Kingdom of Osriguard

The Kingdom of Osriguard is a member state of the Empire of Ischanor, located in central Eastern Kejafros. It is currently let by Xarēži (King) Mnoor
== History ==
==== The Reign of Juno ====
When Lucius II died Juno shakily succeeded to the throne without support from the Osrian and Ischanic lords. During his reign conflicts flared between the Osrian and Relnari counts, nearly causing civil war within the realm within the first months of his reign. He worked tirelessly to prepare his son Xaraki for the throne, and quell rebellious nobles.
Despite the Aurelian family being depleted of heirs, he never allowed any of his distant cousins into the line of succession, meaning his son Xaraki was his only heir. This lead to instability due to the rise of many powerful nobles, such as Dyerānit Vāreši. While Juno would fail to provide more heirs, or legitimize any cousins, these lords came to rule over vast lands internally, severely eroding the authority of the king. While Juno fought with his nobles to maintain the rapidly collapsing centralization, he also fought many external conflicts. However, war with Celras would come to trouble him most of all. Only a few months before the end of his reign he learned the Relnari lords had been plotting with the Celrasi king to swear fealty to him, and to conquer Osrian land west of the Iron river.
A month later, he learned that a Celrasi army had crossed border markings and sacked multiple small villages and castles, and had been joined by numerous Relnari lords. Juno immediately summoned his son and loyal nobles to his side in a hasty attempt to form an army. He quickly raised 9.000 men and began a forced march to meet the enemy army. However, he quickly realized he was outmatched by a 20.000 strong Celrasi force as he crossed the river by boat, and he attempted to prepare a retreat. Despite his efforts he was hopelessly and quickly outnumbered by an army with higher ground. When his lines were pierced, the enemy commanders singled out his personal guard and ordered a charge by heavy cavalry. Juno and Xaraki were killed on the field, and the High Priest, Dyerānit Vāreši signed a treaty ceding Osrian land west of the Iron river. With Juno dead, Dyerānit was the most powerful noble remaining, and was crowned Xarēži shortly thereafter.
With Junos death, the centuries old ancient Aurelian bloodline fell into obscurity for decades, and religious influences began to guide the nation forward. Centralization dissapeared as many nobles became as powerful or influential as the Xarēži, and the ancient Uraki traditions were abandoned in favor of Anāriane ideals.
=== The Anāriane Dynasty ===
==== Dyerānit I Vāreši ====
With the Aurelians extinguished the Bel-Žerišikešayn of the Sagas and Duke of Highguard was crowned as Dyerānit the First of the House of Vāreši, Xarēži of Osriguard. He quickly secured his position by ransoming and then imprisoning nobles captured on the banks of the Iron River and then declaring his nephew, also named Dyerānit as heir to the throne. He also squashed hopes of an Aurelian opposition by discrediting, imprisoning or banishing many members of the extended royal family.
In order to secure recognition of his reign, he allowed the remaining nobility to take more authority in their land, and began a merging of the Anāriane council and the crown to gain popular support. Immediately, he faced the consequences of Junos reckless spending and rule, which left an empty treasury, grain stores, and many of the realms castle forged weapons in Celrasi hands.
==== Dyerānit II Vāreši ====
Having succeeded his father as king, Dyerānit II now worked to ensure there would be no uprisings against his rule. He increased the influence of church ideals on the governance of the realm and began working with the nobility more as equals than Xarēži.
==== Government ====
The government of Osriguard is organized with a system of Ēytikešayn or "Ministers" who serve as the King's advisors and governors on specific matters. These ministers are led by a Kącelerius or Chancellier, who leads both the ministers and the Senatores, a legislative body of the merchant or upper class chosen by local nobility.
Title 	Translation	Duties 	Current Holder
Xarēži 	King 	Ruler of Osriguard 	Cactus
Xarežirāę̄tsi Mikr	King's Hand	Often the Crown Prince, speaks with the kings voice	CalDoesStuff
Kącelerius 	Chancellier	Leader of the Senatores, Head of the Ministers 	ZicoBico
=== Ministerial Council ===
The Ministerial Council is a de facto institution of the Kingdom, in which the King has largely been subordinated in his decision making by the votes of the Ministers, Chancellor, and the Hand. The Monarch often calls upon this "Council" to provide votes to second his decisions, a clear departure from the autocratic regimes of old. The Council is known to frequently vote on the appointment, or removal of it's own members.
