Terresol
Capital: Sol
Ruling House: TBA
Terresol is in the Middlelands, located east of Ibethiel between Northwind and Araedia. The kingdom is governed by a 'Grace' who rules from their grand palace in Sol.
Terresol is one of the oldest kingdoms in Marin, beginning with the foundation of the Elekorian dynasty in c. 800 BCE. Comprised of magocratic city-states before the Red Maiden's War, the kingdom still bears the marks of a darker, half-eldritch past in its ruins, such as the carved subterranean cities and the Broken Moonbeam and the indestructible 'black statues', architectural fantasies such as Sol and Aspasian's Wall, and many other wonders. Besides the oddities of its landscape and history, Terresol is also unique from other kingdoms on account of its social structure. The clerical orders of the Southern Pantheon are more deeply interwoven into secular life in Terresol than in any other kingdom of the faith: Physics dominates the medical profession, ears both common and noble hang on every prediction from a Seeker's tongue, members of the Red Guard can be found at the lead of almost every Terreme army, and on it goes. Rare is the Terreme family, which does not have at least one son or daughter in the clergy.
GEOGRAPHY
The Terreme landscape, despite being punctuated by broad ranges of highland, is a testament to the resilience of its people. Arable land is scarce, nestled between a few breadbasket districts, notably the lush fields of Akno. The rugged terrain, especially in the north, is unsuitable for cereal crops, leading the inhabitants to rely on animal husbandry and tree crops that can thrive in the thin mountain soils, such as figs and olives. The modern kingdom of Terreme is strategically positioned, bordered by the Rustlands and the Sea of Emin in the north, the Pyrennines to the west, and the Carpathus to the south. It extends into the Eastern Ocean, encompassing a myriad of islands, both large and small, under its rule. The northernmost island under Terreme's control is Whalewyk, governd by the subjugated House Stighardt. Despite it'srelative lack of arable land, Terresol's geography is mineral-rich and provides sweeping access to the Eastern Sea, making Terresol a historically potent sea power, a force of rampant colonialism, and a great concentration of material wealth in Eastern Marin. The great Solan Empire once dominated much of Northwind and had hundreds of colonies all along the coasts of Southern Marin and Northern Amoroth, and throughout the Southern Isles. However, a combination of the depredations of Northwinder barbarians and the revolts of increasingly organized Southern Islanders has caused the great nation to wither away over the last century. Most of the Terreme colonies have been conquered or have claimed independece from their motherland, and the province of Pemberlum (otherwise known as the 'Gray Hills') is all that remains of the once-numerous Northern Exarchates. Terresol experiences a climate of dry seasons and wet monsoons. During wintertime, cold, dry winds sweep in from the Northern Kingdoms, while during summer, warmer, moister winds rise from the Southern coasts.
Terresol is divided into seven traditional provinces—Andallion, Terredaesti, Brugallion, Omaero, Akno, Ittazmia, and Falsa—as well as a much younger province, Pemberlum, which is the name bestowed upon the Grey Hills region by the Terreme crown after they won it from the Athmorians.
In the context of governance, the provinces are sometimes referred to as 'archonates', as the rulers of these districts are known as 'archons'.
Nivia
Nivia is the largest of the provinces, extending northeast from the Augamonic Meadows to the tip of the 'Andallic Spear' peninsula, encompassing many islands off its coast. Nivia is the most urbanised province. It is home to the royal capital of Sol, situated on a plateau at the foot of the peninsula with its two symbiotic port towns of Betuin and Parnesti on either shore. Betuin faces north to the expansive Blessed Bay, where the waters are kept calm by a barrier of surrounding islands, chiefly Inynvi.
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The Cuvices
The 'Cuvices' refers to the islands of Inynvi, Rhuba, Turtsi, Sekymyn, Nevako, and surrounding smaller isles. The Cuvics have their own language, Scalloptongue, and were once their own archonate ruled from their capital of Cuvi on Inynvi.
Falsa
Falsa is the second-largest and second-most powerful of the provinces, situated west of Nivia. The terrain is considerably mountainous, and offers little agricultural bounty with the great exception of the valley surrounding Lake Iulvu, the breadbasket of the kingdom's northern districts. Most of Falsa's population lives in the fertile fields surrounding the lake, while the rest either farm goats and tree crops in the mountains or dwell in the handful of meagre fishing villages along the northern coast. Situated in Falsa is Mount Coronei, the highest peak in Terresol.
