An introduction to the Kingdoms
Arl'renran ma dan ayeshar
How can I describe the beauty of each kingdom, with so few words. They're all so strange, foreign, and wonderful. You cannot describe them with such meaningless words, you have to go out and see them each for yourself. No description that I, or anyone can give, will do them justice.
The eight nations of Talrak are called 'Kingdoms' but instead they simply describe a large geographical province that the ancient mortal Gods and the Dragons most loyal follower, once ruled over, to this day the bloodlines still continue to rule each province. Within each Kingdom there may be smaller lesser Kingdoms, empires, and countries which have similar ideals, customs, and beliefs.
Arrell:
Arrell is situated in southern Talrak, bordering the Kingdoms of Ecarr and Talro'en. Its northern provinces have vast and endless mazes of rainforests however the south contains arid deserts, rocky crags, and cliffs that plunge into the abyssal southern ocean. The populations of Arrell either live in the trunks of giant trees or carve cities directly out of the rock itself, the city of Nensha'aalay is a settlement carved into the sea cliffs along and above the treacherous southern coast. The people who live in Arrell are subsequently resilient and adaptable, who can not only survive but thrive in all kinds of environments. Its capital - Trelliash - is in the northern rainforests, although Arrell is one kingdom it more often than not acts as two. The Forest Realm and the Sand Realm, with the true monarch ensuring peace remains and no civil war breaks out.
Many Arrelians are mercenaries acting as peacekeepers for their neighbour Talro'en. However, those who remain use the rainforests to their advantage selling its resources and using its menagerie of ingredients for potions and other such creations. This makes northern Arrell an alchemists paradise the herbs, spices, and rare flora and fauna that reside in the forests are major contributors to Arrell's economy. But down south there are no forests so many have to quarry and mine for stone and ore. This stone quarrying is Arrell's most reliable export particularly the large abundances of Granite and Chalk (Magically inert rocks uncontrollable by sorcerers).
True King Ayfel Grantsen currently reigns over Arrell, he was a venerable King but now he clings onto a past long gone, many await for his replacement. The people of Arrell are tall with black skin and vibrant green eyes, both men and women cut their hair short and most if not all have facial tattoos of the cities they were born in. As there is no small villages almost all live and die on one of the few metropolis' that span across Arrell.
A'ular:
A'ular is the strongest nation on Talrak, commonly referred to as the Jewel of Talrak though it has many flaws. Situated on fertile, flat land and a rich abundance of precious gems A'ular's economy quickly grew, and it did not take long for them to surpass the other Kingdoms. With its mountains to the east, a coast to the west and flat ground between, it made it incredibly easy to civilise and prosper. However this easy civilisation meant populations grew rapidly and soon the gaps between rich and poor grew and now to live in A'ular you must have social standing. Although this Kingdom is Powerful and can give sanctuary to those who need it most it has nearly no social mobility leading to a world where the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer, and slavery runs rampant. These factors have lead to great schisms between the rich, the poor, the socialists, the freedom fighters, the traditionalists, and the capitalists. Revolutions and civil unrest runs rampant through out all corners of the Kingdom yet none ever reaches the surface.
Due to the Kingdoms ease of life, the rest of Talrak consider its citizens weaker and spoilt compared to the harsh lives they are forced to live, so A'ular often send expeditions into the unknown, provide military aid, and hold parades to show their military might. Although they grow plenty of crops, A'ular's main exports are high end goods like jewellery and fine clothes as well as exotic animals and plants which they bring back from the Unknown. However the poor usually work for the rich in plantations or workshops and many of the smaller settlements are actually a nobles personal staff and outbuildings.
True King Yorkfel Arkstein V is in charge along with his senators where they rule the country together, he is a young king but eager to prove himself which can sometimes been seen as arrogance. His people are very pale with grey-blue eyes but compared to the other kingdoms Ularans are shorter and use earrings to show social status and nobility the more earrings you have the higher up the social ladder you are.
Ecarr:
Ecarr shares a border with both A'ular and Arrell it is the continents most south-western Kingdom. It is a desert kingdom, like its neighbour, however Ecarr's only farmable land is a relatively small island compared to the size of Ecarr to the north it is known as Dantern. This island is the most valuable place in Ecarr and is the only place where Laws and peace is enforced due to the Kingdom's reliance on it's fertile soils. The rest of the kingdom has rolling deserts with huge sand dunes for mountains with no rivers and few oasis's Ecarr has an extremely hostile environment similar to its inhabitants. Many of its inhabitants are nomadic tribes and clans, travelling from settlement to settlement to avoid sandstorms and other disasters both natural and human alike. The settlements do exist here, exist as massive castles with 1000s of residents, known as citadels.
