Rexandor (REX-un-dor)

Rexandor is an empire to the North of the continent and the true power in Galania. Once a modest and peaceful kingdom, the murder of King Dietrich 27 years ago by foreign agents upturned everything. Dietrich's daughter, Serafina, assumed the throne and quickly concluded that the Free City of Rindrecht was responsible. Her vengeance was uncompromising: Rindrecht was conquered along with its surrounding lands up to Westerguard and the Rift, and the nobility of Rindrecht were culled on the assumption of a plot to stage a coup of Rexandor. Serafina declared herself Empress and wasted no time in securing the dukedom of Ardengard to the west, on the pretense that it would protect against Aldania, who had been vocal in their concerns over the rapid expansion of Rexandor.
The tensions between Rexandor and Aldania came to a head eight years after Serafina's rise to power. With the capture of Rindrecht, Rexandor controlled two of the three major cities on the Market Lake, which meant trade prices worked increasingly in their favour and against Aldania's. Frequent skirmishes and state-sponsored piracy on the lake eventually erupted into the Market War, in which Aldania mustered all its might to mount a defence against invasion from the North. After three years of bloody attrition, with Aldania's forces at the breaking point, the Esterland Republic took matters into their own hands and liberated Westerguard, restoring its status as a neutral bastion of the Rift. Rexandor, Aldania and the Republic met at the Council of Gleamrock, hosted by the Dwarves, where the Republic forced the White Peace to be signed by threatening to ally with Aldania. The Market Lake was declared neutral territory with peace guaranteed by the Republic against any aggressor. In practice, this resulted in a thriving black market on the lake, with pirate lords and roguish merchants controlling the flow of trade under no particular banner.
Peace in Rexandor only ever feels temporary, as Serafina's ambition and paranoia constantly threaten to engulf Galania in war. In recent years she has commanded expeditions into the Sanctified Lands while also slowly building up forces on the Aldanian border. Imperial expansionism is a neverending topic of debate in taverns across the continent. The only question is which of the many tinderboxes will spark first.

