Araenic Kingdom

The Araenic Kingdom was one of the founding members of the **Entente**. It was created in ancient times after Araen the Westerwind united the city states near his capital, Akar, and expanded through the conquest of **Ascensionist** lands. It was roughly as old as its dominant faith, **Akarism**. It was one of the largest Kingdoms in the Entente, only dwarfed by Variman, although its size could be deceiving. The Araenic Kingdom was largely decentralized and many of its cities, republics and marches looked primarily after their own affairs.

## Organization

### The Twilight Bureaucracy

While the Araenic Kingdom did not exert much control over its many vassal states, some matters had to be managed centrally. This was the task of its vast bureaucracy, taking care of tax collection, crown lands, diplomacy and royal decrees. The one thing most people remember the Twilight Bureaucracy for is the Araenic Navy, as it was one of the greatest money sinks of the Kingdom. Other drains on the treasury included the holy city of Akar and the salaries some regents doled out.

The Twilight Bureaucracy was created to manage all these things in a way that could serve as a compromise between the nobility and the merchants. Anyone could become a bureaucrat, all it took was more than a decade of study and the money to afford such a long time without a job. As a result, anyone with money and time could become a bureaucrat, rendering it a position mostly for Caeli children with merchant backing or noble blood. The etymology of the Twilight Bureaucracy is twofold, it existed as the compromise between two conflicting sides and it was forged during the birth of the Araenic Kingdom.

### Military

The Araenic Navy was a distinct part of the Twilight Bureaucracy. A lot of money went towards funding it, because it was this navy that secured a great deal of the wealth that flowed through the Kingdom to begin with. While long ago they existed to secure the flow of trade even in times of war, in recent history they mostly served to fight off pirates and to ensure people paid for the privilege of safe passage.

Like most Caeli fleets, they operated through day and night alike, as Lunar Caeli can guide ships around some of the more dangerous rock formations in the dark just as well as Solar Caeli can in the light. To ensure smooth operation could continue at all times, vessels featured both a Senior Captain and a Watch Captain, both of differing affinity. When the Senior Captain was asleep, the Watch took over. Whether this was at day or at night differed from ship to ship.

The Araenic Kingdom had no central army, relying on levies from the crownlands and its many many vassals in times of great need. That said, there was a strong mercenary culture in the Kingdom. There were always towns and cities with a neighbour they hated or Dukes scheming to increase their own power and as such there was always a place for a mercenary to work. Once a century, a big payday came: A conflict over the regency. Anyone who had their eyes on politics at the royal court tended to pay out big, so they could have the largest army on their side when they sat at the negotiating table.

### The Eternal Regency

While Araen the Ancient is by law the ruler of the Araenic Kingdom, he had long ago receded from public life. Figures from his court that were bestowed the right to make royal decrees ruled as regents in his stead ever since. While there have been cases where regents maneuvered for their own friends or children to take over their position, most of the time when one regent falls, lengthy negotiations ensue. Such a struggle for power occurs on average once a century, sometimes more often, sometimes less often.

Most of the time, these conflicts for power occurred without bloodshed, but nonetheless every mercenary rejoiced when it happened. They became like bargaining chips worth every piece of gold they were paid as they influenced who got to be in the court, and who was moved out. Sometimes things escalated and the regency was decided by an honourable duel or a protracted war.

## Geography

The Araenic Kingdom is often considered to have been composed of two parts: A maritime side, with its beaches and the isles in the straits of Belgethor, and a peninsular side, with its territories further in Penhira and Imeris. This tended to reflect the class struggle that defined the larger politics of the Araenic Kingdom, as it was often split between the merchants in the west and the nobles in the east. The question of where the border lied was at times answered in mercenary coin and peasant blood.

