Kingdom of Talamhor

> The Throne-of-Old-Bones sits in the first halls of man, and from there a High King will rule all of the Continent.
>
> Unknown Source

The **Kingdom of Talamhor**, often called just **Talamhor** and more recently called **The Southern Kingdoms**, is a Human-centric country named for the continent of Talamhor for which it sits upon. To the south of the Northern Freehold and the north of the Elven Realm of Avalyn, Talamhor is ruled by a High King, and has stood for a thousand years as a realm of prosperity and a bastion of nobility in the west. Talamhor is ruled as an absolute dynastic monarchy, with the monarch taking the title of High King of Talamhor.

Founded by House Talhor, for whom the continent and the kingdom are named for, the Talhors enjoyed years of peace before their royal line began to decline; ultimately, they were violently upended from the Talamhorian throne during the Raven's Rebellion, where Lord Maelog Corwyll overthrew his High King Emrys II Talhor, the 'Dragonspawn', whose alliance with a chromatic red dragon threatened to destroy all of Talamhor. With Emrys II dead by Maelog's hand, House Corwyll assumed the throne, and has ruled ever-since.

Still, Talamhor is considered a realm of knightly virtue, legend and vitality. Founded by the hero-king Arthyr Talhor during The Great Unification and the subsequent Witching Hour, the line of the Talhors and, through marriage, the Corwylls is laced with the oldest blood and magic of Talamhor.

The Northern Freehold used to be a vassal state of Talamhor, before they enacted The Northern Fracture and declared independence. This act split Talamhor in two; into the Northern Freehold and the Southern Kingdoms, which is still a moniker that the Kingdom of Talamhor uses to the modern day.

Talamhor consists of four sub-regions beneath it; The Heartland, the cradle of Human civilization in the west ruled by the royal family, House Corwyll; The Gilded Coast, which borders the Stygian Sea and is the seat of House Lanaur, who trade in magical artifacts; The Everfen, a marshy wetland that is the primary agricultural spot in Talamhor, and is overseen by House Yrddwell; and the Stormbreaker Mountains, the southernmost region consisting of mountains that border the Elven Realm and are ruled by old House Maightor. Nominally, the Northern Freehold is considered a sub-region of Talamhor still, though it is a politically sensitive topic. Beneath these 'High Houses', the lordly houses that lay dynastic claim to Talamhor's regions, are the Minor Houses, petty lords that oversee land further divided. And beneath them are the Baronies, Talamhor's lowest levels of nobility.

The High King of Talamhor is attended to by the High Council, consisting of a Chancellor, who is the High King's closest servant and executor of his will; a Marshall who commands the united armies of Talamhor; the Eye Of The King, who serves as the High King's Spymaster; the Chamberlain, who manages the royal treasury and the flow of income in the kingdom; and the Court Sorcerer, who advises the High King and the council on matters of magical importance. The Queen of Talamhor is a nominal member of the High Council as well, but traditionally does not sit on it nor attend assemblies.

The state religion of Talamhor is the Holy Trine, a trio of male Human gods who are said to be the protectors of Talamhor and who guide their people through strife and turmoil. They are highly revered, and there are churches to each member of the Trine in every notable city.

As of 200 AGU, the turn of the second century after the Unification, the current High King of Talamhor is Branwen Corwyll, called 'Black-Blood' for his talent with shadowmancy. His queen is Aness Maightor and he has five daughters by her; Bel Corwyll, Morgan Corwyll, Ellyra Corwyll, Cerys Corwyll and Gwynn Corwyll. A year prior to his ascension to the throne, Branwen would claim the infant Morne Fenborn as his bastard son by a maiden of House Elden, making the boy his only male offspring. Barring him having a legitimate son, his daughter Bel is his Heir Presumptive, though as there has been no Corwyll High Queen, many are uncertain of this.

There is no one sigil for united Talamhor, as it usually reflects the iconography of the ruling house; as the current ruling house is House Corwyll, Talamhor is represented by their sigil, a black raven on a copper field, a sprig of rosemary in its beak.

## History

The history of Talamhor spans over a thousand years of peace, war, love and sacrifice. Marred by magic, the kingdom was forged in the crucible of legend, and unfortunately much of Talamhor's history is full of half-truths and presumptions by western scholars.

