House Specialty: The Caernavir have always fancied themselves as paragons of the middle path. Traditionally seen as caretakers of sensibility, they have used their position as one of the breadbaskets of the kingdom and a major exporter of both grain and fruit to leverage themselves into a position where their intervention and carefully constructed diplomatic web has averted dangerously volatile situations on a kingdom-wide but also on an imperial level.

Many a crisis has had the soothing input of a member of this family. Arbiters of peace, the main motivation of the Caernavir is to avert war at all costs. The reason for this is simple; in times of war, the breadbaskets of the empire become increasingly valuable targets. After all, if one side can cut off the supply of bread from the other, then the war is essentially finished. The ransacking, looting and rape involved in this sort of behaviour is something that the inhabitants of this pastoral kingdom feel is best avoided at all costs. Some see this as cowardice, the Caernavir see it as sensibility.

House Ancestral Artifact:

The Lute of the Verdant Wanderer

This instrument has been recorded as an artefact belonging to the Caernavir since time immemorial. A simple device at first sight, on closer inspection one will notice that the lute is still warm to the touch, and the wood which it is made from feels slightly moist and is unvarnished, with small veins of moss running through its somewhat soft body. All of this adds to the impression that the instrument is a living and breathing entity.

All members of the Caernavir family are taught to play the lute expertly, as this particular instrument, coupled with a particular set of notes only known to select members of the royal household, is rumoured to be capable of reversing the effects of a devastating drought, flood or other crop-ruining happenstance and allowing fresh shoots of grain to come from otherwise malnourished ground. As somewhat banal as this might seem compared to a flaming sword or a bracelet that summons a dragon, the lute has been absolutely instrumental three times in reversing the fortunes of the kingdom in times of uncertain weather.

---

Important Members:

Nation/Realms Name: Gwethydd

Race name: Gwethyn - humans.

Racial appearance: The Gwethyn are generally fair-skinned but tan easily under the sun. The peasants are small and stocky, with a disposition towards muscle due to their agricultural lifestyle. The most common eye colour by far is green, with some 75% of the population possessing green eyes. Next most common is brown, which is largely concentrated in the slightly warmer southerly regions of the kingdom. The nobles are generally quite tall, with heights for a man averaging out at around 5'10, and are renowned for their physical hardiness too - Gwethyn noble culture dictating that they must participate as much as possible in competitive jousts and testosterone fuelled bouts of physical strength. The fashion is for men to remain clean shaven and to wear their hair at a middling length, while women nearly always keep their hair long.

Racial traits: The Gwethyn are known for their general good-nature around Ethica, and are renowned for how well-fed their peasant folk seem to be and how upbeat most people encountered while passing through the kingdom are. Gwethyn are also known for their hospitality and generally high level of diplomatic skill, though some postulate that this may be a sign of either cowardice or duplicity. The nobility of the kingdom are renowned for their jousting skills, as well as their penchant for great romantic gestures - most nobles are accomplished dancers, singers and poets, leading to Gwethyn men being regarded as somewhat effeminate by those of the northern nations.

Capital: Harksmoor is the administrative and cultural capital of the Kingdom of Gwethyn, and is the major seat of royal power for the Caernavir dynasty. Strategically located near the centre of the kingdom, all major roads were purposefully designed by King Raethlar III 'The Bricklayer' to lead back to this city. Therefore it is a bustling metropolis by Gwethyn standards, with grain arriving and being sent out to various stations around the Empire constantly. It is also the centre of Gwethyn arts and scholarship, which are not insignificant, and contains Eldva University, which is the major training post for the Gwethyn priesthood and scholarly elite alike. Harksmoor is famed for its fine marble architecture; the best in the kingdom, designed primarily to entertain ambassadors, and its wide open green spaces and plazas, which incorporate orchards of citrus trees from which local people are free to take lemons and oranges as they see fit.

Capital Population: 41,000

Other Major Settlements: Red Roost (population: 19,000) - The Count of Red Roost is often held to be a powerful vassal in the kingdom, not due to the wealth of his lands (which are mainly forest and so not arable) but due to the situation of his capital in the far north of Gwethydd. Red Roost is located in the depths of the Heldamar Forest, which has led to a common joke in Harksmoor being that it actually doesn't exist. Nonetheless, as the most northerly city, Red Roost is generally the first stopping point for travellers from the more northerly parts of the Empire and has, in this vein, picked up a minor reputation for licentiousness and bawdy-houses.

