Kingdom of New Aenoch
AENOCH (New Aenoch, Outremere, The Crusader Kingdoms, The Seven Realms)
Travel in New Aenoch
Once the heart of the empire’s trade network, with well cut and maintained roads, New Aenoch now poses several challenges for the traveler. In the south travel is conducted by ships moving smoothly up and down the coast. Many small roads connect the southern towns as well, but beyond GOUDY LAKE and AUTUMN LAKE the roads vanish into the wilderness. Though there are some, few are usable for anything other than foot traffic. There are multiple paths, carved through the forests by crusaders and rangers, but any goods and large bodies of men usually use the riverways.
The Heraldry
The heraldry of the empire reflects its complexity. The hawk harkens to the ancient heraldry of the HOUSE GOLDEN. In its claws are the red and white roses of the old realms of AENOCH and Ethrum. The sword he bears is holy DISCEPRO, the blade forged by SEBASTIAN in the days of old. The bulls flank and support the golden hawk with their backs, even as the followers of ORE-TSAR and the church in New Aenoch support the empress. Five heraldic shields represent the duchies of the realm, and two banners represent each of the city states. Woven throughout the background are snaking daggers, the birthright of the house, the mark of Emperor MARCUS IV. Above it all is the CRADLE OF THE WORLD with the jewel of the god, the EYE OF ORNDUHL set within.
Of That Land & Governance
In 1197md, PRYZMIRA celebrated her 57th year as Empress of New Aenoch. She is old, 87, and the last of the rulers who emerged from the WINTERS DARK. She has seen the world born in war and saw it remake itself in the aftermath. The venerable old woman is much beloved by her people. Whole generations have grown to maturity while she has sat upon the throne of Aenoch. Many view her person as the empire, dreading the day of her demise. For her part, Pryzmira has long since laid aside the heavy hand of rule and takes a less than active role in the administration of her realm. She struggles with increasing her commercial power in the markets owned by the electors. Her military power is vast, due to the frontier conquests of so many Crusader Knights. They swear fealty to her alone, which she gladly accepts.
In truth, her one great goal is to see her daughter NERATITE crowned EMPRESS OF NEW AENOCH, but to do this she must gain at least four votes from the seven ELECTORS OF NEW AENOCH (see below). To increase her bargaining position, in 1195 md she called for another crusade, bringing fresh blood in from the west.
The seven Electors of New Aenoch elect the empress to the throne. These electors are lords of the towns and provinces of the region and are the DUKE OF AESPERDI, DUKE OF BARACHIA, DUKE OF DUNDADOR, DUKE OF KOURLAND, and DUKE OF METEIRA, the MAGISTRATE OF THE CITY OF VILSHOFEN, and the BISHOP OF HEIMSTAT. These are the lords that the Empress Pryzmira must influence, garnering their votes for her daughter’s dignity.
The electors gather once a year to confirm their bonds with the empress and discuss the business of the day. Each year the meeting is held in a different portion of the realm, hosted by one lord or another. Many consider hosting the council a great privilege. The council convenes with the empress’ introduction, followed by the introduction of each of the seven electors, who swear their oath to the throne. The empress in turn swears oaths to recognize the electors and to defend them. Business follows the introductions and carries on for days if not weeks. The council is open to the attendance of all the greater and lesser lords of the land and many come to watch, though they are not allowed to participate. The electors and empress conduct much of the business in private, where the political battles between factions and individuals dominate the floor.
From time to time, the electors go to war with one another, or with some of the Crusader States, though the latter is rare, for the empress owns these states.
The Crusader States constitute a host of small and large holdings sprinkled throughout the land. Those lands not directly held by one of the electors are open to colonization. Anyone who can take land and hold it is entitled to owning it, once they have sworn an oath of loyalty to the empress. She in turns grants that crusader the land, with the right to remove the grant at her discretion. These states in turn are required to outfit her army and pay a small tax. They erect their own banners and govern their own halls as petty lords. These lords do not gain a voice in the land and for the most part owe their allegiance to the empress; some turn to one of the electors for support and aid when they quarrel with the Imperial Court, but such quarrels are dangerous, for the empress may retract a grant when she deems it necessary. Only a few have managed to wrangle rights of inheritance, thus owning the land outright, from the court. The host of heraldry is massive, as each of these states and many of the freebooters and adventurers claim a right to recognition.
By and large the crusaders are loyal to the empress
The Crusade
The empress has recently called for a crusade (the second such endeavor). Her call attracts hosts of young hopefuls to the empire on every boat. The docks and quays of the towns of DUNDADOR, BARACHIA, OEAITA, and Ascalon overflow with men and women seeking glory and fortune. What they conquer is theirs; they have but to swear fealty to the old empress and she will grant them title to the land. This attracts all manner of people to the cities and towns, making them dangerous, wild places where thieves and rogues mingle with the high born, the affluent with the poor, and evil with good. Throughout the western lands the church of Ore-Tsar supports the empress in her crusade, continually calling for the brave to travel to the New Empire to war upon the enemy.