### The Two Peninsulas

The parts of the Araenic Kingdom on the peninsulas of Penhira and Imeris were dominated by the border marches. Duchies and principalities held most of the land, claimed through wars waged long ago. Those in Imeris were claimed in the wars that lead up to the formation of the Entente, while those in Penhira were taken when they formed the border of the Entente, rather than just the Araenic Kingdom. These areas depended on their peasantry extracting wealth from the land itself. Much of the metal, food, wine and even the lumber needed to light pyres and build ships actually from inside the Kingdom came from here. While the peasantry was not as lucrative as the bustling of cities, the nobility tended to have much greater levies as a result of depending on them, in part because their lives were generally considered worth much less than that of a well-trained craftsperson.

### The Isles and Shores

On the Isles and Shores of the Araenic Kingdom the economy was defined by the vessels that passed through the harbours day and night, transporting goods from all across Imeris and Penhira. The merchants here were a force to be reckoned with and the few barons and counts in these parts tended to agree with them, because they depended on them the same way anyone else did. Most of the great guilds were in this part of the Kingdom, as craftspeople could buy exotic materials here to make goods that could be sold anywhere.

#### Lasiima

The holiest island in the Kingdom, Lasiima was frequented by Akarist pilgrims from all across the realm. It was here where Araen came to understand his destiny and many faithful came here day and night hoping to do the same. It housed a famous observatory atop its largest hill that was funded through the donations of its many visitors. While it was technically a republic, its local elections were essentially decided by its priests.

### Akar

The Holy City fell. For some, such a thought was unthinkable, as it was the capital of such an old and affluent realm. It was said that you could find anything from anywhere in its stores and warehouses. Akar was neglected during the last Regency as they coped with the disappearance of Varimanian trade by cutting down on spending. In spite of that it remained an impressive city to behold as its ancient sites still captured some of its golden age. A few notable among them were:

* **The Spire of Akar:** The holiest site in all of Akarism. It housed both the Council of Akar and the Araenic Chambers. It was one of the tallest structures of its age, Araen’s great ambition given form, and for that, it could feel too big and too tall to traverse efficiently for anyone who had walked its halls long enough. Nonetheless, it was a sacred pilgrimage site for many which held countless sacred texts and predictions, now lost.
* **The Twilight Palace:** Here the Araenic Court resided and from whence the Twilight Bureaucracy was managed. While Akar had a palace before both it and the Spire existed, it burned down during a civil war. The Twilight Palace was built afterwards and in its lavish gardens and tall structures one could see how the people that ruled from there wished to be seen.
* **Akar University:** The highest place of learning in the realm, at least on matters of theology and astrology. Anyone that aspired to get on the Council of Akar went here. It had its own dormitories, divided into a day wing and a night wing.

## Holidays

The **Night of the Everking**, also known as **Evernight**, was a holiday celebrating the fateful night where Araen the Ancient realised his destiny. This was a holiday for Akarists and royalists alike, and it usually focused either on the prosperity of the region or on coming to an understanding of what must be done to recapture it. As such, it could take on wildly different tones, even between bordering cities, as it either included games and jubilant speeches or was made up of sermons and introspection. One feature stayed the same, that of free food provided by the ones organising it.

## History

Here is a summary: While Araen the Ancient founded the Kingdom and started the Akarist faith, he had long since receded from public life, replaced by regents. The regency shifted in favour of the merchants a hundred years ago with the last regent, Magister Armata, after he secured a momentary victory in the endless power struggle. It seemed things were going as they always were, rivals were preparing their own plots while the regent tried to secure his own power. When Variman broke out in civil war, nobody thought much of it as it didn’t seem so significant to a people who had a civil conflict of their own only two decades prior, although theirs was far less bloody.

Disaster struck. Variman disappeared and what’s worse, so did their trade. As a result, the powerbase of the regency shrunk and the Araenic Kingdom was growing poorer. While everybody expected another struggle for the regency to erupt, these expectations were dashed by something far worse coming across the Kingdom: The undead. While the Twilight Bureaucracy dedicated itself to the evacuation efforts, the Council of Akar held fast in their city as they believed the All-Maker could not allow it to fall. The unthinkable happened, the undead overcame the walls and in the chaos that ensued the entire Council of Akar was wiped out. There remains hope, however, as some vessels managed to leave the old country behind in search of a new home.

