Miria

Heraldry of Miria

**Miria** is a Free City and former colony of Lilea to the north, but was cut off from its mother nation, and developed its own unique culture. With the return of the Queendom of Lilea, numerous attempts have been launched to return Miria back to the fold, but all have, so far, failed, and the Mirians have no desire to fall under the sway of the Lilean monarch. Miria possess the same language and similar culture to Lilea, but is governed in a more cosmopolitan manner, with a large middle-class who hold sway over the ruling knights and nobles of the city.

## Overview

A proud city-state, the city of Miria is a larger city within the Broken Continent that has survived on its own the Age of Choas. Miria has been invaded numerous times, including very recently only a few years ago by a large host of Maggotkin of Nurgle, who summoned a horde of daemons and plagued the city with disease from which it is still recovering. It is a bustling place of trade and rising middle-classes, with humans and races from all across the Mortal Realms making their home in Miria.

## History

### Origins

Miria was the capital of the Duchy of Myrseia within the Queendom of Lilea. A prosperous hub of activity, it thrived during the Age of Myth.

In the Age of Chaos, numerous Chaos armies began to trample across the lands. The Myrseia was assaulted by a host of blighted daemons of Nurgle, who infected the population with twisted disease and ruined their crops. Refugees fled their farms and sought safety behind the great walls of Miria. The knights of Lilea put up a brave resistance, but across the queendom they were slaughter, and Miria became the last bastion in western Lilea. Duchess Karlijn Roelof and her knight-consort were both killed at the Battle of Braaten, along with a large army of Lileans, shattering resistance in the region. Remaining nobles fled back to Miria, preparing for a lengthy siege.

The city was assaulted by devotees to Nurgle, but the city was led by Sijbrand Zantink, a minor knight who rallied the forces of Miria. Thanks to the courage of the Lilean knights, the rallying of the peasantry, and the implementation of mages, the Chaos forces were successfully kept at bay, hoping for aid from the rest of Lilea. This never came, and the city seemed doomed to a slow death from disease and starvation. However, Sijbrand made a bold plan, and with a small contingent rode out and attacked a band of orruks. He led them back to the city, and the orruk warclan descended upon the Maggotkin of Nurgle, weakening their forces. Sijbrand then led his forces out of the city, killing Bulbous Bloatborn and routing the armies of Chaos.

For the next centuries the city would endure, facing trial after trial but remaining intact to the present day.

Several years ago, a vast host of Maggotkin of Nurgle marched out from the Maggotmarsh, attacking the city. Thanks to their allies, the Mirians were able to defeat them, but at a heavy cost, with much of their city still infected with daemonic plagues.

### Notable Conflicts

* **The Long Siege** - The lengthy siege of Miria by the Nurgle followers under Bulbous Bloatborn. Under the leadership of Sijbrand Zantink, the Maggotkin were defeated and the siege was lifted.
* **The Fall of the Grey Tower** - Guided by visions of Tzeetch, the Gorspawn Beastherd launch a suprise attack upon Miria when a large host of its military forces are absence. They manage to pillage through much of the southern portions of the city, whose defenders make a last stand in the Grey Tower, but it is destroyed by magic of the Gorspawn's shamans. While eventually routed, the Gorspawn leave with many captives and stolen treasures.
* **The Green Turmoil** - A series of revolts and coups in the city following rising tensions between the old nobility and the increasing influence of the burgeoning middle-class. Class warfare was intensive, but matters eventually calmed after Viscount Jurren II issued major reforms in the governance of Miria and allowed non-nobles a voice in politics.
* **The Fool's Crusade** - Viscount Hubrecht "the Fool" amasses his forces for a grand crusade to improve his prestige. His army eventually marches through a realmgate into Hysh, and are utterly defeated by the Carrionclaw Grand Court.
* **Lilean Siege** - After the restoration of the Queendom of Lilea, the city of Miria was commanded to return back into the fold of Lilean and pay homage to the queen. The Mirians, however, refused and rejected any offer to rejoin with Lilea since they had survived without the knights and queen before. This led to increasing tensions between Miria and Lilea, and eventually a large host of Lilean knights was sent to forcibly bring the city to heel. Despite a bloody siege the Mirians were able to viciously defeat the Lileans and force the signing of a treaty that ensure their freedom. Many Lileans still feel sore about this and wish to see the city returned one day.
* **The Battle of Baarad** - The orruks of Da Skragged Hand warclan, wandering through the territory, attacked Miria. Viscount Adriaan II led his forces and lured the orruks to a nearby village, despite being horribly outnumbered. The arrival of a force of Lumineth Realm-Lords from Lacoi Sethai turns the tide of the battle, leading to a pyrrhic victory, although Viscount Adriaan is killed.
* **The Night of 1000 Mutants** - A sect of the Disciples of Khoptekha secretly spread across Miria, growing in power over many years. Finally, their schemes to terrible fruition when they sacrificed hundreds in terrible rituals to open portals to Tzeetch's realm, causing Miria to be warped by the power of Chaos. Hundreds of citizens are twisted and turned into gibbering mutants, rampaging across the city. However, a retinue of witch hunters, working with the Black Hands, were able to kill the cult's leadership and stop them before it becomes too late.
* **The Siege of Blighthand** - Verrucraka Blighthand, a Rotbringer rallied the forces of Maggot Marsh and led them on a brutal march through the Greysword Coast, surrounding Miria and assaulting it for months. The siege was finally broken when Verrucraka was killed when Lord Koen van Giskes led a suicidal assault upon her camp, and the seraphon of the Hands of Ztlotek arrived and broke the ranks of the Rotbringers, ending the siege.