Autrisia (population: 17,000) - The Count of Ygris holds an unremarkable capital in the far west of the nation. Consisting generally of wooden residences with Castle Austri-Heinder dominating the skyline with its tall black parapets, this town serves as the administrative and trading capital of perhaps the most fertile crescent of land in the entire kingdom, and so its population can balloon to over 30,000 after the harvest when the local peasants and small-holders gather to flog their wares to be sent back to Harksmoor or beyond.

Farlook Post (population: 24,000) - The second most populous town in Gwethydd is also its main port, situated in the east of the nation. It is something of a misnomer; it was established just over a century ago by King Aethlar IV and was originally a small post - a cursory expedition by the generally inward looking and insular Gwethyn, but quickly expanded as various foreigners gathered to trade luxury goods and spices into the kingdom. It is currently governed in tenure by a group of influential merchants called The Convocation, who keep a close check on international merchant behaviour and act as a sort of unofficial bank in all parts of the kingdom.

Population: 1,500,000 (of which c. 130,000 are urbanised).

Culture: The Kingdom has a reputation for excellence in scholarship and arts, most generally associated with Harksmoor and its university. Poetry and music as well as the composition of treatises on religion and philosophy are commonly produced in Gwethydd and distributed throughout the Empire.

Generally regarded as a somewhat patriarchal society, inheritance laws mean that the existence of Queen-Regnants and Ladies who rule suo jure is relatively rare; though the kingdom has a reputation for its wily women and dull-headed men. The deaths of several of its kings in questionable circumstances have led to long and prosperous regencies under a succession of Queens-Regent.

Fashion wise, the poor of Gwethyn favour sturdy leather or cloth to be worn in the fields and used for tilling, and generally reside in small cottages collected in hamlets or villages. Most farmers are directly tithed to a landowner who himself will probably answer, along with six or seven others, to a minor noble or 'Swaysman' who owns the land at the grace of a local Baron, who may himself do so either in his own right or under the vassalage of a Count, the highest level of nobility.

The wealthy members of Gwethyn society are unafraid to show off in terms of fashion, with elaborate hairstyles amongst the women being particularly popular. Unmarried women wear their hair down and brushed straight so that it collects around their waist, and usually only decorate it with thin golden bands or other less extravagant items. Married women are distinguished by wearing their hair up in tall and elaborate hairstyles, often fastened with diamond broach pins and signets of the house that they are married into. Apart from that, Gwethyn fashion is generally conservative, with the bearing of cleavage being generally seen as vulgar.

Type of Government: The King is advised by a Conclave of Elders, which consists of five councillors selected at his own will. Traditionally these would have comprised of the most senior members of the Gwethyn aristocracy, but over the years successive monarchs have moved this into a more appointment based system.

Aside from that, the King operates a relatively loose amount of control over his vassals. Centralisation is low and usually only necessitated by the unparalleled infrastructure provided from Harksmoor, and so the vassals rebel sparingly.

Influence and relations:


Military -
Standing army - none.
Full levies raised - 35,000 men.
Normal levies raised - 15,000 men.

Unit demographics: The Gwethyn army is largely based on mobility, and is largely comprised of skirmishers and archers. The nation is also famous for its slingers and spear-throwers, who have been known to hit a target at a hundred paces. Cavalry is also well accounted for, but is generally comprised of light cavalry that is used to harry and chase down fleeing foes or heavier, less mobile enemies. There is a noted lack of both heavy cavalry (i.e. knights, which are absent apart from the small privileged class who can afford heavy armour) and heavy infantry. It is also slow to muster, and takes valuable men away from agricultural work.

Landscape: The landscape of Gwethydd is temperate and generally quite flat. There are some forests to the north and some hills to the west, but apart from that the main crescent of its land is well sourced with a criss-cross of minor rivers and protection from the western hills so as to provide perfect conditions for the growing of most major grains and fruits.

Economy: Well off to a point, but enormously disproportionate. Some 90% of the Gwethyn population are serf peasants who live in tithe to the land.

Religion: There are rumours of a host of folk deities being venerated in the northern forests, and efforts (which some would call desperation) are made in the theological and philosophical capital in Harksmoor to bring these into line with more traditional imperial theology. There are also strange whisperings that members of the royal family, particularly the Queen-Mother and her sister-in-law, have made dangerous investigations into the mysteries surrounding Azueral.

