The Kingdom of Silvadomus

Silvadomus a nation of proud and sturdy people hailing through ages of strife and chaos throughout their history, the end of Pyros and the Age of Spirits has allowed this nation to flourish alongside its neighbours, the nation consists mostly of Feyans with a minority of meridians taking refuge in Silvadomus.

### Population

Feyan majority with Drow and Meridian minorities.

## History

### **Ancient rule**

#### **~  Age of establishment ~**

**400 years Before Pyros - *Establishment of Silvadomus***

Silvadomus was established within the forests of Northern Ludwag by the Family Silva, staking their claim within the woods and building a great kingdom within the expansive realm, bending the will of nature to their needs and establishing a flourishing civilization with the will of Stratalus as their divine light. They would establish great feats, with eternally growing fields and plants, and producing technological wonders of the age, bringing civilised society to the desolate lands of Ludwag and making peace with its inhabitants.

**100 years Before Pyros - *First contact***

Silvadomus was in its technological and agricultural golden age, making its first contact with the ever-expanding kingdom of the Pyrosi. The two kings of the society would meet and make peace with each other, establishing a grand trade route across the plains of Ludwag, bringing both societies closer than ever and establishing them as the dominant forces of the northern half of the continent.

**0 Years before Pyros - *Treachery***

In the midsummer of Northern Ludwag, devastating news had been broken to the Silvic people, their king was dead. He had been found dead in his chambers with a pyrosi gilded knife planted in his chest. His son would pick up the mantle and would wage war on Pyros, vowing to avenge his father against those who had betrayed them.

### **Pyrosi Rule**

#### **~ Silvic Dark Age ~**

**10 years After Pyrosi victory - *The Famine***

After the Pyrosi had defeated the nation of Silvodamus, they quickly made no waste of the Silvics seemingly endless resources, putting the city state to work as the main source of food and luxury production in the Empire, subjugating the Silvic into internal production and ignoring their claim to their lands, causing a famine within the Silvic lands. This famine would cost the lives of many Silvic citizens, and would cause the most unrest within the kingdom, and would bring the Silvic to their knees.

**50 years after Pyrosi victory - *Technological stagnation***

Under the heel of Pyrosi rule, Silvic scholars were put to work in other areas of Pyros, leaving the Silvic to technologically Stagnate and economically fold. The once eternal fields of Silvodamus after years of relentless reaping would begin to dry out, leaving the forest floors a near barren wasteland and causing major issues within the Silvic, with the Silvic monarchy beginning to plot against the Pyrosi state.

**51 years after Pyrosi Victory - *The Arcus***

The Silvic had gained knowledge of the Arcus after the Silva family had meetings with the upper echelons of the meridians. They would begin funding the Meridian project to free themselves from Subjugation. The Silvic would divert as many resources as they could, funneling money and scholars into the underground project which would save them from the heel of the Pyrosi, the Silvic scholars would perish in the aftermath of the Arcus, leaving nobody to tell the tale of the Silva families deed.

### **Isolationist Rule**

#### **~ Aftermath ~**

**0  ~ 100 Years A.C - *Isolation***

After the fall of pyros, the Silvic were quick to accept Meridian refugees from the Mountains, accepting them with open arms into their society, with those who couldn’t make it being wiped out by an Aridian and Tescali alliance. This would cause the Silvic to despise the nation of Aridam and the Tescali, seeing them as traitors to the Elven people, a prejudice that would become a staple of Silvic lineage. The silvic would close their borders, defending themselves fiercely and repelling any Aridian or Tescan conquests into their city.

**100 ~ 600 years A.C - *Plummet***

Throughout the next 500 years of Silvic history saw a complete economic and technological failure, with the Silvic and Meridians working hard to solve the Agricultural shortcomings of the Silvic, but failing to rejuvenate the blasted soil, the belief in the will of Stratalus and the Gods was at an all time low, with the Monarchy and the Church beginning to lose majority support within the Kingdom after multiple failures.

### **Spirit Rule**

#### **~ Age Of Hope ~**

**1 Year after the gods disappear - *Hope is Born***

The Silvic had all but given up on the gods, with the Monarchy and Church being severely criticised, until one day a prophet walked into town. A man of grandiose stature and charisma who declared himself a ‘Spirit’. He would perform many works of magic, and would restore the Silvic fields to what they once were, getting himself heralded as a hero amongst the people.

