Damaria

Damaria is an empire in the northern part of the Midrealms, inhabited by the Damarians. It is a densely populated area thanks to its abundant fertile farmlands. Originally a fractured realm consisting of many Damarian city states and petty kingdoms and dukedoms, Damaria has in recent years united and expanded its domain, becoming the main power on the Midrealms and a great world power. Many neighbouring countries feel threatened by this expansionism. The Southern Midrealm states have united to form a coalition against Damaria to halt their expansion.

Damaria is currently ruled by empress Ashlind I of the House of Saerindrake.

## History

### The Kingdom of Demereth (200's-500's)

The first major kingdom to rise in the northern Midrealms was the legendary Kingdom of Demereth (from which Damaria derives its modern name). Founded in the early 200's, the kingdom stretched from Widae and Geldis in the west to Penreach and Ealric in the east. The kingdom would collapse in 567 after Feon the Grim (also called "The Grim Ruler") failed to secure his own succession and grew increasingly mad and paranoid as he grew into old age. The kingdom collapsed shortly after his death and the lords of the land fought for influence and independence.

### Damaria Kingdom and the various northern Midrealmer states (500's-1200's)

The next many centuries would see the northern Midrealms be a land of many different states fighting for influence. These tumultuous times would see the Damarians become a fiercely productive and innovative people, as those qualities would be necessary to survive in such a political climate.

### Consolidation of Damaria (1200's-1300's)

In the mid 1200's, the Damaria kingdom consisted of the lands situated in the lower Saerin River plainlands. Damaria was at this time the most powerful state in northern Midrealms thanks to its high population and high productive capacity. However, Damaria was situated between many influential duchies, city states and kingdoms, making it hard to guarantee the security of the Damaria homeland.

In 1261, a triple coalition consisting of the Duchy of Penreach, Geldis and Widae attacked Damaria in order to weaken the state and take land. Allaeric III who was king at the time managed to intecept the armies of Geldis and Widae early whilst they were looting Kavaerin, taking them off-guard. Allaeric would win the decisive Battle of Kavaerin, crippling Geldis and Widae and afterwards force them out of the war and pay heavy war reparations. Allaeric would then turn his eyes towards Penreach. By this time, the Penreach armies returned to their home, knowing they could not challenge Allaeric's army. Penreach tried to negotiate peace, but Allaeric knew he had the advantage and thus laid siege to the Penreach capital of Eameir. After 4 months siege, Allaeric's forces breached the walls of Eameir and the Penreach royalty was subjugated and dethroned, giving the duchy to Allaeric in 1262. The war would ultimately make Allaeric more powerful.

Shortly after the war, a new coalition known as the southern coalition formed against Damaria, consisting of Widae, Vaskia, Vealand and the Rinland states. The coalition demanded that Penreach be released. Allaeric, high on his morals from his victories, denied, resulting in the War for Penreach starting in 1263. The war would again be in Allaeric's favor, much owed to the fact the Vealand, the strongest actor in the coalition, had remakably low enthusiasm for the war and couldn't muster the full strength of its armies. Allaeric would crush any opposition and quickly occupied Widae and Vaskia. The bloodiest battles were in the forested Rinlands, where the Rinfolk would fight a guerilla war against Allaeric. The war would end in 1268, with Allaeric having conquered all of Widae, Vaskia and the Lower Rinlands and deposing the hostile nobility, making Damaria the largest state in the Midrealms. A longer period of peace would follow and Allaeric would spend his remaining reign consolidating his power over his new domains.

Allaeric died in 1298, leaving the throne to Karagon I. Karagon was ambitious like his father and saw a future where all the Damarian peoples of the northern Midrealms were united. In 1301, Karagon went to war against Gelric, conquering the duchy in 1302. In 1305, a rebellion rose up in Vaskia. the kingdom of Akarros, being anxious about the growing influence of the Midrealms, went to war in support of Vaskia, starting the War for Vaskian Independence. This war would be a long bloody affair and the Akarrosians would reach as far as Loraein before the Damarians would turn the tide and gain the upper hand. The war ended in 1309, with the rebellion quenched and the Akarrosians pushed back.

