Adrastea

The Holy Kingdom of Adrastea can be found to the north. They make up one of the three playable factions within Alemdas.

The people of the Kingdom are said to be a hardy bunch, built to withstand the blistering cold. The majority of them are warriors by nature, making Adrastea a militant giant when compared to the Alliance and Empire. They serve the Kingdom with all that they have.

## History of Adrastea

Despite how barren the frozen north can be at times, there had been many creature flourishing within the snow. With such large, dense forrest, there was plenty for herbivores to live off of. With such well fed prey, the predators to the north grew large and deadly.

Queen Constance Curson was the first queen to rule over the kingdom.

## Culture

The Holy Kingdom, at times, is just as hard to survive in as its desert counterparts.

The people of Adrastea are said to be incredibly hardy and strong, not easy to push around. They have managed to make a life for themselves in the blistering cold. It's a marvel to behold at times, the way they have managed to take the frozen land and form a bustling culture out of it.

Most of the Kingdom citizens are known to look out for their neighbor. The majority of them find in incredibly important to make sure the whole kingdom is safe and sounded. Sickness and other things can easily take someone during the colder months, when the kingdom is at its weakest, so many of its citizens believe that the strength of one affects the whole Kingdom.

That being said, the Holy Kingdom isn't a push-over nation.

They are known to be the militant powerhouse of Alemdas. After the first great war among factions, they made it a point to no longer be taken aback like that ever again. Thus this has resulted in the Kingdom building themselves into quite the force to be reckoned with. The majority of the nation tends to be of a warrior breed, men and women alike. Those who don't turn to the life of protecting the kingdom still receive some military training; often taught by their parents instead of a military leader.

## Other Cultural Notes

#### Law

The Kingdom of Adrastea holds it people to a relatively high standard. The ruling powers try to keep it fair when it comes to dishing out punishment but that doesn't mean they are pushovers. Most of their laws have been in place since the very beginning of time.

* i. The Royal Family's word is law. To go against them is considered high treason.
* ii. The reigning Queen holds absolute power. Her decisions are final.
* iii. Do not take the law into your own hands. Report any problems to a knight immediately.
* iv. Respect they neighbor.
* v. Do not still from they neighbor.
* vi. Do not kill.
	+ Life in Adrastea is viewed as an incredibly scared thing. To send anyone to Koesis before it is their time is the highest crime anyone could commit.
* vii. Respect the knights. They do all they can to keep the Kingdom's people safe.
	+ The land can be unforgiving at times. It's important to keep it in the best possible shape so that next year's harvest can be just as bountiful as the last.
* viii. Crimes will be met with the punishment that is seen fit. Higher crimes like assault (both sexual and physical) and murder can be, and have been met, with death sentences.

#### Family and Marriage

* While family is incredibly important with the Kingdom it doesn't mean someone has to put themselves through misery and torture. To leave one's family is viewed as an act of strength within the Kingdom. Many people who find themselves in these kind of situations can find help wherever they go.
* In days of old, there were cases where husbands took multiple wives. This isn't seen as much as it once was. There are a few members of the older generations that still hold this believe and still do have multiple wives, but as time has progressed, this trend has slowly begun to die out.
	+ *Women in these situations are not viewed as property.* They are free to do whatever they wish, without the approval of their husband. Traditionally it is more of a show of social status amongst other. Spouses who are found to be mistreating their wives are met with a swift punishment.
	+ Nowadays if a man wishes to take multiple wives, he often has to go before a church official in order to receive a "blessing." The man must prove that they have the resources to take care of a second wife, as well as the children that might come from the marriage. Men who have an alarming criminal history often receive a denial from the church.
* Marriage in the Kingdom is a quiet affair. It is typically reserved for a few close family members and no more. At times, it might just be an even between a church official and the wedded couple. Even the royal weddings are quite the reserved ceremony.
* In the beginning, marriage was often arranged and used as a means of trade between families. This isn't the case as much anymore as people are now given the choice to marry who they want. Though that doesn't mean it has entirely disappeared; some families are incredibly picking about who they allow to marry into their lineage.

