Kingdom of Cornelia

The Kingdom of Cornelia, also the Kingdom of Greater Cornelia, or simply Greater Cornelia, was a state in the Vedulsped which existed from 1512 AD to 2000 AD. Its history is divided into between its pre-monarchial period and the Ertelleis dynasty (1662 –2000 ). The kingdom was located in what is now called the Albelic peninsula, at the southern tip of the Nofmes Sea. The country has a square area of 321,741, around the same size as Ecuador. To walk from the end of Cornelia to the tip of Sosphena is around 1,665km.

The first nations in the Vedulsped began to form only 17 years after the fall of the sky citadel, and in 967 the first settlers began to colonize the southern continent. Conflict with the local elven populations forced them to migrate southward. Because of the temperate climate of the region, the settlers began to grow wheat, corn, barley, and oats in fields across the Albelic valleys. It is for this reason that early Oxxic traders began to refer to the land as "corn country", a name which the Kingdom would eventually adopt after King Fandrall's decree in 721 AD. During this early time, the territories were divided between several small independent cities. Independent countrymen would sell their farming and fishing goods

### Inhabitants

5,331,019 (high)

along trade routes established between all the tribes. There are many written records surviving on the early development of these Cornelian territories, including a chronicle of Cornelia's transition into a monarchy (the "Greater Chronicle") and an account of the Great Battle of Cornelia, both written by the same author, a scribe named Ei.

Under the protodynasty, the Cornellian throne was divided in two – Cornelia Minor and Sophene – both of which passed to the descendants of the Ertelleis dynasty in 189 BC. These two kingdoms were divided by the Nofmes River, which was known as the "Sophene River" to the east. The capital city of Cornelia Minor was located on the western bank of the river. The two kingdoms were then separated by a wall constructed in 697 AD, but which was destroyed by King Fandrall I in 767 BC. The outer reaches of Sophene would eventually fall into decay, with the former throne of the kingdom earning legendary status among Cornellians. A small but resilient separatist attitude was kept alive within the area, until it was finally annexed by the Ertelleis dynasty in 967 AD.

In the aftermath of the Oxxon war, Cornelia was the first Vedulsped state to convert to Christianity as its state religion. This decision caused a schism within the kingdom, leading to the rise of a new religion known as "Cordelism", which would eventually be called "Ertelleis". The Ertelleis were a group of nobles who had formed a separate faction from the rest of the kingdom, and were opposed to the king's conversion. In 801 AD, they revolted and were utterly wiped out, marking an end to the degenerate period of Cornelia's history. From that time forward, Cornelia's kings maintained an image of piety and honor, becoming one of the strongest Christian states in the realm.

## Etymology

It is commonly believed that the name Cornelia is a combination of "corn" (or "corn") and "lia", an ancient word that described the "wandering" of the early settlers when they began to colonize the southern continent. As true as this may be, the name of Cornelia is also tied to the old Oxxam myth of Cornelio. In the myth, Cornelio is the royal servant of the mad Oxxam noble Martius and personally conducts his musical orchestra of flutists and cellists. After being betrayed by his master, Cornelio is hired by the leader of a group of hunters to slay Martius. In return, Cornelio is bribed with the hunter's daughter Sosphenia in return. He is given a flute from an elven woman and at the festival uses it to escape from a dungeon-house and entrance the entire camp.

Martius reaccepts Cornelio, and Cornelio leads him on boat to an island in Duchess Lake after putting his guards to sleep. There the mad noble is ambushed and drowned in the lake, but in the process Sosphenia is also killed. As both Cornelio and the hunter are stricken with grief, the elven woman reveals that the flute's songs always play in two beats. Outraged, the hunter kills the elven woman and then finding Cornelio playing the flute alone in the wilderness attempts to wrestle it from him. The two struggle, and a tidal wave drowns the island under the sea. The hunter survives, and bringing the Flute of Cornelio with him achieves great victories against the elves in the war. After securing the land from the elves, Bortinus names its southern end Cornelia and its northern end Sosphena.

No matter which linguistic origin came first, the pronounciaition of Cornelia remains the same: it is pronounced "korn-eel-ia" with a rolling 'r' sound in the middle.

## Geography and Fauna

Cornelia is located in northern Vedulsped in between the Aldi Sea and Duchess Lake, with Cornelia Major located in what is now known as the Georganus peninsula. With a temperate climate and favorable winds coming from the Aldi sea, the people quickly took advantage of the fertile land, establishing fields for crops and growing wheat and other grains. Cornelia is one of the most geographically secluded lands in northern Vedelsped and therefore bears strong strategic defenses. Many early Cornelians viewed the land as a fertile refuge and prophetic escape from the claws of tyrannous rulers. As a result, the first settlements were small and scattered, with many people fleeing their own homelands and moving in together into a collective group of pioneers.

Cornelia experiences all four seasons distinctly. Winters are mild in Cornelia and snow is rare, and as the breadbasket of the southern continent the nation produces nearly two-thirds of the continent's food. Because of this corn was an important symbol in Cornelia's history. The Ertelleis dynasty would later use this symbol to identify themselves, and the Cornelian military still does to this day. The Cornelia military has also been historically renowned for being the greatest of all Eufezian armies, due mostly to its ability to withstand long sieges.

In Cornelia's ancient geographical history, the oceanic part of the proto-Aldi Sea was subducted during the Eunida period and a large accretionary complex formed along the southeastern coasts of the peninsula.