History: Gwethydd was one of the first kingdoms to capitulate into the Empire, almost without a fight. It swore its allegiance under the reign of King Aethlar I 'The Prudent', who oversaw that it took its rightful place as one of the chief suppliers of the most basic commodity that any nation requires in order to increase its power. Before that, Gwethydd had been a loosely backward conglomeration of unaffiliated nobles, with only the area immediately surrounding Harksmoor being ruled as any sort of 'kingdom'. It was partly bluff to convince the first Empress that Aethlar held control over as much land as he claimed to, and it was only as a vassal that he was able to claim the vast majority of the province.

The Kingdom holds the distinction of being one of the only vassals to never have rebelled against the Empire and so has a reputation, depending on who you ask, of loyalty or of complete cowardice and spinelessness. Famous for mediating in disputes, the kings of Gwethydd have been an almost constant presence in correspondence with those who ruled Ethica, some of whom regarded the kingdom as a nuisance and others who saw its worth and kept it close.

Recently, King Aethlar V was killed in a riding accident and his profligate son Aethlar VI succeeded him. Rumours abound about whether the Queen-Mother or any other members of the royal family were involved, and the Kingdom must resolve its own shaky hold on power as well as offering its effervescent council to the Empire at large.

Strengths: Diplomacy, a major breadbasket, peace within the kingdom.

Weaknesses: Weak army, dangerous infighting within the royal family.

Export: Fruits, wines, grain, timber, learning.

Import: Silks, cotton, jewels, stone, iron.

House Name:
House Winterfield

Head of House:
Sir Damien Wilkerson IV

House Specialty:

House Winterfield is known for its navy. The country of Sakera being surrounded by water for the most part lead the house to invest a lot of money into it’s Navy. The Navy prides itself in it’s training, in officials that don’t take bribes or any form of corruption among its ranks but also it’s state of the art fleet. It’s affectionately been given the name by opposing admirals as the “Armada of Death” due to its ships but also their power.

House Ancestral Artifact:

The Sword of the Last Rebellion - A cutlass but with a solid gold handle and a red ruby at the end of the hilt. Village folklore say the sword was used by the ruling house to murder the leader of the house that came before them, cementing their place in royalty. The townsfolk argue that the sword was used by an admiral who ended a promising among the navy and brought reform and pride into the navy as people say it today. The cityfolk and scholars simply say the sword was a family heirloom from Sir Damien Wilkerson the first and passed down, as a symbol of power but also a symbol of authority over the state, the people and the armed forces. Stories differ, however all people agree this sword is a state artifact and something of “Mythical” proportions (Well, not the scholars)

Important Members:

Lady Catherine Wilkerson - The Wife of Damien
Shipmaster Joseph Green - Head of Navy
Noblemen Tony Mangano - Head of the Trade Guild
High Marshal Benjamin Fields - Head of the Armed Forces
Nobleman Green - Head of Family Green
Spymaster Friedrich Randall
Governor Robert Murlock - Knoxville
Governor Glenn Benn - Old Redden
Governor Jeff Ford - Elnora

(More to be added as story goes on)

Nation Name :

Sakera

House Motto : “Power, Loyalty, Respect”

Race Name:

Sakerians

Racial Appearance :

Sakerians are often decently tall, ranging from five foot nine to six foot six for men and five foot four to six foot three for women.Both genders tend to have larger chests due to bigger lungs. Skin complexation is mostly white but entering into a light shade of brown. The average hair color for Sakerians is black, yet some ethnic groups in mountain tribal regions have blonde and even red hair.

Racial Traits :

Sakerians are known be good swimmers, fishers and can life at the sea with ease. But Sakerians on the land are no more than capable as well. Good at farming, woodworking and various other tasks they tend to be hard working at whatever trade they do. Food wise the Sakerian diet is mostly fish, meats and vegetables.

