Arthendain
Arthendain! A land of wine and song, of rolling hills, of chivalrous knights and elegant ladies, the jewel of the East!
Arthendain is an ancient land occupying a temperate peninsula bordering both Lumeris and Holmgard. The home of countless independent Valmeric and Human tribes united only by their common tongue, Revolesian, Arthendain has been occupied many times throughout history. Initially a province of the Aurean Republic, the kingdom of Revolaise lasted only a few centuries before its conquest by the Holmgardian Empire. As the Empire declined, its eastern provinces seceded, adopting the name of their beloved ruler as their realm: Arthendain I.
Today Arthendain is a vibrant land, an unusual beacon of racial and gender equality in a world of oppression: a matriarchal society where elves and humans co-exist in peace. Duchesses, viscountesses, and marquessas dispense orders from the royal court, their wishes carried out by chivalrous knights who dispense justice all over the realm. This system has resulted in a remarkably stable and unified society.
Structure
At first glance, the land of the revolaise appears made up of a bewildering patchwork of little fiefdoms. Yet for all its apparent complexity, the Dainian kingdom is among the best organized in the world, allowing its monarchy to rally the land and present a unified front to would-be invaders.
The heart of Dainian society is the tour; literally, the tower. Thousands of years ago, tribes would construct central towers on hillforts or other strategic locations to keep watch and act as a place of refuge. Nowadays, the tours are minor administrative centers, homes to a matriarchal ruler called a Marquesse, a petty noblewoman, usually married matrilineally to a Chevalien Seigneur, or Senior Knight. A Marquesse and Seigneur are typically responsible for overseeing several villages and 5 - 10 landed Chevalien Errante, or Knights Errant, who occupy small manor houses and administer to villages.
Above the Tour is the Vicomtagesa, a collection of around 10 Tours, overseen by a Vicomtesa, a noblewoman ruling from a small castle.
Finally, the Vicomtagaise are associated into duchies, overseen by Duchesas. The Duchesas answer to the High Queen and King, making up a large part of her Royal Council. All in all, there are just under 1000 Towers, 113 Viscounties, and 9 Duchies making up the realm of Arthendain.
Culture
People in Arthendain value equality, revelry, romance, and art. Having few natural enemies and with allies on both sides, Arthendain has few military traditions, and the people here tend to be laid back, fond of drink, song, and the finer things in life. The country produces some of the finest poets, bards, and artists in the world, and is renowned for its beauty and architecture.
Dainian society is structured around carnivals, holy days, and tourneys - as Arthendain I said, "The distracted do not disobey." The seventh day of every week is a holy day, dedicated to a saint. Carnivals are travelling caravans of entertainers, traders, fortunetellers, and other motley folk who wander from town to town, bringing raucous entertainment to the countryside.
Despite the feudal organization of the realm, Arthendain is an unusually egalitarian society. Knights and peasants are equal under the law, any peasant may bring a complaint to their Marquesa without fear of reprisal, and it is considered the duty of knights to protect farmers and workers. While this system may seem vulnerable to a military coup, the power of the knights is held in check by the fact that nearly every noble lady, from Marquesa upwards, is trained in the use of elven magic. Contrary to appearances, a Marquesa is more than an equal to a knight on the battlefield. It is custom in Arthendain for a knight to perform a ceremonial bow before talking to a lowborn, symbolizing the ceremonial duty of a knight to serve his people.
Long a matriarchal society, family names are passed down the maternal bloodline, with women inheriting property and titles. Male sons are expected to make their fortunes elsewhere, either as soldiers of fortune, merchants, scholars, or otherwise.
Holidays in Arthendain:
Sangretour
Also known as "Winefest", Sangretour is a day where lords and ladies open their casks of wine to the peasants, and all are equal in their ribaldry. It is customary for nobles and commoners alike to don bright red robes and caps and gather in local markets, where for one day in the year, nobles serve commoners wine, and commoners are free to air their grievances without fear of reprisal.
Bel Tayn
Like Lumeris, Arthendain celebrates Bel Tayn. In Arthendain, Bel Tayn is considered a holiday venerating the Fey, an open invitation for the Seelie Court to visit, and one where the worlds of the Fey and humans are a bit closer. Folk travel to nearby forests with gifts and garlands of flowers, singing and playing the panflute.
Blotjour
Pronounced "Blah-jur", Blotjour is the Dainian version of the Great Blot, though it would be highly distasteful to a Tyrian traditionalist. On blotjour, Tyrian priests fashion animal figurines filled with paper-wrapped sweets, and participants ritually "sacrifice" them, scattering the sweets to the audience. The staunchest traditionalists may stuff a roasted pig or goat instead.
