[hider=Nation Sheet][center][h2]The Kingdom of Lynnfaire[/h2][/center]

[h3]Government[/h3]


	The Serene Kingdom of Lynnfaire is ruled by a monarch, supplemented by a council of nobles and maintains its authority from the Church. The monarchy is passed down from parent to child, with no specifications on gender, although it is presumably usually male. The administrative body of the kingdom is feudal. 

	With the recent death of the previous King, the throne was claimed by his daughter as he had no sons; however, the new Queen’s cousin, a Duke, claimed that he was next in line since he was the next plausible male. Conservative nobles supported the Duke while more progressive nobles supported the Queen and eventually a civil war of chevauchee and strife broke out, much to the irritation of the Church.

[h3]Geography[/h3]


	Lynnfaire is comprised of temperate and fertile grasslands, which in turn are bordered by gentle hills and tall mountains. The landscape is well irrigated by natural babbling streams and brooks that cut across the grass, and many types of fauna roam the copses that pock the fields. Most of the forests are deciduous and congregate on the sides of the mountains and edges of the valleys, with apple groves common lower near the fields. 

 A massive sea wall of legendary age and construction holds back the ocean from a significant portion of the heartland area of Lynnfaire, and the revealed ancient sea bed gone valley is prime for agriculture and society. 
 
[h3]Culture[/h3]

	Contemporary Lynnfaire is very much a cradle of gentle civilization, with its extensive agriculture, its faith in the church, and long history at its core. While the long and arduous history of Lynnfaire and the Serene Church play a major role in the culture of Lynnfaire, the constant working of the land has also impacted the way people live in the Kingdom.

The common peasant of the land knows Lynnfaire at its truest, and works as the real portrait of the Kingdom. Most peasants are completely free in the feudal sense, and they are allowed to leave their lords land, so long as they can find a new lord to rent from (albeit the costs of this are terribly inconvenient and it is easier to simply stay put or to take the chance and move to a burg). Some peasants outright buy or inherit the land they work on and live as yeomen, serving no lord’s manor directly in peace, but still answering to the baron during times of war or tax. 

Of course hamlets, towns and cities also have various crafts and trades to be done, and many peasants find themselves as the ones to do it. They either rent or own their home, which could be a shared hovel to a family house, depending on their trade and wealth. 

All these commoners work under the local authority which more often than not is a baron, who is tasked with keeping the peace, the law, and the collection of taxes/rents, who in turn answers to the count and so forth. Opulence isn’t a large rash in the lower nobility but, greater counts and dukes tend to live very large in Lynnfaire, enjoying the spoils of the land and the wealth it brings. 

Nobility or commoner, both attend the weekly masses at the local parish, be it outside by the hamlet center, the Lord’s Manor, or in a stained glass cathedral that would make the Lynndians of yore blush. The sermons are presented by the priests, also known as the deacons of the church, while in some cases (usually among more noble parishes) the bishop or archbishop will deliver the mass. A mass is held on every weeks beginning, and three days after. Work is not enforced on any Lords Manor during the masses, and in the case of the Firstday’s mass, not at all that day. Thirdsday mass only lasts one hour past the end of the sermon, giving the people a slightly shorter work day. Many farmers work on the Thirdsday mass despite it not being enforced, as it is still highly encouraged.  

Everyone loves to impress during mass days, and most commoners break out their best wool clothes, some even have had the chance to get them dyed the bright blue of the gerre flowers that grow in the heartlands, and because of this many masses end up looking like a blue sea of woolen people: coincidentally the color of the church’s banner. 

A common ceremony during the harvest sermon is to mark the foreheads of the people with the gerre dye in the form of a circle, the symbol of the Serene One’s order, and many farming lads and lasses make off hand bets on who will work the hardest that harvest to sweat it off first: with the prize usually being the other gamblers desert that night (usually a sweetened cooked apple in sauce, or a flaky pastry of white flour and honey).

The people of Lynnfaire boast a wide and vibrant food palette for their many meals, where even at the most basic and humble of peasants experience breakfast (usually some form of cooked oat and fruit), a midday snack or luncheon (usually leftovers from the previous supper), and the final meal of the day, the supper.

