The Second Kingdom of Thera

The Kingdom functions, if barely, on a jarldom system. Each city is ruled by a hereditary Jarl who in turn is answerable directly to the High King. These cities function semi-autonomously as they are expected to maintain their lands and enforce their own taxes. The High King decides matters of national concern but remains relatively absent from politics.   The exception to this is when a new King is to be decided. This Moot as it is known compels Jarls from all over the Kingdom will arrive to determine the next king. One interesting note is that all Jarls must be present for a Moot to be conducted. The title of High King is not hereditary but an oligarchic elective position. His children are permitted to vie for their fathers position. Only males may rule though this has been challenged at times. If a woman does claim the title of Jarl she is usually killed quickly in a raid or battle.

The Kingdom of Thera officially maintains a position of isolationism from trade and geopolitics. The Therans have made no attempt to hide their contempt and hate for the Radians but as of yet have not made any official actions. The Empress of the Radiant Empire has allowed them to bark for the time being. In recent times, a new Jarl has emerged and has begun rallying other Jarls to his cause for an Expedition to the south.

Its economy is held by fur trades, gold and diamond mining and woollen textiles.   They also hold the only population of Greater Stag which are considered holy to the Therans. Though a blackmarket for Greater Stag horns and skins does supplement a significant income to those willing to risk the wrath of traditionalists. These Stags are far more powerful than their southern cousins and fear little especially when trained.   Though Thera possess few ports they have begun to venture into shipping with pirate islands who fence for the Free Cities. If Thera is able to access a proper shipping route which could bypass the Radiant Empire they could swing into a economic boom.

The territories of Thera had existed as semi-nomadic hunting clans for hundreds of years. They ranged fairly far even reaching The Great Grass Sea at times. They held many great cities and enjoyed a time plenty for over a hundred years. During this time that the cities of Chambondon, Panze and Sorough were built and acted as gateways to the north under the icy gaze of the Winterclaw Mountains.   And for a time it was good.   But with the onslaught of the First Blight their holdings and territories where significantly reduced. The horde had lanced through Sorough and swung northwest devastating the land. Even with no concrete leadership, it still razed and burned everything in its past. The Therans went over and over to meet them in the field and did well against the horde. The Blight was never allowed into the homeland and it was contained to the south. The Therans won but in so doing so they crippled themselves. Recovery was slow and while reconstruction of some cities had begun the holding were untenable and forced to rely on themselves. Descending into barely contained anarchy. Which was the invitation for the Radians to come calling.   The War for the Dawn or The Second Night as its known to the Therans was a brutal war which last a generation. Observers noted that the Therans were exceptional at leveraging their relatively small number for maximum effect. Feigning an engagement only to retreat to a flanking trap which the Elk cavalry would annihilate. The Therans had experience, familiarity with the land and resources. But the Radians had numbers, youth, and a religious fanaticism never before seen. It was bitter but even for years, a slow war that could have turned to either side. Yet the Radians introduced their new weapons; the Cold Constructed. Unable to cope with these new shock troops; a twenty year war was brought to an end in less than five.   Ceding all land south of the the Winterclaw Mountains the Therans who were once a mighty and advanced nation began its descent into barbarianism. It now limps on a shattered empire. But a new wintery wind is rising in the north. A charismatic new leader is rallying many other jarls to his cause of war and reform. The High King is growing old and few in the Kingdom doubt this new leader while take the Frostfang throne and usher a new age for the Kingdom of Thera.

The humans of Thera are fairly homogenous with a 95% human population. There are semi-autonomous tribes of giant like people living in the inhospitable mountains but there are few records to confirm this and as such remain unverifiable. That being said Elven settlements and villages are known to exist within Theran borders and some of the halflings of the Free Cities have established semi-legal trading districts in port towns.

The Therans despise Radians and the Radiant Empire with fury worthy of Hakkon in winter. Therans rarely travel by land through the Radiant Empire and will refuse to speak with a Radian if at the same table. Though in dire circumstances they will begrudgingly work with Radians and only for as long as necessary.   The Kingdom of Thera does maintain some trade relations the Free Cities by means of pirate coves. The every covetous eyes of the Free Cities have gotten the smell of the gems of the north and are beginning to speak of supplementing Theran trades efforts.

It is considered sacrilege to kill or eat the meat of Great Elks which provide much for the Therans. Though this taboo is more cultural than religious for the Therans.   More widely, if an oath of protection is given under Hakkons name, no harm shall come to the recipient. To harm someone under that sacrosanctity is considered one of the greatest sins possible.

The priesthoods of Hakkon vary region to region but there are some widely accepted practices amongst priests. Often, an elder member will come across a child, through either circumstance or explicitly being gifted to the elder. The child is then raised to be a priest for the rest of their life. This usually results in a cleric but some druids take to Hakkons teachings and become village priests for more remote areas.   In larger communities, priests will act as advisors to Jarls, and soothsayers for the jarless. In an region as harsh as the Northern taiga, a priest capable of food and warmth providing magic is well respected.