### Current Status

Miria is still recovering from the Siege of Blighthand, with Chaos corruption seeping into the city in the form of the warping taint of Nurgle and the growing threat of secretive Chaos cults. Despite this, Miria is still a proud and prosperous city. Mirian knights defend surrounding villages and towns, while Mirian merchants travel far and wide selling their goods and returning back to their city with precious wares from other lands in the Broken Continent.

## Homeland

Miria is located within the central lands of Old Lilea, the former further inland within the Greysword Coast. The surrounding territories are large foothills and grassy fields, where the brave farmers and surrounding villagers grow the food and crops necessary to feed the city of Miria.

## Government

Miria is officially known as the Viscounty of Miria. The Viscount holds considerable power, and is the commander of the military forces of Miria, often the first into battle, and the descendants of Sijbrand Zantink still sit upon the Azure Seat. However, the Viscount's power is limited, with the ruling nobility of the city comprising the Council of Lords and Ladies, who vote upon laws and regulations. The large middle-class is represented by the Speakers of the People, who voice the opinions of the common people. Merchants and wealthy middle-classmen hold considerable sway, and the nobility must constantly be aware of this.

## Military

Miria relies on both the traditional knightly culture of Lilea, but also a practical military developed over centuries. Without a large set of land to govern, the former knightly families converted to political houses that governed the city, and knights turned themselves to become military commanders and defenders. The city itself is policed by and defended by the city watch. Once commanded by hereditary knights, the positions of watch leadership have become more meritocratic. Knightly families still rule, however, with each scion of a noble house expected to train to defend Miria, either as military leaders or as smaller elite warriors who strike out from the walls of Miria.

Most knightly positions are hereditary, and most knights will join a specific knightly order. However, the position of knighthood has increasingly been granted to anyone who has shown great skill or bravery in battle. To prevent the creation of too many new and dangerous noble houses, these new knights will usually be "adopted" into one of the already existing knightly houses, continuing to serve Miria.

While the Stormcast Eternals have been good allies to the Mirians, the ruling of the Mirian government has been to prevent them from establishing any official headquarters or bases in Miria itself. This remains a thorny issue, as the close proximity of Miria to a realmgate would make it extremely beneficial for the forces of Order to have a local foothold near to this porta.

### Black Hands

The Black Hands are an elite cadre of specialized warriors, drawn from the ranks of the citizenry, whose fighting prowess is matched only by their loyalty to the city. An individual who has served in the City Watch is eligible to join, as are any who are willing to swear oaths to defend Miria, its citizens, and its laws with their lives. The Black Hands attracts the best of the best.