#### Education

* There is a common stereotype that people from the Kingdom are nothing more than brainless warriors. While accurate in some sense, it's not entirely true. Higher educations aren't as sought out to the north as they aren't viewed as a necessity to life.
* That isn't to say there isn't an education system. The basics such as reading and writing are taught to everyone, no matter their class or their wealth. But at they same time, it's not enforced. It is often up to the individual's parents on whether or not their children receive a "proper" education.
* Those who don't receive an education aren't looked down upon either. They are often viewed as being smart within their trades, simply having a different type of education when compared to others.
* Children who don't receive an "education" are often sent to apprentice under a master. There they receive the knowledge and knowhow of a certain trade. Some trade masters do teach their apprentices the basics such as reading and writing.

#### Commerce and Trade

* Much of the Kingdoms wealth comes from hunting, farming and gardening. There are cases were actual money isn't even used, many citizens preferring trade goods with one another as a form of payment.
* When it comes to raising livestock, one can raise just about any animal, as long as it produces either wool and leather for clothing or meat for food. For meat, those form the cervidea species tend to be the most common; ranging from deer all the way up to moose. While for wool, llamas and sheep are the preferred livestock.
* Weaving is another popular trade within the Kingdom. As the only faction to truly experience all four seasons, it's important for the Kingdom's people to have a wide range of clothes that can change out throughout the year. Because of there, there are a handful of people who have made quite the life for themselves just from weaving.

#### Holidays and Celebrations

The Holy Kingdom values religion and their faith in the gods, thus resulting in the celebration of them all. This also makes them the faction with the most celebrations and festivals in total.

Click here for a more in-depth page of all of the Holy Kingdoms holidays and celebrations!

## Religious Beliefs

The most religious out of all the factions, the citizens of Adrastea take their worship and praise very seriously, ingraining it into every part of their day to day life. Most, if not all the gods, receive equal amounts of worship here. There is no discrimination to who one favors over the others, but it is instilled that they all must receive some type of praise.

Most do pray to the selected patron gods of the north, but in most households - if not all- you can final several different shrines resting within their walls. Being a nation that is so ingrained with religion, there is no god that won't find some type of praise here; even the chaotic god Koulla finds more praise towards the north. Though, if you were to read in between the lines, there are three out of the eight who find more praises sung in their name:

* Loeyar, the god of luck, is revered by most- if not all -of the kingdom. To survive in the harsh environment of the north, and to do it well, it does take a certain amount of luck. The winters here can be harsh, and there are often times were it feels as if there is nothing waiting for them on the other side. The current reigning King tends to speak out in praise of Loeyar quite frequently, bringing more attention to the god of luck.
* Dyrene, the god of war, is a close second behind Loeyar. Being the strongest, militant force within Alemdas, they praise the war god on a daily basis. Many of the Kingdom's soldiers adorn themselves in symbols of the goddess, hoping to receive her blessing when sent into battle.
* Koulla, the god of change, receive the most praise from the Holy Kingdom when compared to the other factions. Being the creator of the seasons, she plays a major role in the daily life of a Kingdom citizen. Without her, the year would remain a cold, and lonely one. Out of the three patron gods, she receives the most celebration, as with each change of the season, festivals are held in her honor.
* Koesis, the god of death, is revered in a different manner within the Holy Kingdom. Death is a thing of celebration. For the most part, there is no mourning to be found when a loved one passes on, instead it is a day filled with celebration- commemorating all they had managed to achieve in their lifetime. Graveyards can often be found decorated to the brim with flowers and other trinkets, quite the "lively" place who's main purpose is to house the dead.

## Notable Figures

**Queen Constance (Admin NPC, Deceased.) |** The first reining queen, Constance is responsible for helping the kingdom become what is it today. Many believe it was her dying love for the gods that morphed the kingdom into such a devout nation. She set up many of the holidays the kingdom holds in celebration of the gods. Queen Constance was said to be a peaceful soul; a well loved matriarch. Unfortunately, she was found dead within her bed chambers in year 31.

**Queen Ingrid (Admin NPC, Deceased.) |** First born daughter to Constance, Ingrid declared war against the Alliance after the death of her mother. All in all, she was said to be a harsh woman, holding a bitter taste for the Alliance and an undying urge to protect her people. Many look to Ingrid as the reason to why the kingdom has become a strong militant force so quickly.

