Adestia

The proud kingdom of **Adestia** lies on the East coast of Al'Osir and was said to be founded by the eldest of the elven settlers before being handed to the powerful human King Nurem Ristare.

The people of Adestia value that which is beautiful and sublime, and often their cities and towns devote acres to preserving wild flora. Though the nation itself is diverse, the royal line is untouched by inhuman blood (though many speculate this is a façade).

Whisky is distilled in the north-and-central reaches of Adestia and is a major export. Specifically, Adestia is known for brands such as Helion, Bramble Byers, and Saltwick, which are sought after across Soleras.

Knights roam the land in search of glory in battle atop their mighty steeds: the six-legged elk known as Buck-Bearers (Buc'brea in Elvish). Legends of draconic beasts and evil witchery spurs on these classically-trained warriors, and they will ne'er pass up an opportunity to offer a helping hand (for a maiden could always be a fairy in disguise, ready to reward their savior).

## Geography

### The Sea of Adestia

The large body of water south of the Fields of Elyse and Betranor’s point. It connects the capital of Adestia - Adrodarde - with the Lythandra Ocean.

### The Moggdale Wild

The southern branch of Adestia is covered in marshland. Akin to the swamps and marshes of the Louisiana region, Moggdale has various channels and passages between larger bodies of water, all of which feed into the sea. There are hundreds of lakes within this region, and many say that they have not all been found, even to this day.

### The Expanse of Adestia

The mass of green land that makes up the southwest portion of Adestia. This region is fairly warm.

### The Vendrath Mesas

A massive, sprawling mesa and brush landscape. Elk, jackrabbits, and birds of prey are common. This region is known for the solitary mountains and sheer cliffs, as well as the flatlands and broken earth. In ages past, the mesas were a prosperous land, and myriad ruins reflect this.

### The Asmere Pass

The mountain range of Adestia. It has a deep history of protecting the border against Feldar, as well as in protecting the peoples of Adestia during the Great Winters.

## Commerce

As Adestia is a fairly wealthy and longstanding nation with deep roots in intercontinental trade, its commodities are prized around the world.

### Exports

* Whisky. Notable distillery brands: Helion, Bramble Byers, Saltwick.
* Cotton, Wool, and other crude materials.

## Government

Adestia is governed by a human monarchy comprised of a king and queen. The current monarchs are King Kallebron and Queen Olima Ristare. They have five children: Kyra, Julian, Lander, Vista, and Hyra. The kingdom of Adestia takes pride in its "pure" human bloodline. Although the monarchs make all executive decisions, they have an array of advisors.

## Language and Etymology

The official language of Adestia is the Adestian dialect of Common.

## The Duchies

The vast lands of Adestia, while ruled by the king and queen, are largely governed by a small set of dukes and duchesses. These wide swatches of land answer to the throne, yet act independently the majority of the time.

#### The Illian Duchy

East of the Emerrose Gorge lies the lands bequeathed to the Duke of Port Ilia, a triton man named Deiran Dolher (Dole-air). A man solely focused on the sea, his twin sons handle the majority of work on land. Having long since lost his wife to a dreadful kraken attack in the depths of the Valliand Sea, Deiran longs to return and vanquish his enemy.

#### The Duchy of Findaberg

The duchy ruled by Duchess [Hellen] Nyrene stretches from the Velevand Hills to Roserun and is by and large concerned with keeping the Feldaryn border safe (and with facilitating trade between south and north Adestia). Duchess Nyrene is a shrewd human woman in her late 60s and inherited the duchy after her husband - the late Duke of Crinns - passed in a border dispute. She hates all things Feldaryn.

#### The Duchy of Vellya’nor

The Southern Duchy stretches from Almwick to the Southern border of Adestia and contains the entirety of the Moggdale Wild.  Ruled by Duke Leighton Grisp, this is where the majority of Adestia's whisky trade originates. The colors of this duchy are lilac and soft green, and the crest is a viper wrapped around a burning tree.

## Conflicts

### Feldar

For ages upon ages, the sister nations of Adestia and Feldar have feuded. Whether by the difference of beliefs, squabbles over land, or trade disputes, there has rarely been an age that has seen these two nations at peace.