### Fauna

A large number of wolves live within the borders of Cornelia, primarily along the southern coast where settlements are more rare. These wolves used to be greater in number and were a constant threat for farmers and livestock. The dangers of wandering wolf packs was often portrayed in folklore, particularly through stories involving children and animals. However, with the development of agriculture and hunting practices, the wolf population decreased dramatically. They would eventually become extinct within most of the kingdom's territories by the year 1583, and in that year many farmers were awarded with honors by King Stuart II of Cornelia. There are no other major animal predators within the kingdom itself, though there have been rumors of sightings of large cats in the other Georganian forests.

Mites and hives sometimes swarm during breeding seasons, and cankerworms are a consistent pest in the south. Black widow spiders can also be found on the Georganian plains, and are known to lurk under rocks or inside abandoned homes. The Cornelian horse is a species of wild horse native to the region and the feral ancestor of Cornelia's tamed horses. Their coloration ranges from brown to dark grey, and their manes are typically long and curly. A common myth among locals is that these horses are descended from unicorns. Today, the horses are low in number as many have perished from a disease which can be dubbed only as "mad horse disease". There have been many cases of these "crazy horses" charging blindly into villages in search of food, causing damage to buildings and occasionally injuring people.

Unique Eufezian fauna can be found in the Gigas worm, which grows deep underground in caves and emerges from the earth during rainy seasons to eat crops. Its bite will make a person's flesh rot and kill them if it is not treated immediately, however a cure has been created since then. It can grow to lengths up to 30ft and has a strong odor to detract predators. These creatures are generally non-aggressive, and farmers usually apt to either trap or deter them as the creatures can be deadly if provoked.

Cornelia's national bird is the corn crake. They are a large bird species with bright white feathers, and have black and red facial markings. This species used to be found across most of the kingdom, but is now limited to just certain regions. They used to serve as symbols for the people of Cornelia because of their beauty and gracefulness, but after the Ertelleis dynasty the bird was associated with the worship of idols. Their popularity declined and they have become rare, with few surviving as pets.

Biodiversity of the estuary of and area of Duchess Lake includes aquatic mammal wildlife. Inland waters are populated by small to large freshwater fish, such as the walleye, the *Acipenser oxyrinchus*, the Atlantic cod, the Arctic char, the *Microgadus tomcod* (tomcod), the Atlantic salmon, and the rainbow trout.

Among the birds commonly seen in the southern part of Cornelia are the robins, the house sparrow, the mallard, the common grackle, the blue jay, crows, the black-capped chickadee and warblers. Avian fauna includes birds of prey like the peregrine falcon. Sea and semi-aquatic birds seen in Cornelia are mostly the Canada goose, the double-crested cormorant, the northern gannet, and the common loon.

The large land wildlife includes the white-tailed deer, the moose, the muskox. The medium-sized land wildlife includes the cougar, the eastern wolf, the bobcat, and the Arctic fox. The small animals seen most commonly include the eastern grey squirrel, the snowshoe hare, skunk, and beaver.

The Cornelian wildhorse is its most famous and identifiable animal, though it is fairly resticted to the north. Cornelia also has ground sloths endemic to the region, such as the *Glossotherium and Milewuse* who live in the midlands.

### Flora

Given the geology of the province and its different climates, there are a number of large areas of vegetation in Cornelia. These areas range from mixed to deciduous forests.

The total forest area of Cornelia is estimated at 300,000 km2 (over 70% of the nation's land area). From the Sosphena to the Oximus tip, the forest is composed primarily of conifers such as the *Abies balsamea*, the jack pine, the white spruce, the black spruce and the tamarack. The deciduous forest bordering Duchess Lake mostly composed of deciduous species such as the sugar maple, the red maple, the white ash, the American beech, the butternut (white walnut), the American elm, the basswood, the bitternut hickory and the northern red oak as well as some conifers such as the eastern white pine and the northern whitecedar. The distribution areas of the paper birch, the trembling aspen and the mountain ash cover more than half of Cornelia's territory.

Apart from typical flora, psiloleaves sometimes grow in the fields of Cornelia. Cornelia's flora mostly consist of grain, wheat, rice, barley and millet, with some variations depending on climate. The northern coast of Cornelia tends to grow grapes and olives, whereas the southern coasts grow cocoa trees and citrus. Corn crakes often nest in citrus trees and eat their fruit. The people of Cornelia have also had an affinity towards flowers and roses, with a poppy adorning the Erteilles coat of arms.

A small variety of trees are also found within Cornelia including oak and cypresses. The northern and eastern portions of Cornelia are known for having dense forests with many different varieties of tree and plant life, with forests that cover much of the Aldi sea, as well as the Georganian mountains and Duchess Lake. The *Fenouillard* is the national flower of Cornelia, though there has been controversy over its origin. The current prevailing theory is that the plant was imported from a faraway land long ago by a merchant who sold it in the market. In recent years, there has been an attempt to grow the plant on farms for commercial purposes.

### Resources

Odonium was a major industry for early Elven nations in the Georganian peninsula until being mostly extracted even before the Oxxan invasions.

## History

Much of what is known of Cornelia’s earliest history is deduced through the archaeological findings of early Lycanum settlements, the ruins of elven cities, and as well as Oxxan and elven myths and legends. The gigantic(99) ruins of the elven city Foreg are well preserved and protected by the Cornelian state. The city was large enough that it required nine gates, and is the symbol of how advanced the elves were when the Oxxams arrived. Foreg is believed to have housed at least 350,000 inhabitants during its peak, and was destroyed in 953 during the Oxxam wars in the Battle of Foreg.