A prime reason for this high autonomy from the Monarch is that, since the peace with Ischanor and integration into the Empire, the Xarēži was seen as a less important figure, and combined with the powerful nobilities, royal command became weighed down by ministerial opinion.
==== Senate ====
The Senate of Osriguard is an appointed institution of the wealthier classes, usually architects, scholars, or merchants. they vote on minor proposals regarding trade and other measures.
=== Kings ===
Xarēži of Osriguard
High King 	Regnal Name 	Reigned 	Known For
 	Emperor Jarian Aurelian 	tbd 	First Aurelian to arrive in modern Osriguardian territory, fought numerous wars against the savages, each ending in glorious victory for the Empire.
 	Xarēži Lucius Aurelian I 	tbd 	
 	Xarēži Lucius Aurelian II (Cactus)	tbd 	Significantly expanded Osriguardian involvement within Ischanor, such as the election of Mnoor to the ministry of wealth. Established the County of Highguard as a feudal realm and oversaw the great renovation of Titan's Landing
 	Xarēži Juno Aurelian 	tbd 	Last Aurelian King before the Vāreši dynasty. Died four years into his reign, alongside his heir Xaraki in battle, ending centuries of Aurelian rule.
 	Dyerānit I Vāreši (Warzywek) 	tbd 	First non-Aurelian King, having previously been the High Priest of the Anāriane, became Xarēži as the most widely acceptable candidate. Changed aspects of regnal naming. Minor border changes occurred during his reign. Became Prince-Elector within Ischanor. Reign saw the beginning of the great plague.
Rētivisi Aurelian / Ziki I	Dyerānit II Vāreši (Mnoor) 	Tbd - Present	Followed his father as Xarēži on this death, signed acts of union with the realm of Selidoar shortly after losing the Prince-Electorship. The acts made Rētivisi Aurelian, a distant cousin of Juno High King over the union in order to appease his growing influence over the lands of Osriguard.
== Provinces ==
=== Archduchy of Osriguard ===
The Archduchy of Osriguard is home to the Duchy of Titan's Landing, the largest city and capital of Osriguard, home to roughly 1/3 of the population. The city of Titan's Landing itself sits on the Eastern bank of the Leviathan, one of the two great rivers of Osriguard. The Duke of Titan's Landing is Xaraki Aurelian (Mr Gaming) Southeast of Titan's Landing, the Barony of Kaldara is home to some 500.000 inhabitants, many of which live on the banks of the Blue Lake. 
The city of Millstone is the most isolated city in Osriguard and the only major city in the southern third of the Kingdom, while the Barony of Artholds sits in the Northern reaches of Osriguard. Following up the Leviathan from Titan's Landing, and going deep inland, the city of Banshee holds a large population and the largest stone structures built by the Osriguardians in Kejafros. Finally, the Barony of Colbria is the smallest Noble Realm within Osriguard, near the banks of the Grey River.
=== County of Highguard ===
The County of Highguard is governed from the city of Anara's Peak, and holds dominion over the Eastern mountainous regions of Osriguard, and the Valleys, Which contain the castles of Grimguard and Torobatl, as well as the castle and village of Dalbrucht. Depopulated by savages who ravage the region from the east, the valley floor and dalbrucht have become virtually uninhabited, and the castles of Torobatl and Grimguard have become weak and relatively unimportant. Remaining populations from the region have migrated to Anara's Peak, leading to the city gaining dominion over the East.
=== County of Osria ===
The County of Osria is an important noble holding in the Northwest of Osriguard, consisting of the city of Osriana, and the town of Flameton.
== Culture ==
=== Folklore ===
Many stories have been handed down through the generations of the Osriguardians, tales of heroic kings, great warrior priests, and some less desirable influences. Tales of Ischanic evil were once heralded as truth throughout the land, however, after the honorable peace with the Ischanor Emperor, such undoubtedly fabricated filth was stamped out by Ischanic Inquisitors. Today, with said Inquisitors having long since left, truthful tales of their ferocity towards the people of the Anāriane have been well documented.
