Ravenna

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The world lies in shambles. It destroys itself while we are powerless against it. But even then, we rise out of the rubble because we do not wish to be forgotten. We rise because we are stubborn. We rise because gods will not affect our destiny.
~ Daymen Christoforus ~

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Ravenna is a hard-fought and rich kingdom located on the southeastern coasts of Westerin. A strong, lawful land with a prestigious history of military tactics and construction, Ravenna's people have always valued the ideals of honor, justice, and chivalry. There is no good deed too small and no heart too weak; a Ravennian can persevere through anything.

The Knights of Christoforus

The great Ravennian kingdom dates all the way back to before even the start of the New World when Daymen Christoforus and his knights roamed the land. The knights are considered the forefathers of Ravenna and the stories that revolve around them are referred to as Christofian legend.

In these times, the land Ravenna fills today was a mix of numerous tribes, ones which often held vastly differing ideals over another, leading to constant conflict and prejudice. But, even while the skies burned and ground cracked from the ongoing Cosmic War, Daymen brought together powerful men he called his brothers, and ruled mightily from the walls of Christoforus Castle along the southern coasts of the Westerin continent.
In their lifetime, they subjugated all the land west, north, and east of them. Daymen was the last of the knights to pass away, who died peacefully in the first year of the New World

after seeing the Cosmic War finally cease and a calm descend over the land. By that time, the land he led had become a unified culture. Daymen and his knights were memorialized, his son, Cedrick Christoforus was named its next king, and by his father's dying wish, the land was called Ravenna for Sir Ravenna's sacrifice that had saved his life years prior.

Pelor and Eadro

After the conquests of Daymen and his knights, the controlled land found it had many gods to which others prayed to. Cedrick Christoforus gave freedom to these people, however among the gods worshipped personally picked two to be established over the land. They were Pelor, the Dawn Father, and Eadro, the Seaworthy. One a god of the sun, food, and harvest, and the other a god of sea, water, and drink. As he put it, food and water, it was all a Ravennian would ever need.

The rulership between Daymen Christoforus and Mason Lamonia IV is still a WIP.

Rule of Mason Lamonia IV

Mason Lamonia IV, son of Elizabeth Lamonia and Mason Lamonia III, was the seventh monarch of the Lamonian monarchy and its sixth king. He was responsible for the charters that began the kingdom's early naval expansion southward, eventually discovering the Silver Piece Islands and beginning its colonization.
Utmaen Shadowsail, a sea-faring dwarf, is said to have been a childhood friend of Mason's, and personally came before him in the days when he was considering the prospect of expeditions or not. Seeing Utmaen willing to lead it all, the king had full confidence in its success, and went forward with it without another moment's hesitation.
Mason IV passed away from illness shortly after crossing the Shrewfor Channel in the Silver Piece Islands on a sight-seeing voyage in the year 988 AC, where the settlement of Mason's Crossing stands today, built in his honor.

The rulership between Mason Lamonia IV and Joseph Lamonia III is still a WIP.

Rule of Joseph Lamonia III

Joseph Lamonia III, son of Victoria Lamonia III and Jericho Lamonia, was the thirteenth monarch of the Lamonian monarchy and its tenth king. He is regarded as Ravenna's worst king to ever rule due to his naivety, brashness, religious prejudice, and history of starting two civil wars.
Religiously, Pelor and Eadro were the two gods a Ravennian worshipped, however since the settlement of the Silver Piece Islands, this had begun to change. On the mainland, citizens elevated Pelor due to his connection with farms and harvests. But, in the islands, most colonies elevated Eadro instead due to its sea-faring culture. Naturally, colonists and mainlanders developed prejudices against the other as a result.
But, things came to a head when Joseph Lamonia III passed the Pelor Decree in the late year of 1301 AC, which venerated Pelor and prohibited public worship that wasn’t his. It didn’t take long before uprisings were incited on countless ocassions through the islands, much of which was difficult to control given the kingdom’s lighter presence of enforcement there.

The Silver Piece Rebellion

After passing the Pelor Decree, the people of the islands shouted for its overturning, but when it showed no signs, the colonies shouted for independence instead. Both they and the mainland felt forced to take up weapons against the other, as did the pirate lords, who in this sudden civil war began to use their wealth and power like military leaders in favor of the islands.
The rebellion officially began after the Darkwater Massacre, when Ravennian frigates opened fire on colony ships blockading the harbor.