Before the elves, it is believed that Sekhret lived on the Georganius Peninsula before they migrated out of the land in the Sekhret diaspora and becoming extinct. The diaspora was a result of the great flood, where much of their lands were washed away and they were forced to migrate northwards into the mountains. Today they can only be found in the Labyrinth of Time. Gigas then filled parts of the land during the elven period, bringing Gigas worms with them. In Cornelia's ancient geographical history, the oceanic part of the proto-Aldi Sea was subducted during the Eunida period and a large accretionary complex formed along the southeastern coasts of the peninsula.

There is evidence that in ancient times the elves of Eufez used to worship an elven goddess named Algolos from which the Angales Mountains get their name. This goddess was later associated with the Oxxam's idol Oxeles. It is said that she had a brother called Albelo, who was her opposite and a follower of the sun, while she worshipped darkness and evil. This false idol has been attributed to medusas of the pre-elemental period.

### Elven Period

Little is known of the history of the Georganius Peninsula before the elves as little is written in their own history, the people of the region were divided into various tribes and clans with each having their own culture and traditions. It is believed that the elven civilization was founded in approximately -1942 and this is based upon the archaeological records discovered in the ruins found along the banks of the Qenoi river and Foreg's Rullik inscription. The people of the peninsula were highly advanced. It has been shown that the elves had domesticated the 'Gigas worm' and utilized it in agriculture before the Gigas ever did centuries later. The Georganians also used the Gigas worm to create Foreg (a city on the northern coastline near Duchess Lake). It is believed that the Gigas worms were used to create tunnels underground and form the foundations of the city.

Centuries later and before the Oxxans arrived, all of the southern continent was inhabited by Elves who were experiencing a golden age in their society with significant technological progress. Their technology was not only limited to the use of technology for warfare but also in agriculture and other areas of daily life. The elves of the peninsula were considered to be some of the most clever of all elves, but the success of their nations had led to a sense of apathetic complacency and decay. The southern half of the continent was known as the "Elfheim" and was the center of the elven empire. It still goes by this name today.

The elves were largely unaffected by the Sahagin wars, as they had already driven the creatures out long ago and the northern continents were the Sahagin’s final bastion. The most distinctive marker of the Sahagin's ancient presence in Cornelia were the scattered ruins of Sahagin iglino's (a type of dock). Today there are no such ruins remaining except in scattered fragments. The iglino's were constructed by the Sahagin to build their ships and could be up to 90ft long. They were used to transport goods from one shore to the other. Today there are no such ruins remaining except in scattered fragments.

The elves were not affected by the Sahagin war because they had already driven them out. However, the Sahagin did cause some damage to the peninsula's infrastructure, specifically around the Aldi Sea. The war caused significant disruption in trade routes and commerce along the sea, as Sahagin raids forced many small towns to close their doors. This led to a slight economic depression in the region. The raids affected the elven cities of Menteria and Dussel, as well as the nearby village of Dulace.

The Sahagin also capsized ships and tore fishing nets. As a result, many of the elven cities became isolated and lost contact with each other. After the Sahagin were driven out, the people of the peninsula were left without a means of transporting goods or trading with the rest of the continent for some short years. Some scholars believe that the butterfly effect from these raids may have even been one of the factors which led to their vulnerability during the Oxxam invasions.

### Eufezian Settlement

The humans who settled in Vedelsped were initially met with neutral resistance, and the Georganian peninsula was no different. The first human settlement in the peninsula was located along the banks of the Qenoi River, later becoming the elven village of Dussel. The fate of most of the pre-Oxxan human tribes in Vedelsped often depended on how they decided to interact with the elves, among other things. There were early humans who were indentured to work as servants in elven odonium mines for several generations. In the case of the Kettral, these people were eventually granted citizenship and given the opportunity to rise through the ranks to become an elite unit of soldiers for elven nations across Vedelsped.

Apart from this, many tribes either became entirely independent or were assimilated into the elven culture.  The Aldi region was an important trade route and it is believed that the early settlers made the decision to settle in the region because of its strategic location. Friendships and alliances with elves were seen as a brainless decision. This allowed early human settlers to better establish themselves and survive. In the beginning, the human settlers had a difficult time getting along with the elves, as the elves viewed them as savage interlopers competing for resources. After a few generations they learned to get along and establish peaceful relations. Eventually, the people of the peninsula adopted the elven culture, and even incorporated many of their customs into their own.

Certain elvish legends survive of this time, such as the Anequido, a tale of a young elven explorer and his interactions with the relatively isolated human tribes. The explorer, named Anequido, was searching for a way to unite the various human tribes, who were not yet unified at the time. He succeeded in uniting the tribes by convincing them to stop fighting amongst themselves and unite. The Anequido's efforts are also believed to be the inspiration behind the founding of the Kettral. Anequido is known to have made strong friendships with men.

The human tribes in the southern continent were never able to build any lasting civilization, as the elves and dwarves vehemently opposed any attempt of hegemony. Certain organizations were even formed to solely watch and monitor the development of human settlements. Many human settlements were taxed and monitored by elves at this time, with tariffs on agricultural goods. Most Eufezians in the peninsula were farmers and fishermen, and a group of fishermen had settled Hevelfoot and there founded a sanctuary apart from the elves. One notable attempt at an uprising in 586 resulted in the enslavement of several humans by the Webfoot elves. These slaves were still prevalent in Webfoot villages when the Oxxons arrived. Dwarves themselves were not common in the southern continent until recently, but their influence was subtley still felt in the mountain regions. The earth caverns in Cornelia are believed to date to 509 and were built by dwarves. The caverns have been known by elves for a long time, at least since 561. It is believed that they were built in part to contain certain threats and foes that the dwarves had uncovered deep below Eufez.