After flooding the ports, they wander north in search of gold and glory. Many never return, but some carve out homes for themselves, and live or die on the frontiers.
Crusader conquests bring mixed blessings to the electors. On the one hand they enjoy an increase in trade of goods to the crusaders and the newly conquered frontiers, not to mention the wealth that has poured into the realm from the arrival of the crusaders themselves. On the other hand these conquerors swear fealty to the empress and she gains their dues in monies, kind, and service (see below). This increases the might and bargaining power of the Imperial House, so the electors bend their wits and fortunes to restrict the acquisition of new land and hold back the crusaders.
New Aenoch promises high adventure and quick wealth. The political and religious unrest cause constant feuds between the seven electors and the empress, between the old and new gods. The added threat of pirates from the confederation only stirs the tumultuous waters. A continuous call for crusaders to rid the lands to the north of wild ORCS and remnants of the horrors of Aufstrag make New Aenoch a beacon for would-be glory hunters, and of course the imperial promise that “what one conquers, one keeps; what one keeps, one swears homage for” only draws more adventurers, for land, after all, is power.
Travel in New Aenoch
Once the heart of the empire’s trade network, with well cut and maintained roads, New Aenoch now poses several challenges for the traveler. In the south travel is conducted by ships moving smoothly up and down the coast. Many small roads connect the southern towns as well, but beyond GOUDY LAKE and AUTUMN LAKE the roads vanish into the wilderness. Though there are some, few are usable for anything other than foot traffic. There are multiple paths, carved through the forests by crusaders and rangers, but any goods and large bodies of men usually use the riverways.
The Heraldry
The heraldry of the empire reflects its complexity. The hawk harkens to the ancient heraldry of the HOUSE GOLDEN. In its claws are the red and white roses of the old realms of AENOCH and Ethrum. The sword he bears is holy DISCEPRO, the blade forged by SEBASTIAN in the days of old. The bulls flank and support the golden hawk with their backs, even as the followers of ORE-TSAR and the church in New Aenoch support the empress. Five heraldic shields represent the duchies of the realm, and two banners represent each of the city states. Woven throughout the background are snaking daggers, the birthright of the house, the mark of Emperor MARCUS IV. Above it all is the CRADLE OF THE WORLD with the jewel of the god, the EYE OF ORNDUHL set within.
Of That Land & Governance
In 1197md, PRYZMIRA celebrated her 57th year as Empress of New Aenoch. She is old, 87, and the last of the rulers who emerged from the WINTERS DARK. She has seen the world born in war and saw it remake itself in the aftermath. The venerable old woman is much beloved by her people. Whole generations have grown to maturity while she has sat upon the throne of Aenoch. Many view her person as the empire, dreading the day of her demise. For her part, Pryzmira has long since laid aside the heavy hand of rule and takes a less than active role in the administration of her realm. She struggles with increasing her commercial power in the markets owned by the electors. Her military power is vast, due to the frontier conquests of so many Crusader Knights. They swear fealty to her alone, which she gladly accepts.
In truth, her one great goal is to see her daughter NERATITE crowned EMPRESS OF NEW AENOCH, but to do this she must gain at least four votes from the seven ELECTORS OF NEW AENOCH (see below). To increase her bargaining position, in 1195 md she called for another crusade, bringing fresh blood in from the west.
The seven Electors of New Aenoch elect the empress to the throne. These electors are lords of the towns and provinces of the region and are the DUKE OF AESPERDI, DUKE OF BARACHIA, DUKE OF DUNDADOR, DUKE OF KOURLAND, and DUKE OF METEIRA, the MAGISTRATE OF THE CITY OF VILSHOFEN, and the BISHOP OF HEIMSTAT. These are the lords that the Empress Pryzmira must influence, garnering their votes for her daughter’s dignity.
The electors gather once a year to confirm their bonds with the empress and discuss the business of the day. Each year the meeting is held in a different portion of the realm, hosted by one lord or another. Many consider hosting the council a great privilege. The council convenes with the empress’ introduction, followed by the introduction of each of the seven electors, who swear their oath to the throne. The empress in turn swears oaths to recognize the electors and to defend them. Business follows the introductions and carries on for days if not weeks. The council is open to the attendance of all the greater and lesser lords of the land and many come to watch, though they are not allowed to participate. The electors and empress conduct much of the business in private, where the political battles between factions and individuals dominate the floor.
From time to time, the electors go to war with one another, or with some of the Crusader States, though the latter is rare, for the empress owns these states.
The Crusader States constitute a host of small and large holdings sprinkled throughout the land. Those lands not directly held by one of the electors are open to colonization. Anyone who can take land and hold it is entitled to owning it, once they have sworn an oath of loyalty to the empress. She in turns grants that crusader the land, with the right to remove the grant at her discretion. These states in turn are required to outfit her army and pay a small tax. They erect their own banners and govern their own halls as petty lords. These lords do not gain a voice in the land and for the most part owe their allegiance to the empress; some turn to one of the electors for support and aid when they quarrel with the Imperial Court, but such quarrels are dangerous, for the empress may retract a grant when she deems it necessary. Only a few have managed to wrangle rights of inheritance, thus owning the land outright, from the court. The host of heraldry is massive, as each of these states and many of the freebooters and adventurers claim a right to recognition.