Suppers are considered very important socially. Many families get together for suppers each day, especially among the poor. Suppers include small amounts of meats, large amounts of grains, vegetables, yogurts and cheeses, with cooked fruits and honeyed pastries for dessert (one of the most important parts of the meal). The church is fond of the Lynnfaire suppers, claiming it is a physical representation of the joy of paradise after a long day of working towards order as well as a good way to build camaraderie. The poorer families tend to do stews and broths to make up for less proteins, while richer families have more roasted meats, including goat, sheep, duck, chicken, pig and very very rarely cow. Drinks tend to be brewed, to stem off any possible waterborne infections and disease, and come in the form of ciders and beers, with the richer families dipping into honey-apple wines and brandy.

The common Lynnfairean dresses to stay warm in the winter months and cool in the summer months, sticking to layers of cloaks, trousers, tunics, and leather belts for men, and dresses, cloaks, capes and smocks for women.

It is important to note at this point that Lynnfaire is on a tipping point in regards to the separation of women and men. The Kingdom has become more progressive over the years but still hold women in the light as have different societal roles than men. While this is rapidly changing with the Queen’s take-over and emergence of the progressive movement, many conservative minds are resisting heartily and the older generations sometimes see it as silly.

[hider=Drouschester Hillmen]

	The hillmen of the Drouschester hills are a culture in their own. From the grassy hills of south eastern Drouschester to the rocky cliffs of the northwest, the Hillmen are a proud regional identity. The Drouschester hillmen culture revolves heavily around hillside agriculture and hunting. The colors of the hillmen are a earthy green and their symbol is the Longbow, usually a single piece of ash, elm or yew. 

	Their culture revolves around the bow, as young men and women are trained in the art of the draw at a young age, both genders providing for the family by time they are in their teens. A common saying is to stand to the left of the Hillmen, incase you spook one and they catch you with their right, which is usually well swelled with muscle by adulthood. 

	The common game of the hills are deer, rabbits, and duck, all of which eventually find themselves back into the very weapon used to kill them as duck fr fletching, deer for sinew, and rabbit for the archer’s thumb-ring.  

	Just like in the heartlands the Hillmen observe the church and are often found to be even more devout than most, having put a lot of their faith in the power of local parishes to maintain order among their scattered villages. 

[/hider]

[hider=Rylean Shoremen]
[/hider]

[hider=Upper Kamwell Bogmen]
[/hider]

[hider=Mist Talkers]
→ Mist-talkers:

	Mist Talkers are a magical sect of people usually from Serene Kingdoms. The term originated due to the blue mist that spills from the mouths of the Talker during incantations or during strong displays of emotion.

	A Mist Talker’s ability to call forth the mist is a powerful boon, with the mist summoned able to take many different actions and forms. Some examples include blasts of healing energy bolting from the mist like lightning from a cloud to aid friendly individuals, or the billowing mist collecting around enemies and slowing them down, forcing them into lethargy. Further still, the mist can seemingly impress the lethargy on inanimate objects in its own folds, pacifying projectiles and other forces that enter, allowing friendly individuals to escape or counter. 
[/hider]

[h3]Military[/h3]


The Lynnfaire militaries are commonly levied from the local lords, lead by nobles, and sent on chevauchee campaigns to force other lords into submission and surrender.  

wip

[h3]Heroes[/h3]

[h3]History[/h3]


[hider=The Civil War]

After the death of King Edward d’Montigue, his eldest daughter, Abigail, claimed his throne. Before her official coronation, her right to rule was disputed by her cousin Duke William d’Montigue of Drouschester. The Duke claimed that he is the next available male on the line of succession since King Edward had only daughters. His claims caused a stir as more conservative nobles backed him.

Despite the growing crowd behind William, Abigail refused to abdicate, marking her as potentially the first female monarch of Lynnfaire. Her daring speeches and powerful remarks during the diets enforced her tenacity and rallied progressive as well as the more impressed nobles behind her claim. Knowing the nobles were split, William beseeched the archbishop of Drouschester as well as the Archbishop of Kamwell, and while Drouschester promised to bring the issue to the council, Kamwell refused to get the council involved in secular politics that could potentially split the nation against the order. Drouschester’s request was approved by the council, but due to the nature of the requests, the council decided to refrain from any coronations until the nation was no longer split on their decision to avoid further conflict. 

During the diet of Olmsbridge, Duke William, backed by Duke Lawrence of Ryleau, demanded the noblemen and women of the nation make their final decision. The diet was split and the respective nobles retreated back to their holds in case of retribution from either party. Abigail retained her father’s holdings, including the capital, Urelnnde, and her prime supporters were neighboring counties and duchies to her father’s own dukedom, Kamwell, heartland of the Kingdom. William traveled north to Drouchester, where he found most of his support. 