It was during this time also that early Eufezians traveled to the site of the chaos temple in Sosphena and constructed it. The site was originally desolate and empty. The temple was built on a site with strong time related energies as an attempt to reverse the sky citadel's crashing.

### **Oxxan Settlement (1000) (neu)**

At some point prior to the Oxxan invasion, flooding (not the great flood) devastated much of the peninsula. Many of the settlements near Foreg and on the shores of the Aldi sea are believed to have been lost during this cataclysmic event. When the Oxxam first invaded many coastland regions were still partly abandoned due to the flooding and were perfect locations for bases and fortresses. A minority of elves after the flood had gone mad and gained a moniker of voggrebs "coneheads" for their tendency to stich cone shaped hats which they believed them as a form of some kind of protection. The cones were worn on the head, covering the eyes and mouth. This caused much fear and suspicion amongst the other elves.

When the Oxxans arrived at the Georganian peninsula, scouts revealed that most of the original human settlers were by this time allied and even highly intermixed with the elves. The elves were happy to welcome the newcomers and share their resources, and were confused by their immediate aggression and distrust. Even unadmixed Eufezians by this time were already subracially different from the Oxxams purely due to generational traits. The outrage at their mixing with the elves only hardened the resolve of the Oxxams, and recognizing the fornication as a horrendous act they exterminated all of the hybrids in several conflicts known as breaches. The elves also forsook the humans, as fornication was viewed as abhorrent in their society as well. Men who kept themselves pure were absorbed into Oxxan society.

One of the first acts in the war were ambushes on trade routes across the peninsula, reaching a point that caravans were unable to travel. The dwarves did not engage in any conflict during the first years of the war, but later allied with the humans. This came as a tragic shock to the elves, as dwarves were seen as an abomination and were generally feared for their violent nature. It is believed that the dwarves were drawn to the peninsula because of the abundant mineral wealth, but had grown tired of elven decadence and pandering. Very few dwarves fought above ground, but rather invested metals and supplies to the war effort.

The Oxxans themselves were generally very violent and aggressive towards the elves. The Oxxans were known for their strength, cunning, and ferocity. Their culture was often one of violence and destruction. In battle, they preferred to charge into the enemy's line and strike down enemies with brute force. In terms of culture, they were more of a warrior culture than a priestly or intellectual one. The elves were caught completely off guard and unprepared. The Oxxans did not hesitate to use the vast majority of their military might against the elves, who were overwhelmed.

After the Oxxans drove out the elves from the southern peninsula of Cornelia major, they tried to invade northward but were repelled by the Kettral. There were settlements in the north founded by early Eufezian settlers that had since become highly admixed or simply elven, which were almost all surrendered. Some of these villages were converted into Oxxam settlements and bases.

Many elven tribes did not participate in the war, but rather remained neutral and migrated elsewhere when the conflict approached their lands.  Some of the most notable examples were the Melmondians and the Julton elves, who moved to the northern regions of Vedelsped. By 1030, the last vestiges of elves had fled (86%) to Elfheim and Oxxam forces in the Georganian peninsula were delegated to other regions of conflict. Groups of Oxxam settlers and previous Eufezians absorbed from the Elven societies worked together to form Cornelia's earliest colonies and villages. During the war, many Eufezians and elves lost their lives.

In recent years, Cornelian comic strips have portrayed the Oxxan wars through the personification of certain states in literature.  While some have criticised the comics for making light of the conflict, writers have responded by saying that through them Cornelians can learn to have "a sense of humour about our long-time grudges". Many elves are content with their lands in Elfheim and diplomatic relations have improved. Many elves have even taken an interest in Vedelspedan culture and have learned language such as Cornelian. The Oxxan invasion is still considered a dark period in the history of both civilizations. Many Oxxam had tried to genocide the Eufezians who fornicated, a source of complaint for lame Sosphenes to this day.

### **Holy Vedulspedan Empire (1000)**

Shortly after the end of and even partly during the Oxxan war, many independent colonies in Vedelsped began to wax strong towards the northern continent. These territories included the Pravokan, Georganian, and Hepolampi regions, which were once heavily forested.  Fearful of losing power, a civil conflict ignited across several colonies even reaching deep into the Georganian peninsula.  In the midst of the war in 1050 ( a war which many remember as epic in detail as it is romanced in several literary works), the southern continent offered a peace letter which the north mocked as "an unrieviedly flat and grotesque attempt at flattery, nothing more than veiled taunts"

In response, the north completely ceased contact and trade with the south in an attempt to cut them off and maintain Great Power status. Any last northern loyalists were forced to retreat and the Vedelspedans were left with a bitter taste in their mouths. The south was weakened, having just gone through two wars with the Oxxans. The Vedelspedan hero Dolfsmeorc arose to aid the fledgling southerners. He claimed that he had divine inspiration from god and used his religious beliefs to justify the execution of the pagan Vedelspedans. His works allowed Vedelsped to remain Christian despite the pagan elements that permeated their way into certain colonies during the Oxxam wars.

To their advantage however, the south now possessed the advantage of superior technology and resources. The united culture and untapped resources of Vedelsped had an inverted effect and ironically the colonies of Vedelsped became more prosperous than they had been under the north. The north meanwhile encountered various famines. While the north may have been right to initially mock the offer, it was now too late and this caused the Newteland Confederation to fall apart and fracture. While most of the former coalition nations went extinct, a few survived. (This period of excommunication between Vedelsped and Newteland lasted nearly 1000 years until they were reconnected in 2004 in response to the elemental crisis.)

