The Kingdom of Ardea

The Kingdom of Ardea is the main power of Aetheral, ruling most of the continent from its capital of Ardea. The Kingdom was ruled by an elective council during the King Leopold's reign as he was incapacitated due to illness. Currently, the Kingdom is ruled by King Johann Von Hertenjacht, who abolished the elective council system King Leopold put in place in favor of a chosen court. His current court consists of Stewardess Hildegard Von Steiner, Almoner Howl, Marshall Onur Velvorn, Doctor Phyrrah Aelsinorin, and scribe Krystyn Vidra.

### Early History

The continent of Aetheral remained primal for long, the River of Ardea was used by Giants in their herding of Dodongo's. Excavations also note a draconic presence, perhaps the site of a battle between giant kin and dragon kin in ages prior, although not much is known about this besides old folklore.

Ardea was a small human farmer's village in the center of Aetheral, named after the river where the humans settled. From the onset of good resources, vast surrounding agricultural potential and magical essences attracted a consistent increase in population for the next millennia, although occasional dragon attacks were a plague. Ardea's growth in population coincided with a national reach of influence across Aethereal. Making it the prime and sole political entity across the region. In these days of old, as the basin was being settled, Ardean rulership was equated to the chiefs and village elders. The need arose for adequate leadership for such a civilization, and thus power struggles began, settling upon a winner with a small civil war, giving birth to the first Ardean king, Arminius Lotharius. Folklore tells of him subduing the mythical being known as the White Stag, using its power to bind all humanoids together into a singular civilization. He led this coalition to battle one of the last remaining dragon alpha's, to secure human power in the region. Henceforth, he built a throne to honor the Stag out of the slain dragon's bones, which still resides in the palace to this day.

At this stage, the Church of Light sent its first missionaries and the archaic gods of the elements and natural surroundings ceased to be worshiped as primary custom. Ardean nation building was undertaken with the onset of unionization through the Church of Light. The basin cultures that inhabited the river lands surrounding were quickly assimilated into Ardean domain. With this new growth that Ardea experienced, other less fortunate races such as the Drow began to settle next to it, seeking their fortune. To the dismay of the Ardeans, Dusktowne was borne.

### The Civil War

Under the Lotharinian dynasty, the kingdom fared well, being isolated from any enemies being on an island. This all changed when a plague had swept across Ardea, riding on the backs of the insurgence of immigrants. Most of the Lotharinians died during this plague, leaving only the ruler with his wife, the queen. Both of them eventually died due to old age, while the matter of succession was never solved, triggering a civil war between the nobles, each trying to gain the throne for themselves.

## King Johann Von Hertenjacht's Reign [2/8/630 - Current]

King Johann Von Hertenjact is the current King, due to the discovery and general acceptance that he is the grandnephew to the previous King, Leopold the First.

**[The 21st day of First Fellnight, year 631]**

Sabiaria is declared dead, likely from the cholera outbreak.

**[The 9th day of Crimsonfall, year 631]**

A cholera outbreak is discovered in Ardea. 79% of the population is sick, and 7% have died from the disease. That's roughly 3,300 people dead.

**[The 9th day of Fire's Grasp, year 631]**

A botched execution informs Ardea of the existence of "The Cult of the Night," a cult whose members have killed four guards in their pursuit of Arcane knowledge.

**[The 2nd day of Fire's Grasp, year 631]**

Harth is cleared of Drictag's necromancy.

**he 8th day of High Sun, year 631]**

Ardea declares war on the Molemasher Clan.

**[The 30th day of Rain's Grasp, year 631]**

The border agreement between Ardea and the Southern Orcish tribe is finalized, which helped to solidify the alliance between them.

**[The 18th day of Rain's Grasp, year 631]**

Strange meteors fall to Aetheral. Each meteor is embedded with runes, and appear to be of a new, undiscovered stone.

