Kingdom of Sithras

The Kingdom of Sithras is a country in central and southwestern Athelonesia. Sithras' northern border lies along the Marsh of Delcimbre, while its southern border is the Shatterfang Peaks that separate it from the Herrenhorn Principalities. Sithras' western border is the Ioneisean Sea, while its eastern border is the Godsholme Mountains. Its capital is Rivvek.

History

The Exarchs' War

The Andorian Empire dissolved with the assassination of Andorias XXIV in 631 PR. This was complicated by his lack of legitimate heirs and intrigue among its provincial lords, which ignited into open warfare as they vied for sole dominion over the empire.

Lysidian, the exarch of Waymoot, proved to be the leading contender until his assassination at the hands of Maldwyn, his own senior advisor. Lysidian's three surviving sons moved against his assassin. Fearing his own death, however, Maldwyn fled the province.

Maldwyn retreated to the province of Sithras, where he "gained the trust" of the exarch, reputedly through dark sorcery. Regardless, the exarch was undoubtedly murdered shortly thereafter, gaining political and military control over the province by magically taking the previous exarch's identity.

With the Sithran province, he refocused his efforts against Waymoot. Lysidian's sons were now at odds, and Maldwyn methodically worked behind the scenes to keep them that way. When the time was right, he ousted the brothers and united the two provinces, founding Sithras in 650 PR.

The Velashaar Crisis

The events leading up to the First Velashaar Crisis (809-813 PR) originated in 782 PR, when the Velashaar Horde, a confederation of orcs, ogres, and giants, rampaged from the Khalkist Mountains into eastern Nymorra, only to be driven south into Sithras by King Caswallon II in 798 PR.

The horde rampaged through the Sithran countryside for roughly a decade before amassing a force that laid siege to Sithras City in spring 809 PR. The siege ended in a crushing defeat, revealing House Maldwyn's growing ineffectiveness.

Orsinicus, the patriarch of House Maldwyn, and his entourage abandoned the city before the siege began, leaving the defenders and the populace to the brutal mercies of the horde. Disgraced, he would later save some face by liberating the city by early 810 PR. However, there would be several battles and skirmishes until 813 PR, when Orsinicus and his forces drove the horde back to their mountainous lairs.

The Second Velashaar Crisis (851-867 PR) began with a resurgence of the horde's incursions from the Khalkist Mountains in the 840s. By early 851, a Rivvek noble, Othrick, called the nobles together, presenting the Pact of Sithras before the Kingsreach. The councilors granted Othrick supreme military authority over the kingdom's armies, displacing the Maldwyn ruler, Orsinicus. Othrick allied Sithras with the kingdoms of Nymorra and Neumenia, leading to their victory at the Battle of Velashaar Valley.

Neumeni Wars

The Neumeni Wars (888-903 PR) were a series of military campaigns between Sithras and the Kingdom of Neumenia.

At the Kingsreach of 858 PR, Sithras swore to refrain from intruding upon Neumeni territory, particularly sacred ground. Adventuring bands from Sithras discovered precious ore in the late 870s, drawing others to the region. These incursions desecrated Skyhold, a valley sacred to the Neumeni as a burial place for their dead, and led to skirmishes with the Neumeni.

As these infractions increased in frequency and severity, the Neumeni King Varsygx brought the full fury of their people against the Sithrans. Unfortunately, this effort was for naught, ending in his defeat, the capture of his family, and forced surrender. Sithras moved to enslave the Neumeni and annexed much of their territory to build their mines.

Sithran Interregnum

The Sithran Interregnum (944-947 PR) began with the assassination of High King Zandor I in 944 PR. Campaigning in Nymorra since 935 PR, Zandor was largely unaware of House Maldwyn's machinations until the early 940s. Zandor returned to Sithras to face the rebels, where he was slain in Sithras City by a "stray arrow" during a skirmish with rebel factions based in the city of Camlen. Having no direct heirs, House Maldwyn attempted to use the chaos to manipulate the Kingsreach into installing one of their house members as regent. Maldwyn's involvement in Zandor's assassination was later uncovered, and Othrick II, a member of House Othrick, was chosen as its new monarch in 952 PR.

Neumeni Uprising

The Neumeni Uprising (1124-1129 PR) was built from resentment over Sithras' destruction of the Neumeni kingdom and the brutal enslavement of their people.

In 1124 PR, the tiefling Dorenti chieftain Skyorl Hammerfang led a surprise invasion into Waymoot, leading to the acquisition of the eastern portion of the province, followed by Skyorl personally slaying High King Zandor II at the Battle of Camlen in 1129 PR.

Sithras' forces retook some surrounding territory, but most remained under Neumeni control.

Government

See the article High Kings of Sithras.

Since the realm's founding, politics in Sithras has centered upon the High King and his court. Until 848 PR, the High King was a member of House Maldwyn, but since Arrengar's reign, the High King has come from House Othrick, which has retained control since wresting power from House Maldwyn in 877 PR. Currently, Othrick IV rules Sithras, with his heir, Prince Trebor, his eldest son.

Sithras also has a council made up of the noble houses. Chief among these is House Maldwyn, which controls much of eastern Sithras and rivals House Othrick. The rivalry between the two houses has increased over the years, with its lowest point occurring during the Sithran Interregnum. A member of House Maldwyn orchestrated the assassination of Zandor I. However, authorities could not link the individual to the family, and most escaped persecution, saving the house from extinction.

Religion

Rolayan worship dominates amongst the nobility and government, with most adherents being lawful and neutral in alignment. Merchants and scholars worship Amarra, while artisans and smiths worship her twin Amarras.