Several political movements started in response to the excommunication, as the survival of the southern colonies was seen to be at stake.  Most notably was the formation of the Holy Baden Empire led by the Viscount of Shurikon, Cléber.  Within seven short years, the first foundations of the new Vedulspedan Empire began and the Letter of Unification symbolized Vedelsped's new era of stability . With his alliance of powerful families, he successfully united many of the colonies under his banner and established himself as the Emperor of the empire. His policies were generally benevolent, but were often met with resistance from the local nobility who saw him as a usurper.

### Early History and Vassal State (1100-1300) (neu) (g)

Cornelia’s moderate population remained unaffected by the Empire’s rule in its earliest stages during the 1000’s, at the time having no official colonies. As the effects of excommunication from the north began to be felt, the early Empire focused on strengthening the already established colonies. As such, most of the development occurred along the northern coast, particularly around the port city of Fatherwell. The first major expansion occurred during the reign of Emperor Thule in 1160 when the Empire conquered the northernmost parts of Vedelsped and pushed southwards into the Crescent mountains. Though the empire had previously been limited to the coastal regions, its reach now extended throughout more of the continent.

During this time, Cornelia was surviving independently. The nation prospered due its agricultural means, but was beginning to face difficulties due to the influx of immigrants from other countries seeking refuge from persecution and poverty. The country quickly gained notoriety as being intolerant of nonhumans and other minority groups, especially elves. While elves still existed in small numbers across Vedelsped, they were nearly nonexistent in Cornelia. The small handful which lived in Cornelia were mostly restricted to the mountains, though they quickly vanished. Cornelian relations with the growing empire remained neutral, as interactions were seldom. The period was a time of relative peace for Cornelia.

Over the next two decades and spilling into the 1200s, the Empire invaded again and seized the remaining territories in the west. By 1215, the empire had grown substantially. It was then that the empire annexed the province of Stapegurn. A year later, it invaded the province of Cornelia as the peninsula was seen as a critical piece of land in controlling the Aldi Sea. Imperial forces began to move southward, accompanied by Cleber II himself, and most Cornelians surrendered peacefully as they saw that there was no resistance to the empire’s auxillaries.  Seeing how propserous the peninsula was for farming, Kiely offered Cornelia peace in exchange for offering its agricultural goods to the empire, tributes, and an Imperial fortress and city-state colony on the Aldi Sea. The Cornelian colonies agreed and were then allowed to remain independent from the state’s affairs.

In 1222 Emperor Thule declared that Cornelia was a vassal kingdom, and this marked the beginning of more expansionism for the empire. Many claimed that his declaration was invalid because he had not consulted with the senate. Cornelia was seen as a land that should have been annexed instead of vassalized. The decision sparked outrage amongst the nobility, but Thule's claim held up. Soon after, the empire began to annex the remaining provinces in the west excluding Melmond.

Several imperial colonies were founded in Cornelia but none remained under the sphere of the Empire’s influence. After vassalizing most of the western portions of Vedelsped, the empire began to expand southward but were unable due to unrest in the colonies. Several towns were attacked and destroyed, causing great unrest in the west. The empire had also begun to take an active role in managing the economy of the newly acquired lands. Taxes rose sharply in its sphere of influence, leading to discontentment among the commoners.

In Cornelia, commoners were outraged by the demands for agricultural tribute to the empire. Many commoners were becoming unable to live off their land due to the empire's outrageous demands. These demands were made in an attempt to maintain control over a thinly stretched empire. As poverty increased, many Cornelians refused to pay taxes and demanded that their leaders push for reforms. The empire responded by using the Vedelspedan Catholic Church to build various charity homes and orphanages across Cornelia and reduced taxations slightly. This helped ease tensions somewhat but did nothing to stop the resentment against the empire.

After the death of Emperor Whelonder in 1268, the Empire lost some of its popularity as well as support from the aristocracy. Aristocrats in Cornelia maintained ties with the empire for political reasons, and the Empire’s influence was still felt in Cornelia’s largest settlements despite the growing independent attitude of Cornelians. The government remained independent city states.

### Gigas Invasions (1200s)

The 1200s were an age of prosperity for Cornelia, as it quickly became the breadbasket of Vedulsped. It produced enough grain to feed hundreds of thousands of people. Cornelians enjoyed a slightly higher standard of living compared to other nations in the world. They were known for their strong work ethic, hardy constitution, and willingness to sacrifice personal freedoms in order to achieve goals.

Unfortunately, the new found wealth made Cornelia an easy target and starting in 1287 Gilgas tribes from the mountains began to attack Cornelian settlements. A few weeks later, the conflict between the Cornelians and the gigas reached its climax. A massive army composed of both imperial troops and local militia led by Duke Mardek marched down the Aldi seacoast and besieged the Gigas settlement of Don Cloke. The siege lasted six days and resulted in the deaths of over 120 soldiers. Though the siege ended with a Cornelian victory, the Gigas would win the war and secure control over the mountains for 98 more years.

In the 1300s, some elves allied with humans to fend off the Gigas in the mountains, temporarily softening relations in the region. The elves assisted in the conflict through the use of their domesticated animals capable of flight which they rode into battle. This resulted in some local Cornelians adopting certain elven customs, and naming the mountains after the old name of the Angales Mountains (Eufez). It has also been theorized that this event marked the beginnings of what would later be known as Sosphenism.

### **Principality of the Vedulspedan Empire (1300-1500) (g) (neu)**

By 1300, the Baden Empire reached its peak size. All of the mainland except for the Savuto Mountains was under its sway. However, this growth came at a price: the Empire's military strength was stretched thin. The Empire began to suffer defeats and setbacks as a result of overextension, resulting in the loss of territories to rival nations. This resulted in the rise of the New Order movement, a coalition of new states against the Baden Empire. The Empire was in desperate need of a valuable new territory in order to survive its fractioned state.