**[The 17th day of Rain’s Grasp, year 631]**

The second issue of "Letters From the Crown" names the newest members of the Royal Court. Hilde Von Steiner, the King's aunt, is named Stewardess; Inquisitor Howl is named the Almoner; Onur Velvorn is named the Marshall; and Phyrrah Aelsinorin is named the Royal Doctor and Alchemist. The addition of an Almoner and Royal Doctor/Alchemist is important to note, for these titles are likely the first of their kind within the Ardean Kingdom.

**[The 15th day of Second Frost's Reign, year 631]**

"Letters From the Crown," the Crown's official newspaper, distributes their first issue. Within the first issue, it's surmised that the previous Council system is informally removed and is replaced with a Court system, with it's only member being the previous Regent, Ademar Burstow, acting as a temporary Steward. Also, in this first edition, Dark Horse, a small population near the North West of Ardea's border, is established as a Sovereign State.

**[The 18th day of Second Frost's Reign, year 631]**

Steward Ademar Burstow establishes the Artificers Guild, which is a group of engineers that helped defeat the undead threat.

## Regent Ademar Burstow's Reign [10/4/630 - 2/8/630]

The Steward Ademar Burstow was named Regent soon after King Leopold's death. His reception was somewhat mixed, but it is known that many wanted him to become the new King of Ardea, though, he declined the position, and soon began searching through King Leopold's records to find the next heir to the throne.

**[The 6th day of Second Frost's Reign, year 631]**

Grand Nephew of King Leopold, is discovered by the Regent.

**[The 28th day of First Frost’s Reign, year 631]**

Regent Ademar Burstow was handed a country that was faced with the imminent threat of destruction at the hands of a lich and its generals, yet, he prevailed. With his army and the aid of all of his countrymen (the Red Wolves, the Southern Jungle Tribe, and the only recently recognized state of Dark Horse), he was able to stop the undead invasion. However, cursed magic still fills the deep north, and the city of Harth is still crawling with undead even during King Johann Von Hertenjacht's reign.

**[The 14th day of First Frost's Reign, year 631]**

Islands to the west of Aetheral are newly discovered by Baron Sigurd Björnsson Hvitserk.

**[The 22nd day of Crimsonfall, year 630]**

A small encampment of Giants is discovered for the first time in Aetheral.

## King Leopold the First's Reign [??? - 10/4/630]

King Leopold the First established a short-lived elective council system during his time. The council system was made that each race within Aetheral could have a representative within the King's court. Among the first of these council members were; Sabiara Coborel, the Elven Councilor; Dulin Goldbound, the Dwarven Councilor; Azul of Ardea, the Orcish Councilor; and Rurik of Ardea.

Sabiara Coborel and Dulin Goldbound greatly aided King Leopold in the creation of the Ardean Compendium of Law, which replaced the previous system, which was primarily a collection of unwritten policies enforced by the King's Guard.

**[The 4th day of Crimsonfall, year 630]**

King Leopold the first is assassinated by Counilman Azul. As written in his will, the palace and its gardens are made public to the people.

**[The 17th day of Lowsun, year 630]**

An undead army invades and takes the Serine Republic of Harth,

**[The 19th day of Fireswane, year 630]**

The construction of the Ardean Port, now named Port Nymris, is finished.

[**The 27th day of Fireswane, year 630]**

With Sabiara's absence, the position for Elven Councilor was soon opened. The votes were close between Gilthos, Miir Ayari, and Ulfin, who was the acting Guard Captain at the time. Gilthos beat Miir Ayari by two votes.

**[The 16th day of Fireswane, year 630]**

After the dragon attacks, Ademar Burstow was named Steward, with Jeremiah Caeiro serving as Marshall, and Miir Ayari acting as the King's Scribe.

**[The 26th day of Fire's Grasp, year 630]**

During Leopold's reign, a dragon attacked Aetheral. This dragon caused great harm when it burned down not only Ardea but Inkwell, and killed many people. It's known that Ademar Burstow's siege weapons were the primary reason the Ardean army was able to stop this great and terrible beast. Though it's unknown when dragon sightings truly began, it is known that the dragon was defeated during the 26th day of Fire’s Grasp, year 630.