Whenever Miria has a problem that can't be handled by diplomats or the city's other armed forces, the viscount has the option to mobilize the Black Hands. Such action is usually taken as a last resort, with since some past members of the group have exhibited a tendency to indulge in wanton violence, causing as much damage as they ostensibly prevent. Although the viscount often sets mission goals and parameters whenever the unit is activated, the Black Hands team needed to complete any given assignment is made up of individuals handpicked by the Black Eye, the commander of the Black Hands. The currant Black Eye is Annelies van Buuren.

### Knightly Orders

The knights and nobles who fled to Miria eventually organized themselves into a variety of knightly orders, established as the first defense for the city. Many orders exist to this day, and have a variety of different traditions and functions. Several of the larger orders have begun to establish smaller outposts and fortresses outside of Miria.

* **Order of the Purple Feather** - An understaffed but bold new military knightly group, the Order of the Purple Feather has recently stepped onto the stage within the city of Miria, harkening back to the knightly roots of the Lilean inhabitants of the city. The Order was established several years ago during the last Chaos assault under Lord Koen van Giskes who bravely fought against the forces of Nurgle and earned a name for himself. Recognizing Koen’s heroism, the many magnates and nobles of the city entreated him to establish a new knightly order, and with their funding the Order of the Purple Feather was established.
* **The Order of the Twin Roses** - An older order said to be established by lovers from two feuding noble families, who married each other and destroyed both of their own families to be together, creating the order to seek penance. The Twin Roses is a well-respected knightly order that most well-to-do nobles join.
* **The Order of the Orange Cloak** - Created by Viscount Jurren II in honor of his marriage, composed of only a small handful of knights.
* **The Myrseian Knights** - The order's mission is to seek out and destroy evil before it gains a foothold. The surge of violence in Miria spurs members of the order to find adventurers who can help return peace to the city. Members of the order act alone or in small groups.

## Locations

### Districts

#### Noord Miria

Also known as North Miriam, this district is where many of Magnimar's foreigners dwell. In many ways the district thinks of itself as its own settlement apart from the larger whole of the rest of the city. Noord Miria is infamously known for the Carnaval Way, a largely non-human neighborhood home to the majority of Miria's immigrants. Officially called Mannerhall, its new name, was earned because native Mirians saw beautiful acts and heard haunting songs the likes of which they had never seen before. Now, however, Carnaval Way is an impoverished and crowded neighborhood. Many aelven, duardin, and even non-Mirian human immigrants are looked upon as a burden and with scorn, and are the targets of racism from Mirian society. The inhabitants of the Way live as best they can in a city that tolerates their presence at best, with some rising tensions on both sides.

#### West Miria

West Miria was tradionally one of the most beautiful locations in the city, but following the most recent incursion by Rotbringers of Nurgle. Despite this, The sprawling Grand Bazzar takes up much of West Miria, making it one of Miria's busiest districts. The first place many traveling visitors from the eastern coast arrive at in town, West Miria is a major part Magnimar's trade with other cities and far-flung nations.

One of the most important locations within West Miria is the Gray City, the main cemetery and huge mausoleum, extending deep into the heart of the main hill of Miria. It is a great park of grassy hills, tended flower beds, artfully placed clusters of trees and bushes, beautiful sculptures, astounding architecture, and gravel paths that wend intriguingly through it all. During the Age of Choas, Mirians largely abandoned the practice of burying their dead, instead entombing them in mausoleums. For centuries, the major mausoleums here have each been connected to each other, often via small underground passages. Those who can afford it memorialize the departed with sculptures, making the Gray City an open-air museum that features some of the most stunning, haunting, mournful, and downright eerie statues ever crafted in marble or bronze. Nobles and wealthy merchants have competed to erect the grandest markers for their dead, leading to a wide variety of styles and concepts created by artists at the height of their skills.

#### Zuid Miria

Also known as South Miria, Zuid Miria has seen extensive renovation and rebuilding due to being the main center of attack. Several impressive buildings, including a number of cathedrals and churches, line the major avenues of Zuid Miria, but this district is primarily a residential one with hundreds of houses, tenements, and homes lining its alleys.