The Baden Emperor wrote to the Cornelian vassal leader and made a sizable offer for Cornelia to join the Baden Empire. Having suffered instability in recent years, many Cornelians agreed that joining the empire would protect Cornelia from any future militant threats. A letter from the time shows Booth writing that "The Baden Empire has since before my own time shown a fearsome reputation for deconstructing even the loftiest of nations. The society which builds society can also test them to find out whether they are really good value. Perhaps by melding ourselves together, our lands become one furnished steel: a bulwark against the further west."

Cornelia became a principality of the Baden Empire and received significant gils in payment, protection insurance, tax relief, and access to the Empire's bank reserves. Cornelia was also allowed any amount of naval support to secure its maritime borders, and the empire provided extensive training to its officers and soldiers in preparation for possible conflicts with neighboring countries. The arrangement was ultimately largely financial, and allowed a declining Cornelia to enter another renaissance of prosperity and growth. The transitionary process was slow and cautious; it took until 1344 to officially bring the entirety of Cornelia major into the empire. Cleber IV visited Cornelia and was welcomed by Cornelians with much fanfare, and Cornelia became a part of the Baden Empire's "New West". With the addition of the eastern provinces, the Baden Empire again became the largest nation on Eufeza.

Cornelia was unable to secure the support of the Sosphenes, and therefore the nation was divided upon joining the empire. Some Sosphenes expressed interest in joining the rest of Cornelia in its decision. Sosphena at this time was not recognized by the official Cornelian government, and was largely seen as a land of savages.

Meanwhile, the Empire maintained a neutral view for the hope of Cornelia's continued stablity. Becoming a dukedom, Cornelia major developed six houses of nobility. The Erts (becoming the Ertellieles), the Orbweavers, the Elbeburgs, the Hardenburgs, Azudals, and Attaricers. The dukedom would mainly pass between the three main houses, with the other three fading over time. Cornelian satisfaction as a principality was mixed, and some felt that the nation was overlooked at Western Keep.

The 1390s was a dark decade for Cornelia. An outbreak of plague swept through Vedelsped, including the cities and countryside of Cornelia killing tens of thousands. With so many dead, food supplies diminished and prices skyrocketed. To make matters worse, the empire began taxing farmers heavily for the right to farm in Vedelspede. Many farmers simply stopped paying the fees and chose to abandon their fields in protest. An ancient prophecy was understood at this time to predict a great man to be born in Cornelia in the town of Earl's Point. At that time, a man did indeed help end the plague in Cornelia by slaying a demon which was believed to be causing it.

Though the plague eventually subsided, its ramifications were felt for many years as when the duke died unexpectedly in 1401. His daughter, Duchess Nela II, was only fifteen years old, and the throne passed to her uncle, Marc Aer.

#### Vedelspedan Church and Civil War

In the 1400s, the new Vedulspedan Church began to consecrate Cornelian churches and appoint bishops. The churches in Cornelia began to grow rapidly, as the population began to increase exponentially due to increased birth rates. Citizens eagerly and passionately found a reignited interest in Christianity. In 1473, civil war broke out when Cornelia attempted to force Sosphena to join the Dukedom. The war saw much conflict at sea, as the Sosphenes attempted to use Duchess Lake to their advantage. The Cornelian war hero Erteilles would later become the unified kingdom's first monarch. Goblin raids also increased during this time of strife, resulting in the destruction of several scattered goblin villages, culling almost all of their numbers in Cornelia. The war ended in 1503 and in 1512 Cornelia and Sosphena merged to form a united kingdom.

### **United Kingdoms (1500-1600) (b)**

After the conclusion of the Sosphene war, Cornelia became an official kingdom in 1512 and crowned war hero Erteilles as its first king. He was coronated on Montus Crake bordering Duchess Lake, a tradition rarely repeated afterwards. The merging was disapproved of by the empire and was labelled as a facade used to cloak an intent for treachery. Cornelia was taken to court and though it remained a principality, it lost many of its privileges such as tax exemptions. The souring of this relationship with the empire was seen as the beginning of the end for the empire's reach in Cornelia. War was out of the question, as the empire understood Cornelia to already be a significant power by its own right at this time.

During the founding of the Cornelian Kingdom, conflict was reignited with the Sosphenes as rumors of heresy began to abound. Some Sosphenes, being corrupted by elven paganism, attempted to merge pagan ideas into Christianity with a form of gnosticism known as Sosphenism. The Sosphenes were garnering hatred once again from the people, as they were doing corrupt things such as using common inns as meeting places for their wicked practices. One report spoke of a Sosphenic woman attempting to seduce travelers at an inn, and Cornelians viewed the Sosphenes as inviting hell into their country. As a response, the Vedulspedian Church declared an inquisition against Sosphenes, resulting in more conflict in the already fractured western states of Cornelia. The church burned down and raided multiple Sosphenic villages which were believed to be sites of idol worship.

There is academic controversy about whether Sosphenism was an organized movement or rather a construct of the Vedulsped Church, which alleged the existence of a heretical group. The lack of any central organization among Sosphenes, regional differences in beliefs and practices as well as the lack of sources from the Sosphenes themselves has prompted some scholars to question whether Sosphenism existed. The Vedelsped Church also engaged in hyperbole, blaming the Sosphenic conjurers for a minor hurricane that affected eastern Cornelia and Pravoka.

