Kingdom of Gold

## History

The Kingdom of Gold was founded by colonists from Greater Elanxa, a short lived nation which at the time included both modern Elanxa and the Small Giantstep region. Once Greater Elanxa collapsed, the colony that would become the Kingdom of Gold became a separate political entity, and gradually increased in size to the point they felt comfortable calling themselves a kingdom rather than a duchy or principality. Officially the Kingdom is called Lotysinhar, but it is rarely used except locally. Instead, the Kingdom of Gold is used, inspired by an old fairy tale.

The previous rulers of the region were the Aine Saevherne (snow elves), but their populations were mostly located further to the south, as although they are resilient to the cold, they found little of value in the northeast region’s endless tundra. Still, fighting was vicious, and only ended once the main elf coastal strongholds were burned down.

However, the Zemylanders (as they were soon to be known) quickly found uses for the region the snow elves had never realized. Using secretive magic studies, they located large deposits of gold, diamonds, iron, and other minerals beneath the tundra, and became famously wealthy as more and more mines were opened.

## Government

The Kingdom of Gold is a hereditary monarchy, who rules over a collection of regional governors and hereditary nobles known as boyars.

Day to day power however mostly rests with local mayors and administrators. The current queen is Sofia Yahontov, who is seen as greedy and arrogant, but generally capable.

## Economy

Large mines produce iron, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, copper, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and of course gold, in vast quantities. The towns and cities contain many skilled smiths and jewellers, whose goods are in high demand around the world.

However, the Kingdom of Gold is isolationist and much of its trade is done via the Kingdom of Silver.

The land is too harsh for conventional farms, but along the coast there are many fishing, seal hunting, crab trapping, and whaling communities.In the interior, people rely heavily on reindeer herding, hunting, lake fishing, and berry picking. Beer, wine, bread, vegetables, cotton and silk, wood, etc., is mostly imported from other nations.

There is a fairly large population of artists, scholars, and craftsmen in the larger communities, where life is considered quite comfortable, despite the harsh climate.

## Foreign Relations

### Kingdoms of Silver, Copper, Crimson, Platinum, and Rust

As fellow lands of Zemylander origin, the Kingdom of Gold considers these areas their allies, and have signed defensive pacts with all of them, though they rarely interact with any except the Kingdom of Silver (who they have extensive trade ties with), and the Kingdom of Rust (whose near empty territory they sometimes patrol).

### Aine Saevherne

The Snow Elves still resent the loss of their lands, but the loss of the forested southern coast bothers them more, so their raids are more focused on the Kingdom of Silver and the Platinum Principality. The Kingdom of Gold doesn't hate the Snow Elves as much as some other nations, but they consider the ongoing raids, slavery, and the holding of old grudges as proof the Snow Elves are fundamentally savages.

### Biblon

Biblon and the Kingdom of Gold are on reasonably good terms. A rugged road from the coastal city of Odinchest through the Rust Lands to the Great Library is one of the few ways for outside scholars to visit without resorting to magical means. Many scholars in the Kingdom of Gold have studied in Biblon, and owl-folk are occasionally convinced to serve as court advisors.

### Kentgorod Town

The Kingdom of Gold is Kentgorod’s only real trading partner, though trade is rare as Zemyland’s north coast is quite dangerous.

### Kunt

Pirates from Kunt have been known to travel as far north as the Kingdom of Gold, however, this is rare.

## Geography

The Kingdom of Gold is geographically bland, mostly covered in endless tundra and small lakes, but with mountains and glaciers to the north, and some small pockets of pine forest along the southern coast.

The coast is mostly defined by cliffs and shale beaches, but there are a few natural harbors, inhabited more often than not by villages, towns, and cities. Much of the population lives on the coast, with only the mines, and small hunting, herding, and lake fishing communities in the interior.

Wood is mostly reserved for ship building, weapons, tools, furniture, and remote hunting shacks, so buildings are often made from stone, with metal doors and roof shingles. Many roofs are made of copper or rusted steel, and from a distance resemble the terracotta roof tiles popular in the southwest.

## Demographics

### Humans

Most of the population is human, specifically Zemylander. However, some humans have some fey blood as well, as even one union centuries ago can affect generations. Humans with rusalka blood are incredibly attractive, and often rise to positions of power in communities, while people with hag or vodyanoi blood are ugly and tend not to reproduce as much, so are therefore rarer. Those with snow elf ancestry are also common, and many use their increased height and strength to win a place in the Royal Army.

### The Fey

A wide range of semi-magical beings live in the region, including rusalka (relatively friendly siren variant), sirins (local harpy variant, name confuses outsiders), vodyanoi (cousins to pondlings), uldra (distant relatives of gnomes), hags (similar to those who serve the bog witches), and arctic merfolk. Such beings mostly keep to themselves, but sometimes interact with humans.

### Trolls

At least three troll variants live in the area, with rumors of two others. They are mostly hostile to humans and have beastlike intelligence, but are thankfully rare.

### Gnome-Dwarves

The inbred half-breed leftovers of forgotten gnome and dwarf colonies, they have a reputation for being slightly unhinged, but are valuable workers in the mines.

## Religion

Like most Zemylanders, the people of the Kingdom of Gold worship a pantheon of gods and spirits they brought with them from the south, and intermixed with some bits of snow elf and Hyperborea culture.

Prominent Gods include the War God Vursid the Bear, the Goddess of Death and Winter Mirslava, and Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, Zolovora.

## Military

Each community has its own well trained village, but the real backbone of the nation’s defensive force is the Royal Army. Trained to fight against trolls and snow elves, they use massive pikes and vicious polar bear mounts to help even the odds against their larger opponents. For fighting against human sized opponents, they prefer large axes, though many use swords instead.

Armor tends to be heavy, and trimmed with gold. At least some red is also present in uniforms (the royal color).

Mages and divine spellcasters are not uncommon, with some of the truly powerful mages who have studied all across the globe.