Elyria

Smoke and incense waft through the air before a roaring brazier of flame. The throng of worshipers sing hymns as the golden-robed Flamekeeper performs the rites of the Sacred Flame. A blade flashes brilliantly in a paladin’s hands as they confront the monster in the Dungeons of Nox, blood dripping from its alien mandibles. The scorching sun beams down upon a cracked desert of chalky stone, as the solitary hermit invokes near-forgotten incantations

The most populous of the great nations of the continent, Elyria wields power far beyond its borders. Home to the Holy City of Lumen, the spark of the Sacred Flame was lit here. Indeed, the people of Elyria claim civilization itself was born in the fertile river valley between the fiery Drakeclaw Mountains and the Witherbleach Desert. There, along the lush banks of the Vita River, humanity laid the first foundations of its cities. For many, the story of Elyria is the story of humanity itself, for in these lands human beings have performed their greatest deeds and their most enduring cruelties. In ancient days, the lands of modern-day Elyria made up the core of the mighty Arcane Empire. Lumen was once called Nox, where its despotic rulers dominated the people of the continent. However, today Elyrians have purged the blood-soaked legacy of the Arcane Empire with the fire of faith. They do not claim to be the successors of that horrific regime. Instead, Elyrians regard themselves as the descendants of righteous revolutionaries who threw off the shackles of tyranny, brought justice to the oppressed, and seized control of their own destiny.

Nourished by the fertile valleys along the Vita River, the Elyrian peninsula was the cradle of human civilization on the continent. During antiquity, the tyrannical sorcerer-kings ruled the blood-soaked Arcane Empire from these lands, and dominated the other people and nations of the continent with their magical supremacy. The fires of a new religion inspired the population to throw off the yoke of their oppressive rulers, marking the beginning of the modern era, which saw the land’s redemption and resurrection as the nation of Elyria. Today, Elyria is the heartland to the Faith of the Sacred Flame. After its monarchy dissolved a century ago, it is now under the de facto authority of Divine Matriarch Mercy V, the leader of the faith. As the religion itself holds influence throughout the continent, today Elyria projects power far beyond its borders, influencing other nations both through the military might of its knightly orders and through the counsel and urging of many Flamekeepers.

Overview

Elyria occupies a wide peninsula; the east coast meets the Middle Sea, and the western coast lies along the ocean. The heartland of Elyria stretches along the Vita River, where fertile flood plains and grassy prairies are broken up by arid hills and a mountain ous coast. Nestled within are pockets of pinewood forests and orchards of olive trees. It has a diverse temperate climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. As such, agriculture thrives in Elyria. Beyond bountiful harvests of grain and maize, orchards, vineyards, pastures, and ranches form the core industries in most communities. The coasts are rich with a wide range of marine fishing. Furthermore, Elyrians often cultivate large crops used for textiles, such as cotton, and several communities keep colonies of silkworms. The land becomes a dry rocky desert towards the southern end of the peninsula, where the Pale Tooth mountains mark a firm border around the Southern Reaches.

Population

Elyria is the most populous nation on the Continent, home to nearly 14 million people. The nation boasts many of the largest cities in the known world, but the vast majority of its people live in rural villages along the coasts and the Vita River. Humans make up most of the population in Elyria. As the Faith of the Sacred Flame took root here, many people with arcane ancestries, such as elves and tieflings, opted to leave Elyria for other lands more welcoming to them.

Capital

Lumen, formerly called Nox, is the capital city of Elyria.

Government

Elyria is a theocracy in all regards but name. For generations, the Faith of the Sacred Flame has influenced almost every as pect of culture, society, and law throughout the nation. Howev er, Elyria itself was born out of a league of city-states, emerging as a feudal monarchy with absolute primogeniture. The Divine Matriarch would traditionally crown the monarch of Elyria and offer the ruler close counsel, and so the faith and government have always been closely entwined. As leader of the Faith of the Sacred Flame, the Divine Matriarch has traditionally been regarded as a pillar of wisdom, truth, and justice, and historically is often called upon to mediate difficult political matters.