**Archbishop Falenas Sylyra (Admin NPC) |** The current Archbishop of the Monastery. Falenas is a elven woman, only truly given away by her height. She prefers to keep her face covered, only allowing her eyes to be seen. (A fashion choice many Archbishops before her have done themselves.) Falenas acts as a speaker for the gods, bringing messages from the gods forward onto the kingdom's subjects.

**Templar Commander Arel Miaric (Group NPC)*\** |** Templar Commander Arel currently acts as a body guard to the Archbishop. Beforehand, he helped train up and coming templars. He is said to be quite the stoic man, seemingly rather uninterested in anything else other than protecting Falenas. He can always been found in her shadow, only a few steps behind her.

*\*Group NPCs can be used for your character's background. No need to ask for permission!*

#### Royalty (Admin Only)

* **Examples:** Queen. King. Prince. Saints.

#### Nobility (Requires purchase of Noble Blood)

* **Examples:** Archbishop (*admin only*) Royal Advisors. Emissaries. Duke/ Duchess. Count/Countess. etc.

#### Upper Class

* **Example:** Bishop. Military Leaders. Royal Guard. Magisters. Arcanists. Templars. etc.

Middle Class

* **Examples:** Knights. Commoners. Herder. Hunters. Farmers. Merchants. Clerics. etc.

#### Lower Class

* **Examples:** Bandit. Thief. Smugglers. Beggers.

## Locations

#### Halsted

* The capital city of Adrastea, Halsted is located at the northern post part of the nation, not too far from the northern sea. Halsted is home to most of the nobility and the middle class of Adrastea, as well as housing the royalty. The castle, where the Queen and King resided, can be found within Halstead, resting at the northern most point of the city. The monastery also resides here, resting on the eastern point. Halsted is often covered in snow, looking like a winter wonderland throughout the year.

#### The Monastery

* Located within the capital city, the monastery is the home to Adrastea's Archbishop and the many other religious figures within Adrastea; as well as being home to several knights, ranging in different areas of expertise and skills. The monastery is considered a safe haven for many people, offering a place for those to turn to when lost. No one can be turned away from these grounds, regardless of their race, age, gender or what else one might be concerned about.

#### Stensta

* Stensta is mostly known as a fishing town, through and through. Located right off the shores of Lokvere lake, there are many people here who make their living from fishing within these waters. The temperatures here are a little warmer than most, as if one was to sail across the way, they would end up in Ardeurian Empire territory. Because of this the fish that dwell here and quite diverse, both hailing from the north and the south. Stensta makes up the second most populated town, after Halsted.

#### The Throne of the Gods

* A small island located towards the southern part of Adrastea. The almost ethereal radiating from the small patch of land is what gave it its name. As well as the fact the ground around the entrance to the island has been scorched and burned away into nothing, the ground caved in in a few areas as if a star fell from the heavens and collided with the ground. There are many people who won't venture far onto these lands as there is no need for human life here. Besides with the amount of stories and rumors that come from her, it's hard to believe that the gods, or at the very least a multitude of mythical beasts don't reside here. Whatever the case is, many have come to the decision to leave the land be.

#### Narhava Forest

* A large forest in the very center of Adrastea, it's a patch of land that most people won't dare to dwell far into. The outskirts of the forest are more populated than the inner parts, as the farther in you go, the more dangerous it becomes. There are said to be Gryphons, Dyrads, and even the occasional Northern Dragon lurking within the deeper parts of the forest. When all of that is taken into consideration, it's understandable why some people feel such apprehension towards the woods. Only the bravest of the brave will dare to go much farther than the outskirts, but even then it's considered quite the idiotic idea.

#### Piekvus

* A northern town, its most often covered in snow. The temperature here can get a little unbearable at times so its best to wear layer upon layer when venturing this far north. Piekvus is known mostly as a mining town, as well as one that houses a few herding families. Diamonds are the main product that comes from the minds, a tough job that has quite the reward at the end. For herding, it tends to be animals that produce an overabundance of wool; sheep and llamas being the top producer. Though the occasional reindeer and muskox can be found as well. There's even a family who's mastered the art of herding moose as well.