For three months no one made a move, while the council and the people of Lynnfaire watched cautiously. A minor skirmish broke out by the border of Ryleau and the county of Rownstetaine, and while it is unknown which side started the battle, both sides were already prepared. Count d’Rownstetaine suffered a devastating defeat, and the war had begun. 

For the first year of war, William showed iron gauntlet strength and power, using his connections in the northern mountains and hills to bring Lynnfaire steel down upon the heartland agrarian nobles who refused his claim. His tactful use of heavy mounted knights, highly trained yeoman soldiers, and hillmen in chevauchee’s and raids pushed many nobles under his wings. The Duke made it a point to be swift, avoiding the Queen’s larger heartland army whenever possible, and striking them at odd angles when battle was unavoidable. By the end of the first year, many nobles transferred over to the Duke, and the agrarian heartland was in flames.

The Duke heavily lobbied the Archbishops during this time, claiming his ruthless tactics to be only symptoms of him trying to end the war and restore order as quickly as possible. While some may be skeptical, it is hard to doubt the honesty of his statement, as he has been known to show sympathy, striking only where he must to strategically take a region. His examples and lobbying gained him the unofficial support of the church, as they hoped backing him would quickly bring the slaughter to a close. 

At the start of the Second year, the Queen was no longer hesitant to show battle, and the war was in full swing. She had learned to split her army to capture chevauchee bands, and to encircle and route the Duke’s forces. She began her own chevauchee campaign near Drouchester’s hills in an attempt to bring the fight away from the agrarian heartlands, as well as disrupt the use of heavy knights. 

Her successes were credited to her ability to delegate the command of the military to her father’s most trusted generals, as well as her ability to rally the people of the heartlands, claiming that only by showing fortitude can they force the Duke back to the hills, and eventually close the war. The progressive movement of Lynnfaire idolized her audacity in the face of danger or defeat and many of the younger populations grew to adore her, while the conservatives continued to support William. 

Near the second half of the second year the Queen hired a new strategist who for four months was simply known as the Raven-Lord for their enigmatic personality and hidden face of the new employee.  Before the church and nobles could grow too suspicious of the new addition, the advice of the Raven-Lord proved fruitful, as the Queen began to slow down the Duke’s hammer fisted chevauchee in the heartland, and even redirect the attacks away from vital farming communities. The people and the church were both impressed, and relieved as some resemblance of normal order returned to the heartlands. Upon the success and acceptance of the Raven-Lord, they were unmasked, and shown to not only be a woman, but a protestant. The Church was uneasy to praise a protestant, but the results were favorable. 

While the progressive population was empowered by the results of the Raven-Lord, and the church happy with the return of some order, it was also frightening to them. With the Queen showing a fighting spirit and the ability to route the Duke, and the Duke maintaining the war with his commanding leadership, vast support of nobles, and conservatives, all sides feared the war would be prolonged by the even match. And thus the second year ended, the new battlefield: the hills of Drouchester. 


[/hider]

[h3]Relations[/h3]

[h3]Characters[/h3]

[hider=Duke William d’Montigue of Drouschester]
[/hider]
[hider=Princess (/queen) Abigail d’Montigue of Kamwell]
[/hider]
[hider=Edith “The Raven Lord” Ottinger]
[/hider]
[hider=Halwende (Historic Figure)]

	After the revolts in the west, and the defeat of the oppressive Primordial regime, the freedom movement in Lynnfaire spread like a wildfire, and the movement adopted Halwende as its leader. By this point Halwende was already the face of independence and his blade had already tasted many Primordial underlings, but with the support of the movement, Halwende’s targets moved up from local oppressors to the highest authorities in the Lynnde Empire. 

	The Serene religion burst onto the scene around this time as well, breaking from the underground to reinforce the freedom movement, and the destruction of the Lynnde Empire. The original Serenists used the stories of order and the Serene One to pin the Primordials to their crimes of tyranny and as a way to fill the power vacuum as the movement progressed. 
 
	Halwende was not recorded to be in relation with the Serene movement initially, but after a massive revolt he had tended to in Upper Kamwell, it is said he suddenly converted. His conversion is often attributed to his finding of a glassy orb the Freedom fighters referred to as “The Piece of Paradise.” The Piece of Paradise is attributed to be the Serene One’s eye in the mortal realm, and upon its discovery, it is said that Halwende had learned the secrets of the mist talkers from it, bringing the magical form to Lynnfaire.