Military

Sithras's military consists of recognized knightly orders, most prominently the Order of Saint Othrick, followed by the Phyrangian Order.

Population

The population of the Kingdom of Sithras is broken down as follows.

Race	Percentage
Humans	69%
Dragonborn	11%
Orcs	8%
Elves	7%
Dwarves	4%
Other	1%
Total	581,614

Landmarks

Waymoot

The region known as Waymoot is the territory once considered the heartland of the Andorian province of Waymoot.

Forests

• Witherfell Forest: The Witherfell Forest is infamous for being the home of a glabrezu known as Bellenect, who leads a small tribe of murderous barbarians that ruthlessly hunt, kill, and consume any trespassers they capture.
• Gloomglen, The: The Gloomglen is known to be the base of a coven of hags led by Leuthice, a notorious green hag and former Dorenti shamaness. After committing a grievous crime against a powerful chieftain centuries ago, she and her coven fled to the Gloomglen.

Bodies of Water

• Immur River: This river dominates the heart of the Valley of Velashaar and is fed by the numerous rivers that snake from the Dragonflame Mountains in the west and the Godsholme Peaks in the east. Centuries before the coming of the Great Orc Horde, the first Velanni refugees from Ioneisea under the leadership of the archmage Immur arrived here, creating the settlement of Saerduth, which became a bastion of learning and magic. It was thought to have been overrun in the third century by the overwhelming numbers of the horde.
• Sorval River:

Settlements

• Clearwinter (Pop. 300): A mining village in northeastern Sithras.
• Rivvek (Pop. 53,000): Rivvek, the capital of Sithras, is a fortified port city at the mouth of the Sorval River. High King Othrick IV and his court call the city home. The Order of Tyrix maintains a stronghold in the city, second to the fortress of Eastgate. Sithras' navy is also stationed within the town.

Mountains

• Godsholme Mountains: The Godsholme Mountains dominate eastern Waymoot. Mines heavily dot the foothills. The ore barons jealously guard their holdings. Thus, mercenaries are quite common.
• Shatterfang Peaks: The Shatterfangs serve as the southern border between Sithras and the Harrenhorn Peninsula. Legend has it that long ago, two mighty dragons fought in the skies above, with the loser crashing heavily into the mountainside. The dwarven city of Citadel Abennathor, the capital of the League of the Adamantine Throne, lies deep below these mountains.

Points of Interest

• Skyhold: These foothills, sacred to the Dorenti, refer to an area in the northeastern expanse of the Shatterfang Mountains. Customarily, they buried their dead here, leaving the area primarily untouched. When Sithras defeated them in 903 PR, they were driven out in the following decades, and the lands were desecrated.

Ruins

• Camlen: Lying along the Sorval River, Camlen was the seat of power for the Kingdom of Phyrangia and formerly the capital of a minor kingdom of the same name as the aforementioned city. Recently, Skyorl Hammerfang claimed the city and is using it as a military encampment.
• Sithras City: Sithras City was the former capital of the kingdom during the rule of House Maldwyn. After the Sithran Interregnum concluded, power had been transferred to the city of Rivvek. However, House Maldwyn maintains its influence over Sithras and rivals House Othrick. In the early days, the city was known for its vast library dedicated to the fraternal twin gods Amarras and Amarra, gods of invention and magic, respectively. Suetonia, a tiefling high priestess of Amarra and a noted scholar of history, runs the library.

Nymorran Estates

The region known as the Nymorran Estates is the territory once considered a part of the Kingdom of Nymorra.

Estates

• Kalin's Tower: This peaceful tower house, with a sparse yet semi-exotic garden, is home to the benevolent archmage Kalin and his granddaughter Mira, whom he adopted after her father was executed for murder and banditry. In the hopes of discouraging Mira from such a fate, Kalin has made her his apprentice.
• Kosari's Tower: Within a day's ride south of Caldunoin, this expansive stone tower was home to the plane-walking archmage Kosari, who mysteriously disappeared around 1100 PR. His disappearance has long been suspected to have resulted from offending a powerful extraplanar entity. Most avoid the tower, believing that hostile planar creatures inhabit the tower. Adventurers report that the creatures encountered seem to be searching for something.

Bodies of Water

• Sarbech River: The Nymorran estates grew along this river.

Ruins

• Idlecross (Pop. 200): A farming village under House Strongheart's control.
• Stormweavers Bastion: A relic from the early days of Caldunoin, this derelict castle is known to have been inhabited by cultists of the primordial known as The Fell Storm. After the cultists departed, bandits and outlaws often use the castle as a temporary hideaway. The fortress can be found northeast of Caldunoin, overlooking the Marsh of Delcimbre.

Settlements

• Caldunoin (Pop. 25,000): The former capital of the Kingdom of Nymorra, Caldunoin is the traditional seat of power for House Bedewyr and the subordinate noble houses of Wynne, Breswick, and Strongheart. Kendrick Bedewyr, the patriarch of House Bedewyr, serves as the Grand Duke of Caldunoin. The city is home to the Deepingwood Enclave, one of the largest and most well-known elven enclaves in Athelonesia. The Deepingwood Enclave elves are known as shrewd merchants and deal-brokers, closely allied with House Bedewyr and led by Evara Moongrove, who is rumored to be Kendrick's lover.
• Shornhold (Pop. 1100): Shornhold is a fortified burg under the control of House Strongheart. Besides the one they must maintain in Caldunoin, House Strongheart has its family estate here.