Azkaria

Azkaria is a landlocked kingdom of southern Elethria. Located centrally within the southern Elethrian peninsula, the Redwater Lake and its primary tributary and outflow rivers defining its western border while the river Varis and the southernmost stretch of the Skyloft Mountains make its border in the east.
Azkaria is the homeland and sole modern-day kingdom of the Azkars, the original human inhabitants of southern Elethria prior to the arrival of the Gitaean diaspora from the east and expansion of Ardranic peoples from the north.
Despite political borders, the plains and forests to the west of the Varis river are still majority under the control and de facto control of various beastkin peoples and tribes coalesced over time by opposition to life under human-governed law. In the east, the city of Ahaitz functions as much as a military watchpoint as it does a functioning settlement, its citizenry populated primarily by Durranian-speaking Caldessans from across the Varis while standing soldiers are more often Azkars sent from across the plains. Eremu Gotorlekua embraces this role more openly, serving primarily as a base for campaigns and excursions against plains beastmen by soldiers and levies alike and populated almost entirely by members of the standing Azkarian armies — with whatever citizens are present typically those whose trades are best plied under such a hardy environment. Further west, the city of Ederko and capital of Urzuria and surrounding farmlands of each hold the majority the kingdom's native Azkarian population, with the more northern city of Grimhill similarly populated by Durranian-speaking Ardranites.

Structure

King

by Qissus (Deactivated Account)

King Mikael Leawyn III is the current ruler of Rydmark. Crowned as recently as 1462 following the passing of his late father, Markus Leawyn III, his rule is that of only the second monarch of the Rydmarkian state, and is closely tied to the ruling Bruncasters of Durrania. King Mikael himself is a distant cousin of Emperor Ridun, as the noble house of Leawyn was joined with the royal Bruncasters with the betrothal of Emma Bruncaster to Markus Leawyn II, the current king's grandfather. Even now, the two still share the colors in their sigils.

The close family ties between the royals of Bruncaster and Leawyn lends itself to an obvious alliance between the kingdoms of Durrania and Rydmark, and the latter exists as what many claim to be little more than a step-up from a vassalage or imperial colony. When Markus Leawyn II was assigned to the establishment of Redgarden across the Grand Bay in 1414, the now-capitol city was still considered a territory of Durrania, and was not granted status as an independent kingdom until the ascent of Markus Leawyn III in 1437 by Blakwin Bruncaster, the current emperor's father.

Military

by Stefan Kopinski

Considering the similarity and close relation in the political structure of Rydmark to its cousin-state of Durrania, it is perhaps little surprise that the organization of its military would follow suit as well. Although the majority of Rydmark's armies is still sourced via the typical feudal structure of regional bannermen and the levies they raise and supply, there has been a growing shift towards the building of a standardized, professional military as the kingdom has grown and made further attempts at westward expansion.

The majority of its modern professional forces, therefore, are split between the settlements of Redguard and Trevorsfort — some serving as personal guards to the royal family or otherwise left to keep the peace in the capitol city and port, and the rest to hold the line across the River Trevench.

by Stefan Kopinski

Kept in frequent conflict with the beastkin of the plains, Rydmarkian forces favor the use of heavy infantry and cavalry supported by sparing use of archer and crossbow lines, as the heavy firearms often traded between professional militaries across the Grand Bay have been found as too expensive and high-maintenance to employ with any regularity by the fledgeling kingdom — and not nearly effective enough against the thick hides of minotaurs barrelling towards line infantry. So too does lightly-armored shock cavalry find itself easily outmatched by the speed and maneuverability of centaurs commonly found amongst the beastkin, thus leading to the modern reliance on a simpler, straightforward approach of heavily-armored troops outfitted with pike and lance.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Official Languages

• Durranian〔English〕

Neighboring Nations

• Blackvale
• Caldessa
• Kirkhurst
• Miravalda
• Varenia