Settlements

The sprawling city of Trestan is the capital of Rexandor. It is regarded by many as the centre of culture in Galania, boasting exquisite theatres, imposing architecture and galleries lined with the finest art and artifacts from across the empire. Serafina’s Imperial Palace is surrounded not only by state-of-the-art fortifications and magical protections, but also extensive gardens with flora from all over the world. Trestan is kept secure by the Dragonguard, the elite troops of the imperial military in gold-plated armour, but also by Serafina’s secret police: the Drakes. They work incognito, blending into the populace to remove any threat (perceived or real) to Serafina and the empire with no mercy. A common curse in Trestan is “Drakes take you” - and if they do, there is little chance of ever being heard from again.
On the shores of the Lonely Bay to the north lies the city of Dalendorn, whose unusual history marks it as one of the few places in Galania with a predominantly non-human populace. It is said that the city was founded by elves from the Sanctified Lands in the time of the Torched Empire, which appears to have some basis in fact due to the large number of half-elves in Dalendorn, along with dwarves and gnomes from Ardengard. Indeed, Duchess Penelle herself is a half-elf. Whatever happened to make the elves return to Mithelien, those who have attempted to ask the elves about it have been met with blunt silence. Today, Dalendorn's diverse people produce the finest weapons and armour in the empire.
On the eastern side of the Market Lake is Rindrecht. Once the wealthiest free city in the world, its coffers now belong to Serafina. The Empress is no fool, however, and so to avoid an uprising she allows Rindrecht a greater amount of autonomy than most other places in the empire. Grand Duke Friedrich plays a dangerous game, attempting to appease his people with superficial public criticism of Serafina's rule while simultaneously strengthening the beauracracy of the city so that the nobility are in his pocket, just as he is in Serafina's. So long as the gold keeps moving, Rindrecht will remain in a precarious balance between subjugation and rebellion.
Westerguard is the westernmost of the two fortresses protecting the crossings across the Rift. The warriors of the Riftguard led by Captain Mu'urth chose not to oppose the empire when they appeared, but made it clear that they obeyed none but Eormus in their sacred duty. After the Market War and the intervention of the Esterland Republic, Westerguard was once again granted independence. Serafina maintains a garrison on the outskirts of the fortress, however, clearly uneasy with the presence of an army of seasoned warriors on her border - not least those who have reason to dislike her.
In the heart of the woods north of Trestan stands the Mystral Tower, the centre of arcane learning and research in the empire. The Tower is overseen by the Coven Arcanea, a council of powerful mystics who supposedly report to the Empress, but in reality wield more power than even Serafina would dare to question. The Coven has no single leader, though an emissary elected by the Coven every seven years represents their interests in the courts of Trestan. Currently this is Arcanum Destra, a young and cunning sorceress who invariably gets her way with Serafina without drawing undue attention to the Coven's activities.
The keep of Palehold and its surrounding village is the empire's main garrison, where its troops are housed and trained under the supervision of General Vindreff, a veteran of the Market War and staunch supporter of Serafina. The keep sees large numbers of people pass through its gates each day from all directions, and the recruiters are sure to entice a few weary travellers into their ranks via a mug or two of ale in some of the finest taverns in the world.
Wistricht is a sleepy town on the shores of Darkfish Gulf, its time occupied by farming and fishing. The people of Wistricht have a certain melancholy and malaise about them, which some claim is due to eating the strange fish from the Gulf, whereas others point out that it's simply because there is little reason for anyone to go to Wistricht. Mayor Rulf is eager to gain Serafina's attention so that the town is able to grow, but so far the Empress does not appear to have given Wistricht much thought.
Before Serafina forged into the Sanctified Lands, Elvenpass was the traditional last place of rest for travellers attempting to head into the vast forest and find the elven home of Mithelien. Despite the existence of World's End, Baron Griegor ensures that the farewell ritual is still held in taverns for those heading north, partly out of respect for friendly tradition, but also out of a commonly-held superstition that the elves know if someone has not observed the ritual, for which the price is death. The ritual involves blessing a goblet of wine with a prayer to Joliath: "O Joliath, font of mercy, I shall fell no tree nor bring malice in my heart for those North of here who did no harm." The goblet is then upended over the head.
The ritual of Elvenpass was little more than a novelty to those who cut back the forest and founded the outpost of World's End on Serafina's command. Though it was founded little more than a year ago, the outpost is a hive of activity complete with a logging operation and hunting parties. The imperial remit given to Governor Ostian Schrektor was to build an outpost for exploring the Sanctified Lands, felling the incredibly strong and supple trees and shipping the wood back to Trestan and for observing the activities of the elves. Those who visit the outpost are left in no doubt that Schrektor has done all this and more, with rumours that he has also captured a number of elves for interrogation. Many of the workers in World's End fear that they have gone too far and are in danger of bringing the elves upon them in force, or perhaps the divine wrath of Joliath.
Ardengard sits in the hills above Lusterpool, with both the town and the lake named for their wealth in precious metals. The populace consists mainly of gnomes and clanless dwarves, drawn to the area long ago for its mining value and abundance in resources used for tinkering and alchemical experiments. When the empire expanded to the west, Ardengard hardly seemed to care so long as their endeavours were not imposed upon. Serafina was content in simply securing the lands and taking a modest stipend from the town's abundant resources. The town is led by Lord Bronwin Bleakbrow, an old and grizzled dwarf with a shock of black and grey hair and one eye.
At the far west point of Rexandor lies the quaint fishing village of Saltensak. The village has no appointed leader, but the people generally look to their eldest for advice when it is needed. The current Elder is Montia Muzeldorn, a wizened and slightly deranged woman who is content to spend most of her time watching the fishing boats while drinking the village's specialty wine, made from berries found in cliffside caves. The wine and salted fish trade well in Ardengard, keeping them in good standing with the gnomes and dwarves.
The pastoral village of Hoxengard sits amidst bucolic, gently-rolling hills covered in crops and farm animals. The otherwise idyllic life in the village is marred by the presence of imperial soliders, ensuring that Serafina's grain requirements for her troops are met before the villagers get anything for themselves. Growing resentment is tempered by Mayoress Magdalena Permirund, who fears for the safety of her people should they outwardly show any defiance to the imperials.
The town of Mesfeld lies perilously close to the dangers of the Deadlands. Its oral history and abandoned, rotting docks show that it was once a prosperous fishing port, but when the Deadlands were sundered from the rest of Galania, the waters darkened and the fish were replaced with monstrous creatures that brought madness to those who dared eat them. The town now subsists mainly on cave fungi and from trade with Hoxengard, though what they have to trade is of questionable value. It is rumoured that smugglers operate in the Gulf out of Mesfeld, secretly transporting scavengers to and from the Deadlands to bring back illegal artifacts which sell for outrageous amounts on the black market. Mayor Holden Karstfeld is likely aware of and benefitting from any such operation, though the scant imperial presence still presents a threat should they ever look into it.

Type

Geopolitical, Empire