The High Kingdom of Talamh

For the last few centuries, the High Kingdom of Talamh has been the dominant and central power of the northern continent of Tuaid. Over several centuries, its kings and leaders slowly expanded its borders, turning a small kingdom into a continent spanning empire. Now, after years of corruption, war and disaster, Talamh stands on the brink of collapse. The throne is empty, the people are angry, and the nobles gather their banners for war.
Talamh is a feudal monarchy. The High King holds absolute power over the entire Kingdom and the throne is passed down through the royal family to the oldest child, regardless of gender. The current heir to the throne is Crown Prince Owyn, but General Lyonesse of Laochra took custody of the young prince after the coalition ousted and overthrew the Viceroy, keeping him under her protection until he is old enough to rule. Some of the nobility and the General's former allies from the Coalition believe that she is holding the Prince hostage in an attempt to take power for herself though no one is quite ready to go to war over it yet.
Talamh is to large for the High King to rule directly. Instead he delegates power over the territories and regions to the nobility, specifically the higher nobility of Dukes, Duchesses, Marquess or Marquisse. Below them, the Earls and Countesses rule the cities, Barons or Baronesses govern the towns, and knights are tasked with protecting the smaller villages and communities. Each noble, from Duke to Knight, is responsible for enforcing the King's laws, collecting taxes for the royal treasury, and organizing defense of their territory and subjects. Beyond these responsibilities, they are generally left to their own governances though they are beholden and answer to any noble of higher status than themselves. They may also appoint or raise individuals to a noble station of lesser rank, though most titles are passed through families and marriages.
The language of Talamh is Talamhic, but because the High Kindom is so large, there are two similar but distinct dialects. Northern Talamhic is the dialect of Talmh's northern regions and is thought of as generally more crude and backwater. Southern Talamhic is spoken in the southern regions along the coastlines and is often seen as more pretentious and arrogant. While they are the same languages, there are enough differences in slang and vernacular that sometimes there is confusion. In addition to Talamhic, because Talamh has been the dominant power of Domhain it is quite common to hear and see languages from other countries on a daily basis.

Structure

While Talamh is a feudal monarchy it is to large for the High King to rule directly. Instead he delegates power over the territories and regions to the nobility, specifically the higher nobility of Dukes, Duchesses, Marquess or Marquisse. Below them, the Earls and Countesses rule the cities, Barons or Baronesses govern the towns, and knights are tasked with protecting the smaller villages and communities. Each noble, from Duke to Knight, is responsible for enforcing the King's laws, collecting taxes for the royal treasury, and organizing defense of their territory and subjects. Beyond these responsibilities, they are generally left to their own governances though they are beholden and answer to any noble of higher status than themselves. They may also appoint or raise individuals to a noble station of lesser rank, though most titles are passed through families and marriages.

History

The High Kingdom of Talamh was founded when Cedric the Conqueror, a tribal warlord, married Princess Mabina of Talgrim and united their lands in the year 168 of the Fifth Age. As time passed the Kingdom continued to expand outwards, absorbing territories and other nations through a variety of different means. In the year 341 of the Fifth Age, King Airic the First reorganized the conquered territories and vassal states of Talamh into the "High Kingdom." Afterwards the High Kingdom continued its expansion, becoming the dominant political, militaristic and economic power of Tuaid.
Most recently Talamh has entered a period of civil strife and conflict. In the year 687, High King Airic the IV's only child and heir, Crown Prince Anselm, was killed in a goblin ambush while touring the kingdom. Adding to the tragedy, Prince Anselm's young daughter, Princess Oriana, was with him. Her body was not recovered amongst the remains and it is thought that the goblins took it back to their lair to eat. High King Airic the IV remarried and in 699, his second wife gave birth to another son, Crown Prince Owyn. In 701, Airic the IV died of old age, and since Prince Owyn was to young to rule one of King Airic's advisors, Guy Pointhur, was named Viceroy and Regent. Guy's rule as Viceroy was plagued with corruption and abuses of power until in 706 a coalition of nobles and warriors came together from across Talamh with the intent to overthrow Guy and rescue the crown prince and marched on the capital of Cathairri.
The resulting conflict was short. Guy fled the capital to the region of Tir Gairdin where he was betrayed and murdered by his trusted general, the legendary and infamous warrior Kunsgnos. Prince Owyn was rescued by the coalition and was taken under the protection of General Lyonesse of Laochra. She relocated the prince to her Duchy where he remains to today. Still to young to rule, the coalition established an interim government to keep the High Kingdom functioning until Prince Owyn comes of age.
In 707, the Starfall struck Domhaim, a rain of fire that swept over the world with Talamh at its epicenter. Hundreds of thousands of meteorites streaked across the sky before impacting the ground, obliterating whatever they struck and starting fires that burned crops, forests and entire towns. In the wake of the fires came a devastating famine, which after a year of bloody war led to numerous peasant groups revolting. In 708, infighting over how to handle the numerous issues that Talamh faced led to the Coalition dissolving. Now the leaders of the Coalition scramble to establish power bases as the drums of war sound on tomorrow's horizon.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Cathairri

Head of State

The High King of Talamh

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Currency

The official currency of Talamh is the High King's Crown. As the dominant power of Tuaid and Domhaim, it is the currency that all other currencies were compared to. Talamh mints coins with different metals at different values. Each coin is round with the face of a former monarch on one side and a two headed eagle on the other.

• The High King's Crown is a gold coin worth one GP, commonly referred to as a "crown," "gold crown" or "King's crown"

• The King's Piece is a silver coin worth one SP, commonly called a "King Piece" or a "Silver Piece." Ten King Pieces are equal to one Kings Crown

• The King's Bit is a copper coin worth one CP, commonly called "a bit," "a copper bit," or "a kings bit." Ten bits are equal to one piece.

• A King's White Crown is a platinum coin, worth one PP and is commonly known as a white crown. A rarely minted coin, one White crown is worth ten Kings Crowns.

Controlled Territories

• Cathairri
• Farraige
• Laochra
• Torthuil