Duchy of Verne

The **Duchy of Verne** is a country located primarily in the southern corner of East Dameshead, with minor holdings in Businor. It is part of the Empire of Anbennar.

Founded by Armoc Vernid, the first wyvern rider, the Duchy of Verne is the successor of the Kingdom of Verne, a great power in ancient Cannor. Many Vernman monarchs still seek to emulate the days of Armoc, and while the days of wyvern-riding are long gone, the blood and fury of those who rid still exist today. Whether it be delusions of grandeur or simply a desire to leave the life of manual labour of most Vernman families - many young mustachioed Vernmen find themselves answering the call to adventure: starting off as hired heroes in their homeland, before setting off to lands anew. The Vernmen, generally, are a hard-working and simple lot - that, paired with a well-entrenched martial tradition and overpopulated city-states of the Middle Luna means that Vermen labourers can be seen all across Anbennar and beyond.

## History

### Kingdom of Verne

* Bellac Vernid built Bellac's Rock in 587 AA. Seized in 917 AA.
* Napesbay.

### Lilac Wars

The Duchy of Verne fought on the side of the House of Silmuna and the Moon Party, invading the Kingdom of Busilar via the Khenak and joining with the Eborthíl fleet to defeat the Busilari navy (also known as the Lion Armada) at the Battle of the Busilari Straits.

### Colonial Empire

#### Valorpoint

Overpopulation in the Duchy of Verne and a strong martial culture contributed to a significant quantity of Vernmen adventuring companies. These companies, which were tightly-knit and which remained in close contact, benefited greatly from the prevailing anti-monstrous sentiment of the period. One such company, the Brave Brothers, participated in the Greentide and would later found the nation of Wyvernheart in Inner Castanor, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of adventuring companies in pioneer initiatives. Additionally, liberal thinking began to proliferate among retired Vernmen adventurers following Corinite ideals. These adventurers considered the feudal nobility to be oppressive and propounded an ideology of freedom modelled after their missions into the wilderness.

These two factors compounded with the discovery of Aelantir to spur seven of the largest Vernmen adventuring companies to collaborate in the establishment of an adventuring state in the Trollsbay. The scheme, which was formally announced at the Heartsier Declaration, would eventually culminate in the establishment of Valorpoint.

#### Government-Led Initiatives

In addition to the establishment of Valorpoint, which was independent of the Duchy [did it become a Kingdom at this point?], King Arman VI legislated the Frontier Act of 1600, which allowed any colonist of Verne to legally own any settled and unclaimed land as a full subject of the crown.

#### Other

The Stingport Regatta is the annual Vernman sailing competition that since 1523 has taken contestants through the dangerous Wyvern's Tail island chain, ending in the city of Stingport on the island of the same name.

The Great Men (Great Mustachios) Theory was created by Erning of Heartspier, a subject of the Duchy of Verne. It states that history is dictated by great men and women, doubly so if they have a great mustachio.