Yet any remaining semblance of separation between church and state began to rapidly dissolve over a century ago, when the royal line of Elyria went extinct following the death of the last true Elyrian monarch, King Marcus Zachary II. In its place, a parliament was assembled from the ninety-nine most powerful and influential Elyrian lords, and the Divine Matriarch would choose one amongst their number to act as Lord Regent every six years. Together, the noble parliament and the Lord Regent would serve as a ruling body for the nation. The Lord Regent would act in place of a hereditary monarch, but only wear the Crown of Elyria when it was deemed necessary by the consensus of the Parliament of Lords.

Today, while the current Divine Matriarch Mercy V is not officially the head of the state, few decisions are made without her blessing and direct counsel. Many predecessors to Mercy V have used their power to select a line of caretaker regents who defer to the Faith on virtually all matters of state. While members of the clergy take vows of poverty that preclude them from holding actual political station, the parliament is now mostly made up of fundamentalist nobles staunchly loyal to the religion, and the Lord Regent is almost always a close relative of a prominent High Flamekeeper or the Divine Matriarch. Indeed, the current Lord Regent, Polonius Reed is no exception. As a result, Divine Matriarch Mercy V wields de facto political authority in Elyria.

Noble Ranks

• Lord Regent. As Elyria no longer has a true monarchy, the Lord Regent holds the highest office in their stead. Technically, the Lord Regent is selected from amongst the most powerful dukes and duchesses of Elyria.
• Duke or Duchess. The dukes and duchesses of Elyria are often descended from the rulers of the original city-states of the Elyrian League.
• Earls. Vassals of Elyrian dukes with holdings over country manors and estates in smaller towns and settlements.
• Gentry. Elyria has a large number of urban nobles who are quite wealthy, but who do not have large land claims of their own.

Elyrian Cabinet

The Elyrian Royal Council was reorganized into the Cabinet after the establishment of the Parliament of Lords. It consists of the following individuals:

• Divine Matriarch Mercy V
• Lord Regent Polonius Reed
• High Paladin Uriel Radley
• Archmage Xel’vohca the Ancient
• Grand Ambassador Beatrice Atwood
• Secretary General Orlando Timmins

In the past, the Divine Matriarch would appoint a High Flamekeeper to sit on this council as the representative of the Faith, but since the assassination of her predecessor, Mercy V has been directly on the Cabinet. Similarly, the role of Master Commander was filled by the High Paladin of the Silver Order.

Religion

The Faith of the Sacred Flame began in Elyria, and its capital, Lumen, is the holy city of the religion. As a result, the Faith’s most deeply orthodox adherents are found in Elyria. Even the few Elyrians who do not follow the Sacred Flame are very familiar with its beliefs, tenets, and myths.

Professing faith openly is a major facet of Elyrian culture. People speak prayers and give thanks to the Sacred Flame throughout their day, and offer blessings to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Children grow up hearing the tales of Saint Tarna’s deeds, and Flamekeepers teach youths to read and write using passages from the Song of Fire. Elyrian residences place emphasis on having a roaring hearth, bonfire pit, or fireplace which acts as a household altar to the Sacred Flame.

The annual calendar is planned around the high holy days of the religion, and devout Elyrians attend services and hymns at their chapels regularly. Important civic events and gatherings, such as weddings, funerals, and other celebrations are often held within chapels and ministered by a local acolyte or Flamekeeper. People hold clamorous outdoor receptions in the evenings with wine and roasts, where they sing and dance before sparkling flames.

Small settlements which might only feature a modest shrine to the Sacred Flame in another nation frequently have splendid chapels in Elyria, and cathedral domes define city skylines. Monasteries where the clergy dwell are spread throughout the countryside, and the diligent, masterful craftwork often taken up by the monks and priests form an important part of the Elyrian economy.

In Elyria, having a family member amongst the clergy is both highly regarded and extremely prestigious — an important political and social asset. Daughters of Elyrian nobility often grow up with intense pressure from their families to foster their devotion and study scripture in the hopes they might be able to channel the divine powers of the Sacred Flame. The few who do are encouraged to take up a position as a Flamekeeper in the clergy, even though the vows of poverty associated with the religious hierarchy means disavowing their noble inheritance and lifestyle.