With no formal industry and no focus on it the Kingdom deals in slaves, mercenaries, weapons, and armour. Due to their warrior culture and love for self independence they are similar to Fehadla but their relations are mostly hostile apart from their complex relationship with Talro'en. They have no trade deals with the other kingdoms, forcing Ecarrans to rely on themselves and only themselves, forging a kingdom with a power to rival A'ular - Who they are at war with.
Ecarran's are short but stocky in stature with dark brown skin and deep black eyes they often scar them selves for every battle they win. They stand out wherever they go and are often treated as 2nd class. King Doriarn Vanten II has the final say as high ruler of Ecarr and ensures that his empires remain in check.
Fehadla:
Fehadla is a small island nation west of A’ular it is spread across four main islands with smaller archipelagos within and around, it is the most volcanic region on Talrak. Yet its dangerous volcanoes are the reason it has been the nesting site and undisputed homeland of the mythical dragons, but once the dragons left so did Fehadla's influence and power. Fehadla is the smallest nation in landmass and second smallest in population yet it is so devout to their pantheon of gods that it has one of the largest populations of mages. Their unwavering loyalty is often seen as selfish by the other Kingdoms, Fehadla's reluctance to help other nations is a complex history yet they share the strongest alliance Talrak has ever the seen with the doomed Kingdom of Re'Lak. Due to the volcanic hazards, Fehadla's soils are extremely fertile so naturally farming is the Kingdom's main income, exporting it to nearly every other Kingdom due to the abundance and surplus that Fehadla sees during it's harvests.
Fehadla is covered in small settlements with short lifespans and while there are large urban settlements they are few and far between on islands other than Elzai. The large majority of the population rely on the profit of farms from growing crops, fishing, and raising livestock. However while the Fehadlans will always prioritise themselves first they are known throughout the eight kingdoms as dragon hunters, killing the corrupted dragons known as Vehn travelling all over to slay the savage beasts.
Fehadla is currently ruled by True Queen Eorra Ranaye and her Dutch as advisers, the Queen has held an honourable reign with all respecting her judgement. While seldom seen outside of Fehadla her people can be recognised by their short stature, tanned skin, and bright blue eyes. Most often wield a spear or carry the sigil of the Fehadlan Army, Navy, or Watch as many are veterans of military.
Nivaran:
Nivaran is a completely neutral strip of land between the twin kingdoms of Re’lak and Re’alec, it holds allegiance to no one god, religion, nation, or species. Here Humans, Elves, and Dwarves of all nations and religions co-exist at varying levels of success. With no official government and icy weather it can be treacherous to live in but it’s flat topography allows large and vibrant metropolis’s to be formed. People who live here often live in sprawling cities which expand rapidly or are nomadic following the seasons moving south to escape the cold.
There is no unified economy or focus with everything produced in Nivaran is often also consumed within Nivaran, there are traders which will travel and trade to the neighbouring Kingdoms or attempt to peddle off their goods to travellers visiting The Eight Spire Temple. The eight spire temple is located in central Nivaran on top a great hill looking over Lake Ynzern. This is the place where the Kingdom leaders meet to discuss international affairs under an ancient oath of peace and understanding. It is a sacred place built after the second great conflict and by a large demilitarised zone guarded by a mysterious people known as the Adden.
Unfortunately due to no government there is a large power vacuum, corruption runs rampant and those with wealth have the most power, there is one thing that unites everyone who live in Nivaran: it is better than the place they left.
Re'Alec:
Is a frozen wasteland in the north, with large ice sheets - known collectively as the Stretching Ice. They cover swaths of land making the immediate area devoid of life, this leaves just under half of the Kingdom habitable to its population. Re'Alecans are a hardy yet inquisitive people often creating mechanical wonders to survive the harsh winters and further their society. The further south you venture the larger and more dense the settlements become and is where the majority of people live. But for the settlements in the north they use the ice to their advantage, turning it into a source of income there are even a few outposts situated on the ice itself.