Capital: Ereden

Capital Population: 23,445 (Inner and Outer City Limits)

Other Major Settlements:

Major Cities

New Knoxville - 10,545 People
Old Redden - 12,432 People
Gemfield - 14,121 People
Elnora - 11,543 People

Towns

Hazlehurst - 1,505 People
Clear Shores - 1,664 People
Glenvar - 2,254 People
New Eagle - 4,323 People
Salix - 5,231 People
Hartland - 6,123 People
Oak Leaf - 5,321 People
Wind Lake - 4,153 People
South Point - 5,311 People
Lloydminster - 2,734 People
Weston - 4,321 People

Population: 789,121 People

Culture:

Sakerin culture is differs from the grand cities, military forts to the humble towns and villages. In the cities, science and knowledge prevails over religion for the most part. Churches do exist in the city but religion is second hand by most people. The cities taste in food his more refined in terms of dishes and meats. Spices are often used, wines are drank. Music is also mostly “refined” in the sense proper instruments are used like harps and lutes.

Yet in towns the culture is more religious than the cities. Sunday Morning and Monday Night are day of prayers for town people. Food is more basic, and spices aren’t often used. Booze of choice is mostly ales and beers while music tends to be of a few chords from the lute and here and there a harps is used for town pieces

But when the topic comes of military forts and villages, the culture varies. Most of the time the location has a huge effect on what beliefs people follow. Reasons like what food can be gathered or the climate around it set the standard to how people live. In the army, religion is given and practices are set aside for soldiers who are religious. Conversions often do occur in the army, but yet religion isn’t forced on and more of a “moral choice”

Type of Government:

Monarchy
Agnatic Cognatic Primogentiure

Influence and relations: None

Military -

Sakerian’s take pride in their army. Being a army men for some is considered a decent life. Women do serve in the ranks in some disciplines however some sexism does exist, especially among the cavalry divisions.

Active

1,000 Men stationed at Military Installations across the country (Mix of archers and infantrymen)
250 Cavalry Officers
1,750 Guards Active
5 Warships Patrolling
2 Carvels Patrolling Trade Routes

Inactive
9,000 Infantrymen on reserve
1,750 Town watch
4,000 Archers
2,500 Cavalry Officers
10 Trebulats with 50 officers
20 Warships Ready with 400 seamen
10 Warships decommissioned (Hulls intact)
12 Carvels with 100 Seamen
3 Carvels decommissioned (Hulls Intact)

Landscape: Fertile regions in the nothern parts, lakes and rivers play a good role in this. Yet the mountain regions often bring colder climates. Forests are a common sight in the land. A road network is being somewhat developed.

Wildlife:(Optional)

Economy: Above Average. Due to the experince of House Winterfield in trading beforehand.

Religion: People in the area worship Kammeth and the Sky pantheon however some villages tend to have local gods and goddess that they follow.

History:

The land of Sakera and House Winterfields role in it is dated to stretch back over 100 years ago to present time.

House Winterfield was at first, a noble house. A house that had decent control over the wood industry in Sakera. Yet it didn’t have power in terms of politics. They mainly were a major player economy wise. Sakera back then was dominated by King Isaac the Feeble. A weak king as his name implies but also a king that people didn’t think deserved the throne. You see, people thought that Isaac was a bastard. A mistake that his father hid from his affair with a mistress. The mistress, as you can guess was executed on the counts of “treason” but people somewhat knew the true cause of her execution: she was a loose end that needed tying.

The weak claim to the throne presented an interesting situation for the 3 houses at the time, including Winterfield. You see, the other houses (House Reddon and House Greenbelt) were involved in various other industries. Reddon controlled the lucrative fishing market while Greenbelt had a stake in the wine market. The houses in essence controlled every coin that flowed through Sakera. But also, they had stake in other industries as well. Winterfield had a stake in the ship builders union for instance. These “stakes” were mainly because the lax economic policy set by the King. So what did this bring you ask? Monopolies.

The houses devised a plan, with their iron fisted grasp on there in industries. Simply put there were gonna ask the King to step down and a king installed, based on the house's choice. Isaac, used to his life in luxury and decadence, declined and threatened to have the house’s trading licenses revoked if they dared to ever question the king or tried to remove him from power. The House’s gruntly agreed but they began to hatch a plan behind the kings back..

The plan was merely to destabilize the region or well that was House Greenebelts plan. You see the House’s after their failed attempt to force the king were more desperate for power. Each house had there own way of going at it. Greenbelt wanted to destabilize the whole region to force the king to surrender. Reddon was more into the approach of blocking off food shipments, supplies for the army and the people into forcing a inner revolt. Winterfield on the other hand wanted to control the region without both houses in the picture. So, what better way to do that than to pit both houses together?

