Arleans

## The Kingdom of Arleans

**The Kingdom of Arleans** is the defunct nation that occupied the largest amount of land of all the Mundassian Kingdoms in the south of the Continent. The Arlenian Kingdom was well known for rich courtly culture and vibrant natural ecosystem. Its last King Duravar V and Heiress, Princess Roesia fell to the Curse as the Kingdom was destroyed.

Today, the Old Kingdom is succeeded by the Arlenian Redemption League that seeks to restore the Blightlands from the effects of the Curse of Malite.

## Early History

### Preface

One of the first Kingdoms founded as a result of Gilder's early expansion and grown from an originally Gildan settlement. Arleans started in the fields of Nagred where an unsuspecting pioneer known as Mael established a vineyard with the help of his beloved wife. From this one vineyard Mael would grow incredibly wealthy and in no small part did he attribute the true cause of success to his wife Arlean. Together they grew their property, their lands, birthed many children and Nagred grew all around them.

### Nature of Society

The society of the Arlenian people was largely one defined by growth, creation and careful tending. Most of its culture was reflected in its love of cultivation whether that be of vineyards, gardens or creatures. In addition, it actively sponsored Theatres for performances, Public Bath houses for public hygiene, established Sewer Systems and the Church Choirs that sung throughout its lands.

The Land possessed a strong peasant, cleric, merchant and aristocratic classes and was often at pains to keep these influences in balance. For the most part this was successful with a few exceptions.

### The Pre-Eminent Kingdom

After several upon several generations and the Sundering of Gilder the Kingdom of Arleans had taken up the Mantle to preserve what of Gilder it could and canvassed across the Continent of Mundassia all that it could of the fallen civilization.

Taking this knowledge had the additional benefit of being used by the Enlightened Kings and Queens of this Nation to advance themselves along the lines of their forebears. Many had at one time questioned whether this monolithic effort was worth the cost the Crown had expended to do it. Many generations of prosperity eventually dispelled these criticisms.

With Arleans rising in prestige and power it soon become undeniable that among the Kingdoms of Humanity the Kingdom of Arleans was the strongest by a large margin and in almost every possible respect. This earnt the Kingdom the name "Pre-Eminent" to assert its special place at the head of all Human Kingdoms. The benefit from this recognition meant that almost always the Arlenian Court were able to involve themselves in foreign matters, given primary seating and the first pick of the litter in each case. Each King paid his deference to the Throne of Arleans whenever a new Monarch ascended.

## The Fall

In the final years of Arleans, the Kingdom was experiencing something of another Golden Age and Renaissance which left the Nation in an unshakeable sense of security verging on invulnerability. This tendency led even the Officials of the Kingdom to be repeatedly dismissive of what they had termed "harmless" matters that were simply not worth their time and for the most part these never had negative impacts on the Kingdom only serving to reinforce this unfortunate assumption.

Although it is still not known to this day what exactly happened that day in Nagred that unleashed the Curse upon the Kingdom there are some undeniable facts that the few witnesses in or near Nagred were able to relay.

On the day of the Fall there was a great wind out of the South, and as it wooshed through the Countryside near Nagred there was a sudden hush that quietened everyone in hearing. This quiet hung uncomfortably long in the air as Dusk was setting into the land when the expected sunset of crimson light was replaced a growing and sickening green on the horizon emanating from the centre of Nagred where the Palace was located. This green curtain rose high in the sky as quiet shrieks could heard and the curtain fell upon the city and rush outwards in all directions.

Some witnesses say they found it hard to breath for a short time before the Undead start appearing from graves attacking anything living. From there, all witness testimony devolves into an insanely difficult to sift mess of details and stories of the horrors that were unleashed that day. What is also certain was that the Royal Costemaux Family were present in the Palace at the time of the Fall.

## In the Present

Arleans now is more commonly known as the Blightlands to the common folk for being almost completely overrun by the dreaded Undead. The only cities that remain free and among the living are controlled by the Arlenian Redemption League and its affiliates.

The once lush lands are now corrupted and twisted into dying lands uncapable of completely dying away. Some areas are virtually devoid of life and some say even Undead as they sit empty as Ghostlands. Other territories are used as Spawnlands by the Undead to raise further monstrosities and new variations to unleash on the League in order to spread its Curse further and further.