Arcreach
As you stand at the edge of fate, your mind wanders to simpler times; to the Snow White vistas and towering peaks. To a city beset on all sides. To buildings that stretch the horizons, reaching heavensward. To the clamorous streets and endless forges. To its iron-willed people, and their daily fight for survival. To the sounds of laughter and chatter, to crying and screaming. To your loved ones. This was Arcreach, and this was your home.
Intro to the A Frozen Requiem campaign.
Structure
House Highwind
Arcreach is ruled by the Noble House Highwind for the past several centuries, beginning with the rule of King Leandre I. Changes in rule occur every 10 years, with some lasting longer than others due to varying circumstances. It was not until the rule of King Leandre IV that this system changed, as the young ruler perished in his ambitious attempt at conquering the Midnight Star. Since then, Lord Cain - who had previously abdicated the throne to his son 4 years prior - was forced to take the reins of the throne while the young Prince Cirran is preparing to take the crown in 2 years. However, the Faustian Crisis had revealed that Prince Cirran harbored ambitions to succeed his father and claim the role of King by invoking the powers of Primarch, an ancient God of Mortalkind, with the help of powerful World Anchors. Cirran was defeated by his once-retainers, and Lord Cain - now awake and revealed to be the current incarnation of Primarch - takes the throne. Arcreach High Council
Lord Cain's trusted 10 individuals who have each accomplished many feats and achievements. Representatives include illustrious figures such as Lord Caius and Lord Fane, but also include members from smaller guilds of commerce. However, the recent Faustian Crisis had revealed an insidious plot: a majority of the Council was in league with Faust, an organization headed by the terrorists Stalk and the Revenant who aimed to weaponize Nebula Gas derived from Midnight Shards and launch a military offensive against the rest of Muria. As the fighting subsided, the few surviving members of the council were detained and tried in Lord Wilkins' court. In its place is a new council, shrunken in size but dedicated to the heroes of the Faustian Crisis consisting of Cirran's former retainers, an Izeran Warforged General, a former Faust researcher, Lord Commander Kreave and one of Primarch's loyal Celestials.
Arcreach is ruled by the Noble House Highwind for the past several centuries, beginning with the rule of King Leandre I. Changes in rule occur every 10 years, with some lasting longer than others due to varying circumstances. It was not until the rule of King Leandre IV that this system changed, as the young ruler perished in his ambitious attempt at conquering the Midnight Star. Since then, Lord Cain - who had previously abdicated the throne to his son 4 years prior - was forced to take the reins of the throne while the young Prince Cirran is preparing to take the crown in 2 years. However, the Faustian Crisis had revealed that Prince Cirran harbored ambitions to succeed his father and claim the role of King by invoking the powers of Primarch, an ancient God of Mortalkind, with the help of powerful World Anchors. Cirran was defeated by his once-retainers, and Lord Cain - now awake and revealed to be the current incarnation of Primarch - takes the throne. Arcreach High Council
Lord Cain's trusted 10 individuals who have each accomplished many feats and achievements. Representatives include illustrious figures such as Lord Caius and Lord Fane, but also include members from smaller guilds of commerce. However, the recent Faustian Crisis had revealed an insidious plot: a majority of the Council was in league with Faust, an organization headed by the terrorists Stalk and the Revenant who aimed to weaponize Nebula Gas derived from Midnight Shards and launch a military offensive against the rest of Muria. As the fighting subsided, the few surviving members of the council were detained and tried in Lord Wilkins' court. In its place is a new council, shrunken in size but dedicated to the heroes of the Faustian Crisis consisting of Cirran's former retainers, an Izeran Warforged General, a former Faust researcher, Lord Commander Kreave and one of Primarch's loyal Celestials.
Culture
Once, Arcreach may have been a city rich in its culture. But the Midnight Star offers no such reprieve. Craftsmen hone their talents to churn out weapons to defend the city whereas artists find themselves unwelcome by the people beyond the Church and the nobility. Bards lend their skills to supporting the war front, though they occasionally help soothe the wounded and the scarred. Nevertheless, this does not mean Arcreach is left without their own unique culture.
