Kingdom of the Savior

## Kingdom of the Savior's Pyre

The **Kingdom of the Savior's Pyre**, more commonly known as the **Kingdom of the Savior** and simply **The Kingdom** is a crusader army in Zhakria from the formerly independent Kingdoms of Rijns, Adriven, Sommagna, and Ibile. Of the factions in Zhakria, the Kingdom is the most devout, often calling for Holy Wars that grant their leaders full freedom to commit any atrocity against another faction.

The four Kingdoms were once in a constant state of war before the Rijnser began dominating West Erebin. Heaven's Sanction, the event that kicked off the Divine Invasions, occurred the night of the Massacre of Rudeaux, the final battle that unified the realm under Rijnser control. Seen as God's Will for the Rijnser to conquer Zhakria, they renamed their newly pacified empire as the Kingdom of the Savior's Pyre.

Warrior King Karl "The Butcher" IV led the campaign through the lands of the Basilians with the head of faith Vicarius de Revete Giorgio I at his side. Hundreds of thousands were forcibly migrated to the new cities from the old kingdoms. By 50 3E, the Kingdom had a population of 5 million in Zhakria alone, which has stayed steady with constant war, frequent famine, and plague.

The Kingdom is now ruled by "Savage" King Johannes VII along with Vicarius de Revete Vincenzo II.

## History

### Second Era

The Kingdom of the Savior is the Western successor of the Tiverus Empire. The Western half collapsed in 412 2E, and the surrounding areas collapsed into a chaotic period until the formation of Revete's Empire of the Rijns, which began reuniting the fractured territories. The morning after the Massacre of Rudeaux in 1248 3E, millions witnessed Heaven's Sanction, locally known as The Revelation, and King Karl IV and Vicarius Giorgio I renamed the now unified continent the Kingdom of the Savior's Pyre and began a crusade into Zhakria to find what they believed was a transcendent Revete, who would grant the Kingdom victory over the heathens. Coming directly off of campaign, the Kingdom was the first force to militarize and begin the first Divine Invasion.

### Third Era

#### The Crusade

King Karl's crusade was immediately successful, capturing dozens of cities belonging to the then-Sabbatian Empire and taking thousands of slaves, as Revetism rejected the murder of prisoners of war. Their momentum was slowed by the reduction in troops staying to occupy the cities and the lack of supplies for slaves forced to accompany the march. Preventing a blunted campaign, Vicarius Giorgio received divine word that the Sabbatians and those who followed Disciplinary Revetism were guilty of heresy and thus unbound from the protections of the faith. Nine of every ten slaves were put to death, and eight of the twelve captured cities were razed.

By 5 3E, they'd set their feet in Kodama, the first province of Zhakria. Unused to the heat, Karl IV fell ill, and his son Johannes III took over his martial duties. Johannes led a brutal subjugation of the ancient and native Zarta people, who'd occupied the land since before the First Era. Of the roughly 7,000 Zarta that lived in Kodama, less than 50 survived, fleeing to the other regional superpowers in the Sabbatians and the Annur Caliphate for protection. The historic rivals signed a treaty and launched a joint attack on the Kingdom's encampments. Johannes's valiant leadership allowed the Kingdom to withstand the onslaught, and he began another brutal campaign against the now pacifist Elijites, who were slaughtered to less than 100 of their original 20,000.

Karl IV would die in 8 3E, just as Johannes captured the historic city of Ryte at the Canyon of God. Ryte would serve as a capital and rally point for the thousands of Kingdom troops as Karl's funeral service took place. Johannes was named King, and immediately ordered the forced migration of lords and peasants from the Empire in Erebin to Zhakria, where they would establish a strong presence in the region until they found the reborn Revete. Despite the rise in population and fresh soldiery, the death of Karl would end the initial campaign and force a stalemate with the Kingdom wedged between the Sabbatians and the Annur.

#### Taygian Uprising

In 88 3E, the popular philosopher Andronikos from Thrakania organized an ultra-nationalist uprising in Zhakria, espousing the worship of the old Taygian gods, worshipped by the Thrakans who conquered Zhakria in the First Era, and the Tiver who conquered it in the beginning of the Second Era. The movement was targeted to minority members of the Kingdom and Sabbatians, who were descendants of the old culture. Largely ignored by both forces, the Taygians went unchecked.