The way Winterfield did this was by hiring a few spies. Then what they did was dig up dirt on both houses. For example, in Greenebelt incesterous relationships were going on between various high profile family members. Reddon was more juicer in the fact that affairs and mistress’s were going on also. With the evidence of this “hot gossip” in their hands, they began to leak it out to both House’s in the form of messengers from the other house, or they thought. With things getting heated Winterfield tried to intervene, but both houses denied the intervention. Instead, they took it out on each other via a house civil war. Street’s were bloody, territory was claimed and the king had to intervene to protect the general populace. To place the cherry on top, Winterfield via their spies leaked the information out to the general public. The king, was forced to exile both houses and the leaders.

House Winterfield soon after that began to take over the economic side of Sakera. Industry by Industry monopolies were formed under the King’s nose. People didn’t mind it at all, since House Winterfield was more “kind” and offered a tad more time off for people if they needed it. The goal was to have such a strong hold on the economy to the point where House Winterfield IS the economy of Sakera. Again, this was done due to the King not knowing jack shit about ruling and policy making.

With the economy in there hands House Winterfield preceded to meet with the King. The King in his usual self simply just sat at the table and nodding, speaking only where needed. He really wasn’t a fan of the economic meetings. The leader at that time, Damien the second began to talk about the king’s “personal life”. Mainly information gathered from the robust spy network they’ve devolped over the years. The King, slowly as the conversation on became enraged at the topic of dicusssion. The tipping point? Damien called the king a bastard. The king at that point snapped and charged at Damien. On-lookers and guild leaders at that time recall a brawl. The brawl was so brutal that at the end of it? The king took a knife to the neck.

Now, with the king dead in a brawl he started Damien was imprisoned and his son, Damien the Third was in charge. Damien the third placed pressure on the royal family and threatened a coup d’etat if Damian wasn’t released. The royal family, simply ignored the requests. But also, to add more heat to the fire they revoked the trade license of the Winterfield. The Winterfields took offense to this and began to hold a revolt all across the nation of Sakera

The revolt was well funded, something that the Royal Family lacked. You see, the king only charged a tax of 250 gold pieces per industry per month. The sum of the wealth that was kept by the Winterfields was massive since, like earlier said they were the economy. The Winterfields used the working class, middle class and even portion of the high class to stage revolts all across the nation. Giving as little as 5 gold pieces to as much as 500. In response to this, Damien the second was executed.

With Damien the third at the tender of 18 taking control of the house, he ordered the spy network to take control of the navy and the army. Commanders and Admirals were disposed using blackmail and one’s installed that abided by the House. Slowly the armed forces began to be converted and fueled by the Winterfields.

The Royal family during all of this didn’t like what was happening. So, they attempted to hire mercenaries to defend their last remaining assets. Yet those mercenaries were destroyed to bits by the navy. The exact same navy that the family trained to protect them. Asset by asset the army marched on by and took over. The Royal family then asked or well begged for peace talks. The Winterfield agreed, but they weren't talking. As the location was being finalized the royal family was ambushed by a unit. The family dead, and the Winterfields claimed absolute power over the island of Sakera

Now, Damien the third has handed control to his successor, Damien the Fourth. The province of Sakera remains peaceful yet as always, needs some sort of improvement.

Strengths:

Strong Navy - The navy of Sakera is one of their strong points. Disciplined, well maintained and large in scope. The people of Sakera even go as far as saying it’s the best in the whole landmass
Robust Spy Network - Years of experience and expertise have allowed House Winterfield to build a state of the art spy network with cells all over the land.. Even some on other countries.
Great Traders - The markets of Sakera are known to be some of the best for trading wares. Fair taxation and banking laws give the Sakerian people an edge
Forfeited Army - Tough, Morale is always high and the army is ready for whatever campaign that may happen

Weaknesses:

Lack of Basic Minerals - Sure the mountain ranges have gold in them but the lack of Iron and Steel are troubling, and sources of Iron and Steel are hard to mine to the point where the nation officially imports them
Scholars vs Priests - In cities and even in towns there is a lot of hot debates and often brawls between educated men and religious men. To the point where some times some cities are divided on supporters for both side
Trouble Making Noblemen! - Some Noble Families are always on the news. One day you hear about a incest scandal to the next day hearing about a rape. These noblemen in some parts decrease trading and diplomatic relationships…
Elite's - Due to some families siding with the Winterfields during there reign they tend to hold more power over there cities and assets, to the point where they prance around and think they "own" the city.

