Kingdom of Isaria
The Kingdom of Isaria is an anomaly amongst the new countries that sprang up after the Great Imperial Collapse. Isaria has unique culture, language, and style that has lasted since the Imperial Era, and they continue to preserve their age old traditions even in the face of constant outside pressure to change. Though, they were used as a breadbasket provence for the old empire, they have since risen as a minor power on the western coast of Astur. Their martial prowess has earned them respect from their neighbors and a modicum of influence from their distant contacts.
Structure
Each settlement is run by the local clan and they largely oversee their own affairs. However, they all must obey and pay homage to the ruling Hesei Clan based in the city of Yamelith. The kingdom is ruled by the lord paramount, though the Isarians prefer the term, Shogun, derived from the dialect of their ancient homeland to the west.
Culture
Their culture is fairly unique in that it originates from a continent far to the west across the Tiberian Ocean. Their stories, lore and architecture stand apart, and even their gods are different. They worship the elements themselves, and so many of their temples have five floors to symbolize the four elemental planes unified by the prime material. Everything has a spirit, or an animus, which can be harnessed for great power. Peasant culture is largely agricultural with farms dotting the landscape, but there is a strong martial bent amongst the upper echelons of the peasantry and amongst the nobility.
Public Agenda
If their geography allowed it, they would be pretty isolationist as they like to keep to themselves and protect their lands. However, things being what they are, they are forced to interact with their neighbors, and thus, their agenda is pretty simple; they will protect their own and they will strike back if threatened. Recently, the more militaristic members of the clans have been gaining sway, and there has been talk of expansion.
Assets
The Inaru River flows steadily and gently depositing useful silts and nutrients along the river banks. Thus the soil is fertile and irrigation is easy. Moreover, the waters are easily navigable, which grants access deep into the interior of the mainland. While Isaria does not have much in terms of surface mineral assets, they have learned how to deep mine from nearby dwarven clans, which gives them access to rich deposits of iron, tin, and cobalt.
History
Isaria was an imperial fief for over a thousand years before the fall of the empire. Over a millenia before that, the first Isarians arrived on our continent through a portal. The locals today continue to tell stories about how their people journeyed through the elemental planes and communed with the titans who formed our world, but many dismiss them as mere legends and grandiose retellings. However, what remains true is that Isarians were not native to Astur. During the High Imperial Era, their settlements and city-states and were conquered and incorporated into the empire, and while they resented Asturian control, at first, eventually they became loyal citizens of the empire, and they even contributed a whole legion into imperial service. After the collapse, however, local legates and pretenders to the throne tried to maintain control of the fief, and while the Isarians had come to respect the Imperial house, they had no such connections to pompous, bombastic nobodies. They threw off their would-be overlords after about a century of rule and reestablished the Independent Kingdom of Isaria.
Demography and Population
Population: 85,000 (closer to 100,000 if outlying settlements and dependencies are included)
This kingdom is mostly human (around 75%), but there are several other denizens of Asturia that claim this place as home:
- Dragonborn (10%)--the most numerous minority group, and because of their numbers, they are petitioning the shogun to be recognized as an official clan within the kingdom.
- Half-elves (5%)--In any kingdom, there will be representatives of the Elven and Human unions that take place all across the continent.
- Dwarves (4%)--local mining operations have attracted some dwarven residents, and many tradesmen that sail to and from Kawaleth Port are dwarves.
- A smattering of other races (1%)--This group tends to contain gnomes, halflings, tieflings, and goliaths. Other races might appear, but their presence tends to be transient.
Territories
They occupy land all up and down the lower Inaru and Sakana Rivers, though there are some outlying settlements that were built away from the river lands. While they do not control the entirety of the rivers, Isarians do regularly travel beyond the cataracts to trade with the settlements and tribes of the interior.
The primary settlements of Isaria consist of...
- Yamelith (capital)
- Kawalith
- Taisho
- Shōwa
- Asoko
Military
The core of the military are highly trained armored soldiers called samurai. Most are skilled swordsmen and archers trained almost since birth, and while they are not that large in number, many say that one Isarian samurai is worth ten normal foot soldiers. Additionally, many train in secluded monasteries as kenseis whose martial prowess is employed throughout Isarian military matters; since their training involves unarmed combat in addition to other forms of martial training, these warriors are used mainly as skirmishers and small strike forces. The remainder of the military force is comprised of large bands of lightly trained peasant militia, usually spearmen.
