Regions of Enelis
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Gothic Baronies of Kalrua
Gothic Militaristic Nation of Diabolic Order.
Banner: Black hand on a blood-red flag with black stripes.
Capital: Krogna (24,560)
Notable Settlements: Strassberg (19,340), Solca (16,240), Adea(14,820), Boru (12,120), Dracea (9,530), Carvan (8,540), Toldavan (5,650), and many smaller market towns and scattered villages.
Ruler: Bael the Infernal Tyrant
Government: Confederacy of individual baronies (each barony is ruled by a Baron).
Military: Strong. Holds 152 defensive fortifications. Strong navy.
Languages: Toldan, Nomen (Common).
Religion: Cult of Bael, Eastern Pantheon (secretly).
Primary Exports: Salted Pork, Pigs, Cattle, Grain, Mercenaries.
Detailed Map of Southeastern Coasts
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History
During the days of the Nomen Empire, the region of Kalrua had always been a contentious area. The Strass region (the valley between the Kolomna Hills and Kayazan Hills around modern Strassberg) became a prominent bed-basket for the Empire. However, the native Toldan people were quite antagonistic to imperial rule. The region had frequent rebellions and attempts for freedom. In the years after the fall of the Empire, the Toldan people returned to strife and chaos, governed by various warlords and local chieftains that engaged in constant warfare over control of the region.
In the War of the Tattered Banners (136 G.R.), the regions of Kalrua was in constant warfare for centuries. But in the end, powerful warlords were able to gain fealty of local leaders, and eventually powerful regional baronies formed. These Barons managed to control regions of Kalrua under their rule, as they still battled with each for domination of Kalrua. In 378 G.R., fighting among these regional Barons ceased as they agreed to form a united confederacy to protect their interests from outside forces (Verland, Astonia). However, much like Verland, these Barons still engaged in a shadow-war, using assassins, thieves, and mercenaries to strike against one another.
Everything in Kalrua changed in 602 G.R., when the devil-lord Bael came to Enelis in the small barony of Dracea. The Baron of Dracea was able to utilize Bael’s power to amass a fanatical army, and began conquering its neighboring regions. The other Barons of Kalrua grew fearful of this devilish power and signed on to a treaty to unite Kalrua under Bael’s banner. Kalrua became a diabolic hierarchy, with Bael as the supreme living-god and the Barons as his vassals.
The culture of Kalrua was drastically transformed into a regimented, militaristic autocracy, where everyone gathered twice a day to worship at the altar of Bael, their living-god. Priests of Bael took over every aspect of people’s lives and the worship of other gods was forbidden. Devils began to appear in everyday life and the diabolic order of Hell was imposed on the Kalruans. The nation grew in economic and militaristic power. However, Bael’s priests made it clear that Kalrua was a place only for humans, as only humans could inherit the kingdom of Bael. They drove out the other ancestries and forced any non-human visitors to wear badges to clearly designate their ‘inferior’ status.
Bael’s ambition to dominate all of Enelis led to the War of the Devils in 625 G.R., where Kalrua tried to conquer southern Verland and successfully captured much of that nation. However, it was also engaged in a covert war with Loyolla and the wild elves of the Aulathunmar Valley. The war became particularly dangerous in 643 G.R. when the Baron of Rovania released an army of undead. The city of Brindonford was sieged as open warfare came to Loyolla as well.
In the end, Astonia, Verland, and Loyolla formed a joint front and defeated Kalrua, ending the war. The Kalruan economy was in shambles, such that the Barons removed the badge-restriction in its port and trade cities, trying to draw in trade. Bael was never seen on the war front, and many Barons began to question the god’s existence. Thus Bael’s influence was greatly reduced and power in Kalrua was returning to the Barons. However, the pervasiveness of Bael’s religion had indoctrinated generations of children, so the worship of Bael remains ever-prominent in the country.
Government
Kalrua is a feudalist regime. Officially, Bael is the Supreme Tyrant of Kalrua. However, in practice the confederacy of Barons hold the true power in their individual regions. With the possible absence of the living-god, the regional Barons have begun to show some autonomy in governing their regions. But the hierarchy of Hell is the bureaucratic structure used to govern each Barony. The Baron is the regional lord, with Counts ruling over the underlying counties, and local lords (Burghers) rule over individual manors. The Cult of Bael still controls many plots of land throughout the nation, with churches and abbeys devoted to the devil-lord. The feudalism of Kalrua is quite oppressive, and the serfs cannot leave their manors and are bound in service to their lord. Those living in the cities have more freedom, but still live under the regimented order of the local Burgher.
Military
The military of Kalrua is rather strong. It consists mostly of light and heavy infantry, supported by devils and cultists who wield the magic of Bael. The people of Kalrua are pressed into obligatory military service and able-bodied men must serve at least 5 years in service to their local Burgher. Each Baron controls their own military, used mostly for defense. However, each Baron also employs a great host of mercenaries that are used to engage in shadow-wars with their neighbors.
Economy
The economy of Kalrua has suffered greatly since the War of the Devils. However, as the Barons loosen some of their cultural restrictions, the economy has slowly begun to recover. The lands of Kalrua have long been known for producing some of the best salted pork and sausages on the eastern coasts. They also sell much livestock: pigs, goats, and cattle. Grain fields are quite prominent in the Strass region and Kalruan grains and beers flow out to the wider world. Mercenaries are also quite common in Kalrua as they look for contracts with local Burghers, Counts, or Barons.
Culture
The people of Kalrua live in a very regimented society governed by the laws of Hell itself. The church of Bael still dominates people’s lives. The tenets of Hell tell people when to work, when to worship, and when to socialize. Every aspect of their lives are organized and regimented in a supreme order. Even though Bael’s control over the Baronies has waned, the cultural domination of the religion is absolute. Most Kalruans do not find issue with the devils in their lives. They see the regimented order of Hell as a way to tame the chaos of society. They often point to the fact that crime and murder is quite rare in Kalrua and that the hierarchy of Hell has clearly defined opportunities for advancement that do not exist in other societies. Few Kalruans see the larger sinister nature of the religion and are quick to rationalize the inherit racism towards non-humans, as humans are meant to “inherit the Kingdom of Bael”.
People from Kalrua tend to be somewhat fanatical and devoted to a cause or belief. They tend to be very regimented and organized and find any type of disorder or chaos untenable. They also typically have trouble understanding concepts of free will and unorganized exploration, preferring to have clearly defined goals laid out for them.
Adventure
There is much adventure to be had in Kalrua. There is a war between the racist humans of Dracea and the elves of the Aulathunmar Valley, as the elves try to defend their ancient homeland from human expansionism. There is intrigue and shadow-wars between the barons, always looking to hire mercenaries to aid them in their covert efforts. There are strange gothic monstrosities in the wild regions, and undead and devils working within society. For adventurers looking for a campaign of gothic horror, Kalrua is the place to find it.