This would spark revolt in the Silvic people, as they exiled the Monarchy and church in a bloody coup that would see this Spirit ascend to the throne, with the Silva family entering either exile or hiding themselves amongst the people.

**100 Years after the gods disappear - *Eternal king***

100 Years after the spirit king had made himself known amongst his people, he would establish himself as the eternal ruler after a century of rule. He would continue to supply the fields with the promise of the Subjugation of the Silvic peoples, To the silvic peoples horror, they had discovered themselves swindled by an Eternal Tyrant, posing as the true king of Silvadomus.

**100 ~ 400 Years after the gods disappear - *Tyranny***

The Spirit king kept the fields flowing, but persecuted any he suspected of treason, committing horrors against the Silvic peoples and using them at his will, throwing masses of Silvic to the fields to die impoverished and destitute. The Tyrant had sown the seeds for rebellion.

### **New Rule**

#### **~ Age of Reclamation ~**

`**1056, The Great Shift - *Reclamation***

The Silvic had grown restless in their endless subjugation under the spirit King, especially the Silva family, who gathered many Silvic elves under the cover of Dark, where they received word from a freed Stratalus in the form of an apple and a gilded knife. After consuming the Apple, the Silvic King would feel himself imbued with the blessing of Stratalus, the ability to seal spirits away. Brought to him within a vision in the apple.

Under the cover of darkness, the Silvic peoples would enter the Royal palace, planting the knife into the spirit kings chest while he slept, as the Silvic king would entrap the Spirit, wielding the power of the Spirit and bestowing its vitor unto the forest, sustaining the forest for many years to come, Silvadomus had been re-established after centuries of subjugation at the hands of tyranny.

**1056 ~ 1140 - *Prosperity***

Silvodamus was flourishing under its new rule, with the use of ‘Spirit holders’**[1]** keeping several captured spirits at bay under the palaces’ catacombs, keeping the forest alive with their vitor**[2]**. The Silvic had once again become masters of their own fates, and  they wielded the power of the forest and Stratalus**[3]** once more.

**[1]** See 'The Silvic Spirits'

**[2]** See 'The Silvic Jungle'

**[3]** See 'The Ancient Seal'

### **Current Rule**

#### **~ Age Of Chaos ~**

**1141 ~ Present - *Collapse***

Silvodamus entered its doomsday, with the Leviathan destroying the kingdom in one fell swoop, freeing the spirits and releasing hell unto the silvic peoples for centuries to come. the spirits would flee the city, imbuing the nearby forest with every last bit of vitor they could muster, overgrowing the forest into the Silvic Jungle.

The Spirits, upon being released by the catastrophic event that was the devouring of Silvadomus, were shattered into pieces by their abrupt release from containment. Holding little knowledge of what happened, the remnants of the spirits slinked into the forest - but not before the Silvic Spirit Hunters, the bearers of the Seal, captured one piece of all seven of the major spirits.

The rest of the spirit pieces, once conglomerated in the forest, reformed themselves and began the process of creating the jungle. Vitos and Aura, Spirits of Herbomancy, poured their vitor into the forest north of Silvadomus and forced it to overgrow.

The area of forest that the spirits inhabited served as the centre of the jungle, and from there the taller trees and dark underbrush spread through the forest.

With the pieces of spirit that the Silvic Bearers of the Seal had captured, seven weapons were forged utilising the vitoric power that these pieces held. One weapon represented one of the spirits, and without these final pieces, the spirits have never been able to return to their full power.

A constant vying for control over these seven weapons was committed - by holding the weapons as hostages, and continuously threatening to destroy them and refuse the spirits of wholly uniting, an uneasy peace was forged between the Silvic and the spirits in the jungle. Over centuries, four of the seven Silvic weapons have been lost and are no longer in possession of the Silvic; only Sol Ferrum, ANtigryde, and Lux Inclina are still maintained by the Silvawyn.

Without their last pieces, the spirits have run into a dormant state, with the jungle ceasing to grow until they can come back to their full strength. Beasts of abnormal and horrific proportions emerge from the jungle and combat the Silvic, but to little avail - the Silvic Rangers have become specialised in eradicating the monstrosities of the jungle.

## Culture

### **Anatomy and origins of Feyans**

Feyans are the native species of Ludwag. They have sharp, pointed ears. In Silvic culture, it is believed Feyans were given pointed ears to be able to hear words from Stratalus, meaning the pointier and longer the ears the better; however, Feyans have differing types of ears, most coming in all different shapes and sizes.