By and large the crusaders are loyal to the empress
The Crusade
The empress has recently called for a crusade (the second such endeavor). Her call attracts hosts of young hopefuls to the empire on every boat. The docks and quays of the towns of DUNDADOR, BARACHIA, OEAITA, and Ascalon overflow with men and women seeking glory and fortune. What they conquer is theirs; they have but to swear fealty to the old empress and she will grant them title to the land. This attracts all manner of people to the cities and towns, making them dangerous, wild places where thieves and rogues mingle with the high born, the affluent with the poor, and evil with good. Throughout the western lands the church of Ore-Tsar supports the empress in her crusade, continually calling for the brave to travel to the New Empire to war upon the enemy.
After flooding the ports, they wander north in search of gold and glory. Many never return, but some carve out homes for themselves, and live or die on the frontiers.
Crusader conquests bring mixed blessings to the electors. On the one hand they enjoy an increase in trade of goods to the crusaders and the newly conquered frontiers, not to mention the wealth that has poured into the realm from the arrival of the crusaders themselves. On the other hand these conquerors swear fealty to the empress and she gains their dues in monies, kind, and service (see below). This increases the might and bargaining power of the Imperial House, so the electors bend their wits and fortunes to restrict the acquisition of new land and hold back the crusaders.
New Aenoch promises high adventure and quick wealth. The political and religious unrest cause constant feuds between the seven electors and the empress, between the old and new gods. The added threat of pirates from the confederation only stirs the tumultuous waters. A continuous call for crusaders to rid the lands to the north of wild ORCS and remnants of the horrors of Aufstrag make New Aenoch a beacon for would-be glory hunters, and of course the imperial promise that “what one conquers, one keeps; what one keeps, one swears homage for” only draws more adventurers, for land, after all, is power.
Structure
Feudal with an elected overlord
Public Agenda
Resisting and expanding North and West into lands controlled by the remnants of the Horned God's servants.
History
The Empire of Aenoch’s history is mired in the depths of time and predates much of the world’s struggles. During the long years of the Age of Men, the empire existed and flourished. Like the tide, her power rose and fell with time, but the lords and ladies of her realm suffered the grief of decadence that wealth and power tend to cause. Many of her lords dabbled in the Eldritch Sorceries of the GOBLIN LORDS and brought that practice into the households of men. The greatest of all these practitioners was the EMPEROR SEBASTIAN OLIVER FINWE and it was he that used the wizard NULAK, to summon the dark god Unklar to aid him in his lustful desires to restore Aenoch to her past glories. The god proved no slave and turned on him, slaying him with iron and fire. He took up the mantle of his crown, the Cradle of the World, to place upon his brow. From that moment the world changed and the thousand year empire of Winter’s Dark began. Unklar renamed Al-Liosh “Aufstrag” and there he ruled from his throne, eventually conquering all the spaces of mortal man.
The tales relate how JAREN, a Lord of the ORDER OF THE SCINTILLANT DAWN, fought the Horned God for many years and proved one of the last to stand against him. When he fell the Horned God paid him particular attention and set him to anguish in Aufstrag. He gave him over to NULAK-KIZ-DIN, a wizard of great renown. Nulak treated Jaren as a plaything so that at times he lay at rest in dark dungeons; at others he slaved in the pits, or suffered on the rack.
Nulak worried, lest the object of his torment be destroyed, and he pondered his plight long and hard. At last he took the monk to the gates of Aufstrag and nailed him to the wall. There he hung wracked in pain and suffering. All who passed beneath the gate saw the creature that had been Jaren and they cast stones at him or shot him with arrows. At night the monk healed, his flesh returning to normal so that on the morrow he suffered another day of torment. Once in a great while, Nulak ordered Jaren pulled from the wall and made comfortable in the halls of his master so that he forgot who he was. The wizard plied him with food and drink and women of great beauty, only to pull them away and force Jaren once more to the torment of the wall.
It was during one of these interludes that a slave woman in the pits served Jaren and fell in love with him. She secreted food to him on the wall and relieved his torment when she could. In time Jaren became enamored of her and made her with child, a girl. They named her after the old Ethrumanian goddess, Pryzmira. Jaren entreated his paramour to flee the pits during the chaos of the Trench Wars in the early days of the Winter Dark Wars, knowing that Nulak, if ever he got wind of the child, would make them all suffer. She traveled into the Kellerwald where she joined a group of halflings.
