Centrium

A map of Centrium, c. 20 DD.

The province of **Centrium** is the capital of Karden. It is the seat of power for House Godric, and has been the site of many great battles and rebellions.

## History

#### As the Fifth Human Kingdom

The Province of Centrium began as the fifth established Human kingdom in 230 BD, known as Erryn's Kingdom. This early early realm was established by Erryn, a Human explorer who sought stronger relations with the nearby Elves. He set up an outpost north of Elelau Lake and brought many strong soldiers to his side, eventually declaring himself king of a new, self-titled kingdom at the behest of his family. He was strong in policy, but weak in leadership, as his council often undermined his authority, going so far as to refuse to enact his decrees.

After Erryn's death, his successors often clashed with a powerful council that refused to give up the rights they had taken under the first king. The council's actions helped spark the First Human/Elven War, brought in part by the king's inability to meet with foreign traders before they were vetted (and often fleeced) by the council head. Border skirmishes were common until the Elves withdrew from the Human lands completely, shutting down trade with all Kingdoms.

Erryn's Kingdom joined the Betrothal War, a massive war that encompassing all the Human kingdoms at the time. Refugees from the Kingdom of Standûm were taken in by King Filas Slagorand, including the future Rickard I. The war devastated the kingdom, with soldiers destroying large parts of the western forests and plundering many cities along the border with Tammarûm. This led to a series of revolts that sent King Filas and his family on the run.

### The Rule of Rickard I

With no king to rule, Rickard I took the throne through his marriage to the former king's daughter, Maria. Rickard, as king, declared his new kingdom to be free of all debts, paying many of the other kingdoms a portion of his wealth that he had earned fighting in the Betrothal War. Most of the other kingdoms accepted this partial payment, as they were not likely to have been paid at all under the previous king, and allowed the new king to rule as he saw fit.

Magyûm, however, still saw Erryn's Kingdom as responsible for the loss of the war, and refused to take Rickard's payment. The king sent assassins after both Rickard and Maria, but only succeeded in angering the king. In retaliation, Rickard took up arms, rallied his troops, and set out against Magyûm with no plan other than simple revenge.

The campaign started with the fast capture of the Kingdom of the Wastes, a previous and likely ally to the king of Magyûm. After getting the fourth kingdom to submit, Rickard marched through the lands of Penn's Kingdom after securing the aid of of Tammarûm and Standûm, finally bringing the war to Magyûm's doorstep. Once again, all the Human kingdoms were at war.

With the defeat of Magyûm, Rickard proclaims himself king of Magyûm, the Wastes, and Penn's Kingdom, banishing the former royal families. The remaining kings vowed submission to their new overlord, and Rickard I became Rickard Godric the Unifer, first Emperor of Karden. He made his capital at Erryn's Hall, the former capital of his original kingdom, and declared the redrawn kingdom to be named "Centrium."

### Under the First Kings

Centrium became the center of all commerce under the new empire, and remained the seat of House Godric for the duration of their reign. Even with the rebranding of Karden as a single kingdom instead of an empire, Centrium remained the capital province, despite no longer having status as an individual kingdom. Trade continued, and the province became a site of refuge for many non-Humans fleeing the more hostile west. It was also the main hub area for the Silver Way road, a massive undertaking designed to put one major roadway through every province in Karden

During the attack of Ragnor the Plane Shifter, during the Summoner's War, Centrium was the site of resistance and counterattack once the northern provinces had fallen. It was also key to the Wild Wars, where the many northern campaigns were planned and launched.

### Wars and Rebellions

The province remained a bastion of strength until the attacks of the rebel houses in the First Great Rebellion. Many soldiers died on the Vast Plains attempting to keep rebel soldiers out of the capital. The land was spared during the wraith attacks of the Ghost War, but many farms became strained making up for the lack of grains coming out of Daria at the time. During the Second Great Rebellion, the province faced further devastation under the salted-earth marches of Ly the Warlord. By the time of the Penthelm Civil War, the resources of Centrium were severely strained, leading to a destructive logging campaign in the Streccan Forest.

### Age of Dark Learning

With the land taxed and the common people tired of distant rulers, the promise of rejuvenation by the leaders of the Way of Walking were quite sweet. Northern Centrium towns stopped paying taxes to the capital, farmers joined together in guilds as a way of diverting their crops to the Church of the Way instead of foreign aid, and many minor Houses declared their families to be independent of House Godric. Even the attempts of Laban Godric were not enough to sway the hearts of the common folk, as the taxes he imposed on the governors and mayors of the land often brought harsh local restrictions on serfs and farmers.

