Lysadore

The **Principality of Lysadore**, or simply **Lysadore**, is a plutocratic nation in southwestern Morgaea. Although it possesses few resources of its own, Lysadore's location makes it a center for trade in the south. Lysadore's wine trade, buoyed by its fruitful vineyards and an aggressive approach to trading practices with other nations, is one of the country's main resources, allowing for a relatively prosperous life for its citizens. Its capital is Venadrad, which lies on the middle of its coastline and is one of the wealthiest in Morgaea.

## Geography

Lysadore is bordered by the Bianco Bay and Ghallen to the west, the Adamantium to the east and the Freemarks to the north. The country enjoys a warm south-western climate. Much of Lysadore is coastline, thus facilitating their seafaring nature. Five of their major cities are port cities, including the Lysadoren capital, Venadrad.

### Settlements

* **Arsaana**
* **Bastion**
* **Bianco**
* **Brynnlaw**
* **Cortosans**
* **Kenellen**
* **Salle**
* **Seleny**
* **Trevain**
* **Venadrad** – capital of Lysadore

### Regions

* **Arnaud's Barrow**
* **The Drylands**
* **Green Dales**
* **Bianco Bay**
* **Isle of Emeralds**
* **The Weyrs**
* **White Spire** (mountain peak)

## History

Lysadore's origins can be traced back to pirates and mercenaries who settled on the coast of Bianco Bay, seeing a lucrative opportunity in land trade. Over the years, the neigboring settlements on the coast formed numerous alliances, eventually unting with the city-state of Lysadore. The importance of trade led to a strong position of the merchant class within Lysadore. In the Dark Ages, Beregan, a dwarf from the kingdom of Bhorndan with his impressive knowledge and skills, helped the city states of Lysadore to greatly expand their naval power. By **-30D**, the city-state of Lysadore evolved into a full-fledged nation.

Starting in **1A45**, the Ministry spread west into Lysadore, and the teachings of Sibylla gained favor among the citizens, eventually becoming the main religion in Lysadore.

Lysadore usually remained neutral in the conflicts of its neighbors, though it did ally with some city-states of the Freemarks in the period between **2A15** and **2A45** to stop the territorial advances of King Fyroden of Alepool. In **2A33**, Lysadoren cities united under a common banner to better defend themselves. The Alepooler threat faded in **2A45** when King Fyroden was betrayed by his Adamantine allies and the Adamantium annexed Alepool.

In **4A30**, Asha Gelena Bamadur was born in Ghallen. She married the King of Lysadore and eventually became known as the "Queen Mother of Morgaea" after creating multiple unions between her offspring and other royal and noble families of Morgaea.

The Fourth Scourge broke out in **5A12** with the awakening of the Archfiend Xurteus. Initially, the fiendish horde concentrated in Lysadore, and the country was overrun. The city of Seleny fell after a four day siege. Next, the fiendish forces started advancing towards Venadrad. Before the siege began, the ruling family of Lysadore was killed by their royal guard in response for refusing to evacuate the citizens. Venadrad was all but destroyed. The Scourge ended in **5A24**. The fiendish hordes was defeated in the Battle of Ayesmare in Ghallen, where Erenod died after killing Xurteus. During the battle, an Maudesian captain Lambert Pelleneur saved King Azarda Adelberto Campalla, a surviving member of the royal Lysadore family who came to rule the country after the end of the Scourge.

In **5A99**, Queen Magria of Lysadore was assasinated. She was found with four steel swords plunged into her chest and many assumed she was murdered by the Ravens.

In the early Seventh Age, Orcimar arrived in Sudern and soon began claiming territories on the main continent. Between **6A32** and **6A42**, Lysadore was conquered by the invading Orcimar forces. In **7A25**, the first Crusade on the Orcimar was declared. The second Crusade began in **7A42** and ended in **7A52** with the Orcimar capturing most of Lysadore. The city of Trevain was burned by the liberating armies of the Maudesian Ministry and the Adamantine Ministry. In **7A84**, the third Crusade ended with signing of the Loweyn Accord, and Lysadore was freed from Orcimar influence.