### The First Age

Talamhor's history begins a thousand years ago, when the first vestiges of Humanity were rising in the west. The oldest houses in Talamhor— House Talhor, House Darkbrand and House Firstlight —are founded, and primitive cities are built.

Though this time is shrouded in mystery, what is known is that the Throne-Of-Old-Bones makes its way to Talamhor sometime during the First Age. It is built from the bones of Fey, and is used as a symbol of power during this time.

At the end of the First Age, the First City is constructed, and the Talhors rule as petty lords over the Heartland, from the Old Palace. They sit the Throne-Of-Old-Bones for the first time, though sometime before the end of the First Age, the throne is buried and hidden.

Late in the First Age is when other great families are thought to rise; House Lanaur comes to some prominence, as their founder & ancestor Arian Lanaur constructs the city of Arian's Wings, large enough to rival the First City.

### The Old Age (0—76 AGU)

The young lord Arthyr Talhor forges the southern regions of Talamhor together, conquering the neighbouring petty kingdoms and bringing them under the might of House Talhor. Sometime after this, the Throne-Of-Old-Bones is unearthed, and is seen as a symbol of Talhor right to rule. Arthyr Talhor becomes the first Talhor use the ancient artefact in what is estimated to be a century.

Shortly after Arthyr is made the first High King, word reaches the south of the Witching Hour and the strife that has befallen House Norwyn in the north at the hands of the Witchmen. High King Arthyr, who declares his intent to liberate the north from the wicked grips of the Widdonwoods' forces, musters his men and rides north. The liberation of the north is canonized as one of the oldest myths in Talamhor, and is heralded as one of the greatest love stories of the ages, for Arthyr returned home from freeing the North with his wife, Loreth Norwyn, the daughter of the legendary hero Eadric Northwind. Upon his return Arthyr sets about strengthening his rule, founding the High Council and appointing Rhelas Yrddwell, Lwyn Lanaur, Damon Darkbrand, Logaine Maightor and the mysterious Elf sorceress Dalenni to his council.

High King Arthyr and his Fey-blooded Queen Loreth would rule together for close to fifty years, and they would both die within the hour of eachother. Their marriage would produce three children; the eldest, Eadric Norwyn, would inherit the throne. Called 'Wolfsbane', he was rumoured to be a Beastling, a Northern creature born of Fey lines that can shift into a beastly form. He died in an unknown hunting accident, and only bore two children; daughters, Athella Talhor and Eirlys Talhor.

All the while Talamhor thrived; great cities like Redgallows are founded, and House Maightor finally succeeds in taming the Stormbreaker Mountains to unite the region, becoming the fifth High House. But there was much turmoil after the sudden death of High King Eadric 'Wolfsbane' — He'd left only daughters behind, and his eldest was Athella, who was only fourteen years of her age when her father passed. Some thought the crown would pass over her, in favour of her uncle, Trahearn Talhor, but 'The Wise Prince' was a professor at Strixhaven University and refused to be backed by separatist factions within Talamhor, insisting his niece was the rightful heir. In the end, there was no need for turmoil, as young Athalla took it upon herself to seize the throne, backed by two High Houses; House Lanaur and House Maightor had sworn themselves to her and saw her seated on the throne. Thus Athella is remembered as the first High Queen of Talamhor.

Her rule was nearly as legendary as that of her grandfather; she is hailed as 'the Great' by her son, and made strives to improve the standard of living across Talamhor, ensuring cities were paved and wells were built, caring for even the smallest hamlet in her kingdom. Importantly, she also paid great attention to the Northern Freehold, winning their devotion when she took a Northborn commoner as her consort, Deglas Nightwillow, who was hailed as her King despite whispers of him being a Vellator. The two were a true love match if there ever was one, and whilst Athella's sister Eirlys defended her fiercely, it was Deglas who loved and cared for her, and their marriage would secure the line of succession as Athella bore two children; the future High King Emrys Talhor, and the Princess Loreth Talhor, who would marry into the Norwyns of the Freehold in another gesture of union.