By 441 CD, the Way had gathered a large enough force in Daria and northern Penthelm to march on Erryn's Hall. Few nobles tried to stop their advance through Centrium until they met minor resistance a few miles from the capital city. It was then too late for King Pyotr to stop their advance, and he was forced to flee with his family to Kiltral.

The Way set Heridon the Usurper on the throne, and despite his background as great commander in the armies of the Order of the Red Sword, Heridon was not prepared to rule a kingdom that did not want him. His time in Centrium was short, and he was run out of the province in 449 CD, after just 8 years as king. The years after were not kind to the people of Centrium, with famine, a protracted rebellion, and unstable taxes affecting nearly everyone outside the capital.

### Rebuilding

Centrium began to rebuild after the council of Lords elected Richard II, bringing a stable, if manipulable, king back to the throne. Richard, his son Alac, and his grandson Alan, have all worked to restore order to the smaller towns and cities in the province, while focusing on creating a place safe for Dwarves and Elves to return to without fear or persecution. Lately, Erryn's Hall has become the seat of the new Wizard's College, with a focus on safe magical study in controlled environments.

## Geography

Centrium is a large province spanning most of the middle of Karden. It is bordered by Tamaratha to the west, Kiltral to the south, and Penthelm to the east. The border with Tamaratha follows a natural dip in elevation, while the southern and eastern borders are formed partially by the Streccan forest and Lake Patau, respectively. Due to a treaty with the ancient Elves, the southern borders convexes to allow access to Elelau lake from Kiltral. The northern border is created by Lanis Bay.

Centrium is composed of three distinct geographical regions: the Vast Plains, Streccan Forest and Elelau Lake. The Vast Plains make up the majority of the Province, providing fertile, if dry, soil to the many peasants that work the land. Many minor Houses provide safety to farmers that in turn provide large amounts of grain and seeds to the kingdom. Elelau Lake is home to a small fishing industry, with most rights to fishing granted to Kiltral. The Streccan Forest was once a major source of lumber for the kingdom, but has since become barren due to over foresting.

In the center of the province sits Loris' Peak, a strange, tall mountain that does not seem to fit with the rest of Centrium's rather flat geography. There are rumors that it was home to a now-extinct dragon clan, or that the gods use it as a gathering place. The Winding River that flows from its peaks provides the most fertile land to a series of farming towns near the border of Lake Patau.

## Demographics

#### Population

Centrium is home to over 300,000 people. They come from a variety of races, but are majority Human. There are approximately equal numbers of Elves, Dwarves, and even Halflings living throughout the province, though most are found in the capital. There are also a fair number of practicing mages of all races thanks to the location of the Head Campus of the Wizard's College located in Erryn's Hall.

The primary religion of Centrium is The Way of Walking, but there still exist many different Sumbayan temples and monasteries in the southern areas. There are even a few shrines and old temples dedicated to the ancient religions of the Elves, but many of those have been hidden away by their caretakers following the purges during the Age of Dark Learning.

#### Culture

##### In the Out-province Cities

People in Centrium are generally friendly with a fair number of inn open to travelers in any given city. Cities and Villages along the Silver Way are especially welcoming, with a bent toward entertaining visitors even while farming income remains the main source of wealth. It is rare that a person in need does not find some sort of aid in the towns of the Vast Plains.

##### In the Capital

In the capital, citizens of Centrium are a different sort. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is higher here than in any other city in Karden. It is considered bad form to look people in the eye as you walk past them, and even acquaintances may get upset after extended eye contact. It is also seen as inappropriate for visitors to talk with the many beggars that line the main streets, and quite a few shops will turn out travelers designated as "beggar marks."

The nobility are more welcoming than the merchant and peasant classes, entertaining visitors with extravagant hostels and luxurious suits designated for certain families in the inner city taverns. It is custom for hosts in Erryn's Hall to offer their guests fine drinks and foods in addition to their lodgings, and will usually give parting gifts to visitors that are not part of the House's closest friends.

## Economy

Centrium is a major provider of grains, seed, and fruit for the kingdom of Karden. It is home to a dozen major farming communities across the Vast Plains, and provides many varieties of fruits grown in the valley region near Lake Patau.

There are a series of iron and gold mines throughout the north, with a major gold mine located near the base of Loris' Peak, on the opposite side of the capital of Erryn's Hall.

Centrium is known as a rich province, though there is a disparity in the more urban areas where unchecked corruption has been allowed to grow. King Alan Godric has vowed to fight such poverty, but has so far made little advances in policy that would protect the poor and merchant classes.

 New Elven Empire