Spiremarch

## Description

Spiremarch is a successor kingdom of the Monic Empire. situated in the west of Seron. Spiremarch is an imperial city-state ruled by the Archduke Julius Octavius. It was founded in 6,995 TA, by the Imperator August Ferenius. It is made up by a majority of humans, but almost any other race in the entire world could be found here. The majority religion in Spiremarch is Sol Invictus, although conclaves of Watchers can be found in and around the city. There are also rumors of hidden cults beneath the city proper. The capital of Spiremarch is the city of Spiremarch.

## Society

### Races

Humans, Elves, Half-Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Half-Orcs, Gnomes, Dragonborn, Halflings, Tieflings

## Commerce

### Exports

Fine Goods, Luxury Items, Metal Tools and Weapons

## Politics

### Leader Title

Archduke of Spiremarch and Emperor of the Monic Lands

## Geography

The nation of Spiremarch is located at the end of the Flumen River. It is located to the north of Mors, to the east of Preus, to the southeast of Est, to the west of Albion, and to the northwest of Veni. Spiremarch includes a significant portion of the remnants of old Monia.

The climate of Spiremarch is temperate, with temperature ranges from 20-85 degrees Fahrenheit on average. It is almost exclusively grassland and urban sprawl. The nation is 87% urban.

## Flora and Fauna

### Flora

Very little in terms of flora can be found in Spiremarch proper. Cityweed is a type of herb that grows in the cracks between stones in the city. It is sweet and is used as medicine to relieve headaches.

### Fauna

Fauna is also very rare in Spiremarch, though certain unnatural creatures can be found in the bowels of the city.

## Government

The Government of Spiremarch is unique, in that the nation is ruled by the Archduke, however the city itself is cordoned between the Archduke and the Pontiff.

Beneath the Archduke are the various levels of nobility, any organization or sense of reason that would otherwise be found in this hierarchy has long since been forgotten.

## Military

Spiremarch, owing to its immeasurable size, uses a professional army. The army is divided between the forces of the Archduke and the forces of the Pontiff. The army is divided into several components.

### The Garrison

The Garrison is a volunteer (in peacetime) and conscript (in wartime) branch of the military. They act as law enforcement, though Spiremarch also has the civilian Vigiles which act as law enforcement. They also are tasked with protecting the city from outside attackers. The Garrison is commanded by the Archduke, and usually his Marshal beneath him.

The Garrison is subdivided into Legions of 1,000, Cohorts of 100, Maniples of 50, and Contubernii of 10. There are, on average 30,000 Garrisons.

Each Garrison member is equipped with a sword, spear, shield, and leather armor. They wear the tower crest of Spiremarch. They are provided lodging at the barracks, food, and 25gp a month.

### The Faithkeepers

The Faithkeepers are the military arm (save for the knightly chambers) of the Church of Sol Invictus, the Faithkeepers serve as soldiers and police in matters of faith; whenever heretical cults or blasphemous sects are discovered, it is frequently the Faithkeepers who exterminate them. The Faithkeepers are given special permissions and immunities not afforded to the Garrisons, such as not needing to bow before nobles, nor heed their orders. The Faithkeepers rarely are ever used for the actual defense of Spiremarch.

The Faithkeepers are organized into Lances of 100 men, each commanded by their respective Battle-Chaplain. The Lances are subdivided into 5 20-strong Cloisters.

Each Faithkeeper is equipped with a halberd, longsword, shield, chainmail armor. They wear the tabard bearing the symbol of Sol Invictus. The Faithkeepers are provided lodgings and 30gp a month.

### Palatine Guard

The Palatine Guard keep an eternal vigil over the Emperor of the Monic Empire, and have done so since the Age of Unification. After the Monic Empire's fall, their duty became to protect the Archduke of Spiremarch. They are trained since childhood to be highly trained in the art of combat.

They are organized into Cohorts of 100. There are only 1,000 Guards. They wear the ancient eagle heraldry of the Monic Empire.

Each Guard is equipped with a spear, longsword, plate armor, shield, two javelins, and a heavy crossbow and 20 bolts.

### Knightly Chambers

While many nations have knightly orders, Spiremarch has both secular orders which answer to the Archduke, as well as holy orders which answer to the Pontiff. Due to the variety in knights and their orders, they can hardly be described in general terms.

## History

When the Monic Empire officially fell in 6,995 TA, the emperor, Imperator August Ferenius, proclaimed that the Monic Empire continued in the form of the city-state of Monia.

At some point before the end of the third age, the city, and eventually the nation itself grew to be called 'Spiremarch' by the local populace. The official name of the Monic Empire was never officially dropped, but before the beginning of the fourth age even the nobility and royalty began referring to it as Spiremarch.

During the Preussen-Albonic War, Spiremarch was officially neutral, though a significant number of volunteers joined the Albonic side.

Spiremarch participated in the Wars for the Greentide, sending small armies sizing roughly 10,000 strong in the first war, and 15,000 in the second.