Kingcardine
Kingcardine was established in the age of foundation in 763 AF. It grew rapidly in power and influence until it soon rivaled and even outmatched the wealth and fame of the original foundation cities. During the era of the succession empires it was the capital of the larger of the two great power blocks of the age and although its greatest days were already behind it by the time of the trade wars it has continued to play a not insignificant role in the affairs of the Earth, even to the present day.
Government
Until 1870 AF, Kingcardine was ruled by a monarchy using a system of primogeniture. The king or queen was advised by the "Council of Aldermen" (an elective body of land owners and commercial interests) and the "Order of the Rose" (a military comittee of nobles) which were the two most important governing bodies in the city. In more recent years the role of the monarch has become largely symbolic and the "Council of Aldermen" has opened up in scope and voting representation, becoming the dominant decision making body.
History
The first rulers of the city came from a family line known as the House of the Rose, which gave its name to the Order of the Rose, an institution which long outlasted the dynasty that created it. This was succeeded by the House of Brelle and then, most famously by the House of Thorns which came to the throne in 1270 AF.
Under the House of Thorns the city began to assert itself, playing a large part in the building of the nearby city of Entessaminia. When that city was granted its charter by the New Sophisticates in 1580 AF, it already considered itself a loyal supporter of Kingcardine, more closely allied with its neighbour than it was to the distant parliament of the New Sophisticates.
Following the peaceful union by marriage with the city of Keldramys in 1642 AF, Kingcardine had become the capital of an Empire which was openly declared as such when the city granted a charter to Ulkvass in 1701 AF.
Now began the rivalry with the Empire of the Low Armies which would define the age of the Succession Empires and lead to more bloodshed than the world had yet seen since the Season Of Innocence began.
In 1713 AF the Thin Princes, Akihiko Ibara and Akihiro Ibara took control of the city and led the House of Thorns to its greatest military victory with the destruction of Paratomb in 1720 AF, overthrowing the last stronghold of the New Sophisticates. However, the attempt to follow this up in 1734 AF with an attack on Anoomenon, ended in defeat.
Most historians consider that the Empire of the Low Armies finished the age in a stronger position than the Empire of Thorns. Both empires declined in significance during the age of the Trade Wars but this was a gradual process. By the time the Grey Kings came to power in Anoomenon, however, the city no longer commanded the unquestioning obedience it had once been able to call upon in its old heartlands and it has remained a relatively weak, if still independent, polity ever since.
During the age of the role disputes, the city, like the rest of the planet, suffered from the effects of the Listlessness Plague and enforced a particularly tough quarantine policy, policed by Plague Wardens, such as the one shown in the illustration below.
At the close of the role disputes in 2940 AF, the city started a very brief war with Monrith, a conflict that was swiftly ended by forces from Helsporan an action which marked the beginning of the Pax Helsporan.
Listlessness Plague - Kingcardine by DMFW
Geography
Kingcardine occupies the site where the river Flisswater merges with the river Portooma in the fertile lands to the east and south of Anoomenon.
Comments