In time Jaren escaped dark Aufstrag and joined the dwarf lords and others in the Winter Dark Wars. He sought out the halflings and brought his love and his daughter to safety upon the ISLE OF DREAMS where she lived under the protection of SAINT LUTHER, Lord of Dreams. There, while not at war, he raised Pryzmira as a priestess of TOTH. When he shaved her head for the induction he found the mark of the House Golden, that ancient brand which the EMPEROR MARCUS IV gave over to his descendants. Pryzmira stood as heir to the IMPERIAL THRONE OF AENOCH. In a few short years she came of age and when she learned of her heritage, she declared she would seek her throne.
The Winter Dark Wars raged across Aihrde for two decades. Everywhere men waited to see which way the wars would go, but after the BATTLE OF OLENSK it seemed obvious. Pryzmira knew she had but to find the right allies to support her claim. She soon found them, or they her, in the lands south and east of Aufstrag in the Kellerwald. The provinces and cities of HEIMSTAT, BARACHIA, DUNDADOR, ASCALON, Aesperdi, KOURLAND, VILSHOFEN, and METEIRA had lived under the shadow of Aufstrag for a thousand years. These Seven Realms grew wealthy through control of the overseas trade routes and they suffered little from the hand of Unklar. In consequence, a powerful, educated merchant class came to rule these cities. Despite their success, or perhaps because of it, when war came to the empire, these lords and burghers banded together in a loose confederation and prepared to rebel.
In those days, much as it is today, the merchants of that region employed a small host of house wizards, sages, and the like. They did this mostly to learn of weather and bandits, but on occasion one would surface with the true powers of a magi. Such a one came to the lords of the seven cities and claimed that a new empress waited upon the DREAMING SEA Sea for a call from her people, to come to Aenoch and rule again. They sent their prayers to the LORD OF DREAMS and bid him bring her to them. At her own request Saint Luther delivered her into their keeping.
Pryzmira, last daughter of the House of the OLD EMPIRE OF AENOCH, came to the lords of the SEVEN REALMS and promised them wealth and the power of the COUNCIL OF LIGHT if they would support her claim to the ancient lineage. She bore the mark and they believed her. They agreed to league with Pryzmira under the stipulation that each of the seven lands enjoy the rights to elect the empress and her heirs to the throne. In turn, she demanded that their borders be permanently fixed, that they give her the city of ASCALON to rule from, and that they grant her wide privileges of taxation and expansion. This the electors did, for they saw their wealth lay not in the ruined lands to the north and Aufstrag, but upon the sea. In this there was some truth, but afterward they regretted giving up the right of expansion.
In 1130 md, the provinces and cities declared themselves against Aufstrag and welcomed Pryzmira as their new empress. Aufstrag had no strength left to combat this final blow to her prestige; her armies were drawn into conflict everywhere and they had not recovered from the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Olensk. The rebellion went unchallenged by the powers in the north.
Pryzmira arrived in great pomp, upon a ship riding high into the port of Ascalon, but for her part she refused to be crowned without the Cradle of the World, the crown of the emperors of old Aenoch. Her father, Jaren Falkhynjager, gathered the Council of Light, and after great hardship and toil they tore the crown from the undead hands of the LICH BARON HARAKON PETROVICH, that servant of the Emperor Sebastian who had held it in safe keeping lo these many years.
At last in 1140md, the electors crowned the 30 year old Pryzmira Empress of New Aenoch by placing the Cradle of the World upon her brow. The electors and empress set pen to paper and drew up constitutions for the governance of the realm. The military and mercantile alliance of the cities and provinces of New Aenoch granted their support and elected Pryzmira empress after she conceded the following:
1) Pryzmira recognized the territorial rights of the league members and agreed to the investiture of ducal authority to the Seven Realms, which included the BISHOP OF HEIMSTAT, and the MAGISTRATE OF THE CITY OF VILSHOFEN, for each territory with subsequent rights given to the lord, including justice, maintenance of troops, and taxation,
2) Pryzmira recognized the rights of the city burghers, bishops, and lords to choose the successor from their own number to each ducal throne,
3) Pryzmira agreed to support the league militarily, maintaining the league’s mercantile rights,
4) Pryzmira agreed to support general free trade throughout the league,
5) Pryzmira agreed to maintain an army from her own expenses to act as protection of the Seven Realms and empire. She agreed that the imperial army would not be used in the territories of the Seven Realms unless called upon by one of the seven lords. However the members each independently agreed to supply 500 well equipped men-at- arms in support of the imperial army for a period of 40 days each year, or in the advent of no troops being available, to supply monies to hire mercenaries.
In turn the Seven Realms bestowed the crown of Aenoch upon Pryzmira’s brow and installed her as their new empress. They gave her lands surrounding the city of Ascalon to support her household. In Ascalon a castle and tower were built for her at the league’s expense. Furthermore, she was given all rights of taxation upon the roads and rivers and sea ports (this last only upon those other than the Seven Realms). The imperial house gained sole rights to the minting of coins, and the status and conquest of territory they left to the empress’ judgment.
