Essodan

The Kingdom of Essodan is one of the central nations of the Circle of Civilized Lands.
A monarch-ruled collection of locally-governed regions, Essodan is currently ruled by Queen Dramira Marisz, an aging woman in her 70s who has ruled for over three decades. The kingdom is in its "112th Year of Freedom", marking it's founding from when it broke free of Tamiriya a little over a century ago.
Essodan is a land that has always been rich in resources. Excellent farmland, plenty of lumber, mountains with ore, and good coastlines have made the region a target for conquering more than a few times before the Empire of Tamiriya did. The imperial unification that was forced on the people ironically also made the life and livelihood of most in these lands much better, and with the prosperous mining of gold in the valley above Kingsmark now in full swing, Essodan stands on the precipice of becoming a wealthy, strong nation in its own right -- assuming it doesn't self destruct under the weight of managing its own progress.
The capital of Assetallis was built on the shore of the Viridian Sea centuries ago, long before Essodan existed as a unified country. It lies at the end of the longest river in Essodan, the Ravna River, which delivers food, lumber, metals, and a wealth of resources from the interior lands.
Its other principle port is Kerek Rock, a city in decline on the northern border. The Tamiriyans established to their regional capital in Kerek during their rule, but when they were driven out, the seat of leadership was relocated to Assetallis.
History
The land called Essodan was little more than a collection of baronies and counties like its neighbors to the north until Tamiriya forcefully united them as one province. It was that very sense of unification that led the native population to rally against their imperial rulers despite whatever benefits of magic, education and infrastructure they had received in the name of self rule, led by the first king, Tavryn Esso.
Since that time, most of Essodan's young nationhood has been one of reasonable stability. The eight regions that Tamiriya divided the lands into have persisted, and some of the governing ideas they instilled have held over as well.
Government
The monarchy is an elected one. Nobles of Essodan of the Sovereign families put forth candidates when a leader dies, and the highest religious leaders of the eight regions gather in the capital at the Hamalaturan (the great temple) to pray for guidance. A king or queen is chosen from the candidates offered by the nobles and is coronated. At times this has resulted in hereditary transitions, but not always. In this way the nobles and the theocrats seem to share power, though at times it can certainly be said that the co-governance is tense, at best. The further into the interior one goes, the less people wish to be told what to do by the coastal nobles, and many believe the situation will come to a head when the current queen dies.

Structure

The government of Essodan is an elected monarchy... of sorts. When the throne becomes vacant, a council of the kingdom's religious leaders selects the new ruler from amongst the nobility.
Primary Alignments: LN, NG, N Government: Theocratically-Elected Monarch Capital: Assetallis (56,000) Population: unknown; last count by Tamiriya was around 650,000 (Humans 85%, Dwarves 5%, Elves 3%, others 7%) Languages: Tamiriyan Common, Dwarven Religions: The Saramine (state religion), Forgemaster Primary Exports: food/grain, gold, lumber, metal/ore, cut stone Primary Imports: luxury goods Allies: none Enemies: Tamiriya

Culture

The Kingdom of Essodan has been quiet and settled and good for over 100 years. In truth now a Federation of locally-governed states, Essodan has held that the eldest child of the rightful heir is put forward for election when the throne is open.
That election is held by the religious leaders of the eight states (meant to mimic the eight gods). But for most of the last 100 years, the leaders have voted as they are paid to do by the crown. It is essentially an open secret that none protest because the crown allows local states to self-govern to a large degree.
Various noble and merchant factions have started to grumble about their taxes going toward the election of rulers. With an aging queen on the throne, some low-level grumbling against letting religious leaders vote is growing. At the very least, the noble factions would like to do the voting and put themselves in a position to be the ones receiving payments.

History

Essodan is divided into eight provinces or baronies, very close to the eight independent lands which previously made up this region. They are: Assetallis, North Shore, Riverheart, the Duchy of Alluran, the Duchy of Verdania, West Ravna, Long Valley (or Midvanek), the Duchy of Imrick.

Demography and Population

Primary Alignments: LN, NG, N Government: Theocratically-Elected Monarch Capital: Assetallis (50,000) Population: unknown; last count by Tamiriya was around 300,000 (Humans 85%, Dwarves 5%, Elves 3%, others 7%) Languages: Tamiriyan Common, Dwarven Religions: The Saramine (state religion), Dwarven Primary Exports: food/grain, gold, lumber, metal/ore, cut stone Primary Imports: luxury goods Allies: none Enemies: @Tam

Faith & Fury

Founding Date

Year 1 EA in local calendar, 112 years ago

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Demonym

Essoan

Government System

Monarchy, Elective

Currency

Gold coins bear a crossed longsword and spear on one side for Vigilance and Tradition, the gods who canonized Tavryn Esso upon his death. The other has a impression of the statue of Tavryn Esso in Assetallis. Years ago, when this coin was introduced, the crown insisted the people called them "first kings" for King Esso. In the short time since then, it has become common slang to shorten this to "firkins."
Silver coins have an imprint of the chevron shield of Essodan on one side and a wolf's head on the other, and are commonly called "shields".
Essodan has no copper mines of their own, and have never bothered to mint their own currency at that rate. Copper coins in use are all from other lands.

Location

Circle of Civilized Lands

Controlled Territories

• Kingsmark