The Commonwealth of Rowniny

## Other Information

### Summary

A Commonwealth ruled by an Elective Monarchy situated in the steppes of north-western Aeurune.

### Population

2 and a half

*"It can barely be called a kingdom. it has barely what you can call a city or an army, and it lacks money to even pave their roads or make proper roofs! Though what the country lacks in military or economy, it makes up in spirit. Its people is simple but hardy, its land is desolate but incredibly beautiful."* Agranai of Therun

**The Commonwealth of Rowniny** is one of the northernmost kingdoms of men, and the northernmost kingdom following the Estarian faith. It lies to the northwest of the continent of Aerune and is bordered by Anskirchen to the southwest, The Rogova states to its west, The Dwarven kingdom of Dhom Burimm to its east, The Mountain clans to its north and Gregoria to its south. The Northern Sea, or Nasze Morze, covers the rest of the western and northwestern borders of the kingdom, while the Gora mountains covers its northern and eastern border.

The land is known to both its inhabitants and other lands as just Rowniny, and its people is the Rownins. The land is known for its vast plains, forests, and some of the swiftest horses in the continent. It is categorized as one of the "Northern kingdoms" and is one of the weakest, if not the weakest kingdom in the continent in both military and economy. Its current capital is Rzeka and its current ruler is Casimir Skiba, leader of the Sejm, and Queen Anika Rozjemca. Both are acting regents for the now kidnapped king Marek IV.

## Etymology

Rowniny comes from the eastern word of "Steppes", and its people, the Rownin, "People of the steppes". In the South, the land is often called "The Northern Kingdom", being officially the only one in the category, Dörnei being more a federation of kingdoms, and its culture more like its middle kingdom neighbours.

## History

### Before the Uniting

The Rownin people arrived to Rowniny from the eastern tribes somewhere in the first half of the 2nd millennia TR. Though first a nomadic group they quickly settled along the several rivers in the area, most notably the Woda. They quickly drove out the former human tribes (originated from the southern lands), and became the dominant people in the region, with the exception of the Rogovan Basin. Though they did share trade and communication with their eastern brethren, the connection was soon broken by the orcish tribes which settled along the valleys of Sierpe Valleys in the 16th century.

Called "The Great Northern Expanse" by the southern kingdoms, the the land was ruled by different chieftains, and conflicts for water, food and minerals were normal. The most notable and mightiest cities were Rzeka, Krasnik-Priesti and Kazimitowa which lay on the Woda, and Brzina and Jutrosin. The Land had seen several attempts, both from local lords and foreign kingdoms, to subjugate the land and it's people. Most notable was the failed invasion by the Empire of Champirault-Gregoria. Though more numerous and advanced, the harsh winter and the local style of guerrilla warfare took the lives of tens of thousands of men, including Emperor Ioannes XIV, killed by lord Rurik, a national hero. This failed attempt would as well cause the split of Gregoria from the empire, and the end of the Great Artusian Empire.

### King Boris I and the uniting

The year 2430, Lord Boris Ilym Rozjemca, lord of the city Rzeka, would start a new campaign to unite the region under one banner. By using new tactics inspired from its southern neighbours, along with the Rownin cavalry, he was able to subdue several lords under him. And after 5 years of fighting and diplomacy, he managed to finally unite the kingdom. Though succesful, he knew that he had to do more to keep the kingdom united, and protected from outer threats. In order to keep the newly conquered nobles happy, he created the Sejm, a parliament comprised of noblemen and high ranking officials who would, along with the king, decide on national matters. He as well instituted an elective monarchy, where the next monarch would be chosen amongst the noblemen of the kingdom. Along with uniting the kingdom, Boris as well modernized the land, creating roads and improving infastructure in all the cities, most notably, rebuilding his city of Rzeka in white stone. He reformed the armies and aristocracy, following a more feudal style like his southern neighbours, and converted to Estarianism, the most prominent religion in the southern lands. To further legitimize his rule and acknowledgement among the neighbouring kingdoms, he married himself off to Princess Joanna of Champirault.

### The Anskirchen Uprising/The Northern war

Like many nations in the continent, Rowniny experienced several problems following the creation of The Dörnei and its new religion of Ibrism. While the people had mostly been culturually hegenemous, it had recently faced a large surge of Hochkin immigration from the west by people looking for more fertile lands. These people quickly took suit with their Hochkin brothers in The Dörnei and converted to the new religion. Dissidence grew and in 2984, under leadership by Heinrich Ibenross, the grand master of the New Order, the newly converted and zealous people took up arms and revolted. Unlike in Champirault, the uprising experienced huge success. With its militaristic ideology and secret help from The Dörnei, it was able to quickly beat the less organized armies of Rowniny, and after a short while, conquered most of the western regions of Rowniny. After the conquest, the New Order changed its name to Anskirchen, after the city where the uprising started. The war would span another 10 years, with the Anskirchens goal to solidify its hold in the west, while the Rowniny attempted time and again to reclaim what they lost. In 2993 after the death of the King Pyotr III in the Battle of the Red Plains, King Marek IV succeeded the throne. He quickly made an alliance with The Rogova States and won a decisive victory against the Anskirchen in the Battle of Rzeka. This victory led to peace between the nations. Anskirchen would keep the lands with a large Hochkin majority while giving back most land to Rowniny.

### After the War

Following the Anskirchen Uprisings, the land started to slowly rebuild. While the western plains, now scattered with abandoned villages and castle ruins, lies in ruin, the eastern and northern regions remained untouched by the war. The alliance with Covasna opened the kingdom up for trade and soon the river cities of Woda flourished. Marek, in according with the alliance, married his current wife Anika Theodora Stanislavovich Rozjemca, daughter of the current mayor of Rzeka Artyom, and cousin to the High mayor of the Stanislavovich family. Though conflict would occur between Rowniny and Anskirchen, Marek was able to keep the peace. The year 2999, King Marek was shot during his birthday celebration by an unknown assassin, the poison in the arrow brought the King in a coma uncurable by the local physicians, priests or mages.

### Mareks kidnapping and The New War.

Though the Assasin, now known as Amantus "The Black Haired" was captured, it was all according to his plan. And after seven days, he escaped prison, and along with a uknown dwarf and large group of mages, kidnapped the king. Many of the noblemen of the sejm, includeing Casimir, blame the Anskirchen for the attacks and kidnapping. Situations grew worse when Ludwik Tadic, leader of the kingsguard, is murdered by the Anskirchen envoy he was escorting out of the nation. This would finally result, though at the protest of both Anika and Artyom to a declaration of war at the Anskrichen. The armies are currently amassing in Rzeka.

## Culture

Due to its origin, the land is more alike the eastern kingdoms than the southern kingdoms and even the northern tribes.

## Geography

The Lands of Rowniny is vast and has a wide range of geographical regions. While its eastern and northern border regions are dominated by hills or mountain, the majority of the land is flat, comprised of large plains and forests. There are 3 main rivers in the country, the largest being The Woda River, which is where the biggest cities lie. The two others, are much smaller and the northern river of Trudno, which forms the countries northern borther is often frozen throughout the year. Though the climate is warm during the summers, the winters are often harsh and bitterly cold. Freezing most of the rivers and northern coastlines. The climate varies from very dry during the summer and end of winter and very wet during the spring and autumn/beginning of winter.