Church of the Six
A legacy of the times before the Midnight Crisis, the church is an overarching organization melded into the society at large. Due to the destruction wrought by the Midnight Star, the city began lost their faith in most of the greater pantheon, worshiping only 6 most keenly tied to the population. The Church has since gone to play an important role in maintaining order in the city, hosting celebrations, feeding the army and tending to the poor and the homeless. Church rhetoric is centered on maintaining vigilance over every aspect of an individual's life and to find honor in their sacrifice. Recent times have seen to radical changes to the church, including allowing open worship of non-patron deities, restructuring of the church hierarchy and limiting the church's influence in state matters. The Military Junta
Though power lies in the nobles, the military is an all-encompassing force in Arcreach society as well. Arcreach is very much a city with a deeply-rooted military culture. All Arcreach citizens are expected to be at least familiar with the sword and responsive to the call to arms in the event of certain circumstances. Children are enrolled in military academies regardless of background, and those without a home are typically granted shelter in the barracks if not taken under the church's wing. As such, Arcreach citizens tend to be proud of their martial prowess and often boast their strength when away from the city proper. Nevertheless, this hardened environment instills loyalty among the citizens, and even those who stray far from the state often yearn to come back home and do their solemn duty. Recent times have changed some dynamics, however; Cirran's call to arms resounded strongly throughout the land, and the Arcreach army prepares for war against Izera. The Midnight Star
The cataclysmic descent of the Midnight Star was highly traumatic to most of Arcreach's citizens, and is still fresh in their memory. The incident has forced most of her people hardened and disciplined. The influences of the noble houses, military and church is tied together by the notion that they are duty-bound to stave off the Midnight Star's reach while the people of Muria find a cure to its corruption. However, many are beginning to grow weary at their sacrifices, questioning the rest of the land's commitment to tackling the star's reach. As such, there is a noticeable rift between the people of Arcreach - and the people of the Northlands in general - with the people of the Midlands and Frontiers. In the Footsteps of Man
The Faustian Crisis had revealed that Arcreach has a long, bloody heritage dating back to the Primal Ages, when the world was yet ruled by the Primal Gods. Lord Cain is the current incarnation of Primarch, an ancient supreme God of Mortalkind who rose up during the Primal Ages to fight back against those tyrannical Gods to secure freedom and peace for all mortalkind. Though he once held near-omnipotence and rule over the world, he relinquished his powers in an Accord with Ouroboros the Everwyrm, and brokered a deal securing mortalkind's release from the Gods. He had since watched over the world in incarnations - beginning as the First King of Migdal Bavel the First City, until now as the Lord of Arcreach. This knowledge was made common across the city in the wake of the crisis, to the disbelief and consternation of many, but in the three months since most have begun to accept it as fact. It certainly helps that the Celestial loyalists of Primarch, summoned after Cirran attempted Apotheosis during the crisis, remained to help rebuild and reinforce the city in preparation for the war against Izera.
A legacy of the times before the Midnight Crisis, the church is an overarching organization melded into the society at large. Due to the destruction wrought by the Midnight Star, the city began lost their faith in most of the greater pantheon, worshiping only 6 most keenly tied to the population. The Church has since gone to play an important role in maintaining order in the city, hosting celebrations, feeding the army and tending to the poor and the homeless. Church rhetoric is centered on maintaining vigilance over every aspect of an individual's life and to find honor in their sacrifice. Recent times have seen to radical changes to the church, including allowing open worship of non-patron deities, restructuring of the church hierarchy and limiting the church's influence in state matters. The Military Junta
Though power lies in the nobles, the military is an all-encompassing force in Arcreach society as well. Arcreach is very much a city with a deeply-rooted military culture. All Arcreach citizens are expected to be at least familiar with the sword and responsive to the call to arms in the event of certain circumstances. Children are enrolled in military academies regardless of background, and those without a home are typically granted shelter in the barracks if not taken under the church's wing. As such, Arcreach citizens tend to be proud of their martial prowess and often boast their strength when away from the city proper. Nevertheless, this hardened environment instills loyalty among the citizens, and even those who stray far from the state often yearn to come back home and do their solemn duty. Recent times have changed some dynamics, however; Cirran's call to arms resounded strongly throughout the land, and the Arcreach army prepares for war against Izera. The Midnight Star
The cataclysmic descent of the Midnight Star was highly traumatic to most of Arcreach's citizens, and is still fresh in their memory. The incident has forced most of her people hardened and disciplined. The influences of the noble houses, military and church is tied together by the notion that they are duty-bound to stave off the Midnight Star's reach while the people of Muria find a cure to its corruption. However, many are beginning to grow weary at their sacrifices, questioning the rest of the land's commitment to tackling the star's reach. As such, there is a noticeable rift between the people of Arcreach - and the people of the Northlands in general - with the people of the Midlands and Frontiers. In the Footsteps of Man
The Faustian Crisis had revealed that Arcreach has a long, bloody heritage dating back to the Primal Ages, when the world was yet ruled by the Primal Gods. Lord Cain is the current incarnation of Primarch, an ancient supreme God of Mortalkind who rose up during the Primal Ages to fight back against those tyrannical Gods to secure freedom and peace for all mortalkind. Though he once held near-omnipotence and rule over the world, he relinquished his powers in an Accord with Ouroboros the Everwyrm, and brokered a deal securing mortalkind's release from the Gods. He had since watched over the world in incarnations - beginning as the First King of Migdal Bavel the First City, until now as the Lord of Arcreach. This knowledge was made common across the city in the wake of the crisis, to the disbelief and consternation of many, but in the three months since most have begun to accept it as fact. It certainly helps that the Celestial loyalists of Primarch, summoned after Cirran attempted Apotheosis during the crisis, remained to help rebuild and reinforce the city in preparation for the war against Izera.
Public Agenda
As a sovereign city-state, Arcreach has had to fend for itself ever since the descent of the Midnight Star. As such, the city primarily prioritizes survival, and has funneled most of its available assets towards its safety. Guilds of commerce are mandated to serve the city's best interests; this means paying for a portion of military upkeep, supplies and other needs the state decides it needs. The church is also required to direct its tithe towards the war effort, which they do gladly. On the other hand, the state also strives to better understand the Midnight Star. The Arcreach Arcanery was established as one of Muria's leading institutes of magic, and is actively funded by the state.
In the wake of the Faustian Crisis, the city braces for war against Izera and works tirelessly to secure some cooperation from their surrounding neighbors; Lord Cain is eyeing Ulstedt as a potential ally against Izera, and has since sent his trusted councilors to aid in diplomacy with the Ulstedt Council of Reflections.
Type
Geopolitical, State
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Economic System
Palace economy
Currency
Gold
Legislative Body
House Highwind
Judicial Body
Arcreach Military, Church of the Six
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments