Astoria

The Kingdom of Astoria, the Timeless Kingdom, a land blessed of both magic and bounty as much as mystery and danger. The Prophet Jozan Ilarien led a large following of Humans of Athean descent to the northern countryside of Bellephon at the end of the Second Age, seeking asylum from the failing Empire of Athea. Jozan and his people founded Blackraven, a tiny hamlet that would one day grow into on of the largest and most prominent cities in all the Realm. Jozan's descendants took the throne of this new domain, and as their father did, spread worship of the Pantheon of Time. Astoria spread over the centuries, turning the lush wilderness that was into a coordinated and vast kingdom. From the Heartlands to the Golden Coast and beyond.

Structure

Like many Human Kingdoms, Astoria operates on a feudal hierarchy of descending responsibility. They use the Noble Hierarchy Noble Hierarchy⁣⁣ system.
The Monarch has absolute rule over the kingdom, with appointed nobles making up their Royal Court and host of advisers. Chief among these is the Hand of the Queen, who serves as Steward and Regent operating on the Monarch's administrative authority.
Astorian Dukes each preside over the three vast Duchies within the kingdom, which are further broken into Baronies and then Counties and Lordships. Each ranking noble has absolute authority over their domain and answer to the noble over head of them.

Public Agenda

The Timeless Kingdom is built on a foundation of duty and principle. Worship of Omnis and strict adherence to the laws of the Archangels is widespread in many nations of Athean descent, though few as concentrated as in Astoria. It is believed that Jozan Ilarien was the only one other than the Metatron that could hear the awesome might of Omnis' voice, and a common superstition holds that the blue-blooded rulers to follow him inherited this power.
Regardless of the truth, Astorian ideals hold the mandate of the Heavens very strongly. The Archangels are honored and acknowledged in all things, and rarely does a house not have a patron Angel to whom they owe their lives. The Church of Light is centered in Astoria, woven into the very fabric of Astorian culture and history.
Beyond worship, Astorians are a dutiful and just peoples. Most folk strive to live honest lives in the footsteps of their forebears and look down on evil and crime. The dream Astoria promises it's people is connection to an honorable and devout lineage.

History

It was a dream built to stand the test of time.

The Prophet King

The Prophet, Jozan Ilarien was born in the bosom of Athea at the Empire's height in the Second Age. In that time the wars of the Gods were nigh, and invasion from the Burning Hells and more chaotic planes were much less a terrible fear, and much more an inevitability. The light of the Heavens is all that guided Jozan in his early days, they say he was a mere footsoldier in the armies of Men for the formative years of his life. Legions of Devils and Demons waged their destructive wars across the surface of Bellephon, burning all that was bright and full of life. It was in these wars that Jozan saw the incalculable misery cast upon the innocent in times of strife. Athea was not to last, and the people would surely suffer. The young soldier turned to Omnis for guidance and the Over-God answered his prayers. Wherever he went, no matter the horrors he faced, Jozan and those he protected were miraculously saved from harm. Legends began to spread about the lone warrior who bore no sword and yet strode untouched across a battlefield, leading the weak to safety.

Jozan became known as a messiah to the downtrodden, the refugee, and the displaced. With hellish war drums beating across the land and demons raging the countryside, it was ever more sure that Athea would not last. The Prophet had amassed a large flock behind him, spreading the word of the Heavens like never before seen in the Empire and yet they were in danger. The pilgrimage of a single man became legend, as he took the less traveled roads north to the scattered settlements of the Braddish people. Many ballads still exist of the monsters Jozan slew in the name of the Gods, and the villages he saved in his grace. He found what would become Blackraven beset by a host of the risen dead, and with mace in hand felled them all. It was here, among faint points of light in a sea of darkness, where the Kingdom of Omnis would be built. And so it came to pass that thousands of Athean refugees fled to Blackraven, set to build a brighter future for themselves. Scattered villages became towns and cities, which became counties and baronies and eventually even duchies. It is rare for a kingdom to build itself into existence over the course of a life time, and yet far from civilized lands the security of a larger nation demanded it. After uniting the Athean refugees with the Braddish people, Jozan Ilarien became their king.

He was not a harsh ruler, nor one who desired riches or power. His focus was always to the lowest member of society, and to the pious way of life the gods put forth. This did little to stop the rise of many powerful and rich noble families either forged from nothing or migrated for the opportunity, and even the Church of Light grew to establish power and control over lesser temples and faiths. As age settled in upon the young kingdom, it did as well for it's first king. But the messiah had one last battle to fight. The wreathed destruction of the Second Age brought upon a deadly, terrible foe. A creature believed to be not the machination of any god, but something even older and more terrible: The Tarrasque. The great hungered beast set upon Blackraven and the outlying towns, threatening to destroy Astoria even as it was still being birthed. Jozan the Prophet embattled the beast alone, leading it across the countryside to the northern shores of the Golden Coast, where finally the messiah gave his life to defeat this impossible abomination. It was here that the city of Jozan's Way was birthed, and it was left to the King's sons to lead Astoria to a whimpering death or a bright future.

The Forming Years

The years that followed the Great King's death were difficult. Despite shaken faith without the Prophet to guide them, the Ilarien bloodline took the throne, following in their sire's footsteps as Astoria became a beacon of hope to combat the evils that plagued all of Bastion. In this time the kingdom stretched from the Wyrmsmoke Mountains to the White Sea. The great Royal Army was first formed, embattled with the legions of the damned that roamed Bastion in the Second Age, and the uprisings of more vile creatures that assailed Astoria's borders. The constant strain of war limited the kingdom's ability to grow, towns were destroyed and rebuilt, even glorious Blackraven was put to the torch numerous times, but the Astorian people had the Gods on their side, and they could prevail for a thousand years.
The Archmage Malagius himself came to Astoria in the wake of the Planeseal where he constructed his solitude, the tower known as the Starspire. It was here the Archmage remained, within what would soon become Astoria's border.
Many records are lost from this age, little is known still in scrupulous detail. Though the Ilarien name ruled for all of this time, honoring the vision set out by their forebear. But where Astoria stood, darkness had once bred, and darkness rarely sleeps unhindered forever.

The Wars of the Crown

After untold years of uncertainty at the end of the Second Age, Astoria was gaining a reputation from it's neighbors as an unshakable power. That was until the first War of the Crown. Magic waned to an extent in Bastion as a result of the Planeseal that ended the Second Age. This led to a downturn in the prominence of teleportation and other magics that were so prevalent in the Empires of old. Entire schools of wizards felt their mana drip away from them, and entire tomes of spells ceased to function. As a result, even the highest echelons of governance were restricted to limited methods of travel and correspondence. This made rule from Blackraven across all of the kingdom's holdings difficult, putting a strain on the more independent cities. The then King Garun Ilarien struggled to maintain control over his people, though with plague spreading through the Heartlands, ever braver pirates dotting the White Sea, and a cataclysmic winter assailing the north, dissidence was high. 
It was in the year **** that the successor Athean kingdom of Isdorn set to expand northward, under the Indomitable King Dullavan who envisioned an empire that stretched from sea to sea under his complete control. And so Isdorn's armies marched north with the intent of taking Astoria in a few short years, to which they could then turn their eyes to domination of the eastern nations and ultimately the continent. Garun Ilarien met the Isdornian Knights in battle within the Vast Plains, seeking to stop this menace before it reached Blackraven. Though the worst threat swelled far from the battlefield back at home.
Ulysses Hark rose within the city of Jozan's Way, calling for rebellion and independence from the throne. Harrowfell followed suit, forming the Dukedom of Verdune on Golden Coast. As King Garun sent forth the Royal Army to retake his lands, his grip on the kingdom was failing. The border towns began to secede, forming around Eagalan and Fredlyn in the west. Their levies and mercenaries assailed the countryside of Astoria, seeking to win quick victories that would disillusion the Astorian people with further war to reclaim them. Beset on all sides Astoria became ill equipped to rule it's lands much less survive it's many wars, leaving numerous towns and villages with no choice but to defend themselves alone.
What followed would be a many thousand year ebb and flow of national power. Borders changed constantly, and war with each foe would be replaced by another on another front. Even the splintered nations would squabble with one another, stymieing the growth of a once prosperous kingdom. With time, Fredlyn was all but destroyed, many coastal villages reduced to rubble and ruin. It seemed a fate that would follow all those west of the Wyrmsmokes, but it seemed a more sinister force had turned it's eyes upon the region. From the ruined plains of Ukkrommash in the west an Orcish horde unseen by mortal eyes rose up. Chaos railed against Law, the Orcs marauded across the Astorian Highlands, all the way to the Golden Coast, all but conquering every splinter kingdom in their path. The youngest and newest King of Astoria, Joslin Ilarien, was the one to finally crush this menace. He broke the Orcish armies, liberating all beset human lands and freeing a beleaguered people. Even as the Orcs were pushed back to Ukkrommash, Astoria began to reunite, it's people vowing to never again let dissidence and war dictate their fates and leave them vulnerable to the whims of monsters.

A Kingdom Reborn

The next several centuries saw Astoria finally reclaim it's rightful place as the blessed kingdom of Omnis. Wars with Isdorn were still common, though they paled in comparison with the Dread War against the Nerathi Empire in the east. Years of attrition bled both Astoria and Nerath dry, eventually ending in a stalemate that dissolved Nerath and nearly brought Astoria once more to ruin. Finally, with her enemies placated, a golden age set unto Astoria, one it's people had long wished for. The Astorian Navy grew in dominance over the White Sea, establishing lasting trade routes with the Njordic kingdoms and longer routes around Bellephon to the inner seas. The increase of wealth led to a series of generous kings and queens, making their mark on history with countless castles, palaces, relics, artifacts, and grand statues erected across the kingdom.
And so Astoria stands today, a tribute to Human perseverance. The Ilarien name still controls the throne, shining through the recent darkness of the Great War under Aliora Ilarien, the Liberator. The Duchies are today afforded a measure of self governance while under Blackraven's rule. Decrying the folly of holy wars, the Church of Light formed again at the end of the Great War. Honoring the Heavens and serving the Archangels directly, the Church of Light quickly dominated most if not all Astorian cities. Dangers lie all abound from the monstrous hordes of the Kulkhor Zhul in the east, to the old enemies on their borders and Raycliff still claiming it's independence. Whatever the future may still bring, the Astorian spirit will surely thrive.

Demography and Population

Humans

Few folk have the education or coin enough to trace their lineage more than a few centuries, but those that can often find themselves traced back to Athean bloodlines. The Braddish people and any other tribes have in time merged into Athean progeny by way of marriage. Like many Human tribes, the ethnicity of the Second Age empires have largely dominated the histories of most Human families in one way or another. There are of course a few Valaisans, Estalians, or even Jinese living in Zhou-Town districts along the major Golden Coast cities, though most Humans are of Athean descent.

Dwarves

At least a full five percent of the Astorian population is Dwarven, mostly originating from Drakk Durandar. These Dwarves consider themselves fully Astorian like other mixed races do despite the autonomy of their concentrated numbers.

Other Races

Countless members of other races can find themselves Astorian citizens; from Halflings to Elves and Dragonborn and beyond. They exist in small numbers, perhaps an individual, small family, or even an entire clan here and there, though they rarely make up any large percentage of the local population.

Territories

Duchy of the Goldcoast

Barony of Thornshore

County of Birchmere
County of Redholm

Barony of Marsden

County of Westwell
County of Otterford

Barony of Redfold

County of Millby
County of Merewood

Barony of Thornshore

County of Thornport
County of Dunfield

Duchy of the Heartlands

Barony of Middleholm

County of Riverhill
County of Foxfield

Barony of Rath

County of Loxford Head
County of Ashlea
County of Middlehey

Barony of Bradden

County of Dwarves Hold
County of Ilham
County of Kirmoor

Barony of Wyrmia

County of Greenfield
County of Loxbrook

Duchy of Godshelm

Barony of Stormhold

County of Enderwood
County of Whitelea
County of Harthurst

Barony of Celean

County of Norton
County of Keldwick

Barony of Eagalan

County of Oxfold
County of Preswell

Military

The Royal Army

The Royal Army consists of Astoria's regular standing forces. The army relies mostly on volunteers, preferring to train a strong core of elite warriors that serve the whim of the crown directly. Several legions make up the army's branches, spread around the kingdom under different spheres of influence to cover various potential threats. Local Dukes are permitted to call upon the Royal Army in times of emergency in addition to their own levies.

Knightly Orders and Guilds

There are many Orders of Knights and loosely confederated guilds, such as the secretive Wardens, who operate in and around the kingdom. They are often good aligned organizations, and ones that act in good faith with or even consist of Astorian citizens themselves. But they are not directly controlled by the crown. Rather their own internal command structures lead them as private organizations.
Adventurers aligned with the orders and guilds often take up quests in defense of the inner kingdom, dealing with smaller warbands that the Royal Army is unable to get to quickly. In times of great danger these heroes are rarely slow to raise their sword in defense of the homeland.

Local Levies

Every lord or lady has a number of troops at their disposal from the total available warriors in their domain. Mostly peasants, farmers, shopkeepers, all conscripted into service. Levies do not stand for long if ever, it's soldiers untrained for long term marches or seiges. Rather they are called upon for local conflicts, usually in defense of the local area while the Royal Army is away or to reinforce it.

By Sword and Shield

Maps

• 

  Astoria

Founding Date

2022

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Blackraven

Alternative Names

The Timeless Kingdom

Demonym

Astorian

Leader

Queen Aliora Ilarien

Head of State

Queen Aliora Ilarien

Government System

Monarchy, Constitutional

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Mixed economy

Currency

Astorian coins

Legislative Body

The Throne

Judicial Body

Local Lords and Nobles

Deities

• Omnis

Official Languages

• Athean (Language)

Related Ranks & Titles

• Noble Hierarchy

Neighboring Nations

• Isdorn
• Ruined Plains of Ukkrommash
• The Elsir Vale
• The Nentir Vale