Falsan culture is markedly distinct from the rest of the kingdom, reflecting the customs of the 'Tenatsan' ethnicity that dominates the region. This subculture is marked by staid, conservative fashion, an ancient warrior elite, and an unorthodox offshoot of the Southern-Pantheist religion that holds an old pantheon of local 'sulfur dragon' gods almost to the same reverence as the six chief deities worshipped in Sol.
The current rulers of the province are House Dumagne, governing from their ancestral fortress on the island of Sasevima.
Syrago
Syrago is the smallest of the mainland archonates. Syrago is known chiefly for the dense pineland flowing between the foothills of the Pyrennine Mountains, and the rich culture of sheep farming and wool textiles. The prized wool of the 'Syragian' breed is exported down the River Taarec where it either travels west to Ibbish buyers via Riktolto or eastwards along the River Aagaten to the skilled dyers of Odibar.
The rulers of Syrago, House Dan Consantim, are the oldest archontic line in Terresol. The Dan Consantims of today are known to be rather timid and reclusive, bothering little with the greater affairs of the state.
Akno
Akno lies in a lowland expanse in the southwestern corner of Terresol. The heart of the province is Springs of Akno that stretch out south of its grand capital, Rikolto. These bountiful fields are watered by numerous acquifers rising up from below the earth. Running through this plain is the River Regit, running east from the Barrier Lakes that separate Terresol from South Feyshore with a march of marshy terrain. Where the Regit meets the River Belgaare lie the Regit Swamplands, river-hewn and heavily forested mires where Vronti Kelwynd and his army famously massacred the Royal Army during his conquest of Terresol. The Belgaare runs northeast from the swamplands till it meets the River Aagaten, facilitating waterborne trade with Omairo and Tave to the east.
GOVERMENT
Terresol is divided into seven traditional provinces, which in Terresol are called 'archonates'. Each of these archonates is ruled by one of the eight Archontic Houses, who make up the most powerful nobility in the kingdom. In the present day, there are six fully-fledged archontic houses, and then the seventh house who hold the Grand Archonship of Sol and Andallion—in this regard, they are more stewards to the Grace than archons in their own right. Beyond these are the 'Exarchic Houses' who rule over the external territories, of which there is only one today: the exarchate of Pemberlum.
Archonship of Ittazmia.
In Terresol, the 'grace' is the sole and absolute ruler, and their power is regarded as having a divine mandate. Since its inception, the graceship has been a hereditary position handed down to the eldest child, regardless of gender. In accordance with Southern-Pantheist dogma, the grace earns their position by Saris allowing their soul to be incarnated into royalty—the grace rules from the Chryselephantine Throne in the Great Palace of Sol. Governance of the lands outside the royal province of Nivia is delegated to archons (for 'traditional' territories) and exarchs (for conquered territories). The modern archontic houses reflect a time when the traditional provinces were independent kingdoms that swelled against each others borders, before eventually being unified under the dominion of Sol. Compared to equivalent lords in other kingdoms, archons have future individual rights granting them independence from the grace; the hand of the royal capital is felt very strongly throughout the state. This dictatorial system is reinforced by religious doctrine, and quietly but firmly enforced by the clergy; in each arconate, the archon effectively shares power with the magistrate of that same district. The lowest level of administrative division is the 'deme' system. The demes are subdivisions within archonates that generally follow old tribal boundaries. Compared to the archonates, demes vary widely in size—royal knights hold humble manorial estates in the shadow of much larger demes owned by old and powerful families—but the general rule is that rural demes stretch wide, whereas urban settlements are divided into many small neighbourhoods. Just as archons share power with magistrates, demarchs share power with one or more powerful wisdoms who hold great judicial authority over their assigned areas. Some demarchs are owned exclusively by the Abigreth.
