Kingdom of Tessuris
Tessuris is an almost fully landlocked kingdom ruled by Numitor III of House Lorriaga with the region called the Lakelands to the north, the Wildshire Vale in the northwest and a stretch of desert and generally uninhabited wasteland in the west, the Iron Mountains in the south and the Kingdom of Karessia in the northeast. A small stretch of sea is in the east being the sole access point to the Sea of Tillgar.
Climate and geography
Tessuris is home to a variety of climates. The area near the Wildshire Vale is green and humid, consisting of predominantly deciduous forests. It tends to get quite cold at night. Fog has a tendency to gather in the mornings, but quickly dissipates when the sun rises. Despite its apparent tranquil nature, animals are skittish, preferring to look for food at night. Their skittish behaviour becomes more predictable closer to the @Great Lake. The area south of this part @Great Lake consists of many marshes due to its low altitide above the water level of the lake, and as such, not many places with dry land exist. The swamps are filled with mud mephids, wood woads, treants, druids and plantlife, making the area an alchemical heaven for alchemists. In the south and west, the area becomes much drier, To the south near Girones and southwest near Vertigen , the climate becomes much drier and warmer, having fully developed into a desert in the west, due to the mountains blocking humid air coming from the seas in the east and south.Demographics
Tessuris is predominantly inhabited by humans, elves and half-orcs. Dragonborn are only common in the south and east, something keeping them from settling near Vertigen. Dwarves and gnomes are less common, mostly living near the mountains in the south and east. Halflings are rare, most often living near the Wildshire Vale in the west, or the border with the Kingdom of Karessia in the east. Tieflings are rare, partially due people fearing their alleged devilish ancestry. As is in the Collective of Numiria, Duergar and Goliaths are mostly living in the mountains, both having comparable cultures and forms of government. Aquatic races are only found near the Great Lake and Eveasson as are races related to other planes such as the Gith, this due to the experimentation with teleportation and planeshifting. Monstrous lineages can be found in the marshes south of the Great Lake, especially Lizardfolk, Grung, and Yuan-Ti. Centaurs are prevalent, their fusion by some seen as a blessing. They are spread throughout the kingdom, with the exception being Eveasson. Other monstrous races are scattered throughout Tessuris, but not often encountered.Culture
Religion tends to play a bigger role in the day to day business of the common poeple around Girones and Vertigen, whereas this is less the case in Strolis. As such, charity and care for others is quite important. People meet each other in tea houses to hide from the heat, where they prefer to discuss things from arts to philosophy, rather than playing games. As such, they are viewed by outsiders as a bit stiff. Nevertheless, occasional rituals exist where a certain topic is discussed twice: Once sober, and once under the influence of alcohol, with the subject at hand having to sound good both times before being implemented. Due to the kingdom consisting of great plains, riding on animals is quite common, people being trained from a young age to ride them. As such, Centaurs are considered to be special, being a fusion of horse and man. Tessurian armies are famous for their cavalry, proficiency in siege warfare, and the widespread use of eldritch knights and battlemage, although the College of Eveasson is discontent with these happening.De jure titles
Strolis
Strolis is the current capital of the Kingdom of Tessuris. After the War of Regrets, the capital was moved here from Girones.Girones
Girones was the former capital of the Kingdom of Tessuris. After the War of Regrets, it was moved to Strolis. Girones is also home to the Floating Temple of the Old Gods.Eveasson
Eveasson is a city state and is home to the College of Eveasson. It is a protectorate of Strolis, and as such has many liberties that the other vasals of Strolis do not have.Vertigen
Vertigen is a large duchy and the most powerful vassal of Strolis.History
Magical secrets
In E1Y3766, the first attempts at uncovering the magical secrets of the world were started on a small island where now the College of Eveasson is located. Scholars disagree what triggered this discovery of magic: Some suggest that an ancient being gifted mortals magic, whereas others believe that the events taking place were merely a rediscovery of magic, whose use was lost due to some catastrophic event in millenia past.The War of Regrets
The War of Regrets (E6Y446 to E6Y452) was a civil war between king Kalistenes Lorriaga of Girones and his vassal duke Adrian Bollero of Strolis to imprison him over charges of treason and heresy. One of Bollero's more popular commanders, Mireia, the Grey Wolf of Strolis, stepped forward to lead the revolt, and rallied whatever troops she could muster. At the end of the War of Regrets from E6Y446 and E6Y452, Eveasson was besieged by troops from the king Kalistenes Lorriaga, as they refused to supply their magical knowledge towards ending the religious uprisings that had led to the civil war. The siege was broken when troops under command of Mireia of Strolis broke through the defensive lines, combined with internal struggles in the Gironian armies and higher up, and the fact that local Firbolg and Lizardfolk tribes hidden in the Lakelands started attacking supply lines.Aftermath
Despite his victory over Kalistenes Lorriaga, Adrian Bollero was still forced to abdicate the crown of the duchy of Strolis his son Alfons Bollero. After the death of Kalistenes Lorriaga, his niece Silvia Lorriaga was crowned king. Sensing great discomfort in her vassals, the royal council, and the population, her first decree was to relocate the capital to Strolis, and handed over the crown of Tessuris to Alfons Bollero. Alfons Bollero was assassinated a few months later, causing the crown to return to a now more mentally prepared Silvia Lorriaga.Conquest of Eveasson
In E6Y488, King Balthasar Goris II of Strolis attempted to conquer Eveasson to gain more direct control of the Lakelands and integrate the magical prowess of the College of Eveasson in that of Strolis. Under command of High Sorcerer Kalipso Artabia, Eveasson repelled a massive assault against its holdings and withstood a several year long siege. In the final days of the siege, Kalipso Artabia demanded a duel between herself and Baltasar Goris II. With a single spell, she slew Baltasar Goris II, ending the war in the process.Aftermath
Kalipso Artabia demanded House Goris to abdicate the throne of Strolis, and demanded eternal freedom for Eveasson. Fearing retribution from the wizards and sorcerers, House Lorriaga was again appointed as successor of the throne and Ajax Lorriaga became king. He accepted Kalipso Artabia’s request, which over the next few decades evolved into Strolis becoming the de facto suzerain of Eveasson.Of note
Due to an old decree dating back to the dissolution of the Marishtan Empire, the Kingdom of Tessuris may only be ruled by a king. When in E5Y1063 no eligible male heirs were available, many nobles feared the dissolution of the kingdom as the Marishtan Empire had once done, however princess Emiliana Valladares had persuaded them to be crowned king, despite being a woman. As such, the Kingdom of Tessuris is always ruled by a king, irregardless of gender.
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