In this manner Pryzmira came to rule New Aenoch, though in truth hers was but a shadow of her ancestor’s power, though for many years she strove to combat the Seven Realms and gain leverage over them. This led to many internal conflicts and the slow evolution of a complicated feudal system. Pryzmira introduced the cult of Toth to the realm to vie for the souls of the common men. Only a few converted, mostly those possessed of great wealth.
As she grew older, the empress mollified her demands and rarely struggled with the Seven Realms. She turned instead to conquering new land and in this vein called to the west for a crusade, promising land and wealth. The summons generated wide enthusiasm in the west and hosts of men came to carve out holdings from the wilds north of the Seven Realms. Though the coming years saw many victories and some expansion, the empire failed to expand much beyond its original borders.
The worship of Ore-Tsar, however, came with the crusaders, as many of these young knights came from the KINGDOM OF ANGLAMAY. Before long the Seven Realms became powerful supporters of the new religion, only adding to the complexity of the highly charged politics of the realm.
The Empress Pryzmira rules in New Aenoch. She is old now, but her wits remain and she struggles to make certain that her daughter, Neratite, is crowned and assumes the throne of Aenoch. Neratite is young and beautiful. She thinks much like her mother, but longs for conquests beyond the Seven Realms and seeks to bring ever more power under her sway so that she might grow the might of her mother’s heritage.
The tales relate how JAREN, a Lord of the ORDER OF THE SCINTILLANT DAWN, fought the Horned God for many years and proved one of the last to stand against him. When he fell the Horned God paid him particular attention and set him to anguish in Aufstrag. He gave him over to NULAK-KIZ-DIN, a wizard of great renown. Nulak treated Jaren as a plaything so that at times he lay at rest in dark dungeons; at others he slaved in the pits, or suffered on the rack.
Nulak worried, lest the object of his torment be destroyed, and he pondered his plight long and hard. At last he took the monk to the gates of Aufstrag and nailed him to the wall. There he hung wracked in pain and suffering. All who passed beneath the gate saw the creature that had been Jaren and they cast stones at him or shot him with arrows. At night the monk healed, his flesh returning to normal so that on the morrow he suffered another day of torment. Once in a great while, Nulak ordered Jaren pulled from the wall and made comfortable in the halls of his master so that he forgot who he was. The wizard plied him with food and drink and women of great beauty, only to pull them away and force Jaren once more to the torment of the wall.
It was during one of these interludes that a slave woman in the pits served Jaren and fell in love with him. She secreted food to him on the wall and relieved his torment when she could. In time Jaren became enamored of her and made her with child, a girl. They named her after the old Ethrumanian goddess, Pryzmira. Jaren entreated his paramour to flee the pits during the chaos of the Trench Wars in the early days of the Winter Dark Wars, knowing that Nulak, if ever he got wind of the child, would make them all suffer. She traveled into the Kellerwald where she joined a group of halflings.
In time Jaren escaped dark Aufstrag and joined the dwarf lords and others in the Winter Dark Wars. He sought out the halflings and brought his love and his daughter to safety upon the ISLE OF DREAMS where she lived under the protection of SAINT LUTHER, Lord of Dreams. There, while not at war, he raised Pryzmira as a priestess of TOTH. When he shaved her head for the induction he found the mark of the House Golden, that ancient brand which the EMPEROR MARCUS IV gave over to his descendants. Pryzmira stood as heir to the IMPERIAL THRONE OF AENOCH. In a few short years she came of age and when she learned of her heritage, she declared she would seek her throne.
The Winter Dark Wars raged across Aihrde for two decades. Everywhere men waited to see which way the wars would go, but after the BATTLE OF OLENSK it seemed obvious. Pryzmira knew she had but to find the right allies to support her claim. She soon found them, or they her, in the lands south and east of Aufstrag in the Kellerwald. The provinces and cities of HEIMSTAT, BARACHIA, DUNDADOR, ASCALON, Aesperdi, KOURLAND, VILSHOFEN, and METEIRA had lived under the shadow of Aufstrag for a thousand years. These Seven Realms grew wealthy through control of the overseas trade routes and they suffered little from the hand of Unklar. In consequence, a powerful, educated merchant class came to rule these cities. Despite their success, or perhaps because of it, when war came to the empire, these lords and burghers banded together in a loose confederation and prepared to rebel.
In those days, much as it is today, the merchants of that region employed a small host of house wizards, sages, and the like. They did this mostly to learn of weather and bandits, but on occasion one would surface with the true powers of a magi. Such a one came to the lords of the seven cities and claimed that a new empress waited upon the DREAMING SEA Sea for a call from her people, to come to Aenoch and rule again. They sent their prayers to the LORD OF DREAMS and bid him bring her to them. At her own request Saint Luther delivered her into their keeping.
