High Caveria

## History

The nation of High Caveria was born out of the ashes of the Ashkaran Empire. As the Ashkaran realm grew, it conquered surrounding peoples, including the Caveriri. For a vast majority of the Ashkaran Empire’s history, the Caveriri people had a larger population than any other species or cultural group within the empire. Their vast numbers allowed their culture to become dominant. During the last days of the Dreng’s fateful war against the Ashkarans, the Caveriri rebelled in an effort to create a state for their own people. As Dreng society all but fell apart from the scale plague, and the last of the Ashkarans were hunted down, the Caveriri found that there was nobody to oppose the creation of their new state, thus High Caveria was born.

### Before the Fall of Ashkar

#### Nomads of Old Caveria

Many legends that retell the origin of the Caveri people assert that the angel Caverius descended from the heavens and fell in love with a human woman. Their children were the first Caveri, and therefore angel blood runs in the veins of every Caveri. Originally, the Caveri were a nomadic people. They were excellent hunters and herders, and they roamed around the plains of Old Caveria. Many Caveri cultural practices, such as the heraldric cloth, stem from this nomadic period and some old Caveri families still follow the old nomadic ways of their people, but many have moved on to a different way of life. The nomads of Old Caveria were held as excellent archers and horse riders, but their nomadic ways would not protect them from the encroaching might of Ashkara.

#### The Eastern War of Subjugation

As the nearby state of Ashkara began to expand, Old Caveria was one of their first targets. While the Caveri did not have much in the way of cities or fortresses, they had a vast range, most of which was very fertile. If Ashkara were to expand and become a truly great empire, Old Caveria would be the breadbasket that would feed their empire. The Ashkarans sent delegates to every Caveri tribe, requesting that they bend the knee to the King of Ashkara. When the Caveri stood their ground, the Ashkarans sent the full might of their military to subjugate the Caveri people and force them to bend the knee. The war was short and bloody. A vast majority of the Caveri tribes were forced to surrender. The Ashkarans slaughtered the horses the Caveri tribes relied on to quickly travel across their homeland. The tribes were supplied equipment and seed by Ashkara, and were forced to abandon the old ways and become sedentary farmers. Old Caveria was now firmly a province of the newly formed Ashkaran Empire, and despite revolts from the still proud Caveri that escaped the ire of the Ashkarans, Old Caveria remained loyal.

#### The Dreng Wars

In the last hundred years before the collapse of The Ashkaran Empire, The Dreng Kingdom emerged as one of the empire's most powerful foes. Dreng warriors were regarded as remarkably hard to kill by Ashkaran troops, and constant organized marches into Ashkaran territory caused ripples of instability throughout the empire. Over the course of many years, several wars were fought between the Dreng and Ashkarans. Because of their geographic location, the Caveris were spared from a majority of the bloodshed invoked by the Dreng, but were not immune to it entirely. During the reign of Emperor Melios, the Dreng seemed to finally gain the upper hand and sent the largest invasion force ever assembled to march on Ashkar, the capital of the empire. With the impending siege, The Ashkaran Empire seemed all but doomed.

#### Collapse of the Ashkaran Empire

Merely weeks after laying siege to the city of Ashkar, the Dreng were able to break through the walls of the city and set most of it on fire. Hearing that the capital of the empire was falling, the Caveri rallied a force to defend their homeland if the Dreng continued their march. This was ultimately unnecessary, as many of the invading Dreng contracted a mysterious new disease and were forced to retreat back to their homeland. In the following years, the Ashkarans were hunted to extinction as the Dreng wrestled with widespread death and sickness from this new plague.

### After the Fall of Ashkar

#### Foundation of High Caveria

As the Caveri realized that they were no longer subjects of the emperor they found that there was nobody to challenge their claims over much of the land of the former Ashkaran Empire. Caveri armies were quickly formed, and a temporary leader, named the War-Speaker, was appointed to lead the Caveri people to victory in their conquests. Similarly to how the Ashkarans subjugated the Caveri, the Caveri subjugated many of the smaller clans and peoples present in the former Ashkaran Empire. Before long, the Caveri were battling the Dreng for control over the old capital city of Ashkar. The first War-Speaker, declared the foundation of a new Caveri state with its capital in the city of Ashkar. This new state would be known as High Caveria.

#### The War of the Long Front

As High Caveria began to push its borders farther and farther south, they began to meet resistance. Almost at the same time that High Caveria was formed, the Kingdom of Brevany organized as well. The Myriadorian City-States had also come together since the fall of Ashkar. Before long, the continent was engaged in all but total war, with a massive front spanning from the west coast of the continent to the east coast. High Caveria was able to cement their claims to the northern half of the continent, but as the war drag on, they slowly conceded and acknowledged the claims of their new neighbors. High Caveria focused its military might solely on the Myriadorian City-States. Realizing they would not be able to defend themselves from the empire, the city-states pledged total allegiance to High Caveria and has since sent a small but fair tribute every year to the High Caverian government in Ashkar.

#### Creation of the Senate

As the realm slowly began to fall into peace, the War-Speaker sought a more permanent form of governance. The Ashkaran system that gave enormous powers to a single individual had all but failed them. The War-Speaker heard out proposals from any Caverian who came to him. After hearing hundreds, if not thousands, of proposals, the War-Speaker locked himself in his home for seven days and seven nights. On the morning of the eighth day, he emerged with a senatorial system that has guided the nation ever since.