#### Doudswanlin

Also known as the Inner City or Inner Miria, Doudswanlin is the home to the wealthy urban and merchant class of Miria. Traditionally it has been the home of the old knightly aristocracy that ruled over Miria, but those with enough money have are able to buy a permit and set themselves up in Doudswanlin. Over the past decades many wealthy-middle class merchants have done so, buying out old mansions and establishing their own homes. Known somewhat disparagingly as the "New-Money District" by the city's established families, Naos also hosts the city's garrison, temples of Sigmar, Alarielle, and Maiden, and several mercantile interests aimed more at high-class customers.

#### Azure Hill

The castle and very center of Miria, the Blue Halls is one of the oldest structures in Miria. Thanks to the wealth of Miria, it has been retrofitted and redecorated, with nobles and prominent rich men seeking to gain popular approval by paying for renovations or famous artist to add onto the Blue Halls. Most of the buildings are grand, ostentatious affairs that house the city's government, museums, and influential guilds, chief among them being the infamous Ironforged Mechanicals.

### Notable Locations

The Mirians have created vast graveyards and an elaborate underground mausoleum, but it is now infected with Chaos cultists, and other foul things. Legendary library.

* **Krryth of Miria** - The thylons of Miria are one of the most successful and wealthy of their kind in the Broken Continent. The krryth in Miria is very tight-knit and organized like a company, with money pooled together and the thylons heavy investors and bankers. Young males are often encouraged to serve as bodyguards or soldiers, earning good pay for their services, and providing for their family and the krryth.
* **The Sun Holder** - The most famous statue in the city, commissioned by the wealthy merchant Nard Goggen. The statue is of a well-muscled but impassive male human with its left leg sunk to the hip in the street, Its left hand and right foot press against the ground as if it is trying to pull itself out, with arm reaching upward holding a blazing orb.
* **Sorrow Way** - Named after the frequent assaults on the gate and entrance. Watched over by the Firewatch, a towering lighthouse Beacon's Point has two distinct faces. Its walls and gate is well-maintained, but the interior houses and small village is a shanty-ridden tangle, a place all but ruled by the thylon Xaxi Trufflet, a cleaver and chatty merchant who has sold her wares all across Panghura., and a very chatty. She sees the worth in everything, and travels all across the Broken Continent, selling wares.
* **The Shambles** - Miria's greatest slums lie in the eternal shadow of the massive Jurren Gates ruin Here, the city's truly desperate scratch out a living in a slum, often begging for aid or food. Many form dangerous gangs,
* **Catswalk** - A name given due to the large number of thylons who live there Catswalk is perhaps one of the most vibrant locations in Miria. Visitors who enter through into the city are greeted with a dizzying array of taverns, inns, brothels, markets, and other places to spend hard-earned cash. Catswalk has boomed in recent years, expanding into a new economic center for outside trade and many are working to expand the walls around and fully incorporate it into the city.

## Culture & Society

Miria is culturally very similar to Lilea, with native Mirians speaking Lilean, wearing similar clothes, and eating similar foods. However, over the several centuries of relative isolation from the Age of Chaos, Miria has evolved considerably. This is mostly seen among the richer urban class within Miria.

Whereas Lilea is a matriarchal society, Mirians have largely abandoned such beliefs. While woman are held in high regard and able to hold important positions within government, men are also able to rule, and since the Age of Chaos the male knightly class have governed affairs in Miria.

Mirians speak Lilean as their common tongue, but have a noticeable accent that has evolved over their centuries of isolation from the Queendom of Lilea.

The growing prosperity within Miria is expressed by its people. Fashion, comportment, love-these things are practiced with an art and a zest in the city uncommon elsewhere. Festivals feature performers who regale audiences with humor and song, sometimes enhanced the merriment with magic.

### Nobility

There are dozens of noble family lines in Miria, many of which can trace their lineage back to the city's founding, some old some new and rising based on their mercantile wealth.

Nobility in Miria are granted the right to bear arms. In the legal code of the city, this means not merely the ability to carry a weapon, but the right to retain up to seventy equipped soldiers. These soldiers always wear a house's colors and the house's "arms of grace"-a heraldic device often borne on a shield, worn as a cloak pin, or affixed to a helmet. Others throughout the city, even foreign dignitaries, are permitted to retain only up to sixteen armed warriors, and laws against impersonating those in the employ of the nobility mean that other mercenaries and bodyguards most often dress plainly, so as not to be mistaken for the retinue of a noble. Many nobles, particularly younger ones seeking entertainment, travel without an entourage of guards or only in the company of other nobles.