==== Heroism ====
The most important tales to Osriguardian folklore are often the storied victories of it's great kings or fighters. The most repeated and obviously true tale is of the first Xarēži, Jarian, whose name was so great none dared to take his name for their child. For example, Xarēži Jarian is reputed in the songs for his victory over the savage natives at Ferenaur, on the day when his triumph was so great that he alone slew a hundred men, and every knight at his side defeated a dozen foes. Even the Ischanics, in their failure, could not dispute his great victory over their people, though their Kišisu (snake) tongued priests declared it a slaughter of peaceful serfs. An absurd falsehood, especially given that it is well known these so called "farmers" had raised their thousands of pitchforks to murder the peaceful Osriguardians.
==== Malign Folktales ====
When the Osriguardian people think of malignant influences upon their community, the first kitiri to come to mind is the Pablo Lekaj, and evil spirit who haunts the land seeking revenge for his imagined slights. The villain of this tale is known as a kitiri, which means "star" in the more refined tongue, once a sign of blessing, the Anāriane have taught the evil of insulting one with this term, which has become more commonly used against the filth of the world. This particular tales first written reference is in an old, short book by an unknown author called "Queer Truths". The style of the books writing is especially aggressive towards the peoples of Celras and other Ischanic realms, likely a representation of the time it was written. The earliest known copy is believed to have existed at least two-hundred years before the integration of Osriguard into Ischanor according to the scholars of Cirion. Here is the passage referring to Pablo Lekaj, as directly stated in Queer Truths. 
 Pablo Lekaj was once a promising man who seemed every bit a loyal patriot, giving great gifts to the Xarēži of his time, Lucius I. He was known far and wide for his boundless generosity an love of the Osriguardian people. But a dark and evil secret festered under this facade of friendliness... for he was no hard worker at all. In fact, he was a thief who stole all he gave from those who worked hard for their spoils, even going as far as to break into the stashes of the most esteemed peoples such as the Kącelerius (Chancellor) himself. When this horrid secret was discovered, he lied about all he could before the evidence turned against him, and he fled screaming into the wild. Soon after, he was seen wandering the woods as his fair features slowly faded to show the true face of evil: Celrasi genetics. To this day his gaunt and eerie figure haunts the forests of the land, preying on unweary travelers until the full moon, when he goes to the cities at night to find children who leave their doors unlocked. The story of Pablo Lekaj is a common reminder that you can never trust Ischanic peoples, and they will even go as far as black magic to trick their victims.
 - Unknown Author, "Queer Truths"
The tale of Pablo Lekaj was once popular but the more... tamed telling of the story has become more common and believable than the aforementioned text. Queer Truths was copied numerous times and often read in public (due to it's pretenses about the greatness of Osrians and Stoneguardians) and the story likely existed for hundreds of years prior. In a study book of folklore by Kičēki Ilyę̄tsi, a one-time Kącelerius in his retirement, the more "pro-Ischanic" version is written.
 "Another notable example of these malign folktales would be an tale about Žą Prasko, that seems to circulate among Osriguardian folk since time immemorial. It tells about aforementioned Žą Prasko - in some accounts, an evil spirit, in other - reincarnation of Kefito himself. He came to the ancient city-in-the-mountain during the storm, weathered, battered and hungry, and asked for shelter and food. People of those times were kind and trusting to whoever arrived on their doorstep, and gave him the hospitality he asked for. But it was nothing short of a grave mistake, for behind his pitiful façade he held a soul darker than his shadow. For a few days, he acted grateful and seemingly worked hard to repay the hospitality. But eventually, when almost everyone decided he was trustworthy and left him as a sole guardian of the city while everyone was away, under the cover of the night, he started his rampage, breaking into the homes of people not present, rummaging through their belongings and, seeing nothing that could satisfy his immeasurable greed, lit all of the possessions on fire. In his greed turning into desperation, he ignited everything he possibly could, ravaging the city and turning it into ash. Some variations of this tale say, that he burned with the city, some - that he fled into the darkness he came from. But the most ancient of them postulates, that he, attempting to arrogate the Eternal Fire met his end within it. This story usually serves as something of a scary fairy tale for children, teaching them about existence of evil and untrustworthy people, although many historians agree, that it may very well be a warped annalistic tale."
