Kingdom of Snowborne
The Kingdom of Snowborne was a small but disproportionately powerful country, during the age of the New Kingdoms. It occupyied the north polar continent of Zisleth, with a capital at the fortress city of Iceholt and a small outpost at Peld on the continent of Myruthea. The nation was founded and ruled by a cabel of rutheless magicians and its cataclysmic destruction at the hands of the Fey gave this world the name it still bears today; Magicians' End.
Structure
The Mage King had the final say in all matters of policy for the kingdom, but he ruled with the aid of the Council of Mages. The king's reign was for life, but the position was not hereditary and on the death of the previous king, candidates for the succession came forth from the council members and offered themselves up to a formal process in which competing applicants who refused to withdraw were required to duel to the death. In practice, these duels were less common than you might imagine, since there was often a clear cut option who the others dare not oppose with such brutal consequences for failure.
Magicians' End - Snowborne - Council of Mages 02 by DMFW with Midjourney
History
Snowborne began as an outpost of the Great Northern Dukedom of Peld, the port town of Peld being itself not much more than a minor northern harbour town in Myruthea and the Great Dukedom being a much exaggerated title for what amounted to the town itself and interests in the shipping that was based there. Although it was of trivial importance on a global scale, the Dukedom was one of a relatively few towns and cities which remained independent of the Triple Enfolding.
A small settlement on Zisleth was funded by Duke Patroch IV with the idea that there would be hunting and perhaps the possibility of mining.
In time, the site over the north pole came to be recognised by visiting mages as a location where unique arcane powers could be tapped. At first this was used to the benefit of the Dukedom, but later the mages grew tired of deferring to Peld. Under the leadership of the cunning magician who would go on to call himself Rynelder I, the first Mage King, a group of like minded mages declared their continent independent and the blue banners of the Kingdom of Snowborne were raised over Iceholt. It would not be long before they overthrew Patroch IV in his home town and in a reverse takeover, assumed control of all the assets once belonging to the Dukedom.
In 8328 BPC, the Mage King Lanald completed the construction of the Axial Tower, which would be an important asset and the centre of the kingdom's arcane power. In 8317 BPC, the same Mage King crafted the Snow Wand, which became an emblem of power for all subsequent Mage Kings.
On 28th of Glim, 8209 BPC, the Mage King Theodrax signed a treaty with the Fey King, Tang Ralta which would become known as the Thousand Year Alliance. This was a highly unusual association between the notoriously volatile Fey and a mortal realm in the evolutions and it is thought likely that it was the arcane power which the Axial Tower was making available to the magicians of Snowborne which attracted their interest.
The alliance with the Fey helped Snowborne to retain its independence from the Trinity Moon Triple Enfolding, which might otherwise have annexed it. The Enfolding was a much bigger political and military grouping and its mages looked at the assets of Snowborne with envy and perhaps a little fear. Yet, aware of the special realtionship the kingdom had with the Fey and conscious of the special powers their mages controlled through the Axial Tower, the Enfolding did not move against Snowborne. The closest they came to open conflict was around three hundred years into the thousand year alliance, but following a period of tension the Mage King Johanus was able to negotiate a successful peace settlement on 15th of Chiroth, 7891 BPC.
The kingdom remained largely untroubled over the next six hundred years, growing ever more prosperous and apparently secure until it met a disasterous and sudden end in 7231 BPC.
Magicians' End - Snowborne - Dark Harbour Keep by DMFW with Midjourney
Disbandment
At seven o'clock in the morning of 3rd of Pruth in the year 7231 BPC, the cataclysmic event known as the Sundering ended the Thousand Year Alliance with the Fey, and comprehensively destroyed the Kingdom of Snowborne. It was the simultaneous deaths of so many powerful mages that gave the world a new name of "Magicians' End". Very little reliable information about the reason for this tragedy would escape the death of the kingdom, leading to wild rumours and speculation. The full and true explanation for the Sundering, is known only to the Fey, in a tale they call the Iceholt Betrayal.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
8394 BPC - 7231 BPC
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Government System
Magocracy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Palace economy
Gazetteer
Major Exports
The primary and by far the most important exports of the kingdom were enchanted items of various kinds, manufactured at the Axial Tower. The mages were able to produce a variety of useful instruments, implements and weapons with a range of special effects and powers and these they traded for food, clothing and other necessities and luxuries. One of their most popular products was the enchanted Cooling Pot, charged with north polar snow and used in kitchens all over the world to store perishable food stocks.
The mages always careful to retain the strongest weapon enchantments for themselves and the mercaneries they hired, unwilling to provide their enemies with tools that might be used against them.
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Neighboring Nations
Related Items
Comments