The Empire of Aerendyll
Within the frigid north of Leshulti lies a realm of towering conifers, trecherous cliffs, icy mountains, hidden glades, and idyllic mountain lakes. This realm is the ancestral home of the Lunaern, or moon-elves within the common tongue, ruled by an empire that has stood strong against the forces from without and from forces otherworldly. The Empire of Aerendyll, has proven itself capable of many great feats, though much of its empire has crumbled over the last millenia, losing much of its splendor, magical prowess, and histories due to rebellions, war, and disease, putting the empire in dark age that many believe the land is unlikely to truly recover from.
History
The Empire of Aerendyll was founded during the waning years of the Primogen Empire, a rebellious lot to their master's, the Lunaern broke free from their chains, having at last unlocked the secrets of the stars that granted them certain skills, they used this moonshade to pushback against the Primogens, fighting a vicious guerilla war that ultimately ended with them taking the northern most part of the western Primogen empire, the heart of which being the Fields of Velynne. With this new found power, the rebels formed their magocratic empire of Aerendyll, stretching all along the northern coast of Leshulti, the elves flourished, expanding upon their crafts, and delving deep into the ruins left behind in the wake of their victory against the Gith, they uncovered artifacts of power, to which their Taraesorysia, or loremasters studied in great detail, learning how to further weave the magic of the moonshade into their arts, their architecture, and into the very soul of their land. As the empire grew, so too did the Primogens, and their wrath towards Aerendyll with these upstarts slaves success acting as a beacon of the Primogens weakness, and a call to the other "lesser" races that they need not live as cattle to the Primogens. With the growing resentment, and increased clashes upon their border, the council of Taraesorysia proclaimed that the Moonshade would be used to form barriers against the Primogens, drawing their strength from the soul of the land, they formed barriers of moonlight that seemed to repel the Primogens, and not long after, just as suddenly as the barriers were formed, they along with much of the Primogen's empire, and other magics of old vanished. A period of chaos reigned throughout the empire, until an elven girl, orphaned by the wars, rose up from obscurity, taking hold of the empire, she brought the chaos to an end, and with order restored, magic began to prosper once more. The peoples of the vale began to move out of their small hamlets, hidden mountain dwellings, and soon trade began to flourish in the vale. Though this was not to last, the orphan girl, now raised to the station of Velaes'Sarasa or Ruler that Transcends the Stars, died, the cause of which was never known, but many believed poison, as her successor, took hold of the empire, and drove a new age of xenophobia, arrogance, and distrust towards those inhabitants that now lived within the vale of Velynne. Their attachment to magic, and their belief in their right to rule clouded their judgement, as the other races banded together, and formed a rebellion against the once rebel state of Aerendyll. Many bloody wars ensued, ending at last in a stalemate wherein the elves utilized one of the few lasting artifacts of Moonshade to unleash a curse upon their enemies who were winning the war, pushing them back further and further into the frigid north where their first began as nomad tribes, but with one cast of this cursed magic, combined with the infighting amongst the ranks of the rebel Calbeshians, the war ended in a stalement. Neither side truly victorious, with great losses on both sides. Since then, the empire has continued to dwindle, as many of the Taraesorysia died during these wars, losing much of their ancient moonshade magic, and the artifacts that were held within the Fields of Velynne which was the heart of this once mighty empire. Today, the empire has been stirring with discoveries that could change their future, for good or ill, and with their neighbors and enemies of Calbesh dealing with some form of fey incursion, a chance has opened for Aerendyll to redeem themselves.Geography
Aerendyll a land of frosted plains, has been torn and reborn over hundreds of centuries, war torn and rebuilt the land still retains its idyllic beauty, although the land itself haunted by these wars hold secrets still. The territory itself is made up of vast towering coniferous forests, windy hills, glades of green, frosted plains, glacial sheets, and trecherous mountain passes, though some of the land has begun to become infected by the empires very own curse, that haunts the realms of Calbesh. Bordering the lands of Calbesh to the southwest lies the Aliatai Mountain range, and the Vestrellian Wastes a vast swamp caused by the Curse of Vestrel that continues to grow, encroaching into the empire. At its southern border lies the Terunan Mountain range, bordering that of the Realms of Nataun, their sun elven cousins. The natural resources of Aerendyll include deposits of moonstones, magnificent lumber, including groves of Duskwood, Silverwood, and Angature. Deposits of Iron, and Silver, even a few pockets of diamonds. The land itself is rife with mighty beasts and fertile farmland in the south. Many of the elks and megaloceros acting as the empires domesticated mounts and staples of their diet. Though this land appears to be peaceful and full of natural beauty, this is not fully true, the land having been lost to many wars, brought with it spirits and great beasts that now stalk and hunt the lands, especially the nearly forgotten northern tip of the empire.Government