Export:

Strong Wood (Various Types, like Oak, Birch, Mahogany)
Fishes
Fruits
Wines
Furs

Import:
Iron
Steel
Silk
Cotton

House Name: House Bloodborne

Head of House: Eremius Bloodborne(Age 47)

This man is the most deceiving man you will ever meet, one moment he could act like you are a long time family friend, but a moment later, if it bears advantages to him, he will stab you in the back. It's how he inherited the throne being the second one in line for inheritance, he had both his father and his older brother assassinated so he could inherit the throne. As for his support for the throne, he supports prince Jakinius as they desire to launch another expedition in Nordheim of which they will be part of.

House Specialty: Vilespawn Descendants- The children of humans touched by Azureal's corruption, the members of these house, despite looking human, have almost inhuman strength and speed though rarely use it. To add to it, any member of this family is gifted in magic and is not affected by the unpredictable effects of Azureal's eye.

House Ancestral Artifact: The Bloodsword- The bloodsword is crimson longsword wielded by the head of the house. The sword pulses and begins emanating an odd energy when blood touches it. While it hasn't been used in centuries, records speak that the sword absorbs the blood of it's victims and turns it into energy, allowing it to launch crimson energy slashes at an enemy.

Important Members:

Diana Bloodborne(Age 40)- There's the saying "Behind a strong man is a strong woman", in Diana's case, she is stronger then her husband, the king, and her two sons. As any Viringian woman, she is beautiful even at her current age. Some people whisper that she is the true power behind the throne, though those people are killed shortly after whispering this.

Damius Bloodborne(Age 38)- Brother to the king, this man has worked his entire life in the political hell of Larial to reach the rank of Lord Marshal of the empire. He is a very somber man and not easily fooled, to add to it, he is incorruptible, meaning that nobody other than the emperor has his true loyalty.

Mylar Bloodborne(Age 34)- Youngest brother of the king, he is in charge of the Vileguard. He is a hot-tempered man, and like his people, he values a good fight or battle. Thanks to him, the borders of the realm and the kingdom in itself has been cleaned of any bandits or pirates.

Lemius Bloodborne(Age 22)- Heir to the throne, this young man is very brutal and warlike, even more so than his uncle, causing him to be unliked within the royal family, his younger brother being favored for the throne by the people and the nobles.

Kalius Bloodborne(Age 20)- Kalius, unlike his own people is a very cold and calculated man, able to feign emotions to fool the people around him. Thanks to him acting benevolent to the population, he is adored by the population and the people of the nation.

Nation/Realms Name: The Kingdom of Ardimia

Sigil:

Flag:

House Motto: "War is in our blood!"

Region/color on map: Gray would be nice... but I'll take any northern territory.

Race name: Virings

Racial appearance: The men of these nations are tall and blonde muscular people, as if made for fighting. Meanwhile, the women of the realm are extremely beautiful and desired across the realm, some whisper that they rival the women of the Vialiphate in their beauty.

Racial traits: The people of this nation are known for two things, their love for war and their skill in seamanship, having sailed and raided on most of the continents of the world in their dragon headed longships.

Capital: Margonius

The massive fortress has never in it's history been ever conquered by anyone, not even by Lalaifia herself. As a result of their warlike nature, the Virings of Ardimia have turned this small settlement into a massive unconquered fortress.

Capital Population: 50.000

Other Major Settlements:

Martianis(45.000)- This massive port city is the pride of Ardimia as it not only holds 60 of it's 80 longships, but it's the kingdoms most valued trading hub as hundreds and even thousands of ships come to this port to trade their goods. Despite this being a nation of raiders, the city in itself has no crime rate whatsoever.

Redumair(35.000)- Placed on the borders with Tellaria, this city acts as more of a fortress complex than a city as it was built with the express motive acting as a wall between them and the Tallurians.

The Snow Keep(25.000)- One of the two fortresses part of the massive wall bordering the Northen Tribes, this fortress is basically a massive barracks for anyone wishing to enlist in the raiding parties heading towards the north.

The Ice Keep(15.000)- This fortress is the second link in the massive wall as it houses the commanders and many of the troops that defends the empire from any possible incursion of the northen people.

