Hydenbur
In Deos Speramus
General Information
Hydenbur has a reputation across Laan as being the land most closely connected to the gods. While its location atop a great cliff face makes naval trade difficult, and the bitter cold of such heights make cultivating and growing crops near impossible, Hydenbur has prospered due to their sheer faith and devotion, giving offerings to the gods in exchange for succor. This devotion creates a fervor among the people who are ready to asswer the call to war at a moments notice.Geography
Often called the gateway to the heavens, Hydenbur Bluff is the tallest standing cliff-face in the mortal realm of Laan. Because of this, and it's position closer to the northern reaches of the realm, it experiences bitter cold and blistering winds. This results in mostly boreal forests of pine trees that dot the landscape between settlements.While the landscape itself seems to be inhospitable, the populace see it as a challenge put forth by the twenty-two, that if they can live and thrive in such a land the heavens will be all the sweeter upon their arrival.
The Holy See
Hydenbur exemplifies the bonding of piety and state, as the ruler of Hydenbur is also the Arch-bishop of the Hydenbur Hierocracy. The selection process for Arch-Bishop is based on three major componentsOrganizations and Ethos
It is the firm belief of the Heirocracy, and by extension the populace, that it is the gods that allow Hydenbur to stand as it does. And while all mortal races have autonomy and control over their actions, they all act in a way that aligns to the twenty-two's will. This naturally puts them in direct ideological opposition to Morris Cove and has been the driving force of their continental conflict. Their mantra In Deos Speramus translates from old common into the phrase In the Gods We Trust and reflects the country's fervous piety and zeal.Much of the man power in Hydenbur are its citizens taking up arms to defend their homeland from those who would persecute their faith. While their army structure requires that all squads have access to at least one priest. Many who stand in Hydenbur's armies are men and women of faith, and are capable of weaponising that faith to smite foe and non-believer alike.
Notable History
Hydenbur's history has been defined by the following events:The Great Convergence (1400 - 1475)
In the early stags of the 15th century, the Western side of Dossil was covered by communities that surrounded the Cliffside city of Hydenbur Proper. The people of this city had established themselves as a safehaven and holy ground for pilgrims to travel to and offer service to the gods. Through peaceful negotiation and celebrations of faith, Hydenbur began to grow their territory by assimilating other communities to their cause and aligning them to their ideals.The Hark Assimilation (1475)
In the final stages of Hydenbur's assimilation efforts, a large community of elves offered up resistance in the face of the new superpower growing around them. This community openly insulted the gods and taunted missionaries from Hydenbur with questions about false ideals and by pointing out hypocrisy within their own faithful.When word of this reached Arch-Bishop Klaus Hark, he was outraged. He immediately mustered Hydenburs crusaders to march upon the Elven lands and assimilate them by force. This was the first time Hydenbur had shown fury to outsiders rather than acceptance. Once the conflict had resolved, the province was named Hark to serve as a reminder to the Elves of the Arch-Bishop's power.
The Hark Treaty (1476)
Following the events of the Hark Assimilation, the higher ranking members of the Heirocracy became outraged, and begged the gods to administer holy retribution for smiting the innocent in their name. Arch-Bishop Hark continued to excercise his authority however and put many of these priests to death. Eventually, thanks to the well organised efforts of the citizenry and other active members of the Heirocracy, Hark was taken into custody and later excecuted for the highest order of heresy and for abusing his position and Arch-Bishop.Upon Hark's death, Hydenbur signed a treaty with the elves of Hark and offered them a larger plot of land than they had originally inhabitted as recompense for their prior actions.
First Dossil War (1510 - 1570)
Shortly after a lengthy election process, the newly appointed Arch-Bishop Tarchus Purocci sent missionaries into the neighbouring lands to seek out the unenlightened and spread the good word of the twenty-two. While on their mission, they encountered bandits from the kingdom on the opposite side of the continent. They rebuked the power of the gods and invoked the ire of the priests giving birth to a bloody conflict that lasted 60 years.After both sides had suffered horrendous losses, the armies decided to call a truce and agreed neither side should have control over the land that lay between them. The communities in this land banded together to create a new country, @Mitlind, under the rule of their own parliamentary government.
Second Dossil War (1650 - 1690)
Under the governance of Arch-Bishop Hadley Finche, the armies of Morris Cove began to march across Mitlind once again. In order to halt their advance, Hydenbur marched out to meet them. What followed was a brutal war that resulted in thousands of Mitlind's citizens being slaughtered by both armies. As a result, Mitlind raised it's own guerilla companies comprised of rangers and guardsmen from different cities and towns to defend their homes. Finding the opposition from two countries too difficult to manage against, both Hydenbur and Morris Cove retreated and attempted to broker longer lasting peace.In Deos Speramus
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Hydenites
Government System
Theocracy
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
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