In 94 3E, while King Leo V was out on campaign, the Taygians started a riot in Ryte, and used the chaos to storm the city's keep. Quickly, they seized control of the capital, and executed the clergy and Leo's family, save for his youngest son Johannes V. The uprising's ringleaders were promoted and given command of their new military, with Andronikos claiming the title of King along with his lover Titus, of Tiver descent. Leo was unable to muster a response in his grief, and died shortly after of a heart attack. The clergy moved to the city of Virtus, the next largest city in their control, and Johannes V was named King with Vicarius Constans II as regent.

The Taygians would rename Ryte to its name under Philos II, Turos, and began an Eastward expansion that crushed Kingdom and Sabbatian forces with ease, before risking over extension into Bospotia.

#### Plague of Ord

In 118, Batu Khagan of the Horde of the Heavenly Sky attacked the Sabbatians. Victims of the Horde's biological warfare, the Sabbatians encountered a plague that was fatal to 80% of those infected. The plague spread rapidly, reaching the Kingdom in under a year. Hundreds of thousands died, and the Kingdom was weakened severely. Johannes V was ineffectual as a ruler, relying heavily on his regent growing up and being lost following the Vicarius's death. His eventual solution was the purging of cities, and the mass burning of the infected, live or dead. The decree was successful, but devastated the population, with an estimated 60% killed as a result.

As new forced migrations began to solve the issue of manpower, the Grand Principality of Beliskva, which had frequently encountered the Derjo from the Horde and had developed an immunity to the plague, reinforced the Sabbatians and enabled strikes that recovered several cities from the Kingdom's grip.

## Government

The Kingdom of the Savior's Pyre is a theocratic empire ruled by a hereditary monarch and the Vicarius elected by the clergy. The King is responsible for the majority of all affairs, including defense, trade, and justice that doesn't pertain to religious laws. The King appoints officials from the nobility to serve as ministers and advisors that assist in these duties. The King has the power to raise armies at will, which require the financing from the crown's coffers, and also sue for peace regardless of the wishes of his subordinates. Internal issues, such as land disputes between nobles and high crimes like treason, are expected to be solved by the King himself, though he is free to allow his ministers to handle these affairs themselves. The local role of the King in Virtus is to ensure the safety of coin minting to support the Kingdom's treasury and pay mercenaries and professional soldiery.

The Clergy has a highly important role in the Kingdom's religious affairs, handling the religious lawmaking and the justice system that pertains to violated law. Their enforcers are known as the Paladins of the Fire's Light, and have carte blanche on how they resolve matters of heresy and religious law violations on the frontiers. The Vicarius de Revete is second only to the King in influence, though the King often takes the advice of the Vicarius for handling other matters, effectively breaching the thinly veiled separation of duties.

Various titles are distributed by the King to the nobility. The Kingdom is split into multiple counties, each run by a Count or Marquis, which make up several duchies run by a Duke. The number varies depending on the amount of land held. At the height of their power in Zhakria, the Kingdom had four duchies made from twenty-four counties in and around sub-continent. Away from the conflict, there are eighty duchies and over three-hundred counties. A Count or Marquess is in charge of managing their lands supplies and income, mustering troops if called to war, and paying taxes to their Duke. The Duke's responsibilities include issuing decrees, enforcing laws, ensuring the protection of supply routes, and the safe travel of taxmen to Virtus.

An additional title, Baron, is granted to nobility who do not already have a title and prove themselves in battle. Typically, Barons who fight in Zhakria are given a barony in West Erebin symbolically, and do not actually deal in the affairs of their own land. Baronies in Zhakria are usually small villages that produce food and little else, while others may be minor fortresses and watch posts. Non-titled nobility are simply referred to as Knights or Lords, and make up the majority of the class. Barons and Knights usually serve as freelancers to other nobles, hoping to prove themselves in battle on the frontier, or will roam the lands fighting bandits and small enemy incursions. They almost always travel with a personal warband, as they have no garrison without lands to draw from and raise forces from.

