Thrane

Capital: Flamekeep
Noted for Divine magic, the Silver Flame; fine crafts, wool, textiles, fruit, livestock
The modern Church of the Silver Flame was founded in Thrane, and most of the people of the nation are devout followers of this faith. During the Last War, the people of Thrane chose to set aside the rule of the monarch and to embrace the leadership of the Church. For the last seventy years Thrane has been a theocracy. The head of the state is 11-year-old Jaela Daeran, the divine selected Keeper of the Flame; however, Jaela looks to the Council of Cardinals to perform the practical work of running the nation.
The primary purpose of the Silver Flame is to defend the innocent from supernatural evil. The faith has always had a militant aspect, with battalions of templars and peasant militias prepared to face undead, lycanthropes, or other monstrous threats. But compassion and charity are core values of the church, and the templars are tasked to defend all innocents. Even during the Last War, if a fiendish threat were to arise in a Brelish village, Thrane templars would ally with the locals to bring an end to the threat. With that said, this is the ideal. There are zealous Thranes who believe the Church is destined to reunite Galifar under the Silver Flame, and corrupt priests interested only in power and wealth.
Not all priests are divine spellcasters, and the typical templar is a mundane warrior; however, due to the deep faith of its people, Thrane has more clerics, paladins, and divine spellcasters than any other nation in Khorvaire.
Interesting Things About Thrane

• Flamekeep is the capital of Thrane and the seat of the Silver Flame. The Keeper of the Flame dwells in the great Cathedral of the Silver Flame, which holds a pillar of fire born when Tira Miron sacrificed herself to bind the demon Bel Shalor.
• Faith is a part of daily life in Thrane, and divine adepts provide many important services. However, arcane magic is still a part of life in Thrane. The streets are lit with everbright lanterns, and there are magewrights and even wizards, just not as many as in other nations.
• The feudal system of nobility remains in place; it’s simply that ultimate authority rests in the hands of the church. Queen Diani ir’Wynarn is the “blood regent,” serving as a symbolic advisor to the Keeper of the Flame. There is a small fraction of the population who would like to see the traditional monarchy restored to power.

Thrane Characters As you develop a Thrane character or NPC, consider the following.
The Impact of Faith. Are you a follower of the Silver Flame? Faith doesn’t require divine magic, but if you want to reflect a close bond to the Flame, you could gain a few divine spells by taking the Magic Initiate feat. Archery is a devotional practice of the Silver Flame, so as a martial Thrane you might focus on archery-related combat styles and spells or take the Sharpshooter feat. Any Thrane could take the acolyte background to reflect a strong connection to the church, or the soldier background based on service with the templars.
Church or Crown? Do you fully support the theocracy? Or would you like to see Queen Diani restored to the throne? There are many people of faith who believe that miring the church in politics distracts it from its true mission and invites corruption.
Dealing with Darkness. The Shadow in the Flame can tempt even the most virtuous soul. How do you react when you encounter corruption and greed? Are you a compassionate person who seeks to lead people to the light, or a zealot determined to crush all darkness? How will you react when you encounter monsters—minotaurs, ogres, gnolls—in a civilized setting?

Type

Geopolitical, Theocracy