The details of the Silver Piece Rebellion are still a WIP.

The Ravennian Civil War

In the year 1303 AC, the Silver Piece Rebellion came to an end when Joseph Lamonia III seceded the islands and granted the colonies independence. Shortly after, he renounced the Pelor Decree, and for a moment, Ravenna breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the king, still a religious zealot of Pelor, came forth with a second decree a while later. This decree, fashioned the Brother's Decree, would ban the public worship of any god not made to Pelor or Eadro. The mainland populace, a mixture of different faiths, grew outraged against the king and, feeling the momentum from the islands, began demanding its renunciation. But, when king showed no signs of determent, communities all over the land, even people who worshipped one of the two deities, took up weapons and openly began refusing Ravennian laws, including taxes and military service.

This all sparked backlash from the king, who doubled down, issuing the following Heretic's Decree rewarding payment in exchange for the execution of heretics, and it was the final nail in the coffin. The people began to rise up in an organized effort to depose the king under the visionary named Marcus Mendago, and a violent civil war erupted throughout the kingdom against the Lamonian loyalists.
It was fought for three years before the Royal Spires, the capital landmark of the kingdom and the royal home of the king, was stormed and King Joseph III captured. He was publicly executed and the rest of the Lamonian family — namely Joseph's wife and daughter — was stripped of any royal titles and privileges. In his place, the people erected Marcus as its new king, and the Mendago line was established.

Rule of Marcus Mendago

Marcus Mendago, son of Garber and Juliet Mendago, was the first monarch and first king of the Mendago monarchy. He is widely celebrated for his crowning achievement, the institution of the Ravennian Constitution, and the shift throughout the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy.

In the early year of 1303 AC, King Marcus passed a royal manuscript known as the Ravennian Constitution. It guaranteed various different rights to the people, the most popular of which included religious freedom, and it codified other immutable laws anyone — even the king — could not break. In Marcus' decree, the constitution was elevated in power above even himself, and kept safe within the Royal Courts in the capital, which had since been renamed from Lamonia to Mendago.
King Marcus was also the spark of meager, but visible, controversy. Ravenna had always been hailed as a traditionally human land, however

Marcus' true heritage was half-human and half-elf, and his wife, Grenna Mendago, was of full-elven ancestry, as became of his born son, Ivan. The king did not hold the same drive for pure ancestry like the citizens had historically, and though some today may still question the authenticity of the Mendago monarchy, by Ivan's reign, this mentality had already started to be buried.
Marcus Mendago passed away in 1323 AC from natural causes.

The rule of Ivan Mendago is still a WIP.

Rule of Julietzi Mendago

Julietzi Mendago, son of Ivan and Elizabeth Mendago, was the third monarch and first queen of the Mendago monarchy. She is the only Ravennian monarch to assume the throne twice in their life, and she was the first full-elven Ravennian monarch.

During her first reign, she is widely celebrated as a warrior queen who led Ravenna to victory against the forces of the Gohnic king, Talamar and the green dragon, Lindrax in the Second Gohnic War.
Though it solidified the prejudice that hung between Ravennian and Gohnic alike, an omen that no good relation would ever foster, Queen Julietzi's bravery and earnestness to lead from the front earned her the title, "The Everqueen". Portraits of the queen after that which circulated the kingdom were only ever of her clothed in gleaming armor and wielding a

shining sword. Even her official portrait inside the Royal Spires today is one that is not much different.
In the year 1499 AC, just before the beginning of the new century, Julietzi voluntarily stepped down from her throne, making way for her son, Jamesyn, to assume its rank. Though an elf and still a long gifted life ahead of her, Julietzi addressed to the people her belief that her time had come and pass, and now it was her son's allotted time to take her place. However, in the future she would reassume the throne, because of strenuous and dark circumstances.

Rule of Jamesyn Mendago

Jamesyn Mendago, son of Rodrich and Julietzi Mendago, was the fourth monarch and third king of the Mendago monarchy. Raised under the tutelage of his elven mother, Jamesyn is regarded as one of the wisest kings that ever ruled, due in part to his exceptional charismatic skill and limitless ability to exude words of wisdom. He earned the title "King in Red" due to his particular love for clothes in the color red of all kinds, and would never be found dressed publicly any differently.

