Principalities of Northeria

The **Principalities of Northeria** were a confederation of principalities that established in the Northers, and one of the Six Kingdoms of humanity west of the Eastern Mountains. A nation based on defense and protection, the nation has a long history of defensive warfare. Its ruling families are the Palemount and the Whiterage families.

## History

It is unknown when humanity first came to the Northers but it is supposed to have been early in their history. It is known that early humans established first states there and had cultural domination over there, serving as a border between the Eldar Empire and the rest of the Human lands.

In 2453BF, the Human Empire was established, conquering a vast region over all of the modern Six Kingdoms. The Northers were at the time separated into two main groups, that are currently known as Riurites and Alexans, themselves divided into cities-states. Thus, the conquest was rather hard, but as the Empire turned one city against another, it was eventually done well. However, due to the geography of the region, it was impossible to truly assimilate the Northerians, safe from language being unified as Common and the Church of Aym being made the main religion. Due to proximity with the Eldar Empire, the Mountain Marche. It seems however that the region had been ruled by an elected local city leader and marriages with locals were often done.

As the Human Empire collapsed after the disastrous First Divine War, the Northers were once again separated into many cities-states, of which the two most powerful were Mos for Riurites and Helles for Alexans. War was common in the Northers and some heroes illustrated themselves by fighting them. However, the cities often united to fight Eldars and Mytherids. Eventually, Riur Whiterage of Mos and Alex Palemount of Helles fought side by side in the defenses, and according to chronicles, fell in love with each other. Eventually, as the cities of Mos and Helles came to fight in wars, Riur and Alex killed themselves to avoid fighting each other. The Princes of Mos and Helles, saddened by the death of their children, concluded peace, and united as a single land.

The Northerian Principalities suffered much from the Flood, losing most of its coastal lands, but eventually, they managed to regain the strengths they had lost, united under a Grand-Prince. They fought again against Eldars. Currently, the Grand Prince of Northeria is Riurik II Whiterage, known as "the Defenser", for his great physiology and skill wielding the Aegis.

## Government and Politics

### Power Structure

The Northerian Principalities' government is ruled by a single absolute monarch who held a majority of the power within the government, this monarch alternating between Mos and Helles. Below the monarch are the Princes who help advise and manage the nation, with the Prince that is not a Grand-Prince acting as advisor. The Princes are also powerful lords who manage the militaries and economies of their individual city-state.

Each position within the government is an hereditary function, passed down to each. Although women can achieve some positions of power, it is absolutely a masculine society and Northeria is a strictly agnatic succession line. As such, a daughter can't inherit and an uncle will inherit in succession. The succession depends on age, with the eldest son inheriting.

### Military

Norhteria's military, despite still being a strong one, is among the low powers of the Six Kingdoms. It is however mainly composed of soldiers and warriors, and sometimes peasants. Their military commanders are usually charismatic and strong but Northeria is not an agressive force, for it is a defensive land and always worked defensively. Northerian soldiers, no matter the rank, were taught to fight with swords, and shields. The most commonly used material for weapons was steel and copper.

Trained in weaponry, the army is only used for self defense, and Northeria is often compared to an unmovable rock, for its gigantic defenses. The Mountain March is known for never having been taken by any foe.

### Economy

After its formation, Northeria adopted a feudal system, with peasants of a province required to farm the fields for the nation's agriculture. In exchange, the peasants can keep a portion of what they farmed, and the aristocracy were tasked to make law and justice prevail, as well as a pay. Among its primary crops were the Riur's Love and Alex's Kiss, two fruits that were thought to be very tasty.

Coinciding with its agricultural aspects, the principalities' economy is open to trade, with all of their neighbours, except for Eldars. Northeria also has the advantage of having copper and steel mines in their mountains. Currency in the Northerian Principalities is called Bear, and is divided in steel Bear and copper Bear. A steel Bear is worth five copper Bear.

## Society and Culture

The people of Northeria are a proud and independent people, focused on defense and protection. Divided into two populations, they're united under a monarchy and kept good relationships with each other. They have a very bad view of Imperial Eldars and the Mytherid Empire, that they recognise as foes and agressors, and as such, have a common foe with Atheria. Unlike all other countries, male homosexual marriage was legal.

As part of their cultures, Northerians typically did not adopt a unique surname to coincide with their first name, using nicknames such as "the elder" if there are more than one person with said first name. Princes tended to use their cities. The Grand-Prince was titled as "of Northeria" although calling him by "of Mos" or "of Helles".

Having chosen the Church of Aym as the official religion, the Grand-Prince of Northeria is recognised as dependent of the local Archon, living in Mos or Helles, in opposition of the Grand Prince. It is a very faithful attachment to Aym.

Although it is mostly surrounded by Human Kingdoms, many Northerians, mostly the aristocracy and the cities at the far east of Northeria will speak some words of Eldar, in addition to their native Common.

## Geography and Climate

Northeria is a country, in the Northers, located directly below the Kingdom of Atheria and west of the Mytherid Empire and east to the Demiurgate of Aymia. All of the region, as the name indicates, is composed of mountains, with the northern ones being cold mountains and the southern ones being hot ones. Copper and steel were mined in these mountains.

## Trivia

* Northeria is loosely inspired by the Kievan Rus, and by Ancient Greece. Other inspirations include Mount Targon from League of Legends and the Slavic kingdoms of the Balkans.