Athella's reign as High Queen would span twenty years of prosperity. By the time she died of a stroke at only thirty-seven, she was mourned deeply by the nation and beloved always. A statue of her sits in one of the plazas of the First City, erected by her son in her memory. With her death came the end of the Old Age, as the scholars write it.

### The Dark Age (76—146 AGU)

The rule of High King Emrys Talhor was perhaps one of the most tumultuous; though it did not start as such. He was a joyous and energetic High King when he was first crowned, and continued his mother's work of ensuring parity for all across Talamhor. It is said the rule of Emrys was the most stable rule in Talamhorian history, second only to his mother and his great-grandfather Arthyr the First King. Still, his rule is remembered as the dawn of the Dark Age for a reason, for though it began merry, it did not end so.

Emrys spawned a large and beloved royal family with his Queen Cinalla Copperfall; his son and heir, Hadyn Talhor, had married the fairest maiden in the realm, Rhianwen Goldenglass, and she had given him twin sons that were loved by all for their sweet nature and charm. Unfortunately, the family would be struck down in their happiness; Hadyn, his wife, and his young sons all died in a fire that engulfed the city of Redgallows in the Heartlands, where the family had stayed on a royal progress. High King Emrys was utterly beside himself with grief for the death of his son and grandsons, and his secondborn, Darren Talhor, was installed as Crown Prince. But Emrys, in a shock, abdicated the Thone-Of-Old-Bones merely a year later, and Darren would be named the fifth High King of Talamhor. The former High King was later found dead only a year after his abdication; rumoured to have been suicide. Thus ended the life of the last, stable Talhor ruler that Talamhor saw.

Darren was a reckless High King, always compared to the ghost of his elder brother, and always suspected of orchestrating the Fire of Redgallows. Many write that he made constant missteps in a never-ending search for validation, said to have gravely insulted a maiden of House Norwyn— Thought to be Lianna Norwyn —that contributed to the defining facet of Darren's reign; the Northern Fracture, wherein House Norwyn and the Freehold rose up in rebellion. With the aid of the Elves of Avalyn, they were declared an independent region, and Darren Talhor later succumbed to wounds he sustained on the battlefield. He did not live long enough to see his queen, Melissa Methe, bear his only child; a son, Trine-blessed Emrys II Talhor, who would be made a High King at merely minutes old.

Emrys II Talhor would be raised and ruled for by a regency council until he reached the age of eighteen. In order to restore the royal treasury following High King Darren's disastrous attempt to reclaim the Freehold, Emrys was betrothed to a daughter of the wealthy Helbend family, vassals of House Lanaur. But even from a young age, his caretakers noted that Emrys was an erratic and impulsive child, raised almost clinically in the absence of his parents. Were it not for his uncle Prince Edric Talhor, who was the former Chancellor for ill-fated Darren and a member of the regency council, Emrys would have been an orphan. In many ways, history says he was, and it did not leave him in good standing when he assumed the throne.

For the most part, Emrys' rule seemed stable; with a Talhor back on the throne the country could breathe easy, and continue to recover. Queen Arianna Helbend was well-loved, and she gave Emrys three darling children; The Princes Arthyr II Talhor, and Rolant Talhor, and a Princess Rhian Talhor, though the princes were mere boys when the Talhor dynasty collapsed, and Rhian a mere quickening in Arianna's womb.

In the end, the demise of House Talhor was self-imposed. Ever since Darren Talhor had taken the throne there had been rumblings of discontent, though they did not evolve into open rebellion until Emrys II came to power. with his father's failure to retake the Freehold, and a desure to expand his kingdom into the Elven Realm of Avalyn, Emrys would shock the realm and left Talamhor, travelling east to Tethryr in the company of few. There he would visit the Dragoncity of Yanobe, and pay homage to its ruler, the red chromatic dragon Namru. Though none know what passed between them, Emrys II would return to Talamhor on Namru's back, and his council and kin quickly learned that Emrys had promised the red dragon the treasures of Talamhor, if he would help take the North and Avalyn for him. The depiction of Emrys II astride Namru's back was immortalized in a famous painting called Death On Red Wings.

