The Kingdom of Thoros
Structure
When the Kingdom of Thoros was formally organized, the equal distribution of power between the kings of the land was the most important aspect of it's founding agreement. Bound by the terms of the Treaty of Kinship, the kings of the various Holds in Thoros meet in the nations capitol, Gundsfall, to make decisions that effect the whole of the realm. Though each king can dictate the laws of their own realm, they may not pass any decrees that go against the laws of Thoros itself, as the law of the land supersedes those of the individual holds.
Meetings between the five kings to put forth new decrees, argue the details, and ultimately pass or reject the motion can take weeks, and it is not uncommon for the kings to send representatives in their stead when more important matters demand their attention back in their respective holds. In all other respects, the workings of the government of Thoros functions more or less similar to any other Monarchy, with the rulers holding near absolute authority, and their will being carried out by a series of officials in subservient positions.
When it comes to the enforcement of laws, Thoros takes the most practical approach they can regarding the severity of their environment. Criminals caught in the major cities will often be jailed by the city guard and brought before the courts for judgement, as one expects of most realms. Outside the cities however, in the more rural provinces of the realm, law is managed by the Rangers. Founded to help secure villages and small towns from the monsters that wander the frigid lands of Thoros, they serve as the lawkeepers for criminals too far from the authority of the courts for efficient judgement. It is the purpose of the Rangers who capture criminals to determine their guilt, issue their sentence, and carry out the punishment. As such, Rangers of Thoros are thoroughly vetted to make sure their organization remains free of corruption, and Rangers must periodically be subject to review by a royal commission to ensure they are not abusing their authority.
Culture
The people of Thoros are varied, with each of the five holds sharing their own similar yet distinct cultures. One hold likely shares many traditions and holidays with one another, but may have their own unique element of celebrating such holidays, or but greater focus on certain traditions over others. The main focus of interest then is in the difference in cultures between the people of the holds and those that live outside the authority of their domain; the isolated communities of giants and tribal peoples who trade and exist within the borders of the Kingdom, and yet live outside the reach of it's dominion.
Within the cities, one can expect to find a people driven in their every task and focused on carrying on through freezing snow or pouring rain. The expression 'stop and smell the roses' has no place in the Holds of Thoros, as there is not spare time to dawdle and galivant when there is work to be done, and ever minute spent out in the biting cold is another moment that could be spent inside by the warm hearth when the work is done. The Thorosian people are in some ways extremely work focused, and a culture of valuing hard work and going above and beyond in your labors is present throughout the cities.
Thorosian's hold many culutral passtimes, from sledding to ice fishing, but the most prestigious cultural leisure activity comes as a surprise to many. Poetry is the most valued art form in all of Thoros, and it is considered the purest form of expression, pouring your heart onto a page and inking your truest feelings into a saga or sonnet. A beautiful poem is a treasure that shines brighter than any gemstone to the Thorosians, and unlike gemstones, one cannot simply go digging underground to find a new poem.
Outside the cities, people have come to value very different things. Resources are scarce and danger is everywhere in the communities far from the safety of the walled holds. Between small dwarven villages, giant communities, and more there has been an ever present need to focus on survival over comfort. A spartan environment is common among such peoples, and recreation is often wrapped together with valuable skills. Archery and slinging are just as much practical skills as they are a cultural hobby, and to manage their time more efficiently, Thorosians far from the cities often attempt to enhance and enrich their food to make up for a lack of excitement in other aspects of life. Spices and a potent sauce called Hagrin are common in almost every meal, and the consumption of alcohol is extremely common, even more so than the standard for Thoros.
History
The Holds of Thoros were a series of established petty kingdoms that have dotted the landscape of Thoros for generations. Originally fourteen of them in total, each hold was it's own city-state under the reign of their king. A series of complex relationships have interconnected the holds, with trade, alliances, and wars reshaping this dynamic over the course of multiple generations. However, the environment of Thoros is especially harsh, and over the years multiple holds began to fall even without the involvement of the other holds.