Acting in an overly familiar, boastful, or disrespectful way when in the presence of any noble is considered taboo. Though this sort of behavior isn't a crime, and laws against dueling prevent a noble from initiating a direct armed confrontation, the noble families of Miria have immense power in the city, often in unexpected quarters. Any slighting of a noble will not be forgotten or easily forgiven.

Nobles in Miria, especially those of a merchant-background, are patrons of and investors in all manner of businesses in the city and abroad, as well as the many expressions of the arts. They spend coin to fund celebrations, contests of great feats, upkeep at the city's temples and shrines, civic projects, guild events, and charitable actions such as burial of the unknown dead. Their motives are manifold, but their actions-no matter the reason-earn them loyalty and high regard from those who benefit from their largesse.

## Economy

Miria was not originally a major trade city, but as one of the few bastions of stability in the Grey Sword Coast it has become a flocking ground for merchants and traders seeking a safe place to barter and trade.

## Notable Individuals

* **Viscount Jurren III the Orruk-Slayer** - Jurren is the longest-reigning viscount of Lilea, known by the epithet Orruk-Slayer. This is in recognition of his victories over the many orruks, grots, and other Greenskinz that roam the lands. Jurren fought a vicious war of attrition against the massive Black Blood Clan under Radroz Gorestomper, even earning the orruk's respect. After the Battle of Jurren's Glory, he massacred the horde under Radroz, and personally cut out the eyes of Radroz before letting him go in shame. Jurren maintains a tight grip over his people to ensure law and order, but is growing old and weary, and many underneath him wish for greater change within Miria.
* **Lord Sijmen Slots** - Lord Sijmen has been a rising political figure for years, loyal to Miria but a rival to Jurren III. Called lord of "iron and gold" due to his military victories and riches, it has long been known that he wishes to claim the rulership of Miria. Several years ago he built an alliance with the Myrseian Knights and Lord Gijsbert Ulers and this threatened the Mirian nobles. However, he was defeated and nearly killed five years ago at the Battle of Durnkrut, humiliating Sijmen and severely weakening his political power. Sijmen still has great ambitions, however, and has been rebuilding his reputation and power base by seeking alliances with less orthodox factions.
* **Satell Fireborn** - A farmer's daughter, she was cursed by Chaos sorceress Krea'akuri Wyldform to become a fiery phoenix. Was eventually freed thanks to the actions of the mage-knight Sir Stefaan Veldjans, who married her. Since then, she has been able to turn back and forth into a phoenix whenever she wants, swooping down with flaming wings to burn her enemies in fire.
* **Annelies van Buuren** - The currant Black Eye, commanding the Black Hands. Annelies is widely believed to be the illegitimate daughter of Viscount Jurren, although this has never been confirmed. She is a rough and tough woman made of steel, willing to do anything to protect her city.
* **Florentijn Zogen** - A devilishly handsome merchant who likes coins and power, who has dramatically gained both in recent years. He and his wife are both secret Tzeentchian followers, leading their own cult within the city. Florentijn earnestly desires for Miria to prosper and expand its influence, and has turned to the Dark Gods to due so, even sacrificing his own children in his pursuits.

## Relations

### Allies

One of the principle allies of Miria can be found within its walls, the seraphon of the Hands of Ztlotek. This Coalesced constellation of seraphon is very small, composed mostly of skinks and a few kroxigors. While few in numbers, the Hands of Ztlotek rely on their magical prowess, striking hard against Miria's enemies, especially when their slann starmaster emerges onto the battlefield, a rare sight to see. The seraphon arrived several decades before the Age of Sigmar, gaining the trust of the Mirians by their deeds in protecting the city. They are found within their temple, and have become the principle chroniclers of the city, recording much within their temple's libraries.

### Enemies

Miria possesses a rough history with followers of Chaos, specifically those who worship Nurgle. Many Maggotkin armies have attempted to break and destroy the city before, and they remain a frequent enemy.