As well as this, Feyans are taller and more waif-like on average, making it hard for them to don full plated armour like their human Lattish counterparts. In retaliation to this, Silvic Feyans became masters of ranged and lightweight weapons, and have mastered the art of agility.

Since before they can remember, Silvic Feyans have used the resources around them to their advantage - being true naturists at heart.

### **Traditional clothing and music**

In the Silvic, the most common type of traditional clothing is voluminous, expansive robes, usually coloured with earthy or natural colours. Examples include: green, white, brown, orange and blue. With men, it is usually popular to have no shape of your body visible while wearing these robes to project a more masculine idea.

However, with women, traditional wear is usually pinched at the waist with a linen cloth, and secured with a bow at the back. The arms, however, are extremely baggy and large, to give the look of wings - commonly associated with elegance and femininity.

These are commonly used for special occasions or festivals, however. Most Silvic everyday wear is made of leather, cotton and silk, courtesy of the hunting/textiles guild who supplies them with the majority of their clothing.

Silvic music is mostly composed of string instruments. The harp is the most commonly used in Silvadomus, as it was believed to be created by feyans thousands of years ago. The Silvic harp is traditionally very small and able to be held in one hand. Silvic music is very calming, accompanied usually by traditional songs. Drums are also popular in Silvic culture, made from bark/wood and other natural materials.

### **Celebrations and traditions**

In Silvic Culture, there are many holidays, festivals and traditions.

#### **The Moon Festival**

* A celebration had before winter begins, at the end of the harvest season (autumn).
* The day is mostly used to remember the dead, celebrating their lives and memory. It is custom to visit the graves of their loved ones - however, it is not in mourning. It is a celebration of life and rebirth.
* Feasts are held around the gravesites of the deceased, as well as shrines being made with food offerings in front of them.
* Music and dancing is commonplace, as well as an abundance of harvest food.
* Overall, the festival celebrates the beginning of winter. To the Silvic people, it symbolises the cycle of death and rebirth.

#### **The Sun Festival**

* A celebration had at the beginning of summer. It is done to celebrate the life and warmth returning to the forest and the trees.
* At the beginning of the festival, most Silvic citizens perform a special prayer to Stratalus in order for him to bless their crops and lands.
* Traditional clothing is worn at this festival.
* Many merchants and travellers come to the Silvic during this time to experience the rich culture and atmosphere this festival has.
* A **LOT** of cider is drunk at this festival, due to the cultural importance of apples.

#### **Coming of Age Ceremony**

* When a young feyan becomes 26, they take part in a ritual Coming of Age ceremony conducted via the church.
* The general idea is that the young feyan stands inside a hole in the ground, and dirt is poured on top of them. They then must dig their way out.
* It is supposed to symbolise rebirth and new beginnings.
* It is important to note that while this is a ‘coming of age’ ceremony, they are still considered children until age 36.
* It is more of a symbolic task than an actual challenge. No young feyan has ever failed or become injured/endangered from this ritual.

#### **Weddings**

* Weddings must be officialised by the church. If they are not officialised by a Viceregent+, then it is not an official marriage under Silvadomus and Stratalus.
* The ritual of marriage is rather simple. They must find a tree root, traditionally an apple tree (but any tree will do). The couple must recite a prayer and slit the palm of their hand, letting the blood drip into the soil that the tree is being planted in. Then, the tree is planted and they are blessed by the Viceregent.
* Weddings are a happy and peaceful occasion, but private (unless it is a royal wedding). Traditional garments are worn, the colour of wedding dresses usually being green and golden.

#### **Funerals**

* All bodies are cremated in Silvadomus, and nobody is buried.
* The ashes are blessed by a Viceregent+. After this, they are mixed with the dirt and scattered while a prayer is recited to Stratalus.
* Instead of headstones, deceased names are carved into trees. Various offerings and possessions of the deceased are buried nearby.
* Grave-robbing is extremely taboo, as well as illegal and punishable by death.

#### **Executions**

* Death in Silvadomus culture, especially in military culture, is not too feared if you die in a noble, honorable way. However, if you die for going against the law, Royal lineage or Stratalus himself, it is extremely feared.
* Most executions regarding punishment by law are simple and merciful - a crossbow bolt to the back of the head, and the ashes of the criminal are returned to their next of kin.
* However, if you try and harm the royal family or an ancient seal possessor, you are sentenced to death by alive burial, an extremely brutal and slow way to die.

