Marquisate of Assia

The **Marquisate of Assia** is one of three Marche within the Kingdom of Toleria. It borders the Marquisate of Palatino to the south, the Kingdom of Trosta to the northwest, and the Grand Duchy of Grifone to the west. It is the largest Marche in Toleria by population. It is controlled by House d'Assia, whose current head is Marquis Adalberto d'Assia. Its capital and largest city is Lamor.

## Marquisate of Assia

### Demographic

Majority: HumansMinorities: Elves, Dwarves

## History

The area known as Assia was settled by a Tolerii tribe some 7000 years ago, where they founded the City-State of Lamor. The fertile farmlands of the area helped Lamor to quickly become one of the major city-states within Eastern Vitolia. They dominated the surrounding area through a series of conquest and vassalizations, growing in power with each wars won. During the Great Carmonaian Conflict, Lamor and its client state entered into the Tolerii Confederation against the looming threat of Varinius II Gnaeus and the Carmonaian Empire. The ensuing years would see closer cooperation and integration among the various tribes of the Tolerii people. By the time war came, Lamor and rest the of Tolerii city-states were united in facing the Carmonaians. The fall of the Carmonaians marked the end of the 10 year-long stalemate. The Tolerii people, now exhausted and war-weary from the pyrrhic victory, united to form the Old Tolerian Kingdom, the predecessor to the current kingdom, as a future deterrent from invaders. Lamor would take control of the northern border region as one of three border Marche. This marks the founding of the Marquisate of Assia.

During the globe-spanning Black War against the forces of the Dark Lord, Assia, along with the rest of Toleria, quickly fell to the forces of the Dark Lord due to being at the eastern gateway to the continent of Rodinia. The war also caused the death and extinction of the original ruling family of Assia and the severe depopulation of the territory. The surviving forces under Leontina d'Assia would retreat and join the combined army organized by the elves. The end of the apocalyptic event will see the Assians return to rebuild their home, now headed by Leontina, and the start of d'Assian rulership.

During the era of the Vitolian Union of Kingdoms, Assia would see itself changed into a duchy. The Times of Restoration would see Assia focusing on the reconstruction and revitalization of the territory. Assia is notable for rediscovering the lost recipe of Vitolian brick and concrete. The Era of Serenity that marked the middle period of the Union would see continued prosperity in the duchy. Assia would see its population steadily recovering to pre-Black War numbers. The assassination of the last Emperor of the union and the bloody subjugation of the Kingdom of Aquilas over a false allegation by the prime consul caused the complete collapse of the union and the subsequent breakaway of the member states. The Era of Strife following the collapse would see Assia reverting back into a Marche, acquiring a port city as compensation for what is legally a rank demotion. Assia, along with its neighbouring Marche of Palatino and Renano would be instrumental in the newly reformed Kingdom of Toleria's struggle to maintain its territorial integrity, to which it ultimately succeeded.

## Economy

Farming, fishing, and animal husbandry is the main economic activity of the territory. Metalworkers can be commonly found in the capital city of Lamor. As a Marche, the metalworkers of Assia are particularly proficient in the creations of weapons of war. War horses are trained in the various lands owned by the *Cavaliere Ereditario's.* Bricks and Cement produced by Capriuli are constantly exported to fuel the development of other territories. Trade with foreign country take place in the port city Troda, which also functions as a vacation location. Logging of the Zonza Forest Range is frequently done for construction and woodworking.

## Demographic

Humans make up the majority of the population in the Marquisate of Assia, and is present in all major and minor settlements. Dwarves make up the second biggest group, working mostly as artisans and concentrated in the city of Capriuli, which has a plurality between dwarves and human. They originated from the Dwarven Duchy of Krazar. Elves are the rarest group of minorities in the territory. Descended from the small number of elves who decided to settle in the region after the end of Black War. Unlike their Gruzian counterparts, they are much less xenophobic and are open to cooperation. They mostly live in the Zonza Forest, occasionally checking and reporting on the logging activities to the Marquis to prevent excesses.

## Geography

The territory is made up of mostly plains and hills. The territory is separated by the Zonza Forest Range, a large forest located to the west of Lamor, and the East Bianca River which runs through Lamor, through the forest, and into Capriuli, making the city the border between Lamor in the south and Troda in the north.

## Place

The capital of Lamor specializes in the production of metalworks. The various metalsmiths in the capital focuses on producing a variety of metalworks ranging from weapons of war to the jewelries worn by the aristocracy and rich commoners. The market district is home to the merchants guild and several shops selling essentials such as food and clothing targeted mainly towards the common citizen of the city. The river ports are used by merchants to move goods to other parts of the kingdom for the purpose of trading. Fishermen also make use of the docks to sell their catch.

The port city of Troda is the second largest city in the marquisate and faces the Carerosa Sea. Incorporated into the territory after the reformation of the kingdom, Troda is home to the 3rd largest port in Toleria. Merchant ships hailing from foreign lands both from within and without Rodinia frequently come and go for trade, rest, and ship repairs. The shimmering view of the sea from and uphill location makes the city a popular vacation spot. Fishing is the main food producing activity of the city.

Capriuli, smallest of the three Assian cities and the city responsible for the rediscovery of Vitolian brick and cement. The production of bricks and cement in the city is exported to other territories through the use of the river. Notable for being the home to popular architects of Toleria, aspiring youth would seek out apprenticeship. These apprentices would work alongside soldiers during peacetime to construct buildings and infrastructure throughout the kingdom, making them quite well travelled. Its proximity to the Zonza Forest Range also makes it home to a variety of artisans specializing in woodworking.

Numerous villages surround the areas long the path of the river focusing on agricultural farming and livestock farming. The larger of these villages would have Inns for travellers and adventurers to rest in.

## Notable People

1. Vincenzo d’Assia
2. Adalberto d'Assia
3. Aria d'Assia
4. Aldo d'Assia
5. Oiana d'Assia
6. Daria d'Assia
7. Rosalba Assiani