The Grand Archon
Though the province of Nivia is technically the personal estate of the grace, an administrator is still required to handle bureaucratic matters that do not warrant the attention of one who must already deal with the matters of the larger kingdom. This authority is devolved to the Grand Archon, a powerful administrator elected by the demarchs of Nivia from among their own. The Grand Archon chairs meetings of the Nivian demarchs on the Hill of Siggir—once the meeting place of the old senate—with the additional presence of the grace themselves on pressing occassions. The Grand Archon thereby acts as both a civic administrator and a liaison between the grace and some of their oldest and most powerful vassal houses. The Grand Archon represents the grace in their absence, such as when they pursuing their bi-annual tour of the kingdom.
Palace Officers
High Chamberlain – usually a eunuch who sleeps in the grace's bed-chamber and runs the royal household.
Vestiarian – usually a minor relative of the Grace, who takes care of the Grace's personal wardrobe, especially on military campaigns.
Magistrate to the Royal House – a magistrate of the clergy who acts as the spiritual advisor to the Grace and their family, as well as their children's tutor.
Excellence – The primacy of Mafalda, who commands, organizes, equips, and maintains the training of the Companions. The Companions are the Grace's personal bodyguards, typically numbering three hundred men. The Companions are a mixed group, and are, much to their fame, mainly composed of Northerners, some Witherlander and some Northwinder, as well as a good number of Ibbishmen. A handful of Feyorian knights came to join the Companions after the fall of Feyshore. During times of (relative) peace, the Excellence might lead the Companions on incursions into the Grey Hills, or even the Far Gone, to raid the Northwinders or bring criminals or warlords to justice. The current Excellence is Ser Wyndar Redval, the disgraced son of a Reaper's Skull lord who travelled the east as a mercenary before joining the Companions.
Solace – a passionate who acts as a companion to the crown. Traditionally, the Solace forms a sexual and emotional relationship with an unmarried Grace, or with their mature heirs. Even though the Solace is expected to end any affair with the Grace once the latter takes a royal consort, she is known to sometimes become a semi-secret mistress. The Solace is generally not spoken of, and any extramarital affairs with Graces are especially left unacknowledged, as opposed to the royal favorites of other kingdoms, whose nature as part of court can be more open. The Solace is valued as a companion to young male heirs since a bastard cannot be fathered with a passion. Instructing the young women of the household in their bodily educations also falls under the responsibilities of this position. With the aim of keeping this courtier as unobtrusive as possible, the Solace wears the staid vestments of a normal wisdom, and their chambers are nowhere near as lavish as some of their expensive sisters outside the palace. Solaces have been known to exert considerable influence over some Graces.
Brilliance – the high priest who heads the cult of the Grace's household deity. In the case of House Vortigon, this was the Brilliance of Vorte, an owl goddess of wisdom and justice associated with Tatico. Due to their intimate association with the royal family, Brilliances also act as genealogists.
HISTORY
Prehistory
The earliest signs of human civilization in the modern domain surely go back at least 1,500 years. The astounding skeleton of Sol and the ancient cavern ruins found elsewhere could only have been formed in that lost era when men still knew the spells to sculpt the earth like marble.
Age of the sorcerer-kings
For hundreds of years, what is today known as the singular Kingdom of Terresol was divided into a shifting multitude of city-states? These independent bodies were ruled by sorcerers and magicians, either as autocratic 'tyrants' (in this context, a generic name that does not describe moral character; some of the tyrants were benevolent rulers who left great legacies that still shape the modern kingdom) or through oligarchic councils. The power possessed by the great city-shapers had waned by this point, but the mages of Terresol were still greatly feared, and dark rituals were regularly performed deep in the bowels of Sol and other recesses. The different city-states had founded a handful of ports on the eastern coast of Araedia and even more colonies down south on the fringes of the Southern Isles and the northern coast of Amoroth. These small, thalassocracy demi-empires often made war upon each other. However, they would form extensive alliances when the threat of Northwind loomed darkly over their lands, especially during the height of Iron Gate's power in the ancient world. The mage-kings had great statues of black bronze erected in their honour or those of their predecessors, the monuments enchanted so that no man could take them down without knowing the exact spellwork by which they were created.