Other Faiths

Not surprisingly, the worship of the Old Gods has been almost entirely expelled from the heartlands of Elyria, with barely a stone left upon their ancient shrines. Many who live in Lumen and other large cities are not tolerant of other religious beliefs at all. Most mistakenly think those who follow the old gods are dangerous cultists who traffic with capricious fey and evil fiends.

The few stalwart worshipers of the Old Gods who dwell in Elyrian cities generally keep their beliefs secret, because they know they risk violence from their superstitious neighbors for having a different religion. While the laws of Elyria do not expressly prohibit people from having their own private beliefs and maintaining personal altars in their own homes, they also do not protect those who hold such beliefs from discrimination, harassment, and assault, especially when in public. Indeed, temples to the Old Gods are not permitted within Elyrian towns and cities, and the public display of holy symbols and religious rituals of the Old Gods are also banned. Offenders can be fined, flogged, have their property seized, and ultimately be banished or executed for flouting the blasphemy law common in most Elyrian cities. However, the reach of such laws diminishes towards the southern coast and deserts.

Military

Although the Divine Matriarch has great power, commanding the conventional military forces of Elyria is not within her direct authority. Elyria still retains a largely feudal military structure — lords and other nobles form their own armies drawn from local levies. The Divine Matriarch relies on the loyalty of these lords when they require a large army.

Knightly Orders

The Faith of the Sacred Flame sponsors several anointed knightly orders. Perhaps the most famous is the Silver Order. These knightly orders are the militant arm of the Faith, and not formally a part of the Elyrian military forces.

Navy

Elyria boasts the mightiest navy of any power on the continent. These ships, known as the Sapphire Fleet, allowed Elyria to dominate trade and travel within the Middle Sea and surrounding waters for many years. Indeed, their merchant fleets were the first to trade with distant lands in far continents. While Westemär and Caspia have since established their own ocean trade routes and naval fleets, neither come close to rivaling the Sapphire Fleet of Elyria.

Magic

Arcane magic is not common in Elyria. The Amethyst Academy maintains few outposts here, and the nobility rarely seek court mages. Instead, it is customary for each household to sponsor their own Flamekeeper as close counsel in a similar role to a court mage.

The Archmage of Elyria is Xel’vohca the Ancient. A member of the Academy Directorate, the ancient mage spends most of his time secluded within his secret sanctum deep below Lumen, and uses their intermediaries at the Violet Embassy in Lumen when dialog between the Faith and the Academy is necessary.

Trade

Elyria is a fertile land, but must focus on less perishable goods for international trade. As such, its textile industry dominates commerce with other nations, especially cotton and silk. Elyrian wine competes against Caspian wine for the finest in the continent.

Trade by land usually proceeds from Michael’s Gate to Liberio, and from there into either Westemär or Caspia. The bulk of Elyrian trade happens via water through the Middle Sea, giving the nation direct access to most Caspian ports, while many other merchant ships sail through the straits of the Middle Sea to trade with cities in Terene and Orleone.

Principal Exports: Wine, oils, silk, cotton, textiles, pottery

Principal Imports: Salt, iron, coal, spices

History

Elyria was once the heart of the sorcerer-kings’ Arcane Empire, which they ruled from the Nightmare City of Nox. The imposing obsidian obelisk known as the Spire of Nox loomed over the wretched metropolis, built by Sorcerer-Queen Nahmar when she sealed the Blood Pact with diabolical fiends.

Fires of Liberty

After centuries under the yoke of the sorcerer-kings, hope for salvation was sparked when Saint Tarna renounced her wicked ways and became the First Paladin. She took up arms against the sorcerer-kings, and through her deeds the Spire of Nox was torn down. Saint Tarna’s sacrifice inspired the dispossessed common folk toiling under the tyranny of the sorcerer-kings to throw off their bonds and rise up in rebellion. However, the rule of the sorcerer-kings did not immediately come to an end during Saint Tarna’s lifetime. Nevertheless, her disciples spread her message of justice, but more importantly, they taught others to invoke the divine magic of the Sacred Flame. Though individuals with the will and devotion needed to master this power are rare, these new clerics and paladins provided the divine strength needed to meet the arcane might of the sorcerer-kings head-on. After three centuries of rebellion and resistance, and through the blood of countless martyrs, the vast Arcane Empire crumbled.