### **Independence (1600-1700) (g)**

In the 1600s, Cornelia joined the New Order and peacefully declared independence from the Empire. As a show of force, Cornelia placed an army of troops on the Aldian Isthmus and threatened war if their demands were not met peacefully. The empire refused to declare war and ceased all trade, banning their merchant vessels from porting in Cornelia. A few short years Baden ships once again began to port in Cornelia due to a lack of harvest and diplomatic relations began to improve again.

### Reformation (1700-1800) (g)

As the Cornelians continued to move separately in the 1700s, the Cornelians began to destroy elven ruins while the Sosphenes sought to preserve them. The Sosphenics preserved the largest section of elven ruins in Sosphena, a district outside of Chaos Temple, through protest.

The Cornelians were also one of the key participants in the protestant reformation of the 1700s, becoming the first state to dismantle its Catholic churches and excommunicate bishops. 99.67% of Cornelians voted to leave the Catholic church, and there was no war.

### Renaissance (1800-1900) (b)

The 1800s saw a renaissance of culture in Cornelia, especially in light of the recently invented printing press. As medical practices improved, hospitals began to open around Cornelia. There also was a return to the Cornelian language, as many renaissance masterpieces were written in Cornelian as a sort of patriotism. Famous Cornelian artists such as Kenolph Amadeus of Cornelia became internationally known, cementing Cornelia's place as an influential world power.

As the Baden Empire began to fall, the Cornelian Kingdom replace its influence in many foreign lands and quickly became a world power. Cornelia never considered settling new lands, and only settled islands in the Aldi Sea. As Vedultian began to fall out of favor, Cornelian began to replace it as the lingua franca. This was in part due to the interest in Cornelian literature among citizens, as well as a necessity in understanding Cornelian for traders and craftsman.

### **Modern Era (1900-2000) (neu)**

The 1900s marked decline for Cornelia as its agricultural sector struggled through the elemental crisis. The shattering of the Wall of Timas in 1901, built in the 1600s by the Erteilles dynasty represented a pivotal point in the neo-Sosphene movement. Eventually a long civil war broke out, that resulted in a complete defeat of the Sosphenes. In retaliation, one of the Sosphene generals Garland kidnapped the Cornelian princess. That same year, the Cornelian bridge was also destroyed by surviving Sophene rebels. The princess was soon later rescued by the Warriors of Light in their first appearance and the bridge was rebuilt in 25 days. The collapse of the wall of Timas has been interpreted as the prophetical fulfillment of the shattering of the great river before the Warriors of Light would arrive. This would also make Sosphene the first land of darkness to be visited by the Warriors of Light. After the conclusion of the Elemental Crisis, paganism in Sosphene became almost nonexistent. After word was released that a Sosphenic was responsible for the elemental crisis, a new era of hatred for Sosphenics started, this time internationally.

## Government

The city was the seat of government for the kingdom, and was ruled by a king. The king would have the power to appoint bishops, who were responsible for overseeing the various parishes throughout the country. Each parish would then be divided into several "manors", which were small districts that each had their own mayor.

### Provinces

Previous to the Cornelian Civil War the nation had only two provinces of Cornelia Major and Sosphena. After the conclusion of the war, the nation has since been unified and while having no provincial districts it still allows manors to exercise local authority over their parishes.

### Church

Since the church is not centralized in Cornelia, the decision to request tithes was independently decided by each church.

## Law

Very few Cornelians own their land but rather pay taxes and tariffs.

Villeins were peasants who were legally tied to land owned by a local lord. If they wanted to move, or even get married, they needed the permission of the lord first. In return for being allowed to farm the land they lived on, villeins had to give some of the food they grew each year to the lord. Some peasants were called . These peasants were able to move round from one village to another and did not have the same restrictions on them as villeins did.

## Demographics

Villages in Cornelia average at 0-250 villagers.

### Citizens

Cornelian citizens are divided along local ethnic lines, with 76.02 per cent considered Cornelians and the remaining broadly defined as Sosphenic. Cornelians play a dominant role politically. Civil status is also accorded to certain isolated tribes still present in Cornelia's more rural regions. In the conclusion of the Cornelian Civil War, the Sosphenics effectively became second-class citizens. Resentment gathered around this, allowing resistors such as Garland to gain traction.

### Denizens

Only humans are able to become Cornelian citizens. 80% of registered Cornelian residents are humans, while 12% are dwarves and 8% are miscellaneous. Since the end of the Cornelian Civil War, Elves have not been able to legally enter Cornelia.

### Religion

89% of Cornelians are Christian, with only 11% being Catholic.

### Servants

Very few peasant homes (even middle class) could afford servants, with only 9% having servants in their household.

## Culture

Cornelia was in its core a nation of farmers, whose culture was centered around the cultivation of wheat and other grains. Cornelia was a state of agriculture, which was reflected in its architecture, language, art, and even its cuisine. Cornelia's rulers were known for their piety and devotion to their faith, and their culture was largely dictated by this. It is important to note that Cornelia's population was split between two nations, one of which was much more prosperous than the other. This led to a division of culture, as the two nations remained culturally separate even after national unification. The rural population of Greater Cornelia was also significantly different from its urban counterpart, with the latter being influenced by the Vedulsped's native elves.

In the walled cities and districts of Cornelia, the people typically exhibited a more high-minded way of life. These aristocrats were known for their education and refinement, and were often found in positions of power within the state. The most prominent example of this would be Foncaso, who was a patron of the arts and sciences. He also built Cornelia's great astronomical clock tower, which would become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and a symbol for Cornelia's Erta.

Cornelians are thought to be shallow as they have a highly inflated and arrogant view of themselves. Cornelian art has made Cornelians imaginative and creative. Cornelians are also thought as confused and ignorant of world affairs.