Aerendyll is ruled by an emperor--also called the Velaes'Sarasa--which is a chosen by the council of loremasters and other members of the nations republic. The current Velaes'Sarasa of Aerendyll, would by Her most luminous majesty Velaes'Maevawe os Aranathi. She has two heirs, her first-born Volaer--Lothani, and her second Voli-Caundelion. While the government is headed by the Velaes'Sarasa, the comings and goings of its people are ruled and guided by the council of loremasters, each loremaster or Taraesorysia acting as a patron of one aspect of the lunar cycle, and thus the guiding light of that cycles governance of the realm. They in part are aided by the scribes, each acting as a representative of a particular fiefdom.Structure
Royalty
Aerendyll's royal class is comprised of one dynastic house which chosen by the council of loremasters upon the death of the previous royal family, with the ruler of Aerendyll holding the title of Velaes'Sarasa. Its members hold titles such as Loremaster, Scribe, Seeker, or Guide.Ranks and Privileges
The noble titles conferred upon Aerendyllian citizenry maintain a specific function within the governance of the state. While the meanings and grandeur of these titles may change over generations, the current government recognizes the following noble titles in hierarchy from greatest to least.- Taraesorysia (Loremaster): A leading member of the nation's republic council and governor for a specific province. This title is limited to the eight provinces of the realm; Asyros, Jhelamaer, Kaerda, Kyairi, Mysaeri, Ostykyr, Syraelos, Thorosi.
- Mordosi (Scribe): The Mordosi act as a representative of a provinces fief within the republic council. A fief may consist of a sizable portion of land with numerous villages, or a large city. This title may instead be given as a commanding position with the government, such as Mordosi Arcanum, or Mordosi Crescent.
- Jaekyri (Seeker): The Jaekyri act as as governors of a borough within a fief, typically a couple of small villages and their connecting roads.
- Tanoyen (Guide): A Tanoyen of a specific settlement. The Tanoyen act as mayors and justices for a community, such as a village or a neighborhood within a larger city.
Religion
The Empire of Aerendyll has its pantheon formed by deities that once brought them up from obscurity during their birth, and into prominance with their empires rise. The favored above all would be Desna, starsong and lady luck gifted the lunaern of Aerendyll with the powers of Moonshade, and through her gift they rose to prominance, many if not all settlements have shrines, temples, or even cathedrals in her honor. Nethys, the two-faced god of magic bears within the nation a love-hate relationship, many view the gifts of magic and the powers of destruction and creation that Nethys holds true to their vision, but there are still those that view his power unleashed beyond reason and too unpredictable, still though, his temples live on within the empire.
Calistria also bears a presence within the realm, especially in recent years since the loss of much of the empire, many elves have taken to her worship in hopes to one day see their land returned and vengeance given unto those that would defile their homeland.
Alseta is another goddess, who holds prominance within the realm, acting as the opposite of Calistria, there are those still that seek peace with their enemies, and it is through an open door that peace is found. The lady of portals and patron of the Wayshrines holds these ideals.
Due to the great number of the dead and lost spirits within the realm, Pharasma has gained a strong following in the land, though not official recognized as a member of the pantheon, her presence is seen throughout, as many of her faithful flock to the land to restore balance to these dead souls.
Lastly, the midnight lord, Zon-Kuthon has recently been growing in followers within the empire. His whispers and twists of pain driving those who were once true to the ways of their ancestors into madness, lost to the void of their pain and envy for what was taken, these cultists seek out the destruction of many, and for now, the realm lets this slide for their focus has remained outward.
Fear not the night, but that which lies within
Founding Date
-986 P.R
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Capital
Training Level
Levy
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Aerendyllian
Head of Government
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
The lands of Aerendyll use an array of coins, all minted with one face bearing the symbol of the nation (A crescent moon that coils around a star, within a full moon) while the other bears the symbol of the lunar cycle circling the face of the ruling families Velaes'Sarasa. Most are made from silver, with some of the rarer coins being magically infused with moonstone, depending on the value of that coin. The lands use the Sylan (cp), the Elluthi (sp), the Luvessi (gp), and the Corscenti (pp).
Neighboring Nations
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