The Kingdom of Cadros

The God-King's Domain

CobaltDM - August 22, 2022

The Kingdom of Cadros is based in the northwestern region of the continent of Atheles.

Demographics

The Kingdom of Cadros is densely populated primarily by Dwarves. It has a large Gnome population as well, though they are largely considered inferior to the Dwarves. Economically speaking, much of the gold is centered around the Cadrosian armies. Laborers and skilled craftsmen who work to support the war machine find themselves better off than their more peace-minded neighbors.

Government

The government can be described as a theocratic monarchy. Before the Silence, Cadros himself ruled the Kingdom absolutely, using his Dwarves and Gnomes as tools to expand his regime. Following his disappearance, there was anarchy for over a decade, and the Kingdom largely fell apart. Since, a new King has taken the throne, claiming to be Cadros in mortal form after defeating an unknown assailant that murdered the others in the Eleven. This new "Cadros" rules strictly and cautiously as he works to rebuild the Kingdom.

Defences

Despite being weakened by its near-collapse after the Silence, the Kingdom of Cadros has largely recovered its military power and has powerful defenses despite not having much of a standing army. The stronghold cities of Munkata and Detta are built underground within the massive Silvercrown Mountains. The winding paths leading up to the cities require hardy hikers and a slow pace in order to be reachable, making them virtually impossible to siege. To the south, Castle Dwarves have captured and held the Athelesian city of Tauran, renamed to Cadrosil, for centuries. They have fortified it with three sets of walls and powerful anti-siege defenses in the form of ballistae and other engines of war.

Industry & Trade

The Kingdom of Cadros has focused on being self-sufficient for centuries and does not rely on imports to keep itself running. The land north of Cadrosil makes for decent farmland, despite the tough winters, and the Cave Dwarves have revolutionized methods of underground farming to help provide for the populace. Bountiful mines and quarries provide the raw materials needed for all construction, and the carefully managed White Forest gives the wood necessary to construct homes on the surface world.
Lacking any solid contact with outside civilizations due to the Athelesian Empire's suffocating diplomatic blockades, the Kingdom of Cadros has almost no known exports, although there are some ships who brave the Ocean of Mists to the northeast to carry shipments of fine stone or precious metals to the rest of the world.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is one of the shining prides of the Kingdom of Cadros. Their roads, bridges, walls, sewers, and public buildings are expertly made and perfectly maintained. Additionally, the Kingdom's mines and quarries are masterfully constructed to support stability and efficiency, making it a desirable location for miners around the world to work.

History

The Kingdom of Cadros was founded at the end of the 4th century AC. With leadership from its namesake God, it quickly became the largest military threat in Mytkora and expanded its reach to encompass much of the continent of Atheles by the end of the 6th century. From there, Cadros spread his reach south into Isatis, conquering the western half of the land. Eventually reaching a stalemate with what remained of the Empire, Cadros focused inward and began building up his infrastructure, defenses, and armies for his next campaign.
His Second War pushed deep into Isatis and the still-developing Confederacy, easily annexing the entire western half of the continent by the 12th century AC. Again, he reached a stalemate and dedicated more time to building up his territory, constructing the great fortress cities of Elen Tirion and Elen Ohirus. His dominion was disliked by the Elves, Orcs, and other inhabitants of Isatis, but was despised by the Barrowmen. Coordinated, covert attacks were carried out against supply lines and villages all across the Isatisian territory, causing much of the population to retreat back into the cities and caves.
As Cadros was preparing for a third campaign, the Silence set in and he disappeared entirely. Chaos and anarchy ensued, especially in the south. His loose grip over the Isatisian cities crumbled and the Confederacy reestablished its rule. The Athelesian Empire siezed the opportunity to retake as much land as they could. After 15 years of decay, the new king took control and united what little remained of the former Kingdom, but was forced into isolation in the northwest corner of Atheles. This is where they remain, though rumor says plans of a third campaign are still in the works deep in the mountains.

Architecture

Much like its neighbor, The Kingdom of Cadros prioritizes function over form when designing buildings. Stone is the primary resource in the mountains, and thus nearly all of the structures within the caves and subterranean cities are made of stone. This is not to say that they do not have some examples of opulence. Ornate carvings and beautiful stonework decorate some of the wealthier houses. Perhaps the greatest example is the God-King's Palace in Detta. It is a gargantuan feat of masonry carved into the largest mountain of the Silvercrown range. 
Apart from stone, some Hill Dwarves that remain use wood to construct circular huts with thatched roofs. Castle Dwarves also build surface houses, though they primarily use stone like their underground cousins.

Founding Date

399 AC

Population

Around 1 million

Inhabitant Demonym

Cadrosian