Argider

Map of Argider

### Exports

Metals, Alchemical tools and medicines, small tinkered items like watches, magical items like totems and carved amulets

### Allied Countries

Trade alliance with the Amerali Provinces and Marujai.

## Common Knowledge

Argider is a heavily forested nation, home to an alchemists’ guild.

## Topography and Climate

Argider is split between rolling hills and dense, thick forests. The nation enjoys a temperate climate

### Twyla Merav

The densest, thickest forest in Argider. This dark and ancient forest is home to many mysterious creatures, and phenomena which defy explanation.

## Population

By acreage, Argider is mostly human, wood elven, or half-elven. The Nightjar-Folk, Screech-Owl-Folk, and Mink-Folk of Tribe Tauta in the Twyla Merav number nearly as many as the other species, however, perhaps even more.

There may be other creatures, or other civilizations, which lurk in the Twyla Merav but have not been discovered.

## Exports and Trades

This country exports metals, alchemical tools and medicines, small tinkered items like watches, magical items like totems and carved amulets.

The people of this nation usually take up farming, mining, tinkering, or alchemical professions. Some also become hunters and navigators, but there are strict regulations and bans on hunting within the Twyla Merav.

## Government

For all intents and purposes, the nation of Argider is a diarchy between the Argiderran monarch and the leaders of the Tauta. The absolute monarchy of Argider and the tribal council of Tauta rule their people independently of each other, and meet at least once a month to discuss their affairs and resolve any potential conflicts. Though Tauta involvement in the kingdom’s dealings as a whole is not secret per se, their presence is not advertised to outsiders.

## Military

Argider’s military is about average for its size, and used almost exclusively for self-defense.

## Social Hierarchy and Culture

Most Argiderran culture and society revolves around the feudal system, peasants subservient to lords and ladies, and they in turn serve the monarch. This excludes the Tauta beast-folk, who are left to their own devices. It is both common courtesy and law of both groups not to infringe upon the other’s territories without reason.

### Argiderran Alchemists’ Guild

Because of the abundant materials found in the countless nearby forests, especially the Twyla Merav, Argider is home to one of the most renowned and prolific alchemy guilds on Orelisle.

## Cities, Towns, and Villages

All named and unnamed known cities, towns, and villages are mentioned here, along with a brief description.

### Popiete

This is the location of the Stone Tree Hall tavern, a brothel.

### Avinmas

A predominantly high elven city in eastern Argider. Suffered a surprise attack from the Fel in 10,017 A.B., and called upon the aid of Galkador.

## Alliances

Argider has a trade alliance with the Amrali Republic and Marujai. Though not formalized in writing, there is a loose defense agreement between Marujai and Argider. Some individual cities also have alliances with Galkador.

Argider tends to stay out of foreign affairs, unless its specific borders are threatened. They are not a member of the Taphran Confederacy, but their ties to Marujai make them adjacent to that Confederacy. Argider is not a member of the United Orelisian Council.

## Enemy Countries

Argider has no true enemies, but strongly distrusts K’Vesten.

## Historical Timeline

* ???,???,??? B.B. - Twyla Merav gains magical, mystical, and Other?? Properties
* ???,??? B.B. - Nightjar-Folk, Screech Owl-Folk, Mink-Folk take residence in Twyla Merav
* C. 100,000 B.B. - 40,000 B.B. - Widespread Human Clan Wars
* 40,000 B.B. - 31,000 B.B. - Clans Argider, Faidor, Daugon become dominant human powers north of Binturia, still fight amongst each other with no clear winner
* 28,205 B.B. - 3 clans recognize that they work better together than against each other, formalize a peace at a city all 3 had owned at one time or another (but was at that time under Daugon’s control) called Malovazen. Referred to externally as the Malovazen Coalition
* 26,742 B.B. - 26,428 B.B. - After agreeing that organizing themselves into a proper nationstate kingdom was a good idea, clans engage in political maneuvering for centuries to make sure that their family is royalty (ensuring dominance over the others)
* 26,428 B.B. - Kakta Argider crowned first king of Malovazen
* 26,372 B.B. - 26,339 B.B. - Through divine intervention and political maneuvering, clan Argider loses power over the throne of Malovazen
* 286 A.B. - Malovazen collapses, clan Argider returns to ancient borders (Argider, Marujai)
* 816 A.B. - 1,435 A.B. - Malovazen attempts to reclaim Argider’s territory, unsuccessful
* 1,482 A.B. - Clan Argider formally organizes into a nation-state, forming the country called Argider
* 2,069 A.B. - 2,082 A.B. - Argider joins an alliance to beat K’Vesten back into its own borders
* 2,082 A.B. - K’Vesten legally recognizes Argider as a sovereign nation
* 3,510 A.B. - Emboldened by unchecked power of K’Vesten Magisters, Argider mages rise in power and influence
* 3,516 A.B. - Argider Mages stage a coup against Queen Menulis Argider, Queen Argider escapes
* 3,516 A.B. - Queen Menulis Argider hides within the Twyla Merav from coup d’etat forces, found by members of Tauta tribe
	+ She entrusts the Tauta tribe with the care of her daughter Saule, age 6, as the last hope of their family
* 3,516 A.B. - 3,519 A.B. - First Argiderran Civil War
* 3,519 A.B. - Queen Menulis Argider captured by mages, tried for crimes against the state, executed
* 3,521 A.B. - Mages have complete control over Argider, install themselves as ruling Magistrate Council
	+ Use displays of magic power, constructs, etc. to extort population for resources
* 3,524 A.B. - 3,553 A.B. - Second Argiderran Civil War
	+ 3,538 A.B. - Saule Argider leaves the Twyla Merav for the first time
	+ 3,541 A.B. - Saule joins a revolution against the Magistrate Council, rapidly becomes one of its most competent members
	+ 3,550 A.B. - Saule and revolutionary forces take economic powerhouse city Ausra
	+ 3,552 A.B. - Internal pressures force Magistrates to meet with revolutionary leaders
		- Offer peace, in exchange they will split Argider into North and South Argider (North Argider still under control of Magistrates, South Argider controlled by revolutionaries)
		- The peace is agreed upon
		- During the meeting, one of the Magistrates casually drops that Saule is the former queen’s daughter
	+ 3,553 A.B. - Saule travels back to Twyla Merav and learns the truth of her birth
		- Magistrates use a mole in revolutionary ranks to cause infighting (hoped to destabilize them enough for a collapse or easy recapture later on)
		- Saule learns the truth, returns, exposes the mole, and restores order
* 3,554 A.B. - Revolutionaries crown Saule Argider the new Queen of South Argider
	+ Legal documents for South Argider specifically include clauses protecting Twyla Merav and its inhabitants, guaranteeing them functional sovereignty with South Argider as their agent
* 3,899 A.B. - North Argider collapses under revolution, aided by South Argider resources, becomes Marujai
	+ South Argider changes its name to simply “Argider”
* 5,859 - 5,855 A.B. - Daugon-Argider-Marujai War
	+ Argider & Marujai work together to defend against Daugon invasion
	+ Cities like Avinmas hire members of the Galkadorian military for defense against invading Daugons.
* 10,009 - 10,014 A.B. - Sentarel family comes to power in Taphran, imposes large tariffs on trade between Taphran and every other nation
	+ 10,014 A.B. - Kaizoak family returns to power, tariffs return to previous fees

## Further Information

* Daugon
* Galkador
* K’Vesten
* Malovazen
* Marujai