#### The War of Mornish Independence

Many years later, the city of Morne all but fell to the bandits that did business there. City officials were forced to flee. The leader of one of the more notorious bandit gangs declared himself The Judge, and appointed himself as the overseer of Morne. As more bandits and thieves flocked to the city, the High Caverian government sent a legion of soldiers to drive the bandits out. Anticipating that High Caveria would attempt to force them to leave, The Judge called for aid from the Free Cities of Xok and Syk. Many mages from Xok traveled to Morne to lend their aid, while the mercenary army of Syk marched against the legion of Caveri troops trying to retake the city. The legion was quickly overpowered by the Syks. The war did not last much longer. Several smaller groups of Caveri skirmished with soldiers from Xok and Syk and there were even several assassination attempts on The Judge, but each of these attempts at retaking the city were ultimately pointless. The Judge sent a single threat to High Caverian government: cede Morne its independence or the combined forces of all three cities would march on other Caverian cities in an attempt to "liberate" them. The High Caverian government ultimately gave into The Judge's demands, and Morne was granted its indpendance.

## Culture

### Heraldric Cloth

One of the most important aspects of Caverian culture is the heraldic cloth. Originally, each wealthy family had a specific color of cloth they wore as either cloaks, scarfs, or shawls. It became customary for the child of a wealthy Caverian to receive a cloth that was a combination of both their father and mother's cloths. Over time, these cloths became patchwork and quilt-like in nature. Using a heraldic cloth, anyone could trace the family's in which they descended from. Heraldic cloths eventually were adopted by lower class people as well. Wealthy merchants and bureaucrats began to wear cloths of vibrant colors, while most peasants and farmers opted for a simply bluish grey cloth. In order to keep track of their family's lineage, many peasants took to stitching unique patterns into their cloths with thread rather than stitching two different cloths together as nobles did. Eventually, the practice became so common that it was required by law. Caverians whos cloth was lost or destroyed were exiled and disowned. Many exiled Caverians end up traveling the world as sellswords, merchants, or bandits.

### Language

Since the early days of the Caverians, there has been a Caveri language. Over time, Caveri has changed, most notably taking on many aspects of Ancient Ashkar. Through many years of living under Ashkaran rule, the Caveri language began to grow in similarity to Ancient Ashkaran. Today, Caveri is the official language of High Caveria and people use it almost as much as common, especially in more rural areas in High Caveria.

### The Old Ways

Since the early days of Ashkaran subjugation, some Caverians stuck to the "Old Ways". Some Caverians that follow the Old Ways are still around today. The Caverian Horde, a massive tribe of Caverian Nomads is by far the largest group of practitioners of the Old Ways. Many other gruops have modified the Old Ways to suite them better. For example, another large group of Caverian nomads travel by boat rather than horse. Unfortunately, many Caverians view the Old Ways as inferior to the way Caverian society functions today. As a result, nomads are only afforded two seats in the High Caverian government. These positions make up the lowest wrung of the High Caverian government.

## Government

High Caveria functions using a rather simple republican form of government. Every Caveri is able to cast a vote for a single representative. Fifteen of the thirty senators are required to vote in favor of any given piece of legislation in order for it to pass. The representatives themselves are broken into five separate groups, with one group voting on any given piece of legislation before the next group is allowed to vote. These five groups are as follows:

### The High Table

*Six Members*

The High Table represent those Caveri living in the capital city of Ashkar. Ashkar is home to many of High Caveria’s financial institutions and is the largest trade center in the nation. As a result, elected members of The High Table are almost always wealthy businessmen or the sons of famous representatives. The rich and powerful can almost always depend on The High Table to keep their interests in mind.

### The Congregation of Swords

*Nine Members*

The Congregation of Swords represent the Caveri charged with protecting the realm. Each of the nine largest fortifications within the nation is allowed to elect a single representative. Soldiers typically vote for representatives whenever they visit these fortifications. While the occasional foot soldier or captain will be elected, almost every representative on The Congregation of Swords are gentry serving in higher military positions. The Congregation of Swords typically sides with The High Table, but is sure to strike down proposals that are outright tyrannical.

### The Congregation of Spears

*Twelve Members*

The Congregation of Spears represent the many Caveri living in the smaller towns and cities that are scattered across the countryside. More Caveri vote for representatives that sit on The Congregation of Spears than any other group. Representatives that are apart of this group are typically hierarchs within their families and communities and almost always have the best interest of the common people in mind.

### The Nomad Thrones

*Three Members*

Represent the Caveri nomads and non-Caveri citizens of High Caveria. The representatives that sit on The Nomad Thrones are rarely given the chance to vote, and are often ignored. Unlike every other group, each representative in this group serves a very different group.

#### The Salt Throne

The Salt Throne is a position held by a single Caveri senator at any given time. The senator of the Salt Throne represents the interests of the Caverian sea nomads.

#### The Horse Throne

Similarly to the Salt Throne, the Horse Throne is a position held by a single Caveri senator at any given time. The senator of the Horse Throne also represents Caveri nomads, particularly those that roam the Caverian countryside on horseback.

#### The Patchwork Throne

The Patchwork Throne is the only position in the senate that exists to serve the interests of non-Caveri citizens. Caveri are technically still allowed to run for the position, but they are almost never elected. In recent years, there has been a push to get rid of the Patchwork Throne and allow any citizen, regardless of race, to run for any senate position instead of restricting non-Caveri to running for a single position.

### The War Speaker

*One Member*

The War-Speaker serves the important role of breaking any ties should they occur. As soon as any proposal has 15 representatives vote in favor of it, it is considered passed and the issue is resolved. The War Speaker is only permitted to vote if there is a perfect 15-15 tie after the representatives on The Nomad Thrones vote. Historically, this has only ever happened once, and the position of War-Speaker is more ceremonial than anything else. That said, votes rarely get to the point where the representatives of The Nomad Thrones are allowed to vote, and it’s not uncommon for the High Table and Congregation of Swords to reach close to the 15 votes necessary to pass legislation.