Each division of light infantry is commanded by a samurai while the samurai cohorts are under their local lord, and then the lords must report to the Shogun.
Religion
Their religion is animistic, for the most part, with the worship of spirits being the driving belief, but deities like Melora, Arathis, and Umberlee are worshiped. There is even a surviving cult of the Old Gods like Shade, Lumina, and Exandros
Foreign Relations
They do not have a lot of organized neighbors, but the Shogun and his council try to maintain friendly relations with those around them. Grayforge in the eastern mountains has been a staunch ally for many years, and Isaria has a rich trading relationship with the Akkadian settlements to the south. Relations with the various kingdoms and city states in the Shattered Lands has been strained recently because Isarian trade ships keep getting attacked just off the coast of the City of the Fallen.
Agriculture & Industry
Isaria is first and foremost an agricultural power. The riverlands they control are fertile and plentiful, and therefore, most of the kingdom's income comes from crops grown along the riverbanks. In addition, the various local lords have a specialty in animal husbandry:
- Heisei--horses
- Shōwa--goats
- Taisho--fish and waterfowl
- Hidori--aquatic horses
- Takezo--owlbears
- Kimpo (not officially recognized as a clan)--wyverns
Trade & Transport
Isaria has a moderate trading fleet that sails up and down the western coast of Astur. The kingdom conducts limited trade with the Shattered Lands where it buys up old world relics, magic scrolls and treatises, and precious metals. Additionally, there are rumors that some Isarian nobles have purchased slaves from a couple of the city-states and kingdoms, but these rumors have yet to be substantiated.
The majority of Isarian trade, however, is conducted inland with the various tribes and communities along the Inaru and Inari Rivers or with the burgeoning empires to the south. The river fleet trades the kingdom's sizable grain surplus in exchange for needed raw materials like lumber, iron, and silver while also maintaining a light military presence to protect the borders. The most far flung trading delegations were sent to the Empire of Akkad and the Empire of Raishan. Isaria does not have much to offer these larger states, but they do some modest trade in order to increase their influence and reach to varying degrees of success.
Mythology & Lore
The Isarians claim to know the true origins of the world. In the beginning, before the War of Creation, the Great Primordials gave form and life to the Prime Material. The vast worlds were ever changing and fluid much like their masters, but the lady of Light felt that chaos must be balanced with order if life is to flourish. She saw the potential of the burgeoning lifeforms and thought to cultivate that potential. Amaterasu harnessed the great fire of the stars and let it shine upon her worlds and the people rejoiced. However, her light was soon challenged by Kuroku, her brother and lord of darkness. He believed in balance as well and thought that where light did not shine, darkness shall reign. They struggled and their battle caused the tides to rage, planes were scorched in holy light and mountains were shrouded in impenetrable darkness, but eventually they struck an accord and each retreated to their domain. Thus began the internal dance of day and night. Sadly, their peace was not to last as the true Dawn War soon erupted when the All-Dragon made their approach. They claimed the world as their own. However cataclysmic the ensuing battles were, they had to do their dance in the light and shadow cast by the prime gods of creation.
Cosmological Views
The cult of the sun-goddess Amaterasu (though most call her Lumina in the rest of Astur) is strong. She is the giver of light and life to the world, and while other faiths are tolerated, no other god can claim a higher spot in the pantheon than Amaterasu. Other gods that have prime placement of worship are
人生は限られていますが、名誉は永遠です (Life is limited but honor is forever)
Founding Date
150 AE
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
The Patchwork Kingdom
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Demonym
Isarians
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Barter system
Currency
Isarian Koku (a silver piece depicting an archer), though all forms of currency and barter are accepted.
Legislative Body
There is an advisory council that will assist the Lord Paramount (Shogun) with day-to-day matters of states, but there is no legislative body that creates laws for the country.
Judicial Body
The local lord (Daimyo) holds a monthly court where anyone can bring any legal matters before him/her, and they will be settled by arbitration. Some cases will be heard by the lord with the assistance of a jury, but this is usually for more serious offences. In the case of emergencies, a quick court can be established and presided over by a local magistrate if the lord cannot be present or if a decision needs to be made immediately. Decisions of this court will be evaluated by the local clan leader and lord as soon as they are able.
Executive Body
The Lord Paramount, or Shogun, is responsible for carrying out the laws of the land.
Notable Members
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