 - Kičēki Ilyę̄tsi, "A History of the Folklore of Stoneguard & Relnarith"
The writing of Kičēki is considered of a much higher quality and well researched by the scholars of Ischanor, but there is some questions as to whether these tales are one in the same. Some suggest that the story Kičēki writes of dates back to before the days of the Osriguardian conquest of Relnarith. The common folk have largely accepted this belief, telling both tales as equally important. Of course, many see this merging of the tales as an attempt by Ischanic Inquisitors to remove hostile pretexts about Ischanor within the older media of the Osriguardian peoples, but no credible evidence has been produced to prove this.
=== Linguistics ===
The Kičįospečirāę̄tsi Dunši, often referred to as High Phorosi in Traveler's Tongue, is the most prevalent language within Osriguard. It's roots lie in the complex and various dialects of the Stoneguardian and Southern Osrian peoples who inhabited the Uraki Penninsula before the creation of Urak. It developed from the various similar local dialects into a more concrete language around the time of the founding of the various Osrian city-states. These Northern city states took on a distinct language from their Southern neighbors, which would eventually become prevalent as the Uraki dialect. This Dialect heavily influenced the Southern lands Uraka conquered, such as Stoneguard and Aerie.
As time went on, the Uraki Imperium eventually collapsed into many successor states, resulting in the creation of Arktania. The Arktanian Dialect of the High Phorosi tongues influenced the language similarly to the Uraki Dialect, as many of the various dialects constantly to intertwined over time. By the time of the Osriguardian arrival in Kejafros, speakers of the various dialects could easily understand each others conversations, a result of thousands of years of linguistic development.
==== Ischanic Influences ====
After the conquest of Relnarith, despite great prejudice against the native Ischanic peoples, the language of the Osriguarians slowly took some influence from the Ischanic languages. These differences are much more noticeable on the West Bank of the Grey River, or in the South, near Millstone. While the influence has brought changes to the local dialects of these areas, the differences compare little to the Ischanic dialect of the Valley. In Dalbrucht Village and the other small settlements, Kičįospečirāę̄tsi Dunši has become a major influence on the native tongue, which was already quite different from the other Ischanic languages. As a result of this, the Dialect spoken from Grimguard to Torobatl is often broken and hard to understand for the average Osriguardian, often causing issues in communication, and only worsening the hard trading conditions in the region.
=== Cuisine ===
While the people of Osriguard have long enjoyed a rich variety of food & drink, there are many important staples within the Kingdom. Mēdu, or honey, for an example, is a common sweetener among the more well off people, due to the time taken to refine it into a rich syrup. Čileypi, or bread, forms a less important part of the diet than in some locations. Other notable staples are tugurō (cheeses), kavi (mutton), or kęušiti and kiyži (chicken and goat, respectively).
==== Dishes ====
Many stable dishes are created throughout the varies regions of Osriguard, and regional varieties often mean that different cities might never have the same common dishes. However, there are a number of widespread dishes and brews throughout the majority of the land.
==== Desserts ====
A great deal of kivēži (usually used as a word for fruit, but sometimes used for cherries depending on the regional dialect) combined with a less rich and thin mēdu sauce is often served as a dessert. This dish is commonly served several times a week in some locations, such as Arthholds or the Valley. To create the dish, unpitted cherries, often still connected at the stem, are placed in a bowl. The honey, or mēdu sauce is created by heating the honey to high temperatures, and then carefully pouring the liquid onto the cherries. The dish will then be left in the coolest available location until the sauce has thickened, and consumed. Lower classes might use honeycomb as opposed to a honey sauce due to expenses.
Another dessert more widespread throughout Osriguard is pečitikeš, a small pastry cake often filled with various different fillings. Usually, it is baked at about the size of a hand, and filled with kōgr (Various types of berries) or sweet tugurō (Cheese). Ēya, a type of small grape is also used for fillings, often mixed with a mēdu filling. 
The most common "dessert" seen within meals is zēkita, spongy cakes which use small bits of honey as their flavoring, and are often eaten with xerųnkerā rišibremu, ground meat roasted in a large flat patty. Sponge cakes are usually dipped in the juices from the meat, or, alternatively, served with berries. While sponge cakes are the most common form of zēkita, it may also take the form of sweet bread or marble cake.