Horrified by their High King, opposition moved swiftly. Though Emrys 'Dragonspawn' as he was now called, almost never left the side of his new ally, Maelog Corwyll, the Chancellor of Emrys II, could not stand by and let Namru destroy Talamhor for the whims of a young High King. In a brief conflict known as The Raven's Rebellion, Lord Maelog, and his peons, known as 'his Ravens', would assassinate Emrys II, and order the capture of other Talhors in fear of them honouring the deal with Namru. With Emrys II Talhor's death, his infant son Arthyr II became the rightful High King, though officially he was usurped by Maelog Corwyll. Henceforth House Corwyll of the Stormbreaker Mountains was the royal house of Talamhor, and House Talhor fled west to Wythiar.

Queen Arianna, heavily pregnant, was aided in her escape by old Prince Edric Talhor, who also took his family and fled. The exiled Talhors would settle in the Halfling city of Star-Run, and over the years many rumblings of their descendants would echo, some plotting to reclaim Talamhor...

But for now, there was a new regime, and a new High King; Maelog Corwyll and his wife, Aoife Lanaur, were anointed High King and Queen respectively. Said to be obsessed in his reign with the securing of his family's rule, Maelog would wed his son and heir, Maelog II Corwyll, to his former liege's daughter, Alianor Maightor, as she was the granddaughter of a Talhor princess and Maelog wanted to cement a blood-claim on the throne.

Though Maelog would not live to see his grandson born to Alianor, he would live to see his other children married according to their new stations; the beautiful Isaebel Corwyll, the twin sister of Maelog's first and deceased son, Baltair Corwyll, would marry Baron Gwynn Brightblade, the Marshall of Emrys II and who rebelled with Maelog and thus retained his position and earned himself a Princess as a reward. Maelog's younger daughter Anna Corwyll married Lord Jaysen Yrddwell, the Lord of Suncatcher Place and the Lord of House Yrddwell. With these marriages, Maelog had ensured his family was wed into the blood of Lanaur, Maightor and Yrddwell, binding his kin to the High Houses of Talamhor. As a result, many credit Maelog with the increase in magical complications at birth, due to the High Houses all being strong in their own magic. Even the Corwylls would develop their own latent power over time on the throne, a talent for shadowmancy becoming evident over the years.

When Maelog Corwyll died just nine years into his reign, it was a shock; the High King died of consumption, a failed magical surgery unable to save his life. An indignant end, some said, for the man who liberated Talamhor from the madness of the Talhors. Nevertheless, Maelog II Corwyll would assume the throne with his Queen Alianor Maightor, and with their ascension the Dark Age would officially end.

### The Current Age (146 AGU—Present Day)

Maelog II Corwyll was crowned in a legendary celebration in the First City; the blood of Lanaurs and the husband of a Maightor, Maelog II was the living embodiment of his father's beliefs in uniting the high bloodlines of Talamhor. Though as a result, he and his wife would struggle with conceiving a child, fertility issues being frequent with strong magic bloodlines intermingling. Though, later scholarly conjecture would suggest this was not true in the case of Maelog II and Alianor Maightor, as rumours often said that Maelog II favoured men and only bedded his wife out of duty. When their son, the Crown Prince Wyll Corwyll was born, Maelog II did not see it necessary to visit his wife's bed again.

Wyll was close with his father, despite the High King's distance with his wife; Maelog II's council would pressure him to produce 'a spare' for the kingdom, but Maelog refused, infamously stating, *"Wyll is all I require; keep him alive, and you shall see."* The words 'You shall see' later became Wyll's personal motto.

Maelog II's rule would last nearly twenty-five years, and it would be a time of peace, prosperity and stability. Maelog is attributed with the murder of Arthyr II Talhor and his brother Rolant in Star-Run, extinguishing a line of Talhors scheming to reclaim the Throne-Of-Old-Bones.

In the end, Maelog II died of the lover's pox. He was succeeded in 170 AGU by his only son and heir, Wyll Corwyll. Wyll was a charismatic, though rather simple ruler; he was not swayed by riches or politicking, and took pleasure in the simple things, like fine horses and beautiful women. He famously called for a ball, where all maidens of noble birth were invited to present themselves before him, so he might select a Queen. The festival caused quite a stir across Talamhor,

## Regions

### The Heartland

> Main Article: Heartland
>
>

At the very center of Talamhor is the Heartland, the ancient seat of rule for Talamhor, and the lands where the First City was built. Settled millennia ago by the ancient Talamhorians, the first mortal races, the Heartland is the birth cradle of the greater Talamhor culture, and the capital of the Southern Kingdoms.