If the frigid cold and scarce sunlight don't make for a hostile enough climate, the abundance of monsters in the lands of Thoros lend to a land that is hostile to civilization. Though many of the frost giants who live in Thoros are amicable to the people of he holds, and trade with them to exchange goods and favors, there are others who still cling to the old grudges of the Age of Giants and spurn the mortals they see as upstart slaves. Even without them, the ever present threat of yetis, goblinoids, and the undead leaves little breathing room for those who seek to make a life in this land. Over the course of centuries, nine of the original holds fell to the ravages of monsters, and the those that remain have been named by some as the Five True Holds.
In 1521.A3, the course of Thoros shifited. The Five True Holds, all close allies after the slow destruction of the other eight holds, began to look towards strengthening their ties. Years of trade, military aid, and intermarriage between the royal lines resulted in a closely knit aristocracy, and it was because of this that the King of Agrylmar invited the other four kings to his hold for a conference. Speaking with his esteemed peers, the King of Agrylmar proposed uniting their realms. By codifying their laws together, opening travel between their realms, lifting restrictions on trade, and coordinating their militaries in unison, all their realms could benefit and the continent could be united. It was a radical proposition, but the bonds of kinship the five Kings held shone through, and after a great deal of debate and compromise, the Kingdom of Thoros came into being.
The holds came together almost seamlessly, and as predicted, they began to prosper. New settlements began to flourish across the landscape, monsters were driven back to their lairs by the combined arms of Thoros, led by the Rangers with their monster hunting expertise, and for the first time in history the frozen north of Thoros drew the eyes of the wider world, becoming a major player on the international stage. Trade with other nations across the sea began to blossom, riches flowed freely into the north, and for the first time in years the commonfolk of Thoros were able to feel the progress their nation was making. It took several generations, progress was slow but steady, and after centuries of cooperation, the hardships of life before unification became nothing more than stories told by historians and skalds.
Yet this would-be utopia could not last. Though many think of Thoros as being mostly unaffected by the War of Fury, it could be argued they suffered worse than any other nation, though far more indirectly. When the war first broke out, there were few in Thoros concerned by the conflict, as life continued more or less as normal. As the years passed and the war dragged on though, the effects that had gone unnoticed began to spiral, and conditions greatly deteriorated. Trade began to dry up, the prosperity the realm had known began to wither and die, and the influx of foreign goods that had for a long time gone unnoticed resulted in the slow collapse of the Kingdoms economy.
A lack of employment meant the influx of wealth to the nation had an even harder time reaching those who needed it most, and even the charitable actions of the five kings could only do so much to overcome the ailments that nation felt. By the time the war entered it's halfway point, Thoros had fallen into a shell of it's prosperous self. International trade had ended completely, and the impoverished communities that had lost all their wealth since the start of the war had fallen on such hard times that crime had exploded in the holds. In time, Orykon came before the five kings of Thoros and requested their aid in the conflict, having struggled to push deeper into the heartland of Asorith for over five years. Seeing no end of the War of Fury in sight and desperate for a return to peace, Thoros elected to enter the war on the side of Orrykon to support their efforts to force the Empire of Asorith to surrender. However, this would prove to be an even greater mistake.
Though the armies of Thoros performed well in the war, working alongside the orcs of Orykon to attempt to force an end to the conflict, their absence from the continent meant that monstrous bands and colonies had a reprieve from their constant culling, and the Rangers were hard pressed to manage everything on their own. The smallest of communities were the first to fall, outposts and villages being torn apart by yetis or giants, and the situation only grew worse.
Over the course of almost a decade, Thoros was unable to achieve their goal of swiftly ending the war, casualties on the battlefield mounting as they worked to try and bring back prosperity to their home. When Trivine put forward the prospect of a peace conference, the five Kings jumped at the opportunity, eagerly giving the effort their support. When the war finally came to an end and the forces of Thoros returned to their homeland, they found it having changed in their absence. The people had hardened once again, having turned to their ancestors ways of austerity and constant labor in order to ensure the survival and safety of their people.
Though they chase after the prosperity they once had, the people of Thoros now have too many immediate concerns to address. Trade has been slow to pick up to it's previous height, and reclaiming territory lost to the monsters that wander the frozen wastes has been a slow and painful task. Still, the people of Thoros are dedicated to their work, and they hope that one day, even if they don't live to see it, they will reclaim the lives they once had.
Comments