Ilaniya

Ilaniya was a frozen kingdom in the north of Irëduin. It remained neutral in the frequent Wars of Irëduin, although it formed an alliance with Tílunur near the end of the Third Age.

History Summary

Ilaniya was formed at the beginning of the Third Age in response to Tywell I's actions in creating Tílunur. Seperated from the other kingdoms by the Sea and the vastness of Nowhere, it remained divided from the rest of Irëduin, both culturally and physically. The succession proceeded uninterrupted until the end of the Third Age, with the kingdom's only problems coming from occasional scattered gangs of criminals. In 2764 TA, Ilaniya was conquered by the sorcerer Fyodor, breaking the line of succession. After he was defeated and a treaty with Tílunur was created, the kingdom continued for many years. At the end of the Seventh Age, it was conquered and destroyed by the Deathwatch, along with the rest of Irëduin.

Geography and Ecology

Ilaniya, located as it was in the far north, was cold and icy, often swept by strong winds and snowstorms. It was connected to the Main Continent by the Khyst Isthmus, which was a thickly forested area of land. The northernmost part of Ilaniya was connected to the Skyfield, one of the few places where the Great Waters didn't fall of the edge into the Endless Abyss. In the centre of Ilaniya was the famed Pit of Fire, the warmest place in the entire kingdom. It was warm enough to grow crops, but only small enough for about fifteen acres of land.

The kingdom was cold enough that very few things could grow there. Apart from some tough mosses and lichens used to feed their beasts of burden, Ilaniyans grew fumeweed, as the climate was ideal for the smoking crop. It was their main export, and the product they used to trade for food and other resources not readily available in the kingdom.

Few creatures lived in the icy wastes of Ilaniya, but those that did often posed dangers to the people of the kingdom. The herbivores, including the four-horned lanidya ram and the kluson, were more than ready to attack anything they felt was a threat to them, while food was scarce for the carnivores, who would attack anything that looked edible.

Culture

Courtesy of their cold environment, Ilaniyan culture and religion idolised fire and keeping back the cold, and their main cultural tenets were based as such. Generosity and hospitality were behaviours that were highly valued, and Ilaniyans had a strong sense of community.

The woolhorn goat was extremely valuable in their culture, and richer families possessed large herds of the creatures. The larger the herd, the richer the family. Even poor families would own one or two of the creatures. The shepherds of the woolhorns were highly revered and respected, as taking care of them was considered an extremely difficult task.

Ilaniya had few tramps, as not many people in the kingdom were willing to leave others on the icy streets. Poverty was also rare, as measures were taken to make sure resources were properly distributed.

After centuries of isolation, Ilaniya developed its own unique magic system, relying on the writing of glyphs from the language of the The Tiurï and imbuing them with energy. This was the same system as the rest of the world, as written letters and spoken words are both part of a language. However, because of their seperation, their runescribes were the only mages in Irëduin to use the magical glyphs. Runescribes were also revered in Ilaniya, even more so than the woolhorn shepherds, as powerful runescribes were rare.

Government

Ilaniya was led by a King or Queen, although some monarchs were little more than a figurehead for the Council of Lords, a coalition of seven noblemen and noblewomen who advised the monarch. The government was highly decentralised, with each settlement being managed by its governer. The monarch's main role was to pass new laws, and the towns and cities were mostly left to govern themselves. A series of magical scrying mirrors were used for quick communication, and these allowed for discussions over long distances.

Military

The Ilaniyan military was relatively small, as relations with other countries remained peaceful. Most of the military was employed as guards and guides for journeys through the wilderness of Ilaniya, especially through the Elevai Dileyn, which was the mountain range spanning the length of Ilaniya. The army was mainly composed of experienced veterans who were skilled at fieldcraft and weapons usage. Made up of only a few companies, the army was vulnerable to attack, as Ilaniya relied on isolation as defence.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Training Level

Elite

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Ilaniyan