Arthesian Confederacy

First Age and Long Winter

Selcian tribes first came into the region during the First Age, and thanks to their isolation, they quickly developed a distinct language and culture. By the end of the First Age, they had become Arthesians, one of the many modern Selcian cultures in Arros. They survived the The Long Winter relatively unharmed as they were not farmers and the region hadn't suffered drastic cooling like elsewhere on the continent. However, by the start of the Second Age, drastic changes would come for the Arthesians.

Internal Changes and New Neighbours

First, Etherial Proliferation was rapidly converting the small local population of humans into Soulbound Mages, most of whom being Shapeshifters. While this was happening, new Oromian kingdoms were being founded and consolidated just to the west, and some tried to expand into their homeland. Fortunately for the Arthesians, it only took a few victorious battles to stop the oromian expansion into the marshland. Instead, they would built fortifications on the frontiers to try and contain them. Arthesian raiders harased the workers during construction and destroyed the forts and towers whenever they could.

A shift of culture

The Arthesian attributed their vitory to their shapeshifter population, who were able to defeat the invaders both physically and psychologicaly. Their victory against the well organised and armoured human armies of the western kingdoms convinced most of the locals that the rising population of shapeshifters among them was a blessing. By the middle of the Second Age, it had already been centuries since the last Arthesian human died off. Choranism was also introduced to the region around this time, and it would slowly grow in popularity and merge with the pagan beliefs of the locals.

Imperial Overwatch

It was at that time that a new rising power would contest the Arthesian's hold on the the Ghoro Marshlands. The Esnian empire would launch multiple destructive invasions of the region, which are collectively known as the Ghoro wars. These wars were devastating, as up to half of the local population was killed, while the Esnian Empire lost numerous legions in the region, weakening it's Arrosian holdings. The Empire would eventually prevail against them and the fortress of Lerast was soon established on the shores of Lake Ghoro, and eventually, a small village, and then a large town would grow around the castle. This would be the first proper town in the region.

Early Third Age

After the fall of the Esnian Empire, the kingdom of Shorai became the owners of the fortress. The kingdom was strong, but also somewhat unstable. Arthesian raiders would attack it during the Shoranian civil war, and again after the kingdom of North-Shorai took it. Meanwhile, trade would grow in the east of the region, and the village of Forno was founded as a market town along the shores of a bay in lake ghoro.

Rise of Gysia

Eventually, the Kingdom of Gysia invaded both Shoranian kingdoms, and the fortress came into their possession. During the war, the Arthesian managed to dislodge the shoranian troupes, but they then lost the fortress to Gysia. Many raids were launched against Gysia in the 300s, especially in the kingdom's northern regions, which made the new ambitious king of Gysia decided to try and eliminate them for good.

Arthesia is founded

While the Gysian-Arthesian War was a victory for the Arthesian, it devastated the region south of lake Ghoro. It would also drastically change the political landscape of the entire region since it lead to the unification of most of the local tribes into a single political entity: The Arthesian confederacy.

The Arthesian Confederacy doesn't have a true navy, except for smaller vessels that are used to patrol and trade on the small streams and on lake Ghoro itself. The country doesn't have any winged ships either, or skyports to land foreign ones within their borders. The true military power of the country comes from it's warrior culture, which creates strong soldiers ready to defend their homeland with great ferocity. During war time, each of the country's clan provides a set number of warriors based on its local provincial population.

Allied Nations

The kingdom of Alvaros is a recent ally of the confederacy. Despite having suffered a lot from raids, especially in its western territories, trade between the two countries has flourished. A lot of goods are traded between the two, like grain, timber and ores. The kingdom of Paxolia is also an ally, simply for the fact that they hate Gysia and want to see them weakened, and Arthesia is their enemy.

Neutral Nations

The kingdom of North-Shorai, and the Kavasian empire are both neutral towards Arthesia. They have suffered a lot from Arthesian raids in the past, and so while they appreciate Arthesia stopping them, they remain wary.

Enemies Nations

The kingdom of Gysia hates the Arthesian, not just because of the later's incessant raids in their northern territories in the past, or their recent bloody war against each other, but also because of what Arthesia represents. Since Gysia is a Solian majority country, they see another country ruled by shapeshifters and other soulbound mages as something unnatural and wrong.

Fishing is a very important local industry, as fish is a staple food here. Most of it comes from lake Ghoro, but also from the Sanat river and other smaller rivers in the region. Historicaly, the extraction of bog iron made up the vast majority of iron production in the country, but new deposits were found at the start of the Third Age. Mining, especially in the northern borderlands, along the Dorroman mountains, is a fast growing industry. Large iron and coal deposits are found here, and most of it is sold to the kingdom of Alvaros to the east.

A large network of narrow stone and wooden causeways, raised about half a foot above the water line was built out over many centuries. These link villages and towns all over the country together, allowing a trader or a soldier to cross the country without getting wet once, as long as they know the way around the maze-like network. Infamously, the causeways can act as chokepoints in many areas, as they are the only safe passage in some region and can be easily blocked by just a few warriors.