Known for sparse forests, rolling hills and picture-esque landscapes, the Heartland is as beautiful as it is political. The First City is large enough to be a city-state within its own right, a sprawling metropolis where the High King of Talamhor rules. Though in truth he only rules a little over half, with his recent conquest of the Northern Freehold, he grows ever-closer to complete control of the Continent.

The First City has connections to the Frozen Ocean in the east through the Talhor Strait, a bay and wide river passage out to sea. However, this naval port means little, as trade is often conducted on the western coast of Talamhor, and the First City is often supplied through great land caravans instead, which make ideal targets for banditry.

### The Gilded Coast

> Main Article: Gilded Coast
>
>

Along the western edge of Talamhor is the Gilded Coast, rich highlands sweeping into the Stygian Sea. Here cities perch off the cliffs and ships sail into great harbours. The Gilded Coast is the heart of the Southern Kingdom's economy, trading with the Western Cities of Wythiar and the Elven Realm of Avalyn most-frequently. As a result the Gilded Coast has the most diverse population within the south, home to dwarves, halflings, elves and humans, and many more mortal races.

House Lanaur is the high house of the Gilded Coast, and they rule from the largest city in all Talamhor, Arian's Wings. There they are seated in the Silver Tower, a magnificent and richly-built citadel overlooking the ocean and overseeing the trade routes. Wealthy, though not as wealthy as the Yrddwells, the Lanaurs deal more in rare objects and magical curios as opposed to gold and silver.

Due to the influx of new peoples among the Gilded Coast, most magical education is centered here. Many diverse schools and guilds have sprung up in the various port-cities and serve not just southerners, but wider Talamhor as well. The Lanaurs are more than happy to patron this... So long as their fair cut is received.

### The Stormbreaker Mountains

> Main Article: Stormbreaker Mountains
>
>

To the east of the Heartland is the Stormbreaker Mountains, a land cut through by great mountain peaks, valley passes and dangerous cliffs. One won't find a better lot of warriors than in the Stormbreaker Mountains, as the harsh living conditions forge the strongest of knights and combatants.

The people of the Stormbreaker Mountains are hardy, old folk, skilled warriors and deadly cavalry in particular, infamous for breeding their large and deadly war mounts. They practice frequently at tourney and melee, and many of the best mercenaries and sellswords come out of there.

A perfect reflection of their people, their high house, House Maightor, are a family of strategists, commanders and generals. The current head-of-house, Lord Cyngar Maightor, is the Marshall of the High King, and leads his armies into battle. The Maightors are closely-tied to the Corwylls, their former vassals, and Cyngar's sister Aness Maightor is the current Queen of Talamhor.

The Maightor seat, Staghorn Keep, is a magnificent old fortress spanning a valley pass with two towers, the 'Horns'. The North Horn is for the residence of the Lord and his family, and the South Horn is for a garrison and guests. The towers stretch all the way to the valley floor, and are considered one of the most magnificent feats of construction in all of Talamhor.

### The Everfen

> Main Article: Everfen
>
>

The northernmost territory of the Southern Kingdoms, the Everfen is a lush and fertile land. Marshy and frequently-flooded, the people of the Everfen have learned to work with the rich soil to their great advantage and as a result are affluent themselves.

The people of the Everfen are known for their darker, sun-kissed complexion and lavish estates. Their high house, House Yrddwell, were once a merchant family that rose to great prominence in the Everfen due to their careful trading and management of the Everfen's resources.

The Yrddwells rule from Suncatcher Place, a great chateau built in the midst of a sprawling forest. Their lands are vast, and are the most-farmed land in Talamhor, giving the Yrddwells a strategic grip on the supply of grain in the South.

### The Northern Freehold (Contested)

> Main Article: Northern Freehold
>
>

The Northern Freehold is still considered a nominal vassal region of Talamhor by some; though it was part of the Great Unification and was a part of Talamhor for over a hundred years, the Northern Freehold, ruled by House Norwyn, has been independent for just as long, with failed attempts by Talamhorian High Kings to retake the region.