Red Maiden's War
The age of these magicians came to an end when a new faith rose, combining beliefs of Feyshore with the native pantheon of Terresol. This was the early form of what today is the Southern Pantheon. Slowly, this new religion spread across the city-states, with the authority of magic-users being placed beneath a clerical hierarchy with a mandate of divine wisdom. Resistance increased sharply as the faith pressed upon Sol, where practicioners of dark magic began to flock in preparation for a stand against the Southern Pantheon's followers. Those who worshipped Saris and his myriad faces raised a great army in the fields of modern Korkou. This army marched on Sol, and in a devastating battle that left the depths of the city poisoned by catastrophic maleficium, the new faith won the city and chased the surving magicians out to the sea. Aspasian the Good, a great leader of magicians who had helped convince many of his fellows to convert to the Southern Pantheon and join the march, was turned to to become the supreme king of a new, holy realm under Saris. Seeing it as a great waste of life and labour to let yet another dynasty of magic-users reign, Aspasian rejected the crown, and instead took his fellow magicians to an island that became known as the Isle of Aspasian, where they would found a community of magic-users that lasted all the way up until the Inquisition. Thus the throne was claimed by men of mundane powers, and the Kingdom of Terresol was founded much as it is known today.
Vortigon Dynasty and Kelwynd's Conquest
The throne of Saris-worshipping Terresol passed between different dynasties over the centuries. Approximately seven-hundred years ago, it fell into the hands of House Vortigon. The last royal couple of this house was King Caspian Vortigern and Queen Rhia Vortigern; their assassination along with Minister of Commerce, Castor Vortigern, by Vronti Kelwynd ended the Vortigern rule. Since two remaining Vortigerns held positions forbidden from taking the crown, a local Serfblood philanthropist, Charity Lane, was hoisted to the position of Head Counsellor by the First Knight. Trusting that local militias would be able to handle the threat of Vronti Kelwynd, Charity kept the Royal Army in Terresol to protect the city and remaining Vortigerns. However, Kelwynds advance did not slow and Charity relented, sending an army led by Carney and Caderyn Vortigern to meet the assassin on the battlefield. The first battle at which Carney clashed with Vronti was a dramatic victory for Carney, and sent Vronti fleeing. But Vronti still lived, so Carney gave chase all the way to the swamps of Akno, which had been suffering from unusually dry weather. Vronti and his followers crossed the dry wetlands easily enough as it began to drizzle for the first time in months. When Carney arrived he also attempted to cross the wetlands, but near the middle of the trek, the rain began to downpour, mud began to form, and Carney and his men were sucked into the mud. Vronti and his allies peppered the Terresolian army with arrows as a troop of mercenaries hired from Ibethiel flanked the army and killed many soldiers trying to escape the mud hell. Caderyn urged Carney to flee, but Carney's rage for Vronti pressed him onwards with whatever men still followed him. Vronti would not fall in this battle but neither would either of the brothers. Carney, and what remained of the army, made it back to the capital thinking Vronti was hot on their heels, but Vronti did not show up for a week. Caderyn got separated from his brother and had a longer trip back to the capital than his brother by about a week. When Vronti did show up to Sol, he was well prepared for a siege but tried a "diplomatic" solution instead, inviting whoever the city considered its leader to a discussion. Carney abhorred the idea of discussing anything with Vronti and wanted to arm all men, women, and children in the city to fight Vronti's army. Charity instantly rejected this idea and went out of the city walls as Sol’s diplomatic representative. At the beginning of the destruction Vronti bragged that the rains leading to his victory were inevitable and the will of his god, he promised to burn or convert all the heretics within the kingdom, and he would rule over the city of Sol whether they were on their knees or a pile of corpses. Charity knew that the citizens of Sol would share Carney's rage for this man and would fight to almost the last, so she proposed an alternate solution, a political marriage between them. Originally Vronti dismissed the idea, but gave in when Charity argued that it would alleviate the resistance to his reign. Caderyn arrived in the city while the negotiations were taking place. Knowing that they could not stay, Charity Lane ordered for the boys to leave. Distraught by losing both family and kingdom, the brothers imposed on themselves a self-exile. They remain in exile to this day despite Charity offering them the throne in the aftermath of Vronti's death.
