Varramine Kingdom

The **Varramine Kingdom** is a nation on the continent of Asterox, centered in the southeast region but spanning around half the continent. It was founded four generations past by King Varras the Conqueror in what is referred to as The Great War. Its capital city, Pendlehurst, is massive and technologically advanced.

## Varramine Kingdom

A map of Asterox, including details of the Kingdom.

## Societal Information

### State Religious Body

Lathander, Oghma, Ilmater, Torm, Tyr, Chauntea, Azuth

## Geography

The Kingdom technically has coastal access, but the waters on the western and southern edges of the continent are rough and untenable, and the coasts often rocky cliffs. To the north and northeast, the Kingdom's expansion is halted by places of lawlessness and wild magic such as the Fields of Susurrus and The Witching Jungle. To the east lies the border of the Cantida Coast, a united collection of city-states. The Kingdom is on generally friendly terms with the Coast, supplying them with naval forces in return for open trade and access to their calmer waters.

### The Beneath

The southeastern region of The Beneath encompasses noble Dwarven holdings and small kingdoms which still ultimately answer to the Varramine Kingdom's will. The Beneath is known for its system of extensive cave networks.

* Mountmend.
* House Rumnaheim.

### The Deep

The Deep is a small region in the Ice Mountains which has been annexed by the Kingdom. Its main feature is a great mine, which leads down to a vein of powerful magic. The city of Pendlehurst and many of the Council of Seven's affairs run on this magic. The magic is mined by prison labor; the worst of the capital's prisoners are sent north on the Great Road to The Deep, although few reports come back about conditions there.

### Marshlands

The Marshlands lie on the northwesternmost region of Asterox, and are generally inhospitable. Their land is part of the Kingdom, but the few settlements within the lands themselves are either military encampments or are inhabited by those looking to live on the outermost fringes of civilization.

### Southern Kingdom

The Southern Kingdom inhabits the space between Wyckwood and the Sugardown Plains and is home to the majority of the Kingdom's Human and Elvish settlements and cities. It is lightly forested, with the ideal climate for agriculture and enough land for infrastructure.

* Barrowley.
* Sealave.
* Duncaster.
* Pendlehurst.
* New Cresthill.

### Sugardown Plains

The Sugardown Plains are rural frontier lands. Their climate is prairie-like and generally dry. Settlements are more spread out in this flat expanse of land, and are generally populated with those hardy enough to fight off marauding monsters on their own, with the lowered military presence this far from the capital.

* Sawtooth Gorge.
* Serpent's Creek.

### Wyckwood

Wyckwood is a large forested region encompassing the entirety of the Kingdom's southern coast. The forest here is dense and riddled with rivers, and most settlements find their revenue from the sale of fish, game, and timber.

* Wyckwood Maledictary.

### The Great Road

The Great Road runs north-south from The Deep, down through the Sugardown Plains and the Southern Kingdom to Pendlehurst. It is well-maintained and the favored route for most traffic in the upper Kingdom. Prisoners are sent on the Great Road from Pendlehurst to The Deep.

## Society

### Demographics

The Kingdom as a whole is largely populated by Humans and Elves, those being the two races responsible for the conquering of the land during the The Great War. The capital city itself is very diverse, but the further one travels the fewer races other than Humans, Elves, and the stray Halfling one might see. Besides that, the Beneath is almost entirely Dwarvish, Wyckwood largely home to Wood Elves, and the Sugardown Plains overwhelmingly human.

### Politics

The current sovereign of the Varramine Kingdom is King Morrek, having succeeded his mother Queen Beatrise after her death due to illness during the events of the campaign. There has been speculation as to a brewing civil war between Morrek and his younger brother, Prince Audwyn. Audwyn did not challenge the throne upon Morrek's ascent, as it was thought he might, but Morrek, fearing the public opinion might sway towards his more studious and charismatic younger brother, called for Audwyn's imprisonment. Before Audwyn could be apprehended, he vanished from the Kingdom, and forces have been unable to apprehend him as of yet.

The Council of Seven is comprised of a series of Human, Elvish, Gnomish, and Dwarvish leaders from the kingdom, each presiding over a different aspect of governance. They are supposedly answerable to the monarch, but many question if they do not indeed possess more power than any sovereign could. They are based in Pendlehurst.

Current members of the Council of Seven:

* Phrelina Bracegirdle, Judge of the High Court.
* Dorek Dunn, Keeper of the Peace.
* Sidol Vassern, Keeper of Public Affairs.
* Headmistress Ola Paucine, Keeper of Intelligence.
* Jyamill Tavek, Arm of the People.
* Marion Sacks, Keeper of the Coin.
* Hunnam Holderhek, Hammer of the People.

There are also usually 1-3 court mages which hold an incredible amount of power and serve as direct advisors to the monarch. The current court mage for King Morrek, and that of Queen Beatrise before him, is Podalarius.

### Religion

A specific set of Gods are endorsed by the Varramine Kingdom, and temples, shrines, and orders based around them are supported by the state. The practicing worship of any other deities, called Outlaw Gods, can be punishable by fines or imprisonment.

The True Gods recognized by the Varramine Kingdom are:

* Lathander, The Morninglord.
* Oghma, The Lord of Knowledge.
* Ilmater, The Broken God.
* Torm, The True.
* Tyr, The Even-Handed.
* Chauntea, The Great Mother.
* Azuth, The Lord of Spells.

### History

The Varramine Kingdom was established by King Varras, the current sovereign King Morrek's great-great-grandfather. Kingdom schoolbooks teach that he conquered the previously wild and uncivilized continent. Loreander, a historic knight of the realm, was a devoted servant and compatriot of King Varras.. He brought elven forces from across the sea to join forces with Varras. After the Great War, he served on the very first Council of Seven as Keeper of the Peace. Thusly, from the founding of the kingdom, humans and elves have lived in harmony and as kinsmen.

After Varras came the rule of his daughter, Queen Arees, her son King Ulric, and eventually Queen Beatrise and her son King Morrek.