### Erta

The erta was an agricultural timekeeping system based off of old Elven folklore, which tracked the movement of the sun and moon across the sky. This system was primarily used for the timing of harvests, and much of the Cornelian calendar would later be based off of it. Cornelia's culture was heavily influenced by the Vedulsped's native elven population in general, with the people of Greater Cornelia displaying a greater interest in the natural world than those in the cities. The people of the countryside were also more religious, and had a more wholesome outlook on life.

### Religion

Cornelia was a Christian nation, with a strong devotion to the teachings of Christ. As a result, most of the nation's art and architecture was built with religious motifs, with many of the buildings constructed by the Ertelleis dynasty designed to resemble the Holy City of Serra. The church itself was an important institution in Cornelia. The king was expected to conduct all his official business through the church, and he would be seen as pious if he carried out his duties correctly.

### Dress

The traditional dress of Cornelia consisted of a long skirt held up by a belt, called a "bib" by the locals. This was often decorated with embroidery and beads. Women would wear a large cloak over their bib, while men wore a short jacket. Shoes were always worn, regardless of the season.

For the men, clothing consisted of a short tunic, belted at the waist, and either short stockings that ended just below the knee or long hose fastened at the waist to a cloth belt. A hood or cloth cap, thick gloves or mittens, and leather shoes with heavy wooden soles completed the costume. The women wore long loose gowns belted at the waist, sometimes sleeveless tunics with a sleeved undergarment, their heads and necks covered by wimples. Underclothing, when it was worn, was usually of linen, outer garments were woolen.

### Cuisine

Cornelia was a very diverse country, with each region having its own distinct flavor. While the rural areas of the kingdom were predominantly influenced by Vedulsped cuisine, the urban centers adopted much of the Western style and culture. Many of the local foods of Greater Cornelia are still enjoyed by Cornellians today, including Cornelia's famous dish, "corned beef and cabbage". Cornelia also produced its own beer, wine, and ale, with most of them being quite bitter. Cornelia cuisine often incorporated vegetables, as they were cheaper than meat.

### Daily Life

The family ate seated on benches or stools at a trestle table, disassembled at night. Chairs were rarities. A cupboard or hutch held wooden and earthenware bowls, jugs, and wooden spoons. Hams, bags, and baskets hung from the rafters, away from rats and mice. Clothing, bedding, towels, and table linen were stored in chests. A well-to-do peasant might own silver spoons, brass pots, and pewter dishes.13

When they bathed, which was not often, medieval villagers used a barrel with the top removed. To lighten the task of carrying and heating water, a family probably bathed serially in the same water.14

At night, the family slept on straw pallets, either on the floor of the hall or in a loft at one end, gained by a ladder. Husband and wife shared a bed, sometimes with the baby, who alternatively might sleep in a cradle by the fire.

### Health

Lepers were nearly nonexistent in Cornelia.

## Cities

Cornelian cities were more comparable to a Roman layout than medieval. Large urban centers were more rare in Cornelia, as most of Cornelia's population was spread out rurally. Regardless, the nation still had a number of significant cities:

1. Cornelia (south) (601,795) (largest city and capital)
2. Aix (midland) (357,215)
3. Rhicheliu (north) (81,622)
4. Maiden's Port (south) (41,249)
5. La Duena (midland) (28,255)
6. Beldurg (south) (16,044)
7. (north) (15,646)
8. Chalchace (midland) (14,701)
9. (north) (12,719)
10. (south) (12,296)

* Aix

This city was originally founded as the capital of Cornelia Minor. It is situated near the border with the nation of Sophene. In the city, you could find fine food, wine, and luxury goods, along with a host of other services for the well-to-do.

* Greater City of Cornelia

This city served as the capital of Cornelia Minor from its foundation until 967 AD. It has since become a holy site due to its role as the birthplace of King Fandrall I. The city is also famous for its astronomical clock tower, which still continues to be used today.

* Sophene

The new capital of Cornelia Minor. There is a significant separation between the rich and poor here.

* Richelieu

It was once an important port city in Cornelia's history. It is currently the primary source of Cornelia's exports, primarily wheat.

Cornelia Minor is also notable for being home to some of the oldest surviving elven architecture in the world, as well as the "Cordelisk", an artifact said to have been crafted by Elven craftsmen during the era of King Gheris I (the great-grandfather of Foncaso). These two landmarks can be found within the walls of Aix.

## Flag

The yellow of the banner flag represents Cornelia, while the red represents Sosphena. The flower in the middle is a red poppy, the symbol of the Erteilles dynasty.

## Monsters

19% of monsters did not become common until the elemental crisis.

The Cornelian goblins were once considered an aggressive species but over the years they have developed more of a "peaceful" attitude towards their surroundings. They do however still pose a threat when encountered by farmers or explorers in the forest due to their natural tendency to steal items such as tools or food, sometimes without warning.

There have also been instances of the goblins becoming more and more intelligent overtime and even creating crude tools to help themselves in farming and hunting. There are no records of goblins advancing enough to build complex buildings or cities. While they aren't very well known to many, there are still many small goblin settlements spread through Cornelia. The biggest settlement is the one at the southern tip of the Albelic peninsula where a clan of over fifty goblins reside.

A common rumor that circulates among the people of Cornelia states that goblins have an innate ability to turn into plants whenever the moonlight is weak and the air is warm, though no proof has ever been shown to support this.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances of certain sorcerers, skeletons can sometimes be found roving Cornelia.

## Characters

Atala - a moderate, antiquital and non-castled trading village of 47.