Crithia

**Crithia** ( /ˈkɹɪ.θi.ə/ ) is a kingdom in the northeast of Ilain, north of Aleauforre and northeast of Cailledoch.

## Geography

### Climate

Most of Crithia has an oceanic climate, with winter temperatures often just below freezing and summer temperatures in the high 60˚s. The north peninsula often sees more snow than the southern regions.

### Fauna

Wild boar are found throughout the country's wilderness, the ancestors of the domestic swine raised by many rural farmers. Many species of tern, shrike, and grouse make their homes on the moorlands.

### Natural Features

Crithia's land mass is made up largely of fens and moorland.

The Blackbright Mountains along the southwestern border separate Crithia from Cailledoch, and are home to several coal mines.

The eastern and northeastern coasts are home to a great many limestone areas and karst landscapes.

### Major Cities

Capitol

**Heldershore** is the country's largest port city, located on the eastern coast.

**Vurotstad** is the wealthiest city in the kingdom, and the largest outside the capital.

Whitefall

## History

Crithia was conquered by Aleauforn powers shortly after the Sorcerer's War. Abria controlled the country until the year 256, when Hubrecht den Lindenvinke I led the Crithian War of Independence, crowning himself king in 258.

## Demographics

### Races

The Crithian race (descended from proto-Aleauforns many centuries ago) are the dominant race in the kingdom.

The Arðani, a nomadic race of near-giants, roam the Crithian moors. They keep to themselves and are generally undisturbed by the Crithian authorities.

### Languages

The nomadic Arðani have very little knowledge of the Ilaini language, and as they keep to themselves, converse mainly in their own ancestral tongue. Some tribes and families, especially those nearer to coastal regions, engage in trade mostly with Crithians. Traders usually have a very limited command of Ilaini, but may learn from traders with whom they develop a rapport.

## Government and Politics

### Crime and Punishment

#### Murder

Murder usually results in life imprisonment. Multiple offenses, or an account of a murder judged to be unusually sadistic or cruel, may result in the death penalty.

#### Adultery

Marriage is a contract under both the law and the gods; thus adultery is classified as both a crime and a sin. The decision to press criminal charges, however, rests with the spouse who has been wronged.

### Relationships with Other Nations

#### Aleauforre

Crithia and Aleauforre enjoy a tenuous peace at the moment. Crithia is heavily invested in maintaining peace between the two nations, and the Crithian nobility often stages politically advantageous marriages in this interest.

#### Cailledoch

As neighbors, Crithia and Cailledoch hold no animosity, and have a solid trade relationship.

#### Evora

Crithia has thus far tried to avoid taking any stance as an ally or enemy of Evora. Some in the Crithian government have voiced disapproval of the Evoran government's corrupt practices, but Crithia is a new nation still recovering from the effects of their War for Independence, and recognizes that they can't afford a military struggle right now. Additionally, the monarchy recognizes that making an ally of Evora would make them an enemy of Osornia and Cailledoch. As such, they have decided to remain neutral.

## Religion

*Main article: Aleauforn Pantheon*

Religion in Crithia is based largely on the Aleauforn Pantheon due to the centuries they spent as an Aleauforn territory. There are, however, some distinctions that stem from Crithian folk religion and folk legend.

### Main Gods

Egetheou and Valloira are the primary god and goddess, presiding over strength of body and strength of mind. In Crithian worship they are husband and wife, and Amontiane is not as vital to the pantheon as in Aleauforre. As the story is told in Crithia, Amontiane and Egetheou were never married—they were lovers for a brief period (producing Belinaea), after which he abandoned her for Valloira. This alters Amontiane's role somewhat. Though she is not a principal goddess she still plays a role as a giver, carer, and patron to families, as well as a mother figure to those who have been abandoned.

Florich's role is functionally identical to his original role; however, his dynamic with the other gods is slightly altered as he is not romantically involved with Valloira.

Teridon and Terilette are similar to their original iterations; however, their parents are Egetheou and Valloira.

Solreven is considered the only god in the Aleauforn pantheon whose role and connotation undergoes virtually no change.

### Additional deities

#### Kieldara

The Harbinger of Spring is a figure from Crithian folklore that has been incorporated into the pantheon under the name Kieldara. It is said that Valloira had a difficult and painful labor with Teridon and Terilette, and a young village girl assisted with the birth. In gratitude, Valloira granted her immortality and trusted her with the domain of planting, fertility, and new life.

Kieldara is honored every year around the time of the first thaw. Many farmers and rural families hold her in regard as their primary deity and pray to her year-round for adequate rainfall, prevention of flooding, and a successful planting season. In most of Crithia, she absorbs the positive aspects of Belinaea (fertility, childbirth), and Belinaea is relegated to a temptress figure.

## Economy

### Major Industries

#### Limestone and Marble

Limestone deposits are plentiful along the eastern and northeastern coast. In areas near natural hot springs, the bottom of karst cliffs, etc., this limestone is metamorphosed into marble. The city of Vurotstad, built near a non-explosive caldera, is famous for its hot spring spas and is vastly wealthy from the various marble quarries around it.

Crithian marble is highly prized throughout all of Ilain. Nobles as far as Pavnolya and Munakhat utilize it in the construction of palaces, mansions, temples, etc.

#### Coal

Communities in the foothills of the Blackbright Mountains on the southwestern border revolve around coal mining.

#### Fishing

The northern peninsula is home to countless fishing villages.

## Culture

### Music

Much of Crithian music is centered on vocals and harmonies, and popular instruments include the harp, lute, viol, piccolo, and flute.

### Literature

Long-standing oral tradition has lead to a rich catalog of folktales. Since Crithian independence, it has become popular among writers to adapt these tales into long-form poems, novels, and plays. Such practices have led to many arguments among scholars over the "true" versions of these folktales.

### Arts

Due to the wealth of marble produced by the country, Crithia has a rich tradition of marble sculpture. Many artists create large reliefs on marble slabs, as well as sculptures of animals or deities.