Reign of the Sun King
When Vronti ascended to the Circlestar Throne, House Kelwynd and their legion of adherents to the Cult of Syntherion took control of the kingdom, imposing a reign of terror and exensive persecution. Homosexuality was rooted out and punished by burning, in a society thitherto famous for its free-loving norms. The Grand Archon Izador Astabaros was executed only two months into his new king's reign, accused of plotting treason.King Vronti met his end at the hands of a Terreme pirate, Valkrin Farensun, on the docks of Augornai. Without their unscrupulous leader giving them the breadth of government, the Cult of Syntherion began to wane in influence, and their moralistic violence dissipated.
ECONOMY
The primary exports of Terresol are olive oil, wine, pottery, ivory, silks, and metalwork. Their main imports are grain and pork (mostly from Araedia) and furs, silver, and gold (mostly from the North). Terresol's economy is greatly influenced by its relative shortage of arable land.
Sheep and goats are the most common type of Terreme livestock.
CULTURE
Terresol has a bright, falmboyant, artistic, and scholarly culture. In many markets, songs fill the air, serenading weary travelers with tales of brilliant battles and tragic romances. Theatre is quite popular in the major cities, inviting travelling tropes to stop in and display their talents. The Silverlight Theatre in Sol is famous throughout Marin, believed to be blessed by the Emin the Moon Daughter herself during performances. Terreme art is heavily influenced by the belief system and mythos of the Southern Pantheon. Frescoes and paintings of Terreme art is mostly religious and highly conventionalized; whereas dramatic works are known to play around with artistic interpretation of the Southern Pantheon's mythos and belief system, visual arts tend follow traditional models that translate carefully curated Pantheon ideology into artisic terms. Painting in fresco, illuminated manuscripts, and on wooden panels are the primary media in modern Terreme art. Mosaics also have their presence; though their production has waned with the centuries, the walls of ancient buildings like the Palace of Sol or the Abigreth are still decorated extensively with them. Figurative sculpture is very rare, except for small carved ivories, a great descent from the days of antiquity when Terresol was renowned for its sculptures. Paintings that depict critical figures, events, or places in Terreme's history almost always include figures of the relebant gods watching over these affairs—Mafalda observes famous battles, Emin watches great perfomances, depictions of saints or other religious leaders figure a white circle in the background to represent Saris, Tatico stands tall behind great archons and Graces, and so on. Falsan art includes heavy use of dragon imagery, often woven into the background of natural scenes. Members of lower Blood Caste also create art of their own through pottery, jewelry, and other trinkets that are sold in markets throughout the Kingdom. Despite its focus on the arts, Terresol is also a hub for studying the world and its connection to the divine. The heavy influence of the SP has allowed breakthroughs in the sciences, art, medicine, and agriculture to penetrate the kingdom with relative ease thanks to the myriad of religions under its umbrella. The Abigreth is a Szar with a library open to religious scholars frequently occupied from dawn to dusk, lit by burning candles in the windows late into the night. A heavily institutionalized religion is the dominating feature of Terreme culture. The society of the Terremes distinguishes itself from the Araedians, however, in that the pervasively intertwined clergy serves the needs of a well-rounded secular community more than the secular community serves the whims of the clergy: magistrates advise lords and ladies, the Council of Commerce oversees the financial welfare of the Saris-worshipping kingdoms; outside of the central clerical body, the soldiers of Mafalda's divine order are crucial in Terresol's military affairs, the Passionates of Auryn officiate weddings, the Physics of Emin attend to the sick. Philosophers are given high regard in a society that contemplates extensively on ideas of perfection, purpose, intellect, and the wisdom to be sought in one's lifetime. Dutiful, focused work and meditation are the two main pillars of the Terreme lifestyle. Whereas Araedia has interpreted the Southern Pantheon belief system as a regime of discipline, zeal, and austerity, however, the Terremes use religious philosophy and mythos to fuel a vibrant culture of song and dramatic arts that often plays around with different perspectives on what most Araedians would consider very serious matters. In Terresol, stinging satire on religion, society, and the various interplays between is something not only welcomed on the public stage, but high valued as fuel for critical thinking and unceasing efforts at improvement. Terresolian law states that a citizen of Terresol cannot be executed; the most severe punishment is exile, unless the guilty individual chooses death. On the rare occasions where forceful executions do occur, strangulation is the traditional method, with the act occurring away from the public eye due to the shamefulness of killing in Southern Pantheism. Ethnically, the Terremes can be divided into two major historical groups: the Laurians and the Tenatsans. The Laurians are cosmopolitan sea-farers who dress brightly and elaborately, while the Tenatsans are a generally more solomn group who follow more staid and narrow conventions of dress. Laurians enjoy foreign delecacies and stageplays, whereas Tenatsans prefer good food and drink from Terresol's own breast, and have more of a taste for epic poetry than actors in theatres. Laurians embody the all-encompassing spirit of the Southern Pantheon, while Tenatsans are more conservative in their worship, and cling to many unorthodox beliefs that predate the Southern Pantheon in Terresol. Laurians speak Soltongue with a flowing slur, while Tenatsans utter its syllables in sticatto. Laurians inhabit the coast and the fertile south of Terresol, whereas Tenatsans dwell in the rugged highlands of Falsa, much of Andallion outside of Sol, and many of the islands in the Sea of Emin.
