Rhydien (/Ri-dee-an/)
History and Government
Rhydien is the homeland of the Rhyders, an ancient folk of Pharos who have managed to remain without formal settlement. The High Elves of Delos'Nordan once attempted to unify the Rhyders in their The Hillside Campaign, but their attempts fell short due to these horse-riding peoples' mobility and martial efficiency. When threatened, the disparate Rhyder tribes are quite quick to come together, and the events of this war even brought about the creation of the Horse-Marshals, which embody Rhydien's only formal government. The Horse-Marshals encompass all Rhyder tribes, each of which has one, and each of which cycles through the position of High Horse-Marshal every year. Should a crisis befall the clans, the present High Horse-Marshal shall retain their post as long as necessary. The title is largely ceremonial; individual Horse-Marshals are not required to obey the one who holds it, and it exists purely for the purposes of coordination. Should a significant amount of Horse-Marshals rebel, even in a time of crisis, the present High Horse-Marshal would step aside, as it becomes clear he cannot maintain the purpose of his position and unite his people. As might have been guessed by now, horses are the lifeblood of the nomadic Rhyders; they are taught to ride them at a young age, and they travel the hills of their homeland for the rest of their lives, hunting for survival and trading for any other goods they may need. As of late, these goods primarily encompass gems and jewelry, which the Rhyders seem especially fond of, though they have little love for boring metals like gold and silver. To outsiders, the Rhyders are a friendly people, though they are quick to claim what is theirs. When the tide of refugees came from the Kcalsbury Continent, Rhyders aided them in settling the lowlands of Nothgard and Southmoor, but were quick to disrupt any attempts of settlement upon their lands. More recently, this disposition has seen some change, as those same nations have begun campaigns against the Rhyders' brethren peoples, especially the Hill-Wigs in Southmoor. Many Rhyders still follow the Old Faith, though an increasing amount have adapted to the Prime Canon, albeit with heavy flavorings of their own clan's religious traditions. They have a fondness for druids and witchery, as well as aspects of the occult, which might frighten outsiders or earn them the label of heretics. Most Rhydiens worship Rhacaul, one of the Ones Around which is typically symbolized as an intelligent horse, with two horns upon his head.Cities
Rhydien has no permanent settlements, although some Rhyders have settled down to more sedentary lifestyles in small farming communities. These Rhyders still typically hunt and wander, but frequently return to their family homes, which are constantly tended by a member of the family, on a sort of cycle. Rhyder clans do tend to have places where they prefer to congregate and huddle at certain times of year, and these can grow to number in the thousands for especially large tribes. These places are well-known to foreign merchants, and they make it a habit to visit and trade, knowing the Rhyders are eager to give up rare furs and trinkets in exchange for shiny goods and metal weapons.Geography
The lands of Rhydien are not particularly notable, and appear largely as an endless sprawl of rolling hills, where fauna and stranger critters may lie around any crest. As in the rest of the Minstrel Kingdoms, Fae are prominent here, but they take on a much less dangerous facade, and often interact positively with the Rhyder peoples. The western lands of Rhydien merge with the Dragon's Mountains, and the Rhyders typically stay away from these, as their horses have a much harder time navigating the rockier lands. Still, they are quite a superstitious people, and rumors abound about dark and mysterious secrets hidden in the caverns and valleys here. The Hyrwith Creek is the primary source of water in Rhydien, a narrow but fast-flowing creek that blends into the greater Aily River. The creek is fueled by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. Frequent rains supplement the water supply, as they typically fill up the "hill-bowls," the troughs of close hills, and are purified in steam huts that litter the land, free for any passer-by's use. Steam huts are large buildings, which the water is brought to, and where it is burned over a large pit ;any visitor who takes is expected to refill if the weather allows it.Resources
Rhydien exports few resources, though its horses and other mounts and pack animals are desired all throughout the world. The people are largely self-subsistent, and what they don't have they can trade extra animals or furs for. Rhyder jerky is also a famous delicacy, especially among the sea-faring folk of Barisea, as it is higher in quality than standard jerky and can survive just as long upon a boat. The hills of Rhydien do hide vast mineral wealth, which only grows more abundant closer to the Dragon's Mountains. This is entirely untapped, as the Rhyders care little for it and will not allow outsiders access. In recent years, the Rhyders have slowly been settling down to cultivate crops and farms. They primarily do this within the western territories of The Vale, where they primarily plant almonds and sage.Ethnicities
The primary tribe within Rhydien are the Rhyders, who give the region its name. Rhydien has, however, become somewhat of a safe refuge for other dying tribes, from the neighboring Hill-Wigs to the Cyrs and Myds. These peoples are typically welcomed to settle Rhydien's lands, so long as they appoint a Horse-Marshal and follow the Rhyders' loose organization.Diplomacy
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"Land of Horse and Rider"
Adjectives: Rhyder
National Animal: Horse
National Instrument: Dulcimer
Ethnicities: Rhyders, Hill-Wigs, Myds, Cyrs
Languages: Human Common (Pharosian Gultic), West Old-Tongue (Rhyder and Wig), East Old-Tongue (Myddish and Cyrrish)
Capital: None
Ruler: High Horse-Marshal Gravius Deonyc
Government: Loose Military Hierarchy
Hallmarks: Adherence to the Old Faith, horses and nomadism, fierce independence, humanitarianism
Characteristics: Free, friendly, uncompromising, humorous
National Animal: Horse
National Instrument: Dulcimer
Ethnicities: Rhyders, Hill-Wigs, Myds, Cyrs
Languages: Human Common (Pharosian Gultic), West Old-Tongue (Rhyder and Wig), East Old-Tongue (Myddish and Cyrrish)
Capital: None
Ruler: High Horse-Marshal Gravius Deonyc
Government: Loose Military Hierarchy
Hallmarks: Adherence to the Old Faith, horses and nomadism, fierce independence, humanitarianism
Characteristics: Free, friendly, uncompromising, humorous