Carnelian Empire of the Castford Isles
"The sky erupted in a light greater than a thousand suns as Velnor sundered Perradin. The waves of the Roil churned and the stars themselves fell from the sky. Termina's Fate beckoned the Monks of Castford and they rose to meet it with dignity and pride. As the stars fell toward them, from on high, a brilliant vermillion presence descended to hang above the many islands. A wyrm of unparalleled power, Nestron, outstretched his wings across the islands, wrapping them in his grace and love."A group of Free Cities residing on and exerting influence over the Castford Isles, the Carnelian Empire is an empire in name only. In reality, it is the longest-standing alliance of the Free Cities in Pillarin. It includes Fraplego, Tacury, and Postobury as well as the Harwick company towns of Wit Searenil and Ext Edbuton. It has long been the protectorate of the Carnelian Dragon, Nestron, who spared the entire region from the destruction of the Starfall. As one of two regions spared the destruction of the Starfall, it remains a bastion of pre-Starfall knowledge, history, and science to those who it allows access. The alliance is co-governing between all three member Free Cities, only answering to the will of the sleeping dragon Nestron, who lies dormant beneath a secret neutral location on the island of Nestor known as Geal Sarentil. It is significant as the only major region of Perradin that did not have a fully operational node of the Teleportation Commission, only having one minor circle in the Harwick company town of Ext Edbuton. The will of Nestron takes the form of an active leader of the Empire, always a child sired from Nestron, a Carnelian Dragonborn. The mother of each Emperor is different, often times coming from a family residing on the islands, considered a tremendous honor. However, foreign alliances with other Free Cities have been known to incorporate political "marriages" where a foreign woman is selected to bear Nestron's child. The current crown princess, Luna Nestron Harwick, is the result of one such alliance made with the city of Hi Ba. The region remains a mostly isolationist alliance after over 7000 years of cooperative rule, but joined the Union of Free Cities on its formation when presented with the threat of the Fen. Their membership was viewed as a surprise, and swayed many other into voting for the formation. Politically, it is the most powerful group within the body due to its military power and economic control is maintains from its strict laws on the export of goods unique to the Isles. They used this influence to appoint the crown princess, Luna Nestron Harwick, as the First Convener of the Union of Free Cities.-Attestation of Nestron's arrival by the monk Josan, The Histories of the Castford Monks, 1508 FFC
Pre-Starfall History
The Castford Isles were settled sometime after the age of the First Free City began. Evidence suggests sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries the islands of Alstor and Nestor (then called Castford) were settled by many sects of monks leaving the mainland to live in quiet contemplation. The hundreds of smaller islands surrounding the two major islands became home to hundreds of small cloisters, monastaries, and abbeys. They founded the small settlements of Fraplego, Tacury, and Postobury as hubs to convene and pool resources for survival while most of their time was spent in the wilds of the islands. The various sects became collectively known as the Castford Monks. Attempts were made to settle the southern major islands of Helketh and Mino, but their biomes were similar to that of Plentius in that they were covered with thick vegetation and hostile fauna. The dangers of the islands prevented the monks from settling them.Starfall and the Coming of Nestron
In the wake of the Velnorclast following the War of the Starfall, the debris of Velnor rained down across all Perradin causing destruction and ecological collapse in many places. Coasts were ravaged by tsunamis and pummeled by asteroids. According to ancient tales considered history by inhabitants of the isles, as a tsunami approached the Castford Isles, an enormous ancient dragon emerged from the sky and projected a magical shield curtain across all the islands. The dragon held the shield for seven months and seven days, protecting them from the worst debris and oceanbound threats. When the barrier fell, the dragon flew to the island of Castford, exhausted and weakened. It took humanoid form and introduced himself as Nestron, a rare Carnelian Dragon. He claimed to have foreseen the destruction and sought to save as many as he could. The monks, extremely grateful for Nestron's protection, begged him to lead them in the world forever changed by the destruction. After agreeing, the three Free Cities on the island allied together to form a collective which they dubbed the Carnelian Realm in honor of Nestron's unique nature. Despite his agreement, Nestron was severely weakened by his actions and he was required to go into a dormant state. As a mythology grew around Nestron's acts, the reverence transformed into worship and a religion formed around Nestron.The Carnelian Realm
Nestron, now requiring extended periods of extreme dormancy, instructed the monks to band together to ensure their survival. He also dictated that the survivors of the cataclysm would seek their resources. To guide them, Nestron instructed one of the monks to lay with him and sire a child to rule in his stead. The monk Bessik Rerrith became the first Queen Mother to the first Carnelian Emperor Bast Nestron-Rerrith, who would regularly consult with the dormant Nestron through a psychic link. From that point, each Emperor would be sired by Nestron with another chosen Queen Mother. After the destruction of much of Pillarin, the Castford Isles became the sole untouched region. The new Carnelian Empire's monks pooled resources and began building greater cities to honor the sacrifice Nestron had made. Around the spot on which Nestron laid dormant, the monks constructed a religious and administrative center which became known as Geal Sarentil. Its location remained secret to all but the most highly revered monks and the Emperor's court. The island of Castford was renamed Nestor, as it was Nestron's new home. As mainland Pillarin survivors in the immediate centuries following the Starfall learned of the isles' survival and the formation of the Empire,
May the isles always be bathed in burnt vermilion of Nestron's grace.
Founding Date
1507
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
Free Cities of Castford
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Ruling Organization
Founders
Parent Organization
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