Religion
Terresol is the origin of the faith of the Southern Pantheon. More than in any other Southern-Pantheist-majority kingdom, the clerics of the various cults, from the Physics of Emin to the Red Guard of Mafalda to the Passionates of Auryn, are intrinsically woven into the fabric of Terreme society, and have been for hundreds of years. The Abigreth, located in Sol, is the largest of the famaeszars and the home of the Grand Clerics. Beyond the capital city, Terresol also features many sites of spiritual and/or historical significance to adherents of Saris: the Fields of the Rain just north of Korkou, where the ancient army of the faithful gathered before marching on the sorcerers of Sol; the acropolis of Telvi in Elegorgou, which houses an abundance of divine statues and holy artefacts; the caldera-city of Potruuxou, where the greatest of the sulfur-drakes of Falsa are said to have risen above the earth and publicly accepted their connection to Saris; and many other significant locations that receive thousands of pilgrims every year from all over the continent. The cities of Terresol—Sol, Posoxe, Iannapoïs, Rikolto, Elegorgou, and Potruuxou—are renowned for their high culture. Elegorgou in particular receives thousands of Southern-Pantheist pilgrims every year from all over Marin, by virtue of its famous temple on Telvi. Posoxe, the most cosmpolitan of the kingdom's cities (to the point that it has developed a residential quarter for every kingdom it trades with), is the mouth of all trade passing into Terresol, with ships coming in from as near as the coastal towns of Araedia to as far as Zahrada. Terresol is where the faith of the Southern Pantheon began to flourish, displacing a pagan religion that worshipped magical power given by serpentine gods. Belief in these ancient deities still lingers in the 'sulphur dragons' that the people of Northern Terresol believe to live beneath their land, and the symbolism of the serpent as a creature of might, ferocity, and prowess (as well as the sigil of House Vortigon). But if darker rumors are to believed, it is possible that remnants of these heathen cults still exist to this day amidst some of the Terreme nobility.
Language
The language most commonly spoken in Terresol is Soltongue, deriving its name from the nation's capital city. Due to its mountainous terrain that has historically dampened cultural diffusion between its regions, the kingdom is host to numerous dialects of Soltongue; the many varietes can be roughly divided into Tensatsan Soltongue (spoken in the province of Falsa and most of the islands in the Sea of Emin) and Laurian Soltongue (spoken in the rest of the kingdom). The Tensatsan varieties are more archaic, preserving the more complex grammatical system of the past and a very pure vocabulary, whereas Laurian varietes have more simplified grammar and show a heavy influence from neighbouring languages such as Commontongue and Petaltongue. 'Old Soltongue' is a prestige language based off of the form the language had during the early centuries of the Southern Pantheon, when Terreme culture flourished under a new system of religion. Old Soltongue is primarily used for liturgy, but also for scholarly works; there is, of course, little distinction between the two in Terreme society. It is, for all intents and purposes, the language of the silverblood caste. Old Soltongue is also studied by most highborns from a young age. Almost all Terremes (especially merchants, nobles, and scholars) speak Commontongue due to mercantile incentives. Scalloptongue is a minority language spoken among the people of the islands off the Arm of Andallion, who possess general fluency in Commontongue and Soltongue alongside it due to frequent interaction with seaborne merchants.