Konenbur, the Theocracy of the Sea
Konenbur, the Theocracy of the Sea, is a nation in the southern reaches of Gimora Minor. Its territory includes the lands to the west and south of the Parched Mountains to the Clawed Coast and Trident Coast.
Description
The fall of the old Kingdom of Konenbur gave rise to the Theocracy of the Sea, a religious government headed by the faith of Thalassia. The current leader, Grand Saint Guillaume Merforce, leads the Konburian people in worship and service to Sehakora, The Maelstrom. The Theocracy controls lands on the southeastern edge of Gimora Minor, which are mostly a salted, mountainous reach of rock and cliff. They control three major regions: the Clawed Coast to the west of the Parched Mountains, from the Dry River Desert to the Salt Hills; the Trident Coast, where the capital city Konenbur sits as a major port; and the Gulf of Beaches, the most fertile and most contested stretch of Konburian land. Konenbur is a land of coasts and their lives depend on the bounty of the water. They are a faithful people who've learned to live off the sea and their own work. But with their prominent naval prowess comes rising tensions and conflict with other forces near to them, and their strong faith shuts out the faiths of the other Dragons, including Zenethia.Notable Locations
- Konenbur: The capital city and a major port on the Trident Coast.
- Greenscale Port: A major harbor of the island of Sinatold holding the Admirality's Fleet.
Society
Notable People
- Grand Saint Guillaume Merforce
Culture
Konenbur is a largley human land, and with their proximity to Haradren Gaer Arnad and the Durnur Forest, half-elves are a common sight among the coastal cities of the country. The capital, Konenbur, sits at one end of the long Iron Highway. It is also one of the primary ports along the sea lanes of the region. Both of these travel routes make Konenbur a place where many peoples can be seen. Despite these connections, most Konburians are poorer than their human neighbors in Branca and Burland due to their distance from Endor, their lack of natural resources, and their hesitance with trading with the Parthenian Federation. Konburians are a people of the sea. Their lands are mostly barren but have plentiful coasts, which has driven their people to the bounty of the waters for survival. This is reflected in their navy, which is considered one of the strongest in Azimuth. They are a resilient people who have survived much, which is a point of pride for them. They have a history of reverence and rememberance for great figures from the past, and stories of these figures are repeated often. However, The Story of the Zenethian Heroes carries a different tone here than elsewhere in Azimuth. The mass damage to Konenbur caused by the actions of the Zenethian Heroes has never been forgotten.Religion
The Konenbur people are deeply faithful. The worship of Sehakora, The Maelstrom is widespread across the region. The strength of the sea is paramount in the faith, and the Temple of the Moon Goddess and Temple of the Sea Goddess are said to protect everyone of the faith. Lunar Crest and Typhoon's Wake are holidays with rituals of great importance to these people. Konenbur has always been a place of danger and close to death. The sea is unpredictable and can be as violent as it can be bountiful. As such, the faith of Nerull, The Scythe-Bearer, has historically been strong here as well. However, due to their history, they have largely rejected the Zenethian faith, and many of the Dragons's faiths other than Sehakora's are resisted or even stiffled in the region.Government
Konenbur was previously a kingdom. After the Manslayer War at the end of the Fourth Age, the country’s recovery was fueled by the rising prominence of the Sehakora faith that guided the country’s rebuilding. Eventually, the people put more faith in their religion than in their line of kings. After the Navivert Disaster, the monarchy was dissolved, and in its place Konenbur became the Theocracy of the Sea. The Patriarch of the Sea, Grand Saint Guillaume Merforce, runs both the Faith of Sehakora and the country from the capital, Konenbur. The country is divided into a number of Diocese, which are governed by Secretariats of the faith subsidiary to the power of the capital. They watch over their Congregations and administer church and governmental affairs for their region.Politics
The Iron Highway brings many goods from elsewhere in Gimora, and Konenbur trades with the likes of Endor, Burland, and Branca. However, tensions are rising as the Theocracy has rejected ties to Zenethia, and the cultural divide from the stark difference in available resources is causing friction between these lands. Konenbur and Soretta to the south are both navy powers competing for the sea region. Though no open confrontation has taken place, the fleets have come close to battle on multiple occasions, like during the Invasion of Sinatold. There is a strong tension with the emergent Parthenian Federation to the northeast. Beastfolk armies caused much destruction here, and Konenbur has been very hesitant in accepting trade from Parthenia.Military
Konenbur is renowned for its powerful fleet. The military is headed by the Admiralty who stand over the Konenbur military, the Greenscales, who have a great stock of orcish orichalcum weapons and armor. The Admiralty’s Fleet is held at Greenscale Port and patrols the seas and maritime trade routes along the many coasts of Konenbur. Each military leader is a naval commander first, with ground forces almost observed as an afterthought. That said, Konenbur does maintain a military force and defensive forts, such as at Fort Greenscales near the Dry River Desert.History
The Fourth Age: The Age of Shadow
After the Kingdom of Gimora was destroyed during the Great War and the continent of Gimora was sundered, the lands were split into several new powers. One of these was Konenbur. The Zenethian Champion Ruin helped to stabilize Konenbur in the wake of its drastic climate and geographical changes. The new kingdom saw a strong drive to establish its future as a major human sea power in the region. Konenbur imported much of the orcish metal orichalcum for their growing navy and military. This growth brought them into conflict with the elves of Soretta, the Undying Aristocracy. After the events of Typhoon's Wake on 24 Avedar 4A 574, Konenbur invaded and annexed Sinatold. In 4A 995, during the events of the Manslayer War, the Zenethian Heroes inadvertently drew the forces of Passaro the Manslayer to Konenbur. The beastfolk armies attacked the coastlands and invaded parts of Konenbur. Over the course of the war, the Konburian navy engaged with Passaro's forces.The Fifth Age: The Age of Beginnings
The country's recovery after the war was largely guided by the faith of Sehakora, The Maelstrom. A resistance grew to the faith of Zenethia and to the reverance of The Story of the Zenethian Heroes. After the events of the Navivert Disaster in 5A 120, which resulted in the deaths of much of the ruling elite, the country shifted from a monarchy to a theocracy. The old Kingdom of Keeleon was officially ended, and the Theocracy of the Sea began.
2021 Art by K Bredain
The heraldry of the Theocracy of the Sea is a pentagonal symbol of greens and blues. The waves and moon represent Sehakora, the darker green represents the Greenscales, and the lighter green represents the two prominent temples of the faith.
The heraldry of the Theocracy of the Sea is a pentagonal symbol of greens and blues. The waves and moon represent Sehakora, the darker green represents the Greenscales, and the lighter green represents the two prominent temples of the faith.