Kaarn (Arius)

To the east of Avalon, over the Wyrmspine Mountains, lies the grand nation of Kaarn. Kaarn is an ancient kingdom that is borne on the backs of thousands of gruff miners and a fierce, highly trained military. Sandwiched between the Wyrmspine and Darkhold mountain ranges, Kaarn has mineral wealth unmatched on Talahm, and quite possibly anywhere in the world. This wealth is pulled from the earth by Kaarni miners by the ton every year, constituting a large part of the kingdom's annual product.
The people of Kaarn are a dour and hardworking folk, with a strong nationalistic streak and a military heritage that can be traced back dozens of generations. Military service is compulsory, though few believe it needs to be. The average Kaarn can recall at least fifteen generations of their ancestry, including military branch, rank, division, and notable heroics. This emphasis on military tradition allows for a rather unique social system in Kaarn. While most societies in Talahm have strictly defined social strata, with hereditary nobility and hereditary serfdom, in Kaarn, noble status is conferred on high-ranking military officers as well, and is passed on to their children.
Also unique to the Kaarn military is the idea of patriotism after death. While in most other nations, one's duty to King and Country ends at death, as they pass on to their final reward or eternal punishment. Not so in Kaarn. Generations of careful research by Kaarni wizards has led to the creation of a special kind of undead. These reanimated corpses, infused with a modicum of intelligence, serve in special regiments of the Kaarn military, as well as in supplemental forces. Every soldier in the Kaarn military, from the lowliest footsoldier to the noblest paladin, swears an oath of service that extends beyond death, and they can expect to be reanimated to continue their service should they fall on the battlefield.
The current ruler of Kaarn is King Stefan IIV. Stefan is a dark, brooding man in his fifth decade, with deep, black hair turning steel grey at the temples and throughout his beard. He is a legendary military leader and has brought much honor to his grandfather's name. The people of Kaarn may or may not love their king, but few lack respect for his accomplishments.
Category:Arius
Category:Arius Nations