## Military

The army of Silvadomus, aptly known to most of Northern Ludwag as simply the Silvic Rangers, is one of the best trained military forces on the continent. The Rangers are best known for being a decentralised but qualitative host of elitist, versatile light infantry that are commonly accompanied by beast-riders and skilled mancers.

Within the Silvic Kingdom, the Rangers are a well respected military unit in Feyan society - having status akin to a Lattish Knight with some of the veterans of the Rangers being popular amongst the Silvic masses.

The Feyans and Drow, in their native tongue of High Sindaryn, refer to the Silvic Rangers as the *Silvaemyr*. The Silvic Rangers produce incorruptible soldiers of irrefutable quality - their stout devotion to the state has led to their transformation into the pride of the Silvic Kingdom, with their reputation preceding them.

The accomplishments of the Rangers are often reported directly to the Silvic people - leading to some of the veteran and elite Rangers enjoying widespread fame that lends to a further upheld status within Feyan society.

Employing a range of tactics including guerrilla warfare, the Silvic Rangers are formed of skilled infantrymen who can disappear into the forest itself when need be. Mastering polearms, bows, blades and axes, the Rangers have forever been a stalwart defense and swift-striking force for Silvadomus.

## Religion

### **The Conjurite Sacrament**

The age-old conflict of religion had its seeds implanted long before any conceivable notion of God or Goddess. Power, greed and true passion were the trifecta of man, and as such, it made sense that those with the capability could take each one individually and combine it with another. Religion, even in its truest form, was a device to manipulate the motivations of man. Yet, alongside the very snakes that weave the grass of bureaucracy, the saints and prophets resided. Perhaps at times naive to their counterpart’s true intentions, and other times invigorative and apprehensive, a true prophet could be man’s savior. Or, in the wrong puppeteer’s hands -- the greatest weapon of mass destruction.

Such a prophet was Kagrenac, the Prophet. Kagrenac’s indifferent father, unknown to all, was actually a Stratalite angel who he constantly admired. In one of his many attempts to impress him, he founded the Conjurite Sacrament. At the time, it was almost like an offering to his father; something to prove himself with. However, in truth, he didn’t truly care for the position of ‘Pontifex’. The small position of power he was left, having the public know him as a prophet due to his apparent divine connection, left him unsatisfied. Eventually, the empty void left within him slowly became enamored and filled with the passion of the once facile cult.

It was decades later until the Conjurite Sacrament built any influence in the political-sphere of the State. Kagrenac’s son, Yagrum, had taken it over after the unfortunate death of his father. Yagrum, fueled by that same form of affinity that Kagrenac had for his own father, carried on the legacy and practice of the Sacrament and laid down the foundation required for future generations. And perhaps the greatest decision he could have made was his successor: Astarion Cosma.

Astarion Cosma was an elder in the political sphere. While not great with his oratory skills, Astarion was known as one of the wisest men of his time period and a great influential mind in Silvic philosophy. Aside from his obvious influence in the language arts, not a lot is known of Astarion. Some speculated that he was a true Thaumaturgical Prophet, while others speculated he was just a wordsmith. The remaining records of his life and the literary works he left still serve to this day as a major backbone to future generation beliefs. A ‘founding father’, in a sense. One of these ideals was the opposition of Pyrosi rule in favor of natural individualism. However, in Astarion’s eyes, individualism was not the distinct belief and actions of the self, but rather less existentialist and more incumbent of Stratalus. He merged the idea of ‘self’ with him, as Stratulus was seen, in his eyes, the purpose of consciousness. While these ideas were debated and later expanded on (or ignored based on one’s philosophical standing), their influence cannot be understated. Before his death, Astarion declared a recommendation for his successor: Sheogorath. The Cardinals listened.

Sheogorath was a fool. But not only was he a fool, he was a swindler. In truth, Sheogorath was in the Sacrament to fulfill his fantasies of power. That passion that Astarion had seen within Sheogorath was not of the virtuous, righteous nature he had thought. No, when internal affairs began to run hot with the debate of the very soul of the Sacrament, Sheogorath was unable to draw from the source of bondment that drew everyone together. In truth, he was a coward. A coward in a brave man’s position whose very blade was made of a false steel. Thus, his title given to him later was Sheogorath, The Pretender.