Pryzmira, last daughter of the House of the OLD EMPIRE OF AENOCH, came to the lords of the SEVEN REALMS and promised them wealth and the power of the COUNCIL OF LIGHT if they would support her claim to the ancient lineage. She bore the mark and they believed her. They agreed to league with Pryzmira under the stipulation that each of the seven lands enjoy the rights to elect the empress and her heirs to the throne. In turn, she demanded that their borders be permanently fixed, that they give her the city of ASCALON to rule from, and that they grant her wide privileges of taxation and expansion. This the electors did, for they saw their wealth lay not in the ruined lands to the north and Aufstrag, but upon the sea. In this there was some truth, but afterward they regretted giving up the right of expansion.
In 1130 md, the provinces and cities declared themselves against Aufstrag and welcomed Pryzmira as their new empress. Aufstrag had no strength left to combat this final blow to her prestige; her armies were drawn into conflict everywhere and they had not recovered from the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Olensk. The rebellion went unchallenged by the powers in the north.
Pryzmira arrived in great pomp, upon a ship riding high into the port of Ascalon, but for her part she refused to be crowned without the Cradle of the World, the crown of the emperors of old Aenoch. Her father, Jaren Falkhynjager, gathered the Council of Light, and after great hardship and toil they tore the crown from the undead hands of the LICH BARON HARAKON PETROVICH, that servant of the Emperor Sebastian who had held it in safe keeping lo these many years.
At last in 1140md, the electors crowned the 30 year old Pryzmira Empress of New Aenoch by placing the Cradle of the World upon her brow. The electors and empress set pen to paper and drew up constitutions for the governance of the realm. The military and mercantile alliance of the cities and provinces of New Aenoch granted their support and elected Pryzmira empress after she conceded the following:
1) Pryzmira recognized the territorial rights of the league members and agreed to the investiture of ducal authority to the Seven Realms, which included the BISHOP OF HEIMSTAT, and the MAGISTRATE OF THE CITY OF VILSHOFEN, for each territory with subsequent rights given to the lord, including justice, maintenance of troops, and taxation,
2) Pryzmira recognized the rights of the city burghers, bishops, and lords to choose the successor from their own number to each ducal throne,
3) Pryzmira agreed to support the league militarily, maintaining the league’s mercantile rights,
4) Pryzmira agreed to support general free trade throughout the league,
5) Pryzmira agreed to maintain an army from her own expenses to act as protection of the Seven Realms and empire. She agreed that the imperial army would not be used in the territories of the Seven Realms unless called upon by one of the seven lords. However the members each independently agreed to supply 500 well equipped men-at- arms in support of the imperial army for a period of 40 days each year, or in the advent of no troops being available, to supply monies to hire mercenaries.
In turn the Seven Realms bestowed the crown of Aenoch upon Pryzmira’s brow and installed her as their new empress. They gave her lands surrounding the city of Ascalon to support her household. In Ascalon a castle and tower were built for her at the league’s expense. Furthermore, she was given all rights of taxation upon the roads and rivers and sea ports (this last only upon those other than the Seven Realms). The imperial house gained sole rights to the minting of coins, and the status and conquest of territory they left to the empress’ judgment.
In this manner Pryzmira came to rule New Aenoch, though in truth hers was but a shadow of her ancestor’s power, though for many years she strove to combat the Seven Realms and gain leverage over them. This led to many internal conflicts and the slow evolution of a complicated feudal system. Pryzmira introduced the cult of Toth to the realm to vie for the souls of the common men. Only a few converted, mostly those possessed of great wealth.
As she grew older, the empress mollified her demands and rarely struggled with the Seven Realms. She turned instead to conquering new land and in this vein called to the west for a crusade, promising land and wealth. The summons generated wide enthusiasm in the west and hosts of men came to carve out holdings from the wilds north of the Seven Realms. Though the coming years saw many victories and some expansion, the empire failed to expand much beyond its original borders.
The worship of Ore-Tsar, however, came with the crusaders, as many of these young knights came from the KINGDOM OF ANGLAMAY. Before long the Seven Realms became powerful supporters of the new religion, only adding to the complexity of the highly charged politics of the realm.
The Empress Pryzmira rules in New Aenoch. She is old now, but her wits remain and she struggles to make certain that her daughter, Neratite, is crowned and assumes the throne of Aenoch. Neratite is young and beautiful. She thinks much like her mother, but longs for conquests beyond the Seven Realms and seeks to bring ever more power under her sway so that she might grow the might of her mother’s heritage.
Demography and Population
The people of New Aenoch live in small towns or one of the few cities in the area, such as VILSHOFEN, RATSDORF, and GUNZ. The lands about are dangerous due to the proximity to Aufstrag, and most of the towns are walled. Castles, mostly small affairs, are built on riverbanks, hilltops, and along the roads here and there, mingled with fortified farmsteads. The farms themselves are usually heavily fortified and defensible, built of stout timber and slate shingles, when available.
The people are very independent and many settle here for they consider it a frontier. Being a vassal to the empress requires only a small tax and service from time to time, but few remember the last time she sent forth a call to arms. A stout minded and purposeful people settle the land, people who strive to carve a life out of the wilderness.