	With the Serene movement making the majority of the freedom movement, and Halwende acting as the joint between the two, the once oppressed mortals of Lynnfaire managed to amass such an army as to storm Urelynnde itself.
	In the palace of Urelynnde, Halwende gave battle to the Lord Emperor of all Lynnde, and with the secrets of the Mist-Talkers, and his mundane blade, he managed to best the Emperor in battle, slaying him in the throne room. Art depicts the Lord Emperor to be a titanous figure of a hundred hands and eyes, and often shows Halwende bearing down upon him with both sword and orb in each hand. 

	After the death of the Lord Emperor and fall of Urelynnde, the rebels quickly cleaned up all remaining stragglers of the Lynnde administration. The leaders of the rebellion formed the first Serene Council, laying the foundations for their new church to ensure order remains in Lynnfaire, their first act, crowning Halwende king of the new Lynnfaire Nation, named so after the words Lynn and words Faire, meaning Free Land.
 
	Halwende’s dynasty saw rapid growth of Lynnfaire and even an imperial movement, but also intense religious fervor and support for the church. Throughout the ages his sword was used as the badge of office for the monarchy, but the Piece of Paradise is said to be lost, or even personally hidden by Halwende, the way of the Mist Talkers having already spread during the rebellion. 

[/hider]
[/hider]


[hider=The Serene Church]
[url]https://imgur.com/a/heQZh[/url]

	In the beginning the world was right with order and peace, ruled solely by the hand of the Serene One. In a moment that may be described as a mistake, The Serene One allowed the creation of a new being, the primordials. For a long time the primordials frolicked in the paradise of the Serene one; however, over time the first beings created proved to be rebellious with their free will and eventually brought chaos into the world. In an attempt to right this wrong the Serene One cast the first beings from the world, but sadly too much damage was already done. The world was cast into chaos and disorder, shutting the Serene One from the world.

	All that remained were the mortals, dregs of the first ones, and the smallest of creation. They were quickly tasked by their creator, the Serene One, to rebuild order upon the chaotic world, so that some day the Serene One may return in full and re-establish paradise. 

	To rebuild order there must be structure, and so the Church was born. The written codes and laws of the Serene One was to be kept safe and ministered by priests, who in turn are to be organized by bishops, who in turn are organized by Archbishops, who in turn decide the fate of the church through the high council of Archbishops. 

	The church supports a strong nobility, and chivalry. Nobles are not to be harmed or displaced in battle or politics, so they may rule orderly, and the lower classes are to obey and be productive so they may too remain orderly. The sovereigns are to be trusted with administering nations on behalf of the Serene One, and no other religious order or structure should interfere with the Good Serene Ones work on this world, So says the Serene One. 

	The ultimate authority remains in the hands of the Archbishops to ensure order is kept and rules and mandates are followed and created properly, and in turn governments administer to the populace in their own choosing, so long as it is orderly and conforms to the church law. All must do their part in rebuilding order, all must remain at their task at hand and seek nothing further or less. 

	War is unnecessary but should upheaval arise it is on the feudal lords and governances to quickly quell battles with battles in such a way to leave order intact.

	The fundamental virtues of the church are humility, temperance, generosity, compassion, and order. The fundamental beliefs is that while magic exists, it exists to serve mortals so that they may more effectively bring back order to the chaotic world. The Serene One is the only true creator and way back to paradise, and the first beings are the bringers of chaos and sin. Despite no longer being of this world, the Serene One watches and quietly intervenes with the world around us, indirectly pushing us back to order and smiting chaos.

	In the end of times the sun will freeze, and so will all creation. The moon then will erupt in blue flame and the orderly shall thaw, releasing a blue mist with which the Serene One will arise from to reclaim paradise. Everything will be of order and perfection once more, and all chaos will be frozen.

	Note: There is an underlying protestant movement in the Serene Church that while it upholds the cosmic beliefs of the church and the underlying values, it disagrees with the absolutism or necessity of the high council, and is against class restrictions/class oppression. 

	Brief history of the church: The church began at an unknown date far lost in the age of Legends. It survived as a murmuring, a cult among the oppressed mortals of the Lynnde Empire. Only during the Mortal Revolts did the religion break free from a murmur and turn into a wildfire among the rebels. It wasn't until the complete fall of the Lynnde empire, and the rise of the new mortal Ruler, Halwende, that it became proper church.


[/hider]