In 1321, Karagon declared war against Vealand, seeking to conquer the rival kingdom. This war would be long and bloody and would outlast Karagon's life, with his son Allaeric IV, taking over after Karagon's death in 1330. The Akarrosians as well as the Messilians would aid Vealand. During the war, Allaeric struck an important alliance with the Principality of Vloblin who would provide assistance against Damaria's southern enemies. In 1338, the fighting finally came to an end, as Allaeric took the Vealander capital of Rodomeir. and seizing the king. Allaeric became known for his ruthless treatment of the Vealander nobility, executing all of the Vealand royalty and subjugating all hostile Vealander nobles with an iron fist. His conquest was so brutal that many Vealanders fled their country. Most notably, a large migrant army from Vealand consisting of noble refugees would travel to Maravia and form the Grand Duchy of Holvist.

Following the Vealander subjugation war, the Stauden Bishopric which had remained neutral during Damaria's many wars, decided to willingly become a vassal of King Allaeric IV in 1349, giving Damaria its present day borders.

### The Troubled Times (1350's-1380's)

Following the consolidation of the empire, many regions would rise up in rebellion in the following decades, requiring the central authorities to continuously quench rebellions around the empire. Outside forces like Akarros, Messilia and the Upper Rinlands would often intervene and provide financial and military aid to the rebellions. The final major rebellion was situated in Vealand, which would lead to a bloody confrontation in the Battle of Haeranberg in 1388 against the Brotherhood of Vea, resulting in the death of most of the influential Vealander nobility.

### The Damarian Peace (1390's-1430's)

Following the Battle of Haeranberg, Damaria would return to a time of peace and stability. The economy and productivity of the land would grow exponentially and Damaria would become a beacon of stability and prosperity. Much attention was given to the internal working of the state so that the institution that bind the many regions together were strengthened.

### War for the Upper Rinlands (1430's-present)

In 1438, the young and ambitious Queen Ashlind I initiated the War for the Upper Rinlands, seeking to finally unite the entire Rinland region with Damaria. The Upper Rinlands was in an alliance with Akarros and Messilia who joined the war.

## Military

Damaria possesses one of the worlds biggest and strongest armies, known for its discipline and effectiveness. They utilize the most advanced types of weaponry and heavy armor, making them a fierce enemy able to compete with the best of militaries.

### Damarian Royal Cavalry

The most prized soldiers of the Damaria army is Damarian Royal Cavalry. Consisting a mounted knights in heavy armor armed with lances, swords and flails, the Royal Cavalry are used as shock troops that demoralize and destroy any opposition in an open battlefield. The Royal Cavalry is distinguished by their armor being dyed in a bright red color and their unique great helmets, possessing a crest of a wyvern on its top. Due to the red appearance of the Royal Cavalry, it is illegal for anyone who is not a Royal Cavalryman to wear red plate armor in Damaria.

### Vaskian Elite

In 1275, the Vaskian Elite, an elite force of heavily armored footsoldiers, was established by the House of Sewellyan. They are among the most prized and experienced soldiers in the Damaria army.

### The Blue Order

Penreach's elite knights are known as The Blue Order. The order has existed since the days of Penreach independence, consisting mainly of noble warriors. These knights are known to be guided by divine purposes, with many of them serving gods encompassing virtues valued in Penreach, such as Kaim, Ardras, Panaea and Ellasil. Some of these knights even become Paladins or warrior clerics, utilizing divine powers in battle.

## Locations

### Geography

The tallest peak in the Midrealms, Mount Oroimos, is located on the border between Damaria and Akarros.

## Known Damarians

* Feon the Grim
* Allaeric the Conqueror
* Karagon I
* Allaeric IV
* Ashlind I
* Sevelia I
* Stravigan Beall
* Rickart Sewellyan
* Starvys Cantabrion