With its harsh landscape those who farm often herd sheep, cows, deer, and other livestock living as nomadic tribes ceaselessly traversing the landscapes. But for those with a greater mind and reside within permeant settlements they help, work, or research in one of the many educational and scientific institutes in Re'Alec. The ice sheets are home to numerous pre-age cities frozen in time so scientists and engineers are endlessly making new tew technologies from the ancient artefacts buried within. This is an extremely lucrative business but Re'Alec's unwillingness to share this technology has lead to the kingdom remaining poor with crime running rampant especially in the north. Yet people still view Re'Alec as a scientific hub rather than a crime ridden tundra.
True King Zairn Kay'entt XII rules over the Kingdom and while King Zairn XII is more open to visitors coming into the kingdom than his predecessors, especially scholars and other academics, there is still some apprehension from the Re'Alecans. You can always recognise these people by their pale white skin, green eyes, and their tendency to wear wolf pelts no matter occupation or weather.
Re'Lak:
The sister kingdom to Re'Alec it is comparably harsh and cold, but instead of being a flat expanse it is heavily mountainous and its proximity to the Rough unfortunately causes it to be the prime target for lesser species invasions and raids. With its mountains and valleys Re’lak is covered in both natural and man-made rivers to act as frontiers to combat against the lesser species approaches. What little of the population that remains in Re’Lak and has not to fled to Nivaran or to their allies in Fehadla, live in the centre of the Kingdom in the capital of Nivar or within large bastions in frontier towns which are sanctuaries and military outposts who fight to survive every day.
The people here are hardy and like their allies are extremely devout to their pantheon of gods, mages here are common but so are warriors as those who remain in their kingdom tend to fight for it. They are masters at creating arcane items for their own use or to sell while more simple folk sheep farm on the slopes of mountains east of Nivar, their second main export being wool and lamb. Re’Lak and Fehadla are great allies and people migrate from kingdom to kingdom, sharing resources, information, homes, and soldiers. Re'lak does have its own army though it is split in half, half is a religious sect of warrior monks, priests, templars, and scholars. While the other half is known as the Levies, who are the usually grunts and volunteers willing to fight and die for their home.
Queen Ambeleth Sallenei IV rules with her council of Knights, Re’Lakans have a large culture around death often judging others based on the heart, faith and, soul. Re’Lakans are known to be tall with blue eyes and long hair they will also always be seen wearing Armour across their heart.
Talro'en:
The disaster struck kingdom of Talro’en is the victim of all disasters from earthquakes to storms to plagues, no one is safe in its mountainous jungles those who survive the disasters live so in poverty. There are no cities with people living in smaller settlements mainly along the coast, the capital city is little more than a few shanty towns stuck together. Its landscape is completely covered in a thick, untamed jungle which grows on the sides of giant cliffs and steep mountains.
The Talish are simple people who specialize in smithing or other essential crafts required to ensure they can rebuild after each disaster, they don’t farm but rather they hunt and forage in the jungle. Only sustainable due to their extremely low populations and low population densities. Talro’en is the poorest and most deprived nation often relying on what little generosity the other kingdoms offer though it never comes freely, Talro'en always has to pay some price.
Queen Maree Sha’xus I tries to do the best for her people often there is nothing she can do much other than allowing Ecarr to ‘recruit’ people into the Ecarran military in return for security and humanitarian aid. Their outdoor lifestyle leads to a light tanned skin tone but not much else sets them apart other than their particularly weathered and rugged looks.
Zakorna:
Zakorna is a kingdom of tropical island archipelagos full of ships, treasure, and of course pirates. Its sandy shores, warm suns and oceans make it seem like a paradise. Its people live an adventurous life, sailing and fishing on the oceans for food while exploring its numerous hidden coves and caves. Large urban areas are often referred to as floating cities due to them expanding into the ocean, some cities are actually large ships tied together creating the illusion of one giant ship.
Zakorna’s naval prowess is not to be toyed with and so their ships are often used as mercenary vessels for other kingdoms and hired in naval expeditions few Kingdoms even commission Zakorna’s shipwrights to build their ships. Zakornans base their lives off the sea whether they sail on it or not they need the sea to survive. They say that when the sea is angry so too are the Zakornans. But despite a once close connection to the great ocean spirit Thala their love for her has seemed to dim recently, now for many Zakornan's a new threat brews on the horizon: Civil war.
Monarch Airfel Vorff III rules over the archipelagos and its seas in their palace; situated on the only hill in the kingdom it is the tallest building on any of the many islands, the palace also acts as a mighty lighthouse which can be seen for miles around. Zakornans are often recognised by sound rather than sight, with large personalities and good humour they are the most optimistic people, seemingly oblivious to the horrors around.
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