### The Age of Unification

Before the Araenic Kingdom came into being, rival cities on the edge of Penhira and on the isles of Belgethor fought for dominance of the straits and its lucrative trade. Among these was Akar, where Araen was born. By being at the tip of Penhira, Akar had always enjoyed the wealth that flowed between the peninsulas. A great deal of this accumulated wealth went to its scholars, which helped ensure Araen got one of the best educations of his time, as his parents hoped to make him into a true Sage King. As he grew up the power of the city waned. Its rivals were winning a slow naval war through attrition, allowing them to grow ever more bold in their raids. When he inherited the throne, he too inherited this failing struggle. He only got a few years to prove himself a wise and just ruler before the armies of the neighbouring cities marched upon Akar and deposed him for a puppet.

He managed to escape the conflict by boat and ended up on the island of Lasiima. According to legend, he was lost at what to do, whether he should leave it all behind to become a simple beggar or risk everything to retake his throne. It is said that when he divined the heavens for an answer he foresaw he would become one of the wisest and greatest Kings to ever rule.

Reinvigorated, he began swaying the islands to his side, dividing the straits of Belgethor into two rival coalitions which only grew more solidified as tensions rose over control of the valuable waters. On the one side was Araen, who sought to unite the straits under one king to benefit from the peace that would result. On the other were the rising powers, which sought to forever change the way trade flowed and to forever remove Akar from its historic dominance.

While Araen’s fleet had more vessels, they were on average lighter than those of his enemies, whose fleets had been prepared specifically for war. His enemies knew what he desired most and they laid in a defensive blockade around Akar. When his forces moved in to break it, a strong westerwind blew in their sails pushing them east, which was later seen as a sign of divine providence. This allowed their smaller vessels to quickly speed into the blockade and ram some of the larger ships. In the conflict that ensued, Araen came out on top and retook the city of Akar, becoming known as Araen the Westerwind. With their navy defeated, it was easy for Araen to blockade the other cities and force them to their knees. The cities that had him deposed, which just so happened to be the biggest contenders for Akar’s dominance of the straits, were burned to the ground.

Eager to keep up the momentum, Araen convinced the upper classes of his coalition to pledge a part of their money and soldiers in return for gains on the edge of Penhira, so they could control the coast rather than just a few cities along it. While this war was initially victorious, they quickly ran out of men and were forced to rely on mercenaries, turning it into a costly affair. Even then the spoils were enough to satisfy the rulers who had pledged themselves to his banner and in his moment of victory, Araen declared the coalition would be no more, as the Araenic Kingdom took its place. In an attempt to create a neutral force between the merchants and nobles of his realm, he created the Twilight Bureaucracy to manage his crown lands, his court, his decrees and to reorganise his navy.

### The Age of Castigation

Now Araen was left with time for introspection. Cynics would also say that he realised how his realm was only united by their recent victories and his position on the throne, two things which might not last forever. As a result, he called together philosophers from far and wide to his court and oversaw the original Council of Akar. A long debate on the nature of reality ensued, with most of the philosophers leaving in anger. Those left would later claim this was a good thing, as it allowed them to get ever closer to the truth as those who lacked “true understanding” abandoned the council. **Akarism** was created and the members of the council became the first Akara.

The Council of Akar predicted a great storm and famine. Preparations were made and they turned out to not be in vain. Seizing the moment, Araen was quick to fund a budding priestly class and to see his realm converted to the religion he helped create. At the time, those who refused the faith were punished harshly.

Araen claimed that the other Caeli realms had to recognise their place in the Grand Design, which just so happened to be a place under his boot. They replied with mockery and ridicule. In response, the Araenic Kingdom declared brutal wars of religion, called Castigations. Immense amounts of wealth and men were devoted to these conquests. Many of the more powerful border Marches came into being during these conflicts, being well rewarded for their efforts, as the entirity of the Imeris Ascensionists were subjugated.

It was during this age that the battle of Oldary Rock took place, as all its surrounding powers focused on their own expansion. When this battle proved to be without a victor and they realised they met their match, the Araenic Kingdom agreed to a peace and became one of the founding members of the **Imeris Entente**.