In **8A99**, dragons reemerged in Morgaea, first appearing in Lysadore, then spread into Maudet and Anderlay where they devastated the countryside. Attempts to reduce the number of dragons resulted in a great loss of life.

In the early Ninth Age, a civil war erupted in Lysadore; it became known as the "Three-Queens" era.

## Politics

Officially, the line of kings in Lysadore has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years, but the monarchy is very weak, and has virtually no army. In reality, Lysadore is a plutocracy: the true power lies in the hands of a dozen extremely wealthy merchant princes. They are not princes in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and vineyards, each with a personal army, and each locked in a constant struggle against all the others. They possess sufficient capital to resolve any external diplomatic dilemma with a well-aimed purse, or threat of withdrawn trade.

Despite the lack of a strong military tradition, there is another reason why Lysadore has rarely feared invasion; the infamous House of Ravens, the most efficient, most feared, and most expensive guild of assassins in Morgaea. Their fame is such that Lysadore has no need of a standing army. No leader is willing to order an attack on her borders, or to lead the troops due to fear of assassination; even the Orcimar leave the nation alone.

In addition, the political machinations of Queen Asha Campalla, "The Queen Mother of Morgaea," involved an extensive array of political marriages between numerous noble houses in the effort of establishing alliances. This has given the Principality of Lysadore significant political protection; to start hostilities with Lysadore would mean running the risk of dragging half of Morgaea into war.

An association of Lysadoren pirates called the Jubilosa Armada is the leading maritime power in the region. It gained influence when the pirates aided the allied forces in the Crusades against the Orcimar, and now poses a serious threat on the Narrow Sea. Wealthy merchants often prefer to pay the leaders of the Armada rather than to risk their cargo.

## Trade and Exports

Lysadore, as a coastal country with bustling ports, facilitates a great deal of trade; both through piracy and legitimate business. Some of this trade may be under the aegis of the Lysadoren Ravens and their confederates. The exports of Lysadore are numerous and varied. Lysadore is renowned for its admittedly unparalleled wines, as well as its coffee. It is also known for its rubies and diamonds. There are also pearls in Bianco Bay. Lysadoren leatherworking is considered particularly exquisite, and its crafters are the envy of the known world. In addition to leather, Lysadore produces fine weaving and silk of great renown. Lysadoren crafters also excel at the production of porcelain of a quality so fine light shines through, as well as woodwork. The country enjoys healthy trade with many nations, including the empire of Maudet.

## Culture and Society

The origins of modern Lysadore lie in the alliance of pirates and "ne'er-do-wells" who favored a safer and more lucrative life on land as opposed to a dangerous life on the sea. They made a home on Bianco Bay's eastern coast which was, however, owned by the king of Lysadore, the nearby city-state. Eventually the two distinct groups merged into one people, evolving into the nation of Lysadore as it's known today.

Women have strictly defined roles in Lysadore. They are considered pure and delicate and not allowed to participate in combat, among other things. However it's fairer to say this is an Lysadoren ideal of femininity which does not always match up well with the reality. Dueling, usually to a non-fatal extent, is a past-time and way to solve disputes among the nobility.

One particularly notable woman in Lysadoren history, and indeed Morgaean history, is the Ghalleni-born Queen Asha Campalla, also known as Asha Gelena Bamadur Campalla, the Gana of Ayesmare. The daughter of rich merchants, she married the weak King Elaunzio Campalla during the Fourth Age, but was not content with allowing history to pass her by. She desired that Lysadore have a larger, and more powerful, role in Morgaean politics. To this end, she married her children and grandchildren into royal and aristocratic families throughout the continent, leading historians to refer to her as the "Queen Mother of Morgaea." She is said to have descendants amongst the royals of Maudet, Anderlay, Alepool, Netheren and even amongst some Adamantine magisters.

Vainalis is a Morgaean holiday accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Particularly in Lysadore, Vainalis lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. This holiday is celebrated at the beginning of Novaria.

Lysadore has a long history of puppetry. While the primary purpose of puppet shows is to entertain, many street shows comment on political issues. The Lysadoren Ravens are known to use these shows as a way to send public messages. It's been suggested that the Lysadoren approach to puppetry might have been influenced by Lysadoren Sylvan clans' habit of building "forest marionettes" to scare humans away from their clans.