There are scores of estates throughout the kingdom owned by petty knights, wizards, rangers, and the like. People who paid their dues carved out land and called for the recognition of the empress. Once given, they settled in their roles as landed knights. Often their estates do not touch one another, but cover geographic areas that the knight and crown deem they can hold. For the most part they are small, for the owners cannot safely defend more. Some have villages they support and defend, others have little, or nothing, earning their keep from plundering the north.
Together, great and small, poor and wealthy, these are the lands of the Crusader Knights, and their small realms are referred to as the CRUSADER STATES.
Several roads and paths link the various communities, but these are dangerous to travel alone. Though many taverns and inns exist along the roads, they are often nestled in defensible positions and frequently fortified. Bandits, landless knights, vagabonds, travelers, thieves, and all manner of ruffians ply their trades here, extracting money from the crusaders who are always en route from one campaign to the next. Orcs are plentiful, ranging down from the BLIGHTED SCREED and the tribal areas just south of the GRAUSUMLAND; also found are Goblin, OGRES, some GIANTS, and many strange creatures both evil and good which dwell in the BARREN WOOD Barren Wood.
The Crusader States yield a nominal wealth to the empress, a tax of their unmovable goods being assessed by the imperial court every few years. This tax flows south, though is often paid for by plunder taken from others, extracted from dungeons or on raids deep in to the northern country. The monies are fickle and the court does not rely upon them.
The true wealth of the empire lies on the sea, derived from the silk trade and from several spices culled from the sea. The silk trade is slowly slipping from their hands as new routes, over land or via the southern oceans, are cropping up; this is largely because the waters of the BAY OF BARACHIA are becoming increasingly more dangerous due to pirates from the CONFEDERATION OF TORRICH AND ELORIA. They still control the sea spices and sell at ever higher prices in the far west. New Aeonoch is also well known for their luxury items, silver work, and statuary. Another and more recent source of wealth has been the church. Taxation on pilgrims and protection services are growing by leaps and bounds. In turn, great quantities of food and livestock are imported, for the land around is often too dangerous to farm.
The people are very independent and many settle here for they consider it a frontier. Being a vassal to the empress requires only a small tax and service from time to time, but few remember the last time she sent forth a call to arms. A stout minded and purposeful people settle the land, people who strive to carve a life out of the wilderness.
There are scores of estates throughout the kingdom owned by petty knights, wizards, rangers, and the like. People who paid their dues carved out land and called for the recognition of the empress. Once given, they settled in their roles as landed knights. Often their estates do not touch one another, but cover geographic areas that the knight and crown deem they can hold. For the most part they are small, for the owners cannot safely defend more. Some have villages they support and defend, others have little, or nothing, earning their keep from plundering the north.
Together, great and small, poor and wealthy, these are the lands of the Crusader Knights, and their small realms are referred to as the CRUSADER STATES.
Several roads and paths link the various communities, but these are dangerous to travel alone. Though many taverns and inns exist along the roads, they are often nestled in defensible positions and frequently fortified. Bandits, landless knights, vagabonds, travelers, thieves, and all manner of ruffians ply their trades here, extracting money from the crusaders who are always en route from one campaign to the next. Orcs are plentiful, ranging down from the BLIGHTED SCREED and the tribal areas just south of the GRAUSUMLAND; also found are Goblin, OGRES, some GIANTS, and many strange creatures both evil and good which dwell in the BARREN WOOD Barren Wood.
The Crusader States yield a nominal wealth to the empress, a tax of their unmovable goods being assessed by the imperial court every few years. This tax flows south, though is often paid for by plunder taken from others, extracted from dungeons or on raids deep in to the northern country. The monies are fickle and the court does not rely upon them.
The true wealth of the empire lies on the sea, derived from the silk trade and from several spices culled from the sea. The silk trade is slowly slipping from their hands as new routes, over land or via the southern oceans, are cropping up; this is largely because the waters of the BAY OF BARACHIA are becoming increasingly more dangerous due to pirates from the CONFEDERATION OF TORRICH AND ELORIA. They still control the sea spices and sell at ever higher prices in the far west. New Aeonoch is also well known for their luxury items, silver work, and statuary. Another and more recent source of wealth has been the church. Taxation on pilgrims and protection services are growing by leaps and bounds. In turn, great quantities of food and livestock are imported, for the land around is often too dangerous to farm.
Territories
New Aenoch, a name given to the empire by those coming and going from the west, is small in comparison to the greater kingdoms elsewhere. On maps, the lands of the empress encompass all the country from the GULF OF BARACHIA to the BLACKTOOTH RIDGE, and east from the ARATOK MOUNTAINS to the banks of the UDUNILAY, but the reality is different. Much of that country is wild and home to small enclaves of crusaders trying to carve a land out of the wilderness. Some have survived, the northern most in the ESTANG FOREST; others have thrived, such as LUDENSHIEM, but the country in between is only sprinkled with these small holdings, carved out of a dangerous and violent region. Aenoch sits upon the golden waters of
the Amber Sea and from her many sea ports comes wealth and a never-ending flood of immigrants, travelers, and those seeking a fresh start in the new world.