As a king, he had to deal early on with a rising crime syndicate that believed the kingdom to have mishandled and stifled money from the common people since its founding called the Narrow Clan, formed originally in the poorer districts of the capital, known as the Narrows. Led by Eddie Pearce and Three-Eye Blain, the clan terrorized the capital for several days. However, when Jamesyn ordered in the royal guard to apprehend these criminals, the clan fled the capital in what was called the Night of the Yellow Flowers. This was all in the year 1507 AC.

Many people believed King Jamesyn would be too young to rule wisely, being at only 31 years old as a half-elven man when he took the throne. However, in only a few years, both the common people and other aristocrats came to realize how stalwart and kingdom-minded he really was. Doubts shrank, and respect grew. But, Jamesyn was forced to face one of the bloodiest wars in Westerin's history, which came like a thief in the night.

War of Turmoil

To the kingdom's west stood the land of Tenelea. Ever since the rise of its current Emperor, Wulfick Civilius V, and his mother before him, Zara Civilius III, the land had been transformed into an imperial military superpower, hell-bent on conquest and harboring an open resentment to elven heritage. War came suddenly in the year 1520 AC when in a single day, the Ravennian settlements of Gravenbest,

Saltna, Podun, Port Soldul, and Christoforus were violently attacked, Gravenbest and Saltna even being occupied. Having also assaulted the provinces of Endolin to their west, Tenelea declared a surprise war against both them and Ravenna, and the kingdom found itself in a war against a monumental foe.
But, despite the strength of the Tenelean Empire, the kingdom, led by King Jamesyn, managed to hold the enemy at the gates of Podun for the entirety of the war. Jamesyn had personally made sure the kingdom focused on bleeding the

empire's resources dry and draining their momentum until it was like a gnat bashing against a stone wall.
Most of the war was fought at the gates of Podun, and tens of thousands died in the war. However, in 1525 AC, Wulfick V suddenly sued for peace, a breath of fresh air for the kingdom. Jamesyn attempted to push for the return of Gravenbest and Saltna, however the military strength of Tenelea still strong, he was unsuccessful. Despite that, Ravenna celebrated the end of a five-year long war.

Jamesyn's Assassination

Jamesyn ruled for another forty years after the end of the war as the kingdom slowly returned to a status-quo. However, tragedy struck the hearts of Ravennians everywhere in the year 1565 AC when a group of assassins infiltrated the Royal Spires and slew the king upon his throne. They were labeled Tenelean assassins and rage filled the Ravennian body, and Jamesyn's mother, Julietzi. With no heirs after him, Julietzi vehemently retook the throne at the behest of the kingdom which called for the return of the Everqueen.
Then, the second bloodiest war in Westerin's history was declared, as the united fronts of Ravenna, Endolin, and West Gohn went to war against the Tenelean Empire.

Great War of Westerin

The Great War of Westerin occurred in 1565 AC, and lasted almost two years. During this, the full might of every participant came to bear. The Ravennian kingdom found early victories on land and at sea in the Coral Depths. On land, the kingdom's valiant Cockatrice Knights and the Ruby Titans won the day

and instilled hope in the Ravennian people, while powerful generals like Dwight Brecken and Diane Lynch fought in the name of the Everqueen and her late son. Meanwhile, at sea the Ravennian Navarch, Xavier Lido battled against the Imperial Tenelean Navy, led by Iron Admiral Sonia Orissa, for control of the southern ocean.
However, Ravenna began to suffer choice strategic losses, the biggest of which finally being the fall of Podun, the very settlement which had once held the empire at bay. Once

Podun fell, the Ravennian spirit began to falter greatly, and like a domino effect, one city after the next suffered the same fate.
In Ravenna's darkest hour, the Tenelean Empire stood at the walls of the capital in a siege. Though Queen Julietzi and the remaining elite troops of Ravenna fought back as best they could, the occupation of the capital and capture of the queen brought a close to the war for Ravenna, which was forced to surrender. Not too long after, the rest of the continent followed.
While some parcels became puppet vassals for the empire, Queen Julietzi was forced to abdicate her throne, and in 1570 AC, by proclamation of Wulfick Civilius V, the land of Ravenna was officially annexed into the Tenelean territory.
The kingdom of Ravenna was a kingdom full of stalwart heroes who served when it counted. It's story as of now has ended. But, for how long is something only fate could tell.

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Ravenna is more than a kingdom. It is a testament.
~ Jamesyn Mendago ~

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• The Ravennian Constitution

  The absolute authoritative Ravennian laws, unable to be overwritten or ignored by the monarch.

