great underwater cistern and invented the Irra Tunnels. A period of discovery and expansion followed with two more of these cisterns uncovered and also great veins of Black Argite. The peace would not last however as prosperity often leads to pride, and pride leads to many evils. King Cendel, (Arden, renamed by himself.) seeing the greatness of what he deemed his, began to pour their resources and study into gaining more wealth and power. He first made the unnatural races, as he called them, servants to men, due mainly through regulation and taxes. In response, many of the halflings and elves left. The dwarves remained dealing with the oppression and retreating deep into the earth into five factory mining towns. Still to this day they remain, having little contact with the humans except to deliver a portion of the Black Argite and help maintain the Irra Tunnels.
A small group of elves responded differently however, and chose instead to remain and fight for the injustices done them. Indigo Loneleaf banded together with a group of four other elves, later to be dubbed the Blue Cloaks, and became the first recorded organized criminal society. They became even worse than their oppressors, considering anyone not an elf to be lesser and weak. They have killed countless men since their founding, often brutally murdering them as an example. The noble class is targeted and those specifically from Tir Cendel. They have been known to attempt assassinations in other lands, only rarely. Besides men, half elves are often despised and murdered for their parentage, but by far, the worst person in existence and who they cannot stand to live in any circumstance is a turncoat. One who has been among their ranks but left their ways, is to die in pain after losing everyone they hold dear. Over the centuries they have waned and waxed, but always been present. They take up hold on the southern border in, The Five Knives. Due to their presence an expansion has never again been attempted to the south. And the tower of Fives Knives defense claims the greatest fighters and defenses the nation can offer.
King Cendel set his sights on expanding the lands. It was never to go beyond the first invasion however, as after seven years of bloodshed against present day Vashelous, Tyreson drove back the last main unit of Cendel Calvary to where now stands: Tyson’s watch. Weakened and fearing invasion from the north, and also dealing with sabotage from Indigo loneleaf and his men, King Cendel quickly sought treaty with Tyson the First, and arrangement was struck and tribute granted every year. Even under tribute, due to the determination and ingenuity of a few, the nation still thrived and became more productive.
This helped to fuel Vashelous’ “Golden Age” of learning and expansion until the war of succession under King Rictor, who succeeded in regaining the kingdoms sovereignty.
Tir Cendel now: The current King Edward, now age 25, seeks peace not only with all neighboring nations, but also is trying to undo the centuries of hate between humans and the other races. This has been met with some success largely due to one of his highest ranking lords and his faithful servant, a former Blue Cloak. At the moment other races live and trade within the kingdom freely. Still much work remains as they are not yet allowed citizenship.
Other projects include a network of transportation rails utilizing the magnetic currents within the ground. A railway system is already in place from Irra to Yen Parhu, effectively turning weeks worth of travel into days worth. The full system is set to complete in 1703, and contact is beginning to be established with other kingdoms in the hopes of establishing an interkingdom rail system.

Territories

Size: Large

Terrain: Mostly plains with some mountainous and lake. Underground also lies an extensive network of mines and freshwater reservoirs used to fuel the agricultural and industrial production at the surface.

Climate: Temperate