## Society

### Religion

The people of the Kingdom of the Savior worship Revete the Unburned, a martyr who promised salvation to those who chose to follow his teachings. He was sentenced to death by the Tiver Empire by burning, but was unscathed following the attempt, and was strangled afterwards. Compared to Disciplinary Revetism followed by the Sabbatian Tsardom, Solus Revetism believes that the Vicarius de Revete receives divine directions from Revete, who they will find amassing an army in Zhakria. Solus Revetism also permits slavery, which Disciplinary Revetism rejects.

### Economy

The Kingdom relies on silver coinage called ponda, which is minted in Virtus and several locations in Adriven. There is only one denomination, which weighs exactly 1.9 grams. The coins are designed to be easily broken into even halves and quarters, and can be used as such for smaller purchases.

### Laws

Of those taking part in the conflict, the Kingdom is among the most strict with their laws. Theft has a minimum punishment of returning double the value of the stolen item as determined by a lawman, and a maximum of execution for repeat offenders. Execution is the minimum punishment for crimes deemed as serious, such as murder and rape of a noblewoman, with enslavement of the family as the maximum if it's determined by local clergy that the family is demonic in nature.

### Roles of Women

Women are restricted from owning land, but may receive titles from family. For example, a Duke may name his daughter as Duchess, but she will not inherit the land, though she will keep the title. As war rages, women are expected to train as fighters should their homes be attacked while a partner is at war, and women may be asked to join an army if the town is unable to fill the quota of men in the event of a declaration of a campaign, and they are free to enlist, though both cases are frowned upon. Young girls are often given to the Clergy to serve as nuns, though they may be asked to train and become defenders of holy artifacts when they come of age.

Slave women are often sold into brothels, where adultery does not apply. This comes from Solus Revetism which states that enslaved people are not to be considered as human and thus the crime of adultery is void. Often times these slaves travel on campaign, if a lord rents out the slaves from the brothel owner.

## Military

### Organization

The soldiery is mixed between militia and professionals. A titled lord will appoint a Captain from the nobility to command a company of fighters, who is aided by Lieutenants from the nobility as well. Some commoners are chosen by the officers to serve as Sergeants, who further assist in administrative and leadership duties. The picked man of the Captain is called the Sergeant Major, and has authority over all other commoners. A titled lord will generally lead the army, and rely on Captains for relevant military duties. The size of a company varies, and in the case of mercenaries, command structure is not limited to nobility.

In the event of a mustered army led by either a higher-titled lord or Paladin, companies are under the command of the highest title, and Captains may be dismissed and appointed at the lord's will. Lower-titled lords on a campaign are under the direct control of the highest title, often chosen as captains or members of their superior's wing of the cavalry.

### Equipment and Technology

#### Armor

The lower the title and rank of a soldier, the older and simpler the equipment. The specific armor worn also depends on the culture of their lord. A common militiaman is typically protected by padded cloth or gambeson and a cloth arming cap, where a high ranked professional soldier under a Rijnser lord could wear gambeson under limited plate armor or brigandine and a visored sallet. A lord and his officers are usually in their cultural full plate.

#### Weapons

The arms of a soldier depend on their class, often ranging from farming tools to mass produced weaponry to custom-made. Common weapons for infantry include pikes, spears, axes, and hammers, while crossbows, war bows, and slings can be found in the hands of missile troops. Skirmishers from Ibile are known to bring a dozen throwing spears into a fight for devastating hit-and-run strategies.

#### Horses

The use of horses is an important part of the Kingdom's strategies, as they rely on the heaviest cavalry in all of Zhakria, the Chevaliers, and light skirmishing cavalry, the Hussars. Infantry formations are almost always designed to enable the cavalry to great effect. Chevaliers typically ride armored destriers, while Hussars utilize coursers, though the breeds often vary by wealth of the riders.

#### Siege Weapons

The Kingdom relies heavily on counterweight trebuchets, siege towers, battering rams, and in the case of defense, ballistae. They also use mining to destroy enemy defensive structures, but reliance on sappers has decreased as the Kingdom can't afford to train them. Sappers are seen in limited engagements, typically ones where prolonged sieges of years are less than feasible.