  • The Monarch

    The king or queen of Ravenna. Abiding by the constitution, the monarch has absolute authority.

    • Department of Arcane Magnetics

      The scientific department in charge of the development and modernization of arcane magic.

      • The Grand Wizard

        The official who holds the highest authority within the Department of Arcane Magnetics.

    • Department of Church

      The judicial department in charge of the kingdom-wide religious practices and its maintenance.

      • The Prime

        The religious leader who holds the highest authority within the Department of Church.

    • Department of Diplomatics

      The legislative department in charge of foreign relations and agreements associated with Ravenna.

      • The Grand Ambassador

        The diplomatic official who holds the highest authority within the Department of Diplomatics.

    • Department of Economics

      The executive department in charge of managing and circulating trade and currency in and outside of Ravenna.

      • The King's Treasurer

        The economic leader who holds the highest authority within the Department of Economics.

    • Department of Military

      The executive department in charge of managing and governing the ranks of Ravenna's standing forces.

      • The General Admiral

        The military leader who holds the highest authority within the Department of Military.

For guile! For sacrifice! For Ravenna!

Founding Date

1 PC

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Mendago, The City of Defiance

Demonym

Ravennian

Government System

Monarchy, Constitutional

Power Structure

Unitary state

Economic System

Market economy

Neighboring Nations

• Gohn
• Tenelea
• Tenelea

The Noble Line

Absolute Monarchy

Daymen Christoforus (31 PC - 1 AC)

Cedrick Christoforus (1 - 52 AC)

Artheur Quieme (52 - 107 AC)

Gavien Soldul (107 - 170 AC)

Emel Imbractus (170 - 201 AC)

Beroldus Podun (201 - 249 AC)

Aurat Hazel (249 - 281 AC)

Joel Pinebarrow (281 - 311 AC)

Onfroi Raventa (311 - 332 AC)

Alex Raventa (332 - 379 AC)

Briceus Readsend (379 - 449 AC)

Joseph Norwich (449 - 490 AC)

Wimark Trispire (490 - 518 AC)

Gwalter Graven (518 - 526 AC)

Julietzi Graven (526 - 580 AC)

Edward Graven (580 - 623 AC)

Lamonian Monarchy

Mason Lamonia (623 - 695 AC)

Joseph Lamonia (695 - 745 AC)

Victoria Lamonia (745 - 796 AC)

Joseph Lamonia II (796 - 831 AC)

Mason Lamonia II (831 - 879 AC)

Mason Lamonia III (879 - 948 AC)

Mason Lamonia IV (948 - 988 AC)

Victoria Lamonia II (988 - 1031 AC)

Mason Lamonia V (1031 - 1101 AC)

Victoria Lamonia III (1101 - 1164 AC)

Mason Lamonia VI (1164 - 1232 AC)

Mason Lamonia VII (1232 - 1279 AC)

Joseph Lamonia III (1279 - 1302 AC)

Constitutional Monarchy

Marcus Mendago (1302 - 1323 AC)

Ivan Mendago (1323 - 1416 AC)

Julietzi Mendago (1419 - 1499 AC)

Jamesyn Mendago (1499 - 1565 AC)

Julietzi Mendago (1565 - now)

Ravennian Guile

Ravenna is a kingdom underneath a constitutional monarchy on the southeastern coast of the continent Westerin. This human kingdom functions like one always in a golden age, even when times look dire. Wealth, culture, and opportunity consume every inch of Ravenna's horizon, with an elite army in Lamonian steel to protect it.
Stubborn is often the word Ravenna's neighbors use to describe them. Any and all interests of the kingdom are met with sharp ingenuity and entrepreneurship, rivaling it with the ever growing Iron War Machine.
As opposed to the war machine's focus on mundane materials and physics, Ravenna focuses their studies into what the Old World called arcane magnetics. It is the manipulation and advancement of magic and the arcane, undertaken and governed by the Department of Arcane Magnetics.
But, in Ravenna, magic is not all there is that awaits the traveler, but many other unique sights to see. Traditions to experience. People to meet. Ravenna may not be perfect, but it prides itself on behaving civilized and meeting every challenge with a head-long stride.

To those rulers who will come after me. A name will keep a legacy alive, but only your actions will keep a kingdom itself alive.

~ Joel Pinebarrow