Tar Lath Lien (Kingdom)

Tar Lath Lien is one of the four major kingdoms in the Known World. Ruled by the immortal Witch-King Tar Lath Lien, the kingdom is the last surviving splinter of the Magelanders' lost empire.

## History

Prior to recorded history, the ancient empire of the Magelanders ruled over much of the Known World and beyond. The catastrophic disaster, or disasters, known as the Doom brought a swift collapse to the empire, destroying enormous amounts of history, culture, and technology. The Doom heralded destruction on an unprecedented scale. Accurate accounts of the period are scant.

Emerging from the destruction, a charismatic, immortal demagogue named Tar Lath Lien rose to power amongst the survivors from the edges of the fallen empire. Over the next decades, he would come to rule over a large swathe of land overseeing the re-emergence of life from the ruins of the Doom. This burgeoning kingdom was named Tar Lath Lien by the new king.

The kingdom of Tar Lath Lien has continually ceded territory since its inception.

## Geography

The landscape of Tar Lath Lien consists primarily of marshlands in the south, giving way to dry savannah in the north. The northernmost regions of the kingdom are rocky desert. Tar Lath Lien has among the strangest biomes in the Known World. Migratory, carnivorous forests slowly roam the savannah, and thaumic storms periodically cause magical anomalies.

Fauna in Tar Lath Lien is equally varied and strange. Gargantuan tzar tortoises and their kingdoms travel the savannahs. Herds of wild horses are common. Serpents are an important cultural animal in Tar Lath Lien. Giant and flying varieties can be found throughout the kingdom. Hydras are a major predator. Areas of high magical energy attract spirits and demons.

### Major Settlements

* Arc
* Lorn Sa
* Spire
* **Tar Lath Lien** (City) - Capital

## Culture and Society

Tar Lath Lien is the oldest contiguous nation in the Known World, having a direct lineage from the Magelanders. As such, its citizens are deeply proud of their ancient heritage. Lathlin citizens are traditional, esoteric, and nationalistic. They value preservation, truthfulness, community, history, discovery, and magic. Lathlins frown upon deception, ignorance, and willfullness. Many Lathlins see themselves as the final, noble shepherds of a dying age, and have accepted the slow decline of their kingdom. Lathlin citizens speak Lathii.

Lathlin society reveres the Witch-King above all else. To the standard citizen, Tar Lath Lien is a paragon of wisdom and magical power.

### Magic

The society of Tar Lath Lien is heavily stratified based on magical ability. Most Lathlins know at least of bit of magic, and great respect is given the magically-talented. Those with no magical ability are delegated to the most menial of labor.

Tar Lath Lien is, by far, the most magically-advanced society in the Known World, due to the kingdom's dependence on surviving relics of the Magelanders. Denizens of the capital enjoy purified water, heating and cooling, automation, and transportation. This infrastructure is not universal, and different regions of the kingdom have different magical advantages depending on what relics exist near them. Additionally, much of the knowledge on how to operate and repair ancient magelander technology is lost, so these magical amenities are unsustainable. For this reason, much of Lathlin society is focused on rediscovering the lost secrets of the Magelanders.

### Food

Tar Lath Lien's size and varied climate allow for a variety of commonly-available food. Flat bread and rice are both staple grains. Pomegranates, grapes, apples, and plums are common treats. Lathlin cuisine is heavily spiced. Common meats include horse, chicken, and goat. Fungal fruits are collected from migratory forests and cooked like meat. The consumption of serpents is forbidden except for high-ranking mages. Notable dishes include spiced serpent roast with plum sauce, spiced horse meat wrapped in a cone of flat bread, and darut, a commonly-chewed root with minor narcotic properties.

## Politics

The immortal Witch-King Tar Lath Lien rules the kingdom as an absolute monarch. There is no line of succession and the Witch-King has been the kingdom's only ruler in its thousand-year history.

The remainder of the government of Tar Lath Lien is a pure magocracy. Rank is tied entirely to mastery of magic. Delegates of the Witch-King are called magistrates, and range from 1st to 10th class. There are only five 1st class magistrates, with increasing numbers for each rank below.

High-ranking Magistrates are entrusted with governorship over territories of the kingdom. These positions and borders change regularly.

## Military

Tar Lath Lien maintains a order of Mage-Knights, trained in martial and magical arts and fanatically loyal to their king. Additionally, the kingdom can muster a large force of animated constructs and bound spirits during wartime. Their numbers are relatively small, but the overwhelming magical might of Tar Lath Lien allows the kingdom to decimate in open combat.