New Aenoch is a land of many promises and was once the heart of a great and thriving people. It does not hurt that the empress herself offers the promise of land for service. In New Aenoch lies the hope of wealth and power, influence and prestige; these drive those thirsty for such drinks, into the reckless abandon of adventure.
The country is productive, no matter who owns it. The rolling hills and plains are rich in black earth, and where the land is not cultivated, a deep prairie grass grows. The land is wet, with plenty of rivers, lakes, pools, and ponds; rain fall is steady and gives good seasons for farming and livestock. Beyond the rolling plains lies the KELLERWALD, a forest pregnant with time, where strange creatures abound. Too close to the GRAUSUMLAND to be safe, it is more wild than civilized. Beyond it to the east lie the sprawling, seemingly endless PLAINS OF ACHROTHOS, and to the north, dread AUFSTRAG, former seat of the fallen Horned God UNKLAR.
New Aenoch is a land of many promises and was once the heart of a great and thriving people. It does not hurt that the empress herself offers the promise of land for service. In New Aenoch lies the hope of wealth and power, influence and prestige; these drive those thirsty for such drinks, into the reckless abandon of adventure.
The country is productive, no matter who owns it. The rolling hills and plains are rich in black earth, and where the land is not cultivated, a deep prairie grass grows. The land is wet, with plenty of rivers, lakes, pools, and ponds; rain fall is steady and gives good seasons for farming and livestock. Beyond the rolling plains lies the KELLERWALD, a forest pregnant with time, where strange creatures abound. Too close to the GRAUSUMLAND to be safe, it is more wild than civilized. Beyond it to the east lie the sprawling, seemingly endless PLAINS OF ACHROTHOS, and to the north, dread AUFSTRAG, former seat of the fallen Horned God UNKLAR.
Military
The standing army of New Aenoch is small, consisting of the IMPERIAL GUARD OF NEW AENOCH and several troops of mercenaries. Each of the dukes fields his own army, a portion of which he is required to send to the empress’ aid if she needs them. The Bishop of Heimstat and Magistrate of Vilshofen have the same commitments. Otherwise the empress is able to call upon her vassals, the Crusader States, for they are required to fill out the ranks of her army. It consists of several thousands of knights, men at arms, and archers.
The navy of New Aenoch is small, a few ships only. Vilshofen has a powerful mercenary fleet of ships but the real naval power comes from scattered Crusader Knights who have taken hold of ships and ply the waters, attacking pirates. The empress usually awards them with the bounty they seize.
The navy of New Aenoch is small, a few ships only. Vilshofen has a powerful mercenary fleet of ships but the real naval power comes from scattered Crusader Knights who have taken hold of ships and ply the waters, attacking pirates. The empress usually awards them with the bounty they seize.
Religion
The worship of Ore-Tsar is strong here; churches and monasteries abound. In general the people are devout. It is not the religion of the court, however, and the empress struggles with maintaining the worship of the OG AUST in the face of the church of Ore-Tsar. The Bishop of Heimstat is a prelate of that church and has tremendous influence over the Crusader Knights that pay the Horse God homage.
The Cradle of the World
Founding Date
1140
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
Aenoch
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Aenochians
Leader
Leader Title
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Imperial Silver Pennies, Shillings, Half Crowns, and Gold Hawks.
Legislative Body
The Seven Electors
THE LORDS OF NEW AENOCH
Heimstadt, City State BISHOP ISAK IV, Elector
Vilshofen, City State
MAGISTRATE GEOFFREY OF WHITSMITH, Elector
Dundador, Duchy
DUKE DAFYDD II OF LACHARN, Elector
Capitol: CASTLE DUNDADOR
Aesperdi, Duchy
@DUKE HUW XIV BENGRISSE, Elector
Capitol: Walled town of Aesperdi
Barachia, Duchy
DUKE JARNU IV, OF NIEMINEN, Elector
Capitol: Barachia
Kourland, Duchy
DUKE ERICH THE RED, Elector
Capitol: CASTLE RATSDORF
Meteira, Duchy
DUKE STEPHAN LARZ IX, OF UTZ, Elector
THE LORDS OF NEW AENOCH
Heimstadt, City State BISHOP ISAK IV, Elector
Vilshofen, City State
MAGISTRATE GEOFFREY OF WHITSMITH, Elector
Dundador, Duchy
DUKE DAFYDD II OF LACHARN, Elector
Capitol: CASTLE DUNDADOR
Aesperdi, Duchy
@DUKE HUW XIV BENGRISSE, Elector
Capitol: Walled town of Aesperdi
Barachia, Duchy
DUKE JARNU IV, OF NIEMINEN, Elector
Capitol: Barachia
Kourland, Duchy
DUKE ERICH THE RED, Elector
Capitol: CASTLE RATSDORF
Meteira, Duchy
DUKE STEPHAN LARZ IX, OF UTZ, Elector
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Controlled Territories
Related Ethnicities
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