This did not end the Castigations, they instead focused entirely on Penhira. The border marches continued to grow, but their advance was eventually slowed by terrain as they tried to move further and further inland. Araen was growing old and most of his conversations revolved around how the ends would justify the means when the Grand Design is completed and he was dead set on trying to achieve that within his lifetime. To achieve this goal, he believed it necessary to continue their wars until all **Ascensionists** were brought to heel. When his armies marched out on the final Castigation they were faced with a far larger force, that of an unified Ascensionist League with Dwarven allies to boot. In spite of the situation, at the Battle of the Udarah, Araen declared his men must charge the enemy with holy fervor and punish them so they may learn the error of their ways. His forces were met with a grave defeat.

The Twilight Bureaucracy which Araen had created to manage his crown lands had grown in power throughout his old age. It now claimed it would be best for his own realm if Araen receded from public life. Araen became known as the Everking, as he would forever bear an unseen crown while regents ruled in his stead.

### The Age of Regents

The Araenic Kingdom now found itself in a complex diplomatic situation. The Ascensionist League and its allies could become part of the Entente. At this point, the regency hadn’t been much established and Araen’s court was in essence just trying to continue to function in his absence. Two Caeli however proved themselves to be influential enough to rule.

Prince General Zayf, representing the nobility, harshly disagreed with the idea of extending the Entente’s borders through any means but war, as they had long enjoyed claiming new lands as their reward for the men they supplied to the Castigations. High Chancellor Debyr, representing the merchant class, would gladly see new trade routes open up where plunder had proven untenable. It became clear that to properly get through this situation they needed someone to be in charge. In the end, they decided that a duel to the death was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating beyond the court. While the duel was close, Debyr proved victorious and she became the first regent of the Araenic Kingdom. During the first regency, restrictions on religion were greatly relaxed, which helped to smooth over relations with their new trade partners, if only a little.

Conflicts over the regency became a regular thing, occurring about once every century, sometimes more often, sometimes less often. They were usually without bloodshed, in spite of being mostly decided by who could hire more mercenaries and field a greater army of allies. A fair few had only two people fighting in the end, as duels are seen as a just way to prevent war from harming trade and the people. Some however devolved into all out war, the Araenic Kingdom breaking down only to forge itself anew, with local rivalries fought out in battles that had ramifications for the entire realm.

Because of this, few in the Araenic Kingdom thought much of it when the Kingdom of Variman had its own civil war. The Araenic court was uneager to aid them in this fight because if they backed the wrong horse, Variman could later ally with their own internal enemies. When the people of Variman disappeared, it came as a shock. Suddenly trade relations that had lasted a millenium broke down as there was simply nobody left to barter with. The Council of Akar responded harshly, worried about demonic elements in the Kingdom, they whipped up a religious fervor that led to more than a few lynchings. The last eighty years of decline had started and the wealth of the Kingdom shrunk. This occured only twenty years since the last struggle for the regency and many nobles started maneuvering for another civil war while merchants had to plunder the remnants of Variman to even the playing field. All this meant that the last regent, Magister Armata, dedicated most of his efforts towards remaining in power.

### The Final Age

While some had remained hopeful, there would be no recovery, as the undead came and abused this era of troubles. Some scheming nobles thought they could benefit from this event, that it was a matter of providence and the time to seize power was now. They were quickly swept away by the hordes as they tore down the fabric of their ancient society. In spite of the evacuation efforts to which the Twilight Bureaucracy had dedicated itself, the Akara came out with a public declaration: “The heavens are clear, the holy city of Akar can not fall unless the All-maker wants it to! So we must hold fast to our defenses and do our duty so that we may outlast the cataclysm that sweeps across the world!” The undead overcame the city’s defenses. All that is known about the ensuing chaos is that all the Akara lay dead.

In spite of the tragedy that befell the entire Kingdom, vessels managed to escape, holding people from all across the Entente and taking them into waters unknown.