Despite this, his unfulfilled promises only multiplied to those around him. Yesmen surrounded him and blindly trusted his word. A growing figure in the political sphere that saw through the shroud of lunacy was Elvawyn. Elvawyn demanded the Conjurites to come to a self-realization; an epiphany. She saw how the soul of the Conjurite had lost it’s own vision. Sheogorath’s possy did their best to dissuade those from her words, guising their arguments as ‘realistic’ in the context of how a government should work. Meanwhile, the growing tension and disparity was seen as an opportunity by the Patriarch of the Silvawyn to leverage themselves into the bureaucracy of the Sacrament. Elvawyn finally won over the position of Venefix (Pontifex) in a surprise upset, but the election only cemented the growing division within ideology. Elvawyn grew a positive reputation amongst the lower-ranked members of the Sacrament, many believing her to be a return to reason. She did her best to reunite the Conjurite’s upper-tier members under a singular name of religious passion and virtuosity, but she never fully achieved it. The reason being, simple: Variten Frey.

Variten Frey, the Relentless, was the organizer of the first and only known coup in Sacrament history. Variten, unknownst to all until decades later, was an agent of the current Patriarch of the Silvawyn. His brash, brutish force instilled doubt and fear amongst all members below him. Anyone seen as ‘treasonous’, or in actuality, against the ideals of what the Patriarch wanted, was violently punished. He ripped and tore ancient texts and teachings, disgraced the original Pontifex before him and threatened anyone who attempted to stop his unwavering power. However, when he destroyed the old texts -- he ripped one too many.

Inalos Maccius, the Scholar sought to fill the void of knowledge that Variten Frey had created -- specifically starting when the man destroyed his favorite parable. At the time of Variten’s rule, he was only a mere Friar. But, through his cunning words and his recognizable authenticity, he rose to Pontifexry by devoting himself to finding the old texts of Astarion. A “return to reason” was the selling point in how he articulated his arguments. He was responsible for creating what is known as the Restoration Age, which was a birth of new knowledge and teachings based upon the old remaining texts of Astarion Cosma by re-interpreting them. These teachings served as the new backbone for the cult. Inalos’s fame and reception rose to the levels of Astarion himself, being of wise-mind and true of tongue, making him one of the most influential figures not just in the Sacrament, but in the Kingdom of Silvadomus. As such, he garnered respect from the Patriarch -- albeit their relationship would remain murky for obvious reasons. Only one thing was for certain: the Patriarch had great interest in the Conjurite man.

From there, the Conjurites’ position remained close with the Patriarch. Many Pontifex would come and go throughout the years, each offering their own development to the religious ideology and leadership alike. Up until the present, the fight for the soul of the Sacrament remains up for grabs as those who empower their decisions for power and for virtuosity battle for control of the establishment.

#### **The Conjurite Culture**

The culture of the Sacrament is heavily influenced by the philosophies and teachings of Pontifex Inalos, who based his words on the lost-long writings of Astarion during the Restoration Age, in which many of the aforementioned transcripts were recovered.

It starts with the belief of a lack-of-self, or as described earlier, an ‘inclusive self’ with Azura and thus Stratalus. One’s mind exists for the purpose of worship for Stratalus and enjoying the world he had crafted. It is often seen that appreciating nature, its formations and lands alike, is a form of worship in of itself. Prayer is done through reducing oneself to absolute silence and stillness, mimicking the motionless Earth beneath oneself, often for extended periods of time. As such, in prayer, there would be no difference between the land and oneself. These ideas of inclusivity and collective worship leave those within the Sacrament to be extremely close-knit. Admitting to the faith to another follower will often produce an instant gaze of familiarity. This attitude is often attributed as the sole reason the Conjurites have lasted through its tumultuous history.

Statues and art around Earth-based materials naturally became prominent. It’s seen as a high honor to be cemented into the evanescent world with a statue of your own. It’s customary that all Pontifex have statues of their own upon their demise or upon their removal from the position. Other people of great significance are honored through grand statues and carvings. However, statues and carvings have a strict code of conduct. If one were to portray Stratalus in any way, it was strictly forbidden to depict him with facial features. Such depictions would be seen as an attempt to superimpose mortal ideas onto a divine being; an act of rebellion.

The home of the Sacrament rests within a volcano. It’s seen as a sacred place of worship due to the close intimacy with Stratalus it grants due to being embedded deep within the Earth. Thus, it’s the main place of worship for most, if not all, Conjurites. It also serves as the main location for sacrifices to Stratalus. Sacrifices are always done by throwing the subject into magma, which in their belief “returns them to Stratalus”, and allows them to be judged before him directly. The current Pontifex of the Sacrament is Saeval Selwyn.