The Imperial Tsardom of Korolevia

The Imperial Tsardom of Korolevia is a powerful island realm north of Alandr and east of Vraya. Its control of the Bastard's Channel gives Korolevia a vital role in the trade between Funanori and the realms to the west. The Tsardom is one of two realms maintaining permanent settlements on Siresia, the frozen continent to the north. The hardy folk of Korolevia withstand harsh, dark winters and temperate, sunny summers. Between Winter's Dawn and Thaw, the northern half of Korolevia (and all its Siresian towns) is bathed in darkness. The sun never rises and the eclipses grow darker. In the summer, the monthly eclipses are the land's only reprieve from the sun. This environment has made a fundamental impact on the culture in Korolevia. The people there (mostly dwarves) are slow to make friends but quick to keep them. The bonds of friendship in the Tsardom are the lifeblood of the realm; here it is not about what you know but who you know. Outsiders have a hard time acclimating and assimilating with native Korolevians, but once they do, they are accepted but always referred to as klekoz juso (outsider brother), or klekoz mnir (outsider sister). The Tsardom of Korolevia has long desired to spread beyond its current borders. These ambitions are not secret. At one time, Katherine the Tsarina of Korolevia held court in Alandr, the world's most powerful realm. Akim Snowborn, the half-orc, half-dwarf son of Raldar II and Natasha the Tsarina (Katherine the Tsarina’s daughter) ruled as Okkrgoth's Kaiser from 821 to 882 YGP. (His rule was deeply unpopular, however, and many Okkrgothians continue to distrust the Korolevians to this day.) The Tsars of Korolevia remain intimately involved in the politics of their continental neighbors, especially those of Alandr and Okkrgoth. In 1101 YGP, Tsar Razkazov Milomir Valerianovich participated in the dismantling of the Sultanate of Taqqadiya. Korolevia was founded in 98 YGP by His Majesty, Tsar Vorodimir I. According to the (frequently revised) official history of Korolevia, Tsar Vorodimir I sailed to Korolevia with a small party of nobles from Bereyev, Siresia. He founded the port of Khipol and ruled from there for twenty years before his passing. Nationalistic Korolevians make an annual pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Tsar to pay their respects. (Few dare enter the tomb, however. It once housed thousands of corpses as the resting place for Tsardom's nobility. An incident on the 11th of Harvest, 266 YGP, known as The Rising, caused the dead in the tomb to return in undeath.) The tsars of Korolevia are:

Vorodimir I (98-118 YGP) - First Tsar of Korolevia, founded the port city of Khipol and was buried in the Tomb of the Tsar, born 22 YGP
Aldarov I (150-275 YGP) - Laid down the Aldaric Code, a set of laws that governs all ancestries in the tsardom equally, born 57 YGP
Boris I (275-340 YGP) - Expanded the tsardom's territory to include all of Korolevia except for the Kudnikov Peninsula, born 185 YGP
Constantine I (340-450 YGP) - Established the first royal library, promoting literacy and knowledge, conquered the Kudnikov Peninsula, born 250 YGP
Dmitri I (450-560 YGP) - Built the Velikhan Military & Naval Academy in Angarod, a marvel of gothic architecture, born 317 YGP
Elena I (560-670 YGP) - Initiated trade agreements with Funanori, Alandr, and Okkrgoth, enriching the tsardom's economy, born 365 YGP
Aldarov II (670-721 YGP) - Strengthened the navy, securing the kingdom's dominance over the seas surrounding Korolevia, especially the Siren Sea, born 466 YGP
Ivan I (721-801 YGP) - Founded the Imperial Bureau of Transportation, first married to Elena Daranova (622-737 YGP), then married to Katherine the Tsarina (742-801 YGP) until divorcing and exiling her in 767 YGP, born 586 YGP
Katarina I (801-870 YGP) - Founded the Imperial Observatory, advancing the realm's understanding of astronomy and aiding its ships in circumnavigation, established the Imperial Guard, born 696 YGP
Constantine II (870-1011 YGP) - Consolidated control of the Bight of Korolev, establishing strategic outposts on the numerous islands that fill the icy water between Korolevia and Siresia, born 755 YGP
Razkazov I (1011-present YGP) - Also called the Scaled Tsar because of his dragonkin bloodline, rumored to breed dragons contrary to international convention, born 888 YGP