League of City-States

The collapse of the Arcane Empire was a period marred by war and conflict. The rebellion that had joined together to overthrow the sorcerer-kings collapsed into political posturing amongst rival factions and city-states. The vassals, cities, and people ruled by the sorcerer-kings had too long been lorded over by a distant supreme power, and were loath to hand over control of their newly-found freedom to anyone else. The lands of modern-day Elyria were amongst the last to be free of the sorcerer-kings, and in the immediate aftermath became a loose coalition of city-states along the Vita River and the coast of the Middle Sea. While each city-state was independently governed, the leaders of these cities would meet every few years at a summit to discuss their shared interests, alliances, and trade. Acknowledging the sibling-like bonds between their cities, they called themselves Elyria’s League, named after the slain daughter of Saint Tarna. The League would later be known as simply the Elyrian League, and its people Elyrians.

Unification Under House Ava

During the middle of the fifth century, House Ava, one of Elyria’s many noble houses, rose to prominence amongst the League. Lady Bernadette Ava conceived a scheme to unite the city-states of the Elyrian League not through conquest and bloodshed, but by the bonds of blood and family. Using care fully arranged marriages between her children and the nobles of the other Elyrian city-states, Lady Bernadette positioned her grandchildren as the inheritors of vast swaths of land and titles. However, each would still owe fealty to the head of the family. Though Lady Bernadette did not live to see her plan come full circle, House Ava cemented itself as the political power in the peninsula, and city-states of Elyria emerged as a united nation. What was once the Elyrian League was now simply Elyria.

Extinction of House Ava

Over the centuries, House Ava’s intermarriages transformed the royal family into several cadet branches. Although the name “House Ava” gradually went extinct, the rule has passed mostly peacefully through 26 different households since the time of Lady Bernadette Ava. House Zachary was the last to claim any clearly discernible connection to House Ava. Unfortunately, the family tree had grown so tangled amongst the various lines that when King Marcus Zachary II died in the year 1001 without a direct heir, there was no clear successor to the throne. In a last-ditch attempt to avoid a civil war, the Elyrian nobility turned to the Faith of the Sacred Flame and consulted Divine Matriarch Humility III for guidance. After days of meditation and contemplation upon the Flame, Humility III decreed that an oligarchic Parliament of Lords would lead the affairs of the state, forming the governmental order which persists to this day.

Rising Theocracy

With the offices of the Divine Matriarch and the Lord Regent now intrinsically linked, a new political order settled into place across Elyria. Noble houses all sought increased influence and more profound connections to the Faith of the Sacred Flame — if a noble house could hold the Regency, and have a family member as the Divine Matriarch, it meant that their family had ultimate control in all decisions of faith and state. The first household to achieve this level of political control was House Eden, who managed to place a member of their household in both positions twice.

Assassination of Divine Matriarch Courage IX

Dissatisfied and disillusioned with the growing influence of the Sacred Flame over their government, several noble houses formed their own underground organization that conspired to overthrow the power of the Divine Matriarch. After years of planning, during a celebration in Saint Tarna’s Cathedral, Divine Matriarch Courage IX was publicly assassinated to send a message to separate the Faith and the nobles once more. Un fortunately, the plot backfired. The commonfolk of Elyria were enraged, and the conspirators were outed and brought to trial before the nobility loyal to the Faith. The purported master mind of the conspiracy, Lady Desmonda of House Windsor, and her allies in House Kellogg and House Sawyer were found guilty by a jury of Flamekeepers. After they were publicly executed, their surviving family members were stripped of their lands and titles and banished from Elyria. In the aftermath, the position of the Divine Matriarch re mained vacant for four years, until finally the synod was recon vened and Divine Matriarch Mercy V elected to the position