Population: 282.000

Culture: These people are warriors through and through and it is an honor to die in battle for them. Having borders with the Nordheim, this need of theirs to fight has been kept at bay, however, they grow ever restless now that there is no emperor and even the population has outright supported any Emperor that would be willing to fight with the Nordheim, or anyone else for that matter. Despite all this however, the population has always been loyal to emperor or it's regents, no matter how horrible they would be.

Type of Government: Absolute Monarchy- The king has the absolute power, his word is the law as the kings were chosen by Kammeth himself to rule this proud realm of warriors.

Influence and relations: Their relations with Khomeria as with most of the realm is shaky thanks to the constant raids on Khomeria.

I'll PM some players later to establish the rest a bit later.

Military - While the nation mostly depends on levies to muster an army, it has a small core of heavy infantry called the Vileguard, a force used both in defending the populace from the vilespawn and the Nordheim, but also from the internal threats such as bandits. There are about 300 Vileguard roaming the lands in search for bandits or anything that would a threat to the realm.

Unit demographics:

2.000 levies - Averagely trained men, usually receiving a wooden oak shield and a long spear, axe, or sword. They are usually the main defense/offense force of the realm.

1.000 raiders armed with a iron longsword or axe and oak shield. Thanks to the mountains supplying them with large amounts of high quality iron. They usually wear light leather armor or chainmail so that their movements are not too restricted.

800 Beserkers- Large men with a wish to die, these massive men wield iron mail armor and usually wield a greatsword, a two handed battleaxe or a war-hammer.

500 Archers: Soldiers wearing leather armor and a bow. Despite viewing hand to hand combat as the best way to fight a man, they give the archers extensive training on how to shoot any enemies.

80 longships, each being able to carry 60 men on them(besides the 30 sailors). These fast ships either rely on the winds or the rowing of the sailors on it to get to their destination.

Landscape: Mostly frozen tundra and mountains the southern territories of the kingdom being more fertile and agricultural.

Wildlife:(Optional)

Economy: The country is certainly not a rich one, but neither is it a poor one, using it's mines and the occasional raid on other continents to supplement it's economy.

Religion: Besides Kammeth and Ra-hun-ru, the royal family secretly worships Azureal.

History: For their entire history, the people of Aridimia have been raiders and warriors, launching forrays into any territory they can get their hands on even before Lalaifia came and unified the warring tribes. After that, most of their raids have been directed on Nordheim and any enemies of the empire.

However, during the reign of weak kings and in between elections, these people have launched large raids on nations part of the empire, two of the most significant being in the years 54 AU in Khomeria and 1112 AU also in Khomeria, both times being repulsed at a great cost to the khomerians and with the Viringians coming back home with massive amounts of loot and gold.

Now, during the election they have thrown their full support towards the prince Jakinius, until the elections however, they desire to launch another invasion in their neighbors to the south as now a civil war grips it and it will make the lands easier to plunder.

Strengths:

Savage warriors- For as long as they remember, these warriors have been the most savage and brutal warriors, making up in brute force and intimidation what they lack in martial discipline. This has also caused them to never retreat from battle as Ra-hun-ru punishes the cowards(in their opinion.

Militaristic nation- While the army usually has a set amount of people it's men or women will join the army without a second thought to fight for loot or for their own people in case of an invasion from foreign forces.

Seaborn raiders- These men have combined the skills of a sailor and have combined them with the one of a warrior and as such, they can reach any shore of the continent very fast and sack any coastal settlement before a government can react.

Loyalty to the king: The people and nobles of this nation are loyal to their king to the point of death and not even in the direst circumstances will they think of overthrowing him.

Weaknesses:

Low Food- Despite the food in the south of the realm and the fishing in the sea, they often have to import food or raid for it to sustain their growing population.

Raiders- The raiding habit of these men have them at bad relations with many nations of the realm and their local populaces.

No cavalry- Thanks to the cold weathers, these people have seen horses as a waste of money and resources and have as such abandoned the thoughts of having any cavalry.

Export:

Iron- These men have too much iron even for themselves and decided to export them.

High Quality weapons- A warrior is nothing without his weapons, but what do you when you have too many? You sell them of course.

Thralls- These people kidnap people and force them into servitude(not slavery) and are not above selling servants to other nations.

Salt- The sea has endless amounts of salt and these men have found out how to extract it and have decided to export it.

Import:

Food- They have food, but they don't have enough of them, plus their penchant to throw feasts doesn't help either.

Luxury goods- Warrior women or not, everyone craves a good golden necklace not ripped from the neck of a enemy.