==== Drinks ====
Low alcohol brews are the most common drink and are consumed with every meal in the day. Water is available, but brewing culture has largely taken over major cities such as Titan's Landing. Biusō (beer), satsēya (wine with little aging), Erbiru (aged wine) and Šeberką (A strong drink sometimes brewed in cherry barrels lined with bark on the inside). Šeberką and erbiru are seen as upper class drinks, especially the former, which is almost exclusively consumed by nobility.
==== Common Meals ====
Meat is a more common part of the diet than in many other realms, commonly being eaten every supper. For the lower classes, the previously mentioned meat patties and zēkita may be common, but for upper classes, different takes are approached. Savory dinners are more common, with pečitikeš being served separately. For more rich dinners, the meat, either peytsu (fish), or various types of other mēmu (meat) such as mutton, steak, or pork. It is not uncommon for Čileypi (bread) to be filled with this meat, or a combination of meat and vegetables. 
Turita (pies) are also common among all classes of society. Nobility and some richer merchants might serve large, rich pies of many kinds of fish and meat, and vegetables. Sweet pies are rare, though small, personalized ones may be served for desserts. Kōvya (eggs) are also often used in pies, usually either as a filling between meats and vegetables, or the main part of a pie (usually, lower classes might use cheaper vegetables combined with many eggs in a small pie due to the fact that meat, while common, can still be expensive). 
Čileypi (bread) and tugurō (cheese) is also a common breakfast meal, usually served with satsēya, young unaged wine common among the poor. Otherwise, raviki, a gruel or porridge made of oats or torn up chunks of bread, is the usual breakfast. Another less common meal for breakfast might be berō (stew). Usually, if consumed in the morning, it has been left in the pot with a closed lid after the last nights meal. It is often consumed in taverns, which usually keep pots on the fire.
=== Religion ===
See main articles: Anāriane, Sagaism
The official religion of Osriguard is de jure Sagaism, and de facto Anāriane. After arriving in Kejafros, as the Osriguardins moved from location to location, many began to forget the ten fallen knights of Anara, preferring to simple worship the most recognizable Sagaist deity. The old ways quickly fizzled out after the conquest of Relnarith, especially after the permanent foundation of Titan's Landing As time went on, cities such as Anara's Peak were founded and became centers of the Children of Anāra, a new order dedicated to the veneration of Anara alone.
Sagaisms decline continued, lacking any dedicated or organized priesthood since the arrival of the Osriguardians to Kejafros. Many of the people associated with it became denigrated as backwards, or smeared as mere cultists. Eventually, the final killing blow to the scattered remaining followers of the old ways came knocking, along with an enormous Ischanic Army. Osriguards defeat in battle and subsequent "Honorable Peace" involved, importantly, an unspoken term, in which Sagaist beliefs were declared "Syncretic" with Ischanic values. Due to the still extremely xenophobic beliefs about the Ischanic peoples, it was seen by the remaining Sagaists as an embarrassment to be associated with an ideology now in union with "Ischanic Filth".
The Anāriane is now the dominant religion of Osriguard, with the Ischanic Church holding a small but noticeable presence, and an essentially unnoticeable following of Sagaism. The High Sage of the Anāriane typically anoints a new Xarēži to celebrate his coronation, however, due to the nature of the shifting balances of power in the Kingdom, it has not become uncommon for the new King to make a pilgrimage to Anara's Peak for the occasion.
== Climate and Geography ==
== Vexillology ==
The flag of Osriguard is the Cross & Star, which contains the cross of black and yellow once flown by the Xynthian Commonwealth of Stoneguard, and the coat of arms of the Royal Lands of Osria. The flag was agreed upon by the first three Emperors of the state, and has received little changes since. 
Various noble banners are often flown throughout Osriguard, such as in the Barony of Osria, in which the Osrian banner remains somewhat similar to it's older designs, or in the County of Highguard, in which a quartered green and checkered banner flies.
Sagaist Stars were once displayed as a form of reverence, but due to the negative connotations placed on the symbol by the Anāriane, it quickly fell out of fashion, along with the older Sagaist ways.
Category:Ischanor