Angel Land

Angel Land was a Duchy, defacto independent under the Ashwood Dynasty, that currently rules Essotori. Dejure, However, it enjoyed a complicated feudal arrangement, where through it's rulers, the Kings of Conland - Sagadahoc, it was a subject of Treka, yet, it's rulers actively attempted to infiltrate and take over Sereine, identifying Angel Land as a Duchy within Sereine. For the first period of it's rule, Angel Land made little pretense in it's desires to conquer and subvert Sereine, itself going through tumultuous dynastic, economic and social stress, using war, and charm to pull in noble support. Though Conland - Sagadahoc was generally unsuccessful in establishing their rule over Sereine, as a truly independent realm, Angel Land served as a beacon of reaction and nobility, from which the Ashwood Family could endure, and ultimately conquer Essotori. Angel Land's influence is scant seen in the modern day, due to viscious intergration campaigns by the governments of Sereine, as well as the fact that the Kingdom of Conland - Sagadahoc began funneling those it considered worthy towards the conquest of Essotori, while destroying the castles it had built, including both the Dagger Palace, and the Garlin Palace. Angel Land was more influential on Essotori, than on it's host nation, it demonstrated an early form of the Mistery System, and many of the noble families that today support Essotori's economy made their fortunes in Angel Land, or were provided a refuge in the Duchy.

In order to styme Trekan interference in it's rulers' affairs, the government of Angel Land imposed strict internal trade rules, allowing exclusive trade with Conland - Sagadahoc, at the expense of Treka, as well as the native population. This led to food shortages, and the Merchant Massacre, an event where Trekan traders attempted to donate charitably to the local poor. The Cultists, aided and facilitated by the Ducal Army, exterminated the traders, and distributed the aid among themselves, leaving a small portion for the locals.

The end of the Three Hundred Years War came in 1437, when the Nozerod, then based in Garlin, made a deal to hand over the Duchy in two hundred years, pay an annual tithe, as well as relinquish all claims to the throne of Sereine, as well as military and political support for the rulers of Sereine, in exchange for being officially enshrined as the Dukes of Angel Land until the handover. The date came, when the conquest of Essotori was ready, and everything of worth was taken with Conland - Sagadahoc to the new homeland. It is suspected by many Essologists that many Sereinian artefacts, as well as Angel Land iconography and literature is stored within the Palace of Origin's archives, the Origin Repository. There is no way to verify this, however, due to the secrecy of the Palace, and the difficulty of reaching the Repository.

In modern Sereine, Angel Land is referenced as being part of the three hundred years war, and little else, due the the ruler's destruction of most architecture in the last years of their rule. However, many folklore stories and songs reference the regime, such as the popular children's story, "Little Hero", written in 1341, during the Three Hundred Years War, which has a small note about Angel Land "The Lord of Garlin, did sing! He sung a sad, guilty song of mourning! None could hear, for the riddles he spoke elude me!" It also has prominence in some classical idioms, such as "March on Garlin, march from Garlin!" (Marche sur Garlin, marche depuis Garlin!) being an idiom for turning traitor upon being convinced by the enemy's lies.