History
The land now known as Arthendain has a long history of conflict. Originally settled by various Valmeric city states, it became a province of the Aurean republic and the home of many humans. Later, it gained independence as the Kingdom of Revolaise before its Holmgardian conquest. During its period as Ostmark, the eastern province of the Holmgardian Empire, it maintained a strong cultural identity, with little influence from Holmgard aside from leadership. Holmgardian immigrants found themselves enchanted by the local culture, and assimilated readily into the existing populace, and it attracted many migrants.
Arthendain was formed from the eastern reaches of the Holmgardian Empire during its dissolution. Named after its first ruler, the younger brother of Rhuduar and Cardalos, Arthendain inherited a large swathe of territory with only superficial Holmgardian identity. The young nation would have likely been torn apart due to bigotry and civil strife had it not been for Arthendain I's original thinking. Rather than take the traditional Holmgardian approach of suppressing dissent with pogroms and wholesale slaughter, Arthendain chose to marry a Valmer woman - Virenya I - and allow her co-rule. He took the additional steps of granting the Valmer elves equal rights, and opening diplomatic relations with the mysterious elven realm of The Nine Kingdoms of Lumeris .
Since the War of the Three Emperors, Arthendain has prospered and has remained detached from the world stage. The realm has come under the rule of the quarter-elf queen Halderia Graelingard I, who rules with an enlightened hand. Under her reign, Revolesian has been revived as the official state language and the Church of Lathandar the state religion. This worsened relations with the Holmgardians and brought Arthendain closer to Lumeris.
Demography and Population
3,500,000
5% Lumeric, 20% Valmeric, 30% Mixed, 20% Revolesian human, 20% Holmgardian human, 5% Other.
Military
Arthendain maintains a defensively oriented military with relative strengths in ranged combat, cavalry, and naval warfare. On the whole, Arthendain does not have a strong military, instead relying on diplomacy and natural borders for defense.
The elite of the Dainian military are the Chevalien Seignere and Chevalien Errante, mail-clad cavalry with lances who provide offensive power. Descended from Housecarls of the Holmgardian Empire who became landholders, the Chevaliers, set aside the shieldwall for steeds long ago. Also, many Dainian noblewomen are trained in magic, and could theoretically be called on in battle.
The bulk of the Dainian military, however, is composed of volunteer militia. Many peasants are trained as longbowmen - in fact, every male farmer is required by law to attend archery competitions and train weekly. These longbowmen are also equipped with bill, gambeson, a buckler, and two wooden stakes, allowing them to double as light infantry in a pinch.
Thus, in battle, Dainian armies will typically occupy a tactical position, fortifying it with wooden stakes. Their mages will harry the enemy with magic while flight after flight of arrows strikes the foe until the knights strike the killing blow. The main weakness of this strategy is their lack of any dedicated heavy infantry force; Dainian forces are at a decided disadvantage in infantry battles.
Arthendain also maintains a respectable navy, being able to raise around 100 galleys and cogs-of-war to patrol the seas. With fewer mages to spare than neighboring Paxtria, they must rely on flaming arrows and ballistae to fight at sea.
Foreign Relations
Arthendains closest relations are Holmgard, its former overlord with whom it maintains a tenuous alliance of convenience, and Lumeris, with whom it pursues ever closer relations.
House Graelingard rules Arthendain, many nobles speak Holmgardian, and there is a sizeable population of Holmgardians in Arthendain. Yet after wholeheartedly adopting the culture and customs of the original populace and shedding worship in Tyr and other Holmgardian customs, Arthendain has drifted further and further away from its mother country. Holmgard has thus far done little in response, though relations have become increasingly tense between the two nominal allies.
Conversely, Lumeris has shown an unusual degree of interest in the new kingdom, even sending Magisters to train Dainian noblewomen in basic arcana.
Lastly, Arthendain maintains poor relations with Paxtria, the two naval powers clashing constantly in naval skirmishes. Paxtria has thus far maintained the upper hand, with the coastline of Arthendain subject to frequent pillage.
From the elders, enlightenment.
Founding Date
646 HR
Capital
Alternative Names
Ostmark, Revolaise
Demonym
Dainian, Revolesian, Revolaise
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Feudal state
Currency
Peigne = 1 copper
Denier = 1 silver
Real = 1 gold
Major Exports
fine wine, truffles, vellum marble, tapestries, jewelry, silverware, linen, crossbows, magical artifacts
Major Imports
furs, iron, grain, beer, vodka, burlap cloth, lumber, soulstone
Official State Religion
Official Languages
Related Ethnicities
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