Araedia

A lush land full of seedy people and great beaches.

**Araedia** is a large kingdom situated south of Terresol and almost entirely surrounded by the sea. To the north, mountains shield them from unwanted visitors and trade occurs strictly by a single road. Rivers flowing down from the mountains keep the land fertile making it a prime land for farming and producing bushels of crops to be spread across Marin. The capital, Erillia, is located in the center of Lake Erillia, connected to the mainland through bridges.

The throne rightly belongs to House De Lancret. However, the current heir, Princess Rhaenys Alexandra, is not of age. Matters of state are currently seen to by the Queen Mother Juliana De Barbarac - the princess’s grandmother. All regions are ruled by separate Provincials that report back to the Royal House.

## **Geography**

Araedia can be geographically divided into four main regions: the Riverlands, Sprawling Grasslands, Northern Mountains, and Coast of Aurileme. It experiences relatively warm summers and very mild winters due to its location in the mild South. Alternatively known as the “Nation of Blossoms,” Araedia is home to some of the most beautiful flowers in Marin. Flower-based names are very common in highborn women and floral designs are commonly seen in fashion and artwork.

The Riverlands are the southernmost region, but can be further divided into two sects. To the east lie the Riverlanders, a migratory people who live solely off of the land and natures generosity. They are very separate from the political climate of Marin and tend to be forgotten.

An expanse to the North, from the western coast to River Zecil, the sprawling grasslands and are heavily focused on agriculture. Delekou, the largest city in the region, is the gatekeeper of produce in Araedia and organizes the incoming harvest for distribution in Araedia and to seaports for trade.

The heavily forested Northern Mountains separate Araedia from Terresol and lack defined passing except for the l’Alle du Bestanteaux, which connects Erillia to a port town, Ermentruda,  at the southern end of Lake Lampia. This is the primary means of trade by land between Araedia and Terresol, though the majority takes place via alternative ports. The mountains are home to nomads and magic users who wish to live a solitary life, though they remain mostly uninhabited.

The Coast of Aurileme was very similar to the swamping grasslands prior to the eruption of Mr. Aurileme 230 years ago. The eruption destroyed many of the ecosystems along the coast, including the major city of Lancret and surrounding towns. Overtime, the land has been overtaken by forests and the once destroyed city was reestablished and renamed as a coastline port by Provincial Milia-Perez. However, compared to the other seaports, Adelesia maintains a reputation of being gritty, dirty, and least honorable of the Araedian ports.

Mt. Aurileme is the home to Xolile, the Phoenix and patron God of Araedia, in the Arcton Keep. It is said that Xolile is directly linked to the fate of Araedia and its displeasure will result in the eruption of Mt. Aurileme a second time and destruction of Araedia.  The initial eruption was a warning and predicted by a De Lancret who told her family to join her at the keep and was the only Provincial House on the eastern coast to survive. Since then, the De Lancrets are Xolile’s chosen and the ruling provincial.

## **Culture**

#### The Riverlanders

The Riverlands are inhabited by different tribal sects collectively known as Riverlanders. They are a migratory people who worship natures cycles. Many of their gods are archetypal representations of natural phenomena and revolve primarily around the lunar and solar cycles. Known for their holistic healing practices and skill in hunting, the Riverlanders live off their surroundings and move around where the food is plentiful. There are a select number of permanent settlements near rivers and fertile land. Followers of Xolile - the majority of Araedians - believe the land was cursed by the initial eruption of Mt. Aurileme and refuse to live there despite the fertile ground and flourishing ecosystems for fear of upsetting the Phoenix. Thus, much of the Riverland culture remains a mystery.

#### The Little Bridges

A mercantile society, the Little Bridges, are a collection of three major cities: Mof, Aco, and Xhi moving from the easternmost peninsula to the west. After two years of darkness following the eruption of Mt. Aurileme, the three cities combined to form the Little Bridges. Architects from Xhi and builders from Mof created the stone bridges connecting the three peninsulas - an architectural phenomena. Run by the Council of Vits, a group of wealthy and democratically elected patrons, known as Vitalics, the Little Bridges act as their own collective focused on trade. Each city has a faction that is the most well-known and respected. The Lynx of Xhi used to be the wealthiest of the Little Bridge cities prior to attacks by the Tides Bearer from the Southern Isles. Overtime, Xhi has become  more aggressive, focused on defending themselves and the rest of the Little Bridges from Tide Bearer or Southern Islander attacks. Aco is the wealthiest city and the Cockrels of Aco (amusingly called “the Cocks”) are known for living pompous lifestyles and hold a belief that the Little Bridges should maintain the status quo. A good description of their ideology would be, “If it works, don’t fix it.” Mof is the most accepting of the cities, believing that stagnancy does nothing but harm their ability to grow and trade. A large number of South Islander refugees can be found working at the docks at the bottom of the cliffs.

## **Religion**

#### The Circle of Xolile

The eruption of Mt. Aurileme destroyed the original five Araedian provincials on the east coast leaving nothing but ashes, burnt cadavers, and ruin. Warning from the alleged insane De Lancret daughter, Athena, saved the lives of her family who took shelter in the family crypt days before the eruption. It is said that when the family emerged from the crypt, a Phoenix rose from the smoking mountain and claimed Athena as its own, picking the girl up in its talons and taking it to Mt. Aulimere as recompense for their failures. Since that day, the De Lancrets were declared the chosen of Xolile and have ruled ever since. The Circle began with Athena De Lancret as the first Keeper of Xolile and continuously grows as highborn Araedians who pass the Trials of Xolile join their ranks.

The Circle has tremendous influence among Araedian nobility and has advisors in every Provincial court to ensure the will of Xolile is carried out. Each year, two selections are held at random and the Circle will visit the highborne families of those marked by Xolile’s flame and take the daughters to participate in Trials. Those who survive and are deemed worthy join the Circle to care for the Phoenix, while those who are not deemed worthy, but survive, return to their homes, often a skeleton of their former selves. Women who have undergone the Trials have scarring like white lace covering their bodies and are seen with high esteem among Araedian courts. Despite the rumors surrounding the Trials and the Circle in Arcton Keep, it is considered taboo to speak of one's experience or  the names of those taken.

#### Beliefs

In their darkest times, it appeared. The sovereign saviour who emerged as ashen snowflakes settled upon the ruins of Araedia. Xolile is the heart of Mt. Aulimere that protects the new civilization built after the first eruption and thus, appeasing the Phoenix is directly tied to the fate of Araedia. Xolile has the power within a single tear to heal and cure any injury or ailment. However, the bird rarely sheds a drop to be distributed to a portion of the masses begging at its door. To appease the demands, a single individual is chosen as the Keeper. Sworn to abstinence and a life of honesty, the Keeper is required to remain within the Arcton Keep to keep the creature satisfied and is rumored to have pyromantic and clairvoyant abilities. Among the deity’s demands lie wealth, procurement of spiritual objects, and blood sacrifice from the Keeper or a Lady of the Order.

To this day, Xolile looms over the masses of Araedia as a shadow, linking them to the destruction they emerged from. A constant reminder that when the heart of the mountain beats again, they will lose what they have built. The chances for another rebirth are truly slim and failure will result in ruthless annihilation.

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